Valentina's ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico

Latest visit: Nov 2024

First visit: Apr 2022

I forgot to mention this on the Perea's update: We found a new trail in Albuquerque too. Out east in the mountains, the Embudo Trail which "funnels" (haha) into the Cibola National Forest. We run straight uphill for about 20 minutes (huff puff), take a short break, and run back down casually. A perfect workout that allows us to continue to eat like teenagers. In case you were wondering how we manage to continue to do this... I'm 60 and don't want to give any of this up. That's the task that must be done every morning, like 350 days a year task. And with that...

We cleaned up at the hotel and left Albuquerque, and hopefully we'll be back next year as usual. The plan was to have Sunday breakfast in Santa Fe at Horseman's Haven, a place we haven't been to in many years. Mrs. RJG usually puts up resistance at the last minute. Not sure why, but she insists it isn't as good as I've documented. I think it's a misplaced memory. And sure enough, while driving north on I-25, she wanted to pivot to another restaurant. In fact, she really wanted to go back to Valentina's. Twist my arm.

By the time we got here, I was ready to eat the tires off our SUV (an interesting image...), so my appetito was huge. And some of the breakfast houses in Santa Fe are tough to get into on a Sunday morning, but that's not a problem with Valentina's, which remains something of a local secret (don't worry fans, our readership is too small to have much impact). I have to admit, Mrs. RJG was right, Valentina's was the better choice. It's going into the RJG Rotation, and while that wasn't official before, we've gone for three straight years anyway, all documented below.

We started with the chips and salsa. Oh my gosh, so so good. I love their red salsa. Mrs. RJG thinks it might be a combination of Chile de Arbol and Guajillo. The chips are real corn. Learning my lesson from last year, I went back to Christmas. I'm so glad I did. The green was loaded with chiles, and was knock-you-down spicy. I always eat half the dish, flip the plate and then the other. I then tackled the smooth red. One could argue it's better than La Choza. If not, it's in the competition. Otherwise my burrito was egg, potatoes, cheese, and ham. The latter, once again, is a ham steak cut up and stuffed in there. It's brilliant. Mrs. RJG ordered the Huevos Rancheros with whole beans and Spanish rice. Hers also came with a sopaipilla. She had most of it, but I grabbed about a quarter. Very good and fluffy, and made for a nice dessert with the honey.

Best meal of the trip. Go here.

---6/2/23 update

Valentina's is a restaurant that I was very excited to revisit. Last year was our first try, and we had a great experience. We also knew that it would be a lot of food. Having eaten sensibly the night before at The Ranch House, and getting our three mile run in, we were ready to tackle the big breakfast that Valentina's offers. And I'm happy to report everything is just as it was in 2022. Incredible chips and salsa and a monster burrito smothered in red, which was blazing hot spicy as was the salsa. With a big ol' ham steak jammed in there too. Last year I mentioned the green was more typical, but Mrs. RJG persisted to try it again and this time it was better than I remembered. And honestly burying everything in the red is just too much of that one flavor. I'm going back to Christmas. Valentina's is currently one of our favorite Santa Fe restaurants. No trip can go without at least a visit here.

If you read at the bottom of the below review, neither Sunrise nor Tortilla Flats made it to the itinerary. Just too many great places to eat in Santa Fe!

---original 4/14/22 review

Despite going to a number of restaurants in Santa Fe this week, we had yet to try something new. Our Airbnb host left a sheet behind of recommend places to try. La Choza was on there for example, so we knew the recs were probably spot on. This was the only other New Mexican place on the list. 

Oh yes, this is definitely a great recommendation!

First off, Valentina's sits in a shopping center, so there's actually a place to park. In fact it's the same one that houses Pho Kim, a Vietnamese place we enjoy but haven't gone back to in some years (it's in the RJG). Walking in, you'll see a relatively large restaurant painted in bright colors with unique art. Very much an Hispanic atmosphere pervades. 

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you'll be provided with a large menu. We ordered chips and salsa to start on this particular breakfast outing. Whoa! These are some of the best homemade corn chips we've had in sometime. And the salsa is very spicy and has an incredible chile flavor. In fact the taste experience reminded us of a place in Nampa, Idaho called El Rinconcito. It's a combination of a blazing salsa against the corn taste that just explodes in your mouth. We were regulars to that restaurant when the RJG had a consulting gig at Boise State in the latter half of 1998 and early 1999. On a return visit in 2014, it wasn't the same, and I see now it's out of business. What a shame. In any case - thank you Valentina's for ensuring that flavor still exists! Both Mrs. RJG and I remembered it exactly the same without leading the witness. Well that certainly set the mood right.

Now time for the main entries. I had the breakfast burrito with eggs, ham, and potatoes, smothered in Christmas. OK, these guys are just showing off now. This is larger than the others ones we've tried, and the ham is not just diced but rather cut slices from a fully cooked ham steak! Wow. The green was good, but rather non distinctive. It's the red that gets the shout out. A very dark variety loaded with flavor. I'll be sure to smother my next ham & eggs burrito in the red only on my next visit. Mrs. RJG went with her staple of Huevos Rancheros. Her experience was similar, though she was more favorable to the green, but preferred the red as well. She liked the refried beans, only lamenting she wished they were of a hotter temperature. We always want Abuelo's hot!

All in all, a super first encounter. With Tortilla Flats making a comeback, and now Valentina's, did Sunrise just get knocked out of contention? 

4/14/22 (new entry); 6/2/23; 11/17/24

Alien Brewpub ~ Albuquerque, New Mexico

First visit: Nov 2024

The original plan was to have Italian food, but both Mrs. RJG and I weren't really in the mood for a pasta dish, and besides we really didn't see a place that caught our eye. Maybe next time we're town, we'll try one for lunch. Now what? After some deliberation, we decided on a brewpub that had hamburgers.

Alien Brewpub, which is Sierra Blanca / Rio Grande Brewing, is an old fashioned brewpub. It reminds me of Heavy Seas in Baltimore before they closed up (we have a writeup in the RJG somewhere), and many other places from the 90s and 00s. A little bit different than the historic Phantom Canyon (Colorado Springs) or Montana Brewing (Billings) that we've covered here. More of a mix of sports pub meets brewery, and the latter has a set list of beers that doesn't change much. More sports bar than brewery I'd submit. Near a large indoor shopping mall with familiar big box anchors. These places have been steadily going out of business in recent years, and based on the crowd on this Saturday night, one wonders how much life this particular Alien has left.

No matter, if the food is good, we would have succeeded in our quest for a quality dinner. And the good news is that the pride of the cooks won out on this night. Mrs. RJG had the UFO Burger with cheese and green chile strips ordered well done. Also came with regular French fries. She really enjoyed it (and the fries were hot). I had the Alien Burger which features a green chile tempura, now that was different. Like a piece of fish on top except it was a chile. I liked it. Also came with smoked applewood bacon. Also had the curly fries with a nice seasoning. Burgers were large and filling. Excellent all around. Probably not a place we'll be returning to, if it will even be around to go back to. But if we lived in ABQ, it would be in the RJG Rotation for as long as possible.

11/16/24 (new entry)

Flock of Moons Brewing ~ Albuquerque, New Mexico

First visit: Nov 2024

We're slowly but surely working our way through the Albuquerque breweries. Like with yesterday, we were busy all day, this time going to antique shops and record stores, and by the later afternoon we were both thirsty. Time for a beer! 

Flock of Moons is one of those classic right-off-the-university hangouts. Lots of hipsters, oddballs, and eccentrics. In other words, we fit right in then! At least the latter two characteristics. The decoration is pure mid-century modern with hanging globe lamps and clean lines. They also sport a full patio where you can enjoy your beer with your dog. Or the dog can enjoy a beer with you... Excellent beer BTW. All good vibes. Dude.

11/16/24 (new entry)

Perea's ~ Albuquerque, New Mexico

Latest visit: Nov 2024

First visit: Aug 2016

Not much chance that the RJG's won't be going to Perea's if in Albuquerque for any length of time. We missed going last year, where the focus was primarily on Santa Fe. But not this time. And all things seem normal again. Back to the pre-pandemic days of putting your name on a list and waiting. The waitresses are back. Though they had a sign saying they are short-staffed. To be noted, it seemed every single restaurant in ABQ was hiring. So if you're unemployed, you might want to think about heading to the Southwest. We started with chips and salsa, something neither of us could remember if we'd done before. Like with La Choza, the chips were on the salty side, which is fine with us. They tasted great. The salsa was a little too much on the tomato-y side, but it did possess a nice flavor and a good kick. I went with the egg and bacon breakfast burrito smothered in Christmas. The green has a unique flavor and was spicy. The red is very close to La Choza in quality, so velvety and smooth. This is a restaurant where you want both the red and the green. Mrs. RJG had the Huevos Rancheros also with Christmas. She also enjoyed the potatoes and beans. The only thing is - once again - it wasn't hot enough temperature. Once is an anomaly, twice is a pattern. And that's problematic, since we're only here once a year. Might open the door for new competition. We'll see next year how we feel about that.

---4/10/22 update

Back for our annual review. The good news is that Perea's has full service again on the weekends, though they still have you order at the cash register during the week. This seems to make a difference on the timing of the food getting to your table. On this visit I went with the carne adovada burrito. Adovada can be a dicey proposition but in the hands of Perea's it was cooked perfectly and very tasty. On this occasion the green was hotter than the red, both very distinctive and excellent. Mrs. RJG went with the Huevos Rancheros with hash browns, also smothered in Christmas. The only thing holding it back from a gold star is the temperature could still be just a tad hotter, though it was much better than our pandemic visit. Perea's is not to be missed.

---original 9/19/21 review

I didn't realize until now that I hadn't covered Perea's in the RJG. Well it's never too late. Along with Sunrise Restaurant in Santa Fe, Perea's has become our go-to breakfast house in New Mexico. After trying a few places in ABQ, Perea's made an immediate impact and now we're hooked. It's all about the chile in New Mexico, and Perea's is all aces with both the red and green. Christmas is essential here. Usually spicy but always very tasty. You can bury that chile on just about anything and walk away happy. Mrs. RJG goes with the Chile Relleno, while I stick to the breakfast burrito - all cooked perfectly. But it's the chile that makes it special. Perea's is a little family owned place (I think it was an old Captain D's), but you can usually count on large crowds. But not overwhelming like The Pantry or La Choza in Santa Fe. It's a neighborhood joint, and one that is a must stop when traveling through, living, or staying in Albuquerque. We turned Mr. Music onto it, and he goes more than us, since he journeys through on his way to see Lady Music in California. And she too now loves Perea's. 

You have no choice. If you are in Albuquerque, you have to go to Perea's. Well... you do.

8/5/16; 4/22/17; 10/21/18; 3/25/19; 9/19/21 (new entry); 4/10/22; 11/16/24

Thai Boran ~ Albuquerque, New Mexico

First visit: Nov 2024

We had planned on one Thai meal for the trip but couldn't decide which one to go to. Mrs. RJG favors Thai Spice while I lean in with Thai Cuisine II. While enjoying our beer at Vision City Brewstillery, I decided to research on my iPhone what was nearby. Thai Kitchen came up first but the menu screamed American variation. Then I came across Thai Boran. Now this looks authentic Thai. Mrs. RJG agreed and off we went.

It's a relatively large space and too bright for cozy dining (they simply need to dim the overhead lamps and problem would be solved). Despite this early warning sign, we persevered. They have beer and wine, already a plus as far as the RJG is concerned. So we went with two large bottles of Asahi Dry. But oops they opened two small bottles first, so we scored an extra four ounces for free. Thank you!

Mrs. RJG ordered the red curry, and out came a large bowl that she loved. I had my usual spicy basil Thai. No need to ask for ground chicken - that's how it comes! I added a fried egg on top (of course). I ordered it hot, and that's exactly what I got. We also added some chili oil, so it definitely packed some heat. If I were home, I would go for Thai Hot, and I'm sure it would have been that much better. We both lapped up everything on the plate/bowl. Delicious. Oh the rice was perfectly cooked (and we didn't have to ask for more). Thai Boran bests any Thai restaurant we have in Colorado Springs.

We now have a consensus at the RJG household: Thai Boran is our new go-to for Thai in ABQ. And that probably will result in an annual rotation visit. Getting some new champions on this trip.

11/15/24 (new entry)

Vision City Brewstillery ~ Albuquerque, New Mexico

First visit: Nov 2024

After a full day of estate and garage sales, along with a pile of thrift shops, it was time for an adult beverage. The nearest one to where we last shopped was Vision City Brewstillery, so let's go there. It's a large space, with lots of big screen TV's. And on this day, that was important as many folks were gearing up to watch the Mike Tyson fight. Like most normal people, I had no idea Tyson was back in the ring. I thought he stopped fighting while I was still a road warrior consultant (i.e. a lonnngg time ago). It also answered my second question: Boxing still exists? Whatever the case, the space was alive with enthusiasm. We didn't stick around to see the fight - good thing based on the news clips I read afterward about Netflix's hiccups.

In any case, we each had one very cold beer that was delicious (mine is cataloged in the Bier Reise link above). We also tried their chips and salsa, and the latter was both excellent and spicy.

Good place to stop for "a cold one".

11/15/24 (new entry) 

Blake's Lotaburger ~ regional chain : Albuquerque, New Mexico

Last visit: Nov 2024 (Menaul @ Rhode Island)

First visit: May 1994 (Menaul @ Rhode Island)

Locations: 70 locations in New Mexico (-1); 3 in Tucson, AZ; 2 in El Paso, TX

And we celebrate the 30th year of the RJG visiting Blake's, with our first lunch in Albuquerque. Not that we always go here, and we missed out last year as well. Lately Mrs. RJG has been in the mood for New Mexico Green Chile Cheeseburgers, and since that's the specialty of the house, we ordered two of them. Out came two giant double cheeseburgers, large fries and a large drink. Uh-oh, Mrs. RJG isn't going to go for this! After keeping my head down for some moments enjoying the heck out of mine, I dared looked upwards and I was watching my wife devour it with glee. Again I ask - who is this woman who joined me on this trip? I have to say, even though the burgers are large, they aren't heavy, and that's a huge plus. And they loaded ours with chile, and they were spicy on this visit. Yahoo! Fries were of a hot temperature, which also made us both happy. Even the drink was excellent, and because it was large, we had it with us for the remainder of the day. And it still had flavor until the end. Anyway, it appears Blake's may find itself into the RJG rotation, a major accomplishment for non Colorado Springs restaurants. Mrs. RJG was still talking how great it was on our drive home two days later (she noted how peppery it was in addition to the green chiles). So there you have it.

I think this may have been the first location the RJG went to, but I couldn't tell you with any kind of accuracy which ones I've been to outside of the store two years ago and the one we've been to in Santa Fe. The reason I say this is because Charley's Records is across the street, and I've been going there since 1992 (a few years before Mrs. RJG was in the picture). I'll claim it for the database, but it's not certain. It's a more typical fast food restaurant setup than the one reviewed below. Order at the counter with plenty of seating + a drive thru.

---original 4/15/22 review (Coors NW - Albuquerque)

Blake's Lotaburger is an iconic burger chain that proliferates throughout New Mexico. If you've watched Breaking Bad, then most assuredly you've seen the Union Jack emblem on cups and bags. In effect, Blake's is to New Mexico what Whataburger is to Texas and In-N-Out is to California, the only difference being that Blake's has not expanded as rapidly out of state as the others. Or at least they haven't to date. As far as regional burger chains go, Blake's stacks up well against the competition. The one aspect of Blake's that separates them is the green chile cheeseburger, which definitely puts a New Mexican stamp on it. And it is very good. I'm sure locations vary in quality. This particular one was very busy on the day we visited which resulted in kitchen confusion. But our meal came out as ordered. There is no uniform look to a Blake's. This one has a small dining area made up of barstools around the window, or you can sit out on the patio tables outside, which is what we did. No drive-thru here, but many do have that feature. If we have extended stays in New Mexico, we try for one visit, just to mix up the diet a bit.

5/1/94; 9/1/97; 9/11/06; 9/17/13; 4/15/22 (new entry); 11/15/24

La Choza ~ Santa Fe, New Mexico

Latest visit: Nov 2024

First visit: Sep 2014

For the first time since we started going to New Mexico, we didn't spend a night in Santa Fe, rather focusing more on Albuquerque. I had originally wanted to spend one night after our dinner, but the hotels were double the usual price. There didn't seem to be any one reason for this, but we made the decision to eat at La Choza for dinner and then drive to ABQ afterward. To underscore that point, if I know I'm only getting one dinner in Santa Fe, then it's highly likely to be La Choza. We followed our recent ritual as noted below. After doing some thrifting in the late afternoon, we arrived at La Choza not long after 4 PM. Put our name on the list, and wait for them to open at 4:30. This time we weren't seated in the private room overlooking the street, but rather right by the bar which is an entirely different atmosphere. We dived right in for two margaritas (and ordered another two later), a basket of chips, and salsa. The chips seemed a little more salty than usual and it also seems they changed their recipe for the salsa (more chunky, more spicy). We ordered our usual blue corn chicken adovada enchiladas smothered in red with rice and beans (we have to remember to substitute posole for rice). Hard to imagine anything being better! We use the sopaipillas for dessert, though we should have had them bring that after our meal, as they were not hot by the time we got to them.

Only bummer is that they charged us $4 for extra salsa. That kind of nickel and diming is rather insulting considering the popularity of the restaurant. And the fact that the salsa is more chunky makes it go faster. That's their first demerit in 10 years of going here. All the same, La Choza remains one of only handful of RJG annual rotation restaurants outside of Colorado Springs.

---5/30/23 update

You had to see this coming. And what's more is that we are here to celebrate Mrs. RJG's 50th birthday! It is her favorite restaurant in the country. It is, as it turns out, my favorite restaurant in the country too. Neat how that works. What isn't revealed anywhere below is that I went here for my 50th birthday too! Way back in 2014, when we first discovered La Choza, I made the decision to come back for my birthday. It was the second visit on the same trip, something we never do. Now no trip to Santa Fe is possible without a visit to La Choza. If we can't come here, we don't want to come to the city. It's that simple.

We've also learned to time our visit perfectly. Just as last year, we got here 20 minutes before opening, found easy parking, got our name on the list, and were seated promptly at 4:30. I wish they would open up the bar again like they used to. What we didn't know is that La Choza isn't as packed as every other time we'd been for the last 9 years, including last year. Perhaps the ultimate example that inflation is destroying the restaurant industry. When we left, there was nobody waiting. I've never seen that before. Still, I wouldn't want to chance it. And besides we like to eat dinner early anyway.

You can read below on what we had for dinner and drinks. I made one mistake though. Since it was Mrs. RJG's birthday I thought it would be nice to upgrade our margaritas from the usual House to a Premium choice. Not a great plan. Too boozy for us. We like the cheap stuff! lol. I finished her first one, and she ordered a House and was happy again. The other diversion this time is that they buried everything in red chile. That includes the beans, rice, and lettuce. I prefer that they leave those plain. But it's hard to complain about having too much of the greatest red sauce we've ever had. So not a demerit, but an anomaly. We think it was something we said. Something akin to "bury it in red". Haha.

Still the greatest restaurant in the country for our tastes.

--- 4/13/22 update

Back for our first visit since 2019. 2020 was closed and we tried in 2021 twice but the lines were insane due to social distancing laws. Though things are back to normal for the most part, we decided to arrive at about 4:20, 10 minutes prior to open. Oh wow, look at that, a place to park! They take names at the door, and then proceed to wait for your name to be called starting at 4:30. Planning ahead works again. We were about 6th in order, and were promptly seated at a quiet table by the window. Started right off with a couple of house margaritas, delicious as ever. Amazing how much better a margarita is when they actually put tequila in it. We proceeded to get the chips and salsa, as delicious as we remember it. The salsa packs a pretty mean punch. I went with my staple of 2 chicken adovada enchiladas, rice (substituted for the posole), whole pinto beans, and lettuce. Buried in red chile. Meal came out blazing hot and stayed that way through the duration. Perfectly cooked, perfectly spicy. Mrs. RJG had almost exactly the same thing except she stayed with the posole (instead of rice), which isn't soupy, but rather fully cooked hominy with small chunks of pork. We were completely silent as we devoured our meal, leaving nothing on the plate as we were both scraping the last vestiges of chile off the plate. Sopaipillas make the perfect dessert as we added honey to each bite. Did I mention we had a second margarita each? Absolutely no downturn in quality or service, unlike just about everywhere else. Simply the best restaurant there is.

---original 9/10/15 review

Unlike the other restaurants we've reported on so far in Santa Fe, La Choza is consistently rated as one of the top dining spots in the area, and is very well known. Is it tourist hype and group think? Not at all. In fact, the RJG is close to rating La Choza as our favorite restaurant in Santa Fe as well. We've now been 5 times in a four year period, and it gets our coveted 5 star rating!

La Choza has to be considered one of the gold standards for New Mexican cooking. We've smothered a few items in their famous chile's, and never have we left without huge smiles of happiness. In general, regarding the chile, I've stuck with the Christmas standard. Their green is slightly spicy and I would consider it good to very good in flavor. Their red chile is quite simply the best I've ever had - and one of the best food items I've ever had. It's so velvety in texture with flavors that continue to explode as time goes on. It's not particularly spicy either (though hotter than the green on average - it's seasonal). Remember my comment on the Horseman's Haven review about "It's not about the heat, it's about the flavor"? I think they can't get La Choza out of their head. And, yea, I can understand that too. Chips and salsa are an extra purchase, which we've done in the past (recall being excellent but too long ago), but eschewed this time around. All meals come with a sopaipilla (or garlic bread or a tortilla - c'mon get the sopaipilla), that they deliver steaming hot at the end of the meal. I darn near burned my face opening it up this time! Can't really recommend anything beyond this: You must order something that is buried in the red chile. I'm salivating as I write this.

For drinks they have tequila, margaritas, wine, and even craft beer on tap. Like a total dope, I ordered the frozen margarita. When will I ever learn that no one does frozen margs better than what we have in Texas? Of course, it was watered down. My fault. I knew better. Mrs. RJG, on the other hand, being the smart one in the marriage, ordered a house margarita on the rocks. I had one sip and was envious all night. Delicious, and plenty of tequila in there too!

As mentioned at the top, La Choza's reputation is well earned, is featured in every magazine imaginable, and as such, it fills up quickly. Reservations are recommended (2022 update: which they don't take anymore), or you can do what the RJG does and show up not long after opening (we always go for dinner). As well, it seems that all great New Mexican restaurants in Santa Fe come with difficult-at-first parking. The restaurant is hidden behind the Santa Fe Railyard at the mobbed intersection of St. Francis and Cerrillos. Get your trusty Google Map App out, and wind your way to the back roads. There is a parking lot behind the restaurant and through the fenced area. Like the restaurant, it fills up quick.  If you go early, easy breezy. Otherwise, it's street parking. The restaurant itself is the old headquarters of a former ranch. It has many rooms, and outside seating as well. And a bar area, which you can dine in as well. Very comfortable surroundings. La Choza first opened in 1983, and has been gathering awards ever since.

9/9/14; 9/10/15 (new entry); 8/4/16; 4/22/17; 10/21/18; 3/22/19; 4/13/22; 5/30/23; 11/14/24

Las Animas Grill ~ Trinidad, Colorado

Latest visit: Nov 2024

First visit: Mar 2021

The RJG's are back for our annual New Mexico trip! Way later than normal, or even originally planned. But we finally found a four day weekend that looked promising. We had another restaurant circled for our trip, but it was inexplicably closed. There was no explanation offered, though it didn't look permanent (we'll try it next time through). After reviewing a couple of more options, I decided that we return to Las Animas Grill, a place we went to once in the middle of the pandemic. That visit, only 3.5 years ago, was packed to the rafters with patrons. On this late morning, only a handful were here - inflation no doubt wiping out the regulars and curiosity seekers. Hopefully they can weather the storm. Despite an unenthusiastic general public, the cooks were ready to please. Mrs. RJG went for the smash burger, double meat and cheese (who was this woman I was dining with anyway?). She loved it, and reminded her of Wayback Burgers that we enjoyed in Woodland Park earlier this year. I had the regular cheeseburger with green chile strips, lettuce, and pickles. It too was excellent, and in particular the pickles, something odd to call out but there it is. I also ordered a side of chile cheese fries with red and green that we both shared. I had to ask for a spoon. Good chile, though not overly distinctive, and certainly not thick enough to cover fries. The latter, regardless, was excellent.

---original 4/5/21 review

Mrs. RJG and I were looking for a quick day trip, that allowed for some thriftin', eatin', and drinkin'. What we call TEDing. All these years living in Colorado, plus going back and forth to Texas and New Mexico, our knowledge of Trinidad is pretty much limited to getting gas on the way to and fro. Trinidad is, in fact, the very first place in Colorado I visited. I literally moved to Colorado sight unseen, having taken a new job in Colorado Springs via the phone. This was the end of November, 1993. I stopped at a local Mexican restaurant, which is now long gone. I recall little of the dining experience, only that I caught Trinidad at dusk, and it was strikingly beautiful to my eyes. When I left, it was already dark. My two cats and I completed the journey to Colorado Springs that night - everything pitch black to me. When I woke up the next morning at my new apartment, I looked out my window - and there was Pikes Peak. Can you imagine? I was 29 at the time. The only other visit was back in 1998, when the newly minted Mrs. RJG and I were to meet my parents "half way" in Amarillo. We stopped for a late breakfast, at a place that is also long gone. Every time we journey over Raton Pass, I state that we really need to spend more time there. And so we finally did it. But where to eat? Based on various online reviews, Las Animas Grill lit up large.

Las Animas Grill sits in downtown, in one of the many restored buildings. I believe this one goes back to 1901 (or maybe the 1800s?). Tall ceilings and it's a fairly spacious place with bar seating. Though they advertise craft beers, I wouldn't suggest you go here for that reason. Their tap offerings are mainstream. They do offer a bit more variety with their can selection, but still nothing you can't get elsewhere in Colorado. So we settled on water. Then we proceeded to order. Mrs. RJG was craving a cheeseburger, and so was I. Needed to be cooked well-done dictates Mrs. RJG. It's amazing to us how few restaurants actually listen to that simple request. But Las Animas cooked it to perfection and it was delicious. I added green chiles to mine, which were mild, but flavorful. We had the hand cut fries, which were also excellent. Las Animas is definitely geared more toward the gastropub side of the aisle, and feels chef driven. That comes with a cost, but we felt it was worth it. A wonderful overall experience to start our Trinidad day.

3/27/21 (new entry); 11/14/24

Glacier Ice Cream & Gelato ~ Colorado chain : Castle Rock

Latest visit: Nov 2024 (Castle Rock)

First visit: Jul 2009 (Boulder)

Here's yet another establishment serving food that has suffered hard times. Best I can tell, they are now down to three locations: Boulder (only one now), Fort Collins, and this one in Castle Rock.

So after parting ways with Old Boss at Granelli's, I walked a block over to Glacier to squeeze in its annual visit. I had a single cappuccino brownie ice cream in a waffle cone. I've been so spoiled getting overserved that I feel cheated when I get the right amount. But that's OK, I don't really need any more calories. But it sure was good! I would have gone for gelato but I wasn't enamored with the flavor selection. 

Super expensive for what you get, and one can see why all these places are going out of business. Not sure how they're going to solve this problem. It's not just the food costs, it's the labor. Minimum wage is at an unsustainable high level here in Colorado. Owners have no choice but to raise prices to cover their costs. Except young families can't afford the freight, which is your primary ice cream audience. The further we get from zero, the less people can participate in the economy. I'll say that phrase over and over. I hope to come back next year, but I have to wonder will they even be here then?

---original 4/15/23 review

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). 

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); 11/1/24

Granelli's Pizzeria ~ Castle Rock, Colorado

Latest visit: Nov 2024

First visit: Dec 2022

And in what appears to be now an annual ritual, Old Boss and I once again met at Granelli's near the end of the year, though earlier than the prior two. He's 8 years older than me and has been threatening retirement for years (even executing the idea before backing out). I'm now the one talking retirement, and thinking next year may be it. But as it stands, we continue to work for the same software company. I'm forever grateful I've been able to close out my career here, and who knows how long it will go? We'll see if I can get another year out of it.

In any case, demonstrating zero creativity, I ordered the 11" thin crust pizza with hot sausage. Once again it was great, though the crust wasn't as crispy as I remembered. So that's something we'll need to call out if Mrs. RJG ever joins me here. Old Boss ordered a thicker crust pizza with a veggie topping. He ate half and took the rest home. We'd probably still be there yammering as I type this out, but he had an appointment to go to. 

So I wandered over to my next post....

---12/27/23 update

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

---original 12/21/22 review

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

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

12/21/22 (new entry); 12/27/23; 11/1/24

Border Burger Bar ~ Manitou Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2024

First visit: Jul 2021 (Colorado Springs - closed)

At one point Border Burger Bar was a small chain with two locations in the Colorado Springs area and one in El Paso, Texas. The latter is still open with the name Phred's prepended to it. There's no common website anymore either. So we'll presume they are now independently owned and operated.

I had been wanting to revisit Border Bar for a couple of years now, but as noted above, the Academy location closed not too long after opening, another victim of the pandemic. And we never go to Manitou Springs anymore, primarily because of the parking situation. There was a time not long ago where you'd drive down, park anywhere you can, and hit the shops and restaurants. But now you have to pay everywhere in the city except the far outskirts. And I hate paying for parking, especially when it was once free. In any case, I ended up in Manitou for an estate sale that took me about two hours to go through. When finished it was lunch time. Well shoot, I'm already here, might as well go into the city and revisit a restaurant. My first choice was Manitou Brewing but they don't open until noon. That's not going to work. There's always The Loop but that's a lot of food and Mrs. RJG would be mad at me for not taking her along. Ah yes, Border Burger Bar. So after paying my three bucks using one of those mobile apps (that took a full five minutes of my precious hour to complete the transaction), I made the six minute walk over.

Step into the "rotunda" and to the left is the front door of a rather large restaurant. Bar is upfront, so I grabbed a stool and proceeded to order a Mexican lager to quench my considerable thirst. The beer list would be good for out of towners, but not overly researched otherwise. I would have liked one from nearby Manitou Brewing myself, not something I can get anywhere else. Oh well.

I did try something else from the below this time - my tavern favorite Cubano with fries. The sandwich is a thicker variety than I've been enjoying of late. More meat doesn't necessarily translate to better, though usually it does. Here the pork may have been a bit too porky. I certainly liked it, but the balance of flavors wasn't ideal. The fries were homemade and not as crispy as I prefer. But again, still very good. I customized my dipping sauce, and had the spicy aioli. Essentially a mayonnaise based concoction that was exceptionally good. Probably the best part of the meal. Service was prompt and friendly. There were only three of us at the bar, and the restaurant was empty. Sign of the times I'm afraid.

I'll definitely make an attempt to go back and try something else from the menu (which remains large), but it won't be in the rotation, so it could be some years.

---original 7/9/21 review (Colorado Springs)

Saw this restaurant recently while driving up and down Academy doing the routines. It's your classic craft burger tavern, and those were the RJG's favorite places pre-pandemic. Time to get back into some bad habits. Walk in, and you can take a booth, table, or sit at the bar to your right. I took the latter, since I was by myself. Out comes a very large burger menu, and a nice selection of Colorado craft beers to choose from (about 9). Mostly from the Springs, but a couple of others from the state. So I selected one from our very own FH Beerworks, and then chose The Coloradoan. This burger's distinctions include green chile (hear that, did ya Wienerschnitzel?), Swiss cheese, avocado, tomato, spring mix (arugula, etc...), onion slices, and lemon zest aioli. Yea, it's pretty chef-fy, but I'm all for a local burger. I passed on the avocado, as I really wanted to savor the green chile - which is mixed into the ground beef + they add a sliced Anaheim pepper. I asked for truffle fries as well. Basically fries with truffle oil and parm cheese and parsley (excellent BTW). They don't mention it, but this burger comes in a potato bun. The burger was cooked medium well, since I didn't specify. All very good, though I didn't get as much chile flavor as hoped. But given that they have 20 different options, I'll be sure to try something else next time. Overall I was most reminded of an old RJG favorite back in DFW called Jac Mac's Swill and Grill (which you can find in these very pages). Perhaps not quite as beer focused, but the menu certainly is geared similarly. Friendly counter service as well. Great place - we'll be back for sure.

Border Burger Bar is a very small regional chain. They started in El Paso, Texas (hence the name) with only one location there before branching to the Springs area, where they also have one in downtown Manitou Springs - a perfect fit for the tourist foot traffic they receive.

7/9/21 (new entry); 10/31/24

The Old Spaghetti Factory ~ national chain: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2024

First visit: Mar 2002 (Lynwood, WA)

Founded: 1969 

HQ: Portland, OR

Locations: ~40 in the US and 15 in Canada. Mostly in the west.

It's now Monday and time to pick up Mrs. RJG from the airport after spending time with her family in Arizona. We'd agreed before she left that we would dine at the Old Spaghetti Factory on the way home. They opened here a couple of years ago, and we'd been meaning to try it again, but we're rarely down this way together at meal time.

The Old Spaghetti Factory comes from the same era as The Spaghetti Warehouse, which is what we had growing up in DFW. The concepts are similar. This was from the time when theme restaurants were all the rage. It wasn't enough to cook you a good meal, you had to have another reason to go. So the theme would usually appeal to families looking for more to do than just eat. Back then, adventurous cooking wasn't yet in the cards. As such, The Old Spaghetti Factory offers up basic red sauce Italian fare.

If the premise of your restaurant is nothing more than standard Italian, then you better at least take care of business. And on my three visits to The Old Spaghetti Factory I feel like they succeeded on that front.  While they certainly do offer more than spaghetti, we both dived into the basics. I ordered a plate of spaghetti with Italian sausage and meatballs, and Mrs. RJG went with similar. We both really enjoyed the sausage, which possessed a distinct flavor. I was more keen on the meatballs which were very firm, and needed a knife to cut them with. Not the meatballs of my youth (that I continue to seek), but very good all the same. The "regular" spaghetti was cooked to perfection I thought, though Mrs. RJG felt it could have been more al dente. All meals come with a soup or salad, as well as spumoni or vanilla ice cream at the end. We each opted for the salad with the balsamic vinaigrette, and the flavor was great though the iceberg lettuce was a bit on the expired side. The ice cream was excellent, hard to screw that up. We each had one beer, though the taps are perfunctory for this area.

I thought the meal was very good, the Mrs. not as much though admittedly she was a bit tired too. I'm game for coming back, but it won't be part of the RJG rotation.

As you can see, my first visit was well over 22 years ago. At that point I was traveling for business in Seattle, and afterward, I wanted to treat my Official Aunt and Uncle out for dinner. Both are no longer alive, Aunt just passed away a month ago and Uncle back in 2007. My uncle loved the local smoke filled taverns (though he didn't smoke) that dotted the area since they moved to that part of Washington in 1970. He was bemoaning the fact that restaurants such as The Old Spaghetti Factory had replaced his hideaways. My aunt was thrilled that they were going away lol. In any case, said uncle loved this restaurant, so there was a silver lining.

I had thought before writing this entry that the above was my only prior visit to The Old Spaghetti Factory. This is where the spreadsheet comes in handy. I had forgotten that Mrs. RJG and I dined here one night while visiting the beautiful resort town of Banff in Alberta back in the summer of 2013. Yet another undocumented RJG trip, though we had a blast (and great food). We enjoyed our meal there as well and I recall we sat next to an open window with a cool crisp breeze coming through (felt great to our overheated Texas arms). The Canadian branch of The Old Spaghetti Factory is a separate entity for legal reasons (different websites for example), but they are the same company essentially.

3/20/02; 7/16/13; 10/28/24 (new entry)

Lynwood, WA; Banff, AB; Colorado Springs

Yolanda's Tacos ~ Castle Rock, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2024

First visit: May 2014 (DTC - now closed)

This is only my second visit to Yolanda's, and the first was over a decade ago. At that time, we were going to one of our niece's college graduation at CSU. Since we lived in DFW at the time, we decided to make a week of it, and I worked remotely from the Residence Inn in Denver before heading up to Fort Collins on a Friday night. On that first try, Mrs. RJG picked up some tacos from Yolanda's on the way back to the hotel from her sister's where she had spent the day. We both thought it was delicious and needed to revisit. And yet, we still haven't. They are no longer in the DTC (I think they were in the same center as Pat's), but their sole location is now in Castle Rock. I'm on my way back home to the Springs, and it's lunch time, so let's finally get over to Yolanda's.

I was the first patron in the door, and it's counter service. Yolanda's is a relatively large place and there's plenty of tables to choose from. On this visit I ordered the pollo asado and picadillo. The tacos come with chips and salsa. I chose the habanero and received two cups of it. I should have had one habanero and one of something else, but I'm not complaining. The chips are homemade and crispy, and the habanero is super spicy and delicious. The pollo asado was grilled to perfection, though I found the picadillo a bit too dry. I would equate Yolando's closest to our own Zapata's, though the latter definitely gives you more bang for your buck. All the same, I really enjoyed my lunch, and will make an effort to get here sooner rather than later. It's borderline rotation, but again, all Denver area restaurants are held to a different standard because there's so many places I want to try or revisit. 

5/12/14; 10/27/24 (new entry)

Burger Theory ~ Centennial, Colorado

First visit: Oct 2024

I received an email a couple of weeks ago from International Hotel Group (IHG) that my "loyalty points" were to expire unless I did something about it. Regular readers will recall (they don't exist but I like to pretend) that I spent a night last December at the Kimpton in Washington DC ahead of a business trip. That was a treat for myself, and an expensive one at that. Kimpton is part of the IHG group. I find it annoying they are chasing me already for activity. Whatever the case, I didn't have enough points for a free night, but I had too many to forfeit. So essentially if I stay one night I'll get another free later. Since Mrs. RJG is in Arizona, it seemed like the perfect time. I'll dig in the Denver record shops until early evening, eat, and crash there. 

IHG's most known brand is Holiday Inn, and they are much cheaper than Kimpton that's for sure. In researching which one to stay at (and I was willing to stay anywhere in the metro area, it didn't matter to me), I discovered their hotel in Centennial has a burger and beer place attached. Well how perfect is that? I don't even have to drive or leave the hotel. This is where I'm staying then. Incidentally I was only a few blocks from Pat's where I had lunch, though I spent most of my day near downtown.

After checking in, I went back downstairs and began my dinner excursion. It's not what one would call a cozy hotel bar. It's way too open, and too much lighting. It feels more like a breakfast buffet setting, and that's exactly what it doubles as. No matter, I grabbed a bar stool, and began to order my first beer. They have a nice looking selection of taps, so I asked the bartender for the beer list. They don't have one. OK then, what do the taps house? She had no idea. No one trained her. My goodness. You specialize in craft beer and the bartender doesn't even know what they have. A classic example of absentee management. I was able to figure out most of them out once I took a close look at the taps, with one mystery left behind. By the way, the server/bartender was super sweet and helpful. She just wasn't trained, that's all.

The beers all proved excellent, but how would the food go? Let's hope the cook has cooked before... I went for their signature BT Boss with fries, which is loaded with infused cheese and layered cheese on top, and their own sauce. I come to find out while ordering that the cook doesn't speak English, but my order was well understood as it turns out. Fingers crossed.

Oh wow - was it great! One of the best burgers I'd ever had. You just never know sometimes. The data inputs were all wrong, but the output was amazing. The burger was very flavorful, and it got better as it went. It was a bit messy (not for Mrs. RJG) but I had a grand time eating it. The fries were excellent as well.

There aren't going to be a lot of nights I need to spend at a Denver hotel, but if the opportunity presents itself, I'm going here for the burgers and beer.

10/26/24 (new entry)

Pat's Philly Steaks & Subs ~ Greenwood Village, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2024

First visit: Jun 2009

They have one other location further east on Illiff and Quebec.

This is only my third visit to Pat's, and the first in 13 years. I had first gone here the week we bought our summer townhome, which was not the plan originally. Such were the times. Pat's has since moved from that location that sat in a hotel parking lot area (I think a gas station is there now), and moved across the street to a strip center area south of Arapahoe @ Dayton. I can reasonably argue that this center is where the RJG has dined more than any other, as it housed many restaurants I would eat at lunch when I worked in the Denver Tech Center (1995-1997). Pat's didn't exist then, coming around a couple of years later. 

I've always been confused about the legacy of Pat's because Pat's King of Steaks is one of the legendary cheesesteak places in Philadelphia. But apparently there is no connection. Seems like a risky legal move to go with the name, but maybe the distance is too far to care about.

Anyway, this newer location is dinky compared to the older one. Walk in, and you are at the register. There are two tables and about 12 barstools, and that's it. But on this late Saturday morning, finding a place to sit wasn't an issue. I went for a regular medium sized cheesesteak. You can add three different toppings, which definitely alters the flavor profile. I went for banana peppers, pickles, and lettuce. I noted that the bread was extra chewy. Overall it was very good though the peppers were pretty dominant on the tongue. Were I still working in the area, I'd probably go here at least twice a month and try other variations. But, as it stands, this will probably be my last visit for some years unless someone insists we go here.

6/15/09; 5/25/11; 10/26/24 (new entry)

Abby's Irish Pub ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

First visit: Oct 2024

I've had Abby's Irish Pub circled for some years now. I see the establishment often on my way to one of my favorite craft beer stores (Twins). These are places Mrs. RJG would reject, so while she's away in Arizona, I don't want to waste the opportunity.

It's Friday night after 5, and it appears the parking lot is full and vehicles are parked in the field next door. Uh-oh. Will I even be able to get in? I was thinking of alternatives as I opened the door. But fear not, while the place was certainly hopping with patrons, I was able to find a solo bar stool without issue. So for two nights in a row (including Back East), I've gone to restaurants that were packed. Good to see, though the demographics of both indicate an older audience (like myself), which is a bit disconcerting. Why disconcerting? Because it feels like we may be the only ones with disposable income. That's not healthy for a functioning society.

In any case, I went about ordering a nitro Belhaven Scottish Ale, not something you see much. Their menu is Covid style, meaning you'll need to get your smart phone camera out. I appreciate the economics of that, but it still reminds me of an awful period of our lives. For din-din I was searching for something unique (that I might like) and found it: Mac n' Cheese with Corned Beef. Yeaaa man! A few minutes later out came this small iron pan of cheesy goodness, and a spoon to eat it with. A fork would have worked too, as it wasn't that saucy. The mac and cheese was appropriately hot, and it featured nice strips and bits of corned beef. Very tasty. It wasn't a large portion, and I was fine with that. Too much of the same thing otherwise. Of course I had to have a Guinness to go with it, no Irish pub visit is complete without one. Were I not driving, I would have loved to also enjoy an Irish Creme infused dessert as well, but I didn't want to risk it.

While I certainly enjoyed my visit here, and will likely come back at some point, I don't see it hitting the RJG rotation anytime soon unless Mrs. RJG has a sudden craving for Irish pubs.

10/26/24 (new entry)

Piglatin Cocina ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

First visit: Oct 2024

While Mrs. RJG is away in Arizona, I had planned out my meal schedule until she returns. The exception was Friday's lunch. I wasn't sure where I was going to be, but I had enough (real) work to do, so I stayed home until the lunch hour. Looking for something new to try, I found Piglatin. This is a place that wasn't on my radar until I literally put it on a radar. They have Cuban's, so that makes a perfect lunch. The matter is settled.

When I resided in Colorado Springs for the first time (1993-1995), I lived in a apartment complex very close to where Piglatin resides (Dublin @ Union). It was one of those shopping centers that's always housed some sort of bar and grill, but for whatever reason, I didn't engage here back then. Though Piglatin sits in a typical 80s strip center, once inside, you might think you were deep in the city center, where the punk clubs and record stores might be. Dark with lots of stickers and vulgar signs. Inside it's a small place, with a full set of bar stools. They also created a nice patio up front, and I'm sure Piglatin does well on summer nights. Surprisingly they do not have beer taps, which made my decision to stick with water an easy one.

I promptly ordered my Cubano and a few minutes later, it was delivered. Their variation is of the panini variety with crispy pressed bread. It's not a large sandwich, but certainly enough for a filling lunch. Pork, ham, cheese, pickles, and mustard make up the ingredients. Excellent flavor and well prepared. Though not overly distinctive, nor crave-worthy I concluded. Service was prompt and friendly. I could see a repeat visit here, though not likely to find itself on the Rotation list. Glad I tried it though. I could see this going down a storm with the margarita crowd, something that would have been more welcomed in the not-so-distant past for me.

10/25/24 (new entry)

Back East Bar & Grill ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2024

First visit: Jun 2022

Other location: Monument

Back again for my annual visit to Back East Bar & Grill. It's a Thursday night around 5 and the place was hopping, not a sight we see too much these days. The guy next to me at the bar stated that Thursday nights are popular here, though no reason was afforded. Nonetheless I found a spot, grabbed a beer, and ordered the chicken parm again. I think it was even better than last time. The chicken was a thick cutlet, breaded and baked to perfection. That's all I needed for a perfect dinner.

---7/31/23 update

Had the chicken parm this time on a dinner visit. Crispy breaded chicken, delicious slightly sweet red sauce, on top of al dente capellini. Large portion - perfect.

---original 6/26/22 review

I'd had this placed circled for years and finally made it over for lunch. It's a classic sports bar / tavern with television screens everywhere, a sizeable bar area, and lots of tables. It's a very large space overall. The separator here is the focus on New York / New England styled food, and apparently it's the official Buffalo Bills game watching place here in town. In my mind, that means both an Italian and seafood focus. I stuck with the former, though they also had some fetching Colorado looking items as well. But for the first visit I went with a meatball sub with a side of tater tots and asked for "dragon sauce" to dip them in. About the best meatball sub in the area these days is Trivelli's Hoagies that we've written about. Their heritage is in Philadelphia, but the owner has long sold out and it's now run by Asians. It seems they've maintained the recipes, but it's not the real deal. Not like the old Vermont heritage Friendly's Subs that we reminisce about on occasion (now Jersey Subs, and not the same). Well we now have a new champion: Back East Bar & Grill. Four big thick meatballs doused in a delicious tomato sauce, gooey cheese, on a wonderfully textured bread. The meatballs are delicious on their own, but it's the sauce that makes the difference. Not sure when Italian restaurants forgot how to make a decent tomato sauce, but that's not a problem here. Makes me want to try something more pure Italian for dinner. And I must try a pizza at some point. I'll get tater tots any chance I can over fries, and the Dragon Sauce is indeed their hottest blend. I loved it. Superb service on this visit as well.

6/26/22 (new entry); 7/31/23; 10/24/24

S. S. Subs ~ Widefield, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2024

First visit: Feb 1995 (Colorado Springs downtown - closed)

They have one other location in Pueblo, though it appears they're separately owned at this point.

Like with The Bagel Deli in Denver, S.S. Subs is another place I hadn't revisited since my first tour of duty in the Springs. The original visit was memorable since I had been called downtown for jury duty (the date below is an educated guess). I was almost certain to be selected for trial since I was juror #1 when we broke for lunch. Nearby was S.S. Subs and I enjoyed a sandwich before heading back. I didn't recall much about it, other than I should try to go again sometime. Incidentally I was not selected, much to my glee. Ironically I was recently chosen for jury duty again a month ago, my first time back there in Colorado Springs. This time I wasn't so lucky, and I was selected. Fortunately it was only a one day trial. I'll let you guess who ended up being the foreman...

In any case, the other issue regarding a return visit was that of location. S.S. Subs is long gone from Colorado Springs only residing in the southern suburb of Widefield, and another in Pueblo. I'm rarely this far south in the Springs, though it's not too far from the ARC Thrift shop on S. Academy that I frequent. The reason for my visit this time is that I took Mrs. RJG to the airport (near lunchtime) as she's visiting her mom for the next few days in Arizona. And that airport, of course, is in the far southeast part of town. So there will probably be a few updates here on the RJG as I need to fend for myself in the coming days. 

The 1960s or 70s strip center that S.S. Subs sits in reminds me of an environment you might find in small town Kansas. A definite blast from the past. Walk in, and you're greeted by a large menu on the wall that's probably been there for 40 years. I went with the Italian. Clearly they take pride in making their sandwiches and it was prepared professionally. Very light on meats but heavy on other ingredients, the sandwich was very flavorful, and the bread was delicious. Soft yet chewy. And the sandwich was certainly filling, so you won't feel hungry despite the lack of extra protein. I enjoyed my sub in quiet solitude, taking in the Broncos memorabilia from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Old fashioned to the core. One hopes places like this can survive the current onslaught of financial pressures, and carry on for another 40 years. As for me, I won't consider this a rotation destination, but certainly will make an effort to come again - sooner than 30 years at least.

2/13/95; 10/24/24 (new entry)

Papa's ~ Colorado chain : Colorado Springs

First visit: Oct 2024 (Northside)

Other locations: Colorado Springs (Austin Bluffs); Florence

Though Papa's bills themselves as an Italian restaurant, there's little of that on the menu. It's primarily a pizza joint that offers pasta in addition. Very similar to all those pizza-pasta places we used to frequent in DFW, but with even less entrees to choose from. The restaurant itself is small with only a few tables. It has the look and feel of a take out pizza joint. It's position near the Ford Amphitheater should provide ample customers during event nights.

On this visit, based on what I could figure out online, it seemed I would be best served to order a pizza and pick it up. And on this fine Sunday football afternoon, that's exactly what I did. Brought it home and Mrs. RJG had the comal ready to add a little extra crispness. We watched some NFL Red Zone and devoured half the 16 inch sausage and cheese pie. The sausage is basic off-the-truck crumbled, and the cheese and sauce were well prepared though not exceptional. On the continuum of available Colorado Springs pizza joints, it's better than Marco's and Anthony's, about the same as Louie's, but not as good as Jet's, Parry's, and Walter's303. Not counting places like Basil and Barley, which is a different kind of pizza. We both enjoyed it though, and I'll have the remainder for my lunch tomorrow as I go back to work.

Though we have Papa's listed as a Colorado chain, it barely qualifies. The original restaurant is in the antique town of Florence, that we sometimes frequent in the offseason. Never tried Papa's while there, and now we don't have to, since there's this location about 10 minutes away. I'll add it to the RJG rotation as I could see an annual visit happening. At least once during football season would be about right.

10/24/24 (new entry)

Northern Cafe ~ Cerritos, California

Lady Music and I joined the BFF family to celebrate Lady Music's BFF's birthday. Northern Cafe on Second in Cerritos was the choice of the birthday girl. I enjoy this type of restaurant (that seems to be popping up more and more) which specializes in handmade dumplings, noodle dishes, and more. 

What makes Northern Cafe different is that they also have an array of wontons as well. Here, wontons are a filling loosely wrapped in a wide noodle and served in a dish of sweet and spicy sauce. Whereas dumplings are either a steamed or fried noodle wrapping tightly encasing the filling (pork, chicken, shrimp with or without cabbage or scallions). They are served without special sauce and may be enhanced by using the soy sauce, black vinegar and/or hot chili oil that adorns each table as ubiquitously as the salt and pepper shaker at the local diner. 

We ate family style, and being guests, Lady Music and I pretty much let the BFF family choose the dishes. We got pork wontons and shrimp wontons, but no dumplings as BFF explained, they found dumplings too plain and liked the sauce that came with wontons. We did however get an order of chicken pot stickers at the request of BFF's daughter. Yes, a 3rd style of noodle stuffed with filling! To me, very similar to a pan fried dumpling, but a different shape. These were like sausage links of dense, seasoned ground chicken with a wonton skin tightly wrapped around them. Larger, and more stuffed than pot stickers I've had other places. They were yummy. We also got a few other dishes that I'll summarize: Cold Cucumber & Garlic salad which were crunchy Persian cakes cut up in cubes and had garlic and sliced green onion in a vinegar based dressing with a little diced chili. It was cold, fresh and yummy. Dry Fried String Beans are seared/blanched with sesame oil in a wok with garlicky seasoning. They were good as well, although I've had them at other places with small black beans and/or more intense seasoning, which I prefer. Steamed BBQ pork bun aka cha-shu bao. Not only are these a favorite of mine, but I also have a sentimental attachment to them as they conjure fond memories of Pop Music (aka Mr. Music's dad :-) ) taking his family to an international dining experience and proudly introducing us to the exotic delicacies he discovered. This was in the 1960s! Theirs were plump and tasty. Beef Roll is a healthy portion of thinly sliced beef, cucumber, cilantro, and dark leafy greens with some hoisin sauce rolled up in a Chinese pancake and sliced into sections sorta like a thick sushi roll. The pancake was light and flakey, but held the ingredients nicely. The lean beef and hoisin combination has a nice flavor and the veggies made it better. These are thicker than other beef rolls I've had. 

Shrimp fried rice was pretty basic, but delish with beautiful, plump, shelled shrimp, egg, veggies, and just the right amount of butter. Dan-Dan Noodle was the only noodle dish we had. I guess I'm not a huge fan of this dish in general, but I will eat some when ordered while doing family style sharing. The noodles were nice and it had plenty of crunchy peanut pieces sprinkled over the very peanut buttery sauced noodles. Sauteed Diced Chicken With Chili Flakes are small nuggets of battered chicken peppered with bits of dried red chilies. They had a kick, which we liked! I've had this dish in other places and for me, is beautiful with a very light coating of batter, which minimizes the greasiness; and unless the batter itself is seasoned, will have a negative impact on the overall flavor and bite. The dish here was good (fresh, hot, and crispy), but could have been really yummy with a lighter coating of seasoned batter. Vegetarian MapoTofu. This is a dish I love and order it almost anyplace that serves it. It's cubed, soft tofu sauteed in a thick brown sauce starring Sichuan peppers (tongue numbing) and dried Thai chilies (the more chilis, the more I like it!). Traditionally, the gravy has ground pork, which I love too, but the vegetarian version is pretty much as good and a noticeably lighter option. It is served with steamed white jasmine rice. I'm a fan of brown, nutty, whole grain rice, but this is an instance where for me, the white jasmine rice makes the dish. I like the tofu, but my main interest is a big ladle of Sichuan pepper packed gravy covering a perfectly steamed bowl of fragrant, jasmine rice. Their dish has a great flavor, but I prefer more gravy which I'm sure I could get if I ask. 

I do want to call attention to the steamed jasmine rice here. It was the one real stand out to me. Cooked to a slightly, al dente perfection made special by the roasted black sesame seeds that speckled the fragrant rice. A simple addition that had a great impact!

I personally enjoy the festive atmosphere of a bustling dining room as long as its not too chaotic. It was definitely bustling, but it didn’t feel packed or amid chaos as the room was large and spacious, but it seemed a bit loud and echoey and we all seemed to find it a little difficult to talk to each other at our table for 6. Not a showstopper for me though. All in all, the food was really good, healthy portions, and reasonably priced. I'm looking forward to another visit.

- Mr. Music review

The Bagel Deli ~ Denver, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2024

First visit: Sep 1994

Founded: 1967

It's Sunday and I'm on my way to the main record show in Denver. It's a two day show, but I go on Sunday when it's free just to scrounge around for deals. That event is an energy burner, so I need protein before venturing in. What could be better than a big ol' honkin' meat sandwich from an old fashioned Jewish Deli? Not much. 

This is only my second visit here, and if you carefully look at the top, you'll note it's been a full 30 years since. I also lived in Colorado Springs back then (a few years before Mrs. RJG), and dined here because there used to be a record store on the other side of this strip mall. Why I never came back again is one of the great RJG mysteries. Only a few months later I became a full-time resident of Denver. And many years after that we either lived there or had a summer place. And even six years after moving back to Colorado and visiting Denver a few times a year, I still left The Bagel Deli neglected. Even crazier is it's right off of I-25 (Hampden exit) on my way into the city. Consider that oversight now rectified.

My memory has it that The Bagel Deli used to only be the small grocery store with counter service on the left side of the strip center. But I could be mistaken. In any case they have a large restaurant next door, and even though it was very busy when I arrived, there were plenty of tables for the hostess to sit me down at.

I ordered what I came for - the "number 2", a combo of pastrami, corned beef, and Swiss cheese on marbled rye. Out came this mountain of a sandwich (much larger than Rosenberg's for example). With the side of kosher pickle and chips. Oh yea, this is my kind of sandwich! I had so much protein I felt drunk afterward. But it not only gave me the nutrients I needed for a day of crate digging, but it also was delicious. No need to ask for brown mustard when bottles of Gulden's are on the table. Perhaps the rye bread is a little too small for this kind of sandwich, so next time I'm getting it with a bagel. I hesitate to put any Denver restaurant on the RJG Rotation list, since there are so many new places I want to try, but I may make an exception here. But there's one more Jewish Deli in the area I also haven't been to in 30 years (locals will know which one), so that will be my next stop - probably early next year. More to come on that.

The Bagel Deli goes considerably out of their way to mention that they were featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. I like that show, but not sure I would exploit it that much. But whatever, the restaurant was crowded, so maybe that has something to do with it. I doubt it though, the food is what delivers the goods!

9/5/94; 10/13/24 (new entry)

Firehouse On The Run ~ Black Forest, Colorado

First visit: Oct 2024

As noted last week, we went to the Black Forest Brewery after a hike. On the way I was reminded of Firehouse On The Run, A place I'm always going to try, but quickly forget about. So Mrs. RJG and I committed to coming back the following weekend to finally try it.

It was a beautiful Saturday near Noon time, and we made our 15 minute journey northeast to Black Forest. Firehouse On The Run is from the time honored tradition of a barbecue joint sitting in the back of a gas station. They have smokers all around, and the smell is delightful. The setting couldn't be better. One feels like they're on vacation deep in the woods, even though in reality Black Forest is a remote suburb of Colorado Springs. 

Unfortunately the setting is the highlight of the restaurant. I ordered a smoked chicken sandwich with a side of Western beans and Bab-n-Hero sauce. The bread was right out of the bag, slightly cold. Good quality bread though. The chicken, while very flavorful, was on the tough side. So I did need the sauce. Which is very good - spicy as one would expect from a habanero concoction. The Western beans were disappointing. Despite having chilies mixed in, it was relatively flavorless and bland. And not enough temperature. Mrs. RJG had the brisket sandwich. Similar to mine, it was loaded with flavor but not tender and one piece was mostly grease. Neither of us got full on this visit, as the portions were too small. Too add insult, it was very expensive for what you get.

While I wouldn't pitch a fit if someone insisted we go here, the RJG isn't likely to come back on our own. Had the cost been more reasonable, I'd be up for another visit. We're bummed because the setting is so perfect.

10/12/24 (new entry)

Black Forest Brewing ~ Black Forest, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2024 (Black Forest)

First visit: Dec 2018 (Black Forest)

It's a beautiful Sunday and we decided to take an impromptu hike at the Black Forest Regional Park. Afterwards, what better place to relax than at Black Forest Brewing just up the road a piece? We enjoyed one beer each as we watched the end of a couple of NFL contests and the start of the Broncos game. Perfect break before heading back home.

---7/29/23 review (Falcon)

We followed Dr. Taco on this visit. Both locations have plenty of room inside, though the original Black Forest is in a better nature setting. Excellent traditional German beers too!

Black Forest is probably the closest true microbrewery to our home (not counting corporate driven high-end brewpubs). Black Forest can be found in a beautiful setting deep in the woods northeast of Colorado Springs. They specialize in German beers, but experiment often beyond that. Walk in, check out the computer screen, order. Then sit in the spacious two room taproom, or head outside and grab a park bench. Food trucks often stop by.

12/1/18; 5/3/19; 6/7/20; 7/10/21; 7/13/23 (new entry); 10/6/24

Iron Tree Restaurant & Funky Town Brewery ~ Florissant, Colorado

First visit: Oct 2024

I've been wanting to get to the Funky Town Brewery since we moved to Colorado Springs well over six years ago. But there was always some reason why we didn't, generally the timing. Usually we're just passing through on US-24 on our way to some mountain destination or back home. Stopping for a beer wasn't in the cards. And then there's the fact that they only serve brunch on Sunday's when we'd rather have lunch with our beer.

But on this fine sunny and crisp October Saturday, we decided to make the brewpub our destination. There isn't much to Florissant, a wide place in the road west of Woodland Park and Divide. Primarily it serves as a supply base for the rural community around. It sits in a beautiful setting though. After our lunch we decided to go to their public library, something we never do, but glad we did as it's a wonderful space. But that's about all there is to do here, to give one an idea.

And, of course, eat at the Iron Tree Restaurant. There's something very cool about small town breweries, and perhaps even cooler about small mountain town breweries. They have a vibe that doesn't translate to the city or suburban areas. Background music was from the turn of the century - electronica based 1940's styled swing music. I miss those days (the late 90s - not the 40s smarty...). We started with a couple of Oktoberfest's, a favorite beer of the RJG's. I went with my staple Cuban, and she ordered the honey chicken sandwich - and added "hot" to it (a staff favorite apparently). They each came with homemade corn tortilla chips. We'll start there as they are really excellent. Crispy and flavorful. My sandwich was of the panini variety, pressed flat with cheese, ham, and pork. Pickles and mayo, but no mustard. I quite enjoyed it. Not the best Cuban, but still a good rendition. Mrs. RJG's large chicken sandwich had a nice sweet and spicy flavor, and was heavily breaded. She liked it at first, but eventually it was "too messy" for her and the chicken wasn't cooked enough in her opinion. So I ate the rest ;-) I had no such qualms. Tasted good to me! But she did give the restaurant a thumbs up, and stated she wants to come back and try something else.

10/5/24 (new entry)