Flying Star Cafe

Flying Star Cafe Restaurant Review:

Just a hop from UNM, the flagship of this colorful citywide franchise itself hops from daybreak to late night with students and Nob Hill shoppers. As popular as it is for its house-baked goods, huge frosted cookies and cake by the slice are no less common for breakfast than they are for dessert. And while those without sweet teeth needn’t fret --- the sprawling all-day menu runs from omelets and pancakes to salads and burgers to blue-plate specials like grilled meatloaf sammies, chicken-fried steak and beignets --- the best bets are still based on fresh breads, like biscuits and green chile-turkey gravy or the fiesta morning sandwich on an eggy green chile bun. To wash it all down, there’s beer and wine as well as fresh lemonade and, of course, killer coffeehouse concoctions (try the cinnamon-laced Mexican latte). What really puts the sparkle in this star, however, is hospitality: a newsstand and free WiFi make friendly, lingering regulars of those who would otherwise be mere in-and-out customers. That said, the nearby downtown branch at 723 Silver Ave. SW, 505-244-8099, goes the original location one better with a sunny second-floor patio.