M’tucci’s Cocina Grill

We really wanted this place to be good. It was across the board less than mediocre. At 18– bucks a plate, it was almost insulting how poor the quality of the food was.

M’tucci’s Cocina Grill has a great concept (I guess «Latin fusion» best describes it), and I just hope they can survive outside of the Nob Hill context. We went for dinner on a Thursday night and it was relatively slow. The food we ordered was excellent: a Jamaican jerk style roasted chicken, a pork chop in the style of cochinita pibil (a Mexican dish from the Yucatan that features achiote paste), and two orders of tacos (duck and fish). The pork and chicken dishes featured well-​seasoned, delicious sides (roasted sweet potatoes, stewed cauliflower with carrots and tomatoes, pineapple salsa, tangy slaw, and flavorful rice). Weighing in on the tacos, I found the fish to be ok – fairly standard – and the duck ones outstanding. We had a colleague from Mexico City in our group (i.e. she has regular access to fabulous tacos) and she raved about the duck, reaching for a second helping. The cocktail menu veers towards classic Latin American cocktails, such as daiquiris, pisco sours, margaritas, but with some interesting twists (e.g. a mojito that features tequila instead of rum).
Portions were generous and we were unable to finish all four plates between four people. The waitstaff was attentive and the restaurant manager personally came over to check on our table and to inquire as to which dishes we had enjoyed the most. There was light salsa music playing in the background but I appreciated that it was not so loud as to drown out conversation at the table.
Someone obviously put some care and thought in designing the restaurant and menu and I do hope this place can make a go of it. It would be nice to have some innovative dining options outside of the typical Nob Hill scene. So make a night of it – find some awesome event at the National Hispanic Cultural Center and hit this place up for dinner before or after!

If you like oil and salt this is the place for you. It is impossible, even by special request, to get any vegetable here not saturated with both. According to our server, who had checked with the kitchen, all their vegetables are delivered «pre-​soaked in oil.»

I ate here last week before seeing a play at the NHCC. First, I am so glad there is finally a restaurant at the NHCC! It was sorely needed. Second, the NHCC is now 15 years old and really needs to either pave or add xeriscape (or grass) to the GIANT dirt lot that is just south of the parking area off 8^th street/​next to this restaurant. It was slippery and full of muddy puddles. There are paper signs leading patrons to the door of the restaurant, which gives the feel of a soft opening or under-​construction-​vibe. Now on to the inside: it’s decorated like a 1980s Chi Chi’s mixed with a 1990s home bar, which is odd, but fun. The staff were very nice and attentive. I had a cucumber margarita. We had an appetizer of fresh French bread with cheese and a spicy pesto. There was only one large vegetarian entrée (which was bigger than I was looking for before a play), so I asked if they could do bean/​veggie tacos. Oddly, this Latin American themed restaurant doesn’t have beans, but the did offer to make veggie tacos with the grilled veggies from the entrée. They were so good! Fresh, spicy, zesty, and awesome. I suggested that they add these tacos the the regular menu. My friend had fish tacos and she said they were quite possibly the best fish tacos she’s had in ABQ. There weren’t very many people in the restaurant and I didn’t see an outdoor grill/​seating area, which would be nice to see next time.

Underwhelmed is probably the best word for our experience. First, the location is fairly obscure and feels a bit empty and out of place. It’s the kind of place that I think really needs word of mouth to be successful, but I’m not sure they’ve really set themselves up for that. Second, the restaurant itself lacks the ambience necessary for a truly pleasurable dining experience. The inside looks a lot like a decorative cafeteria — lots of bright colors and plants, but arranged and styled very much like a cafeteria. We also noticed that the walls and ledges near the booths were pretty dirty and dusty, as was the floor. Finally, while the food was good and we enjoyed eating it, it was pretty overpriced. The portion sizes were small, especially the Moqueca, and the quality of food (and presentation, for that matter) were something I’d expect at an average family restaurant, while the menu descriptions and prices suggest more of a «fine dining» experience. Again, the food was good, not bad, but definitely not what we were expecting. The drinks, although tasty, were also a bit overpriced for what you actually get. I can get tasty drinks of equal or greater quality at many other places around town for less. And there’s the real problem here: while this place isn’t bad, it certainly isn’t anything to write home about, which isn’t going to help their business when it already isn’t very well known.

There is a new culinary star shining over the desert skies of Albuquerque: M’tucci’s Cocina Grill at the Hispanic Cultural Center. Please, don’t confuse it with its big sister: M’tucci’s Kitchina, which is also good but another story. Both restaurants are the darling, precocious children of Jeff and Katie Speigel and Chef John Hass. I rarely leave a restaurant excited about what I’ve eaten, but the Cocina Grill is superlative from the first bite or sip to the last. My two dining buddies and I started our meal with excellent cocktails and three tapas (varied, inventive salsas; guacamole, and popusas); the guac was so good that I had to break up a small skirmish as to whom would get the last bite. Next came beautiful, rich Gazpacho, and although it was served in large bowls, there soon was not even a faint smear detectable at the bottom of anyone’s bowl. Then came the entrees: the Yucatan pork chop, grilled to perfection and accompanied with vegetables laced with intriguing, seductive spices; perfectly grilled salmon, so tasty that the sauce served with it on the side would have marred its integrity; and three chicken tacos that so captivated the usually perspicacious diner that all he could do was marvel over the layers of flavor: «There’s a lot going on in here.» Finally, there was the cheesecake, which rivaled my own mother’s exceptional talent in baking a wondrous cheesecake. I left a really happy man. Are the stars out tonight? They shine brightly at M’tucci’s Cocina Grill.

A few growing pains but overall a good experience … The bartender is very helpful and makes great cocktails (they have have a full bar) … Food is flavorful, well portioned and reasonably priced (you will not leave hungry)… The wine list is small, well curated, and also reasonably priced … I hope people patronize this place and keep it going … They are only open Thursday through Sunday for dinner

What a great find! Hidden away in the Hispanic Cultural Center and serving gourmet Caribbean, Central and South American dishes that is certainly worthy of the price. This food is several cuts above the normal for Albuquerque, actually it is unique in the breadth of Latin American food. From Papusas and empanadas to Argentinean steaks, wow.

My wife and I were invited to their Media Preview dinner last week. The place looks GREAT! There’s nothing like it in town. Bright colors, beautiful artwork, friendly staff and mouthwatering food. Its my first time having duck and Im hooked! Huge patio and fabulous craft cocktails. My wife had a fresh from scratch, homemade Cucumber Margarita. It wasnt sweet or tart, just perfect. So thirst quenching, she had to be careful! I think this place will do well.
We’re actually headed there this weekend to see standup comic Jim Norton who is performing at the National Hispanic Cultural Center which is on the same property. How convenient!