Austerity measures and the opposite extreme
How to budget to dine out; a love letter to Susie's Westside Cafe; an extensive and colorful espresso martini investigation in Denver; discovering Drip Coffee House up north + more food & drink haps
*This newsletter remains in travel mode this week, with a deviation from its regular format. I’ve invited guest contributors from the community to share their food and drink adventures with us. I’ll be back full-force in June. Until then, stay hungry, friends.
Budgeting to dine out
Story and photos by Matt Sayar
If you don't make a living as a food critic, it can be hard to justify the expense of eating out. It hasn't gotten cheaper as time marches on, but that doesn't mean you can’t enjoy good food. There’s a few actionable ways you can take some power back and dine out more often. I want to go beyond advice like “make a budget,” so let's dive right into what you can do to enjoy our great restaurants written about regularly in this newsletter.
Make a budget
OK sorry we still have to start here. I did say we’ll go “beyond” this advice and we will, but first things first, you need a budget (this is a referral link). They say “you can’t manage what you can’t measure,” and once you know where your money is going, you'll be able to know how much you can afford to dine out. Using a budgeting tool like YNAB, which I’ve used for a decade, makes you assign every dollar a job. That job can be “Rent” or “Utilities” or “Restaurants.” Once you’ve been using it for a couple months, you can see trends that indicate where you’re spending too much or too little. Don’t be intimidated! These apps all try to make budgeting as easy as possible, or else you wouldn’t use it.
Skip food delivery apps
Delete Uber Eats, DoorDash, etc. from your phone. Unless you're too blasted to drive, there’s no reason to regularly use these apps. Observe how I spent nearly $50 on three chicken tenders, fries and a shake from Dave's Hot Chicken with DoorDash.
How generous of DoorDash to waive that delivery fee! Had I just driven to the restaurant myself the total would have been under $30. That extra money spent on not-food adds up and is eventually worth an entire other meal at Dave’s or somewhere else. That “somewhere else” could be one of those new restaurants you’ve been meaning to check out.
You may say, “But I have a DashPass!” (or some other delivery subscription service). No, what you have is a hook in your mouth that DoorDash tugs to get you to spend more money. It's psychological warfare with FOMO notifications, “waived delivery fees,” and other algorithms designed to empty your wallet.
Because of delivery app commission fees, the restaurant you're supporting doesn't even get much profit. That's probably why delivery apps charge more than ordering directly from the restaurant. I just pulled up DoorDash vs Joey's NY Pizza as an example, and DoorDash charges an extra $4 because they’re a middleman trying to make a profit.
I didn’t expect to dive into the economics of food delivery apps, but if you want to dine out more often, you should know that you can create those opportunities by skipping these services.
Make excuses TO go out
If you want to go out, don’t talk yourself out of it. It’s easy to make excuses to avoid something, but you should try to use those same excuse-reflexes to work the other way. Some examples:
“It looks a little rainy out, I think I’d rather stay in.”
Instead, try thinking: “At least the restaurant won't be too busy!”
“I want to go out but I don’t want to wrangle the kids.”
Hmm, where have I read some good tips for dining out with a toddler before?
“I think I’d rather just order something from Uber Eats.”
Did you not just read my entire rant up above?
“I’ve spent too much on dining out this month.”
This one is legitimate. You get a pass. Good job making a budget.
Don't order alcohol
Alcohol traditionally provides restaurants with the highest profit margins, so this could be controversial. Restaurateurs, please put your pitchforks down and hear me out: As a diner, alcohol is expensive. While food is a necessity, alcohol is not. If you want more money to spend on dining out, don’t buy drinks at restaurants every time. A couple of nice $15 cocktails with an entrée could double the price of your dining experience. Get an appetizer instead, and you're still spending less money. The savings on alcohol lets you dine out more!
As a restaurateur, you want butts in seats. Profit margins on food are slim, but they’re still profits. If someone drinks less but eats at your restaurant more, that’s a net positive. Additionally, people rarely dine alone, which means the nondrinker could bring friends who drink, or leave a glowing review, or become a regular, or recommend you as a caterer, etc.
Throw all this advice out the window if you’re going to breweries or you love the drinks. You do you!
Follow your favorite restaurants for specials
Why not start right here by subscribing to Side Dish? There's always a section for the Side Dish Dozen promoting their latest specials.
You can also follow your favorite restaurant’s social media pages to see when they’re offering discounts or updating their Happy Hour menu. Some restaurants send newsletters with discount codes. Enter drawings. Call local radio stations to win gift cards. Attend events in town where restaurants hand out free food coupons. All of these activities lead to dining out more often!
Inherit a fortune
Have a wealthy, distant relative bequeath their inheritance to you. Never cook at home again. Spend the money frivolously on the fanciest cuts of steak. Surf and turf daily. Take me with you.
Save with Ranch Foods Direct’s spring beef bundle sale
A love note to Susie’s Westside Cafe
By Cecilia Jaramillo Borowski
Easy to do well. Hard to do great. Pancakes, the quintessential breakfast food, topped with a pat of butter and warmed up syrup. My favorite! But I rarely find them at any restaurant where they make them “great.” That was until I found Susie’s Westside Cafe.
Owner Susan Light will be the first to tell you: “our pancakes are light and fluffy because of our secret ingredient.” Not only are their pancakes truly great, so are their biscuits and gravy. It’s the most flavorful gravy I’ve had, and I’ve had countless biscuits and gravy plates.
Green chile? Balanced perfectly between delicious and spicy. Oh, and the country fries? Crisp, golden brown and again, packing a wallop of flavor. Fridays will soon become your favorite, not only because it’s the start of the weekend, but also because Susie’s makes truly scrumptious homemade cinnamon rolls that sell out fast. Don’t ever expect to see them available on a Saturday. This superlative isn’t exaggerated when I say “one of the best cinnamon rolls in the Springs!”
I’ll forever be grateful to my friends for taking me to Susie’s for breakfast back in 2018. I’m hooked and will continue going back again and again! If you’re looking for a diner with a hometown feel, where they treat you like family, Susie’s is your spot. Go early because tables fill up quick.
Oh yeah, and that pancake secret ingredient? I’ll leave that for you to discover when you go!
— I’m Cecilia Jaramillo Borowski, a food enthusiast who loves sharing meals at great places to eat with friends and exploring the outdoors with my wonderful husband Hubert
Chris drinks Denver, Pt. 2: Espresso yourself
Story and photos by Chris Aaby
My love of coffee runs deep, way back to when I worked for a fair-trade, organic coffee roasting company. That’s actually where I first met Matthew Schniper, during an interview for the CS Indy newspaper at the time. I love a dark roast coffee, and I’m the kind of person who can have two cups before bed and still sleep like a baby. So it’s no surprise that I also love a good espresso martini.
Apparently, I’m not alone. In 2024, Cash App released a trend report based on peer-to-peer payment notes, and espresso martinis were up 89 percent from 2023. Luckily, Denver has also embraced the espresso martini trend. A few bars are going beyond the classic recipe and creating entire menus dedicated to the drink. One even claims to have the largest espresso martini menu in the city!
First up: The Welton Room — The Monkey Bar
Located in Denver’s Five Points, this small cocktail bar leans all the way in, even calling itself the “Espresso Martini Bar.” Naturally, I started with the Espresso Martini Flight, which came with three mini martinis: honey lavender with coconut milk, tiramisu, and salted caramel. All three were delicious, but the salted caramel was my favorite. They were served on a slate tray with fairy lights and a little Totoro figurine. Not sure why, but it was a charming surprise.
After that, I tried the Rose & Lychee Espresso Martini, topped with a fluffy pile of cotton candy. It was floral without being too perfumey, and again, the presentation was pure fun and great for a photo opp.
A quick note: when booking a reservation, make sure to select Monkey Bar, not the Welton Room. They’re just around the corner from each other, but only Monkey Bar serves espresso martinis. It’s inside the lobby of an apartment complex and super easy to get to — right off the light rail.
Next stop: The Devil’s Drink
This cocktail bar in the Lower Highlands (LoHi) boasts 16 different espresso martinis on its menu, the largest selection in Denver. You enter through a coffin-shaped curtain into a spooky, dimly lit space where the drinks are as playful as the décor. The names alone are worth the trip.
I started with Santa Maria’s Last Prayer, a tequila-based martini with horchata liqueur and cold brew. Then came Two Girls One Coupe (yes, that’s really the name), a rich, all-chocolate version. My final pick was You’re Killing Me Smalls — a S’mores-inspired martini topped with whipped cream, graham cracker, chocolate and a flaming marshmallow.
Three down and thirteen to go! I love a challenge.
Both Monkey Bar and Devil’s Drink offer non-coffee cocktails too, so there’s something for everyone. Both locations would be great places to start your night out in Denver, but if I had to pick one to return to, it would be The Devil's Drink, with its extensive menu and walking distance to other great LoHi restaurants and bars.
So grab a friend or two and get caffeinated!
Dine & Dash: Drip Coffee House
Story and photos by Lauren Hug
I stumbled onto Drip Coffee House taking an alternate route from Northgate to Baptist Road to visit my parents. I’ve driven that general area countless times, but never spotted the coffee shop previously because it’s tucked into a quiet strip mall off Struthers Road, at 13800 Gleneagle Drive. The first time I saw it, it was late afternoon and already closed for the day (they close at 3 p.m.), so I made a mental note to get caffeinated there the next time I passed through.
Totally worth it! Especially considering the only other coffee option nearby is a chain. (I prefer independent coffee spots.) Open for about a year and a half, the shop has a cozy, welcoming vibe with a modern electric fireplace, golden-yellow walls and an eye-catching gold table that I dig. (Read: want to steal. But won’t, of course.)
Drip serves coffee sourced from local roaster Barista Espresso and offers creative seasonal drinks. On the recommendation of the friendly and helpful staffer, I ordered the Blossom, which gets lavender, hibiscus, vanilla, espresso and milk. I asked if the flavors worked with oat milk, and the barista said she actually preferred it that way. I'd happily order it again.
For munchies, there are breakfast burritos from Golden-based Bonfire Burritos, with vegan, vegetarian and meaty options. Drip also offers pastries from The French Kitchen (like their popular Queenet) and croissants from La Baguette. I was in a basic croissant mood. It didn't disappoint, especially after a staffer heated it up to flaky perfection.
The shop also has a small retail section with unique items like Drip-branded foaming coffee scrub and an oatmeal and espresso exfoliating bar soap. I'll definitely be back. Its existence will save me from resorting to gas station coffee or Starbucks. (Yes, I've done both.)
Side Dish Dozen happenings
Nacho Matrix: Brunch at Nacho Matrix starts May 31! We’ll serve Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also catch daily Happy Hours, 3-6 p.m., Monday-Friday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday-Sunday. Odyssey Gastropub: We’re offering an extra day of brunch on Memorial Day, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Goat Patch Brewing: Goat Yoga, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 25. Bleating Heart Night: Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates, 5-9 p.m., May 27. Trivia Night at Pikes Peak Brewing, 6:30-9 p.m., May 27.
Kangaroo Coffee: Order online for in-store pickup or stay in your jammies and get delivery through Uber Eats or DoorDash. Try our blood orange-coconut-ginger Roofresher or our Roo Signature lattes like the peanut butter mocha. We also carry burritos, bagels, breakfast sandwiches and much more.
Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar: Catch our awesome daily happy hour from 4-5:30 p.m., as well as all night on Mondays; we’ve got oyster and cocktail specials and much more. We serve lunch Wednesdays-Fridays 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and brunch/lunch Saturdays-Sundays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Our raw bar ranges from easy peel n’ eat shrimp to Alaskan snow crab and high-end caviar — you know you wanna’.
Edelweiss: Come for a stein of authentic imported German beer with your pup companion on our award-winning, shaded patio. Or drop in on a Monday for half-priced wine bottle specials. Catch our happy hours in the Ratskeller, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Tuesdays-Saturdays. We offer traditional live music Thursdays-Sundays, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. And our house-made desserts are legend.
Wobbly Olive: Our new spring food menu ranges from fine vegan plates to a miso pork chop with Cantonese spicy noodles. Every weekday happy hour at both locations is 4-6 p.m.; all cocktails and beers are half off (unbeatable!), plus $5 house wines. Allusion Speakeasy: The new Shrek theme is live at both locations; resos suggested.
Stellina Pizza Cafe: Catch Two For Tuesday $22 deals: two classic pizzas or a classic pizza and a salad. Happy Hours, 3-5 p.m., Tuesday-Friday, feature BOGO apps and small gelatos plus $2 off boozy bevs. Come see us for our Spring Season Spritz Flight for $12: lemon-lavender, strawberry-basil and our house Stellina Spritz.
Upcoming events
May 31: OMG! Oh My Gulay, A Vegan Feast at Good Neighbors Meeting House. Seven-course fine Filipino fare; $75.
May 31: Tacos and Tequila Festival at UCHealth Park.
May 31: 8th Anniversary Carnival party at The French Kitchen. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Outdoor games, children’s activities, vendor market, and the return of the Queenut (fried Queenets).
June 1: Manitou Springs Wine Festival in Memorial Park. Noon to 5 p.m.; $60.
June 1: 719 Battle of the Food Trucks at the Meanwhile Block. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. $40-$65.
June 14: Feast of Saint Arnold beer festival at Chapel of Our Saviour Episcopal Church.
Parting shot
If you’re following Side Dish social media pages then you’re tracking my daily food and drink adventures while on the road. I’ll eventually compile an article with all the educational travel content here. But why not join me behind the scenes prior?
