I have my own test to see how a new restaurant's food tastes and how fresh everything is. I order a simple sandwich and I get my wife to order a Chef's salad. How a restaurant handles the simplest of dishes tells a lot about the kitchen I feel. My wife and I recently tried Homestead at the base of the Sandia Tram. This particular space has been a steakhouse, a mexican fusion food cafe and a few other unsuccessful establishments. But I think Homestead has a real place in the Albuquerque culinary scene.
I ordered a green chile BLT and my wife ordered Chef's Salad with grilled chicken breast. The bread on my sandwich was perfect. The lettuce and tomato were very fresh. The green chile was mild, good for tourists that are not used to the heat. The truffle fries were off the charts tasty and perfectly fried. My wife's salad was very fresh indeed. This kitchen focuses on fresh and they were not fibbing one bit. The strawberry vinaigrette was outstanding. Real tiny chunks of strawberry too.
The menu was packed full of really interesting takes on savory dishes with a little New Mexico blended in. I will return and try more of the menu. I highly recommend this lovely little homestyle cooking with a southwest twist restaurant.
40 Tramway Road, NE, Albuquerque, NM