Central Grill and Coffee House

What a disappointing meal! We waited long for our food yet it was served cold. It was horrible! Hash brown was burnt, toasts and waffle were cold, eggs were served over easy instead of over hard! Definitely not worth it. Never again!

We had our breakfast here, and we ordered burritos, going banana french toast with poached egg. The taste was all good, esp. burritos, and well presented on the plate. The location is closer to the old church in Albuquerque. The owner is a cashier, and he is very accommodating.

So we decided to get lunch at this spot as we had never eaten here. It had great reviews and so we were excited to try it. When we first arrived we ordered at the counter and got a table. They told us it would be about 30 minutes for the food and I figured it would be fresh so there was no problem waiting. We waited closed to 42 minutes (without a drink check from staff). When I got my food I was truly disappointed. The shredded beef was dry and burnt like it had been sitting in a pan for hours(definitely not fresh). There Absolutely no flavor and it tasted like nothing. The refried beans were a meager portion (probably only two spoons as you see in pictures) and they were burnt to crisp. I did not even bother eating them. Last thing they served my tacos without salsa (which was listed as a side) and there was no cheese on the tacos. I am a serious food person and hardly ever write about my experiences when they are bad, but in this case I think it would only be constructive for them to read this. I will not be going back for lunch, maybe for breakfast but I would not recommend the lunch menu if you stopping in. Definitely alot better options when it comes to lunch.

Regarding diner food, this place is okay. I ordered the chicken-fried steak with my choice of egg (which I got scrambled), hash browns or papitas (which I chose papitas), and a buttermilk biscuit. The chicken-fried steak had a crisp exterior, but the meat was flat and dry. The gravy it was topped with was generic and bland; it contained only pepper. The eggs were okay. The papitas were dry and unseasoned. The buttermilk biscuit was the worst (well, the worst when it comes to buttermilk biscuits). First off, it felt more like a bread roll than a biscuit, leading to a tough texture, as if they worked (kneaded) the dough instead of mixing until everything was combined, folding it a few times, and then cutting out the biscuit (assuming they made the biscuit in-house). It also had a stale taste, like it had been sitting out. Overall, the chicken-fried steak rates a 4-5 out of 10. The breakfast burrito (the Jr. burrito is pictured) was decent. They were generous with the bacon and not overpowered by cheese. The red chili was decent. I rate the breakfast burrito a 6-7 out of 10. Would I go here again? Probably not, but I would be inclined to try their banana waffle or blueberry pancakes if I did.

My girlfriend and I stopped here for lunch on our balloon festival trip today and all I can say is “WOW!” Customer service was fantastic. Food was fantastic. Staff was friendly. George came out and talked to us about everything New Mexico related and gave us some tips about the festival. He also gave us some food to try that they are known for. #1 you HAVE to try the blueberry pancakes! They are rated #1 in the city and #6 in the country on Yelp for their pancakes and I have to agree. Some of the most delicious pancakes I have ever had in my life! #2 George let us try the Carne Adovada that they are known for and it was absolutely delicious! I’ve never had it before and I highly recommend it too! The real winner in all of this is George and how he runs this business. It’s very rare these days to have such caring owners that come out with a smile on their face just to engage with the customers! Real customer service! I cannot recommend this place enough! If you are in the area, I highly recommend you stop by and check it out. You will NOT be disappointed! PS: George has jokes. They are very corny, but we enjoyed and loved every last one of them! Thanks George!

Food was good and service was pleasant. It could use some sprucing up on the outside and better signs for the restaurant. Food was fairly quick to come out despite the fact it was Balloon Fiesta weekend and they were busy.

Amazing delicious and beautifully presented food. Plenty of options. Coffee is good with milk options. The service is efficient, helpful and super friendly.

What a perfect place to have breakfast!!! We went every day during our stay. Not only is the quality of the food they serve superb but the owner and his staff are amazing. You can really tell when someone takes pride in what they do and in this restaurant, they all do! When I explained I do not eat meat, I was immediately offered a substitution. Since they are well known for their pancakes, they gave us a free pancake to try out. You go in and you feel a warm welcome... Do not miss it, you will not regret it! And if you do not have time to dine in, they have a drive through!!! They also offer catering.

This local establishment is owner operated and is a local favorite! It will not disappoint! The line stayed consistently at least 7-8 people long! The door was constantly opening as new patrons entered to join in the line. The owner worked the register and was very friendly. The place is nothing fancy just a good old local small business with amazing breakfast! We both drank water and our bill was just under $30 out the door. I had a Jr burrito (2 eggs with turkey sausage, potatoes and cheese) smothered in green gravy! It was excellent! 9/10 a homemade tortilla would have made this perfect 10. Sorry I'm a foodie and very critical but this was still delicious and I definitely recommend it with no hesitation! My man got the All American with three scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns and the most moist and soft biscuit on the side! I could have ate 20 of them thangs! Joking but seriously the biscuit is a perfect 10! I used only a tab of strawberry jam on my bite and wow it was delicious! He loved his breakfast and said it was a perfect 10! Overall if you are ever near old town do yourself a favor and go get breakfast here!

Kitchen wasn't quite up to par on a slow January Saturday morning, which is troubling. Potatoes in my carne adovada burrito weren't fully cooked, and my partner's blue corn pancakes tasted noticeably burnt. Still great value, but not quite as good as in the past.

Central Grill and Coffee House is a good spot for breakfast with a nice diner vibe and great New Mexican flavors. Parking is convenient, with spaces available in the front and on the side of the building. When you walk in, you order at the counter, pay, and receive a number. It's open seating, and the staff brings your food to the table once it's ready, which makes the experience very easy. I ordered the kid's breakfast burrito, which is more of a junior-sized burrito compared to the grande version (the grande burrito has about 25% more food). I ordered the kid's breakfast burrito with chorizo and had it smothered in red and green chile (Christmas style). The burrito was very good, and the chile added a nice kick, giving it that signature New Mexican touch. Overall, the food was good, and the atmosphere is welcoming. I'd definitely recommend Central Grill and Coffee House if you're looking for a good breakfast in Albuquerque!

It's bad. It's strange to see the loads of great reviews. I can't imagine what these people are comparing this place to?? It's December - and it's cold outside. Inside the restaurant - just as cold. Extremely uncomfortable. A classic case of employees before customers with climate control. I'm sure the cooks in the back working are at a comfy temperature but the diners out front are numb. Terrible. Then the food. I ordered classic American breakfast. Over medium. And bacon. I specifically requested that the egg whites not be runny and ordered over medium. These eggs are not even cooked to over easy they are raw. No one checked them. No one knows how to cook them, etc.. The hashbrowns are disgusting absolutely no seasoning, burnt and covered in grease. The bacon is bad. Taste of a very low-grade. It's covered in Greece and they didn't even bother to flatten it out. It's all crumpled up on your plate. The only other thing I ordered was toast, which I was only given one slice of, and it wasn't even warm probably because of how cold it is in the restaurant. $16 for food I could've cooked much better at home. The ratings for this place here on yelp have shaken my faith in the system. I'm only giving the review two stars because of the people here are nice. But in this day and age there is no excuse for having food this bad and also the climate control indoors. Here is unacceptable. I'll be continuing my search for a decent Albuquerque breakfast

This place is so yummy and delicious! You have to order your food first then find a seating which can be a bit difficult when they are super busy. They do not allow people to save tables ahead of time. Their food is so good and we like to come here on the weekends!

I live in the area and had never popped by until yesterday. The service was really nice and quick. The food was delicious and very affordable. The chefs also brought out the food as quickly as they could, considering how packed it was! And the location was very cute, just like a good ol diner. I'll definitely be back! I got the huevos rancheros with red chile and we got chocolate chip pancakes to share. Both were flavorful and not too heavy. Their chile was not overwhelmingly spicy, very flavorful, and savory. The papitas were the correct choice for this dish. The pancakes were fluffy with the perfect amount of chocolate chips.

It's important to note this review is from when the balloon fiesta was taking place. We came into a huge line going out the door but we wanted to wait due to the raving reviews we read prior to coming. The staff did relay it would be 30-45 min for food and were quick to have someone get drink orders out while you waited to place your order. Getting a table was hard with how many people were waiting, I'm pretty sure it was the owner but someone started setting up fold up tables in the patio area so there was more seating available which I thought was kind. We got lattes and the barista made sure we liked them prior and also gave us plenty of time to enjoy our coffee prior to the food. While we were waiting the staff kept updating those in line of current wait times which did turn some people away. The staff were definitely under a lot of pressure with how busy it was and there was definitely an argument in the back but the rest of the staff did remain calm. when the 45 min mark was approaching I was watching the food come out of the kitchen like a hawk. The waitress did notice me eyeing everything and gave me the heads up we were next. our food arrived and I ordered mine christmas style and it was missing all the chile... I was able to get a side of chile from the waitress and the owner did come and ask how everything was. My burrito was dry without the chile but the huge pieces of bacon made up for it. I think overall if you are here during the balloon fiesta it's an ok option. Probably better to come during a non peak time.

I had the old school club sandwich with crispy french fries. it was good. I had ok service at the cash register. The girl was nice. their pancakes are good.

After the last fiasco experience, we had here a month ago. We decided that we would come back, but not on a weekend. We went in yesterday for a brunch. The place was clean. They had a gentleman walking around, sweeping up items on the floor clearing tables... 180° about face from the last time. The staff, as always were very pleasant and helpful. The food came out and it was excellent all the way around. The up shot is for us when we go to the Central Grill. It will be during the week and not on weekends.

This is a nice old-fashioned dinner near Old Town that offers traditional and New Mexican dishes. After you order and pay, find a table inside or outside, and their staff will bring the food to your table. We ordered coffee, avocado toast, huevos rancheros with green chile sauce and, a side of French toast. The food came out at the same time and it was delicious. They have a drive-thru window, and there are about 10 parking spots on either side of the building.

We stopped in at the end of a busy Sunday. That may have impacted the visit, but it shouldn't have. First, it's tricky getting a spot to park. Note that there is some extra parking available just east of the restaurant on Central. We stepped up to order. Staff let us know (thankfully we had time AND he was kind to let us know ahead) that it would be 35 minutes to get the food out. We both ordered hamburgers. We also ordered tater tots to share. French fries, tater tots, sweet potato fries are extra $$. The food came out in about 15-20 minutes. So better than expected. The burgers were just average, very salty. Tater tots were perfect. I've been before a few years back. I had breakfast food then and my memory was good. This visit was not as good. Not bad, but not great.

How do you know a restaurant will have consistently good food? The owner is always on site. Order chilaquiles w/ tots; thank me later.

I love this hole in the wall, Route 66 gem. The food is simple and delicious. The orange juice freshly squeezed. Coffee better than I expected and the service as good as it gets in any restaurant. Happy and enthusiastic.

- large portions - friendly service - tasty pancakes - I like the 'pay first' policy - chilequiles are heaven! the chip is unlike anything iv ever had its light, airy and crunchy - alright bacon

What a perfect spot along Central! Great value, great food, all around great experience! Central Grill is a fast casual, order-at-the-register place offering breakfast, lunch, and a variety of coffee beverages. The line to order moved quickly and the wait for food was negligible. The restaurant is small, but clean, well lit with many windows, and well organized. Parking and dining-in seating is somewhat limited given Central Grill's growing popularity, but I did not have an issue with either. Staff were efficient, communicative, and courteous. In fact, a nice gentleman who I assume to be the owner or manager came by to ensure my table had everything and brightened our day with a few jokes! Side note, be sure to remember to tip when ordering because staff brings your food out, check on you, and dispose of your dishes! I ordered and loved the chile relleno breakfast plate off the specials menu! Perfectly crispy and cheesy chile relleno, mild in spiciness, smothered in delicious green chile. The entree came with two eggs (I opted for scrambled), breakfast potatoes/papitas, refried beans, small handmade tortilla. Great portions for $11.95! Great value and flavor! I was also very happy with the chai tea latte ($3.25) to accompany the meal! I also was able to try the blue corn pancakes off the specials menu- wow! Fresh, fluffy, thick, and moist! I got the impression you can't go wrong when ordering at Central Grill!

I really enjoyed my veggie burger and fries, which made me full at the end. I came with four other people, and we waited 15-20 minutes for our food. There is indoor and outdoor seating (you order at the counter and choose where to sit). There is parking as well.

After a somewhat disappointing experience at the Grove the morning before, we were looking for something a little less highfalutin--and more traditionally New Mexican--for breakfast. Central Grill and Coffee House, just across from Old Town, got the job done. Initially, we weren't too excited about another breakfast place where you order at the counter, but there was no line, and our food ended up coming out pretty quickly. And in contrast to the Grove, the waitstaff was diligent about drink refills (very good coffee for a relatively modest place) and about amiably checking in on how were doing. Huevos Rancheros are, of course, not New Mexican, but the green chile that I ordered mine with punched things up a bit--a very satisfying version of the dish. (Mild complaint: the home fries were a little bland and seemed warmed-over.) The wife was over the moon about her blue corn pancakes, a dish she'd never had before. (After having these, she even ordered a bunch of New Mexican blue-corn pancake mix so we could have these back home.) Nice, traditional diner atmosphere with both an indoor section and pleasant looking screened-in outdoor area.

This is a sort of cafeteria style place. you go in and order at the counter and then they bring the food to you. We were there for brunch/breakfast, and there weren't a lot of people, but it seemed like there was a steady stream of folks coming through. The staff is friendly, fast, and helpful! I had eggs benedict with gluten-free bread, and it was excellent. Everyone in my group enjoyed their food.

The food was phenomenal and the service was quick and friendly. We stumbled upon this place by chance passing throwing town, and it was simple but delicious food. In my husband's words, it was "the best breakfast taco he's ever had." I had a breakfast burrito smothered in green chili, and the kids enjoyed the pancakes. Highly recommend!

I'll need to come back to try their other dishes. I didn't like the chilaquiles buuut I enjoyed their coffee and the waffle dogs. You order at the front, staff gives you table number plate, and then find your own seating. Restaurant was clean and staff were friendly. Plenty of parking space (they have a parking lot adjacent to the restaurant).

Amazing breakfast I would recommend and get the veggie skillet. The breakfast tacos as well are amazing.

I'm starting to get a little worried about this place. Normally everything's fantastic but the last two visits, foods been delivered cold. Today's waffles weren't even remotely warm enough to melt the butter. The chicken for the waffle was really-heated. And the stake from the stake and eggs plate was still bleeding out when ordered medium well (I get some pink, but not running red juice everywhere on a medium well). The only thing I enjoyed today was my company, and iced tea. :(

We had a pretty mediocre experience here. Came on a Saturday morning for brunch, and waited in line for 20 mins, food took probably about 20 mins as well, so the wait times aren't my favorite. We had the steak and eggs and the carne Frito pie, then shared a pancake. Overall, an ok experience but nothing to eagerly draw us back again.

We've had good meals here in the past. Their service is excellent and the food options are reasonably priced and generally delicious. Our meal Saturday wasn't up to Central Grill's usual standards. I tried the croque monsieur. The eggs on top were cooked well and the Swiss cheese and ham were tasty, but a better quality sourdough would make this dish something special. The hash browns were really underseasoned. I couldn't detect any salt, pepper, etc. Next time I'll order their veggie breakfast platter since that has worked well in the past. My husband had the huevos rancheros with red. He said the eggs and potatoes were good but the red chile was overly salty. We chose half of a four-top that was clean since it was the only open table inside. The other half just needed a couple of coffee drips wiped up, and since they were super busy it wasn't a big deal. My husband mentioned the drips to our server when she came to take our order. A couple of minutes later the owner stopped at our table and told us he would fire whoever hadn't been able to finish cleaning the other half. We said, "No, don't do that!" It was weird and he didn't seem like he was joking. Maybe everyone was having an off day? We will most likely return to Central Grill at some point, but this visit was just strange.

After trying samples of their pancakes at the food event we had to come in and try the rest of the menu! The biscuit and gravy were freaking delicious and their blue berry pancakes are amazing!!!!! This is my new breakfast spot

Came across this place in 2012 and I've never had a bad meal here! I'm currently waiting for them to open to get my usual :) the service is always great and the food is always fresh and amazing!

Best breakfast and lunch in Old Town. The turkey sandwich was moist and very flavorful. The Travis prime rib sandwich was amazing. The blue berry pancakes were delicious, with warm blueberry inside. Real maple syrup. Service was friendly.

An extremely fast paced place. Highly recommend for a quick meal. The food and service is good. The coffee is also unassumingly nice. The place is also located on an important street.

#1 for a reason. Went twice with my wife while in ABQ for an extended weekend. Everything we had was excellent. Recommendations: Order the pancakes or the grande burrito smothered in green chiles and sit out on the front patio. Flavor of the food is through the roof. Wife loved her Eggs Benedict and BYO omelette. Can't go wrong for breakfast.

The place is always great. Lots of people here on a Monday. The food is awesome, I can't say enough about the staff as they are friendly and helpful. If you are looking for food your mother made, this is the place to come. Portions could be larger on some items, but for the most part you leave happy.

Needed breakfast and the menu looked great. Convenient location in Old Town. Easy to find. The menu ranges from sweet to savory. I opted for the Chile Relleno Plate. 1 Chile Relleno, potatoes, beans, and two eggs. More food that I could eat . That said, it was delicious! Spicy, but not overpowering. The beans and potatoes were excellent. N*joy!

AMAZING FOOD!! We stopped in when we were driving through as a recommendation from friends and it did not disappoint! Great prices, great flavor, great staff!! Their red chili is to die for! And the pancakes are the best Ive ever had!!

Awesome breakfast. The biscuits and gravy were so delicious. Super friendly staff. My husband loves chicken fried steak and eggs and they did not disappoint

Set up not to expect much by the extremely average-looking exterior of this restaurant, I was blown away by the southwestern flavors, rich textural variety, and compulsive edibility of the chile relleno dish I got at Central Grill. Although the line to order was six people deep, I got to the front in just a few minutes. A thoughtful server came out from the behind the counter to take drink orders from those waiting in line, which allowed the drinks to be ready once it was your turn to order a main. When I asked the front of house whether I should get the chile relleno or the chilaquiles, both of them answered chile relleno right away, and almost regretfully, which was surprising. Maybe avoid that dish? It's really cheap to eat here and I think they save money by having just serviceable seating. I can't remember the last time I ate at a table with a metal grate. I sat in the enclosed outdoor portion of the restaurant, which has separate doors that don't even close properly, which is a slight problem in the cold morning weather this time of year.

Spring has finally and really come to central New Mexico and allowed Tom Neiman and Jim Tritten to venture all the way south from Corrales to just outside of Old Town Albuquerque. Join our dynamic duo as they report on their visit to Central Grill and Coffee House on old Route 66. You don't want to miss their sticky buns and all of the other good food available. Just click on the following YouTube link: youtu.be/CU_MNh05VD8

Pros: food and mocha latte were very good Cons: they only allowed my latte to be served in a paper cup, not a mug even though I was eating there. Doors always opening since the patio is a separate room from the main dining area which was only a few tables. Place needs a deep cleaning and paint job. Parking tight. Bathroom is "outside" of restaurants and similar to a gas station bathroom. Grimy and will not be going back. Not a pleasant restaurant to dine in. Do not let some of the good reviews fool you. There are way better places to eat than this one. Prices are not cheap either!!!

Busy Coffee House right off Central and Rio Grande! Sunday breakfast was packed. You seat yourself and go to the front and take your order. Despite it being busy, our order came out quickly. The food was good and the eggs were made to order! The owner was very kind and could be seen doing a little of everything, checking on his employees and customers!

I heard about the pancakes at this spot from my friend long before we reached Albuquerque. I'm more of a recent convert to pancakes, when I was younger I had my fair share of subpar pancakes so I only started to like the properly made ones a couple of years ago. I'm still a bit apprehensive about extra toppings on my pancakes, but I figured apples and brie would be a safer bet than blueberry. We ordered the apples and brie pancakes and a croque madame. The two staff members working the counter were extremely efficient and welcoming, placing our order was straightforward and we got to enjoy our drinks at our table while waiting for our food to come out. The pancakes were described to me as the best pancakes ever, and as a committed Yelper you know I must be ever so skeptical of a non-Yelper's food opinions. In this case however, the pancakes easily won me over too. When I eat brie I don't like eating the white rind or skin of the cheese because of it's bitter saltiness, but to my surprise I wasn't put off by the rind on the brie when paired with apples and the pancake. The pancake itself is on the denser side, not as many air bubbles throughout as you might expect in a pancake that would be described as fluffy. I thought it tasted like a high protein or whole wheat pancake, which is only bonus points in my book. The only thing I'd say would've elevated the experience is if there was just a bit more of the apple topping--towards the end we really had to ration what was left. It's been a while since I last had a croque madame, but the one here did not disappoint. The hash brown was on the lighter side and I would've preferred if it had a bit more color and was crispier all around. The eggs had nice runny centers and eaten together with the ham and the bread made for a filling but not heavy breakfast option. I'd recommend both dishes if you decide to stop by, but I will definitely be reordering the pancakes if I'm ever in the area again.

Staff was so amazing and the food was even better. Amazing blue corn pancakes!! It gets crowded so get there early!

I loved it here, coffee was good, food was delicious and fresh. Good servings for the price and I enjoyed the atmosphere. You can sit outside or inside and the people here are kind. I wasn't sure what chili I wanted and the guy suggested I get both on the side. Which I appreciated. I will certainly be back here to try more things on the menu.

A good variety of selections Delicious Meals Friendly fast service Plenty of seating Walk up to counter to order Servers bring meals to you Great way to start your day.

Heard a lot about this place so decided to try it out for breakfast. Small front area sitting but they have larger "outdoor" seating also. I ordered veggie skillet with bacon with Christmas chile, and an order of their "famous pancakes". Veggie skillet was very good but they forgot the bacon, but brought it out a few minutes later. Their pancakes weren't very good. Tasted "doughy" or not fully cooked, so I only ate the edges. My First cup of coffee was cold, I told the worker there and he said it was because I talked too much... lol, but told him it was cold to begin with, not sure he believed me. Many items looked good on the menu so I plan to go back and give it another try.

We almost missed the entrance because we were distracted but I am so glad we made it here. A very fun and relaxed breakfast spot that will make you feel happy and full. You order at the counter and then they'll bring you your food. The build your own omelette was perfect in size and they have a variety of fillings to choose from. The hash browns were your typical breakfast hash browns so not too special. Not pictured was the iced mocha and a tea. They provide free water and have stations both in the inside dining area and their outside patio (which has heaters).

We are visiting from out of town and had an incredible experience here. Every person who worked there was kind, friendly, patient, and helpful. Everything that we ordered was delicious. The going bananas French toast was the best French toast I've ever had. The veggie skillet was amazing, definitely recommend for my vegetarian friends and everyone else. The man, who I think was the owner, was so nice and funny. He told us funny jokes and when he learned we were from out of town made recommendations for foods to try. If we lived here we would be here all the time. It's a cute place and they also have outdoor seating that is heated. One of the best little restaurants I've ever had the pleasure of visiting.

I stopped here for a cup of tea on a cold day, simply to recharge and warm up. They were very quick to make my order, very nice, the music was great, and I spent a little time looking out the window and enjoying Life. The tea was delicious! Sometimes, you just need a little refuge to gather yourself. They were the perfect place to do that.

Do yourself a favor and eat here. Food is great, service is great. Best breakfast taco I've had

While I'm ABQ I was on a hunt to find some of the best breakfast burritos with red/green chilis and unfortunately this place wasn't one of them. I ordered a simple bacon, egg, cheese, and potato burrito smothered with red and green chili and while the filling was decent, I was hoping for more flavor out of the chilis. These chilis were definitely more on the mild side compared to a lot of other chilis I've had while in ABQ. Also, our food took a very long time to get. We also ordered the pancakes and the pancake batter was so overly sweet it was hard to take more than a bite or two. A lot of the food that came out was actually on the cold side too. This place seems like they have a great reputation so maybe we just came on a bad day for them.

Central Grill and staff are fantastic! Especially the owner George Griego, he always makes sure your meal is up to his standards, highly recommend, the to mention the food is prepared with perfection and deliciousness! A must try for sure!!

Was this place amazing? No BUT for the quality/price I left very satisfied and wanting more! This feels like a locals standard cafe and that is a wonderful feeling and what I was looking for in the area as we passed through. The waiters/servers were friendly and the service was simple and good with no frills. The look of the restaurant is very plain, again no frills but it went along with the themes so no complaints. With the food I think it really depends what you order. I got the steak and eggs and my steak left much to be desired. My husband ordered the chicken fried steak and that was quite tasty, we also ordered the blue corn pancakes and lattes, which were delicious. Their prices were very affordable which made our meal that much more enjoyable. If in the area again I won't hesitate to stop by here for breakfast again.