Pelican's Restaurant

Possibly the best dining experience that I've had here in Albuquerque. About a year ago I started asking Uber/Lyft drivers what bars and restaurants they recommend for quality food/service and half of the time I've been told to try out Pelicans.

The restaurant itself was an unorthodox rustic building that has a unique atmosphere and ambiance that separated itself from the standard layout of a franchised business. I didn't expect it to be as busy as it was but I was able to get a seat at the bar fairly quickly considering how many family's were packed in the lobby.

The bartender was very personable while giving quick and insightful recommendations for the menu and drinks. Everything sounded good, but I went with the Almond Crusted Halibut and a Pina Colada. The halibut was phenomenal, especially with the creamy lemon caper sauce that paired with it. Quite literally the best seafood I've had living in this arid desert. The Pina Colada was a great dessert drink to pair with the tropical atmosphere of the restaurant. I would've gotten another if I wasn't so stuffed by the end of dinner.

Half of the time I was there I was talking to an elderly European couple and they would NOT stop raving about how much they loved this place. I could not understand half of what they were saying but from what I could gather they've been dining at pelicans for over three decades because of the restaurants consistent adherence to delivering a quality dining experience without gouging on prices.

The restaurant gave off a very tropical / Hawaiian vibe but the experience was that of a true American steak and seafood restaurant. There is no doubt in my mind that I will be returning to explore the rest of the menu with some friends.

Unfortunately, I have run into a problem with one of their servers. She's a very large woman who likes to roll her eyes at you. Sometimes, she comes out and is very kind, and other times, she's downright brutal. I do not expect professional wait staff to treat me or my guests rudely. The first time it happened, I figured she may have been having a bad evening. But the treatment happened again on my last visit. This time, I asked to speak to a manager about it, and I don't think the manager cared what I had to say. People should not be in the hospitality industry that do not want to work and treat people with respect this large woman has no right to be in this industry. The food's great, the quality's good, but the service is horrifying.

Remember "Delta Dawn"? Well, Pelican's is a "faded rose from days gone by" - the best fine-dining restaurant of 1980 Albuquerque that's still operating. Oh, wow, and the old folks (I'm almost a senior myself now, but I'm talking the OLD folks) just love it. You'll see more octo- and nonagenarians eating here than at any place in town that doesn't have an attached memory-care unit.

And Pelican's _takes care_ of them. The place feels fancy to the oldsters: if you aren't into faux roped bridges, you're probably not on board, but they remember this as a date-night/dress-up place. (I always put on a sports coat when I join relatives here - it's what one does.) The Pelican staff (everyone: servers/managers/bussers/hostesses/bartenders) know how to treat old folks with mobility and hearing issues. The old folks have a great time here - Pelican's makes sure of it. You have staff here who've been here for _decades_ and they've become family friends - it's always a joy to see them. Absolute professionalism in the service - which isn't to say that you're guaranteed a perfect experience because the place is PACKED. Pelican's on a Wednesday evening is busier than my favorite places on weekends. But it's packed because the clientele know what they're going to get, know that they'll be shown a good time and are willing to treat themselves.

Modern prices sure have gone up (of course), but they're NOT unreasonable (these days) for the level of service. They have a reasonable happy hour menu (I've attached photos) and our experience is that the drinks are great. Here's the rub, though: the food is . . . not great. Not terrible and kind of fabulously dated (the bottomless salad bowl with their trademark green onions crossed over it springs to mind), but I don't think there's anything on the menu that you wouldn't recognize if you time-traveled in from 1976. In my opinion, better than Chili's or Furr's Cafeteria, but certainly not up to the level of the nicer independents in town. A decently ranging menu - I'm a little bit of a fussbudget ("No kidding?" shouts the chorus) and I can find something to eat in pretty much any mood - but I'm also never one to suggest we rush back.

Here's the thing: if you're looking for a place to take an Albuquerque local who's been treating _you_ at restaurants since the Seventies . . . well, welcome aboard: Pelican's is a five-star suggestion. If you're looking for a place where you'll enjoy a refined meal - this isn't the ship for you.

Pro tip: be REALLY careful in the (unbelievably busy) parking lot. I can't tell you how many times we've almost been flattened by some 4'9" lady careening by in a 1978 Lincoln Aircraft Carrier. I'm not sure the past decades' addition of bars and weed stores to the shopping plaza has helped make things safer. Drive slow and pay attention!

So I understand busy to me a busy restaurant means good food. But to walk continuously by a table and not nod ,smile some sort of acknowledgment that I see you licking crumbs from the table . Well pelican family I came cause you came recommended but I will all I know to try something else

Best Prime Rib in the state! It was the juiciest, most flavorful steak ever. The horseradish sauce on the side had a hell of a bite to it too. I ordered mine with the salad and sautéed vegetables. My father got his with the rice. We also ordered some shrimp cocktails. These were HUGE.
The salad was a large bucket! They were very good about no onions on that for us (father has an allergy). The homemade Italian has a little bit of a spicy flavor which was pleasantly surprising.
They did forget about onions in the rice, but after my father found some, they substituted French fries for him (he was a big fan of the fries as well). I adored the sautéed veggies. Absolutely cooked to perfection.
10/10 would go again. I've got my eye on some coconut shrimp for the next visit!

It pains me to write this review after having had so many great experiences here, but this place just about killed me. Zero exaggeration.

Took a friend here to have dinner...walked in and stood in front of two female employees at the hostess stand, debating on who was dating who and who saw who on Facebook and ermagerd it was this girl with that guy and whatever other nonsense, completely ignoring us as we waited to be acknowledged; eventually, a third girl arrived and actually took my name to be placed on the wait list. It wasn't 15 minutes before we were sat, so there was hope...

I ordered the clam chowder and lobster/steak combo, along with the house martini. I can't recall what my friend ordered, but it was uneventful.

I was starving so I devoured the clam chowder - didn't appear to have any odd taste and it wasn't my first time eating chowder. Nor was it my first time having lobster or steak, but before I could finish my dinner, and had only two sips of my martini, my stomach was revolting.

We left and made a direct line to Walgreen's for some antiemetic's. Having a long drive home and sweating the entire way, I was grateful to be in my own bed as the room spun and I was popping dramamine, pepto, and equate like they were children's chewable vitamins...anything to keep me from puking, but puking I should have done.

36 hours I was down. Finally emerging from near death, I felt like the guy who had a face-hugger attached in the original Alien movie. Funny, kinda, but also not funny how sick I was.

My friend had called to discuss the situation with the manager as soon as we left, but it wasn't taken seriously.

This place, at one time, had charm, good drinks and good food, but now I would avoid this place like the plague. And this is coming from someone who used to frequent Pelican's. This time, I'm just thankful I survived it.

Great food
Great atmosphere
Great service
The food is very good also. The appetizers are the best the shrimp cocktail and oysters are in great size
No skimp here

I had an incredible dining experience at Pelican's East seafood restaurant, heightened by the outstanding service provided by Brooke. From the moment I walked in, her engaging conversation and expert entree recommendations made the evening truly memorable. The bar menu burger was a delight - tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. The freshness and flakiness of the salmon was undeniable, showcasing the restaurant's commitment to quality ingredients. However, the real star was the blackened catfish, served in a generous portion and seasoned to perfection. The accompanying sautéed vegetables were a delicious complement, adding a burst of flavor to every bite. Thanks to Brooke's attentive service and the delectable offerings, Pelican's East is definitely a must-visit for any food enthusiast.

The side salad that comes with the main dish is huge. The value for the price is great at Pelican's. Ambience makes you feel at home. I've been here a handful of times, and the service has been good each time I go.

My son took my husband and I here for a belated Mother's Day. We used to go to the Westside location which closed but heard it reopened and wanted to try it again. However we got stuck on the east side of town so we came to the Montgomery location. Oh my gosh I'd forgotten how much we loved this place. I have to eat gluten-free so the sadly the prime rib was out. But I ordered the rib eye blacked and it was great! We don't like to order steaks in restaurants because they're usually a huge disappointment. This was the best steak I've had in a restaurant in years. We loved the chunky bowl of salad. Baked potatoes was loaded and huge. Everything was great. The dinner was pricey. But everything was so good it was hard to notice.