Devon Baird is the CEO of two family owned restaurants in Los Ranchos De Albuquerque that specialize in premium cuts of meat and seafood, served with a dramatic atmosphere. They have won numerous culinary awards and have garnered exceptional reviews. Featuring gangster-themed motifs, The Butcher and Vernon’s Speakeasy both offer an experience that is unique in the Albuquerque area. Devon tells us, “The Butcher is a brunch restaurant, serving from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday, and 10:00 AM to 2:00 Wednesday through Friday. Vernon’s Speakeasy is a reservations-only fine dining restaurant, Wednesday through Sunday from 5-10 PM. Both offer a roaring twenties theme in their presentation and dining events. It's a family business. My dad built the shopping center that the restaurants are in, and I took over in 2024 as the CEO.”
The Butcher serves a hardy breakfast and brunch with many of their premium beef cuts on the menu. Devon says, “The Butcher is a rebranding of Café 6855. We wanted to create something that connects to Vernon’s a little bit more and the theme and the experience that you can have at Vernon’s, but in a more approachable environment and price point, so really high-quality foods and really delicious foods with great service.”
Both restaurants stage events that feature a gangster motif with a dedicated events team. Vernon’s Speakeasy has no signage other than a red light. They call their location “hidden in plain sight.” Customers knock on the door and are asked for the password by a “mobster.” The password is sent to you when you make a reservation. The somewhat secretive nature of the entrance immediately adds to the ambience.
Additionally, both restaurants focus on the theme experience and the connection of a shared meal with friends and family. Devon tells us, “With both Vernon’s and The Butcher, we're very focused on connection, and one of the ways that we see connecting people is through events. Whether that's connecting with a loved one, your spouse, your significant other, or friends and family, we're really wanting to bring people together over a shared meal with good food and good service, and that's where our events come in. We're very interested in how events can be an opportunity for people to meet new people and go out and celebrate in different ways with their friends and family.”
The chef for both restaurants is Tyler Townsley, who talked to us about the theme and the password. “We get a little bit of exclusivity from that. I think that makes it a fun destination. You come here for your birthdays, your anniversaries, things of that nature, and it really makes the experience. I think anyone who's ever eaten out, after a time, they can't remember what they ate or drank but they remember the experience that they had, and I think that's what's special about our restaurants.”
Tyler says, “There was just a bit of stagnation in the Albuquerque food scene that we wanted to break up. It seemed that everybody was doing the same thing, so we're trying to not only offer seasonal menus but expand into different opportunities like a tasting menu, different events, things of that nature. Having full creative reign over the menu has been a blessing. The owner and I have a wonderful working relationship. My menus are derived mainly from a French and Italian training, and I was classically trained in French cooking, but I've really fallen in love with the global techniques of things, so I like to refer to my cooking style as global, where I use local ingredients with global techniques from across the world. I've really fallen in love with Japanese cuisine. It has been a big influence on me.”
One of the things the two restaurants are known for is their quality cuts of meat. CEO Devon says, “We use Native American beef. All of that meat is sourced in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Texas, and it's born and raised on Native American land tended by Native American people, and it gives a lot back to the Native American community as well as provides phenomenal beef.” Chef Tyler concurs. “The product is absolutely outstanding. It’s grass-fed. It's a phenomenal product. It's amazing.”
Another appeal is the exclusivity of the restaurants. Tyler says, “We have the VIP club, and being a VIP member grants you a multitude of different things, such as early access to the events that we do. The events are a big passion project of mine.” They have “experiences”- wine dinners, comedy nights, and live music under low lights. Vernon’s Speakeasy has three private banquet rooms, and custom menus can be built around an occasion with up to 150 guests. They are also developing a curated guest list to launch in 2027. Guests can join a “curation pool” and attend invitation-only events. The intent is to gather people for a social event. They describe it as “Vernon's Curated Socials are invite-only evenings where we build the guest list with intention — selecting for curiosity, warmth, and the kind of energy that makes strangers feel like old friends by dessert.”
Both The Butcher and Vernon’s Speakeasy are very special dining experiences. Just be prepared to be asked, “You Gotta Password?”
The restaurants are located at 6855 4th Street NW in Los Ranchos De Albuquerque at the Village Shops. The Butcher’s phone number is 505.594.2442. Vernon’s Speakeasy’s number is 505.341.0831. You can book reservations at https://yougottapassword.com/ or through OpenTable.
With both Vernon’s and The Butcher, we're very focused on connection, and one of the ways that we see connecting people is through events.