Thursday, November 17, 2011

Springs Orleans - 3.75/4*

Springs Orleans
123 E. Pikes Peak Ave
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
(719)520-0123
http://www.springsorleans.com/

Attire:             Business Attire
Company:      My Husband

RATINGS
The Grub:                     4 – Gotta go!
Service:                         4 – Gotta go!
Atmosphere:                4 – Gotta go!
Cost/Value:                  $$$ - It doesn’t hurt to drop a few / Value 3 (Decent)



RATINGS KEY
Rating Scale
Cost/per person
Value
1 – No go…
$ – Pinchin’ pennies (< $10)  
1 – Bad
2 – Try it…
$$ – Got a few bucks (< $20)
2 – O.K.
3 – Savor it…
$$$ – It doesn’t hurt to drop a few (< $50)
3 – Decent
4 – Gotta go!
$$$$ – I just got a bonus ($100 +)
4 – Great



REVIEW
On our mission to find happy hour in downtown Colorado Springs, we literally stumbled upon this restaurant.  I remember hearing about it from a friend, but have not gone yet because I am not the biggest Cajun fan.  The best part?  Happy Hour was in FULL effect when we got there, so I was still able to write my “Happy Hour” Review.

The atmosphere is beautiful when you walk in, airy and open with fun, cool artwork all over the walls from an artist the owner brought in from New Orleans.  Amongst the art are a series of open tables, booths against the wall and a beautiful bar that you can belly up to if you so desire.  We were greeted right away by a sweet gal who we thought was our hostess, but she ended up being our server.  She was very kind and helpful and we were delighted to discover she was our server.  The cohesion of the staff was remarkable, I have never seen a restaurant staff get along so well, you could tell they were having fun, but they were working very hard.

This is a place is a MUST.  This is a restaurant that I would come back too, and I can only say that about very few…

Happy Hour
We arrived on a Tuesday, and on Tuesdays the happy hour is ALL NIGHT….shhhhh.  We enjoyed beautiful glasses of house wine for $2 a piece!!  I had two.   Check out the details here http://www.springsorleans.com/menu/happy-hour - they don’t mention Tuesday on the site…maybe we were just special.

The Grub
Excellent.  The combination of flavors was superb.  I feel like I am committed robbery by telling you about my Cobb Tower Salad with Chicken and how beautiful it was, there are so many other beautiful things on the menu.  Normally this salad comes in the shape of a tower...I opted to get my dressing on the side, so no tower could be created...  I got to try my husband’s Po’ Boy sandwich, SUPERB.  I think that would be much more fun to share with you – the balance and complexity of flavors was perfect.  The hoagie was fresh, toasted and brushed with butter.  Those flavors against the Creole slaw and fried catfish was to die for…excellent combination of flavors, but most of all very well executed dish.  The most baffling part is how such a simple dish could have so much flavor, well done!

So Great…
Everything.  I don’t have one complaint from the evening.  The service was top of the line, the food was superb and the atmosphere was fun and cool.  It is a very romantic place to go on a date, but also a great place to go after work and hang out.

They have a beautiful area upstairs that you can rent out for events, check it out here: http://www.springsorleans.com/groups-and-private-parties

The Bummer…
The value.  The value was not great, but decent.  The food was a bit over priced, and I hope that this is not keeping people away from their restaurant, because the food is EXCELLENT.  I know that they are associating themselves with the Wyndam Hotel that they are building next door, so that could possibly justify the higher prices.  Overall, excellent food and an decent price. 


Tuesday, October 4, 2011

My Big Fat Greek Restaurant - 2.5*

My Big Fat Greek Restaurant
7605 N. Academy Blvd.
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
(719)260-7300

Attire:             Business Attire
Company:      My Husband

RATINGS
The Grub:                     2 – Try it…
Service:                         3 – Savor It…
Atmosphere:                2 – Try It…
Cost/Value:                  $$ - Got a few bucks / Value 3 (Decent)


RATINGS KEY
Rating Scale
Cost/per person
Value
1 – No go…
$ – Pinchin’ pennies (< $10)  
1 – Bad
2 – Try it…
$$ – Got a few bucks (< $20)
2 – O.K.
3 – Savor it…
$$$ – It doesn’t hurt to drop a few (< $50)
3 – Decent
4 – Gotta go!
$$$$ – I just got a bonus ($100 +)
4 – Great

 REVIEW
Have family in town and want to take them out for an entertaining meal?  Then check out My Big Fat Greek Restaurant.  With a great location off North Academy, this place is always packed and offers a decent value.  Great place to bring kids and the whole family, lots of excitement including serves yelling out Greek phrases to setting plates of cheese on fire…  The atmosphere is cozy and comfortable and offers a great Greek vibe.

The Grub
Decent.  I ordered the Steak & Spinach Salad, and swapped out the steak with chicken.  The ingredients in the salad were very fresh and well prepped, I was very impressed by this.  The chicken was very well flavored, but a bit on the salty side, so salty that my stomach was very upset later that evening.  I thought it might be MSG, but I called the store and was told that there is no MSG used in their food.  Overall, the food was O.K.

So Great…
Our server.  She was very positive, great at up selling and her passion for the restaurant and food was amazing.  What an asset.  As having been an employer, I have a GREAT appreciation for employees who are passionate about their jobs and the companies that they work for. 

The Bummer…
The levels of salt in the food, but I know that this really won’t change…a majority of the culture likes the taste of salt, fat and sugar.  I would suggest offering a sliced up pita with olive oil or hummus for the customers while they are waiting for their food…


Monday, September 19, 2011

Pei Wei Asian Diner - 3*


Pei Wei Asian Diner
7148 N Academy Blvd.
Colorado Springs, CO  80920
(719) 260-9922

Attire:             Business Attire
Company:      My Husband

RATINGS
The Grub:                     4 – Gotta go!
Service:                        2 – Try It…
Atmosphere:                2/3 – Try It/Savor It
Cost/Value:                  $ - Pinchin’ Pennies / Value 4 (Great)


RATINGS KEY
Ratings
Cost/pp
Value
1 – No go…
$ – Pinchin’ pennies (< $10)  
1 – Bad
2 – Try it…
$$ – Got a few bucks (< $20)
2 – O.K.
3 – Savor it…
$$$ – It doesn’t hurt to drop a few (< $50)
3 – Decent
4 – Gotta go!
$$$$ – I just got a bonus ($100 +)
4 – Great

REVIEW
Move over PF Changs, your brother Pei Wei is in the house and he is kicking your butt.  Every time I go into PF Changs, I have a tendency of feeling ripped off and I’m all about VALUE.  What a great spin off for PF Changs to create, for the market that wants fresh Asian food, but whose pockets don’t run sky deep.  I have always really appreciated Pei Wei, I can always modify my order, getting my chicken or tofu “stock velvet” and sauce on the side…  The atmosphere is decent too; it feels like a cozy restaurant, without the bill.

My husband and I ate here practically every night when we were in property management together, when you work all day to solve everyone else’s problems, the last thing you want to do is run home and whip up a gourmet meal.  This was our staple restaurant…and the managers were amazing, it was always clean and felt great.  When we went this past week, I felt that there had been a shift…the food didn’t taste as good to me, but that was probably because of the other things that I noticed that had changed.  I wanted to ask as we were going out the door, but I didn’t because the staff looked to be very busy, this location must have a new manager because it was not what it used to be.  The restaurant was practically empty…when I sat down at the table there was rice stuck in between the two tables and all over the booth seats… I had to take my napkin and wipe this away myself.  Then as I looked around the restaurant it just looked dirty and not well kept at all.  I never remember it looking like this…because of this, that is why the atmosphere was poorly rated.  The service also had shifted, I walked up the counter with my husband to place our order and what seemed to be the manager, ignored us for about 1 minute and then casually turned around and held up his finger at us and nonchalantly said, “I’ll be right with you…”  Grrrr…this stuff drives me up a wall.  Therefore, the service is NOT at all what is was.  I knew the other mangers by name, and they were nothing BUT service oriented.

No pictures on this post, I apologize, I was just so hungry I forgot…LOL.

The Grub
Great.  Their menu is MASSIVE with a lot of variety and they are very accommodating to change or modify a dish for your taste.  I always get my chicken or tofu “stock velvet,” this avoids them from frying the meat.  Also, they can tend to put A LOT of sauce on, I always get mine on the side.  Brown rice or white rice, and fortune cookies by the drink station for all…a big basket of them.  If you’re having company next week, maybe take some for the road? (joking)

So Great…
The variety of food and the VALUE.  This place rocks on the value scale, you get a great meal and decent portions for a very good rate.  I would highly recommend Pei Wei for the value that they offer to anyone!

The Bummer…
I would have nothing to complain about in the past, but like I mentioned above…it is really a shame with the shift that has taken place…if it is new management, it is noticeable.  You need to recruit your staff every night to give the dining room a deep clean and your bussers need to be trained on how to properly clean a table…they were ALL filthy…


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

The Rabbit Hole - 3.75/4* - Gotta Go!

The Rabbit Hole
101 N. Tejon Street
Downtown - Colorado Springs, CO
(719) 203-5072

Attire:             Business Attire
Company:      My Husband

RATINGS
The Grub:                     4 – Gotta go!
Service:                         4 – Gotta go!
Atmosphere:                4 – Gotta go!
Cost/Value:                  $$$ - It doesn’t hurt to drop a few / Value 3 (Decent)


RATINGS KEY
Ratings
Cost
Value
1 – No go…
$ – Pinchin’ pennies (< $10)        
1 – Bad
2 – Try it…
$$ – Got a few bucks (< $20)
2 – O.K.
3 – Savor it…
$$$ – It doesn’t hurt to drop a few (< $50)
3 – Decent
4 – Gotta go!
$$$$ – I just got a bonus ($100 +)
4 – Great


REVIEW
I love the mystery that this location has to offer, it is almost as elusive as 15C, also located in downtown Colorado Springs.  The Rabbit Hole sits off Kiowa, caddy corner to the main bus terminal.  The entrance faces west, and a red neon sign reads “The Rabbit Hole.”  As you enter the restaurant you descend down a staircase into the “hole,” a beautiful chandelier hangs overhead and lights the way.  As you walk in, the atmosphere is freakin’ gorgeous, they really did a number on this place. It takes some effort to make a restaurant that resides underground look good, and these guys did it.  The Rabbit Hole is a very swanky atmosphere, with cool art draping the walls, a large bar area, some serious mood lighting and beautiful tables for dining.


The Grub
Wow, what a beautiful menu.  I was overwhelmed by all of the local offerings from Colorado wines to meat, the owner and chef really thought this out.  I started out with a glass of South African Syrah by Goats Do Roam.  First of all, I ordered this wine just because of the name, second I ordered it because I adore South African red wines.  This selection, despite the strange yet amazing name, was superb!  The finish of this wine was amazing, vanilla with rich berries, the flavor lingers in your mouth for several seconds, very complex.  I ordered the tofu and grilled vegetables with curry.  I hate to admit it, and I know I have before, but I am a calorie counting foodie…so I don’t always order the most decadent dishes.  This dish was excellent.  The vegetables were all fresh and from what I was told (local – fantastic), they were perfectly grilled.  They were crispy and not too soggy.  The tofu was just as tasty and grilled to perfection.  All topped with the cream curry sauce, perfect hint of lime.  YUM!  Just the right amount.

So Great…
The atmosphere and the food.  These guys have really hit the nail on the head with this joint, you need to check it out.  Take a significant other on a fab date here, it is just the place!

The Bummer…
I have nothing to say negative about my experience, but I would really like to offer a note.  I think you guys really have a hip joint in which you could cater to the downtown working crowd.  Why not extend your happy hour to 7, create a special happy hour menu with more finger foods, and start promoting this?  I think this is the perfect atmosphere for this and I think it would really get a lot of people talking.  Working people can come down for happy hour and finger foods (still elegant) after a long day, unwind.  Then when they want to take their significant other out, they bring them back for a more formal dinner.  I think this would really increase your market share…and open the doors wider for more people to try you out.  Great job, we really enjoyed ourselves!