USA Guide
The Southwest
Eating
1 Artichoke Café 424 Central Ave SE 
505/243-0200 Simple but classy restaurant in the heart of downtown, serving a good, varied menu of California-influenced modern American cuisine; typical entrees cost $18–30. Dinner only on weekends.
2 Flying Star 3416 Central Ave SE 505/255-6633 Lively, crowded University District café serving eclectic international cuisine to a largely student clientele. The vast menu ranges through breakfast specialties, salads, and blue-plate specials such as Vietnamese noodles or pasta pomodoro for $10. Opening time: Daily 6am-late
3 Frontier 2400 Central Ave SE 505/266-0550 Legendary 24-hour diner across from the university, where an unceasing parade of characters chow down on burgers, burritos, and great vegetarian enchiladas.
4 Pueblo Harvest Cafe Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, 2401 12th St NW 505/843-7270 Unusual Native American restaurant, serving Pueblo specialties like fry-bread at lunchtime, plus fine dinners, with braised bison ribs among the tasty $20–30 entrees.
5 Satellite Coffee 3513 Central Ave NE 505/256-0345 University District coffee bar, marked by the sign of the flying saucer, which also serve daily specials like split pea soup.
6 Scalo 3500 Central Ave SE 505/255-8781 Large but romantic and stylish Northern Italian restaurant near the university. Appetizers like steamed mussels or beef carpaccio cost $10, entrees such as roasted salmon are more like $25, and there are plenty of pasta and vegetarian options.