A & B’s Lunch Box

Went for a breakfast during a trip to ABQ last week. There r plenty of seats available and the guy who worked there was very nice and i liked the presentation of the food highly recommended

This is now on my list of favorite places. An indie spot which is hip, artsy, a little odd, and is super friendly and welcoming. Further, they definitely throw down some hellaciously good eats. Need great grub for breakfast or lunch, this place is for you. Desserts are available, including an ice cream number topped with coffee and whipped cream.
Enjoy the art displays, as. Well.
Service was outstanding – by far the best I’ve experienced in quite some time.
I highly recommend the chili pocket – soooo good.

Great service and the staff is incredibly polite. The food is spot on: the green chili burrito, the breakfast bagel, and the parfait are all tasty, basic foods with the right amount of extra flavor. The coffee is good, too! Friendly down-​to-​earth place.

Saw A&B’s in an article for «must eat» places in ABQ that you’ve never heard of and it did not disappoint. The place is small and and it took awhile for our food to come out, but based on how it tasted the wait was well worth it because of a lot of TLC and fresh ingredients being used. A friend and I split two entrees. The Mexicano (carne adovada) sandwich was amazing but I have to say the Carne Adovada Frito Pie sealed the deal: the best Frito Pie I’ve ever had. I met the owner who was extremely friendly and I will be returning without a doubt. It is not a cheap lunch costing about $ 9-​$ 12 but it was well worth it. Looking forward to warmer weather and sitting outside at A&Bs!

I was so astounded it’s taken me a week to think of what to say in this review. Let me start by saying I’m a huge coffee snob, and there are not enough places that can make a decent coffee in Albuquerque. A&B’s surpassed all of my expectations. The coffee is great, and they know what to do with it. Best café con leche I’ve ever had in the U.S.
The staff was extremely friendly, and I enjoy the owner’s sense of humor. When you go, you’ll see what I mean.
Prices were low compared to the quality of food and service. And the food was out of this world. It takes a lot of effort to take something everyone knows how to make, and make it better and different. Even the most simple of dishes at A&B’s seem to have tons of work put into them. As a cooking enthusiast and former caterer, the genius in the kitchen has completely surpassed what I thought possible in this city.
What I’m saying is… Stop what you’re doing, and treat yourself to A&B’s. You won’t be disappointed, and you’ll be addicted. I know I can’t stop dreaming of the café con leche.

So sad I moved from the neighborhood! This was my favorite breakfast spot on weekends. The courtyard is absolutely lovely. The staff is awesome. They actually knew what my kiddo loved (key lime pie) and would make sure they had it on the alternate weekends he was with me! That is what makes this place spectacular.

I am on the fence about this place and I’ll tell you why, first, I believe that these guys really want to make their guests happy. I received stellar service the two times I went in here for coffee and snacks. One time they even gave me a free chocolate pyramid! It’s kind of a hole in the wall but it’s quant and cute, great space to relax mid afternoon. Super attentive, but laid back and unpretentious is the vibe here. That being said, the coffee isn’t the greatest. The first time it was a little burnt and the foam was really bubbly, not a great latte. The second time (different barista) it wasn’t burnt but it wasn’t really fantastic either, an overly milky cappuccino is no bueno in my book. Hate to say it but the baristas need a little training, if that were to happen this place could be five stars easily. The breakfast burrito was tasty, and affordable, maybe next time I’ll order tea and be more satisfied.:)

The Grove was closed for the week, so we came here. We both had huevos — one red, one green. The food wasn’t awful, but wholly unremarkable. I am giving 2 stars because for the same price point one could eat at either Tia B’s Waffleria or The Grove. Both serve immensely better food than Lunchbox. No offense to Lunchbox, but I wish we had taken out $ 20+ to Whole Foods and made our own huevos.

I have eaten in every breakfast place in the area in ABQ and the place is the best eats lord help me please. They will pack your box up! (Hahaha).
Ode to AnB’s
Oh tasty greenchillie omelet,
How you make me cry
When I bite into your fluffyness
A mothgasm I cannot deny
With a muffin and coffee
I tremble with delight
I run out of the restaurant screaming
SKYROCKETS IN FLIGHT!

Perfect quiet lunch on the breezeway. The panini were delicious and the plating of the fruit didn’t disappoint. The staff were polite and had a relaxed vibe. They didn’t rush us off so we stayed talking for ever. The lemonade was quite sour, but overall a great time.

This is by far my favorite place for breakfast and lunch in the Downtown area. The food is always quality and the coffee is made with care; the desserts are to die for. The staff is always polite and ready to joke around with customers and the owners are just fabulous. They work in the café, so unlike many others I’ve been too. I very highly suggest the breakfast burritos smothered in red chili with a vanilla Chai latte and a dessert of the day. They also have these breakfast sandwiches that are basically croissants filled with awesome. Just go.

Easily one of the best local breakfasts I’ve had in quite awhile! Service was friendly and fast, there was plenty of choice seating, indoor, porch area, or outdoor/​courtyard. I had a chai latte and it was perfect. One of the best I’ve had. My husband had café au lait, he said it was delicious and well made. We decided to get two entrees and share between us, and chose today’s special — carne adovada breakfast tacos, and the breakfast burrito. Both were delicious and served with fresh fruit. For both drinks and both entrees, we paid right at $ 20. Can’t beat those prices. The portions were just the right size — we left full and satisfied, but not stuffed. We will definitely be paying this place more visits in the future. The atmosphere is really nice, not pretentious at all, unassuming, and nowhere near as bougie as some of the nearby brunch places. Eat here, drink coffee here, you won’t regret it. Top notch.

Great breakfast and it’s served all day!

Why, oh why, didn’t these people talk to me before they decided to take over the place that was The Daily Grind?
Okay, shout out to aspiring business entrepreneurs throughout this city: we need a café in the North Valley. Barelas, specifically, near the freeway, close to everything, plop your coffee bean hiney down on Rio Grande. You build it, we’ll come. The closest I got is a Seattlebucks and they get way too much of my cash. A&B, time to expand?
The Lunchbox is a great successor to the last place, it’s very similar, actually. Specializing in a bevy of yummy breakfast and lunch options, it’s worth a bite and a sip. Prices are very fair. I can only vouch for the yogurt/​granola parfait and an iced coffee, but the rest of what I saw coming out of the kitchen, including a gooey, bursting breakfast burrito that left scraps on my friend’s beard, all looked good. The back courtyard is exactly what it’s always been: a getaway from Central, peaceful and generally shaded in the hot summer sun.
Barelas beacons, A&B…

Great little eclectic spot. Had good simple and inexpensive breakfast. $ 7.20 w tax.
Several hideaway spots to sit in (they come find you to bring your food) and a cool patio in back between casitas with finches vying for crumbs!
Fat little finches at that!!!
Noon on Wednesday and just a few diners. Had the patio to myself!
Definitely recommend!

Very nice café. Food is good, but what makes this café great is the patio in the courtyard –very quiet and private. Looks like one of the small courtyards in Old Town, but better I think.

Satisfying breakfasts with good flavor, variety and even presentation. Excellent on a Sunday morning. Good coffee. Fair prices. A great value.

My girlfriend and I skipped The Grove (where she wanted to go) because I read a couple good things about this place. It wasn’t hard to find due to the great signage on the front of their building. Walking in was difficult in itself, as there was a lounge chair nearly blocking the entrance. It made for a really awkward forming line of customers. However, the place looked really cozy. Great smell upon walking in, cute décor; almost just like walking into one of those houses in the east downtown area (if you could picture that).
The menu seemed pretty extensive. Some normal breakfast to choose from among a few other things. Nothing really out of the ordinary, however. My girlfriend chose the breakfast panini, which is basically a bagel with eggs, swiss cheese, ham and a side of fruit. She got a «glass» of orange juice, which was Tropicana OJ served in a glass with ice. I ordered the breakfast burrito and a bottled water.
First complaint: the order total was $ 21 and some change. For simple breakfast food, without any legitimate accompanying beverages, $ 21 is awfully expensive. I already told myself the food was going to have to be really good for it to be worth that kind of money. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. The burrito was said to feature egg, potatoes, beans and green chile, I would say 85% of the burrito was comprised of potato. Though the green chile was VERY tasty, there was really no type of moisture to combat the dryness of the potatoes nor the pastiness of the beans. To have it smothered would have been an additional $ 1.80. Had I seen that on the menu, I would have more than likely elected to have my burrito smothered, though that would have made the burrito over $ 8. That’s outrageously expensive for a regular sized burrito that contains no meat.
Second complaint: it took well over 15 minutes to receive our order. It looked as if they had about 6 – 8 people on staff. Two managed the front of the house, a couple others were in and out, not entirely sure what they were doing, and the others (maybe three or four) were in the kitchen. There may have been 6 – 8 other guests already seated when we came in. It seemed a little too long to wait, given their house was not even halfway full.
Third (and final) complaint: the menu specials were written on a chalkboard that did not hang anywhere near the main menu. It was off to the side, sort of just placed next to and a little behind the fridge that held some of their bottled drinks. One of the specials was, I believe, raspberry smothered waffles with some sort of compote drizzled on top. It sounded delicious! But I didn’t see that menu until I had already ordered and was seated. That stunk.
The upsides: Like I mentioned previously, I really enjoyed the atmosphere. It’s just a really cozy place. Another review said it was dirty. I didn’t get that impression at all. My burrito, although only mildly flavorful and dry, was very fresh. It was hot upon arrival, and like I previously mentioned, the green chile was really really good. The fruit that came with my burrito was presented very beautifully and tasted even better than it looked. My girlfriend’s breakfast panini was very flavorful and her fruit, which included different fruits than were on my plate, looked and tasted even better than mine!
Overall: It was a bit pricey, the wait was a little too long and I just didn’t enjoy my burrito like I should have. I know the place has potential so I want to give it another try. We didn’t order anything special off of their drink menu so we will definitely be back for a coffee and possibly a London Fog. We’ll probably try some more food as well.

Just had lunch for the first time at A&B’s and loved it.
The place is tiny tiny, a wealth of nooks and crannies, so wherever you sit is going to be quiet and private, which is nice. It was formerly a coffee shop, and still maintains a broad coffee-​shop drinks menu, but the flip side is an array of paninis. The soup, rotating regularly on the specials board, is made in-​house, which is an immediate bonus.
Service at the counter was friendly and helpful and had our drinks in our hand before we even pulled out our wallets.
I asked if I could exchange the meat in The Burqueno (a stock Albuquerque turkey/​cheese/​green chile sandwich) for the veggie burger, and I was encouraged to do so. When my sandwich came, with my first bite my question was, «What brand of veggie burger are they using? This is really different!» But a quick look revealed the secret: they make their own veggie burger in house, too. A quinoa/​black bean burger. Neat! I talked to the chef-​owner, and he confirmed that it is hand made, gluten free, and vegan. Very cool.
My husband had the special, a nice ham & cheese with chile and portobello tapenade, as well as a bowl of the gumbo & quite enjoyed them. We both agreed that the fresh, crusty baguette on both of our sandwiches was a key ingredient. Great bread!
A&B’s is still very new, but they have apparently jumped in with both feet, and they know what they are doing. The wife/​husband owners come out of some of the best restaurants in town. They are working with interesting, fresh, often local ingredients, and it is looking bright and promising from this side of the table.
Definitely worth a try for lunch!

I literally stumbled into this place. I went around the block a few times looking for the Daily Grind. I had never been to the Daily Grind and I couldn’t find it, but I did see a place where it was supposed to be advertising coffee in the window. I assumed it was The Daily Grind. So I parked near Artichoke Café and went inside this place.
It looks a lot like a house, really. And when you walk in, you’ll have some déjà vu of your mama’s kitchen. It’s quaint, and cute, with the food being made right behind the counter that you order from. There are a handful of tables inside, and a few outside. The girl that brought out my meal even had an apron on.
The service was friendly. I ordered the bowl of mushroom soup and a side salad. The side salad has walnuts, cranberries, and an awesome raspberry vinaigrette on it. And the mushroom soup… don’t get me started. Although it was a tad salty, it was DELISH. It was creamy and full of pureed mushrooms. I also got an iced coffee that really hit the spot.
After I ordered and put my number on my table, I went back outside to look for markers to tell me that this place was the Daily Grind. I eventually figured out that it is now «A+B’s Lunchbox» when the lady who took my order brought me a card and told me that they had bought this place from the Daily Grind a few weeks ago and that they were brand new.
Sweet! I’m glad I stopped in because I wouldn’t have known about this new little gem downtown otherwise.
The menu consists of some breakfast foods, lots of coffee, sandwiches, salads, soups, and some tasty looking baked goods/​desserts. So stop in and show ‘em some love!