2024 Tri-Lakes Guide – Eat
Motorists seeking to get off the highway to wine and dine on fine food with a good mood have numerous restaurants awaiting them in the Tri-Lakes area.
Let’s face it, food is more than just sustenance, it’s a love language that speaks to the human senses and brings people together. Where else better to do that than at a restaurant? Area restaurants are known for providing outstanding social settings where folks can enjoy a tasty meal amid friends, family and great ambiance.
A recent study by the U.S. Census Bureau showed that Americans spent more than 20% more at restaurants than on groceries in 2022. Economists believe this is due more to convenience as people, despite high prices, prefer to eat out than spend time grocery shopping, preparing meals and washing dishes.
In short, a person can’t think well, work well or sleep well if they don’t eat well. For these reasons, the following restaurants offer something for the hungry man/woman where food isn’t body fuel, but an experience to be shared. Might want to bring a ladder, though, because the cuisine is out of this world.
Atmosphere Gastropub
You’re on a roll with Atmosphere Gastropub’s elevated sandwich menu where mouthwatering bacon jam bison burgers, juicy truffle chicken and shaved prime rib sandwiches are the upper crust of dining out.
Check out the crab pretzel smothered in homemade crab dip and white cheddar. A variety of not-so-small small plates, such as the tasty blackberry salad filled with ruby red grapefruit, sunflower seeds, baby arugula and honeyed chevre also highlight the menu. Bar snacks range from a cup ‘o bacon and marinated olives to black garlic shishito peppers.
The Gran Burro, a tequila, ginger beer and pomegranate liqueur combination, is the featured cocktail. Located at 1327 Interquest Parkway, phone 719-354-4764.
Back East Bar & Grill
The steaks for service excellence are high as lip-smacking meats and friendly staff make for a lively atmosphere. Known for its variety of American cuisine, the restaurant is praised for its pizza, with the Philly cheesesteak and “The Beast” being crowd pleasers.
The restaurant offers a wide selection of beers and weekly menu specials. Patrons flock to the live music on weekends, and the bar is a welcoming vibe, perfect for watching sports or enjoying a casual drink. Located at 9475 Briar Village Point, phone 719-264-6161.
Basil & Barley Pizzeria Napoletana
Where food is a real pizza work, offering authentic Neapolitan Pizzas, made from time-honored recipes and tradition where dough is guaranteed to rise in the yeast and set in the waist. Also, the restaurant prepares its pizza in a genuine Naples, Italy-imported Acunto Neapolitan oven. Located at 9278 Forest Bluffs View #100, phone 833-692-2745.
Black Forest Bistro
In 2022, this establishment earned the Best Restaurant from the Colorado Springs Awards Program, and in 2021 captured The Gazette’s Best of the Best honors. Menu includes lip-smacking lobster bisque with Maine lobster chunks and chives, Asian Dumplings filled with pork and vegetables and served with bistro ponzu sauce, and Bang Bang Shrimp tossed with house sauce and scallions.
Their Tuna Tataki, made with Ahi Tuna, is served over rice noodles with Asian vegetables and finished with spicy mayo and unagi. Reservations are required between 5-8 p.m., on Thursday and Friday. Located at 6750 Shoup Road, phone 719-459-7884.
Bourbon Brothers Smokehouse and Tavern
A smokin’ hot bistro with smokin’ hot American classics and southern staples served up with good ‘ole southern hospitality. Try the 12 oz. Bone-in Pork Chop, grilled or blacked, served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed brussels sprouts. Check out their Sunday brunch buffet, available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located at 13021 Bass Pro Drive, phone 719-219-1830.
Cansano Italian Steakhouse
You’ll find it impasta-ble to resist the Italian cuisine ranging from custom stone Neapolitan pizzas and prime cuts of dry-aged in-house beef, to roasted Chilean Sea Bass and Beef Marsala. Get into the halibut of dining on a variety of seafood choices, such as Cassiucco consisting of mussels, clams, shrimp, spinach, saffron potatoes and garlic bread.
Finish off with one of several Italian desserts that include Panna Cotta (kumquats and cinnamon crumbs), Tiramisu (coffee, marscarpone, lady fingers) and Chocolate Bamboloni (house raspberry compete). Reservations are required. Located at 1895 Democracy Point, phone 719-884-2865.
Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen
Feeling souper hungry right now? Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen prepares its food from scratch, hence the name. Cheddar’s boasts an assortment of homemade dishes ranging from its house salad and baked potato soup, to fish and chips, and a classic chicken sandwich.
A buffalo chicken wrapper bacon cheeseburger, country friend chicken, homestyle meat loaf and buffalo beer battered shrimp also highlights the menu. Nice size portions, excellent service and great prices are “gouda” make you smile. Located at 1140 Interquest Parkway, phone 719-262-7100.
Coffee Cup Cafe
For those experiencing deja-brew around breakfast time, this restaurant offers a variety of country style and southwestern breakfast combos and lunch. Customer favorites include Chorizo breakfast burrito, Belgian waffles and a Manly Marine Meal consisting of two pancakes or two French Toast, three eggs, two bacon strips, two sausage patties and fries.
The café offers gluten-free bread, tortillas, burger buns, green chili, hollandaise sauce, pancakes and French toast. Coffee Cup cooks with gluten-free oils. If the menu’s ingredients aren’t already gluten-free, they can be substituted to order with the exception of breaded meats and sausage gravy. Located at 251 Front Street, Suite #6, phone 719-488-0663.
La Casa Fiesta
Want to taco ‘bout food? The appetizer menu includes Mexican pizza, quesadillas, cheese nachos, and Rocky Mountain Queso consisting of a mountainous layer of beans, beef, onion, tomato, guacamole, sour cream, black olives and chili con queso.
Their deluxe Mexican dinners are served with a choice of red/green enchilada sauce or white cream sauce. Featured specialties include chipotle honey lime ribs, steak rancheros, carne asada, and a tamale and chile plate. The bar offers a white lightning margarita, a patron favorite. Located at 230 Front St, Monument, phone 719-481-1234.
Mission BBQ
For those looking to meat for dinner, this restaurant’s meat market menu includes savory brisket, Texas inspired, oak smoked; pulled pork, slow smoked; hand-pulled sausage and tender baby back ribs that fall off the bone.
Jalapeno & Chz or classic #41; turkey, sliced, lean & mean; pulled chicken, and moist and mild north Atlantic salmon also compliments the menu. Located at 1391 Interquest Pkwy suite 110, phone 719-368-3411.
O’Malley’s Steak Pub
Make no mis-steak, O’Malley’s Steak Pub’s meats – beef, buffalo, chicken breasts and even chicken wings – are always fresh, never frozen and are a cut above the rest. All foods are produced in-house from scratch, including its soups, dressings and specials. Fries are hand-cut from Idaho potatoes, and chilies, soups, salads and dressings are in-house recipes.
Also, 12 on tap beers boast a mix of domestic/micro brews, and a large selection of bottled beverages also is offered. Restaurant is known for its savory chicken wings, selling between 12,000-15,000 per week. Their “cook your own steak” concept is a favorite with those seeking to ketchup on the dining experience. Located at 104 CO-105, Palmer Lake, phone 719-488-0321.
Omelets Etc.
An egg-cellent way to start the day. Breakfast quesadilla, country fried steak and eggs and breakfast burrito stuffed with chorizo sausage, eggs and onions, and topped with green chili and cheese and garnished with lettuce tomatoes. The meat lover’s platter offers 2 eggs any style, hash browns, 2 bacon, 2 sausage and 2 ham strips, and toast or 2 buttermilk pancakes. Located at 1337 Interquest Parkway, phone 719-308-2885.
Ramen Chops Noodle Bar
Feeling pasta-tively excited about spicy food? Check out this menu of specialty meals, particularly the Miso Spicy and The All In, and hot and brothy signatures The Tokyo and The Preston.
The restaurant is famous for its pillowy bao buns which customers dip into soupy menu item. Also, they have plain or spicy cabbage slaw and honey sesame pork or chicken, everything needed for a ramen-tic meal. Located at 491 W. Hwy 105 Monument, 719-481-3569.
Rosie’s Diner
This diner took its current name in 1971 when the Bounty paper towels “quicker picker upper” TV commercial propelled the diner and waitress, Rosie (late actress Nancy Walker), to rock superstar status.
Rosie’s Diner offers old-fashioned handmade milkshakes and malts, and breakfast all day. Check out their pancake sandwich, banana walnut pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes, golden French toast or French toast combo. Enjoy a vanilla Coke or frosty bottle of beer on the outdoor enclosed and heated patio. Located at 411 CO-105 Monument, phone 719-481-3287.
Trailer Birds
Im-peck-able crunchy, crispy Nashville hot chicken that comes in four levels of hotness of choice. Customer favorites include dynamite hot chicken tenders and hot chicken sandwich, and hot chicken sandwich toppled with creamy coleslaw centered between two toasted brioche buns. Located at 1252 Interquest Parkway, phone 719-598-1909.
In conclusion, dining at a local restaurant where the food is whey too scrumptious provides an authentic tasting experience. After all, exploring and indulging in flavors that make life delicious is what dining out is all about.
Jocelyn Baudisda, left, and Jayden Kohlhouse prepare old-fashioned milkshakes at Rosie’s Diner, a popular 1950s-themed restaurant in Monument.
The entryway to Monument’s popular Rosie’s Diner, a 1950s-themed restaurant.
Adam Welfelt and his son, Grayson, enjoy lunch and a basketball game at Back East Bar and Grill. Bartender Cheryl Reibel, right, takes a phone order.
Server Rachel Haderele delivers an order at Back East Bar and Grill.
La Casa Fiesta at 230 Front Street is a downtown Monument favorite.
La Casa Fiesta at 230 Front Street is a downtown Monument favorite.
Jeff Hulsmann, owner of O’Malley’s Steak Pub in Palmer Lake, expedites the kitchen window when an order of one of the restaurant’s signature menu items comes up for service, its fresh chicken wings with O’Malley’s signature wing sauce.
Cheddars Scratch Kitchen was among the first eateries to claim a spot on the bustling Interquest Parkway corridor.
Mission BBQ in Interquest Parkway.