A contemporary twist on authentic European flavors served with superior service and an upscale ambiance—this is Scalo. More than just a restaurant, Scalo is an experience, inviting guests on an Italian excursion of flavor, flair, and finesse. Prided on fresh ingredients and scratch-made recipes, Scalo is praised as one of Albuquerque’s best Italian eateries. Reserve a table and prepare to indulge in a delicious, exquisite experience we like to call squisito!
Upscale eatery serving globally inspired bistro fare amid white linen tablecloths & a heated patio.
Peter Hey (RV PLANET)
This is a nice Italian restaurant downtown Albuquerque. The hostesses were nice enough to give us a table in the main section of the restaurant (we were in the bar room, good for a bar experience, but a little too dark and stark for dining, if you ask me…), even though we arrived last minute on a Saturday night without reservations. The main room is sort of “art deco” style, with a view to the kitchen and its nice porcelain covered oven. Service was very good and the food very tasty. An enjoyable experience for us.
… moreGunnar Larson
We went for a family meal for five adults. The food was perfectly prepared, and each dish had a distinct sauce and taste. I had the chefs gnocchi which had an excellent taste. We liked the decor and the location on an older “main street” was cool.
… moreKimberley Wolfenbarger-Nakamoto
This is one of our favorite restaurants in Albuquerque! The beautiful atmosphere is equally matched by the most attentive service, and freshest ingredients. Ask for Sergio! He’s the very best ambassador for your culinary experience!
… moreRogue Diner
Straight up: our server is the reason why this restaurant is getting four stars instead of three. The server saved the hostesses poor attitude plus it is a little pricey. I’m so glad I get to experience all the weaknesses from restaurants. It allows me to let future guests know what to expect. I reserved a table and came in early. I don’t mind waiting for my table What I do mind is when it’s past my reservation time and the hostess is seating walk ins and other guests. Plumb forgot about us. I had to remind the hostess I was here.
Once you’ve sat down, It has a beautiful view. The atmosphere is great for dates, friends, and families. The calamari is a great appetizer. The bread plate was delicious as well. It was not dry or hard. The eggplant and the orecchiette was okay. It was worth ordering if anyone wants to try something different besides spaghetti or lasagna. I would not recommend it if you like sauce. I would definitely visit here again and request the same server!
… moreYessica Frescas
I made a reservation for dinner, I was greeted by a friendly hostess and was quickly shown to my table. The waitress was helpful, she explained the menu and the specials and I was sold on the tomato bisque and the lamb chops. She helped me decide between a Pinot Noir and a Northern Italian red. Also food for thought, on Wednesdays bottles of wine under $100 are half off. They have an extensive wine menu and provide a great selection. The tomato bisque was very hearty with the touch of bacon and the edible flower was a nice touch. The lightly buttered bread paired well with it too. The lamb chops were served medium rare with a creamy buttery sauce and pomegranate on top. It was exquisite Chef David also made it to the table and checked on dinner. He was delightful I enjoyed my experience here and will definitely come back!
… moreK Skirch
First, we ordered the Polpo which was amazing. It was refreshing and we loved the onion jam. For the main course we ordered the black truffle gnocchi special of that night and the tagliolini. Both were amazing. Our plates were dirty though with crusted food on the rims. Despite that, if we had only ordered these items, this would have been a 5 star review.
But we also ordered sides. The brocollini was under salted. The cavolini lists that it has Applewood smoked bacon and a balsamic vinaigrette but we barely tasted those flavors. We only found a couple pieces of bacon and barely any of the vinaigrette.
We did not waste our time with dessert. We asked if the ice cream listed on the menu is freshly or locally made. It is neither and our server could not even tell us what brand it is, only that they import it from somewhere in Italy.
The love and care is put into the pasta and the Polpo and we tasted it. Everything else tastes like they cut corners and time. The effort should match the price.
… moreDanni with Kitty Deschanel, LLC
The best of the best! My husband and I recommend Scalo to everyone and it’s our go-to restaurant when we have visitors. We eat here at least monthly, often more, and it seems to be getting even better now that Chef David Ruiz is there. You can’t beat the friendly team and it’s fun dining on the Nob Hill patio. Try their pasta! They’re currently having a special in conjunction with The Lion King performing at Popejoy and it seems like such an amazing deal that we might just eat there EVERY night while it’s available.
… moreGrace Walder
Excellent restaurant! Unclear why they don’t have more stars on Google Maps. We were served at a reasonable pace on our 2-person date. The salad was tasty, we asked for bread for $3, the gnocchi was perfect and creamy, and the tiramisu was perfect. We enjoyed our bottle of rosé and the environment was nice too. It’s been open for indoor dining (post-pandemic) for ~1 week and they are doing great! Book ahead of time…
… moreJ St
Food: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
We came during happy hour on the bar side. Our service was excellent. I recommend for you to request Danielle. Quick, courteous, and knowledgeable.
We had the spaghetti with pepper flakes, shrimp, peas, and white wine. I loved the homemade spaghetti. It’s so perfect looking, it looks from box. But you can taste the difference.
We also got the margherita pizza. Also delicious but could be a tad crisper on top.
I would come here again if I came to Albuquerque in the future.
… moreSylvie Z
They put us in the corner, next to a loud 4-top. So much for a romantic Valentines Day dinner. The tiramasu was soggy, like it had been frozen.
… more