Rolled in here on a Thursday night looking for good food, drinks, and the Niners game. GREAT ambiance!!! There's an outside area with plenty of seating. Inside is dark, a little too dark for me. But the food was AWESOME!!! My wife was craving a salad, they had it. I was preparing for a marathon, so I was little more open. Got the 1/2 BLT and soup. Green Chili chowder was NICE!!! But it's really great for the Tapas and drinks. First of all, I didn't have a drink but looked at the menu and it was pretty good and VERY VERY good prices. From what I recall, they almost looked like regular happy hour prices elsewhere. THE TAPAS!!! I wish I was in a group of more people to try more. I had this pumpkin/corn dip that had a scoop of broiled goat cheese. TO DIE FOR!!! A bit spicy, but SO TASTY AND CREAMY!!! I'd (almost) go back to the ABQ just for this. Only down side might be the parking, although I didn't have a problem on the Thursday night I went. read more

Gecko's Bar & Tapas - 1/2 BLT w/ green chili chowder; corn pumpkin dip w/ broiled goat cheese tapa - New American Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gecko's is the perfect Nob Hill experience from experienced knowledgeable servers, to top notch cocktails, excellent food and a great patio to enjoy the beautiful land of enchantment skies and Nob Hill vibe. The portobello mushroom sandwich is my personal favorite, but I also love snacking on Gecko's yummy tapas. read more

Gecko's Bar & Tapas - New American Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

I walked out of the bathroom and a very large cockroach scurried into the bar area in front of the kitchen. Kitchen help said that's normal. So I didn't order food, paid for my drinks and left. If there is one Big cockroach I guarantee there are others. Hope this helps. read more

i'm sorry. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but this place really failed. I think all they know how to do is pour beer. They can't make a drink to save their lives and the food is awful. The burgers are cooked like hockey pucks the nachos are cold and soaked in some sort of bizzarre cheese sauce that comes from a can. The wait staff was great, they were very nice very hospitable but the quality of the drinks and the quality of the food are just plain poor . read more

Excellent tapas and cocktails, the ambiance is also wonder. Definitely recommend for a casual meetup or get together with friends.

Food isn't necessarily top notch, but the service is what will always bring us back. They bring bacon out for our dog, and they pay attention to when the beverages are close enough to being empty that it's perfect timing when the refill comes out. We've run into some of the lovely ladies that work there around town and they notice us and say hi, and that's an awesome feeling. And they always remember our dog's name and high five him when we come by, so that's an easy win in our book. Food-wise, the crab taquitos are my absolute favorite, and they'll usually do the burgers with a lettuce wrap instead of a bun if that's your thing (which is sometimes my thing if I'm planning to take advantage of their beer specials). The slaw they serve with the tempura lobster tail is also amazing. So yeah, happy eating! read more

I always enjoy coming here. It is a very laid back establishment with decent food. The food is very much bar quality, greasy and salty, but I've definitely had worse. The staff are pretty friendly. It's a nice crowd in there. Mixed Nob Hill yuppies and other laid back types. read more

consistently you overserve your customers - you need to be regulated and your bartenders need training

Gecko's has been a favorite for many years now. Whenever I'm looking for a great drink for not too much and/or a chill environment this is my go to. Service today from Rita was wonderful and extremely friendly even through her mask! The tapas were great as well: lamb gyro meatball plate, crab taquitos, and chorizo and bleu cheese queso. I will always be coming back! read more

Had a girls lunch half BLT fiesta and poter... yum!. Was one of 3 people in the business but the ladies that work here are fantastic and friendly. I will be back for more adventure. read more

Gecko's Bar & Tapas - Half BLT with fries - New American Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Geckos is amazing! Every time I go it feels like home. Rosa, Joe, and even Lavar go out of their way for me. Amazing service that keeps me going back. Quesadilla is amazing everyday with a new special everyday. Drink specials everyday. Good environment, and usually great service if it's with those 3. PROMOTE THEM!!!! Love geckos! read more

Perfect watering hole for grabbing eats, drinks and a game. It might cute to say "everybody knows your name" type of place, but it is the dead truth here. We were out of towners, but every single person that came in the door was greeted by their first name and appeared to know everyone else in the place. It was quite fascinating as it wasn't just young hipsters; there were some old timers kicking back Foster's. Worth noting: A nice selection of bourbon, creative eats (I didn't love my basil Caesar salad, but the magical pepperoni sauce on the nachos was wildly delicious), and every sporting event on every ESPN channel ever created being piped in daily. They had so many boxes and screens it was like an army command center. If you're looking for a local spot to drink, grab quick eats and watch a game, this is your spot. read more

Geckos. This place is just okay, service and drinks. When we came in and ordered drinks we normally get elsewhere, we were told no for many of them simply because they didn't have energy drinks or a blender. So we ordered their special of the day which was some kind of alcoholic root beer. Not bad and prices were also okay. It's a fairly dark place and very crowded. Nothing about my experience stood out, it was all just okay. read more

Gecko's Bar & Tapas - Special of the day and Moscow mules! - New American Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Worst customer service. My husband and I have been coming for years always enjoyed it could not believe the horrible customer service we were in on a Sunday 5th of July nowhere to sit because there were dirty tables everywhere and they were not busy the waitress was having lunch at the bar so when we sat at one she completely flipped out and snapped at us will never go back I will make sure to let our friends know who also used to enjoy this restaurant read more

Gecko's in Nob Hill is a great place to sit outside or at the bar any night of the week. Though table service has been hit or miss my last few visits and some of the cocktailers really need to learn their drink menu, they have consistently tasty vittles (I cannot resist those curly cheese fries), daily food and drink specials, a decent wine list, and a few local brews on tap. Also, those bartenders make a mean Jameson Ginger. Definitely one of my go-to watering holes. read more

Although I've yet to find a good bar for mingling and interacting with like-minded people, I certainly can't complain about the prices at any of the bars I've been to accross the city. I still feel a bit of shock when I get a bill for 3 beers and it's under $15. I love it. What's even cooler is coming to a place like Gecko's where 3 drinks and a few snacks can still clock in under 30 bucks. It's pretty amazing compared to a lot of parts of the good old USA and something I do not take for granted. Rather, I look at this wonderful pricing arrangement as a mandate to take advantage and experiment with as much beer and liquor as my mind and body can withstand (not really though, at least not in one sitting). Geckos offers plenty to try then, with a wealth of liquors and beers to choose from, representing a variety of world regions. Having felt a bit overexposed to rum in New York City, I was pleasantly surprised to try Pyrat, a sweet, honey-like rum from Barbados (If I remember correctly). I'd never seen or heard of this back east, so Geckos gets major kudos for the introduction in this least likely of rum towns. The beers are mostly big names, with few craft of interest, but the New Belgim options are enough to keep me happy, especially while grubbing on some of the green chile cheese fries or the nachos, both so typically New Mexican, but oly the safest of options to choose from on the diverse menu. Next visit, I intend to venture out a bit (since I can order more adventurously when not burdened by boring, picky eaters) and try some of the more unique food options. Overall, this is a good happy hour, early evening bar. If you're like me and like music and dance, you'll probably want to move on as the night develops. Still, a good starting point for any night on the town. read more

Tonight I had a burger w/blue cheese, grilled onions. This burger was delicious other than the roll being very dry. The beer selection is excellent. They offer a larger amount of craft beers and local brews. The lighting is low, but fits it's ambiance. TV 's were playing the games, which was convenient and the wait staff is friendly. Give it a shot for some game time food and brews. read more

Gecko's Bar & Tapas - Blue Cheese Queso and chips - New American Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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This is home base for my wife and I. We met here. We call it our "second kitchen" and "the standby" when it's too late or we're too tired/lazy to cook. The staff here is great and usually very friendly. They can get slammed, and when that happens don't be surprised if it's not as speedy as you'd like. They have a decent tapas menu that changes from time to time. It's all usually pretty good. They also have a Chowder, Quesadilla and Crustini of the day, all of which are creative and almost always great. The beer selection here is decent, not great. The patio is nice, though with Albuquerque's indoor smoking ban it ends up being quite smoky out there most nights when it's busy. The patio is dog-friendly which is (usually) nice. Indoors they have a fair number of flat-screens for watching sports. They'll even turn on Football (soccer) and Rugby if you ask! read more

Great local hangout. Good beer selection, decent small plates/bar food. Wait staff is made up of friendly, no nonsense hipsters. Most importantly if you're in sNob Hill and want to watch NFL Sunday Ticket or any sports, Gecko's is your best bet. P.S. my wife loves they're vegetarian wings. read more

I love Geckos's, it is such a great neighborhood bar. The happy hour is from 4-7 every day. Monday is .50c wings after 6. Hot wings are crunchy, falling off the bone, and damn spicy. After eating one or two, I realized I had never had this sauce before. I asked and apparently they make it in house from Chipotle peppers. If you do not have an iron constitution- and they ask you if you want the sauce on the side, you may want to opt in. I got a heavy and wonderful endorphin rush after eating just 5. I ate 20 wings of Monte Vistas wings and had no such chemical joy. The food is pretty good, and served late -on the weekends the kitchen closes at 12 AM. So late at night when I have low blood sugar, after I get out of work- I am known to indulge in a buffalo chicken sandwich. A fried cutlet smothered in buffalo sauce and topped with blue cheese crumbles, on a bun with a heaping portion of curly fries, man that is good. This has a bit of spice, but not near the level of the wings. My boyfriend has eaten the Ruben and said it was darn tasty. They say they are known for the Chile Cheese fries, but they were not my favorite. The fries themselves hit the spot, but I did not get as much chile a I would like. I am a spice hound so- not hot for me= hell in the mouth for another. The cheese also had an inconsistent texture. It was late at night and maybe it was just an off moment. They were still highly edible and don't let me dissuade you if you are reading this with your heart set of ordering them. Staff is all super chill and does a top notch job making you feel at a home away from home- for service and drink specials five stars, food is 3-4 stars, mostly 4. I am giving it 5 stars because it is my favorite spot to chill and have a beer in Nob Hill. Also this is not a College bar, or a pure sports bar. Yes they have TV's with sports on usually but I think are open to letting you watch a show. We went here for NYE to watch the ball drop, and were just watching some Olympic Ski runs. It is pretty low key usually. read more

Tapas in Nob Hill Some smoked kielbasa please And bring me some booze read more

I moved to ABQ from Chicago 2 months ago, and this is one of my favorite spots so far. The highlights: - Large patio perfect for sipping drinks on a summer evening - High-quality beers and mixed drinks at a fair price (most beers under $5) - Sauteed French helix snails - buttery, sour, melt-in-your-mouth goodness - Rice paper crisped gulf shrimp - crunchy, flaky, served with kimchi I will be back tonight for the Monday night special (after 6 PM) - 40 cent wings! read more

He was cool but when we walked in it we were ignored by the waitress. It was the Manager who eventually got our drinks then told the waitress to finish the order. The bar wasn't busy so I must say waitress needs to work on the costumer service. I felt the nice friendly welcoming from the manager and not our waitress. I will give them another try read more

I popped into Gecko's today with the intention of ordering and taking my food away. I've been told by a few people that the wings are pretty fantastic here, and I've been on the hunt for good wings since arriving in ABQ. I ended up staying for a moment and it wasn't the wings that made me park it, but the glorious sight of a tap that sat behind the bar. Alaskan Amber was there, and was fresh. It was a pleasant surprise, I inquired, and was then poured a glass of said awesome. As my bartender reveled in the sports playing in the background. He was still able to care for me and the fellow patrons. After perusing the menu. I order a small Basil Caesar, and a half dozen wings. (The bartender did inform me of the .50c wings after six o'clock on Monday deal, but I opted to eat early and pay the price.) The beer flow-ith, and the food, umm, the food come-th-ith? All the food was good, that's what I am trying to say. The wings were worthy of their praise, and I am glad to have found a spot I can come get a few when I have a craving. All in all it was a good experience. I arrived with the intention of take-away, but the beer, food, and service beckoned me to stay. I'm glad I did, I will again, and the next time I will try to bring a friend or two and occupy the patio. read more

I give Geckos 4 stars for the bar- if I were ranking it on food it would probably be 3. My husband and I had our first date here, so I have a soft spot for Gecko's. It's a good bar, always friendly service, and damn they pour a strong drink. I love the patio and have spent many nights meeting and greeting all the cool people in ABQ who hang out here. The food isn't the best- I like the tapas idea but I can never seem to find something I like for a snack when we are there. I also wish they had a few more local beers on tap- I always end up with Marble IPA which isn't my fave. Overall it's a great place to bring friends and out of town folks and the patio is second to none. read more

Tough to beat Geckos, I'd have to place it second only to Marble for outdoor patio brewpubs, though Wed burger night is hard for anywhere to beat. Only drawback is the allowance of smoking on the patio, which can be a bit tough for us non-smokers to deal with, though I understand it must suck to be a smoker and have nobody allow you to light up anymore, so I'll cut them some slack for it...but still loses them that almighty fifth star ;) aside from that, service is always great, food is always good, and beer is always cold and the pint is full, and every thing is reasonably priced, so what more could you ask for, aside from 15% off your car insurance? read more

If Gecko's were solely a bar, I'd give it four stars. It's got a nice laid-back feel to it, and the service is friendly. If you want your drinks with a side of sunshine (or moonlight), there's a nice patio. If you'd rather avoid lighting, inside is the place for you--dimly lit like any good bar should be! Lots of good beer options on tap and solid mixed drinks too. Sadly, I can't say I've been as impressed with the food. I love the menu on paper, which consists mostly of bar food staples, many of which have a Southwestern twist. Nothing I've ordered has been bad per se, just underwhelming. During my most recent visit (during Summerfest), we snacked on the green chile fries and green chile garlic hummus. For a place so popular with locals, the chile really screams "tourist-friendly." Hardly any bite to it. I expected the chile would be blended into the hummus, but, rather, a bit was just added on top. Couldn't taste the difference between a scoop with chile and a scoop without. Likewise, I don't see what all the fuss is about with the green chile cheese fries. Fries are tasty enough, but the chile is again weak and they could give you a bit more cheese. Gecko's has a great location and atmosphere. Menu just needs a flavor boost! read more

Now an ABQ institution. Usually one of my first stops when back in the 5-0-5 and need to sip a Santa Fe Pale or Marble IPA on the beloved patio (always good for interesting dog & people watching). Excellent food, including the sneaky good "grilled two-cheeser" and almost always great "quesadilla of the day." Most of the tapas are very well done, though a pinch pricey. You wouldn't know it from the normal vibe of the place, but it's also great for NFL watching on Sundays...the top-notch bloody marys are the highlight. The only knock on Gecko's is that, like most places, it can get a little uncomfortable when it gets too crowded. The narrow interior bar and single occupancy restrooms don't lend itself to good times if and when the crowd gets to standing room only levels on popular evenings. read more

This review is solely based on service, as one of us had a vertical license (there were a bunch of us traveling for work), and we were all denied food service. We had just finished working a full day, were starving, and they turned us away because our 28 year old colleague had a vertical license. Excuuuuuse me. What a dumb law. In any case, the people were very polite. I was excited to potentially try this place, but we ended up at Frontier instead. I'd still like to try it, though it was less fancy than we expected for a tapas place. read more

Disclamer: This is a hipster joint. It's my local watering hole. Drinks are good, especially martini's. The service is quite prompt and the atmosphere is fantastic. Its the type of place you go where everyone knows your name... or they don't and you will be friends with the table next to you by the end of your stay. Enjoy. read more

I do quite a bit remember this place. It was my first night in Albuquerque. The tapas were amazing, and for all three of us and massive amounts of calories ingested, the bill only came to $39. That included drinks as well. This is apparently a local legend of a place, and the facade looks quite cool. It's also one of the closer establishments to the edge of a sprawl of awesome shops/restaurants. Good place to be, you will be seen. read more

I go to both nob hill and North East locations. Food is excellent at both. I prefer nob hill location but the bartenders at north east definitely serve stronger drinks. The food menu is definitely very eclectic with options you might not find anywhere else. For some reason this is one of my favorite places in Albuquerque and I will continue to come to both locations until the Grim Reaper calls. read more

This place is great to grab a drink and some food. My husband come here all the time. They even have some delicious gluten free options. It's located right on Nob Hill, which makes it a convenient place to meet people. read more

Gecko's Bar & Tapas - New American Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Regarding the Nob Hill location: Simple fare but always great. Excellent bartenders. Just an awesome local bar.

I went for my first time to this Gecko's location. I've been the Alameda location and enjoyed it. I'm pretty disappointed that they don't have heaters on the patio. It's not a large patio, but it could do with 2-3 portable heaters. This location, being in Nob Hill and all, sees its fair share of business. I know that they have enough cash flow to support this small thing. The drinks were okay, the service was okay, and the food was good. A mediocre experience. Nothing bad, and nothing great. read more

We just moved here recently. We have been to Geckos twice - a sat night and weekend afternoon. I preferred the afternoon environment because it was a little more chill. Pros: - they always have drink specials - good prices on food - delicious appetizers - great and friendly service Con: - on our Saturday night experience dogs took over the patio. I'm fine with dogs on patio if they are on leashes and with their owners. The dogs there that evening were roaming and begging for our food. read more

This place makes a strong cocktail...no matter which cocktail you choose. Gecko's BLT is disgustingly GOOD!. It's three pieces of wheatberry bread, loaded with crispy bacon, thick slices of ripe tomato and crunchy, cool lettuce. It's got a healthy dose of mayo as well. The first time I ordered it, I asked for the middle slice of bread to be removed. MISTAKE! I ordered it the second time as is, and that extra piece of gluten (as much as I hate to admit it) put it over the top. It's a huge sandwich, but dang is it good. I've really never ordered anything at Geckos that I haven't liked. I prefer this location to the one on Academy hands down. The crowd is way more chill. read more

I chose to eat at the Gecko because it is dog friendly and the reviews on Yelp are high. I stopped on a chilly December afternoon and sat outside with my two small dogs. My waitress was very sweet and brought my dogs water and a piece of bacon. I had the Double Decker BLT with onions rings. I definitely want to go back when it is warmer!!! read more

Gecko's Bar & Tapas - New American Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

So disappointed. It was our first time in ABQ and we decided to check this place out after reading some reviews. Interior & patio looked pretty cool, but food was just not up to par, especially for that price. We tried the red mole grilled steak tacos, green chili cheese fries, merguez lamb sausage & new potatoes and this pesto bruschetta spread on baguette slices. Nothing really impressed me, just really greasy. Portions were small compared to typical tapas that you can find in Chicago...or Spain...or anywhere. The green chile cheese curly fries were probably the best thing out of what we got. Plus, it was a little too dark inside, and sitting on the patio was a lost cause due to all the smokers. Overall, not worth the money! I'm pretty sure I could make tastier & less greasy stuff at home. read more

Been here a couple dozen times because the location was on my way home from work. 3 different times the place smelled bad when you walked in; sewer problems? They advertise $3.50 drafts for happy hour which is good. Last time I went in the pints were about an inch below the top after foam settled. Said something to the waitress and the bartender refused to top it off. Regular clientele seems clicky, atmosphere not good. Waitresses and bartenders should be friendlier and stop eating all their own food; although the food couldn't be good; never see anyone eating there. This review is for the Gecko's on Academy and not the Nob Hill location. read more