Soul and Vine

We went for Valentine’s Day so they had a special going on. Holy moly was it top notch! The potions were small but there was a lot so didn’t matter it took your palette on a journey.

I’m kind of mixed on this review. I loved the downtown location very much. Great menu with so many options especially for lunch, great atmosphere and service.
The new location isn’t as friendly and neither is the bare menu. I hope they spruce up the new Nob Hill location really soon.

I am pretty sad about the changes that Soul and Vine has undergone. I can understand if the location wasn’t working out, and nob hill is a great place. However, I just enjoyed the vibe of the other place much better than the new one. Biggest problem being that there is one bathroom and the female guests get to stare at a urinal while using the restroom.
That being said, the service was excellent.
The menu was much more limited than it was at the last location. I missed the Mac n Cheese and I know some of our dinner partners would have ordered the burger had it been offered.
Our meal seemed to take a long time and several of our party of 8 felt their food could have been hotter. We were given free dessert when we brought this to the chef’s attention though so I can’t really complain about that.
I ordered the duck confit and it was fabulous! However the risotto it was served with was under seasoned. My husband did not get med rare salmon like he ordered but his dish was still very tasty! The chicken dish got rave reviews from my friend and we all thoroughly enjoyed the crème brûlée and chocolate dessert.
I will probably try Soul and Vine again because I loved it so much the first time. I just hope that the chef will consider getting closer to the original concept or I may not want to return for a 4^th time.

We had dinner here for NYE. The staff was great and the food was good. 7-​course tasting with wine or beer. Overall, we had a great experience.

My husband and I received a gift certificate to Soul & Vine and never made it to the downtown location, but we finally had a chance to visit the new location in Nob Hill. We were one of two couples seated on Friday night for dinner, so we had prompt attention from the host and servers.
We enjoyed the live music, a guitar player seated near the front, because the tunes were pleasant but not overpowering. The décor/​ambiance were nothing special, but we really came for the food. Although we were expecting a more hopping, «hip» scene, we were able to chat, relax, and cozy up on a cold winter’s evening.
The food and wine list didn’t disappoint! We ordered a seasonal soup and salad, as well as a pizza to share. The flavors were rich and the portions on-​point (sometimes places like these seem to serve tiny portions, but these seemed reasonable and were satisfying).
I’m not sure if we’d come back soon without a gift certificate because we don’t dine out all that often, but we had no complaints! This was a fun place to check out and the prices didn’t seem too far-​fetched for the quality of food and service.

I want to like Soul and Vine a bit more than I did. First it has moved and is no longer down town. The new location is smack dab in the middle of Nob Hill which is great, but it makes parking more of a concern.
Service was really amazing. Super helpful to include calling her manager to ask if we could buy some wine glasses ($ 6) and also helping our party to find each other since some of us got turned around and went to the old location.
The food was good and I enjoyed the gnocchi appetizer very much. The gnocchi was perfect pillows of light gorgeousness that melts in the mouth. But everything else about the dish was lack-​luster. The poached egg was over poached and the yolk hard. The purée was cold and took away from the balance of the dish. I ordered the duck confit and the duck was perfectly prepared and I ate every single last bit. The risotto was textually wrong though, sticky and to dry. Ugh! The dish itself was visually unappealing drab and beige… it needed something to draw the eye. They did try with a stencil of some sort of sauce, but it was kind of an amber beige and didn’t elevate the dish the way it could have. Put something fresh and crisp on the plate please! The star of the show was the dessert for sure. A small campfire accompanied a truffle stuffed marshmallow on a bed of graham cracker crumbs. This was great! a show stopper for sure and such fun and whimsy! I was also expecting a wow wine list and was surprised how limited it was for a place that bills itself as a wine bar.
I like the concept, and the food is interesting enough to make me want to return and try it out again. I hope this is growing pains. The restaurant was almost empty on a Tuesday night, and on Nob Hill most places are pretty full. I hope Soul and Vine finds it’s footing and is able to offer something spectacular. More Soul please!

OMG you have got to stop in to the new location in Nob Hill!!! Food and drink menus are amazing. We all shared 3 appetizers — gnocchi and beet salad were phenomenal. Best gnocchi ever! Then for entrees we tried the salmon, duck, chicken and steak and all were so full of fabulous flavors that we thoroughly enjoyed !!! Sara our server was wonderful from the moment we walked in until we walked out the door. We are all huge fans!

Food wise items were hit or miss. Their beef tar tar was very good as well as gnocchi. I had duck great which was very tough meat. Maybe they over/​under cooked it. Pumpkin cheesecake was gross. Could not taste the cheesecake part at all, they had a whip on top that had cloves or some kind of hard stick thing which made it impossible to enjoy.
You know how some restaurants pull off a simple menu very well. Well not this place. I left wanting more. Honestly don’t go off the Unilocal pictures as it is nothing like that anymore. I was so disappointed.
Service wise they are ok. Friendly server however out food took forever to come out. We spent more time waiting then we actually did eating.
Finally it was Friday night at 6pm and the place was empty except for two other tables. That should’ve been our warning sign.

I reviewed Soul and Vine a little over a year ago. I was impressed then and now I am just sad. Soul and Vine has fallen off my select list. First clue things had gotten bad. We were the only ones there. The menu was much shorter. My favorite burger was no longer on the lunch menu. Our Ceasar salad was okay. Our Rueben sandwiches were just average. The meat was fatty and it was served on white bread (sour dough?) not rye.
The service was good, but given the lack of a crowd, what else could be expected?
Such a pretty place, such potential; is it the lack of business in the downtown or has the place just lost it’s luster. In any case, I no longer can recommend S&V for lunch.

I had a lovely lunch here and have to say that I was totally impressed and will definitely be back.
They have a really nice menu, nice wine list and great service.
The prices are reasonable for such a swanky place. The décor is divine and the food is really flavorful.
We had some Tuna Tartar that was delicious. In addition we each had a three part entrée — soup, salad and sandwich. They don’t give you a small portion of each which is really nice. They give you a medium sized portion of each and a full sandwich all for $ 18. Lastly, we had a dessert and since we were «trying» to be good, we choose the handmade truffles and they were delicious.
At one point the chef even came out to see how we liked things. Our server was amazing as well.
The whole experience was just fantastic whether you are having lunch with one of your girlfriends or whether you step out for date night.
I highly recommend Soul and Vine. You will not be dissapointed.

This place is pretty sweet. This interior design is VERY modern and clean (including the restroom). The service is not too bad, but it could be a tiny bit better. The girl was nice, but because she was new she still had a lot to learn about the menu and the items and she seemed like she was pretty stretched with a lot of people. Also, this would be the first restaurant we have dined at that did not have iced tea, but they were able to brew some loose leaf tea and put it over ice for us (so no big deal).
Now to get to the food: the flat bread and green chile butter were REALLY incredible! I would have loved to have had some more! We ordered the lite lunch with the Scarborough Farms salad which was pretty good and the chicken sandwich that was good as well. My only complaint was the dressing that was on the chicken sandwiches veggies (but that is kind of a personal preference it wasn’t bad or anything). My mom also ordered the Pork Cubano with the salad, and it was really good! I really liked her sandwich.
Alright, but enough of the main course… Let’s get to my favorite part… The desserts! Wow is what I can say! We ordered four things the molten chocolate cake, the crème brûlée, the chocolate truffles, and the 90s kids inspired ice cream in Fruity Pebble flavor!!! So basically I loved it all and have no complaints!
The chocolate molten lava cake pretty much awesome soft warm and delectable…
The truffles were so great! I just ate a leftover one about five minutes ago and still can taste that chocolate goodness!
The crème brûlée was pretty good. There were two green ones, a blue one, and a purple one. The green ones were supposed to be mojito and margarita. The blue one was Pop Rock flavored and no one including the chef or the waitress knew what the purple one was… Haha, but even though it was mystery flavored it was pretty good. I personally liked the green mojito one. I would really like for them to put more caramelized sugar… I think that would really add that extra taste!
Lastly the Fruity Pebble ice cream was pretty good! This might sound fatty but I think along side the fruity pebble design I would love for this to be served with more crunchy Fruity Pebbles! Yum yum! I personally can’t wait to try the Apple Jacks and Captain Crunch ice cream! I’m a 90s kid and that sounds incredible!!!
I really want to go back to try flatbread pizza! I really hope this place gets more popularity! It’s a nice joint!!!

Incredibly good.
This is one of those places where the chef is an artist with flavor. Just order, and trust his vision. It’s amazing.
Good atmosphere, right by the theatre for a perfect date.

The service matched the food. Awesome. Didn’t have time to eat as much as we wanted, but all 3 dishes were the business. Great for lunch. I could only imagine what dinner would be like. Wow.
If I lived here it would be one of my spots to hit again. Check it out

My friend and I tried on a whim. We were not disappointed! The food was amazing. Plated wonderfully and there was just the right amount of food for the portion.
There are set prices for salads, entrées, etc., which I really liked. I also like that while it wasn’t overly busy for s Friday night, the owner was bringing food out, mingling with guests and not hidden away.

Soul & Vine is my downtown destination when it comes to stylish dining and eclectic dishes, where passion & creativity equals magic from the talented, hip & charming Chef David Ruiz who is always accommodating to his patrons.
We have ordered from the lunch menu as well as the Happy Hour menu all options have been impressive, especially the Truffle Mac & Cheese «Mamma Mia» I LOVE! The Black Angus Sliders every bite has me… the tomato Bisque with Grilled Cheese Sandwich~~~ how clever they are :) I could eat that soup every day. I look forward to enjoying the brunch menu as well as hosting some personal events in such a grand establishment.
Meticulous staffers who are always friendly and on point and definitely probably the best in the city.
I also want to mention meeting «Tony» the owner of this fine establishment who is captivating & authentic, you really appreciate and have RESPECT for owners who come across as down to earth as «Tony & Chef David» I want to see them in business and spread the word about «SOUL & VINE» where crafting delectable & clever dishes is of the norm.

We came back again, this time with my grandma in tow. Our entire meal was above reproach. We opted to order the full size dishes this time, my fiancé ordered the Freight-​Train burger. I’m a picky girl when it comes to burgers, but this burger was fantastic. My grandma ordered their special, which included tilapia and several other ingredients that were too fantastic to name. But for me, the best part of the night was my scallop dish with a spinach risotto. Those scallops were cooked perfectly and there is now someone on this earth that has convinced me to love something with spinach involved. As I mentioned in my previous review, they still gave us free bread and we all had soup as part of our meal as well. The service was a little on the slow side, but it was a Friday night and I’m sure she had plenty of other tables.
Soul and Vine, you are wonderful! I cannot wait to come back!

I have started to write this four or five times and always feel that I cannot give it the justice that it deserves. I have now been here over 20 times and have decided that it is my favorite place in ABQ.
Chef David has the skill to create amazing daily specials that make you wonder what he is doing tomorrow. I try to find ways to meet there with clients, just to expose them to what they are missing. I have just about had everything on the current menu.
The food is absolutely delightful. If you are a fan of scallops or were like me and had not enjoyed them previously, do yourself a favor and give them a go. The tomato bisque is superb. The steaks are always cooked perfectly.
If you are looking for a date spot, Friday and Saturday evenings they have live music. The Valentine’s Day dinner special was a hit with my wife.
We have even stopped there with the kids before a Lobo game. Truffle Mac & Cheese or the Bison sliders were enjoyed by my kids.
I definitely would recommend this to everyone.
Oh, and ask for a glass of Writers Block Wine, exclusive to Soul and Vine.

So, my review for this place is crazy long overdue. I had been searching for a great wine bar ever since I left LA and now I’ve found it in Soul & Vine. I tend to go most often to the bar portion and enjoy small plates, but the full on dining room experience is also amazing. I plan on taking my LA friends here when they come to visit.
The space is modern, but beautiful and Chef David Ruiz works some wizard magic in the kitchen. I have absolutely loved everything I have had here and he continues to come up with seasonal innovative food that will blow your mind. Also, Writer’s Block Malbec, try it.
See you at the bar Burque!

In addition to having excellent service, this place made me drool all over myself… I’m still dreaming about the Mac ‘n Cheese. I’m convinced that cooking with truffle oil magically transforms mundane dishes into exquisite culinary masterpieces. This Mac rivals the best Mac I’ve had in town… or possibly Ever (Vernon’s w/​bacon). It’s official… Mac ‘n Cheese is no longer just for the kids… Can I getta A-​MEN?!
My date and I were originally going to just have some wine and split a couple appetizers (Mac ‘n Cheese and Crab Fritters), but they were so good they left us wanting more! So we split the Freight Train Burger. It was cooked just the way I like it (pink in the middle and juicy)! It came with thinly sliced (and baked?) terra chips, which were a delicious and healthy alternative to fries. I left satiated, but not so full I hated myself.
I had two wines that were both delicious. The Writer’s Block Malbec was my favorite, and it is also a Soul & Vine exclusive wine — can’t get it many other places. I also had the Los Dos Grenache & Syrah, which was tasty as well.
I love this space, tucked away on a quiet stretch of Gold Avenue! I used to frequent it when it was Thai Crystal (R.I.P. Thai Crystal). It’s a great location, right next to the movie theater. There’s free parking in the structure across the street (don’t forget to validate your ticket!).
One more note on the service: It was possibly some of the best service I’ve had in Albuquerque. Our waitress was pleasant, answered all our questions articulately, made excellent suggestions and checked on us at just the right moments. The chef himself brought out our burger and checked back to make sure it was to our satisfaction (and it was!). Very friendly place! I hope it survives. I will check it out for Happy Hour next time!
Highly recommend!

I usually wait until I have visited a place 2 or more times to write a review, but Soul and Vine deserves better. My husband and I went in and were amazed at the use of the space and décor. The menu is easy and has something for salad, soup, seafood, or meat eaters. I ordered the tomato soup. It was gorgeous and delicious. I almost didn’t want to ruin the design on the soup, but it smelled so good I dug in. I also ate the Pork Cubano sandwich. It had Fresno peppers that are spicy good. Meat was good too. Hubby being the meat eater, ordered the bison burger. He was a little skeptical about how it would taste since he has had some bad bison burgers. He ate the entire burger. It was seasoned and cooked to his liking. The burger came with sweet potato «things». Neither of us is a fan of sweet potatoes, but these were an exception. These were delicious.
For beer fans Soul and Vine carry some of the local brews. La Cumbre is dh favorite, but they also carry some other lesser known locals too. Their wine list was good too.
My favorite was the «bread» and green chile butter that is served while one waits. We had 2 baskets because it was so good. I should have asked what exactly it was called, but each time I was too busy feeding my face. Great stuff.
Oh I almost forgot. We tried the molten lava cake with caramel. Chocolate and caramel, have to try. DH has had mostly bad lava cake. He loves the molten stuff but not the outside. This dessert he had trouble sharing. The cake was moist and rich. He ate the outside and inside! Great place to relax, have great food, and dessert.

Bison sliders?!? Ok yes I’m the vegetarian (ok – pescetarian) and I say yes and wow! This was the first community event I’ve been able to attend and we are so glad we came.
What a nice space. And new local restaurant to eat. The wine list is compact but nice. All very drinkable wine for everyone’s palate and prices are great! Beer? Yes! Again compact but variety of beers to choose.
We tried various appetizers. The crispy calamari was tender and light. The crab fritters were on the smallish side (for sharing) the flavor was nice but a bit greasy :(. I would try them again… The knock out was the truffle Mac n cheese. Creamy. Cheesy and the pasta was al dente. Love it!!! The perfect amount of truffle flavor.
We look forward to returning for a full meal!

I consider this a limited review, it was just lunch, but I really want to get the word out about this place. Soul and Vine is a tremendous addition to the downtown dining scene and I’m betting dinner delivers in droves. GO. Expect an update, soon.
The restauranteurs took the bones of a pretty decent Thai joint and turned the place into deft elegance, without the uppity vibe. The space is smart, beginning with the modern bar and moving further inward, the street-​side booths, open floor layout and intimate elevated room to the north. I simply love the feel, here.
Concerning the food, this seems like the last place in the city to grab a burger. I’m a burger elitist, I really shy away from ‘em because A) they’re not good for me and B) everybody offers one. I decided to make an exception here, because the description alone was intriguing. Damn, did it deliver. Fresh meat cooked to perfection, incredible toppings/​sauces/​sweet potato shavings, concisely presented. My photos should tell the story.
Above and beyond it all, though, and the reason this place nails the Five Star High Five, regards customer service. Sure, my server was good (she was kinda adorable; obviously a newer hire, enthusiastic, sweet, a little giddy), but it was really fun watching the owners and chef visit the tables, chatting, getting to know everyone including me. Some visitors might find that kind of thing annoying, not me, not whatsoever. I love where these guys are headed. Put this on your go-​to list when you’re in the neighborhood. It’s a little off-​the-​beaten-​track, and totally worth a visit.