JEEP GRILLE ADVENTURES

Life is like a hardcore offroad trail....put it 4-lo and get over it!!!!
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The D.I.R.T.
(Downright Irrefutable Raw Truth)
EATS & GREETS PAGE
 
The truth hurts! 
Open throttle-EAST COAST STYLE-no-holds-barred candid reviews of anything and everything from offroad products to food!
We travel and when we do we'll let you know about: quality, customer service, parking lot lighting/safety, bartender/waitress/hostess hotness factor, bathroom cleanliness, comfort and anything else worth helping you out in your travels. Everything from heading to or finishing a day on the trail to rolling with the homiez in the urban jungle or finding a place to hit with the wife or girlfriend or both!
We make the sacrifices so you won't have to!
That's why!

THE SECTIONS & CATEGORIES:
The D.I.R.T.: Eats & Greets (this page)
Chef Mark's personal insights on restaurants, bars and taco wagons.
 
JGA Crew giving the lowdown from across the country.
 
Everything from Magazines to Equipment!
 
The inside scoop on cold carbonated refreshments and others.


How we rate:
THE RATING SYSTEM:
  • 5: Whikkid Killah Awesome (the Absolute Best)
  • 4: Pretty Darn Good Stuff
  • 3: Decent, worthy of a second visit
  • 2: Uh, not so great
  • 1: Wouldn't even recommend to my ex-girlfriend in VT.
  • NEW 0 or negative numbers - Are you %$*@#+# kidding me!
     

Please enjoy the music while your party is contacted!

 

 

CURRENT U.S.A. STATES UNDER REVIEW:

Colorado, Texas, Nevada, Utah, California

*Disclaimer: Some of the comments within may be found offensive and hurtful by some people...

too bad go sit on a couch and talk to someone about it or just PUT IT IN 4-Lo and get over it!


CO: RESTAURANTS/EATERIES/BODY FUEL/BELLY FUEL


 

NEW: (South Park 'OH NO THEY KILLED KENNY)

Salida, Colorado and others coming soon.

Scanga Meats Rocks!!!!!

WHen visting the Buena Vista/Salida area two places you need to check out to load up on goodies for the trails are

1. Scanga Meats: From Steaks to Salumi Sticks he has it all.

http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Scanga.Meat.Company.719-539-3511

 

2. Jumping Good Goat Dairy:

http://jumpingoodgoats.com/

Dawn Jump makes some of the finest Artisan Cheeses anywhere.

Also JGG sells the most awesome artisan Salumi made right here in Colorado from www.MondoVecchio.net

 

 

 

Terrace Maya, North Boulder, CO

Next to the BustStop,

I must say service wise it was the very worst of the worst EVER. Almost 1.5 hours to get food and it wasn't even busy. They did make good by reducing the bill and sending a full round of the 'ol *T&T out. So kudos for that! 

(*T&T: Tecate and Tequilla)

Usually a good hangout for what it is worth, I won't trash on it too bad because it is usually a great spot for at least a cold beverage, warm food and usually mediocre service at best.  

Price: 3 - Overpriced for what it is. 
Service: 3 Fair (earned points for the T&T and bill fix) otherwise -1
Food: 4 They accomodated an odd order of mine. I don't recall what must've been the T&T.
Cleanliness: 4.5 - Good use of "green" lessening the possibility of global warming...ice in the toilets!! 
Comfort: 4.5 The outdoor covered patio section was good almost too hot from the heater at times. Great for hanging out, chillin and meeting other folks.
Beverage: 5 - Tecate and Tequilla Pretty hard to screw those up,
although it did take overwhelmingly long time to get. 
Parking/Lighting: 5
Hostess/Server: The guy server we had n/a.
If you dig the Boulder hippie chickie type this is the place to go, bring your own Patchouli oil.
Bartender: See above regarding hippie chickie.

Close to Trails: Carnage, Left Hand Canyon

 

Ian's Mountain Bakery: Granby

Whikkid Killah. Wake and Bake Cheesecake. Say hi to Ian.

 Trails: Mulstay Jeep Trail, Cabin Creek Road Systems 

 

Burke & Riley's Irish Pub: Breckenridge

Doesn't get any better for brew and pub grub!

Say hi to both Burke & Riley from Chef D if they are around.

I promise you won't get hit or have the police called on you!

Trails: Red Cone and others in proximity. 

 

Oskar Blue's Brewery and Blues Bar:

Downtown Lyons, CO

WHIKKID KILLAH AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!! Great Cajun influenced food.

Service is Colo Casual and just right. Also see brews.

Say hey to Dale if he's around. 

www.oskarblues.com

Trails: Carnage, Left Hand Canyon

 

Villa Tatra Europen Eatery & Smokehouse:

North of Lyons on HghWy 36

Old school European/Polish food... Julian, Elizabeth and Family are just the most gracious hosts. 

www.villatatra.com  

Scenic Trail: Highway 36 into Estes, Rocky Mountain NP

 

Stagestop Bar:

Rollinsville, CO

Awesome...did I say awesome...PIE not cherry or apple I'm talkin PIZZA!

 Close to Trails: Pickle Gulch, Rollinsville Pass, Jenny Creek, Coney Flats 

 

Jenny's: Empire

Whikkid Killah hot dogs and fries!!!!!!! 

Try the Rueben too, it is "gianormous"!

Their breakfasts are great!

Big, bold and flavorful Bloody Mary's! 

  Close to Trails: Bill Moore, Red Elephant Hill, Spring Creek

 

Kermit's: Highways 6/I-70

Great watering hole for after the trail. Sometimes live music.

Loud pipes save lives!

Trails: Bill Moore, Red Elephant Hill, Spring Creek

 

Eagle's Nest Truckstop: I-70/Westslope

Friendly service. Food was filling and let's leave it at that.

Close to Trails: Coming back from Rd 21, Moab, Flat Top 


TEXAS:

Rioja Spanash Tapas Restauratnt
Westheimer/Kirkwood
Close your eyes and you are in Spain!!! No need for a passport or expenisive plane ride. The easiest way to enjoy "TRUE" "LO VERO" comida de Espana. The Sangria is big, bold and flavorful. Traditional Spanish fare executed in true and pure form! Ingredients and flavors are hand crafted with passion! Say hello to owner Ignacio "Nacho" Fonseca. Ask if you can take a hit from the wine bong.
(The wine bong in use center row back... go mi amigo Nachito!).  
Fun stuff.
 
Ragin Cajun Restaurant:
HOUSTON Westheimer & Gessner
(they have other locations within H-Town)
5's ALL THE WAY
This is "DA-BOMB-DOT-COM" for anything and everythin' Cajun FO SHO!
 

NEVADA:
 
Las Vegas:  Javier's Lindo Michoacan Restaurant: What overated fluff of Americanized Mexican food. Can you say *guerros might enjoy it?! The one great thing about this place, as I do give credit where credit is due: cleanliness and beverage quality. It is really hard to screw up opening a can of Tecate, and the lime accompaniments for the Tecate were plentiful.
The quality of the poor excuse for salsa was the worst I have ever had!
The "lengua" (toungue, yes what cows lick with) tacos were flavorless but at least melt in your mouth tender. The safe bet my co-pilot (a chef also) ordered of chicken burrito was o.k., but agreed that the salsa was the poorest ever. The bottle of Pacifico was equally as pleasing
and satisfying as the can of Tecate. I would much rather have gone to a roach coach or true (lo vero) carneceria or taqueria.
Price: 1 Miserable: $3.75 for a taco can you say "Que paso chingaso!?!?!?!" Give me tacos that cost $1.25 each, East Colfax style!!
Service: 3
Food: 2.5 at least it was safe to eat and I didn't have the runs the next day. 
(the salsa gets a rating in the negatives)
Cleanliness: 5+
Comfort: 4 Big seats/booths
Beverage: 5 Tecate and Pacifico: Very Cold and Carbonated 
Parking/Lighting: 5
Hostess: 5++ 
Bartender N/A
Waiter: Don't go that way!
*Guerro: Latin for "white folks". 
 
Big Momma's: Las Vegas
Even though we didn't go there it looked like a killer down home soul food place. A future trip would include this as a stop. I would have to say it wasn't in the safest of areas of Vegas just north of the glitz and glamour of the strip. Highly suggested to go during daylight hours.  
 
VIVA Laughlin, NV:
Bayshore Inn/Motel & Lazy River Lounge
Wow is all I can say!!! Off the strip a few miles from the glitz of big ole Laughlin this obviously 60 or 70's built hotel is AWESOME!!! Cheap, clean and awesome parking to name a few
of the things we found great about this place.
The in-hotel Lazy River Lounge is the place to be, not necessarily for major gambling...well that really depends on how you look at it I guess! Great for meeting local folks, hangin out and shooting pool. The local folk provide plenty of great discussion and entertainment. 
The bartenders are gracious hostesses, extremely friendly and courteous, visit and you can decide the rest. The chatter and action is lively and can get really
interesting after 1am and we'll just leave it at that.
This place (both motel and lounge) gets 5 ratings accross the board!!!!
We didn't have any food and I don't even remember if there was a menu other than liquid. The liquid trinity was workin' that night.
The ambiance and comfort of our room was clean, big and very comfortable.
The lounge was more updated than the 1950's feel of the motel it felt warm and inviting with great dark wood and deep rich colors. It was great!
The only gambling that is present were the bartop video machines. So the desire to just hang out and no pressure to gamble suited me just fine. If you do stop by say hi to old Al from Massachusettes as he shoots a great stick.
WARNING, WARNING, WARNING:
Beware of Mistress Kitty! P.S. DO NOT.... I REPEAT
DO NOT MENTION THE
TERM OR COMBINED WORDS "MILK JUGS" to Mistress Kitty!
If you do...she may just take care of you jailhouse style!


Click the cover picture of

My Jeep Grille Adventures: Camp Kitchen & Cookbook

 


UTAH:
 
ARCHVIEW CAMPGROUND: Moab, UT (north of town)
Overall great and very clean. If you enjoy the nightlife of Moab you may want to stay a little closer as it is several miles north of town. Please respect the quiet time of 10pm especially around the community fire pit. Voices travel in the open night air. Chuck was an awesome host/owner! We stayed at a tent site and it was nice. Great parking for vehicles and trailers in tow (I trailered the Jeep this time with my Expedition).
  
ZAK's PIZZA: Moab, Ut
Decent and worth the second visit in 2 years time.
Cold beer and warm tasty pizza, what more could one ask for?
INSIDER CHEF NOTE: I noticed this time around abnormally large crusts and not much fixins!
A foodservice establishment will save $$ by putting less toppings
on a pizza and that is exactly what they do or at least did when I visited the second time (5/08).  
Price: 3.5 Decent for what it was worth. Eat less crusts and more middle and would go to a 4.5 for sure.
Food Quality: 3.5 See above under price.  
Service: 3 Decent
Cleanliness: 4
Comfort: 4.5 Good but it was overly cold in the dining room, I could've put on pants instead of shorts I suppose. 
Beverage: 5 Beer, Cold and Carbonated Good Selection
 
MOAB DINER, Moab, UT:
+'s Not overly impressed but it will satisfy most. Clean.
-'s Bathrooms outside...no don't go pee on the tree, the bathrooms are towards the back on the north side of the building.
Price: 3
Service: 3.8 Freindly and slightly too relaxed.  
Food Quality: 3 Edible lukewarm-to-cold
Comfort: 3.5 Cold and uninviting, it is what it is....a diner. This is intentional it is for a higher turn of the tables so they can get the next folks in and out too.  
Beverage: 3 A fair cup of git-ya-goin coffee.
 
LATE NIGHT COFFEE RANT! 
Let me begin by saying that finding coffee on the first 200 miles of I-15 after 10pm was like trying to find an alcoholic beverage on a sunday in Salt Lake City without a "membership".
I am appauled by this lack of caffine and find it very disturbing!! WTF is wrong with Southern Utah?!?!?!?
 
Richfield, UT:
Chinese Restaurant (how many of them can there be in Richfield....seriously?!?!?!?) Recommended by a fellow offroader Jim Brightly from the Mojave 2007 trip and Moab 2008.
Pulling into this quaint little highway town at 8:30am didn't allow us to visit the highly recommended Chinese Restaurant. It is said "the shrimp with walnuts and honey glaze is to die for"! A must stop if time allows on a trip from the western states to the mecca of Moab or us Colorado folk traveling to California or Nevada.
Suggeted Ratings;
Food Quality: 5
Cleanliness: 5
Others: TBD at point of visit

CALIFORNIA: 
Baker, CA
Taqueria: On-ramp for I-15 and Main St. Intersection
This is more like what I am used to in the Denver/Aurora Colorado area. Authentic, not so great looking and smelling taqueria. When we arrived it must have been just after the dinner rush, every seat was empty but tables were full of unfinshed food. The place had the aroma of a restroom, must be good food??
I ordered the Lengua (yes I like cow tongue) burrito. It was plentiful, hot, tender and seasoned well. My co-pilot stayed safe with the typical "guerro classic", chicken burrito. The chips were decent and salsa... edible and better than Michoacan in Las Vegas, which really isn't saying much! No beer here, but the horchata was good. Horchata is a sweet and flavorful rice water beverage.
Price: 5 - $1.50 a taco or $3.25 for a whopping burrito!! Now that's more like it!!
Service: 4.5 with a smile.
Food: 3.9
Cleanliness: 3.5 - Anyplace that stinks like a restroom has to be questionable. No runs though, so that helps considerably. 
Comfort: 3.8 Big seats/booths, felt comfortable to be there, although most guerros may not. 
Beverage: 5 - Horchata was great. 
Parking/Lighting: 5 Being right at the intersection of the onramp and Main St. gives this a good rating. Don't know about the lighting as it was still daylight while there.
Hostess/Server: 3.5
Bartender: N/A

This page was last modified on Sunday, August 08, 2010 05:14:09 AM