The Famous

After seeing the play Assassins at the Fine Arts Center with some friends last Sunday, we decided to have an early dinner and all headed downtown to The Famous.

Mike and I snagged a pretty close parking spot and met up with the rest of the gang at the bar. We all ordered cocktails - Mike wanted a Bombay martini and I requested a martini (from their martini menu) that was seemed close to a Killer Kool-aid martini from MacKenzie's Chop House.  I got my drink, but how could The Famous have no Bombay gin?  Strike one!

The Famous serves, without a doubt, the best steaks in Colorado Springs.  And, they are very proud of their steaks.  The cheapest is $37 and they go up to $45 and if you want Oscar or Scampi, add another $16 or $13.  All the sides are a la carte and served family style, which can limit the options if there are just two of you.  Yes - it's pricey.  Really pricey.  Strike two?  Yes, but the food is really, really good.

To start off, I tried the tuna tartar - which was excellent.  Tender, coarsely ground tuna in small round stacks, very nicely presented.  BTW - Service throughout our evening was excellent and when we ran out of the delectable bread, more was brought out immediately.

Most of the group ordered steaks, no toppings, with salads and baked potatoes, plus we had a couple sides of asparagus.  One person ordered the salmon ($30) - which she said was excellent.  Everyone raved about the quality of the meat and how it was prepared. 

But - as good as the food is at The Famous - we don't go there often.  Besides the cost - it is very expensive - the acoustics of the place suck!  We were there early that night - before the place filled up.  During the normal dinner hours, when there are folks at the bar, diners at all the tables, and possibly the piano playing - you literally cannot carry on a conversation with those sitting next or across from you.  Strike three.

So, let's tally this up ... No Bombay gin. Expensive. Noisy.  Do Again - probably not (stress on probably).  We can actually get a steak that is just about as good at MacKenzie's Chop House (and significantly cheaper) where we can carry on conversations during dinner.  And, MacKenzie's wouldn't dare run out of Bombay gin!!