Colorful Manitou Springs wine bar and eatery popular for good reason | Dining review

By By ROBIN INTEMANN features@gazettedev.gazette.com January 7, 2025 | updated 2 years ago

The Incline Salad with coffee rubbed Flank Steak, apples, bacon, candied pecans, blue cheese crumbles and balsamic vinaigrette (The Gazette: Cody Van Hooser)

Manitou Springs holds a special place in my heart, so I appreciate all the things that set it apart from other Front Range locales: the geography, the arts scene, the sense of community and the eclectic range of restaurants that remain true to themselves whether it’s tourist season or not.

Swirl Wine Bar is an excellent example of Manitou’s persona: funky, creative and genuine. The food is well-prepared, but there were some distractions that were difficult to overlook: For example, the Roomba growling its way along the floor. Granted, the place wasn’t initially busy, but still …

Nevertheless, the menu offered an array of appetizers, sandwiches, flatbreads and appetizers. There’s also a noteworthy list of beers and wines, plus a full-service bar.

We stuck to the food, beginning with the hummus plate ($9). Creamy house-made red pepper hummus was served with celery, carrots, red peppers and triangles of lightly oiled flatbread. Falling into the perfectly portioned category, this was just enough to whet our appetites without spoiling them.

The Incline Salad with coffee rubbed Flank Steak, apples, bacon, candied pecans, blue cheese crumbles and balsamic vinaigrette (The Gazette: Cody Van Hooser)

The Incline Salad ($18) seemed pricey at first glance, but was justified by the serving size and abundant amount of flank steak, bacon, blue cheese, apples and candied pecans. The coffee-rubbed meat was thinly sliced and hinted at a combination of seasonings such as chile pepper and brown sugar. It gave the beef a dark appearance and was piled high on a bed of shredded lettuce. It was served with two slices of hard-crusted bread that was nice for soaking up the sweet balsamic dressing.

The Cubano with chimichurri roasted pork shoulder, chorizo, swiss cheese, mustard, spicy cappicola ham, and house made dill pickles (The Gazette: Cody Van Hooser)

It was difficult deciding which, among the eight available sandwiches, to choose. Ultimately, the Cubano ($15.50) won, making our palates the real winners. The crust of the large baguette that flaked with each bite was filled with slices of roasted pork, chorizo, capicola ham and house-made pickles. The latter, along with mustard and mayo, provided tanginess that offset some of the spiciness of the Italian-style ham.

Additional sandwich options included an Italian club, a spin on a French dip and one made with chicken, apple and brie, among others.

Margarita Flatbread with garlic roasted roma, tomatoes, mozzarella, pesto aioli, fresh basil, olive oil, and balsamic reduction (The Gazette: Cody Van Hooser)

Having been impressed with the flatbread that came with the hummus plate, it made sense to sample one of the pizza-like renditions. The Margarita ($12.75) was traditional in as much as it featured basil and tomatoes. The kitchen supplemented it with pesto aioli, olive oil and balsamic reduction drizzles. Also, the tomatoes weren’t just any variety; rather they were garlic-roasted romas. The thin crust was crispy and held everything in place.

The menu is the same for lunch and dinner and the entrees include chicken pot pie, shepherd’s pie, beef tips and vegetarian pot pies. There’s a suggested wine pairing for each. The menu notes that the savory pies tend to sell out early.

House-made desserts are another temptation and typically feature a bread pudding and pie. Occasionally, there’s a special dessert, but we didn’t ask; we were already sated.

Swirl’s decor is fun with colorful, upside-down umbrellas that are hung from the ceiling. Service was exceptional and the Roomba, although a little addling, ensured the place was kept clean.

Swirl Wine Bar