Ben Michael's Restaurant

Excellent homemade, individually prepared food; small daily menu of what is fresh. Private venue, casual. Interesting and welcoming owner/chef who played incredible Blues in the piano. Near Old Town. We will return. One-of-a-kind. Cash only.

This is not your typical restaurant experience! This is an escape for great food, lively conversations with new people and fun music! Thank you Ben for sharing some history and stories, fabulous food and drinks and the blues serenade that was much needed as we had just dropped off a son at college. I would call this a hangout. The best kind.

I’m a lifelong NM resident and son of Albuquerque and I regret not eating at Ben Michael’s earlier. The restaurant was nearly as open and welcoming as our hosts. The menu was simple and delicious. The service was on spot and genuine. My visiting family were treated to blues piano by Ben and given a night to remember. Thank you and please give Ben Michael’s a try and be prepared for a warm atmosphere and hot chile.

This is not just a restaurant—it is an experience! The owner is friendly and passionate about the food and the dining experience. He also plays the piano along with the band. Ben has great stories and funny jokes. The food is excellent. The service is great. The menu items are all made in-house. I will eat here every time I am in town!

I hadn’t been back in over 10 years, but sought out Ben Michael’s for dinner tonight. This quirky spot serves great food that depends on what the chef has on hand that day; tonight no filet mignon, but a great organic red soup from his garden the beets colored everything else in the mix, lol. He greeted each guest personally before taking their orders, cooking everything, then sitting at the piano for a couple Beatles tunes and some wise words on eating healthy. I’ll definitely be back sooner next time.

What a find! We happened upon this amazing place after getting up and leaving another restaurant. We were walking around the front of the building when the owner came outside and snagged us! This is a small venue with about 15 tables and a piano. The menu is small, and every dish is made fresh. I can't say enough about the food quality, as it was exceptional yet fairly priced. The owner/chef/operator provided amazing service, as did the woman presumably his other half who was by his side. Between cooking and serving, there was piano playing. On the night we were there, two older couples were there celebrating the young ladies birthday. An impromptu piano song was made up on the spot in their honor, which they enjoyed immensely. Payment is cash/check only, but if you forget there is an atm directly across the street. I can't speak highly enough about this restaurant and will be back every time I am in town.

Our family’s favorite restaurant. We love Ben Michael - the owner/host/chef/server. He treats everyone like familia. Be prepared to stay awhile. This is not fast food if you get talking or the music starts! Always fresh, delicious, and entertaining. The new shrimp dish is out of this world! Kid-friendliness: My kids grew up here!

Having lunch here has been one of the most unique experiences I've had. The owner, cook, waiter, entertainer, Ben served my group lunch by giving us the days menu which depends on what he makes that day. He then cooks every dish by himself and then played the piano for us while we ate. There was only 1 flan left by that time, but we split it and it was great. He also told us that he made all the Adobe bricks himself which made up the restaurant. Truly an unusual but great find.

Holy frijole, was this a magical place! We were skeptical at first: no one was seated inside and the only occupant of the building was sitting in a separate room on a couch watching television. We entered, timidly, but were instantly made to feel welcome by Mister Michael himself and were seated. By the end of the night, our impression couldn't have been more radically reversed. Here were the highlights: local beer, locally sourced and organic ingredients including herbs grown in his yard, ambiance set by jazz which ended up being a live recording of his Juilliard-educated nephew and co made just two weeks ago, the flan, and then! he sat down at the piano and played the blues while singing improvised lyrics dedicated to us and including the details we'd shared with him about our trip. He also took us through his 400-year family history as it related to Albuquerque. What a wonderful man, what a wonderful time, and, oh yeah, the food was absolutely delicious.

I went here to meet up with one of my good friends that I don’t get to see very often. There were no signs on the door or in the restaurant that say it is a CASH ONLY establishment. I give them that it is in small print on the top of the menu. The owner did not remind us of this, as most cash-only businesses do. If he had, we would have come back another time with cash in hand. But he did not, and I was forced to drive home and get cash. I did not have a debit card for the ATM. It took 30 min out of my night with my friend and forced me to use gas at a time when gas is over $4.50 a gallon. If we had been given the courtesy of being warned of their policy they would have repeat customers. On another note, the chips and salsa are not free. They ask you if you want them before they give you a menu. This item is like bread at an Italian restaurant. It is almost always free in New Mexico. Their chips and salsa are almost certainly store bought. The pork enchilada was a mix. The pork was good, and the squash was excellent. The red chile was very mild Not a compliment in NM. As a whole it was very greasy. Remember to bring cash and you might have a good time. There is better New Mexican food to be had in Albuquerque though.