Zaap Kitchen ~ Irving, Texas

Zaap Kitchen has 7 other locations in DFW: Dallas (5); Plano (1); Fort Worth (1)

Mr. Music and compadres ventured to Zaap Kitchen in Las Colinas. It is in a strip center on MacArthur and has a fancy fast food vibe. I was a little concerned. We ordered lots of food to share! Green Papaya Salad Lao style (more spicy, less sweet), Dancing Lao Riblets, Lao Sausage, Lao Fried Rice, Thai Fried Rice, and Thai Basil Stir Fry (pork). We really liked everything and ordered it all a heat level 5 of 5. I'd say the heat was weak. Fortunately they made us some fresh pik nam pla (Thai chili and fish sauce), which did the trick. The green papaya salad was yummy, tangy, crunchy, and had a little heat! The Lao sausage was plump and juicy loaded with herbal flavor. Both fried rice dishes had chicken, beef, pork, and shrimp. The flavor was great and I think we all preferred the Lao style by a little. The riblets had a nice flavor, a little sweet and they were small but tasty. The Thai Basil Stir Fry had ground pork and a good assortment of veggies with plenty of fresh Thai basil and steamed jasmine rice. It really helped adding pik nam pla to it. The staff was super nice! It's a surprisingly good restaurant. We're all planning to go again and even try their other locations.

- Mr. Music review

Pho Luv ~ Hickory Creek, Texas

Baby Music and I decided to go out for pho. Oddly, the small city of Lake Dallas has two pho restaurants a couple blocks apart. Pho Luv is a little newer on our radar as we've been loyal to our other spot. This is our 3rd time to go and 3rd time to be delighted! 

We started with grilled pork spring rolls. They were fresh and the grilled pork was moist and tasty and warm. Baby Music had Pho Ga with while chicken meat. She loved it and said the broth was extra delicious tonight. I had veggie pho with tofu. The tofu was lightly fried and the veggies (broccoli, bok choy and carrots) were fresh and had just the right bit of crispness. The chicken broth was tasty and noodles perfectly al dente! The pho comes with the customary fixins': Fresh Thai basil, bean sprouts, jalapeno and lemon slices. I squirted plenty of Sriracha sauce on mine and used a little hoisin to dip the tofu and veggies in! In the past, we tried the grilled chicken over rice as well as the grilled pork over rice. Both were so tasty and filling. We still love our other place, but Pho Luv is a great change of pace.

- Mr. Music review

9/26/24 (new entry)

Reservoir Brewing ~ Pueblo West, Colorado

Latest visit: Sep 2024

First visit: Jan 2020

As if to repeat my Pueblo experience from a year ago, I also took Mrs. RJG to Reservoir Brewing for the first time since our initial visit together. No dramatic shootings on this occasion (see below), but today was the Pueblo Chile Festival which curtailed some of our plans (they closed parts of downtown). We weren't excited about the festival itself, having been to plenty of similar over the years. 

In any case, Pueblo West is a peaceful diversion from the Steel City. On this visit, in addition to two excellent beers, we tried their chips and salsas. And added Pueblo Chile's for an "extra kick". He told us they were "medium" heat. Probably a little spicier than that, but a hotter variety would have been welcomed. All the same, the chips were great (perhaps made locally?) and the salsa had a nice sweet tomato taste. The chiles were an awesome addition. Overall we enjoyed a great outing. And then we made the hour journey back home.

---original 11/18/23 review

This is only my second time to Reservoir, the first was with Mrs. RJG. It was the same day Kobe Bryant died. On this particular day, apparently I almost died. I was walking in the same parking lot when this shooting occurred. I was oblivious to it all, until I heard about it later when some ladies were talking in a store about the event. But I did think I heard gunshots and noticed a heightened awareness around me. But it could have been construction too for all I knew. Strange how close we can be to a random event like that. And the time of 10:10 is exactly when I was there, validating what I heard. I was going to the ARC thrift shop nearby.

Which all makes this trip to Pueblo memorable as was the 2020 visit. Inauspicious as it may be. Pueblo West is a separate (and more peaceful) community a few miles west of the main metropolis. The brewery itself is nice, featuring a long bar and plenty of tables. Not a very big place, somewhat cozy actually. They also serve snack food, but since I enjoyed Pass Key earlier for lunch, I stuck to two beers. Friendly service. Nice way to close off my latest Pueblo adventure - more risky than planned.

1/26/20; 11/18/23 (new entry); 9/22/24

Pass Key Restaurant ~ Pueblo, Colorado

Latest visit: Sep 2024 (Northern Ave.)

First visit: Nov 2023 (Northern Ave.)

Founded: 1952

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

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

---original 11/18/23 review

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

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

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

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

The Grille at Blackhawk ~ Blackhawk, California

OK, Mr. Music is getting back into the action. Here's his latest contribution:

We drove out to Blackrock, CA (halfway between Sacramento and San Jose) to meet Lady Music's brother, Music Bro for lunch. Six of us met at The Grille; Music Sis and their mom, Music Mary rounded out our group. We opted to sit outside by the man-made pond with waterfall which was surrounded by restaurants and shops. It could have been beautiful, but the pond wasn't well maintained.. at least that day. From a distance it was pretty! 

We got roasted broccoli with crispy pancetta and Parmesan chips sprinkled with a Worcestshire dressing and crab and shrimp dip with sourdough. Both were good, although the dip was light on sourdough. I ordered the haddock fish and chips with coleslaw. I also ordered a Caesar Salad before I realized I was getting coleslaw. The dish was one big piece of fish, nicely battered with malt vinegar and their homemade tartar sauce. It was good; fresh fish with not too heavy but crunchy batter. The coleslaw was similar to KFC in flavor, which I like! The salad was good too (see photo). Lady Music had Highland Road Benny, their SW take on Eggs Benedict. It had poached eggs smothered with Hollandaise sauce and smoked paprika sprinkled on top, but also had bacon, mushrooms and onion on garlic Texas toast. She said it was pretty good but not what she expected. It looked pretty good to me, but seemed heavy and a bit messy. 

Music Bro had chicken and waffles. He loved them. I have to admit, they looked pretty great! (see photo) Also at our table were batter fried fish tacos, a US Wagyu cheese burger, a Beyond Burger, Southwestern style and beer batter fries. Everyone liked their food, but aside from the chicken and waffles, nothing really stood out. Well, the beer batter fries were pretty yummy! Our waiter was good too! So, all in all, it was a good experience, but nothing special. As a side note, we were also there for the Blackhawk Museum in the same complex and a car show in the parking lot. Both were stunning! The museum had an exhibit of China, Africa, the US old west and an incredible car collection (separate from the car show in the parking lot).

- Mr. Music review

9/18/24 (new entry)

Jet's Pizza ~ regional chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Sep 2024 (Stetson Hills @ Powers)

First visit: Feb 2013 (Fort Worth, TX)

Founded: 1978

HQ: Sterling Heights, MI (Detroit area)

Locations: 425 according to Wikipedia (Jan 2024). They are in 22 states. Our original go-to North Richland Hills location is still open.

I concluded the below update with: "So... unless they move close by to us in the Springs, this might be the last revisit for awhile.". And that exactly happened a few short months ago! Now it's football season and it's time for us to visit our "local" Jet's for the first time. I say local in that the only Springs location to date is east along the Powers corridor, which is about 20 minutes away. I figure they'll open eventually here in mega-chain valley near our house. But at least we can now get in an annual visit.

This time I ordered a large Italian Sausage pizza. I think in the past they only offered their round pizzas with the square cuts. They still offer that but you have to specify. I missed that, but it's OK. I took it home and Mrs. RJG had the comal ready to heat and crisp it up a bit. Everything is as we remembered it. Light cracker-y crispy dough, sweet and delicious tasting tomato sauce, and excellent Italian sausage. Meatball wasn't an option (see below), and I'm not even sure you can get that anywhere these days (at least the ones made in Detroit and imported). In any case we loved it and ate about 60% of it, the rest will be an appetizer tonight. We also enjoyed about 20 minutes of NFL Red Zone and it brought us back to Keller in the mid-2010's, a fun era for sure. Back in the RJG rotation Jet's goes - for the first time since we left Northeast Tarrant in 2018.

---10/9/20 update (Parker, CO)

Yet another revisit coming out of a dentist trip. I was intrigued by their chicken parm Jet Boat, as I was curious what that would be like. I should have guessed. It was chicken pieces cut for pizza - thrown into their bread, and loaded with mozzarella and sauce. Baked. Uhh... that's cheating. It was OK, but I wouldn't get it again. They don't offer their awesome meatball Jet Boat either (see below). So I don't really have a reason to go here, as it's too far to order a pie and bring it home. And I'm not eating the whole thing in the car. So... unless they move close by to us in the Springs, this might be the last revisit for awhile. 

---original 2/20/13 review (North Richland Hills, TX)

If you want to start a burrito chain, then you might consider beginning in Denver. And if you want to launch a new pizza chain, may I perhaps suggest you do so in Detroit? Both Dominos and Little Caesar's trace their roots to the Motor City. And now they have a third major player: Jet's Pizza. Their first expansion into the DFW area was the location on North Tarrant in far North Fort Worth, and that was our first exposure as well. Since that time, they've exploded in the area, with at least eight DFW locations if not more.

We love their Jet Boats, which is basically an inverted pizza. Not a calzone, only in that they use mozzarella rather than ricotta cheese, which is more preferable for our tastes anyway. You get two of those bad boys with every order, and one alone makes a full meal. And their meatballs are fantastic (which are made in Detroit and flown in - inquire first as they don't always have them in stock). But so are all the other ingredients, and I absolutely love the sweet tomato sauce they use. And the outer bread is garlic and parmesan encrusted, and is baked to perfection. Jet's is the latest to utilize the "conveyor belt" style of baking a pizza - similar to how Schlotzsky's and Quizno's toast their sandwiches (except the oven is much larger of course, like a better car wash lol). We also really enjoy their thin crust, which remains crispy even after taking it home. As stated above, the key ingredient to Jet's pizza is their tasty sauce, which is slightly sweet, and penetrates the flavor no matter what the topping. As well, while the Mrs. was out, I had the deep dish (not her favorite style), and was impressed that the pizza was more about the toppings and less about the doughy crust. That's the secret to a high quality Chicago styled pizza. Seems many lose focus on that point. They also have wings and subs which we have yet to try.

Jet's is a take-out only spot, and of course they deliver, but we always pick it up to ensure we obtain the pizza as hot as possible. 

2/20/13 (new entry); 11/9/14; 9/21/15; 10/22/17; 10/9/20; 9/15/24

Fort Worth, TX; North Richland Hills, TX; Parker, CO; Colorado Springs

Cheluna Brewing ~ Aurora, Colorado

First visit: Sep 2024

After lunch at Rosenberg's I went back for a final round of digging. I was feeling a bit tired, which happens when I socialize too much. I needed a nice quiet dark place to chill. What better place than Stanley Marketplace's own brewery Cheluna. They're like the Springs' local Atrevida with a focus on Mexican and Latin culture. I tried two small 10 ounce beers (both great) and took in the moment peacefully. I still had a couple of hours on this hot afternoon to browse another record shop in the center of Denver, before making the hour plus drive back home.

9/14/24 (new entry)

Rosenberg's Deli ~ Aurora, Colorado

First visit: Sep 2024 (Stanley Marketplace)

They have two other locations in Denver: Five Points & Monaco.

There's a new record show up in the Denver area, and I caught wind of it only a couple of weeks ago. So yesterday Saturday I made the drive up to the Stanley Marketplace where the show was being held. I've never been here, but it's a wonderful space renovated from the old Stanley Aviation factory that sits near the also renovated former Stapleton airport area. I wasn't sure when or how I was going to eat lunch on this day, but once I was inside, it became evident I had multiple choices. So after a couple of hours of crate digging, my stomach was growling wildly. I saw the (awesome) sign for Rosenberg's walking in from the parking lot, and that sounded perfect.

You order at the counter to your left as you enter. Be sure to check their bagels first if you are going to get a sandwich because they will ask you which kind. I ordered my trial Jewish Deli sandwich of a hot pastrami. The twist here is that it will be served on a homemade bagel, and I chose sesame. It comes with a full pickle and a bag of Zapp's potato chips (I grabbed the Voodoo Heat, but decided to take it home, so I'll eat that this week sometime). You can get it hot or cold, so I went with the former. It wasn't really hot or toasty. More warm and chewy. I think that was on purpose. The pastrami was not the usual clump of semi-fatty meat but rather slices of lean beef, and was delicious. They don't serve it with brown mustard so I needed to ask for that - and I did later. It's an excellent sandwich and it certainly filled me up though it wasn't gigantic like they can be. Not inexpensive either, so be prepared for that.

If the record show continues here, I'll probably want to try some of the other restaurants. That being said, I will certainly revisit Rosenberg's if given the chance. If I lived in Denver, it would be a rotation place.

9/14/24 (new entry)

Basil & Barley ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Sep 2024

First visit: Nov 2018

This is only my second visit to Basil & Barley, and as you can see, it was nearly six years ago, not long after they opened in fact. Not impressed on that initial try? Not at all - I enjoyed it quite a bit. But circumstances make Basil & Barley a difficult place to visit. If I go on my own for lunch then I will feel compelled to get a beer (it's not a need but a desire). Years ago, one or even two beers in the afternoon did not impact my energy level. Now I get a bit sleepy and I don't want to lose the momentum of the day. So what about dinner with Mrs. RJG? Welll... Mrs. RJG is very picky about pizza, and she doesn't often like that for dinner in any case. I was reticent to take her here because Italian styled Napoletana pizzas were a real mixed bag back in DFW. They started with a bang but it seemed each restaurant lost their luster as time went on. If you have the will and time to research, this blog is filled with places like that: INZO, Cane Rosso, Spin!, Cavalli, Pazzo!, Campania, Apeizza e Vino. The latter three spectacularly crashed and burned, especially Campania (literally). INZO was the only place we continued to visit but we had pivoted away from pizza towards Italian food. So with that backdrop, I knew Basil & Barley would be a tough sell for my better half.

Speaking of sleepy in the afternoon, it was time to celebrate Mr. RJG's 60th birthday! Weeee. I had toyed with the idea of going down to Santa Fe where we had each celebrated our respective 50th birthdays at La Choza. But the timing was all wrong - it's a Wednesday and there was too much going on at work. Plus we just got back from a week long vacation. I wanted to go somewhere that I enjoy, but hadn't been in a long time. I have no desire to spend $200 at a fancy steakhouse, when I can cook a better one at home. The answer? The title of this post. Mrs. RJG agreed and off we went.

Basil & Barley is not too far from our house, a few blocks east from The Promenade shopping area. The restaurant is in a nice setting in a modern strip center. Perhaps too much natural light but one doesn't have to squint while eating here either. On my first visit they served local Deuces Wild beer exclusively. But now they have more variety. Not quite as well researched as Walter's303, but better than most of these kind of places. We each ordered a beer on the lager side, and they weren't cold enough, which is inexcusable really. That didn't get us off to the best start. But we persevered and each ordered pizza. They are just a little bigger than a "individual" pizza, but not large enough for two. We can take home the leftovers (which is exactly what we did). Mrs. RJG asked for the basic margherita and I ordered their spicy offering The Diavola. A few minutes later out came our very-hot-to-the-touch pizzas. I patiently awaited Mrs. RJG's feedback. It was a huge hit! She loved it. Perfect dough, slightly chewy and crispy, not mushy. Great sauce and first class ingredients. Best pizza she's had in town and she wants to go back soon! So you never know... I enjoyed mine as well, exactly for the same reasons.

Into the RJG rotation Basil & Barley goes, delayed by six years perhaps.

11/16/18; 9/11/24 (new entry)

Ongoing update

We just had a landmark moment here at the RJG: Colorado Springs now has more reviews than any other metro area in the country! I'll caveat that quickly by reminding everyone that we only count open restaurants, not including ones that have closed. DFW would still win easily if we counted everything.

---3/21/24

Just wanted everyone to know I added a new page above that outlines the most visited areas of the country that the RJG has written. Check it out!

South Park Brewing ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

First visit: Sep 2024

On this fine Sunday, Mrs. RJG and I decided to visit the local flea market for the first time. It wasn't really our kind of shopping, but we each found a few things to take home and/or resell. After a couple of hours of that and another local antique mall, it was time for lunch, right after the noon hour. There's a new brewery / brewpub in town that I wanted to try, and I was pleasantly surprised Mrs. RJG wanted to join me. The matter is settled.

South Park isn't really new, just new to us denizens of the Springs. They had been located in the small mountain town of Fairplay for about a decade. In talking with the owner, I had mentioned my desire to try them while passing through. But the timing was always wrong. Too early to drink and too far to drive on winding mountain roads. And she said that is what many told them, and thus the decision to move to a much larger and static thirsty populace. So they took over the old Smiling Toad Brewery (who retired last year and is also in this blog) just off the main drag in Old Colorado City. They did a very nice job of sprucing the place up, and adding a menu. As one of the waiters told another group "the food is legit". Cool, that's mighty praise in Hipster talk.

When first walking in, go to the stairs immediately to your left. They have indoor and outdoor seating and a full bar setup. After grabbing a couple of (delicious) beers we proceeded to order. I got the spicy chicken sandwich which is the Nashville Rub variety. Very flavorful, cooked perfectly and crispy. Nice soft bread that was lightly toasted. For the fries I asked for a spicy sauce. They gave me Buldak, a sauce from Korea which we hadn't tried before. More spicy than their Vietnamese Sriracha equivalent with a nice touch of sweet. Great back end heat. We'll have to order that. And yes, the fries were simple but great. Mrs. RJG went with the cheeseburger, known as a Butter Burger (Culver's?). Almost like a Freddy's style, flat with crispy edges. She loved it and even bemoaned that she didn't order a double! Mrs. RJG? You heard it here first, Mrs. RJG wanted a double hamburger. Who knew? Our waitress is the sweetest gal we've met in a long time. Very pretty too. There's hope after all for our youth. And I can't say enough how wonderful the owner was to us. What a nice and positive lady. And I'm sure her co-owner husband is the same, as he was super busy making sure everything ran smoothly.

We even bought a 4 pack on the way out. Yep, South Park won us over big time. Next level experience for us. Into the RJG rotation it goes along with Phantom Canyon for annual splurges.

---9/10/24 (new entry)

Palmer Lake Pub ~ Palmer Lake, Colorado

First visit: Sep 2024

I was working the northern reaches of Colorado Springs on this fine Saturday morning when it was time for lunch. I was in the mood for a hamburger and a beer, as I needed to chill out a bit. I had remembered driving by the Palmer Lake Pub prior, and it looked good, so let's go there.

Parked up front and walked in. Classic bar setup with stools and tables. Very few patrons, but it was early. Grabbed a local beer from nearby Pikes Peak Brewery and proceeded to review the menu. No burgers! What? What kind of pub doesn't have burgers? Well they have sliders but that tells me a different story. Well no big deal, plan B - sandwich. I ordered the Italian Panini. 

It took awhile for me to receive my order but I secretly hoped that's because they were taking the time to properly make my sandwich. And indeed that held true! It was super hot and toasty (toastier than any of the sandwiches from our recent Montana trip). A very filling sandwich and those banana peppers really added a nice flavor. Served with regular potato chips. 

Their beer selection isn't too bad, though not overly distinctive for natives. But if you're touring the area, it's a nice selection of Colorado Springs and Colorado beers.

I'll certainly come back here.

9/7/24 (new entry)

Cerberus Brewing ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Sep 2024

First visit: Jan 2019

It's Labor Day and I had some hobby business to discuss with Dr. Boom. He's buying and suggested Cerberus Brewing. Heck yea - I'm in!

We sat outside on this pleasant sunny Monday and grabbed some beers (me) and bourbon (him) and we enjoyed a three hour conversational lunch. I ordered the Cuban sandwich (no way!), which I don't remember they had from the last time. It's a delicious rendition, and at the smaller size I was expecting from Arelita. The pub fries were good as well. I don't really have Cerberus in the RJG rotation, more because it's a bit of a splurge, but I won't  turn down going here either. One of the Springs better brewpubs.

---original 2/25/23 review

Mrs. RJG is suddenly in the mood for burgers at brewpubs. Well then... I better strike that iron while it's hot! We haven't been here since a year before the pandemic, and I've been wanting to get back. Our first visit was just to try their beer, and two months later we came to eat. They've altered the restaurant a bit since we were last here, and they've scaled down the menu. They were getting a bit too gastropub-y for us. But they're back to what I'd call an upscale brewpub menu.

After settling on a couple of delicious beers (mine a marzen; hers an Italian pilsener), we proceeded to order. She had the OG burger and I went with the smoked brisket burger. We both ordered it well done with pub fries. It was a bit of a wait for our food to come out, and we were hopeful that's because they were cooking our meal properly. And sure enough, we think that's what happened. Perfectly cooked well done burgers, and yet still very juicy! Mrs. RJG loved it, and she's very picky with hamburgers as you all well know. I enjoyed mine immensely too. One condiment I really liked was the garlic mayo which really penetrated through the other flavors including jalapeno and pepper jack cheese. When we had arrived we noticed a large smoker in the parking lot. Sure enough, that's where the pulled brisket is made. Very moist and flavorful. The pub fries are essentially large cut (lightly) fried potato slices. Very filling and I'm glad they only put about 7 or 8 on the plate.

The brewpub has both indoor and outdoor patio seating. It's on the way from downtown Colorado Springs to Old Colorado City, so wheels will be necessary to get here. There's not much else surrounding it, though they're trying to develop the area. It's a spacious place, that I imagine gets insanely crowded on weekend nights. Even on this visit, it was pretty full, and Saturday lunches are often a quiet time. Much busier than our visit last week to Phantom Canyon Brewing, though not sure why other than the latter has been around for much longer.

Another good place to take folks who are looking for more of a "Colorado Springs local" experience.

1/19/19; 3/16/19; 2/25/23 (new entry); 9/2/24

Arelita Cuban Food ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

First visit: Aug 2024

I was still on vacation on Friday and decided to head into town. I was at What's Left Records and the lunch hour had long passed. I was looking for a quick sandwich (familiar theme apparently), not named Subway, and I asked if there was anything nearby. They recommended Arelita, which is right across the street. You would think for as much as I like Cuban's that I might take a couple of minutes and look for a Cuban restaurant!

So I walked (or maybe ran) across Platte, and it's not entirely obvious there's a restaurant here. It looks more like a nightclub from the outside. I opened the door and was warmly greeted with brightly painted walls and Spanish language. Not much English spoken here, but no matter, anyone can point to a menu (which is in English). I went straight for the Cuban sandwich.

While I waited, the server was kind enough to provide me with plantain chips and a green sauce to dip it in. I think it was avocado based, but I liked it. A few minutes later out came this mammoth sandwich. I was expecting the usual size, especially at this later hour. Oh well, guess I need to eat it then huh? It was loaded with meats inside of a wonderful lightly toasted bread. Delicious. Into the RJG rotation Arelita goes.

8/30/24 (new entry)

Chomps Deli ~ Glenwood Springs, Colorado

First visit: Aug 2024

The original plan was to visit Montrose (we were there last year as documented in the RJG) with side trips to Ouray and Telluride, but we decided to make that a separate trip, probably next year sometime. US-50 is still a mess, so perhaps by next year all will be ready.

So we decided to head on home. It's been a minute since we last journeyed this far west on I-70, arguably the most beautiful Interstate drive in America (though a bit stressful when considering the sheer amount of traffic). We picked up the highway in Rifle, and the drive from Vernal to there was also pretty. We arrived in Glenwood Springs at about 11:00, perfect time for a quick lunch.

Chomps seemed to be the local favorite so we went there. Sitting near downtown, it's relatively easy to get to and park despite all the construction. Glenwood Springs always seems congested to me, and I've felt that way since my first visit there in 1994.

Mrs. RJG ordered the Turkey and Swiss sub with a side of their homemade chicken green chili. As noted, we went to four different sandwich places on this visit, and we both declared this the best of them all. She also loved the green chili. I went with the Italian (of course I did). Really good spicy sandwich with peppers, brown mustard, and nicely heated too.

Easy recommendation. 

And that concludes our RJG 2024 journey!

8/29/24 (new entry)

Vernal Brewing Company ~ Vernal, Utah

First visit: Aug 2024

If one looks only at a map you might think you're in for a slog of a drive going from Montpelier to Vernal, but that happily is not the case. It's a wonderful journey with many visual delights. We did detour through Rock Springs, which is a tough sell for tourists (and a windy one), but we had a few things to do there.

We decided to stay at a classic 60s motel in Vernal, and checked into the Dinosaur Inn. It was originally built in 1929 as cabins, but was clearly refurbished in the 50s especially when you see the giant dinosaur model outside (it was called Dine-A-Ville Motel then). Only thing missing is the outdoor pool where the slide seemingly outlets right onto the freeway (lol). One of those "down and out rooms" motels with two large queen beds, and lots of flies. The latter a special feature of Vernal apparently since they joined us for dinner too. Maybe that's why dinosaurs are extinct?

For dinner, we found another brewpub right down the block. Utah still has alcohol hang-ups but they're getting better - ever so slowly. You can't order anything stronger than 5% on tap, but ordering higher gravity beer cans onsite is no problem (what???). Just don't go looking for those higher ABV cans at convenience or grocery stores. I had one tap beer and one canned beer. Mrs. RJG just had one from a can. 

As per my protocol, if I see Italian on a non-Italian menu, I tend to order it anyway as it seems to be better. In this case I got the baked pasta with Italian sausage. Very good. Super hot temperature and flavorful. Mrs. RJG went with the blackened salmon tacos which she loved.

Great service as well. Would definitely come back here.

It appears I may have been legally drunk since Utah considers .0000000000000001% as bombed. But somehow I managed to get our SUV back safely in the quarter mile I had to navigate through the tough streets of Vernal.

8/28/24 (new entry)

TacoTime ~ regional chain : Montpelier, Idaho

Latest visit: Aug 2024 (Montpelier, Idaho)

First visit: Sep 1998 (Boise, Idaho)

Locations: There are two TacoTime's. The original is based around the Seattle area. The other TacoTime (same brand) was purchased by Kahala, and that's the focus here. The website is difficult to navigate but they thrive in Big Sky country.

This is where we had lunch on Monday in Bozeman, but we sadly learned they were closing down the location in the next couple of months. That was going to be our sole visit, but we were struggling to find an early lunch spot in Montpelier. Yet another beautiful drive landed us in this pleasant town. I wanted to try the Arctic Circle chain but Mrs. RJG kept "making a face". Following her instincts, she wanted tacos again. Something light yet filling. Otherwise we would have had to wait for other places to open at 11:00 and we needed to get a move on.

This TacoTime sits in a gas station, so Mrs. RJG insisted on the drive through. We grabbed a bag and parked under a leafy tree and happily devoured. Interesting to note that this location did not have their hottest sauce which is called 5 Alarm. But they did have the next one down which was sufficient.

In an earlier review I had mentioned we enjoyed Taco John's more. But on these two visits (including Bozeman), we enjoyed TacoTime more. Hot temperature, great tasting meat, excellent hot sauce. At close to $3 a taco it's easy to see how they would struggle to compete. We rarely go due to availability, so it's fun to visit on occasion.

---9/25/22 review (Casper, WY)

Well look at this. All these years and I never added TacoTime (stylized as such) to the RJG. I first heard about this chain while still in high school actually. My one and only official Uncle (& Aunt) were in Dallas around 1982 or so to visit the fam damily. In those days I enjoyed a "late night taco" at Taco Bueno near my high school. I was always hungry it seemed. I'm pretty sure I cover this phenomena under that chain's entry on the RJG. A chain we don't have here in Colorado, but we did just before we moved here and closed unfortunately. My Uncle said he liked to have tacos once in awhile (which he pronounced as "tack-ohs"), so I took him on one of my excursions. He enjoyed it and told me that I would really like TacoTime, a chain he was familiar with in his hometown of Seattle.

It wasn't until 1998 that I finally had the opportunity to try TacoTime. I had just secured a DBA consulting gig at Boise State University, and there was one walking distance from the campus. Perfect - so roughly on day 3 of my first week, I wandered over and enjoyed a handful. Very different tasting than Taco Bueno, but yes, essentially the same kind of gringo crunchy tacos I've long enjoyed. I probably had them once a week for my entire three month tenure there.

When driving around Casper I noticed that they had a TacoTime. The only other one we've been to in recent times - and the only location in Colorado - is way out west in Delta. And we have stopped in for a snack when visiting Grand Junction. I certainly didn't want to waste our one dinner at TacoTime - but maybe they're open for breakfast the next morning? And sure enough, they were. Now sometimes these fast food places won't serve all their menu at any time. So we went, and yep, you can get crunchy beef tacos anytime. Perfect. We just wanted a light snack to start the day - and decided we'll do this instead of the bagels or whatever at the "free buffet" breakfast at the hotel, which is usually a questionable activity to begin with.

Only problem is - they had to cook the meat. As could be expected, they mostly had only breakfast ready to go, but we didn't care - it was going to be a long drive home, so we'll just wait. Not long after came our fresh tacos. How do they stack up against the competition? Oh - they're good - but not great. On this visit they needed to drain the meat a bit more. And the Mrs. said it needed more salt. They're not very strong on flavor to begin with, sort of putting them in the same league as West Texas' Taco Villa. But usually the salsa will come to the rescue. And those sauces are good - but their "super hot" or whatever they call it is what most people would call "medium". We still had a good time doing this, and likely will always stop by one if we have the chance. Brings back memories.

TacoTime was founded in 1960 in Eugene, Oregon. There are many locations throughout the Northwest including Canada. It looks like they're finally beginning to expand, with one location each in Illinois and Virginia. A positive sign. According to Wikipedia, they currently have 226 locations total, with only the one in Colorado.

9/9/98; 7/4/10; 9/23/11; 8/1/14; 7/6/19; 9/25/22 (new entry); 8/28/24

Boise, ID; Delta, CO; Salem, OR; The Dalles, OR; Beaverton, OR; Pocatello, ID; Missoula, MT; Casper, WY; Montpelier, ID

Seattle area locations we've been: Lynwood; Federal Way

The Local Grind ~ Thayne, Wyoming

First visit: Aug 2024

The next morning we had the unique situation of a coffee pot that didn't work (user error I think). And the office didn't open until 9, where they have coffee in the lobby. We want our morning cuppa joe, so now what? As noted, Etna doesn't have anything, so I looked to the next town south and saw rave reviews for The Local Grind. Perfect.

I was greeted by a very pretty and friendly lady named Katie (in the drive through - which is all that exists), who was also name checked in Google Reviews. I ordered a mocha for me and a vanilla latte for Mrs. RJG. Drove them back and awaited my wife's verdict. She loved it! In fact she has a new item to seek for comparison. My mocha was great as well, not too sweet as they sometimes can be (cough, Starbucks). 

If needing coffee and you're in this area, go to The Local Grind.

8/28/24 (new entry)

Melvin Brewing ~ Alpine, Wyoming

First visit: Aug 2024

After leaving Idaho Falls we stopped in to work Rigby and Rexburg, before heading out for perhaps our best afternoon drive of the trip. Didn't mention this prior, but we had great weather throughout. We went to Victor and then back over the Wyoming border to Jackson. By the late afternoon we headed to Alpine to determine the final steps of the day. I booked a cabin room at the Wolf Den Lodge in Etna, a town that seems to exist in theory more than reality. Perfect in-the-woods motel, and would love to stay there again (oh, and has a liquor store next door complete with craft beers - what else do you need?). Since Etna has nothing to offer, we stayed in Alpine for dinner before going "home". It took awhile to figure out where we wanted to eat, and for whatever reason, Melvin was hiding from us in plain sight. Once I put in the right search engine word, Melvin came up, and then it was a no brainer. We're familiar with their beers since they are available here, and have been for many years. So let's try their brewpub.

It's a large place on the outskirts of town near a river with mountain views. A beautiful and tranquil setting. After receiving our beers, we ordered. I went with the Hey Zeus (lol) which is a spicy double cheeseburger with ghost pepper cheese, homemade sauce, well done. Had tater tots which is more customary here. It was delicious. Mrs. RJG had the Chicken Katsu with kimchi. Crispy on the edges she noted.

Definitely a place we'd return to if we're back here again.

8/27/24 (new entry)

The Sandwich Tree ~ Idaho Falls, Idaho

First visit: Aug 2024

After a few local stops in the morning, we noticed that The Sandwich Tree opens very early for lunch, It was about 9:30 and we were hungry, so let's go there. We saw the place driving to our hotel the night before and saw some fellas walking out with big ol' sandwiches. Seemed like the perfect lunch spot.

The location is great, sitting in an old mid century building on a corner intersection (see photo). Kind of reminded me of the old Cero's Heroes spot in Grapevine (TX) that we have deep in this blog. Definitely an old school sandwich shop.

At first Mrs. RJG wasn't keen on it since the bread seemed soft to her, but she got into it as she chomped through her meal, noting it never got soggy (which she hates). I didn't note what I had, but almost assuredly it was an Italian of some sort, which is my trial sandwich. It reminded me some of The Breadboard in Buffalo, Wyoming. My voice notes said that I enjoyed it but not a sandwich I would crave. Translation: It wasn't sloppy enough for me! Anyone can make a sandwich at home, the key is "the works" on top as we have noted many times prior. The Sandwich Tree wins every year the Best Sandwich of Idaho Falls. I would certainly add it to the RJG rotation if I lived there. And try a few different offerings.

You can even like them on Fac Ebook (blow up their photo provided here)

8/27/24 (new entry)

Snow Eagle Brewing & Grill ~ Idaho Falls, Idaho

Latest visit: Aug 2024

First visit: Jul 2014

As you can see, we've been here before. Idaho Falls is the only intersection between our 2014 and 2024 trips to the area. And I wanted to revisit Snow Eagle recalling it as one of our better meals of that trip.

Snow Eagle sits downtown, near the river, and offers free parking. I went for the ribeye with a rosemary glaze. Very flavorful and more saucy than I expected. I ordered it medium well and received it between medium rare and medium, which I kind of expected. Fine with me. The garlic mashed potatoes were awesome. As was the corn and the salad with an excellent Italian dressing. No idea what I ate here 10 years ago, but it certainly was just as good. One thing you'll note about Snow Eagle is the decidedly Japanese tilt to their menu. And that's because one of the owners is from there, and apparently they offer a sushi bar on occasion. Not this night however, as two of our neighbors expressed disappointment at the lack thereof. With that in mind, Mrs. RJG ordered the teriyaki noodles with chicken. I tried some and we both agreed it was delicious. We also had two beers each and they were great.

After this we enjoyed a nice riverwalk.

Maybe in 10 years we'll be back again...

7/31/14; 8/26/24 (new entry)

Espresso & Ice Cream House ~ West Yellowstone, Montana

First visit: Aug 2024

We continued to work Bozeman through lunch and ate at a familiar taco joint for lunch that I will cover later (and explain why). I've mentioned this before, but there's not a better feeling in the world than enjoying a Monday on vacation while still employed. And the freedom feeling is only expanded when in a state like Montana. Ahhhhh. And I still have a full week to go. Yaay.

Our first stunning drive of the trip was from Bozeman to West Yellowstone. We decided to stop for ice cream and walk the downtown area. There are plenty of options, and we settled on Espresso & Ice Cream House. A good choice. I had the Cream and Coffee Fudge ice cream (how does that sound?). Mrs. RJG had the Moose Tracks. The ice cream is made by Wilcoxson's of Billings which we'd never had before (since 1912 apparently). There were allegedly homemade ice cream parlors in the area, but since we hadn't tried this either, it was fine for us. Nice place too. 

8/26/24 (new entry)

Thai Basil ~ Bozeman, Montana

First visit: Aug 2024

Now the scenery is beginning to improve as we headed west through Montana. We both love beautiful drives and we knew the next few days would fulfill that. I guess technically we did visit Bozeman back in 2000, but it was a very quick stop and I don't feel like I got to know the city at all. We definitely spent quality time here for this visit.

After checking into our hotel, it was time for dinner. Mrs. RJG was giving me a raft full of crap because I hadn't considered Thai food yet. You know how she is about that. So on this Sunday night I acquiesced. I was hoping for a brilliant Baramee experience like we had in Kansas City last year. 

No such luck. I would place Thai Basil in the "American Thai food" category. Though there were positives to be found. 

The restaurant is quite large sitting in a strip mall, and is very bright with the evening sun. As you walk in, you'll note a large buffet setup. This comes free with your meal. I made a salad with Italian dressing and it was actually quite good - maybe the best part of the meal. Not a good sign for a Thai restaurant. Mrs. RJG enjoyed the fried sweet potatoes and bananas. Haha - I'm listening to my voice text (how else do you think I remember all this? lol) and I'm hearing a screaming baby. Yep, it was that kind of night. They did have local craft beer at least, so that helped numb the outing. 

I did get my minced chicken Thai stir fry, but they cheated and didn't use ground chicken, just chopped chicken breast. Sauce was watery. Plenty of rice and was cooked properly. Another positive was the copious use of fresh basil. Waaay too many vegetables. A garden full of them and not chopped or diced finely. Definitely grazing in the backyard here. No Thai chilies. Level 4 (out of 5) was "medium" at best. Very expensive. All in all it was OK, but I wouldn't come back here even if I resided in Bozeman.

Mrs. RJG didn't ask for Thai food the rest of the trip. :-)

8/25/24 (new entry)

TopZ Sandwich Company ~ Billings, Montana

First visit: Aug 2024 (Main St.)

There are two other locations in Billings.

The next Sunday morning we attended a yard sale that proved to be fruitful for my record hobby. That took some time to go through and so we were still in Billings by lunch. We arrived at TopZ as they opened. This is a local chain, though it seemed more like a regional chain to me. This location is drive through only.

Mrs. RJG had the "Ham Slamwich" and I went with the "Italian Stallion". Both were very good sandwiches with great bread and plenty of meat. Good seasoning as well. Comes with garlic chips which are really delicious. Like corn chips but with a unique flavor. And you get a lot for your money! Plenty of food to hold us until dinner.

I'd definitely come back here as well if in Billings again (see Montana Brewing Company review).

8/25/24 (new entry)

Montana Brewing Company ~ Billings, Montana

First visit: Aug 2024

We visited Sheridan, Wyoming and then headed for the great state of Montana. We haven't been to the state since 2014, a trip I regretted not documenting for the RJG real time. And as noted before, this was all new territory for us, as our last trip included Libby, Kalispell, Missoula, and Butte. In fact, we had only been to Montana one other time way back in 2000, which was my first visit ever. There we covered Livingston, Helena, and Great Falls. 

So yes, I'd never been to Billings prior. We "worked" late this Saturday evening going to 7:00. After that we checked into our digs, an historic downtown place called Northern Hotel. I love old hotels like this, Mrs. RJG not so much. We were gifted a top floor room with nice views - well as nice a view as Billings will afford lol.

Right down the block is Montana Brewing Company, an old-fashioned elaborate brewpub like we used to see in the 90's and 00's. Many of these have gone the way of the dodo giving way to either the corporate big dogs or the small neighborhood brewery with food trucks nearby (if you're lucky). But Montana Brewery brought me back to the mid 90s, a time I wouldn't mind being frozen in. In fact, there are many parallels here with Colorado Springs' own Phantom Canyon Brewing that we highly praise here at the RJG.

It was late so we decided to split a cheeseburger with mozzarella cheese, well done, and we enjoyed it. The fries were "too mushy" however. I also went for the flatbread pizza. A bit on the cracker-y side honestly (no Joe Benny's) but I still liked it. Excellent beer as to be expected. The place was very popular and it felt alive. Terrible music of course - as per protocol. Why don't they just play country? Goes with the atmosphere. Leave the indie pop behind. Ugh.

I'd go back here in a heartbeat. But will I ever be back in Billings? Probably not but you never know.

We closed the night at the hotel bar known as TEN with one beer each. We crashed quickly after that.

8/24/24 (new entry)

The Breadboard Sub Shop ~ Buffalo, Wyoming

First visit: Aug 2024

They also have locations in Lander, Riverton, and Cody.

We continued north the next day and after thrifting at a few shops, it was time for lunch. Once we left Casper most of the trip was entirely new to us, including northern Wyoming. Very expansive landscape with fields of golden wheat and ranches. Peaceful though a touch boring. Buffalo is a nice town and we spent some time in the historic downtown. We saw The Breadboard driving in and it looked perfect so let's go there. It's a large place with a lot of employees, so they obviously are doing very well. Nice to see after our Casper experience. 

I went for the 8" Boxcar which is their Italian meat variant. Excellent, great bread texture, with a nice Italian dressing and green peppers. Mrs. RJG went with the 6" meatball sub, she also loved the bread. We both liked the meatball flavor, not sure of its origin, certainly not homemade. They were too perfectly round lol. She wished it was a bit hotter in temperature. Sauce was OK. She loved the side pasta salad. If I'm back in Buffalo, I would certainly come back here.

8/24/24 (new entry)

The Fort Saloon N' Eatery ~ Casper, Wyoming

First visit: Aug 2024

We didn't get any further than Casper on Day 1, as our thrifting activities took us to the dinner hour. We checked in at the Quality Inn, the same place we had stayed two years prior. And it appears not a single update has been made since. Quite a tired motel really, but still not unpleasant. Where to eat? Well look at this - The Fort is walking distance, right next door in fact. Looked good on paper so let's try it. For a Friday night it sure was a lonely experience. The place is very large, two stories in fact, and they welcome large groups. But on this night there were a few patrons at the bar and a handful of diners at the tables. It almost felt Warsaw Pact European in a quiet, dark restaurant kind of way. Oftentimes meals in places like this are a disaster and we debated leaving. But we decided to tough it out. The menu is large, another red flag, but we persevered and ordered our beers and dinners. 

And we were rewarded with a very good meal! It's got to be tough to maintain a quality kitchen when there are so few patrons, but pride won over emotion in this case. Mrs. RJG went with the quarter pound cheeseburger - kiddie size she called it - but she loved it, cooked well done with excellent fries and hot temperature. I went more fancy and ordered a dish called Redneck Reggiano - the Redneck referring to the Italian sausage which had a nice kick to it. The red sauce was on the sweet side with some garlic. Very flavorful. Too much stewed whole tomatoes though, sort of clumped up the dish a bit. Nice garlic bread and the penne was cooked properly.

Overall a pleasant experience though it felt a bit on the sad side. Seems they will be going out of business soon. That's too bad.

8/23/24 (new entry)

Taco John's ~ regional chain : Cheyenne, Wyoming

Latest visit: Aug 2024 (Pershing Blvd.)

First visit: May 1989 (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)

HQ: Cheyenne, WY (Founded: 1969)

Locations: In 23 states (up one from last year). 15 in Colorado, though none near us. There are none in Texas. It's tough to know how many total as they only show the city, which would require a further deep dive that takes too much time. Their website says "nearly 400 locations". This data is from 2023. Their website has only gotten worse and allows you only to see what they have within a certain mile radius. Why do they do that?

Mrs. RJG and I were back on the road for our first trip of 2024! That Phantom Canyon visit in July was the last time either of us stepped foot into a restaurant before this trip. We've pretty much stopped going out. It's just not worth the cost anymore unfortunately. But since we're traveling we have no choice, so let's see how it goes. We're on our way to Montana, and why not stop at one of our favorite taco shops on the way. I always like to visit Taco John's in their home city if I can. We've been to this location at least twice before. The changes on this visit included a new touch screen "self service" ordering system. I don't mind, but Mrs. RJG says those are intimidating to her. And the better news is this location had the green sauce in plastic containers. Yaay! Though I must say it wasn't as spicy as before. I'm guessing they're made at each location - or at least centrally to an area - so that could change with each visit. Otherwise our visit was similar to the below. A good light lunch to start the trip...

---10/7/23 update (Colby, Kansas)

After 9/11 hit, like many Americans, we weren't anxious to hop on an airplane. And fortunately my job didn't need me to at that time, though I was on planes far more for work back then. In November, we decided to visit Mr. RJG's Official parents in Dallas. It was to become known later by Mrs. RJG and I as "the taco trip" as I plotted many tacos spots along the way. Again, these are not authentic Mexican tacos, but rather the fast food variety that proliferated throughout the Midwest from the 60s through the 80s. We'll talk more about this as we go. They make perfect short snacks though, and oftentimes we'll just get two tacos each - maybe three. 

And that's what we did here, as our time was already shrinking since we hit the Central time zone. Prior we went to Burlington where the thrift shop was closed ("only open on the 3rd Saturday of the month" - what?). And our stop in Goodland was fruitless, though there was a fun car festival we briefly checked out.

The tacos here were excellent as usual, though it appears they have removed the hot green sauce, which is a complete sin. It was one of the primary drivers for going here! So boo-hiss. Why do they always remove the menu or condiment items that are great? Oh well... I'm sure we'll be back at a Taco John's if we're near one. We've been to this Colby location a few times since it was part of our "Denver townhome" route from 2009 to 2012. See more info below.

---9/25/22 update (Cheyenne - State 219)

Well you had to see this coming. Sure - on the same day we had breakfast at Taco Time, we decided to have lunch at one of the Taco John's in Cheyenne. This is their headquarters and it just seems like a natural thing to do. And they're definitely better than Taco Time. The meat has more flavor and their salsa's are much better - especially their spicy green. Always worth at least one stop per road trip if you can find them.

---original 9/27/20 review (Scottsbluff, Nebraska) 

Anyone who has followed this blog from its inception will know the RJG loves old school American styled crunchy tacos. It was one of the impetuses to start this blog in the first place. Most of what I have to say about the topic can be found on the Taco Casa (Texas) posting. 

Taco John's was like one of the many taco joints I first discovered while traveling around with my Old Man in my teens. This particular trip would be the last we did together. By 1989, I was already established in the workforce (I was 24 then), and was saving vacation for my first European month long backpack adventure, scheduled for the following year. But I had to use one week - you know, the use it or lose it policy. You could only accrue so much. As I was pondering that decision, Dad stated he had a two day convention in Chicago that he needed to attend, and wanted to drive it (from Dallas where we both lived at the time). I had never been to most of the Midwest at that point, so I took him up on his offer, and we made a full week of it. It was a fantastic trip and a great way for us to close that chapter of our lives.

On the way back from Chicago, we took a circuitous route up to Milwaukee and had a very nice German lunch. We then ventured across the southern part of Wisconsin, and stopped to buy cheese in Belmont. Eventually we found our way to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Dad wanted nothing more than a small portion of fried chicken, which he got (don't remember where). And right next to our motel was a Taco John's. New chain to me!

Like all quality fast food taco chains, the mush meat is the secret. And in Taco John's case, it's not even greasy, something which probably has lead to their great success. And it's very flavorful. And you can get said meat in burritos and nachos as well. And they've kept up with the times and also offer grilled chicken and steak. And their "fries" are of the Idaho styled tater tots, a popular tradition in Big Sky country. The other great aspect of Taco John's is their hot green sauce. It pulls no punches and is clearly made from hot chiles. They have a mild red too, which is decent but lacks the flavor a mild needs to be effective. 

Taco John's has enjoyed immense regional success. Though based in Wyoming, their core base is in the upper Midwest states like Minnesota, Iowa, and the Dakotas. They are in Colorado too, focusing primarily on the northern I-25 corridor, starting in north Denver. When the RJG lived in Colorado Springs from 1993 to 1995, we had three locations here (that I enjoyed), but they are long gone. No word if they will ever dip back down to the Denver Tech Center, Castle Rock, and eventually to us. No need really - gives us an excuse to stop while on the road!

On this particular visit, Mrs. RJG and I were heading back home from Rapid City, South Dakota, and Scottsbluff was the perfect lunch destination (we also loaded up on local Nebraska beers and hit a thrift shop or three). And unlike the Taco John's in Wyoming and South Dakota, this location was open for dine-in, which was nice. Everything tasted just as we remembered it. And Taco John's should also be commended for their usually clean restaurants.

5/27/89; 1/15/94; 2/5/95; 3/25/97; 8/22/00; 11/17/01; 2/10/02; 1/11/03; 9/18/09; 5/2/10; 1/15/11; 4/17/12; 5/11/14; 7/6/19; 9/27/20 (new entry); 9/25/22; 9/30/23; 8/23/24

Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Colorado Springs; Cheyenne, Wyoming;  Colby, Kansas; Rapid City, South Dakota; Scottsbluff, Nebraska