Ted's Montana Grill ~ national chain : Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Dec 2024 (Promenade)

First visit: Nov 2022 (Promenade)

HQ: Atlanta (founded 2002)

Locations: 38 including 7 in Colorado (-1 from our last update). They're in 16 states but not Texas.

It's time for Mr. RJG's Official Mom's birthday dinner! 86 years young, we had to miss last year's celebration as she was recovering from surgery. The plan all along was to come to Ted's Montana, and it was her special request to come here after cancelling out last year. I called ahead to see if it was crowded, given the restaurant anchors a very busy Christmas shopping center. "Not at all" the voice back assured me. So we showed up around 5:30 and were seated promptly. It was certainly a lively restaurant just not packed as it would have been every year prior. No question inflation driving many holiday dinners back home. We ordered a bottle of their house chardonnay (Bison Ridge), which is very good, and at $33 didn't seem like a ripoff. 

For dinner, Official Mom went with the Filet, garlic mashed potatoes with brown gravy, and asparagus. Mrs. RJG had the NY Strip with a baked potato and asparagus. And I had the Bison Filet, garlic mashed potatoes, and a cup of their Bison chili (see below). All of it - and I mean all of it - came out perfect. Everyone was satisfied. Official Mom ate every bite, quite an accomplishment for her age! Mrs. RJG was thrilled her steak was well done yet still flavorful. And I love the lean tenderness and flavor of buffalo meat.

At $200 including tip, it actually felt like a splurge meal that was worth the money, especially these days. I think that's what it would have cost us had we gone to Shake Shack or Five Guys instead, minus the wine of course. We're so out of whack right now. In any case, Ted's Montana continues to ignore recent trends, and offers a quality dine experience. Good on them!

---original 11/26/22 review

I'd heard of Ted's Montana Grill in my business travels throughout the US, but never actually went there, though I seem to recall one time where it was planned but we dined elsewhere (this was in Detroit circa 2007). Mrs. RJG was in the mood for a burger, and she'd heard that Ted's was one of the best in town - from a neighbor I believe. Ah, why not? So on this fine Saturday we sauntered over for lunch (not too far from where we reside), hoping not to battle the Christmas buying crowd. It wasn't too bad and we found a parking spot nearby. Walking in, the restaurant is well appointed and is made to look like an old fashioned western spot shoehorned into the main drag. Cozy booths with mood lighting enhance the effect. 

Despite having a full bar area, their taps are lacking of craft beers. They have their own beer made by New Belgium called Ted's Big Sky Lager. So I ordered that. Not too bad - refreshing, but very light if looking for more heft in your beer. Didn't think New Belgium would make something this light.

We went straight to order. Mrs. RJG asked for the bacon cheeseburger (beef) with 50/50 fries and onion rings. And I ordered a regular cheeseburger (with swiss) with a cup of their bison red chili. They brought out the latter first, topped with onions, cheese, and jalapeno's. Wow - what a great chili! The bison is soft and velvety. Very flavorful. I'm getting a bowl next time. Mrs. RJG loved her burger - perfectly cooked well done, the ground beef was also soft and tasted great. The only problem is they didn't toast the bun, always a gripe with the Misses. Mine was pretty much the exact same minus the bacon. I had every intention of ordering the bison, but for whatever reason I uttered beef. Mrs. RJG isn't a fan of the meat but I am! No complaints from me at all - delicious burger. The fries were good if not distinctive. The onion rings had a nice batter - that completely fell off the onion lol. All in all, a very positive experience. Mrs. RJG and I both agree that the Official RJG Mom would love this place. She has a birthday coming up, so we'll see. I'm sure their steaks are great too.

The Ted in Ted's Montana Grill is Ted Turner - the CNN and TBS guy. Sort of takes the magic out of the whole Montana thing, though I think he's the largest private landowner there - or at least close to it. The corporation is based in Atlanta. Nationwide there are 39 locations with 8 in Colorado, and 7 of those are in the Denver area. There are none in Texas.

11/26/22 (new entry); 12/19/24

Bird Dog BBQ ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Dec 2024 (Powers)

First visit: Dec 2018 (Austin Bluffs @ Centennial)

They have a third location in Fountain.

You won't get too far in a discussion about barbecue in Colorado Springs without Bird Dog jumping into the conversation. They generally win the Best Of awards in various magazines and newspapers. It has been precisely six years (to the day) that I first tried Bird Dog, and I wasn't overly impressed. Let's see how the second visit goes, this time at their eastern location.

Walk in and you'll see the line to the counter. On this Saturday for lunch, only old farts like me were in the place, but nonetheless their barbecue was hot and ready. I went with the Saturday special which was a brisket sandwich (or I could have gotten pork), which comes with a side and a fountain drink. I chose mac n' cheese as the side. My lunch was quickly assembled, I paid up, and grabbed a bottle of the X-tra hot since it doesn't reside on the table. Poured a Diet Coke and it's time to eat.

Hmm... not convinced this is great barbecue. Their foundation is what is known as Oklahoma BBQ, similar to RJG fave Billy Sims BBQ that is no longer in the Springs. The premise is the meat should taste like meat, not the wood. OK, I'm good with that. But it shouldn't be as tough as the wood either. OK, it wasn't that tough, but it could have been more tender. The flavor was good but not exceptional. Bread was average out-of-the-bag. The serving portion was also on the median side, could have gone for more. The three sauces were a cut above: Basic, Smoked, and X-tra hot. And they were much needed. The Mac n' Cheese is of the cheesy variety, sort of reminded me of the Noodle Co's variation. Very good. They gave me extra of that which was appreciated. It could have also been a bit hotter, but it certainly wasn't just warm. I'll tell you what really looked great was the chicken. I feel like a return visit is needed just to try it. One red flag, though, is they don't have a set price. Sort of a "market price" kind of deal. Given the fact that their "lunch special" was hardly a bargain ($12.50), it gives me pause.

Definitely not a rotation place, and the jury is out on a repeat visit to try the chicken.

12/7/18; 12/7/24