Directory of Diners: New Mexico

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Milton's Orignal Family Restaurant

Albuquerque, NM, Central Avenue just off the I-40 exit. We asked if Milton's had a liquor license; our host told us that we were lucky they had a meat license. Lock your doors in the parking lot. Order green chiles not red -- it's the New Mexico way. We tried to order the guacamole. "We don't have it." "You didn't last night either -- have you stopped making it?" "If we were gonna make it, we'd have to charge triple what it says on the menu." "At least this way, you can keep the price down." Space-age decor, new-wave jukebox.-- Review by Josh Kamensky

Somewhat later, I got this note from Rex Barron: Just wanted to modify the review of this somewhat unsavory place featured in your listings. Milton's is one of a pair of old Denny's restaurants from the early sixties--the ones with the cool "flying wedge" roof, and walls that are mostly glass with a little bit of bogus Frank Lloyd Wright stone work, for some organic variety. The Milton family at one time owned two coffee shops on Central avenue (the old RT. 66), but Milton's is now run by an Iranian family, I believe. Both of the Denny's style buildings are good examples of the period, and there are one or two other extant coffee shops that have survived from the fifties, but all of them have seen better days and, sadly, I wouldn't be surprised if some enterprising developer ultimately tore them down. The thing that might save Milton's Family Restaurant for awhile is its location--one of the most depressing parts of Albuquerque. The interior still has some of the original fixtures.

Route 66 Diner

Albequerque. Route 66 is an almost real diner, just off the interstate in ABQ (on the real route 66). There are no 'honeys' fromthe waitresses, who are mostly of college age. The decor, music, and atmosphere is 50's. Food is excellent, prices good, selection and quantities good. But, unless you've been initiated, order the green chiles. Coleslaw: A-. Looking forward to being there next Sunday morning. It's a "must do" in New Mexico. -- Review by Kim Andrews

6/23/98: Lauren Flax adventurer extraordinaire, sent me this review of the Route 66 Diner:
There are not words to describe my pleasure upon seeing the neon blue "66" poised against the bluer Southwestern Sky as I pounded the streets of Albuquerque during my cross-country Sojourn this past May. It was hot, it was Albuquerque, it was a long flat stretch of Route 66, and it was a DINER. So, naturally I was predisposed to look favorably upon it.

The only fault of the Route 66 Diner is that it is a bit touristy-- they sell t-shirts and souveniers. But they have the kitch of this lonely fateful road and the time of its birth down pretty darn well. They have everything from chrome rimmed clocks with the times in Chicago, Albuquerque, and LA, to Rhubarb Pie displayed proudly on the boomerang-patterned formica counter. I was also pleased to see an old fashioned milkshake machine, vanilla cokes, Route 66 Root Beer, along with a selection of beer and wine.

The food did what it needed to do. The fries and the pickle were crunchy. The grilled cheese sandwhich was big, square, and cheesy. What more could I ask?

Although mostly populated with UNM students, the Route 66 Diner's waitstaff seemed accustomed to transients and pleasantly offered me refills as I wrote out several postcards. Overall, a pleasant diner experience-- probably more so for the sun-weary one-meal-a-day traveller than the desensitized Albuquerque folk-- but a notably pleasant experience nonetheless.