4. Restaurants

Church Street Café

2111 Church St NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104
  • (505) 247-8522
  • Store is closed

Church Street Café Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

Visit below restaurant in Albuquerque for healthy meals suggestion.

Chili’s Grill & Bar ( 10021 Coors Blvd Nw )
Chili’s Grill & Bar ( 2560 Coors Blvd NW )

  • Casey S.

    This is a nice little restaurant which is an old converted house. Lots of pictures and knickknacks to walk around and look at while waiting for your food. The chips and salsa are great - chips come out warm with the perfect amount of salt and the salsa is fresh and pretty spicy. We shared two meals: -the green chile chicken soup which is absolutely huge. Very meaty with lots of potatoes and other vegetables. It came out STEAMING hot and took some time to cool down. Very flavorful and filling in itself. It was served with warm, homemade tortillas for dipping. -chicken enchilada meal. This meal was downright huge. We couldn't decide on the red or green chile so the waiter brought one of each. The green is a little spicier but they were both yummy. The beans were excellent but we weren't that thrilled with the rice which was a little bland and dry. -Sopapillas -- perfect dessert to a large meal. These warm, puffy, light pastries were fabulous. They were served with honey for dipping/drizzling and just sweet enough to cap the meal off right without getting overly full.

    (4)

  • Susan G.

    Great Recommendation from a Local Merchant I was in Old Town during the recent Founders Day celebration and was looking for a good place for lunch. I asked a local merchant, she recommended Church Street Cafe and she was right. What a lovely restaurant with each room decorated in a different style. I was sorry that I didn't know about the big patio in the back of the restaurant as I would've asked to be seated there. The chips arrived first and they were warm and served with a spicy red salsa. I ordered the beef taco salad and everything tasted fresh. My server was attentive without making me feel like I needed to rush. I liked that several of the servers were older ladies who were just really nice in a grandmotherly way. The cost of my meal, including ice tea, was about $15 with tip.

    (4)

  • Quinn A.

    Beautiful! Be sure to walk through and find a table in the garden back patio. Sure, there is good people watching from the front yard, but the back is an oasis. Good green chili, perfect ice tea, personal friendly service. Very nice breakfast in Old Town.

    (4)

  • Steve M.

    Bigger on the inside than first impressions let on. Great back patio hang out with good mexican food.

    (5)

  • Briza M.

    Cute little place with lots of history. Food was okay/good, service was okay. We were a group of 11 and a few of us opted for the fajita special. My hubby and I shared it (it was plenty). Good flavor, but meat was a little tough. All but one of our orders came out at the same time. I felt terrible for our friend who got served when the rest of us were almost done eating. I expected his dinner to be complimentary or at least a free dessert - something, but got nothing. I was a little disappointed with that. Sweet lady that served us, but didn't exactly go above and beyond. I did very much enjoy the sopapillas with honey.

    (3)

  • P L.

    We both had the combination plate and ate on the patio. Nice quiet side street. Staff was friendly and attentive. Excellent flavor, cheese enchiladas were a little chewy. I liked that, my hubby didn't. Sopaipillas were to die for. Four came with the meal, but I ordered two more. I could have just had them and been happy.

    (4)

  • Brady R.

    Great little "dive" in Old Town Albuquerque. It was recommended to me by clients and did not disappoint. Try the house Sangria Margarita and New Mexico-style tamales.

    (4)

  • Kim R.

    I love their sopapillas!!! And all their food here is delicious. I will be sure to eat here anytime I am in Albuquerque.

    (5)

  • Jason A.

    Overpriced mediocre New Mexican food. I can see tourists going here to get there munch on but I've had much better for much cheaper. Not recommended for locals.

    (2)

  • Betsy C.

    Hubby and I come to Abq about once a year and it's like a pilgrimage we must fulfill to visit and eat at the Church St Cafe. The building and decor alone are worth the trip,really a sight to see! The food is good, not necessarily Great...but hey, husband had to go back today, after eating there yesterday and have another "mile high pile". A large, gooey, tasty pile of potatoes , eggs, cheese and green chili. I had a modest cup of chicken chili...it was good but I could have skipped it since I had to help finish off the MHP. My reason for agreeing to eat in the same place twice? Sopapillas! One yesterday, two today. Oh hot honeyed goodness! Service yesterday -ok today- great. Same hit or miss in the past. Have sat, at different visits : inside, dark room,eh. Out front:good people watching, the worst service Back room: love the light and decor. Patio in season: Awesome We love it, it just seems like quintessential NM to us! If you're in Old Town Abq don't miss it!

    (4)

  • Wayne E.

    We were told that this was the place to be in Old Town if we wanted to get some great New Mexican food. The place seems small and quaint on the outside...but when you enter, you find this restaurant is vast. We walked about a block from the door to the back seating area that was a huge open air place with many tables. We were pretty amazed...and that doesn't include the patio. It seemed that while this restaurant has been a fixture for some time, the pull to serve the tourist has been a strong one.....it had me wondering what it was like when the café first opened...maybe a little smaller, intimate and focused? Unfortunately for us, we must have hit this place when they were short handed. It took a while to get our order in, and longer for the food to arrive. Granted, we were starving, tired, and a little impatient. The food itself was good, and the portions large. That said, it didn't really light me up the way I had hoped it would. I would say the margarita was the highlight of the dinner. I will be open minded to the idea that had the service wowed me, maybe my view of the food would be better...

    (3)

  • Lani P.

    We loved this place so much on 7/16/14, that we came back today (7/17.) Wow, what a difference it makes in terms of service. Our outside patio server on 7/16 was delightful and full of information and advice. He was friendly and offered excellent service. He was great! Today we sat inside by the tile fireplace and had to ask for everything piece meal! I had to request straws for our water, plates for our appetizers, and extra salsa. Plus, when my husband asked for the bottle cap of a distinctive bottle of local beer, she served him the capped bottle without a bottle opener! He had to use his keys to open it because she disappeared again. Our server was disinterested in us and it showed. She didn't smile or welcome us. She was much more interested in chatting with the other servers at their work station. Plus, when I asked for a box to pack up our leftovers, she kept trying to take our flatware and our the plates with food! Twice I had to tell her to stop -- I wasn't finished! We didn't even get a bag to carry the containers. When I asked for a bag at the servers' station, I was told to go to the front to get one. When we got to the front, there was no one around. We looked around but found no one. We just left. If she had been our server on the first day, we would have never returned. Food was good, setting is charming, but the service is iffy. Proceed at your own risk.

    (3)

  • Matt F.

    Food and Price were right on! The margaritas was outstanding. Get the guacamole!!! Food portions were huge. If on a diet, split an entree and get the guac!

    (4)

  • Olivia S.

    I am updating my past review due to the fact the owner went out of her way to contact me and address the experience that I had. And that's all it would take just acknowledgement and trying to make a wrong a right! Thank you, Marie

    (4)

  • Tory M.

    I've eaten here numerous times. One does need to eat on the back patio at least once. The food is usually not bad, today though I was left wanting more out of the chicken and beef tacos. Maybe it was the lack of service that turned me off today. Normally the service is pretty good, today just wasn't one of those days. It took almost 20 minutes from walking in to actually placing our order, which seemed to take way too long to arrive. If they were busy I could understand it, but after our arrival the kitchen only had to make a total of four entrees. It's definitely best to come at lunch and not an hour before closing time when the staff is dragging and apparently doesn't want to be there anymore.

    (3)

  • Joan Y.

    Great service, very friendly and welcoming. This is a place to recommend to tourists as it has a great atmosphere. Very tasty food, especially breakfast!

    (5)

  • Lisa B.

    Very authentic New Mexican restaurant. The fajitas are huge! The chicken enchiladas are great...not greasy and big portions. They offer many varieties of iced tea and the ambience is very comfortable. Spinach is an option with entrees instead of potatoes or calabacitas.

    (5)

  • Larr G.

    Please remember that on any given night the service and food can be the best you ever had or it can go wrong. Judging a place on a single experience, particularly if it is a bad experience, might be informative but it may also be unfair. Th first time I ate here was about 1999 or so. Whenever I am in Albuquerque I stop in for dinner. The front is a little misleading in that is suggests that the place is very small. That is not the case. There is front patio, indoor and back patio seating. The inside is broken up into several different rooms. This gives the place feeling of intimacy. I have been here with just one other person, small groups and a group of 15. In each case the service was excellent. As is the case with any place, a call ahead for a large group is suggested. The menu is complex with a lot of options. I love the chile relienos. I have never had a bad meal here so rather than list all of the other things that I like, I urge you to experiment. The salsa is excellent. There is a good selection of beer, wine and mixed drinks. I tend to stick with beer. This is traditional New Mexico -Mexican- food, not be confused with Tex-Mex or Border Mexican. All good, all very different. The Cafe is ADA compliant as far as I can tell.

    (4)

  • Kathy L.

    Again, great service back in the new section after a hot day at the botanical garden! Waiter was great!

    (4)

  • Dorothea C.

    Food was plentiful and tasty The building is huge and beautiful. Our server took some getting used to - she got nicer. We had huge servings, the food was good, and the guitar player came and played some children's tunes especially for my godson!

    (4)

  • Derrick B.

    Food was absolutely wonderful. Server was a bit scatter brained and slow but otherwise a well worth stop if in this area. Salsa is best I ever had and for the meal I had the posolie soup and cup of green chili soup. Wonderful

    (4)

  • Antal M.

    I've been eating here for a long time. As a kid, as a poor college student, and now as an adult. Last experience 4 months ago was stellar. Awesome waiter who made our experience that much more enjoyable. Don't remember his name but he was a young man with a pony tail and a genuine smile, attentive, kind and we rewarded him accordingly with a generous tip. That experience is what brought my better half and I back this past Sunday. Unfortunately, I do remember the name of one of the worst waitresses I have ever had who happened to be taking care (neglecting and not giving a damn is more appropriate) of us but I will spare her name although I do feel she deserves to know just how terrible her service was so that she can abandon any future career in the service industry for the good of us all. As our experience got worse and worse I could see pony tail guy down the hallway, smiling and serving a happy table and I longed for his kind words and helpful service. Now, I do understand Church Street is busy and I am always willing to wait for good service and a nice meal, but we didn't even have to wait. After initially ordering a Bloody Mary, I asked our waitress if I could have a bloody beer instead, obviously they have the Bloody Mary mix and what's the big deal about mixing a couple of ounces of that with a cold Tecate. No harm done right? Well, she returned after a little while and instead of offering any kind of explanation said "she won't do that". First, who is this almighty "she" was she referring to God? I know God personally, not well, but good enough that I know she is all about bloody beer! Excuse my idle humor, all I'm trying to say is that just saying no without offering any explanation when working in the customer service/ hospitality industry is a huge turn off. I know because I work in the industry. Moving on, we placed our food order without any pleasantries as if we had already inconvenienced our waitress enough, and then proceeded to wait forty five minutes for our food (fajitas and a sandwich) which were both mediocre at best, overcooked fajitas, burned veggies and greasy fries with the sandwich. Hard to screw up a club sandwich but my better half had a difficult time getting through even the first few bites. At this point our drinks (only water because of the aforementioned incident) were empty and we had to point that out as well. When the food was delivered the fajitas were set down without a plate or any sides. I waited and waited as the sizzling sound began to fade and my food started to literally cool down with still no sign of my plate, toppings or water. Finally flagged down the hostess and pleaded "please help us, this is the worst service we've ever had here". Our waitress appeared a few minutes later and hardly said a word (I guess she knew we were unhappy) but instead of offering an apology, she just ignored us all together. We never saw her again, I guess in retrospect we should have gone looking for her just to make sure she wasn't abducted or the latest victim of the ghost that resides in the building. It was time to cut our losses, I walked up front and found the hostess again (remember our waitress was abducted), credit card and hand and pleaded again "we just want to get out of here and we are never coming back". Got a discount but didn't eat our food, it was time to abandon this dismal experience and salvage the rest of our Sunday. Needless to say it was time for a drink, headed to five start burger and had some of the best service of our lives from a nice guy named Anthony. We will never go back to Church Street and I will stop recommending it to out of towners, our friends and family and the like.

    (1)

  • A W.

    Disgusting food, awful service. The hostess was rude, our waiter thought we were tourists at first and was trying to make up BS about Old Town and Church St., before we called him out - then his tone changed, he never brought our sopapillas or allowed us to see a desert menu, INSTEAD he rushed us out insisting we have to cash out because his shift was ending! Then either the manager or owner said goodbye in a disingenuous way with a scowl on her face as we left, as a local, I was appalled and shocked with the service, because it's the worst I have ever received in this city. The food when it arrived had obviously been sitting a while. Lettuce was yellow and wilted, guacamole was brown. The meal was inedible, I regret not asking for my money back. The best I can do is warn others against this restaurant.

    (1)

  • Jeremy S.

    This isn't the worst restaurant in Albuquerque, or is it???? We need Robert Irvine stat. I find the menu to be a little plain, not very creative. They have repulsive coffee which tastes like it was brewed in an old boot except that it's too weak. The service is an abomination of the 10,000 year old art form. The food is not terrible, not generous, not creative. Both the red and green are very good. Verdict: I wouldn't refuse an invitation to eat here, nor would I initiate one.

    (2)

  • Becky S.

    Wonderful cafe in old town Albuquerque. Service was quick and my lunch was delicious. I had the Desert Pilsner, a local New Mexico beer, which was also delish. I sat outside on the patio and didn't relize how huge the old historic building is until paying my bill. It is beautiful inside. A Good spot to stop while visiting old town!!!!

    (5)

  • whitney m.

    Not the best mexican food around but was sufficient and they were open when for some reason nothing else was. Kitschy decor decent waiter. Marg was a mix, queso was velveeta and rotel and the red chile was weird....I realize that sounds vague but it was more of a red chile paste and not a sauce and certainly not the norm in northern NM. Wouldn't return there are better places in ABQ.

    (3)

  • Lena L.

    This place looks tiny and adorable from the outside. On the inside, it just keeps going. It's a historic building and has a great atmosphere. The outdoor patio is very nice, even though I had to stick a napkin under our wobbly table- it's on stone, so it's not that weird that it was so off balance. The waiters know the history of the area and the building and are very informative. Especially for tourists, it is useful information. As a ABQ resident, I still found it interesting. We ordered the Agave Margaritas with lunch and they are quite yummy. Really nice flavor that is not too sweet. They have a decent wine/beer/drink list. It's not long, but you will find something you like on it. They have local New Mexican beers and local wines. That is a big plus for me in a local business. They bring you chips and salsa that are both good. The chips are house made and the salsa was decent- they said it was hot, but it only has a small bite to it. Good flavor, even though it's a little runny. I wish it was a bit thicker. They have good menudo! If menudo is your thing (I love it), then you will like theirs. I am usually really picky about it, but this was delicious. It tasted homemade, which makes me happy. They have yummy vegetarian options, including a mushroom fajita that I enjoyed on my second visit. They make solid New Mexican food. The flavors are all there. Things to not try: The Rellenos. Not the best. I don't like their breading at all. Warning- it is a tourist stop. It's not spicy. The service is really good. They are polite, informed and usually fast- I have seen reviews saying that are slow, but I did not experience that. I got the best service in Old Town the times I was here. It's priced fairly- burgers for $9 that are super good and large. It's definitely a nice place. It's historical, true to it's roots and serves local food and drinks.

    (4)

  • Mary B.

    Amazing ambience and the back courtyard is lovely. The problem was the service and the food. Our waiter seemed to hardly know the menu and was helpless when asked for recommendations. Then it seemed like an eternity before our food came and our waiter was obviously avoiding us and the tables nearby. We had to flag him down for more water. Then when the food finally arrived it was cold and my sandwich was missing it's green chili. My companions burrito was unappealing and mostly left unbeaten. The waiter after a third request finally refilled our water and left the check. I was very disappointed with our visit.

    (2)

  • Duane M.

    Great patio! Nice, cozy and comfortable. Fairly good NM style food!

    (4)

  • Corey B.

    Came on a recommendation from my hotel. I had the chicken enchiladas, and they are great! Chips and salsa were brought to me as soon as I sat down. Make sure u sit on the back patio. Beautiful and quite. Only down side is food is pricey for Mexican. It was really good, but $18 for a Mexican meal is a little much. Still recommend checkin it out though.

    (4)

  • Renee H.

    Came pretty highly recommended. The food was bland, nothing exciting. It really turned us off to New Mexican food.

    (2)

  • Rocky C.

    Our second time there. Friends of friends who live in ABQ bring people to this restaurant because of the location/patio which is in an old adobe building, nice, and quaint. However, next time this restaurant comes up we are not going along with the suggestion. The wait person was so rude. No eye contact, we had to repeat everything, bad attitude like she did not give a S$$t. Asked for Ice Tea 3 times, waited for our meals for a long time, asked for Sopaipillas twice. She said they were busy making the little puffy pillows (sopaipillas), while we kept seeing other wait people bringing them out to the other guests. We even ordered in Spanish just to let her know we were "gente" but that did not go over at all. By the third time, we were almost done with our mediocre meal (esp the calabacitas) we asked if the sopaipilla maker was done making them and then she proceeded to mention to us... "I just brought out two trays of sopaipillas to this table" and looked at our table which had no evidence at all that she had brought out the frikk'n sopaipillas!! We should have known better when we entered the restaurant. The young woman at the hostess stand was on the phone talking while a beautiful and very old woman who could not move very well appeared and tried to seat people. If this place is managedand owned by the family/ children they are clearly resting on their laurels and really don't care. The poor tourists....what a mess.

    (1)

  • Michele S.

    Friendly staff, super accommodating to the unruly member in our party who was overly drunk. Good location next to hotel. I like the horchata and vegetarian tamales. My friends loved the posole. Complimentary dessert was wonderful.

    (4)

  • Nathan H.

    While on a brief visit to ABQ to visit family, my wife asked to go to Oldtown. I was exhausted from her shopping and when I realized she hadn't melted her credit/debit cards yet, I jumped at the chance to get a meal. I'm not certain but I definitely got the feel that this mostly a tourist type restaurant but the service was so good that I could have cared less. Despite the crowd, our waiter did a good job keeping up with his tables. The patio seating was nice and served to people watch very nicely. The negative for me was that the food was delivered very quickly unfortunately it wasn't what I ordered. Occasionally after you order at restaurants the waiter pops right up and asked how everything is going, but because of the crowd it took a while for me to be able to attempt to get everything straightened out. I encouraged my wife and family to eat while it was hot and they had completed it before my fajitas 2.0 were delivered. Being done, they wanted to shop and left me to fend for myself on the patio by myself. Not a huge disappointment, but I definitely felt like a jerk eating at a bigger table by myself while families with small children waited to get seated. If you can find Church Street Cafe, it'll probably be a place you'd go back to.

    (3)

  • Joan L.

    I know this place has been around a while and was supposed to be good. I took a friend to dinner there last night and was really taken aback at the less than ho-hum nature and quality of the food. We both had pulled beef enchiladas - red and green. The beef was dried out and leathery, basically tasteless. The beans were whole beans, which I usually prefer because of lard issues, although I was never asked my preference. They were just as dry and chewy as the beef however. I asked for calabacitas and the corn had a strange metallic taste, like it came out if a can. Altogether a very unpleasant experience. The meal for two was $59 truly a shock. There are so many better and cheaper places!! Cross this one off your list and go elsewhere. Pretty decor but also pretty empty on a Saturday night. I guess I now know why.

    (1)

  • Cee T.

    We moved to Albuquerque 3 months ago and this is by far the worst meal that we have had here. Relatives came into town and we wanted to do the Old Town experience. I regret bringing them here. Everyone in my party ordered the Old Town Turkey. This is the restaraunts own description copied straight from their menu: Old Town Turkey (Best on rye!) white breast of turkey, swiss cheese, and green chile It gives the option to be served hot or cold and we all chose hot. The sandwiches arrived with turkey DELI meat (not exactly a white breast) one slice of cheese, lettuce, tomato and NO CHILE. Nothing like the description. I wanted thick sliced turkey breast, melted cheese and the chiles New Mexico is known for. Not tomatoes and lettuce. When I pointed out the missing chiles to the waiter he replied that we didn't request chile. What?!!! It's one of the only 3 ingredients in the sandwich description. After waiting much too long, he brought out small containers of ice cold chiles and took off before we could complain. The sandwich was grilled in way too much butter and most of my bread was soggy. It was too rich and extremely bland at the same time. I am going to upload a picture of the $10 Old Town Turkey sandwich. It's pathetic. Do not waste your time here.

    (1)

  • D J.

    Yea. I mean this place hits the vast majority of the marks. The food is very good. I had the Old Style Chile Rellenos and it was very good. The margaritas are good too. The decor is really nice and cozy and just a great choice. I would say the prices are very good too. I think they close at 9pm, at least on the winter weeknight that I went. So on arrival at the normal dinner time of about 7:30pm we got the feeling that the staff was quite ready to leave at the end of our meal. They had the door open pulling in the patio furniture, which I'm not sure why they even put outside in the cold ABQ winter. But no one was rude or anything. The hostess did, upon our arrival, say hello and then glance over with a sort of 'over it' look in her eye and say "can you seat them for me?" which I thought wasn't a good idea in the age of yelp. The management, the older people, seemed very accommodating and good at what they do, I just felt the younger help seemed like they needed to learn a bit more about the nuances of the hospitality and food service industry. Guests remember every detail. Over all definitely go to this place though if you're in the mood for New Mexican food and drinks. And don't plan on going out after because you will be stuffed and ready for bed.

    (4)

  • Shanna K.

    I have been a vegetarian for 21 years. This means that I get ridiculously excited when I find food options that are normally not vegetarian in vegetarian version. Usually, when talking about Mexican or New Mexican food, this means vegetarian Red Chili/Enchilada Sauce or vegetarian Green Chili. Here, for the first time in my life, I was able to order something vegetarian "Christmas Style" which means smothered in BOTH red and green (in this case, vegetarian) chili. If that was all that mattered, my Christmas Enchiladas would have gotten five stars, hands down. However, Leo's omlette was "meh" and also a bit greasy, and the potatoes weren't cooked enough. The iced tea was good, and service was good, though not amazing. I did like the setting - it is in a home that is over 100 years old, and has awesome accessories on the wall. All in all, fun and tasty, and I will be back next time I am in the ABQ just to get some hot Christmas action!

    (4)

  • Jared V.

    Good food best enjoyed on the shaded back patio. Very kid friendly. I recommend the Pueblo Burger with Indian flatbread, green chili, and avocado.

    (5)

  • Cheri P.

    Huevos rancheros, green. Posolé and tamales, red. Everything delicious. Service was friendly and fast. Ambiance is authentic, the building is beautiful. If you're headed toward Old Town I absolutely recommend.

    (4)

  • Jeff B.

    When we got to town and asked for a restaurant recommendation, we were curious when everyone said the Church Street Cafe. But when the cop in the street said it was the go to place, we decided to try. NOT DISAPPOINTED. Service was impeccable...one of the best waiters we have ever had...even in very high end NYC restaurants. Started with the agave wine margarita....soooo much smoother than tequila. Less alcohol was good since it was lunch on July 4 and we had a long day ahead (and had been traveling since 4:30am). The quesa was creamy with a small kick. Salsa was fantastic. The sampler platter was ok -I expected more from the chili rellana. The carne adovado al horno (a pork dish in a rich red chili sauce) was mixed. The pork was dry but the sauce fantastic. Smokey, smooth and deep with flavor. It probably would make cardboard taste palatable. The finishing touch, which pushed the 4th star were the sopapillas Described by the waiter as "pillows of love" they were the lightest fried pastries you could imagine. Cover them with honey and ..... You can guess the rest.

    (4)

  • Bizzle Z.

    Really liked this place. Cozy, comfortable, good service. Pretty good food & margaritas too.

    (4)

  • April A.

    The outdoor patio in the back is beautiful, brimming with trees, and an overgrown garden of local foliage. The staff is nice and helpful and its fun to guess which guests are from out of town and which are locals. The food was good but not superb. I had the red chile sour cream enchiladas and did not care for a spice they used in the red chile. With chile, simpler is better. But I will be back to try their other dishes.

    (4)

  • Jack U.

    The waitress never once smiled when I ordered a drink I was told they could not serve a drink unless I ordered a meal with meat in it... Never hear of that policy! Will never go back we cashed out with the kids drinks and left

    (1)

  • Mike f.

    First time diner, pretty unimpressed, sorry to say. The good: salsa and guacamole both excellent! The bad: more or less everything else---with the worst of the dishes their version of carne asada, just a big mess of dry, over seasoned meat swimming in red chili sauce. Nice ambiance, but tourist driven for sure. Won't be back!

    (2)

  • Nina Ann T.

    This is a beautiful little cafe! I have been there twice, once in 2014 and once in 2012. Both times, I was impressed with the hostess who gave us the historical run-down of the building and offered us seats either inside or on the patio - our choice. The food isn't the best that NM has to offer, however, the food is pretty darn good for the price and their guacamole is great! Both times I was there, the service was good, though I will say that our server in 2014 was visibly disappointed that neither of us ordered drinks. All in all, this is a beautiful place to dine and I would highly recommend it for lunch. If it's nice weather, sit out on the patio because it is gorgeous!! Order the sopapillas and definitely have chips and salsa before your meal!

    (4)

  • LJ E.

    One of my favorite places in abq! I always get the old fashioned chiles rellenos. So tasty. The strawberry margaritas are amazing. On my birthday, I went with my husband and we got a free dessert. I had never had natillas before and holy cow, my new favorite dessert. It's like warm horchata flavored pudding. If you dip the fresh sopapillas in it it's heaven in your mouth. The service has always been good. Whenever we have out of town guests, this is where we go.

    (4)

  • Steve W.

    From the front door, you'd think this was a tiny place and question whether it was open. Once you open the door and step in, you can see how much larger the place really is. After a 12 hour day driving from Los Angeles on our way home to Texas, a nice home cooked meal was what we needed. The portions were plentiful, the flavor was amazing, and the service was outstanding. From the home made chips and awesome salsa, to the sopapillas, everything was cooked to perfection. We pass through Albuquerque everytime we go to Los Angeles, and we will definitely be back here again.

    (5)

  • Gerri I.

    We were in town this past weekend to celebrate my sister's 50th birthday. My initial thought was not to eat there because the food looked "touristy" and not very authentic, but because we had a group of 8 and some were pretty hungry, we decided to give it a shot - after all, some of the local merchants recommended it. We were seated, but it took quite a bit to get someone to wait on us - some of the sides didn't show up - we were charged for an item that was never brought out - the food was bland, the drinks had way too much ice - needless to say we were all very disappointed with the food but moreso the service. I normally don't write reviews, especially bad ones, but this place needs to step up their service. When we mentioned it was my sister's birthday nothing was offered - not even a Sopapilla? After sharing our bad experience, one would have thought we would have been offered a discount on our bill but that never came either. The building, itself, is beautiful, but that was about it. Sorry Church Street Cafe, but I think you rely much on the tourists that stream through Old Town.

    (1)

  • Courtney L.

    This was a great find! One of the cashier's at a shop recommended it to us and it was perfect for breakfast (despite it also being the only place open). It was November , raining and freezing so it was dead empty, but the atmosphere was still cozy and beyond friendly. Our server was so kind and told us a bit about the place. The back of the menu is also filled with the history and it is amazing how old this place really is. The back patio was really neat looking, but it was far too cold to sit back there. The women's bathroom is also a good indicator to see how this building was re-purposed from the restaurant. You can tell it wasn't built to be a bathroom originally. The food was incredible as well. Being from the Midwest, we just don't get awesome Southwest meals like this. At first I was put off by them charging extra to get more vegetables in my omelet, and then I saw the size of the omelet when it came out. It was HUGE. I felt so guilty I couldn't take the leftovers with me. It was cooked so well and the flavors blended in an amazing way. I got the chiles on the side since I don't handle heat well, but it wasn't as hot as I predicted it might be. We also ordered a cinnamon roll to start breakfast off with. This was SO delicious. It was so warm and buttery and gooey. We woofed this down at an embarrassing rate. We skipped the free breakfast at our hotel for this and it was so worth it. I would definitely recommend breakfast here while exploring Old Town. History and cinnamon rolls: It doesn't get better than that!

    (4)

  • Thomas B.

    Overall we enjoyed the setting in a quaint old building. But it took more than 5 minutes for a hostess to show up and seat us. A bit disappointing. The food was all right except for the spinach, which tasted like they were dumped from a can, and the salsa was runny. You shouldn't get bad salsa in New Mexico! Fortunately the toquitos and guacamole were good. Good but a bit overrated based on previous reviews.

    (3)

  • Christa M.

    AMAZING food and fun Albuquerque atmosphere. Shared a combo plate and a bowl of the menudo and seriously I don't regret it. The combo had a tamale, enchilada and chili relleno drenched in the red and green salsa. It was amazing! The menudo, which was extremely rich and flavorful came with fluffy sopaipilla. It was to die for! I seriously can't say enough about this place! Can't wait for our next visit to Albequerque! We will for sure be stopping at Church street again!

    (5)

  • T G.

    $18.50 for chicken enchiladas!!! Dark meat chicken enchiladas at that. Granted I ordered and egg ... when asked if I wanted squash or rice or both I said both. They should have mentioned I would not get beans. They charged $2.50 for less than a cup of beans. Sopaipillas were meh ... the DARK chicken in the enchiladas had no seasoning and the corn tortillas used was hard in places. We had to bring our entire table in when the patio got chilly while the staff just watched us and didn't assist. The service was horrible ... we would have to wait for the server to show and watched the staff munch while working. Loved the atmosphere ... not the service or food.

    (1)

  • Chris E.

    "I was pissed when they changed it from Casa Ruiz to Church Street Cafe." - Ross Ruiz There's a story behind that quote, but it's less important to you than my Adventure in Adovada, fall 2011. Ross & his brother Gilbert are my neighbors. When in Albuquerque I visit Church Street Cafe to honor them. My first meal here was recommended by my BAER Brother Darryl, long before I knew the history of this sprawling, beautifully restored adobe. Carne Adovada y Calabacitas was recommended by Julie, my comely and animated server. Chips and medium salsa were the appetizer. Crispy chips, salsa warm at first, then fading to a Rio Colorado of flavors. It was like swimming in most creeks, rivers, lakes or oceans. So intensely cold it's hard to believe it could be pleasant. Wonderful after a few minutes of adjustment. There's menu items for every budget. Sandwiches, soups and appetizers are affordable, price climbing for main dishes and specialities. There's a reasonably priced breakfast. If you indulge, the bar may be an Old Town Albuquerque scene. It was noisy in a quiet, fun-sounding way. La Casa Ruiz/Church Street Cafe - that's what the menu says, has lots of nice gifts and jewelry, also in a wide variety of sizes and prices. They are stored in some fine old cases visually reinforcing the 300 year-plus age of La Casa. My steaming, cheese-covered adovada arrived paired with the squash and pintos, a traditional trinity of Southwestern food. The only thing that could have made it smell better, was winter's pitch-sweet incense from Albuquerque's pinyon wood warming fires borne on freezing air. The adovada was sneaky. I was served enough of that red chile pork for three of my dinner portions. Some of those pork pieces were excellent. Tender, the red chile adding heat, the flavor shouting "RED CHILE," my word skills far too puny to evoke that rising, growing, earthy, slightly bitter fire for you. Some of those pieces were tough, leaving me pondering if Chef Micro, with his famous culinary wave, was not real busy back in the kitchen. The light bitterness in the back palate may have been over-oxidized red chile. The heat of the adovada built slowly, red chile taste stronger with each bite. The melted cheese and calabacitas mixed with maiz dulce cut the heat with sweetness and texture. The simple, very good, boiled beans helped too. I pursued the adovada, piercing it with my fork, lifting it to my lips, never quite knowing if it would be tough or tender, heat growing with every bite. I ordered flan to keep the heat from waking me at one A.M. ;) Flat in shape, tough in places, good sauce. It was decent. I've had better. It was also the least decadent of the desserts. Medium roast coffee fit my tastes well. /** If you have time to read the menu notes, you'll find La Casa Ruiz is over 300 years old, some walls three feet thick and the earliest brick an adobe variety from marshes. You'll also read the marshes rose around 1821, melting parts of La Casa Ruiz. When Ross got pissed because La Casa Ruiz was changed to "The Church Street Cafe," he called the owner, clearly stating his feelings. A WWII pilot, of New Mexican Spaniard descent, he's a little touchy about the War of 1846, humorous practices (for some) in 19th century American land transactions, second-class citizenship in his homeland, etc. Ross is sometimes cactus-ish. Family members spent time with Elfego Baca. Another brother claims some part of the family apparently WERE Comancheros, providing a plot line for Paul Wellman and work for John Wayne. Ross' surliness may have motivated some historical info hunting by the owner. I don't remember if the notes were the same the last time I dined at The Cafe. This time they said the Ruiz Family can be historically traced as some of the earliest settlers in the New Mexico Reconquesta. The Ruiz ancestors laid that first adobe down on the church side of the Albuquerque Plaza about 1707. Ross and Gilbert grew up here in the house of their grandmother, and Gil learned his first childhood raunchy guy-stuff in the alley behind the house. In 2011, Ross is 89 and estimates that over 30 years he's played 30,000 games of dawn-tide tennis after 8,000 bicycle rides to the Phoenix Encanto Park courts. 87 year-old Gilbert smoked for 55 years, a habit I'm sure he found back in the alley. He doesn't play much tennis. Their aunt was the last resident on the Old Town Plaza. As you leave La Casa, approaching the cash register from the north ante-room, you'll see Ruiz family photos on the west wall. The most recent, taken in the 1970's is the young Ruiz's and their Tia. Gil's not in it - he took it. Enjoy. I know I will. Gilbert Ruiz - 12/2/1923 - 12/3/2011 May you behold the splendors of God from the loftiest mount.

    (4)

  • Kelly R.

    Having a large group that has a meeting about every year -- this has been a great go-to place to have dinner, HOWEVER, Friday night -- March 13 will be that last time that we go or recommend this location. With reservations at 6:30 pm for a group over 10, we did not get our meals until after 8:00 pm while others in the same room that were seating after we were all got their meals and some even finished and left before we got served. When we did get the food, it was barely luke warm, rice was cold -- manager did NOTHING to address the issue, we even had to ask for some type of compensation on our billing -- it was not offer. There are many other places to have a great Mexican meal -- Church Street Café should not be one of them for larger groups -- under 15!

    (1)

  • Melissa M.

    A friend was visiting from Colorado, we were hanging out in old town, and decided to grab a bite. This place is a tourist trap. It's unfortunate that ppl around the world would consider this good New Mexican food. The only thing this place has going is location. I don't think a local would even bother coming to this place. Over rated and over priced

    (2)

  • Damon T.

    When folks come to Albuquerque from out of town, I'll usually take them to Church Street Cafe. It's not the best New Mexican cuisine, but it's pretty darned good. What makes Church Street Cafe great for out of town guests is the atmosphere. The restaurant is in one of Albuquerque's oldest dwellings. The low wooden ceilings and thick adobe walls scream southwestern pueblo, of which guests can usually not get enough. There's often a spanish/flamenco guitar player there which adds to the ambiance. I often go for the carne adovada when I eat New Mexican, and this one does not disappoint. The portion is a bit small (I'm a big eater) but the pork is cooked to perfection and the red chile has the right amount of smoky flavor and kick. The blue corn enchiladas are also very good, served flat with either a tasty red or green. They give you a choice of red or green for their posole (pork & hominy stew). I always get red, but it's interesting to try with green. If you're feeling like some New Mexican food with a healthy dose of New Mexican atmosphere and perhaps a walk around old town before/after, check out Church Street Cafe!

    (4)

  • Amy C.

    Good food and decent service. I had the carne adovada burrito which was delicious but a lot of food and not rolled like you'd expect. My husband had the soft tacos - nothing to write home about.

    (3)

  • D H.

    The food and margaritas were very good. The service, was not. It didnt appear to be all that busy, but I still went to get a chip refill for us because our server was just absent. Slow all around. I think she was having a bad day.

    (3)

  • Meridith G.

    My husband and I were really looking forward to finding a great patio accompanied by a great margarita and queso. Instead, we ended up with mediocre, kraft at best, queso and a margarita selection that included everything but... Yes, tequila. It was a wine and beer bar with margaritas...yes, I'm still confused. I ordered the sangria margarita that tasted like cool aid that cost me $7.50. The service was direct, not warm and at one point we watched our server actually leave the restaurant and return on the phone 10mins. later. If you are at all a foodie, be weary. At least the chips were good.

    (2)

  • Natalie O.

    I love the patio. But, we had a less than satisfying lunch. First, our waitress was too rushed & never once smiled. She said we couldn't add chicken to our salad unless we wanted to get a side & put it on ourselves. She did bring full iced teas without us asking, but the salad took too long & the greens weren't very fresh. There was no dressing on the salad & we had to wait for over 5 minutes to get her attention. Also, we had asked to leave the olives off (& they were all over the top), AND we couldn't find ANY avocado on our "Southwestern Salad." Superbly disappointed & hungry & thoroughly annoyed (quote Kiki). Then, when we politely asked for dressing & avocado (which had been listed in the ingredients on the menu), she looked at us like we were stupid & condescendingly asked if we wanted her to fix her mistake! Ugh.

    (3)

  • Robert D.

    Wonderful atmosphere. Friendly not stuffy service. Food is presented and tastes fantastic. Green Chile sauce is so good! Bought 6 jars to bring home. Will come back to Old Town again just for this restaurant and then enjoy the shops.

    (5)

  • Jason F.

    Pace is super big when you enter. We were seated all the way in the back. Had a nice view of a garden from our table. Chips and salsa were immediately served and drink orders taken. Drinks were delivered extremely promptly. Waiter had good suggestions on food and even what the ingredients were. Food tasted decent. Overall.... I'd go back again.

    (4)

  • Jane V.

    We stopped by here before to have an appetizer and a drink, and were disappointed that you have to order a full meal to get a margarita. We had friends in town this weekend so we stopped by for our full meal after walking around old town. I had read a review saying it was a tourist trap and I disagree. The prices were reasonable. The food was delicious and the service was fast and friendly. It may seem a little touristy, but isn't not a trap. I had the blue corn enchiladas and they were amazing! Everyone else was equally pleased with their meal too. We plan to go back again! Oh and the sopapillas were amazing and hot!

    (5)

  • Adina B.

    We were seated promptly and the waiter came pretty quickly. He was smiling as he took our order but his tone was pretty condescending. The food came out quickly and was delicious. The enchiladas were great - both the red and green sauces were very good, although the green was a little watery. The waiter spent the rest of the time horsing around with the other staff. I thought the manager was very unprofessional. They ignored the customers and ate and drank in front of everyone. It took a really long time to get the check, and by that time I felt like I was intruding on a staff party. I probably wouldn't come back as there are a lot of other places to choose from.

    (3)

  • Sandra G.

    This will be the last time I try a place just because I heard the patio was nice. I would rather enjoy good food than a nice patio. My sister in law and I both ordered the combination plate and bleh! It was disgusting. The rice was crunchy, the Chile relleno was nothing but soggy batter and the tamale was bland. The only thing that was somewhat good we're the beans, the beans!! Ugh I was so disappointed that I seriously didn't want to pay the 40.00 tab for two lunch combination plates and water. It was ridiculous!! Never again, I do not recommend this place to anyone that wants good New Mexican food. It's the worse I've had since we moved here. The service wasn't that great either.

    (1)

  • Knowledgeable F.

    AWFUL. Sorry, but I grew up in NM, specifically Santa Fe & the meal that I could barely eat at Church St was the worst new mexican I've ever had.

    (1)

  • Michael B.

    Yuck How disappointed we were with the food, from the tasteless guacamole to the tasteless green chili chicken soup to the ----we'll nothing was even a fair representation of So Western or Mexican food. Was nice to sit in the patio on such a nice day and the service was fine.

    (1)

  • Marc R.

    We went here for dinner, it was recommend to us by my cousin. It's roomier than it appears on the outside. There are sort of different sections to it which is nice. We wound up being seated in an area where it felt almost like a private room. The first staff member that greeted us was friendly and helpful. Our server was decent as well. The food was delicious, everyone liked what they ordered. The prices are a tad high for such a casual restaurant, but not too bad. I'd go back again.

    (3)

  • Deborah K.

    My mom, dad, and I went to this place. I ordered enchiladas, and my parents split the fajitas. My parents thoroughly enjoyed the fajitas, although the guacamole was spicy for my mom's and my tastes. The manager was very informative about the restaurant's history. Finally, the sopapillas are to die for and are provided with every meal!

    (4)

  • Isaac C.

    Not what I expected after reading the reviews and hearing for friends. The food was incredibly dry and also greasy. After eating the "Indian Burger" I was in bed and in the bathroom for a few hours hugging my stomach. I later went back hoping to give it a second chance so I went to eat a steak taco. Upon taking a bite I had a nice mouthful of salt..... The service was nice so thats a plus maybe the only one. oh and they like to top with the yellow cheese that makes everything oily.

    (2)

  • Rebecca B.

    Great food, great ambience! Waiter was amazing and very accommodating for this party of five plus an infant requiring a high chair. The food was amazing - the sopapillas are like bits of heaven for the tongue. The posole was good, I had chicken tacos; they were the best that didn't come out of my own kitchen.

    (4)

  • Jennifer I.

    The food was pretty good, but the service needed some work. Our waitress was very friendly, but kept forgetting things (beer, appetizers, refills, etc). When she asked us if we wanted more chips and salsa, we said "sure," and then she said "well, you have a lot of food coming out, are you sure?" That made me feel really uncomfortable. It's a cute location and I'm sure that, with a different server, this place is fantastic.

    (3)

  • Cleo S.

    This food is some of the worst I have ever eaten in a restaurant. As a native New Mexican it pains me to know that so many Old town tourists are eating this food and walking away believing this is what New Mexican food has to offer. Absolutely horrible!

    (1)

  • Nick W.

    I was visiting my sister from out of town and on a whim we stopped off to try out this place. Very glad we did! At first it looked kinda small, but as we walked back through the building it really opened up. And the patio was wonderful! If you have the option, I recommend sitting back there. The service was fantastic, very friendly and accommodating. The food was great too. I'd highly recommend thisi place and can't wait to go back there!

    (5)

  • Myria M.

    I guage NM restaurants by their Blue Corn Red Chile Enchiladas...theirs are good! Nom!

    (4)

  • Leah B.

    Let me preface this by saying that I eat out nearly every day for at least one meal, and I've been coming to Church Street Cafe for over ten years. I also routinely recommend it to out of town guests and visiting business associates. Until last night it was one of my favorite places to eat in Albuquerque: decent service and delicious, authentic New Mexican food. Because of this, I chose Church Street as the location for an annual Christmas dinner with my best friends from college. To make sure we would have a table for our small group of six during the holidays, I made our reservation the first week of December. It did not disappoint as far as the food went, and our waitress was friendly and informative. It took about 20 minutes before we got drinks, and another 10 to place our order. Food came relatively quickly, maybe 15 minutes later. I had my usual, the old fashioned chile rellenos, my husband had the steak fajitas and they were delicious. Three of us had 2 or 3 alcoholic beverages and they were tasty and refreshing. Our friends, who had never been there, were also very impressed with the food and service and all commented that they would be coming back. It was at the end of the evening that things went south. We ordered our last round of drinks at the prompt of our waitress before getting our checks a little more than an hour after we arrived, so drinks and the checks arrived at the same time. We were just getting everyone's cards/checks sorted when the hostess came to our table and quietly told my husband, "We need you to please leave, we have another party to sit." She did not hint or allude that she wanted us to leave, she literally flat out told us to leave. I don't think we stayed overly long for a party of six, and while we were laughing and enjoying each other's company, we were not at all disruptive. We let her know we had just gotten our checks and she said, "Oh good," and left. Immediately after 3 or 4 people started unceremoniously clearing our table and RUDELY asking if we were done with our drinks. We still had FULL drinks that we ordered at the offer of our waitress and that had literally arrived 1 minute previously, and they were trying to take them away! Seriously?!? I have never been more rudely treated at a restaurant. And let me say again that I eat out at sit-down restaurants almost daily. I have NEVER been treated so badly. Our friends at this point did not know that we had been asked to leave, and they were very taken aback about how and why we were basically being pushed out of the restaurant. Finally, about 5 minutes later the treatment was so blatantly rude that we did leave. We left full or half-full drinks on the table THAT WE PAID FOR, so that they could seat another table. We considered reducing or eliminating our tips altogether, but it wasn't the server's fault. As we were walking out, one of the staff said, "I'm sorry, we don't normally ask guests to leave, but..." We didn't stay long enough to hear the rest of that faux apology. Maybe the guests who were already being seated at our table did? Either way, I will NEVER be back and I'm pretty sure my friends won't either. What good is great food if you are treated so badly that all you're left with is a bad taste in your mouth?

    (1)

  • Marcel S.

    We always love to go to Church Street Café, and have taken many friends and family over the years. Not sure what's going on but recently the service went way down. Last Mother's Day we went with a group to the restaurant including several kids, to have brunch. We had to wait for 2 hours before we finally got our food! Last Saturday we gave it another try visiting with a group, to have breakfast. This time we had to wait 1 1/2 hour (90 minutes) for our food! It seems that they're simply unable to handle groups. It's very disappointed though as they used to be able to handle groups just fine. Unfortunately this seems to have changed. The place is scenic and the food is good though; just don't even think on going there with a group of people, as you better bring snacks and some handheld videogames to kill the waiting time.

    (2)

  • Paul G.

    Strolling Old Town today during San Felipe Church Fiestas. Did not want street food. Remembering Church Street Cafe and having had good experience in the past, that's where I went. I was craving breakfast and feasted on their breakfast quesadilla with chorizo, green chile, sour cream, and guacamole for 8 bucks! Service was fast and he (the server) seemed to really take care of the visitors when his question "red or green" puzzled them. I'm puzzled at the reviews here as this is not a typical Mexican tourist trap and it is highly regarded around town and by the merhcants.

    (4)

  • Harry E.

    Pretty good Mexican food is served here. Servings were very generous and service was very responsive and friendly. Loved their quesadilla, enchilda and chile relleno; but their tamale was on the dry side. Overall, a very nice place for Mexican food in Albuquerque.

    (4)

  • Eric C.

    I had the combination plate. The chile relleno was really good. I did not like the enchilada or tamale though. The chips taste stale. The salsa was fresh and fine. The beans tasted like they were from the can.

    (3)

  • Kathy B.

    Visiting Albuquerque for balloon festival so realize every place has been slammed with customers. We got in quickly. Cute place. Food was okay but nothing special. Most of group ordered old fashioned rellenos are were disappointed with the last of any chiles. I ordered carne adovada and it was flavorful but needed a side order of green chile to add any chile flavor. chiles are very mild, almost bland.

    (2)

  • Hammer F.

    Great food with great atmosphere. Service is good. Parking can be tough. Good variety of New Mexican fare, all delicious. Sangria is good. The atmosphere is very cool, old-school New Mexico.

    (4)

  • Steve P.

    Went here with friends while on vacation. Everyone was happy with the food and service. The food was tasty and the portions large. The prices were reasonable and the Margaritas were excellent. I would highly recommend you stop here if you visit Old Town.

    (4)

  • K. K.

    I have been a frequent, faithful customer of Church Street Cafe for 20 years. The restaurant has always been delightful and the has always been delicious. However, the last two times I have come here to eat, I have been very disappointed in the food and the service. The food was mediocre at best. The steak in the fajita was tough and appeared chewed. The vegetables were barely roasted or grilled and the tortillas were brought on a plate and not in a covered dish to keep them warm. The wait staff were very hurried when both taking our orders and checking in with us. The person was not unfriendly, but just seemed disconnected. My friend's rellenos were very doughy and the cheese seemed like processed cheese. This is so disappointing because I have enjoyed dining here as well as bringing friends and visitors to New Mexico. What happened.

    (1)

  • LT K.

    I had to eat at Church Street Café because the adobe was built around 1706 and it has never been sold, but passed down the family. The menu is standard Americanized Mexican food. I had the tamales (a pork and veggie). It was delicious, but not the best around, and nothing memorable about. The salsa that came with the complimentary tortilla chips was delicious and fresh. The green chili sauce that came with the tamales was good as well. I also had the sangria. It was disappointing as they used crushed ice so it dilutes me flavor rather quickly. All meals end with a pepita (spelling?). A puffy Indian flat bread that is similar to a pita bread. It came hot and so delicious with honey. Service was very prompt, friendly, and my waiter just automatically refilled the chips and salsa.

    (3)

  • Anonymous C.

    We wanted some traditional New Mexican Food food while stopping through Albuquerque and the volunteers at the welcome center pointed us to Church Street Cafe. Our server was one of the best servers we have ever had. He was friendly and extremely helpful. He was prompt and made us feel welcome and at home but he was not overbearing. Chips and Salsa were awesome and they kept coming as long as we kept eating them. We ordered a Frito Pie and a Tamale, Enchilada, and something else combo. They brought extra plates with each dish to make splitting easier (and there was no additional charge for it.) All of the food was delicious and each component was distinct. If you are in Albuquerque and looking for New Mexican food, hurry over to Church Street Cafe.

    (5)

  • Brittany F.

    We went on a Thursday night with a group of friends. Parking was no problem, but that's about the best I can say about the experience. The wine selection is fairly decent, but the beer offerings are lacking. The complimentary salsa was nicely spicy. I ordered the taco salad, which was nothing special. It was actually more meat than salad, which may be a plus for some. My husband ordered the beef burrito, which while gigantic, was bland and uninventive. We both thought the entrees were overpriced for the low quality. Perhaps the worst part of the experience was the service. Though the restaurant was over half-empty, the service was very slow and unenthusiastic. All in all, I definitely wouldn't go back. For the price, you can have a much better meal in Albuquerque.

    (2)

  • C R.

    Get Minika as your waitress!

    (3)

  • MT M.

    Came here to eat based on a recommendation from a gift shop cashier. The front is deceiving as it makes the place look very small! Once you walk in, you will see how big this restaurant really is. There is an open patio area for those wanting to eat outside. The chips and salsa were good. They served a local selection of beers and their mixed drinks are made right. Being out first time in Albuquerque, we ordered one burrito with red chili and the other with green. The chili/sauce is very spicy!! So if your taste buds are mild, would recommend asking for the chili/sauce on the side to see if you can handle it. Our waitress was awesome and very attentive!!! The free sopapillas at the end were an extra bonus.

    (4)

  • Scott G.

    Very authentic good Mexican food... I recommend the enchiladas... the sopapillas are complimentary and delicious.

    (5)

  • Kat M.

    I have NO idea how this place got such good reviews?! I'm an avid Yelper as I travel a lot for my job and I love Mexican food and this place was NOT good. The chips and salsa were OK, the Santa Fe Chardonnay was OK at best, and the Pasole was....just OK too. I've had better Mexican food up north....Skip this joint and try somewhere else. I'd rather eat at Chipolte for Mexican than this place, NOT impressed.

    (2)

  • Nate G.

    The chips and salsa are excellent, easily above average. Shouldn't be a huge contribution towards the rating, but it is usually an accurate and early indicator of the meal. I had the three shredded beef tacos. They were good but alone they lacked a kick and were a little bland. I spooned in some salsa and they were much better. I didn't care for the sides of beans and rice. The location in Old Town is fun and the atmosphere and decoration of the place is very nice. I would definitely come back here on my next visit to ABQ.

    (4)

  • Sarah K.

    points for: ambiance, service, taste slight nay for: weak margaritas rundown: patient and friendly staff, sit on the back patio!, rice sopapillas and rellenos are incredible. this place makes you want to just unwind. everyone said it was the best so we did it and I will tell others the same.

    (4)

  • Danielle T.

    LOVED this place. The backyard patio setup was such a surprise; I had no idea it was back there when we decided to dine at this place. It's so nice to sit out there, very pretty. Food was delish. Our waiter was delightfully awkward. Very, very strange, but funny. My only complaint is... the sangria? That was not sangria. That was sparkling cider mixed with cherry flavor or something. No idea.

    (4)

  • Trey M.

    We had breakfast and the server was great. It seems to be a local favorite and I can understand why. I proffered the green chili salsa over the red.

    (4)

  • J J.

    I absolutely loved Old Town Albuquerque and will definitely go back. My first day in ABQ, Saturday 4/13, was a beautiful afternoon. I wanted to sit outside, enjoy the sun and have an IPA. I asked around and Church Street Cafe was the front runner. I sat on the front patio and ordered an IPA and nachos. The beer was good but the nachos were burnt, dry and tasteless. All of this could be ignored (by me) if the service was good. The waiter was rude about my IPA questions and my check was put down without being asked. Maybe this is a house rule, but the table next to me was very insulted by it (as was I). They let the server know that they thought it was rude. I was glad that they expressed what I was thinking. I went back again (I love IPA's and sitting outside) and the server (a woman this time) was rude to the point of not even saying "you're welcome" to my "thank you." I asked the server if I offended her in any way. She said she had no idea what I was talking about. The two young girls sitting next to us made a point of letting us know that the server made them feel unwelcome as well. I have worked my way through school waiting on tables so I know what the pitfalls are with restaurant work. My guess is that the management does not really care about tourists. We are replaceable. But my message to you is that the world is getting smaller and with the internet, tourist are no longer people that you never see again. PEOPLE WILL READ WHAT WE SAY. MAKE US FEEL WELCOME AND GIVE US GOOD FOOD AND GOOD SERVICE. WE WILL TELL OTHER PEOPLE!!!

    (1)

  • Jae K.

    Awesome food, service, and ambiance. I could look at all the decorations and furnishings forever. The history of this place is pretty cool--generations of families lived here for almost 300 years before turning it into a restaurant. (I agree Casa de Ruiz is a much better name and keeps the history of the place intact.) My boyfriend and I went here twice during our visit. My boyfriend loved the chile rellenos and the vegetable fajitas were awesome (however this is the first Mexican place I've gone to where fajitas weren't served with rice and beans--1 star off for that.) Stick with the Mexican food. The sandwich I got the second time was so so. Margaritas were good, awesome never-ending, complimentary chips and salsa. Lots of vegetarian options. A must for your Old Town experience.

    (4)

  • Spiny N.

    Stopped in for a snack and drinks on the patio. My daughter had the giant cinnamon roll and devoured the whole thing so must have been good. I found the chips and salsa to be fresh and flavorful with a little too much salt on the chips. Will have to come back when we can explore the menu further. Good service, pet friendly.

    (4)

  • Wudli W.

    We stumbled into this lovely restaurant and were blown away. The food, the atmosphere and the staff were fabulous. This is one of the oldest buildings in Albuquerque and the inside is cosy and original. You have to stop in this unique place if you stay in Albuquerque.

    (5)

  • Wendy P.

    Three stars mostly for the back patio and the historic building. The food was ok (fajitas), but overpriced, and the agave margarita was among the worst I've had in recent memory. Perhaps not so surprising given the tourist factor in the neighborhood, but I was a little disappointed.

    (3)

  • Keith R.

    Have again: beautiful restaurants, excellent service, good chips and salsa (but the guacamole was too spicy for some in my party), all moving this review from two to three stars. Not have again: The carne adobada al horno was just ok and their sopaipillas were not nearly as good as Maria's in Belen. Also, the chile relleno was not all that good. Sopaipilla ok but not nearly as good as Pete's Cafe in Belen.

    (3)

  • Judi M.

    If you are visiting from out of town please remember this place serves "New Mexican" food not Mexican food. New Mexican food is usually pretty spicy, so if you don't like the heat get your green or red chilli on the side. There GREEN CHILI STEW is AWESOME!!!! Spicey but awesome. I have ate here many times and both My husband and myself have always enjoyed everything we had. T Plus the building is very old like (200) years old they have beautiful decor, and it is family owned. There is also a great patio area in the fron and in the back. They serve breakfast all day, with the exception of pancakes. Lastly it is located in Old town, which is a lovely area ABQ.

    (5)

  • Susan M.

    The ambiance alone earns it 4 stars. How cool is it to eat in a building that is over 300 years old!!! The restaurant is beautifully decorated. I ordered the Navajo Taco which was quite tasty. My only complaint was that it had entirely too many beans. A few go a long way as far as I am concerned, so if I ordered it again, I would skip the beans. The Indian fry bread, meat and cheese were all very good. My husband tried the Pueblo Burger, which comes on Indian fry bread. He thought it was good, but that the French fries were marginal. Its probably a 3.5 stars, but this time I am rounding up because of the building and service!

    (4)

  • NANCY S.

    We've been to this place twice now. That's it. Biggest complaint - lack of consistency in EVERYTHING except the sopaipillas. Our first trip, party of 4, had the worst service in history. Our youthful male waiter was either stoned or so infactuated by the ladies in the table next to us that he forgot to put our order in, forgot to bring it to the table, forgot to ask us if we wanted more beer or wine. But the food was fabulous. So we came back. BIG MISTAKE. The food wasn't even close to as good as the previous visit AND we even had trouble getting those yummy sopaipillas brought to our table. But the service was good. I agree with the folks that say - CSC gets away with it because of the tourists. Never again

    (2)

  • Ann K.

    My co-worker and I visited Old Town on our last night in ABQ. We ate in a back dining room that was warm and cozy with a nice fireplace in the corner. It looked like this was perhaps a new addition to a very old building. The sangria is delicious and well worth a try. We enjoyed our meals and got a good taste of southwestern fare. Having been to Sadie's a couple days before, we were pleased to see our side of guacamole really was guac and not a bowl of lettuce with a scoop of guac on top. I thought the prices here were reasonable especially given this is a big tourist area. The sopapillas were awesome! No need to add honey on these!

    (3)

  • Jimmie R.

    Historical adobe building with low ceilings and doors (I'm only 6' and thought I might hit my head). Busy for breakfast and with only 1 server, but he did an excellent job with a dozen tables. Slightly disappointed that there were no enchiladas on the breakfast menu but the Christmas sauce (red and green) on the eggs made up for it.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth D.

    My brother and I were driving through Albuquerque on our way to Hartford, CT. We stopped in Albuquerque for lunch with a couple of my old friends. I wanted something New Mexican where I have not gone before. I lived in Albuquerque for a few years, but never been to this place before. It was a little difficult to find in Old Town, but once we saw it--there was plenty of parking. I walking up to a small abode looking place expecting a quaint little restaurant inside, and boy was I wrong. The place maybe small in the front, but it is very wide. We walked and walked before we got to the patio where my bff wanted to sit. From what I can see because we didn't sit inside, it was tasteful decorated and the patio is filled with plants and plenty of shades for a hot afternoon. I ordered an Old Fashioned Chile Rellenos entree. My bff ordered a vegetarian sandwich which was gorgeous when it came out. My brother got a Fajitas, and I don't remember what my other friend got. I didn't tried anyone food: Mine was good. It was a decent portion, but the flavors were not all there for me. I felt it might have needed some extra seasonings. I do like more spices than most people. Great atmosphere, good prices and portion size. Love to come back and tried something else later and walk around Old Town. I was going to give four stars until I remember how attentive the server was. He got our checks right away, came by multiple times to see if we needed water, our food came out quickly, and took our pictures. I was too busy catching up with friends that I didn't notice his name. :( Thank for the pleasant meal!

    (5)

  • Bill B.

    We recieved a recommendation that we try this restaurant. We were not disappointed. There are several seating areas including two outside and if the weather is good we recommend you opt for the rear patio dining area. If not good weather ask to be seated in the last inside room where the big fireplace is located.We ordered fahitas, tamales and tacos. There were ll good. There was a lot of food on each platter.The service was excellant. They offer red and green chili and we would recommend you ask for it on the side as both are very hot. The tamales were beef---we ordered two and was served three. The rice was a little dry and not completley cooked.Pinto beans were cooked just right. You are served some great chips with the salsa. The chicken fahitas were excellant and served on a large bed of onions and fresh green peppers..The fahitas came with all the regular trimmings. Prices compare with other restauranst in the area. Just remember this is bacially a tourist area.We would go back again

    (4)

  • Taylor B.

    So the concierge at our hotel recommended this place. We drove by and it looked a little small and empty, so we passed. Went by another Mexican restaurant with lots of people on the patio. Stopped a guy walking out of the other restaurant and asked him how it was. He said it wasn't that great and that if we wanted a great place, to go to Church Street Cafe. So we did. And I'm glad we did. The location is fantastic - right in Old Town. The building is a gorgeous old house that is deceptively large and spacious and very well set-up. We sat on the patio, which was lovely. All six of us enjoyed our food very much, but the highlight for my mom and I were our agave margaritas. SO GOOD! Overall our experience here was great!

    (5)

  • Marion S.

    Happened upon this restaurant in Old Town on our last day and we thrilled to find it! After walking into a dark entryway and low ceilings, i was very concerned that we might be eating breakfast in a dark corner on a gloriously sunny day, but as we kept walking we entered a garden room that was absolutely lovely. The room offered garden views, high ceilings and lovely traditional design. I am a vegetarian so I always have to be careful with beans and other items that might hide lard or other animal products but NO NEED TO WORRY HERE! Food was amazing, service was very friendly and efficient. The only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is (for breakfast drink junkies like me) because their espresso machine was broken. Also, when I asked the waiter to recommend where I could get an espresso upon leaving he directed me to a Starbucks when in reality there was a coffee/ice cream shop a few doors down :)

    (4)

  • B G.

    My 4 star rating leans heavily toward atmosphere and service. The place gets bigger on the inside, mainly because the nice outdoor area. It was clean and attractive. Our table was regularly checked on and the waiter did a very good job fulfilling requests. The food came out quickly and was good but not great. Nothing against the food just had better but everything was good quality. Nice selection of beer and wines.

    (4)

  • Hoz H.

    From their website: Casa de Ruiz, which literally translates to "the house of Ruiz", has a long and distinctive history. Unfortunately much of this history has been lost with the passage of time and that which remains is at best uncertain." What exactly does that mean? The food is good, the location perfect, the waitstaff competent (though no one could tell me the difference between "New Mexican" and "Mexican" cusine). My wife and I enjoyed our meal. Now as to that lost, distinctive, uncertain history? Anyone care to elaborate?

    (3)

  • M P.

    Went here with my family on trip to see Balloon Festival. The service was poor and the staff was not attentive. The food also left a lot to be desired. My daughter got the chicken nuggets, which were Mickey Mouse nuggets from Costco, and they were so over cooked they lost all flavor and were hard like hockey pucks. The guacamole had no flavor - big chunks of avocado with little in the form of spices/garlic/tomatoes. I had the fajitas and the chicken here lacked flavor or seasoning as well. Anyone could have easily whipped this meal up at home. This is a tourist trap and I would not recommend.

    (2)

  • Hernan V.

    We came here around 4pm in picturesque Old Town. The ambiance was cozy and sociable. That was until we walked all the way back to a cavernous warm place. The decor was very typical for New Mexico but appropriate. We ordered their pitcher of Sangria at a decent price but found it incredibly sweetened and watered down. Boo! We started with the Green Chile Chicken soup. It was very tasty but very very filling. Next up was our main courses: Handmade Tamale Plate and Carne Adovada al Horno both delicious and well seasoned but a tad on the heavy side for our tastes. The pork was moist but we felt the tamales were a tad on the dry side. Overall I would definitely come back. Their patio was closed but that looked amazing. They also have live music Thu-Sat nights. Definitely a must if you're stopping by 'burque

    (4)

  • Memi M.

    I really, REALLY love the ambiance of this place... the patio is a beautiful and quaint oasis in the heart of Old Town. They often have a live guitarist, which my family loves. The food and especially the service, however, seem to consistently leave me hanging. This time I had enchiladas, they were good. Chile is not very hot by NM standards (makes sense in touristy part of town, I guess) nor is their salsa, though it is tasty. Any special orders or substitutions have always been catered to. Other times I've had breakfast and sandwiches, which were great and the taco salad, decent. However, on my last visit (late Dec '13) our waitress was awful. She was very rude, did not make eye contact or introduce herself, she cut us off while ordering/speaking many times, and rolled her eyes when my friend asked for a soda refill after sitting with an empty cup for about 15 minutes. There was a large party in the same room, and their order had obviously gone to the kitchen before ours. I understood this, but she kept constantly using them as an excuse for her poor attitude. However, I'm sure I'll be back. Can't resist that patio for a margarita in the summer.

    (3)

  • Charmaine K.

    Spent the afternoon in Old Town and ended up in Church Street Cafe for lunch since we've heard good things. The food was pretty good, I had the steak and egg. What got me really happy was the mojito. They used agave wine (if I remembered correctly) instead of rum because they don't have a full liquor license, and I don't know what else they put in there but it was one of the yummiest mojito I've ever had. The sopapilla is also awesome but then again, I love deep fried food. The patio seating are also nice and fun. Nice not too expensive place within the tourist area with decent food and great drinks, will probably recommend it to friends and go back if I go to Albuquerque again.

    (3)

  • Lynette M.

    Well my friends, I "yelped" this place before actually sitting down and I must say that I should have listened to the "yelps" - because everything they said bad about this place is true. Could have saved myself $80.00 ! Lesson learned ! I did however find the place clean, very beautiful and very South West. But it's obvious that the owner has a lot of disposable income because the quality of food just isn't there. "I have a beautiful restaurant I can come to and play all day and night" who cares if my food is any good ! I do believe that the "rolled taquitoes" I ordered were from Costco... Really people??? put some of that money you spend on "decor" into paying a real Mexican chef.

    (2)

  • Ken F.

    This place is a tourist trap in old town. It is right behind the Church in old town and serves New Mexican not Mexican food. We went here once before moving to ABQ and once after having been here for awhile. Both times I was disappointed. The food was borderline disgusting the first time and I almost couldn't finish eating it. I ordered chicken tacos and the chicken tasted like it had been boiled three days ago. To me, the best dish to order to judge a New Mexican restaurant are Chiles Rellenos because it can either be glorious or disgusting. In the case of Church Street Cafe, the verdict is disgusting. They taste like they were made all ahead of time and then thrown in the microwave with some Green Chile sauce. What results is a soggy mess, almost like eating a microwaved sock stuffed with cheese. Besides the food, the service was acceptable. The place itself is beautiful but so is the rest of old town. There are better options right down the street to eat at.

    (1)

  • Justine D.

    The breakfast quesadilla ( yelp.com/biz_photos/s0ng… ) is so ridiculously good that I would be happy to come back here daily to sample everything on the breakfast menu. I choose my quesadilla with scrambled egg whites and green chilies and I was very happy with my selection. I must add that the pancakes looked phenomenal. I debated asking another patron to let me take a picture of her hot cakes. The back patio is currently under construction to expand the cafe. Despite this detail I really enjoyed the ambiance in the back. It's sheltered from any wind and there is a nice fountain in the corner.

    (5)

  • Michael D.

    From the front it looks like a hole in the wall. The place is huge and has a great patio out back. Enchilada was fantastic!

    (5)

  • Alicia A.

    We liked the atmosphere here, but the food was just ok, and the service was very slow. We sat on the lovely patio, but when the sun set, it was so dark that I had to use my phone to see my food. Most table on the patio had some soft Christmas light glow, but ours wasn't so lucky. I got the combo plate with a chili relleno (too spicy for me to eat at all -- I took one bite), cheese enchilada (good enough), and vegetarian tamale (a little dry, crumbly), with the "squash" as my side (delicious zucchini with corn, which paired wonderfully with the whole pinto beans). The sopapillas were fantastic -- fluffy, puffy and tender. Overall, I probably wouldn't go back, but if I did, I'd just order rice, beans and that squash mix. And sopapillas.

    (3)

  • Art S.

    I was visiting a vendor who brought us to this tasty restaurant. There were so many good choices and so much food. I'm not a squash fan, so I did not partake in the tamales. Instead I got burritos that had that spicy New Mexican sauce. I was really impressed the meal came with sopapillas. I look forward to visiting this vendor again so I can come back to this restaurant that was really good.

    (4)

  • Claudia A.

    Never again I'll come back to this place, unless the food is free, and even then. Their stuffed green chiles are terrible and all the other food they serve taste as well. The restaurant is pretty, but that doesn't make up for the bad food. Unfortunately, since this is located in the historic old town, lots of tourists end up eating here. They have no idea that New Mexican food can be so much better.

    (1)

  • Jay M.

    Visiting ABQ for the Ballon Fiesta and spent the rainy day around Old Town. A few locals mentioned this place so we decided to try it out. From the outside it looks like a quaint Mexican Restaurant, but once inside it opens up into a rather large space. Food: I rate it 3 out of 5 noses. The food was good, but did not have the "wow, this is awesome food factor." The chips and salsa was tasty and the salsa had a nice kick that left my palate wanting more. I had the chicken enchiladas: chicken was overly watery and tasted bland; the green chile sauce that was on top was not very spicy and lacked the flavor and my palate craving more; beans and rice were ok. The only thing I wish I had was a bowl of their guacamole, that was definitely a 5 nose winner. Finally, if you have the water, ask for a margarita instead, the water had quite a foul taste to it. Atmosphere: Although we were expecting a small quaint place, it was a little too big for my liking, hence part of my 3 rating factored in. Service: Very friendly service, no issues here, just wish the food was a 4 or 5.

    (3)

  • Thomas C K.

    We went there twice and the first time the Service was absolutely abominable. We waited at least 45 minutes and only once the waitress was coming telling us that our food would be coming in 5 minutes but it took 15 after that Food was ok and we had chicken fajitas and some very enjoyable wine from New Mexico.

    (3)

  • Tony S.

    We had a really nice Sunday breakfast at the Church Street Cafe. So, not sure what all the complaints are about. Yes, the place is MUCH bigger than you think from the outside. There are all kinds of rooms inside. Even though it looked pretty busy inside, we sat outside in the garden. It was very quite and very relaxing with a fountain burbling next to us. * Service - 4 stars: Our server was polite and everything was done correctly... Multiple offers for more coffee, chips, dessert, etc. The service was a touch slow, but we were enjoying the garden so much, it was no big deal. fyi - we noticed that food seemed to be coming out more quickly after their breakfast rush was over (by the end our or meal.) * Food - 4 stars: We opted for Mini Huevos Rancheros (about a 1/2 size portion) The complimentary chips were a bit greasy, but tasty. The egg cooked atop a blue corn tortilla s was cooked just right. Beans (not re-fried) were awesome! The potatoes were a bit oily and not that crisp (but may that's their style?) And, I know friends who would have love them. The green chili was was good, but not hot. The red chili was hotter and had a great flavor... and was perhaps one the best red chili we had in Albuquerque. My partner thought it was a bit greasy. I could see her point, but it worked for me. There was plenty of food for that 1/2 order each. * Price - 5 stars: Only about $6 each + coffee! A great value especially given the quality. The other food we saw as we walked thru the restaurant also looked good. So, what's not to like? We'd go back again.

    (4)

  • Erik E.

    Decided this place needs more local reviewers, so I tried it out for lunch today. I was seated indoors and the place was only about half full (of tourists 8-) I think the word is "charming". This really does reek of 300 years of history and culture that people visiting our town are looking for. The waitstaff is composed entirely of young kids, so expect service accordingly: energetic, but not sticklers for detail. E.g., I asked for water no ice, and the waiter returned with a large glass of water with plenty of ice and a thick slice of lemon. As for the food, they had delivered a complimentary basket of hot well seasoned chips and a thick salsa with a pretty good kick before I had even ordered. Nice! I started with the chicharrones and a glass of sangria followed by the combination plate. (N.B., I added pictures of all the food) The sangria I would not order again. I thought it was overpriced and the glass was too small. Also, I like the sangria I make at home better. Now, to be fare, I make a fantastic sangria (modesty like totally out the window), so that may not be a fare comparison. Bottom line, it was good, but not worth the dosh. The chicharrones on the other hand were a nice surprise. Three small fresh hot flour tortillas and a cup of diced pork with a good crust. Crunchy, chewy, not overly spicy porky goodness. Me likey! There were lots of choices on the combination plate, mostly amounting to vegetarian or not. I had the "old fashion" chili rellenos which is quite different from the chili rellenos I've had in the past. Interesting. It was battered meat and cheese, fried and topped with green chili. Points for uniqueness! The chicken enchilada was great (lots of chicken!), and the tamale (pork) as good as any I've had in the Duke City (they always seem a little dry to me). I chose squash for my vegetable. Turned out it was actually a good calabacitas. No disappointment there. The last element was a big spoonful of whole beans with melted cheese. Good, but could've used more seasoning. Overall, I like this place. Parking is always a bear in Old Town, but I will especially keep it in mind when I have visitors from out of town. Might even suggest it as a place to get together with friends sometime.

    (3)

  • Merrill C.

    Probably the best New Mexican food I've ever had. Highly recommend the sopapillas! I would pay a return visit to Albuquerque just to eat here! Last visited in May 2008.

    (5)

  • Elektra R.

    GREAT red chile! Service is first class, the garden is dog friendly, and the food is terrific. Can't miss!

    (5)

  • Julie T.

    The chips and salsa are good. Tables are too close together. Sopaipillas were awesome. The fajitas and tacos are yummy. Generous portions. The icecream stuffed sopaipilla was HUGE and delightful.

    (3)

  • Dominic A.

    Food was good and the place is very interesting, don't let the front fool you the inside is huge. Waitstaff is friendly and quick

    (4)

  • david p.

    As others have said, the Church Street Cafe is in a great building in Old Town Albuquerque. It looks like it may have been a house at some point in its history. There are a lot of small interconnected rooms and low ceilings. Out front there is a nice patio; I didn't check out the back patio. The food was just average. A little overpriced, but that's what you can do when you have a captive audience in a big tourist area. The salsa for the chips was spicier than I expected, the green chili was pretty mild. Portions were generous. Food, 3 stars. As great as the space is, the restaurant had zero atmosphere. Even crowded, it was eerily quiet. It felt like having dinner with your dysfunctional relatives or something. Nobody was talking, and if they were, it was in really hushed tones. Even big groups were avoiding conversation. Honestly, it was freaky and it made me want to hurry up and get out of there. Atmosphere, 1 star. Because it was so quiet, my server seemed really uncomfortable. Anyone sitting in your little dining area could hear your conversation with the server because that was the only conversation taking place. The silence made it really awkward and so the service seemed really strained. Service, two stars.

    (2)

  • matt h.

    The salsa was bland and the food is overpriced, but the atmosphere was nice and the neighborhood is pretty cool. I had the tamales and they were nothing special, though they were priced like they were.

    (3)

  • Beth U.

    Great place! Looks small on the outside but great inside, Very friendly staff(and happy staff) and the food was great! Behind the old church The best nachos and sopas! All the food was wonderful,,,and wish we had this place by my house! Thanks to all the staff1

    (4)

  • Mark G.

    Food was decent, not too expensive for a tourist trap, but the service was horrible. Would probably not eat there again.

    (2)

  • W S.

    We had a good breakfast here. The waiter was this really sweet older gentleman -- he was great with our kids. I had the Mile High Pile (bacon and two scrambled eggs smothered with chile and cheese piled on top of a mountain of papitas). It was huge, but I was very hungry and it was good. We ate in a lovely, spacious room looking out into a patio with lots of plants and a fish pond, which the kids thought was cool.

    (4)

  • Katie J.

    This place is adorable! It looks like a tiny old house from the front, then you walk in and find two very large rooms and a great patio. We were here for lunch; their menu is largely New Mexican but also offers a large variety of sandwiches and salads, including a vegetarian sandwich that came highly recommended, by someone who is not even a vegetarian! The green chile chicken soup and posole were excellent, and the Albuquerque Turkey sandwich (turkey with green chile) was yummy as well. I'd like to go back for breakfast sometime!

    (4)

  • Craig C.

    Had a late lunch at Church St Cafe. Sat on the rear patio and enjoyed chile rellenos and a cold beer. The food was great, the atmosphere was unbeatable, and our waiter knew his stuff. What a great way to spend a weekend afternoon. If you are hungry in Old Town Albuquerque, eat here!

    (4)

  • MoDa M.

    Am not sure why this restaurant gets such high marks. Maybe I visited on an off night? The pluses: The setting is awesome - right in the heart of Old Town. I sat outside, and had a view of the church. The minuses: The service. It was slow, and the waitress took a neighboring table's order down wrong. Way wrong. To their credit, the restaurant refunded them for their meal, but it was still a surprise how off the order was. The food. It was bland, and cold. I had the tamale plate, and the beans and spinach were really cold. The tamales were meh - I get better tamales in Portland from our streetside vendors. Beware the drinks! They don't have a hard alcohol license, due to the proximity to the church. So the mojito is made with wine instead. In my mind, that doesn't make a mojito. Overall, not recommended.

    (1)

  • Marianne C.

    This place is in a historic building and it's owned by historic people. The place felt a bit creepy, to be honest. People might call that "cozy", but I didn't feel at home there. I ordered the Outlaw lager, which is reasonably local, and I like local beers. It didn't disappoint. I ate some chicken quesadillas, which were ok but nothing special. The prices here are expensive for the quality of food. I think it's the Old Town surcharge. Our waiter was nice enough. I think he had a crush on the Hoff, but who doesn't?

    (3)

  • Jennifer M.

    This place wasn't fantastic. But it wasn't wretched. I'm from out of town but I visit often as my mom and her entire family are from New Mexico. This cafe was recommended to us by a local. We were looking for a place with good food, ambiance, that was also kid-friendly. Oh, and it also needed to have good sopapillas. Anyhoo...the service, while friendly, was slow as hell and they botched up one or two of our group's orders. The food wasn't jump-up-and-down stellar but it served a purpose and it was definitely edible. And the sopapillas were pretty darned good (although these were the first I've had since my last visit so perhaps my taste buds are out of practice). Anyway, not bad but probably won't be visiting again any time soon.

    (3)

  • Aron J.

    They have pretty bomb margaritas. Food was good too. From what I had of it. Went for happy hour mostly. It's northern New Mexico style food. I didn't really like the salsa though. Way too sweet. But overall I will definitely be visiting this place again. It's also right in the heart of old town. Lot's of cool places to check out in that area.

    (4)

  • Mary C.

    08/18/15 Received communication from owner. If you are in a group of 10 or more, tell your server that the owner said it is OK to separate the checks (it says you cannot on the menu). 08/14/15 Not for groups of 10 or more. Church Street Café has good food, traditional New Mexican atmosphere, etc. But it does not give separate checks for groups of 10 or more and only provides a total dollar amount of all bar drinks (not itemized) so you have to ask the server how much you beer was in order to determine your share of the bill. Stupid management practice! Our party of 12 spent almost 30 minutes separating our individual costs from the check. Ruined our evening together - won't go back.

    (4)

  • Robert E.

    We picked this restaurant to spend a quiet afternoon with an out-of-town visitor coming to a conference and staying at a hotel in Old Town. We studied many possibilities, looking for a place with a nice courtyard for having a couple of drinks and enjoying New Mexico style. We picked Church St Cafe. The ambiance was wonderful, the food quite good, and the server attentive. The margaritas were only so-so however. That was a disappointment. I think the waiter said that they can't serve tequila due the proximity to the church nearby. That caused our guest to ask us whether in New Mexico they can't serve hard liquor next to an Ashram, or whether the rule applies only to certain types of churches.

    (3)

  • Ginny T.

    First I'd like to say that my grand mother prepared Mexican food often for her husband who had migrated here from Mexico. I've lived in NYC and San Diego so I have a good idea what Mexican food should taste like. Our cab driver recommended we skip some of the other restaurants and go straight to this place. The ambiance added to the experience and helped in earning this place a second star. The other star is for the waiter, he didn't smile much but he knew the menu and was fast and accurate. I had the tamales with red chili sauce and zucchini. The order also came with red beans. The sauce on the tamales was very bland and bordered on bitter. The red beans were unremarkable and tasteless. I enjoyed the zucchini because it was pretty natural and not heavily seasoned. Actually can't recommend this place.

    (2)

  • Lisa M.

    Stopped by on a trip from AZ to TX with high hopes since the place came recommended. It was quite a disappointment. Though the restaurant itself is beautiful, they had a serious fly problem... Our entire dinner (yes, we are inside), we were swatting flies. At one point, I had 4 flies sitting on my food - gross. Service was sub par. When bringing out our sopapillas, I imagined we would get clean dessert plates to eat on. Nope. We were told to eat our sopapillas OVER the remaining Mexican food left on our plates. For the price paid for our entrees, I would expect a higher level of service and certainly to be free of flying insects while I was eating.

    (1)

  • Rudy H.

    So, I just had lunch at this nice little cafe in Old Town with some co-workers. Little is an understatement because from the outside it looks like a little quint cafe. But once you walk inside it opens up to good size restaurant. I really like the adobe look of the outside of the restaurant and the southwestern feel and decor was a nice touch. Church St Cafe is your typical New Mexican style restaurant serving up some typical New Mexican/ Mexico style foods. Since I live near Old Town, I've been up and down that area plenty of times and I usually haven't eaten at any of the restaurants there because I feel they cater to tourists and I'm afraid the flavors and types of food served in those restaurants could be considered "safe" and not really "authentic". My fears were realized my friends! Although the "Pollo De Ruiz" (Chicken breast sandwich with green chile and cheese wrapped in a flour tortillas) I had was good, the green chile- I'm very sorry to say- was very plain and very mild, with no kick or flavor what's so ever. I kind of like my roasted green chile on the medium to hot side. Like I said what I ate was very good but man, hotter, roasted green chile would have kick it up a bit. Add some garlic and a little bit of salt to waken it up and BAM!!! Home run! All in all, Church St Cafe is a wonderful eatery and worth your time if your in the old town are and you want to grab a bit to eat!

    (3)

  • Osbaldo G.

    Came here for a late dinner. Honestly, it isn't a real tasty dine in place. However, the ambiance makes it kind of cool to be here. A lady had fallen when we were going in. Beware it's kind of dark going in and the floor kind of shaky. The city itself is nice. Lots of history and walking spots when around the restaurant. Just don't expect much from the food. It's average tasting food nothing like fireworks in your mouth. It's about a 2.5

    (2)

  • Angelina M.

    A-MAZING! Vegetarian tamales with pintos and squash on the side. So good--and melt in your mouth sopapillas to finish the feast. Besides the food, this place in Old Town has character: it's in an old hacienda and the rooms are intact, so there are "pockets" of eating areas; the arched doorways are low, and some people had to duck to get through; the front looks like it could hold 20-30 people, but the inside winds around through the rooms and must hold over 150.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth W.

    A mixed bag, for sure. We were told by several people to eat here while in town. The building was gorgeous- a home from the 1700s, with very few changes. The service & food were sub-par. We waited 10 minutes for a server to come to our table & it all sort of went downhill from there. Very bland Mexican food, reminiscent of a school cafeteria. The place is obviously meant for tourists, as I'm sure most locals know better, more authentic places. The history & the patio are worth at least having a drink before heading somewhere else for dinner.

    (3)

  • Sharon G.

    This is a perfect place for tourists looking for a true New Mexico feel. All of the typical NM food is here: burritos, huevos rancheros, green chile rellenos, and on. They also have some tasty margaritas and a beautiful back patio. My only complaint is that the service isn't always perfect but understandably these guys get very busy.

    (4)

  • Howie K.

    I've seriously considered giving this local mainstay a two-star review following my most recent visit, and if they don't get their act together soon, that's where they'll be for me. I'll give 'em one more shot, but man, I'm currently not a fan. But let me preface by stating that over many, many years I've enjoyed some decent meals, and service, on the absolutely gorgeous patio out back, which is strewn with lots of trumpet vine, potted plants and wooden coverings shielding the harsh New Mexico sun. It was a Saturday, a little after noon, obviously Tourist Central time for the place, and I expected a short wait. We were given one of those vibrating beepers and told we could wait 10 or 15 minutes, which was fine. Oh, and we waited at the front dest a good five minutes before we found the host. Anyway, when we were finally led through the restaurant, I put on my waiter goggles. In college I worked in more restaurants than I'd care to recall, and so I have a sort of automatic radar for service, and that thing started hollering when we toured the interior. Less than half of the tables were occupied. The large main room towards the back was virtually empty, maybe three parties. And the patio? Again, half full. Our waitress was out of her mind busy, which explains why our water and ice tea were never refilled. Food took the better part of forever to arrive. The plates themselves were really haphazard, slapped together. I had to get up and ask for the check. My wife said, "Honey, this is one of those times when you don't tip 20 percent. You just don't." And I didn't. (This is crazy rare for me.) I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt, because hey, every business has a bad day or five. But I really don't come here for the food. The service, ambiance and occasional hint of an Old Town ghost is my motivation. Right now, I'm much more motivated to grab New Mexican eats at Monica's El Portal, across the street.

    (3)

  • Frank O.

    The ambiance here is about all that is worth writing or raving about, but you should be warned. I had to send back my Carne Adovado, because it was quite cold on the plate edges. They must take the pork out of some bin, and then throw it under the salamander to re-warm with the Chile sauce over it. Even the cheese was barely warmed. The kitchen clearly rushed that. The waitress never came back to check on us. That's a big no-no. Staff in general does nothing to help each other out. No manager could be seen on the floor at any time, and this is a large operation. I could give it one extra star for the relatively decent red salsa that came with dark brown chips. But... the $3+ run of the mill iced tea and one realizes that this is one money collection system that favors the owner. What does ice tea cost to make? Sure I understand drinks are a big profit maker for owners, but really, let's be a little cognizant of the presentation. I was being served in a cafeteria style glass here. At least I was smart to steer clear of the wine based margaritas. As other have noted that too will be something you won't find top of the mark either. As Rudy H. said in his review not much is inspired here, most importantly the critical staff. Too bad, because the history here is amazing, and could be exceptional. It felt like a tourist trap.

    (1)

  • Windy R.

    We came here after being recommended by our hotel. At first glance it looks like a tiny place but my looks can be deceiving. We sat in one of the back patios by the water fountain and it was extremely pleasant. I ordered the vegetarian fajitas. Others at my table ordered the chicken and beef fajitas and beef enchiladas. The vegetarian fajitas were amazing! The mushrooms were so flavorful. You get a lot of food with this dish. My fellow diners said that their chicken and steak fajitas were really good. The meat was tender and veggies cooked to perfection. It had a nice spice that she liked that was not to strong. My other fellow dinner said that his only complaint was that the corn tortilla with his beef enchiladas was a poor choice, a flour tortilla would have been better. We also got a pitcher of agave Margaritas 23 dollars for a pitcher a good price for the number of drinks we got out of it. They were very good! Lastly the sopapillas were flakey and buttery and a good finish.

    (4)

  • K J.

    We often come here while touring Old Town for the sopapillas. Delish. With fresh honey (indoor dining only). Their fry tacos are very good too, with beans, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, meat piled high on freshly made puffy and light fry bread. Service is always efficient and friendly. Ambiance was homey and cozy, with outdoor seating if you choose (no alcohol outside though).

    (4)

  • Charlene C.

    Ambiance of old Mexico. We arrived at Old Town Albuquerque a little too early for most shops and eateries to be opened. In fact, the only place for breakfast was what appeared to be a really small restaurant behind the Church. We were pleasantly greeted and asked if we wanted to dine in or on the back patio. We opted for the patio. We walked through 3 or 4 separate dining rooms that we could have chosen before arriving at the back patio. The patio had all the charm of Mexico with plants, flowers, a Koi pond and grape vines. We totally enjoyed the entire time we were there and may go back for dinner tonight. I ordered an omelette with cheese, bacon and onion. Very good choice and the bacon was done just perfectly. My husband chose the "EL Hombre" breakfast with chorizo. He loved it and had me try the chorizo which I never like but this was really yummy and I would try if we were here in Albuquerque for another breakfast. Service was great. We were served by a very delightful man whom I would guess was if not an owner, certainly part of the family. He made sure we were happy with our choices and never let our glasses run dry. All in all a very happy way to begin the day. Would I eat there again? In a heart beat. Great food, superb service and reasonable prices.

    (5)

  • Bike Chaplain O.

    Comfortable seating overlooking the patio. Our waitress was friendly, helpful and followed through on our requests. The Reuben sandwich's corn beef did not taste fresh carved. The fries, though nicely seasoned, tasted like frozen fries. The cole slaw lacked moisture and flavor. For the $10 price you would expect more. This was a disappointment. Thanks for reading. The Bike Chaplain

    (2)

  • Neil L.

    We were excited to eat here, as the ambiance looked nice. We were seated in a nice court yard . We ordered margaritas, I asked for one "less sweet". I was told that would not be possible as they only use a pre made mix. The drink was well below average. Before the drinks the waiter brought out tortillas and salsa. The salsa was nondescript. Then we ordered dinner, my wife ordering chicken & cheese tacos. Let me preface the next remark by saying my wife likes most anything, she is very easy to please. She took 2 bites of her meal and said they were the driest, non tastiest taco she's ever had, she mentioned even the rice was dry and bland. She couldn't eat it. I order vegi fajitas, they were ok, a 5 out of 10 On top of that the service was quite slow. I do not recommend this restaurant.

    (2)

  • Jessica K.

    I came here twice. the first time it was on point, the second time--eh not so much. Both times I ordered the tamales with the Christmas sauce. my second visit here, they forgot my sauce so I had to asked for it on the side which was okay. the salsa, queso, guacamole is really good! the margaritas were okay. I love how they smoother your food in hot sauce. I loved the hot sauce and bought a couple jars of the red and green Chile to take back home with me.

    (3)

  • Geary J.

    This is a hidden gem that you'll be glad you found! When we visit Albuquerque this is our go to place for breakfast. The breakfast burrito is wonderful and one of the better we've found in our travels.

    (5)

  • David M.

    I really liked the authenticity here. The chips were homemade and darker with a hardier consistency than most places. The marinated chicken was super. The salad greens were perfect, no nasty bits and real greens, not iceberg. Portions were ridiculous. I could have shared a meal and not finished. The guacamole was great but had to stop eating it to leave room for my dinner. The table salsa was the best we've had on this trip so far. The service was very fast. Our food was out minutes after we ordered. Of course it was very slow maybe because of the high temps. Nice outdoor rear patio. Clean.

    (4)

  • Rick M.

    The Margaritas were a perfect start to a very good lunch. Probably the best Huevos Rancheros I have ever had. Great setting and very good service.

    (4)

  • Alec N.

    This restaurant was recommended to me by a local while I was traveling, so I decided I would give it a shot! The service at the front was splendid, but once we arrived at the table, it became very slow. The guacamole we ordered for our chips was bland, but all the other components were there and the texture was good. I ordered the vegetarian fajitas which I would order again. A bit of sour cream and lettuce to freshen them up was fantastic. Prices were pretty decent and the atmosphere had a New Mexico feel to it, which was fun for a non-native.

    (3)

  • Joanne N.

    This is one of my favorite places to go when I go to old town. Each time we order a salad and the beef fajita. It is super yummy!

    (5)

  • Alia G.

    Mixed Feelings... but overall I'd totally go back again just for the food. The Food - - - Is. Spectacular. enuf said The portions are large and the flavors are wonderful. I just wanted to keep eating and eating. (Of course, I do love eating good food.) I had the Carne Adovada al Horno because I had read about this dish... and I just had to try it. The succulent pork and red chile were a great match. Not spicy but just enough heat and flavor to let you know you are in the land of people who love their chiles. :) Mom had the tamales... and they were excellent as well. The masa was creamy and such a fine grain that you know they had to be homemade. Then there was the 'dessert' of sopapillas that were and hot and fresh from the oven. They literally melted in our mouth. *sigh*.... it's a good thing I don't live in New Mexico... I'd be 500 pounds in no time. The Service - - - Awkward. I don't know if they were understaffed for a Saturday night. Or what. From what I could tell... it's a large restaurant and there were quite a few people dining that evening. But we were seated in a room all to ourselves. Our gal was friendly, but it did seem she was spread thin. We saw her when she came to take our order and when she delivered it. And she delivered the sopapillas along with the check. (which is efficient) But when we paid cash... she gave us the wrong change. When I couldn't find her to fix it... I found a manager (I think it was a manager) to have him fix it... but he couldn't because he had to get her... I explained what happened and what our change should be (it's not higher math for crying out loud)... he left and our server materialized a few minutes later... handed us the change and immediately disappeared. I counted it and AGAIN it was wrong... since it was only off by a quarter... I said Nevermind and we left. So... while Math is NOT their strong suit... the Food is AWESOME!

    (3)

  • Beth E.

    Went with an old standby (taco salad) today because I wasn't overly hungry, yet needed some protein sustenance and hadn't had a salad in a long bit. The Roswell Alien NM brewed beer was a nice complementary beverage. I even ended up with some sopapillos for dessert.

    (4)

  • Jennifer C.

    Food here is just okay. Husband's carne adovada burrito was pretty good. I had the old fashioned Spanish style chili relleno. I might have been happier if I had an extra glop of green chili sauce to put over the top. Kids had the tacos which were nothing exciting. We ordered squash as our side with our beans, and we were served stewed zucchini for lack of a better description. It was mushy and not very good. We waited about 30 minutes to sit for lunch after arriving at 1 p.m. and the service was very slow. The servers were nice, and when one of the staff saw us looking for our server, he came over and asked what he could get us. Since parking is not easy in old town. I would definitely not make a special trip for this place, but I might come back to try breakfast. If you're already close by, you might enjoy the atmosphere. One nice touch was classical guitarist, Jose Salazar, playing during the lunch hours.

    (3)

  • CA S.

    The food was ordinary -- not bad, not great. The fajitas are large enough to split. The "traditional" chili rellenos are stuffed with pork. My young daughters split a breakfast burrito, which they really liked. The server was enthusiastic, which we really appreciated. food arrived rath slowly,especially for lunch. I wouldn't go back again.

    (3)

  • tania c.

    This was our first food stop in Albuquerque. It was a nice little restaurant with live music (guitarist) and a very friendly wait staff. We started with the queso and chips. To be honest, it tasted a little velveeta-y, but that didn't stop us from going after it. I had the enchiladas with green chile. They were good, but the sauce and beans were a little soupy and made for a messy plate. The sauce was a little spicey, but seemed bland compared to the other green chile I had elsewhere. The husband had the Mile High Pile, which was a breakfast foodstuff. Honestly, I'm not even sure what it was at this point. Definitely a giant pile of stuff. He enjoyed the meal, but was envious of the breakfast burrito our friend got. It was huge and delicious.

    (3)

  • Kristi g.

    Service was excellent. I had tamales, which were nicely done, sopapillas were fresh and tasty. Location is in the heart of old town, if you are there it is a nice place for lunch.

    (3)

  • Ryan D.

    Big plates of New Mexico Style food with a heaping basket of sopapillas on the side. Very delicious blue corn chips and home made tortillas to go along with flavorful chili and a wonderful chili relleno. The restaurant is in old town which of course puts the "tourist trap" warning label on anything. However, being off the main square it is a nice diversion. The breakfast options are also very good as well. The setting is in the oldest house in Albequerque and is very inviting. Staff is exceptionally friendly as well. Bathrooms are a little cramped and old...but c'est la vie. If you are in old town walk north of the church for a yummy lunch!

    (4)

  • Cara S.

    Absolutely delicious! Came here tonight with some friends, they had the traditional chile rellenos and I had the carne asovada. Dinner comes with fresh sopapillas as well - could have ate these all night long!

    (4)

  • Mike F.

    Margaritas were weak and sangria was blah, service was slow and forgot basics such as water. Have had better Mexican food at many other places. Patio was very nice though would never go back.

    (2)

  • Jenny R.

    Hands down the best Chile Relleno that I have ever had ! The red sauce is good, the green sauce is good. This is one of those places the locals recommend and nearly everyone that is eating there is someone that has come back because they are a fan!! Was an awesome recommendation by the locals!! Super yummy! Customer service was a bit lacking but we came in at change of shift so that may have been the reason!! I'd give them another chance just because the food was so great!

    (4)

  • Katherine D.

    Holy Cow! I am so full right now but it was worth every bite! I am in Albuquerque for work for the next week and my co-workers and I have decided to hit up a new neighborhood each night we are here. Monday was Old Town, so following advice we decided to hit up some authentic New Mexican cuisine. Our bellhop (staying at the Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel) suggested Church Street and we were game. First of all, the building itself is truly incredible. It is deceptively large and is actually a historical "home" built during the 1700s. The family Ruiz has owned the spot since the 18th century and it was an actual home until 1991. The walls are incredibly thick stucco and you feel like you are walking in to a piece of history. Our waitress was AWESOME! Very bubbly and attentive and made some really great suggestions. Our group was torn between Sangria or Margarits pitchers, so we opted for one of each. The Sangria was our favorite and I would highly suggest it. The Margs were....different. Mostly, I attribute this to a unique way the restaurant has managed to circumvent a liquor liscense: they make their tequila out of wine. Yep. Needless to say, the Margs were lacking the appropriate bite. Both pitchers ran $21 and were more than enought for our group of 5. I couldn't decide between the rellenas, tamales, or enchiladas, so I was happy to find that there was a combo plate that had one of each ($14)! With this entree, you get a choice of rice, squash or spinach, and beans and sopapilla. I chose the squash and I would recommend it. Others at the table vouched for the rice but no one had the spinach. But the choices don't stop there! You can also choose between a cheese, beef, or chicken enchilada; a vegetarian (corn, spinach, cheese)or pork tamale; and an "old style" (pork, chilis, cheese) or vegetarian (cheese and chilis) rellena. I chose the cheese enchilada (SUPER cheesy), the vegetarian chili tamale (HIGHLY recommend) and the old style rellena (LOVED it). You also get a choice of green or red chili sauce, but our waitress brought us "Christmas" (half and half). I suggest getting the sauce on the side, as chilis are HOT (didn't know this until I came to NM, where they are in EVERYTHING). The sopapilla came out fresh and hot and was ridiculous...if you have had a sopapilla at the typical mexican shop you usually end up with a deep fried, flat, crispy dish; this is not what sopapilla should be. ours was soft and fluffy and soooooo good! In conclusion, I was more than happy with my meal and I would return in a heartbeat. My only negative was the margarita (due to the lack of "real" tequila). The service was wonderful, the food to die for, and the general ambience was just what we were looking for for our New Mexican cuisine dinner!

    (4)

  • Ben M.

    We were in the mood for something resembling Tex-Mex and this hit the spot. Plus it seems to be one of the only places to actually catch a decent meal within walking distance of old town. Good stuff for the price and not having to get back in the car and drive somewhere else in the city to eat.

    (3)

  • Dean S.

    Best Mexican restaurant in Old Town. Get the beef tacos and go all the way through to sit in the back patio area.

    (4)

  • Trish D.

    Beautiful atmosphere! Wonderful salsa. Tasty food. Expensive for Mexican food. Average service.

    (3)

  • Nicky L.

    Off the path, down an alley and behind a church in Old Town Albuquerque you will find the Church Street Cafe. This place truly is a major find and a fantastic place to eat. From the chips and salsa that arrive at your table to your entree you will not be disappointed. The salsa has the right amount of heat and the chips are salted just right. I highly recommend the Vegetarian Chile Rellanos. Huge portions and just melt in your mouth good. The three other eaters with me got combination plates and they all enjoyed their choices which included the enchiladas and tamales but the chile rellanos was the hands down winner. The service was fantastic and even though it was the end of the night and they were cleaning up, I never felt rushed. I can not wait to get back to Albuquerque to eat here again. I would have eaten here again but I went the second to last night of the trip and the last night I had to attend a banquet.

    (5)

  • Sara P.

    Church Street Cafe is the place to eat in Old Town....but be prepared to wait. We didn't wait for our table but the food took a long time. Our waiter was great with green tea refills and assuring us the food was actually coming. The building itself has an interesting history which you can read about on the front of the menu. They have local favorites, all with red or green chile sauce. I had green chile chicken soup which was a bit watery but good and a half veggie sandwich also with green chile. It was the perfect sized meal for lunch. My aunt had beef fajitas. The tortillas that came with were warm and obviously freshly made. yum. Her meal was massive and even with me helping, we couldn't finish it. Overall, a good meal if you're looking for somewhere to eat in Old Town.

    (3)

  • Emily B.

    I would give this a 4 or 5 star rating, but I went for 5 because the overall rating is lower than it should be. I did not consider this Church's when I read over yelp reviews due to its low overall rating, but I was very pleased with my lunch! It is just off of the plaza, and looks like a very small place, but inside it is large with multiple rooms. There were delicious wheat chips on the table, and red salsa, unlimited supply. For lunch the taco plate was great, with three tacos, soft or hard, pinto beans, and a side: rice, or squash. Very delicious and filling! And the sopapillas and honey are a perfect ending. Try Church Street Cafe while you're having lunch in Old Town ABQ, about $22 for two.

    (5)

  • Olivia H.

    Pretty disappointed, way over priced. My family and I left our plates full. I had the chile rellenos, they were awful. The appetizers, the chicarones and the guacamole were great, it's the only thing we ate. Not authentic Mexican food. The atmosphere was great, but the service was very slow!!

    (1)

  • Alvin C.

    Great food, wonderful atmosphere, awesome service! My fiance and I visited this place randomly on our cross country trip from New Hampshire to California. We visited on New Year's Eve, and asked around for a good restaurant. We were recommended "Church Street Cafe". We went here and I have to say, it was the most amazing experience I have had at a southwester restaurant. We had Chicharrones, Chicken Tacos, Chardonnay and Steak Fajitas. The seasoning was perfect and everything I had surpassed my expectations. They were served hot, and our server did a wonderful job at taking care of us during our visit. We also had live music (classical guitar) that night, and it was pleasant. I recommend that you try out the food and have a great time.

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    Went here for dinner on a beautiful evening. Opening day of the ABQ Balloon Fiesta and they have no Tequila so there were no Margaritas. So Mexican/New Mexican restaurant with no Margaritas.... ok...... but the Sangria wasn't bad. I ordered the combination plate for around $15. It was just ok. The tamale was standard, the chile relleno (sp?) was not good - completely flavorless, but the cheese enchilada was excellent. Better than average for the town. The waitstaff was super friendly, but getting our food was super slow. it was a good thing we weren't in a hurry to get anywhere. The restaurant is clean and well decorate. Ample seating inside and outside for both large and small groups.

    (3)

  • Richard B.

    Garbage! By the looks of restaurant I expected authentic and delicious and this place did not deliver. Do not order the navajo taco unless you like to be wildly disappointed. My friends meal was enchiladas consisting of dry grey chicken meat contained within some tough crunchy tortillas. The food took close to an hour to arrive. The best part of the meal were the fried dough blobs, sopa pilla(?) They showed up just as we finished eating that slop. The staff were very cheery so I can't shit on them for that. If you are looking for authentic mexican food step outside of old town. Though beautiful it is an overpriced tourist trap.

    (2)

  • Jesse P.

    Good lunch food, authentic Mexican food with a really nice intimate layout but can still seat a good amount of people. The service was pretty good, would have gotten more stars if we didn't have to wait for 10 minutes to pay our bill. The food was pretty good, a lot of flavor and spice.

    (3)

  • Matt M.

    Decent food. Lacked ANY seafood options like most places in Old Town. Filthy outdoor tables. Sloooooowwww and curt service. Nice setting, though.

    (2)

  • Yen T.

    I give this place 1 star, and that means: I would never come back. If a group decided that they wanted to go here, I would definitely opt out. The decor/atmosphere was really good, especially in the back patio. There was a water feature in the back and those southwest looking walls. The service was actually pretty good as well; very nice and friendly. But the food, the FOOD... it was no good. I ordered the pork tamales and mine were SOOOOOO dry and hard, even with the sauce and cheese over it. The rice and beans had no taste to them either. Definite yuk! I would never come back.

    (1)

  • Amie W.

    I live near the Mission in San Francisco. I did not need to find a good Mexican place while visiting ABQ, I needed to find good NEW Mexican food! Church Street Cafe was recommended by a local, as the best spot near/in Old Town to get some food - for locals and out-of-towners like us. I am inclined to believe him! The place is deceivingly huge, and it was bustling. We waited less than 30 minutes(on a Saturday evening), and it was easy to pass the time. We actually walked over to a nearby shop to check it out while we waited for our buzzer to go off. There is a ton of history behind this place, likely much more than what is included in the story on the menu. I love historical places, and I enjoyed seeing the building's character and detail reflecting it's unique history. The food was great. We had the Chile Rellenos and Enchiladas. Both the green chile and red sauces were delicious! We loved that instead of rice we could choose veggies. Loved the chips - perfectly crispy; loved the salsa - flavorful and just enough kick. We were so full when we finished, we almost couldn't eat the Sopapillas - they come with your meal! They were freshly fried and so so so tasty. I would go back just for these. :) Our server was nice and friendly, but perhaps overworked or just not paying enough attention. There seemed to be a delay at least once in refilling drinks (both waters and sodas) - while we were waiting for our food we actually drank everything we had! The food took a bit longer than we would normally expect, but we were patient because we had the time and were enjoying ourselves otherwise. A manager of some kind came to check on the table next to us at one point before our food made it's way out to us, and they told her that they'd been waiting an hour for their food! I was a little surprised to hear that, yet realized there may be truth to it and knew that it might take a bit for ours too (maybe that's why I was so patient). Things started to pick up service-wise in the second half of our visit, so ultimately we were happy. The manager checking on people is a good sign though - at least they are trying to do better, right? Someday, I'll be back. It was good!

    (4)

  • Jerry N.

    My family of 4 went for breakfast this past Saturday. Nice place in the heart of Old Town Albuquerque. It was recommended by one of the jewelry street vendors around the square who said he used to work there. The food was good but not spectacular. I had the Huevos Rancheros and my kids had quesadillas which looked quite good. My only salient comment would be about our waiter - he started off as uninterested and a smart-ass, as if we were burdening him (it's not as if he was overly busy at the time). He eventually warmed up and turned out to be decent and polite. Maybe he sensed his tip getting away in the beginning. Food was slow in coming. My final comment is "box checked." Next time I'll give someplace else a try.

    (2)

  • Michael L.

    Arriving in Albuquerque late last night, we were tired, hungry and seeking a taste of authentic Mexican food! Church Street Cafe was a short stroll from our hotel room through pleasant Old Town; although the shops were pretty much closed up by 9 p.m. the restaurant was lively and welcoming. The food was "different" than what we are used to in L.A. but our waiter, Johnny was terrific and the atmosphere was very pleasant. I'm not YET a fan of "authentic" "New Mexican" food, but overall it was okay.

    (3)

  • Satori N.

    If you're the type of person who enjoys reheated rubbery tamales and soggy chili rellenos, then this is the place for you! We arrived relatively late on 8/17/2010 after a long day of traveling from Phoenix. The restaurant was closing in an hour, but with trepidation, we walked in the door and were seated. The tamales were probably cooked earlier in the day (or week?) and then microwaved to a luke-warm temperature before being covered up with green chili and served. My husband's chili relleno was also reheated; it was a soggy, disgusting mess of unpalatable food. The freshest thing we were served were the sopapillas. The waitress failed to clear our dinner plates before giving us our desert, so we were stuck eating the last bit of our meal staring at our dirty plates of half eaten food. If you go earlier in the day, the food may taste better, but I'll never know because I won't be returning. There is absolutely no reason for the food quality to diminish as the afternoon wears on into night. I believe it comes down to laziness and I would not recommend this place to anyone.

    (1)

  • Catherine C.

    I've been to Albuquerque twice on business. After a coworker brought me here for dinner during my first trip out, I made sure to come back during my second trip. The building is quaint, the food is yummy, the atmosphere is cozy, the patio is relaxing, the staff is friendly and the sopapillas are the best!!

    (5)

  • Bill G.

    Had the two tamale plate and although I wasn't particularly impressed with the tamales themselves I enjoyed the red & green chile sauces they came with. I also thought the salsa that came with the chips and salsa was better than you usually get for the complimentary salsa. The sopapillas were fantastic. Light and fluffy and not greasy (which is my usual complaint). I would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Teej T.

    Yelpers recommended it, so to Church Street I went. Church Street is in the middle of Albuquerque's "Old Town." This is creepily familiar to someone in San Diego, as we have our own prepackaged Spanish colonial Old Town as well, and there are a lot of creepy parallels. Church Street Cafe, built in the historic Casa de Ruiz, an eighteenth century hacienda inhabited by the Ruiz family until 1991, when the last member passed on. I'm a ridiculous history nerd, so that just makes me very happy to eat food in a building older than the United States government. The margaritas were only okay, but the patio was excellent, a sunny stone affair with patios and breezy walkways, which reminded me very much of the now defunct Casa De Bandini in Old Town San Diego. The food was a bit more fusion than I'd expected, but a delicious chicken tortilla sandwich with chiles and avocados hit the spot, and the waitress, Priscilla, was EXTRAORDINARILY helpful, pointing out nearby coffee shops, places of interest and takign care of a lost Californian in ABQ for the night. Excellent staff, decent fare, wonderful patio. A must.

    (4)

  • Joseph M.

    My wife and I lived in Albuquerque for 6 months while awaiting a job opportunity in San Francisco, CA. Church St. Cafe was one of the first restaurants we tried when living there, and we became frequent regulars thanks to that first visit. Aside from the green chili, I cannot honestly recall anything specifically that I ate there, considering almost 2 years have gone by, but we sure do miss the food. Along with hiking in the Sandias, it's the first thing we think of when reminiscing about Albuquerque. Great, cozy dining area located right in the heart of Old Town. If you're in ABQ, it's a MUST visit for a meal you cannot beat and for the right price. Planning on visiting next year and we will definitely be having dinner there at least once.

    (5)

  • Joanna G.

    the decor was there and the ppl were very nice, but the food just seemed homemade in a "this is the best approximation I can do at home" way. The chile wasn't great altho the salsa was good. The tamales and enchiladas were just ok. the beans and vege were simple in a "nothin special" way as opposed to the "no reason to tamper with perfection" way that I like simple food at some other restos. the bf tried the Outlaw beer. we were amused. sorry Old Town.

    (2)

  • Jun V.

    Lovely place. Great service. Everyone makes you feel at home

    (5)

  • Brock A.

    Being the fact I have worked in a restaurant for many years I have NEVER been so dissapointed in a place in my life. I live here in abq! I work in a new Mexico restaurant myself.. I was excited to eat here!! I hear good things!! I got seated right away. Place is bigger then I thought.. We sat down got my new born daughter ready (which is hard at times) I looked at what I wanted.. I found everything.. From drinks and food. The thing is no sever EVER came to us.. I waited 20 min+ so upset.. I had to pack everything back away.. And leave to find somewhere else to eat.. The worst thing ever going out to eat. The host on the way out said "I hope you enjoyed everything!" I would have if somebody even got a drink order for us! Lame.

    (1)

  • Bill H.

    Authentic Mexican. Efficient but detached service. Nice outdoor patio in back. Above average chili with red sauce. Excellent unsweetened mango iced tea. Would go back, but nothing special in a town loaded with mexican restaurants.

    (3)

  • Ed H.

    It's right in the middle of old town and has a great atmosphere, there is a fountain in the back patio and it's nice and quiet. I like spicy food and the salsa here did it for me, it wasn't too hot but compared to most restaurants it hit the spot...BUT I agree this place is a tourist trap, the food is just OK and doesn't warrant the price. I did like how they have local micro brews available.

    (3)

  • Andrew C.

    Confession: I've never had Posole. But when I was visiting Albuquerque and saw green chile Posole on the menu, I decided to give it a try. Good choice! It was hearty, with lots of pork, corn, and vegetables. The spiciness was perfect. Definitely a fan of Posole now. The chips and salsa, however, were only ok. If I were in Albuquerque again, however, I would definitely come back.

    (3)

  • Helena K.

    The free chips and salsa were the most delicious that I have ever tasted. Then came the San Felipe-half tea, half lemonade-then the handmade vegetarian green chile tamales, and then the sopapillas. Divine! They have tons of vegetarian options and I only wish I had been in Albuquerque long enough to try all of them. If I ever go back, I will stop here for my first meal in town. I bought a jar of their special-recipe salsa to take back with me but it was confiscated at the airport on my way back--I, for some reason, didn't realize that salsa is considered a liquid--but I ordered a few jars from their website ( churchstreetcafe.com ) when I got home and I think I will order more. It is absolutely glorious salsa.

    (5)

  • Chris D.

    Wow, what a great restaurant! The food was excellent, the staff was attentive and helpful with suggestions. The ambiance was fantastic and worth the visit just to see the former home. The price was very reasonable and the food was authentic and fresh.

    (4)

  • Joan S.

    Forgot to look for a place while online in the morning, wandered into here after a day of hot petroglyph hiking. The outside looks like nada, but inside is huge and yet cozy. Arrived at around 4 local time yet there was a decent size crowd already seated, we did not have to wait. Corn chips, warm, and salsa very mild came to the table with our menus. Service attentive but not overbearing. Coffee okay. Ice tea okay. Green chile soup with ground beef--yummy, perfectly hot and served with the best sopaillas since we've been in New Mexico--warm, crispy/flaky on the outside, puffy and soft inside.... could have made a meal of those... Husband had a club sandwich--huge, full of fresh ingredients. He couldn't finish it (probably because of all the chips with honey prior to the food arriving). I had a veggie sandwich on a baguette, bread was warm and fresh, greens fresh and crispy. And for real treat ,since I was not in the mood for fries or potato salad our server brought me a little dish of fresh fruit--and it was fresh and deelicious. Only regret--no room for dessert!

    (4)

  • Gregory S.

    Perhaps the Mexican food is the draw here. My brother recommended it for breakfast, but I didn't get around to it until lunch time and was full-up on Mexican and Southwestern cuisine for the visit. So I had a sandwich instead. Uninspired club with adequate thick fries. Not bad, but nothing to rave about. Service was poor. It was late and the restaurant was beginning to empty of the lunch crowd. In spite of this, it took nearly 10 minutes to get a hostess to approach and seat me and then another 15 before a waitress came by to take my drink and lunch order. When it arrived, she slid it carelessly onto the table - not even in front of me and walked off without a word. I nearly had to leave the restaurant to get a check. So I definitely don't recommend it.

    (2)

  • Brendan G.

    I've found you can judge a Mexican restaurant by the chips and salsa they serve - it will be a pretty accurate preview of the food to follow. That being said, their chips and salsa were adequate, even pretty good but not the best I've had. And perhaps it's not entirely fair to call Church Street Cafe a "Mexican" restaurant; being in New Mexico the fare is slightly different, with an emphasis on chiles and of course the ever-present sopapillas (which were great!). I had a three chicken taco plate. It was good but nothing to write home about. However one thing that makes this place stand out is the decor. The back patio is now finished and enclosed. You can see original adobe bricks peeking out from behind the stucco, and plenty of traditional Southwest items on the walls, showing a bit of the Native and Spanish Catholic influence on the region. When we arrived, there was a half-finished table in the entryway; apparently they design and make the tile mosaic tabletops themselves, which is an impressive feat. So: decor is GREAT, food is good. It's definitely still worth a visit. I rate it a 3 but it's a high 3.

    (3)

  • J.A. K.

    CSC is not perfect by any standard, but it was better than any food we had in Santa Fe because they aren't afraid to actually use a bit of real heat in their food despite the many touristes who cringe at the first tingle on their tongues. New Mexico guacamole is solid and chunky compared to the thinned-out versions we serve in California. CSC has a nice gentle heat build-up in their guacamole and if they hadn't put shredded iceberg lettuce in the bottom of it, it would have been the best ever. The old fashioned Chile Rellenos are quite different; more like an enchilada. A solid mixture of shredded pork and cheese fills two small flour tortillas, then even more cheese and chopped green chiles are melted over. We are big eaters, but neither my DH nor I could finish these. He had ordered the combo plate which had one chile relleno along with a beef enchilada (absolutely terrible, so salty it was inedible) and a tamale (good, although we're never in love with tamales). So one small tamale and three chile rellenos, along with an order of the guacamole, was so filling for both of us that DH didn't eat for another 24 hours! Beans are the usual watery mess. CSC gives you the option of veggies instead of rice, and the calabasitas is much better than the spinach. We like our orders Christmas (red and green chile sauces) style, and here the red was hotter than the green. We also came here for a quick snack, and had the steak quesadillas. It was a generous serving, chewy but very tasty, totally greaseless. Excellent! Sopapillas were so-so. Antonio's in Santa Fe are much, much better - we prefer the light, flaky style to the heavier, soak-up-that-oil bread dough type.

    (4)

  • Tracie P.

    We were successful in eating at this restaurant on our second try over 2 trips. Its in an alley behind the church in the Old Town square and features wonderful New Mexican entrees including sopappillas, tamales, enchiladas. You name it. The one thing I didn't like were the Margaritas which were made with aguave wine. One option would be to have a real margarita at La Hacienda nearby but they have pretty good food too so you may not want to travel at all. The one reason to do so though would be to eat in the oldest residence in Albuquerque. Church Street Cafe has a long history and is one of the oldest structures in the state of New Mexico. It is a treat to visit and eat there.

    (4)

  • Matt E.

    Meh. Pros: beautiful patio, one of the best in Albuquerque. Cons: so-so food and inattentive service.

    (3)

  • Emily K.

    This was the first place we ate in Albuquerque when visiting from Chicago, recommended to us by our hotel. It was perfect- really charming space, an outdoor patio and attentive waitress. Large portions too! It's a great space in a great location- we were here for dinner and tried to make it back to try breakfast but didn't make it. Will absolutely make it a point to eat here again when we return.

    (4)

  • Ophelia N.

    This place was great. Quacamole and Chile con Queso were AMAZING! The best quesadilla I have had ( I got the cheese appetizer one). They have beer and wine and apparently make agave margaritas that are something else. Our waitress was really great and the building has a lot of history. If you find yourself hungry in Albuquerque, especially in the historic downtown area, you should go here. YUM!

    (5)

  • Christopher C.

    I stumbed in with friends who had heard of the place, man it was friggin cold outside, seriously.. like below freezing. but it was very toasty warm in here and we sat on one of the sofa style booths with pillows all around. I can imagine this as a good makeout place, who knows. Nice country log cabin-ish sorta decor, american-indian style paintings on the wall. Wish I could have bought them, hehe. But hey, since I was with friends, the goal was to have a good breakfast. They had decent, endless cups of coffee for as many refills as we could down. And yes, it was yummy breakfast. red or green (or both) chili? Fresh OJ. I had the breakfast burrito and though the new mexico style is quite different from what you'd get back home in California, it was mighty tasty, and gave me plenty of fuel for the day's activities.. All in all, a good start before you go browsing around old town, going to the museums, that sort of thing. perfect. sure its good for lunch and dinner, but really, gotta try the breakfasts, they are the bomb. get there right when they open and you get excellent excellent service by friendly people!

    (4)

  • Eclectic E.

    Yummy. Nice quiet place to watch people walking to the plaza. Tasty sopapilla

    (4)

  • Josh S.

    Had a great meal at Chrurch Street last week during avisit to Old Town very good had the combo :Tamale, Enchilada and Chile Rellenos generous portions. We enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and the cheerful freindly waitress that attended us. had eaten there in 2005 outdoors on the patio opted for a inside table this time as it was considerably hotter out this trip. If your in the area and looking for a great place to eat give it a try.

    (4)

  • Alan H.

    Great Southwestern fare, friendly service, and a dog-friendly patio. Lots of cheese on everything. Kids didn't love dinner - not what they're used to - but fresh sopas with honey for dessert made up for it.

    (4)

  • Suburban R.

    the garden on a spring sunday morning is the perfect quiet place to bring your Sunday NYTimes or stacks of New Yorker and just chill under early morniing sun. Decent coffee, huevos rancheros, etc. As it is located in old town, expect tourists-- which is not so bad... The [old Ruiz] house feels authentic and ancient.

    (4)

  • Lorok K.

    Pretty meh-tastic. I had a rueben that was indistinguishable from every other ok rueben I've ever had. My girlfriend had something that was so meh I don't even remember what it was. The waiter disappeared but after a half hour of waiting for our bill we found him chatting up the young counter girl. The water was terrible tasting, like run-off from a gravel driveway. Overall, it wasn't bad, though it certainly wasn't good. I think the only reason to go there (as a local) would be to take out-of-towners who insist on going to old town. There is some history there, which is far more interesting than the food.

    (2)

  • Eric B.

    I loved everything about the Church Street Cafe. I also had the huevos rancheros -- as good as it gets. Recommend ordering their excellent green chile stew on the side (under soups) if you love 'em "green" and really smothered.

    (5)

  • C C.

    Nice place. Good food. Wait staff always seems rushed, but try to be helpful. I will return. :)

    (4)

  • Christopher B.

    I was surprised by the many 4 and 5 star reviews for Church Street. I was here on a Saturday evening. The food was barely okay. The 3 stars are more for the scenery and the tattooed waitress.

    (3)

  • Lupe G.

    As is the case with much of Old Town, this was a home of one of the oldest families of Albuquerque and has a rich history. This IS traditional Southwestern Mexican Cuisine. I recommend the Tamale Plate with Red Chile Salsa - MUY SABROSO! BTW, Green Chile Salsa is also excellent. The service is good but expect a significantly longer wait at dinner time; after a couple of drinks....do you really care? :-) Conclusion: Highly recommended. I will return!

    (4)

  • Olivia R.

    Mediocre Mexican. I was actually disappointed as the food was not real mexican and not worth the price. The place is much larger than it appears from outside and is situated inside one of Albuquerque's most beautiful and historic adobe structures, now this is charm the business could really play on! The Church Street Cafe is in the heart of the tourist district (Old Town) and it seems that since it is there, it is destined to get a lot of business regardless of quality of the food. The menu is much larger than it needs to be and could focus on quality rather than diversity of food. The waitstaff was more than capable, however, seemed overloaded with the number of tables assigned and the slowness of the kitchen. I saw a lot of the waitstaff standing around waiting for food to be ready to serve as customers patiently waited. I would like to see the kitchen on site, as it seemed that for a restaurant that size, the food should have come out hot & within a timely manner...is there room for improvement for the set-up, amenities and equipment in the kitchen? Our drinks were slow to arrive, with 1/3 of our table promptly receiving theirs and at least a 10 minute lag-time for the rest to arrive. The chips were stale, cold and served with a salsa that tasted more like "Pace," brand canned salsa. We requested fresh pico de gallo and the waiter said that he too wished the restaurant would offer such authentic condiments, he profusely apologized. What good is a Mexican restaurant if it doesn't offer authentic Mexican Cuisine or condiments? Hmmm...the food, when it finally arrived, was okay but not memorable by any means. My suggestion to Church Street Cafe is to overhaul the menu, bring in a really experienced cook that can serve up some authentic Southwest Style Mexican food. Do yourselves and Albuquerque, NM a favor and invest in a great epicurean experience for those who travel from afar...you have the location down but the food leaves so much to be desired.

    (2)

  • John S.

    The decor sets it above the rest! Just look at the place. Sure it is done up for the tourists, but who cares. It looks great and the food is well done. If you are going to be in Old Town, I can definitely suggest this place to you (and not lose sleep).

    (4)

  • Elizabeth S.

    My in-laws like to eat here but I have never asked why and I am curious now that I have experienced such mediocrity. I don't know why I ordered enchiladas made with beef. I wasn't expecting ground beef with an odd flavor. Actually it was pretty gross. I won't be going back unless social obligations with my in-laws dictate otherwise.

    (1)

  • Nancy V.

    This is a great place to bring out of town guests. It has ABQ flavor (in every sense of the word) and an historical setting. The squash is my fave!

    (4)

  • CR N.

    i had a great meal and really positive experience.

    (4)

  • M G.

    I have been here a bunch of times and always had a good experience. Sadly, you can't drink alcohol on the patio! The patio is beautiful and a great place for taking out-of-towners when the heat is not too brutal. But the inside is charming and adorable, too, and the food is also good.

    (4)

  • Morgan S.

    I wish I could write a great recommendation for Church St. Cafe, but can't. After visiting the ABQ Museum's current Deco Japan exhibit, six of our group decided we were perishing for a late lunch or an even later breakfast. The restaurant itself was clean and nicely atmospheric, but the wait time was horrible. We'd been seated close to 15 minutes before the waitress took our drink orders. Two of us got our coffee ok, but the third had to wait 25 minutes and finally got it after one of our party hailed the bus boy and pointed out how long our friend had waited. Then the waitress took our order and after nearly half an hour came back saying the register printed an unreadable ticket and that she had to retake our orders. Then there was another 20-25 minute wait for them to be filled. I'm not going to go into how my order, at least, was not as expected based on the menu description although the flavors were good. Suffice to say, that even with having the cost of our drinks (3 coffees and two sodas) comped, the wait was inexcusably long. The restaurant was moderately busy, but it was not a "full house" and the only thing we hadn't had to wait on at all was getting a place to sit! After we got our tickets, the waitress said she'd also be our cashier and then sped off. We'd hoped she'd be right back, but she wasn't. We finally had to find someone else to give our money to because we were done waiting on them, done waiting for any thing that resembled decent service and were ready for fresh air and sunshine. We don't know where in the structure of the business that the service fell short, but I don't plan on returning nor will I consider recommending it.

    (3)

  • Kristin S.

    My husband and I stopped into Church St Caf for lunch as we were walking around Old Town Albuquerque. We were seated out on the back patio (try to get seating on the back patio if you want to be outside) at a nice table for two tucked away in the shade of a tree. The service was a bit slow but it was very busy and our meals came out hot and that is the most important part. I had the cheese enchiladas which were very good, although I wish there were three of them instead of two. It was a very enjoyable lunch and I definitely plan on making a return trip our next time in Albuquerque.

    (4)

  • Michael B.

    A great place to chill and have some ice cold beers. The patio was just custom made for hanging out, chips & salsa and Dos Equis. If the sun is especially blasting, head over to the grape arbor and pull up a wrought iron chair. The grapes are real. The service is great.

    (4)

  • Matt K.

    I had 2 great meals here while visiting ABQ. It just so happened that, after we had eaten there for lunch, friends who lived nearby were planning to take us there for dinner. Tamales were fantastic as were the Enchiladas. The service was good and we got to sit out in the back under a grape-vined trellis.

    (5)

  • Porter P.

    We loved this place! The service was great, but it was a pretty slow night. The place is extremely charming, one of the oldest buildings in NM. We had a great meal and overall experience.

    (4)

  • JIll H.

    I went to Albuquerque this weekend to visit my cousin, we went to old town, a touristy spot to shop, and we ate at this place, and this has to be the worse lunch I've had in years. The place was cute they had mexican, and then sandwiched and salads. We all decided to go for sandwiches, and not only did we wait for an hour and a half for our food, but our waitress ignored us, even when we tired to get her attention she just walked on by. Then we finally got our food, it was just cold cuts straight out the package, cold, no lettuce, tomato, nothing that was on the menu, just meat and cheese. So why the hour and a half wait, did they have to run to the store and buy more meat? Anyways it was awful so if you are ever there ,beware don't eat here.

    (1)

  • Randall W.

    Located in a little alley in old town Albuquerque...we asked an officer for a suggestion on a restaurant and he told us to go here...New Mexican food. The place was quite quaint with a lot of history since it has been there awhile...the service was great and we given chips and salsa right away. We had a pitcher of Sangria which was perfect since it was so hot. We asked the waiter for a suggested entree and he told us to get the Carne Adovada al Horno...oven-cooked pork marinated in red chile...he told us that this old lady in the back has been cooking this since this morning at 200 degrees F. I was picturing some 95 yr old grandma at this point. We decided to try it and it was quite tasty...it came with beans, rice, and a tortilla. To top it all off we had a sopapilla with honey. An excellent satisfying meal...if you are around that area you should try it.

    (4)

  • Michael C.

    I stumbled cross this treasure while visiting ABQ in 2007 and enjoyed an excellent lunch. It was so good that I returned for lunch the next two days with a different selection each time. Portions were generous. Quality was excellent. I am not into fiery foods so opted for the green chili on the side. They were crowded each day but service was prompt and courteous. I had no complaints at all. If I return to ABQ, and I hope I will, I will definitely return to Church Street Cafe.

    (5)

  • Charlotte R.

    I had high expectations for this place. The atmosphere is great and the service was good. However if you are looking for a true New Mexican meal this is not the place. I am a native to Albuquerque and I expect to get great or at, least good chili on my plate. Unfortunately I did not find it here. We had both red and green chili on our plates and it was the worst we have had in the entire city. The chili is cooked with a low quality ground type of gristle filled meat that has a gross fat taste. Otherwise the food was good but since chili is the main part of a New Mexican meal it made the plate unacceptable. It is sad because many tourists who visit the restaurant probably think they are getting an authentic meal not knowing there are so many other restaurants that have really good and authentic food.

    (2)

  • Christiana R.

    I was really excited to visit this restaurant during my trip to Albuquerque but after eating here, I was very disappointed. I'll start with the good. First off I love the location of the restaurant...it's located on a quaint little street in Old Town and there was a lot of parking during dinner time. I also love how big the restaurant was. The colors and furniture were really beautiful and it felt like authentic southwestern decor. Other than the location of decor, nothing really impressed me about this restaurant. The food was /(-_-)\ not good at all!! There was no flavor whatsoever and I would have rather tried any of the other restaurants in Old Town. Thank goodness I only planned one meal at this restaurant during my trip! But my main issue with this restaurant was a waitress who was serving the table next to us. She was VERY rude, talked back to the customer, and muttered things under her breath. My sister and I couldn't believe what we were witnessing and I had to restrain my sister from saying anything to that waitress. I wouldn't come here again...just sayin'.

    (2)

  • John S.

    The place provided great service. The food was ok and the margarita is ok but for the price they charged it just didn't seem worth it. Ambience was good really gives you the new Mexican atmosphere

    (3)

  • Mark W.

    The positive reviews here are enough to make me think twice about trusting Yelp. This place has some assets: a prime Old Town location, beautiful decor, friendly service. But that can't make up for the truly awful food. I had one of the house specialties, a pair of chile rellenos that lacked chiles - a first in my experience. What I got was a bland fried wad of meat (pork?) with a few green flecks of chile. The accompanying rice was mushy, the beans OK and the chile sauce lacking any trace of heat. My wife ordered another house specialty, a pair of very dry and equally bland tamales. These days you can find better Mexican food almost anywhere in the country and to find this sort of quality in New Mexico is very disasppointing. Avoid!

    (1)

  • Andy J.

    I reviewed this elsewhere on yelp, under a slightly different name I guess, but I wanted to add a note to MG.'s review: I was drinking margaritas on the patio just yesterday. Maybe they don't allow that on the front patio, I'm not sure. But I was on the back patio where it's obviously allowed.

    (4)

  • Lily L.

    church cafe is one of the most best mexican food ever the waitress are so nice i wrote this letter to her to say thank you.

    (5)

  • Dawn E.

    The first time we went there it was great. I ordered the same thing the 2nd time and it didn't even look like what I had ordered before (chili rellenos). We were seated in the covered patio area in the back, our server was painfully absent most of the evening, and there were ants crawling all over our table.

    (1)

  • Theresa Y.

    Visited this restaurant today with my husband on our way out of town. From the outside it looked very small but once we were seated in the mosaic room, you will see the beautiful decor and the multiple rooms to dine in. We ordered the omelette and quesadillas for breakfast. The portions were huge. The food was tasty and our waiter was very fast and very personable. Overall a nice dining experience. We will return again when back in NM.

    (5)

  • Eric And Jennifer R.

    At first glance, this place looks like a small hole in the wall cafe in the middle of a touristy area. It's actually large and open in the back. They have two outdoor patios which are lovely. It felt like being at a family member's home. It was warm and inviting. Since it is located in Old Town, there are a lot of tourist but it doesn't feel like it in the cafe. Our waitress reminded me of my Spanish great grandma. She was lovely. Service was very good. The food is primarily New Mexican. I got the Navajo taco and green chile check chicken soup. My friend got the beef quesadilla and guacamole. The taco was no where as great of as the one from the Native American cultural center. However, it was ok. The soup was tasty with medium spice. My friend ate everything on her plate so I'm assuming she liked it. I would recommend this place for tourists and locals.

    (4)

  • Levi B.

    Customer service was very poor, the food was average, the best thing was the chips and salsa.

    (2)

  • Kathleen B.

    Good food and great service. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. I had the Navajo taco, delish . Will definitely go back!

    (4)

  • Steve F.

    Visiting ABQ for the week, I have to say this was my least favorite dinner. True, I've been spoiled by some great dining, but I had higher expectations reading the good reviews. Let me start by saying Church Street Cafe is still a worthy choice, especially if you're already in Old Town. The building is wonderful and a treat to explore. We sat in the large room in back, which felt like the plaza of a town from the past. Our server was very friendly and attentive. Their tortilla chips were the highlight of the meal, homemade and flavorful, as was the salsa. The posole was flavorful, especially with the red Chile added. My wife didn't care for her tamale plate as much. Just so-so. Likewise for the green chile sauce. I also thought the sopapillas weren't as good as ones I had elsewhere earlier in the week (nice they were included, however). Overall, we had a nice time, just not as good as we had hoped for.

    (3)

  • Julie W.

    40 proof tequila in "margaritas"! They only have a beer and wine license. Open door to patio lets many flies inside. Waiter told us they were "controlling" them with dryer softener sheets hung around the windows. Doesn't work. Waiter did not tell us about half price appetizers with an "alcoholic beverage". We saw on a board and had to ask about the discount the second time he came to take our order. Chicken quesadilla was mostly cheeses. This place was a rip off!

    (1)

  • N O.

    The tamale plate came recommended but I found them to be dry despite the large heaping of cheese and red sauce drowning the dish. The cheese in the quesadilla was not properly melted and the chips brought to the table,stale . I realize it is a target for tourist but I'm looking for more than just a nice setting-which it was.

    (3)

  • Leigh M.

    The Bandito pie appetizer and salsa were very good but I was very disappointed in the calabacitas and tamales. The calabacitas were complete mush with little flavor and the tamales were cold, and had very little meat but excess amounts of dry masa. My husband's carne adovada plate was much better but certainly not the best we've had here in ABQ. The server was not the friendliest but not a huge deal. Pluses were that the patio environment was beautiful and the red chile was gluten-free.

    (3)

  • Jenny O.

    Stopped here on our reverse Grapes of Wrath migration. The food was flavorful and plentiful. My husband and I had the pork dish. It was in a red sauce and very good. My brother and mom had a sampler platter and both enjoyed their selections. The food was somewhere along the lines of Tex-Mex and New Mex. Lots of detail in the sauce and a bit of cheese. It was a great little find.

    (4)

  • Rachel P.

    Church Street has great ambiance and solidly decent New Mexican food. I love it for taking new visitors to ABQ when we are in Old Town. It's got massive charm, especially on the patio during the summer months. It's by far the best place besides Le Crepe Michel in Old Town to eat. (But how many out of town guests want crepes! ha!) Service is fine, not stellar, and the prices are a bit high. I think they have the best agave wine margaritas (especially the sangria one) around.

    (3)

  • Joanne T.

    We are here while on vacation over a week ago. We liked it so well that we came back on our way home. The first time I had their fajita. This time I ordered the traditional Chile Rellano. Both were excellent, albeit a bit too much. Their Sangria Margaritas are very good; you can tell that each it's individually made, as the taste was a bit different for each one. I had another sangria margarita at another restaurant, but it wasn't nearly as good. Try it when you are in Old Town Albuquerque. As another perk if you are into history, this building is allegedly the invest residence in New Mexico.

    (4)

  • Rebecca S.

    We were recommended to come here by our front desk. Either they have never eaten here or are getting kickbacks. This is bar none the worst Mexican food I have eaten. Ever. My local hole in the wall in Charm City is better. Heck, even Chili's might beat this. The food took around 30 minutes to arrive for dinner. The ubiquitous beans have no flavor. The meat taquitos are passable- sort of like what you'd get at a county fair. And my exceedingly overpriced (16.50, I think) combination platter was actually inedible. It came cold, with congealed plasticky flavorless cheese sealing the top of the platter. After the archaeological excavation below the cheese layer, there was a layer of nondescript spicy goop, and then mushy carbohydrates that may at some point have been a tamale or something. Attempting to recover the Lost City of Chile Relleno, I discovered. ...a fork full of breading, reminiscent of an extremely thick beer batter. With that, I gave up, handing in my shovel. The server was nice enough to not change for the platter, which I returned - maybe only the second tone I've ever done that. Ambiance and live music were very nice, though.

    (1)

  • Richard S.

    I paid $15.95 for my 2-enchilada entree that came with sides of squash & beans plus a sopapilla. The beans and squash were just fair. Edible, but nothing special. Everything else was very good and tastefully prepared. Salsa was very good. Seems a bit pricey but oh well. Nice ambiance and attentive service.

    (4)

  • C R.

    Get Minika as your waitress!

    (3)

  • Mary C.

    08/18/15 Received communication from owner. If you are in a group of 10 or more, tell your server that the owner said it is OK to separate the checks (it says you cannot on the menu). 08/14/15 Not for groups of 10 or more. Church Street Café has good food, traditional New Mexican atmosphere, etc. But it does not give separate checks for groups of 10 or more and only provides a total dollar amount of all bar drinks (not itemized) so you have to ask the server how much you beer was in order to determine your share of the bill. Stupid management practice! Our party of 12 spent almost 30 minutes separating our individual costs from the check. Ruined our evening together - won't go back.

    (4)

  • Robert E.

    We picked this restaurant to spend a quiet afternoon with an out-of-town visitor coming to a conference and staying at a hotel in Old Town. We studied many possibilities, looking for a place with a nice courtyard for having a couple of drinks and enjoying New Mexico style. We picked Church St Cafe. The ambiance was wonderful, the food quite good, and the server attentive. The margaritas were only so-so however. That was a disappointment. I think the waiter said that they can't serve tequila due the proximity to the church nearby. That caused our guest to ask us whether in New Mexico they can't serve hard liquor next to an Ashram, or whether the rule applies only to certain types of churches.

    (3)

  • Ginny T.

    First I'd like to say that my grand mother prepared Mexican food often for her husband who had migrated here from Mexico. I've lived in NYC and San Diego so I have a good idea what Mexican food should taste like. Our cab driver recommended we skip some of the other restaurants and go straight to this place. The ambiance added to the experience and helped in earning this place a second star. The other star is for the waiter, he didn't smile much but he knew the menu and was fast and accurate. I had the tamales with red chili sauce and zucchini. The order also came with red beans. The sauce on the tamales was very bland and bordered on bitter. The red beans were unremarkable and tasteless. I enjoyed the zucchini because it was pretty natural and not heavily seasoned. Actually can't recommend this place.

    (2)

  • Angelina M.

    A-MAZING! Vegetarian tamales with pintos and squash on the side. So good--and melt in your mouth sopapillas to finish the feast. Besides the food, this place in Old Town has character: it's in an old hacienda and the rooms are intact, so there are "pockets" of eating areas; the arched doorways are low, and some people had to duck to get through; the front looks like it could hold 20-30 people, but the inside winds around through the rooms and must hold over 150.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth W.

    A mixed bag, for sure. We were told by several people to eat here while in town. The building was gorgeous- a home from the 1700s, with very few changes. The service & food were sub-par. We waited 10 minutes for a server to come to our table & it all sort of went downhill from there. Very bland Mexican food, reminiscent of a school cafeteria. The place is obviously meant for tourists, as I'm sure most locals know better, more authentic places. The history & the patio are worth at least having a drink before heading somewhere else for dinner.

    (3)

  • Rudy H.

    So, I just had lunch at this nice little cafe in Old Town with some co-workers. Little is an understatement because from the outside it looks like a little quint cafe. But once you walk inside it opens up to good size restaurant. I really like the adobe look of the outside of the restaurant and the southwestern feel and decor was a nice touch. Church St Cafe is your typical New Mexican style restaurant serving up some typical New Mexican/ Mexico style foods. Since I live near Old Town, I've been up and down that area plenty of times and I usually haven't eaten at any of the restaurants there because I feel they cater to tourists and I'm afraid the flavors and types of food served in those restaurants could be considered "safe" and not really "authentic". My fears were realized my friends! Although the "Pollo De Ruiz" (Chicken breast sandwich with green chile and cheese wrapped in a flour tortillas) I had was good, the green chile- I'm very sorry to say- was very plain and very mild, with no kick or flavor what's so ever. I kind of like my roasted green chile on the medium to hot side. Like I said what I ate was very good but man, hotter, roasted green chile would have kick it up a bit. Add some garlic and a little bit of salt to waken it up and BAM!!! Home run! All in all, Church St Cafe is a wonderful eatery and worth your time if your in the old town are and you want to grab a bit to eat!

    (3)

  • Osbaldo G.

    Came here for a late dinner. Honestly, it isn't a real tasty dine in place. However, the ambiance makes it kind of cool to be here. A lady had fallen when we were going in. Beware it's kind of dark going in and the floor kind of shaky. The city itself is nice. Lots of history and walking spots when around the restaurant. Just don't expect much from the food. It's average tasting food nothing like fireworks in your mouth. It's about a 2.5

    (2)

  • Sharon G.

    This is a perfect place for tourists looking for a true New Mexico feel. All of the typical NM food is here: burritos, huevos rancheros, green chile rellenos, and on. They also have some tasty margaritas and a beautiful back patio. My only complaint is that the service isn't always perfect but understandably these guys get very busy.

    (4)

  • Lisa M.

    Stopped by on a trip from AZ to TX with high hopes since the place came recommended. It was quite a disappointment. Though the restaurant itself is beautiful, they had a serious fly problem... Our entire dinner (yes, we are inside), we were swatting flies. At one point, I had 4 flies sitting on my food - gross. Service was sub par. When bringing out our sopapillas, I imagined we would get clean dessert plates to eat on. Nope. We were told to eat our sopapillas OVER the remaining Mexican food left on our plates. For the price paid for our entrees, I would expect a higher level of service and certainly to be free of flying insects while I was eating.

    (1)

  • Howie K.

    I've seriously considered giving this local mainstay a two-star review following my most recent visit, and if they don't get their act together soon, that's where they'll be for me. I'll give 'em one more shot, but man, I'm currently not a fan. But let me preface by stating that over many, many years I've enjoyed some decent meals, and service, on the absolutely gorgeous patio out back, which is strewn with lots of trumpet vine, potted plants and wooden coverings shielding the harsh New Mexico sun. It was a Saturday, a little after noon, obviously Tourist Central time for the place, and I expected a short wait. We were given one of those vibrating beepers and told we could wait 10 or 15 minutes, which was fine. Oh, and we waited at the front dest a good five minutes before we found the host. Anyway, when we were finally led through the restaurant, I put on my waiter goggles. In college I worked in more restaurants than I'd care to recall, and so I have a sort of automatic radar for service, and that thing started hollering when we toured the interior. Less than half of the tables were occupied. The large main room towards the back was virtually empty, maybe three parties. And the patio? Again, half full. Our waitress was out of her mind busy, which explains why our water and ice tea were never refilled. Food took the better part of forever to arrive. The plates themselves were really haphazard, slapped together. I had to get up and ask for the check. My wife said, "Honey, this is one of those times when you don't tip 20 percent. You just don't." And I didn't. (This is crazy rare for me.) I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt, because hey, every business has a bad day or five. But I really don't come here for the food. The service, ambiance and occasional hint of an Old Town ghost is my motivation. Right now, I'm much more motivated to grab New Mexican eats at Monica's El Portal, across the street.

    (3)

  • Frank O.

    The ambiance here is about all that is worth writing or raving about, but you should be warned. I had to send back my Carne Adovado, because it was quite cold on the plate edges. They must take the pork out of some bin, and then throw it under the salamander to re-warm with the Chile sauce over it. Even the cheese was barely warmed. The kitchen clearly rushed that. The waitress never came back to check on us. That's a big no-no. Staff in general does nothing to help each other out. No manager could be seen on the floor at any time, and this is a large operation. I could give it one extra star for the relatively decent red salsa that came with dark brown chips. But... the $3+ run of the mill iced tea and one realizes that this is one money collection system that favors the owner. What does ice tea cost to make? Sure I understand drinks are a big profit maker for owners, but really, let's be a little cognizant of the presentation. I was being served in a cafeteria style glass here. At least I was smart to steer clear of the wine based margaritas. As other have noted that too will be something you won't find top of the mark either. As Rudy H. said in his review not much is inspired here, most importantly the critical staff. Too bad, because the history here is amazing, and could be exceptional. It felt like a tourist trap.

    (1)

  • Windy R.

    We came here after being recommended by our hotel. At first glance it looks like a tiny place but my looks can be deceiving. We sat in one of the back patios by the water fountain and it was extremely pleasant. I ordered the vegetarian fajitas. Others at my table ordered the chicken and beef fajitas and beef enchiladas. The vegetarian fajitas were amazing! The mushrooms were so flavorful. You get a lot of food with this dish. My fellow diners said that their chicken and steak fajitas were really good. The meat was tender and veggies cooked to perfection. It had a nice spice that she liked that was not to strong. My other fellow dinner said that his only complaint was that the corn tortilla with his beef enchiladas was a poor choice, a flour tortilla would have been better. We also got a pitcher of agave Margaritas 23 dollars for a pitcher a good price for the number of drinks we got out of it. They were very good! Lastly the sopapillas were flakey and buttery and a good finish.

    (4)

  • K J.

    We often come here while touring Old Town for the sopapillas. Delish. With fresh honey (indoor dining only). Their fry tacos are very good too, with beans, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, meat piled high on freshly made puffy and light fry bread. Service is always efficient and friendly. Ambiance was homey and cozy, with outdoor seating if you choose (no alcohol outside though).

    (4)

  • Charlene C.

    Ambiance of old Mexico. We arrived at Old Town Albuquerque a little too early for most shops and eateries to be opened. In fact, the only place for breakfast was what appeared to be a really small restaurant behind the Church. We were pleasantly greeted and asked if we wanted to dine in or on the back patio. We opted for the patio. We walked through 3 or 4 separate dining rooms that we could have chosen before arriving at the back patio. The patio had all the charm of Mexico with plants, flowers, a Koi pond and grape vines. We totally enjoyed the entire time we were there and may go back for dinner tonight. I ordered an omelette with cheese, bacon and onion. Very good choice and the bacon was done just perfectly. My husband chose the "EL Hombre" breakfast with chorizo. He loved it and had me try the chorizo which I never like but this was really yummy and I would try if we were here in Albuquerque for another breakfast. Service was great. We were served by a very delightful man whom I would guess was if not an owner, certainly part of the family. He made sure we were happy with our choices and never let our glasses run dry. All in all a very happy way to begin the day. Would I eat there again? In a heart beat. Great food, superb service and reasonable prices.

    (5)

  • Bike Chaplain O.

    Comfortable seating overlooking the patio. Our waitress was friendly, helpful and followed through on our requests. The Reuben sandwich's corn beef did not taste fresh carved. The fries, though nicely seasoned, tasted like frozen fries. The cole slaw lacked moisture and flavor. For the $10 price you would expect more. This was a disappointment. Thanks for reading. The Bike Chaplain

    (2)

  • Neil L.

    We were excited to eat here, as the ambiance looked nice. We were seated in a nice court yard . We ordered margaritas, I asked for one "less sweet". I was told that would not be possible as they only use a pre made mix. The drink was well below average. Before the drinks the waiter brought out tortillas and salsa. The salsa was nondescript. Then we ordered dinner, my wife ordering chicken & cheese tacos. Let me preface the next remark by saying my wife likes most anything, she is very easy to please. She took 2 bites of her meal and said they were the driest, non tastiest taco she's ever had, she mentioned even the rice was dry and bland. She couldn't eat it. I order vegi fajitas, they were ok, a 5 out of 10 On top of that the service was quite slow. I do not recommend this restaurant.

    (2)

  • Jessica K.

    I came here twice. the first time it was on point, the second time--eh not so much. Both times I ordered the tamales with the Christmas sauce. my second visit here, they forgot my sauce so I had to asked for it on the side which was okay. the salsa, queso, guacamole is really good! the margaritas were okay. I love how they smoother your food in hot sauce. I loved the hot sauce and bought a couple jars of the red and green Chile to take back home with me.

    (3)

  • Geary J.

    This is a hidden gem that you'll be glad you found! When we visit Albuquerque this is our go to place for breakfast. The breakfast burrito is wonderful and one of the better we've found in our travels.

    (5)

  • David M.

    I really liked the authenticity here. The chips were homemade and darker with a hardier consistency than most places. The marinated chicken was super. The salad greens were perfect, no nasty bits and real greens, not iceberg. Portions were ridiculous. I could have shared a meal and not finished. The guacamole was great but had to stop eating it to leave room for my dinner. The table salsa was the best we've had on this trip so far. The service was very fast. Our food was out minutes after we ordered. Of course it was very slow maybe because of the high temps. Nice outdoor rear patio. Clean.

    (4)

  • Rick M.

    The Margaritas were a perfect start to a very good lunch. Probably the best Huevos Rancheros I have ever had. Great setting and very good service.

    (4)

  • Alec N.

    This restaurant was recommended to me by a local while I was traveling, so I decided I would give it a shot! The service at the front was splendid, but once we arrived at the table, it became very slow. The guacamole we ordered for our chips was bland, but all the other components were there and the texture was good. I ordered the vegetarian fajitas which I would order again. A bit of sour cream and lettuce to freshen them up was fantastic. Prices were pretty decent and the atmosphere had a New Mexico feel to it, which was fun for a non-native.

    (3)

  • Joanne N.

    This is one of my favorite places to go when I go to old town. Each time we order a salad and the beef fajita. It is super yummy!

    (5)

  • Alia G.

    Mixed Feelings... but overall I'd totally go back again just for the food. The Food - - - Is. Spectacular. enuf said The portions are large and the flavors are wonderful. I just wanted to keep eating and eating. (Of course, I do love eating good food.) I had the Carne Adovada al Horno because I had read about this dish... and I just had to try it. The succulent pork and red chile were a great match. Not spicy but just enough heat and flavor to let you know you are in the land of people who love their chiles. :) Mom had the tamales... and they were excellent as well. The masa was creamy and such a fine grain that you know they had to be homemade. Then there was the 'dessert' of sopapillas that were and hot and fresh from the oven. They literally melted in our mouth. *sigh*.... it's a good thing I don't live in New Mexico... I'd be 500 pounds in no time. The Service - - - Awkward. I don't know if they were understaffed for a Saturday night. Or what. From what I could tell... it's a large restaurant and there were quite a few people dining that evening. But we were seated in a room all to ourselves. Our gal was friendly, but it did seem she was spread thin. We saw her when she came to take our order and when she delivered it. And she delivered the sopapillas along with the check. (which is efficient) But when we paid cash... she gave us the wrong change. When I couldn't find her to fix it... I found a manager (I think it was a manager) to have him fix it... but he couldn't because he had to get her... I explained what happened and what our change should be (it's not higher math for crying out loud)... he left and our server materialized a few minutes later... handed us the change and immediately disappeared. I counted it and AGAIN it was wrong... since it was only off by a quarter... I said Nevermind and we left. So... while Math is NOT their strong suit... the Food is AWESOME!

    (3)

  • Morgan S.

    I wish I could write a great recommendation for Church St. Cafe, but can't. After visiting the ABQ Museum's current Deco Japan exhibit, six of our group decided we were perishing for a late lunch or an even later breakfast. The restaurant itself was clean and nicely atmospheric, but the wait time was horrible. We'd been seated close to 15 minutes before the waitress took our drink orders. Two of us got our coffee ok, but the third had to wait 25 minutes and finally got it after one of our party hailed the bus boy and pointed out how long our friend had waited. Then the waitress took our order and after nearly half an hour came back saying the register printed an unreadable ticket and that she had to retake our orders. Then there was another 20-25 minute wait for them to be filled. I'm not going to go into how my order, at least, was not as expected based on the menu description although the flavors were good. Suffice to say, that even with having the cost of our drinks (3 coffees and two sodas) comped, the wait was inexcusably long. The restaurant was moderately busy, but it was not a "full house" and the only thing we hadn't had to wait on at all was getting a place to sit! After we got our tickets, the waitress said she'd also be our cashier and then sped off. We'd hoped she'd be right back, but she wasn't. We finally had to find someone else to give our money to because we were done waiting on them, done waiting for any thing that resembled decent service and were ready for fresh air and sunshine. We don't know where in the structure of the business that the service fell short, but I don't plan on returning nor will I consider recommending it.

    (3)

  • Kristin S.

    My husband and I stopped into Church St Caf for lunch as we were walking around Old Town Albuquerque. We were seated out on the back patio (try to get seating on the back patio if you want to be outside) at a nice table for two tucked away in the shade of a tree. The service was a bit slow but it was very busy and our meals came out hot and that is the most important part. I had the cheese enchiladas which were very good, although I wish there were three of them instead of two. It was a very enjoyable lunch and I definitely plan on making a return trip our next time in Albuquerque.

    (4)

  • Michael B.

    A great place to chill and have some ice cold beers. The patio was just custom made for hanging out, chips & salsa and Dos Equis. If the sun is especially blasting, head over to the grape arbor and pull up a wrought iron chair. The grapes are real. The service is great.

    (4)

  • Matt K.

    I had 2 great meals here while visiting ABQ. It just so happened that, after we had eaten there for lunch, friends who lived nearby were planning to take us there for dinner. Tamales were fantastic as were the Enchiladas. The service was good and we got to sit out in the back under a grape-vined trellis.

    (5)

  • Porter P.

    We loved this place! The service was great, but it was a pretty slow night. The place is extremely charming, one of the oldest buildings in NM. We had a great meal and overall experience.

    (4)

  • JIll H.

    I went to Albuquerque this weekend to visit my cousin, we went to old town, a touristy spot to shop, and we ate at this place, and this has to be the worse lunch I've had in years. The place was cute they had mexican, and then sandwiched and salads. We all decided to go for sandwiches, and not only did we wait for an hour and a half for our food, but our waitress ignored us, even when we tired to get her attention she just walked on by. Then we finally got our food, it was just cold cuts straight out the package, cold, no lettuce, tomato, nothing that was on the menu, just meat and cheese. So why the hour and a half wait, did they have to run to the store and buy more meat? Anyways it was awful so if you are ever there ,beware don't eat here.

    (1)

  • Randall W.

    Located in a little alley in old town Albuquerque...we asked an officer for a suggestion on a restaurant and he told us to go here...New Mexican food. The place was quite quaint with a lot of history since it has been there awhile...the service was great and we given chips and salsa right away. We had a pitcher of Sangria which was perfect since it was so hot. We asked the waiter for a suggested entree and he told us to get the Carne Adovada al Horno...oven-cooked pork marinated in red chile...he told us that this old lady in the back has been cooking this since this morning at 200 degrees F. I was picturing some 95 yr old grandma at this point. We decided to try it and it was quite tasty...it came with beans, rice, and a tortilla. To top it all off we had a sopapilla with honey. An excellent satisfying meal...if you are around that area you should try it.

    (4)

  • Michael C.

    I stumbled cross this treasure while visiting ABQ in 2007 and enjoyed an excellent lunch. It was so good that I returned for lunch the next two days with a different selection each time. Portions were generous. Quality was excellent. I am not into fiery foods so opted for the green chili on the side. They were crowded each day but service was prompt and courteous. I had no complaints at all. If I return to ABQ, and I hope I will, I will definitely return to Church Street Cafe.

    (5)

  • Charlotte R.

    I had high expectations for this place. The atmosphere is great and the service was good. However if you are looking for a true New Mexican meal this is not the place. I am a native to Albuquerque and I expect to get great or at, least good chili on my plate. Unfortunately I did not find it here. We had both red and green chili on our plates and it was the worst we have had in the entire city. The chili is cooked with a low quality ground type of gristle filled meat that has a gross fat taste. Otherwise the food was good but since chili is the main part of a New Mexican meal it made the plate unacceptable. It is sad because many tourists who visit the restaurant probably think they are getting an authentic meal not knowing there are so many other restaurants that have really good and authentic food.

    (2)

  • Christiana R.

    I was really excited to visit this restaurant during my trip to Albuquerque but after eating here, I was very disappointed. I'll start with the good. First off I love the location of the restaurant...it's located on a quaint little street in Old Town and there was a lot of parking during dinner time. I also love how big the restaurant was. The colors and furniture were really beautiful and it felt like authentic southwestern decor. Other than the location of decor, nothing really impressed me about this restaurant. The food was /(-_-)\ not good at all!! There was no flavor whatsoever and I would have rather tried any of the other restaurants in Old Town. Thank goodness I only planned one meal at this restaurant during my trip! But my main issue with this restaurant was a waitress who was serving the table next to us. She was VERY rude, talked back to the customer, and muttered things under her breath. My sister and I couldn't believe what we were witnessing and I had to restrain my sister from saying anything to that waitress. I wouldn't come here again...just sayin'.

    (2)

  • John S.

    The place provided great service. The food was ok and the margarita is ok but for the price they charged it just didn't seem worth it. Ambience was good really gives you the new Mexican atmosphere

    (3)

  • Mark W.

    The positive reviews here are enough to make me think twice about trusting Yelp. This place has some assets: a prime Old Town location, beautiful decor, friendly service. But that can't make up for the truly awful food. I had one of the house specialties, a pair of chile rellenos that lacked chiles - a first in my experience. What I got was a bland fried wad of meat (pork?) with a few green flecks of chile. The accompanying rice was mushy, the beans OK and the chile sauce lacking any trace of heat. My wife ordered another house specialty, a pair of very dry and equally bland tamales. These days you can find better Mexican food almost anywhere in the country and to find this sort of quality in New Mexico is very disasppointing. Avoid!

    (1)

  • Andy J.

    I reviewed this elsewhere on yelp, under a slightly different name I guess, but I wanted to add a note to MG.'s review: I was drinking margaritas on the patio just yesterday. Maybe they don't allow that on the front patio, I'm not sure. But I was on the back patio where it's obviously allowed.

    (4)

  • Lily L.

    church cafe is one of the most best mexican food ever the waitress are so nice i wrote this letter to her to say thank you.

    (5)

  • Dawn E.

    The first time we went there it was great. I ordered the same thing the 2nd time and it didn't even look like what I had ordered before (chili rellenos). We were seated in the covered patio area in the back, our server was painfully absent most of the evening, and there were ants crawling all over our table.

    (1)

  • Beth E.

    Went with an old standby (taco salad) today because I wasn't overly hungry, yet needed some protein sustenance and hadn't had a salad in a long bit. The Roswell Alien NM brewed beer was a nice complementary beverage. I even ended up with some sopapillos for dessert.

    (4)

  • Theresa Y.

    Visited this restaurant today with my husband on our way out of town. From the outside it looked very small but once we were seated in the mosaic room, you will see the beautiful decor and the multiple rooms to dine in. We ordered the omelette and quesadillas for breakfast. The portions were huge. The food was tasty and our waiter was very fast and very personable. Overall a nice dining experience. We will return again when back in NM.

    (5)

  • Eric And Jennifer R.

    At first glance, this place looks like a small hole in the wall cafe in the middle of a touristy area. It's actually large and open in the back. They have two outdoor patios which are lovely. It felt like being at a family member's home. It was warm and inviting. Since it is located in Old Town, there are a lot of tourist but it doesn't feel like it in the cafe. Our waitress reminded me of my Spanish great grandma. She was lovely. Service was very good. The food is primarily New Mexican. I got the Navajo taco and green chile check chicken soup. My friend got the beef quesadilla and guacamole. The taco was no where as great of as the one from the Native American cultural center. However, it was ok. The soup was tasty with medium spice. My friend ate everything on her plate so I'm assuming she liked it. I would recommend this place for tourists and locals.

    (4)

  • Levi B.

    Customer service was very poor, the food was average, the best thing was the chips and salsa.

    (2)

  • Kathleen B.

    Good food and great service. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. I had the Navajo taco, delish . Will definitely go back!

    (4)

  • Steve F.

    Visiting ABQ for the week, I have to say this was my least favorite dinner. True, I've been spoiled by some great dining, but I had higher expectations reading the good reviews. Let me start by saying Church Street Cafe is still a worthy choice, especially if you're already in Old Town. The building is wonderful and a treat to explore. We sat in the large room in back, which felt like the plaza of a town from the past. Our server was very friendly and attentive. Their tortilla chips were the highlight of the meal, homemade and flavorful, as was the salsa. The posole was flavorful, especially with the red Chile added. My wife didn't care for her tamale plate as much. Just so-so. Likewise for the green chile sauce. I also thought the sopapillas weren't as good as ones I had elsewhere earlier in the week (nice they were included, however). Overall, we had a nice time, just not as good as we had hoped for.

    (3)

  • Julie W.

    40 proof tequila in "margaritas"! They only have a beer and wine license. Open door to patio lets many flies inside. Waiter told us they were "controlling" them with dryer softener sheets hung around the windows. Doesn't work. Waiter did not tell us about half price appetizers with an "alcoholic beverage". We saw on a board and had to ask about the discount the second time he came to take our order. Chicken quesadilla was mostly cheeses. This place was a rip off!

    (1)

  • N O.

    The tamale plate came recommended but I found them to be dry despite the large heaping of cheese and red sauce drowning the dish. The cheese in the quesadilla was not properly melted and the chips brought to the table,stale . I realize it is a target for tourist but I'm looking for more than just a nice setting-which it was.

    (3)

  • Leigh M.

    The Bandito pie appetizer and salsa were very good but I was very disappointed in the calabacitas and tamales. The calabacitas were complete mush with little flavor and the tamales were cold, and had very little meat but excess amounts of dry masa. My husband's carne adovada plate was much better but certainly not the best we've had here in ABQ. The server was not the friendliest but not a huge deal. Pluses were that the patio environment was beautiful and the red chile was gluten-free.

    (3)

  • Jenny O.

    Stopped here on our reverse Grapes of Wrath migration. The food was flavorful and plentiful. My husband and I had the pork dish. It was in a red sauce and very good. My brother and mom had a sampler platter and both enjoyed their selections. The food was somewhere along the lines of Tex-Mex and New Mex. Lots of detail in the sauce and a bit of cheese. It was a great little find.

    (4)

  • Rachel P.

    Church Street has great ambiance and solidly decent New Mexican food. I love it for taking new visitors to ABQ when we are in Old Town. It's got massive charm, especially on the patio during the summer months. It's by far the best place besides Le Crepe Michel in Old Town to eat. (But how many out of town guests want crepes! ha!) Service is fine, not stellar, and the prices are a bit high. I think they have the best agave wine margaritas (especially the sangria one) around.

    (3)

  • Joanne T.

    We are here while on vacation over a week ago. We liked it so well that we came back on our way home. The first time I had their fajita. This time I ordered the traditional Chile Rellano. Both were excellent, albeit a bit too much. Their Sangria Margaritas are very good; you can tell that each it's individually made, as the taste was a bit different for each one. I had another sangria margarita at another restaurant, but it wasn't nearly as good. Try it when you are in Old Town Albuquerque. As another perk if you are into history, this building is allegedly the invest residence in New Mexico.

    (4)

  • Rebecca S.

    We were recommended to come here by our front desk. Either they have never eaten here or are getting kickbacks. This is bar none the worst Mexican food I have eaten. Ever. My local hole in the wall in Charm City is better. Heck, even Chili's might beat this. The food took around 30 minutes to arrive for dinner. The ubiquitous beans have no flavor. The meat taquitos are passable- sort of like what you'd get at a county fair. And my exceedingly overpriced (16.50, I think) combination platter was actually inedible. It came cold, with congealed plasticky flavorless cheese sealing the top of the platter. After the archaeological excavation below the cheese layer, there was a layer of nondescript spicy goop, and then mushy carbohydrates that may at some point have been a tamale or something. Attempting to recover the Lost City of Chile Relleno, I discovered. ...a fork full of breading, reminiscent of an extremely thick beer batter. With that, I gave up, handing in my shovel. The server was nice enough to not change for the platter, which I returned - maybe only the second tone I've ever done that. Ambiance and live music were very nice, though.

    (1)

  • Richard S.

    I paid $15.95 for my 2-enchilada entree that came with sides of squash & beans plus a sopapilla. The beans and squash were just fair. Edible, but nothing special. Everything else was very good and tastefully prepared. Salsa was very good. Seems a bit pricey but oh well. Nice ambiance and attentive service.

    (4)

  • Casey S.

    This is a nice little restaurant which is an old converted house. Lots of pictures and knickknacks to walk around and look at while waiting for your food. The chips and salsa are great - chips come out warm with the perfect amount of salt and the salsa is fresh and pretty spicy. We shared two meals: -the green chile chicken soup which is absolutely huge. Very meaty with lots of potatoes and other vegetables. It came out STEAMING hot and took some time to cool down. Very flavorful and filling in itself. It was served with warm, homemade tortillas for dipping. -chicken enchilada meal. This meal was downright huge. We couldn't decide on the red or green chile so the waiter brought one of each. The green is a little spicier but they were both yummy. The beans were excellent but we weren't that thrilled with the rice which was a little bland and dry. -Sopapillas -- perfect dessert to a large meal. These warm, puffy, light pastries were fabulous. They were served with honey for dipping/drizzling and just sweet enough to cap the meal off right without getting overly full.

    (4)

  • Susan G.

    Great Recommendation from a Local Merchant I was in Old Town during the recent Founders Day celebration and was looking for a good place for lunch. I asked a local merchant, she recommended Church Street Cafe and she was right. What a lovely restaurant with each room decorated in a different style. I was sorry that I didn't know about the big patio in the back of the restaurant as I would've asked to be seated there. The chips arrived first and they were warm and served with a spicy red salsa. I ordered the beef taco salad and everything tasted fresh. My server was attentive without making me feel like I needed to rush. I liked that several of the servers were older ladies who were just really nice in a grandmotherly way. The cost of my meal, including ice tea, was about $15 with tip.

    (4)

  • Quinn A.

    Beautiful! Be sure to walk through and find a table in the garden back patio. Sure, there is good people watching from the front yard, but the back is an oasis. Good green chili, perfect ice tea, personal friendly service. Very nice breakfast in Old Town.

    (4)

  • Steve M.

    Bigger on the inside than first impressions let on. Great back patio hang out with good mexican food.

    (5)

  • Briza M.

    Cute little place with lots of history. Food was okay/good, service was okay. We were a group of 11 and a few of us opted for the fajita special. My hubby and I shared it (it was plenty). Good flavor, but meat was a little tough. All but one of our orders came out at the same time. I felt terrible for our friend who got served when the rest of us were almost done eating. I expected his dinner to be complimentary or at least a free dessert - something, but got nothing. I was a little disappointed with that. Sweet lady that served us, but didn't exactly go above and beyond. I did very much enjoy the sopapillas with honey.

    (3)

  • P L.

    We both had the combination plate and ate on the patio. Nice quiet side street. Staff was friendly and attentive. Excellent flavor, cheese enchiladas were a little chewy. I liked that, my hubby didn't. Sopaipillas were to die for. Four came with the meal, but I ordered two more. I could have just had them and been happy.

    (4)

  • Brady R.

    Great little "dive" in Old Town Albuquerque. It was recommended to me by clients and did not disappoint. Try the house Sangria Margarita and New Mexico-style tamales.

    (4)

  • Kim R.

    I love their sopapillas!!! And all their food here is delicious. I will be sure to eat here anytime I am in Albuquerque.

    (5)

  • Jason A.

    Overpriced mediocre New Mexican food. I can see tourists going here to get there munch on but I've had much better for much cheaper. Not recommended for locals.

    (2)

  • Betsy C.

    Hubby and I come to Abq about once a year and it's like a pilgrimage we must fulfill to visit and eat at the Church St Cafe. The building and decor alone are worth the trip,really a sight to see! The food is good, not necessarily Great...but hey, husband had to go back today, after eating there yesterday and have another "mile high pile". A large, gooey, tasty pile of potatoes , eggs, cheese and green chili. I had a modest cup of chicken chili...it was good but I could have skipped it since I had to help finish off the MHP. My reason for agreeing to eat in the same place twice? Sopapillas! One yesterday, two today. Oh hot honeyed goodness! Service yesterday -ok today- great. Same hit or miss in the past. Have sat, at different visits : inside, dark room,eh. Out front:good people watching, the worst service Back room: love the light and decor. Patio in season: Awesome We love it, it just seems like quintessential NM to us! If you're in Old Town Abq don't miss it!

    (4)

  • Wayne E.

    We were told that this was the place to be in Old Town if we wanted to get some great New Mexican food. The place seems small and quaint on the outside...but when you enter, you find this restaurant is vast. We walked about a block from the door to the back seating area that was a huge open air place with many tables. We were pretty amazed...and that doesn't include the patio. It seemed that while this restaurant has been a fixture for some time, the pull to serve the tourist has been a strong one.....it had me wondering what it was like when the café first opened...maybe a little smaller, intimate and focused? Unfortunately for us, we must have hit this place when they were short handed. It took a while to get our order in, and longer for the food to arrive. Granted, we were starving, tired, and a little impatient. The food itself was good, and the portions large. That said, it didn't really light me up the way I had hoped it would. I would say the margarita was the highlight of the dinner. I will be open minded to the idea that had the service wowed me, maybe my view of the food would be better...

    (3)

  • Lani P.

    We loved this place so much on 7/16/14, that we came back today (7/17.) Wow, what a difference it makes in terms of service. Our outside patio server on 7/16 was delightful and full of information and advice. He was friendly and offered excellent service. He was great! Today we sat inside by the tile fireplace and had to ask for everything piece meal! I had to request straws for our water, plates for our appetizers, and extra salsa. Plus, when my husband asked for the bottle cap of a distinctive bottle of local beer, she served him the capped bottle without a bottle opener! He had to use his keys to open it because she disappeared again. Our server was disinterested in us and it showed. She didn't smile or welcome us. She was much more interested in chatting with the other servers at their work station. Plus, when I asked for a box to pack up our leftovers, she kept trying to take our flatware and our the plates with food! Twice I had to tell her to stop -- I wasn't finished! We didn't even get a bag to carry the containers. When I asked for a bag at the servers' station, I was told to go to the front to get one. When we got to the front, there was no one around. We looked around but found no one. We just left. If she had been our server on the first day, we would have never returned. Food was good, setting is charming, but the service is iffy. Proceed at your own risk.

    (3)

  • Matt F.

    Food and Price were right on! The margaritas was outstanding. Get the guacamole!!! Food portions were huge. If on a diet, split an entree and get the guac!

    (4)

  • Olivia S.

    I am updating my past review due to the fact the owner went out of her way to contact me and address the experience that I had. And that's all it would take just acknowledgement and trying to make a wrong a right! Thank you, Marie

    (4)

  • Tory M.

    I've eaten here numerous times. One does need to eat on the back patio at least once. The food is usually not bad, today though I was left wanting more out of the chicken and beef tacos. Maybe it was the lack of service that turned me off today. Normally the service is pretty good, today just wasn't one of those days. It took almost 20 minutes from walking in to actually placing our order, which seemed to take way too long to arrive. If they were busy I could understand it, but after our arrival the kitchen only had to make a total of four entrees. It's definitely best to come at lunch and not an hour before closing time when the staff is dragging and apparently doesn't want to be there anymore.

    (3)

  • Joan Y.

    Great service, very friendly and welcoming. This is a place to recommend to tourists as it has a great atmosphere. Very tasty food, especially breakfast!

    (5)

  • Lisa B.

    Very authentic New Mexican restaurant. The fajitas are huge! The chicken enchiladas are great...not greasy and big portions. They offer many varieties of iced tea and the ambience is very comfortable. Spinach is an option with entrees instead of potatoes or calabacitas.

    (5)

  • Larr G.

    Please remember that on any given night the service and food can be the best you ever had or it can go wrong. Judging a place on a single experience, particularly if it is a bad experience, might be informative but it may also be unfair. Th first time I ate here was about 1999 or so. Whenever I am in Albuquerque I stop in for dinner. The front is a little misleading in that is suggests that the place is very small. That is not the case. There is front patio, indoor and back patio seating. The inside is broken up into several different rooms. This gives the place feeling of intimacy. I have been here with just one other person, small groups and a group of 15. In each case the service was excellent. As is the case with any place, a call ahead for a large group is suggested. The menu is complex with a lot of options. I love the chile relienos. I have never had a bad meal here so rather than list all of the other things that I like, I urge you to experiment. The salsa is excellent. There is a good selection of beer, wine and mixed drinks. I tend to stick with beer. This is traditional New Mexico -Mexican- food, not be confused with Tex-Mex or Border Mexican. All good, all very different. The Cafe is ADA compliant as far as I can tell.

    (4)

  • Kathy L.

    Again, great service back in the new section after a hot day at the botanical garden! Waiter was great!

    (4)

  • Dorothea C.

    Food was plentiful and tasty The building is huge and beautiful. Our server took some getting used to - she got nicer. We had huge servings, the food was good, and the guitar player came and played some children's tunes especially for my godson!

    (4)

  • Derrick B.

    Food was absolutely wonderful. Server was a bit scatter brained and slow but otherwise a well worth stop if in this area. Salsa is best I ever had and for the meal I had the posolie soup and cup of green chili soup. Wonderful

    (4)

  • Antal M.

    I've been eating here for a long time. As a kid, as a poor college student, and now as an adult. Last experience 4 months ago was stellar. Awesome waiter who made our experience that much more enjoyable. Don't remember his name but he was a young man with a pony tail and a genuine smile, attentive, kind and we rewarded him accordingly with a generous tip. That experience is what brought my better half and I back this past Sunday. Unfortunately, I do remember the name of one of the worst waitresses I have ever had who happened to be taking care (neglecting and not giving a damn is more appropriate) of us but I will spare her name although I do feel she deserves to know just how terrible her service was so that she can abandon any future career in the service industry for the good of us all. As our experience got worse and worse I could see pony tail guy down the hallway, smiling and serving a happy table and I longed for his kind words and helpful service. Now, I do understand Church Street is busy and I am always willing to wait for good service and a nice meal, but we didn't even have to wait. After initially ordering a Bloody Mary, I asked our waitress if I could have a bloody beer instead, obviously they have the Bloody Mary mix and what's the big deal about mixing a couple of ounces of that with a cold Tecate. No harm done right? Well, she returned after a little while and instead of offering any kind of explanation said "she won't do that". First, who is this almighty "she" was she referring to God? I know God personally, not well, but good enough that I know she is all about bloody beer! Excuse my idle humor, all I'm trying to say is that just saying no without offering any explanation when working in the customer service/ hospitality industry is a huge turn off. I know because I work in the industry. Moving on, we placed our food order without any pleasantries as if we had already inconvenienced our waitress enough, and then proceeded to wait forty five minutes for our food (fajitas and a sandwich) which were both mediocre at best, overcooked fajitas, burned veggies and greasy fries with the sandwich. Hard to screw up a club sandwich but my better half had a difficult time getting through even the first few bites. At this point our drinks (only water because of the aforementioned incident) were empty and we had to point that out as well. When the food was delivered the fajitas were set down without a plate or any sides. I waited and waited as the sizzling sound began to fade and my food started to literally cool down with still no sign of my plate, toppings or water. Finally flagged down the hostess and pleaded "please help us, this is the worst service we've ever had here". Our waitress appeared a few minutes later and hardly said a word (I guess she knew we were unhappy) but instead of offering an apology, she just ignored us all together. We never saw her again, I guess in retrospect we should have gone looking for her just to make sure she wasn't abducted or the latest victim of the ghost that resides in the building. It was time to cut our losses, I walked up front and found the hostess again (remember our waitress was abducted), credit card and hand and pleaded again "we just want to get out of here and we are never coming back". Got a discount but didn't eat our food, it was time to abandon this dismal experience and salvage the rest of our Sunday. Needless to say it was time for a drink, headed to five start burger and had some of the best service of our lives from a nice guy named Anthony. We will never go back to Church Street and I will stop recommending it to out of towners, our friends and family and the like.

    (1)

  • A W.

    Disgusting food, awful service. The hostess was rude, our waiter thought we were tourists at first and was trying to make up BS about Old Town and Church St., before we called him out - then his tone changed, he never brought our sopapillas or allowed us to see a desert menu, INSTEAD he rushed us out insisting we have to cash out because his shift was ending! Then either the manager or owner said goodbye in a disingenuous way with a scowl on her face as we left, as a local, I was appalled and shocked with the service, because it's the worst I have ever received in this city. The food when it arrived had obviously been sitting a while. Lettuce was yellow and wilted, guacamole was brown. The meal was inedible, I regret not asking for my money back. The best I can do is warn others against this restaurant.

    (1)

  • Jeremy S.

    This isn't the worst restaurant in Albuquerque, or is it???? We need Robert Irvine stat. I find the menu to be a little plain, not very creative. They have repulsive coffee which tastes like it was brewed in an old boot except that it's too weak. The service is an abomination of the 10,000 year old art form. The food is not terrible, not generous, not creative. Both the red and green are very good. Verdict: I wouldn't refuse an invitation to eat here, nor would I initiate one.

    (2)

  • Becky S.

    Wonderful cafe in old town Albuquerque. Service was quick and my lunch was delicious. I had the Desert Pilsner, a local New Mexico beer, which was also delish. I sat outside on the patio and didn't relize how huge the old historic building is until paying my bill. It is beautiful inside. A Good spot to stop while visiting old town!!!!

    (5)

  • whitney m.

    Not the best mexican food around but was sufficient and they were open when for some reason nothing else was. Kitschy decor decent waiter. Marg was a mix, queso was velveeta and rotel and the red chile was weird....I realize that sounds vague but it was more of a red chile paste and not a sauce and certainly not the norm in northern NM. Wouldn't return there are better places in ABQ.

    (3)

  • Lena L.

    This place looks tiny and adorable from the outside. On the inside, it just keeps going. It's a historic building and has a great atmosphere. The outdoor patio is very nice, even though I had to stick a napkin under our wobbly table- it's on stone, so it's not that weird that it was so off balance. The waiters know the history of the area and the building and are very informative. Especially for tourists, it is useful information. As a ABQ resident, I still found it interesting. We ordered the Agave Margaritas with lunch and they are quite yummy. Really nice flavor that is not too sweet. They have a decent wine/beer/drink list. It's not long, but you will find something you like on it. They have local New Mexican beers and local wines. That is a big plus for me in a local business. They bring you chips and salsa that are both good. The chips are house made and the salsa was decent- they said it was hot, but it only has a small bite to it. Good flavor, even though it's a little runny. I wish it was a bit thicker. They have good menudo! If menudo is your thing (I love it), then you will like theirs. I am usually really picky about it, but this was delicious. It tasted homemade, which makes me happy. They have yummy vegetarian options, including a mushroom fajita that I enjoyed on my second visit. They make solid New Mexican food. The flavors are all there. Things to not try: The Rellenos. Not the best. I don't like their breading at all. Warning- it is a tourist stop. It's not spicy. The service is really good. They are polite, informed and usually fast- I have seen reviews saying that are slow, but I did not experience that. I got the best service in Old Town the times I was here. It's priced fairly- burgers for $9 that are super good and large. It's definitely a nice place. It's historical, true to it's roots and serves local food and drinks.

    (4)

  • Mary B.

    Amazing ambience and the back courtyard is lovely. The problem was the service and the food. Our waiter seemed to hardly know the menu and was helpless when asked for recommendations. Then it seemed like an eternity before our food came and our waiter was obviously avoiding us and the tables nearby. We had to flag him down for more water. Then when the food finally arrived it was cold and my sandwich was missing it's green chili. My companions burrito was unappealing and mostly left unbeaten. The waiter after a third request finally refilled our water and left the check. I was very disappointed with our visit.

    (2)

  • Duane M.

    Great patio! Nice, cozy and comfortable. Fairly good NM style food!

    (4)

  • Corey B.

    Came on a recommendation from my hotel. I had the chicken enchiladas, and they are great! Chips and salsa were brought to me as soon as I sat down. Make sure u sit on the back patio. Beautiful and quite. Only down side is food is pricey for Mexican. It was really good, but $18 for a Mexican meal is a little much. Still recommend checkin it out though.

    (4)

  • Renee H.

    Came pretty highly recommended. The food was bland, nothing exciting. It really turned us off to New Mexican food.

    (2)

  • Rocky C.

    Our second time there. Friends of friends who live in ABQ bring people to this restaurant because of the location/patio which is in an old adobe building, nice, and quaint. However, next time this restaurant comes up we are not going along with the suggestion. The wait person was so rude. No eye contact, we had to repeat everything, bad attitude like she did not give a S$$t. Asked for Ice Tea 3 times, waited for our meals for a long time, asked for Sopaipillas twice. She said they were busy making the little puffy pillows (sopaipillas), while we kept seeing other wait people bringing them out to the other guests. We even ordered in Spanish just to let her know we were "gente" but that did not go over at all. By the third time, we were almost done with our mediocre meal (esp the calabacitas) we asked if the sopaipilla maker was done making them and then she proceeded to mention to us... "I just brought out two trays of sopaipillas to this table" and looked at our table which had no evidence at all that she had brought out the frikk'n sopaipillas!! We should have known better when we entered the restaurant. The young woman at the hostess stand was on the phone talking while a beautiful and very old woman who could not move very well appeared and tried to seat people. If this place is managedand owned by the family/ children they are clearly resting on their laurels and really don't care. The poor tourists....what a mess.

    (1)

  • Michele S.

    Friendly staff, super accommodating to the unruly member in our party who was overly drunk. Good location next to hotel. I like the horchata and vegetarian tamales. My friends loved the posole. Complimentary dessert was wonderful.

    (4)

  • Nathan H.

    While on a brief visit to ABQ to visit family, my wife asked to go to Oldtown. I was exhausted from her shopping and when I realized she hadn't melted her credit/debit cards yet, I jumped at the chance to get a meal. I'm not certain but I definitely got the feel that this mostly a tourist type restaurant but the service was so good that I could have cared less. Despite the crowd, our waiter did a good job keeping up with his tables. The patio seating was nice and served to people watch very nicely. The negative for me was that the food was delivered very quickly unfortunately it wasn't what I ordered. Occasionally after you order at restaurants the waiter pops right up and asked how everything is going, but because of the crowd it took a while for me to be able to attempt to get everything straightened out. I encouraged my wife and family to eat while it was hot and they had completed it before my fajitas 2.0 were delivered. Being done, they wanted to shop and left me to fend for myself on the patio by myself. Not a huge disappointment, but I definitely felt like a jerk eating at a bigger table by myself while families with small children waited to get seated. If you can find Church Street Cafe, it'll probably be a place you'd go back to.

    (3)

  • Joan L.

    I know this place has been around a while and was supposed to be good. I took a friend to dinner there last night and was really taken aback at the less than ho-hum nature and quality of the food. We both had pulled beef enchiladas - red and green. The beef was dried out and leathery, basically tasteless. The beans were whole beans, which I usually prefer because of lard issues, although I was never asked my preference. They were just as dry and chewy as the beef however. I asked for calabacitas and the corn had a strange metallic taste, like it came out if a can. Altogether a very unpleasant experience. The meal for two was $59 truly a shock. There are so many better and cheaper places!! Cross this one off your list and go elsewhere. Pretty decor but also pretty empty on a Saturday night. I guess I now know why.

    (1)

  • Cee T.

    We moved to Albuquerque 3 months ago and this is by far the worst meal that we have had here. Relatives came into town and we wanted to do the Old Town experience. I regret bringing them here. Everyone in my party ordered the Old Town Turkey. This is the restaraunts own description copied straight from their menu: Old Town Turkey (Best on rye!) white breast of turkey, swiss cheese, and green chile It gives the option to be served hot or cold and we all chose hot. The sandwiches arrived with turkey DELI meat (not exactly a white breast) one slice of cheese, lettuce, tomato and NO CHILE. Nothing like the description. I wanted thick sliced turkey breast, melted cheese and the chiles New Mexico is known for. Not tomatoes and lettuce. When I pointed out the missing chiles to the waiter he replied that we didn't request chile. What?!!! It's one of the only 3 ingredients in the sandwich description. After waiting much too long, he brought out small containers of ice cold chiles and took off before we could complain. The sandwich was grilled in way too much butter and most of my bread was soggy. It was too rich and extremely bland at the same time. I am going to upload a picture of the $10 Old Town Turkey sandwich. It's pathetic. Do not waste your time here.

    (1)

  • D J.

    Yea. I mean this place hits the vast majority of the marks. The food is very good. I had the Old Style Chile Rellenos and it was very good. The margaritas are good too. The decor is really nice and cozy and just a great choice. I would say the prices are very good too. I think they close at 9pm, at least on the winter weeknight that I went. So on arrival at the normal dinner time of about 7:30pm we got the feeling that the staff was quite ready to leave at the end of our meal. They had the door open pulling in the patio furniture, which I'm not sure why they even put outside in the cold ABQ winter. But no one was rude or anything. The hostess did, upon our arrival, say hello and then glance over with a sort of 'over it' look in her eye and say "can you seat them for me?" which I thought wasn't a good idea in the age of yelp. The management, the older people, seemed very accommodating and good at what they do, I just felt the younger help seemed like they needed to learn a bit more about the nuances of the hospitality and food service industry. Guests remember every detail. Over all definitely go to this place though if you're in the mood for New Mexican food and drinks. And don't plan on going out after because you will be stuffed and ready for bed.

    (4)

  • Shanna K.

    I have been a vegetarian for 21 years. This means that I get ridiculously excited when I find food options that are normally not vegetarian in vegetarian version. Usually, when talking about Mexican or New Mexican food, this means vegetarian Red Chili/Enchilada Sauce or vegetarian Green Chili. Here, for the first time in my life, I was able to order something vegetarian "Christmas Style" which means smothered in BOTH red and green (in this case, vegetarian) chili. If that was all that mattered, my Christmas Enchiladas would have gotten five stars, hands down. However, Leo's omlette was "meh" and also a bit greasy, and the potatoes weren't cooked enough. The iced tea was good, and service was good, though not amazing. I did like the setting - it is in a home that is over 100 years old, and has awesome accessories on the wall. All in all, fun and tasty, and I will be back next time I am in the ABQ just to get some hot Christmas action!

    (4)

  • Jared V.

    Good food best enjoyed on the shaded back patio. Very kid friendly. I recommend the Pueblo Burger with Indian flatbread, green chili, and avocado.

    (5)

  • Cheri P.

    Huevos rancheros, green. Posolé and tamales, red. Everything delicious. Service was friendly and fast. Ambiance is authentic, the building is beautiful. If you're headed toward Old Town I absolutely recommend.

    (4)

  • Jeff B.

    When we got to town and asked for a restaurant recommendation, we were curious when everyone said the Church Street Cafe. But when the cop in the street said it was the go to place, we decided to try. NOT DISAPPOINTED. Service was impeccable...one of the best waiters we have ever had...even in very high end NYC restaurants. Started with the agave wine margarita....soooo much smoother than tequila. Less alcohol was good since it was lunch on July 4 and we had a long day ahead (and had been traveling since 4:30am). The quesa was creamy with a small kick. Salsa was fantastic. The sampler platter was ok -I expected more from the chili rellana. The carne adovado al horno (a pork dish in a rich red chili sauce) was mixed. The pork was dry but the sauce fantastic. Smokey, smooth and deep with flavor. It probably would make cardboard taste palatable. The finishing touch, which pushed the 4th star were the sopapillas Described by the waiter as "pillows of love" they were the lightest fried pastries you could imagine. Cover them with honey and ..... You can guess the rest.

    (4)

  • Bizzle Z.

    Really liked this place. Cozy, comfortable, good service. Pretty good food & margaritas too.

    (4)

  • April A.

    The outdoor patio in the back is beautiful, brimming with trees, and an overgrown garden of local foliage. The staff is nice and helpful and its fun to guess which guests are from out of town and which are locals. The food was good but not superb. I had the red chile sour cream enchiladas and did not care for a spice they used in the red chile. With chile, simpler is better. But I will be back to try their other dishes.

    (4)

  • Jack U.

    The waitress never once smiled when I ordered a drink I was told they could not serve a drink unless I ordered a meal with meat in it... Never hear of that policy! Will never go back we cashed out with the kids drinks and left

    (1)

  • Mike f.

    First time diner, pretty unimpressed, sorry to say. The good: salsa and guacamole both excellent! The bad: more or less everything else---with the worst of the dishes their version of carne asada, just a big mess of dry, over seasoned meat swimming in red chili sauce. Nice ambiance, but tourist driven for sure. Won't be back!

    (2)

  • Nina Ann T.

    This is a beautiful little cafe! I have been there twice, once in 2014 and once in 2012. Both times, I was impressed with the hostess who gave us the historical run-down of the building and offered us seats either inside or on the patio - our choice. The food isn't the best that NM has to offer, however, the food is pretty darn good for the price and their guacamole is great! Both times I was there, the service was good, though I will say that our server in 2014 was visibly disappointed that neither of us ordered drinks. All in all, this is a beautiful place to dine and I would highly recommend it for lunch. If it's nice weather, sit out on the patio because it is gorgeous!! Order the sopapillas and definitely have chips and salsa before your meal!

    (4)

  • LJ E.

    One of my favorite places in abq! I always get the old fashioned chiles rellenos. So tasty. The strawberry margaritas are amazing. On my birthday, I went with my husband and we got a free dessert. I had never had natillas before and holy cow, my new favorite dessert. It's like warm horchata flavored pudding. If you dip the fresh sopapillas in it it's heaven in your mouth. The service has always been good. Whenever we have out of town guests, this is where we go.

    (4)

  • Steve W.

    From the front door, you'd think this was a tiny place and question whether it was open. Once you open the door and step in, you can see how much larger the place really is. After a 12 hour day driving from Los Angeles on our way home to Texas, a nice home cooked meal was what we needed. The portions were plentiful, the flavor was amazing, and the service was outstanding. From the home made chips and awesome salsa, to the sopapillas, everything was cooked to perfection. We pass through Albuquerque everytime we go to Los Angeles, and we will definitely be back here again.

    (5)

  • Gerri I.

    We were in town this past weekend to celebrate my sister's 50th birthday. My initial thought was not to eat there because the food looked "touristy" and not very authentic, but because we had a group of 8 and some were pretty hungry, we decided to give it a shot - after all, some of the local merchants recommended it. We were seated, but it took quite a bit to get someone to wait on us - some of the sides didn't show up - we were charged for an item that was never brought out - the food was bland, the drinks had way too much ice - needless to say we were all very disappointed with the food but moreso the service. I normally don't write reviews, especially bad ones, but this place needs to step up their service. When we mentioned it was my sister's birthday nothing was offered - not even a Sopapilla? After sharing our bad experience, one would have thought we would have been offered a discount on our bill but that never came either. The building, itself, is beautiful, but that was about it. Sorry Church Street Cafe, but I think you rely much on the tourists that stream through Old Town.

    (1)

  • Courtney L.

    This was a great find! One of the cashier's at a shop recommended it to us and it was perfect for breakfast (despite it also being the only place open). It was November , raining and freezing so it was dead empty, but the atmosphere was still cozy and beyond friendly. Our server was so kind and told us a bit about the place. The back of the menu is also filled with the history and it is amazing how old this place really is. The back patio was really neat looking, but it was far too cold to sit back there. The women's bathroom is also a good indicator to see how this building was re-purposed from the restaurant. You can tell it wasn't built to be a bathroom originally. The food was incredible as well. Being from the Midwest, we just don't get awesome Southwest meals like this. At first I was put off by them charging extra to get more vegetables in my omelet, and then I saw the size of the omelet when it came out. It was HUGE. I felt so guilty I couldn't take the leftovers with me. It was cooked so well and the flavors blended in an amazing way. I got the chiles on the side since I don't handle heat well, but it wasn't as hot as I predicted it might be. We also ordered a cinnamon roll to start breakfast off with. This was SO delicious. It was so warm and buttery and gooey. We woofed this down at an embarrassing rate. We skipped the free breakfast at our hotel for this and it was so worth it. I would definitely recommend breakfast here while exploring Old Town. History and cinnamon rolls: It doesn't get better than that!

    (4)

  • Thomas B.

    Overall we enjoyed the setting in a quaint old building. But it took more than 5 minutes for a hostess to show up and seat us. A bit disappointing. The food was all right except for the spinach, which tasted like they were dumped from a can, and the salsa was runny. You shouldn't get bad salsa in New Mexico! Fortunately the toquitos and guacamole were good. Good but a bit overrated based on previous reviews.

    (3)

  • Christa M.

    AMAZING food and fun Albuquerque atmosphere. Shared a combo plate and a bowl of the menudo and seriously I don't regret it. The combo had a tamale, enchilada and chili relleno drenched in the red and green salsa. It was amazing! The menudo, which was extremely rich and flavorful came with fluffy sopaipilla. It was to die for! I seriously can't say enough about this place! Can't wait for our next visit to Albequerque! We will for sure be stopping at Church street again!

    (5)

  • T G.

    $18.50 for chicken enchiladas!!! Dark meat chicken enchiladas at that. Granted I ordered and egg ... when asked if I wanted squash or rice or both I said both. They should have mentioned I would not get beans. They charged $2.50 for less than a cup of beans. Sopaipillas were meh ... the DARK chicken in the enchiladas had no seasoning and the corn tortillas used was hard in places. We had to bring our entire table in when the patio got chilly while the staff just watched us and didn't assist. The service was horrible ... we would have to wait for the server to show and watched the staff munch while working. Loved the atmosphere ... not the service or food.

    (1)

  • Chris E.

    "I was pissed when they changed it from Casa Ruiz to Church Street Cafe." - Ross Ruiz There's a story behind that quote, but it's less important to you than my Adventure in Adovada, fall 2011. Ross & his brother Gilbert are my neighbors. When in Albuquerque I visit Church Street Cafe to honor them. My first meal here was recommended by my BAER Brother Darryl, long before I knew the history of this sprawling, beautifully restored adobe. Carne Adovada y Calabacitas was recommended by Julie, my comely and animated server. Chips and medium salsa were the appetizer. Crispy chips, salsa warm at first, then fading to a Rio Colorado of flavors. It was like swimming in most creeks, rivers, lakes or oceans. So intensely cold it's hard to believe it could be pleasant. Wonderful after a few minutes of adjustment. There's menu items for every budget. Sandwiches, soups and appetizers are affordable, price climbing for main dishes and specialities. There's a reasonably priced breakfast. If you indulge, the bar may be an Old Town Albuquerque scene. It was noisy in a quiet, fun-sounding way. La Casa Ruiz/Church Street Cafe - that's what the menu says, has lots of nice gifts and jewelry, also in a wide variety of sizes and prices. They are stored in some fine old cases visually reinforcing the 300 year-plus age of La Casa. My steaming, cheese-covered adovada arrived paired with the squash and pintos, a traditional trinity of Southwestern food. The only thing that could have made it smell better, was winter's pitch-sweet incense from Albuquerque's pinyon wood warming fires borne on freezing air. The adovada was sneaky. I was served enough of that red chile pork for three of my dinner portions. Some of those pork pieces were excellent. Tender, the red chile adding heat, the flavor shouting "RED CHILE," my word skills far too puny to evoke that rising, growing, earthy, slightly bitter fire for you. Some of those pieces were tough, leaving me pondering if Chef Micro, with his famous culinary wave, was not real busy back in the kitchen. The light bitterness in the back palate may have been over-oxidized red chile. The heat of the adovada built slowly, red chile taste stronger with each bite. The melted cheese and calabacitas mixed with maiz dulce cut the heat with sweetness and texture. The simple, very good, boiled beans helped too. I pursued the adovada, piercing it with my fork, lifting it to my lips, never quite knowing if it would be tough or tender, heat growing with every bite. I ordered flan to keep the heat from waking me at one A.M. ;) Flat in shape, tough in places, good sauce. It was decent. I've had better. It was also the least decadent of the desserts. Medium roast coffee fit my tastes well. /** If you have time to read the menu notes, you'll find La Casa Ruiz is over 300 years old, some walls three feet thick and the earliest brick an adobe variety from marshes. You'll also read the marshes rose around 1821, melting parts of La Casa Ruiz. When Ross got pissed because La Casa Ruiz was changed to "The Church Street Cafe," he called the owner, clearly stating his feelings. A WWII pilot, of New Mexican Spaniard descent, he's a little touchy about the War of 1846, humorous practices (for some) in 19th century American land transactions, second-class citizenship in his homeland, etc. Ross is sometimes cactus-ish. Family members spent time with Elfego Baca. Another brother claims some part of the family apparently WERE Comancheros, providing a plot line for Paul Wellman and work for John Wayne. Ross' surliness may have motivated some historical info hunting by the owner. I don't remember if the notes were the same the last time I dined at The Cafe. This time they said the Ruiz Family can be historically traced as some of the earliest settlers in the New Mexico Reconquesta. The Ruiz ancestors laid that first adobe down on the church side of the Albuquerque Plaza about 1707. Ross and Gilbert grew up here in the house of their grandmother, and Gil learned his first childhood raunchy guy-stuff in the alley behind the house. In 2011, Ross is 89 and estimates that over 30 years he's played 30,000 games of dawn-tide tennis after 8,000 bicycle rides to the Phoenix Encanto Park courts. 87 year-old Gilbert smoked for 55 years, a habit I'm sure he found back in the alley. He doesn't play much tennis. Their aunt was the last resident on the Old Town Plaza. As you leave La Casa, approaching the cash register from the north ante-room, you'll see Ruiz family photos on the west wall. The most recent, taken in the 1970's is the young Ruiz's and their Tia. Gil's not in it - he took it. Enjoy. I know I will. Gilbert Ruiz - 12/2/1923 - 12/3/2011 May you behold the splendors of God from the loftiest mount.

    (4)

  • Kelly R.

    Having a large group that has a meeting about every year -- this has been a great go-to place to have dinner, HOWEVER, Friday night -- March 13 will be that last time that we go or recommend this location. With reservations at 6:30 pm for a group over 10, we did not get our meals until after 8:00 pm while others in the same room that were seating after we were all got their meals and some even finished and left before we got served. When we did get the food, it was barely luke warm, rice was cold -- manager did NOTHING to address the issue, we even had to ask for some type of compensation on our billing -- it was not offer. There are many other places to have a great Mexican meal -- Church Street Café should not be one of them for larger groups -- under 15!

    (1)

  • Melissa M.

    A friend was visiting from Colorado, we were hanging out in old town, and decided to grab a bite. This place is a tourist trap. It's unfortunate that ppl around the world would consider this good New Mexican food. The only thing this place has going is location. I don't think a local would even bother coming to this place. Over rated and over priced

    (2)

  • Damon T.

    When folks come to Albuquerque from out of town, I'll usually take them to Church Street Cafe. It's not the best New Mexican cuisine, but it's pretty darned good. What makes Church Street Cafe great for out of town guests is the atmosphere. The restaurant is in one of Albuquerque's oldest dwellings. The low wooden ceilings and thick adobe walls scream southwestern pueblo, of which guests can usually not get enough. There's often a spanish/flamenco guitar player there which adds to the ambiance. I often go for the carne adovada when I eat New Mexican, and this one does not disappoint. The portion is a bit small (I'm a big eater) but the pork is cooked to perfection and the red chile has the right amount of smoky flavor and kick. The blue corn enchiladas are also very good, served flat with either a tasty red or green. They give you a choice of red or green for their posole (pork & hominy stew). I always get red, but it's interesting to try with green. If you're feeling like some New Mexican food with a healthy dose of New Mexican atmosphere and perhaps a walk around old town before/after, check out Church Street Cafe!

    (4)

  • Amy C.

    Good food and decent service. I had the carne adovada burrito which was delicious but a lot of food and not rolled like you'd expect. My husband had the soft tacos - nothing to write home about.

    (3)

  • D H.

    The food and margaritas were very good. The service, was not. It didnt appear to be all that busy, but I still went to get a chip refill for us because our server was just absent. Slow all around. I think she was having a bad day.

    (3)

  • Meridith G.

    My husband and I were really looking forward to finding a great patio accompanied by a great margarita and queso. Instead, we ended up with mediocre, kraft at best, queso and a margarita selection that included everything but... Yes, tequila. It was a wine and beer bar with margaritas...yes, I'm still confused. I ordered the sangria margarita that tasted like cool aid that cost me $7.50. The service was direct, not warm and at one point we watched our server actually leave the restaurant and return on the phone 10mins. later. If you are at all a foodie, be weary. At least the chips were good.

    (2)

  • Natalie O.

    I love the patio. But, we had a less than satisfying lunch. First, our waitress was too rushed & never once smiled. She said we couldn't add chicken to our salad unless we wanted to get a side & put it on ourselves. She did bring full iced teas without us asking, but the salad took too long & the greens weren't very fresh. There was no dressing on the salad & we had to wait for over 5 minutes to get her attention. Also, we had asked to leave the olives off (& they were all over the top), AND we couldn't find ANY avocado on our "Southwestern Salad." Superbly disappointed & hungry & thoroughly annoyed (quote Kiki). Then, when we politely asked for dressing & avocado (which had been listed in the ingredients on the menu), she looked at us like we were stupid & condescendingly asked if we wanted her to fix her mistake! Ugh.

    (3)

  • Robert D.

    Wonderful atmosphere. Friendly not stuffy service. Food is presented and tastes fantastic. Green Chile sauce is so good! Bought 6 jars to bring home. Will come back to Old Town again just for this restaurant and then enjoy the shops.

    (5)

  • Jason F.

    Pace is super big when you enter. We were seated all the way in the back. Had a nice view of a garden from our table. Chips and salsa were immediately served and drink orders taken. Drinks were delivered extremely promptly. Waiter had good suggestions on food and even what the ingredients were. Food tasted decent. Overall.... I'd go back again.

    (4)

  • Jane V.

    We stopped by here before to have an appetizer and a drink, and were disappointed that you have to order a full meal to get a margarita. We had friends in town this weekend so we stopped by for our full meal after walking around old town. I had read a review saying it was a tourist trap and I disagree. The prices were reasonable. The food was delicious and the service was fast and friendly. It may seem a little touristy, but isn't not a trap. I had the blue corn enchiladas and they were amazing! Everyone else was equally pleased with their meal too. We plan to go back again! Oh and the sopapillas were amazing and hot!

    (5)

  • Adina B.

    We were seated promptly and the waiter came pretty quickly. He was smiling as he took our order but his tone was pretty condescending. The food came out quickly and was delicious. The enchiladas were great - both the red and green sauces were very good, although the green was a little watery. The waiter spent the rest of the time horsing around with the other staff. I thought the manager was very unprofessional. They ignored the customers and ate and drank in front of everyone. It took a really long time to get the check, and by that time I felt like I was intruding on a staff party. I probably wouldn't come back as there are a lot of other places to choose from.

    (3)

  • Sandra G.

    This will be the last time I try a place just because I heard the patio was nice. I would rather enjoy good food than a nice patio. My sister in law and I both ordered the combination plate and bleh! It was disgusting. The rice was crunchy, the Chile relleno was nothing but soggy batter and the tamale was bland. The only thing that was somewhat good we're the beans, the beans!! Ugh I was so disappointed that I seriously didn't want to pay the 40.00 tab for two lunch combination plates and water. It was ridiculous!! Never again, I do not recommend this place to anyone that wants good New Mexican food. It's the worse I've had since we moved here. The service wasn't that great either.

    (1)

  • Knowledgeable F.

    AWFUL. Sorry, but I grew up in NM, specifically Santa Fe & the meal that I could barely eat at Church St was the worst new mexican I've ever had.

    (1)

  • Michael B.

    Yuck How disappointed we were with the food, from the tasteless guacamole to the tasteless green chili chicken soup to the ----we'll nothing was even a fair representation of So Western or Mexican food. Was nice to sit in the patio on such a nice day and the service was fine.

    (1)

  • Marc R.

    We went here for dinner, it was recommend to us by my cousin. It's roomier than it appears on the outside. There are sort of different sections to it which is nice. We wound up being seated in an area where it felt almost like a private room. The first staff member that greeted us was friendly and helpful. Our server was decent as well. The food was delicious, everyone liked what they ordered. The prices are a tad high for such a casual restaurant, but not too bad. I'd go back again.

    (3)

  • Deborah K.

    My mom, dad, and I went to this place. I ordered enchiladas, and my parents split the fajitas. My parents thoroughly enjoyed the fajitas, although the guacamole was spicy for my mom's and my tastes. The manager was very informative about the restaurant's history. Finally, the sopapillas are to die for and are provided with every meal!

    (4)

  • Isaac C.

    Not what I expected after reading the reviews and hearing for friends. The food was incredibly dry and also greasy. After eating the "Indian Burger" I was in bed and in the bathroom for a few hours hugging my stomach. I later went back hoping to give it a second chance so I went to eat a steak taco. Upon taking a bite I had a nice mouthful of salt..... The service was nice so thats a plus maybe the only one. oh and they like to top with the yellow cheese that makes everything oily.

    (2)

  • Rebecca B.

    Great food, great ambience! Waiter was amazing and very accommodating for this party of five plus an infant requiring a high chair. The food was amazing - the sopapillas are like bits of heaven for the tongue. The posole was good, I had chicken tacos; they were the best that didn't come out of my own kitchen.

    (4)

  • Jennifer I.

    The food was pretty good, but the service needed some work. Our waitress was very friendly, but kept forgetting things (beer, appetizers, refills, etc). When she asked us if we wanted more chips and salsa, we said "sure," and then she said "well, you have a lot of food coming out, are you sure?" That made me feel really uncomfortable. It's a cute location and I'm sure that, with a different server, this place is fantastic.

    (3)

  • Cleo S.

    This food is some of the worst I have ever eaten in a restaurant. As a native New Mexican it pains me to know that so many Old town tourists are eating this food and walking away believing this is what New Mexican food has to offer. Absolutely horrible!

    (1)

  • Nick W.

    I was visiting my sister from out of town and on a whim we stopped off to try out this place. Very glad we did! At first it looked kinda small, but as we walked back through the building it really opened up. And the patio was wonderful! If you have the option, I recommend sitting back there. The service was fantastic, very friendly and accommodating. The food was great too. I'd highly recommend thisi place and can't wait to go back there!

    (5)

  • Myria M.

    I guage NM restaurants by their Blue Corn Red Chile Enchiladas...theirs are good! Nom!

    (4)

  • Leah B.

    Let me preface this by saying that I eat out nearly every day for at least one meal, and I've been coming to Church Street Cafe for over ten years. I also routinely recommend it to out of town guests and visiting business associates. Until last night it was one of my favorite places to eat in Albuquerque: decent service and delicious, authentic New Mexican food. Because of this, I chose Church Street as the location for an annual Christmas dinner with my best friends from college. To make sure we would have a table for our small group of six during the holidays, I made our reservation the first week of December. It did not disappoint as far as the food went, and our waitress was friendly and informative. It took about 20 minutes before we got drinks, and another 10 to place our order. Food came relatively quickly, maybe 15 minutes later. I had my usual, the old fashioned chile rellenos, my husband had the steak fajitas and they were delicious. Three of us had 2 or 3 alcoholic beverages and they were tasty and refreshing. Our friends, who had never been there, were also very impressed with the food and service and all commented that they would be coming back. It was at the end of the evening that things went south. We ordered our last round of drinks at the prompt of our waitress before getting our checks a little more than an hour after we arrived, so drinks and the checks arrived at the same time. We were just getting everyone's cards/checks sorted when the hostess came to our table and quietly told my husband, "We need you to please leave, we have another party to sit." She did not hint or allude that she wanted us to leave, she literally flat out told us to leave. I don't think we stayed overly long for a party of six, and while we were laughing and enjoying each other's company, we were not at all disruptive. We let her know we had just gotten our checks and she said, "Oh good," and left. Immediately after 3 or 4 people started unceremoniously clearing our table and RUDELY asking if we were done with our drinks. We still had FULL drinks that we ordered at the offer of our waitress and that had literally arrived 1 minute previously, and they were trying to take them away! Seriously?!? I have never been more rudely treated at a restaurant. And let me say again that I eat out at sit-down restaurants almost daily. I have NEVER been treated so badly. Our friends at this point did not know that we had been asked to leave, and they were very taken aback about how and why we were basically being pushed out of the restaurant. Finally, about 5 minutes later the treatment was so blatantly rude that we did leave. We left full or half-full drinks on the table THAT WE PAID FOR, so that they could seat another table. We considered reducing or eliminating our tips altogether, but it wasn't the server's fault. As we were walking out, one of the staff said, "I'm sorry, we don't normally ask guests to leave, but..." We didn't stay long enough to hear the rest of that faux apology. Maybe the guests who were already being seated at our table did? Either way, I will NEVER be back and I'm pretty sure my friends won't either. What good is great food if you are treated so badly that all you're left with is a bad taste in your mouth?

    (1)

  • Marcel S.

    We always love to go to Church Street Café, and have taken many friends and family over the years. Not sure what's going on but recently the service went way down. Last Mother's Day we went with a group to the restaurant including several kids, to have brunch. We had to wait for 2 hours before we finally got our food! Last Saturday we gave it another try visiting with a group, to have breakfast. This time we had to wait 1 1/2 hour (90 minutes) for our food! It seems that they're simply unable to handle groups. It's very disappointed though as they used to be able to handle groups just fine. Unfortunately this seems to have changed. The place is scenic and the food is good though; just don't even think on going there with a group of people, as you better bring snacks and some handheld videogames to kill the waiting time.

    (2)

  • Paul G.

    Strolling Old Town today during San Felipe Church Fiestas. Did not want street food. Remembering Church Street Cafe and having had good experience in the past, that's where I went. I was craving breakfast and feasted on their breakfast quesadilla with chorizo, green chile, sour cream, and guacamole for 8 bucks! Service was fast and he (the server) seemed to really take care of the visitors when his question "red or green" puzzled them. I'm puzzled at the reviews here as this is not a typical Mexican tourist trap and it is highly regarded around town and by the merhcants.

    (4)

  • Harry E.

    Pretty good Mexican food is served here. Servings were very generous and service was very responsive and friendly. Loved their quesadilla, enchilda and chile relleno; but their tamale was on the dry side. Overall, a very nice place for Mexican food in Albuquerque.

    (4)

  • Eric C.

    I had the combination plate. The chile relleno was really good. I did not like the enchilada or tamale though. The chips taste stale. The salsa was fresh and fine. The beans tasted like they were from the can.

    (3)

  • Kathy B.

    Visiting Albuquerque for balloon festival so realize every place has been slammed with customers. We got in quickly. Cute place. Food was okay but nothing special. Most of group ordered old fashioned rellenos are were disappointed with the last of any chiles. I ordered carne adovada and it was flavorful but needed a side order of green chile to add any chile flavor. chiles are very mild, almost bland.

    (2)

  • Hammer F.

    Great food with great atmosphere. Service is good. Parking can be tough. Good variety of New Mexican fare, all delicious. Sangria is good. The atmosphere is very cool, old-school New Mexico.

    (4)

  • Steve P.

    Went here with friends while on vacation. Everyone was happy with the food and service. The food was tasty and the portions large. The prices were reasonable and the Margaritas were excellent. I would highly recommend you stop here if you visit Old Town.

    (4)

  • K. K.

    I have been a frequent, faithful customer of Church Street Cafe for 20 years. The restaurant has always been delightful and the has always been delicious. However, the last two times I have come here to eat, I have been very disappointed in the food and the service. The food was mediocre at best. The steak in the fajita was tough and appeared chewed. The vegetables were barely roasted or grilled and the tortillas were brought on a plate and not in a covered dish to keep them warm. The wait staff were very hurried when both taking our orders and checking in with us. The person was not unfriendly, but just seemed disconnected. My friend's rellenos were very doughy and the cheese seemed like processed cheese. This is so disappointing because I have enjoyed dining here as well as bringing friends and visitors to New Mexico. What happened.

    (1)

  • LT K.

    I had to eat at Church Street Café because the adobe was built around 1706 and it has never been sold, but passed down the family. The menu is standard Americanized Mexican food. I had the tamales (a pork and veggie). It was delicious, but not the best around, and nothing memorable about. The salsa that came with the complimentary tortilla chips was delicious and fresh. The green chili sauce that came with the tamales was good as well. I also had the sangria. It was disappointing as they used crushed ice so it dilutes me flavor rather quickly. All meals end with a pepita (spelling?). A puffy Indian flat bread that is similar to a pita bread. It came hot and so delicious with honey. Service was very prompt, friendly, and my waiter just automatically refilled the chips and salsa.

    (3)

  • Anonymous C.

    We wanted some traditional New Mexican Food food while stopping through Albuquerque and the volunteers at the welcome center pointed us to Church Street Cafe. Our server was one of the best servers we have ever had. He was friendly and extremely helpful. He was prompt and made us feel welcome and at home but he was not overbearing. Chips and Salsa were awesome and they kept coming as long as we kept eating them. We ordered a Frito Pie and a Tamale, Enchilada, and something else combo. They brought extra plates with each dish to make splitting easier (and there was no additional charge for it.) All of the food was delicious and each component was distinct. If you are in Albuquerque and looking for New Mexican food, hurry over to Church Street Cafe.

    (5)

  • Brittany F.

    We went on a Thursday night with a group of friends. Parking was no problem, but that's about the best I can say about the experience. The wine selection is fairly decent, but the beer offerings are lacking. The complimentary salsa was nicely spicy. I ordered the taco salad, which was nothing special. It was actually more meat than salad, which may be a plus for some. My husband ordered the beef burrito, which while gigantic, was bland and uninventive. We both thought the entrees were overpriced for the low quality. Perhaps the worst part of the experience was the service. Though the restaurant was over half-empty, the service was very slow and unenthusiastic. All in all, I definitely wouldn't go back. For the price, you can have a much better meal in Albuquerque.

    (2)

  • MT M.

    Came here to eat based on a recommendation from a gift shop cashier. The front is deceiving as it makes the place look very small! Once you walk in, you will see how big this restaurant really is. There is an open patio area for those wanting to eat outside. The chips and salsa were good. They served a local selection of beers and their mixed drinks are made right. Being out first time in Albuquerque, we ordered one burrito with red chili and the other with green. The chili/sauce is very spicy!! So if your taste buds are mild, would recommend asking for the chili/sauce on the side to see if you can handle it. Our waitress was awesome and very attentive!!! The free sopapillas at the end were an extra bonus.

    (4)

  • Scott G.

    Very authentic good Mexican food... I recommend the enchiladas... the sopapillas are complimentary and delicious.

    (5)

  • Kat M.

    I have NO idea how this place got such good reviews?! I'm an avid Yelper as I travel a lot for my job and I love Mexican food and this place was NOT good. The chips and salsa were OK, the Santa Fe Chardonnay was OK at best, and the Pasole was....just OK too. I've had better Mexican food up north....Skip this joint and try somewhere else. I'd rather eat at Chipolte for Mexican than this place, NOT impressed.

    (2)

  • Nate G.

    The chips and salsa are excellent, easily above average. Shouldn't be a huge contribution towards the rating, but it is usually an accurate and early indicator of the meal. I had the three shredded beef tacos. They were good but alone they lacked a kick and were a little bland. I spooned in some salsa and they were much better. I didn't care for the sides of beans and rice. The location in Old Town is fun and the atmosphere and decoration of the place is very nice. I would definitely come back here on my next visit to ABQ.

    (4)

  • Sarah K.

    points for: ambiance, service, taste slight nay for: weak margaritas rundown: patient and friendly staff, sit on the back patio!, rice sopapillas and rellenos are incredible. this place makes you want to just unwind. everyone said it was the best so we did it and I will tell others the same.

    (4)

  • Danielle T.

    LOVED this place. The backyard patio setup was such a surprise; I had no idea it was back there when we decided to dine at this place. It's so nice to sit out there, very pretty. Food was delish. Our waiter was delightfully awkward. Very, very strange, but funny. My only complaint is... the sangria? That was not sangria. That was sparkling cider mixed with cherry flavor or something. No idea.

    (4)

  • Trey M.

    We had breakfast and the server was great. It seems to be a local favorite and I can understand why. I proffered the green chili salsa over the red.

    (4)

  • J J.

    I absolutely loved Old Town Albuquerque and will definitely go back. My first day in ABQ, Saturday 4/13, was a beautiful afternoon. I wanted to sit outside, enjoy the sun and have an IPA. I asked around and Church Street Cafe was the front runner. I sat on the front patio and ordered an IPA and nachos. The beer was good but the nachos were burnt, dry and tasteless. All of this could be ignored (by me) if the service was good. The waiter was rude about my IPA questions and my check was put down without being asked. Maybe this is a house rule, but the table next to me was very insulted by it (as was I). They let the server know that they thought it was rude. I was glad that they expressed what I was thinking. I went back again (I love IPA's and sitting outside) and the server (a woman this time) was rude to the point of not even saying "you're welcome" to my "thank you." I asked the server if I offended her in any way. She said she had no idea what I was talking about. The two young girls sitting next to us made a point of letting us know that the server made them feel unwelcome as well. I have worked my way through school waiting on tables so I know what the pitfalls are with restaurant work. My guess is that the management does not really care about tourists. We are replaceable. But my message to you is that the world is getting smaller and with the internet, tourist are no longer people that you never see again. PEOPLE WILL READ WHAT WE SAY. MAKE US FEEL WELCOME AND GIVE US GOOD FOOD AND GOOD SERVICE. WE WILL TELL OTHER PEOPLE!!!

    (1)

  • Jae K.

    Awesome food, service, and ambiance. I could look at all the decorations and furnishings forever. The history of this place is pretty cool--generations of families lived here for almost 300 years before turning it into a restaurant. (I agree Casa de Ruiz is a much better name and keeps the history of the place intact.) My boyfriend and I went here twice during our visit. My boyfriend loved the chile rellenos and the vegetable fajitas were awesome (however this is the first Mexican place I've gone to where fajitas weren't served with rice and beans--1 star off for that.) Stick with the Mexican food. The sandwich I got the second time was so so. Margaritas were good, awesome never-ending, complimentary chips and salsa. Lots of vegetarian options. A must for your Old Town experience.

    (4)

  • Spiny N.

    Stopped in for a snack and drinks on the patio. My daughter had the giant cinnamon roll and devoured the whole thing so must have been good. I found the chips and salsa to be fresh and flavorful with a little too much salt on the chips. Will have to come back when we can explore the menu further. Good service, pet friendly.

    (4)

  • Wudli W.

    We stumbled into this lovely restaurant and were blown away. The food, the atmosphere and the staff were fabulous. This is one of the oldest buildings in Albuquerque and the inside is cosy and original. You have to stop in this unique place if you stay in Albuquerque.

    (5)

  • Wendy P.

    Three stars mostly for the back patio and the historic building. The food was ok (fajitas), but overpriced, and the agave margarita was among the worst I've had in recent memory. Perhaps not so surprising given the tourist factor in the neighborhood, but I was a little disappointed.

    (3)

  • Keith R.

    Have again: beautiful restaurants, excellent service, good chips and salsa (but the guacamole was too spicy for some in my party), all moving this review from two to three stars. Not have again: The carne adobada al horno was just ok and their sopaipillas were not nearly as good as Maria's in Belen. Also, the chile relleno was not all that good. Sopaipilla ok but not nearly as good as Pete's Cafe in Belen.

    (3)

  • Judi M.

    If you are visiting from out of town please remember this place serves "New Mexican" food not Mexican food. New Mexican food is usually pretty spicy, so if you don't like the heat get your green or red chilli on the side. There GREEN CHILI STEW is AWESOME!!!! Spicey but awesome. I have ate here many times and both My husband and myself have always enjoyed everything we had. T Plus the building is very old like (200) years old they have beautiful decor, and it is family owned. There is also a great patio area in the fron and in the back. They serve breakfast all day, with the exception of pancakes. Lastly it is located in Old town, which is a lovely area ABQ.

    (5)

  • Susan M.

    The ambiance alone earns it 4 stars. How cool is it to eat in a building that is over 300 years old!!! The restaurant is beautifully decorated. I ordered the Navajo Taco which was quite tasty. My only complaint was that it had entirely too many beans. A few go a long way as far as I am concerned, so if I ordered it again, I would skip the beans. The Indian fry bread, meat and cheese were all very good. My husband tried the Pueblo Burger, which comes on Indian fry bread. He thought it was good, but that the French fries were marginal. Its probably a 3.5 stars, but this time I am rounding up because of the building and service!

    (4)

  • NANCY S.

    We've been to this place twice now. That's it. Biggest complaint - lack of consistency in EVERYTHING except the sopaipillas. Our first trip, party of 4, had the worst service in history. Our youthful male waiter was either stoned or so infactuated by the ladies in the table next to us that he forgot to put our order in, forgot to bring it to the table, forgot to ask us if we wanted more beer or wine. But the food was fabulous. So we came back. BIG MISTAKE. The food wasn't even close to as good as the previous visit AND we even had trouble getting those yummy sopaipillas brought to our table. But the service was good. I agree with the folks that say - CSC gets away with it because of the tourists. Never again

    (2)

  • Ann K.

    My co-worker and I visited Old Town on our last night in ABQ. We ate in a back dining room that was warm and cozy with a nice fireplace in the corner. It looked like this was perhaps a new addition to a very old building. The sangria is delicious and well worth a try. We enjoyed our meals and got a good taste of southwestern fare. Having been to Sadie's a couple days before, we were pleased to see our side of guacamole really was guac and not a bowl of lettuce with a scoop of guac on top. I thought the prices here were reasonable especially given this is a big tourist area. The sopapillas were awesome! No need to add honey on these!

    (3)

  • Jimmie R.

    Historical adobe building with low ceilings and doors (I'm only 6' and thought I might hit my head). Busy for breakfast and with only 1 server, but he did an excellent job with a dozen tables. Slightly disappointed that there were no enchiladas on the breakfast menu but the Christmas sauce (red and green) on the eggs made up for it.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth D.

    My brother and I were driving through Albuquerque on our way to Hartford, CT. We stopped in Albuquerque for lunch with a couple of my old friends. I wanted something New Mexican where I have not gone before. I lived in Albuquerque for a few years, but never been to this place before. It was a little difficult to find in Old Town, but once we saw it--there was plenty of parking. I walking up to a small abode looking place expecting a quaint little restaurant inside, and boy was I wrong. The place maybe small in the front, but it is very wide. We walked and walked before we got to the patio where my bff wanted to sit. From what I can see because we didn't sit inside, it was tasteful decorated and the patio is filled with plants and plenty of shades for a hot afternoon. I ordered an Old Fashioned Chile Rellenos entree. My bff ordered a vegetarian sandwich which was gorgeous when it came out. My brother got a Fajitas, and I don't remember what my other friend got. I didn't tried anyone food: Mine was good. It was a decent portion, but the flavors were not all there for me. I felt it might have needed some extra seasonings. I do like more spices than most people. Great atmosphere, good prices and portion size. Love to come back and tried something else later and walk around Old Town. I was going to give four stars until I remember how attentive the server was. He got our checks right away, came by multiple times to see if we needed water, our food came out quickly, and took our pictures. I was too busy catching up with friends that I didn't notice his name. :( Thank for the pleasant meal!

    (5)

  • Bill B.

    We recieved a recommendation that we try this restaurant. We were not disappointed. There are several seating areas including two outside and if the weather is good we recommend you opt for the rear patio dining area. If not good weather ask to be seated in the last inside room where the big fireplace is located.We ordered fahitas, tamales and tacos. There were ll good. There was a lot of food on each platter.The service was excellant. They offer red and green chili and we would recommend you ask for it on the side as both are very hot. The tamales were beef---we ordered two and was served three. The rice was a little dry and not completley cooked.Pinto beans were cooked just right. You are served some great chips with the salsa. The chicken fahitas were excellant and served on a large bed of onions and fresh green peppers..The fahitas came with all the regular trimmings. Prices compare with other restauranst in the area. Just remember this is bacially a tourist area.We would go back again

    (4)

  • Taylor B.

    So the concierge at our hotel recommended this place. We drove by and it looked a little small and empty, so we passed. Went by another Mexican restaurant with lots of people on the patio. Stopped a guy walking out of the other restaurant and asked him how it was. He said it wasn't that great and that if we wanted a great place, to go to Church Street Cafe. So we did. And I'm glad we did. The location is fantastic - right in Old Town. The building is a gorgeous old house that is deceptively large and spacious and very well set-up. We sat on the patio, which was lovely. All six of us enjoyed our food very much, but the highlight for my mom and I were our agave margaritas. SO GOOD! Overall our experience here was great!

    (5)

  • Marion S.

    Happened upon this restaurant in Old Town on our last day and we thrilled to find it! After walking into a dark entryway and low ceilings, i was very concerned that we might be eating breakfast in a dark corner on a gloriously sunny day, but as we kept walking we entered a garden room that was absolutely lovely. The room offered garden views, high ceilings and lovely traditional design. I am a vegetarian so I always have to be careful with beans and other items that might hide lard or other animal products but NO NEED TO WORRY HERE! Food was amazing, service was very friendly and efficient. The only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is (for breakfast drink junkies like me) because their espresso machine was broken. Also, when I asked the waiter to recommend where I could get an espresso upon leaving he directed me to a Starbucks when in reality there was a coffee/ice cream shop a few doors down :)

    (4)

  • B G.

    My 4 star rating leans heavily toward atmosphere and service. The place gets bigger on the inside, mainly because the nice outdoor area. It was clean and attractive. Our table was regularly checked on and the waiter did a very good job fulfilling requests. The food came out quickly and was good but not great. Nothing against the food just had better but everything was good quality. Nice selection of beer and wines.

    (4)

  • Hoz H.

    From their website: Casa de Ruiz, which literally translates to "the house of Ruiz", has a long and distinctive history. Unfortunately much of this history has been lost with the passage of time and that which remains is at best uncertain." What exactly does that mean? The food is good, the location perfect, the waitstaff competent (though no one could tell me the difference between "New Mexican" and "Mexican" cusine). My wife and I enjoyed our meal. Now as to that lost, distinctive, uncertain history? Anyone care to elaborate?

    (3)

  • M P.

    Went here with my family on trip to see Balloon Festival. The service was poor and the staff was not attentive. The food also left a lot to be desired. My daughter got the chicken nuggets, which were Mickey Mouse nuggets from Costco, and they were so over cooked they lost all flavor and were hard like hockey pucks. The guacamole had no flavor - big chunks of avocado with little in the form of spices/garlic/tomatoes. I had the fajitas and the chicken here lacked flavor or seasoning as well. Anyone could have easily whipped this meal up at home. This is a tourist trap and I would not recommend.

    (2)

  • Hernan V.

    We came here around 4pm in picturesque Old Town. The ambiance was cozy and sociable. That was until we walked all the way back to a cavernous warm place. The decor was very typical for New Mexico but appropriate. We ordered their pitcher of Sangria at a decent price but found it incredibly sweetened and watered down. Boo! We started with the Green Chile Chicken soup. It was very tasty but very very filling. Next up was our main courses: Handmade Tamale Plate and Carne Adovada al Horno both delicious and well seasoned but a tad on the heavy side for our tastes. The pork was moist but we felt the tamales were a tad on the dry side. Overall I would definitely come back. Their patio was closed but that looked amazing. They also have live music Thu-Sat nights. Definitely a must if you're stopping by 'burque

    (4)

  • Memi M.

    I really, REALLY love the ambiance of this place... the patio is a beautiful and quaint oasis in the heart of Old Town. They often have a live guitarist, which my family loves. The food and especially the service, however, seem to consistently leave me hanging. This time I had enchiladas, they were good. Chile is not very hot by NM standards (makes sense in touristy part of town, I guess) nor is their salsa, though it is tasty. Any special orders or substitutions have always been catered to. Other times I've had breakfast and sandwiches, which were great and the taco salad, decent. However, on my last visit (late Dec '13) our waitress was awful. She was very rude, did not make eye contact or introduce herself, she cut us off while ordering/speaking many times, and rolled her eyes when my friend asked for a soda refill after sitting with an empty cup for about 15 minutes. There was a large party in the same room, and their order had obviously gone to the kitchen before ours. I understood this, but she kept constantly using them as an excuse for her poor attitude. However, I'm sure I'll be back. Can't resist that patio for a margarita in the summer.

    (3)

  • Charmaine K.

    Spent the afternoon in Old Town and ended up in Church Street Cafe for lunch since we've heard good things. The food was pretty good, I had the steak and egg. What got me really happy was the mojito. They used agave wine (if I remembered correctly) instead of rum because they don't have a full liquor license, and I don't know what else they put in there but it was one of the yummiest mojito I've ever had. The sopapilla is also awesome but then again, I love deep fried food. The patio seating are also nice and fun. Nice not too expensive place within the tourist area with decent food and great drinks, will probably recommend it to friends and go back if I go to Albuquerque again.

    (3)

  • Lynette M.

    Well my friends, I "yelped" this place before actually sitting down and I must say that I should have listened to the "yelps" - because everything they said bad about this place is true. Could have saved myself $80.00 ! Lesson learned ! I did however find the place clean, very beautiful and very South West. But it's obvious that the owner has a lot of disposable income because the quality of food just isn't there. "I have a beautiful restaurant I can come to and play all day and night" who cares if my food is any good ! I do believe that the "rolled taquitoes" I ordered were from Costco... Really people??? put some of that money you spend on "decor" into paying a real Mexican chef.

    (2)

  • Ken F.

    This place is a tourist trap in old town. It is right behind the Church in old town and serves New Mexican not Mexican food. We went here once before moving to ABQ and once after having been here for awhile. Both times I was disappointed. The food was borderline disgusting the first time and I almost couldn't finish eating it. I ordered chicken tacos and the chicken tasted like it had been boiled three days ago. To me, the best dish to order to judge a New Mexican restaurant are Chiles Rellenos because it can either be glorious or disgusting. In the case of Church Street Cafe, the verdict is disgusting. They taste like they were made all ahead of time and then thrown in the microwave with some Green Chile sauce. What results is a soggy mess, almost like eating a microwaved sock stuffed with cheese. Besides the food, the service was acceptable. The place itself is beautiful but so is the rest of old town. There are better options right down the street to eat at.

    (1)

  • Justine D.

    The breakfast quesadilla ( yelp.com/biz_photos/s0ng… ) is so ridiculously good that I would be happy to come back here daily to sample everything on the breakfast menu. I choose my quesadilla with scrambled egg whites and green chilies and I was very happy with my selection. I must add that the pancakes looked phenomenal. I debated asking another patron to let me take a picture of her hot cakes. The back patio is currently under construction to expand the cafe. Despite this detail I really enjoyed the ambiance in the back. It's sheltered from any wind and there is a nice fountain in the corner.

    (5)

  • Michael D.

    From the front it looks like a hole in the wall. The place is huge and has a great patio out back. Enchilada was fantastic!

    (5)

  • Alicia A.

    We liked the atmosphere here, but the food was just ok, and the service was very slow. We sat on the lovely patio, but when the sun set, it was so dark that I had to use my phone to see my food. Most table on the patio had some soft Christmas light glow, but ours wasn't so lucky. I got the combo plate with a chili relleno (too spicy for me to eat at all -- I took one bite), cheese enchilada (good enough), and vegetarian tamale (a little dry, crumbly), with the "squash" as my side (delicious zucchini with corn, which paired wonderfully with the whole pinto beans). The sopapillas were fantastic -- fluffy, puffy and tender. Overall, I probably wouldn't go back, but if I did, I'd just order rice, beans and that squash mix. And sopapillas.

    (3)

  • Art S.

    I was visiting a vendor who brought us to this tasty restaurant. There were so many good choices and so much food. I'm not a squash fan, so I did not partake in the tamales. Instead I got burritos that had that spicy New Mexican sauce. I was really impressed the meal came with sopapillas. I look forward to visiting this vendor again so I can come back to this restaurant that was really good.

    (4)

  • Claudia A.

    Never again I'll come back to this place, unless the food is free, and even then. Their stuffed green chiles are terrible and all the other food they serve taste as well. The restaurant is pretty, but that doesn't make up for the bad food. Unfortunately, since this is located in the historic old town, lots of tourists end up eating here. They have no idea that New Mexican food can be so much better.

    (1)

  • Jay M.

    Visiting ABQ for the Ballon Fiesta and spent the rainy day around Old Town. A few locals mentioned this place so we decided to try it out. From the outside it looks like a quaint Mexican Restaurant, but once inside it opens up into a rather large space. Food: I rate it 3 out of 5 noses. The food was good, but did not have the "wow, this is awesome food factor." The chips and salsa was tasty and the salsa had a nice kick that left my palate wanting more. I had the chicken enchiladas: chicken was overly watery and tasted bland; the green chile sauce that was on top was not very spicy and lacked the flavor and my palate craving more; beans and rice were ok. The only thing I wish I had was a bowl of their guacamole, that was definitely a 5 nose winner. Finally, if you have the water, ask for a margarita instead, the water had quite a foul taste to it. Atmosphere: Although we were expecting a small quaint place, it was a little too big for my liking, hence part of my 3 rating factored in. Service: Very friendly service, no issues here, just wish the food was a 4 or 5.

    (3)

  • Thomas C K.

    We went there twice and the first time the Service was absolutely abominable. We waited at least 45 minutes and only once the waitress was coming telling us that our food would be coming in 5 minutes but it took 15 after that Food was ok and we had chicken fajitas and some very enjoyable wine from New Mexico.

    (3)

  • Tony S.

    We had a really nice Sunday breakfast at the Church Street Cafe. So, not sure what all the complaints are about. Yes, the place is MUCH bigger than you think from the outside. There are all kinds of rooms inside. Even though it looked pretty busy inside, we sat outside in the garden. It was very quite and very relaxing with a fountain burbling next to us. * Service - 4 stars: Our server was polite and everything was done correctly... Multiple offers for more coffee, chips, dessert, etc. The service was a touch slow, but we were enjoying the garden so much, it was no big deal. fyi - we noticed that food seemed to be coming out more quickly after their breakfast rush was over (by the end our or meal.) * Food - 4 stars: We opted for Mini Huevos Rancheros (about a 1/2 size portion) The complimentary chips were a bit greasy, but tasty. The egg cooked atop a blue corn tortilla s was cooked just right. Beans (not re-fried) were awesome! The potatoes were a bit oily and not that crisp (but may that's their style?) And, I know friends who would have love them. The green chili was was good, but not hot. The red chili was hotter and had a great flavor... and was perhaps one the best red chili we had in Albuquerque. My partner thought it was a bit greasy. I could see her point, but it worked for me. There was plenty of food for that 1/2 order each. * Price - 5 stars: Only about $6 each + coffee! A great value especially given the quality. The other food we saw as we walked thru the restaurant also looked good. So, what's not to like? We'd go back again.

    (4)

  • Erik E.

    Decided this place needs more local reviewers, so I tried it out for lunch today. I was seated indoors and the place was only about half full (of tourists 8-) I think the word is "charming". This really does reek of 300 years of history and culture that people visiting our town are looking for. The waitstaff is composed entirely of young kids, so expect service accordingly: energetic, but not sticklers for detail. E.g., I asked for water no ice, and the waiter returned with a large glass of water with plenty of ice and a thick slice of lemon. As for the food, they had delivered a complimentary basket of hot well seasoned chips and a thick salsa with a pretty good kick before I had even ordered. Nice! I started with the chicharrones and a glass of sangria followed by the combination plate. (N.B., I added pictures of all the food) The sangria I would not order again. I thought it was overpriced and the glass was too small. Also, I like the sangria I make at home better. Now, to be fare, I make a fantastic sangria (modesty like totally out the window), so that may not be a fare comparison. Bottom line, it was good, but not worth the dosh. The chicharrones on the other hand were a nice surprise. Three small fresh hot flour tortillas and a cup of diced pork with a good crust. Crunchy, chewy, not overly spicy porky goodness. Me likey! There were lots of choices on the combination plate, mostly amounting to vegetarian or not. I had the "old fashion" chili rellenos which is quite different from the chili rellenos I've had in the past. Interesting. It was battered meat and cheese, fried and topped with green chili. Points for uniqueness! The chicken enchilada was great (lots of chicken!), and the tamale (pork) as good as any I've had in the Duke City (they always seem a little dry to me). I chose squash for my vegetable. Turned out it was actually a good calabacitas. No disappointment there. The last element was a big spoonful of whole beans with melted cheese. Good, but could've used more seasoning. Overall, I like this place. Parking is always a bear in Old Town, but I will especially keep it in mind when I have visitors from out of town. Might even suggest it as a place to get together with friends sometime.

    (3)

  • Merrill C.

    Probably the best New Mexican food I've ever had. Highly recommend the sopapillas! I would pay a return visit to Albuquerque just to eat here! Last visited in May 2008.

    (5)

  • Elektra R.

    GREAT red chile! Service is first class, the garden is dog friendly, and the food is terrific. Can't miss!

    (5)

  • Julie T.

    The chips and salsa are good. Tables are too close together. Sopaipillas were awesome. The fajitas and tacos are yummy. Generous portions. The icecream stuffed sopaipilla was HUGE and delightful.

    (3)

  • Dominic A.

    Food was good and the place is very interesting, don't let the front fool you the inside is huge. Waitstaff is friendly and quick

    (4)

  • david p.

    As others have said, the Church Street Cafe is in a great building in Old Town Albuquerque. It looks like it may have been a house at some point in its history. There are a lot of small interconnected rooms and low ceilings. Out front there is a nice patio; I didn't check out the back patio. The food was just average. A little overpriced, but that's what you can do when you have a captive audience in a big tourist area. The salsa for the chips was spicier than I expected, the green chili was pretty mild. Portions were generous. Food, 3 stars. As great as the space is, the restaurant had zero atmosphere. Even crowded, it was eerily quiet. It felt like having dinner with your dysfunctional relatives or something. Nobody was talking, and if they were, it was in really hushed tones. Even big groups were avoiding conversation. Honestly, it was freaky and it made me want to hurry up and get out of there. Atmosphere, 1 star. Because it was so quiet, my server seemed really uncomfortable. Anyone sitting in your little dining area could hear your conversation with the server because that was the only conversation taking place. The silence made it really awkward and so the service seemed really strained. Service, two stars.

    (2)

  • matt h.

    The salsa was bland and the food is overpriced, but the atmosphere was nice and the neighborhood is pretty cool. I had the tamales and they were nothing special, though they were priced like they were.

    (3)

  • Beth U.

    Great place! Looks small on the outside but great inside, Very friendly staff(and happy staff) and the food was great! Behind the old church The best nachos and sopas! All the food was wonderful,,,and wish we had this place by my house! Thanks to all the staff1

    (4)

  • Mark G.

    Food was decent, not too expensive for a tourist trap, but the service was horrible. Would probably not eat there again.

    (2)

  • W S.

    We had a good breakfast here. The waiter was this really sweet older gentleman -- he was great with our kids. I had the Mile High Pile (bacon and two scrambled eggs smothered with chile and cheese piled on top of a mountain of papitas). It was huge, but I was very hungry and it was good. We ate in a lovely, spacious room looking out into a patio with lots of plants and a fish pond, which the kids thought was cool.

    (4)

  • Katie J.

    This place is adorable! It looks like a tiny old house from the front, then you walk in and find two very large rooms and a great patio. We were here for lunch; their menu is largely New Mexican but also offers a large variety of sandwiches and salads, including a vegetarian sandwich that came highly recommended, by someone who is not even a vegetarian! The green chile chicken soup and posole were excellent, and the Albuquerque Turkey sandwich (turkey with green chile) was yummy as well. I'd like to go back for breakfast sometime!

    (4)

  • Craig C.

    Had a late lunch at Church St Cafe. Sat on the rear patio and enjoyed chile rellenos and a cold beer. The food was great, the atmosphere was unbeatable, and our waiter knew his stuff. What a great way to spend a weekend afternoon. If you are hungry in Old Town Albuquerque, eat here!

    (4)

  • MoDa M.

    Am not sure why this restaurant gets such high marks. Maybe I visited on an off night? The pluses: The setting is awesome - right in the heart of Old Town. I sat outside, and had a view of the church. The minuses: The service. It was slow, and the waitress took a neighboring table's order down wrong. Way wrong. To their credit, the restaurant refunded them for their meal, but it was still a surprise how off the order was. The food. It was bland, and cold. I had the tamale plate, and the beans and spinach were really cold. The tamales were meh - I get better tamales in Portland from our streetside vendors. Beware the drinks! They don't have a hard alcohol license, due to the proximity to the church. So the mojito is made with wine instead. In my mind, that doesn't make a mojito. Overall, not recommended.

    (1)

  • Marianne C.

    This place is in a historic building and it's owned by historic people. The place felt a bit creepy, to be honest. People might call that "cozy", but I didn't feel at home there. I ordered the Outlaw lager, which is reasonably local, and I like local beers. It didn't disappoint. I ate some chicken quesadillas, which were ok but nothing special. The prices here are expensive for the quality of food. I think it's the Old Town surcharge. Our waiter was nice enough. I think he had a crush on the Hoff, but who doesn't?

    (3)

  • Jennifer M.

    This place wasn't fantastic. But it wasn't wretched. I'm from out of town but I visit often as my mom and her entire family are from New Mexico. This cafe was recommended to us by a local. We were looking for a place with good food, ambiance, that was also kid-friendly. Oh, and it also needed to have good sopapillas. Anyhoo...the service, while friendly, was slow as hell and they botched up one or two of our group's orders. The food wasn't jump-up-and-down stellar but it served a purpose and it was definitely edible. And the sopapillas were pretty darned good (although these were the first I've had since my last visit so perhaps my taste buds are out of practice). Anyway, not bad but probably won't be visiting again any time soon.

    (3)

  • Aron J.

    They have pretty bomb margaritas. Food was good too. From what I had of it. Went for happy hour mostly. It's northern New Mexico style food. I didn't really like the salsa though. Way too sweet. But overall I will definitely be visiting this place again. It's also right in the heart of old town. Lot's of cool places to check out in that area.

    (4)

  • Jennifer C.

    Food here is just okay. Husband's carne adovada burrito was pretty good. I had the old fashioned Spanish style chili relleno. I might have been happier if I had an extra glop of green chili sauce to put over the top. Kids had the tacos which were nothing exciting. We ordered squash as our side with our beans, and we were served stewed zucchini for lack of a better description. It was mushy and not very good. We waited about 30 minutes to sit for lunch after arriving at 1 p.m. and the service was very slow. The servers were nice, and when one of the staff saw us looking for our server, he came over and asked what he could get us. Since parking is not easy in old town. I would definitely not make a special trip for this place, but I might come back to try breakfast. If you're already close by, you might enjoy the atmosphere. One nice touch was classical guitarist, Jose Salazar, playing during the lunch hours.

    (3)

  • CA S.

    The food was ordinary -- not bad, not great. The fajitas are large enough to split. The "traditional" chili rellenos are stuffed with pork. My young daughters split a breakfast burrito, which they really liked. The server was enthusiastic, which we really appreciated. food arrived rath slowly,especially for lunch. I wouldn't go back again.

    (3)

  • tania c.

    This was our first food stop in Albuquerque. It was a nice little restaurant with live music (guitarist) and a very friendly wait staff. We started with the queso and chips. To be honest, it tasted a little velveeta-y, but that didn't stop us from going after it. I had the enchiladas with green chile. They were good, but the sauce and beans were a little soupy and made for a messy plate. The sauce was a little spicey, but seemed bland compared to the other green chile I had elsewhere. The husband had the Mile High Pile, which was a breakfast foodstuff. Honestly, I'm not even sure what it was at this point. Definitely a giant pile of stuff. He enjoyed the meal, but was envious of the breakfast burrito our friend got. It was huge and delicious.

    (3)

  • Kristi g.

    Service was excellent. I had tamales, which were nicely done, sopapillas were fresh and tasty. Location is in the heart of old town, if you are there it is a nice place for lunch.

    (3)

  • Ryan D.

    Big plates of New Mexico Style food with a heaping basket of sopapillas on the side. Very delicious blue corn chips and home made tortillas to go along with flavorful chili and a wonderful chili relleno. The restaurant is in old town which of course puts the "tourist trap" warning label on anything. However, being off the main square it is a nice diversion. The breakfast options are also very good as well. The setting is in the oldest house in Albequerque and is very inviting. Staff is exceptionally friendly as well. Bathrooms are a little cramped and old...but c'est la vie. If you are in old town walk north of the church for a yummy lunch!

    (4)

  • Cara S.

    Absolutely delicious! Came here tonight with some friends, they had the traditional chile rellenos and I had the carne asovada. Dinner comes with fresh sopapillas as well - could have ate these all night long!

    (4)

  • Mike F.

    Margaritas were weak and sangria was blah, service was slow and forgot basics such as water. Have had better Mexican food at many other places. Patio was very nice though would never go back.

    (2)

  • Jenny R.

    Hands down the best Chile Relleno that I have ever had ! The red sauce is good, the green sauce is good. This is one of those places the locals recommend and nearly everyone that is eating there is someone that has come back because they are a fan!! Was an awesome recommendation by the locals!! Super yummy! Customer service was a bit lacking but we came in at change of shift so that may have been the reason!! I'd give them another chance just because the food was so great!

    (4)

  • Katherine D.

    Holy Cow! I am so full right now but it was worth every bite! I am in Albuquerque for work for the next week and my co-workers and I have decided to hit up a new neighborhood each night we are here. Monday was Old Town, so following advice we decided to hit up some authentic New Mexican cuisine. Our bellhop (staying at the Sheraton Albuquerque Airport Hotel) suggested Church Street and we were game. First of all, the building itself is truly incredible. It is deceptively large and is actually a historical "home" built during the 1700s. The family Ruiz has owned the spot since the 18th century and it was an actual home until 1991. The walls are incredibly thick stucco and you feel like you are walking in to a piece of history. Our waitress was AWESOME! Very bubbly and attentive and made some really great suggestions. Our group was torn between Sangria or Margarits pitchers, so we opted for one of each. The Sangria was our favorite and I would highly suggest it. The Margs were....different. Mostly, I attribute this to a unique way the restaurant has managed to circumvent a liquor liscense: they make their tequila out of wine. Yep. Needless to say, the Margs were lacking the appropriate bite. Both pitchers ran $21 and were more than enought for our group of 5. I couldn't decide between the rellenas, tamales, or enchiladas, so I was happy to find that there was a combo plate that had one of each ($14)! With this entree, you get a choice of rice, squash or spinach, and beans and sopapilla. I chose the squash and I would recommend it. Others at the table vouched for the rice but no one had the spinach. But the choices don't stop there! You can also choose between a cheese, beef, or chicken enchilada; a vegetarian (corn, spinach, cheese)or pork tamale; and an "old style" (pork, chilis, cheese) or vegetarian (cheese and chilis) rellena. I chose the cheese enchilada (SUPER cheesy), the vegetarian chili tamale (HIGHLY recommend) and the old style rellena (LOVED it). You also get a choice of green or red chili sauce, but our waitress brought us "Christmas" (half and half). I suggest getting the sauce on the side, as chilis are HOT (didn't know this until I came to NM, where they are in EVERYTHING). The sopapilla came out fresh and hot and was ridiculous...if you have had a sopapilla at the typical mexican shop you usually end up with a deep fried, flat, crispy dish; this is not what sopapilla should be. ours was soft and fluffy and soooooo good! In conclusion, I was more than happy with my meal and I would return in a heartbeat. My only negative was the margarita (due to the lack of "real" tequila). The service was wonderful, the food to die for, and the general ambience was just what we were looking for for our New Mexican cuisine dinner!

    (4)

  • Ben M.

    We were in the mood for something resembling Tex-Mex and this hit the spot. Plus it seems to be one of the only places to actually catch a decent meal within walking distance of old town. Good stuff for the price and not having to get back in the car and drive somewhere else in the city to eat.

    (3)

  • Dean S.

    Best Mexican restaurant in Old Town. Get the beef tacos and go all the way through to sit in the back patio area.

    (4)

  • Trish D.

    Beautiful atmosphere! Wonderful salsa. Tasty food. Expensive for Mexican food. Average service.

    (3)

  • Nicky L.

    Off the path, down an alley and behind a church in Old Town Albuquerque you will find the Church Street Cafe. This place truly is a major find and a fantastic place to eat. From the chips and salsa that arrive at your table to your entree you will not be disappointed. The salsa has the right amount of heat and the chips are salted just right. I highly recommend the Vegetarian Chile Rellanos. Huge portions and just melt in your mouth good. The three other eaters with me got combination plates and they all enjoyed their choices which included the enchiladas and tamales but the chile rellanos was the hands down winner. The service was fantastic and even though it was the end of the night and they were cleaning up, I never felt rushed. I can not wait to get back to Albuquerque to eat here again. I would have eaten here again but I went the second to last night of the trip and the last night I had to attend a banquet.

    (5)

  • Sara P.

    Church Street Cafe is the place to eat in Old Town....but be prepared to wait. We didn't wait for our table but the food took a long time. Our waiter was great with green tea refills and assuring us the food was actually coming. The building itself has an interesting history which you can read about on the front of the menu. They have local favorites, all with red or green chile sauce. I had green chile chicken soup which was a bit watery but good and a half veggie sandwich also with green chile. It was the perfect sized meal for lunch. My aunt had beef fajitas. The tortillas that came with were warm and obviously freshly made. yum. Her meal was massive and even with me helping, we couldn't finish it. Overall, a good meal if you're looking for somewhere to eat in Old Town.

    (3)

  • Emily B.

    I would give this a 4 or 5 star rating, but I went for 5 because the overall rating is lower than it should be. I did not consider this Church's when I read over yelp reviews due to its low overall rating, but I was very pleased with my lunch! It is just off of the plaza, and looks like a very small place, but inside it is large with multiple rooms. There were delicious wheat chips on the table, and red salsa, unlimited supply. For lunch the taco plate was great, with three tacos, soft or hard, pinto beans, and a side: rice, or squash. Very delicious and filling! And the sopapillas and honey are a perfect ending. Try Church Street Cafe while you're having lunch in Old Town ABQ, about $22 for two.

    (5)

  • Olivia H.

    Pretty disappointed, way over priced. My family and I left our plates full. I had the chile rellenos, they were awful. The appetizers, the chicarones and the guacamole were great, it's the only thing we ate. Not authentic Mexican food. The atmosphere was great, but the service was very slow!!

    (1)

  • Alvin C.

    Great food, wonderful atmosphere, awesome service! My fiance and I visited this place randomly on our cross country trip from New Hampshire to California. We visited on New Year's Eve, and asked around for a good restaurant. We were recommended "Church Street Cafe". We went here and I have to say, it was the most amazing experience I have had at a southwester restaurant. We had Chicharrones, Chicken Tacos, Chardonnay and Steak Fajitas. The seasoning was perfect and everything I had surpassed my expectations. They were served hot, and our server did a wonderful job at taking care of us during our visit. We also had live music (classical guitar) that night, and it was pleasant. I recommend that you try out the food and have a great time.

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    Went here for dinner on a beautiful evening. Opening day of the ABQ Balloon Fiesta and they have no Tequila so there were no Margaritas. So Mexican/New Mexican restaurant with no Margaritas.... ok...... but the Sangria wasn't bad. I ordered the combination plate for around $15. It was just ok. The tamale was standard, the chile relleno (sp?) was not good - completely flavorless, but the cheese enchilada was excellent. Better than average for the town. The waitstaff was super friendly, but getting our food was super slow. it was a good thing we weren't in a hurry to get anywhere. The restaurant is clean and well decorate. Ample seating inside and outside for both large and small groups.

    (3)

  • Richard B.

    Garbage! By the looks of restaurant I expected authentic and delicious and this place did not deliver. Do not order the navajo taco unless you like to be wildly disappointed. My friends meal was enchiladas consisting of dry grey chicken meat contained within some tough crunchy tortillas. The food took close to an hour to arrive. The best part of the meal were the fried dough blobs, sopa pilla(?) They showed up just as we finished eating that slop. The staff were very cheery so I can't shit on them for that. If you are looking for authentic mexican food step outside of old town. Though beautiful it is an overpriced tourist trap.

    (2)

  • Jesse P.

    Good lunch food, authentic Mexican food with a really nice intimate layout but can still seat a good amount of people. The service was pretty good, would have gotten more stars if we didn't have to wait for 10 minutes to pay our bill. The food was pretty good, a lot of flavor and spice.

    (3)

  • Matt M.

    Decent food. Lacked ANY seafood options like most places in Old Town. Filthy outdoor tables. Sloooooowwww and curt service. Nice setting, though.

    (2)

  • Yen T.

    I give this place 1 star, and that means: I would never come back. If a group decided that they wanted to go here, I would definitely opt out. The decor/atmosphere was really good, especially in the back patio. There was a water feature in the back and those southwest looking walls. The service was actually pretty good as well; very nice and friendly. But the food, the FOOD... it was no good. I ordered the pork tamales and mine were SOOOOOO dry and hard, even with the sauce and cheese over it. The rice and beans had no taste to them either. Definite yuk! I would never come back.

    (1)

  • Amie W.

    I live near the Mission in San Francisco. I did not need to find a good Mexican place while visiting ABQ, I needed to find good NEW Mexican food! Church Street Cafe was recommended by a local, as the best spot near/in Old Town to get some food - for locals and out-of-towners like us. I am inclined to believe him! The place is deceivingly huge, and it was bustling. We waited less than 30 minutes(on a Saturday evening), and it was easy to pass the time. We actually walked over to a nearby shop to check it out while we waited for our buzzer to go off. There is a ton of history behind this place, likely much more than what is included in the story on the menu. I love historical places, and I enjoyed seeing the building's character and detail reflecting it's unique history. The food was great. We had the Chile Rellenos and Enchiladas. Both the green chile and red sauces were delicious! We loved that instead of rice we could choose veggies. Loved the chips - perfectly crispy; loved the salsa - flavorful and just enough kick. We were so full when we finished, we almost couldn't eat the Sopapillas - they come with your meal! They were freshly fried and so so so tasty. I would go back just for these. :) Our server was nice and friendly, but perhaps overworked or just not paying enough attention. There seemed to be a delay at least once in refilling drinks (both waters and sodas) - while we were waiting for our food we actually drank everything we had! The food took a bit longer than we would normally expect, but we were patient because we had the time and were enjoying ourselves otherwise. A manager of some kind came to check on the table next to us at one point before our food made it's way out to us, and they told her that they'd been waiting an hour for their food! I was a little surprised to hear that, yet realized there may be truth to it and knew that it might take a bit for ours too (maybe that's why I was so patient). Things started to pick up service-wise in the second half of our visit, so ultimately we were happy. The manager checking on people is a good sign though - at least they are trying to do better, right? Someday, I'll be back. It was good!

    (4)

  • Jerry N.

    My family of 4 went for breakfast this past Saturday. Nice place in the heart of Old Town Albuquerque. It was recommended by one of the jewelry street vendors around the square who said he used to work there. The food was good but not spectacular. I had the Huevos Rancheros and my kids had quesadillas which looked quite good. My only salient comment would be about our waiter - he started off as uninterested and a smart-ass, as if we were burdening him (it's not as if he was overly busy at the time). He eventually warmed up and turned out to be decent and polite. Maybe he sensed his tip getting away in the beginning. Food was slow in coming. My final comment is "box checked." Next time I'll give someplace else a try.

    (2)

  • Michael L.

    Arriving in Albuquerque late last night, we were tired, hungry and seeking a taste of authentic Mexican food! Church Street Cafe was a short stroll from our hotel room through pleasant Old Town; although the shops were pretty much closed up by 9 p.m. the restaurant was lively and welcoming. The food was "different" than what we are used to in L.A. but our waiter, Johnny was terrific and the atmosphere was very pleasant. I'm not YET a fan of "authentic" "New Mexican" food, but overall it was okay.

    (3)

  • Satori N.

    If you're the type of person who enjoys reheated rubbery tamales and soggy chili rellenos, then this is the place for you! We arrived relatively late on 8/17/2010 after a long day of traveling from Phoenix. The restaurant was closing in an hour, but with trepidation, we walked in the door and were seated. The tamales were probably cooked earlier in the day (or week?) and then microwaved to a luke-warm temperature before being covered up with green chili and served. My husband's chili relleno was also reheated; it was a soggy, disgusting mess of unpalatable food. The freshest thing we were served were the sopapillas. The waitress failed to clear our dinner plates before giving us our desert, so we were stuck eating the last bit of our meal staring at our dirty plates of half eaten food. If you go earlier in the day, the food may taste better, but I'll never know because I won't be returning. There is absolutely no reason for the food quality to diminish as the afternoon wears on into night. I believe it comes down to laziness and I would not recommend this place to anyone.

    (1)

  • Catherine C.

    I've been to Albuquerque twice on business. After a coworker brought me here for dinner during my first trip out, I made sure to come back during my second trip. The building is quaint, the food is yummy, the atmosphere is cozy, the patio is relaxing, the staff is friendly and the sopapillas are the best!!

    (5)

  • Bill G.

    Had the two tamale plate and although I wasn't particularly impressed with the tamales themselves I enjoyed the red & green chile sauces they came with. I also thought the salsa that came with the chips and salsa was better than you usually get for the complimentary salsa. The sopapillas were fantastic. Light and fluffy and not greasy (which is my usual complaint). I would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Teej T.

    Yelpers recommended it, so to Church Street I went. Church Street is in the middle of Albuquerque's "Old Town." This is creepily familiar to someone in San Diego, as we have our own prepackaged Spanish colonial Old Town as well, and there are a lot of creepy parallels. Church Street Cafe, built in the historic Casa de Ruiz, an eighteenth century hacienda inhabited by the Ruiz family until 1991, when the last member passed on. I'm a ridiculous history nerd, so that just makes me very happy to eat food in a building older than the United States government. The margaritas were only okay, but the patio was excellent, a sunny stone affair with patios and breezy walkways, which reminded me very much of the now defunct Casa De Bandini in Old Town San Diego. The food was a bit more fusion than I'd expected, but a delicious chicken tortilla sandwich with chiles and avocados hit the spot, and the waitress, Priscilla, was EXTRAORDINARILY helpful, pointing out nearby coffee shops, places of interest and takign care of a lost Californian in ABQ for the night. Excellent staff, decent fare, wonderful patio. A must.

    (4)

  • Joseph M.

    My wife and I lived in Albuquerque for 6 months while awaiting a job opportunity in San Francisco, CA. Church St. Cafe was one of the first restaurants we tried when living there, and we became frequent regulars thanks to that first visit. Aside from the green chili, I cannot honestly recall anything specifically that I ate there, considering almost 2 years have gone by, but we sure do miss the food. Along with hiking in the Sandias, it's the first thing we think of when reminiscing about Albuquerque. Great, cozy dining area located right in the heart of Old Town. If you're in ABQ, it's a MUST visit for a meal you cannot beat and for the right price. Planning on visiting next year and we will definitely be having dinner there at least once.

    (5)

  • Joanna G.

    the decor was there and the ppl were very nice, but the food just seemed homemade in a "this is the best approximation I can do at home" way. The chile wasn't great altho the salsa was good. The tamales and enchiladas were just ok. the beans and vege were simple in a "nothin special" way as opposed to the "no reason to tamper with perfection" way that I like simple food at some other restos. the bf tried the Outlaw beer. we were amused. sorry Old Town.

    (2)

  • Jun V.

    Lovely place. Great service. Everyone makes you feel at home

    (5)

  • Brock A.

    Being the fact I have worked in a restaurant for many years I have NEVER been so dissapointed in a place in my life. I live here in abq! I work in a new Mexico restaurant myself.. I was excited to eat here!! I hear good things!! I got seated right away. Place is bigger then I thought.. We sat down got my new born daughter ready (which is hard at times) I looked at what I wanted.. I found everything.. From drinks and food. The thing is no sever EVER came to us.. I waited 20 min+ so upset.. I had to pack everything back away.. And leave to find somewhere else to eat.. The worst thing ever going out to eat. The host on the way out said "I hope you enjoyed everything!" I would have if somebody even got a drink order for us! Lame.

    (1)

  • Bill H.

    Authentic Mexican. Efficient but detached service. Nice outdoor patio in back. Above average chili with red sauce. Excellent unsweetened mango iced tea. Would go back, but nothing special in a town loaded with mexican restaurants.

    (3)

  • Ed H.

    It's right in the middle of old town and has a great atmosphere, there is a fountain in the back patio and it's nice and quiet. I like spicy food and the salsa here did it for me, it wasn't too hot but compared to most restaurants it hit the spot...BUT I agree this place is a tourist trap, the food is just OK and doesn't warrant the price. I did like how they have local micro brews available.

    (3)

  • Andrew C.

    Confession: I've never had Posole. But when I was visiting Albuquerque and saw green chile Posole on the menu, I decided to give it a try. Good choice! It was hearty, with lots of pork, corn, and vegetables. The spiciness was perfect. Definitely a fan of Posole now. The chips and salsa, however, were only ok. If I were in Albuquerque again, however, I would definitely come back.

    (3)

  • Helena K.

    The free chips and salsa were the most delicious that I have ever tasted. Then came the San Felipe-half tea, half lemonade-then the handmade vegetarian green chile tamales, and then the sopapillas. Divine! They have tons of vegetarian options and I only wish I had been in Albuquerque long enough to try all of them. If I ever go back, I will stop here for my first meal in town. I bought a jar of their special-recipe salsa to take back with me but it was confiscated at the airport on my way back--I, for some reason, didn't realize that salsa is considered a liquid--but I ordered a few jars from their website ( churchstreetcafe.com ) when I got home and I think I will order more. It is absolutely glorious salsa.

    (5)

  • Chris D.

    Wow, what a great restaurant! The food was excellent, the staff was attentive and helpful with suggestions. The ambiance was fantastic and worth the visit just to see the former home. The price was very reasonable and the food was authentic and fresh.

    (4)

  • Joan S.

    Forgot to look for a place while online in the morning, wandered into here after a day of hot petroglyph hiking. The outside looks like nada, but inside is huge and yet cozy. Arrived at around 4 local time yet there was a decent size crowd already seated, we did not have to wait. Corn chips, warm, and salsa very mild came to the table with our menus. Service attentive but not overbearing. Coffee okay. Ice tea okay. Green chile soup with ground beef--yummy, perfectly hot and served with the best sopaillas since we've been in New Mexico--warm, crispy/flaky on the outside, puffy and soft inside.... could have made a meal of those... Husband had a club sandwich--huge, full of fresh ingredients. He couldn't finish it (probably because of all the chips with honey prior to the food arriving). I had a veggie sandwich on a baguette, bread was warm and fresh, greens fresh and crispy. And for real treat ,since I was not in the mood for fries or potato salad our server brought me a little dish of fresh fruit--and it was fresh and deelicious. Only regret--no room for dessert!

    (4)

  • Gregory S.

    Perhaps the Mexican food is the draw here. My brother recommended it for breakfast, but I didn't get around to it until lunch time and was full-up on Mexican and Southwestern cuisine for the visit. So I had a sandwich instead. Uninspired club with adequate thick fries. Not bad, but nothing to rave about. Service was poor. It was late and the restaurant was beginning to empty of the lunch crowd. In spite of this, it took nearly 10 minutes to get a hostess to approach and seat me and then another 15 before a waitress came by to take my drink and lunch order. When it arrived, she slid it carelessly onto the table - not even in front of me and walked off without a word. I nearly had to leave the restaurant to get a check. So I definitely don't recommend it.

    (2)

  • Brendan G.

    I've found you can judge a Mexican restaurant by the chips and salsa they serve - it will be a pretty accurate preview of the food to follow. That being said, their chips and salsa were adequate, even pretty good but not the best I've had. And perhaps it's not entirely fair to call Church Street Cafe a "Mexican" restaurant; being in New Mexico the fare is slightly different, with an emphasis on chiles and of course the ever-present sopapillas (which were great!). I had a three chicken taco plate. It was good but nothing to write home about. However one thing that makes this place stand out is the decor. The back patio is now finished and enclosed. You can see original adobe bricks peeking out from behind the stucco, and plenty of traditional Southwest items on the walls, showing a bit of the Native and Spanish Catholic influence on the region. When we arrived, there was a half-finished table in the entryway; apparently they design and make the tile mosaic tabletops themselves, which is an impressive feat. So: decor is GREAT, food is good. It's definitely still worth a visit. I rate it a 3 but it's a high 3.

    (3)

  • J.A. K.

    CSC is not perfect by any standard, but it was better than any food we had in Santa Fe because they aren't afraid to actually use a bit of real heat in their food despite the many touristes who cringe at the first tingle on their tongues. New Mexico guacamole is solid and chunky compared to the thinned-out versions we serve in California. CSC has a nice gentle heat build-up in their guacamole and if they hadn't put shredded iceberg lettuce in the bottom of it, it would have been the best ever. The old fashioned Chile Rellenos are quite different; more like an enchilada. A solid mixture of shredded pork and cheese fills two small flour tortillas, then even more cheese and chopped green chiles are melted over. We are big eaters, but neither my DH nor I could finish these. He had ordered the combo plate which had one chile relleno along with a beef enchilada (absolutely terrible, so salty it was inedible) and a tamale (good, although we're never in love with tamales). So one small tamale and three chile rellenos, along with an order of the guacamole, was so filling for both of us that DH didn't eat for another 24 hours! Beans are the usual watery mess. CSC gives you the option of veggies instead of rice, and the calabasitas is much better than the spinach. We like our orders Christmas (red and green chile sauces) style, and here the red was hotter than the green. We also came here for a quick snack, and had the steak quesadillas. It was a generous serving, chewy but very tasty, totally greaseless. Excellent! Sopapillas were so-so. Antonio's in Santa Fe are much, much better - we prefer the light, flaky style to the heavier, soak-up-that-oil bread dough type.

    (4)

  • Tracie P.

    We were successful in eating at this restaurant on our second try over 2 trips. Its in an alley behind the church in the Old Town square and features wonderful New Mexican entrees including sopappillas, tamales, enchiladas. You name it. The one thing I didn't like were the Margaritas which were made with aguave wine. One option would be to have a real margarita at La Hacienda nearby but they have pretty good food too so you may not want to travel at all. The one reason to do so though would be to eat in the oldest residence in Albuquerque. Church Street Cafe has a long history and is one of the oldest structures in the state of New Mexico. It is a treat to visit and eat there.

    (4)

  • Matt E.

    Meh. Pros: beautiful patio, one of the best in Albuquerque. Cons: so-so food and inattentive service.

    (3)

  • Emily K.

    This was the first place we ate in Albuquerque when visiting from Chicago, recommended to us by our hotel. It was perfect- really charming space, an outdoor patio and attentive waitress. Large portions too! It's a great space in a great location- we were here for dinner and tried to make it back to try breakfast but didn't make it. Will absolutely make it a point to eat here again when we return.

    (4)

  • Ophelia N.

    This place was great. Quacamole and Chile con Queso were AMAZING! The best quesadilla I have had ( I got the cheese appetizer one). They have beer and wine and apparently make agave margaritas that are something else. Our waitress was really great and the building has a lot of history. If you find yourself hungry in Albuquerque, especially in the historic downtown area, you should go here. YUM!

    (5)

  • Christopher C.

    I stumbed in with friends who had heard of the place, man it was friggin cold outside, seriously.. like below freezing. but it was very toasty warm in here and we sat on one of the sofa style booths with pillows all around. I can imagine this as a good makeout place, who knows. Nice country log cabin-ish sorta decor, american-indian style paintings on the wall. Wish I could have bought them, hehe. But hey, since I was with friends, the goal was to have a good breakfast. They had decent, endless cups of coffee for as many refills as we could down. And yes, it was yummy breakfast. red or green (or both) chili? Fresh OJ. I had the breakfast burrito and though the new mexico style is quite different from what you'd get back home in California, it was mighty tasty, and gave me plenty of fuel for the day's activities.. All in all, a good start before you go browsing around old town, going to the museums, that sort of thing. perfect. sure its good for lunch and dinner, but really, gotta try the breakfasts, they are the bomb. get there right when they open and you get excellent excellent service by friendly people!

    (4)

  • Eclectic E.

    Yummy. Nice quiet place to watch people walking to the plaza. Tasty sopapilla

    (4)

  • Josh S.

    Had a great meal at Chrurch Street last week during avisit to Old Town very good had the combo :Tamale, Enchilada and Chile Rellenos generous portions. We enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and the cheerful freindly waitress that attended us. had eaten there in 2005 outdoors on the patio opted for a inside table this time as it was considerably hotter out this trip. If your in the area and looking for a great place to eat give it a try.

    (4)

  • Alan H.

    Great Southwestern fare, friendly service, and a dog-friendly patio. Lots of cheese on everything. Kids didn't love dinner - not what they're used to - but fresh sopas with honey for dessert made up for it.

    (4)

  • Suburban R.

    the garden on a spring sunday morning is the perfect quiet place to bring your Sunday NYTimes or stacks of New Yorker and just chill under early morniing sun. Decent coffee, huevos rancheros, etc. As it is located in old town, expect tourists-- which is not so bad... The [old Ruiz] house feels authentic and ancient.

    (4)

  • Lorok K.

    Pretty meh-tastic. I had a rueben that was indistinguishable from every other ok rueben I've ever had. My girlfriend had something that was so meh I don't even remember what it was. The waiter disappeared but after a half hour of waiting for our bill we found him chatting up the young counter girl. The water was terrible tasting, like run-off from a gravel driveway. Overall, it wasn't bad, though it certainly wasn't good. I think the only reason to go there (as a local) would be to take out-of-towners who insist on going to old town. There is some history there, which is far more interesting than the food.

    (2)

  • Eric B.

    I loved everything about the Church Street Cafe. I also had the huevos rancheros -- as good as it gets. Recommend ordering their excellent green chile stew on the side (under soups) if you love 'em "green" and really smothered.

    (5)

  • C C.

    Nice place. Good food. Wait staff always seems rushed, but try to be helpful. I will return. :)

    (4)

  • Christopher B.

    I was surprised by the many 4 and 5 star reviews for Church Street. I was here on a Saturday evening. The food was barely okay. The 3 stars are more for the scenery and the tattooed waitress.

    (3)

  • Lupe G.

    As is the case with much of Old Town, this was a home of one of the oldest families of Albuquerque and has a rich history. This IS traditional Southwestern Mexican Cuisine. I recommend the Tamale Plate with Red Chile Salsa - MUY SABROSO! BTW, Green Chile Salsa is also excellent. The service is good but expect a significantly longer wait at dinner time; after a couple of drinks....do you really care? :-) Conclusion: Highly recommended. I will return!

    (4)

  • Elizabeth S.

    My in-laws like to eat here but I have never asked why and I am curious now that I have experienced such mediocrity. I don't know why I ordered enchiladas made with beef. I wasn't expecting ground beef with an odd flavor. Actually it was pretty gross. I won't be going back unless social obligations with my in-laws dictate otherwise.

    (1)

  • Nancy V.

    This is a great place to bring out of town guests. It has ABQ flavor (in every sense of the word) and an historical setting. The squash is my fave!

    (4)

  • CR N.

    i had a great meal and really positive experience.

    (4)

  • Olivia R.

    Mediocre Mexican. I was actually disappointed as the food was not real mexican and not worth the price. The place is much larger than it appears from outside and is situated inside one of Albuquerque's most beautiful and historic adobe structures, now this is charm the business could really play on! The Church Street Cafe is in the heart of the tourist district (Old Town) and it seems that since it is there, it is destined to get a lot of business regardless of quality of the food. The menu is much larger than it needs to be and could focus on quality rather than diversity of food. The waitstaff was more than capable, however, seemed overloaded with the number of tables assigned and the slowness of the kitchen. I saw a lot of the waitstaff standing around waiting for food to be ready to serve as customers patiently waited. I would like to see the kitchen on site, as it seemed that for a restaurant that size, the food should have come out hot & within a timely manner...is there room for improvement for the set-up, amenities and equipment in the kitchen? Our drinks were slow to arrive, with 1/3 of our table promptly receiving theirs and at least a 10 minute lag-time for the rest to arrive. The chips were stale, cold and served with a salsa that tasted more like "Pace," brand canned salsa. We requested fresh pico de gallo and the waiter said that he too wished the restaurant would offer such authentic condiments, he profusely apologized. What good is a Mexican restaurant if it doesn't offer authentic Mexican Cuisine or condiments? Hmmm...the food, when it finally arrived, was okay but not memorable by any means. My suggestion to Church Street Cafe is to overhaul the menu, bring in a really experienced cook that can serve up some authentic Southwest Style Mexican food. Do yourselves and Albuquerque, NM a favor and invest in a great epicurean experience for those who travel from afar...you have the location down but the food leaves so much to be desired.

    (2)

  • John S.

    The decor sets it above the rest! Just look at the place. Sure it is done up for the tourists, but who cares. It looks great and the food is well done. If you are going to be in Old Town, I can definitely suggest this place to you (and not lose sleep).

    (4)

  • M G.

    I have been here a bunch of times and always had a good experience. Sadly, you can't drink alcohol on the patio! The patio is beautiful and a great place for taking out-of-towners when the heat is not too brutal. But the inside is charming and adorable, too, and the food is also good.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :8:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Touristy
    Noise Level : Average
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Happy Hour : Yes
    Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
    Coat Check : No
    Smoking : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Dogs Allowed : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Categories

Mexican Cuisine

If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.

Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.

Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.

Church Street Café

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