Restaurant Review: Independence Grill

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of trying a newer restaurant called Independence Grill. I'd heard that it's owned by the same people who operated Albuquerque's Great American Steakhouse, which had a great reputation for tasty food, so I was hopeful. The restaurant is located at 6910 Montgomery NE, on the south side of the street just west of Louisiana. Though the restaurant is set back from the street a bit, the large sign makes it easy to find. It was a Tuesday evening, and the parking lot was packed. From the outside, nothing about the restaurant impressed me other than the promising aroma wafting through the air. When I entered, however, I was greeted by a warm, classic, wood-paneled atmosphere. It had a comfortable, "homey" type of feel. We were seated near the bar.

The average price on the menu is around $10-$15. You can view the menu online by clicking here. I had the Bacon Avocado Jack Burger, 1/3 lb. of American Kobe beef, with a side of garlic mashers. The burger was excellent. I ordered it "medium," and the restaurant obliged me rather than overcooking the meat like many establishments tend to do. While I am not sure that my palate could discern that the beef was special Kobe, the burger's perfectly cooked bacon (thick, yet crisp) and the delicious bun (which tasted homemade) combined in such a way that I couldn't help myself from eating all of it. i loved the texture of the garlic mashers, and with their spot-on seasoning, they were among the best I have ever had. My friend ordered the Grilled Chicken w/ Roasted Red Pepper sandwich, which contains mozzarella and basil aioli, and a side of pineapple coleslaw. She, too, finished her entire plate and told me that it had all been delicious.

The service we received was good as well; our drinks were refilled frequently, and we did not have to wait eons to receive our check.

I'm still anxious to try the pig wings and one of the "drunken" dishes (chicken, fish, or shrimp fried in a beer-lime batter), so I intend to return with my husband.

"Big boy" pictures of Max

At just over a year old and at least 85 pounds, Max has grown into quite a handsome dog! When he stretches out, he is almost as long as our bed, and standing up on his hind legs, he can easily look over our four-foot wall to visit with our neighbors' chocolate lab. Here are some "big boy" pics, for those of you who've asked!

Christina's Albuquerque "Best of" List*

With Aaron starting to apply for jobs, and the two of us discussing where we might end up, I have not been reflecting on what I enjoy most about Albuquerque and have formulated my own "best of" list. The winners are, as follows:

BEST ALBUQUERQUE RESTAURANTS

Best New Mexican Food
Sadie's
Runner-up: Albuquerque Tortilla Factory

Best Margaritas
Sadie's
Runners-up: Garduno's, El Pinto

Best Chile Rellenos
Sadie's
Runner-up: Albuquerque Tortilla Factory

Best Sopaipillas
Sadie's

Best Tacos
Pericos Acapulco Chillys

Best Carne Asada
Garduno's**

Best BBQ
Rudy's

Best Breakfast Burrito
Blake's (#5)
Runners-up: Murphy's Mule Barn, Hurricane's

Best Chocolate Malt
Hurricane's

Best Pizza
Il Vicino
Runner-up: Saggio's

Best Onion Rings
O'Niell's Irish Pub

Best Pie
Flying Star

Best Coffee
Satellite

Best Patio
El Pinto

Best All-You-Can Eat
Tucano's Brazilian Grill

Best Breakfast
Weck's

Best Ribeye Steak
Texas Roadhouse


OTHER "BEST OF" ALBUQUERQUE WINNERS

Best At-Home Coffee
Whiting Coffee Co.

Best Place to Run
Actually, I'm keeping this a secret. Sorry.

Best Bacon
Alpine Sausage Kitchen

Best Place to Take Visiting Guests
Albuquerque Biopark (Zoo, Botanical Gardens, Aquarium)

Best Area of the City
North Valley

Best Fresh Produce
Village Market

Best Green - and Red - Chile
Albuquerque Tortilla Company

To my friends and family who do not live in Albuquerque: I hope this list makes you want to come visit us soon!

To my fellow locals: What are your thoughts? What categories should I add, or what places would you suggest that I try for "best of" consideration?

Thank you for indulging me by reading my list. These are just some of my favorite aspects of Albuquerque; other advantages of living here include the beautiful weather and proximity to hiking and downhill skiing. Exploring all our possibilities is very exciting, but if Aaron and I do end up having to leave Albuquerque, we will definitely have much to miss.

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*a work-in-progress, of course

** In all fairness, the only carne asada I have had in Albuquerque has been at Garduno's. Why hasn't carne asada caught on in NM yet?