Archive for the ‘sandwiches’ Tag
With one exception, we’ve yet to be disappointed with our dining experiences when visiting Crested Butte; that singular incident involved service not food. Still, there’s no better stamp of approval for a restaurant than the number of locals who frequent it. We were surprised, and encouraged, by the impressive number of CB residents at The Last Steep Bar and Grill for a mid-afternoon lunch where we snagged a table with a great vantage point on all the activity.
It’s one thing for locals to patronize local establishments, but it’s another when out-of-towners are made to feel welcome. Such was the case at the Steep.
Although it took a little while for our order to be taken, we understood why: the place was packed inside and out. Still, service was friendly and we were never made to feel rushed. The menu features a large selection of sandwiches ranging from burgers to wraps, from a Turkey Club to PoBoys. Salads are also available. My husband ordered the Kansas City Chief: a Kaiser bun piled with pulled pork topped with house-made barbecue sauce, which was more spicy than tang. Bottles of the stuff are sold on-site, as evidenced by a man who bought a case.
I was pleased with my Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos. Corn tortillas warmed on the grill enveloped the sweet and savory filling enhanced by melted cheese, diced tomatoes, sour cream and salsa. It came with warm chips dusted with chile powder.
We felt right at home.
The Last Steep Bar and Grill
208 Elk Ave.
Crested Butte, Colo.
It may not be quite fair to draw attention to the Manitou Brewing Co.’s limited food menu: only six items. However, neither would it be quite right to dismiss the dishes altogether. In its defense, MBC is focusing on the brew part of its name; four beers are brewed on site and a dozen others are “guest beers.” In fact, more extensive food offerings should be available in early April.
MBC has been open since early March after months of preparation. The décor features corrugated tin ceilings, seat backs made from old barrels, and trim work from Waldo Canyon Fire-burned trees. Midday early in the week the place is ghost-like, but it’s unlikely to stay that way for long.
The five sandwiches and Hummus of the Day skillfully reflect the kitchen’s potential. The Bacon Brisket Sandwich is a festival of flavors. Anything with bacon is bound to be a winner, but add caramelized onions and it’s the jackpot. The addition of cheese is interesting and perhaps unnecessary. The brisket itself was not as tender as what’s found in true barbecue joints, but it was possible to overlook thanks to the vinegary zest of the house beer BBQ sauce.
Caramelized onions and mushrooms ruled the Mushroom, Onion and Swiss Panini. This was essentially a grilled cheese sandwich elevated far beyond its lunch standard status.
The menu states that the limited items may change or even disappear as new plates emerge. If anyone from MBC is reading: please keep what you have!
Manitou Brewing Co.
Four Plates
725 Manitou Ave.
Manitou Springs, CO
We discovered The Range Café in Bernalillo years ago when we used travel to New Mexico for soccer tournaments. Bernalillo is home to the original Range, but there are two other locations down the highway in Albuquerque. We try to time our travel so we can stop for a meal: usually breakfast or lunch. Recently, we arrived for a late lunch on a weekend afternoon. The restaurant is cavernous, albeit festive; nonetheless, we were in for a 10 to 15 minute wait unless we sat at the bar, which we did.
Colorful, original art and Western décor adorn the walls, as do numerous references to ranges. Not a range as in open prairie, but as in stove. This makes sense, because there is plenty of good cooking going on.
The emphasis is on comfort food: meat loaf, mac and cheese, sandwiches, salads and a standard selection of Mexican dishes. I knew we still had more than five hours left in our drive home, so I didn’t want to overeat. I ordered the Veggie Sandwich with slabs of mozzarella, tomatoes, grilled zucchini, thinly fried onions all pressed between a sliced baguette lathered with pesto aioli! This was a garden on bread. The only disappointment was the tomato which lacked that fresh taste of summer. Although other sides are available, I swear when I ordered I only saw sweet potato fries listed, nothing else was on the page.
I ate only half my lunch and still slept afterward – fortunately, my husband was driving.
The Range Café
Four Plates
925 Camino Del Pueblo
Bernalillo, N.M.
A good salad is more than lettuce on a plate, and a good sandwich is more
than two slices of bread pressed together. This is evident at Terrazza Grill
where ordinary midday basics, like salads and sandwiches, exceed expecta-
tions in creativity and taste. Terrazza Grill focuses on fresh, mostly grilled,
cuisine with a Mediterranean influence. The menu features a lengthy list of
sandwiches, ranging from burgers to grilled cheese, but these are far more
intriguing than they might appear at first glance. For example, Grilled Formaggio
sounds better with its half Italian name, especially when considering its des-
cription: grilled sourdough bread with cheddar, provolone and Swiss. Ham
and tomato can be added to further raise the bar.
I ordered the Grilled Chicken Panini. The menu says the chicken is marinated.
The marinade is lost to the tangy aioli, melted provolone and roasted peppers
on focaccia with lettuce, red onion, and tomato. This thick, gooey combination
makes the word sandwich seem like an understatement.
My friend’s Grilled Pesce Insalata featured blackened tuna on mixed greens with
cucumber, tomato, avocado, dried apricots and Craisins. Initially, the tuna was
undercooked. Medium rare here is nearly still breathing, but the server happily
took it back for a little more grill time. The salad was beautifully plated with
balsamic vinaigrette on the side. It was apparently very good since no offer for
me to taste it was made, and I wasn’t quick enough to pull a look-behind-you-trick
to sneak a bite on my own.
Terrazza Grill
Four Plates
1005 West Colorado Ave. Colorado Springs, CO
The Blue Page Special 