Albuquerque City Lifestyle magazine went on a search for the perfect romantic restaurant for Valentine’s Day…and we picked Debajo Tapas Y Vino in the Old Town area. Tapas is a Spanish cuisine served on small plates as an appetizer, but usually combining several dishes to make a full meal.
Jorden Karsten, executive chef in training, told us that, ”Debajo is a unique and romantic restaurant. It’s a calm and relaxing environment and is a great date night place. We get a lot of couples.”
In Spain, people tend to linger over a meal and socialize. Jorden says, “It’s not just ‘let’s eat and leave’. Diners hang out and spend time together and have a couple of glasses of wine. A variety of different small plates are served over the course of the meal. We wanted to bring that kind of dining approach to Albuquerque.”
Jorden visited Spain in tenth grade and was inspired by the food and the style of Spanish dining. She trained in American and French fine cuisine but has excelled in her transition to the Spanish culinary arts. Jorden says, “The flavors of Spanish food are unique. We use a lot of saffron, Spanish-style serrano ham, garlic, and onions.”
When we visited the restaurant to do this story, we were treated to some of her specialties which were as delicious as they were creative. They use a great deal of farm-to table local sources of meat and vegetables for their menu. Debajo also features an extensive wine list as well as some unique cocktails.
The décor is appealingly rustic, and when we visited on a very busy Saturday night, we found that the staff and kitchen had everything noticeably under control. It is a charming and laid-back atmosphere. They really know how to create an elevated fine dining experience. If you’ve ever visited Spain, you’ll find this restaurant to be very authentic in both food and ambiance.
Debajo is at 1025 Lomas Blvd NW. Their phone number is 505.503.8645 and their website with their menu is https://debajoabq.com/.