Coronado Crossing, Albuquerque

A central fireplace set into a stone column flickers, emanating warmth toward the leather-upholstered chairs and booths of Coronado Crossing. There, culinary partner Fred Gallegos draws upon his 16 years of kitchen know-how as he oversees an oak-fired grill that infuses burgers, steaks, and chicken with a smoky, woody flavor. Chefs also take great care with the restaurant's other signature dishes, which include southern mainstays such as shrimp etouffee and the Coronado prime rib, which is roasted to rotisserie perfection before picking up a hint of smoke during a stint on the grill. All the while, guests can select sips from more than 100 local and nationally recognized wines, cocktails, and craft beers.

In addition to their everyday lunch and dinner duties, the chefs at Coronado Crossing can also serve up their dishes in crowd-sized catering servings. Their restaurant also welcomes crowds of its own, with a 30-person computer-capable video meeting room ready to host lunchtime business discussions or attempts to break the record for most games of Donkey Kong Jr. played simultaneously.