Ben Michaels Restaurant

If you want a REAL and GENUINE dining experience THIS is the place. Its unassuming. Its simple. Its thoughtful. Its incredibly astounding. The owner, yes- his name is Ben Michael- hosts, serves, cooks and provides beautiful entertainment on the piano. He speaks to everyone as if they have been friends all their lives. He made me feel more than welcome- I felt at home. He built the restaurant with his own hands. He has a relationship with the space and it clearly shows in the portraits on the walls. The way the mortar reveals fingerprints and his stories surpass time makes this more than eating food- its a memory forever embedded in my mind. Fennel from his garden embellished the side of zucchini I had with the recommended pork enchiladas that cooked for 8 hours. The spice was relevant to New Mexico and the art of food preparation was evident in the taste of it all. Im more than pleased with this experience. Im honored to have stumbled into this space. To have eaten this food. To have created a memory that is as beautiful as this. -Simon Sharp
Apr 10th, 2024

Owner is chef, musician, storyteller, and serving all customers himself, in one word a gem. Truly a renaissance man. Very authentic atmosphere, great food and music.
Apr 5th, 2024

Cozy and jazzy
Mar 30th, 2024

A great find in Albuquerque! I stayed for two evenings and was able to appreciate the delicious food and the beautiful live jazz evening. Ben Michael is an exquisite and very nice person. Menu with exceptional dishes and at a good price. Absolutely not to be missed if you pass through Albuquerque!
Mar 27th, 2024

You MUST visit Ben Michaels Restaurant near Old Town in Albuquerque!!! I cannot tell you how wonderful and authentic this place is. It is an experience, not just a meal! Ben Michael is truly a Renaissance Man and it shows in all that he does! We first went in December of 2023 and were completely WOWED by the ambience, aura and food! He is a master in the kitchen, garden, at the piano and in the realm of storytelling! He made us feel like we were the only people in the world and we had known each other for decades! I am not a foodie in any way, but this chef and his art of cooking made me truly appreciate the world of flavors and phenomenal food! The art and photos on the wall tell the story of a wonderful life and strong connection to family. We then had a private party there for my sister's 60th birthday and once again, Ben Michael made sure we had a wonderful time. He was so personable and attentive all evening while mingling with us and getting to know us better. He is an exceptional listener. Towards the end of the evening he sat down at his beautiful piano and sang a PERSONALIZED Birthday song for my sister!!! He took in all the great details and made her a song!!!! It was amazing!!!! As you can see by now, I cannot say enough great things about Ben Michael's!!! I would be typing for days. Please treat yourself to an evening there and you too will fall in love with this exceptional restaurant.
Mar 20th, 2024