Prairie Star Restaurant & Wine Bar — Restaurant in New Mexico

Incredible. Every new dish that came out had me thinking "why does this work?"

The service was good. Water always at the ready, and a very informative waiter. Was able to answer every question we had, and there were many.

I had the caesar salad, which used arugula and spinach and probably another green I'm unfamiliar with, instead of romaine, but it was still good. We also started with the grilled brie which was awesome. Topped with some sort of apple and quince (like a fruit paste, we had to ask as we've never come across it) and again, the combination of flavors worked well. Beforehand that they actually brought this dense white bread that was frosted with herbs on top, along with whipped butter and a raspberry jam. DON'T be afraid to try the jam with the crusted part of the bread because, again, it's crazy, but it works.

The first bottle we had was a local Grüner Veltliner from Milagro vineyards. A good Austrian white wine. I'm not an expert so I'll stop there. Then we had a Pinot Meunier from Prairie Star in partnership with the Santa Ana Pueblo. It was a laid back, rosé type wine. Anyone would like it.

Our entrees were the pan seared trout, bacon wrapped pheasant, and the tomahawk pork chop. I've never had pheasant so I went in blind, and it's some of the best bird I've eaten. It tasted like the dark meat on Turkey, but with more flavor and incredibly moist. The risotto on the dish was perfectly cooked, but I found it bland. However, when I mixed it into everything else on the plate, it was great. Tart apples topped the food and some onions and other stuff. Perfect dish.

The pork chop came with sweet potatoes and broccolini, all delicious. I don't like sweet potatoes but they added some bleu cheese in there and that changed the game completely. The pork was SO moist and was cooked medium. I've never had pork cooked this way and loved it.

I personally didn't try the trout, but my mom says it was fabulous. I did try the wild rice which had blueberries in it. Again, a combination that shouldn't work, but does.

We finished with the pumpkin Swiss roll and the chocolate turnover. The turnover was a perfect pastry and wasn't too sweet. The pumpkin swiss roll reminded me of a spice cake or a little like carrot cake. The dark chocolate bark on top was awesome.

Altogether there's literally nothing negative I can say about this place. Top five meals of my existence. Chef, if you're reading this, you did a damn...

I had the pleasure treating my mom to a birthday dinner at Prairie Star restaurant in Bernalillo, and it was an unforgettable experience. The hospitality and service provided by Francesca and Felicia were simply outstanding. They made the evening feel warm and welcoming from start to finish.

I tried the Pan Roasted Mediterranean Branzino with arugula pesto couscous, citrus sautéed carrots & peas, and lobster-saffron velouté. The combination of flavors was exquisite, and the Branzino was cooked to perfection.

Although she wanted a filet, she opted for the 14oz ribeye, and it was tender and juicy, served with bacon & cream smashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, foie gras butter, and roasted garlic demi-Glace, because they don't offer a filet, but do offer prime rib, in Fridays, and a sirloin & shrimp entree. Each element on the plate was carefully prepared and blended harmoniously to create a mouthwatering dish.

Dessert was a real treat. The Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake with salted caramel and port wine gastrique was a chocolate lover's dream, and the special pumpkin cream tart added a delightful seasonal touch.

What truly set the Prairie Star restaurant apart was the breathtaking view of Sandia Mountain. The unobstructed, gorgeous scenery during sunset made the evening even more magical. I'd recommend taking selfies early before the sun dips too low or any clouds block the mountain's beautifully illuminated vista.

I can only imagine how wonderful it would be to enjoy a fantastic patio breakfast during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta with such a picturesque backdrop. Prairie Star is a culinary gem that combines excellent food, exceptional service, and a stunning setting for a memorable...

It’s with a heavy heart that I leave this poor review. We’ve been going to Prairie Star for ~25 years and it’s been a real pleasure to dine there. As staff has turned over and chefs have changed, it hasn’t always been the same, but we’ve continued to have good experiences. A year or so ago we had what I’d describe as an “indifferent” meal, but they were sort of busy and nothing was bad per se. We haven’t made it a point to go back, but the opportunity presented itself to go this evening so we went.

Anyway, when we pulled into the parking lot and saw no cars on a Friday night, that should have been a warning. We went in and the restaurant was indeed deserted. Most of the staff was in the wine bar area talking and laughing loudly (which occurred during most of our meal). Our waiter was very nice and we ordered a braised bison and the fish special. I ordered an Italian red by the glass since they used to have a nitrogen flush system to keep their open bottles fresh.

I’m not sure if the wine system isn’t working, but the wine definitely had a left out “tang” but given nothing else on the by-the-glass menu looked good I made do. Our entrees arrived and my bison looked like it had been over cooked and seared by a torch. The fish special had some excellent sides, but was also dry and over cooked. We sort of ate the sides, picked at the meat and decided things had just gone downhill.

Our waiter waived my wine due to the meals, but overall I was just really sad and disappointed with the experience. Hoping they make a turn around soon, but won’t be...