The Capital Grille - Denver

Milwaukee has a Capital Grille. We never made it there because we discovered Carnevor (yes, that's how they spell it) and there was no reason to ever go looking for a different steak in all of Milwaukee. (I just discovered that Carnevor has a second location in...Florida. That's sort of boring.) I digress, since we love a damn fine steak and we had already tried the absurdly overrated Elway's, we thought the Capital Grille was a great spot to target during Denver Restaurant Week (it should be "Weeks" since it is really two weeks). 


I must admit to being skeptical of the Capital Grille for a while because it is a chain. This is another reason we waited until restaurant week to go there. If it sucked, then we only spent $52.80 on food. If it was awesome, then we only spent $52.80 on food. It's a bit of a win-win situation.


Capital Grille is all about the pretentious style that I just hate (and I always seem to run into it at steakhouses except Texas Roadhouse places, but I don't go there when I'm searching for quality red meat). The interior of the Grille is dark with lots of wood paneling and funny little lamps here and there. The servers wear a sand-colored shirt, which doesn't look unique, it just kept me thinking, why not wear white? When you're at a place like the Grille it's pretty easy to spot the regulars. They're at the bar, of course, and they call the servers by name and some of them look down their nose at people who are walking into the Grille for the first time. Well, they tried, but I'm 6'9" so they couldn't look down on me. They had to tilt there heads at a funny angle to do so. 


Alright, food. I had the clam chowder for a starter. I found it to be disappointing because I expected better from the Grille, but had I been served this chowder at Chili's I would have been very impressed. Are you catching my drift? I mean, at a place like this you should get what you pay for? I know we were paying at a discounted rate, but they do want us to return, right? 


The bread and butter served with dinner was average. I always appreciate when restaurants spruce up the butter, the Grille didn't.


The drinks were decent, but a little pricey for their lack of kick. I know a place you can get a $4 margarita that is better and more potent than the $12 martinis the Grille has. 


The filet mignon I chose was a good piece of meat, but it might have been very slightly overcooked. We shared potatoes and vegetables. The potatoes were, unfortunately, held to the standard of Carnevor's truffled mashed potatoes, the best starch I've ever tasted. That said, they were decent. 


I had the flourless chocolate cake for dessert. My wife had the creme brûlée. Both were actually quite good and we have high standards for creme brûlée since my father-in-law makes the meanest creme brûlée from scratch, kitchen torch and all.


So, it may seem like I came down pretty hard on the Capital Grille. I guess I did, even though we had a decent experience there. It's just that I don't see myself going back there anytime soon and paying full price for anything. That experience would be too painful on the wallet and not pleasurable enough for the tastebuds.


Dined March 3, 2012.


Written by B.

Marrakech Grill - Denver

On S Colorado Blvd it's quite easy to find some Middle Eastern cuisine. But, having gone to Jerusalem Restaurant all the time, I had never tried one of the Colorado Blvd places. We tried Marrakech on a weeknight. It was fairly busy and we seated ourselves after a moment of confusion. 


We sat at our table long enough without any service that we had a countdown clock going. If they didn't reach us in the next five minutes, we would get up and leave. We do this a lot, but I think we've only walked out once (that was in Paris, six years ago). Anyway, a server finally showed up and handed us the menus. My wife's menu was blank inside. Nice touch. 


Our order was finally taken and while waiting for it we had a salad, a few pieces of pita bread, and hummus. Marrakech's hummus was impressive, probably the most impressive part of the meal. My chicken shawarma was not very good and without the sauce on the plate, the chicken would have been unbearably dry. The gyros my wife ordered were okay, but what that plate and mine lacked were side portions of hummus. Hummus goes well with everything at a Middle Eastern restaurant, why not serve it with everything? 


I am a fan of this cuisine, but next time I am in search for it I probably won't be going back to Marrakech. I think I am better off trying a new place or going to the old standby. 


Dined March 2, 2012.


Written by B.

Chipotle - 2760 S Colorado Blvd

Nothing but goodness again from this location. Like last time, I went in during a slow hour and the whole staff greeted me like I was the manager. I encountered no issues with the gym rat parking for the 24 Hr Fitness or whatever the heck that place is. 


For me, a great Chipotle is one that serves up a burrito exactly like the one I had in 1999. One that wooed me into Chipotle's grasp as long as I have a hand to hold a 20 oz burrito.


Dined February 29, 2012.


Written by B.

Tamayo - Denver

Tamayo is owned by Richard Sandoval restaurants, who also owns the nearby La Sandia in Northfield Stapleton and Park Meadows. We've dined at La Sandia and we thought it was decent (we've been back a couple times), but in the fall of 2011 we tried Tamayo. It was amazing! I was skeptical at first, having tried La Sandia and Sandoval's Maya Modern Mexican Food in NYC, but Tamayo is in a whole other league. I don't know what they have there that they don't have at the other places I have tried, but it's something great. 


We returned to Tamayo for Denver Restaurant Week on February 28. They had their $52.80 (for a couple) menu online earlier in the month and it whetted our appetite. Despite the 5280 entree portions being a tad bit smaller than the full-priced versions, you still get plenty of food. Each person got an appetizer (I chose the ceviche), an entree (skirt steak for me), and a dessert (it's been a while and I honestly can't remember...but I know it was delicious). All three were excellent and there was still plenty of perfectly cooked medium-rare steak on my plate for a full meal. Tamayo continues to impress and we will definitely be going back. 


The only complaint that I have about this experience is that the waitress was really pushing the drinks. I get it, it's restaurant week and the bill isn't going to be as much as usual and you want to make as much money on drinks to make up for that, but asking every few minutes if I want another $6 Corona is just freaking annoying...almost as annoying as ordering even one of those beers at such a price. Ugh. So servers, ask us once or twice if we want a drink or another drink, but after that, give up...please. I'm likely to leave you more money if you ask once and I politely say no than if you ask every ten minutes thinking I've changed my mind. I'll let you know when I change my mind.


Dined February 28, 2012.


Written by B.

The Saucy Noodle - Denver

I am way behind on blogging about meals, but I haven't given up...


Anyone who has cruised down University Ave south of Alameda, has eventually noticed the Saucy Noodle. It's been at the same location for 40 years! That's big time. After ordering take out pizza to watch the night of the Oscars, it's clear that they haven't survived off of their pizza alone, which I found to be hugely disappointing. It wasn't a horrible pizza, but from an establishment like this, which has a decent reputation, I was expecting much better. The price wasn't exactly right either. Their large pizzas run about $16 and if there are two of you and one of you happens to be a big eater (me) you better have some backup food accessible. 


I have high expectations of a pizza. I can make a better one at home than I received from Saucy Noodle. We've tried a few recipes in our own kitchen for pizza and the one that we stick by now was featured in Cook's Illustrated within the last year or so. It's a recipe for Chicago deep dish pizza and the finished product stomps all over the Saucy Noodle's pie.


Because of this experience I am hesitant to go back and actually dine-in, even though there must be something great keeping this place alive, right?


Dined February 26, 2012.


Written by B.

Pizzeria Locale - Boulder

I've been to Pizzeria Locale three times now, just once in 2012 though. The last two times I ordered the Mais pizza because, in my opinion, it is simply the best thing they have to offer. The Diavolo seems to get rave reviews from diners and servers there, but there's just the delightful simplicity of a pizza with plenty of great mozzarella, creme fraiche, corn, and prosciutto, all on some of the fluffiest pizza dough I've had. It's definitely the best pizza I have had in Colorado.

When I left Colorado for a three-year stint in Milwaukee, I was exposed to great pizza, vis a vis the proximity to Chicago, which was great for many reasons. I really enjoyed walking into a pizza place and knowing instantly that you were going to get a great pie from the pros and that the recipe hasn't changed that much in decades, if not a hundred years. It's definitely not easy to have that same experience in Colorado. And, to be honest, I didn't know what to expect when I walked into Locale. It sort of has this pretentious feel to it. Maybe that's just my imagination, but I doubt it because it's Boulder. Snobbery is abundant. Anyways, the snobbery isn't abundant at Locale. If it exists, it's because of the patrons and not the staff who are down to earth, they make a good pie, they have great service (thus far), and you can get out of there for a decent amount. 


And, if wine is your thing, they have quite the list and a sommelier who can guide you to the right decision if you need some help.


There are so many places to eat on Pearl St. They can't all be good, but most of them maintain an appearance of being good. Mostly they try to look hip. Locale doesn't even need to try. They have a small amount of space facing the street and one small door that is quite conspicuous. Find it and you won't be disappointed.


Dined February 25, 2012.


Written by B.

Mustard's Last Stand

If Mustard's Last Stand wasn't within walking distance of the University of Denver, it would not survive. At least, I hope the good people of Denver would be wise enough to take their money elsewhere and let this place suffer the consequences. 


Honestly, even if the food was delicious I couldn't give the place a positive review. I had the same experience as a Yelp user who had reviewed Mustard's Last Stand. I've been at DU for a while now, I've walked past Mustard's Last Stand many times and I really liked the idea of walking in there and getting some good grub that could transport me back to Chicago or Milwaukee (also a place that has great hotdog joints). But when I finally decided to go in last week, I immediately knew it was going to be a one-time visit. No one greeted me and when I was looking around for a menu a crabby old man pointed at a menu to his right, again, with no uttered words. 


I wanted a Chicago dog and I said the same. "What on it?" The old man asks. Seriously? Just give me a Chicago dog like they would in Chicago if I ordered a Chicago dog. A great joint decides for its customers what the fixings should be on a Chicago dog. A customer orders a Chicago dog because they want the usual: mustard, onions, sweet pickle relish, or a pickle spear, and tomato (chopped or sliced). Dragged through the garden, so to speak, because of its thorough toppings. Any shred of validity Mustard's Last Stand had left was lost on me as soon as I ordered. 


Two Chicago Dogs and a small soda cost me $9.63 too. That was the icing on the cake for me. This place is not worth your money or your time. Look up a Chicago dog recipe online and cook it at home for less and it will be far, far better and you won't have to deal with any one of the grumpy employees at Mustard's Last Stand.


Dined February 22, 2012.


Written by B.

Jimmy John's - 2075 S University Blvd

To be honest, I didn't really want to go to Jimmy John's on this occasion. It had been a while since I had gone, but I'm just generally not a sub sandwich kind of guy. Either way, I needed a fast lunch and I just wasn't feeling Chipotle again or anything else near the DU campus, let alone Subway across the street from JJ's. 


But by the time I had the first couple of bites of the Italian Nightclub with peppers (the only thing I get at JJ's) I was satisfied with my decision. It was a relatively cheap meal (less than $7 without chips and a drink) and it did the trick, i.e. it was going to hold me over until I got home later that evening. It was a very utilitarian lunch.


At this particular location there aren't too many places to sit. Three tables (two of them high) and a bar along the right wall as you walk in that has chairs, which deceives one into thinking they could comfortably sit there and enjoy a sandwich and a drink. But one realizes this isn't possible when one has sandwich in hand and finds out that the sandwich is twice as long as the counter at the bar is deep. What the? It's a completely worthless bank of chairs. That doesn't seem to bother people, or maybe it does, since the only guy eating a sandwich in the place besides me was an employee.


Just briefly, as I sat their chewing through the Italian Nightclub, I tried to envision a woman working at this particular JJ's. Maybe one does, but on this stop there were six guys who addressed everyone as dude, bro, or buddy. It was very sausage-party-esque. I think this is sort of the standard for JJ's. I don't see too many girls working there at JJ's. Maybe I am completely off, but in my experience every JJ's has a strong aroma of bread making and a vibrant aura of bromance.


Dined February 15, 2012.


Written by B.

Ale House at Amato's

The Ale House has intrigued me for a while, knowing that they have a great view of the Denver skyline and that they have 40+ beers on tap. After driving by it for almost two years (after dinners elsewhere in the Highlands), we finally made it inside. We took a table in the bar and perused through the beer selection, selected an appetizer (seared tuna), and put in an order for two burgers. 


I ordered the beer-b-que burger, which is served with an oatmeal stout and honey beer-b-que sauce, caramelized onions and applewood smoked bacon. It was a delicious burger. The only problem I had, was that the bun got soggy fairly quickly from the sauce. The bun may have just been smashed a little, its liquid-absorbing powers greatly diminished. Nevertheless, I polished the burger off. There wasn't anything exceptional about the fries because as I sit here and write this I can't remember one bad or great thing about them. 


The seared tuna appetizer was a bit of a gamble. That is, why order it at a brewery? But, I think it paid off. The tuna was fine and very rare, but I was most impressed with the tortilla chips. That probably sounds very lame, but it's true. They had a nice coating of oil and salt and they were served warm with some pico de gallo. 


The Ale House is in the family of Breckenridge Brewery brewpubs. We found this brewpub to be better than the one in Breckenridge, where we dined in August of last year and the food was a bit of a letdown. The views of the Denver skyline across Central St and I-25 are great. There is currently some roadwork near the restaurant and some major construction downtown that hurts the view some, but for the most part, you couldn't find a better location for a brewpub. With the views, the bold collection of beers on tap, and the location in the Highlands, the Ale House will probably be around for a while. 


Dined February 14, 2012.


Written by B.

Jerusalem Restaurant

I first went to Jerusalem Restaurant, on the corner of Evans and High St, eight years ago. The food and the interior (from the ratty furniture to the heat on so high it feels like a blast of hot air from the oven) hasn't changed one bit. 


On this visit I skipped on my usual meal of falafel and hummus and got a falafel sandwich, which I found to be wrapped in a disappointingly dry bread. The sandwich was full of too many onions and tomatoes. It was quite disappointing. Luckily, I ordered a side of hummus which did come with fresh pita bread, the bread that should have been used with my sandwich, but clearly wasn't. I didn't order the baklava this time, although I do recommend it. 

A staple dish in the Middle East, chicken shawarma, was once ordered by a friend of mine. He is from Israel and he wanted a taste of home, but when the shawarma arrived, he said, "This is not shawarma. This is bad." I later visited him in Israel and we had magnificent feasts of shawarma and many other middle eastern dishes that far surpassed anything from Jerusalem Restaurant. However, most of Jerusalem Restaurant's customers haven't had that experience and so there is nothing to judge the food here against, besides another middle eastern restaurant in Colorado. This is why Jerusalem Restaurant has won a number of awards for being the best middle eastern restaurant in Denver. 


And all that aside, the place remains good enough to keep me coming back. I don't have the same standards as my friend has, even though now I have had the real deal overseas. I'll go back. And, if you've never been, I would definitely recommend a visit. In my experience, you'll have a great meal sticking with hummus, falafel, baklava, and a nice stack of pita bread.


Dined February 9, 2012.


Written by B.


Picture is of the real thing in Nazareth, Israel.

Sushi Den

I had only been to Sushi Den once before and in the time away I think I've developed a fairly sophisticated appetite and a better sense of good sushi. On this particular night we tried to dine at two other restaurants but couldn't find a parking spot for one and the other was closed and by that time we had wound up just a few blocks from the famous Sushi Den. Why not? We said. 


The crowd just inside the doors wasn't the best sign if you just wanted to sit down, get some good food, and get out the door, but the wait wasn't bad at 25 minutes for a place that was so crowded it was hard to find a place to stand. The atmosphere inside was hip, fast-paced, and very chatty with groups of people anywhere a server wasn't currently occupying space. Founded in 1985 and quickly recognized as Denver's best sushi restaurant and then later recognized as one of the country's best sushi restaurants, the Sushi Den has developed into a place for sushi and sashimi lovers, but also as a place to see and be seen, which often happens to popular restaurants. That is, people come as much to be there as they are there to eat excellent food. Standing around waiting for our table and sipping on a 22oz Sapporo, I couldn't help but notice a lot of people occupying themselves with people-watching and not with the friends at the table nor the food in front of them. 


Once seated in a cramped corner of the restaurant, we didn't spare any time ordering. We focused primarily on getting some rolls, thinking it would provide us the best bang for our buck since we were both starving. We tried the Spider Roll, Shrimp Tempura Roll, and the Tuna Firecracker Roll. My favorite among the three was the Shrimp Tempura. All three rolls were excellent and reasonably priced for how popular this place has become. That said, maybe Sushi Den developed a strong reputation on its sashimi, its extensive sake list, and overall freshness of its fish, because I didn't think the rolls were extremely impressive. Not bad in any way, but Sushi Den's reputation precedes actually eating there and it has a lot to live up to. 


Will we go back? Yeah, we'll go back. But I don't know if we'll go back in 2012. There are still a few sushi restaurants out there that we want a piece of and by then 2013 could be upon us. Until next time, Sushi Den.


Dined February 8, 2012.


Written by B.

Chipotle - 820 S Monaco

Unlike last time I visited a Chipotle, I ordered my regular burrito with Chicken, white rice (fully cooked this time, but that tends to be a problem with their brown rice), black beans, a mix of salsas, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. 

I tried to look up the address of this Chipotle on the restaurant's website and found that it's not listed. The location (in a strip mall near a King Soopers) is not the best, it sort of makes the restaurant isolated. If you are coming from the west and turn right on Monaco, then you have to weave through the KS parking lot and dodge shoppers. That can be an inconvenience if you don't know to turn in just east of Monaco allowing for quicker access to Chipotle. 

Another thing I have to say about this location is that the sunlight can be unbearable. At times it is hard to find a table that isn't in direct sunlight and even if it's 40 degrees outside, the Colorado sun can roast you in five minutes at one of these tables, especially with their metal tops. Bring your sunglasses into the restaurant if the sun is out.


Dined February 6, 2012.


Written by B.

Rioja

I appreciate the inventive dishes that Rioja serves, and I can say that the scallops and fresh bacon from the appetizer menu are divine. The PBJ dessert was a great blend of flavors for an adult with grape jelly and sorbet, peanut butter mousse and peanut brittle--a sophisticated taste of a beloved childhood tradition.  The Monkfish was enjoyable, but light with the sides and not worth the price for what was served.  The Wagyu beef short ribs tasted heavenly, but the croquettes served with it left something to be desired.  Overall, I am happy to have eaten here, but feel the value for what you get isn't always there.  I would recommend others try this restaurant, because it is worth the experience, but I won't be going back for awhile. 


Dined February 3, 2012. 


Written by K. 


I must add that Rioja's entrees start at $22. I almost feel like the pricing there is jacked up just to give it a prestigious feel. The restaurant must realize that people probably aren't leaving their meals thinking it was worth it, but instead feeling like they have been had a bit. And I suggest that they have to an extent because it's Larimer Square. Restaurants get away with a lot on Larimer Square and the worst offender is Ocean Prime. And, in a wildly bad judgment, 5280 magazine named it Denver's best seafood restaurant in 2011. Perhaps I will write about our experience at Ocean Prime last year, but without a doubt, we won't be dining there this year. That said about Rioja, there are a couple dishes there that I've really enjoyed: the fresh bacon starter and the Petaluma chicken entree.


Written by B.

Chipotle - 371 E. Alameda

Yes, Chipotle again. We weren't planning on going out tonight, but we were up north and driving back into town and we didn't want to start cooking a meal at 7pm. 


I had never been to this location. Right next door though is Lucille's, one of the best brunches in town. I changed it up a bit tonight, ordering steak in my burrito. I was reminded a few bites into the burrito (once home) that Chipotle's steak has the tendency to be quite gristly, to the point that it can distract from the rest of the goodness before you. It made me miss my typical chicken burrito. 


K got a burrito bowl, which was only okay because the brown rice she ordered (Chipotle introduced brown rice in 2011) was about halfway done. It was nearly crunchy. Had we stayed, K would have definitely ordered something else with white rice, which I have never found to be undercooked, but the brown rice has been undercooked on more than one occasion. Not just on this visit. Some rice cookers out there obviously don't remember that brown rice always takes longer to cook. 


So, it wasn't the best visit to Chipotle. The other two visits in January were better. 


Dined January 30, 2012.


B.

Cafe Rio

One would not expect to find a good eatery at the base of a chain hotel, but that's exactly what one finds in the case of Cafe Rio (founded in SLC, Utah) and the Hilton Garden Inn at the corner of Cherry Creek S Dr and Colorado Blvd. Having passed by Cafe Rio for nearly a year without trying it, I finally gave it a try this past summer. And I've been back a few times, including last Sunday.


In online reviews, Cafe Rio has been compared to Chipotle and Qdoba. In respect to how you order, Cafe Rio is somewhat like those places, but the menu is more diverse. Rio is close in price, even cheaper at times than those more famous burrito joints. I cannot speak to most of its menu, but I can recommend their smothered burritos and their tacos (I got the beef tacos on this visit with rice and beans and pico de gallo). Their pork is especially sweet and flavorful and whether it's in a burrito or a taco, it's always wrapped in the freshest tortilla made right in front of you. 


This is no glamorous place, but the food is fresh, and the price is right, the staff friendly, and the service good. This is also a place I could see myself writing about again in 2012. 


Dined January 29, 2012.


B.

Chipotle - 2760 S. Colorado Blvd

Chipotle at S. Colorado was my second visit to this chain in 2012. I’ve been to this Chipotle many times before. It has a big interior and a decent outdoor seating area that wraps around its northwest corner.

On this particular visit, I stopped by around 4:30, a very slow time at Chipotle. There was no one in line and every single employee immediately said hi to me when I walked in the door. It was a bit overwhelming, but pretty cool. I get that a lot at Chipotle and it helps the place feel like a local joint even though the chain is massive and in nearly every major city in the US now. A picky drawback to this place is the parking lot. Located near a massive fitness center, it can be a bit tricky to find a spot, but look along the northern edge of the parking lot, these spaces are reserved for Chipotle customers only, not gym rats.

Dined January 26, 2012.

B.

The Bull and Bush

Glendale, Colorado has one great restaurant, The Bull and Bush. Founded in 1971, the restaurant sits across from the Cherry Creek trail near the intersection of Cherry Creek S Dr and Cherry St. The exterior is made of white stucco and wood beams intentionally bringing to mind a stand alone English pub that one might see in any countryside town in the UK. Actually, according to the restaurant’s website, the pub is designed after a pub in Hampstead Heath, a north London park and suburb. The interior feels reasonably British too, with a few American flourishes like a ton of TVs and a small display of merchandise from t-shirts to shot glasses. It's dark inside with comfy chairs and live music on Sundays.

Despite its fame, the place still feels local. I go to the Bull and Bush for its beer (brewed on site), the food (amazing burgers and a great brunch), and the atmosphere (good service and from my experience, nice customers). It also doesn't hurt that I'm within walking distance either, but if I lived across town it would still be one of my favorite stops. I tend to get the Queen Mother burger and the Allgood Ale for starters, but they have great nachos and brunch specials. Actually, they have specials everyday. Like on Wednesdays, a burger order gets you a free pint. On Sundays you can get a double bloody mary for $4.50.   

This won’t be the only time I blog about the Bull and Bush. I am bound to go several times this year, so I’ll stop now. But this food lover highly recommends the place. It’s good and unapologetically greasy food and a great atmosphere. You’ll love it.

Dined January 24, 2012.

B.

modmarket - Glendale

mod market markets itself as a hip, locally-sourced eatery with a casual atmosphere, but with a serious take on food. Their menu isn't extremely diverse, but salads, sandwiches, and pizza will satisfy most. They have a Boylan soda fountain, Izze soda, local beer, and wine. 


My first impression wasn't too great, but that was before I had any food. They just keep it very casual at mod market, almost too casual and the employees are very nice, but almost too casual like they forget temporarily that they aren't in the customer service industry firstly, and then the restaurant industry. 


At mod market you get a buzzer that shakes and lights up when your food is ready, not when your table has opened up. We went at a busy hour and there weren't that many seats left. We found one in the back under a flood of neon green light, but I did have to brush off left over crumbs and whatnot onto the floor before we felt it was sanitized enough to sit down. I sort of felt bad about that, but there were no napkins that I saw nearby to make that a little more pleasant. 


We both had pizzas. I had the Gaucho and she had the Prosciutto. They were very different, but if I had to pick, I would go with the Gaucho every time over the Prosciutto. The pizzas reminded me of Pizzeria Locale in Boulder. Very fresh, 12" diameter, you could end up with some leftovers, but not if the pizza is exceptional. I thought mine was. I polished it off fairly fast and pounded down six half-full to all the way full sodas, having a try of almost every Boylan soda coming out of that fountain. Their cola was very unique and, at least to me, it had a hint of anise flavor. My favorites were the cream soda and the orange soda. 


This mod market location hasn't been open long. It was a packed house. Business seems great. The food, having only been there once, was definitely up to par and reasonably priced ($8-10 for a pizza), but I would say the place just needs a little touch of cleanliness. There should be someone sweeping through the lobby with a broom and a wet cloth to wipe down the tables after people leave because this isn't fast food, but it is good food quickly, and that means there is a high turnover rate. 


Dined January 19, 2012. 


B.

Chipotle - 1644 East Evans

Chipotle does a few things very well and that's pretty good considering there are only a few things on their menu. I first heard of the joint when I still lived in Fort Collins and the holiest of holies was Big City Burrito and nothing, not even a burrito sent by God, was going to dethrone Big City. But in 1999, when I had my first Chipotle burrito, I bit into something that was so good it came dangerously close to knocking Big City off its perch. I must clarify that when I say Big City, I am referring to its first location at College and Mulberry. I am not referring to its other locations. Perhaps it's nostalgia, but Big City still holds a special place in my heart. That said, Chipotle's expansion plans have just gone a lot better than Big City's plans. Chipotle is nearly everywhere I go, so I frequent it much more than Big City. 

The first Chipotle at 1644 East Evans is within walking distance of DU, where I am a graduate student. It is the perfect place to go for a late lunch after the crowd dies down because there is no room for a crowd in this Chipotle. It's packed into a room smaller than many apartments. There are three to four small tables and bar seating available. Instead of working down the line of burrito ingredients, one stands in the same spot and shouts their order to the burrito lady, or man, because the burrito ingredients are perpendicular to the ordering line. This, its size, and its basement storage room are unique to this location. Perhaps there are other Chipotles with basement storage rooms, but I am unaware of any. Take a look at the pictures on the wall next time you are inside a Chipotle. There is a picture of the first store at every location. 

I haven't had something bad at Chipotle. I have my preferences (Chicken or Steak) but most of the menu is spot on and very customizable. They even serve a decent margarita. Their chips are delicious and their guacamole is better than most pricy Mexican restaurants. I've done my best to duplicate it at home. 

Perhaps I shall touch on the Chipotle v. Qdoba debate at some point on this blog, but it has astounded me that there is even a debate. Qdoba has never threatened Chipotle. Qdoba loyalists always bring up the queso sauce as a sticking point. I just don't see how Velveeta can be a sticking point. But I digress...

Chipotle at East Evans is a great place to eat at if you are interested in visiting the very first Chipotle. The food's just as good, maybe even a little better just because you know you are where it all started. I recommend avoiding the rush of DU undergrads and eating at a non-traditional dining hour at this location due to its limited seating.

Dined 18 January 2012.

B.

Austin's American Grill - Fort Collins, CO

I'm not sure when Austin's opened, but it's been a Fort Collins establishment for a while now. There are two locations in the city. The original, at the corner of Mountain and College, is by far the better location just based on setting. There's plenty of foot traffic, a lot to do nearby, and the atmosphere gives the diner the feeling that they take food seriously at Austin's.


At least when there was only the downtown location, Austin's had a much more exclusive and fancy feel to it without being pretentious. I don't recall disliking a meal there or dining with anyone else who wasn't pleased. But I feel Austin's has departed from that, at least in respect to the Harmony location. 


The Harmony restaurant feels huge to the original Austin's. It doesn't have the architectural advantage of the downtown location so it immediately feels a little chain-like located as it is in a nondescript business park with a couple other restaurants nearby and close to some eyesore office buildings. Right away, this location has its setbacks. 


The last three times I've been to Austin's (all at the Harmony location) the service has been poor, not horrible, just poor because it hasn't lived up to the service I grew to expect, particularly from my experiences at the downtown location. The servers tend to be short with you or very robotic. They set down the menus and they scurry off without waiting just a moment to see if we would like to put in a drink order right away.


Last Friday I ordered the Buffalo Meatloaf. I had never tried it and I was pleasantly surprised. We didn't order any appetizers. Someone ordered a margarita, which isn't on the menu, but it seemed good enough. But I don't think one goes to Austin's and orders a margarita. You're better off sticking to a classic cocktail or one of the beers off there good, but quite limited for a microbrew mecca, i.e. Fort Collins restaurant, list. 


And keeping in mind the last time I had dessert at Austin's, I passed and so did everybody else. I would steer clear of some of those pies, which can shortly turn into a gloppy mess in a bowl because of the way it's served with ice cream. It is as if one were making a pie shake and put all the ingredients in a bowl and never transferred it to a blender, just served it up as is. 


The bottom line on Austin's is this: first, go to the Mountain and College location, second, if you want to eat well you are better off sticking with a meat dish, third, if your server isn't as good as their dress (usually a white dress shirt, white apron, and jeans or slacks), then let them know. And lastly, Austin's just isn't what it used to be. It is very hard to keep the quality and the ambience of a restaurant when you expand. Getting it right the first time is difficult enough. Austin's did that, but getting it right on the second time out? I would say the place needs a little work. 


Dined January 13, 2012.


B.

PF Chang's - Park Meadows and Downtown Denver

PF Chang's isn't really a restaurant that is written about with great frequency. The last time I read about Chang's was in Time or Newsweek and the article was about how the Americanized-Chinese restaurant chain is weathering the recession. Chang's, for the first time in it's history, implemented a happy hour a couple years ago. It's 3-6pm Monday thru Friday with deals on drinks and food. 


When I started going to Chang's there was no such happy hour. It was quite a fancy place to go to on a college student's budget, but it was worth it. Chang's has weathered the storm and has even raised its prices significantly in the last four years, demanding even more loyalty from its customers than in years passed. And, as far as I can tell, people keep coming back. 


Chang's is a place where I feel people get one to three regular dishes and don't stray far from those picks, if they do at all. For years now, my picks have been the Salt and Pepper Calamari for an appetizer and Mongolian Beef and Orange Peeled Shrimp for entrees. I rarely indulge in dessert there, but when there's a group big enough to consume the Great Wall of Chocolate we take the plunge. 


The first meal out in 2012 was at PF Chang's at Park Meadows in Lone Tree, CO. There aren't really any drastic differences from one of these joints to the next, but at least at Park Meadows you have one of the better views a Chang's could have. The large patio and northwestern-facing windows give the diner a great panorama of the Rockies. I was there for a very early dinner, happy hour really, and I ordered a Mai Tai, a bowl of Hot and Sour Soup, some calamari, and the pan-fried dumplings, which are less healthy than the steamed dumplings, but there's a trade-off. The pan-fried are crispier and just all around more fattening and better tasting. On this occasion, we didn't do dessert. 


My aim is to do these reviews or snippets about all the restaurants we eat at in a year in order, but since I have gotten off to a late start, I will say something about another visit to Chang's, just a few days ago. This time we went to the Chang's in Downtown Denver. This location doesn't have the view of Park Meadows, but it's closer to the nightlife, that is, if nightlife for you isn't going to shop at Park Meadows. We tried the prix fixe menu for two at $40. This is also a new addition to the menu as of the recession. Each person gets to pick a soup (between the Hot and Sour or the Egg Drop), then the two of you pick an appetizer, then each an entree (some of them more expensive), and then two mini desserts or you can upgrade to one big dessert for an extra charge. I would recommend upgrading, since Chang's mini desserts are quite the rip-off and just nothing like their big, highly caloric siblings. 


You may wonder, why Chang's in the midst of a big city? There are so many other places to eat at and many more Chinese restaurants that are more authentic or even more Americanized. It's true, but like every diner out there, we have our favorite places or guilty pleasures or we just want to eat where we know exactly what we are going to get. That's what Chang's is for this diner. It's not authentic, I know. It's not necessarily healthy and it's definitely not low sodium, but damn, if you know what to get, it's good.


Dined January 6, 2012.


B.