Resetting the table
Oskar Blues closes; Ambli rebrands; Thrasher's buys Vultures; The Broadmoor launches Colorado Appreciation prix fixe menus; Hoppenings joins Side Dish for weekly beer news + food & drink events
Happy New Year! A lot of food news happened this past week, so I’m kicking off this newsletter with my briefs section. Let’s go:
Bites & Bits
• Oskar Blues Grill & Brew has closed at 118 N. Tejon St. The company had expanded into the C. Springs market in late 2017. I reached out to them for comment and received a lengthy reply from Assistant General Manager Jen Niño. “Closing Oskar Blues is devastating. Our team has been the heart of this place; more than a quarter of our staff have been with us since day one,” she wrote. “We are profoundly grateful to the Colorado Springs community for the support and memories we’ve shared over the past eight years.” By way of explanation, she cited “unprecedented strain since the COVID‑19 pandemic” in the hospitality sector “with reduced discretionary spending and heightened competition for a dwindling pool of diners.” More specific to their location, “large‑scale construction projects intended to revitalize the area have temporarily deterred visitors. While the long‑term vision for the district remains promising, the immediate impact of road closures, noise, and reduced accessibility has contributed to a decline in patron traffic for many local businesses, including Oskar Blues.” (Read her full response here).
• Ambli Kitchen + Bar announced via a press release on Dec. 24 that they’ll be rebranding their University Village eatery, saying “After much reflection, we’ve come to an important conclusion: the Ambli name doesn’t carry the clarity or strength we need to truly thrive in this space. And so, with humility, gratitude, and renewed excitement, we’re turning the page.” The release, noting they’d originally opened as “Ambli Global Cuisine,” pointed to an incoming Italian concept, which is yet to be named. I spoke with co-owner Pariza Mehta this week to learn more. She says their chef and co-owner Ricardo Morffin “can do any type of cuisine,” but they felt Italian was a good direction to go so people could more clearly identify with it and because there’s not another Italian spot (other than Il Vicino for pizza) in their busy shopping center. She says they’ll make homemade pastas with “really great sauces” and be somewhat traditional with items like antipastos, but also offer steaks, roasted chicken and fish dishes. “It will be well balanced.” She’s also planning on a small bites menu at the bar, with updated cocktails. Other than a fresh color of paint in the dining room, decor and design changes should be minimal. “It will still feel warm and cozy, but with an Italian mindset,” she says. They’re targeting a late January reopening.
• Connor and Dania O’Neal of Thrasher’s Bar — which I just profiled here a couple weeks ago — have purchased Vultures from prior owners Mike and Aspen Nipp and Geoff Brent (owner of nearby neighbor The Black Sheep). The venue will be five years old as of June, 2026; The O’Neals take over operations on Jan. 5. “This opportunity presented itself to us a little earlier than we would have initially wanted, since we just opened Thrasher’s six months ago,” says Connor, “but it makes sense for us to keep it alive as it is versus have someone come in and change it. We feel a sentimental connection with it through the music scene. Our mission is to keep it the same neighborhood punk music-venue dive, but add some of our own twists to it. Nothing major. We’ll preserve it as is for the community that’s supported it thus far.” Connor adds that they’ll maintain a close relationship with Black Sheep and What’s Left Records, another Platte Avenue friend on the scene.
• KRDO reported that Carlos Bistro owner Carlos Echeandia was charged two counts of sexual assault and one count of non-consensual sexual contact. The victim who made the allegations was a trainee, according to the reporting. It details a call on which police were listening in, and Echeandia’s comments differed from what he later told police happened between the two. I shared the KRDO story on Side Dish’s Facebook page, and the restaurant posted this as a comment: “As many of you are aware, serious legal allegations have been made against Carlos; allegations he firmly denies. As an American citizen, Carlos is entitled to due process of the law. While we understand the public’s interest in this matter, Carlos is focused on the legal process and looks forward to his exoneration in court. Out of respect for this process, Carlos will not be providing further comment. Carlos appreciates those who have reached out to offer their support and asks for privacy duri ng [sic] this time. All further inquiries should be directed to his legal counsel at Robinson & Henry, P.C.”
• And, once again KRDO on top of food news this week: they reported that Dad’s Donuts will close two locations in 2026 to focus on their downtown store. They quote managing partner Mitchell Yellen from a press release (that I didn’t receive — hey what tha?!): “Some partnerships didn’t evolve as planned, and rapid growth helped clarify where we are strongest… This isn’t a step back — it’s a reset with intention.” The Interquest location that’s one of the two closing had just opened in September. Yellen had told Side Dish in July that he was eyeing two Denver area locations by year’s end with a goal of beginning to franchise by early next year. Parent company Altitude Hospitality also opened and shuttered The Homestead Collective at Prominent Point inside of just three months earlier this year.
• Roman Villa posted a sweet note this week about their enduring friendship with Luigi’s, the other legacy Italian spot in town, which closed this past year. As explained by Amber Shaffer, Roman Villa’s buffalo chopper, manufactured in the 1960s, died last week. After seeing price tags as high as $12,000 for new equipment, they made a call to Les and Gina Costley to inquire about purchasing their old machine, produced in the same era. “For those of you missing Luigi’s, we brought some of their good juju our direction,” she wrote. “Former generations, for both families, are beaming with pride.”
• Stompin’ Groundz, whose opening I wrote about here in mid 2024, has ceased doing daily cafe service as a coffee shop. Owner Juelz Ramirez has pivoted her model for the time being, and is now “operating as a booking-only venue” according to a post on her Facebook page.
• The Gazette recently reported on the opening of Jannat Indian Restaurant at 8041 Woodmen Center Heights near Black Forest. The article notes that the eatery hails from Pakwan Indian Restaurant co-owner Balvir “Bobby” Singh, and includes a daily, all-you-can-eat lunch buffet option ($18.99/adults, $12.99/children).
• Springs Magazine offers 10 Under the Radar Restaurants You Should Try This Year. (And you’ll never believe #1! … just kidding. They aren’t listed in order of priority.)
• The New York Times pulled out its metaphorical crystal ball — actually they interviewed a buffet-load of industry insiders and experts — to predict How We’ll Eat in 2026. While noting that in 2025 we hit “peak protein,” they had some fun with genre bending here, like one subheadline in the article that reads: “Foodmaxing Meets Grandmacore.” (Get some! But safely, dear.) They think “chewy is on a track to become the new crunchy.” The ingredient of the year will be vinegar. Beautiful packaging will have its moment. And people will want values, which doesn’t necessarily mean “the cheapest price.” Read more prognosticating inside the article.
• El País explains Why the price of coffee has skyrocketed: from Brazilian plantations to specialty coffee houses.
• Snooze recently released a Dirty Soda Secret Menu featuring a trio of breakfast-inspired, N/A dirty soda flavors: Orange Dreamsicle, Pineapple Upside Down and Strawberry Shortcake.
• As of Jan. 6, BC’s Barbecue will post up five days a week at Lost Friend Brewing Company. They’ll serve their barbecue three of those days and devote the other two to “a rotating themed night, BC’s Smash Burgers, Noodle Bar, Mediterranean, Ect…” they posted on Facebook. You’ll recall that BC’s owners/chefs Randy and Sarah Hickey are also handling eats presently for Reception next door to Lost Friend.
• I made the mistake of filling out one of those Voyage Denver surveys (the modern version of “Who’s Who Among American High School Students”). Their (absentee) editors couldn’t be bothered to remove a question that I twice flagged for removal. So, the clown-asses literally printed “Skip this question — irrelevant” inside the Q&A. This brought me much joy and amusement as I took them to task on Facebook, which elicited others to tell their past (horror) stories. One commenter says she reached out to the publication “FIVE times” requesting help with revisions to her profile, and never received a response. Another commenter summed the situation up this way: “All of these websites that pretend to be providing free spotlights and PR for independent creators and business owners actually exist to get us to pay for “plaques” and promotion that actually does nothing for us and has no real value. Voyage, BoldJourney, CanvasRebel — they are all bullshit.” A full 10 days after my profile published, I received a follow-up email from Voyage Denver asking if I could complete their interview questions within the next 7-10 days, that they were looking forward to sharing my story. (Yes, the one that is already live on the site.)
Approachable swank
The Broadmoor’s annual Colorado Appreciation specials launch Jan.1 and will run through March 1 across five eateries on the resort property. (There’s also exclusive Colorado resident rates if you wish to splurge for a night or few.)
Of note this year: It’s the first time Summit will participate, and it’s the first time in many years that the Penrose Room will be offering special prix fixe menus as well, given it only reopened a couple months ago after a long hiatus.
In mid November, I attended a media preview for both of those locations. Each will serve the choice of one appetizer, entrée and dessert for $79/person. (Similar three-course menus will cost $69 at La Taverne, $59 at Ristorante Del Lago and $49 at the Golden Bee.)
At the Penrose Room, my personal highlights were the vegetarian Agnolotti en Brodo starter of truffle pasta in a porcini mushroom broth (umami heaven); Beef Tip Bourguignon served with fingerling potatoes; and, well, all the desserts from the “dessert trolley experience,” featuring two mousse variants, a hazelnut Paris Brest and Gateau Basque Raspberry. But if I had to pick only one again, I’d likely save belly room for the Gateau Basque Raspberry, a lovely shortcrust cake filled with layers of vanilla pastry cream and raspberry marmalade.
Moving to the Summit, it’s a hard appetizer choice between the roasted butternut squash soup (with Pueblo chile relish, pumpkin seeds and pomegranate glaze) and the peach-glazed pork belly tostada with charred nopales, avocado and goat cheese crema. But the latter wins out, because pork belly. And the treatment of it is wonderful. (Of course it is; it’s coming from Chef de Cuisine Rocio Neyra Palmer’s kitchen.)
Selecting a main plate’s also difficult because each holds high points and excels in its own way. Let’s say there’s no wrong choices here, so go with what’s appealing in the moment: beef, bass or risotto. The first is Eagle’s Nest Ranch wagyu short ribs with fingerlings, vegetables and gremolata. The Colorado Striped Bass gets spinach, artichoke and a brown butter-lemon-herb sauce; its crispy skin alone pleases. The risotto comes with Fort Collins-grown mushrooms, roasted and joined by lemon, Parmesan and Fontina foam.
For dessert, I’m usually a chocolate person when that choice is available, and it is with the molten cake served with mixed berries and hazelnut ice cream. But the Lemon Basque Cheesecake steals the show with almond crumble and lemon purée.
View all the menus at this link to plan your attack strategy and make the most of the deals. I say it every year, but this is the time when the Big B Broadmoor is most accessible (read: affordable) all year long. Take advantage of the specials for a special occasion. (Yes, it just being a random Wednesday and you’re hungry and want something nice counts as a special occasion in my book.)
(Introducing!) Hoppenings of the week
This past September I wrote about a cool new local app named Hoppenings, designed in support of local breweries. Now, I’m pleased to announce that Side Dish has partnered with it to bring this newsletter more robust weekly brew news. Hoppenings’ founders Gerry Reyes and Brandon Heid will curate the most alluring weekly beer releases and events featured on their app for a special section here. That starts now:
Beer Events
Wellness Fair at RedLeg Brewing Co. — Jan. 3, noon. Featuring wellness vendors, health experts and fitness activities.
Pints & Poses at Urban Animal Brewing — Jan. 4, 10:45 a.m. Stretch, sip, and vibe at this feel-good yoga flow every 1st & 3rd Sunday with cold beer, welcoming community (and chill pups). $18 includes a pint of beer after the hour-long class.
Trivia at Gunslinger Brewing Co. — Jan. 7, 6:30 p.m. The Springs’ newest brewery has excellent beers and custom panini to pair, plus weekly Wednesday Trivia night.
Beer Releases
Experimental Peregrine Pale Ale at OCC Brewery: A spin on the house pale ale, exploring Ekuanot and Loral hops, dry-hopped with Mosaic and Nelson Sauvin. This is the kind of beer that makes hop nerds smile. It has layered aroma, clean balance and just enough complexity to keep us coming back for more without thinking twice.
Winter Spiced Cranberry Gose at Peaks N Pines Brewing: A festive sour gose brewed with cranberry, nutmeg, cinnamon, coriander and sea salt. The perfect end-of-year curveball. Refreshingly tart, lightly spiced and wildly drinkable, which captures a cozy holiday vibe without feeling heavy (very important).
*Curated by Brandon Heid and Gerry Reyes. For full listings of beer-related events and releases download the free Hoppenings app on Apple on Google.
Side Dish Dozen happenings
Red Gravy: To celebrate 10 years in business, we are introducing the Red Gravy Pastarama. Letting our loyal customers weigh in on their favorites. Each month two pasta specials will go head to head. The winning pasta moves on to the next month to face a new competitor. Any consistent winner will end up on our regular menu.
*New Member Blackhat Distillery: Come sample and sip in our tasting room in back of the Alexander Building off N. Nevada Ave., 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesdays-Saturdays. Check out our new Distiller’s Vault spirits class hosted by our Head Distiller. The vault opens Jan. 19 at 5:30 p.m. Reservations: production@blackhatdistillery.com.
Four by Brother Luck: Now booking Chefs Table Experiences live from our kitchen, which includes a 5 or 7 course dinner with wine pairings, custom curated. Through Jan. 31, dine with six or more people and enjoy your first drink round on the house.
Elephant Thai and Chaang Thai: We offer the same great menu at two locations, each with their own vibe and authenticity, though Elephant Thai serves a full bar selection. Take advantage of our weekday happy hours from 4-6 p.m. with $7 wines, $1 off Thai beers and $2 off gyoza, veggie egg rolls and crab rangoons.
Bristol Brewing Company: Our next Bristol Beer Choir cycle runs Sundays, Jan. 4 thru Feb. 8., with social hours from 5:30-6:30 pm. then singing until 8 p.m. New and returning singers welcome. Trivia, Jan. 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Come try the newly released Imperial Warlock, available only in the Pub, on draft and in 22-ounce bombers to-go.
T-Byrd’s Tacos & Tequila: Taco Tuesdays feature $3.50 tacos all day and $5 Margaritas and Swirls. Happy hours are 3-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and all day Sunday. Our $12.99 lunch special gets you chips & salsa, two tacos, rice, beans and a fountain drink; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
Upcoming events
Jan. 3: Local Relic’s Small Brew Saturday at The Carter Payne. Noon to 4 p.m. (Followed by A Community Dinner, Jan. 17, 6 p.m.)
Jan. 10: Profs and Pints at Colonel Mustard’s. 5 p.m. Free, with an optional $20 sandwich, chips and cookie bag available by preorder. Beers for purchase. This month’s topic is Breathe Easy: The Environmental Health and Science of Indoor Air.
Jan. 12: Tequila Fight Night at Cocktails After Dusk. 6 p.m. $25 includes three cocktails.
Jan. 15: Murder Mystery Dinner at Cerberus Brewing Co. 7 p.m.; $50 includes three courses and two beers.
Jan. 17: Breaking Bread dinner with Baon Supper Club at Good Neighbors Meeting House. 6 p.m.; $95 includes six courses, with guest chef Isaiah Ruffin of Pizza by Ruffin (Seattle, Washington; named Best Pizza 2025 by Eater Seattle). This collaboration brings together modern Filipino cuisine and the African diaspora.
Jan. 29: Stellina Sip With Schnip. Details forthcoming.
Parting shot(s)
I will absolutely need to insert “clown-ass” into my day to day.