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 ***CLOSED***

Closed: Dec 2024. While a lot of places have been struggling due to basic economics, Drifters was their own worst enemy. In reading recent comments, no one is shedding a tear that they're going away. See below as to why.

First visit: Oct 2023

I've had Drifter's circled as a place to go since we arrived back to Colorado Springs over five years ago. But it wasn't until after the pandemic I finally made the effort to go here. Each time, they said the dining room was closed because they can't find employees and other such nonsense. The last thing I want to do after the pandemic is eat in my car. It reminds me of those bad times. So I would press on to the backup plan. 

OK, let's go over again for a 4th time. Google Maps says they're open for Dine-In. They said that the last time, and I reported that wasn't true. But maybe it's changed. Get there - and - only open for drive through. Bottom line is Drifter's is full of crap. They can get employees they 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

Baramee Thai Bistro ~ Kansas City, Missouri

First visit: Oct 2023

Those who follow this blog must be asking "But where's the Thai restaurant? Mrs. RJG insists on it right?". Of course that is what is known as a "hypothetical". In any case, yes indeed, Thai food was on the agenda. 

I'm just going to get right to it - Best Thai food I've had in ages! For my tastes it was perfection. I had the Pad Ka Prau (it's my test dish for sure): Ground chicken, Thai hot, Asian oil, garlic fried egg, and lots of basil. Not too dry, not too wet, not full of onions and peppers, but just the right amount. Every single bite was a delight. I didn't have to make hardly any alterations - that's how it comes off the menu (except the ground chicken). Oddly, Mrs. RJG's dish wasn't as good. She tried the Drunken Noodle with "too much chicken" (no such thing in my world), not enough noodle, and too "eggy" (what?). We each enjoyed a nice glass of chardonnay.

Beelining here for our next trip to KC, no matter where we stay in the city. Mrs. RJG knows she'll find the right dish. Great open air atmosphere as well. The place was jam packed, so it's obviously popular with locals as well.

10/3/23 (new entry)

Casual Animal Brewing ~ Kansas City, Missouri

First visit: Oct 2023

We're now back in the city, and hitting the hipster inner city areas filled with record shops and vintage clothing stores. The neighborhood is called Crossroads. If you ever want to know the cool parts of town, look for music, food, vintage shops, and drink. Being the least cool guy there is, regardless I always find myself in these areas due to my interest areas. And somehow I fit right in lol.

Taking it one step further, this area is also known as Brewers Alley, as there are so many craft breweries in the neighborhood. We had just finished shopping at Josey Records*, and more or less went to the first brewery we saw. And that's Casual Animal. Apparently the founders are also from Colorado, Fort Collins in fact. It's a gigantic venue, with tons of seating, gaming areas, etc... We just had one beer to wind down before dinner. All excellent. Good vibes too.

* - Josey Records is named after Josey Lane in Northwest Dallas (their flagship store) - very close to where Mr. RJG spent his entire childhood before going off to college. Hard to imagine such a well known and highly regarded record store being from there. There was certainly nothing like that when I lived there. Probably a good thing. I would have never left. The building that is...

10/3/23 (new entry)

Andy's Frozen Custard ~ regional chain : Overland Park, Kansas

Latest visit: Oct 2023 (Overland Park, Kansas)

First visit: Jan 2018 (North Richland Hills, Texas)

Locations: 85 in 14 states. There are 4 in the Denver area and many in Texas. NE Tarrant now has 4 locations alone, including the NRH store that we went to. They also opened up in our former town of Keller.

Oh for crying out, for certain I wrote about Andy's before didn't I? Ugh - nope. Like with Planet Sub, we caught Andy's at the tail end of our DFW experience. This review will be simple. Andy's stock in trade is frozen custard, similar to Freddy's, Sheridan's, Ted Drewes, etc... We're in their home market, so they are ubiquitous throughout the city. It's like chili parlors in Cincinnati, once you leave the area, you cannot find them. Or so it seems. It appears they've expanded greatly in the last few years. It's a simple business model and a popular one.

We each had a small vanilla and chocolate (mixed) custard. I added espresso sauce and Mrs. RJG went with caramel. A perfect midday snack. Though I added to my voice text: "We are now both big and fat" lol.

I really enjoy their mid century building designs, recalling our recent experience with P. Terry's in Austin.

Though they have locations in Denver, I never take the time to go to one (and haven't randomly seen them either). Usually because I have a packed schedule when there. But I will make an effort in the coming years. Though ideally they'd just open up here in the Springs. Not sure why they haven't. There really isn't any competition here other than Freddy's, which is more known for their burgers.

1/19/18; 10/3/23 (new entry)

North Richland Hills, Texas; Overland Park, Kansas

Planet Sub ~ regional chain : Prairie Village, Kansas

Latest visit: Oct 2023 (Prairie Village, Kansas)

First visit: sometime in 2002 (Englewood, Colorado)

Locations: 21 total: Kansas (9); Missouri (8); Arizona (3); Michigan (1)

It is now Tuesday and the decision was made to work the Kansas suburbs. Plenty of thrift shops and record stores to keep us both busy throughout the day. I had forgotten about the Planet Sub chain, but having seen it around town, I decided that would be a good place to have a lunch and take a break from the taco train.

This is another "didn't I write about this chain already?" post. Apparently not. This would be my fourth encounter with the Kansas City based eatery. The other three were in states they no longer operate in. Essentially they are known for their toasted subs, somewhat like Quiznos, but of a higher quality and more filling. I wasn't aware of their existence until they planned to open a location off of Lincoln in far south Denver. We were living in Parker at the time, so it was on our route to I-25. We both thought it was delicious, but we were about to leave for DFW. Two years later we were visiting Denver for work/family, and I went over to that same location for another lunch. Same experience, but unfortunately the store didn't make it. It was in a weird location. Investors had built a strip center to support an oncoming large business complex, that never really developed. And it was too out of the way to supply the Denver Tech Center workers, as well as the lack of residential housing nearby. Today that has all filled out, but Planet Sub was a victim of being there too early. 

But we did get another chance as they decided to move into the DFW market. Once again, as we were about to leave the area. It was in 2017 and they opened up in Las Colinas. Not close by, but a good destination place and easy to get to. I was in the area quite a bit anyway. Had we stayed in DFW, that would have a been a regular stop for us. However that shop also closed - looks like it didn't make it past 2018.

So here we are in their home city. I ordered the Super Hero. My voice text notes stated: Really good, toasty, loaded with meats, banana peppers. Mrs. RJG had the Turkey Club, which she enjoyed but decided later she didn't like the mustard (which she swapped out the mayo for). And she said the sandwich was "too big". As they say in the court of law: Strike that last comment. lol. Of course it wasn't too big - I thought it was the perfect size myself.

So if Planet Sub makes a try for the Colorado Springs market, we'll for sure add it to the rotation.

I've added their older logo which I prefer to their new one.

2002; 7/12/04; 2/18/17; 10/3/23 (new entry)

Englewood, Colorado; Las Colinas, Texas; Prairie Village, Kansas

Smoke Brewing ~ Lee's Summit, Missouri

First visit: Oct 2023

After finishing up in Independence, where Mrs. RJG scored her biggest find, it was time for din-din. We both wanted some Kansas City BBQ, and I wanted to try a brewpub. I wonder if they have both in the same venue? It turns out they do, two I found in fact. And Lee's Summit was only about 15 minutes south of where we were. Let's go there...

Smoke Brewing anchors a strip center and is quite large inside. Maybe a bit too bright for dinner, but not too bad. We went for the Beef 3.0 Plate and the Competition Ribs. My voice notes stated that the sliced brisket was excellent as were the pork ribs. The shredded brisket was decent and the burnt ends were too tough. The barbecue sauce was OK, a bit on the sweet side. I went for the mac n cheese on the side. It was great at first but gummed up towards the end as it wasn't hot enough (typical). I also had the mashed potatoes, which I was enjoying until Mrs. RJG said they tasted rancid to her, so I put those aside lol. She had the cheese corn and the baked beans and she liked both. The Texas Toast was also excellent. And the beers were also delicious. Final verdict? Very good, but certainly have had better BBQ. Probably wouldn't go back on a visit, but if we lived there, it would certainly be part of a yearly rotation.

After this we headed back to our downtown condo and wandered over to the Yard House to complete the day.

10/2/23 (new entry)

Taco Zone ~ Gladstone, Missouri

First visit: Oct 2023

After working the northern sections of town, it was time for a taco snack. I found Taco Zone on a quick search and off we went. This review will be easy. Taco Zone are a In-A-Tub knockoff. Since we never eat fried tacos, why not try the competition then? My voice notes stated the meat was more moist but the sauce wasn't as spicy. We both decided against the cheese powder to see what shredded cheese would taste like. Personally I'd rather have the cheese powder. In any case, these were very good, but I would encourage you all to go to In-A-Tub first. I don't think we need to come back either for the same reason. But if we lived here, absolutely we would. It doesn't appear this Taco Zone is related to the one in Lawrence, Kansas.

10/2/23 (new entry)

In-A-Tub ~ Kansas City, Missouri

Latest visit: Oct 2023

First visit: Jul 2007

I may have mentioned this before, but to me nothing feels more like total freedom than a garden variety Monday (not an official holiday) - when you don't have to go to work or school. And you have the whole week to yourself. To me it's the greatest feeling in the world. I suppose once I'm retired, it will be routine. But since I'm still a working stiff, I enjoy the heck out of it. Reminds me of my childhood during summer vacation.

We had a full day of thrifting ahead. I decided we'd canvass North Kansas City and Independence. And what drove me to go to the northern reaches of this great city? Well you just had to know we were going here even before the trip started. I'm not quite sure when I first heard about In-A-Tub, but it's likely I was doing some research on fried tacos many years ago. As you can see, I'd been here before, and it was at this same location (they have one other in KC). At that time I was here on business and made a point to have lunch at In-A-Tub.

Apparently they started in the 1950s as an ice cream shop and expanded into burgers and tacos later on. Today all of their ingredients are locally sourced, and they've bucked the fast food trend of cheap food for cheap prices. So what's the big deal here anyway? Fried tacos. Essentially in a tub of hot boiling oil. These are miles beyond the fried tacos you're familiar with, which likely would have come from Jack in the Box (or Jimboy's if you're lucky). And these bad boys come out steaming hot, so be prepared. Super crispy shells. They have the usual array of excellent hot sauces, including X-Hot which is what we got. The one quirk is the use of cheese powder rather than melted (or shredded) cheese. It's more like a popcorn topping. Mrs. RJG didn't care for that, but otherwise she loved them. Bring your copay card though...

Yet another cool logo.

7/31/07; 10/2/23 (new entry)

Yard House ~ regional chain : Kansas City, Missouri

First visit: Oct 2023 (Kansas City, Missouri)

Locations: Another one of those stupid chains that insists you can only know about your local restaurant. No way we will allow research! I had to use Google Maps. It appears they're in the following states: California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado (Denver area only), Texas (closest for us would have been Las Colinas), Minnesota, Kansas, and Missouri.

For avid readers of the RJG (which don't exist, but allow me to be delusional), you may recall I was in Vegas for a business convention back in early March. Our company rented a block of venues, which included Yard House. Perfect, I thought! I'll just plop myself down at the bar and try as many local beers as I can. Except they only allowed their Yard House branded beers. Which are mainly Stone and other well known brands that I've already had. Dammit. I'm not wasting belly space on that. Thus I ended up bowling with the German team at Brooklyn Bowl...

It was Sunday night, and after Anthony's, we were ready to enjoy a beer or three. After all, we just have to walk back to our condo. And we're in downtown, so the options should be endless. I had visions of Baltimore... Only one problem. The Chiefs were playing on Sunday Night Football so the bars were packed. On top of that Bob Dylan was playing live. Bob Dylan? Holy Crap. My old man saw Dylan in Greenwich Village in 1961, years before I was born. Well he's 82 and still going. Good for him. He has a loyal cult following and they were out in droves. I can't stand his music myself. Played some for Mrs. RJG. "Why would anyone like that?". Good question.

So after getting shut out at a couple of places, we entered into the Yard House expecting similar. But it's a huge place and we were able to secure a couple of bar stools. Excellent. Now I can try local beers since I'm paying for it. And we did just that. We also came back the next night for more. The food, BTW, looked excellent and we certainly entertained the idea of dining here. But there's just too many other options for our short trip. Though I enjoyed our two visits, I could tell that I was going to run out of new beers quick. They mostly serve national and international well known brands and I suspect the local rotation is pretty static as well. This is no Max's Taphouse (Baltimore) that's for sure. But for tourists like us, it sufficed. For two nights that is...

10/2/23 (new entry)

Kansas City

Anthony's on Grand ~ Kansas City, Missouri

Latest visit: Oct 2023

First visit: Sep 2009

We had some of our best thrifting in Topeka, and we finally arrived in Kansas City. We wanted to try "living in downtown", so I rented a two bed, two bath high rise condo for three nights in the Power & Light District via Airbnb. To cut to the chase, we'll conclude that it's "not for us". But we certainly took advantage of the location, as these next posts will suggest.

As noted in the Tiki Taco Shack entry, we passed through this part of the country in 2009. And we spent one night in Kansas City (not in downtown). Of course I was way too lazy to document that trip on the RJG, though fortunately I at least made note of when and where we ate. As you can see, we dined here, when it was known as Anthony's Restaurant & Lounge. For this visit, we only had to walk seven minutes to get here. Perfect. The ambience is great, complete with a vintage cigarette machine. It's old school Italian. On the surface...

In the end though, we were disappointed. I recall it being better. My voice text notes stated that the salad was "boring". The dressing was pretty much just olive oil. The bread, however, was delicious. Beer list was perfunctory, which is crazy for Kansas City. As for the main course, I ordered the chicken parm. I've had better, though I did like their sugo sauce, which is a slightly sweet tomato based recipe.  The chicken wasn't oven baked, that's for sure. Mrs. RJG went with the Chicken Spiedini, which read perfect, but in reality was too tough and lemony. Worst of all is they don't have spaghetti or any noodle close to it. Linguini or shell pasta are the options. Both heavy pastas. We each went for the latter, but it wasn't al dente and too doughy. It's just filler really - like eating more fries than hamburger. In addition, Anthony's is way too expensive. That's what happens when you replace "& Lounge" with "On Grand". They haven't even updated their website logos yet. Probably have to pay just to look at it ha!

I'm making it sound like it was terrible. It wasn't at all that. But it has to be awesome, and it was more "the needful". Not acceptable at these prices. Besides we're both discovering that Italian food is way better at places that don't specialize in it. Witness some of my recent business trips to Phoenix and Atlanta. And we had our own experience like that on this trip too - more on that later.

9/12/09; 10/1/23 (new entry)

Tiki Taco Shack ~ Topeka, Kansas

First visit: Oct 2023

This being a Sunday, the thrift store hours are more wonky than ever. After leaving Abilene we went to Junction City, followed by Manhattan. Some success at the thrifts in both towns. We decided to take a short tour of Kansas State University and then head to Topeka.

Mrs. RJG and I were here in 2009, and I introduced her to Taco Casa (different than the Texas or Alabama chains). That was her favorite taco of that trip. Taco Casa has fallen apart but that same location is now known as Taco Al's. And... they're closed on Sunday. Groan. Let's try for another. I don't recall Tiki Taco Shack from prior visits here, but let's give it a try.

Yep - this is your standard Kansas taco. Which means it's great to the RJG's appetite. Once again we just snacked on a couple each, knowing dinner is on the horizon. My real time voice text notes suggested that the sauces here were better than usual - the X-Hot actually being very spicy. Excellent stuff. Another great logo too! OK, onto the local thrift shops and then we headed to our final destination which was Kansas City.

10/1/23 (new entry)

The Original Grande ~ Kansas : Abilene

First visit: Oct 2023 (Abilene)

Locations: Abilene, Salina, and Scott City

We started the next day by taking advantage of the hotel buffet breakfast. We always eat very light at these. I had a bagel with ham on the side - which was locally sourced and quite good. We then visited a wonderful local park and got in a fast walk. We both needed to rest our legs from running every day, and so we settled on this for exercise. It's amazing what amenities these smaller towns have. The tennis courts are very well maintained, and I longed to play a game. After that we headed towards Manhattan.

OK, so here we are at what used to be Taco Grande (read that entry first) having our first small snack of the day. And I think this is the exact location Dad and I went to back in 1981. The website doesn't tell the real history, settling rather on a silly backstory. But it's pretty obvious this is a splinter chain from Taco Grande.

Everything is similar, though we give the edge to The Original Grande. Primarily because the shells are homemade and very crispy. Excellent "mush meat". We tried three of their salsas, which should be familiar to anyone who's had a taco in Kansas: Hot; X-Hot, and Verde. All were great though not necessarily that spicy. How about that logo? Awesome.

10/1/23 (new entry)

Blue Skye Brewery and Eats ~ Salina, Kansas

First visit: Sep 2023

We settled into Salina for the evening and decided on a brewpub for dinner. I'm grateful Mrs. RJG has once again taken a shine to these places after having soured on them for a while. I find brewpubs to usually be the best way to immerse oneself into the ethos of a neighborhood/town/city. Blue Skye puts us right in the heart of old town Salina, an area I doubt I'd been to prior. The place was hopping on this Saturday night with college football on the multiple flat screens throughout both rooms. Great ambience. Feels like 2019!

There were no tables available but the bar had seating for two and that was fine by us. We settled on splitting a pepperoni and sausage pizza. Mrs. RJG later rued that we should have added jalapenos too. Blue Skye isn't a typical bar food place where they make simple pizzas. They take it to the next level and have a coal oven designed for pizzas! It was perfect - crispy edges, slight chewy bottom crust, excellent sauce, and gooey cheese. And the sausage is locally sourced. And the beers were delicious too. For certain if we're in Salina again for lunch or dinner, we're making a beeline here.

9/30/23 (new entry)

Taco Grande ~ Kansas : Hays

Latest visit: Sep 2023 (Hays)

First visit: Jul 1981 (Abilene)

Locations: Best I can tell there are only three locations of this chain left that carry the name: Hays, Concordia, and Wichita. There's also The Original Grande. More to come on that post.

We had good success thrifting in Colby, but it was very time consuming, and we needed to get further east, as we did have to be in Kansas City by Sunday night. So the next stop was Hays, a town we're very familiar with. The big decision was do we stop here and eat/drink at one of our favorite brewpubs (Gella's Diner), or press on to Salina? We chose the latter. But we decided on a quick snack before leaving.

This will be one of a few "didn't I write about this chain already?" posts. I remember the first date of this chain well because it was at the time of Prince Charles and Diana's wedding. As noted before, Dad was a traveling salesman in the industrial uniform business. It was a garden variety summer Wednesday otherwise, but he took extra time that morning to watch the wedding. My old man was something of a royalist and loved the pomp and circumstance of the entire affair. I was 16 and it seemed all rather boring to me, but I didn't complain - I was happy not to be working myself (while thinking about girls, music, and... tacos...) We watched it from a Holiday Inn in Salina. Funny what you remember. He loved every minute of it - chugging down cups of coffee and chaining one ciggy after another. It's amazing I can still breathe. In any case...

Mrs. RJG and I have been to this location in Hays at least twice before. It's a very small space, and their tacos remain excellent. Good meat and shells. They have five salsas, and this really is Kansas' secret sauce: Mild, Hot, X-Hot, Green Chili, and Picante. We had the latter 4, with picante having the best flavor and X-Hot representing the salsa of my youth. Nothing extraordinary of course, but the RJG's love the quick snack and the experience of going.

Taco Grande was once a thriving chain. Started by Mike Foley, cousin of Dan Foley, the founder of Taco Tico (and do I have a story for you on a later post!). Apparently they started in 1960 in Wichita, and they were likely the first taco chain in the area. I know they had a few in Wichita, and I've been to a couple, but have no idea if it's the one that remains open. In fact Mr. Music and I embarked on a record buying trip way back in 1991 and we went to a location in Wichita.

Who knows how long they will keep going. It seems to be a dying chain, and I wouldn't be surprised they roll it up one day soon. But Fort Hays State University is here, and the kids are always looking for cheap and tasty eats. So who knows?

7/29/81; 11/10/91; 5/7/03; 5/9/09; 10/6/10; 9/30/23 (new entry)

Abilene, Kansas; Hays, Kansas

Bella's Bagels ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

First visit: Sep 2023

OK, so The RJG's are hittin' the road, goin' east! We haven't done a journey like this since 2016, well over seven years ago. I didn't document that trip - like so many I haven't. But I'm determined to maintain the momentum I've had since 2021. There's much to tell... This trip involved Kansas, Kansas City, and eastern Colorado. It's what we call TED - Thriftin' Eatin' & Drinkin'. We had success with all three on this trip. If you go to the Bier Reise blog you'll already see plenty of new entries with dozens more coming in the next two months. This blog is concerned with the E part of the equation, so let's get started.

But first we needed a bite to eat on the way out of town. We had a very tight first day schedule, since thrift shop store hours in rural Kansas are wildly inconsistent - and oftentimes inaccurate. Originally we were going to eat at home, but Mrs. RJG suggested Bella's. She'd been once already and really liked their bagels.

We each had bagel sandwiches. I went with ham & cheese. This variety is known as Taylor Ham, which is a New Jersey regional favorite. I hadn't tried it prior but I thought it was great. it's sort of mystery meat-ish, with a great salty flavor. The bagels were suitably chewy and excellent. One for the local rotation.

9/30/23 (new entry)