m'tucci's italian

they don't careabout their customers. extremely pricy...you get nickeled and dimed for anything. the portion size is extremely small for the amount charged. we have gone there several times and ordered a specific item, but when asked why there was only a quarter sized amount of topping instead of covered like normal, we were charged an extra $2 for a "side food." when we asked what it was, we were told someone in charge has decided to charge for it. when we asked to speak with that person, we were told no. i told the waiter that we would never go into thatrestaurantagain with that type of response and for him to tell the person that added that small, yet improper charge, especially when the extra (if you must call it that) amount was less than a tablespoon, that we would go elsewhere from no on, he went to the back yet just brought back the bill with the charge still attached. the waiter said, "see you next time," but i responded that it would never happen. when they have messed up on my order before, they have never reduced the price or made any concessions at all. i think it is because it ownership has the nyc arrogant approach to dealing with people and it runs all through the staff. in my case, there was absolutely no reason for the upcharge, no matter how small, and even the waiter agreed, but could not and would not remove it, even after i told them it would result in my never coming back. they told me how they were expanding and had all the business they could handle. i take that to mean they really don't care about the customers...maybe that is what they mean about being upscale...poppycock, i say!!! hope you choke on it...i can only hope the rest of their "customers" understand just how important they are to the nyc business and take their business where it could be appreciated.

amazing. best. ever.. it's the bestrestaurantin albuquerque. hands down. amazing. the steak, pizza and grilled salad all amazeballs

easily the best runrestaurantin albuquerque. if i count right we have eaten here 12-times, usually for dinner. at some point we have eaten just about every thing on the menu (which does change from time to time). my wife loves the roast half chicken with which she always substitutes grilled polenta (wonderful). i especially love the seafood cannelloni but have yet to find anything else i did not love. jeff & katie owned 11-restaurants in nyc, up to 6 at one time, and they learned how to run a well oiled machine with outstanding service. the only thing i wish changed is that it be moved to the east side.

m'tucci's kitchina is becoming more popular each month. make dinner reservations or risk being turned away.

love the food, hate the decor. thankfully, the food is awesome...because the decor is unimpressive and, i would even say, cheap and tacky.
we loved the fried brie with toasted baguette slices, green apple, strawberries and mixed greens , ordered on our waiter's recommendation. and he was right -- it was tasty and plated beautifully. for our first meal, we decided to stick to the classics. the bolognese sauce was outstanding - rich and meaty with sausage made in house by chef haas. my husband loved his spaghettini and four large pork and wagyu meatballs. the meatballs were well-seasoned and moist. the appetizer and main dishes arrived quickly and our waiter was knowledgeable and attentive.
we liked the food so much that the next we ordered pizza for takeout and were not disappointed. the wood fire adds a great crunch to the crust and the sauce is really good. our favorite was the pepperoni and smoked ricotta. the pepperoncini on it added the perfect "bite" to it.
thisrestaurantis worth the visit - just don't expect too much in the way of ambience; as a matter of fact, if you close your eyes, it will be perfect!

our new favorite restaurant. thank you, finally a greatrestaurantchoice on our side of the river. food is amazing and choices are abundant. service is terrific and a large staff always ready to help you enjoy your lunch or dinner. i love this place.

tried it anyway. we overheard some folks at anotherrestaurantone night talking about kitchina and even though they said they received slow service, they said the food was good. so we decided to give it a try. was not really impressed with the interior when we walked in, but decided to stay and try the food anyway. took a look at the really small print menu with the not so small prices and decided to stay and try it anyway. we did receive fairly quick service, but it was early in the dinner service, so we probably lucked out there. the salad was good, but you can't mess up salad greens, diced tomatoes, gorgonzola cheese and balsamic vinaigrette, so i still had hope for our meal. i tried the quadrafiorre pasta with alfredo sauce, roast chicken and guanciale. i have never tasted such a salty cream sauce before and when the server checked to see how it was prepared, she said the cooks salt the pork that is in the sauce. the pasta was okay, but nothing to get excited about. my dining companion had spaghetti and meatballs . . . meh. i asked about bread hoping that our server had just forgotten to bring it out, but was told it was $3 extra for about 5 slices of bread. i am thinking that the people that have enjoyed thisrestauranthave way more $$$ than i do to spend on lackluster italian food. oh well, i tried it anyway.

thisrestaurantis a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. we have been missing a high quality family friendlyrestauranton this side of town. the polenta (fried or creamy) is the best i ever had. the duck is amazing and the "twinkie" dessert is heaven on a plate.

while the ambiance bespeaks of fun and whimsy, the menu includes some seriously good dining options, some heretofore unseen in the duke city. it’s impossible to pigeonhole this modern contemporary italianrestaurantwhich offers playful takes on classic dishes as well as a bit of local flavor (it’s virtually impossible to have a menu in new mexico without red and green chile). six neapolitan-style pizzas are prepared in a wood-burning pizza oven. the bar menu, which varies daily, includes tapas-style small plates.

delicious!. i'm are shocked at some of the reviews of this restaurant! we have been there four times with other couples and no one has ever had a bad meal or service. i think it is very reasonably priced and everything has always been delicious. the biftecca with mashed potatoes is a melt in your mouth experience. the salmon was the best i have ever had. salmon at scalo can choke you to death!
my husband always gets the spaghetti and meatballs and there is always plenty of meatballs with no weird sauce, as one reviewer wrote.
yes, you pay for the a side of bread, but how much free bread is thrown away because half the world is on a gluten free or low carb diet? an order is not expensive and it's delish. i think it's a good idea.
service has always been friendly, efficient and without hassles.
i am not related to the owners and my husband and i are frequentrestaurantpatrons. in other words, we eat out a lot and m'tucci's kitchina is one of our favorites.

grey meat. pay extra for bread. tough, chewy, way underdone pasta?. it'strip mall space looking out on a parking lot with abt 10 waitstaff, falling over each other. we were asked by 2 diff ones for drink orders. apparently they don't have it figured out who's on first, and who is next??
plates we got were quite awful. chicken came out bare & gray. looked like pressure cooked or boiled in liquid meat with thin lemon slices on top. pasta came out plopped in a watery liquid i was told that was kale sauce. if water colored the hue of kale is sauce, we're all in trouble.
noodles were vastly less than al dente. this batch was an under cooked mess that should never have left the kitchen.. maybe letting it sit in kale water in the plate was supposed to make it cook more? i dont' know. why are waiters bring out food that looks so awful?

menu mentioned bread basket as an appetizer that you pay for; you have to ask if that's on top of the bread with the meal and then you are told you only get bread with your meal if you order it and pay for it, of course. otherwise, none is served with the meal.

face it, they are trying to maximize the space by putting the dining tables almost sitting in your on top of your table. it's like the ppl next to you are part of your conversation. the only way these tables this close together work, is when everything is empty. schrooch tables with bodies in em back from the table and there isn't enough room to walk any aisles. if you think paying extra for your bread basket, getting grey palor for meat, stiff, half cooked noodles, or see virtually a menu price of $50 for a steak, this is what you'll get at this strip mall place who some ppl (who probably work there) rated on here as a great value. how long before an overpriced, under done, corner looking out into a parking lot but trying to be arestaurantfigures out this is not the place?

"where's the mona lisa, i'm double parked!". translation: try this prontisimo!

we have been to m'tuuci's kitchina five times - three for dinner and two for lunch - i wanted to write an informed review for what i consider a real gem of a newrestaurantin town.

i'd suggest reservations for dinner - katie and jeff hit the ground running and this place is already incredibly popular. i have a tendency to go on the late side for lunch - so getting a table wasn't an issue.

you can tell the owners haverestaurantexperience with a capital "c" - a well-planned menu, well-trained staff, creative and attractive renovation of the space, comfortable bar- good wine selection and tasty cocktails.

what makes m'tuuci's a standout choice for me is somehow you get all that plus delicious food at a great price point. this place is reasonably priced, which means we can go here when we don't feel like cooking or when we want to enjoy a great meal with friends. and we've found we can count on getting a dynamite meal (consistency has not always been my albuquerque dining experience).

each time we've gone, we've had the intention of trying new things and have been pretty disciplined - with two exceptions: i am hooked on the calamari fritti, which is lightly breaded and comes with two sauces, and thetortino di cioccolato, their molten chocolate cake (omg if you are a chocoholic!).

i haven't had eggplant parmesean (melanzana alla parmigiana) this good since i left the east coast - except on an occasional visit to chicago. really yummy and it comes with a fabulous cacio e pepe, sort of a "deconstructed mac and cheese." kudos too for the cannelloni ricotta e spinaci, served with nm red chili - and lovely to split, with maybe the roasted beet and goat cheese salad (formaggio di capra) preceding it (after the calamari, of course!). someone questioned italian with a nm slant - i say brava! it works beautifully!

between ourselves and friends we've dined with i can also recommend the mussels, spaghetti and meatballs, rotisserie chicken, shrimp, buccatini with mushrooms, margherita pizza, pappardelle with house-made sausage, and - of course - the twinkie, which is an outrage.

i have read a few less-than stellar reviews about this restaurant, but they are certainly in the minority and definitely haven't mirrored my experience. i would, however, like to have bread - upon request - come with the meal.

this is a fun menu, the staff is incredibly accommodating, the owners go out of their way to welcome you, they bring in guest chefs and have fun events like the san gennaro festival this sunday [9/8] - and i'm going back tonight to try the hangar steak!

this place is amazing! food top notch, the polenta appetizer was a startling nice surprise of soft subtle grilled polenta and the right amount of goat cheese with a slightly spicy finish on the tomato sauce.

our entrees had house made pasta with fresh and all house made ingredients. the dessert of twinkie roll - normally i would have stayed away from this- was over the top delicious! a perfect portion, not too sweet, and the bartenders paired it with a fantastic after dinner drink that was house made as well!

service was very friendly, and seeing the caring owners tending to theirrestaurantwas very refreshing.

kate- we will return soon!

tried the bar scene out and thoroughly enjoyed a low-key evening with excellent food that is very unique in this area. i feel therestaurantsuccessfully fills a niche with a casual dinning experience with above average northern italian cuisine. kudos to chef john haas for his saffron and mustard infused broth for his mussels and i was surprised and thrilled by the grilled caesar salad. bar service was prompt and friendly and i highly recommend trying a glass of the rince cochon for beer aficionados. all in all i highly recommend m'tucci's kitchina if you would like to try something different and exciting.

no bueno!!!. we just dined here on a recommendation of someone who appeared to be a local.we tried it and were not pleased! the prices were too expensive and, the portions of our dishes were very small. who puts new mexico chile in italian dishes?that is a very unfortunate choice.

it took them an hour to bring our food to us.my husband ordered the spaghetti with meatballs.the pasta was overcooked, and the sauce tasted like came from a can, they only gave him two small meatballs.there was also this clear liquid (it wasn't sauce) around his pasta plate, what was that?it looked disgusting.

i myself ordered the eggplant parmesan, it was very dry. the angel -haired pasta was stuck together when i lifted the the whole pasta from my fork, it tasted very bland.to make it worse, my food was cold i sent it back immediately .there was also no kid's menu so they had to eat from our plates, they too weren't please with the food.thisrestaurantis not going to make it long with this type of service, food, and location!

i recommend to anybody don't dine at this restaurant, your just wasting your time and money,because there are way better tasting italian restaurants that are worth your time and money!!


-----27 jul, 2013-----

not impressed at all!!. not a good place to take your children. there is no kids menu and we had to share our small meals. there were not enough high-chairs either. also, the building is quite small. although in a very romantic setting, the prices over-shot the mark. we paid well over one hundred dollars for a family of four. not including wine. unfortunately, we were not satisfied with our meals and portions. we will stick to il vicino for moderate prices and substantial portions.

rude management. i would never patronize thisrestaurantdue to the public humiliation given to customers who had negative dining experience. thisrestaurantexhibits unprofessionalism, lack of class when critiqued, and pure rudeness when responding to helpful criticism. surely thisrestaurantwon't last long. i will do my part in advising those i know to not patronize this restaurant.