Regular Joe's Guide

Last visit: Dec 2022 First visit: Mar 2019 And we wrap up a very productive 2022 with our final outing of the year. We'd been to Pho-nomenal only once prior, and there's a story around it. I was experiencing mouth pain near my molars, so when that happened, I liked to have a bowl of pho to soothe the nerves. Only in this case, it didn't work. Two days later I was having a root canal for the first (and hopefully only) time in my life. No fault of Pho-nomenal of course, but unfortunate for them the event left a stigma in my mind. I barely recall what the food tasted like on that visit. The good news is that problem went away once and for all after the surgery. Finally, we agreed to face the notorious Powers traffic and have another lunch here. When it comes to ambience, Pho-nomenal definitely is a cut above your usual noodle soup house. It's 2000 era sleek with chill music and trendy modern clean architect lines. They offer beer and wine in addition to the usual Vietnames...

Latest visit: Jan 2024 First visit: Dec 2018 Dr. Taco's latest flyer on Instagram told us that he was making a rare visit to Fossil. The perfect excuse to go then! This was Mrs. RJG's first visit since the pandemic and their expansion. We enjoyed a nice dinner in the new spacious setting. There were a few locals patronizing while we were there. There's no brewery nearby unless you go into Old Colorado City, so it's the perfect neighborhood spot. Their beers remain excellent. ---original 12/30/22 review Another one of our favorite local breweries, though it's been close to 4 years since last visiting. This was one of Mrs. RJG's faves but she didn't join me on this trip. And much has changed since we were last here in early 2019. It appears they purchased (or rented) the space next door and it opened up the brewery quite nicely. It was one of the smaller breweries in town prior. They added flat screens to display the beers they have on tap. Though not too many...

Latest visit: Jan 2024 First visit: Apr 2018 Despite what we said about weekly visits, mid-year reviews, etc..., it looks like we haven't been back in close to a year, though we did go a couple of more times in the cold January of 2023. Even though it's been 12 months since we were last there, the owner remembered exactly what I ordered last time, including all the details + the wine. She has an exceptionally good memory. Mrs. RJG was the impetus for this visit as she proclaimed "we never go out for Thai food anymore", which is true. But then again, we hardly ever go out for dinner anymore unless we're traveling. Part of that is just the expense. Even Thai Basil, who continue to keep their wine prices at 1990s levels, is an expensive date. To-go orders are their bread and butter. In any case, my Moon Harbor meal was exactly as I remembered it (see below). Mrs. RJG had Pad Thai without the egg. She sung the praises of the noodles and shrimp. Overall, a nice diversi...

Latest visit: Mar 2025 First visit: Dec 2022 It's Friday and I'd been digging all morning at various estate, garage, and thrift sales. It was a warm and sunny morning, and I was mostly on schedule. Just as I left the last shop before lunch, a cold front blew through. Well there goes the downtown option (again), because that requires a lot of walking. While looking at where my next stop would be, Mollica's popped up as "on the way". Time to get in the annual review, now our 4th visit, almost exactly one year later. I ordered what I did last year, the Combo, which is a meatball and Italian sausage submarine. I continue to forget that it comes with pasta salad. If there's one thing I don't like, it's cold pasta. I need to remember to substitute for something else. Nonetheless I tried it, and yea, not for me. As is often the case, I forgot to photo the meal. Why? Because I was starving. Not the best excuse however. At least I got the building this time. Th...

They closed in Castle Rock. Latest visit: Dec 2022 (Colorado Springs) First visit: Jul 2021 (Colorado Springs) Moved in Apr 2023. Will need to revisit. ---12/28/22 update Oh look - there's a brewery right across the street from Luigi's! Who knew? :-) It was a quiet night, no one there but us. That gave us a chance to chat it up with the owner, who wanted us to know that they do not associate in any way with Gold Camp. OK, duly noted. Overall I've always enjoyed the noirish ambience this place possesses. Tuesday night isn't a big brewery night I don't think - certainly the Regular Joe's Guide is almost never out on this particular weeknight unless traveling. But it's the Holidays... See you next year! ---original 7/2/21 review Battle Mountain took over the old Gold Camp site. As noted on that post, Gold Camp was the last local brewery we visited before the pandemic hit. One month later, Battle Mountain was in control. Bad timing, but they made it work, with a...

Closed: Mar 2025. They decided to retire, business was still great. Last visit: Apr 2024 First visit: Aug 1995 Back again - this time for our 27th anniversary! That seems to be where Luigi's is going to land in the RJG tradition. We miss the old school Italian restaurants and this is really the only one in town (along with the much smaller Roman Villa, who are better at pizzas in our mind). We decided to heed their call and make reservations, and we arrived at open. Already a line had formed, one of the few places who can claim that these days. Reservations allowed us one of the better seats in the restaurant, near the fireplace. Though on this warm April evening we weren't able to take advantage of that. On this visit we made sure not to possess wine envy, so we ordered a bottle of Charles Woodson's Intercept Cabernet Sauvignon, which is our favorite red style. An excellent choice. Per protocol, we received the delicious bread, breadsticks, and butter upfront so as to appe...

Latest visit: Aug 2025 First visit: Dec 2022 ---8/12/25 update Old Boss and I are back at Granelli's. And we both finally retired after years of threatening to do so! I beat him by about four months. How long do the two of us continue to meet? I don't know, but I certainly would like to see him at least once a year. On this visit I went right back for the sausage pizza, hopelessly not willing to try anything else. It was back to being crispy too. Old Boss is on some sort of weird diet and he got garlic rolls, and ate about half of them. Presuming he liked them. I really need to get Mrs. RJG over here. That's four visits and counting that I have yet to accomplish this feat. ---11/1/24 update And in what appears to be now an annual ritual, Old Boss and I once again met at Granelli's near the end of the year, though earlier than the prior two. He's eight years older than me and has been threatening retirement for years (even executing the idea before backing out). I...

Latest visit: Dec 2022 First visit: Feb 2020 In the last days of freedom before our lives were thrown for a loop, Mrs. RJG and I visited Coal Mine Dragon. It quickly established itself as our new go-to for Chinese food. As it turned out, rather than "go to" it became "take out". This was one of our standbys throughout the early days of the pandemic. They had the strangest system that we ever saw. You would call (they may have had an online system too, not sure) and they'd take your order. Then you'd text them again when you arrived. That would usually take me 2 minutes to accomplish, as I would be at the thrift shop next store. They'd then text you back that your meal was ready. You'd open the door, and there was your sack and a receipt, with an all-black barrier in between so it was like a separate room. Sign the receipt,  grab your food and leave. If there ever was a place that made you feel like you lived in a leper colony, this was the one! Despi...

Latest visit: Dec 2022 First visit: Aug 1994 We go from a familiar chain to the ultimate Colorado Springs' Regular Joe Guide kinda place: Roman Villa Pizza. This is one of many restaurants that inspired the creation of this blog from the onset. The sign alone just slays me. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, they have both spaghetti and ravioli! Oh my heart be still. Since 1959. Oh stop it! It's just too much for the RJG to handle. Heaven as I see it. It's such a small little place too and it's as cozy as it looks. But honestly that small size has indeed kept me away for most of these years. Went only once with a record collecting friend in my original tour of duty here, and now this is only the second time Mrs. RJG and I have stepped foot in the friendly confines of Roman Villa. They open at 4, and it was a Saturday night, so you better know that it will be crowded fast. We got here at 4:30 and it was already filling up. It's not a solo dining kind of place. No bar stools...

Latest visit: Dec 2022 First visit: Dec 2018 Back again after about 18 months. Only had one beer, not too heavy, as I had much to do in the afternoon. But I'm falling way behind on the local breweries without much of a good excuse. Note that the free parking is no longer available, as the city has decided to dig into everyone's wallet wherever they can. Otherwise the experience is exactly as laid out below. The food menus look delicious - artisan is the first word that comes to mind. I should take advantage of it sometime. Perhaps have Mrs. RJG join me, as she did for the first visit. ---Bier Reise notes from 6/27/21 The brewery is in an old church on the outskirts of downtown. Plenty of free parking all around. Easier to get in if you go through the back parking lot (off of Weber). Walk in, head to your right. The taps are on the left side. The beers available are on paper menus. Much has changed since we last visited in 2018. They now have 3 other food/drink vendors in the sa...

Latest visit: Feb 2024 First visit: Dec 2022 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 broug...

This is something I'd intended on doing last year but forgot about it. From the advent of this blog in 2008, you'll find that the RJG rails against the mega chain. I've always been one to cheer on the independent, or the local chain. Or even the regional chain - especially these as they seemed to be well run and uniformly consistent among various locations. And now today, one can honestly say that the national chain has improved quite a bit. Anywhere from Jersey Mike's to Five Guys to Freddy's to Slim Chickens, these chains have proven to be reliably good. And we have a separate posting for all of those and more. Much has changed in these last 15 years of the RJG, that's for sure. But what about the megachain? These are the places I was really going after. They are mostly publicly traded corporations where the profit and revenue are far more important than taste and customer service. Sure, those latter two characteristics should assist in obtaining the former, b...

Latest visit: Dec 2022 First visit: Jul 2018 They have a second location in Fountain. I have hinted at Western Omelette in these pages for some time, but hadn't yet written about it. My notes show we haven't been since late 2018, long before the pandemic. Two reasons for this: 1) It's always very crowded and 2) Mrs. RJG is somewhat lukewarm about going here. But I'm on a winning streak with the Mrs., so she's more likely to join me than before (with comments like "It's OK, you go by yourself". Thanks). Despite being a decidedly breakfast oriented restaurant, Western Omelette isn't really a place for solo dining. They have a small bar area - but it's a real bar with alcohol for the evening crowd. Not a breakfast bar with convenient countertop seating. You can hog one of the tables for yourself of course, but since it's always mobbed, I don't like doing that. For years I'd threatened to go here on a garden variety weekday as I'm s...

Inside the Long Beach Museum of Art Lady Music, her sweet momma, and I decided to visit a very nice ocean front cafe. This upscale restaurant is part of the Long Beach Museum. Lady Music has been there before and had been wanting to take me. We sat outside on their elegant, covered patio. The seating was comfy with perfect 70 degree weather and a clear view of the rolling waves from the ocean, the beach, and Queen Mary! Although the menu was small, there were plenty of items I wanted to try. I had been considering the salmon BLT or breakfast burrito, but when Lady Music called out the beet salad with grilled salmon and read it, my choice was made! It was a very generous portion of salmon and salad with a pile of golden and red beets tossed with pistachios, candied pecans, goat cheese and homemade balsamic vinaigrette. I got sliced almonds in lieu of candies pecans; it was yummy. The salmon had a great crispy crunch on the outside but ever so tender and moist in the middle. The flavor ...

Latest visit: Nov 2022 First visit: Sep 2018 Schnitzel Fritz represents that rare breed - a German restaurant that sits in a suburban strip mall. Generally the German restaurants in America feel obligated to have you sit in a Festzelte (Beer Hall) with some ridiculous traditional music and waitstaff in costume garb. Not that these are ubiquitous either, but they seem to represent the German dining experience. Even Kuby's in Dallas gives you a mini variation of this. Not Schnitzel Fritz. This is a very humble grocery, with a kitchen in the back, and some bright yellow plastic booths to sit in. While you wait for your food, you can load up on German desserts (the best), deli meats and cheese's, sausages, and other packaged German goods. Or gifts. On our first two visits (pre COVID), Mrs. RJG and I each got a sandwich. I remember it being excellent, but maybe not enough food? This time we each got a Weiner Schnitzel platter. Wow! This is the way it's done. Two large perfectly...

Latest visit: Dec 2024 (Promenade) First visit: Nov 2022 (Promenade) HQ: Atlanta (founded 2002) Locations: 38 including 7 in Colorado (-1 from our last update). They're in 16 states but not Texas. It's time for Mr. RJG's Official Mom's birthday dinner! 86 years young, we had to miss last year's celebration as she was recovering from surgery. The plan all along was to come to Ted's Montana, and it was her special request to come here after cancelling out last year. I called ahead to see if it was crowded, given the restaurant anchors a very busy Christmas shopping center. "Not at all" the voice back assured me. So we showed up around 5:30 and were seated promptly. It was certainly a lively restaurant just not packed as it would have been every year prior. No question inflation driving many holiday diners back home. We ordered a bottle of their house chardonnay (Bison Ridge), which is very good, and at $33 didn't seem like a ripoff.  For dinner, Offi...

Latest visit: Apr 2023 First visit: Nov 2021 So guess who's in town? Mr. Music! For breakfast we went to RJG's favorite Quijotes (already updated for the year). After a full day of crate digging at thrift shops and record stores here in town, it was time for dinner. The three of us (now with Mrs. RJG joining) always enjoy going out for Thai food together. Why not go to our latest favorite - Zesty Thai! Mrs. RJG had the red curry which she really enjoyed. I had the "Chef's Special" which you can read about below. Mr. Music started with a bowl of Tom Kha and chicken, and then proceeded to have the same dish as I. Oh, and Mr. Music and I also had the Thai Iced Coffee (mentioned below as well). All were a big hit! On this visit the heat level was below Thai Hot, so one minor gripe, but not a big deal. We had a chance to speak with the owner/chef and she explained that her cooking style is from the northeast of Thailand. And the way I order my dish is "truly Thai ...

Latest visit: Jun 2025 (N. Academy) First tried: May 2022 (Boulder) ---6/20/25 update Two years after my disappointing visit, I'm back at Snarf's. Maybe I was just in the mood for it, but today's sandwich really hit the spot. I returned to the trusty Italian. Expertly made, crispy bread, excellent meats and dressings. And I was very full afterward. And I was thirsty, so I pretty much camped out at the soda machine. Still too expensive, but everything is unfortunately. But I can manage once a year. Welcome back to the RJG Rotation! Chain update: Colorado: 41 (+16) with 2 of those in Colorado Springs (+1); St. Louis: 6 (+2); Texas: 6 (+4). They are now in DFW with their first location opening soon near Richardson. Good to see a chain growing rather than contracting! ---4/29/23 update On this fine Friday afternoon, I decided a sandwich was in order, after eating at home all week (like every week Mon-Thu). I thought it was a good time to revisit Snarf's. I tried to convince...

Just as the RJG is back on home turf, so finds Mr. Music. In fact, Carrollton is ground zero for our relationship as that's where we all lived back in the early 90s. I've been to this restaurant once with MM some many years ago. Let's see what his latest visit results in... --- I've been going to Al Markaz about as long as any restaurant I have consistently gone to. It's only competition might be Banana Leaf Thai. Both 20+ years! And I don't mean casually, I mean regularly and at times obsessively. I reviewed Al Markaz long ago, so it is time for an update.  Music Junior turns 18 this weekend. Crazy! A foodie and underground music junkie dad could not be more proud of his eldest daughter firmly following in his footsteps! Music Jr, Baby Music and I unanimously decided Al Markaz was the perfect place to celebrate. Just as a refresher, Al Markaz is a Pakistani restaurant, Halal butcher and grocery store. They are known to have the best mutton biryani, karahi chick...

First visit: Nov 2022 The next day was even more intense, this time with a full day of presentations. Our team performed wonderfully throughout. We were on video conference while others were in person. Since we were remote, once again lunch was provided via catering. They went with Chipotle, always a good choice. We already have an annual update for that chain, so we'll move to dinner. Now it's time to fly home. Crazy late night flying with a tight connection in Vegas. I'm not even going to tell that story here, but my goodness, I'm getting too old to be running in airports OJ Simpson style (I still try to remember the good OJ). With a business suit on. Whatever the case, before that drama ensued, I usually enjoy going to an airport early so I can unwind with a couple of beers and a meal. I know they have a Matt's Big Breakfast at this airport, because I've been there. Bad plan. Wrong airline and terminal. And to think I was complaining about O'Hare. The Sou...

First time tried: Nov 2022 (Gilbert, AZ) Locations: Flower Child has locations spotted around the country. Mostly in areas that show "blue" on a political map. There's two in Colorado, one in Denver and the other in - oh c'mon guess - Boulder. No way in Colorado Springs. They are in DFW as well, but you can predict they aren't in NE Tarrant. They are owned by Fox Restaurants who have many similar conceptual places, including Culinary Dropout (lol) which some of our team went out to that evening. We're back at the office, and after a full morning of rehearsals, it's showtime. But first - lunch. Yaay! Our gracious hosts sure know how to cater food. First in Chicago, and now here in Phoenix. Like with The Habit, I'd somehow gotten this far in life without ever hearing of a restaurant called Flower Child. Not that I would seek out such a place. Perhaps I should! If there's a restaurant that screams virtue signaling, check out this blurb from their webs...

First visit: Nov 2022 Picking back up here... So the first night was a late one, where dinner didn't start until 9. Way off my dietary routine but I was mentally prepared. We had a very large group, and my coworker chose Society by Evo. You already know that the RJG is not going to gravitate to a "sleek" restaurant with a name like Society by Evo. As stated before, when English majors rule the menu, the accountants add a zero to each entry. On the left side of the decimal point... We had appetizers to start - trays of meatballs, bacon wrapped dates, steak and potato with a hot dipping sauce, feta dip, and hummus. Maybe more. All very good, at least that which I tried. Even though it was late, I decided on pasta anyway and had the Bolognese. Very similar to the meal I had at Panzano in Denver. Maybe even better, as the sauce had a really nice kick to it. I wasn't going to eat it all, but I kept digging in anyway. Weight gain! Beer list was fairly perfunctory and the ta...

Latest visit: Feb 2025 First visit: Jul 2011 (Carson City, NV) HQ: Reno, NV (founded 1972 in Sparks, NV) Locations: 129 (-6 since 2022): NV (74); CA (29); AZ (11); UT (5); WA (4); ID (3); Bend, OR; New York City. Castle Rock is their only locale here in Colorado. It's a sunny and warm Thursday and off I go to Denver to visit some estate and garage sales followed by thrift and record stores. It seems I may be onto a weekly ritual, though that will be a game time decision each day. The second estate sale completed near lunch time, and I knew exactly where I was going. I had seen Port of Subs with their "Coming Soon" sign when meeting with Old Boss late last year. As noted below, they weren't in Colorado prior. But they are now, and let's see how it goes. Walk in, spacious and clean, and you'll be greeted with the traditional sandwich shop setup. The below review reminds us that Port of Subs is in the Jersey Mike's category of making a sandwich with the meat ...