Navajo Hogan

If you’ve spent any time in Colorado Springs, you’re familiar with Navajo Hogan’s on North Nevada. The huge neon sign in the form of an Indian (American, not Asian) and the unique bee-hive shapes of the building – not to mention all the motorcycles parked there most weekends – it’s really an icon here in the “Springs”!  If nothing else, you need to go there just to see the building from the inside – it’s on the National Historic Register and it’s really is a marvel. Built by Nicholal Fontecchio in 1935 to resemble a hogan (and complete with the Broadmoor for evening entertainment in Colorado Springs), the ceiling domes are pieced together with no nails – in a bee-hive or “hogan” shape. Navajo Hogan’s has been a bar, strip club, restaurant, dance club, biker bar, etc, but maybe now that Johnny Nolan is involved (that’s Johnny of Southside Johnny’s, a great local pub on South Tejon), the old place may be able to really stabilize into a successful North End hangout – and not just for the biker crowd.

Anyway – we ate there the other night with the Mensa group and it was very nice. Roomy; accommodating (as we kept adding people); service was very good (no problem with separate checks); there were about 10 different beers on tap; and my burger was really good. (For those that don’t know me, I rarely eat hamburgers – but when I do, I usually enjoy them!) I had the bacon blue cheese burger with sweet potato fries (extra for the SPFs). Other orders around the table were the Philly steak sandwich and different salads, not to mention other variations of burgers and fries.  Everybody was satisfied with their meals and prices were reasonable.

When we left, we lingered by the front door to read the history plaque posted there and a man approached us, obviously associated with the restaurant, and asked how our meals were. He didn’t introduce himself, but I think it may have been Johnny or at least the manager of the “new” Navajo Hogan’s, anyway – he seemed genuinely concerned about our answers. He confessed that his cook was new and was having some troubles getting the burgers just right – but we assured him everything had turned out fine. As long as Navajo Hogan’s staff shows this same personal concern and service remains good (as does the food), Navajo Hogan’s will once again be an iconic (and good)  place to take visitors … or just grab a beer and a burger!  We'll add this to the Do Again list!

TGI Friday (I-25 and Woodman)

Last night I went to TGI Friday (I-25 and Woodman) for a financial seminar a Mensa friend of mine invited me to - the seminar was great, by the way - but since this is a restaurant review ... here we go!

The first time Mike and I went to TGI Friday (yes, the same one - about 5 years ago) - we were seated and then we waited and waited. Meanwhile, tables around us - full of folks who came in after us - were getting drinks and their orders were being taken and even delivered.  We were completely ignored.  We left and as we walked out the door, the manager asked how we enjoyed our visit. I replied that we were leaving because we couldn't get waited on and I told him what had happened.  Mike was at the car ready to leave, but the manager convinced us to come back in, be reseated in a different section - and he would comp our meals.  Right answer!  We ate dinner there that night - a good meal - but it wasn't high on the list. Still isn't our favorite choice, but if a bunch of people want to go there - we wouldn't object! (In fact, the Mensa group would meet there once a month to play Trivia - but we stopped because they wouldn't change the TVs from sports to Trivia.)

Last night - I found out they have a meeting room in the back you can use for free for events like this seminar or a meeting.  Nice!  Back to the meal - I ordered the Cobb salad - the greens were fresh, chicken done nicely, etc.  They did skimp a bit on the dressing. While the meal was good, I'd not make a special trip there for the Cobb salad - or probably for anything else. Again - if I was with a group, I wouldn't object to TGI Friday - but I wouldn't select it on my own.  Do again?  Only for a group activity where I didn't have much say in where we went!

Outback Steak House (New Point Center, off Constitution and Powers)

We went to the Outback Steak House at the New Point Center (off Constitution and Powers) with the Mensa group - 13 of us! Delightful company - especially since my friend Susan joined us.  As to the service and food ... service was great - they had our tables set up with the 1 1/2 hour wait (actually, it was much closer to an hour) - and as far as I know, only one order got bollixed up (mine). Drinks were excellent and fast - salads were fresh and dressed nicely. Bloomin' onions crispy and seasoned just right.  Everybody's food seemed okay - except mine!  I asked for my steak "Pittsburgh" style (really charred on the outside and rare inside) and the waitress asked the manager if they could do that. He said yes, Pittsburgh would be no problem. When I got my steak, tender as it was, it was simply really rare. No char - and, to be honest, a bit too rare!  Be advised - they do NOT know how to Pittsburgh a steak!  Bastards! 

Other than my steak not being done correctly - the rest of the evening - both company, food and drink, was GREAT!  Overall - Yes - DO AGAIN!

MacKenzie's Chop House

This is one of our favorite spots in Colorado Springs - convenient when there's a show at the Pikes Peak Center and a great place to show off to out-of-town guests! Anyway - we stopped by there for drinks and appetizers/tapas before the Steep Canyon Rangers with Steve Martin played at the PP Center the other night. If I could get the managers/owners of MacKenzie's to do one thing - I'd tell them to hire Ramsey as the full-time bartender (and pay her what she's worth) or get Sean back! While service was okay - it was not up to par with either Ramsey or Sean. There's a lack to personal attention to the customers - the bartenders are just that - bartenders - and too busy, to boot! Sean and Ramsey always recognized the regulars, service was FAST, and you felt special when they were behind the bar.

As for the appetizers - the spinach dip was good - served in a bread bowl can never be wrong. The carpaccio was wonderful - sliced thin, flavorful, with just perfect capers, toast, onions and garlic. And, of course, I got the bacon-wrapped, blue cheese stuffed dates. Simply to die for. Really. Excellent! Love the dates! Did I say the dates were great? Well, they are!

So after a couple of Killer Kool-Aid’s for me and Chop House Manhattans for Mike, and tummies full of appetizers - off to the Pikes Peak Center. MacKenzie's? Definitely DO AGAIN!

Carrabba's

Mike and I had dinner last night at Carrabba's Italian Grill (I-25 and Woodman area). We occasionally eat there for a quick dinner - and last night was probably the best we've seen there. We started out at bar, where we didn't even have time to order drinks before our buzzer buzzed, and were lead to a very spacious booth. Our server, Chance, was most efficient - and got a kick out of us having a dog named Chance! We ordered a very nice Argentinean Malbec - along with their current appetizer special: "oven-baked blend of spinach with fontina and Gruyère cheeses,served with grilled bruschette bread for dipping" (along with the addition of crab meat). It was really, really good - a bit spicy, which really added a lot to the flavor - it was much better than the usual spinach dips. And lots of crab meat- which is great for the shark in me! I do hope they keep it on the menu. Then, Mike had the soup special (Sicilian chicken) and I had salad. Mike said the soup was very tasty - and my salad was comprised of very fresh greens and not overly dressed. I had the Pollo Rosa Maria (chicken stuffed with fontina and prosciutto, topped with mushrooms and a basil lemon butter sauce with cavatappi amatriciana) for my dinner - it was wonderful! Mike had the Linguine Pescatore (shrimp, sea scallops and mussels tossed with linguine in a spicy marinara sauce), which he said was really good - and a generous portion, too! So, with wine, salad/soup, and a couple of excellent dishes, served with skill by Chance (the waiter, not the dog) - we'd put Carrabba's on the DO AGAIN list!

King Sooper's Chicken

Okay - this really isn't a "restaurant" review - but I just picked up some chicken tenders at King Soopers deli and they are GREAT!  Mike and I get them now and then - they're all white meat with an excellent spiced-just-right coating. Add a little honey mustard - yum!

FYI - last bowling season, I bought the meat for the End of Season Pot Luck dinner. I got the fried chicken from King Soopers and everybody raved about it.  Much better than KFC!

Colorado Mountain Brewery

As I've been so lax on posting - I've decided I need to make sure I post after every MEO (Meal Eaten Out).

After our own version of "Storage Wars," Vera, Keri, Al and I stopped by the Colorado Mountain Brewery (11202 Rampart Hills View at I-25 and Interquest Parkway, by Hollywood Theaters) for a beer and bite. We've never actually eaten in the restaurant - we always head to the patio or bar. This time - the bar - it was nice and cool after being out in the sun too long. Anyway, Al and I had beers - my Blonde Ale was good - but I'm no beer expert. Keri ordered seasoned fries with cheese and sour cream, but no onions and I ordered venison egg rolls. Keri's fries, unfortunately, came with onions, so she could only pick a few that were onion-less. (She declined to send them back.) Vera, however, said they were very good - cheesy and nicely seasoned. My venison egg rolls were just a bit overdone, but not enough to spoil them. The sauces they came with are BBQ and sweet chili - and both complimented the egg rolls - but the drizzled sauce on the plate (a reduction) was actually much better with the egg rolls!

Overall - "Do again." And - maybe we'll try the restaurant one day.

Springs Orleans

Last Sunday, we went to the Springs Orleans restaurant in downtown Colorado Springs (123 East Pikes Peak) after seeing "Midnight in Paris" (which was delightful, by the way). First impressions when we walked in - great ambiance. The hostess, however, was a bit "surly" and when she seated us, she indicated a table adjacent to the kitchen. We asked to be seated at the next closer-to-the-door table and she indicated that was okay. Then, she set the menus and wine list down without another word - no "Enjoy your meal" or "Here's the menu" or "Your server will be here in a moment." While we groused a bit about that greeting, we perused the martini menu, wine list and food menus. Our server (Eric, I believe) was both friendly and personable - and we ordered a couple of Sazerac martinis (which we found we don't care for. No, the drinks were good, just not our cup of tea, if you will.). Eric returned at the proper interval and we ordered: Gorgonzola fettuccine with Buffalo shrimp for me and a bowl of the spicy gumbo for Mike. While we sipped out Sazeracs, we noticed the open brick walls, interesting artwork and table spacing (which was generous). The bar area looked spacious - and inviting!  (I'm sure we'll hit happy hour there soon.)  One thing we enjoyed was that the acoustics kept the noise level down, so it was pleasant to carry on a conversation. Our food came quickly, and it was excellent! My pasta was cooked just right and the presentation was beautiful. Mike said his gumbo was great - spiced just right - not too hot to enjoy, but hot enough to enjoy! We were very satisfied with our dinners. As a splurge, we ordered desserts - vanilla bean cheesecake with Tuaca carmel sauce and white chocolate, blueberry and pecan bread pudding with blueberry coulis . The cheesecake was simply unremarkable - good, but nothing that would set it apart. The carmel sauce was sparingly drizzled on the plate and I didn't detect any additional vanilla flavor. Mike said the same about the bread pudding - not enough "extras" to make it stand out. It tasted more like plain bread pudding. While we were commenting on this, a gentleman from the next table asked if we'd like to try the strawberry shortcake. We said yes, of course, and as I asked him what his connection to the restaurant was, he said he was the owner! (I imagine some of our comments were overheard by him.) Anyway - owner Perry Sanders - who was very enthusiastic about his shortcakes - brought us two strawberry shortcakes - which were good. Again, nothing really remarkable enough to make them stand out - although the shortbread was perfect. As we left, the "surly" hostess did in fact smile and wish us a "Good Evening." I don't know if the owner overheard our conversation about her earlier and said something. Anyway - overall - we put this on the "Do Again" list - especially for dinner - but would avoid the desserts until they pump up the flavors. And - I really can't wait to stop there for beignets and café au lait.

Rasta Pasta

Tonight – Rasta Pasta on North Tejon. Excellent! We put this place on the “do again” list. The pasta dishes were tasty, seasoned nicely; they served generous portion sizes and service was very good. I had the Rasta Pasta – pasta with tomato sauce and chunks of jerked chicken. Mike had the seafood pasta Alfredo, which was really, really good. Lots of seafood and the sauce was not bland, as Alfredo sauces can be. Décor was cozy; tables were not crowded together – but spaced nicely. Overall – a great experience. I would recommend Rasta Pasta.

Uchenna's (in Old Colorado City)

Last Saturday, we ate at Uchenna's, which bills itself as Ethiopian and Mediterranean cuisine. We had the lamb stew - which was more like simple ground lamb in a spiced sauce.  This was okay - but nothing I'd go back for.  It was served with no utensils – you were to eat it with Ethiopian bread – which is a flat, non-leavened bread, grey and spongy.  Not very tasty at all – in fact, kind of yech.  You basically use the bread to pinch up a bit of the stew.  Another person in our party had another traditional Ethiopian dish that was more like a gyro or pita sandwich.  They said it was okay – but again, nothing special enough to draw us back for a return visit.  Service was very slow – even just to get water or tea – but very friendly.  All in all – I would not recommend Uchenna’s – unless you just want to experience Ethiopian cuisine!