It was a Sunday night. Restaurant wasn't busy ,but we had a very bad server. She was very tired and I guess another table was very rude to her. We asked for straw 4 times, but we didn't get it at all. We asked for bread 3 times which finally came to our table but burn and black. We asked for our second beer bottle but didn't come on time until we ask another server. Ketchup didn't come after 2nd time and we ask another server for it. She didn't even ask us how was our food. Food was cold and over cooked. Not go back again. Very disappointed.
(1)
Vincent D.
I came here a while back with a group of my friends. I've always driven past it and it was the first time I've been here. And to be honest, I've definitely eaten better. The place itself is pretty, quiet, and nice. It can be either casual or classy, depending on what you're planning. I had the chance to sit outside on the porch where it was big enough to seat my friends. Unfortunately, it had started to rain that night and there was water dripping over us as we ate dinner. They should fix that whenever they can since nobody likes being wet while trying to enjoy their dinner. The waitress, whose name is Julie I believe, was really nice. She was friendly and cracked some jokes with us which I liked a lot. It was very welcoming so service-wise, Pelican's did a good job. As for the food... man, I was disappointed. I had ordered a New York Strip with a side of veggies and French fries. I knew for sure that I've definitely had better steak before since my steak was bland and a little bit undercooked. When I had first taken a bite of it, it was slightly warm, as if it had been sitting out for a while after it had been cooked.. Fries were cold as well so that was a disappointment. The veggies were just plain old veggies so those definitely didn't save the dish. I just left the restaurant thinking to myself that it was too expensive. I had heard good things about it so I was sad to see that it didn't turn out how I had expected. It was the first and will definitely be the last time I ever go there. My final ratings of the restaurant are below: Overall: 2 stars Food: 1 star Service: 3 stars Location: 2 stars
(2)
M G.
Ate in the bar from the bar menu. Excellent value. The wait staff was very professional and the restaurant has obviously been here a while and knows what they're doing. Looking forward to bringing my whole family for a holiday meal once they all get here.
(5)
Jesse M.
I tried it yet again. Yes, per the owner's request. When I was asked, where to honey!? I said Pelican's. Guess what I regret it yet again!! I asked for my classic go to dish the shrimp and steak ( medium) pelican. They brought out a well done tough steak with no shrimp. We ordered the mussels and got half the tray of unopened shells. The Mexican shrimp cocktail had three shrimp diced up with eighty percent sauce. My wife asked for a "holy hibiscus" nobody knew how to make it even though its part of their menu. They had to call the manager, and his version was not very tasty. That was the last time we saw the manager. My Bloody Mary was salty and un-garnished with hardly any vodka. He never came around to ask us how everything came out? They want to charge premium prices for ordinary food. My poor waitress looked partied out tired ( only 1 pm). Just like the waitress this place is tired and worn out, needs a new bartender and a way better chef. Very dissatisfied !!! I wanted to ask for a refund but my wife was against it in lieu of Father's Day. Even if we would of the manager was nowhere to be found.
(2)
Tania S.
Think about every great dinner you've had in Albuquerque; with that, think about the fun times they were with your significant other, your close friends, or with family. When you sit down and think about the details: The food, the perfect meal you can still taste - after the fact - and the intimate conversation at dinner, everything prepared with lots of love and heart. That was my experience at Pelican's and I won't forget it. As Valentine's Day was our choice night and Pelican's the choice dinner, we anticipated an hour long wait, and that's just about how long it took to get a table. Nevertheless, that made it a great opportunity to look around and let sink in what makes it such a great choice for all the reasons mentioned above. To start, our server was attentive and friendly, making sure all the deets were in line with such a wonderful night. Our appetizers were the mussels, calamari, and garlic shrimp. Words in this case cannot explain just how great they all were, but let me try. First, the unconventional but 5-Star worthy calamari stands alone with a great texture and taste and presents itself far better than a spread of usual octopus pieces on a platter. It is mounted as the star appetizer followed by the mussels which were simply impeccable, as were the shrimp. Garlic, butter, half-cracked mussels boiling hot and served. Seasoned shrimp to die for. This is Life! For my main entree (no, the other three did not account for the actual-actual-dinner), I had the Sirloin. Not to be disappointed, this was a great steak. Juicy, medium-rare, amazingly portioned too. I did not need a sauce or more anything, this steak was just right. Accompanied with the rice pilaf, you may wonder how I managed to eat it all. I pretty much did, speaking to a great, if not, one of the greatest meals I've had in this town. Baked, seared, boiling, fried, grilled, yet so bundled in love of food and love of Love. This is Pelicans!
(5)
SexyChicken 1.
sunday brunch menu was very enjoyable. I'm not a big taco fan, however, pelican's fish taco really hit the spot. very cool atmosphere, friendly staff my favorite is the garlic butter served with bread for dinner. they have early bird specials too.
(4)
Carlos C.
Service and food were very good. The decor could use a major upgrade and the carpet could go also. Tracy was our server and was very friendly. It seemed like each course took a very long time to come, not sure if this is by design? We went on a Saturday night and was very surprised that it was not very busy. Inside the restaurant it felt the other guest were on the older side. Once we left we found the younger crowed on the patio.
(4)
Rob V.
If you want fish that resembles cardboard, this is the place for you. The fish was awful. No flavor. Very disappointing. However, the service was good
(2)
Matt C.
The best steak & seafood in Albuquerque!! Salads are amazing, super fresh & they make their own ranch...BOMB. Bread is bread but they serve it with whipped butter & baked garlic! If you're on a budget stop into the bar & order of their menu. $7-$14. The beef tips are by far my favorite dish in town!! Served in au jous sauce, green chile, topped with cheese & baked....so good!!!
(5)
David B.
Horrible service. The waiting staff had more to say to each other rather than wait on the tables.. it took a little over 45 min just to get our drinks.. and then to order our food was another 20min. The food was great but the wait wasnt worth it IMO
(1)
Tony M.
It had been years since I had been to eat at this place. The high quality of food and service is still a standard. The restaurant itself is a little dated and has not changed in years. This is a little pricey and would recommend for a special occasion
(3)
GI Joe P.
Outstanding!! Who says ya can't get good seafood in the desert!!!???? From the beautiful smile of the greeter, to the pleasant wait staff! My server, Julie, did a great job explaining the dishes and educating me on those I was unaware of! The Tilapia Picata was fantastic and it was a large portion! Almost couldn't finish it, but my momma raised me better! Why not 5 stars?? Price. I Understand you get what you pay for, but it's hard to drop $39(with tip) for just myself... I am back in town every 9mos, and Will be back!!
(4)
Cristina M.
My great aunt's 90th birthday party was held here on a Saturday evening with approximately 20 guests. We had an excellent waitress, though she was good friends with one of the attendees, so that could have been part of it. They did not add the standard 18% gratuity for parties of 6 or more, but at least some of us tipped well. The food was good--no complaints. Large portions for what you pay. Tasty complimentary bread and butter was served and for those who ordered entrees, since we were a big party, they brought out large bowls of salad and an assortment of dressings for everyone. I had the seared ahi salad which had 6-8 oz of perfectly seared ahi on a fresh bed of mixed greens and a very light (no oil) ginger-soy sauce dressing. The salad also came with a garnish of pickled ginger and wasabi. I had two glasses of Sauvignon Blanc to compliment my dinner and the pours for me were a little stunted while my husband's red wine pour was larger. My 11 yr old daughter had the kids' beef kabob which was actually a little steak (she had left overs). My son had the kids' Hawaiian chicken and my husband had the adult version. Those dishes came with a ton of grilled teriyaki chicken with pineapple slices on top. They both had significant leftovers and in fact, between the two of them, enough for a third meal of the chicken! What can I say? Albuquerque doesn't have amazing seafood and considering we're a landlocked state, that's not surprising. I always find Pelican's to be alright. I've had much better, but it's a step up from Red Lobster. The service has always been nice. So, 4 stars for a local place. Now if Seagull Street was still around...
(4)
Michael G.
Pelicans was that place back in the early 90s that everyone talked about going to eat at. it usually was a birthday party or Some type of event, never really for a regular family (kids too) type restaurant. always a special occasion. the food and service use to be qualified as 3 to 4 star. considering ABQ use to be alot smaller back in the old days. Pelicans today is still overpriced (service and food quality are average), food menu hasn't really changed much since the 90s ( just like Red Lobster) as well as the atmosphere. I don't know. ..if im gana go old school for prime rib im going to Paul's Monterrey. Pelicans just can't compete with the new restaurants that the 505 has to offer i.e. uptown, Nob Hill etc. ......if Pelicans wants to keep up... they need to change and maybe think about lowering there prices .....maybe even change the name
(2)
Erik K.
Don't bother making a reservation...45min past our reservation time and still waiting.
(1)
Christian H.
You've been to Pelican's before you even read this. Matter of fact, you've been here several times over. You know, the place that looks expensive, but gives you a ton of food and the bill isn't so bad when it's all said and done. That said, Pelican's is a solid 4, but has a long way to go to hit that elusive 5th star. Don't bother with seafood (I was born on the coast, with a commercial fisherman for a grandfather...I know, I'm biased), but the burgers are actually one of the hidden gems in Abq. No more expensive than any other burger in town, but extras are only .50, and let me tell you, I received a whole MOUND of green chile, and boy was it warm! Turned a good burger into a great burger, just like that. Toss in half a plate of good size (read: Not shoestring, ugh!) fries, real fries that you have to eat in 2-3 bites, and I'll be back more than a few times for that burger. Add in a really nice outdoor patio, and this place is a hit both in the summer and winter (what are sweatshirts for anyways?). Only real detraction was the owner and his cavalier attitude, our server was solo for about 6 tables, so I actually walked inside after a 10min wait (off of a "be back in one min" promise) and found him (owner) helping her with a messed up ticket. As she finished up the ticket, he asked if I needed something. I said "yes, I love to order if that's possible." On top of it service would (to me) be something along the lines of "no prob, let me just take your order right now." Nope, he said "she'll be done in a minute." Hmm, I appreciate the fact that you buss tables sir, but there are other ways to help out an underwater server. Just a thought. Other than that, pretty good all around, good beer prices and a good selection of draft, easy to get to off of Montgomery, and a nice mellow atmosphere.
(4)
Steve M.
A super busy fish place that delivers a great meal. Dishes ranging from the shrimp cocktail to the clam chowder to the shrimp scampi to the fresh fish have all been good. Service is great but slows at the dinner crunch. The biggest drawback here - and room for improvement - is that the wait staff doesnt work in teams so a table next to yours may get water while you glass goes unfilled. A good fish stop nonetheless.
(5)
Candia M.
The good is predictable and pretty much always the same and reasonably well prepared. The early bird makes it more affordable so worth it. Nothing amazing about the menu and it is usually crowded but what they do they do pretty well. The salad is enormous and endless and fresh and they have a decent wine list.
(3)
Joey S.
This review is for people seeking raw items in ABQ. I did not try anything fried or any of the steak dishes. My assumption is that those are three star after looking at many plates served around me. That said, I hate giving so-so reviews. I'm an oyster geek and have been having trouble finding a good source here in ABQ. I ordered a dozen blue points, which were not actually blue points. They were gulf. So many distributers sell blue points that are not actually blue points, as often any generic oyster gets sold as a bluepoint. They were also devoid of the "juice" or sea water, and were swimming in the water bath of the melting ice tray. Also, they shucked them, but did not cut the meat from the shell, so tipping one into your mouth was not an option until you used your fork do do so yourself. Next up was the shrimp cocktail. Limp, Flabby, tasteless percooked shrimp that barely held up on the glass they were served in. Lastly, the clam special was not special. The vegetable and cream broth was nice, however the clams had a fishy taste and smell, and when I spooned up some broth I almost broke a tooth on a piece of shell. On a positive note, the servers were great and my bartender was attentive and gracious. Come here for steak and fried seafood only.
(2)
Wes T.
This was an unexpected gem of a seafood restaurant. I'm usually skeptical of seafood in land-locked states, but this place just kind of caught my eye. Maybe it was the interesting exterior. I dunno, but I'm glad I stopped in. Being a nice night, we sat out on the patio. Pretty nice out there. Great view of the mountain. Service was attentive. We were served our salad (which is bottomless, BTW) promptly. Went with the bacon wrapped scallops (yay!) for her, and the shrimp for me. The shrimp were amazing. Butterfly'd and deep fried to perfection. Seriously delicious. So, the food being awesome aside, I want to come back here to sit at the bar. It's a funky little sunk operation, and with the dark interior and some sports on TV I could see myself just coming in here for grog and getting grogged in the process!
(4)
Cruz K.
There appetizer combo is great and love there salads. Price and service was good, will be back.
(5)
Selena N.
Another place my mom loves, but eh , I've had better. The salads taste weird to me, but I'm used to more organic fare here in PDX. I do like the loads of garlic there, but there is so much food served I feel guilty when I'm done. I think the place is so so but I understand why my mom likes it.
(2)
Allyssa B.
My boyfriend and I went to Pelican's for the very first time tonight! OMG! The food was fabulous! It's somehow very hard to find a good steakhouse around Albuquerque, but my, my, my. We both got steaks and the meat was an orgasm in the mouth. Literally melt in the mouth succulent meat! I got the on-the-grill Rib-eye and I literally closed my eyes in my gluttonous satisfaction. The price was well worth the great atmosphere, fantastically choice meats and dessert! We will be back, time and time again!
(4)
Jennifer M.
Anyone who goes to a steak and seafood restaurant these days and expects to pay less than $20 per plate is out of their mind. So for all of us that are living in this century, the prices are not out of control. With this said, for around 22-24 dollars, you can get a huge cut of prime rib, loaded baked potato, bottomless bowl of salad (which is actual greens as opposed to iceberg lettuce), as well as bread with butter and roasted garlic. The meal as a whole was all delicious! The prime rib was great, also ordered the teriyaki top cut sirloin. The only complaint we had was that we had an order of steamed veggies and the broccoli was undercooked and the carrots were mushy and overcooked. The good news though--the situation was fixed super quickly when our server offered to bring us a different side of our choosing. The only complaint I had was that at 6pm, the place still looks like a retirement home. So it's not really a place I would like to go to have a good time with my friends to let loose. I heard though that the other location is a little less old and stuffy. Maybe we can try there instead. Overall though, thumbs up!
(4)
Laura K.
Over the past few years I have taken several friends and relatives here, and have never been let down. The salmon is delicious, and the salad is nice with tomatoes, spring onions and etc. in it. And I always look forward to the bread served with whole cloves of garlic. I also enjoy the atmosphere, especially in winter near the fireplace.
(5)
Jim C.
I was brought to Pelican's purely on the recommendation of ABQ magazine, specifically their "best of 2012" issue that placed them in their top 5 seafood restaurants in the city. Had I done then what I did after eating at Pelican's, which is read the whole issue, I would have discovered that under the "best italian restaurants" section was The Olive Garden and Buca di Beppo and immediately thrown the whole magazine in the trash. Unfortunately for me and my wallet I decided to try Pelican's Restaurant and Bar. Walking into the place immediately brought up scenes of Restaurant Impossible, chef Robert Irvine's restaurant-flipping show. Very dark, dull, gloomy, and trying to conjure up some sort of ship-at-sea ambiance. On top of that I felt like what Gandalf looks like walking through Bilbo's house. The ceiling is low, the bar is even lower, the chairs are all made of coming-apart wood, and the televisions look like they were made in 1993. After ordering a Stella Artois and my girlfriend ordering a gin and tonic, we made our way to the table. The waiter initially did a decent enough job staying on top of things, then did the whole abandonment routine towards the end. He brought out a bread roll with a dish of butter and roasted garlic. The garlic was overcooked and bitter. The butter was fine. The bread was stale and felt like that one time I ate a brillo pad when I was a toddler. My girlfriend and I ordered the clam chowder for an appetizer. Bland, watery, and reminiscent of cafeteria food. For our main courses my girlfriend ordered the sea bass and I ordered the charred rib eye. Both took well over 30 minutes to come out, and the place was approximately 75% at capacity (total guess on my part). At literally no point did the waiter give us an update on anything. My girlfriend had no complaints regarding her sea bass, but the steamed vegetables left a puddle of water on the plate. Great execution chef. My charred rib eye was an atrocity. I ordered it medium rare and it came out well done. I actually wondered if they had accidentally given me a pork chop. It was that overcooked. And to anyone reading this, no I never have things sent back. I've worked in enough restaurants to know what happens to the food of patrons who send things back and it is a complete paranoia that keeps me from asking a chef to try again. My side was the mushrooms which were decent but again lacked any significant flavor aside from butter. I left vowing never to eat here again. How on earth can all of you people give this place 4 and 5 star reviews? Do you all have any idea what good food is? Have you even been to a 4 or 5 star restaurant? I understand ABQ isn't exactly a haven for seafood, but come on who actually thinks this place is better than Pappadeaux's? And shame on ABQ magazine for touting this place. They must have been paid off.
(1)
Doula Laura R.
Future mom in laws fave haunt and so we just had to go for our birthdays. Her piece de resistance is the endless salad, mostly because of the fresh uncut veggies, including the spring onion, and the endless-ness of it. Personally, the uncut veggies are well-intended but in the wrong direction. I don't want to have to finish prepping my salad. But, their tray of salad dressings does encourage creativity. My main guy's loves the seared ahi appetizer and we don't miss a trip without the calamari. You might think their decor hints that it would be overcooked and chewy, but it comes out veritably tender. I wasn't familiar with the type of oyster they were serving, but they went down the hatch with relish regardless. Our group had their signature shrimp, halibut, and piccata seabass. All were tasty. Save room for dessert because your table will be dwarfed by the size of the chocolate ice cream cake...chocolate..whip cream... chocolate syrup thing they serve on your birthday. Good bang for the buck when dining out with the family when you want good food and don't have an endless budget. Bring on the endless salad.
(4)
L D.
Pelican advertises open at 4:00 pm but that is just the bar. The meal was cold, the appetizer was not cooked well. Recommend not going in until after 5:00pm.
(3)
Margaret M.
More a 3.5, but I'll round up. It's a little dark, the salad is fresh, but gigantic. You are expected to chop your own. Steaks are good, seafood's good for the desert! My mother-in-law hates garlic, but she likes Pelican's. Great service. There's just something missing though, I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it has to do with pineapple, maybe portions, could be portions of pineapple. Overall, consistent, and I like that, sometimes.
(4)
Katina K.
I want to love you Pelican's, what with your seafood AND steak along with lovely patio, but...I don't know if I can forgive for what you did to my halibut. My first visit to Pelican's was delightful - I loved the giant salads, the good quality fish and steaks. My second trip? Well...not so good. We started with appetizers. We had the mussels and sesame seared tuna. Unfortunately, the kitchen burned the first order of mussels so it felt like we waited for ages just to get the dish. While my boyfriend enjoyed his appetizer, and the tuna was lovely, I wasn't sure if our waitress had forgotten it and made an excuse, or the kitchen was competent. Either way.... For our main course, my boyfriend got the special Rib Eye which he loved, and was cooked pretty good for being asked to do it rare. He like the steak and seasonings, but the quality isn't fantastic, but great for the price. I, however, ordered the halibut special, which was supposed to have a burre-blanc sauce and be pan seared with creamy goodness. What I got was a tiny (4 oz...MAYBE) sliver of halibut that was devoid of flavor or juice that was completely burned on the bottom. I couldn't eat the last 1/6 of an inch of the fish! It seems as if they cooked the fish in one pan, then cooked the sauce in another pan?! Boggles the mind. The worst part was the sauce itself. It wasn't a cream or burre-blanc. Just a vaguely oily, slightly citrusy sauce. I asked for more sauce just to douse the fish enough to finish it. Otherwise it was so dry I could hardly finish it. I was so sad my fish was so terrible, especially as they charged over $20 for this! The service was also a bit mediocre. While our waitress tried to be perky and friendly, she didn't check on us sitting on the patio enough, and we frequently were waiting for refills on drinks, waters, or just wondering what the hell happened to our food. They weren't hugely busy so I didn't understand why service was slow and food quality was lacking. I might try again in a few months, and head to the Westside location instead, but for now, I think I'll avoid the halibut specials at Pelican's.
(2)
Seattle O.
Came into ABQ for first round of march madness. Found on yelp and would recommend. Great prime rib and really enjoyed atmosphere. Casual, friendly, great service and food.
(4)
Karen M.
We tried Pelican's for the first time last night. Great food and atmosphere. We sat in the bar area; not too noisy, plenty of TVs. As previously mentioned, we also highly recommend Theresa; she was attentive and helpful. We started with the salad and cocktails. The large shared salad bowl is a nice touch for a laid back place. I wanted to chug the house Italian dressing. The bread was brought over warm, served with not only butter, but also roasted garlic in oil! Perfect! I had the halibut in the burre-blanc sauce with sauteed asparagus & mushrooms (extra charge, totally worth it!). It was, for the most part, excellent although the "end" was a bit overcooked. The BF had the swordfish piccata; he loved it, I was glad I had ordered the halibut. Total bill: two main dishes, salad bowl and two cocktails: $68. Being new to ABQ, we will definitely try Pelican's again when we are craving seafood. *No military discount*
(4)
Avani W.
My favorite local steakhouse / seafood, and its right next door! First things first. They give you *cloves of fresh roasted garlic* with your bread at the (pretty wood inlay!) tables. Ok, got that out of my system, On to the "actual" food. You might think that getting good seafood is hard when you're hundreds of miles from anything wet. I completely agree with you, and have no idea how Pelican's manages to get such fresh-tasting stock. They do get it somehow, and its fantastic. I always order at least the mussels when I'm there. When I'm not in a seafood mood, if I'm lucky I get some of the prime rib. I say lucky, because its so tasty and popular that it tends to run out fast on busy nights. The portions are big, so either split or be prepared for leftovers. The price is reasonable for what you're getting. A dinner for 2 is typically ~$35 before alcohol.
(5)
Sara P.
Lots of high-quality food for the price! Each entree comes with a huge potatoe and endless salad, but the fish was top quality. Try the sesame-crusted salmon. YUM.
(5)
Michael R.
We've eaten at this establishment many times over the decades. The quality of the seafood entrees has always been excellent & the salads & wines have been quite good.
(5)
Doreen D.
we had dinner on saturday,sept 26th. the restaurant was noisy, the waitress was constantly apologizing. the sizziling mussels were not very hot. there were two of us and she only gave us one fork. we could not get her attention to get another one. i've been to another pelican's where the service was excellent. this was not a good experience.! we could not hear our conversation due to the high noise level.
(2)
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Address :9800 Montgomery Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM, 87111
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Sofia F.
It was a Sunday night. Restaurant wasn't busy ,but we had a very bad server. She was very tired and I guess another table was very rude to her. We asked for straw 4 times, but we didn't get it at all. We asked for bread 3 times which finally came to our table but burn and black. We asked for our second beer bottle but didn't come on time until we ask another server. Ketchup didn't come after 2nd time and we ask another server for it. She didn't even ask us how was our food. Food was cold and over cooked. Not go back again. Very disappointed.
(1)Vincent D.
I came here a while back with a group of my friends. I've always driven past it and it was the first time I've been here. And to be honest, I've definitely eaten better. The place itself is pretty, quiet, and nice. It can be either casual or classy, depending on what you're planning. I had the chance to sit outside on the porch where it was big enough to seat my friends. Unfortunately, it had started to rain that night and there was water dripping over us as we ate dinner. They should fix that whenever they can since nobody likes being wet while trying to enjoy their dinner. The waitress, whose name is Julie I believe, was really nice. She was friendly and cracked some jokes with us which I liked a lot. It was very welcoming so service-wise, Pelican's did a good job. As for the food... man, I was disappointed. I had ordered a New York Strip with a side of veggies and French fries. I knew for sure that I've definitely had better steak before since my steak was bland and a little bit undercooked. When I had first taken a bite of it, it was slightly warm, as if it had been sitting out for a while after it had been cooked.. Fries were cold as well so that was a disappointment. The veggies were just plain old veggies so those definitely didn't save the dish. I just left the restaurant thinking to myself that it was too expensive. I had heard good things about it so I was sad to see that it didn't turn out how I had expected. It was the first and will definitely be the last time I ever go there. My final ratings of the restaurant are below: Overall: 2 stars Food: 1 star Service: 3 stars Location: 2 stars
(2)M G.
Ate in the bar from the bar menu. Excellent value. The wait staff was very professional and the restaurant has obviously been here a while and knows what they're doing. Looking forward to bringing my whole family for a holiday meal once they all get here.
(5)Jesse M.
I tried it yet again. Yes, per the owner's request. When I was asked, where to honey!? I said Pelican's. Guess what I regret it yet again!! I asked for my classic go to dish the shrimp and steak ( medium) pelican. They brought out a well done tough steak with no shrimp. We ordered the mussels and got half the tray of unopened shells. The Mexican shrimp cocktail had three shrimp diced up with eighty percent sauce. My wife asked for a "holy hibiscus" nobody knew how to make it even though its part of their menu. They had to call the manager, and his version was not very tasty. That was the last time we saw the manager. My Bloody Mary was salty and un-garnished with hardly any vodka. He never came around to ask us how everything came out? They want to charge premium prices for ordinary food. My poor waitress looked partied out tired ( only 1 pm). Just like the waitress this place is tired and worn out, needs a new bartender and a way better chef. Very dissatisfied !!! I wanted to ask for a refund but my wife was against it in lieu of Father's Day. Even if we would of the manager was nowhere to be found.
(2)Tania S.
Think about every great dinner you've had in Albuquerque; with that, think about the fun times they were with your significant other, your close friends, or with family. When you sit down and think about the details: The food, the perfect meal you can still taste - after the fact - and the intimate conversation at dinner, everything prepared with lots of love and heart. That was my experience at Pelican's and I won't forget it. As Valentine's Day was our choice night and Pelican's the choice dinner, we anticipated an hour long wait, and that's just about how long it took to get a table. Nevertheless, that made it a great opportunity to look around and let sink in what makes it such a great choice for all the reasons mentioned above. To start, our server was attentive and friendly, making sure all the deets were in line with such a wonderful night. Our appetizers were the mussels, calamari, and garlic shrimp. Words in this case cannot explain just how great they all were, but let me try. First, the unconventional but 5-Star worthy calamari stands alone with a great texture and taste and presents itself far better than a spread of usual octopus pieces on a platter. It is mounted as the star appetizer followed by the mussels which were simply impeccable, as were the shrimp. Garlic, butter, half-cracked mussels boiling hot and served. Seasoned shrimp to die for. This is Life! For my main entree (no, the other three did not account for the actual-actual-dinner), I had the Sirloin. Not to be disappointed, this was a great steak. Juicy, medium-rare, amazingly portioned too. I did not need a sauce or more anything, this steak was just right. Accompanied with the rice pilaf, you may wonder how I managed to eat it all. I pretty much did, speaking to a great, if not, one of the greatest meals I've had in this town. Baked, seared, boiling, fried, grilled, yet so bundled in love of food and love of Love. This is Pelicans!
(5)SexyChicken 1.
sunday brunch menu was very enjoyable. I'm not a big taco fan, however, pelican's fish taco really hit the spot. very cool atmosphere, friendly staff my favorite is the garlic butter served with bread for dinner. they have early bird specials too.
(4)Carlos C.
Service and food were very good. The decor could use a major upgrade and the carpet could go also. Tracy was our server and was very friendly. It seemed like each course took a very long time to come, not sure if this is by design? We went on a Saturday night and was very surprised that it was not very busy. Inside the restaurant it felt the other guest were on the older side. Once we left we found the younger crowed on the patio.
(4)Rob V.
If you want fish that resembles cardboard, this is the place for you. The fish was awful. No flavor. Very disappointing. However, the service was good
(2)Matt C.
The best steak & seafood in Albuquerque!! Salads are amazing, super fresh & they make their own ranch...BOMB. Bread is bread but they serve it with whipped butter & baked garlic! If you're on a budget stop into the bar & order of their menu. $7-$14. The beef tips are by far my favorite dish in town!! Served in au jous sauce, green chile, topped with cheese & baked....so good!!!
(5)David B.
Horrible service. The waiting staff had more to say to each other rather than wait on the tables.. it took a little over 45 min just to get our drinks.. and then to order our food was another 20min. The food was great but the wait wasnt worth it IMO
(1)Tony M.
It had been years since I had been to eat at this place. The high quality of food and service is still a standard. The restaurant itself is a little dated and has not changed in years. This is a little pricey and would recommend for a special occasion
(3)GI Joe P.
Outstanding!! Who says ya can't get good seafood in the desert!!!???? From the beautiful smile of the greeter, to the pleasant wait staff! My server, Julie, did a great job explaining the dishes and educating me on those I was unaware of! The Tilapia Picata was fantastic and it was a large portion! Almost couldn't finish it, but my momma raised me better! Why not 5 stars?? Price. I Understand you get what you pay for, but it's hard to drop $39(with tip) for just myself... I am back in town every 9mos, and Will be back!!
(4)Cristina M.
My great aunt's 90th birthday party was held here on a Saturday evening with approximately 20 guests. We had an excellent waitress, though she was good friends with one of the attendees, so that could have been part of it. They did not add the standard 18% gratuity for parties of 6 or more, but at least some of us tipped well. The food was good--no complaints. Large portions for what you pay. Tasty complimentary bread and butter was served and for those who ordered entrees, since we were a big party, they brought out large bowls of salad and an assortment of dressings for everyone. I had the seared ahi salad which had 6-8 oz of perfectly seared ahi on a fresh bed of mixed greens and a very light (no oil) ginger-soy sauce dressing. The salad also came with a garnish of pickled ginger and wasabi. I had two glasses of Sauvignon Blanc to compliment my dinner and the pours for me were a little stunted while my husband's red wine pour was larger. My 11 yr old daughter had the kids' beef kabob which was actually a little steak (she had left overs). My son had the kids' Hawaiian chicken and my husband had the adult version. Those dishes came with a ton of grilled teriyaki chicken with pineapple slices on top. They both had significant leftovers and in fact, between the two of them, enough for a third meal of the chicken! What can I say? Albuquerque doesn't have amazing seafood and considering we're a landlocked state, that's not surprising. I always find Pelican's to be alright. I've had much better, but it's a step up from Red Lobster. The service has always been nice. So, 4 stars for a local place. Now if Seagull Street was still around...
(4)Michael G.
Pelicans was that place back in the early 90s that everyone talked about going to eat at. it usually was a birthday party or Some type of event, never really for a regular family (kids too) type restaurant. always a special occasion. the food and service use to be qualified as 3 to 4 star. considering ABQ use to be alot smaller back in the old days. Pelicans today is still overpriced (service and food quality are average), food menu hasn't really changed much since the 90s ( just like Red Lobster) as well as the atmosphere. I don't know. ..if im gana go old school for prime rib im going to Paul's Monterrey. Pelicans just can't compete with the new restaurants that the 505 has to offer i.e. uptown, Nob Hill etc. ......if Pelicans wants to keep up... they need to change and maybe think about lowering there prices .....maybe even change the name
(2)Erik K.
Don't bother making a reservation...45min past our reservation time and still waiting.
(1)Christian H.
You've been to Pelican's before you even read this. Matter of fact, you've been here several times over. You know, the place that looks expensive, but gives you a ton of food and the bill isn't so bad when it's all said and done. That said, Pelican's is a solid 4, but has a long way to go to hit that elusive 5th star. Don't bother with seafood (I was born on the coast, with a commercial fisherman for a grandfather...I know, I'm biased), but the burgers are actually one of the hidden gems in Abq. No more expensive than any other burger in town, but extras are only .50, and let me tell you, I received a whole MOUND of green chile, and boy was it warm! Turned a good burger into a great burger, just like that. Toss in half a plate of good size (read: Not shoestring, ugh!) fries, real fries that you have to eat in 2-3 bites, and I'll be back more than a few times for that burger. Add in a really nice outdoor patio, and this place is a hit both in the summer and winter (what are sweatshirts for anyways?). Only real detraction was the owner and his cavalier attitude, our server was solo for about 6 tables, so I actually walked inside after a 10min wait (off of a "be back in one min" promise) and found him (owner) helping her with a messed up ticket. As she finished up the ticket, he asked if I needed something. I said "yes, I love to order if that's possible." On top of it service would (to me) be something along the lines of "no prob, let me just take your order right now." Nope, he said "she'll be done in a minute." Hmm, I appreciate the fact that you buss tables sir, but there are other ways to help out an underwater server. Just a thought. Other than that, pretty good all around, good beer prices and a good selection of draft, easy to get to off of Montgomery, and a nice mellow atmosphere.
(4)Steve M.
A super busy fish place that delivers a great meal. Dishes ranging from the shrimp cocktail to the clam chowder to the shrimp scampi to the fresh fish have all been good. Service is great but slows at the dinner crunch. The biggest drawback here - and room for improvement - is that the wait staff doesnt work in teams so a table next to yours may get water while you glass goes unfilled. A good fish stop nonetheless.
(5)Candia M.
The good is predictable and pretty much always the same and reasonably well prepared. The early bird makes it more affordable so worth it. Nothing amazing about the menu and it is usually crowded but what they do they do pretty well. The salad is enormous and endless and fresh and they have a decent wine list.
(3)Joey S.
This review is for people seeking raw items in ABQ. I did not try anything fried or any of the steak dishes. My assumption is that those are three star after looking at many plates served around me. That said, I hate giving so-so reviews. I'm an oyster geek and have been having trouble finding a good source here in ABQ. I ordered a dozen blue points, which were not actually blue points. They were gulf. So many distributers sell blue points that are not actually blue points, as often any generic oyster gets sold as a bluepoint. They were also devoid of the "juice" or sea water, and were swimming in the water bath of the melting ice tray. Also, they shucked them, but did not cut the meat from the shell, so tipping one into your mouth was not an option until you used your fork do do so yourself. Next up was the shrimp cocktail. Limp, Flabby, tasteless percooked shrimp that barely held up on the glass they were served in. Lastly, the clam special was not special. The vegetable and cream broth was nice, however the clams had a fishy taste and smell, and when I spooned up some broth I almost broke a tooth on a piece of shell. On a positive note, the servers were great and my bartender was attentive and gracious. Come here for steak and fried seafood only.
(2)Wes T.
This was an unexpected gem of a seafood restaurant. I'm usually skeptical of seafood in land-locked states, but this place just kind of caught my eye. Maybe it was the interesting exterior. I dunno, but I'm glad I stopped in. Being a nice night, we sat out on the patio. Pretty nice out there. Great view of the mountain. Service was attentive. We were served our salad (which is bottomless, BTW) promptly. Went with the bacon wrapped scallops (yay!) for her, and the shrimp for me. The shrimp were amazing. Butterfly'd and deep fried to perfection. Seriously delicious. So, the food being awesome aside, I want to come back here to sit at the bar. It's a funky little sunk operation, and with the dark interior and some sports on TV I could see myself just coming in here for grog and getting grogged in the process!
(4)Cruz K.
There appetizer combo is great and love there salads. Price and service was good, will be back.
(5)Selena N.
Another place my mom loves, but eh , I've had better. The salads taste weird to me, but I'm used to more organic fare here in PDX. I do like the loads of garlic there, but there is so much food served I feel guilty when I'm done. I think the place is so so but I understand why my mom likes it.
(2)Allyssa B.
My boyfriend and I went to Pelican's for the very first time tonight! OMG! The food was fabulous! It's somehow very hard to find a good steakhouse around Albuquerque, but my, my, my. We both got steaks and the meat was an orgasm in the mouth. Literally melt in the mouth succulent meat! I got the on-the-grill Rib-eye and I literally closed my eyes in my gluttonous satisfaction. The price was well worth the great atmosphere, fantastically choice meats and dessert! We will be back, time and time again!
(4)Jennifer M.
Anyone who goes to a steak and seafood restaurant these days and expects to pay less than $20 per plate is out of their mind. So for all of us that are living in this century, the prices are not out of control. With this said, for around 22-24 dollars, you can get a huge cut of prime rib, loaded baked potato, bottomless bowl of salad (which is actual greens as opposed to iceberg lettuce), as well as bread with butter and roasted garlic. The meal as a whole was all delicious! The prime rib was great, also ordered the teriyaki top cut sirloin. The only complaint we had was that we had an order of steamed veggies and the broccoli was undercooked and the carrots were mushy and overcooked. The good news though--the situation was fixed super quickly when our server offered to bring us a different side of our choosing. The only complaint I had was that at 6pm, the place still looks like a retirement home. So it's not really a place I would like to go to have a good time with my friends to let loose. I heard though that the other location is a little less old and stuffy. Maybe we can try there instead. Overall though, thumbs up!
(4)Laura K.
Over the past few years I have taken several friends and relatives here, and have never been let down. The salmon is delicious, and the salad is nice with tomatoes, spring onions and etc. in it. And I always look forward to the bread served with whole cloves of garlic. I also enjoy the atmosphere, especially in winter near the fireplace.
(5)Jim C.
I was brought to Pelican's purely on the recommendation of ABQ magazine, specifically their "best of 2012" issue that placed them in their top 5 seafood restaurants in the city. Had I done then what I did after eating at Pelican's, which is read the whole issue, I would have discovered that under the "best italian restaurants" section was The Olive Garden and Buca di Beppo and immediately thrown the whole magazine in the trash. Unfortunately for me and my wallet I decided to try Pelican's Restaurant and Bar. Walking into the place immediately brought up scenes of Restaurant Impossible, chef Robert Irvine's restaurant-flipping show. Very dark, dull, gloomy, and trying to conjure up some sort of ship-at-sea ambiance. On top of that I felt like what Gandalf looks like walking through Bilbo's house. The ceiling is low, the bar is even lower, the chairs are all made of coming-apart wood, and the televisions look like they were made in 1993. After ordering a Stella Artois and my girlfriend ordering a gin and tonic, we made our way to the table. The waiter initially did a decent enough job staying on top of things, then did the whole abandonment routine towards the end. He brought out a bread roll with a dish of butter and roasted garlic. The garlic was overcooked and bitter. The butter was fine. The bread was stale and felt like that one time I ate a brillo pad when I was a toddler. My girlfriend and I ordered the clam chowder for an appetizer. Bland, watery, and reminiscent of cafeteria food. For our main courses my girlfriend ordered the sea bass and I ordered the charred rib eye. Both took well over 30 minutes to come out, and the place was approximately 75% at capacity (total guess on my part). At literally no point did the waiter give us an update on anything. My girlfriend had no complaints regarding her sea bass, but the steamed vegetables left a puddle of water on the plate. Great execution chef. My charred rib eye was an atrocity. I ordered it medium rare and it came out well done. I actually wondered if they had accidentally given me a pork chop. It was that overcooked. And to anyone reading this, no I never have things sent back. I've worked in enough restaurants to know what happens to the food of patrons who send things back and it is a complete paranoia that keeps me from asking a chef to try again. My side was the mushrooms which were decent but again lacked any significant flavor aside from butter. I left vowing never to eat here again. How on earth can all of you people give this place 4 and 5 star reviews? Do you all have any idea what good food is? Have you even been to a 4 or 5 star restaurant? I understand ABQ isn't exactly a haven for seafood, but come on who actually thinks this place is better than Pappadeaux's? And shame on ABQ magazine for touting this place. They must have been paid off.
(1)Doula Laura R.
Future mom in laws fave haunt and so we just had to go for our birthdays. Her piece de resistance is the endless salad, mostly because of the fresh uncut veggies, including the spring onion, and the endless-ness of it. Personally, the uncut veggies are well-intended but in the wrong direction. I don't want to have to finish prepping my salad. But, their tray of salad dressings does encourage creativity. My main guy's loves the seared ahi appetizer and we don't miss a trip without the calamari. You might think their decor hints that it would be overcooked and chewy, but it comes out veritably tender. I wasn't familiar with the type of oyster they were serving, but they went down the hatch with relish regardless. Our group had their signature shrimp, halibut, and piccata seabass. All were tasty. Save room for dessert because your table will be dwarfed by the size of the chocolate ice cream cake...chocolate..whip cream... chocolate syrup thing they serve on your birthday. Good bang for the buck when dining out with the family when you want good food and don't have an endless budget. Bring on the endless salad.
(4)L D.
Pelican advertises open at 4:00 pm but that is just the bar. The meal was cold, the appetizer was not cooked well. Recommend not going in until after 5:00pm.
(3)Margaret M.
More a 3.5, but I'll round up. It's a little dark, the salad is fresh, but gigantic. You are expected to chop your own. Steaks are good, seafood's good for the desert! My mother-in-law hates garlic, but she likes Pelican's. Great service. There's just something missing though, I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it has to do with pineapple, maybe portions, could be portions of pineapple. Overall, consistent, and I like that, sometimes.
(4)Katina K.
I want to love you Pelican's, what with your seafood AND steak along with lovely patio, but...I don't know if I can forgive for what you did to my halibut. My first visit to Pelican's was delightful - I loved the giant salads, the good quality fish and steaks. My second trip? Well...not so good. We started with appetizers. We had the mussels and sesame seared tuna. Unfortunately, the kitchen burned the first order of mussels so it felt like we waited for ages just to get the dish. While my boyfriend enjoyed his appetizer, and the tuna was lovely, I wasn't sure if our waitress had forgotten it and made an excuse, or the kitchen was competent. Either way.... For our main course, my boyfriend got the special Rib Eye which he loved, and was cooked pretty good for being asked to do it rare. He like the steak and seasonings, but the quality isn't fantastic, but great for the price. I, however, ordered the halibut special, which was supposed to have a burre-blanc sauce and be pan seared with creamy goodness. What I got was a tiny (4 oz...MAYBE) sliver of halibut that was devoid of flavor or juice that was completely burned on the bottom. I couldn't eat the last 1/6 of an inch of the fish! It seems as if they cooked the fish in one pan, then cooked the sauce in another pan?! Boggles the mind. The worst part was the sauce itself. It wasn't a cream or burre-blanc. Just a vaguely oily, slightly citrusy sauce. I asked for more sauce just to douse the fish enough to finish it. Otherwise it was so dry I could hardly finish it. I was so sad my fish was so terrible, especially as they charged over $20 for this! The service was also a bit mediocre. While our waitress tried to be perky and friendly, she didn't check on us sitting on the patio enough, and we frequently were waiting for refills on drinks, waters, or just wondering what the hell happened to our food. They weren't hugely busy so I didn't understand why service was slow and food quality was lacking. I might try again in a few months, and head to the Westside location instead, but for now, I think I'll avoid the halibut specials at Pelican's.
(2)Seattle O.
Came into ABQ for first round of march madness. Found on yelp and would recommend. Great prime rib and really enjoyed atmosphere. Casual, friendly, great service and food.
(4)Karen M.
We tried Pelican's for the first time last night. Great food and atmosphere. We sat in the bar area; not too noisy, plenty of TVs. As previously mentioned, we also highly recommend Theresa; she was attentive and helpful. We started with the salad and cocktails. The large shared salad bowl is a nice touch for a laid back place. I wanted to chug the house Italian dressing. The bread was brought over warm, served with not only butter, but also roasted garlic in oil! Perfect! I had the halibut in the burre-blanc sauce with sauteed asparagus & mushrooms (extra charge, totally worth it!). It was, for the most part, excellent although the "end" was a bit overcooked. The BF had the swordfish piccata; he loved it, I was glad I had ordered the halibut. Total bill: two main dishes, salad bowl and two cocktails: $68. Being new to ABQ, we will definitely try Pelican's again when we are craving seafood. *No military discount*
(4)Avani W.
My favorite local steakhouse / seafood, and its right next door! First things first. They give you *cloves of fresh roasted garlic* with your bread at the (pretty wood inlay!) tables. Ok, got that out of my system, On to the "actual" food. You might think that getting good seafood is hard when you're hundreds of miles from anything wet. I completely agree with you, and have no idea how Pelican's manages to get such fresh-tasting stock. They do get it somehow, and its fantastic. I always order at least the mussels when I'm there. When I'm not in a seafood mood, if I'm lucky I get some of the prime rib. I say lucky, because its so tasty and popular that it tends to run out fast on busy nights. The portions are big, so either split or be prepared for leftovers. The price is reasonable for what you're getting. A dinner for 2 is typically ~$35 before alcohol.
(5)Sara P.
Lots of high-quality food for the price! Each entree comes with a huge potatoe and endless salad, but the fish was top quality. Try the sesame-crusted salmon. YUM.
(5)Michael R.
We've eaten at this establishment many times over the decades. The quality of the seafood entrees has always been excellent & the salads & wines have been quite good.
(5)Doreen D.
we had dinner on saturday,sept 26th. the restaurant was noisy, the waitress was constantly apologizing. the sizziling mussels were not very hot. there were two of us and she only gave us one fork. we could not get her attention to get another one. i've been to another pelican's where the service was excellent. this was not a good experience.! we could not hear our conversation due to the high noise level.
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