City: Albuquerque, NM

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (505) 898-1771

Description: The lovely leafy patios are a big draw at this pastoral location along the Rio Grande bosque. El Pinto was established in 1962, and out-of-town visitors are pleasantly surprised to find such a verdant spot in the desert, complete with fountains, shady floral porches, and festive chile ristras hanging around the hacienda. El Pinto’s is famous for its salsa, made to a family recipe, and it produces 15,000 jars of salsa or green chile sauce every day, to be sold all over the country. Sip a margarita with some nachos while soaking up the atmosphere, and choose from an extensive menu of New Mexican dishes, steaks and grilled entrées, and a selection of low-fat dishes. There’s also a children’s menu, a weekday lunch buffet, and a short wine list. The price code represents New Mexican plates and grilled entrées; steaks cost more. Open for lunch and dinner daily and also for Sunday brunch.