Colorado Springs, CO: Inflexible, Prima Donna Chef Rubbed Me The Wrong Way … Au Revoir La Baguette

La Baguette

4440 N. Chestnut Street

Colorado Springs, CO 80907

Phone: (719) 599-0686

Website: labaguettefrenchbistro.com

Prices: $$$$

Having traveled extensively in France, I have come to love French food (we have none in Lawrence, Kansas) and have been wanting to try La Baguette since I was in the Springs for my mom’s passing and funeral in February 2015. Being my first return since then, I decided to take my son there for dinner on my last night before heading home.

Their prices were reasonable and the menu had all of my traditional favorites, including escargots, fondue, mussels, veal, beef Bourguignon, cassoulet, steak Diane and steak frites, but the side dishes were either boring or odd. For example, the veal dish, which sounds exquisite, comes with quinoa pilaf … yuck … and the beef Bourguignon is accompanied by boiled potatoes … blah, so I asked the very nice server if it were possible to substitute mashed potatoes or French fries for the quinoa or boiled potatoes. After all, we were going to blow a C-note on dinner for two, including appetizers, entrees, and a bottle of wine, so it seemed like a simple request. Well, I guess it was not because her answer was: “the chef doesn’t like substitutions, so mashed potatoes would be an additional $6”.

Six bucks to substitute mashed potatoes for quinoa, really? I was not hearing things because she confirmed it with an “I’m sorry, but those are the rules” look on her face. I was not about to eat quinoa pilaf with a lovely veal or boiled potatoes with a rich beef Bourguignon and I definitely was not paying an additional $6 for mashed potatoes, so we left. Their prima donna of a chef should think of his customers more than his vanity and pride, after all, La Baguette is a strip mall restaurant on Chestnut in Colorado Springs, not a bistrot on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Get a clue chef.

Being rather late and hungry, we stopped at Carrabba’s on the way back to Monument and blew a C-Note there, enjoying appetizers, entrees, and a bottle of wine, leaving satiated and content because they were more than happy to make substitutions without charging an extra arm and a leg. C’est la vie … au revoir La Baguette!

CombatCritic Gives La Baguette 2 Bombs Out Of 10 … The Only Reason They Did Not Get 1 Bomb Out Of 10 And A Spot On My WALL OF SHAME Was Because Of The Nice Female Server … More Bombs Are Better!

Two Bombs Equates To

“Tits Up” 

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp – Elite ’14/’15/’16

Tabelog – Official Judge (Bronze)

Zomato – #1 Ranked Foodie





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Title: Colorado Springs, CO: Inflexible, Prima Donna Chef Rubbed Me The Wrong Way … Au Revoir La Baguette

Key Words: La Baguette, la, baguette, French, Bourguignon, escargots, France, Colorado Springs, Colorado, springs, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, Tabelog

Translation for Civilians: Tango-Uniform = “Tits-Up”

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"I remember this place being better" – CombatCritic (About Trivelli’s)

Trivelli’s Hoagies

2819 N Nevada Avenue 

Colorado Springs, CO 80907

Website

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“I remember this place being better” – C.T. Sorrentino – aka CombatCritic

The sandwiches are “OK”, not as good as they once were. We had the “meatball” sandwich, which oddly enough does not come with cheese (unless you ask for it – costs extra) and the “cheesesteak”. Because the original owner is supposedly from Philadelphia, the cheesesteak should be a no brainer. Or should it?

The meatball (6 inch – $5.70) was tasty enough, but neither very big nor loaded with meat as I remember and the tomato sauce flavorful, not too sweet or spicy. The bread was good, not too soft or hard (old). The cheesesteak ($11.78 for a 12 incher), which came on a similar “hoagie” roll, was loaded with meat and a bit greasy even for my taste (read my review of Dempsey’s in Lawrence, Kansas). I added a side order of french fries ($2.15) which was rather small for the price and cold by the time our meal arrived.

My son, a vegan, asked the young lady on the phone before ordering if they could accommodate his dietary restrictions, including no meat, eggs, cheese, or oils (a personal preference), and she indicated that they could (after checking with her  manager/chef). Having confirmed that the pasta was not made with eggs and that the tomato sauce had no meat or added oil, he ordered the spaghetti and meatballs (minus the meatballs – $6.89). He was also told that his meal “comes with a salad” and that our entire order would come to a little over $28.

Side Salad – $6.89?

When he arrived to pick up our order, my son was told that the pasta sauce was cooked with the meatballs (vegan?) and that there was oil in the sauce after all, so he could not eat the spaghetti and meatballs. They appeared perturbed over his dietary restrictions and removed the spaghetti and meatballs (but did not deduct the price), leaving him with what he thought was a “large side salad full of veggies” (it was in a large container which he did not open before leaving). However, when he arrived home and opened the container, there was a pile of shredded, brownish iceberg lettuce and a few chunks of tomato and even fewer slices of onion (see photo). They charged us nearly $7 for a pile of lettuce and a few veggies that probably cost them less than fifty cents!

The food alone would get 3 out of 5 stars (5-6 out of 10 “bombs”) based on quality, quantity, and “value”, but the $7 side salad and their anti-vegan attitude forced me to deduct a “star” (two bombs). Therefore …

CombatCritic Gives Trivelli’s Hoagies (Nevada Ave) 5 Out of 10 Bombs … MORE BOMBS ARE GOOD!

Key Words: Trivelli’s Hoagies, Trivelli’s, Trivelli, travelli, hoagies, hoagie, sub, sandwich, cheesesteak, meatball, salad, fries, menu, CombatCritic, TravelValue, Colorado, Springs

Hey Chubby, Let’s Do The Twisters … Grill and Bar That Is

• Twisters Grill and Bar
• 13100 Kansas Ave
  Bonner Springs, KS 66012
• Phone number(913) 667-3700
• Website
• Prices: $$$$$

We found Twisters on Yelp after attending a Yelp Elite Event near Bonner Springs, about 20 miles east of our home in Lawrence, Kansas. I saw photos of their tacos and they looked better than any we have tried in Lawrence, so we decided to give them a go.

Twisters sits in the corner of a strip mall just off Interstate 70. For a Sunday night, they were rather busy with only a few open tables. The atmosphere is very casual with groups of friends, couples, and families scattered about. For example, there was a couple at the table next to us with a 10-year old boy who had ranch dressing accidentally dropped on his head by a passing server (I hope his meal was comped!). TVs abound with sports playing around the large room and sports memorabilia dotting the walls, from football jerseys to posters. The kitchen sits behind the busy bar where the friendly servers scramble back and forth while serving hungry customers.

The menu is eclectic, from Mexican fare (tacos, enchiladas, nachos) to burgers to meatloaf and sandwiches. I ordered a Dos Equis Amber draft on special for $2, some beef tacos ($2.25 each), and cheese and onion enchiladas (also $2.25 each). The taco shells were obviously deep fried in-house, stuffed with ground beef, lettuce, plenty of cheese, and diced tomatoes complimented with what appeared to be store bought salsa. They were the best tacos I have eaten since moving from Kansas City last year (Rancho Grande) minus the guacamole (or avocado), hence my only complaint … there was no guacamole available on the menu as either an appetizer or a side. The enchiladas were also very good with plenty of cheese and a tasty red sauce with hints of what seemed to be mole (a Mexican savory chocolate sauce). The tacos and enchiladas were better than any I have eaten at any of the dozen or so Mexican restaurants we have tried since moving to Lawrence last year and this from a bar and grill!

My wife ordered the half-pound (8 oz) Mushroom and Swiss Hamburger with fresh onion rings. The patty appeared smaller than 8 ounces and was not handmade, probably frozen from Sam’s Club, Cisco, or another restaurant supply chain. The bun was fresh, but the burger bland. The onion rings were made with fresh onion and deep fried, piping hot and missing only a bit of seasoning.

I would return for the tacos and enchiladas, but would pass on the burgers, trying the meatloaf instead, hopefully being homemade and not “Stoufer’s” or some other frozen variety.

CombatCritic Gives Twisters Grill and Bar 7 Out of 10 Bombs (for the tacos and enchiladas) and 6 Out of 10 Bombs Overall (for VALUE) … Bombs Are GOOD!

Key Words: Twisters Grill and Bar, twisters, twister’s, bar, grill, beer, Mexican, food, taco, enchilada, tacos, enchiladas, nachos, burger, hamburger, menu, Bonner, Springs, Kansas, Yelp, CombatCritic, TravelValue

Absence Does Not Necessarily Make The Heart Grow Fonda

Amanda’s Fonda
3625 W. Colorado Ave 
Colorado Springs, CO80904

http://www.amandasfonda.com

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@amandasfonda

An old haunt, I had to try it again after 6 years in the Midwest … Tacos, enchiladas, you know the drill. 



The shredded beef tacos were OK, little meat or cheese, but what was there tasted good. The cheese and onion enchilada was decent, but the sauce was rather bland. The chips were decent, the salsa very good, but the guacamole was a bit pricey for the size so we steered away from an appetizer.



I remembered the food being better … I guess absence does not necessarily make the heart grow fonder. Ever been back to your high school? Disappointing, small, but you still have fond memories.



CombatCritic Gives Amanda’s Fonda 6 Out of 10 Bombs … BOMBS ARE GOOD!



UPDATE: After my check-in, the manager contacted me and offered a gift card and an invitation to return and give Amanda’s Fonda another try. I will return next time I am in Colorado Springs and will update my review based on that experience. “6 BOMBS” is not a “bad” review, but leaves room for some improvement … SPERIAMO (let’s hope so)!

Key Words: Amanda’s Fonda, Amanda, fonda, Colorado Springs, Colorado, springs, 80904, Mexican, food, taco, enchilada, chips, salsa, guacamole, CombatCritic, combat, critic, TravelValue