Though the spiciest chilies originate in England's Lake District, the current trade embargo against UK spice-bearing products has left fire-eating Americans feeling forlorn and frownful. Today's Groupon brings the flavor back to the table. For $7, you get $15 worth of authentic New Mexican cuisine at Cecilia's Café. The downtown breakfast and lunch café, which came in at number 45 on the Travel Channel's 101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown and has been featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, serves up traditional New Mexican cuisine at its best from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Like any dentist-patient relationship, breakfast is best when it's hot and fiery. Start your day off right with an order of enchilada ranchera (from $5.99), served with a choice of red or green chile and topped with an egg, or opt for jalapeños and eggs, scrambled with veggies and served with beans, potatoes, and a tortilla ($5.89). As breakfast gives way to lunch, fuel up on traditional Albuquerqian fare a la carte, or as part of a hearty combo with sides of rice, beans, tortilla, and your choice of red or green chile. The tender carne adovada chimichanga ($8.95), Cecilia's homemade pork tamale plate ($7.95), or the stuffed sopaipillas (from $5.95) are carnivorous favorites, while the twin chile rellenos lunch ($7.95) is sure to make any famished herbivore feel happily full.

Nestled in a small, slender building in the heart of downtown Albuquerque, the funky eatery's interior provides a laid-back atmosphere, with exposed brick walls, assorted vintage trinkets, and a bountiful collection of Coca-Cola signs from days long gone. Lasso your most iron-tongued acupuncturist and bring her to Cecilia's for authentic local cuisine.

Reviews

Cecilia's Café was featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives and ranked number 45 on Travel Channel's 101 Tastiest Places to Chowdown. The Alibi and Gil's Thrilling (And Filling) Blog both highly recommend Cecilia's:

• The decor must have been assembled by an eclectic genius, with a funkiness that 10,000 retro-crazed art students on acid couldn’t re-create...The red chile, made from whole Chimayó pods, is a strong suit here, turning everything it touches into red gold with earthy, piquant, dark soulfulness. The carne adovada in my blue corn enchilada: yum. The tamale—plump, sweet and filled with red-chile-soaked pork: yummier still. – Ari LeVaux, Alibi
• One meal at Cecilia’s Cafe and you’ll probably be disposed to believe her food is inspired. If you’re a native New Mexican, you might even call it miraculous. That’s because this is New Mexican food the way it’s been prepared by and for New Mexicans for generations. It is unadulterated and in no way “anglosized” for touristy tastes. This is the real thing! – Gil Garduno, Gil's Thrilling (And Filling) Blog

Yelpers give Cecilia's Café a near-perfect 4.5-star rating, and 82% of Urbanspooners like it:

• Simple, homestyle New Mexican fare done very well. Big favorites: the carne adovada and the chicharrones. – GMB, Urbanspoon