The Owl Bar & Cafe — Restaurant in Four Corners States

We always pass this place when heading to Albuquerque and decided to finally try it. Place looks fun, has lots of character and was playing good music.

Macadamia cookies are awesome! Coffee was good 👍 Grilled cheese was good 👍 Chili beans good (once it cooled off, this chili was scorching hot not sure if it's a legal temperature to serve, even after 15 min it was still boiling hot! My husband burned his palate) Nachos were okay super basic; beans, meat, jalapeños, cheese sauce and lettuce/tomato. The menu is not vegetarian/vegan friendly and that's okay but it's always nice to have some options, we are not full vegetarian and will eat meat if we have to, we just choose not to.

Our real problem with this place was the service. From the moment we walked in, the server wasn't too friendly, she was sitting at the bar, we thought it was a costumer until she finally tells us to sit anywhere after she sees us standing there looking around, I mean it's our first time. We had a simple question about the menu (it says "no meat" option so we are wondering if that's a veggie patty) she seems really confused and says I thinks so, clearly unsure, then she changes her answer to probably not, even adds that she has been serving there a while. We are confused because if you have, shouldn't you know the answer? We tell her we usually don't eat meat that's why we were wondering, she makes no effort to get clarity by asking someone else. We each get a grilled cheese. My husband orders chili and she mentions there's a bit of beef in it he says it's okay. I failed to make sure the nachos didn't have meat but that's on me she didn't mention it either. After getting our food I asked for sour cream for my nachos and she seemed confused by that too, was even unsure if they have ever had sour cream. Again, how long have you worked here? She ignored us the rest of the time, didn't refill our water even though we were the only table there, she was more interested in talking to her coworker.

The lady in the front was nice and my husband decided to ask about the "no meat" question we had, she said someone sometime asked for a burger with no meat literally no patty just everything else. We thanked her for the clarity we were just wondering if it was a veggie patty, she expressed how disgusting she thinks they are by making multiple faces and went on about it 😂 All together we would only stop again if we decided to try their burgers out, I guess that's what they are famous for so maybe in the future but for now we will hold our hunger and wait to go to...

My son and I were excited to do the Owl Cafe vs. Buckhorn Green chili cheese burger comparison. But when all was said and eaten, I didn't think it was much of a competition.

Buckhorn: Atmosphere was open and warm. Attended to immediately. The burger was warm, with a thick and moist patty. It was the freshest tasting burger I can recall eating in the States. Bun was fresh; fries were warm and crispy with just enough salt.

The original owl cafe/bar: The fries arrived first. They tasted like they were reheated. Not that they were soggy. More like, chewy, dense. We didn't eat them. The burger? Their beef patty was very thin, but also good. The bun quickly got soggy and fell apart, but I was up for the task.

My son ordered the steak and eggs. The steak was dry. And unlike my son's usual behavior, he didn't eat most of it. Even so, he ordered his chili cheeseburger to go.

I thought Buckhorn's burger was better. My son, however, after eating his burger later, said the Owl Cafe's burger was better. He posited that perhaps mine wasn't as good bc they served it to me cold. Noted. There is no definitive winner on the burger. Maybe a matter of taste. Cant ho wrong with either. Fries? Buckhorn. Hands down.

Finally, Customer Service: Not sure why, but the male staff never said a word or cracked a smile. It was a bit uncomfortable.

Also, i was at the cash register and gave the waitress my bill and credit card. Then she called out another to-go order. The lady steps out from behind us and pays while we wait, mid-transaction!! Wait, what??? I was NOT happy with the microaggression. It was rude and likely a subconscious act. The unsmiling men stood near the cash register, stoned face and quiet. I held my tongue and wrote her a way smaller tip than I initially intended, and left. I gave her $20 tip to the cleaning lady at the hotel instead.

So, both winners on the burgers, I guess, if you warm up your own Owl burger before you eat it. ;)

Buckhorn - better fries and customer service.

I would bypass the Owl, but my son felt the burger was a little better. I respect his opinion. Maybe it was better if it was warm. I'll never go back, but my son can meet me down the street. I am 100% a...

In the pantheon of American comfort foods, few items command the reverence bestowed upon the hamburger. And within this exalted category, there exists a paragon of simplicity and perfection: The Original Owl Cafe’s green chile cheeseburger.

From the moment the patty hits the grill, an olfactory symphony ensues. The aroma of beef, perfectly seasoned and expertly grilled, wafts through the air, promising a taste that does not disappoint. The patty itself is a masterclass in balance—juicy yet firm, robust yet delicate. Each bite reveals a depth of flavor that belies the burger’s apparent simplicity. The seasoning is subtle, allowing the quality of the beef to shine through while the char from the grill adds a smoky complexity.

The green chile, a nod to New Mexico’s culinary heritage, is the burger’s pièce de résistance. Its mild heat and slightly fruity undertones meld seamlessly with the cheese, creating a harmonious blend that elevates the burger to gastronomic heights. The cheese, melted to perfection, envelops the patty, ensuring that each bite is a melty, savory delight.

What sets The Original Owl Cafe’s burger apart is not just the taste but the balance. The size of the burger is just right—substantial enough to satisfy but not so large as to overwhelm. This equilibrium ensures that the focus remains on the quality of each ingredient rather than mere quantity. The home-cut fries, served alongside, are a nostalgic nod to simpler times. Golden and crisp, with a tender interior, they are the perfect accompaniment, providing a textural contrast to the burger.

In an age where culinary complexity often masquerades as sophistication, The Original Owl Cafe’s green chile cheeseburger stands as a testament to the power of simplicity. It is a burger that transcends the ordinary, inviting you to savor each bite and, in doing so, transporting you back to a time when food was unpretentious yet profoundly satisfying.

For those on a pilgrimage to find the quintessential burger, or for travelers passing through, The Original Owl Cafe is a destination worth the journey. Here, in this unassuming establishment, you will find not just a meal but a reminder of what makes the humble burger an enduring icon of...