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

Latest visit: Oct 2024

First visit: Mar 2002 (Lynwood, WA)

Founded: 1969 

HQ: Portland, OR

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lynwood, WA; Banff, AB; Colorado Springs

Yolanda's Tacos ~ Castle Rock, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2024

First visit: May 2014 (DTC - now closed)

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

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

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

Burger Theory ~ Centennial, Colorado

First visit: Oct 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

10/26/24 (new entry)

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

Latest visit: Oct 2024

First visit: Jun 2009

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

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

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

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

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

Abby's Irish Pub ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

First visit: Oct 2024

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

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

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

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

10/26/24 (new entry)

Piglatin Cocina ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

First visit: Oct 2024

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

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

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

10/25/24 (new entry)

Back East Bar & Grill ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2024

First visit: Jun 2022

Other location: Monument

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

---7/31/23 update

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

---original 6/26/22 review

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

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

S. S. Subs ~ Widefield, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

Papa's ~ Colorado chain : Colorado Springs

First visit: Oct 2024 (Northside)

Other locations: Colorado Springs (Austin Bluffs); Florence

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

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

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

10/24/24 (new entry)

Northern Cafe ~ Cerritos, California

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

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

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

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

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

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

- Mr. Music review

The Bagel Deli ~ Denver, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2024

First visit: Sep 1994

Founded: 1967

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

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

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

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

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

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

Firehouse On The Run ~ Black Forest, Colorado

First visit: Oct 2024

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

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

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

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

10/12/24 (new entry)

Black Forest Brewing ~ Black Forest, Colorado

Latest visit: Oct 2024 (Black Forest)

First visit: Dec 2018 (Black Forest)

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

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

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

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

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

Iron Tree Restaurant & Funky Town Brewery ~ Florissant, Colorado

First visit: Oct 2024

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

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

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

10/5/24 (new entry)