Second visit this summer and was more impressed this visit. Greeted by friendly hostess and seated fairly quickly as we did not have a reservation. Place seemed a bit quiet for a Saturday in Aug. but there was a large wedding or event taking place in the large room. We were offered the wine bar or dining room and chose the dining room. My wife had a vodka tonic and me half glass of Malbec. Wine was recommended by our server. It was good. We began with a cheese plate and lobster crab relleno. Both came expeditiously and were delicious. We ended up splitting the the chipotle chicken for our entree and was plenty for two. Throughout the night our server (forgot name) was great at checking on us. For dessert we shared a lemon meringue custard and a cheesecake with coffee. Btw, coffee is spectacular and would love to know what their brew is. Great night at Prairie Star. Great special occasion place but for the fun of it too. Nice to go to casino after a great dinner. See you again soon Prairie Star.
(5)
Dennis U.
We stopped in here for a glass of wine and some bar food in our travels. Our friends had been here several times in the past and had liked it. Kind of nice surroundings, a good selection of wine by the glass or bottle (and bottles to go by the way, an interesting feature for a wine bar.). The food was so so. I was unimpressed by the calamari in particular and some of the other items tried to be cool but weren't. Nice location for a glass of wine... I have no idea what the meals are like but it would be worth a try.
(3)
Eric And Jennifer R.
I've been here for business and leisure. It used to be someone's home and was converted into a restaurant. It's located on the Santa Ana golf course with the Sandias as the back drop. They have three outdoor patios. The views are just amazing. I love the Hyatt Tamaya outdoor bar patio because of the views but their food options are not that great. Prairie is just next door with the same views and more food options. We reserved a wing for a business function. The food and service were good. At this event, we ordered all of their small plates or appetizers. I was not disappointed with any dish. The entrees are good not quite 4 star quality. They have a decent wine and beer selection. I think we order 10 different wines and 50 bottles. It is pricey but worth the experience and views. Yesterday, the service at the wine bar was exceptional. We liked the bartender so much we decided to have our meal there instead of moving to the dining area. I think the service in the dining area can be inconsistent. The food was very good. This visit I tried the halibut cheeks in a light white sauce with bok Choy, kalamata olives and tomatoes. I'm very picky when it comes to fish. I grew up fishing and eating our catch on the beach. The halibut was cooked well but not cleaned well. Part of the blood line was visible. It can be unappetizing to some people. The side was excellent. My husband had salmon with hoisin sauce in couscous, Napa and daikon. He enjoyed his meal. It looked like it needed another dimension of texture and color. Perhaps adding matchstick carrots or red daikon to the couscous? We also had the baked Brie and bruschetta trio. I think we loved the small plates more than the entree. I could have just eaten three plates of the trio and been happy. Next time I'll ask for two kalamata spread with roasted garlic and a goat cheese with proschiotto. My husband ate 75% of our Brie and I ate the rest. Ask for a basket of bread or more toasted bread slices if you are going to order Brie. It only comes with two slices of bread. If you are in the area, try it. You don't have to spend a whole lot. Just have a glass of wine or beer with an appetizer during happy hour and you can enjoy the experience too.
(4)
Bella B.
Astonishing views & tempting cuisine, allow me to RE-INTRODUCE you to Prairie Star restaurant & Wine Bar!! With a new Vibrant & Charismatic Chef "Chris" on board Prairie Star will surely have you not only impressed with the views but also stellar cuisine! Wonderful & friendly staff from "Rebecca"(event coordinator) and Dennis(bartender) who made our experience absolutely lovely! We really enjoy the Patio menu was perfect bite size delectable appetizers especially the Bruschetta Trio~~ Kalamata Olive Tapenade & Roasted Garlic, Herb Chevre & Prosciutto, Mushroom Duxelles & Grilled Pear and the scrumptious Brie en Croute~~~YUM! We can hardly wait to return where magnificent views, serene surroundings and mouthwatering cuisine is "Second-to-None" at Prairie!
(5)
Steve M.
Zero stars for hospitality. Yelp and the store's sign say the restaurant, or at least the bar, opens at 5. The hostess said sorry the sign is wrong, and sent us back out into 100 degree temps when there could have been an offer to sit in the waiting room for a short time until at 530 reservation.
(1)
Darlene H.
We frequent local businesses and try to support on a routine basis, but it will be hard to continue to support Prairie Star. The dinner on 6/17 wine and dine was the absolute worst. The risotto was mush, the chunk sirloin tip was the size of peas. It's summer time so you would think they would fill the Tiki Torches. Routinely the prices are 5 but the food is consistently poor. The outside atmosphere is great, how about cleaning the bird droppings off the tables. You need to step it up Prairie Star.
(2)
Laura B.
Reservations were at 7:00pm didn't get our table until 7:30. Service very slow. Asked for a drink didn't receive waiter came back with a story oh I thought you cancelled. Food just ok. Would not recommend this place at all. I have been here before and don't know what has happened to this restaurant.
(2)
Lacey B.
Come for the view, not the service. The food is pretty good, but I wouldn't consider it a "good value" because the price is high and the food isn't "that good." The views are jaw-dropping and beautiful. But, the service brings this place down a few notches. The wait staff don't seem very attentive and don't know how to talk to their customers, especially for such an upscale place. Overall, this place is nice on a beautiful day to bring out-of-towners to sit outside on the patio and soak in the sun and an amazing view. But, your wallet will be considerably thinner when leaving.
(3)
Laurie M.
We just moved to Rio Rancho and when I Found thus restaurant on Yelp it made my day. There is nothing better than sitting out on the patio, enjoying a summer night, sipping an excellent glass of wine and enjoying the food. Every time i visit, I have the filet, and it's delicious and perfectly cooked. The ice cream with chilis and coffee drinks are worth the splurge. And I have to to mention the great entertainment that plays on the patio. I love this place!
(5)
Christina E.
Had a very special romantic Valentines Dinner here. Ambience is great. Food was delicious. Great wine list, desserts, and view. Totally recommend the splurge.
(5)
Alicia C.
In a wedding here on 10/12/13. Very beautiful background for outside photos. We loved the upstairs room that the bride & bridesmaids got to get dressed in. The wedding planner is really nice and very helpful. The room was a little dark for the reception but perhaps the bride & groom requested that. Food was okay, pork loin was a bit dry. Ravoli was the big hit. Bottled beer was $4 for domestic. If this place wasn't so far away for us, we might go for dinner, but since we live way NE ABQ it's just too far for dinner. The only real "down" part is that we all got bit by mosquitos during the ceremony. Maybe they could have citronella burning or something?
(4)
Christine F.
It was my Mother is Law's birthday and we needed to go somewhere fancy. My Father in Law made a res at Prairie Star, and off we went. Very cute interior. It was night, so we didn't get a terribly good view of the area (I was told that this restaurant has great views during the day), but that was no problem. Our waiter was nice, but awkward. He hovered a lot. Our breadbasket contained BANANA BREAD, which is rare, like a unicorn. Who serves banana bread in their bread baskets? Only super cool places. As far as apps went, we ordered shrimp cakes with a sweet soy sauce and calamari with a tasty aioli. Both were done well. The shrimp cakes weren't super dry and bready, which pleased me. NO FILLERS OVER HERE. I ordered a spinach squash salad and pumpkin bisque for my mains. The bisque was creamy and spicy, it was tasty. The salad was good as well - it was doused in a vinaigrette with tiny pieces of roasted pumpkin as spinach. We didn't do dessert because we were too full, but this place was pretty decent. I didn't feel blown away by any element of the meal, but everything was good. I'd come back.
(3)
Iza Y.
This restaurant really did not live up to my expectations. Really the only good thing was the view. Service was awful especially for a restaurant like this. My wife and I both ordered steaks. Hers was over cooked mine was cooked right but I have had better steaks at chain restaurants. Only diffrence is this one cost 25 dollars not 10. Overall it was disapointing only gets extra star for view.
(2)
Kristen M.
Four of us went out to Prairie Star this past Saturday. We had heard some pretty good things about this restaurant. We were seated right away since we did have reservations. The view outside was fabulous! Service as others have stated was very poor. It looked like just 2 servers for the entire place. I think that if you are going to be paying those type of prices, the service would be much better. Wine by the glass menu was a MESS!! Way too many fonts, colors, boxes, circles. We commented that it looked like someone just learned how to make text boxes in word! As for the apps: we had the duck lettuce wraps- nothing to write home about, very bland and not that good, & the brie trio- this was great! Entrees- 2 had steak, 1 had the special of halibut cheeks, and I had the scallops. One steak had to be sent back due to under-cooking. Everyone enjoyed their meals. We split 2 desserts: chocolate cherry cake & the special ice cream "chocolate cherry bacon". The desserts were the best by far! At least I can say that I've been here now, but I don't think that it will be going into our rotation of 'nice places' to eat anytime soon.
(3)
JA C.
Had a wonderful dinner. Bread was fresh. Golden beet salad was incredible. Yummy! I had the catch of the day which consisted of a sampling of Sea bass, salmon and monk. Very good. Our servers Samuel and Dennis were outstanding. Knowledgeable about the menu and spices in food items. I'm going back for sure.
(4)
Art L.
We've been to PS many times but this visit was on Valentine's Day and the food and service was below the level we expected.
(3)
Susan M.
Wow, after reading the prior reviews, which is why I decided to go to Prairie Star, I now feel like they are describing a different restaurant from the one that I ate at. Yes the view was lovely, but the food and service was mediocre at best. Our entire group had one of the more mediocre expensive meals that we've had in the Albuquerque / Santa Fe region. The bill was around $400 and we all wish we would have gone elsewhere.
(2)
Paul R.
Really good meal...Classy restaurant in a golfers environment. Beautiful view of the Sandia mountains. We sat outside the restaurant watching all the hummingbirds feeding at the feeders provided. Very romantic location, in fact they were setting up a big tent readying another event. We celebrated our anniversary there and they provided a nice surprise for us at the end of the meal.
(5)
D. f. W.
If you've never dined in a truly fine establishment, you might be fooled initially into thinking that Prairie Star was one. Alas, though tastefully appointed and pricey, the important elements are lackluster, if not MIA. A "fully stocked" bar without rye? The hostess leaving us to transport our own cocktails to the dining room from the bar? Our server was lifeless. My salad presentation consisted of romaine leaves strewn around a plate. The tenderloin was disgraced by a thin film of cheese -- a $30+ open face swiss cheeseburger? Potatoes were chilled, spinach was of a minimalist portion and "artfully" hidden under the rest of the food. Kudos to the onion rings. Creme brulee cloyingly sweet. Big bill for Albq, big disappointment overall. When we moved here in the early 90's, Prairie was our go-to spot as a couple and with guests. Then management changed and the quality deteriorated. We decided to give it a try accompanied by a couple from the Bay area only to learn that it hasn't, unfortunately, been resurrected. Save your pennies and your disappointment.
(1)
R L.
Lovely view. Would have expected the food to be superb for the price, but apparently you pay dearly for that view. Husband had to send his entree back twice (raw, refrigerator cold in the center scallops) so on the third try he ordered steak which came out cooked very well done and was ordered medium. My $39 bison steak was also cooked well done and ordered medium.
(1)
Brian R.
This place is fine, but it doesn't seem particularly special.
(3)
Ian M.
Exquisite, incredible, masterpiece food! Found this out-of-the way restaurant near the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Lodge in Bernalillo, NM, an otherwise wide-spot-in-the-road place, about 10 miles North of Albuquerque, NM. I was astounded to have one of the best meals ever I have had in my 60 years. The sommelier, Samuel McFall, was kind enough to bring two Pinot-Grigio-like wines for my companion's tasting before she made her choice; I liked the second wine, she liked the first; he provided the names and vintages so we could find them on our own. Service was more than exemplary, the food a Nouvelle-Cuisine/Southwest/American blend, everything was delicious in each bite, not cloying, not too much, not too little, but just right. Masterpiece food, worthy of the best cities in theworld. Incredible to find in the middle of nowhere, but near two world-class golf courses. * Pros: Food, Service, Ambience * Cons: Need to advertise
(5)
Jaime Patricio M.
A little outsides Albuquerque; travel north as if you are going to Santa Fe. The Duke City is given very little credit for it's food scene but beyond Santa Fe it is the best for hundreds of miles east, north, south and west. The Prairie Star on the Santa Ana pueblo is a perfect setting for a romantic dinner. My favourite time of year is fall and in the evening the it will be crisp and you will be greeted by the omnipresent Sandia mountains in the foreground and faint lights that flicker on top. These are the broadcast antennas and maybe you will see the Sandia Peak tram going up and down the mountain. You will also be greeted by canopy of the southwestern skies. The air should be as crisp as a granny smith apple. Upon entering you will feel like you stumbled on someone hacienda. The service on my visit was good and the food paid an homage to the southwest with plenty of fused chili and corn flavors. The food was a a wondrous quality. This feels like you are in the most remote section of New Mexico but you are close to your ammenities in Albuquerque. Go to Prairie Star to delight your partner / spouse or small group. The idea is to envelope yourself with quant and romantic southwest eatery. Buen provecho!
(5)
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Address :288 Prairie Star Rd
Santa Ana Pueblo, NM, 87004
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Quiet Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Fri Coat Check : Yes Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
D M.
Second visit this summer and was more impressed this visit. Greeted by friendly hostess and seated fairly quickly as we did not have a reservation. Place seemed a bit quiet for a Saturday in Aug. but there was a large wedding or event taking place in the large room. We were offered the wine bar or dining room and chose the dining room. My wife had a vodka tonic and me half glass of Malbec. Wine was recommended by our server. It was good. We began with a cheese plate and lobster crab relleno. Both came expeditiously and were delicious. We ended up splitting the the chipotle chicken for our entree and was plenty for two. Throughout the night our server (forgot name) was great at checking on us. For dessert we shared a lemon meringue custard and a cheesecake with coffee. Btw, coffee is spectacular and would love to know what their brew is. Great night at Prairie Star. Great special occasion place but for the fun of it too. Nice to go to casino after a great dinner. See you again soon Prairie Star.
(5)Dennis U.
We stopped in here for a glass of wine and some bar food in our travels. Our friends had been here several times in the past and had liked it. Kind of nice surroundings, a good selection of wine by the glass or bottle (and bottles to go by the way, an interesting feature for a wine bar.). The food was so so. I was unimpressed by the calamari in particular and some of the other items tried to be cool but weren't. Nice location for a glass of wine... I have no idea what the meals are like but it would be worth a try.
(3)Eric And Jennifer R.
I've been here for business and leisure. It used to be someone's home and was converted into a restaurant. It's located on the Santa Ana golf course with the Sandias as the back drop. They have three outdoor patios. The views are just amazing. I love the Hyatt Tamaya outdoor bar patio because of the views but their food options are not that great. Prairie is just next door with the same views and more food options. We reserved a wing for a business function. The food and service were good. At this event, we ordered all of their small plates or appetizers. I was not disappointed with any dish. The entrees are good not quite 4 star quality. They have a decent wine and beer selection. I think we order 10 different wines and 50 bottles. It is pricey but worth the experience and views. Yesterday, the service at the wine bar was exceptional. We liked the bartender so much we decided to have our meal there instead of moving to the dining area. I think the service in the dining area can be inconsistent. The food was very good. This visit I tried the halibut cheeks in a light white sauce with bok Choy, kalamata olives and tomatoes. I'm very picky when it comes to fish. I grew up fishing and eating our catch on the beach. The halibut was cooked well but not cleaned well. Part of the blood line was visible. It can be unappetizing to some people. The side was excellent. My husband had salmon with hoisin sauce in couscous, Napa and daikon. He enjoyed his meal. It looked like it needed another dimension of texture and color. Perhaps adding matchstick carrots or red daikon to the couscous? We also had the baked Brie and bruschetta trio. I think we loved the small plates more than the entree. I could have just eaten three plates of the trio and been happy. Next time I'll ask for two kalamata spread with roasted garlic and a goat cheese with proschiotto. My husband ate 75% of our Brie and I ate the rest. Ask for a basket of bread or more toasted bread slices if you are going to order Brie. It only comes with two slices of bread. If you are in the area, try it. You don't have to spend a whole lot. Just have a glass of wine or beer with an appetizer during happy hour and you can enjoy the experience too.
(4)Bella B.
Astonishing views & tempting cuisine, allow me to RE-INTRODUCE you to Prairie Star restaurant & Wine Bar!! With a new Vibrant & Charismatic Chef "Chris" on board Prairie Star will surely have you not only impressed with the views but also stellar cuisine! Wonderful & friendly staff from "Rebecca"(event coordinator) and Dennis(bartender) who made our experience absolutely lovely! We really enjoy the Patio menu was perfect bite size delectable appetizers especially the Bruschetta Trio~~ Kalamata Olive Tapenade & Roasted Garlic, Herb Chevre & Prosciutto, Mushroom Duxelles & Grilled Pear and the scrumptious Brie en Croute~~~YUM! We can hardly wait to return where magnificent views, serene surroundings and mouthwatering cuisine is "Second-to-None" at Prairie!
(5)Steve M.
Zero stars for hospitality. Yelp and the store's sign say the restaurant, or at least the bar, opens at 5. The hostess said sorry the sign is wrong, and sent us back out into 100 degree temps when there could have been an offer to sit in the waiting room for a short time until at 530 reservation.
(1)Darlene H.
We frequent local businesses and try to support on a routine basis, but it will be hard to continue to support Prairie Star. The dinner on 6/17 wine and dine was the absolute worst. The risotto was mush, the chunk sirloin tip was the size of peas. It's summer time so you would think they would fill the Tiki Torches. Routinely the prices are 5 but the food is consistently poor. The outside atmosphere is great, how about cleaning the bird droppings off the tables. You need to step it up Prairie Star.
(2)Laura B.
Reservations were at 7:00pm didn't get our table until 7:30. Service very slow. Asked for a drink didn't receive waiter came back with a story oh I thought you cancelled. Food just ok. Would not recommend this place at all. I have been here before and don't know what has happened to this restaurant.
(2)Lacey B.
Come for the view, not the service. The food is pretty good, but I wouldn't consider it a "good value" because the price is high and the food isn't "that good." The views are jaw-dropping and beautiful. But, the service brings this place down a few notches. The wait staff don't seem very attentive and don't know how to talk to their customers, especially for such an upscale place. Overall, this place is nice on a beautiful day to bring out-of-towners to sit outside on the patio and soak in the sun and an amazing view. But, your wallet will be considerably thinner when leaving.
(3)Laurie M.
We just moved to Rio Rancho and when I Found thus restaurant on Yelp it made my day. There is nothing better than sitting out on the patio, enjoying a summer night, sipping an excellent glass of wine and enjoying the food. Every time i visit, I have the filet, and it's delicious and perfectly cooked. The ice cream with chilis and coffee drinks are worth the splurge. And I have to to mention the great entertainment that plays on the patio. I love this place!
(5)Christina E.
Had a very special romantic Valentines Dinner here. Ambience is great. Food was delicious. Great wine list, desserts, and view. Totally recommend the splurge.
(5)Alicia C.
In a wedding here on 10/12/13. Very beautiful background for outside photos. We loved the upstairs room that the bride & bridesmaids got to get dressed in. The wedding planner is really nice and very helpful. The room was a little dark for the reception but perhaps the bride & groom requested that. Food was okay, pork loin was a bit dry. Ravoli was the big hit. Bottled beer was $4 for domestic. If this place wasn't so far away for us, we might go for dinner, but since we live way NE ABQ it's just too far for dinner. The only real "down" part is that we all got bit by mosquitos during the ceremony. Maybe they could have citronella burning or something?
(4)Christine F.
It was my Mother is Law's birthday and we needed to go somewhere fancy. My Father in Law made a res at Prairie Star, and off we went. Very cute interior. It was night, so we didn't get a terribly good view of the area (I was told that this restaurant has great views during the day), but that was no problem. Our waiter was nice, but awkward. He hovered a lot. Our breadbasket contained BANANA BREAD, which is rare, like a unicorn. Who serves banana bread in their bread baskets? Only super cool places. As far as apps went, we ordered shrimp cakes with a sweet soy sauce and calamari with a tasty aioli. Both were done well. The shrimp cakes weren't super dry and bready, which pleased me. NO FILLERS OVER HERE. I ordered a spinach squash salad and pumpkin bisque for my mains. The bisque was creamy and spicy, it was tasty. The salad was good as well - it was doused in a vinaigrette with tiny pieces of roasted pumpkin as spinach. We didn't do dessert because we were too full, but this place was pretty decent. I didn't feel blown away by any element of the meal, but everything was good. I'd come back.
(3)Iza Y.
This restaurant really did not live up to my expectations. Really the only good thing was the view. Service was awful especially for a restaurant like this. My wife and I both ordered steaks. Hers was over cooked mine was cooked right but I have had better steaks at chain restaurants. Only diffrence is this one cost 25 dollars not 10. Overall it was disapointing only gets extra star for view.
(2)Kristen M.
Four of us went out to Prairie Star this past Saturday. We had heard some pretty good things about this restaurant. We were seated right away since we did have reservations. The view outside was fabulous! Service as others have stated was very poor. It looked like just 2 servers for the entire place. I think that if you are going to be paying those type of prices, the service would be much better. Wine by the glass menu was a MESS!! Way too many fonts, colors, boxes, circles. We commented that it looked like someone just learned how to make text boxes in word! As for the apps: we had the duck lettuce wraps- nothing to write home about, very bland and not that good, & the brie trio- this was great! Entrees- 2 had steak, 1 had the special of halibut cheeks, and I had the scallops. One steak had to be sent back due to under-cooking. Everyone enjoyed their meals. We split 2 desserts: chocolate cherry cake & the special ice cream "chocolate cherry bacon". The desserts were the best by far! At least I can say that I've been here now, but I don't think that it will be going into our rotation of 'nice places' to eat anytime soon.
(3)JA C.
Had a wonderful dinner. Bread was fresh. Golden beet salad was incredible. Yummy! I had the catch of the day which consisted of a sampling of Sea bass, salmon and monk. Very good. Our servers Samuel and Dennis were outstanding. Knowledgeable about the menu and spices in food items. I'm going back for sure.
(4)Art L.
We've been to PS many times but this visit was on Valentine's Day and the food and service was below the level we expected.
(3)Susan M.
Wow, after reading the prior reviews, which is why I decided to go to Prairie Star, I now feel like they are describing a different restaurant from the one that I ate at. Yes the view was lovely, but the food and service was mediocre at best. Our entire group had one of the more mediocre expensive meals that we've had in the Albuquerque / Santa Fe region. The bill was around $400 and we all wish we would have gone elsewhere.
(2)Paul R.
Really good meal...Classy restaurant in a golfers environment. Beautiful view of the Sandia mountains. We sat outside the restaurant watching all the hummingbirds feeding at the feeders provided. Very romantic location, in fact they were setting up a big tent readying another event. We celebrated our anniversary there and they provided a nice surprise for us at the end of the meal.
(5)D. f. W.
If you've never dined in a truly fine establishment, you might be fooled initially into thinking that Prairie Star was one. Alas, though tastefully appointed and pricey, the important elements are lackluster, if not MIA. A "fully stocked" bar without rye? The hostess leaving us to transport our own cocktails to the dining room from the bar? Our server was lifeless. My salad presentation consisted of romaine leaves strewn around a plate. The tenderloin was disgraced by a thin film of cheese -- a $30+ open face swiss cheeseburger? Potatoes were chilled, spinach was of a minimalist portion and "artfully" hidden under the rest of the food. Kudos to the onion rings. Creme brulee cloyingly sweet. Big bill for Albq, big disappointment overall. When we moved here in the early 90's, Prairie was our go-to spot as a couple and with guests. Then management changed and the quality deteriorated. We decided to give it a try accompanied by a couple from the Bay area only to learn that it hasn't, unfortunately, been resurrected. Save your pennies and your disappointment.
(1)R L.
Lovely view. Would have expected the food to be superb for the price, but apparently you pay dearly for that view. Husband had to send his entree back twice (raw, refrigerator cold in the center scallops) so on the third try he ordered steak which came out cooked very well done and was ordered medium. My $39 bison steak was also cooked well done and ordered medium.
(1)Brian R.
This place is fine, but it doesn't seem particularly special.
(3)Ian M.
Exquisite, incredible, masterpiece food! Found this out-of-the way restaurant near the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Lodge in Bernalillo, NM, an otherwise wide-spot-in-the-road place, about 10 miles North of Albuquerque, NM. I was astounded to have one of the best meals ever I have had in my 60 years. The sommelier, Samuel McFall, was kind enough to bring two Pinot-Grigio-like wines for my companion's tasting before she made her choice; I liked the second wine, she liked the first; he provided the names and vintages so we could find them on our own. Service was more than exemplary, the food a Nouvelle-Cuisine/Southwest/American blend, everything was delicious in each bite, not cloying, not too much, not too little, but just right. Masterpiece food, worthy of the best cities in theworld. Incredible to find in the middle of nowhere, but near two world-class golf courses. * Pros: Food, Service, Ambience * Cons: Need to advertise
(5)Jaime Patricio M.
A little outsides Albuquerque; travel north as if you are going to Santa Fe. The Duke City is given very little credit for it's food scene but beyond Santa Fe it is the best for hundreds of miles east, north, south and west. The Prairie Star on the Santa Ana pueblo is a perfect setting for a romantic dinner. My favourite time of year is fall and in the evening the it will be crisp and you will be greeted by the omnipresent Sandia mountains in the foreground and faint lights that flicker on top. These are the broadcast antennas and maybe you will see the Sandia Peak tram going up and down the mountain. You will also be greeted by canopy of the southwestern skies. The air should be as crisp as a granny smith apple. Upon entering you will feel like you stumbled on someone hacienda. The service on my visit was good and the food paid an homage to the southwest with plenty of fused chili and corn flavors. The food was a a wondrous quality. This feels like you are in the most remote section of New Mexico but you are close to your ammenities in Albuquerque. Go to Prairie Star to delight your partner / spouse or small group. The idea is to envelope yourself with quant and romantic southwest eatery. Buen provecho!
(5)