Mariscos Altamar – More Than Just Seafood
You won’t only find Mexican seafood at Mariscos Altamar but a wide range of Mexican food including tacos, flautas, enchiladas and more. There is something for the entire family. Click HERE for the entire review!
1517 Coors Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87121
Overall Bites:
Value: I had the Chimichanga plate which runs $9.99. Other plates, including the Carne Asada burrito are the same. Then they go up from there. Considering the quality of food it’s one heck of a deal!
Taste: I liked the Carne Asada tacos best but the Chimis were good.
Presentation: The tacos looked best in my opinion because the pico (tomatoes, onions, jalapenos and cilantro) looked super fresh. The guac on the chimis didn’t look as appetizing since it didn’t look as fresh.
Vibe: The restaurant was busy but not too much for the staff to handle. The restaurant was inviting with a large waiting area but mostly because the staff at the front desk greeted you with a smile.
Accessibility: The restaurant is just south of I-40 on the West side of Coors. They are next to the Del Taco. It doesn’t look like there is much parking but when you pull in you’ll see plenty in the back.
We, my twins and I, arrived at 6 and the parking lot seemed mostly full but once you pull in you’ll see a lot more parking in the back. About half the tables were full but it is a big dining room. The ceiling had blown glass chandeliers that look like ocean life. There is also a big fish tank in the back of the restaurant that has goldfish. The tables have a Mayan looking mural on them with the restaurant name on the borders.
Yes, this is mostly a seafood restaurant but I’ll be honest with you, I usually shy away from most seafood. I can enjoy some fish tacos as much as the next guy but they didnt jump out at me. My twins, who think Del Taco is Mexican food (yes, I’m partly to blame), were somewhat skeptical. I ended up ordering the Chimichanga plate, the girls had the carne asada burrito and the carne asada tacos.
As we walked into Mariscos Altamar we were greeted immediately. The waiter brought chips quickly and took our drink order. Just so you know, the chips and salsa are complimentary. The chips are served with both a green and red salsa. The green tasted spicier but the red creeps up on you. It has a heavy tomato taste at first and then you notice the spice. Price ranges for plates start at 9.99 and up.
The tacos looked amazing and tasted great too. The pico was fresh and the rice and beans were authentic Mexican. The beans were salted well and the amount of cheese on top was just right. The carne asada was seasoned to perfection and the meat super tender. The burrito was also very tasty but could have used more pico inside. The chimis…well, the chimis looked like giant flautas or taquitos which threw me off a bit. They did taste good though. The tortilla was fried just right leaving the outside lightly crisped and a nice golden color. The chicken was also very tasty. The salsas from the chips made for a nice addition to the chino/flauta plate. Together with the rice and beans it made for a portion size that was just right.
One thing I thought the Chimis and the Burrito plate was missing was garnish. Just something to add more color and have them look more appealing and fresh.
As far as the service goes, the waiter checked on us often. He must have filled our drinks at least 3 times without us calling him over. The twins had pina colada agua frescas which ran just shy of $3 but they did get several free refills which made it worth it. It was homemade and not a mix which made it that much better.
Mariscos Altamar gets 4.5 Bites! The service was great, the decor was good and the food was very good too. Like I mentioned earlier, the chimichangas just didn’t look as I expected. They were more like a flour tortilla flauta. Also, the burrito could have used more pico inside. Both the Chimis and the Burrito could have used some garnish such as shredded lettuce and tomato. Regardless of these minor misses, the taste and the service are what stood out!
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