Paul's Monterey Inn

Went to Paul's during the Holiday. We experienced the rudest and slowest server ever. When we sat in the bar at a booth, she walked by and rudely said ""Might be with you in about 20 minutes."" She was correct. When we finally got our drinks, they were totally wrong. A martini with olives arrived with a lemon twist. We sent it back for correction and the waitress simply took the lemon peel out of the drink and added olives. The taste of lemon was very strong and the olives were thrown in the glass without a toothpick.. Although we arrived for dinner at 7:15 pm, we were told they were already out of prime rib. Paul's used to have a nice wine list, but not now. The best white you can purchase by the glass is Kendell Jackson and they feature Menage a trois as their best red. These wines, if purchased at your grocery or liquor store cost $12 and $9 respectfully. They are over-priced at approx $10-$12 and are served in cheap wine glasses that hold 4 oz of liquid. The salads are retro, containing lettuce, onion, a thin unripened slice of tomato and 4 or 5 croutons. The dressing, at best, is the quality of bottled off a grocery store shelf. .The bread is not baked on the premises and was micro-waved too long as it was very tough and chewy. We ordered tenderloin medallions and salmon for our entrees. The medallions had a slight liver taste but were tender. The salmon is frozen and had a strong fishy taste. The only thing that was acceptable was the shrimp cocktail as our appetizer, but it was way over-priced. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND PAUL'S. THERE ARE MANY BETTER QUALITY RESTAURANTS AVAILABLE IN THE SAME PRICE RANGE, BUT THE FOOD IS DELICIOUS AND THE SERVICE IS WONDERFUL.... SAVOY, ZINC, SEASON'S....EVEN OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE RANKS ABOVE PAUL'S. By the way, if you talk with the manager, she is defensive and unapproachable. more

This is my second time eating in the bar because I like to watch sports. THEIR BARTENDER HAS TO BE THE RUDEST MOST UNFRIENDLY PERSON I HAVE EVER MET in the hospitality business. (The first time I met him, I thought he was having a bad day. The second time I met him, I discovered that ""indifference"" is his middle name.) The food was okay, but not worth putting up with his attitude. He actually spoiled my dinner there twice and I won't be back. more

We have eaten at Paul's for thirty years and have never had anything but an excellent meal. We've been for lunch, for dinner, for just about every Friday for years, and for many special occasions. It's always wonderful. The food has been so consistent and the service always outstanding. Ask for Evelyn, our waitress for many, many years. more

I took my staff there for lunch and had heard good things about it. It was dark, the food was not good enough to want to eat it again and it felt like some 1960's good ole boys club where if you weren't a regular customer, whose butt imprint is permanently left in a bar stool, you received a weird look from patrons and staff as if we were lost. Guess it's not for people under 60. more

My partner and I go there time and time again. Excellent service and excellent food! We always sit in the lounge and in the winter time enjoy the roaring fire! We highly recommend Paul's for great Prime Rib. The bartender is also very generous with the drinks. more

I have been going to Paul's for years. If you like a nice dark, romantic place to go, this is the place. Over the years I have always sat in the restaurant portion of the building and enjoyed my meal. (You have to try the Reuben sandwich, ask for it with green chile) The past couple of years we started sitting in the lounge. It has a great fireplace which you can expect to be going full bore during the fall and winter. You can always expect a good pour from the bartender Jennifer. They have added a happy hour now with a special bar menu and drink specials. A nice place to unwind before heading home after a hard day at work. A word of warning. Have your sunglasses on before you step outside after being in Paul's lounge for any length of time. The sun is brutal if you don't. Rand more

Out waitress, Valerie, was excellent. It was a wonderful expereince. more

We went to Paul's for Father's Day, it was the first time we'd been and had heard good things from a couple of friends. The waiter we had at first was very nice, but i guess our waitress was running late because she took over after our drink orders. You could tell she didn't want to be there, was rude to us, messed up the order, rushed us out of there, while still eating she brought out to go boxes! The Mai Tai was recommended by the staff, and it was the worst one I have ever had, just because you get busted a week earlier for serving to a minor doesn't mean you stiff the real adults with a $7 glass of fruit juice! The steak was sub par, i recommend going to Kellers meat market and cooking one at home, the quality would be WAY better! The $37 crab legs were nasty, the butter was watered down, the $25 salmon was bland, and the mango sauce a abomination. Even the cheap cheese on the potatoe was nasty, and you had to request it. Also the booth had funk all over the seats, that's why they keep it so dark in there, so you can't see the funk and the nasty food that you just dropped $150 on for 4 people, 2 of whom shared a meal. Also, don't forget the attitude you get from waitress, and the you get to pay her for it with a tip, and don't bother trying to complain, my Mom told the manager that the waitress must be having a bad night, and his response was to say that's not normal and walk away! Save your time, money and sanity and go ANYWHERE but Paul's, these people raving about it have obviously never been to a real restuarant, like Cattleman's,avoid Paul's like the plague, which you may get from sitting in the booths!!!! Cons: rude waitress, bad food, dirty! more

2009: following the last review, my having just returned from my first Paul's experience, I have to advise the last poster that he or she would be better served at a Ruth's Chris, and if they agree, it explains everything. Paul's is definitely a venue frozen in time. The menu is the classic stuff with the addition of a bit of pride evidenced in their in-house preparation techniques. The employees have been there for quite some time, and they show some demonstrable pride in their employment...all too rare in these times. The food was actually excellent: bacon-wrapped filet, baked potato with any possible garnish/condiment gratis. Before all that a side salad I paid a bit extra for to get bleu cheese crumbles. It resulted in a well-populated salad with crumbles and balsamic vinaigrette, and it was fresh and lovely. I ate at the bar, and they were very accommodating, making sure I wasn't being served ahead of the line of waiting enthusiasts for the main dining room. Analysis: fairness; first come, first served. The staff was both friendly, funny, and generally interested in me. There was, by my 1/10/09 visit, no smoking allowed anywhere but outside, so the restaurant interior was smoke-free. Besides the excellent meal, I had a good gin (Tanqueray) Martini and later, an utterly superb Manhattan with Angostura bitters....perplexingly rare in a town pushing Peychaud. Peychaud bitters are indispensable in a Sazerac, but a mistake in a Manhattan. Paul's managed not to make that mistake. This restaurant is a place of local habitues, not tourists, so if previous negative reviewers entered with an attitude on their figurative shoulders, that would explain a lot. Me? I entered like an enthusiastic disciple and was rewarded with great food and the embrace of a friendly staff. Add to that the club-like richness of old 1960s steakhouse decor, unbesmirched by time, and you have the dining and imbibing experience I did: superb. -- Ted Haigh, Burbank, CA. Pros: If you love the old style steak house of the past, this venue is for you. Cons: If you prefer old looking but hermetically-pristine dining experiences, Morton's or Ruth's Chris will be more to your liking. more

visiting from out of town and was told this was the best steak place in town. If you want to eat in a dark, tired, dirty joint and passively smoke 20 cigarettes with a singularly unspectacular dinner, by all means go! Food was nothing special and a lame wine list. I don't understand the good reviews. Romantic??? Get real. more

So i live in colorado and i called Eric (owner) about my parent's anniversary #36 to make sure they had a wonderful night. I asked him to give them the time of their lives. My brother and i send them every year. They had the absolute best!!! treatment and wonderful food!!! i asked eric to serve them champagne and dessert in addition to dinner. he did and served the best strawberry shortcake!!! I whole-heartedly recommend Paul's for any lovely dinner and awesome food!!! Thank You Paul and Jenne ( my parents' server) they loved every single moment!!\r Riley Huston\r COlorado Springs, Co more

The first time I went there I had probably the best, most melt in your mouth filet I have ever had. the next time I went my steak was under cooked so I sent it back. My daughter had the king crab legs, they had no flavor at all. My steak was tough and chewy. Cant say I think much of a place that is that inconsitant. VERY DISAPPOINTED. I thought I had found the little hide away that I had been looking for. Pros: service is excellent Cons: inconsitant with the quality of their food more

Paul's has been one of the must do dining experiences in Albuquerque for over 30 years. I now live on the West Coast but, I have eaten all over the US, and have to say... you have to do Paul's! After reading the other reviews, I can see that some have had negative expeiences, but in over 30 years, there are bound to be a few. They stay in business, because they know their business and do an outstanding job!!! Go, relax, eat, drink, and enjoy this experience!!! Tell them that native Albuquerquean Michele from City Search says HI!!! more

I grew up in ABQ but unfortunately I don't live there now. However, Paul's has always been a part of the city for those that are true residents. If you and your significant other are looking for a nice night on the town, start it off right with a great dinner experience at Paul's. First, pick-up that phone and ask for Eric (Who has been there forever). I assure you, he will provide the kind of first-class attention that you just don't see anymore. Next, order up that special request martini; yeah, like they used to be (I'm talking filled-to-the-brim and no holding back on the liquor!). I highly recommend the shrimp cocktail with your drink too! Then sit back, relax and soak up the atmosphere, music, food, and conversation as you dine the way it was meant to be. The salads and bread are fresh, and if your steak isn't perfect, don't blame the chef--he prepares it to YOUR order! The price is right for those who can appreciate the experience (As they say, you get what you pay for here). You know where I'm dining next time we're in town! Cons: Get there early, or you might have to walk more than 30 yards! more

I first ate here in 1970 as part of the Lenkurt Electric Group, it was terrific then its still terrific. And comfy, like you say it harks back to the good days in restaurants, smoke and sizzle more

Terrible! I have never been treated so badly as a patron of a business, obviously they do not want to stay in business. My experience was too awful to explain in words. Pros: none, none, none Cons: wait staff, mangement, food more

Who can actually find their steak, fighting their way through the dense cigarette smoke??? The restaurant IS quite dark and dirty, with less than marginal food and downright hostile service. Sorry we wasted our time and money there. Cons: Smoke-filled, Noisy, Poor quality steaks more

For 30 years the food has been consistenly well prepared and served by professional staff. Most staff members have been at Paul's since the beginning and patrons often ask for a preferred waitress. You can't find a better steak in town if you are looking for a simply delicious steak. If you like their house dressing, they will send you home with a jar-full. Great desserts, too! Bea Pros: food, service, consistently excellen more

We were very disappointed after being told it was the best prime rib in town. It was not cooked as requested. The salad was very average. Overall just average and very over-rated! more

This is a restaurant that I recently revisited, having been a patron many years ago. I was extremely pleased that the service, and especially the quality of the food was even greater than I had remembered. I have recommended Paul's to many people without any concerns. This is one of the most consistently delicious restaurant/steakhouse that I have ever been to. The prices are on the high side, but the quality is so excellent and consistant that it makes it worth the financial outlay. Pros: food taste/quality, service, consistancy Cons: crowded, on high side cost more