The next time you’re wondering where to have lunch in Albuquerque, pop in to The Grove Cafe & Market. This European-style cafe is sparse and modern inside, with cozy wooden tables underneath the exposed beams in the dining room.

Charming chalkboard menus display the restaurant’s ever-changing menu. For breakfast, you’ll find hearty oatmeal, eggs, and a seemingly endless assortment of fresh-baked pastries, while the lunch and dinner menus offer kale salads and gourmet sandwiches that are anything but ordinary. Like any good cafe, The Grove employs skilled baristas who prepare a mean espresso that pairs perfectly with any meal. Whether you want to catch up on work or socialize over lunch with friends, you can do both at this local favorite!

The Grove is open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.

The Grove Cafe & Market
600 Central Avenue SE
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 248-9800
www.thegrovecafemarket.com

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr SimonDoggett

If you’re looking for a unique dining experience in Albuquerque, High Finance Restaurant is a great choice. To get to this sky-high eatery, you first have to take a tram more than 2.5 miles up through several climate zones before finally reaching the restaurant, which is situated at an elevation of 10,378 feet!

Once you reach the restaurant, with its handsome bar and wood decor, you’ll dine on gourmet burgers, New York strip steaks, and hearty pasta dishes. Look out over the incredible view as you enjoy lunch or dinner at this popular local eatery, and be sure to order a glass of wine or a stiff cocktail with your meal.

Make a reservation at High Finance at the restaurant’s convenient website. The restaurant is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

High Finance Restaurant & Tavern
40 Tramway Road NE
Albuquerque, NM 87122
(505) 243-9742
www.sandiapeakrestaurants.com/high-finance

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr eekim

You love the burger and fries at your favorite fast food restaurant, but you also know that too much grab-and-go food can take a toll on your health—and your waistline! If you’re dealing with a brood of picky eaters, these recipes will satisfy those fast food cravings, without all of the saturated fat.

Oven-Fried Chicken Tenders with Five Spice Barbecue Sauce [Good Housekeeping]
While regular fast food chicken tenders are deep fried and served with sugary sauces, this oven-baked alternative is just as tasty, but a whole lot healthier. Use Panko bread crumbs, sesame seeds, and a Chinese five-spice powder to create a crispy, Asian-inspired breading for the chicken, and then serve them with your own homemade barbecue sauce that’s free of unnecessary fat and calories.

Healthy Chocolate Banana Shake [abeautifulmess.com]
A thick, creamy milkshake from the local drive-through is a truly delicious indulgence, but it certainly isn’t the best thing for your waistline. This fruit-filled alternative is made with a whole banana, but it still packs that chocolatey punch that you love about traditional shakes.

Spicy Barbecue Chickpea Burgers [ohsheglows.com]
Hearty, protein-rich chickpeas hold this burger together, but the spicy barbecue sauce gives it a boost of flavor that's so good, you won’t even miss the meat.

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/cyclonebill