2111 Church St NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
*Disclaimer: We were not paid for this review. All opinions are our own and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
The Old Town district of Albuquerque is home to many local dining choices. If you are looking to try something unique, Church Street offers a great menu of New Mexican specialties. Make sure you know before going in that New Mexican cuisine is quite different from Mexican, and had I known that New Mexican food is very cheese heavy, I probably would have opted for a different entrée.
Overall, Church Street is one of the better dining options in the region. This cafe offers the best outdoor patio seating in Old Town as well as great service and affordable pricing, thus making it a great stop if you happen to be exploring checking out tourist attractions in the area.
The complimentary chips and salsa are quite good, although you must be prepared to drink insane amounts of water in order to combat the high level of spice.
For our entrees, we tested out the blue corn cheese enchiladas and the chicken burrito. All entrees come with delicious sopaipillas and honey (a delicious regional dessert!), rice and beans. In addition, you can top your entrees with red or green chili, or both, which in New Mexico is referred to as a "Christmas" sauce.
The Chicken burrito was pretty tasty, consisting of a simple mixture of beans, chicken, and potatoes. The whole pinto beans served alongside were decent, although I prefer refried which are not served in New Mexican cuisine.
The Blue Corn cheese enchiladas were way too cheesy for my taste. Not only were they bursting to the brim with cheese, they were also smothered in cheese. Had I known, I probably would have ordered the veggie burrito or the fajitas. Regardless, it was something new to try and the ability to sub blue corn tortillas was great.
One of their specialities is the Navajo taco,which is basically fry bread topped with cheese, lettuce, beans, and tomatoes, and you can add chicken or beef. Other options on the menu include Chile Rellenos, Handmade Tamales (both a vegetarian and pork available), Tacos, Costillas Rojo. You also have the option of ordering a sandwich or burger if you prefer American style food. Options include: Old Town Turkey, Marie's Vegetarian, and the House Club
Breakfast is also served with options ranging from pancakes to omelets. Highlights include: Huevos Rancheros, Breakfast Quesadilla, and Avocado Smash.
Pricing was pretty affordable for a restaurant located in the touristy Old Town District. Lunch for 2 came in under $30.
Service was great, not at all slow as some outdoor dining areas tend to be. Drinks were continuously refilled and the complimentary chips and salsa kept coming!
They offer the best patio dining experience in Old Town. The space is heavily landscaped with beautiful trees, flowers, and even a relaxing fountain. Due to the variety of trees, it is shady and cool even on hot summer afternoons. Everything is very colorful and relaxing. Overall, it is one of the best places to linger over a long meal on a lazy vacation day.
Church Street Cafe is one of the better dining options in Old Town. Not only will you get to try out some interesting New Mexican dishes, you will also get to relax in a gorgeously landscaped courtyard.
