Food places in the Springs

[Captain Obvious]

I have been watching Diners, dives, drive-ins, ignoring the "talent" on the show, they always have a couple great places to eat.

Either I am stuck in a rut or can't find new places to eat, but what do the other locals in the Springs like to eat? I am looking for non-chain type places.

Any ideas?

[VFR]

A.I off carefree sushi is pricey but good, hibachi grills the same
El Padrino's off northgate good mexican great salsa

[CaneZach]

What are you looking for, Jon? For Italian, Paravicinis is my go-to restaurant.

[VFR]

Here a lot about Edelweiss for German

[Drift]

Here a lot about Edelweiss for German

+1

Are you looking for diner type food...or something else?

[3D]

Try the Craftwood Inn in Manitou Springs. A little on the pricey side, but man is that some good food. They serve game like elk, ostrich, antelope, bison and such. The wife tried the ostrich for the first time there and now every time we go, that's all she orders.

[Wrider]

King's Chef. Went there for the first time tonight and was pretty good (I was the sober guy so you can trust the opinion haha).

[aerofaze]

I've been to all these that I've listed:

Il Vicino for affordable but gourmet-style, wood oven pizza. Order at the counter and they give you a number and you find your own seat. Oh yeah, they make their own beer, too. Yes, it's a small chain with 10 restaurants, but I THINK they started in Colorado. Tejon St near Jack Quinn's. $8-$9 range per individual pizza.

Arharn Thai, my favorite place along the Powers Blvd corridor. Excellent noodle dishes and you can get mild, medium, hot, or Thai hot. Sit-down place off N Carefree. $5-$10.

Paris Crepe is probably my favorite crepes place. Order at the counter, then Wahid will call yours out when he's done making it in front of you. The dude makes a mean Algerian Crepe. The Turkish and Thai Crepes are also decent. But my personal favorites are the Deluxe Crepe (breakfast-type) and the S'More Crepes (dessert-type). Not to be confused with La Creperie Bistro, Paris Crepe is cheaper and 2 doors south of Jose Muldoon's. $5-$8

Arabica Cafe has some of the best hummus, shawarma, and falafel. Tejon St, $8-$12. Nearer my house in the old Wahoo's Fish Tacos building off Powers & N Carefree is Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill, and I believe there's another one in the Broadmoor Bluffs area. So yes, it's a chain, but it's a Colorado chain, $6-$9! I have yet to complain about either of these two.

India Palace's decor is in need of an update and tucked in a strip mall south of N Academy and Vickers, but the food is really good and the service is friendly. Excellent naan bread. The Chicken Vindaloo arrives in a tangy sauce with a side of rice, and the Chicken Tandoori comes out sizzling on a cast-iron skillet. $10-$13

Jake & Telly's in Old Colorado City for a slightly more upscale Greek experience. $15-$20. They also have monthly wine dinners with a theme, like Wines of Argentina, or Australian Grapes.

For Vietnamese food, I really like Lemongrass Bistro (N Academy) or Saigon Cafe (downtown) for Pho or the Bun (noodle) Bowls. $8-$12.

Kura Sushi (Research & Union) and Bara Sushi (Promenade Shops) are my go-to for sushi. They're a little more expensive than some of the other places, but the fish is good. Bara's service could use a little more training as they seem to forget to top off my empty water glasses. I really want to try Zen Fusion Sushi (Barnes & Powers) as it's right by my house.

Sonterra Grill for a contemporary take on southwest style (I say "southwest" loosely, but I still enjoy the food, whatever it is). Sit-down restaurant on Tejon St. $13-18 per dish.

There are more, but this is what's striking me right now. Tonight we're trying out The Rabbit Hole in the subterranean entrance off Kiowa St downtown.

[COS Mille]

-A+ Il Vicino for Pizza (wife is native Italian so my standards for Pizza is high)
-Conways Red Top for a Local burger (excellent pies too by the way)
-Bird Dog BBQ on Powers or Front Range BBQ (two locations)
I heard the little BBQ stand in biglots parking lot Union and Academy is good for to go BBQ, closes early though.

[Drift]

-Conways Red Top for a Local burger (excellent pies too by the way)
-Bird Dog BBQ on Powers

+1 for both of the above

Also not bad is Cy's Drive In, for a little old-fashioned outside summer burger.

Ciao,
Drift

[Numan]

I have really been enjoying NOSH, both lunch and dinner (different menus).
Wide variety of tastes and textures on each plate...

http://www.nosh121.com/

The Korean wings and Miso Maple sausage plate are my favorites.

[konaman]

The blue star on South Tejon is really good as well as the warehouse which is also south downtown.

[Matt]

La Carreta at Iowa & Kiowa is great Mexican.

Mountain Shadows at 2223 W Colorado Ave has a great breakfast.

+1 on Ai Sushi (our favorite sushi spot).
+1 on King's Diner

[COS Mille]

For desert there is a drive-in ice cream place on the north end of Webber.

[aerofaze]

Update on The Rabbit Hole ($13-$23 entrees): overall they exceeded my expectations for a new place. This is NOT the kind of establishment I'd recommend for a steak-n-potatoes kind of eater, though the restaurant did have an entree that could pass for such a person.

Most of their drinks are based on nearly all Colorado breweries, wineries, and even distilleries (Bristol, Tommyknocker, Stranahan's, etc). My sangria was made using Infinite Monkey Theorem wine from Denver.

As for the food, I'd say the non-traditional items (ie, Plum Togarishi Duck Wings, Bacon-wrapped Rabbit Meatloaf) of the apps and entrees mostly succeeded. My beef tenderloin with Colorado cherry glace was delicious, and my coworker said his White Cheddar Juicy Lucy burger was excellent. Mntntoproc's rabbit meatloaf was surprisingly lean and tasty, and not at all dried-out; however, I think he still preferred my tenderloin.

Staff seemed well-versed in what was being served last night.

There are a few kinks that they should be working out, i.e., no solid dessert menu. And the carrot cake the server recommended to us was perhaps a little too different (cherries mixed into the frosting), though I liked the Apple Whiskey mixed into the batter.

Bottom line: I'd go back.

[konaman]

Thanks for the update, I was very interested after looking over the menu. Looks like I will be making a trip as well.

[Captain Obvious]

I think he still preferred my tenderloin.

That's what he said.

[aerofaze]

That's what he said.

I should've foreseen that!!!


One more note on the tenderloin... Its 6oz was the perfect size for me [insert That's What She Said], but don't say I didn't warn you that it is on the smaller end. My Medium Rare order was still cooked just about right.

[Captain Obvious]

+1

Are you looking for diner type food...or something else?

What are you looking for, Jon? For Italian, Paravicinis is my go-to restaurant.

Dinner, lunch, breakfast; any style. Older I get, the more I appreciate the non-franchise, good service and non-fast food type places. Luckily, the wifey is willing to try just about any food type as well. I miss the simple type of food you can get in Europe, good food, fair prices, not trying to impress you with all the extra frills that add very little to ones meal.

We rarely go over $50 for the 2 of us unless drinks are involved (just as a benchmark). And many of the places mentioned above are new to me, just the sort of ideas I was looking for. Thanks all.

[Captain Obvious]

Oh, and I should have offered my ideas.

There is a pretty good Greek place we like. Run by a family off of Union, Greek Grille Cafe.

We have a Mexican food place walking distance from the house. Arceos, just off the garden of gods exit. We go there ALL the time. Never had a bad meal and prices are good. The salsa is great.

Edelweiss, I love that place.

[spdu4ia]

my two recomendations are Dat's Italian (small family owned , feels like big mammas house) and The Warehouse (a bit more expensive but specializes in wild game.... FANTASTIC place for dates).

[Wrider]

The other place I'd like to throw in for Italian is Rocco's. It's off of Maizeland and Academy in that little shopping center across from Palmer Park way back in the corner. Very good food, very authentic, and very reasonable to boot.

[aerofaze]

Has anyone tried the new Crystal Park Cantina in Manitou yet?

I've heard decent things about this place, which is partly owned by a former Broncos player, and was reminded again of it by today's Independent review.

[Cjake39]

Pueblo Viejo's - great mexican