Snarf's Sandwiches ~ regional chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2023 (Colorado Springs - N. Academy)

First tried: May 2022 (Boulder)

On this fine Friday afternoon, I decided a sandwich was in order, after eating at home all week (like every week Mon-Thu). I thought it was a good time to revisit Snarf's. I tried to convince Mrs. RJG to come with me, but she's anti-sandwich/hamburger these days, convinced that none of them know how to properly toast the bread or cook the meats. I pleaded that Snarf's was different, more like the Quizno's of old. Nope. Well... thank goodness I didn't win the debate! I decided to try their chicken cordon-bleu sandwich. The bottom of the bread was mushy. Ugh. And the chicken and ham were cool to the mouth. Oh mannnn you have to do better than that! I will say their 7 inch is very filling and tasty. But at $14 (+ unearned tip and no chips or drink), I dunno guys. My enthusiasm is waning. We'll see you next year and hope things get better again.

Latest chain news: There are 25 locations in Colorado (with 5 coming soon); 4 in St. Louis (with one on the way); and 2 in Austin. Pretty much the same as last November. Only the one location here in the Springs.

---original 11/20/22 review

My first encounter with Snarf's was at (one of) my Official Niece's graduation from the University of Colorado earlier this year. The sandwiches were brought into the house she shared with many other young ladies as part of their post graduation celebration. That's not typically a conducive setting for reviewing a restaurant, but I have to say I was very impressed despite this. I inquired about where the food came from, and one of the girls told me it was from a local shop called Snarf's. Not sure exactly which location. In doing some research later that day, I learned it was a chain that started in Boulder in 1996 but had expanded beyond that. And one future location was to be here in Colorado Springs later in the year. Perfect. I'll wait until then to make my evaluation. And that day just happened.

The location is very nice - anchoring one of many strip malls in this northern section of Academy near Chapel Hills Mall. Walk in - pretty decent crowd even though it was near open time after 11 - order up at the counter. I went with my usual Italian (medium - 7 inch) and took all their topping goodies except the mayo and tomato. A few minutes later out came my perfectly wrapped sandwich. Yes - nice and toasty! Mrs. RJG would approve. And the ingredients blended well especially the hot peppers and pickles. Probably could have gone for more mustard but not a problem. The French bread is the key here, perfectly textured. Not too soft, not too hard. And plenty of bread crumbs to pick up afterwards. My first thought here was the glory days of Quiznos, though Snarf's is in a higher tier than that might imply. Definitely a satisfying sandwich, and I'll be sure to go back next year. And I'm sure other times in-between, especially considering it sits right across from one of my favorite thrift stores.

As of this writing Snarf's has 32 locations, with 25 in Colorado (just the one here in the Springs, most are in the Denver-Boulder area). They also have 5 in St. Louis and 2 in Austin, Texas, so they most certainly have an odd growth strategy. Looks like land and expand In-N-Out style I would suspect.

5/6/22; 11/20/22 (new entry)

Komrai Thai ~ Trophy Club, Texas

Mr. Music is hanging out in our old stomping grounds! Technically this is in Denton County, but we had adopted Roanoke and Trophy Club into our NE Tarrant routine. Don't remember Komrai Thai from back then, so let's see what Mr. Music has to say.

---

Mr. Brisket and I stopped in for a small snack. We had been playing disc golf in Trophy Club and needed a little something before heading home. We found this little Thai restaurant through a Google search. It was close by and we decided to pop in. The place was a little hard to find because it is in the rear of a very small shopping center that seemed almost abandoned on a Saturday. Plus they don't have a sign yet, but read they have one coming. Komrai Thai is tiny (which I love) and is also a boba shop. You order from the menu which is on the wall behind the counter. At first glance, the menu looks small but has plenty of Thai dishes to choose from. All the basics like Pad Thai, Pad See Ewe, Pad Kee Mow, a few curries, some rice dishes and more.

I think that there are about 8 booths inside and a few tables to sit outside. Cute! We decided to split the Pad Thai. I also ordered iced black tea. The young lady at the counter was very friendly and helpful. She explained that she is the daughter of the owner/chef. I asked my usual question. 'do you have pik nam pla?" Much to my delight, she told us that there was a little container of it at every table with the other condiments. This is what I consider a good sign at a Thai restaurant! The young lady and her mother both came out to our table to deliver our food. They were both so nice and sweet. They explained to us that so many people have allergies to peanuts these days, they don't put ground peanuts on top of the dish. 

Mr. Brisket does not love spicy food as much as I do, so we decided to get a level 2 and I would just heat mine up with some delicious pik nam pla. Honestly, I did not notice any heat at all when the food came, which is fine because to me a level 2 is very low spice. Mr. Brisket said that he orders level 2 for all Thai dishes and this seemed mild compared to his other experiences. I was happy to doctor mine up with yummy Thai chili's and fish sauce. The dish was very nice. It came hot and fresh and the flavor was great. I personally like mine a little saucier, but it was not dry by any means. Both Mr. Brisket and I agreed that we missed the sprinkled peanuts on top. We got our dish with chicken, which they cubed into very small pieces. Mr Brisket mentioned how much he really enjoyed the chicken cut that way, I have never had it like that and really liked it too. The black tea came in as sealed cup just like boba. It was very good but I understand why Mr. Brisket did not order it; because when he orders tea, he wants free refills. All in all it was a great experience. I definitely want to go back. I like the food and the people running it and want to try some other dishes.

- Mr. Music review

Big Bill's New York Pizza ~ Centennial, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2023

First visit: 1999

And like with McCoy's, Big Bill's seemed better than ever. There was a much larger crowd on this visit, and the kitchen seemed hotter. We finally got confirmation that their namesake beer is made by Estes Park. We devoured a large ham and pepperoni pizza between us - and finally with the right amount of sauce! Ultimately Big Bill's gave us happy bellies on the drive back to Colorado Springs. JL and I have a big trip coming up in two weeks for another show - but not in Colorado. More to come!

---original 10/15/22 review

As if to cement our new friendship, JL suggested dinner at Big Bill's New York Pizza. Alright! This was a go-to place of mine when living in Denver Ver 2.0 (post marriage / road warrior consultant / pre-management). I know Rude Dante and I went here at least a couple of times back then. He used to live nearby and it was his initial recommendation. But it's been 22+ years since I last stepped inside. Way too long. And they've expanded their space since. Obviously a popular place. And it should be. While 20 years ago, competition was fierce for New York styled pizza, today there aren't as many options. JL says "How about a meat pizza?" Man, does this guy know me or what? Naw - I'd rather have Blistered Swiss Chard. Pffft. Yes! Meat pizza sounds awesome. Of course we were both hungry after working the show, so it all went down great. Excellent crust and sauce. I could always use more sauce, but I'm particular that way. They even have their own beer - made for them by Rockyard (I think) in nearby Castle Rock. Our waitress said Estes Park, but I couldn't find evidence of that. Oh and JL knew her too and gotta another big hug. This guy...

I suspect we'll be back here next spring too.

1999; 4/16/00; 10/15/22 (new entry); 4/24/23

McCoy's ~ Denver, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2023

First visit: Oct 2022

It's time for the bi-annual record show in Denver! JL and I are back at it, selling our wares. Him more so. I just bring a few boxes along for the heck of it. I'm mainly there to help and then dig for myself. Most of my inventory is online. In reality most of it is in my collection lol. Selling inventory, I should say. We both agreed to follow the routine of McCoy's and Big Bills (fulfilling the prophecy below). For the October show we might go for mixing it up with two new RJG styled restaurants. We'll see. As for our experience this visit, absolutely everything was the same, perhaps even tastier to me on this fine sunny morning. And yes, of course JL got a hug from the waitress... For old school diners, McCoys is tough to beat. Oh - we did take the time to look up when they first opened - 1988.

---original 10/15/22 review

Now for something completely different... After a week of expense account eating - when we were allowed to eat that is - now it's time for the Denver Record Show! Back to the RJG comfort zone. In this case I was helping a local Springs friend load and run his tables - we'll call him JL. He's a big dude (former roadie), a couple of years older than me, and his knees are giving out on him. We're likeminded in music and - as I learned on this trip - food as well. Like Mr. Music and Rude Dante! And he even did the driving - which was great since I just did the route a couple of days prior. When he suggested we get a big ol' breakfast to start the day, he was speaking my language. Load up before the event and that will give us the energy to get through the show, which can be exhausting (but fun).

And like a true RJG minded fella, he starts telling me about an old diner he's been going to for over 20 years. Yea man! And in north Denver off of Federal. Dream location. Maybe I should get him to write here too?

McCoy's is actually kind of a nice place. I was expecting the smell of old nicotine and coffee, and the stuffing coming out of the vinyl booths. Nada. Essentially McCoy's looks like an old Denny's that they've maintained very nicely. JL knows the waitresses here and they give him a big hug right away. They poured my weak coffee, and no flavored creamers here. It's old fashioned diner coffee. Starbucks is for liberals, you woke weenie. Haha. Of course I beelined for the breakfast burrito buried in the chile. Hot or mild. They had to ask. Hot baby - hot. And yes, a very good green they have. I could have stood for a bit more heat (spice) but not complaining. Great flavor which enhanced the bacon and egg stuffing. I like this place! Mrs. RJG would too. BTW - you gotta love a place that advertises they are "Family Dining"... with "Cocktails" right below it. You get points for that.

I seriously doubt this will be our last foray to Denver together - as he'll continue to need the help. I expect we'll be back at McCoy's next Spring.

10/15/22 (new entry); 4/24/23

El Padrino Mexicano ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2023

First visit: Apr 2019

I'm pretty sure I mentioned this somewhere in this blog, but there's something special about going for a Saturday Mexican lunch on a cold dreary day in Colorado. And that was, in fact, this day. Nothing has changed from our prior visits in terms of quality. Alterations this time is that I went for a draft beer (Red Leg Helo) instead of a frozen marg, and Mrs. RJG went back to boring water (I'm making progress though on corrupting her again...). They did bring out both a mild and a spicy salsa. The mild is more like a medium and the hot is more like a medium. Huh? We agree the "hot" is spicier but not by much. Both were delicious though. Perhaps this is what we received last time without realizing the difference. And we had remembered that the tacos were our favorite, so we stuck with Taco Plates this time. They serve these on a custom tin, made just for tacos (2 per order). On the plate itself were steaming piles of beans and rice. Hot temperature - yaay! Everything came out excellent to our taste and we enjoyed our return visit. Will we be back before next year? It deserves more visits, but we'll see where the priorities land.

---11/12/22 update

OK, back on home turf here. It's lunch time and I still have a hankering for our old habit of a Saturday Mexican lunch. I suggested El Padrino, and Mrs. RJG surprised me with a yes answer (see original review below). On this visit, like the others, we sat in the bar area. Rather than beer, I wanted my biannual frozen margarita and wifey had one on the rocks. Very good - tequila was present and accounted for. Chips and salsa were just as good as the last trip, though I forgot to order a spicy salsa, but the regular one has a nice kick and is very flavorful. This time I ordered the combo #1, and she had #8. The only difference is her enchilada was shredded beef and mine was ground. Both come with a ground beef taco. We each ordered the enchilada to be smothered in the spicy green. I think a wire got crossed because it wasn't very spicy on this visit. Or maybe it just wasn't hot this go round. The big hit was the taco. Mrs. RJG loved the homemade crispy fried shell, as did I. Ground beef was seasoned lightly but the salsa made up for it. No matter, the shell won her over. Rice and beans came out very hot, something we're not seeing much anymore. Yet another plus. So hooray, I think we finally won over Mrs. RJG at El Padrino. Next time we might just get tacos. See you next year if not before. 

---original 4/24/21 review

This was only our second visit to El Padrino, a place that should be our "local" Mexican restaurant. Trouble is - for reasons I cannot ascertain - Mrs. RJG doesn't like it. But I most certainly do. Walking in, you can sit in the cozy bar, or wait to be seated at a regular table. We've only done the former - a nice dark space with a large modern bar nearby. Once settled into the little booth, I was pleasantly surprised to see they have local brewery Goat Patch on tap. Not going to miss out on that! Those beers are registered in the Bier Reise (see tab above).

The chips arrived with the server, no need to ask. Nice and crispy, with two salsas - one a medium, the other a hot. Both excellent and entirely unique. Not a common recipe, which is a plus. I do believe they have cumin in them for certain, and the hot likely has chile de arbol or something hotter than jalapenos.

Good time to point out that El Padrino is everything Senor Manuel is not - that is to say, it's modernized, clean, and very comfortable for the whole family. Well, Senor Manuel is certainly comfortable, but not everyone goes for those older, dingier places. Like we do lol.

For the primary meal, I'm burying my ground beef burrito in their spicy green chile (you have the option of mild). Again, I'm lapping it up with glee - and a little sweat. Excellent rice and beans. Maybe not the best rice and beans ever, but certainly very good. Mrs. RJG seemed to be enjoying her meal as well (similar, but enchiladas with chicken). But as she'll often do - she'll tell me it's great while there, and later say "I didn't like it". Why? "I dunno". OK. That's how you stay married for almost 25 years. You say OK.

Problem with the above scenario is I wouldn't go to a place like El Padrino by myself, so it can be awhile before we give it another shot. But Mr. RJG gives El Padrino a thumbs up.

4/18/19; 4/24/21 (new entry); 11/12/22; 4/24/23

Thai Taste Cuisine ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Jul 2023

First visit: Aug 2021

---original 4/22/23 review

This is only the second time for us to visit Thai Taste, the first listed above. I quite liked it, but couldn't enjoy it entirely because I was having so much fun with some crazy gum swelling (details somewhere in this blog, not worth rehashing). I've been pushing Mrs. RJG that I wanted to go back, but there was an unknown resistance. Finally that night has arrived.

Coming off my children's meal at Black Bear Coffee, I was ready to devour a full sized dinner. Before walking in, they have photos of the food to be offered on the window. And - oh my God - my dish is right there on the door! Basil Fever. Open up the menu - there it is again on the front page! Real Thai Basil - ground chicken, fried egg, and little Thai chilis sprinkled throughout. I finally don't have to explain what I want - they're advertising it! 

This is getting more promising by the minute.

We decided to order the shrimp blanket appetizer. Ah... the good old days of NE Tarrant's wonderful Thai restaurants are back! It's a pre-packaged item, but please fry it up hot and tasty for us. And indeed they did just that. Yummy. Mrs. RJG ordered Cashew Chicken with vegetables. And you already know what I ordered. Thai Hot baby, Thai Hot. I knew they didn't have alcohol, so I proceeded to order Thai Iced Coffee. Then the Mrs. inexplicably asked if they did have alcohol. Huh? She's not even drinking these days. And - guess what? They do!

This is getting more promising by the minute.

We each ordered a glass of white wine. OK, it's a tad expensive at $9 a glass, but it was a good pour at least. I would wish for $5 or $6, but I'll take it. You can read my thoughts on the Thai food experience with Chardonnay on the NaRai Thai entry (who incidentally are no longer even in the conversation of where we want to go eat Thai).

Out comes two plates for each of us. One a huge scoop of perfectly cooked rice. The other the entree. No need to allocate space on how to get the main meal onto the rice. Just one big drop on top. Oh gosh - this is so good. Mrs. RJG was clearly having her best dining-out meal in ages (tacos notwithstanding). 

Move over Zesty Thai - we have a new favorite in town (though you're still in the mix!). One that competes with our old favorites back in NE Tarrant like Sweet Basil and Magic Springroll.

You're in Colorado Springs and you want authentic Thai food? Go here.

8/7/21; 4/22/23 (new entry)

Black Bear Coffee ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

First visit: Apr 2023

I was way down south at an estate sale in the Broadmoor area, and the day was getting away from me. I had a meeting I needed to take in the car, and after that, whatever food was afforded me, I'm taking! I usually eat my main meal between 8 and 11, and here it is 1:30. To say I was hungry would be a major understatement. But I only wanted something light at this point, since I knew I'd be going out with Mrs. RJG for dinner.

It's been many a year since I found myself in this shopping center right off of I-25 near Cheyenne Mountain. During the Denver townhome years of 2009 through 2011, we occasionally would come from southern Colorado through Colorado Springs. There was a very good Thai restaurant in here at that time (now it appears to be a Chinese place).

While sitting in the parking lot listening to the meeting, I contemplated my choices. There was a Which Wich that I'd been to once in Southlake many years ago (wasn't impressed but probably should try it again). El Super Taco was there (haven't tried yet). And Black Bear Coffee. Ya know, if they have a real ice cream coffee milk shake, that would be perfect.

Of course they didn't. Why is it that the mountain towns all do have ice cream shakes, and the coffee places in the city just have those nasty "blended" drinks like Frappacino's? Questions. I ordered a coffee that had Bear in the name and included Hazelnut and Irish Cream. I can't find it online, but there was one more ingredient (Caramel maybe?). I just got a small. It was good, but way too sweet. I decided to have a Turkey Melt as well. Promised to be a hot panini. C'mon guys, really? It was two pieces of white bread toast, deli turkey, provolone, and pesto (all no doubt from the Safeway next door). That's it. If I was 10 years old, it would have been filling. Fortunately I was looking for something light - but maybe not that light. Worse is that the turkey was still cold. Panini's are supposed to be hot. Gosh dang.

Oh well, not terrible by any means, but not seeing any reason to return. Not that I'm down here much, but it would have been a destination if they had something worthwhile. It doesn't appear they do.

4/21/23 (new entry)

Lost Friend Brewing ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2023

First visit: Apr 2019

Interesting to see that I've been to Lost Friend three times and they're all during late April, spread evenly two years apart. A complete coincidence. In any case, staying with our "win theme" of experience over things, Mrs. RJG and I went out for a second night in a row. The impetus to going here was that Dr. Taco's truck was setting up outside (see my review). I knew Mrs. RJG would love them and so we waited until his truck landed somewhere we wanted to go. As I predicted, Mrs. RJG loved them and declared they are the best tacos she's ever had. I knew it! We'll probably be following him around like the Grateful Dead here for sometime.

As for the brewery, Lost Friend refers to dogs in particular. It's more dog friendly than human friendly. Perhaps the dogs should order and pay for the beer as well lol. This setup doesn't sit well with Mrs. RJG, though once again I'm more tolerant of the modern way of being. Since she's not drinking, she got to watch me drink two beers (when not stuffing her face with the yummy tacos). I like that Lost Friend has beers like an English Mild and an ESB - ones you just don't see enough of in this IPA crazed industry. And they are very tasty as well. Otherwise I don't get too many good vibes here like I do at other breweries around town. I think if you don't bring a dog, they frown at you a bit.

4/27/19; 4/27/21; 4/20/23 (new entry)

Bourbon Brothers Smokehouse & Tavern ~ national chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2023 (Colorado Springs)

First visit: Dec 2019 (Colorado Springs)

Mrs. RJG and I are trying to get out more during the week, as we got into a rut during the pandemic that we're trying to get out of. Our routine has been to eat at home every night and occasionally go out for lunch on the weekends. I would sometimes personally get out for lunch later in the week while digging for records depending on my work schedule. The idea here is to spend more money on "experience" versus "things". We have enough of the latter. Most folks do if they're honest about it. The problem is that the dining experience dollar has gone up exponentially in the last year, and it's only a matter of time before something gives. Either an implosion of the market, or prices come back down to reasonable levels. Time will tell. Interesting to note that my Google feed has decided to tell me how many restaurants are closing around the country. And there are a lot for certain. Most of them are the mega chains, but lots of legendary institutional independents are going by the wayside as well. All the signs of 2008 are upon us - at the time we started this blog. Remember Bennigans? Steak and Ale? That was when they met their demise. And many more.

So what about Bourbon Brothers? This is our fourth visit, and our first in a couple of years. It's a beautiful building perfectly set to view the mountains here in northern Colorado Springs. It sits essentially across the street from Vaqueros that we reviewed last year. Their draft beer mechanism wasn't working (major bummer), so I settled on a glass of white wine. Good sized pour and a decent flavor for a house wine. Mrs. RJG is hardcore teetotalling it these days, so she stuck with water. We both went for entrees. She had the blackened salmon with rice and spinach. She really enjoyed it - strong flavors, hot temperature, and perfectly cooked. I had a bit of the salmon and agreed. I prefer more "blackening" so expect a lighter blend than usual. I went with my favorite Cubano. I'd had it here before and it was better last time. It's a large sandwich, so it's definitely filling. I wasn't pleased that the pulled pork was tough this time, and it didn't really settle well with my stomach (which fortunately is highly unusual for me). The bottom of the bread was mushy (Mrs. RJG would have hated it). And the pickle/mustard combo didn't rise to the top offering that wonderful contrast. The tater tots were great though. Next time I'll order something else. Overall, I like Bourbon Brothers, but not sure it separates much from the competition. Mrs. RJG may feel differently though. We'll probably be back, as we know a couple of friends that really like it as well.

Though I have labeled Bourbon Brothers as a national chain, that is more their aspiration than the current reality. Not even sure when they opened their second location, but they were originally a Colorado Springs only restaurant. Where is that second location? Gainesville, Georgia. Not exactly around the corner, and not sure where the economy of scale is coming from. According to their website, they plan on opening in Texas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, so they definitely are sticking to Southern themes and locales. I was just near Gainesville interestingly enough. It was a possible route I could have taken on my drive from Atlanta to Greenville, South Carolina. I went through Athens instead.

12/18/19; 9/6/21; 4/20/23 (new entry)

Glacier Ice Cream & Gelato ~ Colorado chain : Castle Rock

Latest visit: Apr 2023 (Castle Rock)

First visit: Jul 2009 (Boulder)

After eating at the Castle Cafe, I visited one record shop and then wanted a craft beer. Mrs. RJG said she wanted "nieve", Spanish slang for ice cream (means snow - helado being more formal). Guess who won that argument especially considering our lunch didn't go over too well?

I remembered the name Glacier, but could not place it until I checked my personal database. Sure enough, we had gone one time in Boulder during our townhome years (on July 4th no less). This is only our second time back. The location sits just outside of the old downtown in a bustling new urban district known as the Riverwalk. It's only a block from Granelli's where Old Boss and I enjoyed a lunch last December (as noted here in the RJG). BTW - Old Boss retired. Damn - I'm jealous! But he's 9 years older than me to be fair.

What's nice about Glacier is you can choose between gelato or ice cream, just as the name suggests. In recent years, we've both favored gelato as it's more rich and creamy. Though sometimes I want the more chewy ice cream. Mrs. RJG finally learned that a "small cup" is plenty, as she oftentimes will load up a waffle cone with 3 scoops and then feel terrible later. Ya-huh. I have no such issues enjoying a small portion as it adds up nicely while eating. I tried the Cappuccino and she had the Nutella. Both were absolutely delicious. This is some really excellent gelato, and worth more visits than every 14 years. I think we can manage that...

Though they're a chain, they don't seem to have central ownership. Best I can tell they have 2 locations in Boulder, one each in Greenwood Village (Denver suburb) and Fort Collins - and the one here.

7/4/09; 4/15/23 (new entry)

Castle Cafe ~ Castle Rock, Colorado

Last visit: Apr 2023

First visit: Aug 2010

Ever since we moved back to the Springs, we've been saying that we want to go back to Castle Cafe. Neither of us remembered all that well what the experience was prior and wanted to try it again. Almost a full 5 years later, we finally made it over here. This would be our 3rd visit - the first one with Rude Dante as he was about to leave for Akron, Ohio.

Castle Cafe sits in an old building dating back to the 1890s. Apparently there's been a restaurant, bar, and (at one point) dancehall in this spot since that time. There's not a lot of detail on current ownership and what really happened during the urban decay days of the 50s, 60s, and 70s but it really doesn't matter in the scheme of things. It's a cool looking building, with plenty of booth and table seating. Or you can grab a stool at the bar if eating or drinking solo.

Mrs. RJG had the "famous" Pan Fried Chicken, which they now serve all day - it used to only be available for dinner. The original plan was for me to order a spicy fried chicken sandwich and we'd split it. But they don't have that on the weekends, only for lunch during the week. No problem, I switched to The Boss hamburger with crispy bacon and a jalapeno cream cheese spread. And we each ordered a cup of their green chili to start. For this visit, we stuck with water, as the beer taps are fairly typical of the area. They also offered up free bread, which comes with honey, as a starter.

It was an auspicious start, as the green chili was received favorably by both of us. It possessed a nice spicy kick and a very good flavor - though later Mrs. RJG said it was a bit too porky. The temperature was hot - not blazing like we prefer, but certainly not warm either. As for the fresh baked bread, Mrs. RJG made a face about it being too doughy - though she picked at the edges and poured honey on it to her delight. I thought the bread was fine, but didn't want to eat too much considering we had a large meal on the way.

They warn everyone that the chicken takes 30 minutes to prepare properly, and we even timed it. More for our sake in terms of expectation versus testing them. Sure enough, almost precisely 30 minutes later came our meal.

And then the wheels came off. Mrs. RJG was bummed that the chicken wasn't very hot (temperature) and that it was bland in flavor. The mashed potatoes were cold and the veggies seemed straight from the can without seasoning. I had one piece of chicken (the breast) and parts of it were hot but it wasn't consistent. I thought the flavor was good but not distinctive. Certainly not crave worthy. My hamburger was cooked to perfection (well done) and the bacon was crispy (for once). I liked the jalapeno spread as well. The bread wasn't crispy enough for the Mrs. to try, so I ate the whole thing. I've had better burgers, but it was enjoyable. The fries were typical, but I didn't eat too many. Mainly because I needed to finish Mrs. RJG's chicken. Then she said "how come you never take me for Thai food?" lol. But I have to agree, it was a disappointment overall. Service, however, was excellent on this visit.

The truth is this: Back in 2009 and 2011, we weren't that enamored with Castle Cafe either. But Rude Dante says it's one of his favorites, and the ratings are consistently very high. They all can't be wrong. Sometimes we just have to accept that we all have different filters, and our opinion falls on the other side of the popular one. Normally that's not the case, but here's an exception. We both really wanted to love it - but we just don't. We won't go back on our own, but there's always that chance someone from out of town will want to go here - or friends and family from Denver would like to meet here since it's convenient for all of us. I'm up for trying it one more time. Obviously we need to explore the menu further if we do.

8/19/09; 8/8/11; 4/15/23 (new entry)

Zesty Thai ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2023

First visit: Nov 2021

So guess who's in town? Mr. Music! For breakfast we went to RJG's favorite Quijotes (already updated for the year). After a full day of crate digging at thrift shops and record stores here in town, it was time for dinner. The three of us (now with Mrs. RJG joining) always enjoy going out for Thai food together. Why not go to our latest favorite - Zesty Thai! Mrs. RJG had the red curry which she really enjoyed. I had the "Chef's Special" which you can read about below. Mr. Music started with a bowl of Tom Kha and chicken, and then proceeded to have the same dish as I. Oh, and Mr. Music and I also had the Thai Iced Coffee (mentioned below as well). All were a big hit! On this visit the heat level was below Thai Hot, so one minor gripe, but not a big deal. We had a chance to speak with the owner/chef and she explained that her cooking style is from the northeast of Thailand. And the way I order my dish is "truly Thai style". Reassuring that I was correct on that front - especially when I get quizzical looks at certain Thai restaurants (hello NaRai Thai). And she did confirm that they are looking to acquire an alcohol license as well, allowing us to enjoy a glass of white wine with our meal. Zesty Thai is for certain our favorite Thai restaurant in the Springs - beginning to separate from the pack. And it's right across the street from where we live!

---original 11/25/22 review

It was almost exactly a year ago when Mrs. RJG and I tried our local Thai restaurant. By local, I mean really local - essentially across the street. This had been both a Chinese and a Vietnamese restaurant prior, both that we enjoyed, and the latter was covered in the RJG. So why not try for one more Asian cuisine in this spot? In any case, we went for dinner, and I was very high on it and Mrs. RJG gave it a thumbs down. Why? I'm still not sure. One issue I had going in is they don't serve alcohol, and we covered that topic in depth on the NaRai Thai entry not that long ago. Since that time I've been pushing for a lunch date and that day finally happened. Mrs. RJG ordered the Roasted Thai Chili Sauce Stir Fry with chicken. It was the perfect lunch portion with perfectly cooked white rice and a delicious sauce. It was missing the cashews though, which was odd. I ordered the Basil Stir Fry, but I customized it my way - which is the Thai way. Off goes the green beans and mushrooms, substitute white meat chicken with minced ground chicken, add a fried egg, and make it Thai Hot. That graduated me to "Chef Special", which in layman's terms, means "$6 more". I don't care as long as you do it right. And - wow - did they ever! 100% authentic Thai style. It's been forever and a day since I ate every bite of my Thai meal, not leaving behind a bushel of onions or a whole bell pepper. And Thai hot was Thai hot. Which means super hot - but not insanely so. Or they hold back - wimpy style - in fear that you might return it. Nope - just exactly what the level calls for. Accompany all that with a tall glass of Thai Iced Coffee, and heaven awaits. Dessert in a glass, they actually give you enough to last the entire meal. Oh - and the girls that work here are very sweet. The lost art of friendly service returns.

And with that, Zesty Thai becomes the RJG's favorite Thai lunch spot to complement NaRai Thai as the dinner go-to option. And it's right across the street. Yay.

11/13/21; 11/25/22 (new entry); 4/14/23

Trinity Brewing ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2023

First visit: Sep 2019

Mrs. RJG frequently drives to Garden of the Gods to go on a solo hike or with a friend. She happened to notice Trinity Brewing on this drive and suggested we go for lunch. I'm not going to pass up on that opportunity! We'd been once before pre-pandemic, and she didn't enjoy it. I thought it was good, perhaps could have used a slight improvement. Since that visit, they have a completely new menu and chef, so it's like going for the first time. I think they expanded to the space next door (can't remember for sure), and now have two very large rooms to spread out. As well as some outdoor seating. 

We settled on brewpub food - she had a Buffalo chicken sandwich and I went for the fried chicken sandwich, something I'm going more and more for these days. The modern way of frying isn't so bread or grease heavy. Or at least it shouldn't be. I thought she was going to enjoy hers, since the bread appeared toasted on both sides. But as time wore on, the crispness began to sag, and she went from positive to "why don't you ever take me for Thai food?". Sigh. I enjoyed mine though. Of course I did. I went with tater tots, she went with fries, and they gave her sweet potato fries instead, adding to her increasingly darker mood. For beers, I enjoyed a red ale and she had an apricot blonde that she didn't like. It didn't help that we had dogs next to us while we dined. I understand all of this to be the modern way of living and adjust accordingly. She's been struggling with all this. C'est la vie. Like with Bristol, I fear my next visit will be for the brewery only. Perhaps I'll snack on something. Suffice to say, Mrs. RJG isn't excited about a return visit. Bummer that. At least Phantom Canyon and Cerberus are still in the cards.

9/7/19; 4/2/23 (new entry)