Rita's Mexican Food ~ Pueblo, Colorado

Latest visit: May 2025

First visit: Jul 1994

Personal history: Rita's was the first restaurant in Pueblo for me to visit. This goes back to my first Colorado Springs residence. I was on my way to Tucson, Arizona to buy some records (sound familiar? - and this was 31 years ago, a few years before Mrs. RJG), which is a very interesting story in of itself. I'll leave that for another day. I enjoyed that first visit and Rita's has been on my radar ever since. Sporadic as it may be. Each visit below has a memory associated with it. Whether it was post hiking or on the way to New Mexico.

Location: Just off of the main downtown strip. How did I first discover it? Decided to drive downtown and look for the first appealing restaurant. Rita's was perfect. Back then they had a tall freestanding sign with the Pepsi emblem. I miss those days when you would see that kind of corporate sponsorship.

Food: What I always associate Rita's with is their chips and salsa. The chips are homemade, crispy, and tasty. The red sauce is very flavorful with a medium kick. That plate in the photo is only half full. I was eating like I'd had my first meal in a week before realizing I should photo it. (I should mention the outdoors photo isn't mine, so thanks to the person who did take it!). The red bottle houses more yummy salsa goodness. This was my first time to try their breakfast, and also their green chile. I was very pleased with the ingredients - eggs, potatoes, and ham. All cooked expertly. But the chile? No, not really my style. It's more like a gravy than a sauce, and it tastes "plastic-y" for a lack of a better description. The pork chunks are good though. In the past I only had lunch here and remember the red sauce enchiladas being excellent. So I'd suggest that. Even though they're open until 7, I would consider Rita's a breakfast-lunch option. I don't think they even have alcohol. I didn't look for it though.

Overall: Rita's will remain a once-in-a-few-years option for me. I'm just not in Pueblo enough to make it an annual Rotation restaurant. And there's so many places I want to try. But if we lived in Pueblo, it most certainly would see us often. Good, solid Mexican food.

7/1/94; 7/11/98; 7/23/11; 8/18/18; 5/2/25 (new entry)

Avenue 19 ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

First visit: Apr 2025

Location: On Tejon right in the middle of the downtown action. Avenue 19 is a modern day food court with various restaurants inside of a large "hangout space" with tables, TV's, games, etc... I consider the bar area Avenue 19 and the rest are essentially static food trucks. Many of them are (or were) just that.

Food: On this visit we tried Firebird Chicken Sandwiches. I went for their hot variety which they call The Phoenix. Fire Mayo and Kimchi Slaw are the key ingredients to the crispy chicken I ordered. Mrs. RJG had the Dragon Rice Bowl (to the right) which she said was too sweet and not hot enough temperature. The latter a common complain for both of us, though mine was fine on this visit.

Drink: Fine selection of cocktails and a few craft beers, though not extensive. I went for a Goat Patch that I hadn't tried prior.

Overall: I'm adding to the RJG Rotation for two reasons. 1) I want to try some of the other food concepts. And 2) A good friend of the RJG's is one of the bartenders here. :-)

4/20/25 (new entry)

Basil & Barley ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2025

First visit: Nov 2018

Personal history: The first visit was solo and was a fine experience, but circumstances didn't allow for an easy follow up. The second try was last year with Mrs. RJG, and we enjoyed it immensely. We're back again one year later.

Location: Basil & Barley is not too far from our house, a few blocks east from The Promenade shopping area. The restaurant is in a nice setting in a modern strip center. Perhaps too much natural light but one doesn't have to squint while eating here either.

Food: I was initially reticent to take Mrs. RJG here because Italian styled Napoletana pizzas were a real mixed bag back in DFW. They started with a bang but it seemed each restaurant lost their luster as time went on. If you have the will and time to research, this blog is filled with places like that: INZO, Cane Rosso, Spin!, Cavalli, Pazzo!, Campania, Apeizza e Vino. The latter three spectacularly crashed and burned, especially Campania (literally). INZO was the only place we continued to visit but we had pivoted away from pizza towards Italian food. So with that backdrop, I knew Basil & Barley would be a tough sell for my better half. But finally she relented. Their pies are just a little bigger than a "individual" pizza, but not large enough for two. We can take home the leftovers. Mrs. RJG asked for the basic margherita and I ordered their spicy offering The Diavola. A few minutes later out came our very-hot-to-the-touch pizzas. I patiently awaited Mrs. RJG's feedback. It was a huge hit! She loved it. Perfect dough, slightly chewy and crispy, not mushy. Great sauce and first class ingredients. Best pizza she's had in town and she wants to go back soon! So you never know... I enjoyed mine as well, exactly for the same reasons.

Drink: On my first visit they served local Deuces Wild beer exclusively. But now they have more variety. Not quite as well researched as Walter's303, but better than most of these kind of places. We each ordered a beer on the lager side, and they weren't cold enough, which is inexcusable really. That didn't get us off to the best start (2024). Fortunately they seem to have fixed this error and our beers were appropriately cold (2025).

Overall: Stays in the RJG Rotation. It's a little on the pricey side, but the pizza is some of the best in town. Call it a splurge meal.

Anecdotes: We celebrated Mr. RJG's 60th birthday on the 2024 visit!

11/16/18; 9/11/24 (new entry); 4/22/25

Whataburger ~ regional chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: May 2025 (Montebello @ N. Academy)

First visit: 1977 (Dallas, TX - Walnut Hill Rd.)

HQ: San Antonio, TX

Locations: 17 states (same but DC is out. Nevada is the new state). 1,138 total (+136). Texas is up to 764 (+28). Colorado is now at 8 (+2), One new in the Colorado Springs area and now one in Pueblo. They appear to be avoiding Denver (I don't blame them). Our former local in Keller is still open. As for that original personal location on Walnut Hill? Yea, it's long gone. Though there's one not too far from it (Hwy 12 & Webb Chapel).

RJG primary location: Interquest @ Voyager

---5/3/25

First visit of the year, just a different location this time. All checked out. Remains in the Rotation.

---2/2/24

Back again for the RJG annual review. I could just cut and paste the below and serve my purpose here. This time I was the only one in the drive-thru at lunch on a Friday. The signs are all around us folks. Get ready for a bumpy landing. But at $11.50 for a double cheeseburger, and nothing else, it's only a matter of time when the business just dries up. Though, as the Locations above suggest, Whataburger is still in aggressive growth mode. Other than that, my double cheeseburger experience was exactly as below. Except this time I watched the last episode of The Winter King (S1) on my Friday lunch break from work. 

---2/5/23 notes

Time for a yearly checkup. I anticipate going here about four to six times a year. I think this is our 4th visit since they've opened, which is much more than our last days in Keller, though far short of my peak times of the late 80s (bigger appetite in those days!). Been using the drive-thru, and on this visit the order turnaround time was particularly slow. I arrived around 11:00 in the morning, and there weren't that many vehicles in the double lane drive through. I would say only one car moved in 10 minutes, which is egregious for a fast food place. Whatever the case, they managed to get my order right, and I always throw it into the air fryer when I get home anyway, just to crisp the bread and ensure everything is hot. I had what I always have - the double meat with cheese and no tomato. And it was great - perfect for watching Jack Ryan on a slow Sunday late morning. :-)

Whataburger has expanded two more locations here in Colorado Springs since our last update. These three are the only locales in Colorado total. Overall Whataburger are currently in 14 southern states and 937 total (up 49 from last year) with 716 of those in Texas (+8). Like with Jersey Mike's, these are impressive totals considering most chains are shedding locations at a rapid clip. Our old Keller location seems alive and well.

---4/21/22 notes

Well lookee here - we now have a Whataburger here in Colorado Springs! As I've said in a couple of other places, it's as if we never left Texas. Since moving here, Colorado Springs has added In-N-Out and Torchy's in addition to Whataburger. And when we arrived we were greeted by Fuzzy's. As well as national chains like Freddy's, Five Guys, Jersey Mike's, Dickey's, etc.. All within a stones throw of where we live here up in the far northern part of the city.

As with the case of In-N-Out, the lines were insane at first. However, Whataburger is open 24 hours, and there's no pandemic keeping everyone in their car with nothing better to do. As such those lines subsided in a couple of months instead of years. For this visit, I went inside to inspect. They've spiffed up their look. It's larger than the ones in Texas (or at least the last ones I've been to), with plenty of seating all around. I ordered by usual Double Whataburger with cheese (no tomato). Just as I remembered it! Well cool, I have yet another quick lunch place to visit - as long as I go early.

In doing personal research, I surprised myself that I didn't go to our local Texas Whataburger (Keller) for the last three years we lived in NE Tarrant. Huh. Not really sure why that happened actually... So that makes it seven years since I last had one. Way too long.

---original 11/30/11 review (Keller)

I know, I know. "Gee RJG, where do you find these obscure restaurants anyway?" To Texans, Whataburger is family. They're the little brother we pick on. We call them gross, stinky, dumb, and goober. But we don't mean it. Now that In-N-Out Burger is here, suddenly we become all protective, and yell back that Californians don't know what a good burger is. Hell, if they could only eat a Whataburger then they'd know!! But it's really two entirely different burger experiences. Whataburger's are Texan BIG. In-N-Out's are Californian fresh.

When I was kid in the 1970s, it was always a treat when my Mom would take me over to the closest one to our house, which was on Walnut Hill in NW Dallas (an old A-Frame building of course) near the UPS depot. They were also there in Lubbock when I attended Texas Tech in the mid 1980s. I loved them then, and I still do. Though they suffer from the same problems that most large franchises do - inconsistency. But if I'm looking for a quick burger at lunch while working, I tend to wander over to my local Whataburger (which is definitely one of their more consistent franchises) and get a double meat with cheese. It's quick, relatively cheap, and usually very good. We didn't have them in Colorado (ed: at the time), a good reminder for me at least that we take them for granted. They're far better than the publicly traded companies in this space like McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's, Carl's Jr/Hardees, etc...

When I first started going to Whataburger 35-40 years ago, they weren't much more than a small Texas chain from Corpus Christi. Today they are ubiquitous throughout the south region. 

Stop by your local branch if you haven't been in awhile!

1977; 1983; 1989; 5/2/05; 11/6/06; 12/14/09; 11/30/11 (new entry); 6/14/12; 2/13/15; 4/21/22; 2/5/23; 2/2/24; 5/3/25

Dallas, Texas (2); Lubbock, Texas; Colleyville, Texas; Keller, Texas; Colorado Springs, Colorado (3)

Oliver's Delicatessen ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2025 (Rockrimmon)

First visit: May 2023 (Red Leg Brewing campus)

Founded: 1983

As noted on the High Rise Pizza visit, the original plan was to go to Oliver's but it proved to be too crowded. On this dreary Friday, I arrived earlier and there was no crowd to speak of. Let's get a summary going:

Location: Neighborhood strip mall setting. Inside it looks like an old fashioned deli and is very homey. Counter serve.

Food: I ordered exactly the same thing as last year: The Conquering Hero. The photo doesn't do the sandwich justice, as it's piled high. My description below remains true. One of the rare sandwich places where you will feel stuffed when leaving. It's also quite expensive and they ask for the unearned tip (counter serve!) which is really annoying. Love the pickle.

Drink: Their fountain drinks come from Real Sugar Soda Colorado which is a nice touch.

Overall: Definitely a Rotation place but given the cost and other factors, it's probably a once a year occasion.

---4/20/24 update

As noted below, my next visit to Oliver's was to be at their main location off of Rockrimmon. And nearly a year later, here I am. You walk in and order at the counter. They do ask for the unearned tip which is unfortunate, and the only demerit I can give them. I went for their Conquering Hero which is salami, ham, bologna, Swiss cheese, lettuce, and tomato on French bread with Italian dressing. I left off the tomato and added Dijon mustard. Comes with a yummy pickle spear. I added chips and a drink (they also use the local Colorado soda company which is a plus). Once the sandwich arrived, I knew I was in business. This was what I was looking for in Atlanta! A mountain of meat stuffed inside delicious French bread. I think the dressing was drowned out by the mustard, which was unfortunate. It wasn't sloppy enough for me to call it a Hero, but it was delicious all the same. And super filling. They have plenty of other sandwiches that I want to try. I'll be back. Probably in a year's time, but maybe before who knows.

---original 5/15/23 review

As noted in the Red Leg entry, I tried the deli option which is Oliver's. Their primary location is off of Rockrimmon near the original Zapata Taco Shop, but we haven't been. I'll need to make an effort to do just that, since this location only offers a limited menu with four sandwich options (plus breakfast). But one of those choices is their Oliver signature sandwich which contains hot corned beef on marbled rye topped with coleslaw, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing. I passed on the slaw and added a complimentary pickle slice. Piled high, it was a perfectly executed sandwich. Tasty and filling. I certainly want to try some of their other sandwich options at their flagship store. Adding to the RJG rotation.

5/15/23 (new entry); 4/20/24; 4/18/25

Wade's Cafe ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2025

First visit: Dec 2021

This is only my second visit to Wade's. I was way ahead of schedule and found myself further north than usual for an early lunch. Let's see how it goes.

Location: Just off of North Academy at the intersection of Carefree. Standard issue free standing diner restaurant. In addition to plenty of tables, they have a few solo counter stools, so I grabbed one on this visit. I should mention that I've been here twice since my last visit but both times they had a waiting list, so I moved on. It's a popular place. I think with today being Wednesday that helped.

Food: Breakfast appears to be the main draw and since I had a bird's eye view to the kitchen that is mostly what came out. But they have a hearty lunch menu of sandwiches, burgers, and even entrees like liver & onions. My dad would have liked this place since he loved that dish! I went with the chili cheeseburger this time, doused in green. See for yourself. Came with fries and fixin's. I figured it would be a knife and fork affair, but I was able to eat it like a traditional hamburger. One reason for this is the thick bun they use. I didn't even slop on my cream colored shirt. Amazing luck! I thought it was excellent though could have gone for more spice in the chili, as noted below. Next time I must try their Philly cheesesteak.

Drink: I indulged in a caramel macchiato, since they have a full range of high end coffee drinks. Machine made but pretty good. Very sweet. They have the usual diner selection of juices as well.

Overall: Both of my visits to Wade's have been very satisfying. This is one of those "Best Of" establishments so it remains very popular. I've tried to get Mrs. RJG over here a couple of times but she doesn't want to go, for reasons unknown. I'm adding into the rotation. It's really just a matter if I'm here during breakfast or lunch when doing the rounds. I figure that should happen at least once a year.

---original 12/6/21 review

I had Wade's circled to go to earlier in the year, but it was still during the pandemic, and there was a long wait so I tabled it for a future day. And that day has arrived. And joining me on this venture is none other than business associate, and good friend, Tampa Pound who last graced these pages in early 2018. As it turns out, he too is now a resident of Colorado Springs, so there's always an opportunity for a quick get together. I arrived early, and stated there would be two of us, but they only seat you if the whole party is already here. Which makes sense for a popular place such as this. He arrived about five minutes later, and we were promptly seated. Wade's has an extensive menu of breakfast and lunch items (they typically close at 2:00p), so figuring out what I wanted was a challenge. We were there at 11:00, so I could have gone either way. I decided on breakfast, as it's always hard for me to resist a Breakfast Burrito smothered in green. These also come with "3 dollar pancakes". I was starving so the egg burrito had little chance of surviving the ten minute onslaught. The green chile had an excellent flavor - definitely not that spicy for those who are sensitive to such things. As is often the case, I could have used more chile, as it was pretty dry by the end. Maybe I should stop eating it by itself on the side of the plate? I can't help myself. The Tampa Pound ordered the Farmer's Omelet which he devoured with glee. I then attacked the pancakes as if they were dessert, slathering all the butter they gave me, and dousing it in maple syrup. A perfect way to close off the meal. 

Complaints? Sure, why not, gotta complain about something I s'ppose. I wanted coffee but they didn't have flavored creamers, which is pretty standard these days. Oh well, I went for the hot chocolate instead, which was also excellent. So I won for losing. So much for complaints. And service was very prompt, something very rare these days.

Definitely need to get Mrs. RJG over here. The primary thing with her has to do with the hot temperature of the food, and I have to give credit to Wade's here too. I too prefer it as hot as possible. Nothing worse than warm or cool food - at least for food that isn't supposed to be that way! 

12/6/21 (new entry); 4/16/25

Zapata Mexican Taco Shop ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2025 (Voyager)

First visit: Dec 2019 (Rockrimmon)

Locations: 3, all in the northern part of Colorado Springs. 

A little bit later than usual for a our first visit of the year but all went well. We had the same order as last year and it was delicious. Didn't see the spicy green this time and I think they did raise the prices some. Not sure they had a choice. Can't be cheap renting in this shopping center.

---2/15/24 update

Out first visit to Zapata for the year was nothing but a success. We ordered to-go seven tacos, a mix of pollo asado and carne asada. Everything was perfect. They've also added a super spicy green sauce to their repertoire. Absolutely delicious, maybe the best one yet! Zapata has even kept their prices in check. They remain the best taco shop in Colorado Springs, at least of the ones the RJG has been to.

---3/5/23 update

After the mediocre visit to Brakeman's, Mrs. RJG and I decided on a tried and true classic: Zapata. We ordered exactly what we always do when together (three pollo asado tacos and three carne asada tacos), and everything is as excellent as it always is. The medium red, green, and super spicy chile de arbol sauces are still on offer and are delicious. We probably go here about six times a year, though it's been less in recent times. Mostly that just has to do with my work and personal schedule. Zapata maintains its excellent status, and we're super glad it's right across the street!

---1/13/22 update

Back for the annual review, and happy to say that Zapata passes with flying colors, and it earned itself a badge in the process. Had four tacos, a pair of pollo asado and carne asada. Each loaded to the top with meats, and the carne asada includes the beans as noted below. The salsa bar is up and running after the pandemic eased, and they feature five salsas. A medium green, a medium red, and a super spicy red (these three are what we usually get). There's also a mild avocado and a medium roasted chile, the latter I passed on this time. Our local location has a nice spacious feel, and is comfortable to dine in. However, since we only live about three minutes away, it makes for a perfect to-go meal, especially since they open early at 8:00 am. Zapata remains our favorite taco shop in the Springs. We're going to look for others to challenge it.

---original 1/30/21 review

Some of you might remember the RJG waxing on about how great Taco Fiesta is in Baltimore. Yea, Baltimore. We could never find a place in DFW that matched its greatness, which is insane. I'm sure there were some, we just didn't find it. And please don't throw out hipster joints like R Taco and Torchy's. Yea those places are cool and we dig them yadda yadda, but we're talking something different here. After trying a few places here in the Springs, we came across Zapata. YES! This is what we were looking for. Loaded double soft corn tacos with great flavor and excellent salsas. After trying their Pastor (heavily seasoned, but needs the spit - no, not that kind of spit) and Carnitas, we have settled on a regular diet of Carne Asada and Pollo Asado. The steak tacos come with whole pinto beans and is a very welcome addition. Their charbroiled chicken is also fantastic. Of course they come street taco style with chopped onions and cilantro. They have three salsas, a mild red, a medium tomatillo, and a hot red. The latter can often times be nuclear, but not always. The green and hot red is what we always get. On this front, they do lose the battle with Taco Fiesta, who offered five to seven salsas, and very unique at that. A small gripe.

Zapata was one of the very few places we'd eat at during the pandemic, as most folks took their food to go, but it was too far for us to do that - and eating in the car didn't seem like such a good idea given the powerful smells. However, in what has to be considered the best news all year for the RJG, Zapata moved practically across the street! Well now, there's a game changer. Zapata Taco Shop is now a regular occurrence, and it takes all of three minutes to bring it back home - still sizzling hot. Not much to celebrate these days, but this made us very happy! 

12/1/19; 2/2/20; 7/25/20; 1/30/21 (new entry); 3/5/23; 2/15/24; 4/15/25

Hamburger Stand ~ regional chain : Aurora, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2025 (Havana St.)

First visit: sometime in 1994 (Colorado Springs)

Locations: 12; Denver area (6); Tucson-AZ (3); Yuma-AZ (1); Casper-WY (1); El Centro-CA (1)

I saw a nice looking estate sale up in Denver on this fine Thursday, so I decided to "work" the city. I keep putting work in quotes because it's just me digging for inventory or my personal collection. Pure retirement hobby activities. The location of this sale was right next to where I used to live from 1995 to 1997. This is at the time I met Mrs. RJG, Rude Dante, Old Boss, and others. I haven't been to "the old neighborhood" in years, so it was great to be back. I lived in the fancy schmancy "Breakers", which now has a different name apparently. It was a very nice apartment / condo complex set in a much more modest area of town. Best of both worlds as far as I was concerned. So many great little divey restaurants nearby, though I was spoiled to live in a very nice one bedroom apartment with my two cats. It was to be the end of my bachelor days. Haha - long ago. In any case, I was at the sale for probably two hours and was starving afterwards. Oh my, look what just came up on Google Maps? Gotta go for the memories.

Personal history: Before I moved to Denver I lived here in Colorado Springs (1993-1995). That's when and where I was introduced to the The Original Hamburger Stand. I believe they were off of Powers back when it was a two lane road. I remember making a long journey to get there from my apartment off of Woodmen. After moving to Denver, I had this exact location very close by as noted above. I probably only went once a year, and I doubt I made any effort in '97. When we had the summer townhome in Denver, which also wasn't that far away, I went to this location one more time in a nostalgia fit. Just as I'm doing now...

Location: Havana is such a classic old school Denver area avenue. A mix of old and new and should be forgotten and hopefully never forgotten places. The apartments that line the street are either multi-thousand dollar a month modern structures or rundown brick sh*t holes that remind me of Chicago. Gentrification has taken hold but there's still plenty of 1960s Denver to absorb here. And 1990s which was my experience. This Hamburger Stand looks like it always has: Fast Food 101.

Food / Drink: So here's the deal with Hamburger Stand (fka The Original Hamburger Stand). They were started by - and continue to be owned by - the same group that runs Wienerschnitzel. Hence the co-branding. Says "since 1982" but it seems more like "since 1952". Apparently it was their attempt to capture the fast food burger market. It's just cheap fast food honestly. Foodstuff. The needful. Look at that photo. The only thing missing is the copay card. Cheap burger, cheap hot dog, and cheap fries. But for $10 bucks including a giant Coke Zero that lasted me all day, not too bad a deal. 

Overall: I wouldn't suggest anyone goes here too often for health reasons. I really have no intention of coming back, but it seems every 15 years I get nostalgic about it. I would imagine any dietician would agree. Maybe never actually, but it's good to set off your immune system every once in awhile.

1994; 1995; 1996; 8/12/10; 4/10/25 (new entry)

The Green Line Grill ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

First visit: Apr 2025

I've had The Green Line Grill circled for a few years now as a place to try. I even thought when I served on jury duty last year, I'd give them a shot then. But it became apparent it was too far a walk from the courthouse. Wednesday is usually my day to "work" Colorado Springs, and if I stay on schedule, I should be near downtown for lunch. And that was the case on this day. I didn't realize how close The Green Line was from my usual thrift stop, so let's finally give it a try.

Location: Off of Wahsatch just east of downtown. Looks and feels like your classic dive bar. Checkered floors, booths, pool tables, etc... I believe you can park at the restaurant for free, though I saw meters on adjacent parking lots. It's pretty far off the beaten path and paying for parking seems silly. Order at the counter.

Food: The Green Line Grill is known for their "Onion Fried Cheese Burger". I'd never heard of such a thing, but I'm trying it! Apparently it's a regional delicacy from Oklahoma. I love regional foods! Essentially it's a hamburger with thin sliced onions heavily crisped and laid atop the burger. Doesn't that look good? It is too. I heard them cooking my burger, way beyond your usual fast food joint. Though I stated I didn't want fries, I received them anyway! No charge. That was good of them. They were excellent too. Mrs. RJG would like this place.

Drinks: They have a full bar with three taps. All of them from our local Goat Patch. I stuck with water as I still had a full day ahead.

Overall: Definitely coming back and The Green Line Grill is now part of the RJG Rotation.

4/9/25 (new entry)

George's Drive Inn ~ Walsenburg, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2025

First visit: Jan 2024

Both of us had wanted to return to George's Drive Inn after last year's visit. As you can see below it seemed more like we ordered the wrong thing versus a restaurant that wasn't for us. This time we did go for lunch as noted below.

Location: Easy access on and off of I-25. It's a bit hidden, and they don't advertise, but Google Maps will quickly show you that George's is convenient. It's also the exit for La Veta, and that's where we usually go after lunch anyway, as we did on this day. The restaurant itself is a throwback to the simple American diner, though no solo stools. It seems to be always crowded too. They're a breakfast and lunch place only and closed on Sun / Mon.

Food: Eclectic American diner fare, with a focus on Mexican and even Italian. The latter is a feature of this part of southern Colorado and you see similar in Pueblo and Trinidad. Likely a vestige of an industrial past. On this visit I ordered the Italian sausage sandwich and substituted fries for a small bowl of green chili. Mrs. RJG zoned in on the Philly Cheesesteak. Both of us enjoyed our meals immensely. This time we did order the right thing. The chili was the right temperature and very spicy. Much better on its own than as a smother. I'm not sure who makes the Italian sausage in this region or if they all create their own patties, but whatever the case, I'm happy to have it. The Philly Cheese was exceptionally good and you could really taste the seasoned beef. Homemade fries were hot and excellent. Even the oyster crackers were different, coming straight from Chicago.

Drinks: Standard diner fare of juices, sodas, etc. We just had water.

Overall: The perfect "road food", a term that was more popular 20 years ago. Let's hope for a comeback. Only misstep is that I was only to pay an upcharge for the chili since I substituted the fries. They charged me full price. I mentioned it but went unheard. I didn't sense it was intentional. Big deal, so we're out two bucks (the upcharge cost), I'll live. In any case, we're sure to be in this area for lunch at least once a year if not more, so George's Drive Inn goes into the RJG Rotation.

---original 1/27/24 review

Just as Westcliffe is our first winter daytrip destination of the new year, La Veta has become our second favorite place to go during the snowy months. And they received a whopper of a storm on Thursday dumping 18 inches of snow. Yesterday was relatively warm and we here in the Springs saw a nice melt off, so we presumed similar down south. We had perfect blue skies, and warm temps today. It was an absolutely perfect daytrip. While we saw quite a bit of snow up here in the northern reaches of Colorado Springs, the southern part of the city received very little. And Pueblo was dry as a bone. I was disappointed until we kept going south and then we saw nothing but a sea of white - fields, valleys, mountains, all against a crystal clear blue sky. Stunning really. La Veta sits in a perfect setting, but as stated last year, there really isn't much to do there - especially in the winter. So our activities revolve around Walsenburg, with a pretty drive to La Veta. We then walked around the town. We wanted to try the ice cream at Charlie's Market but they close down that section of the store during the winter. Last year we went to the brewery there, but I wanted to revisit the one in Walsenburg this trip. Those posts are coming next.

Which gets us to George's Drive Inn, our first stop on the journey. It sits right off of I-25 before you venture into Walsenburg proper. It's an old school diner (though no solo bar stools) that first opened in 1977. We arrived at 10:30 and were offered only breakfast menus, though we really wanted lunch. I was willing to inquire but Mrs. RJG said that breakfast sounded good to. I was also fine with it. 

I had the breakfast burrito, smothered in green chili and served with fried potatoes. The twist here they use homemade spicy Italian sausage as the meat, which is super. I thought the chili was good, but not sensational. I would have preferred a bit more spice and flavor. Mrs. RJG inexplicably went for a boring breakfast of pancakes and eggs. But at least she had the foresight to get the Italian sausage patty as the meat choice. That was the only part of the meal she really enjoyed. The rest she bemoaned was boring and flavorless (that's what happens when you purposely order the wrong item). Followed by "I really wanted a cheeseburger and fries". Sigh. By 10:50 they were asking patrons if they wanted lunch or breakfast. So I'm sure we could have gotten lunch just 20 minutes prior. Oh well, c'est la vie.

I do like George's, and we're definitely coming back (for lunch). I prefer George's slightly more than Tina's Cafe that we dined at last year, but they're both very good. Service was good and the prices reasonable for this day and age. Lots of regulars were there, and the workers referred to them by name.

1/27/24 (new entry); 4/8/25

Fat Shack ~ national chain : Thornton, Colorado

First visit: Apr 2025 (120th Ave)

Locations: 30 total. Fort Collins is where they started and Colorado has the lion's share at 10, including two in Colorado Springs (see below). Texas has 6, but nothing really in the vicinity of NE Tarrant. Fort Worth in the TCU area being the closest.

Mrs. RJG and I had a family event in Brighton (NE Denver suburb) the night before and stayed in a nearby hotel. The next day we decided to hit some thrift shops before lunch. Now we're hungry, where to go? We were in the Northglenn / Thornton area, so not an area we are familiar with at all. That's when Fat Shack popped up. Looks exactly what we're after. Let's give it a shot. As noted in the Locations section, they have two locations here at home. If I had known that, I would not have come here. I'd never even heard of Fat Shack before. And honestly I thought it was an independent all the way up until I started researching today.

Location: A little dive place inside of a hidden strip mall center, next to a tattoo parlor. These are clues...

Food: They specialize in creative hot sandwiches (no deli meats though), along with chicken, wings, hamburgers, and Philly cheesesteaks. I had a cheeseburger and Mrs. RJG ordered the Philly. I figured based on the price, mine would be a bit bigger than it was. I would say they "do the needful". It's a pretty boring burger save the sauce they use. We also got one order of fries and they were definitely hot temperature and delicious. This time it's Mrs. RJG that won the prize. The Philly was great. Hot to the last bite. At first she thought it might be mushy, but they use the right kind of bread - chewy and tasty. Similar to Amoroso rolls (and could very well be them, though usually restaurants mention it). The meats and cheese were mixed perfectly. She loved it.

Drinks: Soda fountain and milkshakes. We didn't dare try the latter. I'm sure they would've been great.

Overall: So I saved the conclusion to the end, but if you follow the clues above, it becomes clear what Fat Shack is: Fulfill the Munchies man! Their tagline is "Late Night Done Right". It's not as stoner themed as Cheba Hut, but they definitely cater to the college and young adult crowd. And if you look at where their locations reside, that tends to be the theme. I would say their locations look a lot like a Democrat Party blue pin map. When we left I didn't think it had a chance for the Rotation because I'm rarely up this far north in the Denver area, and if I am, I'd want to try other places. Now that I know they're here in COS, we'll go back sooner rather than later. Certainly for the Philly and perhaps other options. Skip the burger though.

4/6/25 (new entry)

Daddy's Chicken Shack ~ national chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2025 (Voyager)

First visit: Apr 2024 (Voyager)

HQ: Castle Rock, CO (founded in 2018 in Pasadena, CA)

Locations: They were to expand rapidly last year, but are stuck on 6 locations. Looks like Colleyville closed. For Colorado they also have one in Littleton. Texas gets one each in the Houston and Austin metro areas. Phoenix and Orlando round out the total. Very disparate locations. This is a tough time for the restaurant industry.

Almost precisely one year later, I'm back at Daddy's Chicken Shack for the second visit. This time armed with a coupon offering a free sandwich. No strings attached even. I hope this isn't a sign they're struggling for business. In any case, can't pass up this deal. And Mrs. RJG and I had to go to the Denver area for a family dinner event, so this will make the perfect lunch. Grabbed two chicken sandwiches and brought them home.

Just basic Nashville Hot Chicken this time. I was pleased, and really enjoy the heat factor. And a good time to note that the temperature of the sandwiches were still hot even after driving them home. Mrs. RJG wasn't as thrilled saying they put on too much sauce and felt the bread was "mushy" because of it. She doesn't like sloppy sandwiches. No matter, stays in the RJG Rotation. Not sure if she'll join me next time.

---original 4/6/24 review

Chicken is hot - in more ways than one - so add Daddy's Chicken Shack to the list of up and comers. They very recently opened up near our house and a little bit outside of Mega Chain Valley. Today Mrs. RJG and I decided to try them for the first time. This locale used to be one of those modern salad places. Probably not the best area for one of those. Architecturally interesting with a high ceiling, spacious with limited seating, and full of natural light. You can order at the counter or from the two rather large screens on your left. I chose that for us being the IT kinda guy that I am. Knuckled our order in, and we awaited our meal. They had the audacity to ask for a tip - it gets more ridiculous each place we go. Soon they'll ask for a tip just because you walked in the door. Of course you're not getting one...

We waited longer than expected, but that's OK if they're cooking our meal, and it appears that's what happened. Out came two very hot (temperature) chicken sandwiches. I went with the 303, which includes Denver's own Santiago's green chile (featured in this blog) along with bacon, cole slaw, and remoulade. Really like the brioche bun and the chicken texture - thick and juicy. The chile didn't penetrate at all, and the spice was mild. It looks like that's only going to be a local option, as I didn't see it on the Colleyville menu for example. I prefer feature items, but I'll definitely go for the Nashville Hot option next time. Mrs. RJG went with the more basic Pressure Cooked Simple Daddy. She really enjoyed it. She had the meal deal so we also tried the seasoned fries which were excellent as well - and a bit spicy surprisingly. They have Diet Dr. Pepper as a fountain option so we didn't want to pass that up, and they mixed the drink properly. 

Daddy's Chicken Shack has now been added to the RJG rotation. I'll probably get it to-go for lunch some workday while watching a movie or a show. It's only five minutes away.

4/6/24 (new entry); 4/5/25

High Rise Pizza Kitchen ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

First visit: Apr 2025

I was in the Rockrimmon area for an estate sale, and afterwards was starving. My original plan was to head over to Oliver's Deli. However it was packed on this particular Friday. Good to see old fashioned crowds like this, but unfortunately it drove me away as the line was too long. Right across the parking lot is High Rise. Let's go see what they're all about.

Location: Strip center location at Rockrimmon and Delmonico. Was mostly empty when I arrived.

Food: Pizza obviously is their stock and trade, and it would appear takeout and delivery is their primary business. However they do offer plenty of seating. Most importantly they offer slices! They rotate three options every day, and on this visit, I went with one pepperoni and one cheese (maybe these two are static I'm not sure). You get a free drink if you order at least two slices. So for $8 bucks that's not too bad in this day and age. No soda fountains, but they have cans in the fridge, so I grabbed a Diet Coke. The slices came out hot and the crust is very good and perfectly pliable. Definitely in the New York style. Not enough sauce but that's a common complaint from me.

Drink: Just various non-alcoholic beverage cans in the refrigerator as noted above.

Overall: Adding to the RJG Rotation. Not the best NY slice in town. That trophy still goes to Joey's, but in the running. And I need more fast food options such as this while I'm out there digging. Don't always have time to sit down in a traditional restaurant.

4/4/25 (new entry)

Rudy's Little Hideaway ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

First visit: Apr 2025

Location: On South 8th Street, tucked away on a small hill. Cool spot that recalls the DIY aesthetic of New Mexico.

Food: Mexican is their primary fare. We started with chips and salsa. The chips are homemade, crispy and very good. The salsa packed a lot of flavor though it doesn't have much heat. Mrs. RJG and I each tried the enchiladas. I had the ground beef and shredded chicken and she had carne asada. Both buried in Christmas. Pretty good, nothing overly distinctive. The green chile being the lone exception, and would want to have this included on any future meals.

Drink: They seem to specialize in margaritas, though we just stuck with water for this lunch visit.

Overall: Decent Mexican option though it didn't capture our imagination enough to add to the rotation. Certainly wouldn't reject coming here again and will sample other dishes and possibly a margarita. They're mainly a breakfast and lunch house with dinner from Thu to Sun.

4/1/25 (new entry)

Tacos del Gordo ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Mar 2025 (South Academy)

First visit: May 2024 (North Academy)

Other locations: Union; Fountain. They also have a food truck.

It's Wednesday and time for my weekly Colorado Springs thrifting tour. As usual, I fell behind on schedule, and it was past noon. Only time for maybe a quick lunch. Tacos sounded good, so what's nearby? Ah yes, Tacos del Gordo. I forgot they had this southern location.

It was the perfect meal (which I sadly forgot to photo). On this visit I had the pollo asado, ground beef, and adovada. The latter no doubt influenced from our recent trip to New Mexico. They came out smoking hot. The shell on the ground beef taco was beautifully crunchy. And all three salsas were perfect (better than the below visit), especially the two hotter red ones. The meats were all heavily seasoned and delicious.

Stays in the RJG rotation with probably more frequent visits in between.

---original 5/3/24 review

As noted here on the RJG a few times, getting tacos in Colorado Springs is a dicey proposition. Admittedly I tend to enjoy more gringo oriented fare, and some of the places in town are hardcore. But if there's one dish that seems to give the game away it's pollo asado. If they take the time to grill a chicken then it seems that I will enjoy the restaurant.

That axiom proved true again. I ordered three tacos: Ground beef, carne asada, and the aforementioned pollo asado. They have a salsa bar and I put a ladle full of all three they offer into the cups provided. Once the meal arrived, I started in on the ground beef taco. Oh yes - super crunchy and crispy homemade shell. And the beef was heavily seasoned. Excellent by itself (I'll get to the salsas in a minute). The carne and pollo are served street style with onions, cilantro served on double corn tortillas. They also offer guac for both, but I passed. These are fully loaded so you get your $3+ each moneys worth. Both were fantastic, the former with a charbroiled steak flavor and the chicken was very flavorful. As for the salsas, the green is real thin and fairly tasteless. Not sure there's any reason to have it. The red was also very thin but did carry spice, but not much flavor. The thick textured red was the money sauce. Spicy and very flavorful. Unique too. Loved it and made each of the three tacos better. It's all you need really.

The restaurant was clean and the service was friendly. And they don't ask for an unearned tip. My kind of place! Into the RJG rotation Tacos del Gordo goes.

5/3/24 (new entry); 3/26/25

Valentina's ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico

Latest visit: Mar 2025

First visit: Apr 2022

We started our day at the ABQ flea market. After walking around that event for a couple of hours, we'd built up an appetite. Our schedule was to stop at Valentina's in Santa Fe, before making the long journey home. This mirrors what we did last year, though this time it was planned.

We ordered exactly what we did last time, and it was absolutely delicious (you must go here). The only thing we noticed was the salsa didn't have quite the same flavor, though it certainly was just as spicy. But chiles can do that to you. They can be random, so that's OK with us. I forgot to photo the meal unfortunately. Valentina's remains in the rotation, so I'll try to get that captured on the next visit.

---11/18/24 update

I forgot to mention this on the Perea's update: We found a new trail in Albuquerque too. Out east in the mountains, the Embudo Trail which "funnels" (haha) into the Cibola National Forest. We run straight uphill for about 20 minutes (huff puff), take a short break, and run back down casually. A perfect workout that allows us to continue to eat like teenagers. In case you were wondering how we manage to continue to do this... I'm 60 and don't want to give any of this up. That's the task that must be done every morning, like 350 days a year task. And with that...

We cleaned up at the hotel and left Albuquerque, and hopefully we'll be back next year as usual. The plan was to have Sunday breakfast in Santa Fe at Horseman's Haven, a place we haven't been to in many years. Mrs. RJG usually puts up resistance at the last minute. Not sure why, but she insists it isn't as good as I've documented. I think it's a misplaced memory. And sure enough, while driving north on I-25, she wanted to pivot to another restaurant. In fact, she really wanted to go back to Valentina's. Twist my arm.

By the time we got here, I was ready to eat the tires off our SUV (an interesting image...), so my appetito was huge. And some of the breakfast houses in Santa Fe are tough to get into on a Sunday morning, but that's not a problem with Valentina's, which remains something of a local secret (don't worry fans, our readership is too small to have much impact). I have to admit, Mrs. RJG was right, Valentina's was the better choice. It's going into the RJG Rotation, and while that wasn't official before, we've gone for three straight years anyway, all documented below.

We started with the chips and salsa. Oh my gosh, so so good. I love their red salsa. Mrs. RJG thinks it might be a combination of Chile de Arbol and Guajillo. The chips are real corn. Learning my lesson from last year, I went back to Christmas. I'm so glad I did. The green was loaded with chiles, and was knock-you-down spicy. I always eat half the dish, flip the plate and then the other. I then tackled the smooth red. One could argue it's better than La Choza. If not, it's in the competition. Otherwise my burrito was egg, potatoes, cheese, and ham. The latter, once again, is a ham steak cut up and stuffed in there. It's brilliant. Mrs. RJG ordered the Huevos Rancheros with whole beans and Spanish rice. Hers also came with a sopaipilla. She had most of it, but I grabbed about a quarter. Very good and fluffy, and made for a nice dessert with the honey.

Best meal of the trip. Go here.

---6/2/23 update

Valentina's is a restaurant that I was very excited to revisit. Last year was our first try, and we had a great experience. We also knew that it would be a lot of food. Having eaten sensibly the night before at The Ranch House, and getting our three mile run in, we were ready to tackle the big breakfast that Valentina's offers. And I'm happy to report everything is just as it was in 2022. Incredible chips and salsa and a monster burrito smothered in red, which was blazing hot spicy as was the salsa. With a big ol' ham steak jammed in there too. Last year I mentioned the green was more typical, but Mrs. RJG persisted to try it again and this time it was better than I remembered. And honestly burying everything in the red is just too much of that one flavor. I'm going back to Christmas. Valentina's is currently one of our favorite Santa Fe restaurants. No trip can go without at least a visit here.

If you read at the bottom of the below review, neither Sunrise nor Tortilla Flats made it to the itinerary. Just too many great places to eat in Santa Fe!

---original 4/14/22 review

Despite going to a number of restaurants in Santa Fe this week, we had yet to try something new. Our Airbnb host left a sheet behind of recommend places to try. La Choza was on there for example, so we knew the recs were probably spot on. This was the only other New Mexican place on the list. 

Oh yes, this is definitely a great recommendation!

First off, Valentina's sits in a shopping center, so there's actually a place to park. In fact it's the same one that houses Pho Kim, a Vietnamese place we enjoy but haven't gone back to in some years (it's in the RJG). Walking in, you'll see a relatively large restaurant painted in bright colors with unique art. Very much an Hispanic atmosphere pervades. 

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you'll be provided with a large menu. We ordered chips and salsa to start on this particular breakfast outing. Whoa! These are some of the best homemade corn chips we've had in sometime. And the salsa is very spicy and has an incredible chile flavor. In fact the taste experience reminded us of a place in Nampa, Idaho called El Rinconcito. It's a combination of a blazing salsa against the corn taste that just explodes in your mouth. We were regulars to that restaurant when the RJG had a consulting gig at Boise State in the latter half of 1998 and early 1999. On a return visit in 2014, it wasn't the same, and I see now it's out of business. What a shame. In any case - thank you Valentina's for ensuring that flavor still exists! Both Mrs. RJG and I remembered it exactly the same without leading the witness. Well that certainly set the mood right.

Now time for the main entries. I had the breakfast burrito with eggs, ham, and potatoes, smothered in Christmas. OK, these guys are just showing off now. This is larger than the others ones we've tried, and the ham is not just diced but rather cut slices from a fully cooked ham steak! Wow. The green was good, but rather non distinctive. It's the red that gets the shout out. A very dark variety loaded with flavor. I'll be sure to smother my next ham & eggs burrito in the red only on my next visit. Mrs. RJG went with her staple of Huevos Rancheros. Her experience was similar, though she was more favorable to the green, but preferred the red as well. She liked the refried beans, only lamenting she wished they were of a hotter temperature. We always want Abuelo's hot!

All in all, a super first encounter. With Tortilla Flats making a comeback, and now Valentina's, did Sunrise just get knocked out of contention? 

4/14/22 (new entry); 6/2/23; 11/17/24; 3/22/25

Two Cranes Bistro & Brew ~ Albuquerque, New Mexico

First visit: Mar 2025

The RJG's sure know how to pick the most popular times to be out and about looking for dinner. Some of you may recall that two years ago we were in downtown Kansas City - when it was opening Monday Night Football and the Chiefs were playing! That was a challenge.

And now we're in Albuquerque, and would you believe the University of New Mexico was in the March Madness tournament? And they were playing on this Friday night. What are the odds? I never thought of UNM as a major basketball school, but quick research tells me a different story. Regionally, they are a powerhouse. It was round 1, and they were playing one of the perennial institution basketball schools: Marquette. Well - that will probably eliminate them quickly*. But enthusiasm was high all over town. We saw it at The 377 Brewery first.

The setup was perfect. Our hotel was right next to a tavern. Two minute walking distance. Except... it was jam packed because of the contest and no place to sit for the foreseeable future. Well crud. We're going to have to drive somewhere else. I decided to pick a similar place and hope for the best.

Miraculously we got a table right away. But good luck in being served. We stayed patient, but they made a serious blunder by not offering us a beer right away. That would have resulted in at least one other round of beers. The help was obviously exhausted and they didn't hide it. They weren't rude, just beat. And a few patrons did lose their patience with them - and loudly at that. The atmosphere was not great. At the end, our waiter was apologetic. It's understandable, though I sure could have used that first beer!

In any case, by the time we did get served we went straight to dinner and ordered our beer then. I went with my staple Cubano and Mrs. RJG had a steak protein bowl. I substituted fries for the green chile stew (a wise move). If the waiters were struggling, the kitchen was not. They absolutely nailed the dishes. As for the "brew" part of their name, I would suggest that their beer list seemed a bit light for a place such as this.

I don't see us coming back here, not because we didn't enjoy it (we did), but can't think of a reason why we would. Presuming that tavern is available next time... 

* - UNM won the game handily, only to lose the next round to Maryland in a heartbreaking way.

3/21/25 (new entry)

The 377 Brewery ~ Albuquerque, New Mexico

First visit: Mar 2025

It's now Friday late afternoon. Hmm, maybe time for a beer? Of course it's time for a beer! We happened to be near Nob Hill, and the first brewery we went to didn't have their paperwork in place to serve their own beer. OK, we'll get them on another visit. The next one (Palmer) stopped making their own beer. Oh boy. Next!

Third time was a charm. The 377 Brewery is exactly what you want from a local place. Sort of an industrial, make-up-the-building-as-you-go, kind of place (just look at that signage - and that's all there is!). Plenty of outside seating. Dark inside with open windows adorning light in various sections.

We were hungry too (not sure how that's possible after having Perea's for lunch) and ordered their chips and salsa. The salsa was delicious though not spicy at all. Does possess a thick texture we both enjoyed. Excellent beers and yet another great New Mexico brewery. Wish we could go more often to all of them!

We were entirely unaware of the big event that was happening around us, until we started watching sports on the various TVs. More on the next post.

3/21/25 (new entry)

Perea's ~ Albuquerque, New Mexico

Latest visit: Mar 2025

First visit: Aug 2016

We had just finished going to an estate sale in the small village of Tijeras, a beautiful wooded setting that sits just east of Albuquerque. And it's time for lunch. Let's see, we're on the east side of ABQ. Gee, where should we eat?

You ask. Of course we go to Perea's. I had secretly hoped that the lunch crowd would be smaller than for breakfast. No such luck. Placed our name on the list and waited, though it was about 10 minutes this time. If you recall, last year we started to bemoan the lack of a hot temperature for our meals. Hooray, that problem was solved. While Mrs. RJG stuck with breakfast and had Huevos Rancheros, I boldly went forward with their lunch pork adovada enchiladas buried in Christmas (to the right, mine is in front,). Those are onions on top (and the red chile is behind them). The enchiladas were delicious, as were the chips and salsa we received at the opening (which were better than last visit). Perea's keeps its RJG Rotation spot.

---11/18/24 update

Not much chance that the RJG's won't be going to Perea's if in Albuquerque for any length of time. We missed going last year, where the focus was primarily on Santa Fe. But not this time. And all things seem normal again. Back to the pre-pandemic days of putting your name on a list and waiting. The waitresses are back. Though they had a sign saying they are short-staffed. To be noted, it seemed every single restaurant in ABQ was hiring. So if you're unemployed, you might want to think about heading to the Southwest. We started with chips and salsa, something neither of us could remember if we'd done before. Like with La Choza, the chips were on the salty side, which is fine with us. They tasted great. The salsa was a little too much on the tomato-y side, but it did possess a nice flavor and a good kick. I went with the egg and bacon breakfast burrito smothered in Christmas. The green has a unique flavor and was spicy. The red is very close to La Choza in quality, so velvety and smooth. This is a restaurant where you want both the red and the green. Mrs. RJG had the Huevos Rancheros also with Christmas. She also enjoyed the potatoes and beans. The only thing is - once again - it wasn't hot enough temperature. Once is an anomaly, twice is a pattern. And that's problematic, since we're only here once a year. Might open the door for new competition. We'll see next year how we feel about that.

---4/10/22 update

Back for our annual review. The good news is that Perea's has full service again on the weekends, though they still have you order at the cash register during the week. This seems to make a difference on the timing of the food getting to your table. On this visit I went with the carne adovada burrito. Adovada can be a dicey proposition but in the hands of Perea's it was cooked perfectly and very tasty. On this occasion the green was hotter than the red, both very distinctive and excellent. Mrs. RJG went with the Huevos Rancheros with hash browns, also smothered in Christmas. The only thing holding it back from a gold star is the temperature could still be just a tad hotter, though it was much better than our pandemic visit. Perea's is not to be missed.

---original 9/19/21 review

I didn't realize until now that I hadn't covered Perea's in the RJG. Well it's never too late. Along with Sunrise Restaurant in Santa Fe, Perea's has become our go-to breakfast house in New Mexico. After trying a few places in ABQ, Perea's made an immediate impact and now we're hooked. It's all about the chile in New Mexico, and Perea's is all aces with both the red and green. Christmas is essential here. Usually spicy but always very tasty. You can bury that chile on just about anything and walk away happy. Mrs. RJG goes with the Chile Relleno, while I stick to the breakfast burrito - all cooked perfectly. But it's the chile that makes it special. Perea's is a little family owned place (I think it was an old Captain D's), but you can usually count on large crowds. But not overwhelming like The Pantry or La Choza in Santa Fe. It's a neighborhood joint, and one that is a must stop when traveling through, living, or staying in Albuquerque. We turned Mr. Music onto it, and he goes more than us, since he journeys through on his way to see Lady Music in California. And she too now loves Perea's. 

You have no choice. If you are in Albuquerque, you have to go to Perea's. Well... you do.

8/5/16; 4/22/17; 10/21/18; 3/25/19; 9/19/21 (new entry); 4/10/22; 11/16/24; 3/21/25

Thai Boran ~ Albuquerque, New Mexico

Latest visit: Mar 2025

First visit: Nov 2024

We were excited for our best new Thai discovery from last year. Only to leave very disappointed. Our meals were flavorless (Mrs. RJG went with Pad Thai this time, I stayed with the below), and we wondered if maybe they have changed ownership? This happens often in the Thai restaurant business. Sorry Thai Boran, but we will not be returning. Looks like the battle between Thai Spice and Thai Cuisine II is back on!

---11/28/24

We had planned on one Thai meal for the trip but couldn't decide which one to go to. Mrs. RJG favors Thai Spice while I lean in with Thai Cuisine II. While enjoying our beer at Vision City Brewstillery, I decided to research on my iPhone what was nearby. Thai Kitchen came up first but the menu screamed American variation. Then I came across Thai Boran. Now this looks authentic Thai. Mrs. RJG agreed and off we went.

It's a relatively large space and too bright for cozy dining (they simply need to dim the overhead lamps and problem would be solved). Despite this early warning sign, we persevered. They have beer and wine, already a plus as far as the RJG is concerned. So we went with two large bottles of Asahi Dry. But oops they opened two small bottles first, so we scored an extra four ounces for free. Thank you!

Mrs. RJG ordered the red curry, and out came a large bowl that she loved. I had my usual spicy basil Thai. No need to ask for ground chicken - that's how it comes! I added a fried egg on top (of course). I ordered it hot, and that's exactly what I got. We also added some chili oil, so it definitely packed some heat. If I were home, I would go for Thai Hot, and I'm sure it would have been that much better. We both lapped up everything on the plate/bowl. Delicious. Oh the rice was perfectly cooked (and we didn't have to ask for more). Thai Boran bests any Thai restaurant we have in Colorado Springs.

We now have a consensus at the RJG household: Thai Boran is our new go-to for Thai in ABQ. And that probably will result in an annual rotation visit. Getting some new champions on this trip.

11/15/24 (new entry)

Dripline Brewery ~ Albuquerque, New Mexico

First visit: Mar 2025

As noted on our last visit, we're slowly working our way through the New Mexico breweries. As is our protocol, we look for the closest one from where we're at - and we haven't tried yet. And in this case, Dripline pulled up (we were close to downtown). It wouldn't have only two years ago. Why? Because they opened last year, bucking the trend of breweries dropping like flies. 

The space is modern, with plenty of outside seating. On this Thursday night, they were gearing up for a folk singer. They informed us they only like to bring in folk acts versus full bands due to the noise ordinances. Makes sense to me. We left, however, before the performance. It was time for dinner.

The beers you see were excellent. Recommended.

3/20/25 (new entry)

Blake's Lotaburger ~ regional chain : Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Last visit: Mar 2025 (State 528 @ Meadowlark)

First visit: May 1994 (ABQ: Menaul @ Rhode Island)

Locations: 70 locations in New Mexico; 3 in Tucson, AZ; 2 in El Paso, TX. Same as last visit.

We happened to be in Rio Rancho around lunch time and Mrs. RJG was craving a green chile cheeseburger. What's the closest Blake's then? This one. All came out as expected though it did seem like they skimped a bit on the chiles (see to the right). It still tasted great.

---11/18/24 review

And we celebrate the 30th year of the RJG visiting Blake's, with our first lunch in Albuquerque. Not that we always go here, and we missed out last year as well. Lately Mrs. RJG has been in the mood for New Mexico Green Chile Cheeseburgers, and since that's the specialty of the house, we ordered two of them. Out came two giant double cheeseburgers, large fries and a large drink. Uh-oh, Mrs. RJG isn't going to go for this! After keeping my head down for some moments enjoying the heck out of mine, I dared looked upwards and I was watching my wife devour it with glee. Again I ask - who is this woman who joined me on this trip? I have to say, even though the burgers are large, they aren't heavy, and that's a huge plus. And they loaded ours with chile, and they were spicy on this visit. Yahoo! Fries were of a hot temperature, which also made us both happy. Even the drink was excellent, and because it was large, we had it with us for the remainder of the day. And it still had flavor until the end. Anyway, it appears Blake's may find itself into the RJG rotation, a major accomplishment for non Colorado Springs restaurants. Mrs. RJG was still talking how great it was on our drive home two days later (she noted how peppery it was in addition to the green chiles). So there you have it.

I think this may have been the first location the RJG went to, but I couldn't tell you with any kind of accuracy which ones I've been to outside of the store two years ago and the one we've been to in Santa Fe. The reason I say this is because Charley's Records is across the street, and I've been going there since 1992 (a few years before Mrs. RJG was in the picture). I'll claim it for the database, but it's not certain. It's a more typical fast food restaurant setup than the one reviewed below. Order at the counter with plenty of seating + a drive thru.

---original 4/15/22 review (Coors NW - Albuquerque)

Blake's Lotaburger is an iconic burger chain that proliferates throughout New Mexico. If you've watched Breaking Bad, then most assuredly you've seen the Union Jack emblem on cups and bags. In effect, Blake's is to New Mexico what Whataburger is to Texas and In-N-Out is to California, the only difference being that Blake's has not expanded as rapidly out of state as the others. Or at least they haven't to date. As far as regional burger chains go, Blake's stacks up well against the competition. The one aspect of Blake's that separates them is the green chile cheeseburger, which definitely puts a New Mexican stamp on it. And it is very good. I'm sure locations vary in quality. This particular one was very busy on the day we visited which resulted in kitchen confusion. But our meal came out as ordered. There is no uniform look to a Blake's. This one has a small dining area made up of barstools around the window, or you can sit out on the patio tables outside, which is what we did. No drive-thru here, but many do have that feature. If we have extended stays in New Mexico, we try for one visit, just to mix up the diet a bit.

5/1/94; 9/1/97; 9/11/06; 9/17/13; 4/15/22 (new entry); 11/15/24; 3/20/25