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Left Turn Distillery

4.6 (119 reviews)
Open • 12:00 pm - 9:30 PM

Left Turn Distillery Photos

LEFT TURN DISTILLERY ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Left Turn Distillery

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Liquid Courage..:)
Avram L.

All our times have come Here but now they're gone Seasons don't fear the reaper Nor do the wind, The sun or The rain We can be like they are.. We settled into, "Left Turn Distillery" late morning.. After generous samplings of 8 House Spirits..by a very cordial Spirited Barista..:) The Lass nourished her sultry mind w. a Smokin Glass of a "Repo Fashioned" w. Tres Piedras Resposado Agave Spirit, Housemade Simple Syrup and Angostura Bitters, It was Smokin Delish..:) The Lad, washed away his analytical guesswork w. a Glass of "San Juan Single Malt Whiskey". A very smooth dreamy good drink..:) We munched on a Housemade Soft-Pretzel w. Blanco Queso. This was a Fun Local Hang where you felt very welcome, The Drinks are da Bang!..:) Come on, baby (don't fear the reaper) Baby, take my hand (don't fear the reaper) We'll be able to fly (don't fear the reaper) Baby, I'm your man.. Best, Avram BluÖystercult Jr.

Décor
Kate A.

What an excellent find! We ended up at Left Turn Distillery for lunch on Mother's Day--not as a celebration of the holiday, but because we were hungry and thirsty. Left Turn did not disappoint! First of all: love the name. It refers to the many times (in Warner Brothers cartoons) Bugs Bunny said, "I shoulda taken that left turn in Albuquerque." Don't be put off by the signs on the door; we didn't see anyone likely to be packing anything dangerous! There's parking out front, plenty of seating inside at the bar and at separate tables, and clean bathrooms. We ordered cocktails, and also mentioned we're interested in taking some spirits home--so we were served our drinks ordered food, and were offered samples of gin, whiskey, and agave products for consideration. The menu includes plenty of starters, as well as sandwiches and tacos. The food was excellent--one of the best lunches on our trip. The shrimp tacos and a Cubano sandwich were alll generously filled. Fries looked to be fresh-cut potatoes, and the pickles were definitely an in-house creation. I'd give the food six stars if I could! We enjoyed the cocktails and spirits; I've recently been trying more mezcals and was glad to taste what's being produced in NM. The Blue Manhattan--made with blue corn whiskey--was tasty and well-balanced. Also recommended: the Conversionist, made with barrel-aged gin. We left with a bottle of that gin--the perfect souvenir to enjoy back home.

Tiffany H.

Enjoyed delicious cocktails, a fun tasting and informative tour- this is such a fun stop for locals or folks like us visiting from out of town. Hearing about all the fun activities they have going on made us wish we lived locally so we could visit more frequently.

Left Turn Distillery
Rita G.

A complete surprise...had family in for the Holidays and wanted something new to do one afternoon. When my Sister's went to make a reservation for tasting a Groupon coupon came up. Received 50 percent off. Can't go wrong. Brian, the owner gave a great tasting and explanation of the business's history. You get to choose a drink at the end. They distillery vodkas, gins, rum and whiskeys. They also survey food if you are hungry. Worth a visit. We are planning on going some afternoon for just a drink soon. Prices are reasonable. Staff very engaging as well.

Brian the owner giving us the tasting and tour.
Donna B.

First time we had been to this distillery and we did a tasting and tour. We really enjoyed it! The owner Brian did a good job and the booze was really good. When you get on their website a Groupon comes up when you want to have a tour and a tasting. It was so reasonable and included a cocktail of your choice. If we could have done the tasting a bit slower, we would have enjoyed it more. Fun, interesting and good. We did not try food but will go back. It is a small place but very cool!

Inside the restaurant
Daniel D.

First time visiting this place. My boss and the team wanted to hang out and get dinner. I'll be honest I had no clue this place existed until today. I was told when we arrived they have the best burger in town. Let me tell ya I was not let down. Walking in the brewery had a nice vibe. The staff were very friendly and so attentive. They made sure our glasses were always full. The drinks I heard were stellar. Since I do not these days I didn't partake and stuck with my water lol. After reviewing the menu I settled with the tourist burger. A green chili burger with queso. When the staff brought out our food I could already tell it was gonna be good. A+ on the presentation! I took my first bite after letting the burger cool for a minute and I was in heaven. The burger although a little messy was so juicy and delicious it literally needs no condiments. The queso complimented it and I poured it on-top for every savory bite. We also tried the fitters and the fries. The fritters were like a zucchini and corn Mex it was good. The fries were home cooked style and seasoned spectacularly. I have to say after hearing how long the place has been around, I'm sad I didn't come sooner. This place is amazing! Hands down it's the best burger I've had in such a long time! I'll definitely be back for sure. Thanks again Left Turn!

Chicken nuggets
LeeAnn M.

Definitely a new favorite. Recommend to us by family and this was such a great little spot. It's got that hole in the wall vibe but has great food great drinks and great service. We got the chicken nuggets with green chile sauce and ranch, the Cubano, and the Shrimp Po Boy. All of which were delicious. We also go cocktails which were very refreshing (I got the Boca Fiesta). Will definitely be back. Also, they do serve beer too.

Margarita flight
Janay W.

We always enjoy coming here. We love the atmosphere of this small bar and their special drink menu. I ordered things completely new to me this time including the margarita flight and the shrimp po' boy. Drinks and food were fantastic. I liked every single margarita in the flight, and the shrimp po' boy came with so much shrimp that they couldn't even fit in the sandwich. I love that they didn't skimp on the shrimp! this is one of my new favorite meals here.

Gin and vodka still

The hospitality of the staff was amazing... meaning service and friendliness. The tour was fascinating, the tasting was educational and the drinks were delicious! Can't wait to come back!

The bar area!

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Great cocktails and cozy atmosphere. Be aware that they close at 6 pm on Sunday. As of March anyway

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Ask the Community - Left Turn Distillery

Is it pet friendly?

Hi Chuck .. I am sorry but currently we are not.. We will open a patio in a month or two and then you can bring your pet .. Thanxxx...Brian

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

Review Highlights - Left Turn Distillery

“Tried two cocktails and a beer -- both mules, one with gin, one with corn whiskey, both excellent.”

Mentioned in 16 reviews

Read more highlights

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The Original Cocina Azul on Mountain Rd - Front of restaurant

The Original Cocina Azul on Mountain Rd

4.4(3k reviews)
2.9 mi•Downtown
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Family-owned & operated
Catering service

This was a great lunch! The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere vibe…read morerocked. I will say parking was a bit of a challenge, but we did find a spot. We also were there at high noon, and the heart of the lunch hour. I would definitely recommend Cocina Azul for a great dining experience.

We went to dinner here our first night in Albuquerque. They don't take reservations and it was…read morerecommended that we eat an earlier dinner unless we wanted to wait for a while. We had only had protein bars and airplane snacks all day, so we were pretty hungry when we got there! We were seated right away and given menus. We were not given a cocktail menu so we had to grab one of those. I don't recall our servers name but he was very friendly and seemed to be having a good time at work. We couldn't decide on what we wanted with our chips, so he suggested a trio and we went with that. We ordered margaritas and started going through the menu. We made our decisions and settled in with chips and drinks. And then our food came and the portions were huge! There was no way we were going to eat all of it. It's a very lively place! There was a lot of chatter and laughter and movement. There were staff members running all over the place taking care of everyone. It wasn't annoying though. When we left, there were about 40-50 people waiting for tables. I was really glad we had gotten there early. We were there during Balloon Festival, so I don't know if they're always quite as busy as they were that night, but my understanding is that they are always busy. I'm not sure I'll ever be back in Albuquerque, but if I am, I'd probably go back!

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The Original Cocina Azul on Mountain Rd
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Frontier - Mexican Combo ($11) w/ Christmas enchiladas, rice, beans and a crunchy taco

Frontier

4.2(2.7k reviews)
2.4 mi•Midtown/University
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Man, what a spot to visit and try! I went here twice while on vacation in Albuquerque because I…read morejust couldn't get over how good the food was! This place has been around since 1971, and it definitely has that old-school charm and vibe. The Frontier Burrito is a very smart choice -- packed with flavor and absolutely delicious! And whatever you do, save room for a cinnamon roll! Order it after your meal so it can be freshly warmed up, and let me tell you... CHEF'S KISS! As for the dining experience, you order your food at the counter, find a table, and wait for your number to pop up on the little overhead screen (shown in my photos). There are about three different dining areas, each with its own unique decor and character. Once your order is ready, you pick it up at the end of the counter where you ordered, grab your utensils from the utensil station, and dig in! They even have bussers walking around to collect your plates when you're finished, making the whole experience easy and convenient. The food, the atmosphere, the history -- everything about this place makes it worth a visit! Albuquerque, you've got a gem here. I can definitely see why this place has been around for so long, and I only wish we had something like it back home!

"Quick local and general faves right by UNM campus!"…read more Came here at 12:30pm on a Monday-- the place was HOPPING. There was a long line to order at the counter. Still, I was impressed that the line moved fast, and that we were able pretty quickly to sit at a table for 4. The place looks like a barn from the outside, but the inside is quite large and inviting, where you order at a counter, see when your number is ready per screens, and pick up your food. I ordered the green chile cheeseburger and a side-salad with thousand island dressing. I also had a few bites of my girlfriend's sweet roll. Food was ready in under 10 minutes despite the incredibly large number of people ordering. The salad portion was pretty big-- I didn't expect that at the price of something like $4. It was good-- pretty standard lettuce/ tomato/ etc., but nothing wilted and no stems. The burger was delicious. It was a little hard to eat since the green chile sauce had made the bread pretty wet and was dripping all around. But the burger was good, the sauce excellent, and the accompaniments on the burger also fresh and tasty. The bite of the sweet roll-- wow. LOTS of butter, but man, did it taste good! The place was pretty clean overall for a large diner-like place. A nice lady came and took our trash, and the restroom seemed like it'd been maintained. To be clear, the place was hardly spotless, but when you're feeding that many people, it'd be impossible to be so. Price was great. Very inexpensive. I'd heard good things about this place, and having sampled, I get it. For a quick, easy, decent quality lunch by campus, it's hard to imagine better.

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Frontier - Inside

Inside

Frontier - Complimentary Sopapillas ($0)

Complimentary Sopapillas ($0)

Frontier - Mexican Combo ($11) w/ Christmas enchiladas, rice, beans and a crunchy taco

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El Patio De Albuquerque - Chips and salsa were fair. $4.00 for a very small serving of salsa. I would not recommend the salsa and chips for the money you are paying.

El Patio De Albuquerque

4.1(906 reviews)
2.5 mi•Midtown/University
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My favorite meal this year. Very friendly staff and comfortable seating outside underneath a tree,…read morewith fairy lights above. We had the guacamole and salsa, I recommend mixing them together, they pair surprisingly well. A little pricey at $9.60 for the plate. For entrees, we had the green chile chicken enchiladas and carne adovada Christmas style. The latter is one of the most distinct and delicious regional dishes I've had. All entrees had really nice pairings with pinto beans, potato hash, and freshly cooked sopapillas. We chose to have the sopapillas with honey as a dessert, but there's the option to stuff them with the entree.

This place is like a Mom and Pop hole in the wall gem. The restaurant is small. Parking is a bit of…read morea challenge. There are parking meters along the street and they are free after 6 pm. We stuck a few quarters into the meter that couldn't be read, and we walked into the restaurant. We were greeted at the door and given several options for seating including outdoor seating. We took a table in the entry way, not in the main restaurant. It was a quaint spot overlooking the patio section out front of the restaurant. A server met us, took our drink order, and we placed a few appetizer orders. We got some chile con queso, and the chicharron. They initially brought out the queso in two small plastic to-go containers. I was not very thrilled with that. Then, when we polished them off, they brought out some more in a small serving dish. Why we didn't get the dish in the first place is beyond me. The queso was good, but I didn't think much of the chicharron. My husband like it though. The server did an excellent job keeping our drinks filled. We placed our order, and it wasn't too long that our orders came out. I got the combination plate, red sauce, ground beef taco. My husband thought he ordered the enchilada plate, but the chile relleno plate came out instead. He told them that was fine. The ground beef taco was so delicious. The chile relleno was pretty good, and the cheese enchiladas were okay, even though it was like they were barely there. The pinto beans, not refried beans, were also enjoyed. What really set them apart was their papas - those potatoes were soft and super flavorful. Their red sauce was spicy and flavorful. The server brought out two fresh and hot sopapillas. We poured honey on those things bite by bite. I honestly think those were the best sopapillas I've had. I also used the restroom before we left. It might need a little updating, but it was certainly clean.

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El Patio De Albuquerque
El Patio De Albuquerque
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Sadie's - Small nachos with spicy ground beef.

Sadie's

3.9(691 reviews)
2.7 mi•Business Parkway/Academy Acres
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We had dinner at Sadie's on Saturday August 22. The vibe inside is cute and very New Mexico-Mexi…read more We were seated right away. Our server was ... okay. He asked if we would like ice waters. I told him I would like my water with no ice. He repeated "no ice" okay. And then he brought four ice waters. Oh well. I had water at home. They provide complimentary chips and salsa. The salsa is fantastic. We ordered our meals and the food came out in a timely manner. Unfortunately, our server brought the sopapillas at the same time as the meal ... by the time we ate them they were cold. Oh well. My husband ordered the carne adovada. He thought that unlike the description on the menu, the meat was not at all lean but rather a bit fatty. He did enjoy the flavor of the pork. I had a chicken taco salad. It was very good. My daughter ordered something vegetarian and she also enjoyed hers. When we were finished with our huge entrees, we sat through the remainder of the time with piles of dirty dishes while we tried to find room on the table to eat our sopapillas. It is lovely that they provide complimentary sopapillas but I'd have preferred that they were warm and that we didn't have to eat them with piles of dirty dishes all over the table.

We haven't be here in a long time, when we were not used to New Mexican food, so we were hesitant…read moreto come back. Had family in town and gave it another try. So glad we did, it was a great experience for a large group. There were 8 of us and no complaints, that is always a win! The food is delicious, definitely very New Mexican though, so make sure that is what you are wanting. There was a long wait time for a table, which is typical for a Friday night most places. The food came out fast and are good portions. Service was amazing: quick, correct, were on top of drink refills, to go boxes and bags, and great teamwork and energy from staff.

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Roberto spaecial

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El Pinto - Fresh Guacamole

El Pinto

3.4(1.9k reviews)
6.2 mi•Business Parkway/Academy Acres
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When visiting New Mexico, my friend took me to El Pinto, and I was extremely impressed! From the…read moremoment we arrived, I loved the atmosphere, design, and layout of the restaurant. Make sure you take the time to walk around and see the entire property--it is HUGE! It feels like you're stepping into a beautiful Spanish-style hacienda, yet it still manages to feel warm, homey, and down-to-earth. The restaurant is very spacious, has beautiful areas for events, and is also dog-friendly. We made reservations, and I definitely recommend doing the same--you NEED them! We were seated right away, and our server was attentive, friendly, and made our experience even more enjoyable. Now, the food! I loved that you can order your chile "Christmas" style and get both red and green. And FYI--endless chips and salsa! The margaritas were strong and delicious, exactly how a margarita should be. I highly recommend the chicken enchiladas. The chicken was moist, tender, and perfectly shredded. The tacos were also great, and the mole chicken was delicious. My only wish is that the menu offered a few more seafood options. Between the atmosphere, great service, delicious food, and margaritas, El Pinto was such a fun New Mexico experience. If you make it to New Mexico, El Pinto absolutely needs to be on your list of places to visit!

Overall, the restaurant is quite remarkable. The location is unique and the interior and exterior…read morespaces are beautiful. My parents lived in ABQ for years and always thought that the atmosphere was great, but the food was so-so. However, on this instance, we all thought the food was quite good. Flavorful carne adovada, although it was a bit tough. Red chile sauce was spicy but had great flavor. The green chile sauce was hot and tasty. Posole was also good. The gold margaritas were also good - to anyone complaining about the price - at $14.50, the price is very fair considering the cost of ingredients. If you want a cheap junk margarita that is more sugar than anything else, go somewhere else! Our gripe... The place is huge and has an abundance of great places to seat guests. We had a pretty large group - 7 people celebrating a family reunion of sorts. However, they sat us right next to the bussing station that had noisy carts, dishwashers, and other distractions. It was so loud, it was hard to hear the person across the table. There were at least 10 other tables that they could have seated us at! It seems to me that this area should be used only when the restaurant is completely full. This seems to be a poor management decision rather than the fault of the servers or hosts.

Photos
El Pinto - Come on in!

Come on in!

El Pinto - Hatch Chile and Chicharrones

Hatch Chile and Chicharrones

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Interior entrance

Left Turn Distillery - mexican - Updated October 2026

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