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

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.

Put

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.

A95RP installment 2: DosWapos Mexican Cocina (CLOSED)

Update 2024: Permanently closed.

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This was our first visit to DosWapos, though we visited this location at least once in the past when it was a different Mexican restaurant. We went on Sunday night, which has turned out to be a nice quiet time to go to restaurants. Coincidentally, while we were still there, I happened to see a request on FB for local Mexican food restaurant recommendations, and quite a few people mentioned this place. There is a Wapos in Boulder in addition to DosWapos at Arapahoe and 95th (southeast corner), and our server explained that "Wapos" is a corruption of "guapos," which means handsome (or beautiful in the feminine form).

G had the tacos al carbon with beef and said they were simple but very good. I had the pick-your-own combo plate with a pork tamale, a soft stuffed relleno (in a poblano pepper), and rice and beans. The tamale was very good, and the relleno was also good but a bit too cheesy for me (which I could have predicted if I had been thinking). I liked the red Mexican rice (which I have always wanted to learn how to make) and the refried beans very much. We also liked the chips, which were thin, very crisp, and just the right level of salty, and the medium-spicy salsa.  I also had a house margarita and liked that it was very limey and not too sweet. I would definitely go back to try more things on the menu, especially the tacos and some of the breakfast items.

Action shot of G entering

House margarita

Build-your-own combo with chile relleno and pork taco

Tacos al carbon with beef

Detail from art that G liked

Front section of the restaurant and the bar area

A95RP installment 1: Lunada Eatery & Cantina (MOVED)

Update January 2022: Moved to Longmont.

Lunada's theme is "delicious southwest cuisine with a Colorado twist." We had dined here once last winter, and I had once been to the old location on South Boulder Road, but that was a while ago. Our server, Angelica, recognized us and told us she follows the RP reports. Thanks, Angelica! That was so nice to hear, and a first for me! It was quiet on a Sunday night, possibly because of the holiday season. We sat in a back corner by the windows and enjoyed the colorful interior and pleasant lighting.

We asked Angelica, who has worked at Lunada for four years, what she recommended, and we each picked one of her favorites: the smothered burrito for G and the enchiladas de camaron for me. I could tell that the corn tortillas were made in house, which Angelica confirmed, and she said the flour tortillas are house-made too. The smothered burrito was larger than even G's head, and he said it was "de-LISH--and you can quote me on that!" I liked the shrimp enchiladas very much; the rich, creamy sauce was moderately spicy , decadent, and a little salty (I like salt, so no worries for me), and everything on the plate tasted lovely. It was a little pricier than most of the other menu items but worth it.

We also had a side of scrumptious plantains that came to the table piping hot from the fryer, and we finished with a churro that was cut into sections and served with chocolate dipping sauce. Angelica said the dessert menu varies depending on what the chef was able to make that day. We'll definitely be back!

House margarita: tasty!

Original smothered burrito: pork, ranchero beans, achiote rice, salsa verde, flour tortilla, pork green chili, cheese, lettuce, queso fresco, crema, and pico de gallo
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Enchiladas de camaron: corn tortillas, shrimp, spicy cream sauce, cheese, black beans, achiote rice, queso fresco, crema, and pico de gallo

ortillas/ shrimp/ spic

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The side of fried plantains was a highlight!

Churro with chocolate dipping sauce

The decor. That's Angelica coming out of the kitchen at lower left.