Casa de Benavidez — New Mexican / Family, Albuquerque
Casa de Benavidez has been operating in Albuquerque's North Valley — the agricultural corridor along the Rio Grande — since the early 1970s, building a reputation on the family's New Mexican cooking and the cottonwood-shaded patio that makes summer dining in the high desert feel like a specific gift.
The New Mexican menu covers the full canon: enchiladas smothered in red or green chile, rellenos stuffed with Hatch green chile and cheese, posole on Fridays, and the sopapillas (puffy fried dough served with honey) that are New Mexico's most beloved dessert.
The patio dining under the cottonwood trees — with the North Valley's agricultural character visible beyond the fence — provides the setting that separates Casa de Benavidez from the strip-mall New Mexican restaurants that surround it.
The margaritas are made with fresh lime and the right proportions, which is not universal at New Mexican restaurants and represents a specific commitment to doing it correctly.
Best Occasion: Great for Group Birthdays
The patio, the New Mexican family cooking, margaritas for the group, and the sopapillas with honey as the birthday dessert. The Albuquerque celebration table.
Best Occasion: Works for Team Dinners
Patio dining, communal New Mexican plates, and the cottonwood-shaded North Valley atmosphere. The team dinner that the high desert recommends.