Marco's Pizza ~ national chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Jun 2024 (Briargate)

First visit: Apr 2010 (Keller, TX)

HQ: Toledo, OH (founded: 1978 in Oregon, OH)

Locations: Over 1,000. Another "location finder" app that is useless except for your current location. There's 4 in the Colorado Springs area. I don't feel like researching further lol. The Keller location moved years ago.

For some reason Mrs. RJG had it in her head she liked Marco's. I was like "really?" Okaaay then. I ordered online an extra large pie with Italian sausage for the whole thing with jalapeno's and red onions on half. Grabbed their coupon and it totaled over $18. Not too bad. You know, they asked for a tip even though I picked it up? It gets more ridiculous each time.

20 seconds in the door, pizza box opened, and she barks "it's too thick!". Yep. I knew that going in. That's the advantage of having a comal grill at home, so at least we can crisp it up. But she wasn't impressed even after that. She's never going to be a "crust girl". My usual complaint of not enough sauce came to the fore. The Italian sausage was a cut above the norm though, and she said the jalapeno's were spicy at least. They're famous for their crust, and I thought it was really good, especially after we heated it up on the stove. In any case, don't think we'll be rushing back to Marco's though we've been a remarkable four times prior (though I never did get around to documenting any of those visits). And now that Jet's has finally set foot here in the Springs, that will suffice for our Midwestern pizza chain fix. We just need to get over there.

4/18/10; 5/6/15; 11/8/20; 6/30/24 (new entry)

Samich Shack ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Jun 2024

First visit: May 2022

Founded: 2021

It's been just over two years since my inaugural visit to Samich Shack. As I continue to work eastern Colorado Springs for my hobby business, I'm also enjoying places that had fallen out of the rotation mainly due to location. I wanted to try something different from their menu, so I went with the Palmer. This is a meatball sandwich with pepperoni, Italian peppers, and melted cheese. Comes with chips and a pickle spear. In an interesting twist, they offer free beer as well. Today that meant original Coors, which always reminds me why I like craft beer rather than ordinary beer. But it was free, and served well as my glass of water. It's not all that bad honestly, especially since I was thirsty. It also allows me to give a tip when otherwise I'd be in the awkward position of saying no, especially since the guy is holding it right in front of you. Back to the sandwich. Hmmm... the meatballs were good. They're very large, and obviously off the truck. I didn't expect they'd make their own (though they should really). The ingredients mixed well and I like their marinara sauce. The bread needed to be toasted though - at least slightly. It wasn't cold, but just barely warm. Good bread though. I'll probably go back to the Italian as noted below. I enjoyed their outdoor covered park bench seating area (that they were building last time I was here), and there was a nice breeze. The only other option is to eat in the car. No thanks - too pandemic-y for me. Oh, and service was very prompt this time, taking only 5 minutes when last time it was 20. Into the rotation goes Samich Shack. As long as I continue to mine the east that is.

---original 5/27/22 review

I have an old friend from the Midwest that used to get a bang out of calling sandwiches "samiches". Or samies. He would have loved Samich Shack! When you get here you will find quite literally a shack in the parking lot, similar to many coffee places. You can walk up and order, or use the drive through. There's no seating accommodations though it appears they are working on potentially an outdoor patio.

I ordered the Garden of the Gods which is essentially what most shops would call their "Italian". Other than the usual suspects of meats, cheeses, tomato, and lettuce, the key ingredients here would be the unusually fresh French Bread, the garlic aioli, and the "shack sauce". The latter a light creamy based dressing. The sandwich itself was delicious and I could see it being crave worthy. Comes with kettle chips and a pickle spear too. 

On this visit, I had to wait close to 20 minutes for my meal, which is a long time for a simple sandwich. There was only one person in front of me (I did the walkup option). They did apologize and stated that part of the problem was the health inspector was there. But I didn't notice her being that disruptive. At least my sandwich was probably really clean! So I'm not sure if this is a typical problem or it was indeed just the inspection causing the issue. They did say something else caused the delay, but I didn't really catch what it was. In any case, we'll find out on our next visit!

5/27/22 (new entry); 6/29/24

Pikes Peak Brewing ~ Monument, Colorado

Latest visit: Jun 2024

First visit: Feb 2019

Founded: 2011

I was in the Woodmoor area visiting their annual neighborhood garage sale when it was time for lunch. After viewing my options, I decided on Pikes Peak Brewery. I hadn't been to the brewery in a year - well really I haven't been to hardly any of the breweries lately. And I've never eaten here even though they have a nice bar menu. Nothing too fancy, and they don't sport a grill. But they do have a professional panini maker, so I went with their Italian beef sandwich. It was stacked high with excellent cooked roast beef, cheese, and loaded with hot giardiniera peppers. The bread was toasted perfectly, Mrs. RJG would have approved (though not the meat...). Came with a side of au jus and a bag of Boulder Canyon Potato Chips. Well worth an annual visit. Consider that task complete.

---original 7/29/23 review

Pikes Peak Brewing is arguably the Colorado Springs metro area's most popular brewery, eclipsing Bristol. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating. Great beers in a casual and welcoming setting.

2/10/19; 11/8/19; 7/29/23 (new entry); 6/28/24

The Brass Tap ~ national chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Jun 2024 (Colorado Springs)

First visit: Mar 2019 (Colorado Springs)

HQ: Tampa, FL (founded: 2007)

Locations: Arg - another one of those dummy locators that only show you a select few of their locations. No researching allowed! We don't want customers except where we tell you. Colorado only has this one locale. In our former HQ, Roanoke remains plus they're adding one in Euless, a true NE Tarrant town. Hey they got one coming to Lubbock as well - really old school RJG there (1983-1987). Heck, they have to be the only chain in the country growing in the Communist state of California. For that they are to be admired. In the past I captured the following: TX (13); FL (12); CA (6); MD (5); GA (4); VA (2); SC (2); NJ (1); AL (1); WI (1); IA (1); AZ (1); CO (1). A grand total of 50 (if my math is right). 

So after last night's meal, it was unclear if Mrs. RJG would be anxious to go out again so quickly. But she wanted a cheeseburger, and The Brass Tap has been the only consistent place for that. We haven't been this year, so time for the annual review. So on this summer Sunday for lunch we ventured in hoping all would be the same as prior. And it was! Everything came out perfectly including the 3 beers we had combined. Service was good as well. The Brass Tap remains in the RJG rotation, as infrequent as that may be.

---5/23/23 update

You'll recall (as noted below) that last year Mrs. RJG was thrilled about The Brass Tap's cheeseburger. That was seven months ago and lately the restaurants have been anything but consistent. Especially the chains. So with some trepidation we went in on this fine Sunday for lunch. The result? Mrs. RJG was declaring it the best hamburger in town! And she was not shy about sharing that fact inside the restaurant (a little beer might have helped with that...). For myself I went with a fried chicken sandwich and I thought it was delicious as well. Service was impeccable on this visit, something we rarely call out - especially these days. We really need to frequent The Brass Tap more than we do. They have earned that business.

---10/29/22 update

Running a few months late on our annual review of The Brass Tap. Happy to say that everything is back to normal as far as food menus go. Both Mrs. RJG and myself ordered the All-American Pub burger (essentially a bacon cheeseburger), and lo and behold, it came out absolutely perfect! Been a long time since I've seen Mrs. RJG love a hamburger like this. Toasted bread, well done meat, flavorful. Crispy fries. All the basics that no one seems to get right anymore. And we each had a beer and a half, so good vibes all around.

The Brass Tap is based in Tampa, Florida and have locations all over the country. Which is convenient if travelling, and you're unsure where to go, since you'll almost be guaranteed some new local brews. This is their sole location in all of Colorado. From our old HQ in NE Tarrant, Roanoke would be our go-to spot. The perfect location for that really. They have many others in the DFW area though.

---original 6/12/21 review

The Brass Tap is like many places the RJG was gravitating to before the pandemic. That of the craft tavern. A place that serves hearty American fare, or international comfort food, with a healthy craft beer selection. The Brass Tap is a large place, and walking in, you can sit at the many tables / booths or grab a stool at the bar. I was on my own today, so I plopped myself in the middle of the bar, and took a look at the beer menu. Pretty consistent with the past - a large selection of beers, some obscure and local, others much more known. It's not the best tap selection in town, but they make an earnest attempt at competing.  Looking around, there's flat screens everywhere indicating that The Brass Tap doubles as a sports bar. Settled on my first of two beers (each registered in the Bier Reise blog - see page above), and looked at the menu. OK, this is way truncated from the past. I asked por que? Well it appears that the food industry is still having troubles with supply chain due to the pandemic. Sounds like opportunity to me. They do have the full menu for dinner, but at lunch you get about a dozen options. No matter, a burger is what I wanted anyway, so I went with what they call a Pub Burger. Comes with crinkle fries on the side, and the usual suspects as toppings, plus applewood bacon. Ah, just what I needed, a hearty burger with flavor. Not too fat, not too thin, cooked right, and great flavor. I mean sometimes that's all you need to be happy. Good fries as well, and I asked for spicy mustard on the side to assist both the burgers and the fries. Always reliable, The Brass Tap is one of the RJG's go-to places. And it's nice to be back after 17 months. I wish they were a bit more selective on the beers, and I look forward to the full menu returning. I'm sure it will.

3/3/19; 12/5/19; 6/12/21 (new entry); 10/29/22; 5/23/23; 6/23/24

Angelo's Taverna ~ Denver, Colorado

Latest visit: Jun 2024 (Littleton)

First visit: 1996 (Wash Park)

Founded: 1974

After two months, it was time for Mrs. RJG's Official Mom to go back home to Prescott Valley, Arizona. She's 90 and doesn't speak English. Which essentially means she can't get around nor figure things out on her own. so she needs the direct flight to Prescott for another Official Sister to pick her up. That direct flight only leaves from Denver, so we made the 90 minute haul up there to get that all situated. Once that was settled, Mrs. RJG and I were looking for a (relatively) early dinner. We haven't been together for a dinner since early April when we took the impromptu trip to Salida. She'd been craving Italian, and Angelo's popped in her mind. We haven't been here since our summer townhome years. I hadn't realized they opened a second location in Littleton. Recalling both Rude Dante's review plus my own memory, the Wash Park locale would likely be too crowded and parking always a challenge. So let's try the newer one. It's close to a 50 minute drive from the airport, but it does position us better for our drive back home to the Springs.

So much for "not being crowded". This massive location shares acreage with Breckenridge Brewery, and there's construction going on to expand the parking lot, so even out here "in the country", we had trouble finding a place to park. And it was 4:30 on a Saturday. Angelo's also now has their own winery as well (Carboy), and that attracts even more folks. They sure have expanded since their humble days when I first visited with Rude Dante way back in 1996 when we were like-minded coworkers looking for "old school" places.

Despite the big crowd, getting a table was no trouble and we were promptly seated. The place is very large and seemed to be very popular with the Millennial crowd. Lots of young families and some odd looking characters (the type of hipsters I might see at a record show for example), but for Mr. RJG I'm just comforted to see young folks still going out. Don't see too much of this type of activity here in the Springs. Certainly not at an Italian restaurant.

We both tried the Carboy House Red which was quite good, and a healthy pour at that. It was all we needed for the duration of the meal. To start, I ordered a Caesar salad and she got the House salad. Mine had a very nice spicy kick in the dressing and the lettuce was cold and crispy. Mrs. RJG liked hers but said the dressing was too thick, likely a vinaigrette based Dijon. 

For the main course I went for their chicken parm. I like their variation with a slice of prosciutto in between. The edges were crispy but most of the chicken was not. The side of spaghetti was cooked al dente and I enjoyed the the red sauce, a perfect combo of sweet and bitterness. The big issue here is that the pasta wasn't hot. More like warm. And that unfortunately sunk Mrs. RJG's dish of Spaghetti and Italian Sausage. It just wasn't hot enough. So she was disappointed, though we both liked the link of sausage. It featured some backend heat that was unusual. Service was efficient and the prices really aren't that bad for this day and age, though hardly cheap.

So for Mrs. RJG's first night out in two months she stated: "I'd rather eat at home." Sigh. I liked it but maybe not hankering for a return visit. Though, as Rude Dante suggests, perhaps pizza would be in order next time, if there is a next time.

Worth mentioning, one of our official niece's and nephew-in-law absolutely love Angelo's. So much so that they had their "Elopement" celebration catered by them back in 2021. 

--- RJG 

--- Rude Dante review 5/16/22 ---

RJG reviewed this place based upon visits we did shortly after both of us moved to Denver. It remained largely unchanged until somewhere 2012-2015 when new owners and managers decided to spruce it up a bit. Their 'sprucing' included a nice patio, a back dining room that sometimes books for private events, some decor updates and an expansion of the food & bar menus. At least one of the new owners had a passion for seafood, particularly raw oyster bar, meaning that they usually have at least 4 varieties on the menu. They also char-grill their oysters - a VERY nice alternative to frying - and have some great presentations for the cooked varieties (bacon & gorgonzola, garlic & butter with cheese, etc). There are also a good variety of pastas, salads, and other temptations, but what brings me back is their pizza.

The pizza is a slightly thinner variation on the mid-crust pies we enjoyed in my hometown of Elkhart, Indiana. And they have some really good specialty recipes. Sir Psycho Sexy is perhaps the best meat pie I have ever had, and Higher Ground or Suck my Kiss are really interesting alternatives. One thing I like is that you can make a pie with red sauce, white sauce or just olive oil - just to mix it up a bit. Many of their specialty pies use the white sauce, so read the whole recipe before ordering.

Only downside to this updated venue is that it is VERY popular. Even on week nights and with their expanded space, you will likely wait for a table anytime after 5:30. Take out is certainly an option - or just plan to go for an early meal.

--- Rude Dante ---

--- original 10/1/10 RJG notes (from the Denver's Old School Italian Restaurants post)

And speaking of desired neighborhoods, Washington Park's Angelo's (well, close enough to Wash Park anyway) is probably the closest representation to an Old School place in the area. Inside feels like an old church and they have a nice patio/backyard as well. Prices are dirt cheap for the area. The place gets mixed reviews, primarily because the restaurants in the area tend to be more hip and modern. And most (not all) of the criticisms come from that sector. Angelo's is the opposite of hip and modern. If it were located on 38th Street west of I-25, then I'm sure it would have more followers. A gem in the rough as far as the RJG is concerned. Not the best Denver has to offer, but worth an occasional visit. No website.

1996; 1/2/98; 10/1/10; 6/4/11; 5/29/21; 5/16/22 (new entry); 6/22/24

Omelets Etc ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Jun 2024 (South Academy)

First visit: Oct 2018 (Interquest)

Founded: 2010 (8th Street)

Locations: 4 - 3 in Colorado Springs + 1 in Falcon.

It was Juneteenth and my company fortunately gave us the day off. So what better activity then to go thriftin'! After having great success in the morning, I found myself down south again, and I was ready for an early lunch. I've never had lunch at Omelet's Etc, so let's see what they have. After sitting at the counter, I noticed everyone was still ordering breakfast. Why break the flow? I'll get breakfast then. But rather than the usual Mexican smothered burrito, I went for an American styled meal. I ordered the Meat Platter which includes two eggs (I went with fried over medium), two links of sausage, two small slabs of ham, two pieces of bacon, hash browns, and two pancakes (what I consider the dessert). And a coffee. Plus they have Irish Creme creamers as an option, hooray. All very good as expected. I'd hoped for crunchy bacon, but it was chewy instead, almost like a beef jerky. Breakfasts like this are reliable if not overly unique. Omelet's Etc is not currently part of the RJG rotation, but I do enjoy it when I go here. Solid though not  an imaginative option when hungry.

---5/19/23 update

Managed to get here earlier this year than last. Much busier on this visit than a year ago. What inflation? Ordered my usual smothered burrito - and I remembered to order a side of green too. Also got coffee since they offer flavored creamers. Pretty much the same as the last couple of visits. The chili just isn't hot enough temperature though. I thought by ordering a side of it that would fix the problem but it did not. Not sure I need to return every year, but certainly it was enjoyable.

---10/21/22 update

Running way late on my annual review for Omelets Etc. Even though they have a store close to our house, it's actually more convenient for me to go to this southern location, as it sits next to one of my favorite thrift stores. Problem is - it's usually very crowded when I'm ready for breakfast. But on this fine Friday morning, it was half full. I plopped myself down at the counter, ordered my coffee (with flavored creamers - yaay) and proceeded to order my Breakfast Burrito smothered in green chili.

For a place that has the waitstaff wearing t-shirts proudly proclaiming 'World's Best Green Chile" one would presume they'd be more anxious to share it. I forgot to reference my notes below, and once again it came up a bit dry. Next time I must get a side order to accompany. The temperature was hotter this time - probably because they saw me eyeing the kitchen suspiciously from my counter perch (ha!). As for the best in the world claim, I would say they aren't even the best in town! Quijotes wins easily with Western Omelette right on their heels (reminder: need to get back there too and into the RJG). But.... yes, it's still quite excellent. Everything about this visit was consistent with the last one and remains a strong go-to option for breakfast. See you in 2023, if not before.

As of this writing, Omelets Etc has 4 locations in greater Colorado Springs.

--- 4/18/21 review

Omelets Etc is our local breakfast haunt. And we are fortunate to have a place as good as this nearby, where the chains tend to dominate. It's a large welcoming place. You can sit at one of the tables or booths, or grab a stool at the counter. I come here for one reason only - the smothered breakfast burrito. All the essentials like eggs, pancakes, bacon, and coffee with flavored creamers are up to snuff, though none made the kind of impression we had at First Watch. But the green chile is why we come back. Once again, a very delicious recipe, with a slight bite. I can always go for hotter (spice and temperature), but the flavor is what wins the day. If I had a complaint, it's that I wish they'd smother it more - it's usually too dry. I just need to remember that when ordering. I'm sure they would be happy to accommodate. Really not much more to add here. It's not at the super great level of Quijote's (what is?), but it still gets the A grade. If you're anywhere in Colorado Springs, then you're not going to be too far from an Omelets Etc, who are strategically placed in all four corners of the city. Give their smothered burrito a try. We keep coming back.

10/26/18; 4/20/19; 4/18/21 (new entry); 10/21/22; 5/19/23; 6/21/24

Fiesta Mexicana ~ regional chain: Woodland Park, Colorado

Latest visit: Jun 2024 (Woodland Park, CO)

First visit: Jun 2011 (Woodland Park, CO)

Founded: 2000 (Woodland Park, CO)

Locations: 9. There are 5 in Arizona (Gilbert, Chandler, Avondale, Sedona, Page); 2 in Colorado (here and Cortez), 1 in Farmington, NM, and 1 in Moab, UT. Since our last visit, Las Vegas closed and they added one in Arizona.

We decided on this clear blue Father's Day to make the drive out to Woodland Park. We haven't taken Mrs. RJG's mom out since she's been here other than family events. It's also been two and a half years since we last graced our presence at Fiesta Mexicana. We arrived about 15 minutes after open, and they were still relatively empty, though it filled up while we were doing the same - figuratively speaking. Today I stuck with two Mexican lagers while Mrs. RJG once again indulged herself with a margarita on the rocks. She boldly stated how much she enjoys alcohol only to recant her statement after the meal was over lol. As far as the meals went, we all stuck to combo platters. I went with the chicken flauta, a ground beef enchilada, and a beef taco. The ground beef was seasoned very nicely and I liked the crispiness of the flauta and the flavor of the chicken. Rice and refried beans were excellent as well. Everyone enjoyed their meals, though I didn't take note of the exact details. Oh - and the chips and salsa were as good as last time (see below). We didn't ask for a hotter one though, remembering our experience from before. Fiesta Mexicana is a very reliable Mexican option. I don't consider it a rotation restaurant only in that we don't always drive out to Woodland Park. Wayback Burgers is our first option and I would like to try some other places as well next time in town.

I didn't realize until now that this Woodland Park location was their first.

---original 2/21/22 review

Continuing on with restaurants we haven't been to since the Denver townhome years, we decided to make a day in Woodland Park. Usually we would go here to cool off in the summer, but now that we live near Monument, we get the same benefit. We'd also been to a Fiesta Mexicana in Salida way back in 2002, but apparently it's not related (it's a common name as you can imagine).

I was thinking about a beer, but they were out of many of them, so I settled on water. Then Mrs. RJG pulled out a surprise: Margarita! What? She never drinks during the day anymore, so dammit, I'm getting one too. Glad we did - giant globe margs with plenty of tequila. Not just lemonade. Well that set the mood right. Chips and salsa was next, which represents most of the meal. Very crispy and the salsa had just the right amount of kick. They have habanero salsa on the menu, so I asked for it. But they brought me the same salsa with a bottle of El Yucateco habanero red. Ha. We eat that at home all the time. Well I mixed it in, and it was still excellent. I ordered the pork green enchiladas smothered in a verde sauce. They were both dry - the sauce on top and the chili inside. It was still very flavorful but I wanted way more sauce. Oh look, there's that Yucateco bottle... I'm sure we used more of that than your common patron. The rice was hot and delicious. And the refried beans were good as well. Almost as hot (temperature) as I prefer, but falling just short (I like them blazing hot). I meant to ask for whole beans but forgot. Mrs. had one chicken and one ground beef enchilada. She sung its praises. I had some of the chicken, and it was moist and excellent. Service was top notch on this day, and the restaurant is warm and welcoming. We'll be back. Hopefully sooner than 11 years. Afterwards, Mrs. RJG made a beeline across the parking lot to Chimayo Turquoise. One Zuni necklace and turquoise ring later, and happy wife, happy life as they say. And I thought lunch was expensive.... . Imagine if we had 2 margaritas?

Fiesta Mexicana is a chain, but it would appear in name only. Guessing disparate family members and friends, or something along those lines. As of this writing, they have 4 locations in Arizona, 2 here in Colorado (the other is in Cortez, not exactly around the block), and one each in Utah, New Mexico, and Las Vegas. I don't think they're getting an "economy of scale" here. And I doubt they care either. Good for them!

6/5/11; 2/21/22 (new entry); 6/16/24

The Public House ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Jun 2024

First visit: Apr 2018

Founded: 2013

Like with yesterday, I wrapped up an estate sale and it was time for lunch. On this day, however, I was in the Broadmoor area down south. Same thing - I want a hamburger. And look what popped up? Yaay, I haven't been here since the visit below. This would prove to be my first solo venture here. I sat down at the bar, and was perusing the menu for which burger to get, when I noticed they had a Nashville Hot chicken sandwich. Never mind then, that's what I want! Oh but there's a problem. They're out of the seasoning. Well that's a bummer. OK, back to Plan A. I went for the reliable Pub Burger. Ordered it medium well. The gentleman next to me ordered his medium rare a few minutes later than me - and his came first! Wow. Mine ended up being well done, and Mrs. RJG would have loved it. They were served with the excellent garlic fries (pub fries I believe they call them). Grabbed a Mexican lager (I was very thirsty) from Tivoli in Denver and that was my lunch. Another excellent meal at The Public House. Probably see you next year...

---4/29/23 update

It's been a full year since the Tampa Pound and I were last here. Now it's time for Mrs. RJG to join me, and it's been a few years since she last stepped foot in the The Public House (see below). Ya know how picky Mrs. RJG is about her burgers. Finally after many failed visits, Mrs. RJG found a burger she really liked! She ordered the Fire Burger which comes with spicy condiments and jalapenos. The most important thing is they cooked it to order - well done. And the bread wasn't a pile of mush. Hooray! She even had a beer with me - imagine that? I went with the Dill Chicken sandwich instead of the Cuban. A gigantic fried chicken breast loaded with a creamy dill sauce, dill pickles, and dill Havarti cheese. Yep - I was in a real pickle I tell ya. Sha-boom, I'm here all week. I also enjoyed a beer, one so obscure it's not even in untapp'd (see Bier Reise site for more). Also to note - my sandwich was a whopping one dollar more than Snarf's. What would you rather pay for - a professional chef/cook - or a teenager whipping up your fast food? Yea exactly. The Public House continues to be an RJG favorite.

---original 4/30/22 review

Interesting that Rude Dante just had a Public House event in North Carolina, and here we are with our own! The Public House was one of the first places we visited on our return back to living in Colorado Springs. But why so far south then? We were in town for our new home inspection, and all the hotels up north were booked. So we stayed closer to the airport. On a Google search, The Public House popped up, and seemed perfect for what we wanted. And it was! We went back one other time, after we obtained our new Colorado driver's licenses. That was it though for The Public House and the RJG. The pandemic put a hold on any return visit, and since it's in the opposite part of town, we had no reason to come back anytime soon.

Enter the Tampa Pound, who now lives in this part of The Springs. We needed to get together and he asked that I suggest a place. Ah, I remember a great restaurant down there... One reason the RJG likes The Public House is they have a unique selection of craft beers, not just the same old ones everyone else has. As for entrees, we both went for... stop me if this doesn't sound familiar... Cuban's! So my 5th Cuban in two weeks. Theirs is a very good interpretation with pulled pork, ham, and pickled carrots. Now the latter may sound kind of yucky, but the key word is "pickled". Adds the perfect tangy balance. Great bread as well.  Comes with fries (or salad if you choose). Why be healthy? Their fries are thick cut and golden brown. And delicious. Goes very well with those yummy beers, of which we each had two. Service was attentive and fun on this visit. I have a note from the earlier visits that I enjoyed the green chile mac n' cheese. So file that away too.

The Public House anchors a strip mall, just off of 115. It's a welcoming space with plenty of seating (inside and out) and a full bar.

4/20/18; 9/19/18; 4/30/22 (new entry); 4/29/23; 6/14/24

Sonora's Prime Carniceria & Taco Shop ~ Colorado chain : Peyton

First visit: Jun 2024 (Peyton)

Locations: Two in Pueblo, and one other in eastern Colorado Springs.

Founded: 2003 (Pueblo)

I happened to be way out east this morning as there was an estate sale that was recommended to me. I rarely come out to the Falcon / Peyton area, but nothing is really that far here, so off I went. After I was finished it was about 10:30, so a good time for an early lunch. I was kind of in the mood for a hamburger but all that came up were the usual chains, all of which I can get closer to home. There were a couple of "grills" but they don't open until 11 or noon. Oh well. How about tacos?

As soon as I saw Sonora's I thought it looked promising. And most assuredly I was correct. You walk in and order at the counter straight in front. I stuck to the basics and ordered two street tacos, one carne asada, the other grilled chicken. And one ground beef hard shell taco. Sort of my standard opening salvo these days. And a salsa bar with at least 5 different flavors. Yea! The tacos were loaded with meat. Both the beef and chicken were outstanding, some of the best in town, easily competing with RJG favorite Zapata. The ground beef taco had a great flavor but I made the mistake of eating it last, and the meat defeated the shell leaving me mostly with a taco salad. The top half was still crispy, but they need more sturdy shells for this kind of heavily seasoned meat. A small matter as I still enjoyed it. The quartet of salsas that I tried were all excellent ranging from a tangy tomatillo to a spicy habanero (I think, they aren't labeled). The menu has far more items than this, and I want to try many things. For certain, Sonora's is now in the RJG rotation, likely to be the Barnes location in eastern Colorado Springs, though who knows, I may be back out here in Falcon / Peyton.

When I got back home I told Mrs. RJG about my lunch adventure. She stated she'd heard they were the best carniceria in town. It certainly looked that way to me. Very clean and fully stocked. Seems much nicer than the ones in southern Colorado Springs. She'll be trying it soon enough!

6/13/24 (new entry)

Fuzzy's Taco Shop ~ national chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Jun 2024 (Colorado Springs - Interquest)

First visit: Nov 2009 (North Richland Hills, TX)

HQ: Kansas City, MO. Purchased by Dine Brands (2022). (Founded: 2001 in Fort Worth, TX)

Locations: Currently they are in 18 states (no change) with 4 here in the Springs (same). Our original locations of NRH and Southlake are still there.

OK back at Fuzzy's for the first time this year. Mrs. RJG is back to thumbing it down (we went one more time last year that soured her possibly for good this time) so I went solo on this visit. Probably a good thing, as there would have been a couple of things that bothered her. For one, the Mahi option is gone and its in place is Cod, though that's not such a bad thing. But the deal killer would have been the cold corn tortillas. Oh that's a big no-no in Mrs. RJG's world. You have to warm them up. Along with the cod I added my usuals of one grilled chicken taco and two ground beef. The flavors are still very good, including the Cod, and I've always enjoyed their two bottled hot sauces (regular and habanero). It does seem the tacos are a bit smaller indicating a bit if shrinkflation is happening here. And the prices are stubbornly high. Publicly traded restaurants are rarely any good for the consumer as we've noted since the beginning of this blog. It's all about the profit, and that's just the way public markets work. The restaurant was fairly empty on a Friday at lunch, unheard of only two years ago. Since it's a work day I passed on my annual frozen margarita and hit the soda fountain which was mixed properly (not always a given). I sat outside for the first time at this location as there was a pleasant breeze cooling us off after three days of way above average temperatures. But that breeze turned to gusty winds, and back inside I went.

For my tastes, I'm keeping it in the RJG rotation. Probably will move to a sober weekday lunch place versus a liquid weekend lunch. Ah well, no biggee.

---4/30/23 update

Last year I closed our annual review with "I'll be back anyway, hopefully sooner than this last spell. Probably Mrs. RJG will be too..." And so it came to pass that we did beat the end of July date. And... I was able to convince Mrs. RJG to go with me again! We've been covering Fuzzy's since the advent of this blog, and it was a long time favorite of ours living in the Fort Worth area (NE Tarrant county as I often refer to). On this visit, I'm happy to say, we are back to A-1 with Fuzzy's! Too expensive of course, but who isn't? I went with my usual tempura mahi, fajita chicken, and 2 ground beef tacos. And the Mrs. had the first two tacos with black beans and cilantro rice. She wanted borracha beans, but they don't offer those anymore, but she stated that the black beans were even better! The two salsas they provide are as good as ever, especially the habanero. All came out perfect this time. And of course, we each enjoyed our "globe glass" margaritas. Hers on the rocks, mine frozen. This remains my annual margarita intake, but I sure do enjoy it. All the data about this location can be found below, but we're back to this being an RJG favorite!

Now for some chain news: The website is tough to navigate, so we'll go with some general totals. Fuzzy's is currently in 18 states. There are 4 locations here in Colorado Springs. Our original locations of Southlake and North Richland Hills are still up and running. They are now owned (as of Dec 2022) by Dine Brands Global (gee, what an innovative name) who also own no-way-RJG-goes-there brands of IHOP and Applebee's. Ah well, we have the history with Fuzzy's so we'll stand strong behind them. Maybe they'll divest some day?

---7/31/22 update

We're way late on our annual review. We're almost into August and this is our first visit of the year. I ordered my staple of 4 tacos: 1 tempura shrimp; 1 fajita chicken; 2 ground beef tacos. And Mrs. RJG had the Taco Plate with tempura shrimp, fajita chicken, rice, and beans. I got a frozen margarita and she got one on the rocks. I enjoyed my meal and she did not. And she has now sworn off Fuzzy's for like the 5th time. Haha. She did this back in NE Tarrant too. Fine, I'll go by myself then. She said the rice and beans weren't hot, and her margarita tasted like lemonade. See what happens when you deviate from Mr. RJG? lol. I never drink anything stronger than beer or wine, and frozen margs are my one indulgence beyond that. And this is the first time I've had one in almost a year. I like their tacos, I love their 2 taco sauces (medium and habanero), and the frozen marg puts it all together. I will say it does seem they cut back a bit on the portions. And it's way too expensive like everywhere else. I'll be back anyway, hopefully sooner than this last spell. Probably Mrs. RJG will be too...

Fuzzy's Taco Shop first opened near TCU in Fort Worth around 2003 or so and was an instant hit in the area. Today there are over 200 locations in at least 19 states. There are 4 in the Springs and 8 in Denver (and more north of there). In our old stomping grounds of NE Tarrant, there are 6 (including Roanoke). Our original primary location of Southlake is still open as well. 

---3/15/20 update

The RJG was thrilled that we didn't have to give up Fuzzy's when we left the DFW area. They are a Fort Worth original after all. Wow, this Fuzzy's is much more elaborate than what we had in Texas. A full bar for one thing! At our former primary location in Southlake, we had a choice of about 6 beers and there was one margarita machine. And it was a small spot in a strip mall. The one here off Interquest is a large standalone restaurant (still quick service) with what looks like a massive 7-11 Slurpee selection - except of the adult variety. And plenty of craft beers, much more so than what we saw in Texas. And the place is often packed to the rafters - forget getting a seat on weekend nights. I've only ventured for an early lunch, and even then, you can see the crowds coming. I guess the concept has been a huge hit here in the Rockies.

One pandemic historical footnote: This was the last place Mrs. RJG and I dined at before the hard lockdowns in March of 2020. It was so eerie. 

---original 4/14/11 review (Southlake, TX)

Fuzzy's are the pioneers in what we call tacos y margaritas, and these kind of places are popular everywhere today. Their tacos (or what they call Baja Tacos) are excellent and feature a wide variety of choices from grilled or tempura shrimp to shredded pork and onto more traditional offerings like shredded beef, chicken, and spiced ground beef. Soft or hard corn shells are offered. They also have breakfast, burritos, tortas (called grilled sandwiches here), salads, and soups. Be sure to try their habanero sauce - it's definitely got a kick. Even their regular table sauce (Butt Burnin!) packs some heat. We eat here regularly, and it's consistently good.

Fuzzy's also has a nice selection of taps, including local craft brewers. And their frozen margaritas are as good as most of the Mexican restaurants in the (DFW) area - and at a fair price (and stop here, as this is one of the few things I'm going to say Texas does better than Colorado - and frozen margs are one of them. But with Fuzzy's that problem has been solved!). And they're not afraid to put tequila in the mixture. This is definitely an adult fast food place. Nothing beats a good craft beer or frozen marg with fajita chicken and tempura shrimp tacos slathered in habanero sauce!

11/25/09; 4/14/11 (new entry); 11/21/11; 2/19/12; 7/10/15; 10/4/16; 2/11/18; 3/15/20; 1/31/21; 7/31/22; 4/30/23; 6/7/24

North Richland Hills, Texas; Southlake, Texas; Colorado Springs, Colorado

Starfish ~ Laguna Beach, California

Starfish has a second location in Newport Beach as noted on the logo.

Lady Music and I decided to spend some time in Orange County. We ended up hiking a beautiful nature trail in Laguna Nigel and wanted to enjoy a nice meal at the beach. As Lady Music does, she found this great little spot! It faces the beach, but across Pacific Coast Highway. If you opt for outside seating, you’ll be able to see the water. We decided to take in the a/c inside. It was just the right amount of darkness, nice and cozy... and casual, but still very nice. The staff were all super friendly and up beat.

We started with an appetizer: BBQ pork buns - soy, ginger, pulled pork, pickled red onion, cucumber, cilantro. This appetizer came with 3 well filled bao/buns. Made of the same steamed dough used with cha shu bao but shaped like a thick tortilla. We loved them! The pork was tender, not too fatty and had a nice amount of sauce. The sauce was similar to traditional bbq pork in cha shu bao, but slightly sweeter. I think some chili oil or pik nam plah would remedy that quite nicely!

We did our customary ritual by splitting two entrees, and a side to boot: Chilean sea bass in green curry with coconut rice and garlic green beans. And halibut cooked in a banana leaf with Thai herbs, macadamia nuts, habanero sauce with basil and homemade corn tortillas for making fish tacos accompanied with garlic roasted green beans and coconut rice. The side was green curry over vegetables. green beans, broccoli, snow peas, bok choy, carrots in creamy green curry on coconut rice.

The fish was cooked just right, the flavors were delish although you know Mr. Music would like the heat kicked up a notch or three! The coconut rice was yummy and the handmade corn tortillas a nice touch.

We opted for dessert when our waiter told us about the unique items they had. We had to try the completely from scratch cheese cake in a cup! It has a very crunchy graham cracker crumble with cinnamon on the bottom. The filling was thick, creamy, TART and just slightly sweet. Incredible! The tartness is exactly what we love in a good cheesecake, which seems to be fading from recipes these days! So this was a real treat!

The prices were very reasonable, especially for that part of OC. Though the drinks were not a bargain. So skip the iced tea and coffee. Stick with water. You'll save $16!

We will definitely be back!

---Mr. Music review

6/6/24 (new entry)

Joey's Pizza ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Jun 2024 (Briargate)

First visit: Sep 2018 (Briargate)

Founded: 2007

Other locations: 8th Street; Templeton Gap

Much later than usual for my first visit back to Joey's for the year. For this perfect Sunday at lunch, I stopped by and grabbed their 2 slices and 2 garlic knots with a drink special. The slices I chose were the Porky (or maybe it was Piggy like below) and Cheese (Regular...). All very good though I could have used more sauce this time. The garlic knots were a first for me. Very messy - and tasty. Here they offer their red as a dipping sauce. Excellent and makes you wonder why they are shy about using more. Joey's is as reliable as they come, and remains in the RJG Rotation. I'm sure I'll be back before the year is over. I don't even bother with Anthony's anymore.

---2/18/23 update

Back again for our annual review. No downturn on quality here. Had their special which on this Friday meant Italian sausage and pepperoni. Really like the thin long slices of sausage. Once again, Joey's comes through with the right amount of sauce and cheese. Crust is perfectly crispy and chewy at the same time. Best NY slice in the Springs? I'm leaning that way. I'm a little higher on Joey's than Slice 420. We'll probably try Anthony's again since it's managed to stay open, but so far their Springs location has been lackluster. Anyway - be sure to drop by a Joey's sometime. They have 3 locations in the city, earning it the local chain tag.

---5/7/22 update

On this visit I went with two slices: The Piggy (filled with meats) and a Cheese slice. Plus a drink. All excellent just as described below. Joey's is definitely separating itself from Anthony's. Since my last visit, Joey's has spiffed up the place. They reduced the size of the room, and added more mood lighting, and a bar stool area for a quick lunch/dinner - and a bottled beer I suppose. Well worth a stop.

---original 3/7/21 review

Sometimes we just want a "slice". A good old fashioned sloppy slice of New York style pizza. Once the rage of quick service restaurant industry, New York styled pizza has fallen out of favor for more trendy artisan pizzas, of which we enjoy as well. But where to go if in the mood for NY? Joey's has been our go-to spot for just that. It's a spacious place, and once you walk in, turn to the left and order. 2 slices and a fountain drink special is perfect. They'll bring it to your table when ready. On this visit, I ordered one cheese ("regular" in the New York vernacular) and one pepperoni. Protein ingredients aren't the focus really, it's all about the sauce and the crust. Especially the former, something that's lost on many a place such as this. But Joey's does it right, with just the right amount of sweetness. And also just the right amount of sauce, as too many places skimp here and leave it too dry. The crust is pliable, perfect for folding down the middle, with a bit of crisp and chew. And the cheese is appropriately gooey. Orange grease rolling down your arm is a bonus. 

Joey's hits the spot every time.

9/14/18; 5/10/20; 3/7/21 (new entry); 5/7/22; 2/18/23; 6/2/04

Los Dos Potrillos ~ Centennial, Colorado

Latest visit: Jun 2024 (Centennial)

First visit: Oct 2005 (Centennial)

Founded: 2002 (Centennial)

Other locations: Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Parker, Castle Rock

It was time for a Saturday family lunch get together up in Denver and we agreed to meet at Los Dos Potrillos. Mrs. RJG and I have only been here twice before, and I was anxious to try them again, especially since they now have a brewery as well. Centennial is their original location and they opened in our last year living in the area. Ironically that would be Parker where they later placed a location plus that's where the brewery is. My first visit was on a business trip for Software Company Most People Have Heard Of as my boss at the time resided in Denver. Another bit of irony since we had just moved to DFW from here. Our second visit was when we had the summer townhome not too far away. 14 some years later, we're back.

Los Dos Potrillos is two doors down from another RJG favorite: Big Bill's NY Pizza that JL and I had been going to for dinner while working the record shows (and documented on the RJG). It's what I would call an old school Colorado Mexican restaurant. Dark interior with a full bar. Had they opened a decade prior, no doubt smoke would still permeate through the air. 

The menu is huge, though 3 of the 5 (Mrs. RJG, her mom and sister) ended up getting simple Street Tacos. Us dudes tried something else. Mr. Sister Ghana went with the Molcajete, and I had a green chile smothered chicken burrito. Old school place required old school dish. The waitress asked if I only wanted one (the order is for two), I said oh heck yea!  Him and I went for two of their craft beers each (both very good), while the ladies went completely sober. That's normal for two of them but Mrs. RJG is back on a sobriety kick. No bueno. The chips are crispy good if not overly distinctive. I liked their table salsa, very piquant and flavorful, though a bit too chunky considering the tomatoes. We asked for a hotter one and received a habanero "sauce". Great flavor but too thin for chips. Good thing I only got one burrito as that was more than enough. Excellent flavor, the kind that makes me want to get back into burritos again. Mrs. RJG said the street tacos were light on the meat (wow - even for her!) and the tortillas were too doughy. Not for her.

I suspect we won't be coming back anytime soon unless the Official Sister insists on it. That's OK, there are so many places I want to go back to in Denver, and only so much free time. But I certainly wouldn't mind another meal here.

10/14/05; 8/29/10; 6/1/24 (new entry)