When it comes to reviews, I typically utilize the age old childhood axiom: if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all. I try to outline the great aspects of businesses or products that make them individual, unique, or amazing. Luckily, here in Albuquerque, there is no shortage of those types of places. Most restaurants are incredible, most people are genuine, and most businesses are vying hard for a slice of individuality.
Nitro Fog Creamery has a lot going for it, but their ice cream is not one of those things. I hate to type it, but in all honesty, their ice cream was flavorless globs of frozen milk. It is hard to mess up something so essentially good like ice cream, I really don't think I have ever experienced it until today. Usually I would dismiss a dislike of a restaurants food, chalking it up to my own unique tastes or limitations as a vegetarian. But unanimously, the entire group of people I was with, including an ice cream obsessed toddler, were unimpressed.
Let me be clear, I am absolutely willing to pay six or more dollars for a few scoops of delicious ice cream. But in the case of Nitro Fog Creamery, I felt robbed after one bite.
Now that that hard honesty is out of the way, allow me to state the really cool and good things the Creamery has going on. Atmosphere couldn't be cooler, for one. Nitro Fog Creamery is located in Green Jeans, an indoor/outdoor amalgamation of restaurants and boutiques created out of shipping containers. The outdoor seating is ample, there are plenty of play opportunities for kiddos, and adults can wander into the Santa Fe Brewing Taproom.
The coolest thing about Nitro Fog, is the way their ice cream is made. Using liquid nitrogen, they make each scoop upon order, freezing the liquid ingredients in metal vats before your eyes. The process is actually pretty cool, the liquid nitrogen evaporates completely during the making, and fewer ice crystals are created, leaving you with (allegedly) creamier ice cream.
In conclusion, if you want a nifty place to eat uniquely crafted but otherwise less-than-mediocre ice cream, Nitro Fog Creamery is the place for you. And hey, the waffle cones were pretty delicious.