Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard ~ Colorado chain : Parker

Latest visit: Apr 2024 (Parker)

First visit: Apr 1995 (Denver - Havana @ Mississippi)

HQ: Golden (founded: 1968 in Boulder)

Locations: 29, almost all of them in the Denver metro area, with Fort Collins representing their northernmost location. They have been contracting slowly over the years. The first visit location I went to is still going strong it appears.

Time for my twice annual dentist appointment, which remains up in Parker (and probably always will). As is often the case, I was on a tight timeline and didn't have the opportunity for a more leisurely lunch. Mostly this was due to a last minute change in the planned schedule and going on a Tuesday is just asking for trouble during the workweek (especially given it's a 90 minute roundtrip drive). I usually never leave the house for anything on a Tuesday for this reason. No matter as it's been a full three years since I last went to a Good Times, a place I used to frequent at least once a week in the mid 1990s. For whatever reason I didn't notice that this Good Times actually has a dining area. In fact, I didn't think any of them did. When I arrived today, I wasn't interested in the drive-thru, and was looking forward to the walk-up option just like at Chiltepin that I just revisited. They have the patio furniture, but no window. Huh? Oh wait, this is like a regular fast food place. So I went inside to a Good Times for the first time ever - 29 years since my first visit.

For today's lunch, I grabbed a double cheeseburger (I was starving) and a Frozen Custard. Which they elaborate by calling them "Spoonbenders". I had the Caramel Toffee Crunch. I think I was just in the mood for both, but boy did they taste great! Of course I had a perfectly clean mouth to go with it haha. 

Nice clean restaurant with friendly service too. I'm not up this way too much, and there's so many other places to try. But if in a hurry, I know where to go...

---original 4/16/21 review

All these years, and I haven't penned a single word for Good Times. And I almost forgot again, until I was reviewing our Denver list. See, there's no Good Times in Colorado Springs, but they are all over the Denver area. And there was a period when Good Times was my go-to when I was starving, and wanted something fast to take home to my apartment (1995-1997). I was really quite fond of their spicy chicken sandwich back then. Later, there was one within walking distance of our former summer townhome (Hampton @ Yosemite 2009-2011), which reintroduced me to them again. As it turns out, their furthest southern location happens to be right across the street from the RJG's official dentist, a dentist office I've been going to since our days of living in the Pinery (~1998-2002). There was no Good Times in the area back then though. So this provides me a great opportunity to revisit a long time favorite. Good Times doesn't break new ground. They are your classic drive through shack with burgers and chicken sandwiches - and now frozen custard, which I tried for the first time. They're better than the megachains (McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's...), but aren't going to win awards otherwise. I'm perfectly fine grabbing one of their burgers, parking, and devouring. They've been reliable all these years, and while I rarely frequent them, they are worthy of at least a yearly visit. And I know exactly when that will be...

4//1995; 1996; 1997; 10//02; 2009; 6/7/10; 2011; 4/18/12; 11/17/13; 4/16/21 (new entry); 4/30/24

Illegal Pete's ~ regional chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2024 (downtown)

First visit: Aug 2022 (Greenwood Village)

HQ: Denver (founded: 1995)

Locations: 14 total with 12 in Colorado (+2). Mostly Denver/Boulder with one in Fort Collins and the one here. There are 2 in Arizona (Tucson / Tempe). There's another one coming to Boulder.

I've been waiting for our local Colorado Springs branch location to open, and that finally happened recently after over a year of delays. Sunday late morning is the perfect time to try, as we have free parking then. The renovated building is a very nice - and quite large - space. Walk in and take something of a hike to the primary ordering area. I'll state here that the help staff was very friendly. Seeing more and more of this which tells me that jobs are becoming scarcer and the better employees are snapping them up before they're all gone. We saw this from 2008 to 2012, and then things began to deteriorate, reaching its bottom in 2022 when they couldn't even find employees. Now if only the prices would start to become competitive. They will, or few will stay in business.

As for the food, well I wasn't much more impressed than below sadly. The "Chipotle with a full bar" reference has not changed. The flour tortilla is doughy and chewy. The eggs were a bit undercooked. The bacon and potato were fine, but it's kind of hard to screw those up. The green chile didn't penetrate my flavor zone at all. The only plus was the extra hot salsa they put on the side for me. Now that was good! I showed up just as they were dumping trays of beef and chicken (which looked great) - apparently not available on Sunday until 10:30 and that's when I arrived. Next time - if there will be a next time - I'll go for a burrito bowl. I'm not averse to coming here, but it won't be an RJG Rotation place either.

As for the bar, I did take a look at the taps. If you've never been to Colorado Springs, then there would be a couple of decent ones to try out, but otherwise it's fairly perfunctory. Given their location, Illegal Pete's would make a great place to load up on carbs and a few drinks for a night of partying. Or even late night eats. For me, they aren't exceptional to the bigger chains like Qdoba and Chipotle, so what's really the point of going here? You'll pay more. And, yes, they continue to ask for the unearned tip (save it for the bartender if going that route).  

---original 8/28/22 review

It was time for the Denver record show, and as is now my habit, I like to load up big on the carbs for a full day of crate digging. I was looking for a place with a good rep for a smothered breakfast burrito (really? You RJG?) and up popped Illegal Pete's. They have a location in the Tech Center not far off of I-25, so a good place to hop off the highway - and back on - since I was headed to downtown. Illegal Pete's has a familiar look. A large open space with one area to assemble the burritos and another full bar section. Pretty much like Torchy's. Imagine a Chipotle with a full bar. I was there for breakfast, so can't comment on the bar of course. I ordered what I came for. And the verdict? Not impressed. They have got to make these burritos much hotter temperature! These chains don't take pride in what they offer. Too many non invested employees. They do the needful: Fill the tortilla up with pre-cooked items - roll 'er up and serve. And they want a tip for that too! Green chile is something that must be served hot. It doesn't have to be spicy, but it most certainly cannot be lukewarm. And, as it turns out, the spice was pretty lame too. I'm making it sound like I didn't enjoy my meal. That's not true either. It was fine, and it accomplished what I came for - lots of food. And it was tasty enough. Bottom line is I don't think smothered burritos are their specialty. I suspect they offer better competition to the Qdoba type crowd. As such, I'm not writing off the chain. I will just get something else. Probably better for lunch or dinner. And we'll try their tap selection then as well. Let's hope for better results.

Oh BTW - more fun cancel culture: The name apparently unfairly targets minorities with negative stereotyping. I don't think one can find a more hipster place than Illegal Pete's. These guys are eating themselves at this point. Mrs. RJG - born and bred in Mexico (poor at that) - hasn't any clue what these stupid privileged white people are even talking about.

Currently they have 10 locations in Colorado (Denver/Boulder/Fort Collins), and 2 in Arizona (Tempe / Tucson). They were supposed to open one here in Colorado Springs (downtown) in June, but not sure what the current status is.

8/28/22 (new entry); 4/28/24

Chiltepin Mexican Grill ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2024

First visit: May 2023

Founded: 2023

I promised to come back if they added the patio furniture. And they did! So here I am again, this time enjoying my "stinky" (read: onions) meal outside for a pleasant spring lunch. Went with the same order as last time and it was as delicious as I remembered it. In fact I went back and grabbed another carne asada taco to ensure maximum happiness. The slightly crispy corn seasoned tortillas are the best I've had anywhere. On this visit they gave me a green sauce, in addition to the habanero, which is also excellent. Along with Zapata and Dr. Taco, these are the best tacos in town. I need to visit more. There isn't really that many quality food options in this part of the Springs, and I'm down here often.

---original 5/15/23 review

One of my favorite lunch destinations during the pandemic was the Del Taco at this very spot. I would go to the southern ARC thrift store, wash up, and head over here. It's a cool little structure that has a drive through and a walkup option. And they had a nice patio setup to eat outside, which was perfect for 2020. It seemed to be popular but I guess not as they shuttered the next year. I'd hoped that someone else would take over the building and not demolish it. It brings back memories of old Los Angeles to my eyes.

And the good news is that's exactly what happened! A fresh paint job and Chiltepin is ready for business. The patio furniture is gone, but they're promising to bring that back as well. Hooray. Because I really don't want to eat in the car if I can avoid it (especially this kind of food), and that's my only option right now. Hours later when Mrs. RJG got into the RJG mobile, she stated "it stinks in here - did you eat something?". Hmm-mmm.

So let's get to the matter at hand - how is the food anyway? Will this be like the usual grossgusting (Mrs. RJG trademarked word) taco shops that litter the Springs, or are we in for a Zapata / Dr. Taco like experience? Happy to say it's the latter! I ordered both a carne asada and a grilled chicken taco. They come "street" style with onions and cilantro. But that's the end of that comparison. These aren't dinky and generic. Out came two very large double layered yellow corn tacos piled high with tasty grilled meats. If you just eat them alone, you will be more than pleased. 

However when you name your restaurant Chiltepin, then I must try the salsa. Chiltepin is a popular fiery spice in Sonora where Mrs. RJG originally hails from. Her brother sends us a bucket every once in a while and we use it in homemade salsas or crushed to add to dishes like spaghetti and red sauce (10 times hotter than McCormick's for example). So... they asked me if I like it spicy. Do cats like chicken bones? So they gave me two - their signature thin red (spicy and delicious) and a thicker slightly creamy orange which I suspect to be habanero based. Very spicy and awesome.

Chiltepin is a much better option than what I could have hoped for. Go here if you're down south.

5/15/23 (new entry); 4/26/24

Dog Haus Biergarten ~ national chain :

11/30/24 update: Our local store has now closed. There are two still in the Denver area. Based on our last experience, we hadn't planned on going anyway.

Latest visit: Apr 2024 (North Gate - closed)

First visit: Jan 2022 (North Gate - closed)

HQ: Pasadena, CA (founded: 2010)

Locations: 64 (-13 from last year). There are 4 in Colorado (+1), with only this one here in the Springs. There are 4 in DFW (-1), and still nowhere near NE Tarrant.

Back again at the Dog Haus for the first time this year and only third time ever. Mrs. RJG's mom is back in town, and so there's family events to attend to. Which gives me a bit of freedom to eat at places she doesn't really enjoy much. Like here. It appears they've more or less eliminated bar service, and you have to order at the counter. Now that may be because it's a Sunday late morning, I don't know for sure. This time I wanted to try something different and had the Chili Idol (lol) which is a hot dog with chili and onions. A compliment to my visit to The Varsity apparently. Dog Haus' is larger and comes on an Hawaiian roll, which adds that touch of sweetness. Everything else was good, though not sure the flavor of the chili penetrated much. Had one pale ale from the Denver area, sat at the bar quietly, and moved on. Don't think the meal was enough sustenance, so I probably should have added fries or something similar. That's OK, I can snack at home. For what you get, too high priced (once again). Though the good news is there was a decent crowd, despite my reservations. All the same, I'm pulling Dog Haus out of the RJG rotation, but certainly wouldn't object to going again. Beer selection, while containing many different options, is fairly static. Prices high. Not filling enough. Nope, we can stop here.

---3/11/23 update

Finally back at Dog Haus, where the review below represents my only visit prior. This time I brought Mrs. RJG with me, but I probably should not have lol. A burger sounded good to her, but I should have made note that the King Hawaiian was not going to be well received. It didn't help that the bread got stuck to the plastic container they serve it in, leaving a bad first impression. For her, the bread was sweet and mushy, the worst possible combination. They also stated that all of their hamburgers are well done, and yet this one came out with pink. I fear I'm losing my opportunity take the Mrs. out again unless it's Thai food. None of which swayed my personal opinion. I went back to The Fonz (see below) and enjoyed every minute of it, though I could argue the bread should have been toasted more. But I'm not so picky that way. Found one beer from Goat Patch that I hadn't tried prior (see Bier Reise), and I'm a happy camper. I'll be back - by myself apparently. Sigh.

As of this writing, Dog Haus currently have 77 locations across the country with 13 on the way. There are 3 in Colorado (same as last year), with 2 in the Denver area and the one here. They had planned to open up one near downtown, but it doesn't appear that happened. They are, however, opening one up in Windsor. For my legacy DFW readers, they have 5 locations (up 2 from last year), some only co-locating. Nothing in NE Tarrant yet, which would be a perfect location for this chain.

---original 1/9/22 review

Dog Haus is a fast growing chain that first opened in Pasadena, California back in 2010. They have different types of restaurants, going from fast food stands, to locations inside of event centers, to full blown craft taverns. Fortunately our local location is of the latter. Walk in and you can order at the counter (to-go or to grab a table) or have a seat at the bar, and be served. They have 30 beers on tap, with a healthy craft selection. Though nothing too unique, and there was nothing new for me to try. That says more about my obsessive habit than it does about the selection. So I settled on a dark lager from Call To Arms in Denver. As for the food, it's a mix of breakfast and sandwiches, with sausages, hot dogs, and burgers leading the way. They stress they are all-beef. I went with The Fonz which is a spicy Italian sausage, pastrami, and mozzarella sandwich on a King Hawaiian roll. I got just what I asked for, and the bread was perfectly toasted. Really enjoyed the spicy sausage as well, which comes from Creekstone Farms based in Kansas. 

So we're on a roll (so to speak) with two straight new-to-us winners!

1/9/22 (new entry); 3/11/23; 4/21/24

Oliver's Deli ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2024 (Rockrimmon)

First visit: May 2023 (Red Leg Brewing campus)

Founded: 1983

As noted below, my next visit to Oliver's was to be at their main location off of Rockrimmon. And nearly a year later, here I am. You walk in and order at the counter. They do ask for the unearned tip which is unfortunate, and the only demerit I can give them. I went for their Conquering Hero which is salami, ham, bologna, Swiss cheese, lettuce, and tomato on French bread with Italian dressing. I left off the tomato and added Dijon mustard. Comes with a yummy pickle spear. I added chips and a drink (they also use the local Colorado soda company which is a plus). Once the sandwich arrived, I knew I was in business. This was what I was looking for in Atlanta! A mountain of meat stuffed inside delicious French bread. I think the dressing was drowned out by the mustard, which was unfortunate. It wasn't sloppy enough for me to call it a Hero, but it was delicious all the same. And super filling. They have plenty of other sandwiches that I want to try. I'll be back. Probably in a year's time, but maybe before who knows.

---original 5/15/23 review

As noted in the Red Leg entry, I tried the deli option which is Oliver's. Their primary location is off of Rockrimmon near the original Zapata Taco Shop, but we haven't been. I'll need to make an effort to do just that, since this location only offers a limited menu with four sandwich options (plus breakfast). But one of those choices is their Oliver signature sandwich which contains hot corned beef on marbled rye topped with coleslaw, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing. I passed on the slaw and added a complimentary pickle slice. Piled high, it was a perfectly executed sandwich. Tasty and filling. I certainly want to try some of their other sandwich options at their flagship store. Adding to the RJG rotation...

5/15/23 (new entry); 4/20/24

Piano Bar ~ Atlanta, Georgia

First visit: Apr 2024

When I landed in Atlanta, I noticed a fair amount of places that looked good for beer and possibly a light dinner. What I clearly didn't pay attention to is what concourse I was in. Flying out it was concourse E, and I miscalculated that there would be a few places to hang out. I arrived about 3.5 hours before my flight and realized my options were going to be very limited. This isn't Baltimore - more like Vegas.

Turns out Piano Bar was my oasis in a sea of nothingness. It sits right in the center of the concourse, in the food court, and is a round structure with bar stools. Most of them occupied. Where else are you going to get a drink? Certainly not at the fast food places. There is a Blue Moon Cafe in this concourse, if you want to only drink Budweiser options. No thanks. Piano Bar has a few decent taps, so it was my port in the storm. As for food - well I tried one of their flatbreads. I have no idea where the food came from, since they clearly don't have a kitchen here. But honestly it tasted like one of those reheated packaged pizzas you'd get at 7-Eleven - except instead of $1.99, it was $17. On one of the "slices", all the toppings came off in one bite leaving plain chewy dough underneath. Yuck.

So - decent for drinks - but you'd be better off grabbing some fast food and bringing it here while enjoying a beer or cocktail. Need to get better at researching the concourses first before committing.

As for the name - there's almost no internet presence. The menu says Piano Bar, and the bartenders were wearing Piano Bar knit shirts. Untapp'd called it Luxury Bar, and Google identifies it as The Bar. Does it matter? Probably not.

Time to fly home - I'm tired.

4/18/24 (new entry)

The Varsity ~ Atlanta, Georgia

Latest visit: Apr 2024 (Georgia Tech area)

First visit: Feb 2006 (Lindbergh / Piedmont - closed)

Locations: 8 in the Atlanta area (including two in the airport), with one being built.

What luck! I wasn't sure if I'd ever get back to The Varsity. I had one opportunity to try it prior when working for software-company-everyone-has-heard-of (and is now our arch enemy). There's not one anywhere near where our office is, and since I'm sans wheels, I have no way to get there without considerable time, money, and effort. 

So as we closed down our training sessions, some folks began to head to the airport. Since we only have one flight back to the Springs, I needed to wait until 7 at night. No big deal, I'll continue to work at the office and walk somewhere for lunch. I'm beginning to realize that some of my peers are like-minded in the RJG methodology, including one of our leaders. The local gentleman (who suggested Little Alley) offered to drive us to The Varsity. It was suggested by another peer, not I. Yes! I want to be with these guys! So there were five of us as we made the pilgrimage to the original location near Georgia Tech (hence the name).

When I started the RJG, The Varsity (first opened in 1928) is exactly the kind of place I had in mind to talk about and recommend. As the years have drifted by, places like this have gone the way of the dodo. But The Varsity continues to thrive. The first location I went to remains a mystery to my memory but it most assuredly wasn't this (OK some research is revealing it was the Lindbergh drive location known as Varsity Jr. (had an historical note about that too) which is now closed). This place is humongous! Multiple rooms - a very large ordering counter service. They direct you to a line similar to how major airports direct patrons in customs. Everything here takes you back to the 1950's and 60's.

Their famous greeting is "What'll Ya Have?". Seems many of these workers have been here for decades judging by their look. I went with the iconic #1 which is two chili hot dogs (added cheese), fries, and a Frosted Orange (known humorously as FO). Junk food at its absolute finest! What a excellent mix of flavors. As commented by my peers, the frosted orange is like a liquid Push-Up for those who enjoy those. You'll need a spoon at first before using the straw.

What a great way to close off an excellent team gathering.

2/5/06; 4/18/24 (new entry)

Little Alley Steak ~ Atlanta, Georgia

First visit: Apr 2024 (Buckhead)

They have a second location in nearby Roswell.

As noted on North Italia, I was grateful for the light lunch because I knew this was coming for dinner. We concluded our first day and freshened up a bit. We all decided a good walk was in order, and we journeyed the 3/4ths of a mile to Little Alley Steak. This was a recommendation from one of our peers who happens to live in Atlanta. Him and his wife like to celebrate their anniversaries here.

One of the best things about being with a company with deep pockets, especially in the sales organization, is money is no object. All expenses paid - within a certain amount of reason of course. Most of my career has been in delivery, where we were encouraged heavily to pinch pennies. Little Alley is a high end steakhouse. I think it took our waiter 10 minutes to get through the specials, and he spoke fast! There's 11 of us, so it's going to be quite the bill at the end. I think our leadership wisely stuck to cocktails and glasses of wine, rather then loading up on bottles which would have added a healthy percentage.

I can only really comment on what I had, which was the bone-in filet mignon (it was one of the specials - at $99?!?!) and I lightly partook in the mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. For a starter I tried the lobster bisque rather than the usual salad. The bisque was a bit weird honestly. It almost tasted like a meatless chili such were the spices that were so dark and red. They didn't add one speck of lobster. For $15 they would have. Jeez. The steak was thick and pretty large for a filet mignon. This was no petite. Since I'm at a high end steakhouse, I think medium rare is appropriate. It started that way but became increasing rare as I cut into it. About a third of the way in, I would say it was almost raw. And chewy. That's not going to work. I sent it back to cook medium for the rest. For 100 bucks they should nail it every time no questions asked. They didn't, so boo. But it did come back super hot and perfectly cooked, so a decent save. I liked the flavor, but wasn't floored by it. Anywhere else I would have been happy, but places like this get held to a higher standard. The mashed potatoes were creamy and good. The mac and cheese was also excellent, but I didn't need that much starch so I only had a little of both. I enjoyed my meal with two glasses of Bound and Determined Cabernet Sauvignon. A very deep red - I quite liked it and is perfect for a red meat meal. Service was very good, though not impeccable.

Overall conclusion: Super grateful to be able to go here. It's a perk of the job and I don't take it for granted. When reviewing places like this, I consider the experience based on if I did pay for it. I would have been disappointed though not distraught. It didn't make the first division for high end steakhouses.

4/17/24 (new entry)

North Italia ~ national chain : Atlanta, Georgia

First tried: Apr 2024 (Buckhead)

Locations: A few in many states. They're owned by Cheesecake Factory who also owns Flower Child, another restaurant we tried via delivery. North Italia's first location is, interesting considering below, from the Phoenix area.

So now it's time to earn our paychecks and get down to why we're here. After the morning session, the decision was to bring in lunch. The original plan was Moe's Southwest Grill, but something went awry. So we pivoted to North Italia. I wasn't aware this was a chain until one of our coworkers stated he can get this in Phoenix. Ohhh... In researching now, there's one up in Denver. We ordered three pizzas and four salads. The pizzas were smaller than anticipated, so it was more like an appetizer lunch. Which was fine by me considering our company provides plenty of snacks and I knew a big dinner was coming.

Places like this are difficult to judge properly with DoorDash. That's why I say "tried" versus "visit". I lower my standards and I'm really just trying to discern if this is a worthy place to go back. I would say yes. The pizzas are of the European variety. They need to be super hot to appreciate. By the time we get to it, it's lukewarm temperature and the crust is too soft. But I could tell it was of a higher quality. However, the Caesar salad held up well despite the delay. I'm up for giving them a proper evaluation. And as noted above, they're in Denver, so the possibility of doing so goes upward.

4/17/24 (new entry)

Atlanta

Industry Tavern ~ Atlanta, Georgia

Latest visit: Apr 2024

First visit: Mar 2023

As noted, I'm back in Atlanta. I meekly suggested Industry Tavern as a casual first get together. My boss took me up on it. Everything worked out splendidly. We started with appetizers - a crab dip with bread, and loaded nachos that included drizzled sour cream and jalapenos. All good, though I lightly sampled them as I knew what was for dinner. I went for the chicken parm again, though it was different than what you see below. Instead of spaghetti it was linguini, and only one slice of cheese this time, though it was melted more thoroughly. Otherwise, it was as great as I remember. The beer list is a bit static, as I would have expected more of a brewery rotation. Still managed to find three new beers, all from breweries I've tried. Only one from Georgia though. All the same, Industry Tavern will remain a regular stop if I'm in this part of Atlanta again.

---original 3/12/23 review

Onto the next business trip, which was in Greenville, South Carolina. I decided to take off the Sunday and Monday before and go record shopping. Flights to Atlanta are convenient, and the drive to Greenville will be a nice quiet diversion (and it was). Because I had a packed schedule of stores to visit, I planned to go right from the airport to the rental car and off to the shops. No time to eat out since I got there ~noon, so Mrs. RJG made me a couple of sandwiches to eat on the flights (like most from COS, it requires one stop, in this case Dallas Love Field).

After a full day of crate digging, it was time for dinner. Before leaving here, I put together a full itinerary based on research. I purposely picked a hotel (Hampton Inn) nearby to Industry Tavern, as these are the kind of places I like to seek out. Many different local beers and a nice looking menu. As with State 48 Brewery in Gilbert, Arizona, I was intrigued that they offered Chicken Parm. So there it is: 4 local beers (all registered in the Bier Reise) and the aforementioned Italian entree for dinner. So I walked across the street, found the restaurant (it's in an outdoor business mall setting), grabbed a bar stool, and began ordering beers and my dinner choice. And look what came out.

Yea, and it was as good as it appears. And al dente pasta, hooray. It's interesting to me that I can get better Italian food at places like this than at Italian restaurants! The restaurant possesses a nice welcoming setting. Pretty good crowd for a Sunday night, but also plenty of places to sit and enjoy. After doing some research it appears most of the beers I tried came from regional breweries based in Georgia. What that tells me is these beers are probably available everywhere in town, so it's not the type of place I'd go often looking for more local microbrew offerings. But since this is the first time I've been in Atlanta since 2008 (except one drive through in 2016), almost every beer from here is new to me!

3/12/23 (new entry); 4/16/24

Jack's New Yorker Deli ~ Atlanta, Georgia

First visit: Apr 2024 (Buckhead)

They have a second location in Smyrna. 

OK, the RJG is back in Atlanta. Last year it was a personal stop on the way to a work visit in South Carolina. This time it's the final destination as I'm here for two days of training. To keep things easier, I'm not going to cram in a half day of record shopping. There's one direct flight from the Springs, and that's on Delta at first light. Ya know, they didn't even give us a snack or a beverage. What the heck is that? There was no reason that I could tell, and they didn't explain why. So by the time I got checked into the hotel after 12, I was starving (got up at 3:30!). I have no idea what's in store for dinner tonight, and more on that as the situation develops. I'm in Buckhead and there's plenty of options within walking distance. Jack's New Yorker popped up, and that's exactly what I want - a big ol' sandwich. 

Except I didn't get a big ol' sandwich. I got a little ol' sandwich. Visions of East Coast back at home or New York Deli Southside in Santa Fe were quickly dashed. Here they give you a pressed pastrami sandwich on toasted rye and spicy mustard (Peachtree Pastrami they call it). It certainly was delicious but I needed more sustenance. Chips are complimentary so I grabbed a bag of Zapp's BBQ. I was expecting homemade. I guess I should have gotten the fries. There was an option to double the meat, and now I understand why. Kind of pricey for what I got. 

Jack's is in a nice office building setting, and you can sit outside or in. Order at the counter. They ask for an unearned tip.

They have a lot of nice looking items on the menu. I'd be up for trying it again. Lunch was delicious, just needed more of it.

4/16/24 (new entry)

Casa Sanchez ~ Colorado chain : Buena Vista

First visit: Apr 2024 (Buena Vista)

Locations: This restaurant is known as Casa Sanchez 3. Casa Sanchez 2 is in Leadville. There are two other Casa Sanchez's in Colorado: one in Frisco, the other Fairplay. They sport the same logo but have different websites. We'll presume different ownership but a common beginning.

For the next morning we decided to walk the Sands Lake SWA trails in Salida. Stunning scenery of the snow capped mountains with the sounds of running water beneath. After that, it was time to head on home. Rather than going back from whence we came, we decided on taking a circle route through Buena Vista, and that will be our lunch destination.

Mrs. RJG surprised me again by suggesting Mexican. This was the staple of the RJG lunch diet for many years. Well it still is - considering Mrs. RJG is, in fact, Mexican. But going out for Mexican is a different story and we rarely do that anymore. Based on reviews and the fact that we would be arriving a bit early at 10:30, Casa Sanchez looked like a good choice. It's a nice spacious location with a few rooms decorated in the rustic style.

Been ages since we craved chips and salsa, but we were there this Sunday morning. Chips were fine, crispy and flavorful. They brought out two salsas - a medium red chipotle sauce and a mild green avocado. I thought the former could use more taste, and surprisingly I enjoyed the latter more. I'm not usually fond of the style. I asked for a hotter one, and the waiter said he would check... and never got back to us. Guessing no, or he may have forgotten altogether. For lunch I ordered the chipotle enchiladas with rice and beans. Not what I expected. I'm looking for a dark sauce with a smoky flavor but instead I got a very creamy (sour cream I'm guessing) slightly spicy dish. It was almost like a Suiza sauce, it was so white. It was OK, but not really my kind of enchilada. The rice was fine but needed to be hotter temperature. The beans were very saucy - too much so and had little flavor. 

Conversely Mrs. RJG had the carne asada plate. I tried some of the steak - thin cut flank that was very salty but delicious. She enjoyed the rest as well. Her rice was hotter indicating my dish may have been sitting around a few minutes while hers was cooking. Came with a grilled jalapeno that she really liked. She made some homemade taquitos with the corn tortillas as well. We both only had water to drink.

Overall verdict is we probably won't return. But if someone insisted we try it again, we'll give it a go. Seemed like nice folks running the restaurant.

And this closed out the trip after stopping by one shop in Buena Vista. It was a beautiful blue sky day so the views were stunning all the way home.

4/14/24 (new entry)

Tres Litros ~ Salida, Colorado

First visit: Apr 2024

As noted on the Currents review, we walked the river and sat on one of the benches and took in the gorgeous and cool evening. Now if Mrs. RJG had it her way, we would get ice cream and go back to the hotel. No way I'm wasting my one day here on ice cream. We're going to a brewery! It doesn't take much to convince her, as she loves them too, just have to be insistent about it. 

And did this venue ever work out to our advantage. What a wonderful evening. First of all, the place was quite crowded, much more than you usually see in these days of hyperinflation. Best of all is there was a live band. They're called Ol' Scratch and they came from down south in Alamosa. They're just damn good. Wonderful mix of rock, funk, soul, and especially blues. Excellent guitar, electric piano, and sax. Oh wow, that second photo must have been taken just minutes after we left - we almost were spotted! I recognize pretty much everyone in it. In any case, the mix of folks there was as eclectic as any you can imagine. Real sense of community too. Mrs. RJG had a blast.

The beers were excellent as well, and I have them cataloged in the Bier Reise.

4/13/24 (new entry)

Currents Steak & Seafood ~ Salida, Colorado

First visit: Apr 2024

After piddling around Canon City, we took the beautiful drive on US-50 west along the Arkansas River. We've done this trip many times over the 27 years we've been married, and it never gets old. The river rafting companies are getting ready for the whitewater season coming up in another month or so.

As is our protocol, we prefer to stay at a unique hotel versus the chains (though in retirement I plan on using every single point I earned!). Based on the reviews, we chose Browns Canyon Inn. On first glance it looks like your typical indoor motel from the 80s and 90s. But it's been fully renovated with wonderful rustic decor and lots of displays of taxidermy. Super clean rooms and everything works. And the price is right. 

We spent the afternoon looking in shops and taking in the great weather. After dinner, we would walk the river and enjoy the evening (more on that in the next post...). OK then, it's time for dinner. Mrs. RJG says she wants a steak. Well ALL-right! I'm in. After some research, Currents seemed to be a good choice. Quincys was also on offer, but we already ate there this year in Florence, and I wanted to try something new.

We got there early around 5, and it was largely empty. It's a cavernous place, so when it does get jammed in the summer, you're still likely to find a seat inside or out. We started with a bottle of Gravel Bar Cabernet Sauvignon (from Washington), which has a bit of a sharp flavor. We liked it. We passed on appetizers and went straight for dinner. We each ordered the 8 ounce ribeye, hers well-done and mine medium well. Fortunately hers was cooked perfectly and she was very happy with the flavor and the tenderness. Mine came out more like medium, which I actually prefer, but I've been noticing my mediums have been too rare of late, so this might be a winning strategy for less-than-high-end steakhouses. I thought it was excellent. We also got loaded baked potatoes - essentially with bacon and cheese. They were also great. The steak is served on a bed of green beans, which I still think are gross, so I substituted for a cup of green chile. Great move as I really liked the spicy recipe (apparently award winning). It could have stood to be a bit hotter temperature though. Mrs. RJG loved the beans, so there you have it.

Background music was a little annoying. We don't want to hear modern rock and rap over our steak dinner. Jazz, classical, lounge, electronica - something more suitable and appropriate for the setting. Our service was on the "odd" side but overall it was still accurate and reasonably friendly.

Definitely worth going back, and we probably will at some point, but likely we'll try something else next time.

4/13/24 (new entry)

Bunk House Burgers ~ Canon City, Colorado

First visit: Apr 2024

As the weekend approached, it looked like it was going to be unusually warm and beautiful, so Mrs. RJG and I decided an impromptu getaway was in order. Last year we did three overnight trips into the interior of Colorado, all during the summer: Del Norte, Leadville, and Durango with stops along the way. One of those stops was Salida, and since we've never spent a night there, we thought that would make a good destination point.

On the way there is Canon City, and it's time for lunch. Mr. Ed's is no more, so let's look for a new spot. Bunk House Burgers popped up and it looks perfect with strong ratings. Let's give them a try. We were the first customers of the day. Nice rustic look with plenty of benches outside, solo countertops, along with the usual interior tables. They can seat a lot of folks in this small space.

It's a fast food joint, you walk in, and order at the counter. A very friendly young man assisted us. I tried the Bronco Burger which includes an excellent spicy adobe sauce, green chiles, great tasting meat, and brioche bun. Mrs. RJG decided to build her own cheeseburger with roasted green chiles. She got fries, and really enjoyed them. Full cut potato strips. I got what they call Spud Shavings, which are chips by any other name (homemade). Fountain drinks are different as they are provided by Real Sugar Soda Colorado. We had their diet cola, which isn't one of their core offerings, but it was still good.

Overall an excellent lunch option. Next time I want to try one of their shakes too. We'll likely be back next year, as Canon City is a convenient stopover.

4/13/24 (new entry)

Dave's Hot Chicken ~ national chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2024 (Interquest)

First visit: Oct 2023 (Interquest)

HQ: Pasadena, CA (founded: 2017)

Locations: Over 180 stores (+73) in 32 states. There are 5 in Colorado (+1) with just this one in the Springs so far. Plenty in Texas, with a location in Hurst covering our former NE Tarrant territory (new since last update). They plan on growing fast all over the country, Canada, and other international. 

Back again for only the second time. For this visit I tried the drive thru option and took the meal home for lunch. I settled on #1, which is two tenders, fries, pickles, and bread. I also tossed in a chocolate shake against my better judgment (happier all the same). I got it Hot, which is in the middle of their range. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's almost too hot - at least considering how big these tenders are. I'm going Medium next time! What's going on here? The restaurants have finally caught up with the RJG's palate. It's really amazing how filling a two piece chicken tender meal is. The tenders are very large, and after stuffing up on the fries and bread, you get full fast. Everything was delicious. The chicken was perfectly cooked and still hot temperature by the time I got to them some 10 minutes after receiving. The only small complaint I have is that the dipping sauce is too small to absorb all the fries. I might want to get an extra next time. Also I have to say the chocolate shake was a little on the bland side. But I liked the creamy smooth texture. I'll go for vanilla next time (I had a similar experience at In-N-Out, could just be my tastebuds, who knows). And here's a first for the RJG - I was very happy with the service - at the drive thru! A very kind young lady was great at bantering while accurately taking my order. Hooray, have we turned the corner on that front at least? Oh, and they don't ask for the unearned tip either - cheers! Dave's is my kind of place. See you soon - hopefully before the next annual review.

---original 10/10/23 review

The best part about where we live in northern Colorado Springs is that we get first dibs on all the trendy chains. In-N-Out, Whataburger, Shake Shack, Fuzzy's, Mission BBQ, Torchy's, Bonchon, Parry's, and the list goes on and on. We don't have a grocery store anywhere near here, but we have restaurants galore. lol. Might as well be living in downtown. It's bizarre, but kind of cool in a way. And if we're sans car, we can walk to them as well via a convenient wooden bridge.

You can add Dave's Hot Chicken to that list. They are the latest big deal in the fried chicken biz. Like with Birdcall, they specialize in spicy "Nashville" chicken. They offer a wonderfully simple menu. Essentially you have four options and that's about it. The restaurant is newly opened and I think we went just a bit early as it was very crowded on a Sunday morning. There were no tables available inside, but we did grab an outside table which I usually prefer. But it was just a bit too windy and cold for that, so we decided to take our meals home, less than 5 minutes away. My voice text notes say: I ordered the #3 - which is a slider and a tender. The sandwich I ordered hot, the tender x-hot. No kale slaw for me. Comes with fries and dipping sauce (but not a drink). Excellent throughout. Great flavor. Hot is hot enough. The X-hot isn't kidding around, and not sure it needs to go to that level for chicken (Thai food then heck yes!). And they have one more spice level - Reaper. Just like what we had at Taco Tico. But in this case, I'm sure it's even spicier. Not necessary for us though. Mrs. RJG got the #4, which is only one slider and fries. With the kale slaw, that she said was great (I'll take her word for it lol). She ordered hers medium, and stated that was spicy enough, and she's a spice head too! "Good crunchy delicious" she stated. Very filling for both of us.

Given their proximity to our home, and the delicious food, this is a place I'll likely go to a few times in the year. To-go is a good option, so I can do that while working from home on a weekday lunch. We like Dave's Hot Chicken! Funny logo too.

And I'm finally caught up - whew!

10/8/23 (new entry); 4/12/24

Colorado Springs

In-N-Out Burger ~ regional chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2024 (Interquest)

First visit: Nov 1997 (Pleasanton, CA)

HQ: Irvine, CA (founded: 1948 in Baldwin Park)

Locations: There are now 9 in Colorado (+2) with 2 here, 6 in Denver (+1) and 1 in Fort Collins (new). Texas has 42 (+1) with 3 in NE Tarrant, including our two former stores of Hurst and Grapevine. Otherwise California has 275 (+6 though it features their first closure ever in Oakland due to crime); Arizona  - 35 (+1); Nevada - 23 (+1); Utah - 12; Oregon - 4; Idaho - 1 (new, opened in Dec 2023 in Meridian). New Mexico and Tennessee are on their radar.

As I noted last year: "The only fast food place where you have to schedule it on your calendar or you'll miss the opportunity". And, as such, I planned to be there at open on this fine eclipse filled Monday. And that's exactly what I did. I decided to go old school and eat inside. Grabbed a stool along the edge and devoured my Double-Double with cheese and onions (no tomato), fries, and a chocolate shake. All is good as I remember, and probably always will be. I don't usually get fries, but I was hungry and they were hot and tasty. Still the cheapest grub in town, and the lines have gone back to being longer because of it. I hear they're building a 3rd Co Springs location, which should help some. Since In-N-Out are 50% the price of the competition, it's easy to understand why. BTW, I'm sure they wish they weren't based in California anymore. They're so invested in that state, they have no choice but to accept their anti-Capitalist government rules. I can imagine their lobbyist bill is quite expensive... I think they need to break up the state myself. Let the loonies in the Bay Area and Hollywood run free, and the rest can get on with their daily humdrum, but happy, lives.

---3/31/23 update

This wasn't the original plan. I was going to get an early annual review in for Slim Chickens. As I was driving there, I noticed In-N-Out had no line. I mean *zero*. That would be the first time in history I've seen that (anywhere! California, Texas, etc...). I quickly looked at my phone to see if their hours had changed (it was about 10:45) or something else had happened. Nope. By the time I actually got to the drive-thru, two vehicles were ahead of me. That's got to be a record of some sort (only 2 vehicles!). On a Friday no less! I actually had planned the following Monday to go here. The only fast food place where you have to schedule it on your calendar or you'll miss the opportunity. In any case, went with my usual Double Double and a vanilla shake. Drove home (again, it's very close to where we live), watched a TV show and enjoyed each bite. I tried to eat it slow but that's hard to do. Anyway - all is well and good at our local Colorado Springs outlet.

Now for some chain news: There are 2 locations here and 5 in the Denver area. I think I read they plan on opening another one here in the Springs. In our old stomping grounds, there are 2 in NE Tarrant, and 8 in the Fort Worth area overall.  Other states they operate in are California (269 - with a whopping 146 in the Los Angeles area - how's that even possible?); Texas (41); Arizona (34 with our Prescott location still there); Nevada (22); Utah (12); and Oregon (4). Overall they have 389 stores (+31 from last year). I had to type the state name in their Location Finder to get these totals if curious.

---2/13/22 update

And now - FINALLY - I was able to step into our local In-N-Out restaurant. They opened in November of 2020. I predicted the lines would subside by February, 2021. I was a year late in my prediction. This place was a madhouse for well over a year. It wasn't until they opened up the second location off of Powers that the lines finally dwindled. So on an innocuous Monday late morning, I ventured in. Ironic in that Monday's was my go-to day when I had a steady gig in Pleasanton in 1998 (see below). Ordered my usual of a double-double, fries, and a chocolate shake (instead of vanilla this time). As good as I remembered it. Which is also to state that this is not a burger to change your world. It's very good, and I won't say different, but it just isn't worth the freakage that goes with opening in a new area. Now that the novelty has worn off, I'll be able to go on a normal cadence. Even better is it's a stone's throw from where we reside, so I'll take advantage of the drive-thru going forward. As for the dining area, it is exactly like every other In-N-Out I've been to. Spacious and clean. Very white. I like the barstools around the perimeter. Perfect for solo dining.

As noted below, the chain is very guarded about expansion, and refuse to franchise. As such, they've created a cult following. Colorado is their newest state. Humorous that I mentioned In-N-Out crowding in on Texas' very own Whataburger. And guess who is coming very soon to Colorado?

---2/19/18 update (Grapevine, Texas)

As we stated in previous reviews, the beauty of In-N-Out is their limited menu. So burgers, fries, shakes, and sodas. That's about it. All at a very affordable price. Fresh ingredients define their hamburgers, the meat, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and buns always seem if they were bought right off the farm and served up steaming hot. Their patented dressing is a Thousand Island basically. The Double-Double is their signature burger. It's a double meat (thin patties so not overly filling), double cheese, and still the best value in town. Oh, and their fries are delicious as well. There's a reason In-N-out is extremely popular. High food quality + Low prices = Success. For liquids they have great tasting shakes, even if they are machine made. Naturally, fountain sodas and water available too.

The familiar red and yellow signage can be seen on the NE corner of 121/183 and Precinct Line Road. And if you go through the drive through, it's like being in a car wash, as you can see the workers cooking and assembling everyone's meal (not to mention the refreshing shade in the summer). In-N-Out has a reputation for paying their workers more and better benefits, and as such, they tend to get more squeaky clean employees than the usual fast food franchise.

---1/15/13 update (Hurst, Texas)

So after much hoopla, In-N-Out has finally arrived to NE Tarrant. I waited. I didn't cheat and go to one in Irving or Richardson. We've been featuring the restaurant long before Texas was even a gleam in their eye. We laughed at the false announcement on NBC 5 a few years ago. And on our Whataburger review, we predicted that folks from Texas were going to protect their goofy little brother and attack this "unwanted" California chain. They can take their fancy fruits' and nuts' asses outta here! And bring Del Taco with ya, you ingrates! And as sure as the sun comes up every morning, it came to pass. My goodness, how silly.  As if eating at different burger places is mutually exclusive and one cannot possibly enjoy all of the above. In-N-Out Burger knows exactly what they're doing. These folks can scream to high heavens and suggest they're not going to make it here and be out of business in mere weeks. No way guys. As someone who watched them succeed in none other than the Bay Area (a polar opposite culture to Los Angeles), I'm rather certain they'll do fine in a burger culture like DFW. In-N-Out is a Southern California type place, so for me to see lines around the building for years and years at various San Francisco area locations proves to me that folks like a good tasting burger at a great price. It's a simple pleasure. It doesn't have to be the best ever to be good. Why does everything in our culture now have to rule or suck? Where's the middle ground? We've become Bevis and Butthead in our opinions. Me? I'm just grateful they're here and I can go anytime I want. It sure beats having to wait until I travel out West!

---original 5/27/08 review (Prescott, Arizona)

In both the Editorial Chains thread and the Johnny B's blurb, I mentioned In-N-Out Burger (INOB) as a favorite place to go when traveling to the left coast.

For the Memorial Day weekend, Mrs. RJG and I visited some of her relatives in Arizona. Given that it was a family visit, the majority of our meals were centered around family cookouts, and we were treated royally at that! But we did get away for one afternoon, and settled on INOB for our lunch. Naturally it's always fun to try other places while traveling, but it wasn't in the cards for this trip. This particular visit was to their Prescott store. We also visited one in Anaheim, California about two months ago.

There's not much to add from what I've already stated in the Editorial Chains section. But I'll copy here for convenience: Regional chains are cool. They typically represent an area's culture via a unique food type, or a destination defining place. An example of the latter, and perhaps the best example of a large regional chain, is In-N-Out Burger (INOB). 

When Mr. RJG goes to California, Arizona, or Nevada on business, he makes a sincere attempt to eat at INOB at least once per visit. They are what I wish Wendy's, McDonalds, and Burger King would have become. Mr. RJG once worked for a company based in Pleasanton, California. Like many Bay Area suburbs, INOB was well entrenched there for many years. Yet, no matter what time I had arrived, there was a line around the building! This is an area defined by chef-driven, high-end restaurants. Where mom and pops struggle to survive, and most homes clear the million dollar mark. And yet INOB has a huge line - always. Taco Bell and Arby's do not, I assure you. Why? Because it's damn good. Only the freshest ingredients are served. The menu is perfect: You can get variations on a hamburger, soft drinks and milkshakes. That's it! The kids that work there at INOB are a blast through a time tunnel some 40 years ago. Always smiling, and fresh faced. Everybody who works there wants to work there - and there's competition for those jobs. Why? Because they pay more and will also contribute to their college education. Think you could pull that off at a public company? I don't think so! I once asked my brother-in-law, who is in the restaurant industry, why he didn't franchise a location in Denver? When they opened the first Krispy Kreme in Denver, they had to get the police out to direct traffic for nearly a month. A Krispy Kreme for crying out loud! Can you imagine an In-N-Out Burger? He'd be rich in a week. His answer came within 2 seconds of my question "They don't franchise". And he added that everyone wants to open an INOB, for all the reasons I just stated. It appears they are perfectly content to grow at a snail's pace, while providing an outstanding fast food experience. They are my heroes.

I had my usual Double-Double and a shake. Mrs. RJG had a cheeseburger and fries - and a shake (she's still mad at me for the idea!)

11/10/97; 7/14/98; 1/26/99; 2/23/00; 1/29/01; 3/13/02; 4/27/05; 5/27/08 (new entry); 4/5/10; 6/6/12; 1/15/13; 6/19/15; 2/19/18; 2/13/22; 3/31/23; 4/8/24

Pleasanton, California; Las Vegas, Nevada;  Atascadero, California; Irvine, California; Thousand Oaks, California; Los Angeles, California; Rohnert Park, California; Prescott, Arizona, Hurst, Texas; Grapevine, Texas; Colorado Springs, Colorado

Daddy's Chicken Shack ~ national chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

First visit: Apr 2024 (Voyager)

HQ: Castle Rock, CO (founded in 2018 in Pasadena, CA)

Locations: 6 with many more planned throughout the country. Our NE Tarrant location would have been Colleyville. They're also in Littleton here in Colorado.

Chicken is hot - in more ways than one - so add Daddy's Chicken Shack to the list of up and comers. They very recently opened up near our house and a little bit outside of Mega Chain Valley. Today Mrs. RJG and I decided to try them for the first time. This locale used to be one of those modern salad places. Probably not the best area for one of those. Architecturally interesting with a high ceiling, spacious with limited seating, and full of natural light. You can order at the counter or from the two rather large screens on your left. I chose that for us being the IT kinda guy that I am. Knuckled our order in, and we awaited our meal. They had the audacity to ask for a tip - it gets more ridiculous each place we go. Soon they'll ask for a tip just because you walked in the door. Of course you're not getting one...

We waited longer than expected, but that's OK if they're cooking our meal, and it appears that's what happened. Out came two very hot (temperature) chicken sandwiches. I went with the 303, which includes Denver's own Santiago's green chile (featured in this blog) along with bacon, cole slaw, and remoulade. Really like the brioche bun and the chicken texture - thick and juicy. The chile didn't penetrate at all, and the spice was mild. It looks like that's only going to be a local option, as I didn't see it on the Colleyville menu for example. I prefer feature items, but I'll definitely go for the Nashville Hot option next time. Mrs. RJG went with the more basic Pressure Cooked Simple Daddy. She really enjoyed it. She had the meal deal so we also tried the seasoned fries which were excellent as well - and a bit spicy surprisingly. They have Diet Dr. Pepper as a fountain option so we didn't want to pass that up, and they mixed the drink properly. 

Daddy's Chicken Shack has now been added to the RJG rotation. I'll probably get it to-go for lunch some workday while watching a movie or a show. It's only 5 minutes away.

4/6/24 (new entry)

Luigi's ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Apr 2024

First visit: Aug 1995

Back again - this time for our 27th anniversary! That seems to be where Luigi's is going to land in the RJG tradition. We miss the old school Italian restaurants and this is really the only one in town (along with the much smaller Roman Villa, who are better at pizzas in our mind). We decided to heed their call and make reservations, and we arrived at open. Already a line had formed, one of the few places who can claim that these days. Reservations allowed us one of the better seats in the restaurant, near the fireplace. Though on this warm April evening we weren't able to take advantage of that. On this visit we made sure not to possess wine envy, so we ordered a bottle of Charles Woodson's Intercept Cabernet Sauvignon, which is our favorite red style. An excellent choice. Per protocol, we received the delicious bread, breadsticks, and butter upfront so as to appease our large appetites walking in. This was followed by their excellent much-larger-than-it-looks salad. Spicy pepperoncini this time! Following my lead from last year, we both went for the chicken parm with a side of spaghetti Bolognese. It was similar to last year but a couple of demerits this time. It seemed to be lacking flavor. I was silent on the matter thinking perhaps my tastebuds weren't operating at full capacity. But everything up to that point I enjoyed immensely, so I didn't think that was the case. But Mrs. RJG made the comment about two-thirds through, and I knew she was right. Not sure what happened there, but it will drive me to have something else next year. Also the spaghetti Bolognese wasn't that hot. Problem was easily solved by adding it to the baked chicken parm dish which was bubbling as noted below. OK, so not the perfect meal we enjoyed last year, but we both agreed we'll be back next year for the same date, as we really like the ambience and general high quality of the food. We'll try other items on the menu.

---4/5/23 update

It was time for Mrs. RJG & I to celebrate our 26th anniversary. We decided that Luigi's would be the perfect place to enjoy that moment. We always talk about going out fancy and then remember that's really not for us. We always prefer the mom and pop establishments. Forgot to mention last visit, but we started with a 1/2 litre of their house wine. It's a good value though it's for certain a low alcohol cheaper fruity wine. Which is fine by us, though later Mrs. RJG had wine envy as others were ordering bottles of the good stuff lol. Along with that came out the yummy bread and larger-than-you-think salad (see original review). And non spreadable butter! Once again Mrs. RJG went with the daily special, which on Wednesday equates to Lasagna. Usually lasagna's tend to be heavy, especially the noodle. But not Luigi's variation. Out comes a bubbling baked dish loaded with their delicious meat sauce on top. Inside is ricotta cheese and noodles. She really enjoyed it and took about a third of it back home. This time I went with the chicken parm. This is a great variation as it too is a baked dish buried in mozzarella cheese and bubbling sauce. I had a side of pasta with meat sauce, cooked perfectly al dente. Delicious. I ate the whole thing, so no room for dessert I'm afraid. Our anniversary meal was a success!

---original 12/28/22 review

There are a lot of parallels with Luigi's and Roman Villa that we just spoke about. They're both old school Italian restaurants that opened in the late 1950s (note the plural "Italian Foods"); Both are dinner only places; I visited each only once while living here the first time; And Mrs. RJG and I had dined at both in our first year back (2018) and haven't returned since. The only difference is we did go to Luigi's once on a biannual trip from Texas in 2016. 

Luigi's is a much larger, and certainly roomier, place than Roman Villa. But no less popular, so expect a wait unless you go early. Which is exactly what Mrs. RJG and I did on this visit, arriving not long after opening at 5:00. Luigi's does have a small four stool bar area (with a couple of small tables) for solo diners if inclined. The primary difference between the two is that Luigi's has much better Italian food. Can't speak for the pizzas, but Roman Villa certainly offers stiff competition on that front. They bring out a complimentary loaf of Italian bread that is delicious. With wrapped pats of cold non-spreadable butter, always a hallmark of a good Italian joint. We started with the house salad (which comes with the meal). Old styled wooden bowls with cold lettuce, red onions, and a pepperoncini pre-tossed in a wonderful vinaigrette based dressing (they have mushrooms and tomatoes too, but we both passed). There's more in that little bowl than you might think! Delicious. For entrees Mrs. RJG had the daily special, which on Tuesday's equates to Eggplant Parmigiana with Italian sausage. At first she expressed disappointment at the lack of an accompanying pasta, but then she realized the breading more than made up for that. She said it was awesome and the food was hot until the last bite. I had the spaghetti with Bolognese and Italian sausage. I suspect they make their pasta, and it's much better than the usual "homemade" spaghetti. This is a thin variety, and cooked al dente. Not thick and chewy like so many others who attempt this. The bolognese was really great. Perhaps the best was the Italian sausage, also guessing it to be homemade. It's a spicy variety and so soft you can cut it with a fork. Very flavorful! We both enjoyed it tremendously. Just a terrific meal throughout. Need to take the RJG's Official Mom here. Perhaps next year for her birthday.

8/19/95; 5/1/16; 9/11/18; 12/28/22 (new entry); 4/5/23; 4/5/24