Papa Felipe's Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Albuquerque

This has always been one of our "go-to spots." Went in on Friday (9/15/23) night at about 5:45. There were 4 of us. They weren't that busy as we were able to be sat after only about a 5 minute wait. Our waitress took our drink order and brought them out a few minutes later. Just waters and sodas. A little while later, she took our food order. After about 40 minutes, we still did not have food. We also did not get another visit from our waitress, but another young man did come to take away the chips and salsa, so we thought surely the food would be out soon. We waited patiently. The waitress came and told the table seated directly behind us that their food was on the way (they ordered shortly before us). She apologized to them for the long wait. She said there were a lot of large tables and large orders, so she was helping out in the kitchen. About 10 minutes later, she came back to that table and delivered their food. Shortly thereafter, she finally came by our table, not with food and not with drink refills despite the fact that we had been waiting there for almost an hour with the same drinks and no food. She only said to us, "I don't know if you heard me telling the other table we had some large orders, so your food is taking a while longer, but it should be up next." We did not complain. We were just happy our food would be coming soon. We then overheard someone at the host stand telling someone else that just walked in that the food was taking about an hour or longer to come out before they got sat. They left. We said to ourselves, "I wish they would have told us that when we walked in." Instead, we've been waiting over an hour now, and still no food. But the waitress did tell us that our food was on our way. We waited another 15 minutes and still no food. We finally got up and left. Worst experience at a restaurant that I can remember, not just here but anywhere. The food sucked, as it never came after about an hour and 15 minutes. The service was arguable worse. And to top it off, when we walked out, no one even cared. The host held the door for us and asked how everything was. I let him know that we had been waiting over an hour and only saw our waitress twice and never got any food. All he said was, "Yeah, we're sorry about that." But offered no solutions, just smiled as he watched us walk out. The last time we were here before this had been our worst experience here before, but we still got our food and left without being hungry. This experience takes the cake for the worst ever and seals the deal. We'll never come back. We used to love this restaurant, I'm not sure what happened to make them try and go out of business, but they seem to be working real hard at it. They were even better during COVID than they are now, and that says something. We instead went to El Patron on Montgomery. OMG, the two dining experiences were like night and day. Everything at El Patron was perfect. You might be thinking that's not hard to do after that terrible experience at Papa Felipe's, but seriously. We were sat quickly, they delivered our drinks and food timely. My drink was never empty before I had another one waiting for me. We saw the waiter multiple times throughout the evening. So much so that he felt like a friend when we left. The manager was walking around the restaurant throughout the evening, talking to tables and making sure everything was alright. We talked to him 3 different times. There were mariachis playing in the restaurant, The decor is on point, compared to Papa Felipe's Christmas lights in September.... The food at El Patron was some of the most delicious! If Papa Felipe's wants to know what a good New Mexican restaurant is like, I would suggest that they visit El Patron and take notes. They might learn something. Although I doubt they care, it shows based on how they operate their failing restaurant. El Patron saved the evening that got off to a terrible start at Papa Felipe's and gained a repeat customer in...

I lived in Albuquerque 18 years ago and this was my favorite! I am visiting from California and I had to come here. The food was positively delicious! I was shocked they had my green tamale pie. I couldn’t even speak! My food was the best I’ve had in years! The corn, the beans and my green chili tamale pie.

Now to the negative. Our server didn’t seem to have much of a pulse. She never asked once how we were doing, if we needed anything else-nada. My Mom asked for coffee and our server forgot. We then asked another woman (only to be told she was the manager) she was extremely indifferent. I wanted to apologize for asking if my Mom could get coffee. She glumly brought my Mom coffee. We asked for creamer. She forgot so we asked our server and she brought it out (no sense of urgency, whatsoever). I heard this manager “telling” the sweet, gentleman cashier how to clean menus and how she likes to stay on top of things. Here’s a tip. Stay on top of your customers and this female server. The “manager” had no personality, never smiled, never acknowledged customers. I became very interested in her lack of interest in her job. I was seated at the first booth to the left as you walk in so I had a great view.

I tell you, if this manager is the best you can hire, she must be family or a friend. With food that delicious, I’d make it a point to pack that place with above average customer service. Energy. Enthusiasm and plain old doing the job you’re paid to do. I’d keep that super friendly, happy bus boy and teach him to be a server!

I resented leaving her 15% tip. I’m tired of tipping bad service! I have decided today, I will not do so again. I’d love to train your manager and servers in exceptional customer service. The tips belong to your cooks, kitchen staff, cashier and bartender! They were on point with the taste of the food and deliciously perfect margarita and sweet dispositions.

I will order to go before I go home to California. I won’t dine in to receive warm bodies greeting and serving me and leaving the dreaded obligatory tip!

Train and execute the training to your entire staff Papa Felipe’s! You’ve been in business this long, step up your game! Manager needs to be dressed professionally, and act like the leader she’s been hired to be! If not, find someone who will.

I’ll look forward to ordering my pick up order. I will happily drive half an hour!! Thank you for the delightful and consistent flavor. After 18 years, I’m impressed. I do wish the tamale pie was in the bowl like before. It had that yummy entire top covered with the moist...

2019 pre-pandemic. Fantastic Mexican food. Reasonable prices. Terrific service....the server actually remembered my food allergy when I returned a few weeks later. Papa Felipe's is the FIRST stop when friends return to NM from Long Island. The only negative is that parking is inadequate.

12-2023. I hadn't been there in a while because of a terrible experience about a year ago. I have a friend visiting who really wanted to go there, so we did. The restaurant was mostly empty at 130pm on a weekend. The food was good but not great from a very slow kitchen (36 minutes from ordering to serving with only 11 tables of customers), and the prices are up 30% or more from late last year. They now charge $1.50 for chips and salsa. Again, we had the fantastic server who's been there forever. Additional major drawbacks... The bathroom isn't very clean, and there is a terrible stench from the entire bathroom area. The bill has suggested tips that are mathematically inaccurate. My total was $22.47, and the suggested tips were 18% at 4.93, 20% at 5.38, and 25% at 6.92.

I'm a licensed high school math teacher. 18% is 4.05, 20% is 4.50, and 25% is 5.63.

I feel like there's definitely been a change in mentality from family-friendly hospitality, great food, and great service since the pandemic but more noticeable in the last year or so. Now, it is a very slow kitchen, smaller portions, price gouging, and intentionally deceptive tips.

I wouldn't be surprised if they have to close down from poor business plan within the next several months. It's such a shame that a great restaurant is being run into the ground since the decades long manager and chef Larry is gone.

February 3, 2024. We returned tonight to celebrate a birthday and use the birthday BOGO email reward. Similar experience to a month ago.

Adequately attentive wait staff.

One plate had to be sent back because the ordered well-done ground steak was so undercooked that it was BLOODY.

Then when attempting to use their emailed BOGO, the manager INSISTED she had to physically take the cell phone away from the table to record the information and verify the deal--that the restaurant emailed us-- and was gone with the phone for a few minutes. VERY RISKY in an age of identity theft. Made both of us extremely uncomfortable. Saving $12.00 wasn't worth dealing with a manager who unreasonably insisted she keep a phone to verify coupon instead of simply copying the info down at the table.

Next time, we'll go to Cervantes, Los Cuates, Bruno"s, Monroes, or...