This lovely place is one of my favs in Abq. The ambiance is nice but the food & service are even better! Y'all know that if I say somethin', you know w/o a doubt that it so. This lovely place is a must is you love Mediterranean food. I really appreciate a business that appreciates those who serve & fight for our country & her freedoms. To be honest albeit it's sad to say, that's a rarity nowadays and I feel that deserves an extra * for that alone. They even have really clean restrooms. Y'all gotta checkout this gem of a place. read more

Place still has the fresh paint smell. moved into the like 6 year fallow Boston market location right at Cutler and San Mateo, floorplan is a little jumbled with a nice restaurant/order line and then this oddly tacked on tea bar. sorta back at the beginning. and the choice to finish the place in chip board, (with finish on it) is a little odd, im guessing chip-board-chic is the new galvanized steel chic. Got one Kabob of the Koobideh, saffron rice, grilled vegetables, nan, and a cucumber/tomato/onion and mint salad. it was all good, the the kabob was a teeny bit salty, i liked it but others may want some of the yogurt sauce to soften it a bit. rice was good, my nan was ok, but a little dried out. its a little pricy, but not bad for all you get! one kabob makes for a good meal. read more

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So, i see there's already a ton of reviews for them only being open 6 months...so I'll keep this short and sweet. Having grown up in Detroit where we have some of the best Middle Eastern food around...no lie....this place is completely legit. Now, I only tried the Gyro, but after having done so....I'm sold. America, this is NOT your traditional "gyro" with re-heated processed "meat surprise" highly factorized for the masses. This IS a genuine old-school gyro that you actually have to wait for...them to make! It's served up open face with crazy-fresh accompaniments but only after they've made a fresh bed of Nan to lay it on...and carving off their own house-layered Gyro Meat...consisting of (in this case) seasoned Lamb and Beef. Amazing! This was so good, I made a wrong turn outta Cutler, still reminiscing about that damn Gyro! That's a good Gyro...let me tell you. I also brought home some of their Baklava and this other little similar, but rolled treat. Wow. Moist-moist-moist like it's supposed to be and packed full of huge, flavorfullness! - I know...not a real word...just roll with it. Most Baklava you get isn't nearly this good...no sir. You can tell they take the time to lather every layer of phyllo with Butter, Honey and Love. I can't believe it took me 6 months to find this place...I'm almost embarrassed. Chellos could easily become a regular stop for me...no brainer. So much for "Short and Sweet"...Well Done!! read more

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OMG!! Come one come all! Fresh ingredients! Fresh tastes. Stacy was amazing and allowed us to sample before ordering. Wish we could've ordered everything lol. Super nice staff! Very happy to serve you too! Definitely tip worthy service even if they don't expect it. Wanting healthy flavorful food? Give it a try or a sample or two read more

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Good, a little pricy for what you get. Fresh pita . Friendly staff. A little confusing menu .

Best place to get Mediterranean in town! Over the years they tend to have gotten more greasy and the nan seems to not be made in house anymore. My favorite is the lamb shawarma with hummus. read more

Outstanding! Recommended by a couple friends. We have never really eaten Mediterranean before but we are sold!! The staff and owner were quick to help us understand the menu, make suggestions and offer unending samples before we ordered. The food is plentiful, flavorful and fresh. We willl be back again for sure!! read more

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Nice staff, very clean. I recently dined here, with my husband, for my birthday. The food was good, prepared and cooked fresh. The naan was on the dry side and the mast o khiar was a little too minty, but the meat was cooked perfectly and the feta fries were divine. The decor is pretty cool, like 1950s meshed with modern. I enjoyed the meal and the atmosphere. I will definitely return. I'd like to try one of the combos, they looked delicious. read more

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Food great very fresh. Had chello doh super delicious place super clean. Friendly service. read more

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Wonderful food, service and hospitality. The entire team went above and beyond to provide menu insight, suggestions, and consideration for dietary needs. Will be sending more people their way! Fun and clean atmosphere. read more

I'm very impressed with Chello. I love Mediterranean food, and Chello seems to be that perfect fix for my family. My dad is always super picky with his food and will rarely eat things that are out of his comfort zone, but he too has fallen in love with Chello! He loves the meats, the naan, the olives (in the salad lol), and the rice! I personally love their salad with chicken, the kabobs, the rice, and the naan. The little dessert trio is pretty tasty too. I really seemed to enjoy their nut roll! I was so glad when Chello finally opened! It is in a great location, the decor is beautiful, and the restaurant is very clean inside! When you try this place make sure to try one of their iced teas. The selections from their tea bar are on the sweeter side (so make sure you like sweet teas), but if you prefer unsweetened, they have a great flavored unsweetened selection as well! read more

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I'd heard about this place so I was really pumped up for my favorite of food - Mediterranean.. The counter where you order was very organized and clean looking for great presentation. Very friendly service. I ordered a favorite - Koobideh kabob. But, it was disappointingly - bland. The rice was fine but the salad had too much house dressing on it. I had to add salt and then some tomato, eggplant, garlic sauce to the Koobideh to give it flavor which is not typical. I will probably come back and give it a second try on the Chicken kabob. Or, the Gyros but it's frozen and reheated. The deserts looked great so I got the triple combo to try. All were very good - especially the Baklava. I hope this place makes it but they should improve the flavor of the meat dishes. The menu is a basic nice selection for Mediterranean and vegetarian eaters. read more

Chello Grill - Koobideh plate. - Mediterranean Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

My husband and I were in the area and my husband saw the sign for kabobs, and I knew it was over. To be honest sometimes I'm weary of "kabob joints" because my husband is Arab and that's all he ever wants, but when I went in I was pleasantly surprised!! It's NOT A KABOB JOINT!! It's PERSIAN! Now listen, you can tell me Palestinians have the best cooking, but this is simply not true. Persians do. Any day of the week. The kabobs here are the best in town, we tried all four and they all were cooked perfectly and seasoned correctly. The rice was cooked nicely, however it could have used a touch more salt. They have gormeh subzeh!!! It literally tastes just like how I make it at home, but they don't add the picked grapes into it.... however I understand why, not everyone probably likes that flavor. Everything was truly delicious. The lady at the counter who took our order was super helpful and we will definitely be coming back again. P.S. this place is kid friendly, and the high chairs were super clean, which impressed me. The whole restaurant looked well-taken care of and clean. PPS Their teas are good. You should try them. read more

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Healthy and fresh flavors. Enjoyed the bowls. Would definitely come back. Friendly service.

We were touring NM and needed a break from NM cuisine. Don't get me wrong , I enjoy it , I just can't eat it daily. Chello's was a nice dietary respite. I am from New Jersey where we are fortunate to have a wide variety of Mediterranean restaurants. We opted for two dinners , one chicken one falafel , my wife had a crisp side salad I had the lentils and both meal include rice and a pillowy pita.The chicken was moist and flavorful ,the falafel was a bit overdone but that can happen ..The menu said it had gyro and shawarma but I didn't see the customary spits.I asked and they said they don't have one it comes pre cut. I guess it isn't cost effective in NM to have the rotating spiral of charring flavorful shawarma meat but overall I was happy to find this place in my travels. It was clean and comfortable and the staff was very accommodating. read more

We just finished eating at this restaurant after long hours of driving from Texas and so happy we stopped here. The place is really clean and food was great. Another huge plus is that the whole staff was super friendly. The man that helped us was very patient and explained to us very well the different ways we could order and the types of options they have. We arrived past 7pm (less than an hour before they closed) and despite the fact that we were a group of 7 people they waited for us to finish eating not rushing us at all and with a good attitude! Thank you read more

I am now fully vegan. My posts are now geared towards vegan options. Today I had the veggie gyro and just asked for no dairy. I added a side of hummus. Delicious! Add the pictured hot sauce. Increased my review to five stars just for the vegan options! There are many vegetarian dishes that can be made veg First of all, the staff are wonderful! The menu can be complicated for those not familiar with middle eastern food. The staff are happy to help. There are a number of combination plates. For most people the chicken or steak kebabs are awesome! I prefer the veggie kabobs with basmati rice. Their portions are Their veggies include a hot green chile which is delicious! Don't leave without taking home some baklava. 6/23 delicious feta fries!!! See pic read more

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always consistent, once we found our favorite foods we now go back every month! Minus one star because sometimes the counter can't get the order right, good help is hard to find!! read more

Came here today with some fellow service members and not only was the food absolutely delicious they also gave us some free baklava noticing we were in uniform. The customer service was fantastic and helped suggest to some good combo bowls to my friends that weren't too familiar with middle eastern flavors. Thank you all for being very gracious hosts. I'll be suggesting chello to all my friends on base. read more

I've eaten here quite a few times now. It's delicious! A little more expensive than competitors but always fresh and overall worth the couple extra bucks. Definitely recommend! read more

Their fesenjan (chicken, walnut and pomegranate stew) is a treasure, and Albuquerque is lucky to have it. High quality in all their food. For a deal, two adults can split a combo. They seem to do a lot of fundraisers and one night there was a cello group. They should be the house band, Cellos at Chello Grill. Very clean place, nice decor, open space with both low and high tables. read more

Yeah, the middle eastern food, bowls and lambs are good, but Joan Cusack is better. Getting her autograph next time.

When I visited there was a classical music quartet playing for the patrons. I ordered soup, kabobs, and hummus. We enjoyed our meal to Pachabel's Canon in D. The portions were generous, and the spices were heavy. There was a mix of flavors I haven't tried before. I also noticed there were several vegetarian and vegan options available. The decor was very bright and vibrant, giving the restaurant more of a lunch feel, not a subdued dinner vibe. This place is worth a stop in to try. read more

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Clean place, good food! The fresh Naans oh mah gawwd sooo goood! The baklava cheesecake was sooo unique and tasty; two of my favorite desserts in one! read more

Amazing mediterranean food with an underrated tea bar. Perfect portions, nicest staff, very clean inside.

I have friends share how they love this place and its menu. For once I was nearby during lunch and gave it a try. You do go though a service line, but it was easy. I did not feel rushed and was comfortable asking questions. Just about the time I found a place to sit, my food was there. A very big plus for a workday lunch. I had thought I might do take out toi save time. No need here. Service though out was great. The food was good. The chicken kabob was moist with a great taste. The rest of the meal was as good. There is a lot of options and flexibility in what you get. For my family this is good. With different size appetites and some food issues we can all find something. I live nearby and I will be back. Wish I had taken a picture read more

Amazing food and great service. I highly recommend checking out this restaurant. Food is also very healthy.

I let the server convince me to get a plate which was more expensive than the bowl though it is basically the same thing. I expected more food on it. More importantly, I expected fresh food. Instead I received a microwaveable paper plate with lukewarm food on it and a portion size that was smaller than the bowls my companions ordered. It felt like I was eating someone's leftovers. read more

Such a great find! It's a bit overwhelming when you walk in the first time (where do I go? what's the process for ordering?), but the staff is super friendly and willing to patiently walk you through where to go and what to do. The food was delicious, with pretty decent sized portions (I took the leftover sides with me to snack on later). The baklava cheesecake - LEAVE ROOM and ORDER IT (you won't be sorry, it's SO delicious). We were a little surprised at the final bill (a tad pricier than we expected), but the food is really good, decor was fun and the service was outstanding. A really yummy find and a great spot for lunch - check it out, you won't be disappointed! read more

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Quick service and delicious food! I had the fries, lentil soup, and baklava. The lentil soup was some of the best out there; the fries were cooked perfectly. The baklava was just what my sweet tooth wanted! read more

If you are looking for good, healthy food that is not your typical Albuquerque fare, give this Persian place a try! I had shish kabob with rice and yoghurt. It came with naan which was very thin and airy. I prefer it to other styles of naan I have had elsewhere. The service was friendly. The one thing I might recommend is to bring everything out at once versus as it is comes. Of note they have a reasonably priced catering menu which I plan to take advantage of. I highly recommend this place for delicious Persian food. read more

Chello Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Just found a fantastic Mediterranean restaurant. Delicious entrees which a choice of bowl or platter. Awesome sides & off the dessert sample. Friendly & helpful wait staff. Will return! read more

Bright cheery interior, extremely tasty & affordable food, and hyper-friendly staff has made eating at Chello Grill a total delight each of the several times I've eaten there. The people who work there deserve ten stars based on my experiences. Their kebabs and sides zing the tongue with rich hearty flavors, while their baklava & baklava cheesecake make a sweet ending to your repast. Their shaken teas are not to be missed for their fun combos of flavor. The Persian hot tea is also good, due to being enhanced with bergamot herb. I don't know the names or ingredients for their assortment of side dishes (soups and sauces), but every one of them that I have had thus far just slayed me with how robustly flavored it was. I recommend that you bring along a Persian friend (as I was lucky enough to have) to tell you which ones to put on your rice and which to eat straight up. However, even if you flub the match-up scenario, your tongue will still be doing the happy dance. TIP: Catch their happy hour 2:00-5:00 Mon-Fri when teas and desserts are half price. It's an absolutely wonderful way to spend the afternoon! One thing to be aware of is that their kebab prices are based on a spiced burger called koobideh (sp?) and there is an upcharge for solid hunks o' meat kebabs, maxing out at $4 more for lamb. Nonetheless, I find their single kebab combo plate (one koobideh skewer, one side, and saffron rice) at $11'ish to be a good value. Bottom Line: I'll be back for more forays into the spicy delights of the Persion cuisine offered by Chello, for sure! read more

I'm a Mediterranean food junkie so I've been waiting anxiously for this place to open. It's a build your-own concept: choose a kebab (or two or three) and a corresponding number of sides. Everything comes with veggies, rice, and naan. I opted for the two kebab plate (Chello Doh) with chicken, an extra veggie kebab, mast o khiar (similar to tzaiki), and mizra ghasemi (a magical warm tomato and eggplant dip). My husband had the beef koobideh and skirt steak with mast o khiar and hummus. Everything was really delicious! The koobideh was to die for and the hummus is a perfect garlicky pair to the naan. My only suggestion would be to serve the naan and sides with the rice and kebabs; ours come out separately. This is a great option for a healthy, quick, casual Mediterranean meal- something ABQ is missing! We will definitely be back! read more

Chello Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Delicious food and even better service. I love coming here for their lunch salad with Chicken Kabob. Highly recommended.

Really great Mediterranean food! Much better than Sahara (my previous favorite). Everything was clean and fresh.

While this was my first time, it definitely will not be my last! While I did not appreciate the chef yelling at the young man who was trying to assist me and provide great customer service (which he did) or the young lady who seemed to be annoyed and was slightly rude with me for not knowing how things worked there, the food was delicious. I got the #1 combo which came with a chicken kabob (bomb.com ), rice, roasted veggies, homemade naan bread (yes, puhlease!), and a side. There was so much food I had left overs for the next day which was an added plus! I also got a shaken iced tea, which screamed summer. Thank you to the young man who had patience to help me out. read more

Chipotle style mediterranean food. All the food is fresh and delicious. The staff is helpful and friendly. The décor is exciting and vibrant makes you enjoy the food to know that the place is just that much more happening in hip and fun. A great addition to the Albuquerque restaurant scene. read more

Update: Subtracting 3 stars...Unfortunately, today, the owner was berating an employee in the dining area. I find the male owner to be generally rude when I visit, and I also despise when owners are rude to their employees in front of customers. Not sure if I will go back. *************************************************** You can sample anything. The staff are great, and the sandwiches are made on the best bread I've ever had. I absolutely love the food! read more

Great food and also many healthy options!! Friendly staff! We came on a day where 50% proceeds went to the Ronald McDonald House. They frequently give back to the community and that speaks volumes to me! Thank you!!!!! read more

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