Regular Joe's Guide

Latest visit: Oct 2025 (Briargate near Chapel Hills mall) First visit: May 2011 (Glendale, CO) HQ: Salt Lake City, UT (Founded: 1997 in St. George, UT) It's been 14 years since I first went to a Cafe Rio, and have subsequently forgot about the original experience. I've been wanting to get over here for well over a year, since they first opened here in the Springs. It's not too far from where we live, but I'm just never in this area during lunchtime. Today I made it a priority. Cafe Rio is in every way similar to another Utah chain that we've covered extensively here in the RJG: Costa Vida. Get in line, and your counter server will pull out an aluminum round tray. I ordered the Rio Burrito, so first comes the big floppy flour tortilla. Filled with rice, and choice of pinto or black beans. Then a protein, and I went with the Fire Roasted Chicken. Essentially grilled and spiced chicken, cut into cubes. Then they add a salsa. Followed by your choice of smother. The red ...

First visit: Oct 2025 Seems every other visit to Albuquerque reveals a new favorite Thai place, and then we dismiss it on the second try. Hopefully that doesn't happen here. One of the best Thai meals we've experienced in a long time. I ordered my Thai Basil "Thai style" and received it exactly as hoped. Loaded with smoky ground chicken, rice, tons of basil and peppers, and very spicy. I laid off Thai Hot only because we were traveling, but it's apparent I would have received it that way. They also provide Prik Nam Pla, and I loaded up on those oily spicy red cut peppers. I miss those flavors. Mrs. RJG had the Drunken Noodles with chicken, and loads of vegetables. She loved it. The restaurant is cozy inside, with plenty of plants and vegetation. As expected, to-go orders seem to dominate the kitchen's time. Pad Thai Cafe resides in the southeast part of town. It sits in one of those strip centers that features an international grocery store and a Jamaican rest...

First visit: Oct 2025 A week ago Friday, Mrs. RJG and I decided to take a mountain drive and take in the beautiful Fall colors of the Aspen trees. As we gradually ascended from Woodland Park to Cripple Creek, the trees were as golden yellow as I've ever seen in my life. Blue skies, cool weather, and bright yellow trees. What a site to behold. Traffic was slow, which was great, so I could also enjoy the scenery as the driver. We agreed then that we must take this drive every year around this time. Though we've been to Cripple Creek a few times over the years, we've never stopped to do anything. They legalized gambling here in 1991, but that didn't matter to me when I first arrived in 1993. Neither of us are into gambling, so it's just a matter of stopping and finding things to do. You know, like thrifting and eating. Which is exactly what we did. They have a nice thrift store BTW. The highest rated restaurant in town is The Creek. Looked like the perfect spot for us....