SBRRP redux: Amanecer Mexican Food Truck

I have included food trucks in the restaurant project if they are always parked in the same place, as this one is. I saw someone mention it on social media recently and realized I had missed it when we did the SBRRP a few months ago. It is located on the southwest corner of 120th and South Boulder Road in the Lafayette Lumber parking lot.

I visited on a Monday morning about 10 a.m. in search of breakfast burritos. The cook had a mask, and there was a barrier in the window so that customers don't communicate directly face-to-face. When I ordered, he asked where I was parked and then brought my order to the car. There was a fairly steady flow of customers (who were giving each other plenty of space), but my order was ready in what felt like just a few minutes.

The breakfast burritos have eggs, cheese, potatoes, green chile, and your choice of bacon, sausage, or chorizo. I got two with chorizo, one medium spicy for me and the other hot for G. They were nice big, stuffed burritos for only $3 apiece, and they were delicious! I thought the ingredient ratio was just right (I like lots of egg), and the medium-level green chile was also just right for someone who likes a little heat but does not like her face to melt off. G liked the spice level of his hot breakfast burrito as well.

Amanecer also offers the usual tacos, tortas, burritos, quesadillas, and a few other specialties. I'd be happy to try one of everything. The Juarez hot dog looks intriguing!

Food truck with 120th St in the background 

The Amanecer menu. Breakfast burritos were listed on a separate board.

These are on a small plate, but they were big and nicely stuffed.

Delicious breakfast burrito with chorizo!

PRRP Redux 2: Teocalli Cocina

Teocalli is another restaurant that opened on Public Road (in summer 2019 in the location that was formerly Black Diamond) after we did the original PRRP. We actually ordered curbside pickup a week ago yesterday, but I am just now getting around to posting about it. The curbside menu is on the website (https://www.teocallicocina.com/), and you can either order online or give them a call. I called and was told the food would be ready in 20 minutes, and G walked over to pick it up.

We'd been to the restaurant a couple of times in the prepandemic days, so we tried to pick some new and different (to us) dishes. For an appetizer, instead of the salsa trio, which I know features some interesting flavors, we got the Teocalli guacamole (shallots, jalapeno, lime, green chorizo, pickled fresnos, cotija), which came with a big bag of warm chips. We also got the large kale salad with quail eggs. I just noticed this salad is no longer on the curbside pickup menu; perhaps it wasn't selling as well as other things because it was a bit pricey, but we thought it was delicious with its spicy, creamy dressing, and it was big enough that we had leftovers to eat with dinner another night.

We each selected three tacos, which come on house-made corn tortillas: for G, de birria (short rib, caramelized leeks, tomatillo sauce), grilled chicken (adobo chicken thigh, salsa verde, red onions), and pescado (mahi mahi, kale salad, avocado espuma), and for me, shrimp (chipotle butter, oaxaca and chihuahua cheese, jalapeno cremosa, all grilled), carne asada (chimichurri, cheese crust, smoked onion), and carnitas (pork shoulder, roasted tomatillo, pickled onions, cilantro). We also got a side of Mexican rice. Friends, this was too much food! I had to save two of my tacos for the next day, though I tried a bite of each first to ensure that they were all tasty (they were). G ate two of his and saved the third. Fortunately, they reheated well. It was a great, flavorful meal, and we will be checking out some of the other menu options next time.

We put all the tacos on one plate, so you can't really distinguish them, but in summary, one each of shortrib, grilled chicken, fish, shrimp, carne asada, and carnitas, all on house-made corn tortillas. Also on the table (from top): guacamole, chips, a side of Mexican rice, and the chopped kale salad with quail eggs.

My plate of food. I had to save some of it for later, for obvious reasons.

PRRP Redux 1: Tip Top Savory Pies

My Baseline & 287 Restaurant Project came to an abrupt halt because the last two restaurants that I planned to visit for takeout, Mumtaz and Adesso, both closed (temporarily, I hope). To finish up the circuit of Lafayette for now, I thought we should loop back around to the few new places that have opened on Public Road since we did the PRRP in 2017-2018--that is, if they are open for takeout. The first one that occurred to me was Tip Top. The tiny shop at 105 N. Public Road is closed, and they are doing frozen deliveries only, but they are doing them in an incredibly wide area--86 zip codes! You have to order by midnight on Thursday, and they will deliver your order over the following Saturday, Sunday, or Monday: https://www.tiptopsavorypies.com/delivery.

Not all the pies are currently available frozen--for instance, the breakfast pies are not on the delivery menu--but most of the savory pies are. In addition, you can order sausage rolls; nippers (small pastry pockets stuffed with mac and cheese); and apple, cherry, or peach sweet pies. You can also order the ruff puff pastry by itself and make your own pie! The Tip Top pastry is a beautifully flaky yet sturdy version that is perfect for their handheld, New Zealand-style pies. 

I had had Tip Top pies several times in the pre-pandemic days, but there were quite a few things I hadn't tried before. We set up a video dinner date with our friends Deb and Dave because they had already ordered some Tip Top pies. There's no way to predict precisely when your order will arrive, but we live in Old Town and got ours at about 4:30 p.m. on a Saturday, and Deb and Dave live in Broomfield and got theirs at about 4:30 on a Sunday. We had some overlap in our orders because G and Dave both wanted a steak & ale pie. Deb had a steak & mushroom pie, and I tried the beef ragu pie because it was new to me. Each couple had a mac & cheese nipper with bacon to split. For dessert, G and I shared a cherry pie, and Deb and Dave shared a cherry and a peach (and might even have had leftovers for later).

We all loved our pies! The steak & ale pie has slow-braised Colorado beef, local hand-crafted ale, peas, carrots, and scratch-made gravy (descriptions from the website). The steak & mushroom pie has the same beef and gravy with glazed mushrooms (I have tried the meatless mushroom & ale pie in the past, and it is amazing if you love mushrooms). The beef ragu pie (also known as "mince") has slow-simmered ground beef in a creamy tomato-based gravy. I loved the texture of it and thought the flavors were delicious. The nippers are stuffed with mac & cheese made with a creamy bechamel sauce, and we got the kind with bacon crumbles. The cherry pie is on the tart side, which we all liked. It would have been excellent with a little ice cream, and I was envious that Deb and Dave had some in their freezer! They said the peach pie was also good, but they slightly preferred the cherry.

Overall, this was a great comfort-food dinner. Next time, I'll be adding some sausage rolls to the order!

I'm not putting the map in at the moment because the shop is currently closed.

Screen shot of Deb and Dave showing us their pies

Deb and Dave's pies: coming out of the oven (top), Deb's steak & ale pie and half a nipper (bottom left), and peach and cherry pie quarters (bottom right)

G's steak & ale pie

My beef ragu pie and the mac & cheese nipper with bacon (before I gave G his half of the nipper), plus a side of steamed broccoli (which did not come with the pies)

Our cherry pie

B287RP installment 3: Proto's Pizzeria Napoletana

Just a reminder that we decided that takeout should count even though I can't report on the ambience, décor, or service at the actual restaurant. The food is the most important thing, right? I'm sorry we did not get a look at the kitchen conditions today because Proto's does curbside delivery where they will actually bring the order out to your car. Plus, you can pay over the phone so that you don't have to make any contact while there.

We ordered over the phone at about 6 p.m. on a Sunday night. The order could have been ready in 15 minutes, but I asked for a slight delay because we had a virtual dinner date with some friends at 7. G said they brought the food out as soon as he arrived. 

I believe the Proto's Lafayette location was the second one to open, not long after the original Longmont restaurant. We used to visit quite often, but as with other restaurants out of walking distance, our attendance has decreased in recent years. I ordered the things that were our favorites in the past: a Caesar salad (which comes with anchovies, thin slices of Parmesan, and slices of crisp-baked pizza crust in lieu of croutons) and the Proto Pie (mozzarella, tomato sauce, fresh basil and Italian sausage). I don't recall having dessert there very often in the past, but this time I ordered one serving of tiramisu (the only dessert option tonight), and I also got a can of Avery White Rascal beer because recently, on one of those days when it was actually warm outside, I was yearning for a beer. Everything was great. I like the Italian sausage, which is not spicy but nicely flavored; the Caesar came with not one but TWO anchovies, and the tiramisu was excellent. The Proto's pizzas have a thin, crisp crust with a little charring, which we like (to be honest, we like almost any kind of pizza crust). 

The friends whom we video-dined with were not eating Proto's tonight, but they know it well. They are fans of some of the vegetarian options: the Ruby Pie (pesto, mozzarella, feta cheese, kalamata olives, and artichoke hearts), the Pontiff Pie (olive oil, garlic, fresh spinach, roasted tomatoes, mozzarella and feta cheese), and a third one I now can't remember. They also have fond memories of a dessert that was made of balls of gelato with something in the center and chocolate sauce drizzled on top; I never tried that one myself, so I can't describe it any better than that.

It was nice to revisit this old favorite on a snowy Easter Sunday!

Put

Caesar salad, Proto's Pie, tiramisu, and Avery White Rascal beer

Caesar salad: good dressing plus anchovies and lots of Parmesan.

Good Italian sausage and fresh basil!

The tiramisu was excellent. I dripped chocolate sauce on my computer when I tilted it to show it to our video dining companions, but there was still plenty left. Note to self: Do  not tip the tiramisu.

Me with my half of the tiramisu

B287RP installment 2: Sushi Aji

The restaurant project has been on hold since February, first because we were out of town and then because restaurants had to shut down their dine-in services. However, we decided that takeout should count even though I can't report on the ambience, décor, or service at the actual restaurant. The food is the most important thing, right?

We ordered over the phone shortly before 6 p.m. on a Monday night. The order was ready in 25 minutes, and G drove over for a contact-free pickup (he had to go inside and get the bag off the counter). If we hadn't been so hungry, I might have warmed up the gyoza, but they were good even lukewarm and had a nice dipping sauce, a little thicker than some I've tried in the past. I liked that because there was less spatter! The house salad was basic, just greens and carrots (no cucumbers even though they are in the menu description), but had a very nice ginger dressing.

All of the sushi rolls were delicious. I liked the simple yellow tail roll because the fish was fresh and delicious. The rainbow roll is basically a California roll with salmon, tuna, whitefish, and avocado layered on top. What's not to like? The demon roll has tempura shrimp and avocado inside and is topped with lobster salad, seared Cajun tuna, and spicy mayo sauce. It was just mildly spicy, and the combination was very good.

We'll definitely be returning to try more of the dishes from the extensive menu!

Since I didn't go in person, this is a photo by Adam Beck from usarestaurants.info

House salad, gyoza, and sushi rolls (rainbow roll, demon roll, and yellow tail roll) 

Happy

A95RP installment 8: 95A (CLOSED)

95A closed permanently in 2024.

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This is the last restaurant in the A95RP subproject; after this, we just have to report on a few more restaurants at Baseline and 287, and we will have made a complete circuit of Lafayette!

We know 95A quite well, as it is a personal favorite for both lunch and dinner. They also serve brunch on weekends, but I've never tried that menu. We went early on Friday night because we knew it would be crazy busy later on, and we got a table in a reasonably quiet corner of the front room. We thought about trying something from the sushi menu, but we ended up getting the coconut shrimp appetizer instead. The coconut crust was nicely crisp, and the dipping sauce was tasty. I ordered an entrée from the specials menu, pistachio-crusted sea scallops with roast fingerling potatoes and beets and a side of watercress with a drizzle of pomegranate syrup. G ordered the Mediterranean lamb from the regular dinner menu: grilled lamb loin chops, garlic-studded spinach, zucchini-potato pancakes, and tzatziki sauce. We both thought our meals were delicious.

It was my birthday, so we shared an order of sticky toffee pudding for dessert. This was also very good, though not quite how I remembered it from a few years ago. David, our server, told us that the baked desserts come from the neighboring bakery, Button Rock, which is a relative newcomer, so it probably was different the last time. It came with a birthday candle and compliments of the restaurant. Thanks, David! The service was good. The noise level had gone way up before we left but was still tolerable. I had never been seated in the front room before, so I'm not sure how it compares to the back on a Friday night.

95A outside and the front room after it filled up a bit

There were more coconut shrimp on this plate, but we ate some before I remembered to photograph it.

G's Mediterranean lamb

My pistachio-crusted sea scallops

Sticky toffee pudding with a birthday candle

B287 installment 1: Colorado Wok

We have moved on to the Baseline and 287 subproject now that we have almost completed the A95RP. We still have one more A95RP restaurant left, but we saved it for a special occasion this weekend because I know I like the desserts there. If you have been paying really obsessive attention, you might know which restaurant I mean. But there is no reason that the subprojects can't overlap!

So … Colorado Wok. We used to go here occasionally, but we stopped going several years ago after a couple of poor service experiences. Thus, to be honest, our expectations were low. But this time, the service was excellent, the server was very pleasant, and the food was good. We both ordered the dinner combination from the last page of the menu, so we each got soup (egg drop for both of us), an egg roll and a fried wonton, and an entrée. G's entrée was sesame chicken, which he rated as "hot and tasty," and mine was beef with broccoli. I appreciated that the egg roll was crisp but not swimming in grease, the beef was tasty, and the broccoli was cooked just right.

We visited the restaurant on Sunday night, and it was very quiet, which we have found to be typical of most restaurants on Sunday night. There were only a few other occupied tables (the people at one table near us were obviously regulars because they and the server seemed to know each other well) and, of course, a steady takeout business. We liked the cozy booth by the window where were seated, and G said he though the wall art was not bad (he appreciates bad restaurant/hotel art, so this might actually be a drawback).

We have now visited every Chinese restaurant in Lafayette, and I will tell you my (not expert) opinion: they are all good! Some people will disagree because I've noticed that some of you have strong opinions about your favorite Chinese places, and you will even go far afield to visit particular ones. But as a relatively nonpicky eater, I'd go back to any of these.

Egg-drop soup and fried wonton strips

G's sesame chicken with egg roll, vegetable fried rice, and fried wontons

I had the beef and broccoli with steamed rice, an egg roll, and fried wontons

Quiet on a Sunday. This photo doesn't show the booths along two walls.

A95RP installment 7: Nissi's

Update January 2024: Now in a new location (1455 Coal Creek Drive).

Nissi's is not strictly a restaurant because you can't just drop in for a meal, but I thought it would be fun to include it. It's an events venue with different acts on the calendar five or six nights a week and (based on a quick website scan), ticket prices ranging from $5 to $25. We went to hear the Center for Musical Arts jazz combos, as the CMA is a local institution that is on our very own street, and I'm a former student from the days when I was trying to learn to play upright bass. (By the way, if anyone wants to buy an upright bass, let me know!)

Some friends met us there, and we all ordered different entrees. Dave had the Korean pork belly bowl, Deb had the grilled pork marsala, I had the burger with a side salad, and G had the bowl of green chili. All of the entrees were good except the green chili, which got a lukewarm review from G, who said it was skimpy for the price and just "OK." However, he got some bits from the other meals, so he didn't go hungry. Deb said her pork masala was tender and flavorful, and Dave gave his meal a rating of "tasty." The burger was juicy and had a nice grilled flavor. We also tried the flourless chocolate torte (very good) and the peach cobbler (sorry my photo didn't turn out), which was not a cobbler but more like a crisp with the crisp part on the bottom and ice cream on top. I know the definitions vary, but in my opinion, a cobbler involves a biscuit element!

We didn't know what to expect from the jazz combos, but they turned out to be great. There were two combos: the Monday-night class and the Wednesday-night class. They were very talented and had a polished group sound. I recommend them the next time they come around on the calendar!

Wednesday-night combo (top) and Monday-night combo (bottom) from the Center for Musical Arts in Lafayette

Since my food photography was not very good, I opted for a collage. Top row: burger with salas, Korean pork belly bowl. Bottom row: grilled pork marsala, pork green chili, and flourless chocolate torte. My peach "cobbler" photo did not turn out.

Me with burger. Happy, as I have not had a burger in a long time. The place was not full, but more people did come in after this, as we got our meals before the show started.

Dave and Deb with their entrees 

A95RP installment 6: Reelfish

Reelfish opened a little over five years ago, and we had been there before, but not in a long while. We visited on a cold, snowy weeknight and found it very quiet, but I know it can be quite busy when the weather is better. 

The two guys at the counter were very friendly and helpful. G and I both wanted to try the combo platter so we could sample different kinds of fish, so he ordered a basket with fries, and I ordered a basket with coleslaw (there is a choice of sweet [mayo] or tart [vinegar] coleslaw, and I got the sweet) so we could share our sides. The combo basket has 1 haddock, 1 cod, 1 salmon, and 2 shrimp, and neither of us could finish it because the pieces were generously sized. The shrimp and salmon were my favorites, but the whitefish was good too. The batter was crisp and delicate. Back when they first opened, the fries were a different style, thinner and limper. Now they are big, thick, and crisp, and I thought the four that I ate were quite good. I am not a French-fry connoisseur, as I can generally take or leave them, but I am a big fan of deep-fried fish.

I asked if they make their own batter, and the answer is yes, and also that the batter is gluten-free! This surprised me, as I had not known it in advance and would not have guessed it. The counter guy told me the ingredients, but all I can remember now is rice flour, chickpea flour, and soda water for carbonation (rather than beer). I know I'm forgetting some ingredients, but you get the idea.

The interior is pleasant, with comfy booths and a big fish tank. Don't worry, the fish that they serve does not come from the tank! It is flash-frozen but tasted fresh and tender to me. Note that they serve beer and wine, and there are $10.95 lunch specials every day.

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G's combo basket with fries

My combo basket with coleslaw

The menu

Lunch specials

A95RP installment 5: Morning Glory Farm Fresh Café

I know the Morning Glory very well, as it has been one of my go-to breakfast and lunch spots since it first opened (at a guess) about 10 years ago. For a short time, there was a sister restaurant in the Peloton in Boulder named Poppy, but it closed down. I miss it sometimes when I am in Boulder around lunchtime. G and I went to the MG for Thanksgiving just a couple of months ago (excellent roast turkey!), and I've been there for brunch and lunch at least twice since then. 

This time, we met three friends for dinner on a Friday night. The mall where it is located, at Forest Park Circle and Arapahoe, with four restaurants that were open for dinner, was hopping, and the parking situation was insane! Most of us ended up parking out on the street a little distance away. It was nice to see such a lively scene. We walked into the MG at 6 p.m. and did not have to wait for a table, but half an hour later, there would have been at least a short wait. One thing I liked, being moderately hard of hearing, was that the noise level was not too bad even with a full house.

Here's what we ate! From the "Brinner" menu, one dining companion ordered the vegetarian migas (eggs, green chilies, tomato, vegetarian chorizo, and crispy tortilla chips) with a side of french fries and a side salad, which was reported to be tasty. Two people ordered the hand-made seasoned beef sirloin burger and said it was delicious. G had the black and blue tuna (with sauteed spinach, shiitake, and onions, mashed potatoes, and bleu cheese) and enjoyed it very much. I am still on a restricted carb intake, so I tried the steak with rainbow vegetables and asked to double the veggies and leave off the mashed potatoes. I also had to leave off the blue cheese sauce, but there is an espresso spice rub that I said they could leave on. I ended up scraping most of this off because I didn't care for the texture, but the flavor was nice, and the meat was very good. 

The MG staff do not flinch at special requests! They were very kind and efficient considering how busy they were. Note that the MG has many GF and vegetarian/vegan options and emphasizes fresh, organic ingredients. I know several people who swear that their GF pancakes (the only kind they serve) beat most regular pancakes.

Vegetarian migas with a side of fries and a side salad

Black and blue tuna

Burger no. 1

Burger no. 2

Me with my steak and rainbow veggies

A95RP installment 4: Super Mini Walnut Café (CLOSED)

Update January 2022: Permanently closed during the pandemic.

The SMWC serves only breakfast and lunch. I had been here once when it first opened, G had never been, and the two friends who met us have been a few times. It's a pleasant space with colorful walls and plenty of natural light, and the patio would be nice on a day when the wind wasn't blasting through. I have been to both Walnut Cafés in Boulder many times over the years, and this one has the same menu with a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options. We met for brunch on a Friday at 11 a.m., and it started out quiet but was mostly full by the time we left.

Two of our group, including G, had the Jump scramble (scrambled eggs, sausage [pork, turkey, veggie or vegan], breakfast potatoes, onions, cilantro & cheddar, smothered in Green Chili), one had French toast with a side of bacon, and one had an egg-white omelet. That last one was actually me! I'm on a restricted diet for a 2-week period, and I thought it would be interesting to see if this restaurant project choice would support something that was on the plan--and it did. The omelet was very tasty because the mushrooms were good and were cooked just right, and I took the sides home for G to eat later. Everyone else also liked their food. The French toast eater said she might have preferred fewer almonds on top as a texture issue--but at least they were movable.

I asked the server why it is called "Super Mini," and she said, "Because we were originally supposed to be smaller." She didn't exactly know where the "super" part came in. Maybe "super mini" equates to regular size? Note that the SMWC menu has gluten-free options for pancakes, waffles, and breads. Pie is a Walnut Café specialty, and I know from experience at the other locations that the pies are good (especially, I should mention, after GS cookie time, when they sometimes have a coconut-cream pie with a crust made of samoas!). However, we did not indulge today. 

Jump scramble

Egg-white omelet with spinach and mushrooms and sides of banana bread and potatoes

French toast with side of bacon

The counter 

The front room; there's another room on the other side of the counter (not shown) 

Southwest corner of Arapahoe & 95th

A95RP installment 3: Martino's Pizzeria

This was our first visit, though it has been on my list for a while. Like most other places, it was quiet on a Sunday night, though other customers came and went for both takeout and dine-in--and the football game was showing on a TV in one corner. Our friend Julie came out from Boulder to join us. She and I tried the Upslope kolsch, which was poured from cans into mason jar glasses. I thought it was good, but it was a bit on the bitter side for Julie.

The three of us shared a large Caesar salad, which we all thought was delicious--very good dressing and nice crisp romaine. We also shared a large Primo pizza, which the menu says is the most popular pizza. I don't like green peppers, but the other two do, so we got them on just half of the pizza and added black olives to the whole thing. We all thought this was a very good pizza, and we had plenty of leftovers even with three of us tackling it. The crust was very crisp, and the ingredients tasted fresh and delicious. G said the green peppers were especially good, and there certainly were a lot of them, but I cannot contribute my opinion, as I steered clear of them. The sausage and pepperoni were excellent, as was the mozzarella. The pizza came to the table very hot, but we suffered only minor burns when trying to eat it too quickly. ;)

We tried a couple of cannolis for dessert. We decided we are not real cannoli fans, as the sweetened cheese filling was a bit much for us, and I can't tell you how they compare to cannolis from other places. They were drizzled with chocolate and had a very crisp pastry shell.

We'll definitely be back to try other pizza varieties! There was also an intriguing list of appetizers, sandwiches, and pastas that we did not sample. Note that Martino's offers gluten-free pizzas and other GF items; has lunch specials Tuesday-Saturday; and has takeout special prices for 14" cheese pizzas M, T, and W after 5 p.m. 

Upslope kolsch for Julie and me

Excellent caesar salad

Very crisp, hot pizza: a large Primo (Martino's natural Italian sausage, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, and pepperoni). We got green peppers on just half and added black olives to the whole thing.

The pizza was a bit overexposed in this shot, so I added a special effect for fun.

The interior and exterior of Martino's plus action shot of the server bringing us chocolate-drizzled cannolis.