Pass Key Restaurant ~ Pueblo, Colorado

Latest visit: Jun 2025 (Northern Ave.)

First visit: Nov 2023 (Northern Ave.)

Founded: 1952

---6/6/25 update

As promised below, I couldn't resist the temptation to try the pasta. I went for a half order as experience tells me a full order would be too much. In this case, I could have gone for the whole enchilada (so to speak). It comes with a salad which is essentially iceberg lettuce in a Tupperware bowl with chopped tomatoes on top. I removed the latter. This is an old fashioned Italian salad. They serve the Italian dressing in a plastic cup and you can douse as you like. I dumped the whole thing. It's one of the best dressings I've had in years! Only Mrs. RJG and myself make a better one. It's a vinaigrette, guessing heavy on the garlic and pepper.

As for the pasta, I liked it quite a bit. I suspect they make their noodles, something Mrs. RJG wouldn't be keen on. It wasn't really al dente, but it was cooked properly. The sauce was slightly sweet, another old-school tradition. Best of all was the meatball that they proudly state is homemade. It's obvious too. It's surprisingly dry but heavily seasoned. I really enjoyed it. I'll probably go back to sandwiches in the future, but their entrees are excellent as well. It's now officially in the RJG Rotation as Pueblo is now scheduled for a once a month visit.

---9/21/24 update

They have one other location further north on US 50. There's also one in Pueblo West which appears to be a different owner, but same concept and recipes.

If there's a restaurant outside of Colorado Springs that I want to include in the RJG Rotation, it's Pass Key down in Pueblo. And I'm making the effort to do just that. Mrs. RJG joined me on this latest venture and she also really enjoy the Italian Sausage sandwich. I decided to forego the cheesy option and stuck with the original. Just so good really. Love their Italian sausage patties. We both noticed some gentleman chowing down on a bowl of pasta, and I'm going to make an effort to do that next time.

---original 11/18/23 review

I first heard about Pass Key on our local news here in Colorado Springs (and they cover Pueblo as well). A couple of years ago they were featuring local favorites of Pueblo and they mentioned the legendary Pass Key. I'd never heard of it, but they specialize in spicy Italian sausage sandwiches. OMG - that has my name all over it! I've been to Pueblo a few times since but never at lunch (only breakfast or dinner), but on this occasion I made Pass Key the destination, and all the other activities would surround it (records, thrifting, beer).

Got there before opening, and I watched as they put the open sign up five minutes before. Perfect. Fully staffed and the kitchen was sizzling already. While I was first in, many followed afterward. It's a sit down restaurant, though from the outside you might think it's a fast food place. I went straight for their specialty - Pass Key Special with cheese. It's a grilled flat Italian sausage patty with mustard, lettuce, and a pepperoncini on the side. No red sauce, it's not that kind of hoagie. With fries. So basically it looks like a sub sandwich, or even a hamburger, but with the sausage patty instead of meats or beef. First bite in, and I knew this is a place I want to go often. The bread is chewy like those Amoroso rolls from Philadelphia. And the sausage is extremely tasty - and yes, spicy too. Not kidding around. So, so good. The fries were hot if non distinctive. They provide a filling meal, but it's the sandwich you're here for. Next time I'm going to get the Super Special with extra cheese.

Excellent service and the place was close to capacity when I left. I've said it before, but it bears repeating - Pueblo is the restaurant capital of Colorado. The old steel city may have other flaws, but their food is the best. Worth the drive down from the Springs.

11/18/23 (new entry); 9/21/24; 6/6/25

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