Regular Joe's Guide

Latest visit: May 2021 (Colorado Springs) First visit: Dec 2002 (Lone Tree) Hacienda Colorado is part of the Uncle Julio's chain that we've written about before in our various visits in the DFW area. Our first experience with Hacienda goes way back to the waning days of our time living in the Denver area. We enjoyed the experience but were to never return, as we moved away a month later. Today there are 6 locations, 5 in the Denver area and one right here in our current home base. Hacienda Colorado is near the top of fine Mexican dining, at least if considering location and prices. It's an enormous structure, with multiple rooms, a full bar (upstairs and downstairs), as well as outdoor seating on that second floor. We walk in, and were promptly seated in a quiet side room. In our first visit to this location a couple of years back, we sat at the edge of the terrace, so as to not be in the sun, but still enjoy the breeze and beautiful views.  Chips and salsa come out right a...

First visit: May 2021 Right before the pandemic hit, I got word that Doug's serves up a mean New Mexican breakfast. Well then, turn on the light for this moth won't you? Then things shut down, and we put the RJG on hold for a few months. Then one fine Monday morning a few months ago we went over, and they were closed without notice. Some family emergency. No problem. The next two times we wanted to go, we looked online and they were closed - and closed again. They seem to close on random days. Jeez. Well finally I timed a visit correctly. Walk in, waitress sits you down, order some coffee with vanilla creamer and we're ready to rumble. No question what I'm getting - three egg burrito, stuffed with carne adovada. Smothered Christmas. I mean seriously, as if I was going to order something else. While waiting for the food, I observed the location. It's broken into 3 vertical sections with tables and booths in each. No counter seating which I like for breakfast, but tha...

Colombo's pizza. When I think of the classic mid-crust pie that I grew up with, there's a picture of a Colombo's pie in my head. And nostrils, taste buds, stomach, etc. This is a full-service, sit-down restaurant that also caters, serves wine & beer, will offer you a salad prior to pizza, etc. There are pasta dishes, sandwiches, appetizers, desserts, veal, seafood... the whole nine yards. But for me, it's all about the pie. Prior to learning about razor-thin NYC slices and 2-inch thick Chicago pans, the only pie I knew was what I call the mid-crust Elkhart pie. It's a bit more substantial, and as a result of the heftier base can handle a heavier load of toppings. If you get a larger slice of Elkhart pie, one slice might be enough for most appetites. For years I would tell people that I never had a pizza elsewhere that would crack the top 5 in Elkhart - and I only stopped saying that when I no longer had 5 Elkhart places that I frequented. Those that remain are ...

First question asked is usually, 'how do you pronounce that shit?' I have heard, generally, a Canuck or Scandinavian first syllable (Yah, you don't say!), followed by something like, 'kid-da'. Clearly I don't know. Second question immediately follows first: "What does it mean?" Ditto previous plea of ignorance (although it shouldn't surprise you to learn it is Welsh. Oops, I slipped.) Here's what I do know. These guys make a pretty good and pretty diverse batch of beers for a town of 50-70k residents, and they pack in a loyal crowd of patrons even on what are normally slow weekday lunches. It's one of the few places that I like to start with a flight, because you'll find quality from the lighter blondes & pilseners right through to the pales, IPAs, Scotch ales and Stouts. There are certainly some I like better than others, but have not had a bad one yet. Here's the other thing I know. Many breweries here in Colorado eschew food...

This one will get a knowing look from any Elkhart native, as well as those who may have experienced it in other locales (there was a Volcano in Bristol, TN for many years). My short synopsis: great take-out greasy pizza if you are into that kind of thing. And I am into that kind of thing! Not sure when Volcano first opened, but it was there for as long as I can remember, and I have lived in or been a frequent visitor to Elkhart since the early 70s. (Confession: resorted to a web site check. They have been doing it since 1957!) There are a very few, non-exclusive schools of faith at Volcano: Pizza Sandwiches - hot Sandwiches - cold Other For my part, I've been a believer in a sandwich and a pizza. Hot sandwiches dominate - presuming you will be eating right away, but cold sandwiches are a nice option for a road trip. My go-to sandwich is a hot italian sausage and cheese. Others in my circle of acquaintance favor the hot meatball & cheese, while still others are fans of the ital...

Rude Dante has gone nostalgic, and takes us back to his childhood home. Let's see what he recommends (or doesn't)... NEPOTISM ALERT: Dante's sister owns the joint. The Vine has been a standby in Elkhart for 10+ years, however it has been 'under new management' for the past 5-6 years. In a town famous for really good Italian chow, this place brings a bit of variety not often found in a small- to medium-sized city in the Midwest. Rather than a specific dining recommendation, this will serve instead as a guidepost for those who might wander in and wonder what to get. For starters, the bar has a great set of interesting and varied custom cocktails that rotates seasonally. I'd recommend a libation before dinner at the bar if that is an option. Outdoor patio seating is especially appealing late spring to middle fall. At other seasons, tables are split between the front / bar area, back dining room or the wine cave (a small dining room that seats 6-8 comfortably at the...

De Gennaro occupies the location formerly known as Umberto's Clam House - famous for Crazy Joe Gallo mob hit in the early 70s. Although this was technically an afterthought upon finding Puglia and Vincent's to be closed on a Wednesday night (COVID hours - ugh!), was pleased to find a likely place at the corner of Hester and Mulberry. Past experience in the area had me thinking parking might be an issue. For whatever reason, COVID or otherwise, I parked right in front of our original destination and did not even have to pay to park (arrived just at 7 pm.) Service was prompt, ordered a glass of chianti, caprese and seafood fra diavlo with linguini. Colleague ordered an alfredo with chicken. Both were satisfied with our meals, but I would not walk past scungili in hot red sauce from Vincent's or Puglia to return here (ed: the RJG remembers those days!). Will likely have reason to try other places in what is left of Little Italy in future; no need to return here (but glad fo...

For my last night in NJ, I visited the restaurant next door to the warehouse / DC that I had been supporting for 3-4 weeks. Although this was my first time inside the doors, we had takeout from here 2-3 times during hypercare, and it was always good. Seemed appropriate that I pay my respects before leaving town.   Historically, my standby dish in a mama-papa joint has been chicken or eggplant parmesan (hopefully a combo if they are flexible). Have always liked seafood but am not usually a big shrimp fan. On this trip I ventured to shrimp parmesan a couple times and found it to be quite lovely.  Gianna's started me with chianti by the glass, a small wedge salad, and shrimp parmesan with fra diavlo rather than marinara sauce. A healthy chunk of warm Italian bread with butter came out with the salad. Could not resist a slice or two! Salad was a small wedge with ample blue cheese crumbles and dressing, grape tomatoes and a sprinkling of bacon (which indeed makes everything be...

As this was my first foray into Yonkers (ed: very first home of the RJG - no recollection of it though), I arrived with no expectations or illusions about where we were going (another option was Xaviars - same general area). Arrived a bit before my guest on a rainy Wednesday in May. Between breaks in the weather, this location has stellar views of GWB to the south. Location is on a round-about that abuts the Hudson. Ordered a bottle of white wine as the menu favors fish (with quite a few other options, but the seafood dishes all looked good). Started with some clams in garlic / butter with crusty sourdough bread. Dinners were Branzino for Greg, seared Salmon for me - BOTH were amazing! Split some kind of dessert and an espresso for the drive back to NJ - excellent dinner. Would be curious to try Xaviars or wander the neighborhood next time, but elements precluded much exploring this night. Fancier than my typical RJG entry, but not by any means stuffy. - Rude Dante review

Rue 57, on 57th just a bit south of Central Park. Not one of those places that distinguishes itself much other than that it does a pretty decent job of mimicking an eclectic Parisian café without going all snooty and high-brow. We tried this place, frankly, because one of us was badly hung over (and the other was in similar straights, although to a lesser degree). We ordered without much fanfare and had a decent burger, couple beers and a tuna tartare - all quite good. Professional service, prompt meals, good quality - just not a memorable / special place that I would seek out again.  - Rude Dante review

If we were playing Jeopardy, the correct response to this place would, "where is the best oyster happy hour in Manhattan?" We walked to Crave from our hotel on the south side of Central Park without making reservations. Pleasantly surprised to find no wait, immediate seating, and pretty prompt service around 6 pm on a beautiful Friday at the end of April. Waiter managed to get us happy hour prices on our oysters even though we seated slightly after the cutoff. We started with a couple cocktails with our oysters, then decided full-on dinner was called for - Faroe Islands salmon for T, Yellowtail for me.  Excellent bottle of wine - Solo (tinto) Aranleon Syrah 2018 - recommended by waiter when the bottle I had picked proved to be out of stock. Service and food were exemplary, not outrageous prices, but expensive in the way you sort of expect NY to be expensive. Waiter (like most, though not all care to admit) proved to be an entertainer who had worked on traveling Broadway shows...

Picked as an alternative to Italian - from which we all need a break from time to time! Went inside to order, rather than trying go to pick from their menu. Waiter (presumably) asked me a few questions then directed me to the Adana Kebab, which comes with rice - and I added a salad. Dinner was to-go for a variety of COVID and unrelated reasons. Excellent dinner, just the right amount, enjoyed every bit. Pretty sure they have no liquor license, so options to pick up a bottle or six-pack at nearby Meadowland Wine and Liquor - for dine-in or take-away - completes the deal. Excellent Med option, would go back in a heartbeat. - Rude Dante review

OK what Natoli's is not, is a place to go and have a sit-down dinner (at least not when I was there in the dog-end of COVID restrictions). Natoli's shows as one of the better recommended pizza joints on yelp and what-not, so I decided to give it a whirl. I arrived and found a deli counter with a couple tables where people generally milled around waiting for their take-out orders rather than eating there. I ordered my stand-by favorite pie: pep/sausage/mushroom, with a salad to go.  Pizza is not your prototypical paper-thin crust, nor is it the wood-fired variety more recently trendy, and certainly not a pan pizza. Actually it was a good approximation of some of my favorite Elkhart, Indiana pizza joints (Colombos, for instance, maybe Big John's or Michaels). Salad was fresh and crisp. And I was intrigued with many other options on the menu that I saw people coming to take away: sandwiches, pasta, meats, etc.  Only had the one meal here, but it was quite good. Pizza later pa...

Basilio Inn is on Staten Island, spitting distance from the Verrazzano Bridge. On a dead end. With a grass / dirt parking lot. And it has been there forever (website describes them as the oldest restaurant on Staten Island, 100 years old as of my visit in May 2021). If there is a joint that merits the whole RJG in the 5 boroughs, this may actually be IT . My visit was at the suggestion of my guest, Abigail, who I have known for 20-some years and knows my loathing of all things Olive Garden and my relish of all things mama-papa. She described it to me as, "really old", with a dash of 'dead-end street' and 'gravel lot'. She also informed me that Staten Island is the "largest Italian city outside Italy" - something that I have no desire to fact check but will take on faith. Other positive indicators: no web reservations, closed Monday, and had to wait for noon Tuesday when they reopen to call and verbally get a reservation. We've had false positives...

Los Amigos resides in an old DQ building... in Lake Dallas! In a sleepy town where Hunts Brother Pizza at the local gas station mart reigns supreme, it is a real treat to have an authentic Mexican restaurant. Their specialty is Tacos al Trompo, you know pork and garlic and onion tied up on a spit with a pineapple propped on top so the juices can drip into the cracks between the slow roasting pork. My mouth waters just thinking about it.  But they also serve wonderful barbacoa, delicioso al pastor, yummy chicken & beef too. Tacos on corn or flour would only be better if the tortillas were "Heche a mano" (hand made). The breakfast tacos, enchiladas and chile relleno are very good too. We come often. My kids love it, Ms. Music loves it, and my friends love it too.  They have a pretty large menu with pozole, menudo and quesadillas too. Oddly, 1/2 the menu consists of American diner food! Chicken fried steak, burgers, omelets and pancakes too! The first time we are here, baby ...