A group of friends and I got together to celebrate February birthdays. We chose Central Bodega for a nice evening. Our reservation was on time and people were quite attentive, assuring us it would be (we got there early). The ambiance was relaxed and quiet, but it got noisier as the night crowd joined. Service was attentive and also slow at times. I am unsure if the slow service was as we were enjoying our company or if this is the norm. As friendly as the service was, there were some significant mistakes. One order was not put with the others, delaying the dish even more. Having a party of six, I would expect the server to ask how to split the check before giving it. That delayed things even more at the end. To correct this mistake, he offered a drink on the house. And the last one, they charged me for drinks we didn't drink. We found this after we left. In terms of drinks, they were fantastic and long-named! My bartender's choice was absolutely in point. Even though the dishes came late, we were excited when they arrived. Visually, they were pretty. I can only describe our dishes and not that of our friends, as we didn't try them. For appetizers, we got the crudo. This was quite refreshing and bright ahi tuna with lots of citrus helped by pieces of creamy avocado. The hubs got the steak frites. Visually appealing, but the flavors did not match my eyes. The meat was cooked perfectly but was missing flavor and seasoning. The fries were also bland. I got the seared duck breast. This dish was visually stunning. However, it also did not meet the expectations set by the visuals. The vegetables and balsamic sauce were the heroes, while the duck breast was small and a third was just fat. Considering the prices of this place, we expected the visuals to match the flavors, but they were unfortunately not the same. read more

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We stopped into Central Bodega with a group of friends to celebrate a birthday, and it was such a great choice. The menu is fun and creative, with unique options that make it exciting to try something new. The atmosphere feels classy and elevated without being stuffy -- perfect for a special occasion or a night out with friends. Every single thing we ordered tasted amazing and was beautifully presented with amazing service. It's definitely on the middle to higher end in terms of price, but you're paying for the full experience -- the ambiance, the quality, and the flavors. Overall, it's absolutely worth trying if you're looking for somewhere memorable to celebrate or enjoy a great meal. read more

Central Bodega - Rack of lamb - Wine Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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We left Central Bodega last night thinking "why don't we hear more about this place? It was so good!" Excellent location in Nob Hill, with plenty of parking nearby. The menu was top notch too! My mocktail was lovely, and the cocktail my husband had was excellent as well. The food was great from tropical to bottom, Lasagna, Salmon Pasta special, this fun flaming cheese appetizer, and cheesecake for dessert. Love the location, and the service too. Worth a visit to this adorable place! read more

This is such a great place to go! We always get reservations for upstairs because the ambiance is amazing. It's small and intimate. Brian gave us wonderful service last night, as always. The food was amazing. I had the sole last night and my husband had the prawns. They were both delicious as was the seasonal salad. They have a good selection of wine and fancy cocktails. If you haven't tried this place, you need too. The only downside of going upstairs is that they have no elevators so if you can't walk up steps, you need to eat downstairs. read more

Central Bodega - Wine Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Easy and free street parking in the evening, and the restaurant interior is black, white, and minimalist. Menu screams date night, but the lighting is a little too bright for it to be considered romantic. I loved the Arneis wine. First time trying whipped feta, so I have nothing to compare it to, but it was a nice, light app. Bread-to-feta ratio was off, but the honey and microgreens were a nice touch. As for entrees, the mussels were just okay (super small in size), and the lamb was cooked nicely but not a showstopper. Definitely overpriced. Service was very good. Would return to try the pasta and a dessert. read more

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This place has a great atmosphere. The exposed brick wall, the lighting fixtures (don't know why, but lighting fixtures are a thing with me), the furniture, and the art all equal a great aesthetic. There is a separate dining room and bar upstairs, which also has a couple of lounge areas. Also with a great aesthetic and very cool. Who doesn't love Velvet sofas? Our server was really good, too. I appreciated his elevated look, dressed all in black, including a blazer. Kudos to him. It was nice that the bartender, who also appeared to be the manager, went to all the tables to see if everything was satisfactory. Cocktails came and they were good. I like that my amaretto sour has the egg white, that extra step that not all places do. The food was hit or miss. And it did not all come out at the same time. We didn't hate it, but we didn't love it. There were four of us, and we ordered: * Pasta Bolognese-- just okay. Hubby didn't finish it, and didn't even want to take what was left home. * Rack of lamb with fingerling potatoes. Loved the lamb--cooked perfectly! But I absolutely did not like the potatoes at all. And the greens--way to much of something in there. Maybe Rosemary or mint?? *Parmesan encrusted sole was really good, but my niece reported that the mashed potatoes were bland. *My dad ordered the steak frites. He asked for it well done, and it was closer to medium rare. He wasn't thrilled with it. In the end, we all said we were glad we tried Central Bodega, but we weren't sure if we would return. read more

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I always want to come here, but usually get overruled, but not tonight!! Tonight was my 1 year anniversary, and this spot proved to be perfect. Lucky we didn't have to make a reservation, there was room at the bar. The ambiance was romantic and cute. My dirty martini was so good, and hit the spot. We decided to share, so we don't roll out of this joint when we're done. Sharing was the way to go, we ordered the rack of lamb, medium rare, the seasonal salad, side of fries and of course we couldn't walk away from the whipped feta appetizer. I was pleasantly surprised with the rack of lamb! Very tender and cooked perfectly, accompanied by plenty of green beans and fingerling potatoes. Fancy Cocktails and beautiful ambiance! read more

My fiancé and I celebrated our 7 year anniversary tonight at Central Bodega for their Valentines special 5 course meal. We had a wonderful experience! Every dish tasted carefully crafted with great natural flavors. There are captions on the pictures of each dish in case you're interested in my individual reviews! 9/10 experience overall and we definitely can't wait to go back. read more

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3/5 Stars Stopped in for dinner while traveling through Albuquerque and was really hoping for a solid meal at Central Bodega. The space itself is clean and inviting, and the restrooms were well-maintained--definitely appreciated that. Unfortunately, the food and service didn't quite match the environment. I ordered the New York Strip (around $35) with fries. The fries were soggy, though they actually had decent flavor, and my son enjoyed them. Sadly, the steak itself had zero seasoning--no salt, no pepper, nothing. It was bland and completely underwhelming, probably the worst steak I've had in a long time. I honestly cooked a better one at home the next night using a $10 steak from Target--and I'm not even a chef. Service was also lacking. Water wasn't refilled regularly, and the overall pace was slow. This place has potential, but for the price and quality, it just didn't deliver. Maybe better for drinks or lighter bites, but I wouldn't recommend it for steak. read more

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Had a lovely dinner here, the steak frites was one of the best steaks I'd had at a restaurant in a long time. Very tasty ceasar salad! Friendly staff and service, our water glasses were never empty. Two levels, upstairs send to have a nicer ambiance than downstairs. Will reserve upstairs next visit. Biggest disappointment, they were out of mussels, saving them for a big party they had the next day. So maybe call ahead if you're hoping for mussels! read more

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Came for the first time with four friends. Will be back again at some point but for now I would give this restaurant four stars primarily based on customer service level which was fantastic. Our server was Dominic and he was absolutely sensational. So the location is good and the ambiance of the place is upscale very clean and attractive. It's a small place. We made a reservation and on the downside credit card was needed to reserve the reservation. That is going to be very off putting to a lot of people. A note to the owners, your menu is very difficult to read with the gold font. Going forward if you reprint them use a standard black ink. One thing I do like for their Sunday brunch which is what we came for, is that it is menu based not a buffet. So you order from the menu. I ordered the quiche which came with a side salad although the side salad was naturally a salad it was just some greens with a little bit of a vinaigrette type dressing drizzled over it. Nothing to ra I have to say, the acoustics in the place are not great. And for whatever reason it seemed that all patrons were seated right next to each other starting with the back of the restaurant and then moving towards the front this made it completely hopeless for us to be able to Converse at the table because the table directly next to us which was only inches away was filled with a bunch of laughing hyenas. We understand people want to celebrate and have fun, but again if the workers were a little bit more astute they would understand that in a mostly empty restaurant it would be great to have space between tables. Well this review might come off a little bit negative I don't mean for it to be I think there's a lot of promise here they just need to work out a few of the kinks. read more

After hearing about Central Bodega for some time, my wife and her friend dropped by for drinks last night with her friend. They delighted in the service by Andrew the bartender, Sydney and Dominic. This resulted in my wife changing today's birthday brunch for our nephew from another restaurant to Central Bodega, where we went today. And THAT resulted in us booking a birthday dinner for a friend at Central Bodega later this month! This is kind of noteworthy, as it's been pulling eye teeth to get me down to Nob Hill after the ART debacle. It was worth it, though: Service at Central Bodega is on top of it, whirling and hustling to get you what you need the instant you need it, yet never feeling rushed at all - always with a kind word and genuine friendliness. Regardless of the fact that it got pretty busy while we were there; we never felt rushed or abandoned or in any way needing attention. Really fantastic: Sydney, Dominic and Andrew were just wonderful (and bear in mind that all three of them worked the night shift BEFORE this brunch, so we're talking a remarkable level of energy and gracious spirit to be able to bring such happiness to our party). Just got back from our nephew's birthday brunch where we had a great time. Two rooms (upstairs and down) in a relatively small restaurant, but with different areas in each room that have different vibes. Upstairs, more raucous; downstairs more chill. The menu is varied enough that it's actually kinda fun. The drinks (yay, Andrew!) were fantastic. The food (waffles with bananas Foster, omelet of the day and the Spaniard sandwich with perfect fries) varied between good and very good and the prices were reasonable. As mentioned, we never wanted for anything during our relaxing brunch - and on the way out the door we booked a birthday supper for a friend later this month. Such a nice experience - looking forward to our return! read more

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I've been curious about this place for a while and stopped in for brunch today. Even though it was noon on Sunday and I didn't have a reservation they seated me right away. The service was a little slow but friendly and competent. They were out of some of the ingredients for the mocktail I ordered so the bartender devised a concoction for me with citrus, orgeat, and a little fizz that really hit the spot. I got the Spanish Benedict and it was the perfect choice, it was very tasty. The overall vibe was very calm and I hope to make it back for brunch again or maybe try the dinner menu. read more

Central Bodega - Spanish Benedict and a bartender's choice mocktail - Wine Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Great service. Cute space upstairs. Quiet and comfortable. Food was also great. I had a delicious omelette and a nice drink for Mother's Day brunch. read more

Central Bodega - Mothers Day brunch menu - Wine Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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First experience here. Casual, comfortable seating at the bar. Great cocktails. Handcrafted, unique takes on existing classics utilizing quality ingredients. And great appetizers. We have the tartar and a brilliant version of prosciutto and burrata. Will be back next time we are in ABQ. read more

HUGE shot out to the team at Central Bodega!! We enjoyed a celebratory dinner for my husbands military promotion with 16 of our closest friends and family and what a beautiful night it was! The team of Andrew and Alex was simply unmatched from any customer service experience we've had, and their sorcery behind the bar was truly magical! When hosting a large reservation where each person is individually ordering, so many hiccups could have easily happened. But not with this team and of course recognition to the crew behind the scenes that we sometimes overlook- our hostess, the kitchen crew, and the young man bussing tables. As per usual- the food was fantastic! Beautifully presented, delightfully seasoned, in a cozy environment that offered a warm hug to enjoy our company, quality meal, and fabulous cocktails! Thank you Central Bodega and team for truly creating this memorable experience! **Full transparency- we were so present and engaged in this experience that we overlooked photos. ‍ These photos are from a prior dinner we had there, however, because they are consistent- they certainly still represent just a small portion of the appetizers, entrees, and cocktails that were had. -- eating dinner at Central Bodega. read more

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Made reservations for 5pm on a Saturday night. It was pretty empty and a great time to ensure a reservation. Great feel, bar and decor. The drink options were plentiful and tasty. Waitstaff were pleasant and knowledgeable. Food prepared was fantastic and flavorful. Definitely upscale and I want to try the whipped feta when I return! read more

Central Bodega - Fabulous drinks - Wine Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Brunch for my birthday!! Fabulous drinks, food, and service!! Will definitely go back!! read more

Central Bodega - Maple bacon old fashioned - Wine Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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We had high expectations coming here and were not disappointed! We came for Sunday brunch and followed others' advice and sat upstairs. The ambiance is lovely. They have just enough holiday decor for it to feel festive and warm. The theme is definitely international bistro with black cafe chairs and stone tables. We had great cocktails. My husband had a Cesar Chavez which is a bit of a Spanish Manhattan and I had a Vodka Rose which is a deceptively simple drink with vodka, grenadine and lemon. Delicious. The food was also well executed. We had the whipped feta to start which was epic. They whip the feta until it resembles a savory whipped cream and then add tomatoes, radish, honey and crostini. Really delicious. Then my husband had the chicken and waffles while I had the Croque Monseiur. The portions were HUGE. My husband's chicken was delicately breaded and over an inch thick throughout. They also (to their credit) gave him gravy instead of maple syrup, making this a purely savory dish. We loved it. My sandwich was rich and alternately rich and tangy with the prosciutto. The fries were classic fries like you'd get in France. We had plenty of leftovers to take home for dinner. Our waiter was also our bartender and was attentive without being overbearing (hard in a small space). He makes great cocktails and guided our decisions with a firm hand. Could not ask for more! Really great brunch! read more

Central Bodega - Croque monsieur and chicken and waffles. Huge portions. - Wine Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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We sat upstairs last night with some friends we hadn't seen in awhile. It was pretty loud when the restaurant was full so be aware if you don't like that sort of thing. It was really cozy up there with a nice seating area along with your usual restaurant tables. The bar area was very pretty. The service was a perfect blend of attentive but allowing us time to visit. I got the Parmesan crusted Sole and it was delicious. I should have substituted the garlic mashed potatoes for the green chile one in the special as they were a just OK. My friend got the Spanish mussels and the broth was amazing! Her husband got the lobster and he was very pleased with his dish. My husband got the prawns and I was a little jealous as it was very tasty. We also got the flaming cheese appetizer. It was reminiscent of Yanni's and it hit the spot! You should definitely check this place out and we will definitely be back! read more

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Amazing bartender downstairs! Usually there's a wait so we'll pop in and there's usually something available read more

Central Bodega - Wine Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

We ordered bread with olive oil and butter, cioppino, steak, and lobster. The table next to us ordered the same bread and received it right away, yet we waited an entire hour before we had to ask the waiter for it. The cioppino arrived after about 30 minutes, but the steak and lobster took almost another hour to show up. Steak lacks flavor, and the fat cap was not probably sear. Overall the experience was a disappointment, especially the customer service. The staff will judge and treat you base on your age, your race, overall how you look. Simple as that. read more

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One of my faves in Nob Hill. Excellent and creative cocktails and the food is spot on and diailed in. It's on "repeat" in our restaurant rotation. read more

WOW. This place is excellent. Amazing service with very personable staff. The food was outrageously delicious. The cocktails were inspired. We dined upstairs which is lovely and boasts its own bar and couches near the window. Absolutely looking forward to returning. read more

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Great food! Cozy atmosphere. Kind staff. I love their whipped feta and Dutch baby cakes. The bartenders and waitstaff were great as well. read more

So I had to come back and I brought my girlfriend with me. I had the steak and frites, cooked medium. It was perfect. The herb butter is a nice touch. The frites were nice and crispy. My girlfriend got the lobster and it was delicious. My girlfriend said it was perfect as well. We had the avgolemono soup has an appetizer and it's the best soup I've had in the city. The lemon was perfect with the chicken. It was nice and quiet, we sat downstairs. Shouts to Hannah for being a wonderful server! read more

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Had a great night here celebrating my friend's graduation with a dinner here. It's actually a small place and I believe you should make a reservation here before coming here. Our server was really nice and accommodating as he helped us navigate through the menu. Our table ordered a couple of items, but we got the Half Baguette with the Parmesan Herb Oil. That itself was a great starter and I loved the infused oil. The pistachio-crusted gruyere was creamy, and the nuttiness with the gastrique definitely combines well with the dish as a whole. I never had a gastrique sauce before but it pairs so well with the pistachio and the cheese. For the main courses, our table ordered the mussels, the salmon penne, and the lobster bisque. I got the lobster bisque and I loved how well-seasoned it was. It was creamy, decadent, and the poached lobster tail was very good. Man, I just wished I had some extra bread to dip it in. The mussels were good and the broth that they were sitting in was delicious and fragrant. It was sitting in this saffron infused broth with smoked paprika and shallots. The salmon penne was delicious as well. The spicy tomato cream made it all come together beautifully and the extra seasonings, peppers, and cheese just adds that chef's kiss to the whole thing. I thought it was really good and the pasta was quite al dente. And there were good amounts of salmon cubes as well. Overall, this is a great place to come to for an intimate dinner or something celebratory. If I am ever in Alberquerque again, I wouldn't mind making my stop here. read more

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Ahi Tuna appetizer was very good. I ordered the steak medium as well (perfect) Our server was tremendous, I had an upstairs reservation and was met with quality service immediately. Highly recommended for a date night, couples night, or just a great food experience overall. read more

We walked in for brunch and were met with "Reservation?" Oh, hi, welcome... I bet my server doesn't want me to just say "Coffee" and not say hello, but ok. It turned out it was fine, we didn't have a reservation but we were able to sit upstairs. Upstairs, the decor was beautiful and the sun through the windows was lovely. It's kind of funny that they feature a photo of downstairs (the area where you enter) on their website but the upstairs dining room is so much nicer. Coming from the stairs, I noticed that the bartender had a delicious-looking iced coffee at the bar. It looked so good, I ordered an iced coffee but was told they don't offer that. The waitress ended up bringing me some coffee and a cup of ice, which was nice of her, but I wished I had gone wherever the bartender went. I had the Italian Eggs Benedict and it was kind of dry and bland. I get that mushroom sauce can be kind of a delicate flavor but there just wasn't much flavor. I added salt, pepper, and hot sauce and still wished it was seasoned. The "mushroom buerre blanc" was just mushroom butter, there was nothing creamy about it, and I wished for something a little more like a classic hollandaise sauce, especially because the polenta cake was dry so there was no sauce to balance that. My potatoes were just unseasoned cubed potatoes - even if they were browned a little more they might have been better. My husband had a Monte Cristo, I believe it was a special. I tasted it, and it was fine, but if I hadn't taken a photo, I wouldn't have remembered it at all. All in all, was it the worst meal I've ever had? No, it was fine. Do I wish I had gone somewhere else? Sure. Would I go back? Nah. read more

Central Bodega - Italian Eggs Benedict, kind of dry and bland. - Wine Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Really great food! The service was nice and the ambience is great for a nice dinner or girls night out! Nice spot would definitely come back! read more

The restaurant itself is beautiful! The staff is friendly and welcoming. But the food: extremely disappointing. After months of anticipation on checking this spot out for brunch, I was left extremely disappointed. 3 of us ordered from the brunch menu; quiche, Dutch baby pancakes, and Monte Cristo. The quiche was fine...both the pancakes and monte cristo were extremely greasy and had no flavor. read more

Came in for lunch, but left disappointed. Omelet of the Week (Mushroom & Gruyere) - 1/5. A classic combo, executed extremely poorly. The omelet had a rather off, rubbery texture, rather than being soft and creamy as you'd expect. The side of roast potatoes had zero herbs, zero pepper, the slightest touch of salt and basically no flavor. One of the worst omelets I've had anywhere, buffets included. The Spaniard - 2/5 This chicken, tomato and jamon sandwich had promise, but could have been much better. The chicken itself was overcooked to the point of being dry, which was occasionally, but not always, saved by the exceedingly plain, but still justify, hothouse tomato under it. The french fries were positively irredeemable, the kind which has been accidently left in the fryer too long. Little Prince - 5/5 Smooth, refreshing, solidly the best beer cocktail I've had anywhere. Very Hungry Caterpillar - 3/5 Tasty, but a positively miniscule portion for $15, especially considering a substantial portion of the drink is ginger beer. read more

Charming place. Stopped for a glass of wine and snack. Olives were very tasty, they had to go pluck off the tree though. Bartender was attentive to our beverages. read more

I had a lovely brunch here with a friend. We had a reservation for right when it opened. The staff was polite. There was a variety of options. I had the eggs Benedict and it was delicious! I also liked the mimosa. It's a cute chic decor and I can't wait to return! read more

Had a lovely first time experience at Central Bodega. Best steak frites in town and succulent lamb. Mariah was an absolute gem & took great care of us. Excellent cocktails & carrot cake cupcake for dessert. Stepped across the street to their sister establishment - The Parlor Room where Jacob made great cocktails. Great evening out in Nob Hill! read more

I went here because friends were getting together for dinner. I looked at the menu prior to arrival and was under the impression that is was a high price/small portion kind of place. However, this was not the case. The portions were good and I definitely did not leave hungry. The price was average for a restaurant. All the food was great, good flavor. The service was attentive and friendly. The facility is definitely upscale and has an additional upstairs bar. For appetizer, we enjoyed a wrapped cantaloupe. This was surprisingly good. I enjoyed a cocktail and dessert upstairs after dinner. I got a chocolate cupcake with raspberry drizzle. It was so rich and delicious. I try to stay out of Albuquerque, but would definitely return when I am there. read more

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Dinner experience was good. Would come again. Brunch not so good. Probably won't come again. Food sounded interesting but didn't meet expectations. Service? Hmmm tricky ; needs to be less selective? Ambiance? Was downstairs and voices carried a lot. read more

Went here again for my wife's birthday and had another wonderful meal. This is a great spot for a birthday dinner or date night. Service here was excellent as always! Central Bodega changes up their menu periodically which means the marrow was sadly absent. We tried a few new dishes including the parmesan-crusted Sol which was absolutely delicious. The Parmesan crust was very well done and the garlic mashed potatoes were excellent. The clam mainstay is always a good option too. read more

Central Bodega - Parmesan-crusted Sol - Wine Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

The seafood linguine special was out of this world! The Greek plate was spectacular. Service Dominic was exceptional. A fun atmosphere too. Young crowd. Best meal that I can recall in Albuquerque. read more

My word, I sure hope this place succeeds (and I have a very good feeling it will). The food was glorious. The service was fantastic. The ambiance was really lovely, though the table spacing was quite close, and, in the small space, nearby conversations became increasingly loud as the room filled up by 12:30. We strolled in for brunch on Sunday around 11:40, and they surprisingly asked if we had a reservation... fancy... must be trending! We didn't, but there was a number of open tables and they seated us right away. Upstairs was hopping and reservation only by that time. Not sure why it was so popular comparatively; the ambiance was no better up there, as far as our party of three was concerned. They have a very extensive wine list, and all the lovely brunchy cocktails. Their menu, though modest in breadth, was amply diverse - sandwiches, omelettes, Benedicts, and the sweet stuff too, and all very unique and delightful sounding! They have a weekend special omelette and avocado toast (today's came with a dollop of egg salad! It almost sold me, but...) We opted for the whipped feta, drizzled in honey and accompanied by radish and tomato, served with crostinis. Divine. I marveled at how they managed to make feta the consistency of homemade whipped cream! I got the Italian Benedict, which comes with polenta patties instead of English muffins. Sublime. Perfectly basted eggs with a delicate flavor that didn't scream "CHOLESTEROL!!" like the usual serving. We asked for hot sauce and received a glorious dish of chef-made Buffalo sauce (which they charged us a dollar for, by the way }:p). Simply put, marvelous flavor in all ways. My only gripe was the conspicuous lack of an espresso machine. It's so very Italian feeling in this cozy little bistro. Why can't mama have a dang macchiato?! Apparently they're saving up for one and should have it soon. I hope so; it was a terrible spoiler! I ended up with regular coffee, and it was a very mediocre brew. In this writer's opinion, coffee is the sweet mana of brunch, so I have to drop a star. But don't be dissuaded, fellow diners! It's a terrific spot to stop in at of your looking for a bite and some atmosphere in Nob Hill. And you don't mind throwing down about $15-20 for an entree. I'll TOTALLY be back... on payday... macchiato or not. Yum! read more

Central Bodega - Italian Benedict (polenta instead of muffin) yummy - Wine Bars Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico