By Michael Hodock
The Westside will soon have a lively new brunch spot with a full bar, something its management group says has been lacking in the area. The new establishment will serve elaborate breakfast dishes, traditional lunch plates and alcoholic beverages first thing in the morning. They expect early alcohol sales to bring in business, especially Westsiders who work non-traditional schedules and would like a place to unwind after a long shift.
Brekki Brekki has broken ground in Rio Rancho at its new location at 3755 Southern Blvd. SE. According to Julian Nunez, director of marketing for Cantina Hospitality Group, which owns and operates the brunch-focused restaurant, after many ups and downs, including the closure of Poke Seranno, the company has tentative plans for a soft opening in mid to late February.
“If all the paperwork goes through — and things seem to be going smoothly — that’s all we’re waiting for,” Nunez said. “It’s all remodeled inside. It’s all ready to go. We’re hoping to have a soft opening soon”
Brekki Brekki is a brunch-focused restaurant chain specializing in dishes such as crab cake Benedict, strawberry cheesecake crepes, bananas Foster French toast, red chile Hawaiian burgers and of course, a full bar with house-brewed beers, ciders, and a versatile cocktail program. Business is booming at Brekki Brekki in Albuquerque at 8338 Comanche Rd NE, and a quick scroll through the mostly positive reviews of the restaurant will likely turn up a mention about lines out the door when waiting for a table, large portions and, of course, its wide selection of booze.
“We want to offer something different,” Nunez said. “The Albuquerque brunch scene is kind of small, and we just thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool to have some cool brewery beers and some awesome brunch food, and you can come in at seven in the morning and just have a kick-ass brunch?”
The unique breakfast offerings and early alcohol service are big draws to the restaurant, especially for hard-working New Mexicans such as nurses and first responders with non-traditional schedules whose weekends might just be starting at 7 a.m. on a Tuesday.
“When they get out at five or six in the morning, that’s just the start of their ‘evening,’” Nunez said. “We’re glad we’re able to support them and let them cut loose after work.”
Founded by Lee Caperton and Robert Punya, Cantina Hospitality Group also owns several popular chains across Albuquerque, such as Tamashi, Poki Poki Cevicheria, Sushi King and The Sweet Cup. Nunez said even though Rio Rancho has been very hospitable to the Poke franchise, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the initial launch of Poke Serrano, which might have contributed to its closure.
“The timing was rough,” he said. “People saw the buildings, it was fully ready to go, but we didn’t open because of all the restrictions at that time. It felt like it got delayed to the point where the excitement and the buzz were gone by the time we did open. I just feel like we missed that moment. But it wasn’t any particular person or entity or business that was really stopping us.”
Cantina is also opening a drive-through-only Poki Poki Feb. 1, just down the street from the previous brick-and-mortar Poke Serrano, which was open from Dec. 2023 until Dec. 2024. Nunez said that like Brekki Brekki’s Albuquerque location in the northeast heights, the Rio Rancho spot will be open seven days a week at 7 a.m. sharp.
“We’re happy to roll with the punches, and we all know it comes with the territory running restaurants. The outpour of support from the community for Brekki Brekki and Poki Rio Rancho have been phenomenal. We’re just happy to be working and to be part of the community,” Nunez said.