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    Ben Michael's Restaurant

    4.0 (216 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 months ago

    Ben Michael's Restaurant Photos

    BEN MICHAEL'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Happy hour specials
    Good for kids

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    Reviews With Photos - Ben Michael's Restaurant

    Scratch made key lime pie with peach jam made with peaches grown by the restaurant owner himself!
    Aram K.

    So I went to Ben Michael's tonight, it was my second time there, I went for my friends birthday, and I'm glad I did. The jazz musicians were awesome, loved the old school New Mexican theme. Ben michael got himself an old traditional New Mexican adobe house, and transformed it into a restaurant himself! It really made you feel at home, no pun intended! :) I feel like many people who were there were regulars snd I saw a lot of them even seemed to know each other, it had a very quaint vibe to it. Ben Michael himself is a really nice, social, and really cool guy all around once you get to know him. But I wanna touch on why you guys are seeing the negative reviews about him. So, you gotta understand he has sort of a unique personality, the minute you meet him he might joke with you in a way that you think is rude, he's treating you as if you're familiar to him. My friend gave me a heads up so I knew that as it was happening, but he warms up to you and you can tell after a while that he's a super friendly guy just has an interesting way of dealing with his customers. You see at ben Michael's, when you step foot inside, be prepared to be treated like you're at his family party and you're one of his cousins, uncles or brothers, that's the way he will communicate. It's important to know this and be okay with it before you go there. Also he's a little sensitive about his cooking, he gets his feelings hurt from what I've been reading, but luckily I liked everything I ate and I had no reason to make any comments or else I would probably experience what he would be like in that situation lol. The picture I attached was a Scratch made key lime pie with peach jam made with peaches grown by the restaurant owner himself! This taste nothing like store bought or most restaurant key lime pie so if you usually don't like key lime pie you gotta try his version of it. He had a buffet today I forgot to take a picture of it, but normally you order from a menu but he had a big turn out for jazz night and we went with buffet style. Something you should know about this restaurant is there's no real menu, everything always changes and ben makes everything from Scratch, organic, locally grown and sourced.

    a person entering the restaurant
    John D.

    Organic and Mexican food? Well it's here. The owners are 70's throwbacks playing 70's music. The building looks even older. How can you go wrong with that? 1st customers of the day so the place was empty. Chips and salsa came out. I like blue corn so that was good - the salsa was meh. For meals we ordered the enchiladas - it came with whole pinto beans and grilled zucchini? Ok. different. Plus a salad with chicken. Both meals were great, I misunderstood when being asked about an egg (I thought he was talking red or green) so I said on the side - oh well. Got the egg and put it atop the enchilada where it belonged (juries out on that one). The zucchini worked with this dish. The salad was equally tasty with nicely cooked chicken. What made this a meal though was the desert. It was their flan! Not a typical "jiggly" flan. This had some texture and wasn't drenched in caramel syrup. Pleasing to the palate without being overly sweet. An epic finish to a nice lunch. They are cash only - but if you show up without it there is an atm nearby to save the day.

    Outside, on corner.  Charming restaurant
    Jen M.

    We throughly enjoyed our dinner tonight at Ben Michael's. We started with chips and salsa. This salsa was sweet but had a nice kick. I ordered the fresh veggies with shrimp: perfectly prepared asparagus, onions, tomatoes, red peppers, fennel, squash, something like a Hungarian pepper, organic and some homegrown plus nicely grilled shrimp. My husband ordered Manatza enchilada and he said it was awesome. All flavors fresh and portions perfect. We've been traveling for two weeks and we put this meal right up there with one of our best meals.

    The jazz band

    Cash only (ATM is close). Pork enchiladas with rich red New Mexican chile sauce, beans and summer squash (seasoned with fennel from his garden). And then the jazz band started. According to a neighbor at the bar, they were particularly talented (aka, we were particularly lucky to see & hear them). Small old interesting space that felt ideal for the chef and the music. The chef assisted with serving and handling checks.

    Mom and Ben Michael's!

    What a great place! The food is excellent NM fare! Freshly prepared by Ben Michael's himself with local ingredients and served by him or his lovely girlfriend. The atmosphere is absolutely charming. It feels like you are over at a friends house for dinner. Tuesday nights are live jazz nights and are really a "can't miss" when I'm in town visiting my mom. Ben is the greatest of people and I recommend anyone who is dining at his place to strike up a conversation with him. Maybe even ask him to "tickle the ivories" a bit if he's not too busy. He might even come up with a personalized tune for you and your party! At the end of your meal you'll come away feeling better about life and certainly with a spring in your step!

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    Great restaurant, awesome atmosphere, incredible, local, organic food prepared with care and love.

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Ben Michael's Restaurant

    What vegan options do you have?

    He makes the most wonderful salad in the world with locally grown fruits and veggies. I wasnt even hungry and had to eat the whole thing!!

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    Ramona’s Mexican Cafe

    Ramona’s Mexican Cafe

    4.9
    (56 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    everything was perfect! The food was amazing and staff very friendly they put a lot of effort and…read morecare into the restaurant

    As much as I dislike Old Town, I think I might like this second location of Ramona's Mexican Cafe…read more_more_ than the original up at the Journal Center. Gosh, the staff is all just as nice and you get to sit down to order. The location (the old Monica's El Portal restaurant) is lovely and has that authentic feel - plus a wonderful parking lot (parking in the area is usually a giant hassle). The food was exactly like that at the original location, which is to say a delicious melding of New Mexican and Chihuahense styles, served fast and hot - for reasonable prices. With continual smiles (and refills) by the hustling servers. I'm telling you, I might drive down here again soon with my wife just to go to this outlet of Ramona's. Mmm! One more thing: can I give you a tip on how to avoid doing a left-hand turn to the north across all the crazy Rio Grande traffic at this location? Go west on Dora (the street the restaurant is on) down to the end at Panmunjon (that's how they spell it) road, turn right and go up one street to Mountain. Turn right on Mountain which will take you to a light on Rio Grande that has a left-hand turn arrow. Go slow (it's all residential and there are speed humps); it'll take a couple minutes, but it's better than getting creamed by a speeder (like the motorcyclist I saw lose a boot when he got clipped as I was parking).

    Photos
    Homey feeling seating area
    Homey feeling seating area
    Chorizo aplenty
    Chorizo aplenty
    Inside is intimate

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    Inside is intimate
    Church Street Café

    Church Street Café

    3.6
    (1.1k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    well , food was good but they gave me the wrong plate instead of the one i ordered but the chicken…read moreenchiladas with red sauce was good, i ordered the combination plate ,one taco, one tamale , one beef enchilada with green sauce but instead they gave me the plate next table ordered, i noticed for the different in the red sauce but i taught it was my plate,,,

    Love the adobe decor and cacti out front! Learned this place was a residence up until 1993, when it…read morewas turned into a restaurant. The exterior and "lobby" area make it look like the restaurant is on the small side with limited seating, but it extends quite far back with indoor table options and an extensive back patio area for a nice ambiance to enjoy your New Mexican cuisine. Service was very leisurely, but we didn't mind, as we were catching up with friends who've moved to the area and haven't seen in several years. The chips and salsa aren't complementary, though the waiter made it seem that way when he casually asked if we wanted some when we were seated. Plentiful cocktail and drink menu, as well as appetizers and entrees. I was happy with my selection of Spanish/fried chile rellenos, and I had it with the salsa "Christmas style", with both green and red salsa. It was flavorful with just the right amount of heat, and the rice and beans hit the spot. I couldn't wait to take the leftovers home for snacking the next day. Kids' menu has the typical offerings, and the fries on the side are abundant. We had sopapillas (like fried dough) with honey after our entrees, which was included with the adult meals. A very nice dining experience in the historic Old Town neighborhood!

    Photos
    Seating above and below
    Seating above and below
    1/2 lb. Fajitas
    1/2 lb. Fajitas
    Exterior

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    Exterior
    Garduño's of Mexico Restaurant & Cantina at Old Town

    Garduño's of Mexico Restaurant & Cantina at Old Town

    3.2
    (228 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Food flavors were okay, but not much else was. The flour tortillas had the taste and consistency…read moreyou find straight out of the plastic bag at the supermarket. Nice choice of fancy high-end margaritas, but their mix is way too artificial tasting, without much if any fresh lime juice. The cheap margarita mix and industrial tortillas alone would have been enough to prevent a return visit. We have done so much better on previous visits here. On top of that, service was in full-on meltdown mode. Table next to us, which had been seated and served drinks before we arrived, was having words with the server about how long their food was taking. "Will it even be hot," she asked. After we had ordered and been served drinks, and ordered and been served food, they finally threw a few crumpled bills on their still-empty table and walked. My combo plate was completely wrong, and my wife's fajitas lacked the sour cream she ordered and the tomatoes and pico de gallo that were supposed to come with it. Wait staff blamed the kitchen rather than owning the mistakes on behalf of the restaurant. Took five minutes, and two requests, for my wife to even get her tiny container of sour cream. Table on the other side of us also had some problem; we heard the sever telling them that some item they ordered would be comped. They did comp my combo. But that's three adjacent tables poorly served. Not coming back.

    Was very disappointed in the margaritas, something about the mix just tasted strange. My wife have…read morethe taquitos and I had a combo with chili relleno and a hard taco. The shell was already broken when I got it and the relleno was very dry. I may go back and try this again but I won't be in a hurry

    Photos
    Decorative windows
    Decorative windows
    Steel Cut Oats
    Steel Cut Oats
    Garduno's at Old Town Patio

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    Garduno's at Old Town Patio
    Duran Central Pharmacy

    Duran Central Pharmacy

    4.2
    (472 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    We continue with the exploration of breakfast places and this time we chose Duran Central Pharmacy…read more Don't let the name trick you as it tricked us for a while. This is a pharmacy/store/diner with a very good local vibe. The pharmacy has a bit of everything, from books, jewelry, and toys, to clothing, decor, and kitchen stuff. And when we thought there was no space for a diner, we found where the magic takes place just around the corner, where we were welcomed and seated. People were friendly, kitchen staff were getting stuff out quickly, and our server was ok. Efficiency was a clear target for everyone and our food was on our table in no time. For food, our friends ordered the breakfast burritos (with red only and a Christmas version), , the hubs ordered the carne adobada, and I ordered the tamal plate with red and green, just like I like I like it . Everyone was pleased with their choices. The burritos were big and tasty. The carne adobada had a lot of deliciously marinated pork and the steamed potatoes were quite a good addition. The tortilla with butter was simple yet delicious, with a firm and thick tortilla. The tamal plate was almost perfect. The red and green sauces were amazing, but I was slightly partial to the spicier green chile sauce. The masa on the tamales was firm and good. If there was one change I would make, it would be for the tamales to have more filling. Overall, we had a good experience at a very unique place! Stop by the store to get some local products or useful things for your home.

    I have been told that this restaurant is very good but $14.80 for a cheese enchilada? There are…read moreplenty of other very good choices in Albuquerque. Mary and Tito's, Padilla's, New Mexico Beef Jerky Company, Hot Tamales, and Tomasita's. Only Sadie's and El Pinto are more expensive at around $20 for a cheese enchilada and you probably won't get complimentary chips and salsa there either. Not being cheap but for the money, I'd rather have a killer lunch at 66 Diner.

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Cherry Cheesecake Empanada | 06.08.2025
    Cherry Cheesecake Empanada | 06.08.2025
    The crew with expediter pulling hot plates from the sally, like whoa!

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    The crew with expediter pulling hot plates from the sally, like whoa!
    Indian Pueblo Kitchen

    Indian Pueblo Kitchen

    4.0
    (520 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    This is my second time here!…read more Food is still great! Portion remains huge! Vibe is vibrant and welcoming! This is a must visit restaurant in town.

    I expected a more authentic and distinctive dining experience after discovering this restaurant in…read morea highly regarded magazine. The menu initially sounded creative, especially the waffles featuring pepitas, quinoa, and blue corn, which led me to assume that the same thoughtful use of ingredients would carry throughout the rest of the menu. The blue corn enchiladas were the clear highlight and were genuinely delicious. Unfortunately, the red sauce served alongside them tasted noticeably canned. I had hoped for a fresh, house-made sauce that would complement the quality of the enchiladas. The calabacitas were also barely seasoned and could have benefited from much more flavor. The eggs Benedict was disappointing. The addition of a sausage patty made it feel more like a typical American breakfast than the regional and authentic dish I had expected. Many of the available sides were also potato-based, mainly hash browns or French fries, which made the menu feel less varied and imaginative. The blue corn porridge was acceptable, and the generous amount of berries helped bring the dish together, but the porridge itself could have been much more flavorful. There is plenty of potential here, particularly if more attention were given to fresh sauces, seasoning, regional ingredients, and a wider variety of side dishes. The service was good, and the meal overall was fine, but based on my experience, it was not distinctive enough to justify making a special trip.

    Photos
    Blue corn onion rings served with green chile ranch dressing & fresh homemade salsa. Photo courtesy of GlobalGumshoe.com.
    Blue corn onion rings served with green chile ranch dressing & fresh homemade salsa. Photo courtesy of GlobalGumshoe.com.
    Indian Pueblo Kitchen
    Indian Pueblo Kitchen

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    Sixty Six Acres

    Sixty Six Acres

    4.4
    (555 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    Great servers! Everyone was helpful and kind so front of house manager must be doing their job!…read moreFood was delicious. Crispy Brussels sprouts had great flavor but way too much cayenne pepper (which adds nothing but heat) my husband ate them but said he would prefer less heat. I had 2 bites and gave up. Baked brie was amazing I loved the granny Smith apples! My husband loved them too. We also got the hummus duo which has dates on it and I used a date in the brie that was fantastic! I'll ask for that next time! It was the bomb. Hummus duo was good the watermelon radish was beautiful on the plate but gave both hummus a bitter flavor. Shrimp and grits. We live in Alabama currently and this was our least favorite dish of the day. Shrimp were cooked well and so were the grits but there was just something else it needed. Parmesan cheese and some onions maybe. Greek salad delicious. The flash fried chick peas made it. We needed more dressing and the wait staff was prompt and sweet about it. Spicy Lime Ceasar was ok till he requested more dressing then it was amazing. I was afraid of ordering it but the dressing wasn't too spicy . White sangria I had was disappointing it was more of a 1995 wine spritzer than a wine infused with citrus which is the very essence of sangria. It was ok and had I ordered a wine spritzer I would say yummo but I ordered sangria. Pork Belly flat bread was the winner of the night the tomato jam made that dish. I would love more on it next time but we will definitely be ordering that dish again! Yes we had a lot of left over food! But I love sampling a menu and this menu has a lot to offer. We will be back to try 4 or five other things. I look forward to my return.

    We were excited to try this new American cocktail bar. Shout out to Yelp again for the find…read more Moseyed in on a Saturday night and didn't have to wait for a table. In a rare turn of events, both kids got the same thing, the Korean chicken bites with the sauce on the side, which was a great decision bc it did have a kick to it. The chicken itself was a bit dry. Both adults also got the pork belly flatbread. I found it a bit unbalanced with too much sauce and not enough other toppings, and the base wasn't as crispy as I prefer. Speaking of crispy, we opted for the appetizer brussel sprouts, and they were a bit chewy and on the not so super crispy side. Service was fine, and glad to have a little break from heavier New Mexican cuisine on this night. Lots of variety on the cocktail and adult beverage menu too.

    Photos
    Sixty Six Acres
    Korean Fried Chicken Bowl - yummy!
    Korean Fried Chicken Bowl - yummy!
    Fried Tofu w/peanut sauce. Good.

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    Fried Tofu w/peanut sauce. Good.

    Ben Michael's Restaurant - newmexican - Updated July 2026

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