Been eating at "fine dining" around town and all over the world. Just had the restaurant menu. Wanted to share this with fellow yelpers so you know what you are getting. 40 dollars, 3 course. Amuse busch: Mini Sopapilla (6). Hot and delicious. Appetizer: Tuna Poke. Dish was ok. It wasnt the best I had, but it wasnt the worse I had. The appetizer consisted of about 5 cube pieces about 1 cm around. Main course: The famous and much raved about Spotted Pig. Dish consisted of a piece of pork loin about 0.5 inch thick and about 4 inches in diameter. On the pork loin there was about 2 inches of fat, so if you dont like fat, as I dont, I cut it off. Meat was tender however and there was a sauce that was on it that was fine. Vegetables on the main was 6 brussel sprout leaves cooked a little char. No starch. A bit disappointing especially considering being charged 40 bucks. Cant say if the main menu portion size was bigger or not, but felt a little ripped off. The banana creme brulee was not bad. Size is what you would expect for a dessert. Decor of the restaurant is good. Something you see in the big city. Chef or Sous Chef is someone from Scalos. Wife got a Gnocchi. Came with about 8 or 9 piece of Gnocchi for about 13 bucks. Told the server I was going to still be hungry after this dinner and would need to go get some actual dinner afterwards. Anyhows, restaurant needs to work on adding some starch into their dishes so people feel they got they money's worth. We arent talking about a Michelan star or Award Winning restuarant, but at least to be semi full when you are done with a meal is somewhat expected. We ended up asking the server to bring out another order of sopapillas to help with the hunger. Still needs some work on the menu in opening it to more options, increasing the portion size by maybe about 50%, and making the dishes more fulfilling with start either more veggies or pasta or something. Owner seems like a nice lady as she greeted us on the way out. For the money, I think there are other nice places that you can get good quality food for the same price.
(2)
Patty D.
I had one of the strangest dining experiences of my life at Elaine's. My mother, sister, and I all went in for a Stone Brewery beer dinner, even though my mom is not a huge beer fan. It was held in the typical beer dinner fashion. When the 1st beer was served, a Saison we waited to get our 1st course, and waited, then assumed that this was actually the reception beer and started drinking it. When the Stone rep, who was wonderful, came around he informed us that it was for the 1st course and that he'd tell them to top off the glass. Considering that the 1st pour was maybe 4 oz and we sat with it for at least 15 minutes we were almost done by the time our crab salad came out. Our Waitress then topped off our glasses with about 3 more oz and we fully enjoyed the pairing. When the 2nd pairing came out, my mom ordered a glass of wine in lieu of drinking the beer. The 2nd beer was a session IPA, again she poured us about 4-5 oz and we also enjoyed this pairing, Though a couple more oz of beer would have been nice. When the 3rd beer came out, the Barley wine, she poured us 3oz max...a couple of sips. The barley wine was paired with the main course, duck. Both my sister and I are vegetarians so we called ahead and were assured that it would be no problem, however the meal seemed off the cuff and was kind of gross. I love beets, but really, that's about all it was- beats with a couple tomatoes, a sliver of mango on top of a HUGE pile of bland, overcooked, couscous. The barley wine was delicious, but I only had about 3 sips of it. The couple next to us, even joked about how little beer we (not them, but us) were being poured. Then the dessert came out and was paired with a Quad. The quad and dessert were delicious together, however there was literally 2 oz of beer poured in our glasses, so I asked for a little more. At this point our waitress asked us if we were taking a cab. It was so weird! My sister and I had consumed maybe 1 1/2 beers (this includes drinking my mom's) each and my mom had one glass of wine. Then, she did not bring us our check as if she was keeping us in the restaurant to make us sober up or something. She actually never brought us our check, we had to ask the owner for it. The beer was great at this dinner, and like I said, the rep from stone was an outstanding host. That being said, I think I'll just buy Stone beer at Jubilation and skip out on the crappy and downright weird service at Elaine's.
(2)
Todd W.
I'm sorry to say I'm really not excited about going back, and I like good food! The atmosphere is cool, with nice lighting. Our party of four had a good table near the front. The waitress was friendly, put could not pour wine without dribbling, not a big deal. My problem was the food, everything seemed to have an exotic flavor added to it just for the sake of doing it. My filet mignon was served on spaghetti squash with nutmeg and cinnamon in it...not a great combo in my book. And the steak was not seared. The salmon looked good, and had a nice crust. Dessert options didn't appeal, but I had a good cappuccino. After almost $300.00 I wish I had liked it better!
(3)
Lori D.
Six of us ate at Elaine's last Saturday night to celebrate my birthday. We share a lot when we go out, so we all got to try a little of many things. Everything was cooked and served to perfection. Between us we had the tuna appetizer, the winter vegetables, spotted black pig, tenderloin, salmon, diver scallops, gnocchi. We had one of every dessert and then ordered another chocolate tart for good measure. Definitely one of the better meals we have had in ABQ.
(5)
Kat F.
I wish I could say that I loved dining at Elaine's. There are so few fine dining establishments in ABQ that are really worth patronizing. I'm sorry to say that Elaine's is not one of them. While the atmosphere may feel more NYC/SF than most restaurants in town, the food merely aspires to be great. At best, it's mediocre. There was nothing special, divine, or particularly interesting about any of the dishes Elaine's served up. In fact, one of the entrees (at a price of over $30) was downright bad. Anyone who likens Elaine's to a NYC or SF eatery hasn't eaten in NYC or SF. The lighting and decor are sophisticated, but the food leaves much to be desired. Maybe if the bill hadn't been hundreds of dollars, the disappointing lack of flavor wouldn't sting quite so sharply. I'm willing to pay a high price for truly excellent food, but in this case, I'd rather have eaten a burrito. I hope that Elaine's steps it up and stays in business.
(2)
P B.
There is a reason that we live here and it is specifically to avoid places like this. We made the mistake of taking a friend's recommendation. Come on people, you have got to be kidding. Get over yourself and call this place for what it is. With over priced, pretentious food, small portions and B.S. atmosphere. There is a joke built into every item on the menu... deconstructed carrot cake? Oh and pouring lentil soup at the table in front of one's face is never appetizing! The best part of our experience was watching and eaves dropping on our fellow idiots fawning over the place. Please, where is the nearest Dion's? I am starving!
(2)
Lotus G.
Perfect for foodies. When I walked in-- felt like I was on the East Coast at a little boutique restaurant. Very Modern. Cute small bar. A prefect place for dates or small get togethers. I love the sopapillas as the bread starter. Yum! The crab and cauliflower soup was excellent. The harvest vegetables were extremely great. Definitely, go by and see Elaine. We need this new place in burque. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Anita C.
Good upscale food. We had a sword fish filet, the steak, and a few small plates (salad, tuna poke and gnocchi). Very well prepared. Well seasoned and balanced - chefs know their stuff. Sword fish was nicely seared in the outside, and juicy in the middle. Steak was on the rare side (we ordered medium), but the cut was very good. Our favorite was the bacon infused butter with bacon crumble that was served with mini sopapilllas (in lieu of bread & butter). Wish that came with seconds!
(4)
Joey S.
Nob Hill in ABQ has finally claimed it's "foodie find". Tucked into the strip between two fashion stores on Central, it boasts a seasonal changing menu a la Jennifer James 101. The waitstaff was flawless, with a great understanding of the wine list and wines in general. Everything we tried succeeded including Yellowfin Tuna Crudo, Blue crab and cauliflower soup, Gnocchi, Beets, and Tenderloin. If you want fine dining, yet a relaxed night out, this is the place for you in Nob Hill. Don't expect a bill of 15 bucks however. This is great food and service at a price point that it deserves.
Great dinner friendly attentive service. Elaine has been in restaurant biz for 40 years and this is her pride and joy. The lamb chops and black spotted pig were excellent. Try this place!!
(5)
Michael B.
Had a birthday dinner here on a Saturday night. I'm a food snob. For Albuquerque standards, this is probably one of the top places to eat for creative food. Compared to a major city (like Chicago where I'm from), it probably would be about average for a fine dining experience, which is not necessarily bad. It just does not have the creativity and daring that I was expecting from a chef who has worked with Thomas Keller and Alain Ducasse. Maybe it's because the price point for really creative and innovative food would be too high for ABQ. Although tasty, I wish the components of each dish were more sophisticated or tied together better, especially the appetizers. For example, we had the Tuna Poke, which listed seaweed, soy, onion, jalapeño, macadamia as the ingredients. I could have individually bought those ingredients at a store and combined them to create the same dish without much more preparation. We also had the Hudson Valley Foie Gras, which listed cornbread, fried okra, pickled cherries. In this case, each component was placed on the plate as a separate item, but I'm not really sure how they were supposed to work together. The entrees were better. All in all, good for ABQ.
(4)
neal g.
My wife and I had our 6th dinner at Elaine's. Superb. Thoughtful and incredibly delicious food. Excellent service. We cannot recommend this restaurant enough.
(5)
Erik T.
Everything was just right. The atmosphere and decor, the staff, the food, the wine and the prices were great! Budget about $100 for 2 with drinks and tip, and you'll get far more than your money's worth. The food was delicious, the portions left room for desert, but not much, and the wine complimented everything very well.
(5)
Mara S.
Last night we tried a new restaurant, Elaine's in Nov Hill for an evening of fine dining. The atmosphere was enjoyable with a nice decor and low lighting. The menu was bizarrely arranged into three courses: appetizers, vegetables and main courses. I'm not sure how I feel about separating the vegetables from the main course. It made the lamb seem like it was lacking depth. We thoroughly enjoyed the complimentary miniature sopapillas with honey butter as a starter and the homemade gnocchi with goat cheese was superb. I could have just eaten that and been satisfied. The lamb loin was cooked wonderfully but the horseradish foam seemed a bit pretentious... The chocolate tart was good, but not spectacular. Overall we had a very enjoyable meal, although we we looking for epic considering the expense and it fell short.
(4)
Margaret M.
3.5. Almost there, once again. Ambience and service - 4.5. Food....it was okay, but, for instance, a "taste of spring" should not be served hot with a heavy dressing. Maybe that makes me weird, warm & heavy shout fall or winter, not spring. Good things the kohlrabi soup & Parisian gnocchi (lil salty). We tried a few other items, no real stand outs there (spotted pig - had a raw ravioli, thats a sin - serving a squishy, underdone piece of pasta. we pushed it to one side, very sad. Ate the pig though, it got eaten.) The menu changes seasonally, and they run out of dishes by eight, namely beets and cod. Lovely venue though, great wines, we will be back. Date night was a success!
(4)
L L.
Upon walking into Elaine's I felt as though I was in a restaurant in a coastal city. Decor was modern, I felt they did a nice job of featuring contemporary elements, simplicity and warmth to create an ambience that Nob Hill has been lacking. The menu isn't overly complicated or too robust. I like their approach in doing a few things, well. Really well. The tartar is a must have! We also tried the gnocchi and the beet salad. We were pretty stuffed by the the main course. I really wanted to try the bass, but it was unavailable so we had the sturgeon instead. It was still prepared the same but I felt it was a bit meatier than a bass. I'm not sure I loved the pork grind garnish, but my friend did. Service was great attentive without being overbearing. The time between our second and main course did take quite sometime but we weren't disappointed. This is definitely at the top of my lists and I will be frequenting Elaine's often! Hats off to the Paternoster team!
(4)
Cathy M.
I shortened my life by trying the Speckled Pig, one mouthful after another of pure fat. Hence, one of the most disgusting meals I've ever had in my life. Poor value for the money. Small portions and overpriced. Weird combinations of food. None of which had any appeal. Once was enough for me.
Albuquerque has finally seen how fine food can and should be prepared. Elaine's is so reminiscent of a New York or San Francisco eatery. The crab and cauliflower soup was incredibly smooth and full of fall flavors. The Sea Bass flaky and embellished with complimentary accompaniments that gave great depth to the dish. The lamb chops and horseradish foam exploded on one's palate. We'll be back again and again. Highly recommended.
(5)
Liz B.
My husband brought me to Elaine's for my birthday. We have three kids, so getting an adult night is a rare and special treat. Our expectations were high and Elaine's did not disappoint. Our service was un-pretentious, friendly and efficient. Every part of our four-course dinner was superb. The wine list was nicely crafted. I can't wait to go back. Bravo.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
F J.
Been eating at "fine dining" around town and all over the world. Just had the restaurant menu. Wanted to share this with fellow yelpers so you know what you are getting. 40 dollars, 3 course. Amuse busch: Mini Sopapilla (6). Hot and delicious. Appetizer: Tuna Poke. Dish was ok. It wasnt the best I had, but it wasnt the worse I had. The appetizer consisted of about 5 cube pieces about 1 cm around. Main course: The famous and much raved about Spotted Pig. Dish consisted of a piece of pork loin about 0.5 inch thick and about 4 inches in diameter. On the pork loin there was about 2 inches of fat, so if you dont like fat, as I dont, I cut it off. Meat was tender however and there was a sauce that was on it that was fine. Vegetables on the main was 6 brussel sprout leaves cooked a little char. No starch. A bit disappointing especially considering being charged 40 bucks. Cant say if the main menu portion size was bigger or not, but felt a little ripped off. The banana creme brulee was not bad. Size is what you would expect for a dessert. Decor of the restaurant is good. Something you see in the big city. Chef or Sous Chef is someone from Scalos. Wife got a Gnocchi. Came with about 8 or 9 piece of Gnocchi for about 13 bucks. Told the server I was going to still be hungry after this dinner and would need to go get some actual dinner afterwards. Anyhows, restaurant needs to work on adding some starch into their dishes so people feel they got they money's worth. We arent talking about a Michelan star or Award Winning restuarant, but at least to be semi full when you are done with a meal is somewhat expected. We ended up asking the server to bring out another order of sopapillas to help with the hunger. Still needs some work on the menu in opening it to more options, increasing the portion size by maybe about 50%, and making the dishes more fulfilling with start either more veggies or pasta or something. Owner seems like a nice lady as she greeted us on the way out. For the money, I think there are other nice places that you can get good quality food for the same price.
(2)Patty D.
I had one of the strangest dining experiences of my life at Elaine's. My mother, sister, and I all went in for a Stone Brewery beer dinner, even though my mom is not a huge beer fan. It was held in the typical beer dinner fashion. When the 1st beer was served, a Saison we waited to get our 1st course, and waited, then assumed that this was actually the reception beer and started drinking it. When the Stone rep, who was wonderful, came around he informed us that it was for the 1st course and that he'd tell them to top off the glass. Considering that the 1st pour was maybe 4 oz and we sat with it for at least 15 minutes we were almost done by the time our crab salad came out. Our Waitress then topped off our glasses with about 3 more oz and we fully enjoyed the pairing. When the 2nd pairing came out, my mom ordered a glass of wine in lieu of drinking the beer. The 2nd beer was a session IPA, again she poured us about 4-5 oz and we also enjoyed this pairing, Though a couple more oz of beer would have been nice. When the 3rd beer came out, the Barley wine, she poured us 3oz max...a couple of sips. The barley wine was paired with the main course, duck. Both my sister and I are vegetarians so we called ahead and were assured that it would be no problem, however the meal seemed off the cuff and was kind of gross. I love beets, but really, that's about all it was- beats with a couple tomatoes, a sliver of mango on top of a HUGE pile of bland, overcooked, couscous. The barley wine was delicious, but I only had about 3 sips of it. The couple next to us, even joked about how little beer we (not them, but us) were being poured. Then the dessert came out and was paired with a Quad. The quad and dessert were delicious together, however there was literally 2 oz of beer poured in our glasses, so I asked for a little more. At this point our waitress asked us if we were taking a cab. It was so weird! My sister and I had consumed maybe 1 1/2 beers (this includes drinking my mom's) each and my mom had one glass of wine. Then, she did not bring us our check as if she was keeping us in the restaurant to make us sober up or something. She actually never brought us our check, we had to ask the owner for it. The beer was great at this dinner, and like I said, the rep from stone was an outstanding host. That being said, I think I'll just buy Stone beer at Jubilation and skip out on the crappy and downright weird service at Elaine's.
(2)Todd W.
I'm sorry to say I'm really not excited about going back, and I like good food! The atmosphere is cool, with nice lighting. Our party of four had a good table near the front. The waitress was friendly, put could not pour wine without dribbling, not a big deal. My problem was the food, everything seemed to have an exotic flavor added to it just for the sake of doing it. My filet mignon was served on spaghetti squash with nutmeg and cinnamon in it...not a great combo in my book. And the steak was not seared. The salmon looked good, and had a nice crust. Dessert options didn't appeal, but I had a good cappuccino. After almost $300.00 I wish I had liked it better!
(3)Lori D.
Six of us ate at Elaine's last Saturday night to celebrate my birthday. We share a lot when we go out, so we all got to try a little of many things. Everything was cooked and served to perfection. Between us we had the tuna appetizer, the winter vegetables, spotted black pig, tenderloin, salmon, diver scallops, gnocchi. We had one of every dessert and then ordered another chocolate tart for good measure. Definitely one of the better meals we have had in ABQ.
(5)Kat F.
I wish I could say that I loved dining at Elaine's. There are so few fine dining establishments in ABQ that are really worth patronizing. I'm sorry to say that Elaine's is not one of them. While the atmosphere may feel more NYC/SF than most restaurants in town, the food merely aspires to be great. At best, it's mediocre. There was nothing special, divine, or particularly interesting about any of the dishes Elaine's served up. In fact, one of the entrees (at a price of over $30) was downright bad. Anyone who likens Elaine's to a NYC or SF eatery hasn't eaten in NYC or SF. The lighting and decor are sophisticated, but the food leaves much to be desired. Maybe if the bill hadn't been hundreds of dollars, the disappointing lack of flavor wouldn't sting quite so sharply. I'm willing to pay a high price for truly excellent food, but in this case, I'd rather have eaten a burrito. I hope that Elaine's steps it up and stays in business.
(2)P B.
There is a reason that we live here and it is specifically to avoid places like this. We made the mistake of taking a friend's recommendation. Come on people, you have got to be kidding. Get over yourself and call this place for what it is. With over priced, pretentious food, small portions and B.S. atmosphere. There is a joke built into every item on the menu... deconstructed carrot cake? Oh and pouring lentil soup at the table in front of one's face is never appetizing! The best part of our experience was watching and eaves dropping on our fellow idiots fawning over the place. Please, where is the nearest Dion's? I am starving!
(2)Lotus G.
Perfect for foodies. When I walked in-- felt like I was on the East Coast at a little boutique restaurant. Very Modern. Cute small bar. A prefect place for dates or small get togethers. I love the sopapillas as the bread starter. Yum! The crab and cauliflower soup was excellent. The harvest vegetables were extremely great. Definitely, go by and see Elaine. We need this new place in burque. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Anita C.
Good upscale food. We had a sword fish filet, the steak, and a few small plates (salad, tuna poke and gnocchi). Very well prepared. Well seasoned and balanced - chefs know their stuff. Sword fish was nicely seared in the outside, and juicy in the middle. Steak was on the rare side (we ordered medium), but the cut was very good. Our favorite was the bacon infused butter with bacon crumble that was served with mini sopapilllas (in lieu of bread & butter). Wish that came with seconds!
(4)Joey S.
Nob Hill in ABQ has finally claimed it's "foodie find". Tucked into the strip between two fashion stores on Central, it boasts a seasonal changing menu a la Jennifer James 101. The waitstaff was flawless, with a great understanding of the wine list and wines in general. Everything we tried succeeded including Yellowfin Tuna Crudo, Blue crab and cauliflower soup, Gnocchi, Beets, and Tenderloin. If you want fine dining, yet a relaxed night out, this is the place for you in Nob Hill. Don't expect a bill of 15 bucks however. This is great food and service at a price point that it deserves.
(5)Cathy And Lester F.
Elaine's concept is great, a small trendy atmosphere with a New Mexican flair. We went on a Friday at 8pm. It was fairly empty. From the beginning the entire experience was just a bit off. The waiter did not know all of the specials very well. He had no idea what came with the caviar or the current market price. Service seemed to take longer than expected. The first two course came in a reasonable time, however the entrée took much longer with no explanation. For the first course we had the tuna poke and chicken and waffles. The poke was fresh but the sesame oil was overwhelming, the jalapeño was nonexistent, and the macadamia nuts were out of place. The chicken and waffle dish was good not great. For the second course we had the parisian gnocchi and composition of beets. The gnocchi were very flavorful and tasted wonderful with just the goat cheese, however the artichokes severely overpowered them. The beet salad is definitely only for a beet lover. It again was good not great. Third course was scallops and the market steak which was a porterhouse. The scallops are advertised with a "salsa verde" and "warm potato salad" the salsa verde was cilantro, basil, and mint with a bit of oil. This should be advertised as a pesto instead of a salsa. As a person who does not enjoy mint or basil I could not enjoy the dish. The warm potato salad was halved potatoes in butter. The scallops were a bit over cooked. The NY strip portion of the porterhouse had very good flavor. The caramelized onions were a great addition. It was ordered medium rare, the NY strip portion was medium rare, however the filet was medium well and over seasoned. We are still not sure if it had mashed potatoes or only celery root on the side. Either way the celery was overwhelming and stayed with you all night. Final course was the bacon beignet. The chocolate ganache had a wonderful flavor. The cream was cold. The essence of bacon was less than a hint. If it were not on the menu I would not have been able to find the flavor. The dish was lacking. It could have used a scoop of fresh vanilla ice cream. The dough was bland. It needed more cinnamon or vanilla to enhance it, perhaps even bacon bits. The shining star of the meal was the sopaipilla with honey butter and pancetta bits. This was served to the table in lieu of bread and butter. If this were on the menu we would have ordered seconds or thirds. Overall this was a disappointing meal. It has great potential, however the execution was off all night. We probably will not be returning.
(2)Bernie R.
Great dinner friendly attentive service. Elaine has been in restaurant biz for 40 years and this is her pride and joy. The lamb chops and black spotted pig were excellent. Try this place!!
(5)Michael B.
Had a birthday dinner here on a Saturday night. I'm a food snob. For Albuquerque standards, this is probably one of the top places to eat for creative food. Compared to a major city (like Chicago where I'm from), it probably would be about average for a fine dining experience, which is not necessarily bad. It just does not have the creativity and daring that I was expecting from a chef who has worked with Thomas Keller and Alain Ducasse. Maybe it's because the price point for really creative and innovative food would be too high for ABQ. Although tasty, I wish the components of each dish were more sophisticated or tied together better, especially the appetizers. For example, we had the Tuna Poke, which listed seaweed, soy, onion, jalapeño, macadamia as the ingredients. I could have individually bought those ingredients at a store and combined them to create the same dish without much more preparation. We also had the Hudson Valley Foie Gras, which listed cornbread, fried okra, pickled cherries. In this case, each component was placed on the plate as a separate item, but I'm not really sure how they were supposed to work together. The entrees were better. All in all, good for ABQ.
(4)neal g.
My wife and I had our 6th dinner at Elaine's. Superb. Thoughtful and incredibly delicious food. Excellent service. We cannot recommend this restaurant enough.
(5)Erik T.
Everything was just right. The atmosphere and decor, the staff, the food, the wine and the prices were great! Budget about $100 for 2 with drinks and tip, and you'll get far more than your money's worth. The food was delicious, the portions left room for desert, but not much, and the wine complimented everything very well.
(5)Mara S.
Last night we tried a new restaurant, Elaine's in Nov Hill for an evening of fine dining. The atmosphere was enjoyable with a nice decor and low lighting. The menu was bizarrely arranged into three courses: appetizers, vegetables and main courses. I'm not sure how I feel about separating the vegetables from the main course. It made the lamb seem like it was lacking depth. We thoroughly enjoyed the complimentary miniature sopapillas with honey butter as a starter and the homemade gnocchi with goat cheese was superb. I could have just eaten that and been satisfied. The lamb loin was cooked wonderfully but the horseradish foam seemed a bit pretentious... The chocolate tart was good, but not spectacular. Overall we had a very enjoyable meal, although we we looking for epic considering the expense and it fell short.
(4)Margaret M.
3.5. Almost there, once again. Ambience and service - 4.5. Food....it was okay, but, for instance, a "taste of spring" should not be served hot with a heavy dressing. Maybe that makes me weird, warm & heavy shout fall or winter, not spring. Good things the kohlrabi soup & Parisian gnocchi (lil salty). We tried a few other items, no real stand outs there (spotted pig - had a raw ravioli, thats a sin - serving a squishy, underdone piece of pasta. we pushed it to one side, very sad. Ate the pig though, it got eaten.) The menu changes seasonally, and they run out of dishes by eight, namely beets and cod. Lovely venue though, great wines, we will be back. Date night was a success!
(4)L L.
Upon walking into Elaine's I felt as though I was in a restaurant in a coastal city. Decor was modern, I felt they did a nice job of featuring contemporary elements, simplicity and warmth to create an ambience that Nob Hill has been lacking. The menu isn't overly complicated or too robust. I like their approach in doing a few things, well. Really well. The tartar is a must have! We also tried the gnocchi and the beet salad. We were pretty stuffed by the the main course. I really wanted to try the bass, but it was unavailable so we had the sturgeon instead. It was still prepared the same but I felt it was a bit meatier than a bass. I'm not sure I loved the pork grind garnish, but my friend did. Service was great attentive without being overbearing. The time between our second and main course did take quite sometime but we weren't disappointed. This is definitely at the top of my lists and I will be frequenting Elaine's often! Hats off to the Paternoster team!
(4)Cathy M.
I shortened my life by trying the Speckled Pig, one mouthful after another of pure fat. Hence, one of the most disgusting meals I've ever had in my life. Poor value for the money. Small portions and overpriced. Weird combinations of food. None of which had any appeal. Once was enough for me.
(2)Lo J.
The food was unique and tasty. The sopapilla appetizer was a fun twist on the original and was served with butter and bacon bits. I really enjoyed the banana creme brûlée and twist on a s'more. The atmosphere was high-end, modern, and lively.
(4)Daniel M.
Albuquerque has finally seen how fine food can and should be prepared. Elaine's is so reminiscent of a New York or San Francisco eatery. The crab and cauliflower soup was incredibly smooth and full of fall flavors. The Sea Bass flaky and embellished with complimentary accompaniments that gave great depth to the dish. The lamb chops and horseradish foam exploded on one's palate. We'll be back again and again. Highly recommended.
(5)Liz B.
My husband brought me to Elaine's for my birthday. We have three kids, so getting an adult night is a rare and special treat. Our expectations were high and Elaine's did not disappoint. Our service was un-pretentious, friendly and efficient. Every part of our four-course dinner was superb. The wine list was nicely crafted. I can't wait to go back. Bravo.
(5)Virginia S.
This is the best restaurant in Albuquerque right now. I love Artichoke, and have enjoyed lots of nice dinners in the Duke City, and I am not a snob. I am delighted with pizza at Farina, burgers at Holy Cow, and frankly, a breakfast burrito at the Frontier. But if you want a lovely and amazing night out, go here first. I loved my Lo Frieda tartare and gnocchi, and even became a convert to Brussels sprouts thereby. Dining partner loved his AWESOME beet/frisée/lardon salad (a thing of true beauty) and pork belly entree. Everything was succulent, gorgeous presentation, atmosphere makes you feel way cooler than you maybe are (true for us anyhow). Perfect service, no pretension but plenty of warmth. So, SERIOUSLY, Albuquerque. Please patronize and adore Elaine's. You will be so very glad you did.
(5)