tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36620066337017866452024-03-18T22:26:28.868-05:00Regular Joe's GuideA casual restaurant guide for everyday people. RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.comBlogger790125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-79958635940711102932024-03-17T13:50:00.001-05:002024-03-18T22:03:41.252-05:00Bingo Burger ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3Sb5aO0fDNnmsxxOuBR1ym8RBMJuERR4Go8an6fy9vJCZW13ds0GHKknytmFGASdEn7WHSg4zfjFsn2hNBxmgZZXAUq_DXZTqnxK5zRULYp5OMO7EUPBldPk_4aQo0qQWxk2bjpvEWAbzqbp-Oo7udlCZsXaK-uZx2bwPZdiKRqTvIUQZ7dPlKfHzrQ=s225" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3Sb5aO0fDNnmsxxOuBR1ym8RBMJuERR4Go8an6fy9vJCZW13ds0GHKknytmFGASdEn7WHSg4zfjFsn2hNBxmgZZXAUq_DXZTqnxK5zRULYp5OMO7EUPBldPk_4aQo0qQWxk2bjpvEWAbzqbp-Oo7udlCZsXaK-uZx2bwPZdiKRqTvIUQZ7dPlKfHzrQ" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div>Latest visit: Mar 2024</div><div><p></p><p>First visit: Feb 2022</p><p>The original is in Pueblo.</p><p>Time for our annual checkup to Bingo Burger. On this visit, only my 3rd, Mrs. RJG wanted to join me. I was careful to steer her away from anything that might be a sloppy mess. So she built her own cheeseburger, and kept the sauces to the side. She really enjoyed the chile infused hamburger (cooked well done per order) as well as the chile dusted fries. She wasn't keen on the potato bun stating it was a bit too doughy for her liking. I tried something different too - and less saucy - The Steel City. This features thick cut bacon and a Dijonnaise condiment. And I dug into Mrs. RJG's fries. I thought the burger was delicious and far less messy that I'd had prior from them. Fries were great too. Looks like they removed the Fort Carson Burger (see original review), which is a bummer. I asked Mrs. RJG where Bingo Burger lands in local choices. She said Top 5, though last week's Wayback Burgers has become the new gold standard.</p><p>---3/26/23 update</p><p>This is only my second time to Bingo Burger, the first is detailed below. On this visit I asked if they had something like a "Pueblo Slopper" given that's the home roots of the restaurant and they're all about Pueblo chiles. The answer was no because they mix the meat with the chile rather than douse with a green chili. That's what they call Bingo Beef. Got it! I almost ordered what I did last year, but the BOM (Burger of the Month) looked cool, so I went with that instead. They call it the Fightin' Irish Burger (for St. Pat's Day I'm to guess) and they define it as the following: "Bingo Beef, corned beef, Irish whiskey chile cheese sauce, caramelized onions, pueblo chiles, pueblo chile dusted tots". Well there you go. I ordered it medium well and everything came out to order. Thick juicy spicy burger with great flavor. Mrs. RJG would not go for this at all. And I did notice that while the top of the bun was toasted, the bottom wasn't. Doesn't matter to me, but that's a pet peeve of the Mrs. Maybe my favorite local hamburger?</p><p>---original 2/14/22 review</p><p>And here I am stuffing my face again with a big ol' hamburger. It wasn't the original plan. I just wanted a couple of slices of pizza to give me some nutrients to get through the day. But the place I attempted to try doesn't have slices on the weekend - boo! Well I'm downtown, and very close to where I was last week when first sighting the Skirted Heifer. Walk across Bijou and let's try Bingo Burger.</p><p>Nice and spacious place that goes pretty deep in the back. Order at the counter. They then proceed to hand you your "bingo number", and they'll deliver the meal to your table. The angle here is all about the Pueblo chile. Well sign me up then! I went with the Fort Carson, described as thus: "Bingo beef, thick cut bacon, Pueblo chile cheese sauce, golden tots, extra Pueblo chiles". Bingo Beef is ground beef mixed with the chiles before cooking. With all those chiles, no way I could go wrong. And that proved to be true - and spicy. Of course the burger was huge, which happens when the patty sits atop tater tots! The cheese sauce ensured it would be a giant sloppy mess. No way the Mrs. would have enjoyed it, but I had a good time in solitude. Though to use her primary criteria, the burger was perfectly cooked and delicious, and the bun was toasty. But she's not a "big 'ol hamburger" kinda gal. In addition, I really went down the tubes and had to try the soda fountain, and enjoyed a real cane sugar cola. Whew, it was fun to have again, but I probably shouldn't do that. I tried their diet as well, but it wasn't very good. </p><p>I gained weight this week...</p><p>Bingo Burger started in Pueblo (still operating), born from the Chile Festival. They are all about "local Colorado", just as we are. Overall, an excellent burger alternative when in downtown.</p><p>2/14/22 (new entry); 3/26/23; 3/17/24</p></div>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-67917319507895001782024-03-15T13:30:00.004-05:002024-03-18T22:03:58.928-05:00Phoebe's Diner ~ Austin, Texas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-tmxk84BNZ5L193FJo9ukl3kfF25phAxudhyphenhyphenvyhiIhGnpCCF76go89mcJIm4SbnTAda-0Pa_S8JUIIipGvR5Ej2qjzyFZrGDeLmWZs8_f0K3FyFhFUs2OAD3taPF0KqcNZlYFxVDWfYDBdO8BvnJ-LkGmsicsVhyphenhyphenSeSE2PA80RSiqg6blSisW-SGj3s9/s5143/525d8f78-c1ed-4e0e-858c-47d9252ab63c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3429" data-original-width="5143" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-tmxk84BNZ5L193FJo9ukl3kfF25phAxudhyphenhyphenvyhiIhGnpCCF76go89mcJIm4SbnTAda-0Pa_S8JUIIipGvR5Ej2qjzyFZrGDeLmWZs8_f0K3FyFhFUs2OAD3taPF0KqcNZlYFxVDWfYDBdO8BvnJ-LkGmsicsVhyphenhyphenSeSE2PA80RSiqg6blSisW-SGj3s9/s320/525d8f78-c1ed-4e0e-858c-47d9252ab63c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />12001 Burnet Rd, Suite 3 D, Austin, TX 78758 - 12 Mar 23<div><br />Looking for a decent breakfast near the Domain - an area I kinda hate - this place showed up as a bit more interesting and lived up to billing. There appear to be 3 locations around Austin - qualifies as a regional chain or 'limited locations'. My location was Gracy Farms - about a mile out of the shit-show open mall they call the Domain. I went for the chicken & biscuit with eggs and a side of gravy with a bloody mary. Chicken was good - but I'm never as impressed with the boneless breast for some reason. Not as juicy as real quartered chicken for some reason (also easier to prepare, I'm sure). But this was pretty good. Gravy was good - peppery - and there was a side of pepper jam that was quite good. Particularly excellent were the potatoes - very crunchy, flavorful and go great with the gravy. Only negative - and the reason for the bloody - was beer (singular) selection. That's right, one beer on tap (none in can or bottle). And it was Dos Equis lager; couldn't they at least go negra? I'd go back but will recommend they add a beer or 10.</div><div><br /></div><div>- Rude Dante review</div>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-48190332688146046072024-03-15T13:26:00.003-05:002024-03-18T22:04:13.446-05:00Workhorse Bar ~ Austin, Texas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAegc0e4vAIDHEkc-GMwvrQkokOFw0tpRkPAqR6X9JWyjCHbIa5UswPwt47jX5C4-QMJMLt_yuDQwyqjg1PSOGzlwCSVGPL2pDr_pI96cI0rTyjOIRaiOO9xb2X82pyvz6eFrMwijbTCvtL1nhmvKZ2gFlEJQ-GXhP544QJ1U2EYkNSEsYQrequN2TBtto/s225/download.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAegc0e4vAIDHEkc-GMwvrQkokOFw0tpRkPAqR6X9JWyjCHbIa5UswPwt47jX5C4-QMJMLt_yuDQwyqjg1PSOGzlwCSVGPL2pDr_pI96cI0rTyjOIRaiOO9xb2X82pyvz6eFrMwijbTCvtL1nhmvKZ2gFlEJQ-GXhP544QJ1U2EYkNSEsYQrequN2TBtto/s1600/download.png" width="225" /></a></div><br />100 E North Loop Blvd, Austin, TX 78751<div><br />Met same nephew who turned me on to Silver Medal here for a bite and a beverage while in town 11 Mar 23. I went for the burger special - a classic bacon cheeseburger with sweet potato fries - with an Austin Amber (on tap) to wash it down. It was a warm spring-ish day in Austin - highs in the 70s - so we sat on the patio and enjoyed a bit of vitamin D. Burger was solid - not huge, not gourmet, just good - and chased it with a Lakewood brewing Goddess Hazy IPA (ed: I miss Lakewood from our DFW daze). Was tempted to either go for another beer but was driving someone else's rental car so thought better of it. Mos def worth a return visit - next time I am in town.</div><div><br /></div><div>- Rude Dante review</div>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-10563515955517579602024-03-11T07:34:00.003-05:002024-03-18T22:04:29.677-05:00Colorado City Creamery ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCq4RYLhIEFJqtHb-xO2CsECwLtwnltpu3QMaPf7tgkV2loiDNJi9zVWW17C06LVtk-pibvqNINsuSsbvp15EY-2ezn314mEfPxxTP1QkwP5rXAvThmeG_j0n35vqBURfXEaCxIBdkgkOPWj_xHIPTC2DYrcHohdDQ6NP-9fhBZB4PcNFkuw5v_q6dw/s280/Colorado-CreameryLOGO.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="240" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCq4RYLhIEFJqtHb-xO2CsECwLtwnltpu3QMaPf7tgkV2loiDNJi9zVWW17C06LVtk-pibvqNINsuSsbvp15EY-2ezn314mEfPxxTP1QkwP5rXAvThmeG_j0n35vqBURfXEaCxIBdkgkOPWj_xHIPTC2DYrcHohdDQ6NP-9fhBZB4PcNFkuw5v_q6dw/s1600/Colorado-CreameryLOGO.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Latest visit: Mar 2024</p><p>First visit: Summer of 1994</p><p>As we were heading home from Florence, Mrs. RJG inexplicably wanted ice cream. Really? We'd already gone to our favorite Josh and John's this year, so let's revisit our other fave in town: Colorado City Creamery. We arrived not long before their closing hour of 6. We were both surprised to see a line out the door. Looks like it was going to be difficult to close on time. In any case, as we wandered through that line, we both zeroed in on the Pikes Peak Trail flavor. Basically a mix of chocolate, vanilla, and tiny peanut butter cups. Waffle cone, one scoop. And we wandered Old Colorado City with our treats (most everything was closed by then, but that's OK). Absolutely delicious and a great way to end an excellent day.</p><p>---original 2/20/23 review</p><p>What? I've never written about Colorado City Creamery until now? Talk about an oversight. Not sure how that happened honestly. Though it's true, we didn't go here once last year for no particularly good reason. And I do remember the circumstance of my last visit in August of 2021. You can read the Pho-nomenal review for those unnecessary details. So that may have contributed to my negligence.</p><p>As you can see I've been coming here since my first tour of duty in Colorado Springs. Even when we lived in Denver - or DFW - and visited the Springs, it wasn't uncommon for us to go to Colorado City Creamery for a scoop of their delicious ice cream. They've been around since the 1980s, and during the summer, there's often a line around the block filled with tourists and locals alike. You can't miss the location: Sitting in a cute old house slightly recessed off the main drag, with its bright yellow and white colors. And the ice cream is homemade and delicious.</p><p>After Phantom Canyon, Mrs. RJG's inner 8-year-old came out and she wanted ice cream. She can easily skip beer, but ice cream is a much stronger gravitational pull for the Mrs. And on a windy February President's Day, there are no crowds to worry about. On this visit they had just finished putting out a brand new bucket of chocolate. So we both went for a cup of that (small - slightly more than one scoop). I think Mrs. RJG is still recovering from her Sugarlump experience lol. It was just slightly soft and oh-so-creamy. And tasty as always. I tend to be a Josh and John's guy myself, but Colorado City Creamery is a close second. With the added bonus that you can walk around Old Colorado City while enjoying your ice cream. If you're from out of town, you'll likely end up here as a matter of logistics alone.</p><p>1994; 9/28/18; 8/1/21; 2/20/23 (new entry); 3/10/24</p>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-75768192760362535692024-03-11T07:18:00.002-05:002024-03-18T22:04:44.043-05:00Quincys Tavern ~ Colorado chain : Florence<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYnKKewRHisIBcsYAoOyTDKabV2Cog_bJ6UsQjkKcCIKPK1vyw2SXFRF8S7RbXLjmWDjK3E3laDSQOgaVqxyXs2gxsDLPVsRRmJWIkKuaJ0uV_04DZAnrWL-Wyf_LXKwdubT-WTCDRPrCcbTo-erFgT28-dWB3AgRKnD-VLQdJ45VyQ6vljnp8SyakBy5/s473/quincys-tavern-4.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="473" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYnKKewRHisIBcsYAoOyTDKabV2Cog_bJ6UsQjkKcCIKPK1vyw2SXFRF8S7RbXLjmWDjK3E3laDSQOgaVqxyXs2gxsDLPVsRRmJWIkKuaJ0uV_04DZAnrWL-Wyf_LXKwdubT-WTCDRPrCcbTo-erFgT28-dWB3AgRKnD-VLQdJ45VyQ6vljnp8SyakBy5/s320/quincys-tavern-4.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Latest visit: Mar 2024 (Florence)</div><div><p></p><p>First visit: Jun 2023 (Monte Vista)</p><p>Locations: Quincys currently operates in 5 mountain towns: Monte Vista, Florence, Buena Vista, Leadville, and Salida.</p><p>Mrs. RJG and I have now added Florence as a biannual getaway destination. It's a great place to wander around and browse through the antique shops. We both usually come home with a few things, though it's a fairly sad situation overall. The town was mostly empty on this beautiful Sunday afternoon, and the wares on sale are mainly unwanted and overpriced. No one seems too eager to offer discounts, so it's more like a living museum than a real marketplace.</p><p>As noted below, Florence is the first time we became aware of Quincys. We didn't eat there, but had our first occurrence in the more lively town of Monte Vista. One month later, we also tried their location in Leadville. A much larger space, it was also a popular dining destination. Because we were there on a Saturday night, we tried their prime rib, which is also excellent.</p><p>Both of us, however, prefer the filet mignon dinner, and Sunday night is one of the five nights they have that selection on offer. Recall that Quincys only has one meal per night, which plays a major role in keeping their prices down. It appears they've raised those prices $2 since we last checked in. Either that or Florence is more expensive than Monte Vista, but probably not. All the same, Quincys remains the best deal in all of Colorado - perhaps the nation. We arrived at open which is at 3:30 on Sunday. We were starving and planned for this to be our primary meal of the day, having only a light breakfast prior. The restaurant was still about half empty when we left over an hour later. Though it's likely to have eventually filled up. The location here is larger than Monte Vista, and about the same as Leadville. They have two dining areas in Florence's locale.</p><p>I didn't mention this prior, but the wedge salad is also excellent. One big chunk of cold and crisp iceberg lettuce, with a very nice ranch and Dijon sharp dressing. And it includes a wonderful slice of fresh French bread. The potato and steak came out cooked to order and were delicious. The Florence location doesn't offer anything in the way of craft beers, other than New Belgium brands. But better than nothing, as we were both thirsty by the time we got there.</p><p>---original 6/18/23 review (Monte Vista)</p><p>From Three Sisters, we drove to Alamosa and walked the campus of Adams State University while enjoying an ice cream cone from a local gas station. It was a beautiful day, though a bit windy which set off Mrs. RJG's allergies. From there we headed to our ultimate destination of Del Norte. However the restaurant we'd circled was closed on Sunday, and nothing else looked that great, so we backtracked to Monte Vista, a nice looking old town that deserves a walk around.</p><p>We'd first seen a Quincys (no apostrophe) while in Florence, not realizing it was a small mountain town chain. They advertise insanely low prices for steaks. We've been in the mood for that lately, so let's give it a whirl. It's Father's Day, so we figured it might get crowded, so we went not long after opening at 4:30. Sure enough, it was packed, and since we didn't have reservations, only the bar was available to us. That's not a problem for me - though sometimes the Mrs. doesn't like that option. But she was already sitting down by the time I was thinking about it. Haha.</p><p>The restaurant's environment couldn't be better. Sitting inside an old historical building with square copper ceilings, dark interior, and a long wooden bar. They don't have taps, but do offer local beers in a can. We started with 2 glasses of Riesling, and eventually moved to beer. The menu is incredibly simple: Filet Mignon with a baked potato and a "wedge salad". If you don't want that, then you get nothing to eat. On Friday and Saturday's they offer prime rib as an alternate. If you're a vegetarian, don't go here. There's nothing here for you (except the potato and salad). And the price of a 6 ounce filet? $14. Are you kidding me? In 2023? I went 9 ounces for $3 more. I haven't seen prices like that in 30 years for a steak. I guess the simplicity of the menu allows for them to keep costs in line. And the best part? It's a delicious steak. Mrs. RJG loved it too. Like The Ranch House rather than K-Bob's to bring in a couple of current examples. This is the best deal in Colorado. Go here.</p><p>6/18/23 (new entry); 3/10/24</p><p>Monte Vista; Leadville; Florence</p></div>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-18858003331856974812024-03-09T16:30:00.005-06:002024-03-18T21:01:44.040-05:00Wayback Burgers ~ national chain : Woodland Park, Colorado<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxZq1R-6fK1j_ANkRMh0yRXKoayrWDES0fUZ5nULWf4vpnH4uCb2DCICk162yNgTXl2CIiQkLLM0rFMsFMZMEdiXpz830sckdIbEZ6tuXrwggmHbAuRaHDHUe8htbRpLiy7c__kXSPbadRNqCx65IVEBAC6jGRIDMxmQVxLrq8S1kPbIgLLcdvMjO_TJ8/s200/jakes_franchising_llc_logo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxZq1R-6fK1j_ANkRMh0yRXKoayrWDES0fUZ5nULWf4vpnH4uCb2DCICk162yNgTXl2CIiQkLLM0rFMsFMZMEdiXpz830sckdIbEZ6tuXrwggmHbAuRaHDHUe8htbRpLiy7c__kXSPbadRNqCx65IVEBAC6jGRIDMxmQVxLrq8S1kPbIgLLcdvMjO_TJ8/s1600/jakes_franchising_llc_logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />First visit: Mar 2024<p></p><p>HQ: Cheshire, Connecticut (Founded 1991 in Newark, Delaware)</p><p>Locations: Wayback is nationwide, but lightly populated. It's difficult to calculate how many total they have. They have 2 stores in Colorado, the other in Englewood / Denver. Looks like they have 5 in DFW with Avondale being the closest from our old home in Keller. Haven't even heard of Avondale prior, but it's on US-287 on the way northwest to Rhome. </p><p>Back on home turf, and Mrs. RJG and I decided a short drive into the mountains would be in order. Especially on this cold, crisp, beautiful clear blue sky day. Woodland Park is our closest true mountain town, and it makes for a nice getaway. I had heard that Wayback Burgers were going to open there, and it appears they did that five or six months ago. Apparently they used to be here in the Springs at some point, but I don't remember the name, and this is my first experience with the restaurant. The chain started as Jake's Hamburgers and I had wondered if it was the same brand that we knew in DFW. Nope, that's a different setup (Jake's Burgers and Beer). Perhaps that's why they changed their name ("rebranded" in corporate speak). There's no alcohol here, strictly a family oriented fast food joint. This is one of those chains that attempts to regain the "the way things used to be." As my dad always appended "...and probably never were."</p><p>Wayback Burgers sits in a strip center, with a very confusing parking lot situation. Once you get settled, walk in, and order at the counter. I went for the Cheesy with lettuce and mustard. And a Pistachio milkshake. Mrs. RJG got a single cheeseburger with cheese, lettuce, pickles, onions, and mustard. Plus fries and a drink.</p><p>I have to say this is one of the most flavorful hamburgers I've ever had. The meat is extremely tasty. If you get the Cheesy as is, it comes with two oversized beef patties and extra slices of cheese. The bread is served almost Patty Melt style with two flat topped and toasty buns. I received plenty of envious stares from Mrs. RJG, whose hamburger was more standard. She stated the same as me though, that the flavor of the burger was insanely good. She asked for light mustard and they squirted too much on there, but otherwise she was happy. The hand cut potato fries were excellent as well. The pistachio shake almost seemed more like a vanilla shake with chocolate whip cream. It wasn't very green nor pistachio-y in flavor. But I still enjoyed the heck out of it :-). Mrs. RJG even boldly declared she was coming to Woodland Park on her own during the mid week to have them for lunch again. She probably won't, but we for certain will be back next year, if not sooner.</p><p>3/9/24 (new entry)</p><p>Woodland Park, Colorado;</p>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-87590320039957699622024-03-09T11:41:00.004-06:002024-03-17T13:58:17.201-05:00Sammy's Beach Bar & Grill ~ national chain : Las Vegas, Nevada<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRj0dZg2v9DLIt6vr1l-eNSbG9VMn_29DM4UidcKulZ_cF4hodaZgkMdzIm6oVZA-rkORhbWmxs-gteKst9aM-hOEAm3uT8bpIx2ODGzrnb84Pjl5OhJPjb0g6DN20TgP1DZPld-a2XyyLa3gCWua7OHFJ2OAyu58bi4p24TJ9N7dGjgJV4IIc9Fd3x9b5/s800/logo.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="800" height="77" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRj0dZg2v9DLIt6vr1l-eNSbG9VMn_29DM4UidcKulZ_cF4hodaZgkMdzIm6oVZA-rkORhbWmxs-gteKst9aM-hOEAm3uT8bpIx2ODGzrnb84Pjl5OhJPjb0g6DN20TgP1DZPld-a2XyyLa3gCWua7OHFJ2OAyu58bi4p24TJ9N7dGjgJV4IIc9Fd3x9b5/s320/logo.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />First visit: Mar 2024<p></p><p>Locations: 4 total. All in airports including Honolulu, Maui, and Cleveland. Mensa quiz: Which of these four do not fit the sequence?</p><p>The next day we had our big event, which I'll not mention to preserve some sort of anonymity. So the next dining experience would have to be at the Las Vegas airport on the final day. I already knew that Las Vegas has one of the worst food selections of any airport in America. But I didn't want to be hauling luggage and a laptop to another restaurant and then feel rushed to get to the airport. So I took my chances. After wandering around the A and B gates aimlessly - I cannot for the life of me understand why there aren't any bar / food type restaurants here, other than they'd rather you gamble than drink - I decided to take a hike to the C gate. At least here they offer more than just fast food options. I don't recall Sammy's prior, but what an oasis in a sea of nothingness.</p><p>Sammy is none other than Sammy Hagar. Yea, <i>that guy</i>. Long past fronting Ronnie Montrose, his own namesake group, and Van Halen, Hagar has proven to also be a good businessman. </p><p>I hate to say it, but this was the best sit down meal I had all week. I can't recall another time when I said that about an airport restaurant. Especially <i>this airport</i>. I was very pleased with my rather large bacon cheeseburger. Great flavor and it came out steaming hot and cooked perfectly. The fries were ample and tasty as well. Only grump is they don't have a single Nevada beer within a decent sized craft collection. That doesn't make sense. C'mon Sammy - get local man! So I enjoyed a New Belgian Hazy IPA, something I can get here all day long. But I was thirsty and needed to wind down. So it worked out...</p><p>3/7/24 (new entry)</p><p>Las Vegas</p>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-77504357564755869032024-03-06T18:27:00.002-06:002024-03-17T13:58:31.464-05:00Sushisamba ~ international chain : Las Vegas, Nevada<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82YqufGqqwa704u96y-OPQ_HGINBpkMzvK3pYKqcl_Rg4kBnPhS9vF_XGyf58DSM_uJdPDB0MY_1lcT3ERc_AuOsMKBwCsi8xBWBq5n3xJOpO06ru_BH92YVJpLiBacXIL01DVxCGE22rV3TGS3IlYgra60RDh0eADW-elotfgIQoCJRiNGRN6_34uAZZ/s400/ZEB3GrWM_400x400.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82YqufGqqwa704u96y-OPQ_HGINBpkMzvK3pYKqcl_Rg4kBnPhS9vF_XGyf58DSM_uJdPDB0MY_1lcT3ERc_AuOsMKBwCsi8xBWBq5n3xJOpO06ru_BH92YVJpLiBacXIL01DVxCGE22rV3TGS3IlYgra60RDh0eADW-elotfgIQoCJRiNGRN6_34uAZZ/s320/ZEB3GrWM_400x400.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />First visit: Mar 2024 (Venetian)<p></p><p>Locations: 5 total including two in London, and one each in Dubai and Doha.</p><p>If there's ever a restaurant that doesn't have my name on it, it's Sushisamba. It's interesting to me that I don't gravitate to these glitzy type of venues. My peers were thrilled, and couldn't wait to go. It was another vendor sponsored dinner, so one needs to be gracious. I survived the experience, but I do struggle with the reputation of these places. I was most excited about trying the "samba" portion of the menu. Having been and worked in Brazil and Peru before, I quite love the food of this part of South America. As noted on these pages prior, I can live without the sushi just fine. But I kept an open mind. It was my hope I could order off the menu, but no such luck. The meal was pre-planned as it was a much larger group than I had anticipated - or had been told. I'll be positive and state that I did enjoy the crispy taquitos Japanese Kobe and the Churrasco Rio Grande (aka meat platter) with ribeye, chorizo, and wagyu picanha. Some of the sushi was fine like the crab rolls. I avoided anything that was raw. I'm sure I would have been fine, but work conferences are not the place to introduce foods like that to your body. Nonetheless this isn't my food of choice to begin with. For cocktails, seems mixed drinks were a hit, and wine was OK. I stuck to beer, and the craft option was Lagunitas IPA, and that's it. So I had three of those. Service was excellent considering the large group. The loud atmosphere was typical of these places. Like the tapas place we went to in San Diego for one of my niece's wedding event, the Regular Joe's Guide is not your go-to read for restaurants such as these. But if you want to be with-it, and have a fistful of dollars to burn, then Sushisamba would be a safe bet. Most of those I spoke with enjoyed it. I liked it fine enough (and remain grateful for these opportunities), but there's no way I'd go here on my own or with Mrs. RJG. </p><p>3/6/24 (new entry)</p><p>Las Vegas</p>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-7513817071975072012024-03-05T13:43:00.006-06:002024-03-18T22:05:13.557-05:00La Cave Wine and Food Hideaway ~ Las Vegas, Nevada<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeHJJkov_hhAQSRp3U97-eJBJM9Cycdwnx_NsrmhwoVMTQI2Vta5YQfVQiPIVbG9U4HcqWU-sPSUcZPuoQEuerFKNQPYXRkT5wXaG5gTxU_DvuKLbnvE0DyWZFG9zaTp7DOrE_L7jlHn1ETCl5kFIzI_nm4HQTC-so27leOEoOQSREQ8E8tvqlCPnef9e/s400/LaCave-ad-final-V_3_400x400.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeHJJkov_hhAQSRp3U97-eJBJM9Cycdwnx_NsrmhwoVMTQI2Vta5YQfVQiPIVbG9U4HcqWU-sPSUcZPuoQEuerFKNQPYXRkT5wXaG5gTxU_DvuKLbnvE0DyWZFG9zaTp7DOrE_L7jlHn1ETCl5kFIzI_nm4HQTC-so27leOEoOQSREQ8E8tvqlCPnef9e/s320/LaCave-ad-final-V_3_400x400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Wynn Hotel<p></p><p>First visit: Mar 2024</p><p>Dinner was uncertain on this fine Monday night, but partners were holding events throughout the area for our company. One of them hosted here at La Cave, and that ended up being my meal, though that wasn't clear until I found myself done for the night lol. Though I did not have a sit down experience, I have a pretty good idea of the type of food La Cave offers. Mostly high end entrees including pizzas, steak, cheeses, appetizers, etc... We had a serving table, so I could sample plenty. I tried their signature rare sirloin steak among other things. I thought it a nice change of pace, and very flavorful. If Mrs. RJG had been with me, she would have insisted we leave immediately lol. Just the visual alone would disgust her. I tried enough to know La Cave would be a fine place for a relatively quiet dinner, presuming you don't have an event like we did in the back room creating havoc. Obviously it's an expensive date, but the days of cheap eats in the resorts of Vegas are tough to find anymore. A relic from the past. But many folks are on expenses (or a covered event) when here, so enjoy the moment.</p><p>3/4/24 (new entry)</p>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-80955317172307864842024-03-04T10:23:00.001-06:002024-03-17T13:59:14.355-05:00Mercato della Pescheria ~ Las Vegas, Nevada<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93bogjlrwwgSwaRv7c3_TgyJBRjmE5mx1c3kaYasyZlKI8QvRyW-ZSZFgL8lQKYKW6maLh_arq1j9h2YFMCyxYIfTyr4t9ybQYQtPNvMx8GSW8ZuwsrsE2zTLuvH57BmoFuoDBdZqMrtsr7z1BIZ80aX2WxLdOwdvjTd0HMETq_Yc4ifEz0ZKtO3hyw/s450/logo-mercato-white-web.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="450" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93bogjlrwwgSwaRv7c3_TgyJBRjmE5mx1c3kaYasyZlKI8QvRyW-ZSZFgL8lQKYKW6maLh_arq1j9h2YFMCyxYIfTyr4t9ybQYQtPNvMx8GSW8ZuwsrsE2zTLuvH57BmoFuoDBdZqMrtsr7z1BIZ80aX2WxLdOwdvjTd0HMETq_Yc4ifEz0ZKtO3hyw/s320/logo-mercato-white-web.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />The Venetian<div><br /></div><div>Latest visit: Mar 2024<div><p></p><p>First visit: Feb 2023</p><p>They have a second location in Miami Beach, Florida.</p><p>I did not expect my first dinner to be at a place we visited last year. Primarily because this year's conference is at the Wynn rather than the Venetian. As the crow flies, the resorts are next door to each other. But as anyone who's been to Vegas knows, that means at least a 30 minute walk between them. No matter, as we all can use the exercise. This was a limited team dinner before the conference starts. So the good news meant we can order from the menu! Yaay. I did get to try their chicken parm on this visit, and it was quite good. Huge portion with fettucine noodles. I was hungry so I had no problem devouring the meal. Thick and tasty red sauce. The chicken wasn't as crispy as I prefer, but not unexpected. We also ordered a few bottles of the The Prisoner red blend. At $105 a bottle, it was indeed great, though way beyond my personal budget. I don't think I enjoy these higher end wines any more than the $20 to $30 ones. Probably that's on me, but my palate has gone all in for beer these days. As an appetizer I enjoyed the meatballs, but wasn't as excited for the calamari, which seemed a bit underdone. Overall, Mercato della Pescheria makes for a fine resort dining experience, though I have to think my best options are off the Strip. Who knows if I'll ever visit here without a conference or show being the reason.</p><p>---original 3/5/23 review</p><p>Our breakfasts and lunches are served buffet style, which is the only way one can mass feed 4,000 people (yes, that many). I think the hotel did a splendid job of crowd control and making sure we all got something decent to eat. A lot of planning and execution go into this, and I don't think many appreciate that. But I do. I imagine myself being in charge - it would be tough.</p><p>After a full day of ra-ra meetings, it's time to unwind. We first had a happy hour at yet another jam packed loud place with no craft beers. Ugh. Then it was time for dinner at "The Fish Market". Again, they did a masterful job of ensuring a great many folks were fed at this restaurant (a much smaller subset than the conference of course). As with Bouchon, a set menu was applied. This one was more like a cruise ship where they just brought out everything and you pick out what you want. In the end it was way too much food. It is hard to judge a restaurant like this, because I would have wanted to apply my test dish. Which would be chicken parm and pasta, and that is on their regular menu. But that wasn't on offer this evening. But what they did bring out, I enjoyed quite a bit. The Caesar salad, appetizers, steak, and in particular the salmon were excellent. The latter had a crispy breading which was a nice twist. Excellent desserts and good conversation at our table. This is for sure one place I would seek out on my own if given the chance.</p><p>2/28/23 (new entry); 3/3/24</p></div></div>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-26614333976075994962024-03-02T13:36:00.002-06:002024-03-18T22:06:47.633-05:00Mollica's Italian Market & Deli ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoeoU5SszR8ZkvuhHSB-u5jZhonCsjTHXLtHsxzUbLMEEMiqyXW56T35mWEVBX7hyH_tb5XUCwlcMhKeSPqDspbkkFnTnFnzRwTDWkAjm0hhZjV4VR4F2SeXeIHj1wPcZbcZkF7T9R0AsJ2TjbSUtsBT1G45X6SkuKKrRy3htApM2vN1AljDmS017chxM/s224/logo.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="161" data-original-width="224" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoeoU5SszR8ZkvuhHSB-u5jZhonCsjTHXLtHsxzUbLMEEMiqyXW56T35mWEVBX7hyH_tb5XUCwlcMhKeSPqDspbkkFnTnFnzRwTDWkAjm0hhZjV4VR4F2SeXeIHj1wPcZbcZkF7T9R0AsJ2TjbSUtsBT1G45X6SkuKKrRy3htApM2vN1AljDmS017chxM/s1600/logo.png" width="224" /></a></div><br /><div>Latest visit: Mar 2024</div><div><p></p><p>First visit: Dec 2022</p><p>This is my 3rd time to Mollica's, back again on my own since Mrs. RJG didn't enjoy it last year. I combined my last two meals and had the Combo which is their meatball and sausage sub. I enjoyed everything about it - the meats, the crunchy roll, the red sauce, the temperature, you name it. I don't like that they ask for an unearned tip at the credit card machine. I really wish counter serve and drive through restaurants would stop this practice immediately. I feel bad to leave zero tip, but I'm not handing even more money out, considering it's not cheap to begin with. The only demerit on an otherwise excellent revisit.</p><p>---8/12/23 update</p><p>Managed to get Mrs. RJG out to Mollica's for the first time but sadly it didn't resonate with her. She tried the meatball sub which I was certain she would like (see below), but no such luck. Her viewpoint: Bread was too chewy and moist; Meatballs are too porky. Sigh. I went with the Italian sausage sub. A full sausage and a half cut into 3 slices. Still love their sauce and bread. I was at least happy. :-)</p><p>---original 12/30/22 review</p><p>Mollica's is one of those places that I drive by often, declare that I want to try it, and subsequently forget all about the event. Each time. I never did write it down, but fortunately it came up on a search for best subs in town, and finally I was reminded during lunch time.</p><p>I was a bit lost when first entering, but figured it out quickly. There are paper menus to your right when you walk in. I missed that. So now you won't make the same mistake... I had looked online and the menu was the same. My intention was to order the Dominic, which is their hot meatball sub. And that's exactly what I did - full 8 inches. I wasn't interested in the red bell peppers, and that will also take away the onions as they're blended together. Probably for the best. They give you a number on a stand, and find any open table to display it on. Red and white checkered no less. Perfect.</p><p>My meal came out much faster than expected, hand delivered. Oh wow - we may have our best meatball sub in town! Back East Bar may have to step aside. Can't wait to evaluate next year who is best. Why so great? Well first the Italian roll was toasted just right. Mrs. RJG would have loved it. The meatballs are homemade and very firm. And a superb taste on its own. No bland meatball here! The cheese is appropriately gooey. And that takes us to the best part - the sauce! I must try a pasta here. Very delicious.</p><p>It's a good sized space, so there were plenty of tables to choose from, even though the crowd was decent. As noted by the name, it also serves as a real delicatessen. Might have to get a pound of Italian meats next time as well. I'll insist Mrs. RJG joins me to get her take.</p><p>Just to note that if you're heading west on Garden of the Gods (which is likely, especially if from out of town coming off I-25), I would take the left exit before Forge and make a right in the shopping center. The left at Forge is a bit dicey to maneuver. Almost better to make a U-Turn there. Google will take you to Forge, so keep your eyes peeled for the last exit before it (Forge has a traffic light, so you won't miss it). </p><p>12/30/22 (new entry); 8/12/23; 3/2/24</p></div>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-71954051934056660582024-03-01T16:09:00.004-06:002024-03-17T14:00:28.361-05:00Schlotzsky's ~ national chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyqXH81qzG-5_liV-whx5Z3z6uGZo7fZsAgROArY3hgbrw2S9vFL55IVGPodEdQZG5M_hC3lhtOHi3wBgac2RnH_jiW1REMZH4aeH2PDGOboYoOrnQnfb0EgLl7heOVBwhXux-1SZmZgP/s874/Newsroom+Gallery_Images+874x440_LOGOS.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyqXH81qzG-5_liV-whx5Z3z6uGZo7fZsAgROArY3hgbrw2S9vFL55IVGPodEdQZG5M_hC3lhtOHi3wBgac2RnH_jiW1REMZH4aeH2PDGOboYoOrnQnfb0EgLl7heOVBwhXux-1SZmZgP/s320/Newsroom+Gallery_Images+874x440_LOGOS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Latest visit: Mar 2024 (Voyager)<br />
<br />First visit: 1982 (Dallas, TX) A loooong time ago whenever it was. The location was up in Prestonwood area of far north Dallas and is long gone. Heck, might of even tried it in Austin sometime during the 70s when the RJG was still a young teen, traveling there with my dad.</div><div><br /></div><div>HQ: Atlanta (Founded 1971 in Austin, Texas)</div><div><br /></div><div>Locations: 338 (-1) in 26 states. Colorado has 5 total with 3 in the Springs (same). Texas has, by far, the most at 209 (same) with Southlake hanging in there.</div><div><br /></div><div>First visit of the year, and could also be my last. Not that the sandwich wasn't great (it was - Medium Deluxe as noted below), it's just I don't go here very much anymore since they moved their opening hours to 10:30. I just happened to be on my way home during lunch and grabbed it to-go. At $11 including tax, it's a pricey option (what isn't these days?). There was a time when I would go about 40 times a year. Long ago it seems. Now once or twice. </div><div><br /></div><div>---7/16/23 update<br /><div><br /></div><div>Since my last update, this location of Schlotzsky's made the unfortunate decision to close during breakfast hours. Not that I ever got breakfast here, but they served their full menu, and oftentimes I'm ready for my "daily meal" around 9 in the morning. Because of this decision, I never go here anymore. The only reason I went this time is that my schedule was topsy-turvy, and I ended coming here for a late lunch. And driving the sandwich back home. But that was an unusual circumstance. There was a time I went here weekly, especially during the pandemic. And now they've managed to lose my business. Oh well. As for the sandwich, because it was late, I didn't get the medium deluxe, but rather the small deluxe. Still great as ever.</div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't mention this before, but Schlotzsky's was also my weekly go-to lunch on Monday's in 1995 and 1996 while working nearby (same company I met Mrs. RJG, Rude Dante, Old Boss, etc...). That location is in Greenwood Village and is also still going!<br /><div><br /></div><div>---1/7/22 notes<br /><div><br /></div><div>Schlotzsky's is the one fast food chain that hasn't been letting me down lately, or at least this location. I've been inside a couple of times and they have a nice pleasant dining area. But most of the time I use the drive-thru, as I prefer to put their sandwiches in our Gourmia to ensure it's crispness. That's the one problem with Schlotzsky's is that the bread can get soggy if not consumed quickly or reheated properly. This location is ~10 minutes from our home. On this visit, I went with my usual medium Original Deluxe, which is a double hamburger sized sandwich loaded with deli meats. They too have raised their prices some, but at least I don't feel ripped off.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also to note that during the pandemic in 2020 - when we had the hard lockdowns in March and April - Schlotzsky's was the first place I went (drive-thru), and it became the most regular stop thereafter. I will not forget our local franchiser who provided a safe and tasty alternative!</div><div><br /></div><div>As of this writing, there are 338 locations, 6 in Colorado, with half of those here in the Springs. Texas by comparison has 210. Our old Southlake location is still going strong it appears.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>---original 3/4/10 review (Southlake-TX)</div><div><br />Schlotzsky's is one of those chains folks tend to miss if you don't
live near one. We've been fortunate that in both Texas and Colorado,
they are well represented. But it's not something we take for granted,
and they would be sorely missed if suddenly they were shut down due to
something like bankruptcy. If you haven't been for a while (or ever),
support your local franchiser and give it a shot!<div><br />
With Schlotzsky's, it's all about the bread. Long before Quizno's showed up, Schlotzsky's pioneered the conveyor-belt-toaster concept, and their bread reacts well to it, providing the right crispiness and flavors when heated properly. Sometimes it's best to take them to-go and toast them again at home... They have various veggie and meat combinations that are all very good, but if it weren't for the bread itself (including for pizzas), Schlotzsky's would be long gone from the culinary landscape. My favorite is a medium Original Deluxe, which is double the meat. It's a big sandwich, and certainly something I only eat after having run over 3 miles. Mrs. RJG likes a small Original on Jalapeno Cheese bread.<br />
<br />
Schlotzsky's humble beginnings goes back to 1971 in Austin. Being relatively close in proximity to Austin, Dallas was an early
expansion city for the then small chain, and so I first enjoyed them at
their northwest Dallas location in the early 1980s while still in high
school. And they followed me to my college years in Lubbock throughout
the middle 80s. </div><div><br /></div><div>1982; 4//95; 1//96; 1//97; 3/15/05; 3/4/10 (new entry); 10/18/11; 5/22/12; 7/8/15; 5/4/18; 3/10/20; 1/30/21; 1/7/22; 7/16/23; 3/1/24</div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Dallas, Texas (2); Lubbock, Texas; Greenwood Village, Colorado; Aurora, Colorado; Southlake, Texas;vColorado Springs, Colorado</div>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-89053109634779266602024-02-25T12:00:00.002-06:002024-03-18T22:07:04.232-05:00East Coast Restaurant & Delicatessen ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQeAXp6mJKoN8nFK4y7J9TIhzaVHHW0am-or-3XVcF6hwSmID5VTr68LXWXwL07NV8gQ-pR_mBOI_KlogS9w0A2azK0luhEzyVb9ZnEAGZo3fSiSro71RMtxu3uulf6Nbe3pHEStp-GZbOt1v-J7PWYbxWNC_u65T2vp8G_eXpzUZfcgXUNqmNpocHwGV/s600/jyruad6qw3iqdttvro08.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="600" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQeAXp6mJKoN8nFK4y7J9TIhzaVHHW0am-or-3XVcF6hwSmID5VTr68LXWXwL07NV8gQ-pR_mBOI_KlogS9w0A2azK0luhEzyVb9ZnEAGZo3fSiSro71RMtxu3uulf6Nbe3pHEStp-GZbOt1v-J7PWYbxWNC_u65T2vp8G_eXpzUZfcgXUNqmNpocHwGV/s320/jyruad6qw3iqdttvro08.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br />Latest visit: Feb 2024<div><br /></div><div>First visit: Nov 2023</div><div><br /></div><div>Like with Mission BBQ, it was time to introduce Mrs. RJG to one of my favorite discoveries of last year. She loves the New York Deli Southside in Santa Fe, so she is certain to like East Coast Restaurant as well. And that theorem proved true. She had the Spanish Scrambler with sausage, chile, eggs, and potato. This time I went with the Syracuse sandwich, which includes pastrami, corned beef, and salami, along with Swiss cheese on rye. Stayed with the fries, and this time I did get the kosher pickle. I wonder if they just forgot last time? What kind of Jewish deli doesn't include a pickle? Oh, and it was excellent too. The sandwich was really stacked with meat this time. Much more so than when I just had the pastrami, and it was only a buck more. Imagine a Schlotzky's deluxe - with double that size! Holy Moly did I get stuffed. Service was extra friendly on this visit. In order to use a coupon we needed to buy something else, so we got a cookie. More poundage as the cookie is more like a giant round twinkie with white and chocolate frosting. We're both stuffed to the gills, but happy. We'll be back again, hopefully this year, but for sure next.</div><div><br /></div><div>---original 11/12/23 review<br /><p></p><p>I was near downtown on this beautiful Sunday and it's lunch time. Sunday's are the best time to be in downtown since parking is free before 1:00. I had heard about East Coast but had never been prior, so that seems like a good idea.</p><p>Walking in, it becomes clear this is a sit down restaurant. And once the waitress brought me the large menu, it cemented a comparison I had brewing in my mind: New York Deli Southside in Santa Fe! That's one of the regular stops for Mrs. RJG and I when we work and play in New Mexico's capital. You can read about our adventures there in this blog. </p><p>They brag about their pastrami and corned beef. Well then, there's no way I'm going to miss out on that on this first visit. On rye? They have to ask. Of course. It was not too long of a wait, when a piled high meat sandwich shows up with a side of fries. I dig into the latter. Very hot, traditional fries - though not crispy. I thought they were good but not great. The sandwich was excellent of course, though Mrs. RJG probably would not have enjoyed the soft bread. They claim to import their meats from New York direct (the same as used by Katz and Stage), so there's a cost associated with that. I only added spicy mustard. Strange they don't offer a kosher pickle slice, that would have been nice. All the same, I enjoyed it immensely. Next time I'll bring Mrs. RJG and she can try the breakfast while I go for that corned beef... Adding East Coast to the RJG rotation.</p><p>11/12/23 (new entry)</p></div>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-91537639706642932132024-02-24T15:41:00.003-06:002024-03-18T22:07:29.315-05:00Josh & John's Ice Cream ~ Colorado chain : Colorado Springs<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWePbFbru2Y5FNVNBsiNKNr6LnME1OiVn6yY9UBv43CWzBk5YJm0Pt8E-tDOKJee4205Fq853HDuBeQfbRvFVWUixBumyhphUywFWe38HpNmG71ZfmpX0eCrN215uJsYiX14Nx1GSoM0c/s265/josh-and-johns-ice-cream.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWePbFbru2Y5FNVNBsiNKNr6LnME1OiVn6yY9UBv43CWzBk5YJm0Pt8E-tDOKJee4205Fq853HDuBeQfbRvFVWUixBumyhphUywFWe38HpNmG71ZfmpX0eCrN215uJsYiX14Nx1GSoM0c/s0/josh-and-johns-ice-cream.png" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Latest visit: Feb 2024 (Flying Horse)</p><p>First visit: Summer 1994 (Downtown)</p><p>Locations: Colorado Springs (3); Fort Collins; Loveland. The latter a relatively new addition.</p><p>Back for our first return of 2024. On this visit I had the Salted Peanut Butter Cup and Mrs. RJG went for the Almond Joy. Both in the homemade waffle cone (+$1). The cone was sweet, crispy, and delicious. The ice cream was the correct small portion, but we've become accustomed to getting more. Bummer that. Still my favorite ice cream joint in Colorado.</p><p>---original 1/30/21 review</p>Let's just get right to it - the is the RJG's favorite ice cream place. Ever. In the RJG's first tour of duty here in the Springs, I was quickly introduced to Josh & John's, and I can honestly say I've never had better ice cream. It's not the creamiest, in fact almost the opposite, but the flavor really comes through. It's almost chewy. Though in the last year they phased out my favorite flavor Pikes Peak Coffee. Boo. But they still have a java chip that's quite delicious. Mrs. RJG enjoys their Butter Pecan, and we both love good old fashioned Dutch Chocolate. There was a time when you could find Josh & Johns at the local grocery stores, and they also did a turn in Denver when we lived there. <div><br /></div><div>If you're traveling to the state, it's well worth your time to grab a scoop.<p></p><p>During the hard lockdowns, one of the rare treats was for Mrs. RJG and I to head to downtown (free parking during that period only) and enjoy a small dish. Our local store was closed at the time. But they're back to normal (mostly) and we on (rare occasion) will indulge.</p><p>5/16/20; 1/30/21 (new entry); 2/6/22; 8/7/23; 2/24/24</p></div>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-72917143488203920102024-02-24T12:57:00.004-06:002024-03-17T14:01:06.059-05:00Mission BBQ ~ national chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxycZ0_k1fVUurWAfyS_CYUxRAEQrNr1o78iFnHzc81pAPqxIewRaeN8fZclHsVcG0bq1PA-uL2l-paxS3p6GMO2dIECDUaSGy1H6VXrogNbZqBUwhqnb-i-X2cgxmMEvJYgFqTo9kzqx_5tWtMSC0nxd_pzqf9uGIwD1mYY-q_AeFvBYv38hJh9A_cMP/s1000/mission-bbq-logo_264bd1fe-5056-a36a-07dab24fb20201d0.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxycZ0_k1fVUurWAfyS_CYUxRAEQrNr1o78iFnHzc81pAPqxIewRaeN8fZclHsVcG0bq1PA-uL2l-paxS3p6GMO2dIECDUaSGy1H6VXrogNbZqBUwhqnb-i-X2cgxmMEvJYgFqTo9kzqx_5tWtMSC0nxd_pzqf9uGIwD1mYY-q_AeFvBYv38hJh9A_cMP/s320/mission-bbq-logo_264bd1fe-5056-a36a-07dab24fb20201d0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Latest visit: Feb 2024 (Interquest)<br /><br /><div>First visit: Aug 2023 (Interquest)</div><div><br /></div><div>HQ: Glen Burnie, Maryland (Baltimore area) (Founded 2011)<br /><p></p><p>Locations: 19 states (135 total - same as last year); 1 in Colorado; none in Texas. Florida has the most with 28.</p><p>This is only my second visit and Mrs. RJG joined me this time. We each got the two meat platter so we could try most of the protein they have on offer. We had the pulled chicken, sliced brisket, turkey, and classic sausage. All were excellent as noted below. Our only complaint is that the meats needed to be slightly hotter in temperature especially the sausage. She tried the baked beans and I had the mac n cheese. The latter was the prescribed hot, just like last year. And I even liked the baked beans, which I usually find to be cloyingly sweet, but not in this case. Along with the six sauces (as noted below) we also tried the Baja Bold which is their spiciest option. It's not exceedingly so, but provides a piquant option. Mrs. RJG really enjoyed both our cornbreads, as I knew she would. The two large soda fountain gives Mission the flexibility for more options. I took advantage of that this time, and had Diet Mountain Dew, something you rarely see in restaurants. The service was exceptionally friendly just like the first visit. All in all, still our favorite barbecue in town.</p><p>---original 8/19/23 review</p><p>Mission BBQ arrived with a bang here in the Springs, which like a lot of chains apparently, we represent their entre into Colorado and the Mountain West. As with these other chains, they have opened up nearby to our house around the Interquest and Voyager intersection. Shake Shack and Dave's Hot Chicken are coming soon as well.</p><p>Mission BBQ comes to us not a moment too soon. With Billy Sims closing, we have a dearth of barbeque in town. Not that Billy Sims was awesome compared to what we remember in Texas, but it was still excellent. Mission BBQ is "next level" from the normal Dickey's styled place. You can tell they take barbecue very seriously, and the place is crowded for a reason. It's a large space and fully staffed with workers everywhere. You order at the counter.</p><p>I went with the 2 meat platter (I wish they had a 5 meat platter lol), and I selected sliced brisket and pulled chicken, the latter you don't see too often. The young lady asked me if I wanted the brisket "moist" or "lean". What does that even mean? Apparently moist = more fat. I'll take lean then. Also chose the meal deal, and added mac n' cheese with a soda fountain drink. Comes with cornbread as well. 20 bucks later, my meal is ready to go. So yea, it ain't cheap.</p><p>The second after the pulled chicken passed my lips I knew this was going to be a great experience. The few places that do offer it usually comes out tough. Not here. Very moist and flavorful. Next the brisket. You can cut it with a fork. Same as the chicken - no need to get "moist" when lean is this flavorful. The mac n' cheese was very creamy, hot, and tasty with baked encrusted cheese on the edges. Back to the meats. Now it's time to try their 6 (count 'em) sauce bottles provided on each table. They have Tupelo (Mississippi), Memphis, Texas, Kansas City, St. Louis, and West Virginia. Each with a distinct flavor. The first 2 are too sweet for me, but that's their intent. I didn't even know West Virginia had a barbecue tradition, but if this sauce is its representative, then I need more of this smoky concoction! The other 3 were just as great. And even though the meats didn't need assistance, it was fun pouring a little bit on each bite to get the full range of flavors. I saved the cornbread for last as a possible dessert. It's very flaky but not overly sweet. A bit too much starch for me, but aficionados will probably vouch for it.</p><p>I really enjoyed my meal here, though I doubt I would go that often (cost; type of food). But I'll for certain get Mrs. RJG out here soon enough. Mission BBQ opened up precisely 10 years after 9/11 in the Baltimore suburb of Glen Burnie. A good majority of their restaurants are in the Mid to South Atlantic region. Apparently they have one in the Canton neighborhood of Baltimore, an area I frequented quite a bit from 2016 to 2019 when I officed nearby in Harbor East. It's very much an American patriot kind of place, so don't expect them in the Capitol Hill area of Denver or Boulder anytime soon lol. In fact, they seem to avoid city centers altogether, preferring suburbia (which this part of Colorado Springs most certainly is). As such, emphasis is on family. No booze here. And that's what I saw - many families enjoying their time here. A splurge meal no doubt, but it's great to see the happy faces.</p><p>8/19/23 (new entry); 2/24/24</p><p>Colorado Springs</p></div>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-14876609650311605792024-02-19T15:41:00.002-06:002024-03-18T22:07:48.512-05:00Odyssey Gastropub ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgKrxaWmiCF_bbia-3yFG5kgrrJ6q6JcPW16osaGfTVXnpl1AlEgdc9izYTsug1SjcJyUUz1U6mLqvm621KAoqcohO3ifwSF0b3EbEfoO7KusclfXCXzKfnz33MoQy-sf2mXOXkiuOd3LzIhPZTaaPquelkzY3Y7pUoK3LIracQJ-peCYBhfFcl0b0g/s225/download%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgKrxaWmiCF_bbia-3yFG5kgrrJ6q6JcPW16osaGfTVXnpl1AlEgdc9izYTsug1SjcJyUUz1U6mLqvm621KAoqcohO3ifwSF0b3EbEfoO7KusclfXCXzKfnz33MoQy-sf2mXOXkiuOd3LzIhPZTaaPquelkzY3Y7pUoK3LIracQJ-peCYBhfFcl0b0g/s1600/download%20(1).jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Latest visit: Feb 2024<p>First visit: Dec 2022</p><p>It's been a year and a half since I saw my old friend the Tampa Pound (going back to 2009 when working in DFW). He's now retired since our last outing and has been scouting out the best restaurants Colorado Springs has to offer. So I let him choose where to eat, and he selected Odyssey. As you can see, Mrs. RJG and I visited at the end of 2022. I hadn't really intended on going back, but certainly wouldn't mind an invitation to do so. Our experience on this visit was a much more relaxed experience. Given that it's a Monday holiday versus a Sunday brunch outing, that comes as no surprise. I stuck with two Colorado taps throughout the meal and he had one. I didn't fall for the bottle/can trap this time. As for the meal, I referenced my notes before heading out, and after perusing the menu, decided the spicy chicken sandwich was the way to go. And it was excellent again as were the waffle fries. Even better is they brought me a "K Sauce", that made for an excellent spicy condiment for the fries. He had the Thai Curry and stated it was excellent as well. No doubt Odyssey remains an expensive date, and it's debatable if it's worth it. Good place to take out of town guests though if looking for something "local". Very friendly service on this visit as well, worth calling out.</p><p>---original 12/4/22 review</p><p>Wow - we are on a roll at the RJG. The Mrs. is anxious to try new places so I'm striking the iron while it's hot. The first meal we have where she makes a face two bites in and says "I'm full" is when I know the streak is over. But that didn't happen at Odyssey, so we march on for another week! We're back to the regular routine at home for the next 3 days. But what will Thursday lunch bring? We shall see.</p><p>Let's talk Odyssey Gastropub. Last night Mrs. RJG and I were scanning Yelp and all of their Top 10 lists. How legit these things are is anyone's guess, but many places popped up that we were unaware of. It got to the point that we asked each other "Do we even live here?". Of course most of these establishments are in - or near - downtown, and the social media hipsters are all over every place that exists there. Odyssey showed up on a few lists so it became apparent we should go. They're open for brunch on Sunday, so let's give it a shot.</p><p>The location is perfect: A renovated old downtown building. Shotgun style, very much like our favorite haunts in Baltimore. Full bar and plenty of table seating. We received brunch menus but were reassured that the lunch menu was on offer. The first head fake was the beer selection. Almost all of what is available is cans and bottles - all of which you can get in a well stocked local liquor store. They do have a few drafts, and most of those are what you see around town. I thought I was ordering a draft when a pint can showed up. Worse is that it wasn't the one I ordered, significantly less ABV, but for the same price. OK, it probably would have been close in price, not worth going on about. The second beer we had (split) was a draft which is captured in the Bier Reise (see main menu). All of this to say that I wouldn't make Odyssey Gastropub a destination for its beer selection. Of course they have other cocktails and the like - which may interest many of you.</p><p>For food I ordered the spicy chicken sandwich and Mrs. RJG had the Pioneer Burger, and then we cut each in half to split. I asked for the bowl of pork green chile as a side (+$3) and she went with waffle fries. The green chile came out hot temperature, so that's a plus. Pretty mild variation and *very* porky. Not really my style, but certainly could be considered an authentic Colorado pork green chile. The hamburger was very tasty, though it was more medium well than well done despite Mrs. RJG insisting on it being cooked throughout. The bread wasn't toasted on either side so that wasn't a plus. Same with the spicy chicken sandwich though this was met more favorably. Very crispy, juicy, and tasty. The sriracha ranch is a nice condiment for this. She enjoyed the waffle fries as well. Both sandwiches were quite large and very filling.</p><p>Verdict? Very good for sure, but way too expensive even in this day and age. Moving this to the "expense account" category. Which could happen. If so it will receive an annual review, otherwise this could be it for us concerning Odyssey Gastropub. Certainly no hesitation to go back though. I should mention that when we walked in, they had a wall full of local awards going back to 2015. And it was very crowded on this visit. Whatever our thoughts, it's clear Odyssey is where people want to be right now. I'll keep that in mind for out-of-towners.</p><p>12/4/22 (new entry); 2/19/24</p>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-63315752957153588952024-02-17T15:58:00.003-06:002024-03-18T22:08:06.849-05:00Shamrock Brewing ~ Pueblo, Colorado<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrh0uKofqqlX9poEl3H7D53IY6T1f6Bta4kgM8jVeqOcmzHxfuzHOxqJehUG6-o_JcZJF9Ewkp5zdAELmfUB_FmyYOlmbyqyNFg_2ormtN_TXczqdm67eN3L3_dgcfOLXHqNSV8aaf23DkUKSiUJKAVJ4oo0qbHQ7bv4Bkh4fSgPfMeQusvqCY_7A9AHCq/s227/download%20(3).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="222" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrh0uKofqqlX9poEl3H7D53IY6T1f6Bta4kgM8jVeqOcmzHxfuzHOxqJehUG6-o_JcZJF9Ewkp5zdAELmfUB_FmyYOlmbyqyNFg_2ormtN_TXczqdm67eN3L3_dgcfOLXHqNSV8aaf23DkUKSiUJKAVJ4oo0qbHQ7bv4Bkh4fSgPfMeQusvqCY_7A9AHCq/s1600/download%20(3).jpg" width="222" /></a></div><br />Latest visit: Feb 2024<p></p><p>First visit: Jul 2011</p><p>Back in Pueblo for the first time in 2024. Usually I do this trip solo, but Mrs. RJG wanted to tag along and go thrifting with me. Her deal in the bargain? We must go to Shamrock. This is her favorite place for hamburgers, along with The Brass Tap. And that's exactly what we had - two Angus cheeseburgers, well done, with pub fries. And it came out perfect, as it always does. On this visit we managed to try three different beers, and all from Shamrock this time.</p><p>---original 10/5/23 review</p><p>And we conclude our venture at the friendly confines of Shamrock Brewing in Pueblo. On our first visit, we only tried the beer, as we were on our way back home to our Denver townhome. It wasn't until that fateful year of 2020 that we finally tried Shamrock for a meal. It was before the pandemic and there was an air of doom and gloom. Mrs. RJG really loved their burgers, so it was definitely going to be a place we wanted to return. And we did - it was the first, and pretty much last, place we revisited in that same year. Do you remember when it looked like the pandemic was over? In early June, many states were reopening up. They were being weird about it still - the whole six feet distancing thing felt so unnatural. Masks were yet to be mandatory. Given this new found freedom, it appeared it was only going to be a two month blip in our lives. We celebrated by going back to the place we had just tried: Shamrock Brewing. And once again, we both loved our lunch. Then... it was over. It would be two full years before things really got back to normal, though for us in southern Colorado it was more like one year fortunately (Denver wasn't so lucky).</p><p>And now we return again, deciding to have our first ever dinner here. The restaurant was very crowded on this Thursday night, a good sign in an otherwise struggling economy. Shamrock, as you might imagine, looks and feels like an old Irish pub. Comfortably sitting in downtown, the building is old enough to pull off the atmosphere. As for the food, it once again did not let us down. I had the buffalo burger, and the Mrs. had an angus beef burger. Both with cheese. I try to get buffalo any time I can, preferring the leaner meat and great flavor. Both were cooked to order well done, super important with Mrs. RJG. We both like the "pub chips" which are essentially fat fries. They always come out steaming hot. The only quirk on this visit is that I didn't get a chance to try a new beer made by Shamrock. I discuss this on the Bier Reise monthly update.</p><p>We'll be back again.</p><p>7/23/11; 1/26/20; 6/13/20; 10/5/23 (new entry); 2/17/24</p>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-3791991336410925292024-02-16T16:35:00.004-06:002024-03-17T14:01:49.517-05:00Del Taco ~ regional chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaLzXI4ExfhnDcB6C25vEv2UkOVjzqRKUETamuKLxRwMuLPL28ghXdmTUSh4pMDtbrfiDc4odLKtq9f3wQRyqCg29BcsrJZPP47tw3qwDOpO5LjUNKVMQcsVLuFiZdLPvsTQbZuUBVPnc/s277/Del+TAco.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaLzXI4ExfhnDcB6C25vEv2UkOVjzqRKUETamuKLxRwMuLPL28ghXdmTUSh4pMDtbrfiDc4odLKtq9f3wQRyqCg29BcsrJZPP47tw3qwDOpO5LjUNKVMQcsVLuFiZdLPvsTQbZuUBVPnc/s0/Del+TAco.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Latest visit: Feb 2024 (Academy / Austin Bluffs)<br />
<br />First visit: Sometime in 1982 (Irving, TX)</div><div><br /></div><div>HQ: Lake Forest, CA (near Irvine)</div><div><br /></div><div>Locations: Currently Del Taco operates 594 restaurants (+1 from last year) in 17 states (+2). There are 20 in Colorado (same), and 3 in Colorado Springs (same). They are not currently operating in Texas and all of our old locations there are now closed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today was my first visit to Del Taco this year. The Austin Bluffs location has become my go-to primarily out of convenience when I'm dong the "thrift shop rounds". I like this store, as it's usually clean and the workers are friendly. As noted below, I did move away from the Snack Tacos and onto their regular "Del Taco". It's essentially the same especially since I don't include the tomato - except about three times the size. They load them with meat and cheese, and I've come to really appreciate the taste more than prior. Even their soda fountain works properly haha. My last visit to a Taco Bell (last year) was a total disaster, so I have to think Del Taco is making inroads on that competition. In fact I read just that very thing - Del Taco intends on being #1 at some point. While I hope they succeed, that growth could easily derail their quality. There was a time (1980s and early 90s) where Taco Bell was excellent as well. Long ago. In any case, Del Taco is a favorite stop for a quick, light lunch. Oh, you now have to ask for the hot sauce packets separate. Apparently some stupid customers were grabbing them by the sack full while not even ordering anything. Who does this?</div><div><br /></div><div>---2/26/23 update</div><div><br /></div><div>Back for our annual review. Last year it was first, but didn't get around to stopping by until today. A fairly straightforward update this will be. Went with my usual 6 pack of snack tacos and a water. The single cheapest meal in town that can fill you up for a few hours! I should explore their menu more, but that's usually all I get at these old fashioned crunchy fast food places (I said the same thing last year). On today's visit, the meat was cooked nice and hot, the packets of hot sauce were available, and all was clean. I probably go here (or the one further south on Academy near Austin Bluffs) about four times total a year. </div><div><br /></div><div>Currently Del Taco operates 593 restaurants (down 6 from last year) in 15 states. There are 20 in Colorado (down 1), and 3 in Colorado Springs (same). They are not currently operating in Texas and all of our old locations there are now closed. California by far has the best representation with 363 stores.</div><div><br /></div><div>---1/4/22 update<br /><div>
<br />I had hoped to feature a new (to us) taqueria to start the year, but I didn't enjoy it that much. But given the place was packed with the locals, I feel I must give it another shot - and try something else - before passing judgement. So the next day I went to an old standby to get us rolling for the year.<div><br /></div><div>So they've renamed "Value Tacos" to "Snack Tacos" and jacked up the price to like 88 cents a piece. Haha. Still the best bargain around. To quote last year's annual review: "You can eat a reasonably healthy meal for under $5 with a cup of ice water. I like their Del Inferno sauce, and the tacos aren't that chintzy, with ground beef, lettuce, and cheese. Sometimes that's all that is needed to hit the spot." So maybe now it's "under $6". I probably should get something else from their menu, but the tacos are my comfort zone with Del Taco.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also recently read that Jack in the Box bought them out in December of last year. And that they plan on expanding (once again - see original notes). For a long time, JitB seemed to be the magic touch that Qdoba needed. But I haven't been impressed lately with that chain either. Probably ought to try it again as well. So we'll see if they improve the quality of Del Taco or they just figure out a better way to cut costs, regardless of the outcome. We'll let you know next year...</div><div><br /></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zK9Rva35GZ82MdP4bnh-w450tXB4AEA_7ZnGffkBPwRjL6fYmYC2cNaIA0nwI8hbkT78kZcVVhj6Z1t4vULjhrLNFYgPamosMXEvvA0KunBaTKiEWbO48ptdJg2t7RRWjYqodqNpLlghMHsldCZDCxilsFZGesVeZMptMwEuzI313FfLo2lGqIa1QQ/s277/Del%20TAco.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="277" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zK9Rva35GZ82MdP4bnh-w450tXB4AEA_7ZnGffkBPwRjL6fYmYC2cNaIA0nwI8hbkT78kZcVVhj6Z1t4vULjhrLNFYgPamosMXEvvA0KunBaTKiEWbO48ptdJg2t7RRWjYqodqNpLlghMHsldCZDCxilsFZGesVeZMptMwEuzI313FfLo2lGqIa1QQ/s1600/Del%20TAco.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><br />---original 1/4/12 review (Hurst, Texas)</div><div><br /></div><div>
My history with Del Taco goes back many years to when I was still in high school in the early 1980s. For those of you who were in the DFW area back then, you may recall this fact as well. But like many chains, they grew too fast and eventually shuttered all across the state. It would be nearly a dozen years before I ate at a Del Taco again - on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles (1994)! In fact I was with Mr. Music (wonder if he remembers?) Fast food tacos are a guilty pleasure for me, so I try to sneak a couple in everywhere I travel - and I would run into Del Taco's at various California locales over the years. Until they finally ended up in Denver around 2001 or so.<br />
<br />
For such a large chain, it's truly remarkable how well managed their stores tend to be - at least the ones I've been too (I'm sure there are exceptions - no need to write in and tell me). It seems they learned their lesson back in the early 1980s, and now they are growing very slowly while not giving up on quality for profit's sake. And perhaps best of all - they're willing to push the envelope a little bit. You want a spicy salsa? OK, they'll give you one. We both love their tacos and after all these years they're still priced at a bargain (they're small - yes - but add a couple of more to the bag...). </div><div><br /></div><div>The following section we have not seen at the Colorado Springs stores. [section] The hot sauce is dispensed in metal containers similar to how the burger chains now offer up ketchup, mustard, etc... It's a great idea, and very sanitary. As well, Del Taco has just introduced two more traditional salsas - including a truly spicy variety. The latter reminding me quite a bit of Baja Fresh's most fiery option. [/section]. </div><div>
<br />It is what it is: A fast food crunchy taco place. But in that category, Del Taco is one of the finest.<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div><div><br /></div><div>Despite what I said above, they ended up closing all of those Texas locations once again.</div><div><br /></div><div>1982; 11/6/94; 4/30/02; 5/13/04; 1/10/07; 6/5/10; 1/4/12 (new entry); 10/26/14; 10/10/16; 11/20/20; 7/11/21; 1/4/22; 2/26/23; 2/16/24</div><div><br /></div><div>Irving, Texas; Los Angeles, California; Sacramento, California; Aurora, Colorado; Phoenix, Arizona; Parker, Colorado; Hurst, Texas; Colorado Springs, Colorado (3)</div>
</div></div></div>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-51126723497071213102024-02-15T12:07:00.003-06:002024-03-18T22:08:23.310-05:00Zapata Mexican Taco Shop ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGARxXoey6jBZKQ7nS_ePKMqqkGPQVF_dA8Tr67Q4UsHLMMojlFi1FZCL6mszms0slBm6Vz1T05x6_twCxfG4lRzw4LRB-SR-46OkaB_209GXovJcYsprhX-UDOxGCaKgosh6uPRYhL64/s302/download.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGARxXoey6jBZKQ7nS_ePKMqqkGPQVF_dA8Tr67Q4UsHLMMojlFi1FZCL6mszms0slBm6Vz1T05x6_twCxfG4lRzw4LRB-SR-46OkaB_209GXovJcYsprhX-UDOxGCaKgosh6uPRYhL64/s0/download.png" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Latest visit: Feb 2024 (Voyager)</p><p>First visit: Dec 2019 (Rockrimmon)</p><p>Locations: 3, all in the northern part of Colorado Springs. </p><p>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.</p><p>---3/5/23 update</p><p>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!</p><p>---1/13/22 update</p><p>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.</p><p>---original 1/30/21 review</p><p>Some of you might remember the RJG waxing on about how great Taco Fiesta is in Baltimore. Yea, <i>Baltimore</i>. 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.</p><p>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! </p><p>12/1/19; 2/2/20; 7/25/20; 1/30/21 (new entry); 3/5/23; 2/15/24</p>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-40881804458396833292024-02-04T13:05:00.006-06:002024-03-17T18:03:02.609-05:00Culver's ~ regional chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSBwBSFUDByA6RORULxXNXjJEEsgzeUwsY2sA290KLej2ksskJp-_Q8zhHShuMwI1MyHSWveOmppdXMfQsJMsxsEUMsQovkyW7jcE3zagjMopDVw968A1UGuknEE5hau0T53NTikdvOWY/s275/logo.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSBwBSFUDByA6RORULxXNXjJEEsgzeUwsY2sA290KLej2ksskJp-_Q8zhHShuMwI1MyHSWveOmppdXMfQsJMsxsEUMsQovkyW7jcE3zagjMopDVw968A1UGuknEE5hau0T53NTikdvOWY/s0/logo.png" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Latest visit: Feb 2024 (N. Academy) </p><p>First visit: Feb 2010 (Flower Mound, TX)</p><p>HQ: Prairie du Sac, WI (NW of Madison)</p><p>Locations: So after fixing the issue last year, they've gone back to that most irritating practice of you can only see your current location to "assist with your order". Has it ever occurred to these folks that people may not want to order online? Well there's 5 in Colorado Springs (no change). Alright, according to ScrapeHero (new to me, I <i>like</i> this site!), they have 973 total (+86) with Wisconsin still in the lead at 149 (+4). They're in 26 states (same). OK, that website gives you the high level data for free, the rest you would have to pay for. According to Google Maps, Flower Mound remains the closest to NE Tarrant.</p><p>---2/4/24 update</p><p>53 weeks later and we're back at Wisconsin's finest burger chain. As I reflect on the updates below, I was wishing Culver's was in the Freddy's space on Interquest. We already have a Freddy's in Monument, and I'm up that way often. This way I could have Culver's for an occasional work lunch. </p><p>On this visit, Mrs. RJG emphatically stated that this is now her favorite fast food burger! So there you have it. Also, for the first time in our nearly 27 years of marriage, she said "I wish I got a double." Whoa, that's a new perspective. I did have the double Butter Burger with cheese and added a mini concrete. I wanted chocolate with espresso. I received vanilla with espresso. Oh well. Mrs. RJG got the single Butter Burger with cheese, fries, and a mini concrete. Hers was a chocolate and vanilla swirl, which was better than mine. I had some of her fries and they were great. She also likes those the best of any fast food franchise. I say it every year, but I really should frequent Culver's more. And they've held the line on the pricing. My double burger here is half the price of Whataburger's. And I think I liked it better too, to be honest...</p><p>---1/28/23 update</p><p>And we're back again, almost exactly one year later. Haven't been here since our last review. No particular reason other than this Culver's is a bit far for a "quick lunch" while working at home. And then when I'm out and about, I usually want to try places that require a longer drive. So Culver's falls through the cracks. On this day, Mrs. RJG had her car in the shop across the street, so it was the perfect excuse to go. Neither of us exhibited any kind of imagination whatsoever, and had Butter Burgers, fries, and a concrete. And just as the two below reviews indicate, it was delicious. No signs of slippage here, like so many other places managed to do in 2022. I wish we had one closer, but it would be suicide for them given that we already have In-N-Out, Whataburger, and Freddy's with Shake Shack coming soon. I think Monument could use one though. </p><p>Time for a chain update: Oh good, they now have details so you can actually research them. Their home base of Wisconsin (Sauk Prairie, near Madison if curious) has the most locations at 145 with Illinois nipping at their heels with 133. If I didn't screw it up, my fast math has them at 887 locations total. They're in 26 states within most areas of the country except the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and West Coast. They have 22 in Colorado (up 2 from last year) with one coming soon and the same 5 here in the Springs. Texas has 14 (up 1) with the same 4 in DFW. Flower Mound remains the closest to our former NE Tarrant territory.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOeS2-OhP_Z2em18xqQk3iyOhIjaPWImhN9tQWwH1otkTkWzQ1sL1I-hXNjUO_yrou-0lj1naZTGO5rl7_eWET9xaWhI633mGjRgegqCaYvIMjPHU_a7w-t-Xvme6N2OTTmgmiczrnVga2IRbiXPYLovRcaWRd-wefV5zmEt8EYa38JAtIQ75kmpB-Q/s275/logo.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="275" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOeS2-OhP_Z2em18xqQk3iyOhIjaPWImhN9tQWwH1otkTkWzQ1sL1I-hXNjUO_yrou-0lj1naZTGO5rl7_eWET9xaWhI633mGjRgegqCaYvIMjPHU_a7w-t-Xvme6N2OTTmgmiczrnVga2IRbiXPYLovRcaWRd-wefV5zmEt8EYa38JAtIQ75kmpB-Q/s1600/logo.png" width="275" /></a></div><br />--- 2/5/22 update<p></p><p>Tried the Wisconsin Cheese Melt this time, per my note below. Very good - toasty bread, hamburger patty, gooey cheese. Also had a concrete, of course I did. This location seems to be well run. Clean and bright.</p><p>--- original 3/2/21 review</p><p>Culver's is a chain that existed in the DFW area when we lived there, but never in NE Tarrant. In fact, as I write this, they only have 4 locations in the entire Metroplex. So there was only one time I made the venture to Flower Mound to try it. Definitely enjoyed the experience, but didn't get any notes down for the RJG. Now we have one much closer and we've been a few times.</p><p>In a nutshell, Culver's is very similar to RJG favorite Freddy's. Butter Burgers are the primary offering, referencing the brioche styled bun. Cooked well-done thin patties are on offer, perfect for stacking high. The fries are different, as Culvers go for the crinkle cut versus shoestring. Mrs. RJG prefers Culver's to Freddy's because of this distinction. When it comes to concretes, Culver's offers up 2 mix-ins verse 1 for Freddy's, and is just as delicious. Speaking of value, Culver's is the first restaurant I know of to actually discount the final price if you ask to remove something. For example, I ordered their signature Deluxe burger, but without the tomato. Off came 20 cents. Now <i>that's</i> a best practice! It doesn't appear Culver's tries to compete with In-N-Out, like Freddy's or Carl's Jr does (i.e. no California burgers). Looking at their menu, I really need to get the Wisconsin Swiss Melt next time. This particular location is super clean and spacious too. Good fast food choice here.</p><p>2/6/10; 12/16/18; 3/2/21 (new entry); 2/5/22; 1/28/23; 2/4/24</p><p>Flower Mound, Texas; Colorado Springs; Fountain, Colorado</p>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-67351918875494495222024-02-02T16:12:00.004-06:002024-03-18T22:08:38.727-05:00Joe's Italian Grill ~ Texas chain : Huntsville<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoh3yb8NnPYI3CylCd8UKB_D87LUVXtLmc9sphq8hx8ZX8EC1kBF-lDq4byBJMmKNASbMjMna7hxjeCRd5_XRDkxAQAzGfcvmKMQ5Cu239W_BhZ_nD-xzlymEXh3e3O7ne4IKD01vnPpc8NNIKwnZjP0nhawUx_Tku1ROPIavXrOD6pE06X-GnSixCTErv/s322/Joes-Italian-logo.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="322" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoh3yb8NnPYI3CylCd8UKB_D87LUVXtLmc9sphq8hx8ZX8EC1kBF-lDq4byBJMmKNASbMjMna7hxjeCRd5_XRDkxAQAzGfcvmKMQ5Cu239W_BhZ_nD-xzlymEXh3e3O7ne4IKD01vnPpc8NNIKwnZjP0nhawUx_Tku1ROPIavXrOD6pE06X-GnSixCTErv/s320/Joes-Italian-logo.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br />Well, look at this, Rude Dante is stepping into the old RJG and Mr. Music territory of southeast Texas. I had given him a little backdrop on the Italian restaurant scene in DFW before he ventured in. This looks to be a Houston branch of a familiar brand name in the DFW area. There are 10 locations that I could find via Google. Let's see what Rude Dante and Rude Sidekick concluded:<br /><br />1607 11th St Huntsville, TX 77340<div><br />On paper, this looked like the perfect joint. It's in a strip mall shared with a payday lender, a vape shop, a cheap mobile provider and an appliance store that makes Aaron's look like a respectable, legit business. Lots of overweight clientele - AND IT ALMOST HAS RJG IN THE NAME - so what could go wrong?<br /><br />We entered and sat - very cafeteria-esque - and I immediately gravitated to an old standby (chicken parm, with a side of eggplant parm). Rude Sidekick opts to ask for something lighter (pasta with just butter), which the manager comes to clarify into a Pasta Aglio e Olio - made with angel hair pasta. We both had salads, and true to form I went for the house dressing (red wine vinaigrette), while she opted for blue cheese.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzro1YQ-BCvCFICJsgUv3EkxHnkpbSUx-3phIPDW8p0QUUflFmN7CgASs-gjcy-rz8Mx8YAqDggQD0LiokQHDehGVo0NTGLHbrq9uKyzEGwY6KxLO8zQGO5H8FVg4b_-Q57q6xYUCfOuIbFfOgDNuikib0kqP420SzIS-WUk-l_-SQFB0LPp6uQ5_3DQbh/s640/unnamed%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzro1YQ-BCvCFICJsgUv3EkxHnkpbSUx-3phIPDW8p0QUUflFmN7CgASs-gjcy-rz8Mx8YAqDggQD0LiokQHDehGVo0NTGLHbrq9uKyzEGwY6KxLO8zQGO5H8FVg4b_-Q57q6xYUCfOuIbFfOgDNuikib0kqP420SzIS-WUk-l_-SQFB0LPp6uQ5_3DQbh/s320/unnamed%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />It's a sad day when I get one-upped at an Italian joint by someone who claims to not even like the stuff, but her salad was better (my red wine vinaigrette kinda resembles BBQ sauce), her pasta was better (picture a gourmet scampi or picata - THAT good, while mine was just OK), only the bread was shared equally and both found it great. For my side, I got a beer - a locally made blonde (photo to follow), so that helped balance the ledger.<br /><br />Biggest challenge on my plate - and this is make-or-break stuff - was the sauce. Not much spice or flavor, and what flavor there was is closer to catsup than marinara. The chicken was really good, hard to tell with pasta & eggplant, but the sauce over everything was just not up to snuff. I took leftovers; we'll see.<br /><br />Meanwhile, a steady stream of pizza take-out business comes in and out the front door. Maybe if there is a next time, I'll try a pie or a calzone. Or perhaps I'll follow my Rude Sidekick and order the Pasta Aglio e Olio.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfMtp0jFgHNUTFYwPHGVJbKzOxpRjVBQeLawOZ1iw-2v4SjdR_HrVVO6sKakfB6pBH3QBWS4jU0ORg7xWcLYiJc-y5c2QHofhn-vkDQVnCGe9DRp7aNNNQrsL0rYq86biiyY7UbR7hIdus6ggpNdE-sYz-J7lkQXp6yyleBF_8XiWmmrM-pk5xmOCmUwk/s640/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfMtp0jFgHNUTFYwPHGVJbKzOxpRjVBQeLawOZ1iw-2v4SjdR_HrVVO6sKakfB6pBH3QBWS4jU0ORg7xWcLYiJc-y5c2QHofhn-vkDQVnCGe9DRp7aNNNQrsL0rYq86biiyY7UbR7hIdus6ggpNdE-sYz-J7lkQXp6yyleBF_8XiWmmrM-pk5xmOCmUwk/s320/unnamed.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />Regular Joe himself provided a succinct preview of the joint and assessed it as a potential front operation for a Balkan underground movement. He can add additional commentary as this has to pass muster before posting. (ED: lol. nope - all good. Looks like this isn't one of the better Balkan owned restaurants. Tony's in Watauga and Niki's in Keller would be two to recommend in this genre if you are ever back in the Fort Worth area. Hadn't tried that brewery either!).</div><div><br /></div><div>- Rude Dante review</div>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-90661639770303964262024-02-02T15:57:00.006-06:002024-03-17T18:03:14.969-05:00Whataburger ~ regional chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFGk5mmnuQN_5VqqcRUDn9Z3sTvsFJylMdhV6FHfSmzvBY-hdvGWgCq6oSel3Qp_3kcGAG_qJw-dz9FpHFNo88H2gttjpiBAFCUMnrHBKjTzmLMbLUrtRZTm96ogqoCmnh5CuZmbXLmoi/s1600/Whataburger.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" psa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFGk5mmnuQN_5VqqcRUDn9Z3sTvsFJylMdhV6FHfSmzvBY-hdvGWgCq6oSel3Qp_3kcGAG_qJw-dz9FpHFNo88H2gttjpiBAFCUMnrHBKjTzmLMbLUrtRZTm96ogqoCmnh5CuZmbXLmoi/s1600/Whataburger.png" /></a></div>
<div><br /></div><div>Latest visit: Feb 2024 (Interquest)</div><div><div><br /></div><div>First visit: 1977 (Dallas, TX - Walnut Hill Rd.)</div><div><br /></div><div>HQ: San Antonio, TX</div><div><br /></div><div>Locations: 17 states (incl DC) with 1,012 total (+75). Texas is up to 736 (+20). Colorado is now at 6 (+3), all here in Colorado Springs. Our old local in Keller is still open.</div><div><br /></div><div>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. </div><div><br /></div><div>---2/5/23 notes</div><div><br /></div><div>Time for a yearly checkup. I anticipate going here about 4 to 6 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. :-)</div><div><br /></div><div>Whataburger has expanded 2 more locations here in Colorado Springs since our last update. These 3 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.</div><div><br /></div><div>---4/21/22 notes</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>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.</div><div><br /></div><div>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.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPut2D75cDlR5F-CrbI0Xs_Po_wPtZ2JKXai7yT7UjELUwjRz7nYCwF3rPy5y7g_2kIhr6hTJpM_6WNhJiqJDzltqFSXRSQyKB1a05YNewKnYIpbIQYz254X60rGsaARGTegGGd6tQz2ZuR43bodMwKbUr_njbuqVx9I22MNEDq3Zmb_aWij7Ctx9fg/s3840/Whataburger-Emblem.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPut2D75cDlR5F-CrbI0Xs_Po_wPtZ2JKXai7yT7UjELUwjRz7nYCwF3rPy5y7g_2kIhr6hTJpM_6WNhJiqJDzltqFSXRSQyKB1a05YNewKnYIpbIQYz254X60rGsaARGTegGGd6tQz2ZuR43bodMwKbUr_njbuqVx9I22MNEDq3Zmb_aWij7Ctx9fg/s320/Whataburger-Emblem.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />---original 11/30/11 review (Keller)</div><div><br /></div><div>
I know, I know. "Gee RJG, where do you <i>find </i>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 <i>then they'd know!!</i> But it's really two entirely different burger experiences. Whataburger's are Texan BIG. In-N-Out's are Californian fresh.<br />
<br />
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...<br />
<br />
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. <br />
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Stop by your local branch if you haven't been in awhile!</div></div><div><br /></div><div>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</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Dallas, Texas (2); Lubbock, Texas; Colleyville, Texas; Keller, Texas; Colorado Springs, Colorado</div>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-28784415936424521882024-01-27T18:12:00.003-06:002024-03-18T22:08:52.210-05:00Gub Gub's ~ Walsenburg, Colorado<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGT-tp0dfxMOApGhxBsuM4ydX60t4xzSVgfbKyiz2kNLvWHXkiNlUmJinibq5Z-X5TYDeUv5Dj00VXJUMGzs929C742oXNfjU_wlPZLrMIdwCyNgAPi9xynksbDitKNgYptWcEoBqX4TJFD_Ruh3DP4sLjd6zCj96pgFzhWAhjzQlfr2dqoE_GOI7lwWQq/s440/GubGubsFinal%20Seperate-02.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="440" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGT-tp0dfxMOApGhxBsuM4ydX60t4xzSVgfbKyiz2kNLvWHXkiNlUmJinibq5Z-X5TYDeUv5Dj00VXJUMGzs929C742oXNfjU_wlPZLrMIdwCyNgAPi9xynksbDitKNgYptWcEoBqX4TJFD_Ruh3DP4sLjd6zCj96pgFzhWAhjzQlfr2dqoE_GOI7lwWQq/s320/GubGubsFinal%20Seperate-02.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br />First visit: Jan 2024<p></p><p>This wasn't part of the plan. As noted on the George's entry, we had intended on having ice cream at Charlie's Market in La Veta. When that got thwarted, Mrs. RJG was frustrated that her food selections weren't going as she'd hoped. OK, let's see if Walsenburg has an ice cream shop. Up came Gub Gub's. We have to go back through Walsenburg anyway to get home, so let's try it.</p><p>Gub Gub's sits inside of the Walsenburg Mercantile, a renovated warehouse, with a gift shop, deli, restaurant, pool table, and... pizza and ice cream provided by Gub Gub's. Nice atmosphere and very clean.</p><p>Thing is - they don't have ice cream. They have soft serve like Dairy Queen. Except it's not near as good. In fact it was quite bad. Tasted like frozen milk, or perhaps it had melted and refroze? The homemade waffle cone saved the day, as it was crunchy and tasty, unlike the soft serve which was flavorless.</p><p>So would we go back to Gub Gub's? The answer is a surprising yes. The pizza looked really good. We noticed they were opening a standalone location in downtown Walsenburg, so we'll probably try it next time. Hopefully they'll get the ice cream problem fixed. I hope they know they have a problem. I never like to pay good money for a disappointing product. But we can be forgiving. One more try. Probably next year, or possibly the summer if we return for a second visit. Mrs. RJG couldn't catch a break on the food part of our trip. But the shopping and beer part went fine!</p><p>1/27/24 (new entry)</p>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-80451816076524394302024-01-27T18:00:00.004-06:002024-03-18T22:09:05.775-05:00Crafty Canary Brewery ~ Walsenburg, Colorado<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7C8Wz1Ivm5ziIsuRzgNYIm9YaYWPA_52YP0lwgtT6ilW_2-7eL7cwlmCKBoK-ryLdP7HJV0tKLtje_Ujc6UhaNvFgQpmXnC476IUsaoCzyBUjlrSUH9Z_HlaGqz84vCBcgOiVge50opVTip6pvkB0kK4VjYFLf9-sguyMgt2EA5jQUlzP4KXjaVWLuLD/s225/download.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="224" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7C8Wz1Ivm5ziIsuRzgNYIm9YaYWPA_52YP0lwgtT6ilW_2-7eL7cwlmCKBoK-ryLdP7HJV0tKLtje_Ujc6UhaNvFgQpmXnC476IUsaoCzyBUjlrSUH9Z_HlaGqz84vCBcgOiVge50opVTip6pvkB0kK4VjYFLf9-sguyMgt2EA5jQUlzP4KXjaVWLuLD/s1600/download.png" width="224" /></a></div><br />Latest visit: Jan 2024<p></p><p>First visit: Mar 2021</p><p>After lunch we headed into town and visited a few of the antique shops. Mrs. RJG and I each had some success finding good items for our respective hobbies. After finishing up at the last shop, across the street sits Crafty Canary. My original plan was to go to La Veta, then have a beer back in Walsenburg on the way home. But we were both thirsty by then, so let's go now.</p><p>As you can see, we'd been here at least once before, and it was just as the pandemic was beginning to slow down. As such they only had one of their own beers on tap. I expected they'd have more this time, but they only featured two - but different than the one three years ago. Mrs. RJG enjoyed an IPA while I quaffed a brown ale. Both very good. They do feature guest beers, including from Phantom Canyon here in the Springs.</p><p>It's a nice spot - two rooms, with a lowkey environment. A quality neighborhood/village/town brewery. Just what you hope to find while traveling.</p><p>3/27/21; 1/27/24 (new entry)</p><p><br /></p>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3662006633701786645.post-58818157885062078632024-01-27T17:46:00.003-06:002024-03-17T14:04:47.080-05:00George's Drive Inn ~ Walsenburg, Colorado<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3P6lf63_BdCOQx2sUBuVYu37zuuuxEJAwi2kP0VpDMe0yswR2JcrhlvouZs0Q5HrQYsyRHFQsB6zqIEtBYBEPrjFM-L25g5Km8n_dDwclOzA4OZ1DXBbr0xE1TZythqxKpRapW0H_ZxaWjzvFHHhCurZtN64brdEQOjMScpTRnIfHh6nDWYojQiE1_CN9/s424/Screenshot%202024-01-27%20164502.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="424" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3P6lf63_BdCOQx2sUBuVYu37zuuuxEJAwi2kP0VpDMe0yswR2JcrhlvouZs0Q5HrQYsyRHFQsB6zqIEtBYBEPrjFM-L25g5Km8n_dDwclOzA4OZ1DXBbr0xE1TZythqxKpRapW0H_ZxaWjzvFHHhCurZtN64brdEQOjMScpTRnIfHh6nDWYojQiE1_CN9/s320/Screenshot%202024-01-27%20164502.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />First visit: Jan 2024<p></p><p>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.</p><p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>1/27/24 (new entry)</p>RJGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897774906997130618noreply@blogger.com0