Northern Cafe ~ Cerritos, California

Lady Music and I joined the BFF family to celebrate Lady Music's BFF's birthday. Northern Cafe on Second in Cerritos was the choice of the birthday girl. I enjoy this type of restaurant (that seems to be popping up more and more) which specializes in handmade dumplings, noodle dishes, and more. 

What makes Northern Cafe different is that they also have an array of wontons as well. Here, wontons are a filling loosely wrapped in a wide noodle and served in a dish of sweet and spicy sauce. Whereas dumplings are either a steamed or fried noodle wrapping tightly encasing the filling (pork, chicken, shrimp with or without cabbage or scallions). They are served without special sauce and may be enhanced by using the soy sauce, black vinegar and/or hot chili oil that adorns each table as ubiquitously as the salt and pepper shaker at the local diner. 

We ate family style, and being guests, Lady Music and I pretty much let the BFF family choose the dishes. We got pork wontons and shrimp wontons, but no dumplings as BFF explained, they found dumplings too plain and liked the sauce that came with wontons. We did however get an order of chicken pot stickers at the request of BFF's daughter. Yes, a 3rd style of noodle stuffed with filling! To me, very similar to a pan fried dumpling, but a different shape. These were like sausage links of dense, seasoned ground chicken with a wonton skin tightly wrapped around them. Larger, and more stuffed than pot stickers I've had other places. They were yummy. We also got a few other dishes that I'll summarize: Cold Cucumber & Garlic salad which were crunchy Persian cakes cut up in cubes and had garlic and sliced green onion in a vinegar based dressing with a little diced chili. It was cold, fresh and yummy. Dry Fried String Beans are seared/blanched with sesame oil in a wok with garlicky seasoning. They were good as well, although I've had them at other places with small black beans and/or more intense seasoning, which I prefer. Steamed BBQ pork bun aka cha-shu bao. Not only are these a favorite of mine, but I also have a sentimental attachment to them as they conjure fond memories of Pop Music (aka Mr. Music's dad :-) ) taking his family to an international dining experience and proudly introducing us to the exotic delicacies he discovered. This was in the 1960s! Theirs were plump and tasty. Beef Roll is a healthy portion of thinly sliced beef, cucumber, cilantro, and dark leafy greens with some hoisin sauce rolled up in a Chinese pancake and sliced into sections sorta like a thick sushi roll. The pancake was light and flakey, but held the ingredients nicely. The lean beef and hoisin combination has a nice flavor and the veggies made it better. These are thicker than other beef rolls I've had. 

Shrimp fried rice was pretty basic, but delish with beautiful, plump, shelled shrimp, egg, veggies, and just the right amount of butter. Dan-Dan Noodle was the only noodle dish we had. I guess I'm not a huge fan of this dish in general, but I will eat some when ordered while doing family style sharing. The noodles were nice and it had plenty of crunchy peanut pieces sprinkled over the very peanut buttery sauced noodles. Sauteed Diced Chicken With Chili Flakes are small nuggets of battered chicken peppered with bits of dried red chilies. They had a kick, which we liked! I've had this dish in other places and for me, is beautiful with a very light coating of batter, which minimizes the greasiness; and unless the batter itself is seasoned, will have a negative impact on the overall flavor and bite. The dish here was good (fresh, hot, and crispy), but could have been really yummy with a lighter coating of seasoned batter. Vegetarian MapoTofu. This is a dish I love and order it almost anyplace that serves it. It's cubed, soft tofu sauteed in a thick brown sauce starring Sichuan peppers (tongue numbing) and dried Thai chilies (the more chilis, the more I like it!). Traditionally, the gravy has ground pork, which I love too, but the vegetarian version is pretty much as good and a noticeably lighter option. It is served with steamed white jasmine rice. I'm a fan of brown, nutty, whole grain rice, but this is an instance where for me, the white jasmine rice makes the dish. I like the tofu, but my main interest is a big ladle of Sichuan pepper packed gravy covering a perfectly steamed bowl of fragrant, jasmine rice. Their dish has a great flavor, but I prefer more gravy which I'm sure I could get if I ask. 

I do want to call attention to the steamed jasmine rice here. It was the one real stand out to me. Cooked to a slightly, al dente perfection made special by the roasted black sesame seeds that speckled the fragrant rice. A simple addition that had a great impact!

I personally enjoy the festive atmosphere of a bustling dining room as long as its not too chaotic. It was definitely bustling, but it didn’t feel packed or amid chaos as the room was large and spacious, but it seemed a bit loud and echoey and we all seemed to find it a little difficult to talk to each other at our table for 6. Not a showstopper for me though. All in all, the food was really good, healthy portions, and reasonably priced. I'm looking forward to another visit.

- Mr. Music review

The Bagel Deli ~ Denver, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2024

First visit: Sep 1994

Founded: 1967

It's Sunday and I'm on my way to the main record show in Denver. It's a two day show, but I go on Sunday when it's free just to scrounge around for deals. That event is an energy burner, so I need protein before venturing in. What could be better than a big ol' honkin' meat sandwich from an old fashioned Jewish Deli? Not much. 

This is only my second visit here, and if you carefully look at the top, you'll note it's been a full 30 years since. I also lived in Colorado Springs back then (a few years before Mrs. RJG), and dined here because there used to be a record store on the other side of this strip mall. Why I never came back again is one of the great RJG mysteries. Only a few months later I became a full-time resident of Denver. And many years after that we either lived there or had a summer place. And even six years after moving back to Colorado and visiting Denver a few times a year, I still left The Bagel Deli neglected. Even crazier is it's right off of I-25 (Hampden exit) on my way into the city. Consider that oversight now rectified.

My memory has it that The Bagel Deli used to only be the small grocery store with counter service on the left side of the strip center. But I could be mistaken. In any case they have a large restaurant next door, and even though it was very busy when I arrived, there were plenty of tables for the hostess to sit me down at.

I ordered what I came for - the "number 2", a combo of pastrami, corned beef, and Swiss cheese on marbled rye. Out came this mountain of a sandwich (much larger than Rosenberg's for example). With the side of kosher pickle and chips. Oh yea, this is my kind of sandwich! I had so much protein I felt drunk afterward. But it not only gave me the nutrients I needed for a day of crate digging, but it also was delicious. No need to ask for brown mustard when bottles of Gulden's are on the table. Perhaps the rye bread is a little too small for this kind of sandwich, so next time I'm getting it with a bagel. I hesitate to put any Denver restaurant on the RJG Rotation list, since there are so many new places I want to try, but I may make an exception here. But there's one more Jewish Deli in the area I also haven't been to in 30 years (locals will know which one), so that will be my next stop - probably early next year. More to come on that.

The Bagel Deli goes considerably out of their way to mention that they were featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. I like that show, but not sure I would exploit it that much. But whatever, the restaurant was crowded, so maybe that has something to do with it. I doubt it though, the food is what delivers the goods!

9/5/94; 10/13/24 (new entry)

Firehouse On The Run ~ Black Forest, Colorado

First visit: Oct 2024

As noted last week, we went to the Black Forest Brewery after a hike. On the way I was reminded of Firehouse On The Run, A place I'm always going to try, but quickly forget about. So Mrs. RJG and I committed to coming back the following weekend to finally try it.

It was a beautiful Saturday near Noon time, and we made our 15 minute journey northeast to Black Forest. Firehouse On The Run is from the time honored tradition of a barbecue joint sitting in the back of a gas station. They have smokers all around, and the smell is delightful. The setting couldn't be better. One feels like they're on vacation deep in the woods, even though in reality Black Forest is a remote suburb of Colorado Springs. 

Unfortunately the setting is the highlight of the restaurant. I ordered a smoked chicken sandwich with a side of Western beans and Bab-n-Hero sauce. The bread was right out of the bag, slightly cold. Good quality bread though. The chicken, while very flavorful, was on the tough side. So I did need the sauce. Which is very good - spicy as one would expect from a habanero concoction. The Western beans were disappointing. Despite having chilies mixed in, it was relatively flavorless and bland. And not enough temperature. Mrs. RJG had the brisket sandwich. Similar to mine, it was loaded with flavor but not tender and one piece was mostly grease. Neither of us got full on this visit, as the portions were too small. Too add insult, it was very expensive for what you get.

While I wouldn't pitch a fit if someone insisted we go here, the RJG isn't likely to come back on our own. Had the cost been more reasonable, I'd be up for another visit. We're bummed because the setting is so perfect.

10/12/24 (new entry)

Black Forest Brewing ~ Black Forest, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2024 (Black Forest)

First visit: Dec 2018 (Black Forest)

It's a beautiful Sunday and we decided to take an impromptu hike at the Black Forest Regional Park. Afterwards, what better place to relax than at Black Forest Brewing just up the road a piece? We enjoyed one beer each as we watched the end of a couple of NFL contests and the start of the Broncos game. Perfect break before heading back home.

---7/29/23 review (Falcon)

We followed Dr. Taco on this visit. Both locations have plenty of room inside, though the original Black Forest is in a better nature setting. Excellent traditional German beers too!

Black Forest is probably the closest true microbrewery to our home (not counting corporate driven high-end brewpubs). Black Forest can be found in a beautiful setting deep in the woods northeast of Colorado Springs. They specialize in German beers, but experiment often beyond that. Walk in, check out the computer screen, order. Then sit in the spacious two room taproom, or head outside and grab a park bench. Food trucks often stop by.

12/1/18; 5/3/19; 6/7/20; 7/10/21; 7/13/23 (new entry); 10/6/24

Iron Tree Restaurant & Funky Town Brewery ~ Florissant, Colorado

First visit: Oct 2024

I've been wanting to get to the Funky Town Brewery since we moved to Colorado Springs well over six years ago. But there was always some reason why we didn't, generally the timing. Usually we're just passing through on US-24 on our way to some mountain destination or back home. Stopping for a beer wasn't in the cards. And then there's the fact that they only serve brunch on Sunday's when we'd rather have lunch with our beer.

But on this fine sunny and crisp October Saturday, we decided to make the brewpub our destination. There isn't much to Florissant, a wide place in the road west of Woodland Park and Divide. Primarily it serves as a supply base for the rural community around. It sits in a beautiful setting though. After our lunch we decided to go to their public library, something we never do, but glad we did as it's a wonderful space. But that's about all there is to do here, to give one an idea.

And, of course, eat at the Iron Tree Restaurant. There's something very cool about small town breweries, and perhaps even cooler about small mountain town breweries. They have a vibe that doesn't translate to the city or suburban areas. Background music was from the turn of the century - electronica based 1940's styled swing music. I miss those days (the late 90s - not the 40s smarty...). We started with a couple of Oktoberfest's, a favorite beer of the RJG's. I went with my staple Cuban, and she ordered the honey chicken sandwich - and added "hot" to it (a staff favorite apparently). They each came with homemade corn tortilla chips. We'll start there as they are really excellent. Crispy and flavorful. My sandwich was of the panini variety, pressed flat with cheese, ham, and pork. Pickles and mayo, but no mustard. I quite enjoyed it. Not the best Cuban, but still a good rendition. Mrs. RJG's large chicken sandwich had a nice sweet and spicy flavor, and was heavily breaded. She liked it at first, but eventually it was "too messy" for her and the chicken wasn't cooked enough in her opinion. So I ate the rest ;-) I had no such qualms. Tasted good to me! But she did give the restaurant a thumbs up, and stated she wants to come back and try something else.

10/5/24 (new entry)

Zaap Kitchen ~ Irving, Texas

Zaap Kitchen has 7 other locations in DFW: Dallas (5); Plano (1); Fort Worth (1)

Mr. Music and compadres ventured to Zaap Kitchen in Las Colinas. It is in a strip center on MacArthur and has a fancy fast food vibe. I was a little concerned. We ordered lots of food to share! Green Papaya Salad Lao style (more spicy, less sweet), Dancing Lao Riblets, Lao Sausage, Lao Fried Rice, Thai Fried Rice, and Thai Basil Stir Fry (pork). We really liked everything and ordered it all a heat level 5 of 5. I'd say the heat was weak. Fortunately they made us some fresh pik nam pla (Thai chili and fish sauce), which did the trick. The green papaya salad was yummy, tangy, crunchy, and had a little heat! The Lao sausage was plump and juicy loaded with herbal flavor. Both fried rice dishes had chicken, beef, pork, and shrimp. The flavor was great and I think we all preferred the Lao style by a little. The riblets had a nice flavor, a little sweet and they were small but tasty. The Thai Basil Stir Fry had ground pork and a good assortment of veggies with plenty of fresh Thai basil and steamed jasmine rice. It really helped adding pik nam pla to it. The staff was super nice! It's a surprisingly good restaurant. We're all planning to go again and even try their other locations.

- Mr. Music review

Pho Luv ~ Hickory Creek, Texas

Baby Music and I decided to go out for pho. Oddly, the small city of Lake Dallas has two pho restaurants a couple blocks apart. Pho Luv is a little newer on our radar as we've been loyal to our other spot. This is our 3rd time to go and 3rd time to be delighted! 

We started with grilled pork spring rolls. They were fresh and the grilled pork was moist and tasty and warm. Baby Music had Pho Ga with while chicken meat. She loved it and said the broth was extra delicious tonight. I had veggie pho with tofu. The tofu was lightly fried and the veggies (broccoli, bok choy and carrots) were fresh and had just the right bit of crispness. The chicken broth was tasty and noodles perfectly al dente! The pho comes with the customary fixins': Fresh Thai basil, bean sprouts, jalapeno and lemon slices. I squirted plenty of Sriracha sauce on mine and used a little hoisin to dip the tofu and veggies in! In the past, we tried the grilled chicken over rice as well as the grilled pork over rice. Both were so tasty and filling. We still love our other place, but Pho Luv is a great change of pace.

- Mr. Music review

9/26/24 (new entry)

Reservoir Brewing ~ Pueblo West, Colorado

Latest visit: Sep 2024

First visit: Jan 2020

As if to repeat my Pueblo experience from a year ago, I also took Mrs. RJG to Reservoir Brewing for the first time since our initial visit together. No dramatic shootings on this occasion (see below), but today was the Pueblo Chile Festival which curtailed some of our plans (they closed parts of downtown). We weren't excited about the festival itself, having been to plenty of similar over the years. 

In any case, Pueblo West is a peaceful diversion from the Steel City. On this visit, in addition to two excellent beers, we tried their chips and salsas. And added Pueblo Chile's for an "extra kick". He told us they were "medium" heat. Probably a little spicier than that, but a hotter variety would have been welcomed. All the same, the chips were great (perhaps made locally?) and the salsa had a nice sweet tomato taste. The chiles were an awesome addition. Overall we enjoyed a great outing. And then we made the hour journey back home.

---original 11/18/23 review

This is only my second time to Reservoir, the first was with Mrs. RJG. It was the same day Kobe Bryant died. On this particular day, apparently I almost died. I was walking in the same parking lot when this shooting occurred. I was oblivious to it all, until I heard about it later when some ladies were talking in a store about the event. But I did think I heard gunshots and noticed a heightened awareness around me. But it could have been construction too for all I knew. Strange how close we can be to a random event like that. And the time of 10:10 is exactly when I was there, validating what I heard. I was going to the ARC thrift shop nearby.

Which all makes this trip to Pueblo memorable as was the 2020 visit. Inauspicious as it may be. Pueblo West is a separate (and more peaceful) community a few miles west of the main metropolis. The brewery itself is nice, featuring a long bar and plenty of tables. Not a very big place, somewhat cozy actually. They also serve snack food, but since I enjoyed Pass Key earlier for lunch, I stuck to two beers. Friendly service. Nice way to close off my latest Pueblo adventure - more risky than planned.

1/26/20; 11/18/23 (new entry); 9/22/24

Pass Key Restaurant ~ Pueblo, Colorado

Latest visit: Sep 2024 (Northern Ave.)

First visit: Nov 2023 (Northern Ave.)

Founded: 1952

They have one other location further north on US 50. There's also one in Pueblo West which appears to be a different owner, but same concept and recipes.

If there's a restaurant outside of Colorado Springs that I want to include in the RJG Rotation, it's Pass Key down in Pueblo. And I'm making the effort to do just that. Mrs. RJG joined me on this latest venture and she also really enjoy the Italian Sausage sandwich. I decided to forego the cheesy option and stuck with the original. Just so good really. Love their Italian sausage patties. We both noticed some gentleman chowing down on a bowl of pasta, and I'm going to make an effort to do that next time.

---original 11/18/23 review

I first heard about Pass Key on our local news here in Colorado Springs (and they cover Pueblo as well). A couple of years ago they were featuring local favorites of Pueblo and they mentioned the legendary Pass Key. I'd never heard of it, but they specialize in spicy Italian sausage sandwiches. OMG - that has my name all over it! I've been to Pueblo a few times since but never at lunch (only breakfast or dinner), but on this occasion I made Pass Key the destination, and all the other activities would surround it (records, thrifting, beer).

Got there before opening, and I watched as they put the open sign up five minutes before. Perfect. Fully staffed and the kitchen was sizzling already. While I was first in, many followed afterward. It's a sit down restaurant, though from the outside you might think it's a fast food place. I went straight for their specialty - Pass Key Special with cheese. It's a grilled flat Italian sausage patty with mustard, lettuce, and a pepperoncini on the side. No red sauce, it's not that kind of hoagie. With fries. So basically it looks like a sub sandwich, or even a hamburger, but with the sausage patty instead of meats or beef. First bite in, and I knew this is a place I want to go often. The bread is chewy like those Amoroso rolls from Philadelphia. And the sausage is extremely tasty - and yes, spicy too. Not kidding around. So, so good. The fries were hot if non distinctive. They provide a filling meal, but it's the sandwich you're here for. Next time I'm going to get the Super Special with extra cheese.

Excellent service and the place was close to capacity when I left. I've said it before, but it bears repeating - Pueblo is the restaurant capital of Colorado. The old steel city may have other flaws, but their food is the best. Worth the drive down from the Springs.

11/18/23 (new entry); 9/21/24

The Grille at Blackhawk ~ Blackhawk, California

OK, Mr. Music is getting back into the action. Here's his latest contribution:

We drove out to Blackrock, CA (halfway between Sacramento and San Jose) to meet Lady Music's brother, Music Bro for lunch. Six of us met at The Grille; Music Sis and their mom, Music Mary rounded out our group. We opted to sit outside by the man-made pond with waterfall which was surrounded by restaurants and shops. It could have been beautiful, but the pond wasn't well maintained.. at least that day. From a distance it was pretty! 

We got roasted broccoli with crispy pancetta and Parmesan chips sprinkled with a Worcestshire dressing and crab and shrimp dip with sourdough. Both were good, although the dip was light on sourdough. I ordered the haddock fish and chips with coleslaw. I also ordered a Caesar Salad before I realized I was getting coleslaw. The dish was one big piece of fish, nicely battered with malt vinegar and their homemade tartar sauce. It was good; fresh fish with not too heavy but crunchy batter. The coleslaw was similar to KFC in flavor, which I like! The salad was good too (see photo). Lady Music had Highland Road Benny, their SW take on Eggs Benedict. It had poached eggs smothered with Hollandaise sauce and smoked paprika sprinkled on top, but also had bacon, mushrooms and onion on garlic Texas toast. She said it was pretty good but not what she expected. It looked pretty good to me, but seemed heavy and a bit messy. 

Music Bro had chicken and waffles. He loved them. I have to admit, they looked pretty great! (see photo) Also at our table were batter fried fish tacos, a US Wagyu cheese burger, a Beyond Burger, Southwestern style and beer batter fries. Everyone liked their food, but aside from the chicken and waffles, nothing really stood out. Well, the beer batter fries were pretty yummy! Our waiter was good too! So, all in all, it was a good experience, but nothing special. As a side note, we were also there for the Blackhawk Museum in the same complex and a car show in the parking lot. Both were stunning! The museum had an exhibit of China, Africa, the US old west and an incredible car collection (separate from the car show in the parking lot).

- Mr. Music review

9/18/24 (new entry)

Jet's Pizza ~ regional chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Sep 2024 (Stetson Hills @ Powers)

First visit: Feb 2013 (Fort Worth, TX)

Founded: 1978

HQ: Sterling Heights, MI (Detroit area)

Locations: 425 according to Wikipedia (Jan 2024). They are in 22 states. Our original go-to North Richland Hills location is still open.

I concluded the below update with: "So... unless they move close by to us in the Springs, this might be the last revisit for awhile.". And that exactly happened a few short months ago! Now it's football season and it's time for us to visit our "local" Jet's for the first time. I say local in that the only Springs location to date is east along the Powers corridor, which is about 20 minutes away. I figure they'll open eventually here in mega-chain valley near our house. But at least we can now get in an annual visit.

This time I ordered a large Italian Sausage pizza. I think in the past they only offered their round pizzas with the square cuts. They still offer that but you have to specify. I missed that, but it's OK. I took it home and Mrs. RJG had the comal ready to heat and crisp it up a bit. Everything is as we remembered it. Light cracker-y crispy dough, sweet and delicious tasting tomato sauce, and excellent Italian sausage. Meatball wasn't an option (see below), and I'm not even sure you can get that anywhere these days (at least the ones made in Detroit and imported). In any case we loved it and ate about 60% of it, the rest will be an appetizer tonight. We also enjoyed about 20 minutes of NFL Red Zone and it brought us back to Keller in the mid-2010's, a fun era for sure. Back in the RJG rotation Jet's goes - for the first time since we left Northeast Tarrant in 2018.

---10/9/20 update (Parker, CO)

Yet another revisit coming out of a dentist trip. I was intrigued by their chicken parm Jet Boat, as I was curious what that would be like. I should have guessed. It was chicken pieces cut for pizza - thrown into their bread, and loaded with mozzarella and sauce. Baked. Uhh... that's cheating. It was OK, but I wouldn't get it again. They don't offer their awesome meatball Jet Boat either (see below). So I don't really have a reason to go here, as it's too far to order a pie and bring it home. And I'm not eating the whole thing in the car. So... unless they move close by to us in the Springs, this might be the last revisit for awhile. 

---original 2/20/13 review (North Richland Hills, TX)

If you want to start a burrito chain, then you might consider beginning in Denver. And if you want to launch a new pizza chain, may I perhaps suggest you do so in Detroit? Both Dominos and Little Caesar's trace their roots to the Motor City. And now they have a third major player: Jet's Pizza. Their first expansion into the DFW area was the location on North Tarrant in far North Fort Worth, and that was our first exposure as well. Since that time, they've exploded in the area, with at least eight DFW locations if not more.

We love their Jet Boats, which is basically an inverted pizza. Not a calzone, only in that they use mozzarella rather than ricotta cheese, which is more preferable for our tastes anyway. You get two of those bad boys with every order, and one alone makes a full meal. And their meatballs are fantastic (which are made in Detroit and flown in - inquire first as they don't always have them in stock). But so are all the other ingredients, and I absolutely love the sweet tomato sauce they use. And the outer bread is garlic and parmesan encrusted, and is baked to perfection. Jet's is the latest to utilize the "conveyor belt" style of baking a pizza - similar to how Schlotzsky's and Quizno's toast their sandwiches (except the oven is much larger of course, like a better car wash lol). We also really enjoy their thin crust, which remains crispy even after taking it home. As stated above, the key ingredient to Jet's pizza is their tasty sauce, which is slightly sweet, and penetrates the flavor no matter what the topping. As well, while the Mrs. was out, I had the deep dish (not her favorite style), and was impressed that the pizza was more about the toppings and less about the doughy crust. That's the secret to a high quality Chicago styled pizza. Seems many lose focus on that point. They also have wings and subs which we have yet to try.

Jet's is a take-out only spot, and of course they deliver, but we always pick it up to ensure we obtain the pizza as hot as possible. 

2/20/13 (new entry); 11/9/14; 9/21/15; 10/22/17; 10/9/20; 9/15/24

Fort Worth, TX; North Richland Hills, TX; Parker, CO; Colorado Springs

Cheluna Brewing ~ Aurora, Colorado

First visit: Sep 2024

After lunch at Rosenberg's I went back for a final round of digging. I was feeling a bit tired, which happens when I socialize too much. I needed a nice quiet dark place to chill. What better place than Stanley Marketplace's own brewery Cheluna. They're like the Springs' local Atrevida with a focus on Mexican and Latin culture. I tried two small 10 ounce beers (both great) and took in the moment peacefully. I still had a couple of hours on this hot afternoon to browse another record shop in the center of Denver, before making the hour plus drive back home.

9/14/24 (new entry)

Rosenberg's Deli ~ Aurora, Colorado

First visit: Sep 2024 (Stanley Marketplace)

They have two other locations in Denver: Five Points & Monaco.

There's a new record show up in the Denver area, and I caught wind of it only a couple of weeks ago. So yesterday Saturday I made the drive up to the Stanley Marketplace where the show was being held. I've never been here, but it's a wonderful space renovated from the old Stanley Aviation factory that sits near the also renovated former Stapleton airport area. I wasn't sure when or how I was going to eat lunch on this day, but once I was inside, it became evident I had multiple choices. So after a couple of hours of crate digging, my stomach was growling wildly. I saw the (awesome) sign for Rosenberg's walking in from the parking lot, and that sounded perfect.

You order at the counter to your left as you enter. Be sure to check their bagels first if you are going to get a sandwich because they will ask you which kind. I ordered my trial Jewish Deli sandwich of a hot pastrami. The twist here is that it will be served on a homemade bagel, and I chose sesame. It comes with a full pickle and a bag of Zapp's potato chips (I grabbed the Voodoo Heat, but decided to take it home, so I'll eat that this week sometime). You can get it hot or cold, so I went with the former. It wasn't really hot or toasty. More warm and chewy. I think that was on purpose. The pastrami was not the usual clump of semi-fatty meat but rather slices of lean beef, and was delicious. They don't serve it with brown mustard so I needed to ask for that - and I did later. It's an excellent sandwich and it certainly filled me up though it wasn't gigantic like they can be. Not inexpensive either, so be prepared for that.

If the record show continues here, I'll probably want to try some of the other restaurants. That being said, I will certainly revisit Rosenberg's if given the chance. If I lived in Denver, it would be a rotation place.

9/14/24 (new entry)

Basil & Barley ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Sep 2024

First visit: Nov 2018

This is only my second visit to Basil & Barley, and as you can see, it was nearly six years ago, not long after they opened in fact. Not impressed on that initial try? Not at all - I enjoyed it quite a bit. But circumstances make Basil & Barley a difficult place to visit. If I go on my own for lunch then I will feel compelled to get a beer (it's not a need but a desire). Years ago, one or even two beers in the afternoon did not impact my energy level. Now I get a bit sleepy and I don't want to lose the momentum of the day. So what about dinner with Mrs. RJG? Welll... Mrs. RJG is very picky about pizza, and she doesn't often like that for dinner in any case. I was reticent to take her here because Italian styled Napoletana pizzas were a real mixed bag back in DFW. They started with a bang but it seemed each restaurant lost their luster as time went on. If you have the will and time to research, this blog is filled with places like that: INZO, Cane Rosso, Spin!, Cavalli, Pazzo!, Campania, Apeizza e Vino. The latter three spectacularly crashed and burned, especially Campania (literally). INZO was the only place we continued to visit but we had pivoted away from pizza towards Italian food. So with that backdrop, I knew Basil & Barley would be a tough sell for my better half.

Speaking of sleepy in the afternoon, it was time to celebrate Mr. RJG's 60th birthday! Weeee. I had toyed with the idea of going down to Santa Fe where we had each celebrated our respective 50th birthdays at La Choza. But the timing was all wrong - it's a Wednesday and there was too much going on at work. Plus we just got back from a week long vacation. I wanted to go somewhere that I enjoy, but hadn't been in a long time. I have no desire to spend $200 at a fancy steakhouse, when I can cook a better one at home. The answer? The title of this post. Mrs. RJG agreed and off we went.

Basil & Barley is not too far from our house, a few blocks east from The Promenade shopping area. The restaurant is in a nice setting in a modern strip center. Perhaps too much natural light but one doesn't have to squint while eating here either. On my first visit they served local Deuces Wild beer exclusively. But now they have more variety. Not quite as well researched as Walter's303, but better than most of these kind of places. We each ordered a beer on the lager side, and they weren't cold enough, which is inexcusable really. That didn't get us off to the best start. But we persevered and each ordered pizza. They are just a little bigger than a "individual" pizza, but not large enough for two. We can take home the leftovers (which is exactly what we did). Mrs. RJG asked for the basic margherita and I ordered their spicy offering The Diavola. A few minutes later out came our very-hot-to-the-touch pizzas. I patiently awaited Mrs. RJG's feedback. It was a huge hit! She loved it. Perfect dough, slightly chewy and crispy, not mushy. Great sauce and first class ingredients. Best pizza she's had in town and she wants to go back soon! So you never know... I enjoyed mine as well, exactly for the same reasons.

Into the RJG rotation Basil & Barley goes, delayed by six years perhaps.

11/16/18; 9/11/24 (new entry)

Ongoing update

We just had a landmark moment here at the RJG: Colorado Springs now has more reviews than any other metro area in the country! I'll caveat that quickly by reminding everyone that we only count open restaurants, not including ones that have closed. DFW would still win easily if we counted everything.

---3/21/24

Just wanted everyone to know I added a new page above that outlines the most visited areas of the country that the RJG has written. Check it out!