Christy Mae’s

I did.

Fresh Veggies

Christy Mae’s is one of those unassuming and well-known places that everyone except me, it seems, knows about. Often quite crowded, it is a family-owned and -operated restaurant that is conveniently located in the heart of Albuquerque’s uptown area on the northeast corner of Mountain and San Pedro. They prepare from scratch and serve some of the area’s best comfort food, Fast and friendly service and generous servings are their passions. The menu features a variety of home-cooked favorites such as Chicken Pot Pies served with honey cornbread, Country Fried Steak with homemade Mashed Potatos and creamy gravy, and my personal favorite, the Albuquerque Turkey Sandwich. Watch for the specials on the chalkboard.

My lunch for this initial visit was the (justifiably famous) Albuquerque Turkey: sliced breast of turkey, avocado, green chile, topped with Jack cheese, lettuce and tomatos on lightly toasted wheat bread. It was served with fries that while not fresh (i.e., frozen) were well enough prepared to overcome their lineage. I topped them with green chile (sauce, not chopped) that was tasty but very mild. Next time I’ll try the chopped chiles. This creation easily earned a place on my Albuquerque Top Sandwich List.

Uncle Reuben

And don’t miss the Uncle Reuben. Triple decker hot corned beef, turkey, Swiss cheese, red onions, sauerkraut, lettuce,and tomatos prepared with a special dressing on grilled rye bread.This is an incredibly tasty sandwich, and somewhat of a twist on an old standard. I think it’s an improvement. If you are a purist from New York, you might disagree with me. I don’t care. Get this with fries, and you won’t need to eat for the rest of the day.

Chicken Salad Sandwich

On this visit, Jane opted for the Chicken Salad Croissant. She often finds the best items on menus, and this time was no exception. Tender, moist, large chunks of tasty chicken served on a fabulous croissant, this was among the very best chicken salads she has encountered. It was almost too large to eat at one sitting, but she managed. This is one of the great sandwiches in the Duke City. BTW, the fresh breads served with many meals are superb. Take some home with you.

I love places that take the time to prepare food exceedingly well. While Christy Mae’s is assuredly not in the lofty class as Jennifer James 101, say, where I just feasted for an anniversary, the attention to the basics, the use of the finest ingredients available to do the job, the creative imagination, and the painstaking preparation are qualities that are shared by both places. This is high praise, and Christy Mae’s earned it. The Tricarico family is indeed a class act.