Ihatov Bread and Coffee — Restaurant in Albuquerque

Ok. First let me say that I've spent over 20 years working in the restaurant and hospitality arena. I even managed a coffee shop for 2 years. I say this because Ihatov has been nominated for a James Beard Award for best bakery and I fully understand how prestigious just being nominated for such an award truly is. It's like the Oscars for food. I hope others understand the significance of just being a nominee. It is not easy to get your business recognized in such a way. You have to be world class.

I'm still fairly new to Albuquerque and when I read about this bakery and their James Beard nomination, I knew I needed to pay this place a visit.

Ihatov did not disappoint. In my one and only visit so far (I'll definitely be back) I ordered a latte and a sourdough baguette to take home. The latte was literally perfect. Just absolutely perfect. I'm actually curious as to what machine they use because their espresso based drinks are spot on.

As for the sourdough baguette....I ate slices of that for days. I had it with just butter, I ate it with jam, and I had it with gooey sharp cheddar melted on top. That baguette was absolutely amazing.

I've been really busy lately but I'm dying to return. I want it all. The pear and black pepper bread sounds awesome. Being from the Southeast (North Carolina), I'm dying to try their biscuits. I want their croissants, too. Actually, I wanna try everything.

I can't say enough good things and I pray they actually win the Beard Award. They deserve it. But again, just to be nominated is an outstanding achievement.

I love this place. Also, I sat and enjoyed my latte and the place has a really nice ambience. Very serene.

I can't wait to go back....

I enthusiastictly give them two giant...

I kept passing Ihatov by on my commute to work but never went in because I couldn't find an online menu. My first taste of Ihatov was actually at the Downtown Growers Market, where a friend and I got some croissants. My friend enjoyed his pain au chocolat while I wished my green chile and cheese croissant had a little more filling. It was probably the best croissant I've had in America otherwise. I went to the brick-and-mortar location not long after, where two employees gave me their recommendations. Both vouched for the buttermilk biscuit, but I ended up with a galette. The galette was good, and getting a discount for working in Nob Hill was better. We found Ihatov at the Growers Market again, where my friend enjoyed another pastry and bought a loaf of bread. I got to sample their Calpico, which was also delicious. One day, when I actually have time before work, I want to sit in with some tea. UPDATE: I've sat in with tea. The Darjeeling is fantastic. Almond croissant is too. Had another green chile croissant with more filling than the first one. (Seems filling is inconsistent.) Both the babka and the challah are to die for. UPDATE: My most recent challah loaf was underbaked. Probably won't be back for a while. UPDATE: I WILL have to come in for the red...

This is a Mary Poppins establishment for Northern New Mexico: practically perfect in every way, a bakery surpassing all others in quality in the last 20 years of the region's offerings (at least to the author's admittedly un-comprehensive knowledge). This one has the benefit of being Japanese owned and operated, though which of its offerings qualify as being contemporarily or traditionally Japanese aren't quite clear. The ceramics for potted plants and the Miyazaki art books are about the only indication.

At ~$15 for a loaf of bread, the price is about the only thing holding Ihatov back from greatness. Times are tough, but profit margins are still decently high on bread's basic building blocks, last time I checked. Maybe I have no business editorializing on the accounting of a kind of business I've never personally owned or operated, and admittedly everything is too expensive in 2023, but something tells me this excellence could be achieved for less of an assault on the customer's wallet. After one green chile cheese croissant, one cup of tea, and one loaf of black peppercorn pear bread, I'm presently in the hole for upwards of $30, including tax and tip. Even though that... hurts, I will be back, just not as much...