The Stumbling Steer

Went in tonight with my family excited for a new spot to try. After arriving to see the place pretty empty, we were told to wait 5 – 10 minutes for a table. Confused we were called to the table I saw empty earlier and found it to be covered in some kind of sticky substance. We were also handed menus that were filthy too. After taking a quick look at the menu and not really finding anything that didn’t have some weird exotic combination of ingredients we decided to hit Applebees. For the money this place is charging per entrée I expected so much more. I miss the Quarters on the west side and Stumbling Steer is missing the mark.

I’m not sure how a place like this gets away with calling itself a gastropub. It’s just overpriced bland american food served on square plates. Half the menu is friggin’ burgers! There’s nothing wrong with serving burgers, but come on guys, you’re clearly not a gastropub.
They made us wait for 20 minutes to be seated even though there were tons of empty tables and booths. I’m not sure why they wouldn’t just sit us and say there’s a wait for a server. It’s awkward standing around in a group in the front of the restaurant constantly moving out of the way of waiters and people coming and going.
The brewery aspect of the restaurant is fine, as the beer was really good. I had the imperial stout with coffee and nutmeg, which they called the Red Eye. The menu said it’s $ 4.95, but they charged me $ 6 for it. Lame…
All in all the food was fine, but clearly overpriced for what it is. My plain salmon and coconut rice was $ 16. Wtf? Something like that should run $ 8 – 12. They’re charging like a gastropub but not delivering like one.

Simply based on service, this place gets 3 stars. They are understaffed causing the waitstaff spends their time running and stressed which makes them forgetful.
The food and beer is awesome, and would love to give it a higher rating. they offer a full bar and a wide selection of unique menu offerings.

If only judging the beer and food, it would have been 4 stars. Table service was TERRIBLE, our waiter truly didn’t give a shit about us and couldn’t be bothered. We went without drinks most of the time, even after asking for more. He brought us our tab, without asking if we wanted anything else, which we did. Ended up ordering more beer and food. So perhaps management isn’t aware that their table servers are costing them revenue, IDK.
Had the IPA, hubs had the Red, both were very good. We started with pork belly and mini corn dogs, super tasty. Cuban sandwich and beef dip were also decent, would order something else next time. Then a friend joined us and we got the Brussels, which were pretty amazing. It’s too bad we were all out of beer and I had to track down our waiter. Otherwise we may have stayed longer. Service Fail.

Way too expensive for what you get. $ 9 for four potato skins. That’s not even real cheese! And The sweet potato fries weren’t cooked.

My mom went to this restaurant with friends and insisted that we try it out as a family! The building was awesome! As soon as I saw it I knew I was in for a treat!
I ordered the Caprese Grilled Cheese. It was very good! The description said fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomato on rye bread. I got all the ingredients plus cheddar which I was not expecting! It tasted good I liked but some people might think it’s too much with too much cheese but I liked it. I ordered iced tea and my sister didn’t but she still got it, oh well. We ordered dessert and it was PERFECT! We got Toffee Bread Pudding and a brownie sundae! DELICIOUS! I would highly recommend this restaurant! (Good for family)!

My parents took me here after learning of my love for brussels sprouts and reading in the Albuquerque magazine that the Stumbling Steer was rated in their Top 10 for their appetizers.
When we first arrived, we were surprised by the size of the place on the inside. It would be a great place for a large gathering or a company party. Service started off a little slow. We waited a bit of a while to get drinks. But after actually getting our order in, everything picked up. The food came out really quickly. (Drinks though always took a long time to come…)
The food though… definitely worth it! The brussels sprouts appetizer is the best thing ever. In the world. And I would eat it very single day if I lived in ABQ. I just… they are magical. The southwestern poutine is a great take on the dish! It helps that I like green chile…
For my meal I got the soup and sandwich… the B2LT and the green chile stew. The stew wasn’t too terribly spicy, which was good for my midwestern-​raised taste buds. The sandwich was alright, probably the weakest part of the meal, but certainly not bad. I also tasted my mother’s green chile mac & cheese & prosciutto… rich and delicious.
Good beer selection, good food, and good times. Go there!
But make sure to leave some brussels sprouts for me!

Bigger cities like Chicago and NY are chock full of gastropubs like The Stumbling Steer. This basically means house-​brewed beers coupled with a chef’s slightly experimental, kind of trendy take on comfort food classics. Reading the reviews here, however, it looks like ABQ is not ready for [begin sarcasm] wild and crazy culinary forays like green chile relish on a green chile burger and «unmelted» cheese on a sandwich that is literally called caprese… and. whooaaaaaa … vertigo-​inducing maneuvers like a constantly changing menu, ‘unsauced but flavored’ chicken wings — and, and, and they don’t even bring ketchup unless you remember to ask for it!
Gosh darn it, Albuquerque, this is why we can’t have nice things.
Now, back to reality: SS’s beer is legit, with a lot of fun options and a great bottle selection if you don’t share their brewing tastes. The food is even better. Huge beef ribs with Vietnamese flavor that isn’t cloyingly sweet, served with noodle salad that is actually spicy. Steak frites that are executed perfectly (med-​rare for me) — served with a chimichurri sauce that was so good I wanted to take it home with me, & w/​plantains instead of fries (nice touch). Green chile mac and cheese carbonara ($ 12!) that’s rich and creamy and the only way that I want to die. My brother and mother loved their NY strips (a steal at $ 23 each). Chicken fried in duck fat and chicken gravy really takes their chicken-&-waffles to another level. SS even has $ 4 glasses of house wine if you’re on a budget and not in the mood for beer.
3 stars is stooopid for a place this good — how embarrassing. Easily a 5-​star establishment.

I’m down grading my review. I was such a huge fan of this place in the beginning. Things have definitely changed here. You can count on the bartenders changing on a monthly basis for sure. I don’t even recognize half of them. I’ve noticed that the patrons are starting to look a little different too. I like that they have local brew there and I also love the steak and fries, which is actually skirt steak and plantains. Oh, and its close to my house. …but other than that it’s lost its draw. I’d go after work for a beer but nothing more than that.

Beer I would give it a 3 stars I didn’t really like it. It was catered towards the crowd that likes hoppy beer and that is not me, so I didn’t really like it. Their beer selection just seemed like every where else and I am just not a big fan.
Food on the other hand was DELICIOUS. I am giving their Korean BBQ Ribs plus their Southwestern Poutine a 5 stars.
So by that average I should give the place a 4 stars, however I am not really a fan per se. I like the atmosphere and the service is decent and the food is amazing, but I feel like its lacking something that I can’t describe. I would come back for the food, but probably not my first choice for gathering with friends. So I am giving an A-​OK, its one of those places that I would never choose to go to, unless I want to be at a place to watch sporting events, or someone else suggested that we go. It’s will not be my first choice for a place to suggest to friends for hanging out.

Gastropubs evolved in Great Britain because eventually the general public– their stomachs, rather –demanded more sustenance than a pint and Ploughman’s lunch. Tune your ear to regulars at Marble, Bosque, Tractor, Il Vicino or La Cumbre and you’ll get the same general sentiment: this town has some fantastic beer, but my God am I hurtin’ for a plate. To a large extent the food truck nation has swooped in and soaked up the suds, but great brews and a proper meal at a table with your mates is still tough to find in these parts. It’s a big part of the allure of Nexus, fo’ sho’.
Underneath the trendy veneer of Stubling Steer you’ll find some workin’ class eats and enlightened but crowd-​friendly pours. My initial experience with a Monte Cristo was a traumatic nightmare, way back in the day, and I vowed I’d never consider a sandwich sporting powdered sugar again, but I took a chance here and it more than delivered. Dip your fries in some homemade ranch dressing, yum. Both IPAs ditched the massive hop frenzy for a subtle approach, I thought both were good, the cask was citrusy and a little sweet. The imperial stout was, well, imperial, Darth Vader stormtrooping down my gullet. Not amazing beer, but I decided to take the wait-​and-​see approach.
I returned with an entourage and we tried a pretty big spread: beer can chicken, fish & chips, Korean baby back ribs and a burger. I had the ribs, I don’t usually employ this term but the rack was absolutely amaze-​balls, stupid good, sweet and sticky and more than my wonton stomach could handle. Reports of the rest didn’t really come in strong, save the burger, which looked like a really solid choice at a fair price point. Again, the beer was good but lacked something, no complaints but they can improve. My only issue, I suppose, was the lack of greens or fruits. It’s safe to state, I think, that the crowd Stumbling Steer is aiming to please also enjoys healthy options.
I’m a city boy, so I’ve only seen footage of a stumbling steer; it was part of a news segment about mad cow disease. I’m pretty mad about this westside cow, too. It’s a great new addition to the ‘hood.

When we walked in this place, it was realllllll busy! (based on the Ls I put on that there was an hour and a half wait.) Needless to say we found a spot at the bar to wait. And it turned out that it was only about half an hour to 40 minute wait.
In the mean time before our meal we ordered the flight of brew to try there plethora of beers they have. A PLUS! We had some calamari which was ok, nothing too special, but the special part came in there customer service.
The customer service hustled there way through a busy Saturday and made it much more enjoyable experience for everyone. Based on the beer they offered (just order a blind beer, you’ll be happy.) I had to give 4 stars.
Our dinner was great and we will be returning. :)

I’m giving 4 stars because of the AMAZING beer selection. They not only brew their own beer, they also have guest beers on tap and a selection of bottled/​canned beer as well PLUS a full bar. Dang… they are well stocked.
The service was pretty good – I really have no complaints. Apparently my husband has gotten fairly friendly with Sonny who seems like a really nice guy (he’s one of the owners and seems really passionate about his business – which is always nice to see.)
Let me tell you about the French Onion Soup though… oh emmmm geeeeee! I am obsessed with that soup. It is so complex, delicious, warm and soul-​soothing! To top off perfection, it’s got seriously delicious provolone and swiss melty goodness layered over the top. Mmmm mmm mmmm! I seriously cannot say enough good things about that soup.
The Grilled Cheese was meh. I should’ve known that being a grilled cheese purist, the bacon jam and tomato jam would just get in the way of my enjoying the sandwich… I don’t need anything tainting my cheesy goodness– but that’s probably just me and I’d recommend it to anyone that isn’t a grilled cheese minimalist like I am. The fries are amazing as well and come adorably presented in their own mini fryer basket, which I LOVE!
The Southwestern Poutine sounds divine but I’m trying to save myself for those for when my best friend from Canada comes in for a visit!
I’ll definitely be back for the friendly service and amazing food!
Defo recommend a visit!

I knew I’d be able to do this! Went in around the same time on a Sunday and was sat in the bar area at a table for 5 of us. The waitress greeted us promptly and later another gal came up to explain Sunday Funday which includes some yummy drink specials like Bacon Bloody Mary and a Bacon Manhattan. The fry basket now had a paper liner, there was no raw meat, cold fries or unfilled drinks, and everyone was very happy. I brought two if the previous crew back with us and we all felt redeemed. Great job guys. Keep up the great work!

Growing up on the Westside of town, I’ve always hoped for a place like this to open, so needless to say I was very pleased to hear that Stumbling Steer was coming to town!
Upon entering, there is a rustic, yet cozy vibe you get. From the lighting to the wood paneled walls, no detail was left behind. I particularly enjoyed the cow skull lighting in the back and in the bar area-​very cool!
What used to be the old Quarters BBQ is now a newly remodeled and much more open restaurant and gastro pub. I cannot speak for the beers (unfortunately I haven’t tried them yet), but the specialty cocktails I have had (the Black Widow), were very good! The bar tenders here are true mixologist and know what they’re doing. On Sunday’s they often have a specialty cocktail or Bloody Mary (bartender’s concoction) that is unique yet satisfying to almost any palate.
I’ve tried quite a few things on the menu, and my favs have to be the Brussel Spouts and the Steer Burger– so good! After reading several of the other not so great comments about the quality of food, I must say I beg to differ. After speaking with the chef himself on opening night, he assured us that ALL of the food on the menu is prepared from scratch using high quality ingredients. NO FROZEN crap!
The Steer is open late and serves up quality food and drinks, something that is so RARE anywhere on the Westside. Needless to say, I’m happy they opened and can only hope they’re here to stay :)

Location: this used to be the old quarters location. Looks like they dropped some coin in re-​decorating. Very nice décor.
Service: Monday afternoon, place was pretty well deserted. Sat at the bar and was quickly greeted by bartender. Ordered a flight as I wanted to try a few samples. Looked over menu and ordered a burger.
Beer: was greatful i did not order a pint. Did not care for any style i ordered. Brown seemed watered down, Stout was okay. Other two were blah, can’t remember which ones they were.
Food: pricey burger showed up looking excellent. Ordered medium, was a little pink but very flavorful and juicy. Lettuce and tomato on the side just sat there. The burger would have been 8 inches thick if I had to open it up for condiments. After two bites was reduced to using a fork as bun was saturated and falling apart.
I will return and update after that. Will try some different beers and perhaps a build your own burger

Whenever a new brewpub opens up in the ABQ, I feel an obligation to try it out. I also have an affinity for bovines, so this place was high on my list.
The Stumbling Steer is a big open space. They’ve got a lot of TVs around the bar, so I can see this place as a pretty good spot for watching football, basketball, etc.
Service was good, but a little scattered. It’s a new business, and while we were served promptly there seemed a vibe of controlled chaos with the staff. There were a lot of people behind the bar, some of them barbacks, and others servers, and others just there. We had three servers, which was a little off the wall.
Food was tasty. Not an overcomplicated menu, which is nice. One page. I liked the Southwestern poutine, as well as the crispy brussels sprouts (but there was a touch too much sauce on them). The stand out food I sampled was the chili cheeseburger on challa bread. Delicious. Again, service was an issue, as we ordered the two appetizers and they came out at the same time as the burger.
On to drinks. The beer was not impressive. I’m a little bit of a beer snob, and in a city like ABQ with a lot of good brews, you’ve got a high bar. We tried all the beers, and I have to say the blonde was the most disappointing. The brown wasn’t bad, but nothing really stood out to me. That being said, they had other folks’ beers on tap, and I liked the sour beer on offer. Again, minor quirk, it wasn’t on the menu. The bartender had to offer it to me. Places should list what’s available if they want to move product, especially if the taps are all the way across the room against the wall and not within easy sight. I also had their carrot juice Bloody Mary, which was novel but not that good.
Overall, I like this place. Nice vibe, and a wide selection of beers. Their cocktail menu looked nice, even though I didn’t sample much of it. Service was attentive, and the food was pretty good. If I lived nearby I’d come back, but I wouldn’t make a trek to come here.

The Stumbling Steer is a nice addition to the constellation of craft breweries and restaurants in ABQ.
So, The Stumbling Steer is just really getting started, but they have sure come a long way. Their facility is beautiful — lots of space, semi-​industrial in décor, and a patio that will be really cool in the summer.
Their beers are not made on premises, yet, but they are generally quite good. Okay, I’ll be honest, their beers are not my favorite in Albuquerque. But they are quite good. I like a good, strong IPA, for example. The Steer’s is a little more mild, with reasonable bittering, and a mild hop aroma. Not exactly the hop bomb I like, but more approachable for most folks, and that’s okay. I wanted to try their double IPA, but alas, they were out. Make more! I tried a few of their other beers and enjoyed them all, but again, nothing that stood out as really original. It kind of seems to me like they are trying to appeal to the masses, which is probably a good business practice in their location, but not my ideal. On the serious plus side, they do stock a variety of guest beers, some of which are pretty unique and awesome.
The food at The Steer is very good. Think up-​scale pub food. And I do mean up-​scale. A grilled cheese with 4 types of cheese, bacon and tomatoes. Deep fried pork bites coated in a beer batter and served with powdered sugar (!) and a cream cheese foam. Wow. The food was all quite good and unique. The only drawback was the price. $ 10 for the grilled cheese is, well, a bit steep. Not outlandish, but it will likely keep me from eating at the Steer on anything more than a very occasional basis.

At first glance, The Stumbling Steer doesn’t look all that impressive. Located in the old west side Quarters location, it’s a little difficult to forget that Quarters had once been good but ended up being, well, «eh». I’m here to advise you: don’t let your memory of Quarters sub-​par BBQ deter you from stumbling into The Steer.
The atmosphere here is good, albeit a bit «wide open», and for a brand new place the service is excellent (for now). As soon as we sat down we were approached by a co-​owner, welcomed, and generally treated like VIPs. That was nice, but we’re a hard sell. Tentatively, we waited for our food.
The beer nerd husband had a beer sampler. He’s picky, yet insists there wasn’t a single bad brew in the bunch. That’s saying a lot. Usually, he wrinkles his nose at least once or twice. The food came next: pork belly for him and meatballs for me. Two words here: my goodness. I guess I expected the food to be sub-​par. After all, this place totes itself as a brewery first and foremost. But what left the kitchen and was placed before us was so not Albuquerque it was… well, it was magnificent. Both of us cleaned our plates, and because the food was so incredible, we splurged and got dessert just to see if it held up. It did.
If you’re looking for upscale food without the pretension, The Stumbling Steer is going to be your new go-​to. The prices are slightly higher than average, but not by much, and the age old adage of «you get what you pay for» stands up here.
It’s unanimous. It’s been a long time since we’ve had as good of a restaurant experience as we did at The Stumbling Steer. Bravo, dear owners. Our compliments to the brew master and chef!

Have we stumbled into something great? Moooo! We have.
Sorry for the obvious joke in the line above. Someone had to, so it’s out of the way. Now for the news! If you like friendly staff and great brew in a big open venue, then you will enjoy Stumbling Steer.
We needed to see what Luca Park and Min Lee had come up with and the soft opening was the perfect time to do it. We arrived at 5pm to a nearly full parking lot and a light but curious crowd. A friendly greeter ushered us in and we chose the bar seating. As it was still early, this was perfect for getting the scoop on drinks and menu options. You’ll order your flight and look around at what $ 2 million in renovations buys you. I see a very similar map of what was the Quarters building, but with much nicer finishing. You’ll see it in the hanging taps, the steer skull lighting and the stainless trough bathroom sinks. Oh, and the obvious — giant tank on the front roof.
Make no mistake, this place is not your run-​of-​the-​mill brewery. Instead it follows the increasingly popular gastropub trend. This means terrific options on the tap, but the food is nothing of the beer nuts, greasy burgers and hot wings variety. Instead you find options on the menu that may have you googling your options.
It’s sausage, pâtés and sauces. Even the usual items are a bit fancier and pricy. (à la your $ 10 grilled cheese) Some will welcome it and some will frown upon it. Whether it will succeed in Abq is to be decided. Our hunger only allowed for an sausage plate appetizer but we really enjoyed it. Folks around us opted for calamari, burgers and deep fried mozzarella. Presentation was good and the smallish burger size was the only detractor I heard.
Some things are not debatable. The friendliness and will to succeed of Min Lee is one example. He spent a great deal of time with us explaining every aspect of this venture. He is passionate and loves this concept. Another is the skill attributed to master brewer Kirk Roberts. His American Scotch Ale won the GABF in 2012. (A small batch remains and I’m told will be shared here around Aug.) Kirk is laid back and friendly– a great guy. He’s a fairly new California transplant, but has taken to our city well. He loves brewing almost as much as his wife’s gumbo and our flights reflected that. Expect great things once all is up and running. The highlights for us were the smooth stouts and the chocolate & nut flavors that made the brown really stand out.
They share Sierra Blanca’s facilities for the time being but hope to have five or more brews going onsite within a few months.
By the time we’d finished our appetizer and second flight, the place was packed. I was surprised to see so many people waiting patiently to be seated for a soft opening. (An even ‘softer’ opening happened the night before) When it got going it was loud, but fun. If this continues, Stumbling Steer will be a sure-​footed success.