Soup’s on — and salad, too — at Topper’s

Los Lunas

At Topper’s in Los Lunas, it’s all about what you want to create. From salads and soups to baked potatoes, Toppers has it all. Come inside the bright, colorful restaurant and enjoy a relaxing lunch, any day of the week.

“We wanted this to be a place where people can come and have a comfortable experience,” Owner Rebecca Baldonado says. “It’s an inviting place to eat and gather with friends.”

Rebecca and her husband, Alonzo, opened Toppers on May 2. The couple is from Belen and have worked in the restaurant business for years. Earlier this year, they moved to Los Lunas.

“We got the idea because we needed something creative and different here,” Alonzo says.

Rebecca’s aunt, Marie Ivey, created the original artwork of painted radishes, carrots, and corn that decorates the yellow, blue and green walls. Pictures of butterflies and flowers hang for all the customers to see. A palm tree sits in one corner next to a silver table and chair.

“She did it all by freehand,” Rebecca said. “We really didn’t plan it to look any certain way. We decorated as we went.”

Toppers is suited to meet the demands of today’s busy lifestyle. The husband-and-wife duo say customers can get in and out in 30 minutes during their lunch break. And, at Toppers, it’s all about the toppings — like the ones on baked potatoes and salads, of course.

Customers can fill up on salad, bread and soup or choose the daily sandwich special. Some of the current favorites are the Albuquerque Turkey sandwich with avocado and jack cheese or the traditional club sandwich.

Alonzo and Rebecca make all of their own soups. They include broccoli and cheese, cream and spinach, minestrone and clam chowder. “We’ve got em’ all and we always serve green chile stew,” Alonzo said. Try some with a piece of cornbread.

“There’s something for everyone here,” she says.” Think salad and all the dressing you want. Toppers carries a line of 12 dressings, including fat-free. Fresh vegetables with no preservatives are cut to order.

While the restaurant is brand new to Los Lunas — there isn’t even a sign on the road to advertise the location — customers continue to arrive in flocks.

“People really like it,” Alonzo says. “We try and get out to talk to customers. We have a lot of regulars already. People feel comfortable here. They know us by name.”

Toppers offers take-out packages of salad and soups for large parties, too. And desserts are always on-hand. Think cheesecake, chocolate cream pie, orange fluff with melons and Cool Whip and an assortment of pudding flavors.

Toppers is located next to Guggino’s Gifts and Bibles at 820 Main Street NE. Choose from an assortment of cold drink or savor a cup of hot coffee with your meal. Toppers is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Toppers is closed on Sunday. Call 363-9995 for more information.