THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Terra American Bistro

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Terra American Bistro Restaurant Review:

Chef Peter Lukes did what a lot of native New Mexicans do upon reaching adulthood --- he left for the coast, then he came home. After working in fine restaurants in San Francisco, Lukes decided to return to Albuquerque and open a restaurant inspired by his experience. He chose a surprising location --- Terra American Bistro reposes in the North Valley, far from the city’s commercial hubs. But locals are willing to make the trek for the sophisticated, intricate creations like pan-seared scallops over fennel-white wine risotto with Swiss chard and aged Asiago, or grilled salmon atop a tarragon-scented potato cake in sun-dried tomato vinaigrette. Desserts take a more rustic tack --- three cheers for the return of pineapple upside-down cake --- but a lovely selection of late-harvest wines and ports holds equal appeal. The rest of the wine list, heavy on offerings from California and France, reflects Lukes’s style. So does the sleek, earth-toned dining room, which leads to a walled patio that encourages intimate tête-à-têtes on a summer evening.