Regular Joe's Guide

Latest visit: Dec 2023 (Interquest) First visit: sometime in the 1980s (Dallas - Northwest) HQ: Dallas, TX Locations: 41 states and 442 locations. There are 23 in Colorado with 5 in this area. Texas by far is their largest presence at 127. NE Tarrant has locations in Grapevine, Bedford, and a couple in far north Fort Worth. Our former location in Keller appears closed. According to Wikipedia they had 483 locations in 43 states, so they've also been impacted negatively in the last few years like most. Dickey's is a lot like Schlotzsky's in my world. As with that sandwich mega-chain, its origins are in Texas, and in this case right where I grew up in Dallas. They started in 1941 but began to grow rapidly in the 90s. The biggest issue I've had with Dickey's is that it's middle of the road barbecue. I think they've gone to great lengths to try to distinguish themselves with more meat and sauce options than prior. In Texas it felt like we were merely settling on ...

Last visit: Dec 2023 First visit: Aug 2019 Mrs. RJG has been hankering for Thai food and she wanted to go back to Pho-N-Thai, a place we visited once before the pandemic. We thought it was good then, but neither of us remember much about it. I'm not usually fond of Thai restaurants that also specialize in other Asian cuisines, in this case Vietnamese. We also haven't really been anywhere since I returned from DC, and it's time for a lunch date. When you walk in, you'll order at the counter, so it's almost like a fast food place. But you can customize your dish like at a restaurant.. I ordered my usual basil chicken and they customized it with minced chicken, no zucchini, add a fried egg, and Thai Hot. Mrs. RJG went Vietnamese with a rice noodle bowl and flank steak. There's a regional type of cooking from Thailand that I don't care for much, and Pho-N-Thai cooks in that style. The sauce is almost red, not the familiar brown that I'm used to. My meal was ...

First visit: Dec 2023 Our company has an office in a very nice building - and is walking distance from our hotel as well. No one was paying for our lunch on this final day of meetings, so we decided to eat at the cafe in the building. Used to be these kind of places served warmed over Sysco Foods. Now they're better than Fleming's. Nothing makes sense anymore. Whatever the case, I ordered a spicy chicken sandwich with fries. Out comes this wonderful sandwich with excellent bread, a very crispy, spicy, and flavorful chicken breast, all on a bed of fresh lettuce and jalapenos. With a basket full of fries that I couldn't even finish. But they were great too. I'll be perfectly fine to eat here again if we go back to this office again, which remains a very real possibility. 12/6/23 (new entry)

Latest visit: Dec 2023 (Tysons Galleria Mall) First visit: Aug 2000 (Denver, CO) HQ: Dallas, TX Locations: Yet another dumb website that does not allow you to research the chain. You can only know about your location. Makes you wonder what they're thinking. According to Wikipedia, as of March 2021, there are 54 locations in 23 states including DC. They still have two locations in Denver it appears. I don't think I've ever written about Maggiano's but have been plenty of times. Their day in the sun has passed, but they're still a good viable option for a nice Italian meal. Especially for groups like this. They were all the rage in the late 90s, and that's when I first tried them in Denver. Mrs. RJG always enjoyed it as well. They're part of the Brinker chain (acquired from Lettuce Entertain You in Chicago), and this is the next level up from Romano's Macaroni Grill. Yet another vendor hosted this dinner (yep - our group is influential for vendors). It...

First visit: Dec 2023 (Marriott Courtyard) HQ: Tampa, FL Locations: They are located in 25 states across the nation. Denver has one as does Plano in DFW. I seem to recall seeing the name Flemings in one of those "Best Steakhouses in America" advertisements you'd see in the airplane magazines. Remember those? They used to be in the front pouch of your seat. Old times, eh Uncle RJG? I don't recall ever eating at Flemings prior. It's been forever and a day since I ate at a high end steakhouse like this for business. I think it was Ruth Chris in (ironically) also in Tysons, Virginia, almost exactly seven years ago when I first started at the global education company (where most of my Baltimore restaurant experience comes from as documented here in the RJG). We arrived way later than my normal din-din time, but I was mentally prepared. It was a short walk to the neighboring Courtyard, where most of my peers were staying. Service was unfortunately painfully slow, so it ...

First visit: Dec 2023 I was sober as a judge about midway through my record store excursion, so by the time I arrived back at the hotel, I was ready for the meet and greet session with my team and the vendor who hosted the event. I stayed at the Doubletree which is where Tysons Social Tavern happens to be. The hotel itself is very nice though non distinctive unlike the Kimptons and some of the historical hotels I prefer to stay at.  I arrived and the vendor was chowing down on munchies and already imbibing. My team had yet to arrive so I motored to the bar, and was more than pleased at the local craft beer selection. I started in with one (first in Virginia!), and began socializing as my team arrived in concert. Two hours and two more craft beers later, good vibes were in the air. I wisely avoided the appetizers as I figured our team would go out to eat, and we did just that afterward. I really enjoyed Tysons and would certainly go back to this hotel just to return here for Happy H...

First visit: Dec 2023 I took the next day off to look for records in the Northern Virginia suburbs. I was informed by the stores in DC that I could spend all day at the CD Cellar so with that in mind I decided to eat lunch first, and let's see what is nearby. Well look at this, Dogwood Tavern is my kind of place and they essentially share a parking lot with the record store. They have an excellent selection of local craft beers and their menu looked perfect. Sat at the long bar on the right side of the restaurant (as you walk in) and ordered my first beer. I originally had intended to have a hamburger but while perusing the menu, they have a monthly special of a Cuban. Well that's a no brainer. A few minutes later out came my delicious sandwich. Crispy bread, hot temperature, all pickley and mustardy. Perfect. Of course I took the option for tater tots just like the night before. These were much better than ChurchKey's variety. Grabbed another beer during lunch, which set t...

First visit: Dec 2023 The day after the record show I had to get up super early (like before 3) to catch a flight to DC through Atlanta. I'm there for work, but wanted to have Sunday and Monday (as a PTO day) to look for records. In order to have time on Sunday, I need to get there as early as possible. Everything more or less was timed perfectly, and I was into my first shop by around 2 or so. After visiting four different places, it's time to settle in for dinner and some craft beers. One of my goals in life is to try a local craft beer in every state (including DC). I've already accomplished having a beer from each state, but not in the state if that makes sense. I was eight short going into this trip, but DC and Virginia are two I'm missing. So this should be easy. And it was. I recently read an article on the top 10 craft beer bars in the US, and ChurchKey was one of them. And it's less than a 10 minute walk from my hotel. Incidentally I stayed at the Kimpton H...

Food truck First visit: Dec 2023 It's time for the Colorado Springs Record Show, and for this show I ran one table full of my goodies. Did very well and it's always great to meet fellow music and vinyl enthusiasts. For lunch I had presumed it was going to be Dr. Taco, since this is where I first tried his tacos, and we've visited him a few times since at various breweries (as noted here on the blog). But he was apparently booked so the showrunner obtained Sapo Guapo, who is new to me. Cool - trying something new then. The Handsome Frog wasn't busy by the time I wiggled free, and I ordered two tacos each for myself and my seller neighbor JL. They're fancy and offer a buzzer, so I could get back to work while I awaited for our tacos to be ready. A few minutes later I retrieved my meal. Didn't ask for salsas, but tacos are messy enough, and I'm dealing with rare records so I don't need more liquids. The tortillas are pretty much served as is, right out of t...

Latest visit: Sep 2024 First visit: Jan 2020 As if to repeat my Pueblo experience from a year ago, I also took Mrs. RJG to Reservoir Brewing for the first time since our initial visit together. No dramatic shootings on this occasion (see below), but today was the Pueblo Chile Festival which curtailed some of our plans (they closed parts of downtown). We weren't excited about the festival itself, having been to plenty of similar over the years.  In any case, Pueblo West is a peaceful diversion from the Steel City. On this visit, in addition to two excellent beers, we tried their chips and salsas. And added Pueblo Chile's for an "extra kick". He told us they were "medium" heat. Probably a little spicier than that, but a hotter variety would have been welcomed. All the same, the chips were great (perhaps made locally?) and the salsa had a nice sweet tomato taste. The chiles were an awesome addition. Overall we enjoyed a great outing. And then we made the hour j...

Latest visit: Jun 2025 (Northern Ave.) First visit: Nov 2023 (Northern Ave.) Founded: 1952 ---6/6/25 update As promised below, I couldn't resist the temptation to try the pasta. I went for a half order as experience tells me a full order would be too much. In this case, I could have gone for the whole enchilada (so to speak). It comes with a salad which is essentially iceberg lettuce in a Tupperware bowl with chopped tomatoes on top. I removed the latter. This is an old fashioned Italian salad. They serve the Italian dressing in a plastic cup and you can douse as you like. I dumped the whole thing. It's one of the best dressings I've had in years! Only Mrs. RJG and myself make a better one. It's a vinaigrette, guessing heavy on the garlic and pepper.  As for the pasta, I liked it quite a bit. I suspect they make their noodles, something Mrs. RJG wouldn't be keen on. It wasn't really al dente, but it was cooked properly. The sauce was slightly sweet, another old-...

Latest visit: Feb 2024 First visit: Nov 2023 Like with Mission BBQ, it was time to introduce Mrs. RJG to one of my favorite discoveries of last year. She loves the New York Deli Southside in Santa Fe, so she is certain to like East Coast Restaurant as well. And that theorem proved true. She had the Spanish Scrambler with sausage, chile, eggs, and potato. This time I went with the Syracuse sandwich, which includes pastrami, corned beef, and salami, along with Swiss cheese on rye. Stayed with the fries, and this time I did get the kosher pickle. I wonder if they just forgot last time? What kind of Jewish deli doesn't include a pickle? Oh, and it was excellent too. The sandwich was really stacked with meat this time. Much more so than when I just had the pastrami, and it was only a buck more. Imagine a Schlotzky's deluxe - with double that size! Holy Moly did I get stuffed. Service was extra friendly on this visit. In order to use a coupon we needed to buy something else, so we go...

First visit: Nov 2023 (Colorado Springs - Interquest) Locations: ~325 based on 2021 data. There are three in Colorado (one in Aurora, the other two in the Springs area). I seem to recall one locale in NE Tarrant, but there's plenty more now. I remember that it was a big deal when Houston based Shipley came to the DFW area while we lived there. I've never been a donut guy, so I didn't actively pursue going to one. Well, now they're here too, like many Texas chains that followed us (haha). They're located right next to Bonchon and I thought maybe we should try it too? So it's Saturday morning, and I asked Mrs. RJG if she'd like a kolache and a donut? She said sure, so off I went. I don't think I've willingly paid for a donut since the 1980s (seriously). Called the insurance company to make sure my premiums were up to date...  Reasonably active crowd on this morning, but I was able to order right away. Ordered two kolaches with sausage (one with jalapen...

First visit: Nov 2023 (Colorado Springs) Locations: ~114 in the US. Colorado has 5 (Denver has 4 and this one Springs locale). NE Tarrant has zero but there's a few in the DFW area. They're now based in Dallas though they started in Korea (strangely they don't appear to exist there anymore, but plenty of stores in the Philippines and Thailand). The latest rage in the fried chicken category comes from Korea, and Bonchon appears to be the marquee name in this space. I've never had Korean fried chicken before and since they opened up near us in "mega chain valley", I thought I'd give it a try. I was a bit confused upon walking in, as I just presumed it was a fast food restaurant. But nope - it's a sit down place despite the obvious QSR setup. No problem, at least I can leave a tip that makes sense. I went straight to the heart of the matter and ordered four drumsticks and a side. It's their lunch special, and at 13 bucks it's not such a bad deal (...

Latest visit: Nov 2023 First visit: Aug 2018 And we now reach our final Colorado Springs brewery for the RJG to document (well, there's Father & Sons which seems more like a distillery with one beer on tap, but I need to try it anyway). It was a two year project. There are a couple more breweries nearby in Woodland Park and Manitou Springs that I still need to revisit, but for the city proper, Atrevida is the last one for the RJG to cover off on. It wasn't the original plan, but it seems every time I was in the area it was either too late, or they inexplicable closed, or had some special event going. They were the first brewery we went to during the pandemic, thinking we'd get crowlers to help support them while still enjoying local beers. Big mistake, as the beers went flat quickly. They didn't know how to do it. Oh well, at least we helped them financially.  As you can imagine, the food truck El Chapin does not offer alcohol, and I wanted at least one beer before ...

food truck Latest visit: Nov 2023 First visit: Nov 2021 As with Dr. Taco, our first encounter with El Chapin was their catering of the Colorado Springs Record Show. Mrs. RJG was helping me with the tables and ran outside to get us some tacos. We both thought they were delicious, but a little messy given the circumstances of handling records and customers (Dr. Taco is much better for this considering his fried chicken and fish). Even though they tasted great, I didn't feel I had a grasp on what their offering is. I never laid eyes on the truck itself since Mrs. RJG took care of the lunch for us. We vowed to visit him for a dedicated lunch or dinner.  And that day finally happened, as we were seeking dinner on this relatively warm Thursday night. Bizarrely, as with Cogstone, my entire El Chapin experience has occurred during the first two weeks of November. El Chapin can be considered a "permanent" food truck, that is to say their location is mostly static. In fact they hav...

Latest visit: Aug 2025 First visit: Nov 2018 Founded: 2015 ---8/23/25 update It was Saturday night, and Mrs. RJG was up for a pizza. Let's go to Cogstone, as we hadn't been this year. There was a lively group gathering there, but they left not long after we arrived (was it something we said? lol). As for beers, they did have a hazy IPA this time so that set the mood properly. The pizza wasn't as crispy as we have become accustomed to from Cogstone, which resulted in a bit of a disappointment. However we each took half of our pizzas home, and enjoyed it the next night properly heated up and crisped on Mrs. RJG's famous comal (why does Google not recognize this word?). Later on, Mrs. RJG admitted that we should probably tell them how we like it rather than trust they will do it that way each time. Wise advice. We'll be back next year. ---7/5/24 update A couple of nights ago I asked Mrs. RJG if she wanted to out for dinner Friday night, something we rarely do anymore. ...

First visit: Oct 2023 Once again we are in the city, which is going to be a nightly event for at least another week, weather permitting. There's a reason for that, but no need to get into that here. Urban Animal represents the last (and newest) Colorado Springs brewery I haven't been to (I still have a few to write about though). Mrs. RJG missed some of the newer ones, but she seems open to trying them now, so I'll need to get her to those as well. And what better excuse to go than when Dr. Taco is there! He's a staple on Friday nights at Urban Animal. In addition to having the best tacos in town, he and his family were very recently featured on one of the local morning TV shows. So he's now a celebrity too lol. We were concerned it would be too crowded and were thinking of backup plans. Urban Animal is near Cheyenne Mountain, about as far from our home as you can possibly be and still be considered in Colorado Springs. So planning was essential. We needed not worry...

First visit: Oct 2023 (Colorado Springs) Locations: Denver area (6); Kansas City (2); Colorado Springs (1) OK, so we finally made it to Fat Sully's, etc... Mrs. RJG and I were nearby on this fine Wednesday night and decided to try it. As you can see below, I visited once here on a Sunday morning but it was far too crowded. But that was not the case on this night, as inflation has driven many of the patrons away, and it was a boring midweek night, with no sports to entice people into the bars. The first disappointment ensued when we learned that the Denver Biscuit Company menu is only for breakfast and lunch. It appears they have the more enticing menu. So basically it's pizza, though Fat Sully's does offer a fried chicken sandwich and a double smash burger We both wanted to try the pizza anyway, so we'll just stick with that. They're famous for their "Big-Ass Slice", so we each had one. Mrs. RJG asked for it extra crispy but didn't get it. Honestly I t...

First visit: Oct 2023 It's time for the 6 month dental checkup. So off to our former homestead of Parker. It's been three years since I had any kind of freedom around my appointment. Whether it's been my job situation, last minute changes to my appointment schedule, or the pandemic, I've been on non-RJG like missions when in Parker. But finally all those matters have been settled and I can enjoy a nice meal after the appointment. I usually have flexibilty on Friday's (not always though). Nearby is Hilltop Tap House, which reads on paper like my kind of place. Seems to me they should have named it Hilltap House doncha think? Right away disappointment ensued as their beer list was a fairly perfunctory "macro craft" selection. It would be great if they'd have a selection of local microbreweries to go with the usual Colorado and BMC staples. OK, I found one new beer (to me) from Tivoli to quaff. What about the meal? I was excited to try their Chicken Parm ...

Closed: Dec 2024. While a lot of places have been struggling due to basic economics, Drifters was their own worst enemy. In reading recent comments, no one is shedding a tear that they're going away. See below as to why. First visit: Oct 2023 I've had Drifter's circled as a place to go since we arrived back to Colorado Springs over five years ago. But it wasn't until after the pandemic I finally made the effort to go here. Each time, they said the dining room was closed because they can't find employees and other such nonsense. The last thing I want to do after the pandemic is eat in my car. It reminds me of those bad times. So I would press on to the backup plan.  OK, let's go over again for a 4th time. Google Maps says they're open for Dine-In. They said that the last time, and I reported that wasn't true. But maybe it's changed. Get there - and - only open for drive through. Bottom line is Drifter's is full of crap. They can get employees they...

First visit: Oct 2023 (Garden City, KS) Locations: Their website map is broken, but Google tells us they are pretty much everywhere including 3 near here in the Springs. We're working our way back home, and the taco scene way out west in Kansas and in eastern Colorado isn't looking too good (for authentic tacos there are plenty of options - but you know what we mean). Mrs. RJG stated she wanted chicken. We were wrapping up in Garden City, so let's see what Google Maps pulls up. Champs. Never heard of them. Let's try it. Pulling up - yes, OK I see now - gas station chicken. Like with Perkins, I never had much desire to try these places. Just seems like a fast track to the ER. We had them everywhere in NE Tarrant. Chesters, Golden Chick, etc... Ah what the heck, let's try it anyway. Well doggone it, if this isn't damned good chicken! My voice text notes stated: Tenders were moist, light flakey crust (not heavy at all, which is what I was fearing), excellent flavor...

First visit: Oct 2023 (Great Bend, KS) Locations: 32 states (mostly only a few locations each) but not Texas. 3 in Colorado including one here in the Springs. I've never had any desire to go to a Perkins. It looked to me like many other generic breakfast houses such as Dennys, IHOP, and Village Inn. There was one in Denver (Aurora actually) not too far from my apartment in the mid 90s, but never once did I think to go there. That location looks to be closed. But there is one here in the Springs if I get a hankering to go back. So why did we go here? Well... if you read the Page review prior you'll have noted it's right across the parking lot from our Best Western. But that still wouldn't compel me to go. But as part of the stay, Best Western pays for your breakfast at Perkins. Well then, now I'm interested. It's a limited menu of course, but that's OK, we usually eat light for breakfast anyway. Everything I thought Perkins was going to be - it was. Which is...

First visit: Oct 2023 We didn't do as much snacking on this day, choosing to eat a normal sized lunch (Taco Tico) and save up for dinner. We had great success thrifting (and antiquing in this case) in Hutchinson, which shrunk our remaining schedule for the day. It was just a bit too early to call it over, so we pressed on to Great Bend for the evening. I chose the Best Western Angus Inn, As noted here before, I love the vintage Best Western's, as they are the most representative of the motels I remember from my youth traveling with Dad. And this location is perfect. It looks like the first part of the building is from the 1960s - with "down and out" rooms. And the back half has that "70s add-on" look which is enclosed with a pool and small convention space. Our room was in this space, and the back sliding windows open right up into... the convention floor. Haha - a total security nightmare. Had this been in the inner city, I would have taken pause, but we...

Latest visit: Oct 2023 (Newton, Kansas) First visit: Jun 1980 (Ada (?), Oklahoma) Locations: Kansas (9), Oklahoma (2), Iowa (2), Kentucky (2), Louisiana (1), Texas (1)  OK, it's Wednesday and we're heading out of Kansas City and back towards home. Our plan was to visit a few towns in rural Kansas, and continue with our thrift shopping. We didn't have breakfast, so by lunch time we're pretty hungry. There's no way I'm going to Kansas without at least one visit to Taco Tico. I'm pretty sure it's in the Bible too. "Thou Shalt not visit the Land of Kansas without paying tribute to the almighty Taco Tico". RJG Chapter 1, Verse 1. Of all the "Didn't I write about this chain already?" entries, this is the most outlandish oversight. It's ridiculous I have not written about Taco Tico, some 15 years after starting this blog. Why? Because this is where it all started. The seeds of the Regular Joe's Guide were planted here. Better lat...

First visit: Oct 2023 Those who follow this blog must be asking "But where's the Thai restaurant? Mrs. RJG insists on it right?". Of course that is what is known as a "hypothetical". In any case, yes indeed, Thai food was on the agenda.  I'm just going to get right to it - Best Thai food I've had in ages! For my tastes it was perfection. I had the Pad Ka Prau (it's my test dish for sure): Ground chicken, Thai hot, Asian oil, garlic fried egg, and lots of basil. Not too dry, not too wet, not full of onions and peppers, but just the right amount. Every single bite was a delight. I didn't have to make hardly any alterations - that's how it comes off the menu (except the ground chicken). Oddly, Mrs. RJG's dish wasn't as good. She tried the Drunken Noodle with "too much chicken" (no such thing in my world), not enough noodle, and too "eggy" (what?). We each enjoyed a nice glass of chardonnay. Beelining here for our next...

First visit: Oct 2023 We're now back in the city, and hitting the hipster inner city areas filled with record shops and vintage clothing stores. The neighborhood is called Crossroads. If you ever want to know the cool parts of town, look for music, food, vintage shops, and drink. Being the least cool guy there is, regardless I always find myself in these areas due to my interest areas. And somehow I fit right in lol. Taking it one step further, this area is also known as Brewers Alley, as there are so many craft breweries in the neighborhood. We had just finished shopping at Josey Records*, and more or less went to the first brewery we saw. And that's Casual Animal. Apparently the founders are also from Colorado, Fort Collins in fact. It's a gigantic venue, with tons of seating, gaming areas, etc... We just had one beer to wind down before dinner. All excellent. Good vibes too. * - Josey Records is named after Josey Lane in Northwest Dallas (their flagship store) - very clo...

Latest visit: Oct 2023 (Overland Park, Kansas) First visit: Jan 2018 (North Richland Hills, Texas) Locations: 85 in 14 states. There are 4 in the Denver area and many in Texas. NE Tarrant now has 4 locations alone, including the NRH store that we went to. They also opened up in our former town of Keller. Oh for crying out, for certain I wrote about Andy's before didn't I? Ugh - nope. Like with Planet Sub, we caught Andy's at the tail end of our DFW experience. This review will be simple. Andy's stock in trade is frozen custard, similar to Freddy's, Sheridan's, Ted Drewes, etc... We're in their home market, so they are ubiquitous throughout the city. It's like chili parlors in Cincinnati, once you leave the area, you cannot find them. Or so it seems. It appears they've expanded greatly in the last few years. It's a simple business model and a popular one. We each had a small vanilla and chocolate (mixed) custard. I added espresso sauce and Mrs. RJ...

Latest visit: Oct 2023 (Prairie Village, Kansas) First visit: sometime in 2002 (Englewood, Colorado) Locations: 21 total: Kansas (9); Missouri (8); Arizona (3); Michigan (1) It is now Tuesday and the decision was made to work the Kansas suburbs. Plenty of thrift shops and record stores to keep us both busy throughout the day. I had forgotten about the Planet Sub chain, but having seen it around town, I decided that would be a good place to have a lunch and take a break from the taco train. This is another "didn't I write about this chain already?" post. Apparently not. This would be my fourth encounter with the Kansas City based eatery. The other three were in states they no longer operate in. Essentially they are known for their toasted subs, somewhat like Quiznos, but of a higher quality and more filling. I wasn't aware of their existence until they planned to open a location off of Lincoln in far south Denver. We were living in Parker at the time, so it was on our ...

First visit: Oct 2023 After finishing up in Independence, where Mrs. RJG scored her biggest find, it was time for din-din. We both wanted some Kansas City BBQ, and I wanted to try a brewpub. I wonder if they have both in the same venue? It turns out they do, two I found in fact. And Lee's Summit was only about 15 minutes south of where we were. Let's go there... Smoke Brewing anchors a strip center and is quite large inside. Maybe a bit too bright for dinner, but not too bad. We went for the Beef 3.0 Plate and the Competition Ribs. My voice notes stated that the sliced brisket was excellent as were the pork ribs. The shredded brisket was decent and the burnt ends were too tough. The barbecue sauce was OK, a bit on the sweet side. I went for the mac n cheese on the side. It was great at first but gummed up towards the end as it wasn't hot enough (typical). I also had the mashed potatoes, which I was enjoying until Mrs. RJG said they tasted rancid to her, so I put those aside...