bRgR

Awesome! Great microbrews and even better Mojo Mind burger!

+/​-​decent burgers (asked for medium rare and got medium; medium was well done)
+ green beans sides were good but the queso dip was thick and not fresh
— fries aren’t very good
— don’t get the mojito
+ good bloody mary’s
+ good service
+ lots of TVs around the bar area
— not a great place for groups

This review stems from a February 11, 2012 outing to bRgR.
The green chile cheeseburger is ok, but unspectacular.
The llama burger: Completely forgettable and bordering on gross due to the odd-​tasting sauce.
Both burgers would improve significantly if the joint used different bread. The thick, hard, and chewy bread is so hard to bite through that the patty and trimmings fall apart. When I mentioned this to the waiter he said that he’d heard that from several customers and that the restaurant’s local bread provider just hadn’t gotten it right yet.
Singularly unimpressed

So we arrived in Albuquerque on a rainy cold day. The plan had been to hop on the railrunner to Santa Se but we missed the last morning one and had 4 hours to kill. I after walking around in the cold rain we ended up at brgr.
What a relief! I the staff was super nice. I the beers are inexpensive, as is the food. The free wifi was icing on the cake.
Right before leaving Albuquerque, we came back and had equally great service, good food, and great beers, all at a price I could totally get behind.
That being said, the service here, is the best, bar none. The girl who helped us out both times was possible the best waitstaff at any place I’ve been to… and I’ve been to some fancy places. Everyone was friendly, knowledgeable, and caring. The food here can range from 3 to 4. Nothing was out of this world. But everything else sure made up for it. I will happily come again next time I’m in town.

I came for the food, but I stayed for the beer.
After a long day walking around the city, I just wanted to sit back and relax with some food and drinks. It was still early, so the place wasn’t too crowded. My waitress was very nice and attentive. I ordered the vegan burger, and it wasn’t too great but the beers on tap were very good. I had a few, but thought that if I wanted to drink I should hit up a bar or at the Marble Brewery.

I love a simple menu with fresh and local cuisine. These burgers are not pretentious and not over-​priced. I hate going to places (such as Flip, in Atlanta), where you pay $ 20 for an ok-​tasting burger. At bRgR, the prices start at $ 6, and everything is a-​la-​carte, so you can order as much or as little as you like. The décor is hip and modern, just like the food. The kobe beef burgers are excellent. I would have given this place 5 stars, but I think they can do a little bit better on the french fries. I had to use a lot of ketchup, which I normally don’t use if the fries are good enough. I’ll definitely be back, though, and maybe next time try another side item.

1 star = Terrible. Multiple things went wrong. Never going back.
2 star = Not good. I will not go back, but it wasnt absolutely awful.
3 star = Good, not great. I wouldnt go out of my way, but I *would* go back.
4 star = Excellent food. I really liked it. I could be a regular here.
5 star = Phenomenal food. Something truly special here.
I am staying at the Hyatt, right around the corner. A friend suggested bRgR, and it was close, so I gave it a shot. The reviews here are mixed, but I really liked it.
First, I should say that I dined at around 4 on a Saturday. There were maybe 3 – 4 other tables, so it wasnt super slow and it wasnt busy either. The service was still a bit slow as compared to other places, but I didnt mind as I wasnt in a hurry and was there to have a nice meal and relax. Everyone on staff was super nice.
My review might not be a huge help to many because I ordered the chicken burger. I know, I know; why go to a burger place and not get beef? The chix burger was really good — it has avocado, bacon, cheddar cheese and a really good sauce on it. The burger patty size was just right for me, but the bun was a bit big and it was, as others have noted, cold. I dont know why they dont warm the bun, but if I go back I will ask them to do so.
With my burger, I decided to try the fries and the onion «rings.» The fries were just right — crispy on the outside, meaty on the inside, and the ketchup was really good. The onion rings were really strings or straws, thin and crispy, but hard to dip in the dipping sauce. I would try the green beans next time.
They serve Pepsi products (BLECH!).
I finished it all off with a chocolate shake, which was small (maybe 16 oz) but delicious. Very chocolatey!
If you are in town and staying close by, this is one place you should try!

Over-​hYpEd. My green chile burger was served on a cold (brrrr!) hard bun. The meat was done medium (as stated in the menu) with just the right amount of pink, but no flavor. I’d season that meat, son. At $ 6, it was an okay deal, but I’d pay more for more flavor.
Realize, too, that burgers are ala carte. I ordered the famed wasabi cole slaw. The cabbage was limp, the slaw as a whole was kinda warm, and it just didn’t seem fresh. Did they mix up where to hold the slaw and where to hold the buns? The slaw’s flavor, unlike previous reviews state, was overly wasabi-​ish. I think they’ve overcompensated.
Server was aloof and forgetful … a bad combination.
I think I’ll try eLsWhR next time I’m in town.

This place is a disappointment. The atmosphere and menu imply that you are in for a fancy burger experience. There is nothing special about this food.
After two trips downtown I’ve had enough of the flavor-​lacking bison burger (see five star instead) and the average beef burger (see holy cow or countless others) to where I’m done here. I tasted no wasabi in the cole slaw but it sure had a large pile of ginger on it. Onion rings that were limp and wet and required the use of a fork. Thats not an onion ring guys, its a garnish. Undercooked sweet tots that were too mushy inside. Lots of room for improvement.
I do appreciate the very good choices of NM brews and the staff was friendly so its not all bad. The burger business is very competitive and most people have strong opinions about their favorites. So do I. Two stars.

bRgR… has its quirks. First off, the pretentious, high-​flying menu, which offers items like «local» yak and foie gras, and «sustainable» salmon and Ahi tuna. Haha… okay bRgR. I believe you. Somewhere in the desert land of Albuquerque, you have magically found access to a local herd of yak, and the world’s only source of sustainable fish. Still, despite the weird pretensions, the awkward, vowelless name, and the «What were they thinking?» décor, (think, gothic virginal teen girl’s bedroom mixed with Jeff Koons) the chefs here cook up delicious creations.
My eyes did a double take when I saw the Ecstast bRgR– a $ 9 Kobe burger, dressed with black truffle foie gras, scallions, and thyme & oregano aioli. I didn’t believe it, but I ordered it anyway. When the open-​faced bRgR came out, I laughed out loud. The «black truffle foie gras» looked like (excuse my crassness) an out-​of-​place snot blob, and possessed a bitter, fatty taste, much like an overcooked piece of gristle. The bRgR could certainly stands its own without the «foie», for it was perfectly cooked and wonderfully marbled.
The yak was equally delicious, pink and lean, and not very gamey. Both bRgRs were served on a fresh, buttery ciabatta roll that had a good toasty crunch to contrast the tender meat.
Though I didn’t try the libations, they sound equally tempting. In my next stop through Albuquerque, I’ll be sure to try the Sparkling Cosmo (champagne martini with fresh berry juices) or the Basil Lemonade, or the Hard Apple Cider Float.
Bottom Line: Yummy, despite its weird pretensions. Come for a mean medium-​rare.

I expected the burger to be bigger but left full and satisfied. Couldn’t taste red chile on red chile onion rings. The hard apple cider was tasty. The green chile could be hotter. Good atmosphere (if you don’t mind stylized painting of the very animals you are there to eat). Unique beer selection. The place is A-​OK

I heard about bRgR from a friend in reference to the yak burger.
We entered the restaurant and were greeted warmly. We asked for a table for two and were seated next to a group on individuals by the bar. I was not to excited about this.
Are drink orders were taken and we looked at the menus.
All of the items looked great. There was enough variety for everyone.
I ordered a Kobe burger with pineapple and spicy pickled kimchi.
The flavored were amazing. Just the right amount of tangy and sweet. The beef was cooked great and it was a perfect portion.
I ordered a side of red chili battered onion rings. These were also great.
As far a burgers go this place blew it out of the water. Highly recommend it. It is casual dining with decent service and ambience.

Happy to have another good dinner option in downtown ABQ! I was here twice on my most recent business trip. The first time I got the chili bliss burger with green chili and the sweet tots. OMG the tots are amazing! Just the right mix of sweet and salt, served hot and delicious. The burger also hit the spot. I like my burgers cooked — no pink — so asked for medium well (they come medium). The second time I went for the beef mac. I was torn between it (comes with beef and bacon) and the chicken mac (comes with green chili), so I asked for a side of green chili. This may be my go-​to dish as it was practically perfect. Cheesy goodness with burger chunks large enough to taste and yummy bacon. And, parmesan crusted on top giving it added texture.
The delightful bonus to BRGR is the pricing. The beef mac was around $ 6 I want to say, as was the burger. Tots were $ 3 I think (maybe $ 2?). Either way, definitely reasonable prices. And, to make it even better, beer is only $ 3 and cocktails are $ 4. And, we’re not talking Bud Light — we’re talking good NM and Rocky Mountain micro-​brews. And, it’s situated on the corner, so there’s good people-​watching. (Nice for me since I’m often on my own.)
BRGR, you have a new fan. I will definitely be back.

New restaurants always go through a few kinks and learning experiences in the beginning, and bRgR is no different. However, I really hope they make it. I’m rooting for them, and these are the reasons why.
1) Reasonable portions: I’ve heard a few people upset about the portions. I, on the other hand, was very pleased with the portions. At a time when so many people are overeating and making really poor food choices it was great to see that the burger I got was of a reasonable size, and that the sides were optional, AND I had to pay for them. I did not get a side, I finished my entire burger, I was completely satisfied, and I didn’t feel sick. Even my boyfriend, who is a big eater, was completely satisfied with his burger and side, and was even a bit full.
2) Reasonable prices: Six to Nine dollars for fun, original, higher quality burgers is really reasonable. It’s possible to go with someone, spend about fifteen dollars, and eat really well.
3)Healthier options: As someone with a sensitive stomach, I was overjoyed with the selection. A bunch of lean and even meat free options, fish filets, chicken, even rabbit – which is a healthy protein. I’ve had the black bean burger and the risotto burger, and they were both quite good.
Now, here’s what I think bRgR has to work on: The layout of the place is a bit clumsy. The burgers, while good, have a certain «sameness» taste about them (I think it’s the buns that they use), some of the flavor pairings, while good, are not great, and suffer from the Chris Traegger burger syndrome. Sometimes, you just want a good, healthy burger, no frills. I’ve also seen a few complaints here about the service, but thankfully have not experienced bad service myself.

Went back last night & had a chicken burger — I would not recommend this burger, it was ground chicken and very very dry (almost could have been any protein) — I was expecting a chicken breast (like virtually every other restaurant!) The onion rings were cold. The service was a little better, I probably should have sent the food back, but we were having dinner with friends & I didn’t want to make a «scene».
Very reasonable prices, generous portions and great décor — but the service really isn’t great. I had one of their Wagu beef burgers and it was great. Our table of 4 shared three sides (green beans, russet fries and sweet tater tots) — and that was plenty. I really wish the tater tots came with a spicier ketchup. We got refills on our waters just twice and would have ordered some more beers had our server ever returned after dropping off the food. I will go back, but am just hoping the service improves.

Went back on a Friday night… the food was off. It was much more crowded than during my afternoon visits, and they have moved to table service instead of counter service. We had a few couple of confused waitress wait on us… service wasn’t bad, but you could tell they were inexperienced. We had the elation veggie burger. It fell apart and was flavorless. We also split the mac n cheese and it was not good either. The cheese was lumpy and, mixed in with the panko, looked inedible. I only had a few bites. We also ordered some of the fried green beans and they were fine. However, the accompanying cheese sauce that on previous trips were delicious was not right. It was chunky (like the mac and cheese), was not mixed well at all, and had no flavor.
This is my third visit. First 2 were great, last visit a blah. Based on my last visit, I wouldn’t go back.

There aren’t many dinner places in downtown Albuquerque, not to mention places in walking distance. I like this place because it has the New York LES feel — industrial high ceiling, young vibe but doing something creative.
The menu offers quite a few variation of flavor creation. I am not sure what it is on my Ecstacy burger that gave a very salty taste but otherwise the burger is good. It’s cooked slightly more than medium but not over cooked. They buns are brioche and I liked it. Since the only thing comes with the burger is onion, tomato and lettuce, you need to order something on the side. The sides are good for sharing. Def too much for one person. I ordered the sweet tots and green bean fries and found myself regret ordering so much fried food and finishing both…
The prices are fair too. Burgers are $ 6 – 8, and sides are $ 2 – 3. I don’t think service is a concern because this is a burger joint, not fine dining!

It’s about time ABQ gets a Gourmet Burger Joint like this. I have seen these places pop up all over the world and I always wondered when we would get our own.
32
3 dollar craft beers
Kangaroo, Yak, Bison, Boar, and Portabello burgers.
Great for vegetarians
No burgers over 10 dollars including Kobe burgers at around 8 bucks.
This is owned and operated by the same guy from Bricklight Dive, best bar food in ABQ. Both run on simple service models. They are extremely reasonable prices combined with very high quality products.
Eat at both of these places on a weekly basis and you will not hurt your wallet.

I’ve been waiting for something to open up at this location and finally a cool burger joint. My wife walked in and were greeted pretty quickly.
Pros: *Great* price for what you get. A meal between my wife and I was only 21 bucks, and that included two beers. The food was good. I love the sweet potato tater-​tots. Those rock.
Con: Food was a tad-​cold.
I’m looking forward to my next visit. This place is worth your money and time.

Food is good, but the absolute worst customer service I’ve experienced.
I walked in and ordered my burger & drink. I sat down, had to ask for my drink again. My food arrived within 10 mins, tasted fine, but the portion was on the small side… Where’s the beef?
Ten minutes later, I was rudely interrupted by the pudgy/​homely blonde waitress who asked me if I still had my receipt. When I asked why, she rudely responded by informing me that she overcharged me at double the price of order. Fine, people make mistakes, new place, etc. She offered no apology. I handed her my credit card, expecting her to take care of it immediately, and then, the ride began…
After another ten minutes, during which the girl had my credit card which was rather unsettling, a second waitress came up to me, apologized and told me that my meal would be comped along with a full refund. I was happy. As I was still a bit hungry, and since they had offered a free meal, I decided to order another brgr.
A moment later, the blonde waitress returned and told me she would ring me up for the new order and adjust the first charge. I responded by telling her I had just been offered a meal gratis, and the monkey games were becoming tedious. She then went to speak with the manager and other waitress, again no apology for the wait.
The second waitress returns to my table and tells me they’ve reneged on the offer of free meal, she actually meant maybe, and that in fact they would be charging me. At this point I was thoroughly disgusted, and I said no thanks, just return my credit card and refund the difference. I told them this was absolutely ridiculous.
As I wait, blondey returns with my new receipt. To my complete and utter disbelief, they again double charged me. The same incompetent blonde waitress with the horrible attitude. At this point I assumed Ashton Kutcher was going to pop out from under the table letting me know I’d been «punked», but no such luck. I lost my patience and began to walk out when the manager finally came over and asked what he could do. He offered a disingenuous apology, refunded my money (finally) and offered me a free meal, which he hand wrote (very classy) on a coaster.
Morons, I shall not be returning…