RJG Rotation

I refer to the RJG Rotation often but have never really clarified what it means.

In effect it represents restaurants that I would like to return to at least once a year. As time has marched on, once a year is usually the only frequency in which I go to most of these restaurants. Much of this has to do with eating better, which means eating at home. Other factors include expense (which, as everyone knows, has gone beyond the reach of normalcy) as well as interest level. But the fire to try new places is still there! And, the purpose of the topic here, to revisit places we really enjoy.

For the inaugural entry (and I will attempt to update this annually), I will highlight what is currently in rotation, and where I plan to visit at least once in 2025. Almost all of these are in Colorado Springs just because of the logistics. There are a couple of outliers as well. I do see adding more in Denver and Pueblo soon, and I will explain why when I'm ready, but for now Denver only has a couple of places listed. This list is highly fluid, so changes happen often. I will also include the first year the restaurant (or food truck) was included. Some of these we'd been to prior but they weren't rotation restaurants. We moved to Colorado Springs in 2018, so many start there. Some followed us from DFW, so they go back even further.

(all Colorado Springs unless noted)

Schlotzsky's (1995) The oldest rotation place. Started eating there regularly in Denver and just kept going wherever we moved.

Freddy's Steakburgers (2009) Great example of the first paragraph. I went on Jan. 1, and that was my sole visit all year.

Fuzzy's Taco Shop (2011)

La Choza - Santa Fe, NM (2014) 2020 notwithstanding due to Chancellor Wuhan's dictatorship.

Del Taco (2018) They moved out of DFW only a few years prior or this would be older.

Phantom Canyon Brewing (2018)

Quijotes Mexican (2018)

Josh & Johns Ice Cream (2018)

Colorado Creamery (2018)

Walter's303 Pizzeria (2018)

Joey's Pizza (2018)

Zapata Taco Shop (2019)

The Brass Tap (2019)

Taste of Philly (2020)

Parry's Pizza (2020)

Culver's Hamburgers (2021)

Birdcall Chicken (2021)

South Jersey Subs (2021)

Sugarlump Ice Cream - Westcliffe (2021)

In-N-Out Burger (2022) - Had to wait until they opened in Colorado.

Whataburger (2022) - Had to wait until they opened in Colorado pt. 2.

Leon Gessi Pizza (2022)

Luigi's Italian (2022)

Bingo Burger (2022)

Back East Bar & Grill (2022)

Mollica's Deli (2022)

Granelli's Pizza - Castle Rock (2022)

Valentina's - Santa Fe, NM (2022)

Slice 420 Pizza (2023)

Dr. Taco (2023)

Mission BBQ (2023)

Oliver's Deli (2023)

Chiltepin Mexican (2023)

Dave's Hot Chicken (2023)

Cogstone Brewing (Pizza) (2023)

Pass Key Italian - Pueblo (2023)

Glacier Ice Cream - Castle Rock (2023)

Quincys Steakhouse - Florence (or other mountain towns) (2023)

Wayback Burgers - Woodland Park (2024)

Daddy's Chicken Shack (2024)

Tacos del Gordo (2024)

South Park Brewing (2024)

Basil & Barley (2024)

Jet's Pizza (2024) Welcome back to the Rotation! Had to wait for them to open here.

Papa's Pizza (2024)

Thai Boran - Albuquerque, NM (2024)

Blake's Lotaburger - New Mexico (2024) Lot of fits and starts with this chain, but added back.

The below fell out of the RJG Rotation in 2024

Colorado Mountain Brewing (2016-2024). They'll probably get a revisit anyway since they're so close. We started going there on our annual trips to Colorado Springs before moving here. There are better breweries here though. It's a tourist restaurant, but a good one.

Omelets Etc (2018-2024). They should be better. Never hot enough.

Dog Haus Biergarten (2022-2024). I had lost interest but they just closed our location anyway.

El Padrino Mexican (2019-2024). Slippage in quality.

Chick Fil-A (2018-2023). They weren't a rotation place in Texas. I like them, but not mandatory.

Five Guys Burgers (2007-2023). I went way too long with this chain going back to my time working in Reston, Virginia. Their prices today are more than a steakhouse. Ridiculous for a fast food restaurant.

Jersey Mike's (2005-2023). Another chain I went too long with starting back when I had an office in Las Colinas, Texas. I hold them personally accountable for the "unearned tip" idea, something they started doing back in 2016. Now their sandwiches have become a victim of shrinkflation, and their employees seem to be stoned all the time. I'll reconsider re-adding back at another time.

Trivelli's Subs (2020-2023). Asian run Philly Steak and Italian sub place. They're very good but not essential.

Senor Manuel's (2018-2023). Too much heavy food for us at this stage. Good place though. We'll be back.

Restaurants or places under consideration for annual visits

Some of these get annual visits anyway, but I don't make a concerted effort to do so.

Abby's Irish Pub; Arelita Cuban; Samich Shack; Public House; Sonora's Taco Shop; Cheba Hut; Erickberto's; L&L Hawaiian; Rosie's Diner; Front Range BBQ; East Coast Deli; Bonchon; El Chapin; Wooglin's; Rizuto's Ice Cream; Zesty Thai; Roman Villa; Western Omelette; Schnitzel Fritz; Ted's Montana; The Loop (Manitou Springs); Qdoba; Rib & Chop House; Biaggi's; First Watch Cafe; Skirted Heifer; Wade's Cafe; Parkway Tavern; Gunther Toody's; Jose Muldoon's; Old Chicago

And... just about all the local breweries lol. Not enough time for them all though. And many are closing. :-(

The list is also very long for Denver and Pueblo. I feel like next year some of these will be new for the Rotation. More to come on that.