Summer of 2017; I was downtown late at night. The building on the southwest corner of Central and 4th was lit-up after being dark for months. I could see into it through a gap in the window covers made of newspaper. There were people in there sweeping, moving things around, and putting things up. I had seen painters and other handymen during the day but it was almost midnight; it couldn’t be a construction crew. For weeks, I saw that building light up late at night. I didn’t know what was going on or what it was going to be but I was certainly curious.
I visit locally owned and operated Brixens in February of 2018. I park on Copper between 3rd and 4th because there are free spots available sometimes. On my way to Brixens, I run into my friend Jared. He’s playing guitar outside of Oasis on 4th street. As I’ve said before, it’s not unusual to run into people you know Downtown. I take a few pictures of him and then continue my way. Truthfully, I don’t know what to expect from Brixens. All I’ve heard about them is that the food is incredible but, even though the source is reliable, I must try for myself. As I open the door, the host greets me kindly. I look around and I notice one guy at the bar has his headphones in while enjoying a delicious-looking burger. The host asks if I’d like to sit at the bar and although it looks fantastic, I’d rather have a corner table where I can see everything. He takes me to the corner table; I sit down. I notice a touch-screen tablet in front of me and I assume the host or waiter probably left it there on accident. While I’m waiting for the server to bring the menu, I start noticing the beautiful table in which I’m seated. It’s made of planks with a black and green finish and an “X” painted in the center. Clearly custom-made. White flowers in black vases adorn each table. The effect is striking and pleasant. My server, Kaitlin, comes around with a glass of water and asks if I have looked at the menu, pointing at the tablet. The tablet is the menu.
This is next-level.
Slightly embarrassed, I tell her I didn’t know this was the menu. She takes the time to show me how to navigate the menu and even gives me some great recommendations. I’m able to tap on each item and a high-quality picture with a detailed description pop up. The description includes details from the house-made sauces (all the sauces are made in-house) to the type of meat used and where it comes from. I’m thinking “Someone had to write all this information” and I’m impressed. It’s helpful to see what the food looks like before I order. I also notice most menu items include the vegan/vegetarian/gluten-free option.
Almost everything on the menu can be modified to be Vegetarian, Vegan, and Gluten-free.
It’s so important for restaurants to have these options available. Some higher-end places have vegan dishes but refuse to make modifications to their non-vegan dishes. Brixens makes the option available with almost everything on the menu. I would’ve loved to try a vegan dish but I decide to order the Green Chile and Bacon Sliders medium cooked, and Sweet Potato Waffle Fries on the side.
The presentation is fantastic. I’m afraid to touch it but it looks so good I can’t resist. The first bite of burger blows me away. The beef is so juicy and tender and cooked perfectly medium. The bun is buttery and slightly sweet which goes harmoniously with the heat of the green chile and the smokiness of the bacon. The beer-infused green chile queso adds a complex flavor and brings it all together texturally. The sweet potato waffle fries are superbly golden and salted. I knock out one of the sliders in less than a minute and end up deciding I need to take my time and savor this high-quality experience. As I keep eating, I realize how extraordinary this place really is. Cheeseburger sliders are a simple dish and I’ve had many different ones in my life but none of them tasted as good as Brixens’ sliders. The quality of the ingredients is unsurpassed by any restaurant I’ve been to in Albuquerque. The thought that went into the crafting of this dish, the dedication that went into preparing the ingredients, and the care that went into putting it together for presentation is palpable. I can taste it.
Each individual bite was methodically planned to have the perfect combination of flavors.
I’m enjoying my incredible meal and I’m looking around at the décor. The level of detail just gets deeper. Every time I look I see a new piece of furniture or decoration that adds to the cohesive theme. I’m thinking about the detailed descriptions in the electronic menu. I’m looking at the servers’ uniforms; they’re stylish and match the theme. I’m looking at the custom-designed table tops. I’m looking at the unique light fixtures. I look at my food again then I realize that a tremendous amount of hard work went into creating Brixens. The attention to detail is borderline obsessive. Everything was calculated. From the books in the shelves to the buns on the burgers, and each decision was purposeful. I can imagine the long that the owner spent working on every detail of her business. It makes me think back to the nights in the summer 2017 when the lights would be on at the corner building of Central and 4th …and it finally dawns on me. It was the owner! She was working late into the night rearranging, decorating, and maybe tasting every different type of hamburger bun in order to make her vision of the perfect restaurant into a reality. I’m inspired by Brixens.
10/10 recommend visiting Brixens for their food, drink, and exemplary service. The ambience is perfect for anything from watching the ball game with friends to a hot date with a special someone. They open at 11am every day and happy hour is from 3-6pm every day.
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