Reviews for Ben Michael's Cafe

04/13/2024 - MenuPix User

03/16/2024 - MenuPix User

02/01/2024 - MenuPix User

01/07/2024 - MenuPix User

12/02/2023 - MenuPix User

11/23/2023 - MenuPix User

11/11/2023 - MenuPix User

04/30/2021 - Sally Moon
We have dined here on several occasions and had a wonderful time enjoying great service, food, and live music! I highly recommend the enchiladas and the flan!... my usual. 😋

02/25/2020 - MenuPix User
I never have to write reviews like this. I cannot believe an afternoon of friends, fun, and supporting live music turned into what it did today (2/22/20) at Ben Michael's Restaurant. I should have videoed it, it was so awful. My friend and I were treated beyond abusively by the very owner himself after coming to spend our time and money in his "restaurant."
Stick with me, it gets unbelievable.... and if you don't believe it, I have many witnesses to confirm.
This was a CD release party, needing (free) tickets in advance to attend. My friend had secured the tickets and we met up at the "restaurant." I ordered a drink and we proceeded to listen, clap, cheer and groove to our friend's band for an hour and a half. TWICE Mr. Michael rudely bumped into my friend's knee cap hard enough to hurt, and for her to react verbally. He said nothing TWICE. We let it go, of course. Things happen in overcrowded "cafes" (but seriously fire code violation much?).
After the set was over and the band went into an extended jam session to end the event, my friend and I had to leave for our next engagement. We pulled out our cell phones to get the address of the next venue and were IMMEDIATELY accosted by the owner to "put away our cell phones girls (WAY TOO OLD TO BE CALLED A GIRL BTW), just feel the vibe and jam, you're being disrespectful to the band."
I'm sorry, when is it ever alright to treat two grown women, and customers doing nothing wrong, like school children?!
Nowhere in the establishment were there signs posted about using devices, and it was none of his business anyway. We had not been distracting, rude, or disrespectful in any way during the set. We were simply synching up our next destination, at the end of the event.
I get up to leave, as I will not be verbally attacked in front of a whole dining room by the owner for doing absolutely nothing wrong. My friend stayed behind to take care of the bill for my drink.
Mr. Michael felt it appropriate to aggressively chase me out into the parking lot yelling at me about the 6 dollars owed for my awful margarita (that my friend stayed behind to take care of).
I told him after the way we were treated in an overcrowded "establishment" by him that the drink should be on the house, it's the very least they could do. He continued to pursue me and scream: "you owe us 6 dollars!"
I said: "my friend has it inside," and got in my car because at this point, I was getting a bit scared of this loose cannon.
He gave up chasing me, and went back into the "restaurant," and began to further harass my friend about payment, kicking her out, etc... She kept trying to de-escalate the situation with him by assuring he was getting paid for the drink, that we were friends of the band, and there was no reason for him to continue yelling and creating a scene over a quick and simple cell phone usage. My friend and I were finally able to get the change (didn't know it was cash only "establishment") for the drink, she gave him the 6 dollars and he yelled at her to get out. She calmly and respectfully reiterated, he had been paid, we had done nothing wrong, were friends of the band, and that he could call the cops if he was that intent on kicking us out- all while he kept pointing to the 'right to refuse service sign.'
Once Mr. Michael found out my friend was a long time friend and supporter to the band, as well as probably reflecting on his OUTRAGEOUS behavior toward customers, he changed his tone BARELY, and said she could stay. Without so much as an apology he skulked off to the back of the kitchen somewhere.
Needless to say. My friend was not interested in sticking around for further harassment, and left the establishment under the sympathy and bewilderment of the other patrons. Thankfully, he did not chase her as well.
We are both still in a bit of shock, still reeling, still in utter disbelief to have been dealt this at the hands of the owner of a hospitality "establishment."
We will never return, and will be making it as public as possible to all that will listen, how out of control this owner is. We found out after the fact from other customers that things like this have happened there before. Please consider this before visiting, or revisiting Ben Michael's Restaurant. You might save yourself a serious hassle.
A word to the wise to the entrepreneur that is Mr. Michael at this "restaurant" endeavor: 1)If a customer feels in physical danger from your actions, and overreactions to a situation, you might be in the wrong line of work (oh and just that small matter of it being illegal to be threatening like that by chasing customers and pursuing them as they're backing away). You have the right to refuse service, but not be physically threatening to your patrons.
2) If you don't want devices in your "restaurant" put up clear signs about it so that patrons are aware of the rules, and they will happily oblige.
3) When you bump into someone, TWICE, especially your customer, it's pretty common decency to applogize or at the very least, acknowledge it.
4) Anger management classes.
5) Invest in a ladder so you can dust off that ceiling fan in your dining room, that is over everyone's food, before OSHA has to get involved.
6) Hospitality classes.
7) Make it right by NEVER repeating your behavior from today to the next people that try to support your event and "restaurant." You need to check yourself.
8) Good luck.

09/25/2016 - Dona Marie
I'm a local and I love this place. The food and atmosphere is authentic New Mexico. Ben is a delightful host who offers tourists a glimpse of the hospitality and design of New Nexico and its community. Representing family and home. I call Ben Michaels a anomaly, in Albuquerque. It's welcoming, fun and yummy.

11/13/2011 - Tom and Dee
We came on a suggestion and left WOWed! The food was delicious, clean, tasty and was authentic NM style. Ben himself was charming and a great host. I felt like I was in his home. We will be back!

05/12/2010 - Gloria T. Mora
This is our favorite dining place in Albuquerque.
Finest food & hospitality is awesome! I recommend to all my friends travelling in the area. The location is great too. Keep up the terrific work.
G. T. Mora, Department of the Interior,
Washington, D. C.

11/13/2008 - mark and susan traudt
THIS PLACE WAS THE GREATEST. THE FOOD WAS FRESH AND DELICIOUS. THE OWNER WAS A TRUE DELIGHT TO MEET. HE EVEN PLAYED PIANO AND SANG WHILE WE ATE. THIS PLACE IS WONDERFUL. DONT MISS THIS ONE WHILE IN ALBUQERQUE. OUR BEST DINING EXPERIENCE.!.