Outpost 1706 — Restaurant in Albuquerque

Went in around 3pm on Monday, maybe six people in the place. We were welcomed and told to look at the board for beers, the bartender looked at my wife and reminded her they have wine and cocktails. That's never a good sign. We went over to the sign that says "Order Here" and waited for her to finish making a cocktail so we could order. It took a very long time. After a few more minutes a guy walked in with his dog. He stands at the bar between the two "order here" signs and starts chatting with her. She leaves again to talk to other people. We are still waiting under the order here sign and looking at her. She returns and the guy at the bar orders two beers. I went over and said "excuse me we have been waiting under the order here sign for quite a while". She then got very defensive and said she "acknowledged us". Really? Why have "order here" signs at all? She could have asked who was next if she was unsure, if we were ready etc, etc. We left. For the record I cut servers a lot of slack. We are part owners of several breweries and brewpubs. I have consulted with bars for years, am a BJCP judge, Cicerone and help with GABF etc. I will now go out of my way to avoid this place when I am town just because of this experience. This is why first impressions are important and why staff training...

This place really enchanted me at first. Charles was one of the first ppl to interact with me when I was street performing. He told me I had a solid sound and would love to host me for a paid gig. I went later that week to check out the space I'd be playing in and was met by Cody and I believe another Cody working. They were great attentive servers who make mean cocktails. I liked the lavender lemonade. However I met Pete Kassettas the owner ( who I would later find out is the disgraced former police chief of ABQ). Because of a negative experience I had with a separate shop. He went out of his way to trespass me from the plaza square permanently and forced all the other plaza tenants who offered me paid gigs to cancel them. Just seemed pretty juvenile. May wanna Google his name before you get to know him or support his business. Feel bad for those who work with or around him. They all seem like great ppl just trying to get by with no drama. Pete seems to come...

This place has lousy beer, tacky decor, and just feels downright amateurish.

Downshift is the very definition of mediocre. $8 beers (pints!) that may pass muster in Ruidoso but are well below average in Albuquerque compared to other breweries. Unmemorable and bland beers.

As far as other menu options go, our friend made the mistake of ordering a bramble-ish cocktail that tasted like Kool-Aid.

The space itself is sterile and decorated like someone's finished basement.

Poor, disinterested service.

Giving them one star for having the good sense to sell Cornivore popcorn and for the nice balcony seating.

I really, really didn't enjoy it here.

If you're in the area just make the 5 minute drive to a stellar brewery like Gravity Bound. Way easier to find...