Blake's Lotaburger — Restaurant in Albuquerque

Update: (5/19/24)

Made a mobile order around 8:32pm, estimated time ready is 8:48pm. Pulled up at the window and was told before and after I told them we had a mobile order that it would take 30 min. We pull up to the window around 8:36pm to order sauces with mobile order. By 9pm, we get our order and our milkshakes ended up being runny, again. So, I walked inside to see if they can remake it, only to be told by 9pm they normally turned off milkshake machines at that time. So they serve us runny milkshakes? It was as if the machines were actually turned off even earlier? I know they were sus bc we've ordered milkshakes at 9:30pm, and they were fine. I would rather they tell me the truth, then be served warm milkshakes. The guy even agreed it didn't look good! So he offered me brownies for my trouble. We probably won't be back since this was the 2nd time this happened. We even came over an hour before they closed to be served soggy warm food, like it had been sitting for 30 min.

So, I've been getting Blake's at every so often. Their New Mexican style burgers are always on point, and their seasoned fries were always nice, hot and fresh. Well, the last time I went (last week), the seasoned fries were surprisingly cold and stale. However, their milk shakes were the stars! The texture was perfectly smooth, cold and thick. The service takes some time, which we don't mind waiting for perfection. The service was polite and they gave me a boba straw bc of the Pina colda milk shake has pineapple chunks. Awesome detail so I can have the perfect experience!

This visit, we just ordered 3 milk shakes and medium regular fries. The manager, Celine informed us politely that the fries will be out shortly. We were so excited bc we knew they were gonna be a fresh batch that will be piping hot! Bc they didn't give me the boba straw this time, I waited to drink my milk shake at home (6 min away). I still had a boba straw at home. However, my now favorite Piña Colada milk shake was mostly froth with frozen pineapple chunks. Initially, I tried not to make a fuss. But I was on my period and just wanted something yummy to curb my cravings. My SO drove back asking them to fix it 15 min before closing (I normally wouldn't do that), but the manager Celine was so gracious and understanding of the situation. She did admit that it was frothy from adding a new batch to the machine? My SO ordered large fries, but the surprise was that she added onion rings and a brownie with a cute message! The milk shake was great. I wanted to cry! I felt seen and so grateful! Thank you for the amazing customer service! I appreciate the solidarity as well. We will always go back to this location.

Note: I like to order online, but dislike that Blake's sauce isn't an option...

Their food is super. The service, at least the last time I was there, not so good. :/ This may not be a big deal to some, but I ordered a chicken sandwich and asked if they could add lettuce and tomato and the lady in the intercom said, "Sure". After I finished ordering I asked if she could repeat the order just to make sure she mentioned the "lettuce and tomato" and she did and I think I even asked the check- out dude about the chicken sandwich. 😄 Just... to double check. 😁 When I got home, guess what was missing? 💁🏽‍♀️ Yup. No lettuce and tomato.. 😤 Anyway, because I live so close I decided to go back and get what I ordered. I had the ticket and everything to show them. They indeed charged me for it and didn't give it to me! When I got there, silly me, decided to go in and make this right. 🦸🏽‍♀️ But...to my surprise the door was locked! 🔒 Closed for dine-in. 🙎🏽‍♀️ So I got in my car and as you know, they're not fast. :) And I had already waited previously for my original order. But "luckily" there were only 3 cars ahead of me. And I was next to intercom. I explained to the lady that I was there earlier and had asked for a sandwich...and you know the rest. She said, "Oh yeah, that sandwich doesn't come with lettuce and tomato." ME: (Nah? I had no idea...) I said, "I understand that. But I ordered it that way and you guys even charged me for it. I even have the ticket; I can show you. But could you guys open the door so I don't have to make the line again?" I realize this may have sounded a bit creepy. The, could you open the door part, but by this time I was tired, starving and didn't want to have to make the eternal line again for a mistake they made in first place. They said "hold on let me ask." Waited a minute, She came back and said, "No, we don't do that.” I was like..."You mean I have to go through the drive thru line and wait again? She said, "Yeah, you're going to have go through the drive thru again. I said, Are you serious? Yeah", she said. I said sarcastically, "Thanks! And she replied, Your welcome! At this point, I was so mad and hungry I left and drove back home. But what are 30¢, right? 😏 Not the point. The point is: they could've handled that better....

This is "my" Blake's - it's the closest one to where I live. I've been going there for nearly 13 years now (though there was a period, after a fire, when there wasn't anything there but the slab). I've loved Blake's longer than that, but I want to specifically talk about this location.

After "the pandemic" (which pandemic? I've lived through three or four), the service here suffered, but then after a couple of years of the government paying people to sit on their fat butts it suffered everywhere. It didn't take long and the service at this store rose to the usual Blake's standard - and that's high.

The food is excellent too. I have to say that the switch they recently made in their lettuce (from iceberg to Romaine) has been a poor decision, since the latter just doesn't taste nearly as good, but everything else is wonderful. The company has recently made the Lota Frito Pie a permanent part of the menu, which I applaud since I love a good Frito pie. Their burgers are high class - the best I've ever eaten in New Mexico - and though there isn't as much fish in their fish basket (which, alas, comes and goes) as I would like, it's 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 fish, as good as actual fish and chips. Blake's also has the best breakfast burritos I've ever had - I love the sausage burrito.

And at this store the people are great. Mona especially (I can't remember whether she's the store manager, or a shift manager) is friendly, professional, competent, and genuinely concerned about the customers. And her high quality work reflects in the job the other employees do - those who provide poor service either shape up or they don't last long. Mona's worth a whole lot, and I've told the company that she needs a raise or a promotion.

You won't get me away from Blake's Lotaburger, and from this store, without you drag me off with a bulldozer, and even then my heels will leave furrows in...