Archive for the ‘Restaurants’ Category
Full disclosure: The Margarita at Pine Creek is among my favorite
restaurants. It’s been around since the mid-1970s; I’ve been a fan
many of those years. My love affair is based on exceptional service,
and its approach to seasonal foods (way before it was trendy or the
norm). It’s my special-occasion place; but every now and then, my
husband and I go for the simple, hokey reason it’s a nice place to
enjoy each other’s company.
Many of the servers have long been part of the dining room. The
commitment to unique spins on traditional plates has been constant.
Several years ago, a printed menu and the choice of a three-course
meal, down from the usual five courses, were introduced. Diners can
choose from three of the five courses: appetizer, salad, soup, entrée
and dessert – or all. Each course has two or more items to select
from, and the warm bread is always a treat.
I began with calamari and shrimp in a roasted-tomato bouillabaisse.
Tender pieces of seafood bathed in rich tomato sauce featured bits
of tangy green olives. The parmesan-dressed salad was above-average,
but our server brought the vegetable bisque to sample. After sharing
a bowl, my husband and I were disappointed we hadn’t ordered it. My
Colorado Sea Bass was melt-in-your-mouth tender, topped with chorizo
butter, over jasmine rice and spinach.
Apologizing for the small portion of tiramisu, our server brought an-
other for us to take home. I’m sure we’ll fight over it in the morning.
Five Plates
The Margarita at Pine Creek
7350 Pine Creek
Colorado Springs, CO
I know the journey’s supposed to be more significant than the
destination, but a recent event for the Crested Butte Junior Nordic
Ski Team made it hard to tell the difference. The goal was dinner
at the Magic Meadows Yurt and reaching it involved cross-country
skiing through a much-anticipated snowstorm (which added about
15 inches to the terrain). Usually, the snow is bright enough for
cross-country skiing at night, but the seemingly unending flurries
made visibility somewhat difficult.
Magic Meadows Yurt hosts moonlight and special occasion dinn-
ers throughout the winter – no matter the amount of snow or moon
glow. The menu varies from dinner to dinner; however, reaching
the yurt, enjoying its warmth, and relishing the friendliness of
strangers enhances the dining experience.
The “Thai-One On Fundraiser” featured freshly made Thai food
by a ski team member’s mother. The young team members served,
and the local Gypsy Jazz Social Club provided toe-tapping live
music. The kids, all lacked serving skills, were entertaining; the
food reflected culinary expertise.
Egg rolls and spring rolls were starters. The latter filled with rice
noodles, mint and shrimp accompanied by lightly-spiced peanut
dipping sauce. Soup, salad, entrée and dessert were included,
along with beer, wine and soft drinks. The vegetable soup, made
with a rich coconut milk base full of mushrooms, carrots and bam-
boo shoots, garnered raves. The beef and green bean curry entree
boasted a subtle kick.
After strapping the skis on again, we were fortified by all the yurt
had offered.
Four Plates
The Magic Meadows Yurt — 1.25 miles on the Peanut Lake Trail,
a fairly flat, winding trek.
Crested Butte:
• February 7, Full Moon Dinner
• February 14, Valentine’s Dinner
• February 19, President’s Weekend Dinner
• March 8, Full Moon Dinner
• March 17, Last Dinner of the Season
• TIME: Doors open at 6, dinner at 6:30
• COST: Varies on whether equipment rental or trail pass
are needed
Reservations: Call 970-349-1707, ext. 2
Although I enjoy the food at Yakitori 2, it is the good friend I usually meet
there that makes it a special place. I have been a few times with others, but
it is my friend, B.B., who I most enjoy the meal with. When we get together
we are able to ignore the large television screen permanently set to a sports
channel. We dismiss the torn Nagahyde booths. We even forget that we’re in
a strip mall set like an island in one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares. In-
stead, we order the lunch special and spend an hour or more catching up.
It helps that the special is consistent, filling and a bargain. For under $6 per
person, it includes a cup of soup, two Teriyaki chicken skewers, onion rings,
white rice and cole slaw. The soup is nothing more than lightly seasoned broth
garnished with scallions. The surprise on the plate is the onion rings. These
panko-breaded sweet onions are crispy inside and out.
It’s always a struggle to remove the chicken from the skewers. There are no
knives making it an exercise in grace and dexterity, but worth every second
of effort. Grilled in a Teriyaki sauce, the bite-sized pieces of glazed chicken
have just the right amount of tangy sweetness. The white rice, which must
have been plated with an ice cream scoop, is a great foil to the sauce from the
chicken and the slaw.
Poor health has kept B.B. homebound. Thank goodness for take-out.
Three-and-a-half Plates
“Yakitori 2”
1612 N Academy Blvd
Colorado Springs, CO
A wait staff that actually knows its restaurant’s food is nothing to dismiss. This is
true whether the fare is extraordinary or not. The Crystal Park Cantina has a
knowledgeable, friendly staff that complements its twist on exceptional Mexican food.
Margaritas, chips and salsa give the impression this is a standard Mexican restaurant;
however, after perusing the menu this is quickly dispelled.
Asking a server for his or her favorite menu item is nothing new; sometimes it seems
like a crap shoot. I asked my server at the Cantina what sauce she recommended for
the Chile Relleno: pork green chile or tomatillo Alfredo? Her face lit up and, without
hesitation, she said half and half. The green chile has a depth of flavor that has no-
thing to do with being too spicy. An Alfredo sauce is not something necessarily asso-
ciated with anything south of the border, but this rich cream base is augmented by
the green tomatoes. Having the sauces side-by-side felt like picking the winning Lotto
numbers.
The relleno was light with the chili and cheese the rightful heir to the plate. Too often
an over-eggy batter attempts a coup and overshadows the chile, cheese or both. Here
a pastry-like shell covers the two chiles like a thin, protective blanket.
The entrees include frijoles and saffron-infused rice. A dollop of guacamole and an-
other of pico de gallo result in a very colorful plate.
By the way, there’s nothing wrong with those margaritas, chips and salsa – the servers
recommend them.
Four Plates
The Crystal Park Cantina
178 Crystal Park Rd., Manitou Springs, CO
Some nights, no matter how hard you try to convince yourself, are simply not
meant to highlight a fine dining experience. This includes New Year’s Eve. If
not for the humor, warmth and companionship of friends, dinner at the
Crystola Roadhouse would have been a sorry way to end 2011.
Granted, the kitchen and wait staff was running on all cylinders, but most of
the misfires on the plate had nothing to do with being busy. The regular Friday
and Saturday night special is Prime Rib. It was the December 31st special as
well. It came with salad, mixed vegetables, roasted potatoes and bread. This
all sounds good.
The iceberg salad, with a few pieces of tomato added for color, arrived (literally)
a split second before the entrée. So much for pacing the meal.
The Prime Rib was cooked well and, despite using a steak knife with the tension
of a rubber band, was tender and flavorful. Nothing else could make the same
claim. The potatoes were undercooked. The mixed vegies, of corn, green beans,
peas and lima beans, came straight out of a supermarket’s frozen food section.
The bread was simply buttered toast.
I’m happy to note that service was above average, and the beer was plentiful.
Thank goodness for the company of good friends. Otherwise, as just a date night
destination, the Crystola Roadhouse might have had the potential to put a chill
on the evening that has nothing to do with temperatures on a cold winter’s night.
“Crystola Roadhouse”
Two Plates
20918 East U.S. Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO
For years, the only thing we ever stopped for in Woodland Park en route to the
mountains from Colorado Springs was donuts. That’s changed. Now we stop at
Joanie’s Mountain Gourmet Deli.
We’ve been three times in the past few months: lunch-to-go, a snack-for-the-road,
and a hot breakfast after a cold morning searching for a Charlie Brown Christmas
tree. All experiences were tasty and presented challenges because of the plentiful
offerings.
Lunch is typical deli fare and more. Menu items include fresh salads, sandwiches
(cold, hot, grilled, wrapped) and freshly-made soups. I ordered Joanie’s Veggie,
awrap with hummus, tomato, cukes, artichoke hearts and roasted red peppers.
I’m a pushover for those ingredients. Tangy, smooth hummus was the star, a
perfect complement to the vegies. My husband ordered the Oven Gold Turkey on
sourdough and had little to say: he was too busy eating.
A pastry case features in-house baked goods, which was the impetus for the second
visit: we left with a cream cheese cherry croissant and a mega peanut butter
cookie.
Recently, my husband tried the biscuits and gravy, which, in general, needs a
makeover, not for its taste but the way it looks. The thick gravy has a subtle kick.
I had the roast beef, roasted red pepper and provolone quiche. The flavors woke
up the silky egg custard and flakey crust.
The food is good, fresh; and service is exuberant. The only visible downside is that
Joanie’s closes at 3 p.m.; so plan those drives west accordingly.
Four Plates
110 E U.S. Highway 24
Woodland Park, CO
Solace is found in the familiar, and La Baguette with its French onion
soup sets the benchmark for comfort. Although I encourage others to
sample different dishes, the only deviation I’ll make is including a
salad or extra roll with my order.
The venerable Westside eatery has been serving soups, sandwiches and
a few hot entrees for 28 years. It rarely varies in quality. The gooey
cheese stretches like soft taffy from the steaming rich beef broth thick
with onions; the house specialty is comfort food deified. Served with
a hard roll, whose crust shatters when broken, this remarkably simple
meal ($6.25) is complete.
The house salad is romaine dressed with olive oil, tarragon and lemon
juice. Again, simplicity is as much an ingredient as salt and pepper.
La Baguette’s combination of French onion soup and salad ($7.75) is
the best of all worlds.
Orders are placed at the counter behind which are stacked more than a
baker’s dozen of bread types – from extra long French batards to round
walnut-raisin loaves. All are airy with a hard crust. To be honest even
day-old bologna would be elevated by this bread – but that would be a
waste. The pastry case includes croissants, Napoleons, clafoutis, and
more. The overall décor is bistro-like with tables crowded together
making for snug dining companions.
On each visit, I am thrilled with the delicious consistency of the soup
a la maison. Looking around at the elbow-to-elbow tables, I always seem
to be in good company.
Five Plates
La Baguette
2417 W. Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80904
719-577-4818
A bungled reservation, an over-zealous server, and cold air wafting into the room
could have contributed to a disastrous dining experience at Springs Orleans.
Instead, the food not only ruled the night, it negated the coulda-been problems.
The menu is a what’s what in New Orleans cooking: Shrimp Etouffee, Red Beans
and Rice, Shrimp and Grits, Gumbo and much more. Prices range from moderate
($11 for a shrimp Po’Boy) to pricey ($20 for the Shrimp Platter).
We started with the Calamari and Creole marinara. Dual textures from the crunchy,
suggestively spicy breading and the chewy soft squid were a treat. The bonus was
the sauce: a spin on a traditional marinara with the addition of Cajun seasoning –
which, the hostess explained, has 32 herbs and spices.
I ordered the pasta with lobster and sundried tomatoes in a creamy tarragon sauce.
It was Mardi Gras on a plate: an exciting, festive combination but you can only take
so much. It wasn’t just rich, it was luxurious. The tubular spring-like pasta was
eclipsed by the profusion of flavor. My husband ordered the Fried Shrimp that was
neither greasy no heavy shone on the Platter. It featured the same breading as the
calamari. The Platterscome with choices of several sides including crispy French
fries, balsamic grilled vegies, mashed potatoes, greens and coleslaw.
The loud, cheerful atmosphere is enhanced by the live music from the keyboardist.
This is not the place for a romantic meal, but it’s perfect for being transported to
Louisiana without ever leaving town.
Four Plates
Springs Orleans
123 E. Pikes Peak
Colorado Springs
The name Snooze is ironically misleading because this is an exciting, ambitious, and,
apparently, very popular diner. Although there are others in Denver, Boulder and Fort
Collins, we tried the Larimer and Park location.
To be perfectly honest, breakfast is not my favorite meal. Snooze could change that. The
menu has several items that piqued my interest: Sweet Potato Buttermilk Pancakes, Breakfast
Tacos, Snooze Spuds Deluxe and much, much more. I opted for the Sweet Potato Pancakes which
may sway me from trying anything else. The cakes were surprisingly light and airy; the sweet
potato flavor was subtle, especially under the ultra-sweet caramel syrup, so it took a little
experimenting to find the right taste balance. Pecans and ginger butter were perfect final
touches. My son ordered Red Velvet Pancakes, with a hint of rich chocolate, complete with
cream cheese frosting.
All the egg dishes use Neiman Ranch Cage Free eggs. I am not a coffee drinker, but I know a
good cup when I smell it. Hash browns while creamy are perhaps not as crunchy as they should
be. Service is very friendly and efficient. Still, it’s clear pancakes are the stars of the menu.
Afterall, Snooze boasts: Peace, Love and Pancakes!
Be prepared to wait, we were told 15 minutes, which was pretty accurate; as we were leaving,
those waiting for tables were being told 30 to 45 minutes. Snooze, an a.m. eatery, is a fun
misnomer because it is wide awake on all levels.
Five Plates
Snooze
2662 E. Larimer St., Denver
7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekends
6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays
The Landmark Café and Creperie has several house specialties, but I
only tried those on the dessert menu. Oh, it was tempting to select
savory crepes as my entrée, but the brandied apples, sun dried tomatoes,
mushrooms and duck over fettuccine was too intriguing to dismiss. I had
never considered pairing pommes de terre with pasta, yet the unlikely
couple made a fine marriage. The duck approached the dry side, but the
elegant sauce of the brandy, apples and sundried tomatoes made it possible
to overlook this potential flaw. The boring house salad was salvaged only
by the tangy cranberry vinaigrette.
Apparently, spinach bisque is a Landmark specialty, but I didn’t find this
out until later. In addition to pastas, main course salads and sandwiches,
the menu features at least half a dozen savory crepes. Chicken Divan and
Beef Burgundy were among those sampled and deemed delicious.
Although our small group of Knox College students claimed to be full, every-
one still had room for dessert. My son and I made the mistake of requesting
the large serving of the Crepes Banana Foster. We erred only because it was
far too much – even shared. Still, the caramel sauce was decadent. The Turtle
Crepes also got two thumbs up. We all agreed that the crepes were difficult
to cut with a spoon.
We’re likely to visit Galesburg over the next four years, so we’ll have plenty
of opportunity to sample the house favorites, and find new ones.
Four Plates
62 S. Seminary St.
Galesburg, Ill.
The Blue Page Special 