Granelli's Pizzeria ~ Castle Rock, Colorado

Latest visit: Dec 2023

First visit: Dec 2022

We're back at Granelli's almost one year to the date. And yes, once again with Old Boss. We had much to catch up on since it's been a full year. We're both still at the same company even though he retired then unretired. I rarely get to eat pizza, so I wanted to revisit Granelli's. And despite my bold claims below, I stuck with an 11" thin crust pizza with "hot" sausage. Absolutely delicious. I need to come here on my own next time I'm crate digging in the area or bring Mrs. RJG along. I'm sure I'll try something else. Probably not...

---original 12/21/22 review

It was time to meet Old Boss again, a good friend going on 27 years now. Met him originally at the same place as Mrs. RJG and Rude Dante, though he didn't work for the same company, but rather one of the software vendors. Fortuitous meeting as he indeed hired me for my first job after marriage in 1997. And we've been close ever since. Today we work again for the same firm in our familiar roles. We cannot escape large software companies it would appear.

Old Boss suggested we try Granelli's Pizza, a Castle Rock legend going on 25+ years now. Despite being a resident of nearby Castle Pines, he'd never been. And neither had I, so it was a perfect choice. Sitting just outside the busiest part of downtown Castle Rock, Granelli's is a quaint full service restaurant with a hearty menu of pizzas and Italian specialties. They originally started on the south side of Chicago, and that's why their slogan is what it is. I was tempted to try a deep dish, but having just experienced a mediocre offering from Giordano's in Chicago, I stayed thin crust. With homemade rolled hot Italian sausage. Hey that's two pizza's in a row with that! The thin crust - square and corner cut - reminds me very much of my time working in Racine, Wisconsin (also in 1997 - while reporting to Old Boss in a consulting role - synchronicity overload!). In any case, it was delicious. Mrs. RJG would have approved. Thin crispy crust, plenty of cheese, good sauce, and great tasting sausage. Would like to try one of their Italian entrees at some point, or even a sandwich. Perhaps next year, as Castle Rock is a usual stop on my Denver crate digging runs. Looking forward to a revisit.

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

Dickey's Barbeque Pit ~ national chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

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 a barbecue restaurant rather than trying the myriad of better places around the area. Of course with any place run by a corporation such as this, the odds of a poor experience increase.

On this evening, it was the RJG's Official Mom's 85th birthday! She'd had surgery only a couple of months before (which is why we were in the city of the Springs quite a bit for dinner), and she's still recovering and didn't want to go out. So we brought it in! Barbecue sounded good to her, and Dickey's seemed like the perfect place to pick up a "family pack" or something like that. We ordered two meats (polish sausage and chopped brisket), three sides (potato salad, chips, and beans), regular sauce, and bread. We had a $5 coupon, but it's still not cheap at $65. However we figured after leftovers, we ended up with six full meals so maybe not such a bad deal at all.

Everything was very good. We reheated much of it in mom's apartment kitchen and we all enjoyed the meal. I figured I really should add Dickey's to the RJG rotation of places to go. It's not as good as Mission, but it's certainly a fine place to go. I was also very pleased with the young man who prepared our package. Very kind and went the extra mile to make sure we had everything for her birthday.

11/9/03; 1/17/07; 1/17/08; 1/29/16; 6/27/19; 12/21/23 (new entry)

Dallas (Northwest); North Richland Hills, Texas; Keller, Texas; Colorado Springs

Pho-N-Thai ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

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 heavy on yellow bell peppers and onions, with the reddish sauce. The chicken and fried egg were good, and the spice level was hot, not Thai hot. I ate most of it, except all the peppers and onions. It was good, but not really for me. Especially after being reminded how great Thai food can be at Baramee in Kansas City. Mrs. RJG enjoyed hers more I think, since it was a simpler dish. I had a few pieces of the flank steak. Slightly sweet as expected and a little tough, but still chewable.

The restaurant is very spacious and bright with natural light. Ceramic tile floors ensures a non-cozy experience. Service was friendly. There are better Thai restaurants in Colorado Springs, so we'll leave off Pho-N-Thai from the RJG rotation.

8/25/19; 12/16/23 (new entry)

The Berghoff ~ Chicago, Illinois

Latest visit: Dec 2023 (O'Hare airport)

First visit: Nov 2022 (Downtown)

Meetings are over and the Uber to Reagan Airport was smooth and uneventful. Flight was miraculously on time, and somehow I got put into a middle seat. Something had gone awry but not worth arguing about. While squished between two gentlemen, I typed out most of these entries. As is the case with most east coast destinations, one has to travel to a hub to and from Colorado Springs. And I'm back at Chicago O'Hare in the United terminal(s). My go-to here is Publican Tavern that I've covered in this blog. I didn't really have enough time for sit down service, but didn't want to settle on fast food either. As you can see below, we ate here last year at the downtown location. This is their airport outlet. It is a quick service setup, so no chance for a nice Weiner Schnitzel meal. They offer sandwiches, and guess what? They have a Cuban. Well then, let's try their version. And, as we learned last year, they also have their own brewery Adams Street - and they had four of those on tap. Perfect, I'll go for their hazy IPA. As for the sandwich, yea, that's coming in a distant third compared to Dogwood and ChurchKey. The bread is a soft onion roll, there's no mustard, and the pickle is on the side (along with the pepperoncini, which is a nice touch). This is a very porky Cuban, with the pulled pork dominating and a bit soft and wet. Not my favorite. The slice of ham and cheese were good but the whole thing needed to be hotter temperature. Ah well, next time I'll try something else, as this makes a nice alternative when my layover is less than two hours. And with that, this concludes the latest business trip. Back to the routine of exercise and eating at home.

---original 11/4/22 review

Now it's time for dinner, and we are back to our core 10 team members. Do we fend for ourselves or have another team dinner? I had planned on going to The Berghoff by myself, and sure enough, we decided let's all do that! Love it when the larger group thinks like me. That's rare actually. This group of ladies and men are exceptionally smart obviously (lol).

As noted about Luke's, The Berghoff is just now getting rolling again, and the restaurant is half empty on a major business weeknight. And they close early too due to a lack of business (7:30 - wow). I'm not going to pass on a classic German restaurant if I have a say in the matter. I used to go to Kenosha from Racine (Wisconsin) on a somewhat regular basis just to eat at House of Gerhard. These places are a dying breed, and I for one want to keep them alive.

What a wonderful place this is too. Large dining areas, and they even put a brewery inside called Adams Street. That's too perfect. I enjoyed all 3 beers I tried (noted in the Bier Reise). We ordered appetizers and the big hit was the giant pretzel. We had to get another! Fried cheese curds were also very good. For dinner I went with the Chicken Schnitzel which also comes with spatzel and creamed spinach. I substituted the spinach with mashed potatoes, and they gave me what one coworker called "a field" of potatoes. They were delicious but too much of it. The chicken cutlet was perfectly breaded and cooked. I added the Italian red sauce on top - not exactly traditional but still excellent. Others on the table seemed to enjoy their food, mostly complaining they ate too much. We're all older than we were in our younger consultant days that's for sure. I wanted to stay for one more beer, but as noted above, they close very early. So I went back to Miller's Pub for that last one before calling it a night.

The Berghoff first opened in 1898 primarily as a brewery, and is still privately owned by the same family. During Prohibition they expanded to German food. Apparently they were the first establishment in Chicago to obtain a liquor license after repeal. They also maintain a cafe at O'Hare airport. I stopped by but it was really crowded, and it's fast food order at the counter. Naa, doesn't go with the namesake.

11/4/22 (new entry); 12/6/23

Boulevard Cafe ~ Tysons, Virginia

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)

Maggiano's Little Italy ~ national chain : Tysons, Virginia

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's also walking distance, inside of a mall. Wow - malls still have significance? Who knew? This was not an event where we could order individually, but rather plates of food were delivered to our two large tables. Mrs. RJG would have hated every minute of this and probably would not have eaten at all. By the time you get the food, it's not super hot, and "everyone has spit on it" she would comment. I accept these norms. Besides I don't want to starve... I have to say, whoever ordered our meals, did a great job of gauging the audience. I certainly ate wonderfully: Meatballs, ziti and Italian sausage, chicken picatta, salads, fried mozzarella, even tiramisu, cheesecake, and assorted desserts. Other than eating one huge meatball I was careful not to eat too much. A little of this and a little of that. I really do enjoy Maggiano's red sauce as well. Their beer selection wasn't great, but they had Devil's Backbone which is a macro craft (InBev) that I used to enjoy in Baltimore. I don't expect craft beers at Italian restaurants. I would have normally gone for wine, but needed to have a low alcohol night. 

Maggiano's was my go to layover restaurant at DFW airport coming back home from Baltimore to Colorado Springs. But that has stopped as well. I probably wouldn't go these days anyway, but I have fond memories of this restaurant. Actually got to bed at a sensible hour and slept close to 10 hours. I was wiped.

8//00; 6//09; 4/12/19; 12/5/23 (new entry)

Denver; DFW airport; Tysons, Virginia

Potbelly Sandwich Shop ~ national chain : Tysons, Virginia

Latest visit: Dec 2023 (Spring Hill Rd.)

First visit: Apr 2006 (Las Colinas, TX)

HQ: Chicago, IL (Founded: 1977)

Locations: They're currently in 32 states including DC. They have 10 in Colorado, mostly up in Denver. Our original review location in Hurst is still around.

Have to earn those steak dinners, so it's time for two straight days of internal meetings. They were very informative actually and my peers and management team is great, so no complaints. But it's tiring. Many of us are of a similar age, and we're not up for long nights and hard days. But we persevered. It's hard to exercise in this environment, so I don't even bother. With the record show on Saturday and four straight days of travel, my legs are well rested. And my belly has grown...

Speaking of which! Potbelly. As in I now have one. It'll be coming off soon. Lunch was served after 12, and my stomach was growling wildly. But I was relieved to hear Potbelly was our vendor's choice for lunch (different vendor than the night before). We were served half sandwiches, and I had two Italians and one ham and Italian. So a sandwich and a half. Probably a half sandwich too much, as I wasn't burning calories at my normal rate. Oh well - I still enjoyed it. They really need to be in Colorado Springs...

---10/15/22 update

The RJG's first business trip with his new company was a long journey all the way to... Denver. Ha! It was a 3 day trip mostly spent sequestered in our sales partner's offices in downtown. Food wasn't much of a priority for this bunch, and I spent a lot of the time starving. Finally we were "let out" for a quick lunch. And right across the street was Potbelly. Since they're not here in the Springs, that's a no-brainer. Prior to this visit, my primary location was at the Baltimore airport. But those jobs have now ended. In any case, I went with the Italian just as I did on the 2013 visit listed below. And it was just as delicious as I remember. Of course we grabbed it to-go. Couldn't possibly be away from the office for more than 15 minutes...

As of this writing, Potbelly are in 31 states. In Colorado they only exist in the Denver area (9) and one in Fort Collins. From our former HQ in NE Tarrant, they still have the one in Hurst + another in Southlake.

--- original 7/9/13 review (Hurst, Texas)

So let's cut to the chase: We love their sandwiches. Potbelly started in 1977 in Chicago, but didn't branch out until about 1996. I first heard of them while walking through Midway Airport many years ago. They're sort of a cross between a traditional East Coast sub shop, a Chicago styled grinder house, and Quizno's. The bread is delicious, and they use the conveyor belt setup to heat their sandwiches. And their prices aren't bad for this day and age. I went with the Italian on this visit (Hurst), and Mrs. RJG had the chicken salad sandwich. They were executed to perfection.

If you've never tried one, and you live nearby (or they're in a convenient location in an airport - just sayin'...), give them a shot.

4/6/06; 7/9/13 (new entry); 5/30/14; 12/14/18; 10/15/22; 12/5/23

Las Colinas, Texas; Hurst, Texas; Baltimore; Denver; Tysons, Virginia

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse ~ national chain : McLean, Virginia

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 was probably 10 by the time we ate. That's going to take a week of running to work out of my system. Their beer list was pitiful (shame for a high end restaurant) so I stuck our company with two high priced glasses of red wine as did some of my counterparts. I had a Caesar salad and a regular 11 ounce Filet. The Caesar was great - perfectly executed with the right mix of ingredients. I ordered my steak medium. Some of it was well done, other parts were medium rare. It wasn't evenly cooked. I thought it was very good anyway. Though Mrs. RJG would have despised it, which is one reason we never go to high end steakhouses. As I stated in my Ocean Prime entry, these places have to do better. They want to be at the highest price, and yet they deliver service and food below what I can get at a bistro in Great Bend, Kansas (see Page restaurant). I didn't pay for it out of my own pocket (does anyone?), and yes I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't go on my own. No chance.

12/4/23 (new entry)

Tysons, Virginia

Tysons Social Tavern ~ Tysons, Virginia

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 Hour or even dinner if dining solo.

12/4/23 (new entry)

Dogwood Tavern ~ Falls Church, Virginia

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 the perfect tone for a full day of crate digging. 

The tip I received was spot on, and I spent the next 4+ hours going through their massive selection, all priced very fairly (not cheap but fair). A perfect afternoon.

12/4/23 (new entry)

ChurchKey ~ Washington, District of Columbia

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 Hotel Banneker. Wonderful boutique hotel. I've enjoyed Kimpton's since the first one I visited in San Francisco way back in 1995 (Hotel Vintage Court). Kimpton long ago sold out of the San Francisco market, but they were my go-to chain when I used to frequent that once fine city for business. I hope to go to SF again, it's been over 10 years since my last visit. Of course the general news is how bad it is there - but then I read the same things about DC and it's a wonderful city. And everyone - and I mean everyone - has been so nice to me. I haven't been here since 2007 and that was a brief stop to drop off a proposal. The last real trip to DC was in 2004 on the same night as the presidential election. What crazy timing. Stayed at a Kimpton then too (different hotel than this one). I'll have to look it up when I get home. And ate at Bobby Van's Steakhouse. OK back to this visit... Interesting to note that the Banneker is right next to the Serbian Embassy. I should have knocked on their door to see if they had any Igra Staklenih Perli albums (esoteric reference, but I do encourage you to check them out on YouTube if curious - they were similar to early Pink Floyd).

It's a little bit confusing at first, but basically you open the door and walk up two flights of stairs to the main room. I started on the local DC beers (two), and then moved to Virginia, for four total. As for dinner, they have my go-to Cuban. This is a very good variation, with crispy bread and ham and pork. Ever since my time working in Idaho, if I have the option for tater tots, that's what I'll go for. These were a bit too much filler, and not crispy enough.

While I wouldn't crown ChurchKey as better than Max's Taphouse (Baltimore) for beer selection, I would still rate it very highly. I do think the food is better here. I hope I get another chance to try ChurchKey again.

12/3/23 (new entry)

Sapo Guapo ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

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 the bag. The chicken was very filling but a bit tough. Good flavor though. The asada was better, though it tasted more like a ground beef recipe. These were good, not great. Super nice folks though. I'll probably give them another shot if I see them around, but the consensus among the dealers that I'm friendly with is that Dr. Taco is more preferable.

12/2/23 (new entry)

Shake Shack ~ international chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Nov 2023 (Colorado Springs)

First visit: May 2022 (Las Vegas airport)

HQ: New York City (Founded: 2001)

Locations: There are 331 locations in the US with 10 in Europe, 41 in the Middle East, and 78 in Asia. There are 10 in Colorado with just this one in the Springs. Texas has 27 (13 in DFW). Closest to our old NE Tarrant home would be Southlake. 

OK, so Shake Shack has finally arrived in Colorado Springs - and naturally up here in Mega Chain Valley. It took awhile to build and get through the bureaucratic red tape. I expected large lines for some time similar to In-N-Out and Whataburger. But I was surprised to find out that only one week after opening, I was the only patron inside with a few cars in the drive-thru. So it was more like Five Guys than the other two, but at least Five Guys were already here, so it was nothing new for denizens of our fine city. So on this Thursday morning before 11 am, I walked in to try Shake Shack for the first time properly. As noted below, airport locations almost don't count. There at the Vegas airport there was a huge line, but that did not translate here despite the hoopla surrounding its opening. And why is that? High prices. Yet another parallel with Five Guys. A double cheeseburger with a chocolate shake is about $17 if you don't include the unearned tip. Which I don't. Inflation and competition is going to prove tough for Shake Shack. Anyway - back to my experience. Shake Shack is very much of the modern way, so you are greeted with about eight computer screens to make your order (you can also order at the counter as well if you wish). I went with the ShackBurger, which is essentially your California burger. Removed the tomato, and remembered to make it a double (note below). And added the shake. Paid up - grabbed the number that I assigned myself, and sat in one of the booths. Not too long after my meal arrived. Service was excellent BTW.

The burger itself was very hot temperature and I enjoyed every bite (I should calculate the cost per bite, but it would be over $1 each I think - funny to think about). Mrs. RJG would have thumbed this one down though. The meat was pink and the bun mushy. Didn't bother me none however. The shake was also delicious and I added whipped cream to ensure a doctor visit would be in order. I didn't go for fries, as the shake provided enough calories as it was.

Conclusion: Almost exactly like Five Guys - too expensive but still very good. I might come back next year, presuming they're still here. Next time will be to-go using the drive-thru. I'm tempted to come back some evening - or weekend - and try their beer as well. We'll see. I fear that my next Shake Shack visit will be elsewhere. The competition is too stiff here and there's not enough dollar to keep them all afloat. For what it's worth, I drove by In-N-Out on the way home. Line around the building. Sorry Shake Shack, but their burgers are 40% your price.

---5/23/22 review

Ah... finally heading back home from the big wedding extravaganza. Same Southwest layover in Vegas, but a different gate area. And it's in the early afternoon, so more options too. I'd heard Shake Shack was coming to Colorado Springs nearby to where we live - exactly where In-N-Out and Whataburger started here as well. Well look at this, there's one here at the airport, and Google Maps tells me it's "less busy than usual". It's a date. Let's get a sneak preview of what's to come here in the Springs.

"Less busy than usual" does not mean "not busy". There was a pretty healthy line to order and even a longer one to gather up your food. We'll just stick to the basics: Two single cheeseburgers with lettuce and one order of fries to split. I also wanted to try their own handcrafted beer (made by Brooklyn Brewery) but they were out.

Shake Shack has managed to get the "hamburger cult following" tag, so it definitely thrives on reputation. It is a very good hamburger - imagine if In-N-Out and Freddy's had a baby. I know - imagining burgers having babies is weird, but c'mon, I've been typing all day here... The fries are of the Ora-Ida crinkle variety. Mrs. RJG loves those. I thought based on the price that the single would be big enough. Silly me - airport prices are insane. A double is much needed for me (a single is perfect for Mrs. RJG though) - once again Freddy's and In-N-Out come to mind here. Shake Shack is not competing with Whataburger, let's put it that way. And when they do get here, I'll have a double and try a shake. I really wanted a beer though, and had one at a nearby bar later. So there. I suspect my experience will increase once we go to a non-airport location and order what we crave.

BTW - the line to order increased tenfold as we were enjoying ours. I think a lot of people want to have a Shake Shack burger but don't live in an area where they exist.

5/23/22 (new entry); 11/16/23

Las Vegas; Colorado Springs

Shipley Do-Nuts ~ regional chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

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 jalapeno), one glazed donut and another cream filled. The latter was a favorite of my childhood. Back home, Mrs. RJG stuck the kolaches in the air fryer, and a couple of minutes later we're ready to eat. We split the kolaches first. Nice flaky crust. Essentially these are large pigs in a blanket, or fancy hot dogs. But the sausage was good tasting. Incidentally the sausage with the jalapeno is a little bit smaller (to fit them both in presumably). Kolaches are quite popular in Texas. It's a Czech specialty and they're particularly well known in a town called West. We'd been there a few times. When I think of kolaches I associate a sweet concoction filling - like jelly, jams, fruits, that sort of thing. But I'd rather have the sausage for sure (of course they have fruit fillings as well). In the Czech / Slovak region, they have a street food known as parek v rohliku, which is closer to what these kolaches are. Nothing near as great as those, but not a bad substitute. One of these days I'll share my experiences roaming around Europe in the early 90s. But parek's are probably my all-time favorite street food.

We then split the glazed donut. Mrs. RJG thought it was great, while I surmised it was typical of the style. Then came the vanilla creme filled donut. Oh, now it's my turn to be super happy. I haven't had one of these in forever, and boy did it taste good! Mrs. RJG didn't like it - too sweet for her she concluded. Two hours after eating that one donut (in aggregate) I was still wired like I had six cups of coffee. I just never eat like that. But it sure was fun this one time. Do we go back? Of course! But I probably won't.

11/4/23 (new entry)

Colorado Springs

Bonchon ~ international chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

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 (not awesome but little is these days). I had a choice of four sauces, and you can pick two. So I went with Korean barbecue and Spicy. Seems fries are the standard side but I chose rice instead. Not long after, my meal was served (in fast food time). I started in on the latter, and they kindly provided me Sriracha to go with it (or a facsimile thereof). The rice was a bit overcooked, but I still enjoyed it. That set my palate for the chicken. I started with the barbecue. It looked sweet on top, and I feared it would be like those countless Chinese restaurants that serve sticky sweet chicken and limp crust. Nothing of the sort. Very crispy, and yes a tad sweet, but not overbearingly so. Steaming hot chicken too. The spicy was indeed just that, and also very crispy. The waiter explained that the trick is they fry it, then flash fry again before serving. Makes sense. Service was great BTW.

I definitely enjoyed it, and I think Mrs. RJG and I will come over for dinner some night, since I also learned they have three different Korean beers. None of which I've had prior. The only downside I see is that I was the only one there on a Friday at lunch time. Certainly competition is stuff, and inflation is forcing many folks to bring their lunch to work or school (there's a community college nearby). I remember seeing a line out the door when they first opened. So is it just a passing fad, or did I just catch a slow day? Hoping the latter. Adding to the RJG rotation.

11/3/23 (new entry)

Colorado Springs

Atrevida Beer ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

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 heading home. We're already deep into Mexican culture, why not cap the evening off at Atrevida? This brewery goes to great lengths to promote their Mexican heritage - especially now with Day of the Dead happening. Apparently they also recently secured a space at the Colorado Springs Airport given their minority ownership status. 

It's a cozy little place with a few tables inside and a few more out. They also have a standard food truck outside on Friday's and Sunday's (Heavenly Tacos). On this particular Thursday, they were there too! We even called ahead and they said "no food trucks on Thursday nights". What a bunch of dopes. Now I have to find where Heavenly Tacos goes next as they are looking to expand beyond just Atrevida. We talked with them for awhile outside, what a nice family.

We only had one beer each, and I was disappointed my pilsner wasn't cold enough. You can debate serving temperature on IPA's, but that's not a discussion with lagers, pilsners, etc... Perhaps not the best brewery in town, but I do enjoy going here. I don't think I've ruled out any of the breweries here yet though lol.

8/4/18; 2//19; 4/4/20; 11/2/23 (new entry)

El Chapin ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

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 have something like a "food truck compound" with one dedicated to Mexican food and the other to hamburgers. And a third truck for catering which is no doubt what we experienced at the record show. You can find their location off of Fillmore not too far from El Paso. There's plenty of seating outside, as they built an awning on top of park benches and tables. Despite sitting in a parking lot, the whole setup is quite comfortable, as long as it's not too hot or cold outside. 

I tried three of their Street Tacos. And also grabbed a container of their hottest salsa. I thought the carne asada and grilled chicken were delicious, with the right amount of chopped onions and cilantro. They also throw chopped radishes and grilled onions on the side if so desired. The al pastor was a bit tough I thought. And while the sauce was blazing hot, it's a bit too thin to cover tacos and there's going to be runoff. Mrs. RJG had two street tacos (chicken and carne asada), rice, and beans. She enjoyed all of it. 

Bottom line: El Chapin goes into the RJG rotation. Many times I'm in this area around lunch time (as is Mrs. RJG), so this gives me/us another viable and tasty option. We also want to try their hamburgers.

11/13/21; 11/5/22; 11/2/23 (new entry)

Five Guys Burgers and Fries ~ national chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2023 (Colorado Springs - Interquest)

First visit: Jan 2007 (Reston, VA)

Locations: 49 states + DC. Only Alaska is missing. There are 30 in Colorado (4 in the Springs). That's +3 from last year. Texas has 68 (our former locale of Southlake is closed, so Hurst would have been the closest). There are 123 in California which is their largest state presence. The original Reston location that I first went to is still going. 

In what appears to be a recurring theme, I state each year this will be my last visit to Five Guys. Only to return anyway. This year's excuse is I wanted to try their new location, which very recently opened up close to our house. This is definitely the closest we've ever lived to a Five Guys - even the Reston location was further from my office at the time. And I thought maybe it would make a good choice for a weekday lunch while working from home, thus putting Five Guys back into the rotation. I put that idea to the test here this Saturday on a non-business day. Once back home I watched some college football while enjoying my meal. The jury is still out, but as I always say - their burgers really are very good. By taking it home I avoid the extra expense of fries and a soda, which I can supply here (chips instead of fries). And while waiting to pick up my order, I munched on some peanuts filling me up sufficiently so that fries aren't necessary anyway. At $12, a "regular cheeseburger" (which is a double to be fair) is still a hefty price. Their argument is they use only the "freshest ingredients" and it's better than the competition. All debatable. But one thing they do win on is price - as in the highest. Yep, they got that prize for sure.

What's very curious is the existence of this location at all. In what appears to be a corporate cockup, Five Guys has opened up in a extremely competitive space, and they have another location all of ten minutes away. I do prefer this location to the other since it's more spacious and comfortable while waiting for your order. But here? Let's run down that competition shall we? In-N-Out is the heavy hitter and has made this area "ground zero" for all budding chains to come to. Three years after opening, the legendary California chain continues to have lines around the building every minute they're open. They are considerably cheaper than Five Guys (like 60% less). Am I to believe their ingredients are old and lesser? Nope. Texas standby Whataburger made their grand Colorado entrance right here two years ago. They're also cheaper. Freddy's was already established (they were first and the only burger place here when we moved in). They're less expensive. Now comes Shake Shack waiting to open any second. And you know they will have the "opening days" madness that In-N-Out and Whataburger enjoyed. And of course McDonalds and Burger King are here as well. The latter two will always draw a different, less discerning crowd, and they can afford to have locations within 10 minutes of each other. But Five Guys?

So guess what? They've been opened less than one week and there's hardly anyone there. That's not a good sign. What the heck were they thinking? If they closed the other one near Chapel Hills Mall, then OK, I could see the logic. 

Will I be back? Oh probably. If this location remains open. Otherwise, no. Maybe.

---4/1/22 update

Ah well, nostalgia wins the day. Despite what I said below, I went back anyway. It's still too expensive, but everything is nowadays, but even more than the competition. Mrs. RJG joined me this time, and we both really enjoyed the hamburgers and fries. Still not that many patrons. You would think a reduction in price might help with that. Maybe they don't care. In any case, nothing more or different to report on. See you next year! We'd go more often but.... 

As of this writing, Five Guys has an enormous amount of locations, and I believe are in every state (OK, I don't see Alaska). There are 27 in Colorado with 3 here in the Springs. 

---7/3/21 update

Getting in our annual update here - much later than usual. Our local branch is similar to the others, with the red and white checkered tiles, sacks of Idaho potatoes, and vanity newspaper articles. Order up - everything is ala carte - grab some peanuts and head to a table or stool. Or go outside on the patio. Nice to see the peanuts are back after they were stored away for the pandemic. I got my usual cheeseburger (which is a double patty), "little" fries (which is more than enough), and a drink (they have mix and match machines for both Coke soda products and lemonade). Everything was as tasty as my memory would have it. But my goodness, what's the deal with the prices here? I paid $18 for a basic fast food meal. C'mon. I know we have some inflation going on, but they're going to price themselves out of the market at this rate. $14 for a cheeseburger and fries? The nearby Flying Horse Steakhouse, which is a very high end 5 star establishment, charges $16 for their burger and fries. That's truly insane. It's $7 at In-N-Out Burger for the same (including drink - so $11 cheaper). That's one of the primary reasons they have lines out the door, and Five Guys have very few patrons. Not sure I need to come back here anymore. Keep the fond memories, as the below original review lays out.

---original 9/9/08 review (Southlake, Texas)

I myself cannot believe how rapidly Five Guys has expanded. It was only a few years ago that they were practically a local chain operating in and around Washington DC, and the Maryland / Virginia suburbs, which I visited many times on business when working for software-company-most-people-have-heard-of (in fact, my physical office was in Reston at the time). I can remember being thrilled to find out they had a location in Annapolis, Maryland, which is where my new company's HQ is based. That was last year! At that time, I would've never dreamed that they'd be a national chain. so it was very exciting to see them recently open up in the DFW area - and right here in NE Tarrant's Southlake!

Five Guys has mastered one aspect of the fast food experience: The limited menu. It's hamburgers, hot dogs, and the one concession to vegetarians - grilled cheese (I appreciate this as there are times when my business group will include vegetarians and I still get to eat at places like Five Guys). 

And so with that, it's then paramount that the hamburgers are of a high quality. And indeed they are. A "regular" hamburger is actually two patties, whereas a "little" hamburger is only one. Mrs. RJG said one is more than sufficient (these aren't small like Freddy's for example). I naturally go for the regular. From there you request your toppings, which are numerous. "It'll be ready in 7 minutes" the girl at the counter stated. That's music to my ears. Nothing is more depressing than having your order ready two seconds after ordering. You order it - and they cook it. Sure, sometimes they'll have a head start, but not by much. They don't, as a rule, want burgers sitting around. So the burger usually comes out searing hot. I've burned the roof of my mouth more than once at the Reston location. As stated in another post, the taste is closest to Kincaid's overall (ed: a Fort Worth institution for my new readers). The fries are fresh cut potatoes, and they even tell you where the potatoes were grown (Burleson, Idaho I think was this day's special). And, while you're waiting those 7 minutes, grab a handful of peanuts that are sitting everywhere and munch down as many you can eat. Just like chips at a Mexican restaurant.

All Five Guys locations have a red and white checkered tile look. The walls feature the numerous articles that have been featured on Five Guys, many of them from the Washingtonian, a local magazine similar to "D" or "5280".

1/23/07; 1/17/08; 9/9/08 (new entry); 5/21/10; 8/22/11; 7/2/15; 8/2/16; 11/11/17; 6/27/20; 7/3/21; 4/1/22; 10/28/23

Reston, Virginia; Annapolis, Maryland; Southlake, Texas; Aurora, Colorado; Greenwood Village, Colorado; Wichita Falls, Texas; Colorado Springs (2)

Urban Animal Brewery ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

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. Urban Animal is one of the larger breweries (in terms of space) in town, with plenty of booths, high tables, and bar seating. We grabbed a couple of beers, sat in a booth, and got straight to business going outside on this cold evening and ordering from Dr. Taco. He delivered his delicious tacos straight to our table.

As for the brewery, it's excellent and I'm tempted to put it in the top half of breweries in Colorado Springs on only one visit (and competition is stiff here with so many great ones). Love the venue, and the beers are really good. 

10/27/23 (new entry)

Colorado Craft Tejon Street Social Club ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Last visit: Mar 2021; Oct 2023

First visit: Jun 2019

We tried to revisit. It had been two years and I've been wanting to go back for some time. Mrs. RJG and I were seated promptly and then... subsequently ignored. Finally they received our beer order, only to ignore us further. After 25 minutes we left and went to the ever reliable Phantom Canyon Brewery (delicious but expensive). No one was even attempting to pour our beer, much less take our food order. That's how one gets "hangry". One wonders why a restaurant bothers to open if they refuse to serve their customers. What's clear is there was no active management on hand. I fear to say this is the end of our relationship with Colorado Craft. Typically when we see this behavior, it's not long after the restaurant closes anyway. Wait for it.

---4/7/21 review

Colorado Craft had become of the RJG's favorite haunts prior to the pandemic - exactly the kind of place we love. Quality food and an extensive and unique beer selection. In fact the premise of that selection is to offer as many local breweries as possible. Over time that has dwindled considerably, whether that's because of the pandemic's effects on the breweries, or a conscious decision to "play to favorites", it's hard to know. In addition to that, the menu has really been pared down. Prior to covid, I would usually indulge in a large Cuban sandwich, always a staple for when I go to craft taverns. Today they offer primarily hamburgers and chicken sandwiches, plus a small variety of higher end dishes like steak and salmon. And plenty of large appetizers as well. 

As for our last dining experience, despite the limitations, all turned out well. I tried for the first time their pork green chili, which is one of the best I've had in a while. Definitely had that unique flavor and packed a heat punch. The pork was minced, which is a winning idea. My only (small) gripe is the chili wasn't hot enough temperature. This can be blamed on it sitting at the kitchen counter for too long, as we noticed it just waiting for the server to pick it up. We do wish for more attentive service at times. Mrs. RJG and I ordered the hamburger and chicken sandwich, and then split it. Both were excellent and hearty. We tried the truffle fries, which adds a very nice cheese and garlic flavor. Like the little "fryer baskets" too.

As for repeat visits, I'll need some convincing that their beer list will go back to heavy rotation, otherwise it's not worth going downtown for the same beers and a hamburger. Especially now that Colorado Springs collects parking money, even on Sundays.

7/28/19; 4/7/21 (new entry); 10/26/23

Fat Sully's / Atomic Cowboy / Denver Biscuit Company ~ regional chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

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 thought it was cooked perfectly as is, though she expressed slight disappointment. As with most pizza places, it was too light on sauce. The ingredients were fine, a good amount of cheese, and the crust is very good. Not exceptional though. We were still hungry so we decided to split a slice and we asked once again for extra crispy. This time we got what we asked for. Mrs. RJG loved it but it was too stiff for me. That's OK, it's what we asked for. And the waitress was kind enough to have it split down the middle. I like Fat Sully's but I don't see it as craveable. And it seems lesser than a similar place like Kosmos that I recently tried in Boulder.

Atomic Cowboy is their bar, though not sure why it needs a separate designation. The Biscuit and Pizza brands makes sense, but the bar? I'm guessing it can be standalone that way. Their tap selection is not bad, but not exceptional, and they have one beer made specially for them from Denver Beer (that I tried). I'm sure they're better at mixed drinks, none of which interest us.

Overall I could see this being a hit as a tourist destination, but it won't make the RJG rotation.

- RJG review

10/28/23

---original 5/16/22 posting

Very interesting the timing here, as the RJG had wandered over to the Colorado Springs location just this Sunday to try Fat Sully's for the first time. I didn't realize that 3 restaurants were under the same roof. And it was absolutely mobbed. I'll have to go midweek and try it (and will update this post then). The name of the company is Atomic Provisions, and they have 5 restaurant brands that they mix and match. So far, they appear to be in Kansas City, Denver, and Colorado Springs.

---

1962 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206

This mish-mash of 3 local(-ish) establishments in one location merits a visit or two. Never really understood prior to this write-up what the relation between owners & management is for the three, but as best I can surmise, it goes like this:

 
Denver Biscuit Company (3 locations) - great & huge breakfast biscuit sammiches. Biscuits are second only to Rise & Shine, but some of their sandwiches are completely over the top. DBC Club & The Franklin are personal faves.

Fat Sully's (4 locations) - pizza, but the slice or full pies. Slices are huge, with ample toppings and nicely thin crust. Two slices are plenty - or one and a salad.

Atomic Cowboy (7 locations listed) is the bar operating within the restaurant (if I have this right). Great selection of beers on tap, full bar options, no complaints from a guy like me who generally favors taps over bottles.

My suspicion: each of the locations house all 3 operations, but this might only be validated by visiting each location (which I probably will not do as 1 or 2 are in KC, and one in the Springs). Also worth noting: the biscuit menu is available only during breakfast / brunch hours (7: - 2: pm M-F; 7: - 3: weekends), while pizza serves from 11: am to close (daily). Bar, presumably, is open any time food is served.

- Rude Dante review (5/16/22)

Hilltop Tap House ~ Parker, Colorado

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 sandwich, since we had great success with similar in Kansas and Missouri. No such luck here, though it certainly was good. It was more like a fried chicken sandwich with a slice of cheese and a little bit of jarred (guessing) tomato sauce. Not a specialty item for sure - it was the needful. Seasoned fries were good. 

Excellent ambience for sports fans - I counted ~25 big flat screens. I'm sure the place is hopping on Friday and Saturday nights. Being there for lunch, it wasn't so exciting and the staff just chitchatted with themselves rather than focus on the customers. Can't blame them really. No complaints overall. All good, but don't see a compelling reason to storm back here. We'll see what will be in store for me six months from now.

10/13/23 (new entry)

Drifter's Hamburgers ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

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 just don't want to pay the extra money to maintain their dining room. They don't really make that excuse anymore, but apologize all the same. If they were just honest and said that "we are a drive through only restaurant" then I would accept that. After all, they can do whatever they want, just be honest with your customers so you don't waste our time. I reported it again to Google, but they haven't made the adjustment. Insanity.

In any case, I wanted to complete my diligence here and try Drifter's. The drive-thru was reasonably efficient even with the longish line, and I enjoyed my meal parked under a nearby tree. It felt so 2020. But what of that meal? My voice text stated: Had the cheeseburger meal deal. Very good burger though it was clear I probably should have ordered a double to fill me. Bun was good, toasted, lettuce, special sauce (usual variation of Thousand Island Dressing). On the flip side, you get a lot of fries with this deal. More than I could eat. They were hot, but not superbly so, nor crispy enough - a little bit chewy I guess. Overall it was good, but I'm not seeing a major reason to come back. Perhaps if they open the dining room again, I'll make an exception.

10/7/23 (new entry)

Champs Chicken ~ national chain : Garden City, Kansas

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.

We did have one problem here and I was a bit furious. They have a deal for 5 tenders, but Mrs. RJG asked for a sixth. That was a big mistake. When we got the bill, I complained that it wasn't fair and we should get a break. The manager suddenly "didn't understand English". He certainly had no problem before. Now that's the worst thing you can do with me. He walked away shrugging his shoulders. Grrr. Look at the receipt and you tell me what you see? Essentially we were penalized for buying a sixth piece. 

You know, businesses work very hard to bring you in for that first visit. They beg you basically. They pay marketers large sums of money, so that someone like me might try it once - and actually like it! And then they proceed to treat the customer poorly after that - nickeling and diming for no reason. Anyone with common sense could have easily fixed this issue. There are many ways this could have been resolved - maybe throw in one more piece of chicken? I am planning on sending this entry to Champs headquarters. At the end of the day, I'm out $3 plus additional tax. So yea, not worth getting the blood pressure up for, but it's so aggravating. This is a situation where the manager needs to be reprimanded and reviewed carefully. He's not only hurting his small location, but he's damaging the brand. And that's why HQ would be interested in this message. If they're acting in this way with us, they're doing the same thing to other customers as well. Remember I'm a former corporate executive myself, so I know how they think. I'm not looking for retribution, I can afford it lol.

All this to say, I now have a new outlook on gas station chicken. I'll keep an open mind. And yes, I'll for certain consider Champs again. Especially if they reply to my email :-)

10/5/23 (new entry)

Garden City, Kansas

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery ~ national chain : Great Bend, Kansas

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 fine really. I had one fried egg, two pieces of bacon, and two pancakes. And an orange juice - straight from the machine. Mrs. RJG really liked their fried potatoes. Nothing spectacular, but we've had far worse. Hmmm, maybe we will go to that Springs location some day after all.

Perkins started in Cincinnati and later relocated to Minnesota. Today they are part of a corporation based in Atlanta. They seem to thrive most in the upper Midwest and Florida.

10/5/23 (new entry)

Great Bend, Kansas

The Page, An American Bistro ~ Great Bend, Kansas

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're in Great Bend, and it seems to go perfectly with it. 

If my dad was still alive and had the same traveling sales job, this would be his motel of choice. In fact he would have plotted his trip so that he ended up in Great Bend at least for one night. He wouldn't be able to smoke of course (well, maybe they do have smoking rooms, I wouldn't know), but otherwise this is exactly as he would have drawn it up. He would have insisted on the older front half. Bring in his "boozy woozy" bag straight from the car, have a "couple of drinks in the room", and then... walk across the parking lot to the coffee shop. But wait, there's a twist here that even Mr. RJG would have approved of back in 1980 (see Taco Tico entry). The back half of the coffee shop (Perkins) is a very nice eclectic chef driven bistro. What? In Great Bend? What's going on here?

And the locals know it too. Page was very crowded, and we were lucky to get a table. Even the bar was full. Do you remember when I said that the best Italian food isn't at Italian restaurants anymore? Add Page to that list. Mrs. RJG & I both settled on Italian (they have other genres as well). She had the chicken parm while I had the spaghetti and meatballs. My voice text stated: Pasta perfectly cooked, Mrs. RJG's Alfredo sauce (which was not what she ordered) was awesome (so it worked out), excellent marinara (on mine), great chicken parm, excellent meatballs, good salad, good dressing, bread was a bit too mushy for Mrs.. We enjoyed two glasses each of the house white wine, and it was delicious as well. Seemed a cut above the usual "house" choice. And very reasonably priced. Everything was priced fair actually.

We're in a small town in western Kansas, and one of the best meals we enjoyed was here. Page would hold up well against similar competition in Denver or Dallas. You just never know where your next great meal will come from. Ours came from across the parking lot of a vintage Best Western motel. Amazing. If you're anywhere near Great Bend, go here.

10/4/23 (new entry)

Taco Tico ~ regional chain : Newton, Kansas

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 late than never I suppose. Before the RJG existed, I contributed to a website called Roadfood. They had a forum and my first article was called "The Kansas Taco". I think I wrote that piece in 2003. The website appears to be still going, or it could be a different entity altogether. But the forum is gone one way or the other. I can't find it online in any case. Not that it matters, as its content has mostly been covered in the RJG already, especially from this latest trip that I've been documenting. But there's more to that story that I will share here.

This post comes with narrative. So before I put you all to sleep with that, I better cover off on this location here in Newton (north of Wichita). I haven't been to this one before, but it's a classic Taco Tico. The unique architecture, well managed, clean, and crowded. I've often wondered why Taco Tico isn't more popular, and we'll discuss that some more below. Everything is as I remember the venerable chain. The classic mush meat recipe, the cheese, and most importantly - the sauces. They aren't really that much different from Taco Grande and the rest of them, but they are unique to this region. And they've upped their game and added a Carolina Reaper Sauce. Now that's just not fair! Not only does it somehow maintain that awesome flavor, but it packs serious heat. Like I-can't-believe-you-can-get-this-at-a-fast-food-restaurant hot. So now I'm craving Taco Tico all over again. And I can't get it when I want it! Waaaaaaaaaaa. Story of my life. 

---The backstory

I talk a lot about my dad in these pages, and that's because he was a road warrior salesman, and that's the world I knew since I've been cognizant. After my freshmen year of high school, the debate at home was do I get a job? I only had a driver's permit at time since I was 15, so it would have required Mom (or a coworker) to take me back and forth. Dad had a better idea. Why don't you drive me everywhere in my territory? That territory included all of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and the cities of Memphis and Kansas City. That's just good parenting right there. I'll get tons of driving experience and Dad gets a free chauffeur. I was a responsible driver even then, so he trusted me. And I got free room and board right? But being a human, I had my own ideas of what traveling on the road should be like. Dad would like to wrap up his day with a "couple of drinks in the room, and we'll walk over to the coffee shop next door." No, we're not going to do just that! If I'm driving, we're going to restaurants - and I want to try some fast food places too. He acquiesced, primarily because his main objection was he didn't want to drink and drive. Which was smart. Since I wasn't drinking yet, I'll be the designated driver, even though that term wasn't in vogue back then. So we had a deal. And that's when I picked up the "phone book method" of finding cool restaurants. That was a useful skill up until the smart phone took over (not so long ago). Even in my own road warrior consulting days, I used that same methodology to great success. 

In Taco Tico's case, it wasn't the phone book, but simply the visual. I don't forget it. We were driving somewhere in Oklahoma - Dad sold to industrial laundries and oftentimes they were in smaller towns. I want to say it was in Ada. That would make sense, driving up US 377. And a quick Google search does show there was a Taco Tico there once. And Google maps shows the distinctive Tico architecture (now a donut shop apparently). But that may not be the same place or even the city we were in. What I remember were the words Taco spelled on top, and Tico on the bottom with each letter embedded into a diamond shape, with alternating red and blue colors. And the whole sign turned in a circle. Essentially what you see on the right, minus animation (credits to the photographer). Dad hated tacos, but he'd just puff away on his ciggies while I enjoyed them for lunch. 

Really that was the beginning for me and the fast food taco. What about Taco Bell you ask? Well, no, not yet. We did have one nearby, as it replaced the Taco Patio we had in Northwest Dallas. But we never went strangely enough. Once I got my license, a buddy and I would often go for a "late night taco" at Taco Bueno, so that was my DFW entre.

Taco Tico does have a cult following, but they've run into some hard times in recent years. At one point, they had some negligent owners who owed the State of Kansas a lot of unpaid tax money. And it almost cleaned them out. There were some independent franchises in other states making money hand over first, so they weren't impacted. But in Kansas they almost imploded. A few of the more responsible franchisers worked together to salvage the brand and now they appear poised for growth. I certainly hope so. Like Colorado for example. We're the western neighbor - come on! For years and years I had wished they would come to DFW, but it never happened. They are a "loose knit" chain, as most of them are independently owned and operated.

As if I didn't have enough history with the brand, I have a personal career story to share as well. In early 1995 I was looking to leave the company I was working for in Colorado Springs (worst job I ever had unfortunately). At that time I was a Sybase DBA, and it was honestly the only point in my career where I was heavily recruited. It was a hot skill for certain. One of those recruiters, during lunch (oh yea, I got wined and dined too...), stated to me that she was originally from Wichita. I said instinctively - looking for common ground - "oh, the home of Taco Tico". She deadpanned back "Yea - my dad started that." Her dad was, of course, Dan Foley. What are the odds? For what its worth, the client she represented did not "win" my services. Probably a good thing as they were based in Minneapolis and I would have moved there. The company I chose was much closer in Denver. And that's where I later met Mrs. RJG, Rude Dante, Old Boss, and many others. What would have happened had I chose the Minnesota job? We'll never know, but my life would have been completely different, that's for sure.

6//80; 7/25/81; 9/18/92; 11/23/01; 5/6/03; 9/15/09; 6/9/16; 10/4/23 (new entry)

Ada, Oklahoma; Shawnee, Oklahoma; Guymon, Oklahoma; Metarie, Louisiana; Mason City, Iowa; Wichita; Texarkana; Lexington, Kentucky; Newton, Kansas