Slate Street Cafe

Soft jazz music, contemporary-style comfort food, and a wide variety of wines served in a wine loft reminiscent of San Francisco or Chicago is the perfect setting for the business professional to unwind after a long day at the office -- and Slate Street Cafe in Downtown Albuquerque provides all of that and more.

"Come relax with friends," said manager Aaron Moore. "Have a glass of wine and still be able to hear each other talk without having to yell over loud music.

Slate Street Cafe, owned by Myra Ghattas, attracts a slightly older -- 30 to 60 year old -- business professional crowd with two wine tastings per month, jazz music twice a month and comfort food with a twist. The Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. On the weekends, brunch also is available.

"It is the food you grew up with," Moore said, "but we do it really well."

One house favorite for dinner is the Black Cherry Chop ($25). It includes a pork chop with a black cherry glaze, oven roasted sweet potatoes and pecans, homestyle green beans with bacon & onions. During brunch, the lamb scrambler ($12) combines scrambled eggs with feta cheese, roasted garlic, spinach and calamata olives for a unique twist to the typical scrambled egg breakfast.

Moore said that his favorite dish is the grilled sesame-crusted Ahi Tuna that is flown in fresh daily ($24). "It is really, really good," Moore said. "It has been on the menu since day one and will never go away."

Menu items rotate seasonally. During the winter months, the restaurant serves more comfort-driven heavier food and wines, whereas during the summer, lighter cuisine is paired with lighter tasting wines -- such as a Rosa wine.

HelloMetro Tip: Unsure of which wine to pair with your meal? Wine tastings are held the first Tuesday and last Thursday of every month and the $18 fee includes samples of three wines, an appetizer to complement the wines and an education about the wines. All three of the wines will be the same category of wine, such as Cabernet or Rosa, but from different geographical areas, and different styles of preparation. The lesson will help you learn to distinguish and appreciate the differences.

- by Julie Medina, Albuquerque Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Julie Medina

Julie Medina has experience as a reporter at the Albuquerque Journal and has written freelance articles for the Albuquerque Tribune, Albuquerque the Magazine, New Mexico Magazine and New Mexico Kids Magazine. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in print journalism from the University of New Mexico in 2008. She has lived in Albuquerque since 1984 and believes it is best to remember to play like a tourist in your own hometown so you don't forget the vast culture around you.