City: Albuquerque, NM

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (505) 243-2210

Address: 515 Slate Avenue NW

Description: Cool in every sense, the spacious Slate Street Café is set on a quiet side street, and the clean-cut loft-style interior, with its high ceiling and peppy lime, red, and orange accents is a revitalizing antidote to the Downtown bustle. Breakfasts include wholesome American fare such as steak and eggs or pancakes, plus New Mexican classics. Lunch and dinner menus offer Slate Street’s slant on comfort food, such as fish and chips of salmon with a beer batter and lemon basil tartar sauce served in a brown bag, Auntie May’s meatloaf wrapped in prosciutto with porcini gravy, and mac and cheese with pancetta bacon and parmesan brittle. A few dishes offer Asian flavors, and there’s a wide selection of bruschettas, gourmet burgers, and sandwiches, including bacon, lettuce, and fried green tomato. Solo diners might opt to sit at the curved counter featuring Albuquerque postcards and memorabilia under its glass top. There’s also shaded patio seating. The café has a comprehensive beer and wine list, and on Tuesday through Saturday evenings the smart upstairs wine loft serves 25 wines by the glass along with accompanying snacks. Slate Street Café is open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday, for dinner on Tuesday through Saturday, and for brunch on Saturday and Sunday.