Pho-nomenal ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

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 Vietnamese teas, coffees, etc... On this visit I went with a chicken and rice dish with Vietnamese iced coffee to drink. Mrs. RJG had a bowl of chicken pho. We started with a crispy eggroll. Things were going well until that appetizer arrived.

Mrs. RJG is not a big pork eater, and usually an Asian eggroll will have specs of pork with shredded veggies. In this case, it was a wad of pork and a little bit of lettuce/cabbage. Fine with me - it possessed a great flavor, but the Mrs. was turned off. Onto the meals. Not 30 seconds in, and Mrs. RJG barks that her pho wasn't very hot. That's highly unusual for Vietnamese places. Generally it's the other way around, and it's too hot (temperature)! This isn't going well at all. She surmised that the broth was hot but the noodles weren't, which offset the temperature. The chicken was essentially just boiled and that didn't help matters either. For myself, the rice was perfectly cooked and hot. But the chicken was lukewarm, pre-cooked, and some of the pieces were steroid-y/rubbery. Good flavor though, I must admit. They also do have bottles of Sriracha (not sure how they managed to secure those). The iced coffee was adequate, not exceptional (like, say, Zesty Thai's was last month). In any case, we both agreed that the food wasn't terrible by any means, just OK. As Mrs. RJG wisely noted: "It was good, just not phenomenal". Hmm-mmmm. 

Service was, however, much better than average on this visit. Do we return? Probably not. Too many other pho places to revisit or try for the first time.

3/9/19; 12/31/22 (new entry)

Battle Mountain Brewing ~

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 consistent local clientele. It was a comfortable place to begin with, but Battle Mountain has added some enhancements to make it even more cozy. Beers are now listed on a flat screen, whereas before they were written on a chalkboard. Parking is somewhat limited, but there's plenty of street spots if full. Really glad they preserved this location, and Battle Mountain is a welcome addition to the already great Colorado Springs brewery list.

7/2/21; 12/28/22 (new entry)

Coal Mine Dragon ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

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!

Despite that annoyance, we went through that routine almost weekly for some months. And we did that for the obvious reason that the food was very good - and a lot of it (each order would result in two meals each for the Mrs. and I). And it was always of a very hot temperature so that by the time I got it home it was still steaming - and we live 20 to 25 minutes north of Coal Mine. I usually stuck with chicken fried rice, a good staple for to-go orders. And we have a spicy Thai powder from our days in Texas that makes the dish come alive. Mrs. RJG would be more brave and go for some stir fry with a lot of vegetables. But usually she was pleased.

Once things opened up in Colorado Springs in early 2021, we stopped going to Coal Mine's bizarre to-go option, which they maintained much longer than other places that allowed dine-in, which is what Mrs. RJG and I prefer. Now - almost 3 years later - we return for in-person dining. The occasion? The RJG's Official Mom's 84th birthday! Chinese is a long time favorite of my mom's, and she likes the old fashioned styled places. While not exactly a large place with stuffing coming out of the red vinyl booths and gold plated dragon accessories, Coal Mine does maintain the ambience of a pre-1980s era Chinese restaurant. She had the Moo Goo Gai Pan with Egg Drop soup, and stated it was delicious, and took half of it home. Mrs. RJG had the General Tso's chicken with Wonton soup. They have a spice level - 1 to 5. So she chose 4. I have to hand it to Coal Mine, they don't kid around on the spice. We go for Thai food to get spicy, but it's usually a lost cause at Chinese restaurants. Not so at Coal Mine. It was particularly spicy on this visit. Official Mom tried a piece, and it was way too hot for her palate, and took her awhile to settle it down. I went with Kung Pao Chicken - Coal Mine Dragon style. You can also get it "California" style. The latter with vegetables. I went all-chicken! Same level of heat - 4. I was definitely feeling it at the end, which is a good thing. Both Mrs. RJG and I had the same complaint we always do with Chinese entrees - the sauce is too sticky sweet. I also had the Wonton soup. And unfortunately it wasn't blazing hot temperature which disappointed Mrs. RJG and I. I had fried rice instead of white but it was pretty dull without my powder or chicken. Didn't notice much egg either. Mrs. had white rice, as did Mom. No complaints from either. And Mrs. and I both weren't impressed with the bland and mushy (inside) egg roll.

Overall we had a good meal - not a great meal. Though I think Official Mom enjoyed hers more than us. This was her favorite Chinese so far in Colorado Springs. We'll likely come back next year. For Mom's birthday...

Coal Mine operates two other locations. One off of 8th (which we also ordered to-go from once on the way back from a road trip). The other is in Fountain.

2/22/20; 7/23/20; 8/16/21; 12/20/22 (new entry)

Roman Villa Pizza ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

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 or anything like that. So you'd feel uncomfortable hogging a table for yourself. If you are wanting to try it on your own, just get it to-go. On our last visit 4 years ago, we settled on Italian food. I have to be honest and state it's not the greatest. Their red sauce is just too bitter. And one has to be very careful with Mrs. RJG and the "homemade noodle". She hates it - too doughy. But we promised to "come back soon" and try their pizza. Four and a half years later we finally kept that promise.

There really is no better place to be than Roman Villa on a freezing winter night. For those that still wear their masks while driving solo in the car, I would highly suggest you do not step foot in here. It's close and cozy alright. I've been in subways in New York City that had more room. We ordered a 12 inch Italian sausage pizza and two house salads. Their salad is basic: Iceberg lettuce with pepperoncini's and their homemade Italian dressing. Cold and crisp, and the dressing is tasty. Not an awesome salad, but does the needful. Now - after 28 years of knowing about Roman Villa, how is their pizza anyway? Oh my goodness, it's absolutely delicious! Cheese - that's the key. Cheese. Thick and gooey with just the right amount of sauce. And we both enjoyed their pizza sauce much better than their pasta variation. And it was thin and slightly crispy, just the way Mrs. RJG likes it! Pizza dinner with the Mrs. is always asking for trouble, but we have a new convert! Looks like I may not have to wait 4+ years to come back. She's already wanting to try other dishes, while we order a pizza on the side. Looks like we'll be back next year for sure. Also worth mentioning that their Italian sausage is homemade and rolled, which reminds me of Pantaleone's in Denver (though a bit smaller in size). Oh - one more thing - this was the cheapest dinner Mrs. RJG and I have had in a loooong time. True, we eschewed alcohol and stuck with water, but still our bill was a reminder of our NE Tarrant heyday going to Thai and Italian restaurants that had BYOB.

As an aside, there used to be a second Roman Villa location in Parker, where we lived at the time. They opened around 1999 or so and we were regulars for the next 2-3 years. We later turned Rude Dante onto it. It was a favorite of his family and they went often as well. By the time we picked up the Denver summer townhome in 2009, they were gone. It was never clear to me how closely related that restaurant was to the one here in Colorado Springs. The menu was much different. The restaurant was large and modern. They had a baked Italian Sausage dish that was the best I'd ever had. And that stays true today. I sure would like to have that meal again.

8/6/94; 6/20/18; 12/18/22 (new entry)

Local Relic ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

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 same "church hall". Very relaxing setting, with perfect sunlight befitting of a church. They also have a stereo with a turntable that plays records from their extensive collection. On the visit in 2018, they played Blue Oyster Cult's Spectres, which was a nice surprise. Local Relic prides themselves in making different beers each time.

12/23/18; 6/27/21; 12/12/22 (new entry) 

Colonel Mustard's Sandwich Emporium ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Dec 2022

First visit: Apr 2021

Back again as promised, later than anticipated though. Remembering that the prior year's experience ended up with a (slightly) disappointing Hero, I decided on a Ham and Cheese sandwich. And that's what I got - ham and cheese. Nicely cut thin deli Virginia ham, cheddar cheese, red onion, and their "special sauce" on a ciabatta roll. And it was slightly heated up. The roll was soft and tasty, and the ingredients are likely to be Boar's Head. The special sauce I suspected would be a mustard blend, though it wasn't that obvious. More like a light mayo-mustard spread. Was it good? Absolutely. Was it distinctive and crave worthy? Nope. Sigh. I really like this place - once again the help was very friendly. But it's not cheap, definitely on the high side for the sandwich market. Unless I'm at that one thrift shop during lunch time, I'm never in the area either. I should persevere and try their Meatball or Weisswurst sandwich. I want something to remember. Next year.

--- original 4/24/21 review

I was out and about doing a little thriftin' and lunch time came upon me. But where to eat? I felt like trying something new. Typed in Restaurants in Google Maps, and up came Colonel Mustard's Sandwich Emporium. Hard to pass up a place with a name like that! For most of us who grew up with the game of Clue, Colonel Mustard most assuredly is the prime recognizable character. Who hasn't issued the phrase "It was Colonel Mustard with the Candlestick in the Conservatory!" So kudos for a great name.

The owner is heavily engaged in his new product (first opened last July (2020)). Friendly to a fault, he offers free samples to new and returning customers. Word must be getting out, because I was one of many new customers that day - unwittingly so. One of his signature dishes? Mustard ice cream. Ponder that. I tried it - what the hell - and it's bright yellow with a tiny hint of mustard, and mostly creamy delicious ice cream. Vanilla? Probably, but I don't know. Oh - came with a pretzel too. The German heritage of Colorado Springs lives on.

As for the sandwich, hard to lay off the signature The Colonel Hero. Hmm... It's good of course - you can't really screw up using Boar's Heads meats, on a soft Italian hoagie roll. Problem is, I can do that at home. What I want is a big ol' sloppy sandwich. "The Works", "Mike's Way" whatever you crave. Remember Cero's Heroes in Grapevine (to my old NE Tarrant audience)? Here's where it goes wrong - they use bibb lettuce, and they serve the Italian dressing on the side in a plastic container. You put the dressing onto the sandwich, and where does it go? To the plate below. No place to absorb. Of all things, this sandwich could desperately have used spicy mustard. Which is the theme of the restaurant. 

No matter, I'm coming back to try something else. The owner rocks, and I want to support him - as it seems the whole neighborhood does. Well deserved. I heard him talking about meatball and Italian sausage sandwiches, using our very own historic Polidori from Denver (since 1925). OK, we'll be back. Improve the Hero though.... Sloppy is the word. Sloppy.

4/24/21 (new entry); 12/12/22

RJG Annual Review of the Megachains

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, but one doesn't always lead to the other. And to be honest - most people just flat out don't care. If they did, there wouldn't be a line around every McDonalds at breakfast time. 

The pandemic softened my attitude towards these chains as well. In some cases, they were the only places that were open. For one, they had drive-thru's, a feature I took full advantage of in the lockdown phase. It was safe, and I didn't have to worry about masking up (though there was a movement in Denver to try to make that happen in drive-thru's - knuckleheads all of them). But - and it's a big BUT - the megachains continue to prove one thing: They are wildly inconsistent. Sometimes they are awesome while at others they're just terrible. Of course most of them hire kids while still in school (or dropouts). Sometimes those kids are in charge of the kitchen. You just can't expect too much out of a modern 16 year old kid. Some are far advanced, but most aren't. A friend of mine used to own 14 Taco Bell's in West Texas and Fort Worth. He said he couldn't find managers that weren't crystal meth addicts. Jeesh! And those were the managers....

With that opening, I'll list my favorites from top to bottom. None of these have a separate feature in the RJG and probably never will. I'll also put my last visit for context. As you can tell, many I haven't bothered go back to in many years, so I'm leaving them out for now. Each year, I'll update this posting and move forward starting in 2022.

1. Chick Fil-A. Last visit: Nov 2022. No surprise here. I think many people would put Chick Fil-A at the top in this category. It's just a well run chain. I go all the time to our local branch. They have mastered the art of fast food. And I love their chicken sandwiches and nuggets. Grab a sack full at the drive through during my lunch break (remember, I work from home when not traveling) and watch some TV. Good stuff. They also get top marks for being the most reliable during the pandemic (along with Schlotzskys which we have a separate posting for).

2. Arby's. Last visit: Aug: 2022. Arby's is the single most aggravating megachain of all time. They introduce a new menu item - it's awesome - and then they remove it so you can go back and eat their lame chicken sandwiches that they make a huge profit from. What is wrong with these people? Arby's successfully moved past Chick Fil-A during the pandemic. I loved their Italian deli sub. And then they introduced a hamburger which was awesome. And then their chicken cordon bleu sandwich. All of which were great. Removed. Bland turkey sandwich instead? Now the burger is back. They're like drug pushers. Get you hooked and then give you a cheap alternative - at the same price. Oh well. When it's all said and done, I think Arby's ends up in second place - for this sad list anyway. Haha.

3. Jimmy John's. Last visit: Jul 2022. Ya know, I've really moved Jimmy John's way up over the years. In the old days their sandwiches were really skimpy - and boring. But they've improved dramatically in that department. We had one near our office in Baltimore (closed now - both our office and Jimmy John's) and that's when I started to reengage with the chain. Now I go to one in the south part of the Springs near a thrift shop. It's always good. I should make them #2, but Arby's has better product - when they feel up to it that is.

Popeye's. Last visit: Feb 2022. There are times when I think that Popeye's is the best national chain. And then they let me down. Again and again. Now they've even removed one of my favorite menu items: Dirty Rice. I know many others agree with me - why on earth did they do that? Sure it was gross, but it was great gross. Do you know why they did that? And this is exactly why I hate megachains. Because... "it was part of a simplification initiative". Read: Less profits because it was too inconvenient to make. Who cares what the customers want! We need to be more efficient! I didn't know Henry Ford was still alive? During the pandemic, their chicken sandwich was a favorite for the Mrs. and I. Though there was a bone in one of my sandwiches (nice). Then Popeyes became notorious for not opening their stores because they had no employees. Everyone else did! How bad is your management then? The last time I went (date above) even the chicken sandwich blew. See what I mean about inconsistency?

Taco Bell. Last visit: Oct 2022. There was a time in the mid to late 1980s when Taco Bell made up my daily diet. Their tacos were reliably cheap and good. And that's all I would ever get here - tacos. I would suggest you do the same. Things like bean burritos here are just terrible. Over the years, Taco Bell has slid downwards, though they did finally introduce a hot sauce that was actually spicy. Nowadays I almost never go - not even during the pandemic. They just opened a new one nearby the Chick Fil-A above. I was curious. Grabbed a bag of tacos to take home. Not bad. Not good.

And the above were the only ones I went to in 2022. Other than Chick Fil-A and Jimmy John's, the others didn't see me more than once.

I'll cover a few more that I last visited in 2021. And then we'll revisit this post next year. Maybe I'll even go back to Burger King... Maybe.

Carl's Jr. Last visit: Oct 2021. I don't know what to make of this chain. They're really pretty good - I like their burgers. But not crazily so. I never have craved Carl's Jr. When they first opened in Parker in the late 90s (where we used to live) I was excited to try them. And I enjoyed it then as I do now. I dunno - it always feels like they "do the needful". I need an addicting item here and never have found it. 

Subway. Last visit: Jul 2021. I do like Subway. And I am forever grateful to this chain during the pandemic. Next to Chick Fil-A and Schlotzsky's, they were my go-to option for lunch. Their sandwiches are pretty good all things considered. They are no Jersey Mike's that's for sure, but at half the price, you really can't complain. I remember when they were "all the rage" in the middle 80s when we got our first location in Lubbock. I won't ever turn my nose up at Subway, but there are clearly better alternatives. While I didn't go this year, I made up for it in 2020 and the first half of 2021. Prior to that I almost never went there either. 

Wendy's. Last visit: Dec 2020. OK last one. Prior to this last visit, Wendy's was #2 on my list. I've been a big fan of the chain since I first tried them in northern Virginia in 1978. When they opened their first location (that I knew of) in Dallas in 1980, I wanted to go every week. I used to love their buffet when they had that in the late 80s. And when I was a road warrior consultant in the late 90s, Wendy's provided a reliable quick lunch: Spicy chicken sandwich and a chocolate Frosty. But over the years they just continued on a downward spiral. They are the epitome of "letting the children and meth addicts run the store". On this last visit (ever?) I ordered a spicy chicken sandwich. They didn't even cook it! Nothing like a cold uncooked chicken breast. I had taken it to-go. So it wasn't even worth driving back to get my money returned. The end of civilization as we know it.

12/3/22 (new entry)

Western Omelette ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

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 sure it's less crowded than on the weekends. But its location to where we live isn't really convenient for that. Hence - 4 years later, we're finally back at the Western Omelette. One of my favorite Colorado Springs restaurants - that I never go to. :-(

The location is nice - looks like it may have been an old Denny's or something similar. Apparently they've been open since 1992, though I don't recall ever hearing about it in my first tour of duty here. It's fully decorated in the Native American style. Most of it is authentic with a touch of 1950s western tourism kitsch. Caucasian looking Native American paintings for example. The waitresses were all dressed in 1920's Flapper Girl attire on this visit. Not sure the relevance, but they all looked neat to my eyes. And beware of any restaurant whose logo sports habanero, serrano, and jalapeno peppers with smiling teeth and sunglasses. You're just asking for trouble.

And what makes Western Omelette so special? In the mind of the RJG it's really quite simple: Their green chile. In particular you have to ask for the hot variety. When you do - the waitstaff will invariably ask "have you ever had it?" Oh yea - I respond. Oh yea. Without a single doubt, Western Omelette's green chile is the single hottest I've ever had at a restaurant. It's so spicy you'd think it was illegal to serve. And that's coming from me - your spice head host - Mr. RJG. I always get half and half: Red and spicy green. I've had their mild green and it's really not good at all. The red packs some heat, so if you like it hot - but not that hot - go for the red.

So what am I burying this mythical chile over? A breakfast burrito of course. Their variety is eggs and chorizo, the latter some of the finest I've ever had. More like ground beef than a yucky pork taste. With a side of hash browns. Oh and they do have flavored creamers, so I had coffee as well. Served hot and actually had some strength to it. The flavor of that green chile is just divine. But lethal. And when you see all those orange bits of chile, then you know that habanero is present. In the Colorado Springs area, we have two other places that serve insanely spicy green chile (that I know about): Quijotes (still our favorite) and The Loop ('Burrito From Hell'). Western Omelette is spicier than both of those.

Fine - I'm happy as expected. But what about the Spousal Unit? Always a wildcard, what did she order and how did she feel about it?  She had 'The Pony' with 2 eggs, bacon, hash browns, and pancakes. She also had coffee which she enjoyed. The eggs were bland she stated, not enough flavor to distinguish. Same goes for the hash browns. The bacon was excellent - thick cut. Ironically both chewy and crispy (I tried a bit - very good). But Mrs. RJG is getting smart, and grabbed a couple of spoonful's of my green chile. Whoa nelly. It's hot right? Oh yea. She loved that and it made the eggs and hash browns taste much better. We split the pancakes as a dessert and to settle our stomachs. When it's all said and done, I still don't think she'll make a beeline back here. She'll declare that the chile is too hot for you, dear (Mr. RJG). No it isn't! Yes it is, she replies immediately. Even though we were seated promptly and received our coffee right away, our meal took close to 25 minutes to arrive. So that didn't go over well either. Sigh.

So what am I to do? Probably come over some garden variety weekday for breakfast. Yea, sure I will. But I must... It's one of my Gold Star restaurants!

7/8/18; 10/27/18; 12/3/22 (new entry)

Claire's at the Museum ~ Long Beach, California

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 was perfect! A little light seasoning on the outside and so fresh! It may have been the most delicious cooked salmon I ever had! Lady Music Sr noted the lemon, blueberry pancakes and we decided to split a stack 3 way. Oh boy, they were fluffy and lemony and amazing. Topped with blueberries, blueberry compote and fresh whipped cream, they were a perfect treat! We all loved them. The service was beyond exemplary! The cost was very reasonable. I will definitely return!

- Mr. Music review

Schnitzel Fritz ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

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 fried and breaded veal cutlets with seasoned super hot fries. And a little salad garnishment. Very filling and tasty. Weiner Schnitzel is actually an Austrian dish and serving it with sauce is considered unacceptable. Amen to that. It's a subtle flavor, and any kind of sauce would ruin the experience. The RJG's Official Mom is 100% German (heritage - born in New York), and she never cooked or ate Weiner Schnitzel. I asked why. Never even heard of it she replied. Her family were from the north of Germany, near the Netherlands. Bavarian and Austrian cooking were as foreign as Mexican food when she was a kid. Interesting that. When I travel Europe, I seek this dish out. It's prominent throughout the German speaking regions and Eastern Europe.

The owner is the cook and she is just a delightful lady. There should be a line out the door for food like this. I just wish there were more options, but German food remains an obscure culinary choice in the States. Pity that. Maybe they should just focus on the food, and leave off the gimmicky touristy stuff. It screams 60s kitsch. Schnitzel Fritz is the way to go. We need to come back more often, and will do so.

9/7/18; 4/6/19; 11/28/22 (new entry)

Ted's Montana Grill ~ national chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

First visit: Nov 2022 (Colorado Springs - Promenade)

I'd heard of Ted's Montana Grill in my business travels throughout the US, but never actually went there, though I seem to recall one time where it was planned but we dined elsewhere. Mrs. RJG was in the mood for a burger, and she'd heard that Ted's was one of the best in town - from a neighbor I believe. Ah, why not? So on this fine Saturday we sauntered over for lunch (not too far from where we reside), hoping not to battle the Christmas buying crowd. It wasn't too bad and we found a parking spot nearby. Walking in, the restaurant is well appointed and is made to look like an old fashioned western spot shoehorned into the main drag. Cozy booths with mood lighting enhance the effect. 

Despite having a full bar area, their taps are lacking of craft beers. They have their own beer made by New Belgium called Ted's Big Sky Lager. So I ordered that. Not too bad - refreshing, but very light if looking for more heft in your beer. Didn't think New Belgium would make something this light.

We went straight to order. Mrs. RJG asked for the bacon cheeseburger (beef) with 50/50 fries and onion rings. And I ordered a regular cheeseburger (with swiss) with a cup of their bison red chili. They brought out the latter first, topped with onions, cheese, and jalapeno's. Wow - what a great chili! The bison is soft and velvety. Very flavorful. I'm getting a bowl next time. Mrs. RJG loved her burger - perfectly cooked well done, the ground beef was also soft and tasted great. The only problem is they didn't toast the bun, always a gripe with the Misses. Mine was pretty much the exact same minus the bacon. I had every intention of ordering the bison, but for whatever reason I uttered beef. Mrs. RJG isn't a fan of the meat but I am! No complaints from me at all - delicious burger. The fries were good if not distinctive. The onion rings had a nice batter - that completely fell off the onion lol. All in all, a very positive experience. Mrs. RJG and I both agree that the Official RJG Mom would love this place. She has a birthday coming up, so we'll see. I'm sure their steaks are great too.

The Ted in Ted's Montana Grill is Ted Turner - the CNN and TBS guy. Sort of takes the magic out of the whole Montana thing, though I think he's the largest private landowner there - or at least close to it. The corporation is based in Atlanta. Nationwide there are 39 locations with 8 in Colorado, and 7 of those are in the Denver area. There are none in Texas.

11/26/22 (new entry)

Al Markaz Groceries and Restaurant ~ Carrollton, Texas

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...

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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 chicken and naan in DFW. They do other things well, but these are the standouts. When we go, we over-order because leftovers are awesome from Al Markaz. 

We ordered 2 mutton biryani, karahi chicken, 2 chicken boti, keema fry and sheik kebab. That is an insane amount of food for 3! But we have a method to the madness, but it's not pertinent here. The mutton biryani was glorious this evening! Black and green cardamom pods and plum seeds, oh my! Clove, whole star anise pods, bay leaf, chilies, and more. Super fragrant, and clusters of masala and fabulous flavorful mutton and delectable bones encased in masala spread throughout which are important aspects when communing with the biryani gods! The wafting fragrance is key! The staff there is great and seem genuinely happy to see the Music's come in. They are very attentive and keep us well stocked with raita! Speaking of raita (a dipping sauce made from plain yogurt, cumin or cumin seeds, cilantro leaves, and maybe a little cucumber). there are many variations, but here it's all ground in a blender and usually pretty thin and tart. Sometimes I thought they added lemon juice. We all love raita and especially theirs. The raita recipe has changed, but still yummy. it is thicker and more yogurty than before and not near as tart or herby as it used to be. The Boti was the best it has ever been! and now officially the best I've ever had anywhere! A thick coat of masala & yogurt kept the chicken super moist and flavorful. It is the item that has improved most over time! The keema (ground meat simmered in spices) was outstanding as was the karahi chicken (small chunks of white meat chicken bathing in a gravy made from tomatoes, jalapeno and an array of spices and herbs giving it a very unique flavor. The naan is still superior to most other places. After ordering, I saw someone eating sheik kebob and decided to add that to our order. it was very good, but did not stand up to the intensity of all the other dishes. Needless to say, as planned we brought home plenty of leftovers. 

It was a delicious night!

- Mr. Music review

Barrio Cafe ~ Phoenix, Arizona

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 Southwest terminal at Sky Harbor takes the cake. When I landed I could see they plan on opening multiple restaurants in their new terminal. But when will that be who knows. My non-fast food options in this terminal were Barrio Cafe - or - Barrio Cafe. I think I'll go with Barrio Cafe. Menu looked good, why not. I stood in line (of course because I had to). Finally got seated. This is one of those restaurants that insists you do everything on your smart phone. I thought that was an option not mandatory. Nope. God help you if you don't have one - like the RJG official Mom for example. Waitress comes by and asks me if I need help ordering. Really? So I quickly pulled up the QR Code and ordered a beer (Sky Harbor has their own lager made by SanTan so that's pretty cool) and an Arizona Burrito. Looked good on paper.

No bueno. Smothered in green it alleges. I would love to ask the "cook" what the word smother means to him/her/it/they (see how hard this is getting?). "It means one teaspoon of chile sauce". If that. C'mon man! Oops, that's gender specific. Anyway - this burrito is essentially a brisket wrapped in an out-of-the-bag tortilla and a drop of green chile. The brisket actually wasn't too bad at all (though I thought it was going to be Carne Asada. Not sure why I thought that). It was just the expectation wasn't met. Had I been in a barbeque place I may have been singing its praises.

Next time I need to do more homework. Perhaps chill out before heading to the airport, but that adds risk to missing the flight. Hmm... Going to have to think about this. I do plan on being back to Phoenix - and hopefully soon!

Apparently there is another Barrio Cafe in Phoenix. Completely unrelated to the airport restaurant. And they make a big deal to point that out. I don't blame them!

11/9/22 (new entry)

Port of Subs ~ regional chain : Gilbert, Arizona

Latest visit: Nov 2022 (Gilbert, AZ)

First visit: Jul 2011 (Carson City, NV)

Locations: According to their website, Port of Subs started simply as Sub Shop in Sparks, Nevada in 1972. They have approximately 135 locations in 8 western states. Colorado is not one of them.

The rest of the afternoon was all presentations followed by an early evening team meeting in Tempe. After that, many of us were looking to recharge and we went our separate ways to achieve that. I wasn't particularly hungry, and was very tired after a chaotic day. I decided to get something light, take it back to the hotel room, and enjoy a couple of beers while watching the election results. The perfect brainless activity so that I would be fresh in the morning! But what was going to be that light meal? Already did the hamburger thing as noted on the The Habit post. How about a sandwich? And up popped Port of Subs. Yes, of course, I remember them. Recall Rule #1 - it can't be a place I can visit at home in Colorado Springs (or even Denver really).

I had a note on my spreadsheet, and that same note entered my mind the minute I ordered: Jersey Mike's. It's the exact same modus operandi. Pull out the meats and cheeses, and make each slice just like your neighborhood delicatessen would do. Add in the toppings, wrap 'er on up, and out the door I go. Even though it was late, I was impressed by the counter person who was the consummate professional. He may have been the manager. No matter, I felt like my sandwich was being made with care. As for the verdict, Jersey Mike's wins on better bread and toppings. It's just a much sloppier sandwich than the decidedly drier Port of Subs, even though the ingredients are more or less the same. The Great Outdoors chain in DFW also gets the edge. All the same, I was more than happy with my sandwich, and if they were in Colorado Springs, I would go a few times a year. In this case they provided (ahem) a port in the storm.

7/13/11; 4/5/12; 11/8/22 (new entry)

Flower Child ~ national chain : Gilbert, Arizona

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 website: "At Flower Child, we make every last bite from scratch, using fresh ingredients from close to home and serving healthy food that takes you to a happy place. That’s our promise to you, whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, paleo, or just hungry. And just because we can do sugar-free, dairy-free and gluten-free doesn’t mean we do flavor-free… because where’s the happy in that?" Well... they addressed my cynical side ("taste free") and they backed it up too with excellent food. Damn them - it used to be easy to make fun of these places. They were uniformly expensive, and the food blew. No more - except maybe the price point. But hell, everyone is too expensive these days, other than In-N-Out Burger perhaps. Did you see how I weaved the burger chain in here? Not sure why though...

This is not a vegetarian place - and I have to say the chicken and rare steak were delicious. Mrs. RJG would not have liked the steak though. Fresh crisp lettuce, though they forgot to give us the Caesar dressing, so that was a bummer. What did I like best? Their Gluten Free Mac & Cheese. It's better than any Gluten Full Mac and Cheese I've ever had! It may have been the best mac and cheese I've ever had period. I felt compelled to go back and get more of that and some protein too.  You guys win - the RJG has converted to healthy food alternatives! OK, maybe not, but nice to know this place exists. In general I work with more women than men - and not to profile - but let's be honest, Flower Child is received more favorably.

Since this was catered I can't comment on the location itself. But I'll try to seek a Flower Child out next time I have the chance for further observation.

11/8/22 (new entry)

Society by Evo ~ Tempe, Arizona

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 taps were broken. This group are not heavy drinkers (fortunately) which probably explains why they're still going after all these years (most of us are of a similar age). I had one bottled IPA from Bell's which sufficed. 

The location is very nice. A large comfortable place, with darkened mood lighting. Very close to the Arizona State University campus. Definitely a good choice for large business groups.

11/7/22 (new entry)

The Habit Burger Grill ~ national chain : Gilbert, Arizona

First visit: Nov 2022 (Gilbert, AZ)

Locations: As noted below, The Habit has the darnedest growth strategy I've ever seen. Essentially they are growing on both the left and right coasts, while completely ignoring the middle. They have made it to Utah, so it would seem Colorado could be soon. I bet they open on Interquest in Colorado Springs (haha). They currently have over 300 locations.

Today we begin 3 long days of discussion and customer meetings. Those don't start until the early afternoon, so I needed to ensure I had lunch to fuel the remainder of the day until our (later) dinner. I was just looking for a burger - nothing too heavy - when a pile of places showed up near my hotel. All national or regional chains that I can get back in Colorado Springs. RJG Rule #1 when traveling: Don't eat at any place that you can easily have at home. The one place that stood out differently was The Habit Burger Grill.

I have somehow managed to get to late 2022 without ever hearing of a place called The Habit Burger Grill. They are clearly the latest rage in hamburgers, with a high growth plan similar to Shake Shack. In looking at their history, it appears they started in 1969 in the Santa Barbara (California) area. They remained independent for 27 years before opening a second location in Ventura. And then they got rolling. It wasn't until 2014 that they started to go beyond their southern Californian roots. And that explains why I hadn't run into them, because of the areas they were expanding in - I was no longer traveling to. More on their locations and odd growth strategy later on in the article.

This particular location sits in a sea of fast food franchises, with some Asian options I haven't tried. Perhaps the next time. Since it was my first visit, I wanted to eat inside, rather than the drive thru option. Pretty good size for a fast food establishment. Order up and they give you the buzzing ashtray that says "Better to wait a short time for your burger than have your burger wait a long time for you". I like that! So yes, you're getting a freshly made hamburger. I had what they call a Charburger (they all have to have these trademarked names it appears) with cheese. These days I usually just get it the way they make it, figuring they know what they do best. I usually do remove the tomato because simply I don't like them when they're whole. They don't do any fancy signature sauces - which are usually variations on Thousand Island dressing. Nope - just mayo. Which is really my least favorite of the dressings, but it was lightly coated, which was nice. The cheese was nice and gooey similar to In-N-Out. As we look for comparisons, I think we're definitely in the same league with the aforementioned In-N-Out, though Shake Shack also came to mind. I only had a single since I was looking more for a holdover snack than a huge lunch (see photo). If I was my more normal hungry self, then a double would be necessary. Because of this, I didn't go for fries, but was able to visualize them. They look slightly plump - what I would call "normal fries". And the menu promises they have mocha shakes. Oh boy, did I want one of those too. But a full day of meetings ahead made the answer of no easy. Overall a very fine burger, that if they were in Colorado Springs, I would make an attempt to visit at least once a year. And have their fries and a shake too...

11/7/22 (new entry)

State 48 Brewery ~ Gilbert, Arizona

First visit: Nov 2022 (Gilbert)

After a full day of crate digging, I'd built up an appetite. There's nothing walking distance to the hotel, but what would be a close drive that looked appealing? State 48 Brewery went straight to the front and kept the pole position throughout. Had to limit the beer intake, which I usually peg to 2 unless they are really light. Must keep under the legal limit. It's easier to do that locally because I can always come back and try other beers the next time. But I have to avoid the temptation to try more and stay disciplined. The Bier Reise have those two beers cataloged - and they were both delicious.

State 48 is a sharp looking place inside a suburban "town center". Somewhat like Southlake's Town Square for my old NE Tarrant readers. A very spacious place with television screens throughout. I waited until the Cardinals game was over, and even Google Maps warned it was "busier than usual" during the game. And I'm sure that's one of the brewpub's primary functions - that of a sports bar. The timing was perfect really, and the restaurant was busy but comfortable. Plopped myself at the bar - you notice I always "plop myself" at a bar? Not sure why I say that, but I guess that's how it feels. I had peeked at their menu online and was very much intrigued that they had Chicken Parm, though the restaurant doesn't have other Italian specialty items. Giving in to temptation, I had to try it.

And I am so glad I did! Wow - 90% of the Italian restaurants out there do not make it this good. Makes you wonder why not? What a fantastic plate of wonderfulness this turned out to be. See the photo of my dinner. That's what I want chicken parm to look like! Slightly burned gooey cheese, crispy breaded chicken cutlet, all sitting on a bed of penne pasta, with a delicious deep red pomodoro sauce. Comes with a steak knife as you can see - that's what I expect! And it tasted as good as it looks. And steaming hot! Did you hear that - you establishments in Colorado Springs that call yourselves "restaurants"? Make sure that the dish goes from the oven to the table as fast as possible!

Wow - what do I do when I come to Phoenix next time? It will be hard to pass up on Tacos Tijuana and State 48 Brewery - especially considering they have multiple locations in the city. And speaking of that, State 48 has 6 of them throughout the valley. On the question - at least once a year for the annual review. I would be so lucky to have the option.

11/6/22 (new entry)

Tacos Tijuana ~ Gilbert, Arizona

Latest visit: Nov 2022 (Gilbert)

First visit: Mar 2019 (Mesa)

Other locations: As of this writing, Tacos Tijuana has 6 locations, all in the Phoenix area. Their website says "all over Arizona" so I'm guessing some closed during the pandemic.

After leaving Chicago, was back home for a couple of days, and left for Phoenix early Sunday. Wanted to get a full day in to look for records and try different places to eat and new beers to drink. Once again we're here for business, and this trip is related to the same pursuit we've been on when going to Denver and Chicago. As with those trips, I have limited freedom on where I would normally go to eat, though this group has proven to do a fine job of picking places. We'll see how they fare on this trip.

As you can see, I've been here before - during a quiet period for the RJG. The Mrs. and I were in this part of Phoenix for one of our official niece's weddings. This preceded other official niece's weddings in Scottsdale late last year and the grand extravaganza we covered in the San Diego area back in May. On this trip in 2019, Mrs. RJG and I decided to drive from Colorado Springs, and get in some quality time in New Mexico plus Prescott Valley. Since we had flexibility and arrived a day early, we decided to recon where the wedding was to be. Once we accomplished that, it was lunch time. Tacos Tijuana came up on the trusty Google app, and off we went. Both of us enjoyed our meal immensely and we'd hoped to return as soon as possible.

And that day has arrived - for me at least. I could have sworn the location we went to was in Gilbert. Once I was inside it was clear I was mistaken. And considering this location didn't open until after I was here solidified that fact. After some Google research, and looking at the interior, it was indeed the Mesa locale we had been too. The one in Gilbert is much larger - and comfortable - so already we're looking at positives. 

I came here for one reason - Vampiros tacos. It was not a style I was familiar with prior, but essentially it's a tostada without a bean spread, but cheese instead. The key here is the crispy tortilla - as otherwise it would be a sloppy mess. But not at Tacos Tijuana. Not only is it a sturdy and crispy fried corn tortilla, but it's also very flavorful on its own. As for toppings, I went with al pastor and carne asada. Both of them cooked to perfection. Not too many places get the right seasonings for al pastor, but Tacos Tijuana does it perfectly, and restores my faith in the dish. They come street taco style with onions and cilantro. Tacos Tijuana provide salsas in giant squirt bottles, that they keep refrigerated so it stays fresh. One is what they call mild, but I would say it's medium. It's a bit too watery for me to recommend though. The hot is perfect though (dark red bottle). It definitely packs some heat, and the texture is exactly what I want - thick and loaded with finely minced chiles. Look at the picture I took of my meal. I was tempted to get a third one, but had a full day ahead and didn't want to get slowed down.

I'll be back - hopefully my next trip to Phoenix - which could be soon. 

11/6/22 (new entry)

Mesa; Gilbert

Publican Tavern ~ Chicago, Illinois

O'Hare Airport (Terminal 3)

Latest visit: Nov 2022

First visit: May 2018

On the final day in Chicago we were back to 20 some odd folks in the meeting. The plan was to have a catered breakfast and then most of us flew home that late afternoon / early evening. The breakfast was very good, but the caterer remained a mystery, so I can't include in the RJG. Perfectly cooked scrambled eggs - rare to find eggs cooked well in a large setting. They also had bacon, potatoes, pastries, fruit, etc...

Now to the airport, which took forever and a day to get to. No one works it seems but the freeways are still mobbed. After the security check, it was time to eat and drink. I flew United this time, and I haven't really explored Terminal 2. Ya know, for an airport the size of O'Hare, and their main terminal is #2 which houses their flagship United, one would think the eateries would be endless. Nope. Plenty of fast options from the food court or other awful looking places. There are a couple of exceptions, but those were packed to the rafters. This terminal needs way more full service sit down restaurants and bars. Fast food is fine for lunch, but that sucks for dinner. Even The Berghoff is a quick service counter serve place. Well my flight was delayed (of course it was) and I was early to begin with, so I took the long (very long as it turns out) walk to Terminal 3 which I'm more familiar with. This terminal houses American, and they used to fly to ORD from COS, but no more. And a few times I flew through Chicago instead of DFW to get to Baltimore from here. For 1) I'm a million miler on American, and I belong to the Admirals Club. So I figured I'd take advantage of that. But the other is my favorite restaurant at O'Hare (that I know of): Publican Tavern.

And sure enough, this restaurant remains very popular, but somehow comfortable. I was seated promptly. They have a great selection of craft beers from the area, including a couple I didn't get in the city. I also ordered their cheeseburger which came out perfect. The accompanying fries were super hot temperature (hooray). The menu is not extensive, mainly just sandwiches and burgers, but it's diverse enough for most travelers I would think. If I fly to O'Hare again, I may find myself taking the long haul over. I just need to make sure I have enough time.

The primary Publican restaurant sits in the West Loop of Chicago and has a much more extensive menu.

5/17/18; 11/4/22 (new entry)

Sopraffina Marketcaffe ~ Chicago, Illinois

First tried: Nov 2022

OK now we have moved offices (a few blocks away) and expanded our team up to 20 people. This group is a bit too big for team lunches and dinners, so they brought in food from the outside. That's always a dicey proposition, but I hoped for the best. I was starving by Noon, and I heard lunch was served. Wandering outside the office was a display filled with different kinds of sandwiches and salads - all in sturdy cardboard boxes - with the name Sopraffina stamped on them. I grabbed the sole Parma sandwich, which had smoked ham, swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, and grain mustard on pretzel ciabatta. Came with a side of fruit, spicy pickle, macaroni salad, and an M&M cookie.

Oh my goodness - what a great sandwich! Makes you wonder why everyone can't do this? The bread is key for certain but the mixture of ingredients were perfect. Very fresh. Other notables were the large spear pickle - and my inner 5 year old comes out - the cookie. The fresh fruit was enjoyable and I don't like cold macaroni salad, but I was stuffed anyway so I gave it away.

Sopraffina is a local chain with 4 locations - all inside the Loop! I'm not sure which store they catered it from, and I obviously haven't been inside, so I'm leaving the location off.

11/4/22 (new entry)

Giordano's ~ regional chain : Chicago, Illinois

Latest visit: Nov 2022 (Chicago - Central Loop)

First visit: Oct 1997 (Westchester, Illinois)

Talk with anyone that knows what Chicago Pizza is and they're likely to break into an argument about who's better between Giordano's and Lou Malnati's. I have never been to the latter, and this is only my second time to the former. As you can see, my first visit was 25 years ago. At that time, our Chicago office was in Westchester, a most wonderful inner suburb that housed many great "old school Chicago" restaurants. With names like "Beef" as noted in Luke's post. The Giordano's there was something of an afterthought, representing a chain like experience among much more worthy independent establishments. I wasn't impressed.

But here we are in Chicago, and it's time for the team dinner. There's about 10 of us, and my coworker and I agreed that we should try for a Chicago legend. And pizza sounded great to all of us who were hungry after a full day of deliberation. He made reservations at Giordano's and I could only hope that my experience was better this time.

It wasn't. The restaurant is much larger than the Westchester outlet, but the pizzas just didn't do much for me. We had both the deep dish and thin crust. Neither blew my socks off. Not that I would want such an event to happen at a business team dinner... We ordered wisely - getting an all meat and all veggie deep dish along with a thin crust cheese pizza. I went for the all meat deep dish to start. I'm just not sold. It's possible I just don't like the style all that much. The crust just doesn't work for me, and I'm not too keen on the tomato sauce either. The thin crust was better, but it was a little flat to be honest. Not literally the crust (which is how it's supposed to be) but rather it lacked ambition. Beer list was lame too. I dunno. Need to try Lou Malnati's I guess, huh?

Giordano's began in 1974. They have 49 locations in Illinois and a smattering of others in a few states. There's actually 2 in the Denver area which I didn't realize. None in Texas. The Westchester locale is still there.

10/28/97; 11/4/22 (new entry)

Luke's Italian Beef ~ Chicago, Illinois

First visit: Nov 2022

One thing that was very apparent to me on this trip to Chicago: The pandemic appears to have just now ended. What a dictatorship they had going here. Many places are closed permanently because they could not survive a 2 year lockdown. The downtown streets are still somewhat empty, with workers just starting to filter back in. All these beautiful glass and steel (or stone and mortar) towers of commerce remain empty. It's really sad to see. Denver is back to full glory as an apples to apples comparison. Many of the businesses that did survive are stating "welcome back" similar to what we saw in the summer of 2021! And masks are still fairly prevalent, and mandatory on buses and trains. I guess the disease is worse in Chicago than elsewhere huh? Pfft! I had been to Eastern Europe during Soviet dominated Communism, and know exactly what it looks like. Like what I'm seeing here in Chicago. Apparently that's what these leaders want. My goodness we must fight back!

Why bring that up here? Well, Luke's survived. It was almost empty when I arrived at Noon, so I suppose there are fringe benefits to destroying your buying populace - not to mention the mass inflation these clowns brought with them. Take advantage why you can - if you can afford it. I wasn't sure I was going to get in lunch, but yes, just before the heavy work began I seized the opportunity.

When I go to Chicago - I want Chicago Food! It's a real thing, and unique to this once wonderful city. It's the immigrant influence of the early 1900s. Italian, Greek, Polish, German, and beyond. Beef. I've seen restaurants in Chicagoland called just that: Beef. And Luke's is perfect. What a vibe. They still have the old menus above the counter and you can get Italian specialties including pizza. Or you could just get a beef sandwich. Which is - OF COURSE - what I ordered (and for one of my likeminded co-workers). Mrs. RJG would hate Chicago Food, at least this variety. The bread is wet and a tad mushy. I added sweet peppers, which really weren't that sweet. I usually would go for hot - but ya know being with 10 other co-workers that can create other issues lol. In any case, if I worked in the buildings (there were 2 on this trip) that I spent 3 days in, Luke's would be a weekly visit. I just hope that most of these places around town survived.

11/4/22 (new entry)

Miller's Pub ~ Chicago, Illinois

Latest visit: Oct 2022

First visit: Jun 2012

OK - so here's the place downtown (inside The Loop) I'd been to prior. I was here for AT&T on a one off business trip and we'd come here for drinks after dinner. And, as it turns out, I came here only for drinks after dinner this time as well. Doing the pub crawl on the first night while enjoying one day of vacation before a very busy business week. It's even closer to the Palmer House. Looking at the menu, I really should give this place a go for dinner. Perhaps next time in Chicago I'll make that effort, if finding myself downtown of course. They have an excellent craft beer selection, which again, is cataloged in the Bier Reise above.

Miller's Pub first opened in 1935 and has been in the same family since 1950. This is the darkened wood paneled Chicago bar you dream about.

6/21/12; 11/4/22 (new entry)

2Twenty2 Tavern ~ Chicago, Illinois

First visit: Oct 2022

Back in Chicago for the first time since 2012. For whatever reason I was lazy getting down my experience then, so those restaurants will have to await a revisit. But as it turns out one pub did get a revisit - more on that later.

One of my other favorite pursuits is staying at old hotels - especially those of former glorious grandeur. I also enjoy contemporary hotels - perhaps future relics right? On this visit I had a chance to stay at the Palmer House, one of Hilton's hotels since the mid 40s but a history that goes back to 1925 (in its current state). It was the first hotel in Chicago with elevators along with light bulbs and telephones in each guest room. Not even sure they still have the latter. Who would notice such things? But no one could miss the grand entrance with the incredible ceiling paintings. So many great details. Of course the pandemic closed the hotel for well over a year. Fortunately it is back - alive and well. Like the rest of us I suppose... Love the old black and white photos from their heyday in the 50s, 60s, and early 70s that which line the hallways of the hotel. What happened to those days anyway? I remember it briefly from when I was a little boy, but it was gone before I could appreciate it. And I just found out that the RJG's Official Mom was here in 1958! What? She didn't travel hardly at all without my Dad, but this was one trip her aunt took her on before she was married. An aunt I never knew unfortunately.

Take the Wabash exit out of the hotel ("street level"), hang a right and a short walk south takes you to this most wonderful tavern called 2Twenty2. They carded me at the front. Believe me - as I close in on 60 and look every bit of it - that is a most ridiculous practice. But I laugh anyway. Plopped myself at the bar and looked at a beer menu filled with breweries and beers I'd never seen. This is all covered in the Bier Reise (see pages above). But for the purposes of the RJG, it's dinner time, so what to eat? Oddly the establishment is only known as a "bar" in Google Maps, which is far from the reality. Even the tavern themselves call their food menu "bar bites" underselling how great their kitchen is. I settled on the "Light My Fire Burger" with Pepper Jack cheese, onions, and Sriracha Aioli, with regular fries. Excellent in every way, even Mrs. RJG would have approved of this fine burger. The darkened sports bar ambience with a specialized beer list, gives it more than a remembrance to Max's Taphouse. Not that many beers of course, but still a very welcoming place. In fact the next night I came back for a couple of more beers - while the World Series was playing. Good times.

11/4/22 (new entry)

Ivywild Kitchen ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2022

First visit: Jan 2019

It seems nothing is like what it was before (see El Tepehuan and countless others in this blog). Chalk up "The Bristol Pub" as yet one more victim of the pandemic. We last went here in the final days before our freedom was wiped off the map. The Bristol Pub is where Mrs. RJG and I thought we were going for lunch on this fine Sunday. It was essentially the restaurant arm of Bristol Brewing, by far and away Colorado Springs' largest brewery. No more. Sitting inside the Ivywild School - an ancient former elementary school repurposed for food and drink - the way it works now is that you can order a beer from Bristol and then walk around to any one of your favorite restaurants nearby. Sort of like brick and mortar food trucks. There's a barbeque option, empanadas, Detroit-styled pizza, coffee/ice cream, and burgers/chicken. Ivywild Kitchen is the latter and made up most of the old Bristol Pub menu. We were completely confused at first, but we got it figured out. I can see the allure of this setup, but we had already settled in our table only to find out we needed to go fetch our meal. Mrs. RJG did not like that at all. Well - now we know.

OK fine, so we wandered over to the Ivywild Kitchen counter to order our meal. The cook-cash register dude didn't really seem too happy about more business. But took our order anyway. What a guy. They then proceed to text you on your phone that your order is ready for pickup (they want a tip for that too - just amazing). By now, Mrs. RJG and I were sitting in detention in another seating area. It had all the warmth of dining in - well - an elementary school hallway. OK now I understand what they mean by "community eatery". Remember this is how English majors make a living now. I had the cheeseburger with a side of green chile. The chile was actually pretty spicy and tasty for such an endeavor. But - stop me if you heard this from me before - it wasn't hot enough. Are personal injury lawyers roaming Colorado Springs looking for burn victims? This is starting to drive me batty. I knew Frank Azar was everywhere, but this is getting ridiculous. The burger was flavorful - also pretty small. And they charged for something bigger. Mrs. RJG got a similar burger with fries. Her pet peeve is not toasting the bread, and sure enough, they didn't. Cold potato buns. And she thought it was too messy with the chipotle mayonnaise all over it ("house sauce"). Fries were good - perhaps a bit too much cooking oil though.

OK, scratch one more off the list! Beer was great though. I'll go back and review the taproom separately at another time. Maybe I'll grab a snack too. But this is no longer a brewpub operation.

1/27/19; 2/8/20; 10/23/22 (new entry)

Tanias 33 ~ Tucson, Arizona

I (the RJG) haven't been to Tucson since 1994. Really need to get back there...

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Mr. Music is flying solo today! After a short visit with my brother, sister-in-law and nephew in Chandler, I stopped in Tucson for a little lunch. There are quite a few places in Tucson that I wanna try, but this place was close to the freeway and caught my eye. I drove into the parking lot which was in an area that was pretty run down but lined with plenty of Mexican food options. I pulled up into the parking lot only only to see a large non descript building with a giant menu on the front wall! The menu is huge and they have plenty of amazing looking options.. Lots of breakfast options, sopas (soups) like menudo, pazole, and albondigas, several meats for burritos, quesadillas, and meat plates like birria, barbacoa, carne verde and roja and more! Tania's has the biggest vegan menu I've ever seen. I'm not vegan, but some of these dishes look so delicious I would try them. Mushroom Pibil for one! I decided to get a burrito and the Colorado Red Chicken caught my eye! It's shredded chicken soaked in Colorado style red chile. The burrito also had rice and beans and pico de gallo and lettuce which I opted to leave off. They offer a myriad of extras; In fact they have a build your own burrito where you pick the meat and all the toppings.

They offer 3 sizes! Regular, large, and extra large! The guy told me that a large is about the size of a burrito from Chipotle, so I decided to go with that. It was at least that big and it was absolutely delicious! The sauce was tasty and reminded me of Hatch red chili. The chicken, rice and beans were great and I loved the tortilla it was wrapped in! When I went inside the place to pick up my order, I saw that the dining room was very small. Just a handful of tables. I guess they have a giant kitchen to make all those delicious dishes. Inside it looked like they had commandeered an old bar. It was cute and nicely done. There was a very long counter, that I'm pretty sure used to be a bar. It had some fresh made odds and ends that you could buy to go. I saw a stack of packs of gigantic fresh made flour tortillas! I am sure they are 18" across and I had to buy them! They are very thin so they don't really use too much dough. I have been making breakfast burritos with them every day and these tortillas are light and scrumptious! I plan to go back there as much as I can. I get to Tucson on occasion when I drive out to see my brother or or on my way to and from California. This is my 2nd excellent food experience in Tucson. I wish I could just spend a month there and eat there every day and try a bunch of the other great looking restaurants in Tucson as well.

- Mr. Music review