East Coast Restaurant & Delicatessen ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Feb 2024

First visit: Nov 2023

Like with Mission BBQ, it was time to introduce Mrs. RJG to one of my favorite discoveries of last year. She loves the New York Deli Southside in Santa Fe, so she is certain to like East Coast Restaurant as well. And that theorem proved true. She had the Spanish Scrambler with sausage, chile, eggs, and potato. This time I went with the Syracuse sandwich, which includes pastrami, corned beef, and salami, along with Swiss cheese on rye. Stayed with the fries, and this time I did get the kosher pickle. I wonder if they just forgot last time? What kind of Jewish deli doesn't include a pickle? Oh, and it was excellent too. The sandwich was really stacked with meat this time. Much more so than when I just had the pastrami, and it was only a buck more. Imagine a Schlotzky's deluxe - with double that size! Holy Moly did I get stuffed. Service was extra friendly on this visit. In order to use a coupon we needed to buy something else, so we got a cookie. More poundage as the cookie is more like a giant round twinkie with white and chocolate frosting. We're both stuffed to the gills, but happy. We'll be back again, hopefully this year, but for sure next.

---original 11/12/23 review

I was near downtown on this beautiful Sunday and it's lunch time. Sunday's are the best time to be in downtown since parking is free before 1:00. I had heard about East Coast but had never been prior, so that seems like a good idea.

Walking in, it becomes clear this is a sit down restaurant. And once the waitress brought me the large menu, it cemented a comparison I had brewing in my mind: New York Deli Southside in Santa Fe! That's one of the regular stops for Mrs. RJG and I when we work and play in New Mexico's capital. You can read about our adventures there in this blog. 

They brag about their pastrami and corned beef. Well then, there's no way I'm going to miss out on that on this first visit. On rye? They have to ask. Of course. It was not too long of a wait, when a piled high meat sandwich shows up with a side of fries. I dig into the latter. Very hot, traditional fries - though not crispy. I thought they were good but not great. The sandwich was excellent of course, though Mrs. RJG probably would not have enjoyed the soft bread. They claim to import their meats from New York direct (the same as used by Katz and Stage), so there's a cost associated with that. I only added spicy mustard. Strange they don't offer a kosher pickle slice, that would have been nice. All the same, I enjoyed it immensely. Next time I'll bring Mrs. RJG and she can try the breakfast while I go for that corned beef... Adding East Coast to the RJG rotation.

11/12/23 (new entry)

Josh & John's Ice Cream ~ Colorado chain : Colorado Springs

Latest visit: Feb 2024 (Flying Horse)

First visit: Summer 1994 (Downtown)

Locations: Colorado Springs (3); Fort Collins; Loveland. The latter a relatively new addition.

Back for our first return of 2024. On this visit I had the Salted Peanut Butter Cup and Mrs. RJG went for the Almond Joy. Both in the homemade waffle cone (+$1). The cone was sweet, crispy, and delicious. The ice cream was the correct small portion, but we've become accustomed to getting more. Bummer that. Still my favorite ice cream joint in Colorado.

---original 1/30/21 review

Let's just get right to it - the is the RJG's favorite ice cream place. Ever. In the RJG's first tour of duty here in the Springs, I was quickly introduced to Josh & John's, and I can honestly say I've never had better ice cream. It's not the creamiest, in fact almost the opposite, but the flavor really comes through. It's almost chewy. Though in the last year they phased out my favorite flavor Pikes Peak Coffee. Boo. But they still have a java chip that's quite delicious. Mrs. RJG enjoys their Butter Pecan, and we both love good old fashioned Dutch Chocolate. There was a time when you could find Josh & Johns at the local grocery stores, and they also did a turn in Denver when we lived there. 

If you're traveling to the state, it's well worth your time to grab a scoop.

During the hard lockdowns, one of the rare treats was for Mrs. RJG and I to head to downtown (free parking during that period only) and enjoy a small dish. Our local store was closed at the time. But they're back to normal (mostly) and we on (rare occasion) will indulge.

1995; 5/16/20; 1/30/21 (new entry); 2/6/22; 8/7/23; 2/24/24

Mission BBQ ~ national chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Feb 2024 (Interquest)

First visit: Aug 2023 (Interquest)

HQ: Glen Burnie, Maryland (Baltimore area) (Founded 2011)

Locations: 19 states (135 total - same as last year); 1 in Colorado; none in Texas. Florida has the most with 28.

This is only my second visit and Mrs. RJG joined me this time. We each got the two meat platter so we could try most of the protein they have on offer. We had the pulled chicken, sliced brisket, turkey, and classic sausage. All were excellent as noted below. Our only complaint is that the meats needed to be slightly hotter in temperature especially the sausage. She tried the baked beans and I had the mac n cheese. The latter was the prescribed hot, just like last year. And I even liked the baked beans, which I usually find to be cloyingly sweet, but not in this case. Along with the six sauces (as noted below) we also tried the Baja Bold which is their spiciest option. It's not exceedingly so, but provides a piquant option. Mrs. RJG really enjoyed both our cornbreads, as I knew she would. The two large soda fountain gives Mission the flexibility for more options. I took advantage of that this time, and had Diet Mountain Dew, something you rarely see in restaurants. The service was exceptionally friendly just like the first visit. All in all, still our favorite barbecue in town.

---original 8/19/23 review

Mission BBQ arrived with a bang here in the Springs, which like a lot of chains apparently, we represent their entre into Colorado and the Mountain West. As with these other chains, they have opened up nearby to our house around the Interquest and Voyager intersection. Shake Shack and Dave's Hot Chicken are coming soon as well.

Mission BBQ comes to us not a moment too soon. With Billy Sims closing, we have a dearth of barbeque in town. Not that Billy Sims was awesome compared to what we remember in Texas, but it was still excellent. Mission BBQ is "next level" from the normal Dickey's styled place. You can tell they take barbecue very seriously, and the place is crowded for a reason. It's a large space and fully staffed with workers everywhere. You order at the counter.

I went with the 2 meat platter (I wish they had a 5 meat platter lol), and I selected sliced brisket and pulled chicken, the latter you don't see too often. The young lady asked me if I wanted the brisket "moist" or "lean". What does that even mean? Apparently moist = more fat. I'll take lean then. Also chose the meal deal, and added mac n' cheese with a soda fountain drink. Comes with cornbread as well. 20 bucks later, my meal is ready to go. So yea, it ain't cheap.

The second after the pulled chicken passed my lips I knew this was going to be a great experience. The few places that do offer it usually comes out tough. Not here. Very moist and flavorful. Next the brisket. You can cut it with a fork. Same as the chicken - no need to get "moist" when lean is this flavorful. The mac n' cheese was very creamy, hot, and tasty with baked encrusted cheese on the edges. Back to the meats. Now it's time to try their 6 (count 'em) sauce bottles provided on each table. They have Tupelo (Mississippi), Memphis, Texas, Kansas City, St. Louis, and West Virginia. Each with a distinct flavor. The first 2 are too sweet for me, but that's their intent. I didn't even know West Virginia had a barbecue tradition, but if this sauce is its representative, then I need more of this smoky concoction! The other 3 were just as great. And even though the meats didn't need assistance, it was fun pouring a little bit on each bite to get the full range of flavors. I saved the cornbread for last as a possible dessert. It's very flaky but not overly sweet. A bit too much starch for me, but aficionados will probably vouch for it.

I really enjoyed my meal here, though I doubt I would go that often (cost; type of food). But I'll for certain get Mrs. RJG out here soon enough. Mission BBQ opened up precisely 10 years after 9/11 in the Baltimore suburb of Glen Burnie. A good majority of their restaurants are in the Mid to South Atlantic region. Apparently they have one in the Canton neighborhood of Baltimore, an area I frequented quite a bit from 2016 to 2019 when I officed nearby in Harbor East. It's very much an American patriot kind of place, so don't expect them in the Capitol Hill area of Denver or Boulder anytime soon lol. In fact, they seem to avoid city centers altogether, preferring suburbia (which this part of Colorado Springs most certainly is). As such, emphasis is on family. No booze here. And that's what I saw - many families enjoying their time here. A splurge meal no doubt, but it's great to see the happy faces.

8/19/23 (new entry); 2/24/24

Colorado Springs

Odyssey Gastropub ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Feb 2024

First visit: Dec 2022

It's been a year and a half since I saw my old friend the Tampa Pound (going back to 2009 when working in DFW). He's now retired since our last outing and has been scouting out the best restaurants Colorado Springs has to offer. So I let him choose where to eat, and he selected Odyssey. As you can see, Mrs. RJG and I visited at the end of 2022. I hadn't really intended on going back, but certainly wouldn't mind an invitation to do so. Our experience on this visit was a much more relaxed experience. Given that it's a Monday holiday versus a Sunday brunch outing, that comes as no surprise. I stuck with two Colorado taps throughout the meal and he had one. I didn't fall for the bottle/can trap this time. As for the meal, I referenced my notes before heading out, and after perusing the menu, decided the spicy chicken sandwich was the way to go. And it was excellent again as were the waffle fries. Even better is they brought me a "K Sauce", that made for an excellent spicy condiment for the fries. He had the Thai Curry and stated it was excellent as well. No doubt Odyssey remains an expensive date, and it's debatable if it's worth it. Good place to take out of town guests though if looking for something "local". Very friendly service on this visit as well, worth calling out.

---original 12/4/22 review

Wow - we are on a roll at the RJG. The Mrs. is anxious to try new places so I'm striking the iron while it's hot. The first meal we have where she makes a face two bites in and says "I'm full" is when I know the streak is over. But that didn't happen at Odyssey, so we march on for another week! We're back to the regular routine at home for the next 3 days. But what will Thursday lunch bring? We shall see.

Let's talk Odyssey Gastropub. Last night Mrs. RJG and I were scanning Yelp and all of their Top 10 lists. How legit these things are is anyone's guess, but many places popped up that we were unaware of. It got to the point that we asked each other "Do we even live here?". Of course most of these establishments are in - or near - downtown, and the social media hipsters are all over every place that exists there. Odyssey showed up on a few lists so it became apparent we should go. They're open for brunch on Sunday, so let's give it a shot.

The location is perfect: A renovated old downtown building. Shotgun style, very much like our favorite haunts in Baltimore. Full bar and plenty of table seating. We received brunch menus but were reassured that the lunch menu was on offer. The first head fake was the beer selection. Almost all of what is available is cans and bottles - all of which you can get in a well stocked local liquor store. They do have a few drafts, and most of those are what you see around town. I thought I was ordering a draft when a pint can showed up. Worse is that it wasn't the one I ordered, significantly less ABV, but for the same price. OK, it probably would have been close in price, not worth going on about. The second beer we had (split) was a draft which is captured in the Bier Reise (see main menu). All of this to say that I wouldn't make Odyssey Gastropub a destination for its beer selection. Of course they have other cocktails and the like - which may interest many of you.

For food I ordered the spicy chicken sandwich and Mrs. RJG had the Pioneer Burger, and then we cut each in half to split. I asked for the bowl of pork green chile as a side (+$3) and she went with waffle fries. The green chile came out hot temperature, so that's a plus. Pretty mild variation and *very* porky. Not really my style, but certainly could be considered an authentic Colorado pork green chile. The hamburger was very tasty, though it was more medium well than well done despite Mrs. RJG insisting on it being cooked throughout. The bread wasn't toasted on either side so that wasn't a plus. Same with the spicy chicken sandwich though this was met more favorably. Very crispy, juicy, and tasty. The sriracha ranch is a nice condiment for this. She enjoyed the waffle fries as well. Both sandwiches were quite large and very filling.

Verdict? Very good for sure, but way too expensive even in this day and age. Moving this to the "expense account" category. Which could happen. If so it will receive an annual review, otherwise this could be it for us concerning Odyssey Gastropub. Certainly no hesitation to go back though. I should mention that when we walked in, they had a wall full of local awards going back to 2015. And it was very crowded on this visit. Whatever our thoughts, it's clear Odyssey is where people want to be right now. I'll keep that in mind for out-of-towners.

12/4/22 (new entry); 2/19/24

Shamrock Brewing ~ Pueblo, Colorado

Latest visit: Feb 2024

First visit: Jul 2011

Back in Pueblo for the first time in 2024. Usually I do this trip solo, but Mrs. RJG wanted to tag along and go thrifting with me. Her deal in the bargain? We must go to Shamrock. This is her favorite place for hamburgers, along with The Brass Tap. And that's exactly what we had - two Angus cheeseburgers, well done, with pub fries. And it came out perfect, as it always does. On this visit we managed to try three different beers, and all from Shamrock this time.

---original 10/5/23 review

And we conclude our venture at the friendly confines of Shamrock Brewing in Pueblo. On our first visit, we only tried the beer, as we were on our way back home to our Denver townhome. It wasn't until that fateful year of 2020 that we finally tried Shamrock for a meal. It was before the pandemic and there was an air of doom and gloom. Mrs. RJG really loved their burgers, so it was definitely going to be a place we wanted to return. And we did - it was the first, and pretty much last, place we revisited in that same year. Do you remember when it looked like the pandemic was over? In early June, many states were reopening up. They were being weird about it still - the whole six feet distancing thing felt so unnatural. Masks were yet to be mandatory. Given this new found freedom, it appeared it was only going to be a two month blip in our lives. We celebrated by going back to the place we had just tried: Shamrock Brewing. And once again, we both loved our lunch. Then... it was over. It would be two full years before things really got back to normal, though for us in southern Colorado it was more like one year fortunately (Denver wasn't so lucky).

And now we return again, deciding to have our first ever dinner here. The restaurant was very crowded on this Thursday night, a good sign in an otherwise struggling economy. Shamrock, as you might imagine, looks and feels like an old Irish pub. Comfortably sitting in downtown, the building is old enough to pull off the atmosphere. As for the food, it once again did not let us down. I had the buffalo burger, and the Mrs. had an angus beef burger. Both with cheese. I try to get buffalo any time I can, preferring the leaner meat and great flavor. Both were cooked to order well done, super important with Mrs. RJG. We both like the "pub chips" which are essentially fat fries. They always come out steaming hot. The only quirk on this visit is that I didn't get a chance to try a new beer made by Shamrock. I discuss this on the Bier Reise monthly update.

We'll be back again.

7/23/11; 1/26/20; 6/13/20; 10/5/23 (new entry); 2/17/24

Del Taco ~ regional chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Feb 2024 (Academy / Austin Bluffs)

First visit: Sometime in 1982 (Irving, TX)

HQ: Lake Forest, CA (near Irvine)

Locations: Currently Del Taco operates 594 restaurants (+1 from last year) in 17 states (+2). There are 20 in Colorado (same), and 3 in Colorado Springs (same). They are not currently operating in Texas and all of our old locations there are now closed. 

Today was my first visit to Del Taco this year. The Austin Bluffs location has become my go-to primarily out of convenience when I'm dong the "thrift shop rounds". I like this store, as it's usually clean and the workers are friendly. As noted below, I did move away from the Snack Tacos and onto their regular "Del Taco". It's essentially the same especially since I don't include the tomato - except about three times the size. They load them with meat and cheese, and I've come to really appreciate the taste more than prior. Even their soda fountain works properly haha. My last visit to a Taco Bell (last year) was a total disaster, so I have to think Del Taco is making inroads on that competition. In fact I read just that very thing - Del Taco intends on being #1 at some point. While I hope they succeed, that growth could easily derail their quality. There was a time (1980s and early 90s) where Taco Bell was excellent as well. Long ago. In any case, Del Taco is a favorite stop for a quick, light lunch. Oh, you now have to ask for the hot sauce packets separate. Apparently some stupid customers were grabbing them by the sack full while not even ordering anything. Who does this?

---2/26/23 update

Back for our annual review. Last year it was first, but didn't get around to stopping by until today. A fairly straightforward update this will be. Went with my usual 6 pack of snack tacos and a water. The single cheapest meal in town that can fill you up for a few hours! I should explore their menu more, but that's usually all I get at these old fashioned crunchy fast food places (I said the same thing last year). On today's visit, the meat was cooked nice and hot, the packets of hot sauce were available, and all was clean. I probably go here (or the one further south on Academy near Austin Bluffs) about four times total a year. 

Currently Del Taco operates 593 restaurants (down 6 from last year) in 15 states. There are 20 in Colorado (down 1), and 3 in Colorado Springs (same). They are not currently operating in Texas and all of our old locations there are now closed. California by far has the best representation with 363 stores.

---1/4/22 update

I had hoped to feature a new (to us) taqueria to start the year, but I didn't enjoy it that much. But given the place was packed with the locals, I feel I must give it another shot - and try something else - before passing judgement. So the next day I went to an old standby to get us rolling for the year.

So they've renamed "Value Tacos" to "Snack Tacos" and jacked up the price to like 88 cents a piece. Haha. Still the best bargain around. To quote last year's annual review: "You can eat a reasonably healthy meal for under $5 with a cup of ice water. I like their Del Inferno sauce, and the tacos aren't that chintzy, with ground beef, lettuce, and cheese. Sometimes that's all that is needed to hit the spot." So maybe now it's "under $6". I probably should get something else from their menu, but the tacos are my comfort zone with Del Taco.

I also recently read that Jack in the Box bought them out in December of last year. And that they plan on expanding (once again - see original notes). For a long time, JitB seemed to be the magic touch that Qdoba needed. But I haven't been impressed lately with that chain either. Probably ought to try it again as well. So we'll see if they improve the quality of Del Taco or they just figure out a better way to cut costs, regardless of the outcome. We'll let you know next year...

---original 1/4/12 review (Hurst, Texas)

My history with Del Taco goes back many years to when I was still in high school in the early 1980s. For those of you who were in the DFW area back then, you may recall this fact as well. But like many chains, they grew too fast and eventually shuttered all across the state. It would be nearly a dozen years before I ate at a Del Taco again - on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles (1994)! In fact I was with Mr. Music (wonder if he remembers?)  Fast food tacos are a guilty pleasure for me, so I try to sneak a couple in everywhere I travel - and I would run into Del Taco's at various California locales over the years. Until they finally ended up in Denver around 2001 or so.

For such a large chain, it's truly remarkable how well managed their stores tend to be - at least the ones I've been too (I'm sure there are exceptions - no need to write in and tell me). It seems they learned their lesson back in the early 1980s, and now they are growing very slowly while not giving up on quality for profit's sake. And perhaps best of all - they're willing to push the envelope a little bit. You want a spicy salsa? OK, they'll give you one. We both love their tacos and after all these years they're still priced at a bargain (they're small - yes - but add a couple of more to the bag...). 

The following section we have not seen at the Colorado Springs stores. [section] The hot sauce is dispensed in metal containers similar to how the burger chains now offer up ketchup, mustard, etc... It's a great idea, and very sanitary. As well, Del Taco has just introduced two more traditional salsas - including a truly spicy variety. The latter reminding me quite a bit of Baja Fresh's most fiery option. [/section]. 

It is what it is: A fast food crunchy taco place. But in that category, Del Taco is one of the finest.

Despite what I said above, they ended up closing all of those Texas locations once again.

1982; 11/6/94; 4/30/02; 5/13/04; 1/10/07; 6/5/10; 1/4/12 (new entry); 10/26/14; 10/10/16; 11/20/20; 7/11/21; 1/4/22; 2/26/23; 2/16/24

Irving, Texas; Los Angeles, California; Sacramento, California; Aurora, Colorado; Phoenix, Arizona; Parker, Colorado; Hurst, Texas; Colorado Springs, Colorado (3)

Culver's ~ regional chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Feb 2024 (N. Academy) 

First visit: Feb 2010 (Flower Mound, TX)

HQ: Prairie du Sac, WI (NW of Madison)

Locations: So after fixing the issue last year, they've gone back to that most irritating practice of you can only see your current location to "assist with your order". Has it ever occurred to these folks that people may not want to order online? Well there's 5 in Colorado Springs (no change). Alright, according to ScrapeHero (new to me, I like this site!), they have 973 total (+86) with Wisconsin still in the lead at 149 (+4). They're in 26 states (same). OK, that website gives you the high level data for free, the rest you would have to pay for. According to Google Maps, Flower Mound remains the closest to NE Tarrant.

---2/4/24 update

53 weeks later and we're back at Wisconsin's finest burger chain. As I reflect on the updates below, I was wishing Culver's was in the Freddy's space on Interquest. We already have a Freddy's in Monument, and I'm up that way often. This way I could have Culver's for an occasional work lunch. 

On this visit, Mrs. RJG emphatically stated that this is now her favorite fast food burger! So there you have it. Also, for the first time in our nearly 27 years of marriage, she said "I wish I got a double." Whoa, that's a new perspective. I did have the double Butter Burger with cheese and added a mini concrete. I wanted chocolate with espresso. I received vanilla with espresso. Oh well. Mrs. RJG got the single Butter Burger with cheese, fries, and a mini concrete. Hers was a chocolate and vanilla swirl, which was better than mine. I had some of her fries and they were great. She also likes those the best of any fast food franchise. I say it every year, but I really should frequent Culver's more. And they've held the line on the pricing. My double burger here is half the price of Whataburger's. And I think I liked it better too, to be honest...

---1/28/23 update

And we're back again, almost exactly one year later. Haven't been here since our last review. No particular reason other than this Culver's is a bit far for a "quick lunch" while working at home. And then when I'm out and about, I usually want to try places that require a longer drive. So Culver's falls through the cracks. On this day, Mrs. RJG had her car in the shop across the street, so it was the perfect excuse to go. Neither of us exhibited any kind of imagination whatsoever, and had Butter Burgers, fries, and a concrete. And just as the two below reviews indicate, it was delicious. No signs of slippage here, like so many other places managed to do in 2022. I wish we had one closer, but it would be suicide for them given that we already have In-N-Out, Whataburger, and Freddy's with Shake Shack coming soon. I think Monument could use one though. 

Time for a chain update: Oh good, they now have details so you can actually research them. Their home base of Wisconsin (Sauk Prairie, near Madison if curious) has the most locations at 145 with Illinois nipping at their heels with 133. If I didn't screw it up, my fast math has them at 887 locations total. They're in 26 states within most areas of the country except the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and West Coast. They have 22 in Colorado (up 2 from last year) with one coming soon and the same 5 here in the Springs. Texas has 14 (up 1) with the same 4 in DFW. Flower Mound remains the closest to our former NE Tarrant territory.

--- 2/5/22 update

Tried the Wisconsin Cheese Melt this time, per my note below. Very good - toasty bread, hamburger patty, gooey cheese. Also had a concrete, of course I did. This location seems to be well run. Clean and bright.

--- original 3/2/21 review

Culver's is a chain that existed in the DFW area when we lived there, but never in NE Tarrant. In fact, as I write this, they only have 4 locations in the entire Metroplex. So there was only one time I made the venture to Flower Mound to try it. Definitely enjoyed the experience, but didn't get any notes down for the RJG. Now we have one much closer and we've been a few times.

In a nutshell, Culver's is very similar to RJG favorite Freddy's. Butter Burgers are the primary offering, referencing the brioche styled bun. Cooked well-done thin patties are on offer, perfect for stacking high. The fries are different, as Culvers go for the crinkle cut versus shoestring. Mrs. RJG prefers Culver's to Freddy's because of this distinction. When it comes to concretes, Culver's offers up 2 mix-ins verse 1 for Freddy's, and is just as delicious. Speaking of value, Culver's is the first restaurant I know of to actually discount the final price if you ask to remove something. For example, I ordered their signature Deluxe burger, but without the tomato. Off came 20 cents. Now that's a best practice! It doesn't appear Culver's tries to compete with In-N-Out, like Freddy's or Carl's Jr does (i.e. no California burgers). Looking at their menu, I really need to get the Wisconsin Swiss Melt next time. This particular location is super clean and spacious too. Good fast food choice here.

2/6/10; 12/16/18; 3/2/21 (new entry); 2/5/22; 1/28/23; 2/4/24

Flower Mound, Texas; Colorado Springs; Fountain, Colorado

Joe's Italian Grill ~ Texas chain : Huntsville

Well, look at this, Rude Dante is stepping into the old RJG and Mr. Music territory of southeast Texas. I had given him a little backdrop on the Italian restaurant scene in DFW before he ventured in. This looks to be a Houston branch of a familiar brand name in the DFW area. There are 10 locations that I could find via Google. Let's see what Rude Dante and Rude Sidekick concluded:

1607 11th St Huntsville, TX 77340

On paper, this looked like the perfect joint. It's in a strip mall shared with a payday lender, a vape shop, a cheap mobile provider and an appliance store that makes Aaron's look like a respectable, legit business. Lots of overweight clientele - AND IT ALMOST HAS RJG IN THE NAME - so what could go wrong?

We entered and sat - very cafeteria-esque - and I immediately gravitated to an old standby (chicken parm, with a side of eggplant parm). Rude Sidekick opts to ask for something lighter (pasta with just butter), which the manager comes to clarify into a Pasta Aglio e Olio - made with angel hair pasta. We both had salads, and true to form I went for the house dressing (red wine vinaigrette), while she opted for blue cheese.

It's a sad day when I get one-upped at an Italian joint by someone who claims to not even like the stuff, but her salad was better (my red wine vinaigrette kinda resembles BBQ sauce), her pasta was better (picture a gourmet scampi or picata - THAT good, while mine was just OK), only the bread was shared equally and both found it great. For my side, I got a beer - a locally made blonde (photo to follow), so that helped balance the ledger.

Biggest challenge on my plate - and this is make-or-break stuff - was the sauce. Not much spice or flavor, and what flavor there was is closer to catsup than marinara. The chicken was really good, hard to tell with pasta & eggplant, but the sauce over everything was just not up to snuff. I took leftovers; we'll see.

Meanwhile, a steady stream of pizza take-out business comes in and out the front door. Maybe if there is a next time, I'll try a pie or a calzone. Or perhaps I'll follow my Rude Sidekick and order the Pasta Aglio e Olio.

Regular Joe himself provided a succinct preview of the joint and assessed it as a potential front operation for a Balkan underground movement. He can add additional commentary as this has to pass muster before posting. (ED: lol. nope - all good. Looks like this isn't one of the better Balkan owned restaurants. Tony's in Watauga and Niki's in Keller would be two to recommend in this genre if you are ever back in the Fort Worth area. Hadn't tried that brewery either!).

- Rude Dante review