I just can't find anything positive about this place any more. Service: nonexistent Food: sometime ok, sometimes awful - never worth the crapshoot Location: meh Ambiance: weird - cherubs, christmas decor year round, not sure of the last cleaning, dollar store finds throughout ???? I've given this place far more time, attention and money then it deserves and I'm done.
(1)
Sass S.
I love this place. I love the fresh bread, the soups, the wine list... And the meals are always solid. There are some "safe" dishes and there are some more "wild" ones too. I highly suggest you try it!
(5)
Kitty K.
Awful experience. I don't know when the new owners took over, but they need a thorough lesson in good food and service, which this place seriously lacks both. We had Eggs benedict for Sunday brunch, and the eggs were uncooked. (yech). Then they refused to honor our two for one coupon, because it was on a phone AP that I paid extra for, instead of a printed book. It was a BIG deal, with the manager brining unwanted attention to the table, and we had showed it to them before we even ordered. The live music was delightful. But, that was the musician's talent, independent of the restaurant, thank goodness.
(1)
Terry W.
We ate here this weekend and it wasn't to bad. We ordered jagerschnitzel, sushi, artichoke dip and portabella ravioli. I have to say the jagerschnitzel was really good considering where I was eating at wasn't a German establishment. It had a great flavor and combined with spaetzle it hit the spot. The artichoke dip wasn't a big portion for the price but it tasted wonderful and we all couldn't get enough. The only thing that was just okay was the portabella mushrooms and this might have been because we have never had them before and don't know what to expect. Well my wife say they had a special on spicy sushi rolls and I wasn't expecting much but they were definitely good and I would eat them again. All in all I think they need to update the business with some fresh paint but the food was good and the entertainment out front was worth being a part of.
(3)
Lyndsy C.
Had lunch with my grandma here today. Food had no flavor, wouldn't return. Nice renaming atmosphere.
(2)
Darlene T.
Wow, after reading all the reviews, I feel like I'm back in 1988 (?) when this place first opened and was definitely inconsistent at best. But I digress... I'm back in town for the 1st times since 1991 and I yelp this restaurant for kicks. My curiosity brought me in for lunch--with my 10 year old boys (not typically a kid friendly type of place). I have to say that all three of us loved our meals. Everything, even the hamburger rolls were freshly made. Soups, desserts were awesome. Our family has traveled extensively and we are foodies. Simply stated, it was an excellent lunch. Good day I guess??? *Notes; Service was slow. We were only the second customers for lunch and the wait for food was fairly long. I would recommend only going to this rest. if you're not in a rush. Ask to speak to the owner if you are not happy with the food or service. The Dale St Cafe/ Bistro is perfectly capable of serving top notch food.
(4)
Linda M.
Just had a very nice lunch with my mother. We both had salmon nicoise. Nothing very different in terms of ingredients or presentation, but very nice and fresh and just what we wanted. Good service. Decor is dated but charming.
(3)
Chuck S.
What a wonderful meal we had Saturday night. This place can be hit or miss though and I've had some meals that were not as good as this one. Either the food was not quite on or the service was slow however, tonight was one for the record books. It's in an old Victorian house near the CC campus just off the happening downtown area. The house is very quaint with seating in what would have been a dining room, living room and sun room in addition to upstairs (I've never been upstairs). We each ordered a glass of the house wine and then started off with pizza caprese for an appetizer. The crust was wonderfully thin while the mozzeralla was quite thick with just the right hints of spices and balsamic vinegar. It was wonderful. We ordered the french onion soup and cream of artichoke, both were very tasty, we shared and I especially liked the french onion soup and I'll order that next time. For dinner she had the peanut encrusted mahi mahi and I had the chicken cordon bleu. Dare I say again both were wonderful. The mahi mahi was served sort of medium rare and came with a sauce that was a delight. The chicken was very moist with the right combinations of meats, cheese, hint of wine and sauce. While the portions aren't the huge ones that we Americans have come to expect they don't need to be. It's not always about getting big giant portions of food slopped in front of you. We used a restaurant.com coupon and with a 20% tip added, per the restaurant.com offer, The total for the meal was $70. The coupon gave us $25 off so we had an amazing dining experience for $45. Can't beat that! I'll be back!
I'd totally give Dale Street Cafe 4 stars had it not been for the inattentive service. After our drinks (water) were brought to the table it seemed we waited for 10 minutes for the server to come back and take our order. The prices were fair, and in the $10 to $15 range for most dinner items. I ordered the Chicken Piccata, with jalapeno mashed potatoes. So good. Chicken was delicious as well. Perfectly tender and extremely flavorful. I'm sure I'll be back to try some of the other menu selections.
(3)
David C.
We thought we'd go down and use our Entertainment book coupon before it expired. We remembered that last year they added a 20% tip for using the coupon, we checked the coupon and were pleasantly surprised that they removed that requirement. It now says Suggested 15% to 20% on full price of meal. We walked up and I read a sign for Sushi ! Great, I've really been wanting some sushi lately. Sat down and I looked at the menu but no sushi. Asked the waitress for the sushi menu and she said, no sushi, we have a big party upstairs. Then she said let me check and I think the owner came over and said no. I went back and started looking through the menu. After making a selection, they came back again and said the party was over and I could now have sushi. After going back and forth so many times and searching through the menu, I told them I was over it! Didn't set a real good mood for lunch. So we get through lunch and set out our coupon, the waitress says there's a 20% tip added with the coupon. They also wanted us to write down our name and phone number on the bill because we were using a coupon???? I told them that the coupon didn't say that and she got a little rude and said that the menu did. I told her that the menu and the coupon was contradictory and she just said, well I'm not the owner. I do tip 20% or more when I feel that it's deserved and I have a good experience but this wasn't it. It really irritates me when some restaurants order these coupons and then make you feel guilty for actually using it. On the plus side, our salads came out very quickly and were OK.
(2)
Greg S.
Went there because the place looks lonely. There is a bright-shiny outdoor heater out front, that you can't miss, but it looked lonely, too. I always hate to see cool little places like this one being neglected in favor of chains. The place is comfortable, not big, so I wouldn't go there if you want to keep table conversation private or if you want silence. It was a little bit of evil fun hearing people talk about their 'stuff'. We could tell that our conversation was being overheard and judged as well, so call it even. I like it. There were five tables with patrons, one server, and she was not innattentive nor rushed, as some other reviews have written. We got everything we wanted, at the right time. We had two cup-size soups (artichoke and french onion)- both were HOT (yay- lukewarm soup is a pet peeve!) and tasted ok-good, both a little underseasoned. Two pastas - vegetable/marinara with spinach fettuchini was made with fresh ingredients, but again was underseasoned and was just bland; spicy cajun (I requested fettuchini instead of the normal penne, which they had no problem with) which was again, very fresh and tasty ingredients the first bite I was thinking underseasoned - but it came with the spicy kick a few seconds after each taste. Price, the soups were very cheap (only 2.50 per), the pastas were about normal for dinner - 12 to 15 bucks. The portions were NOT big, they were more eat-just-enough-to-be-full size, you will not be boxing any food for tomorrow's lunch. I don't have a problem with a 20% gratuity added to coupon dinners - so many people neglect to tip the proper amount.
(3)
Foodie C.
Dale Street Bistro. Not worth the cost. It had been years since we visited The Dale Street Bistro. It is located downtown in an old Victorian that is, unfortunately, in desperate need of updating. What was once nice and romantic seems run down and outdated now, it is evident that not much care has gone into the home in the last decade. The food, although good is not gourmet and does not warrant the $14 to $21 price, and the owners and wait staff are not welcoming. Our biggest disappointment was the Gnocchi Gorgonzola at $13.95. The gnocchi had the tell tale stripes and rubbery taste of Sam's Club pre-packaged gnocchi. Very disappointing. For some fresh homemade gnocchi the way it is intended to be, we recommend going downtown to Fratelli's Ristorante, the food and ambiance there is vastly superior-see our review of Fratelli's.
(1)
Sue K.
Is it me, or does this restaurant seem to have a bi-polar streak? According to the reviews, it sure seems like it! Anyway, I went there today for the first time and had very pleasant service, a tiny bit slow in the beginning, but otherwise our server was quite attentive. The food was basic but good and the coffee kept flowing. It's a cute little place right near Colorado College, so I assume students make up the majority of the wait staff. But the owner/chef was friendly and out and about checking on guests. I would go back.
(3)
Jenny L.
I haven't been here for a while. I don't anticipate on returning either. I went to this place for brunch with my girlfriends. There were 3 of us in the entire restaurant. The server kept saying how she was overwhelmed. I assume she was doing the cooking and busing the tables then too. Maybe running a daycare in the back? Either way, she was frazzled and her energy was stressing me out. Half of our food wasn't delivered, even after I politely asked for it. Some of it never came at all. Don't worry, I was still charged for it. It was a total hassle to get the order taken off the tab too. The waitress said I should have reminded her again. What was delivered was a half-assed attempt at cooking. I specifically asked if the fruit was fresh or if it was frozen (defrosted grapes make me gag) and was informed it was fresh. It was frozen. I know this because most of it was still frozen when I received it. So I say you shouldn't let the siren call of a nice patio and live jazz music fool you. This place sucks.
(1)
Aaliz W.
We went there for our anniversary dinner. Not pleased at all portions were minimal. my husband received 4 small slices of sausage in his pasta. My Rib Eye Steak was 3/4 Fat. The soup of the day was very bland. The service was horrible and the seating with reservations was nothing romantic even after my husband requested it. In fact it was very poor. Server had a NY attitude. Try Walter's Bistro if you want to take your wife to somewhere nice and romantic. Seriously a waste of money! The only thing could say was good was the vegetables and bread. I could see the Patio being nice but there were dead moths on the floor near our seating. Windows looked like they had never been cleaned to view the outdoors. My review is honest the others neat to get out and try better places in the Springs!
(2)
Courtney R.
Dale Street Cafe you're like that guy who is super hot until he opens his mouth. There was nothing hiding behind your cute exterior. The food was nothing special and your service left me irritated. On top of everything they were offering a YELP "check in" offer and the waitress and owner claimed to know nothing about it!!! They FINALLY said they would give it to us like it was this huge favor.
(1)
Phil S.
I liked the look of Dale Street Cafe... the menu choices and prices I wasn't as impressed with. The artichoke soup is good and the bread is fresh and thats about all I really enjoyed. Also when I went they had a check in offer through Yelp for buy one entree get one free... the server told me that I had to have a printed page to give her. Not really sure how that would work unless I had a mobile printer. Overall really nice looking but for the price there are many better options.
(2)
Drew M.
I wonder if we are even talking about the same place I visited. There were 3 in our party. The wait staff was prompt efficient and attentive. We had at least 3 different people check on us at various times. The restaurant was about 1/3 full. I had Chicken Marsala which was very tender decent size and well prepared, although not quite the traditional preparation with a lot of sauce. I also had the french onion soup which was very savory, although it tended a bit on the salty side, but only because I watch my salt intake. My lady had Portabella Ravioli and raved about it. She also had the cream of artichoke soup (house special) and it was very good. Another lady with us had the chicken cordon bleu and again not quite the traditional treatment it was very enjoyable to her. I can only surmize the wait staff has high turnover (perhaps college students), but I have not complaints. The only reason the review isn't 5 stars is I think the food is just a bit on the high side, with soup and salad being extra, but the 3 of us still got out for about $90 with2 of us having a glass of wine. Not outrageous at all.
(4)
Yolanda K.
I went here today for lunch. I was very pleased with everything and can't wait to go back.
(4)
Zena M.
Coming from Northern California, I look for places that are unique in style. Dale street definitely delivers on a distinct atmosphere, with local art and the Victorian house. My dinner party ordered a variety of dishes. The raviolis were amazing, as was the salmon and the trout. The chicken dish was my least favorite, although the home made bread and roasted garlic bulb was a home run! I have also been there for brunch. Nothing beats the eggs benedict in the garden on a sunny day.
(4)
J R.
Unbelievable that I am the first to review this place. What a charming restaurant in a converted, turn of the century home. If you ever make it to C.Springs, do yourself a favor and have a relaxing dinner in this unique, cozy botique restaurant near Colorado College and downtown. This is an overall sensual experience blending a nice menu with comfortable surroundings.
(3)
Elissa H.
Overpriced and underwhelmed. Let' start with the positive. The restaurant is set in an adorable Victorian with romantic lighting. OK, that's the positive....hahahah. The food was one of the WORST culinary experiences of my life (hands down). We started with the Dale Street Bruschetta. The web site shows a lovely picture and states "Grilled ciabatta bread and flatbread with melted Horseradish Havarti cheese, served with fresh tomato topping and olive tapenade." What came was, 4 pieces of cold toast and a small ramekin of salsa...no ciabatta, no melted Havarti, no cucumber, no tapenade. At least they were honest about the price ($8.50!...hmmmm). For dinner, I had the special, peanut encrusted Halibut. The crust was 1/4 inch of caked, burnt, unsalted peanuts topped with a soggy mushroom. What! I cannot imagine any scenario where a soggy mushroom would mix with peanuts. The taste and texture were revolting; I couldn't even eat the fish after I pulled the crust off because the burnt peanuts penetrated all the layers. On the side, I had a tablespoon of mashed potatoes (a portion I would feed a two-year old) and some sauteed veggies (1 small carrot, 1 green bean, and 3 mushrooms...yum, thanks). My hubby had the Mahi Mahi. The fish was swimming in oil so the crust became a slimy roux...yuck. He must've gotten the other half of my veggies because he had 3 green beans and pepper:) Accompany that with some Rice-a-Roni and it was a meal. Dessert was bread pudding. It might have been good but it was too hot to eat...even after 10 minutes of cooling. I guess that's what happens when you microwave bread pudding or let it sit under a heat lamp for hours. We would've waited for it to cool but our flesh was experiencing second degree burns from the fireplace and our elbows were sore from being bumped every time a server walked by (here's a tip...don't get the table by the fireplace. It sounds romantic but you are so close that your knees actually brush the fire grate. Talk about uncomfortably hot. You can't move away because you are wedged into the server walkway and are already getting bumped as it is). I had to laugh as my husband ate like a robot, arms close to his side, so that he wouldn't get hit anymore...hahahaha. Service was mediocre. The server was nice but spoke very little English, never brought us bread or butter, and never stopped back after delivering the meals. An after dinner coffee would've been nice (if I could take the heat), maybe a vomit bag. Another server took our check and graciously added 20% because we had a gift certificate. I am a good tipper so we would've left that much anyway but I take offense when restaurants take it upon themselves to add 20% for a party of 2. Bottom line....I cannot imagine what circumstance would EVER take me back to Dale Street Cafe. If no other restaurants in town were open and Dale Street were offering free meals, I might (MIGHT) set foot in the door again. Probably not! Pros: Cute Victorian decor. Cons: Everything else.
(1)
Paul B.
I love this place! It's like being in someones house and the food has always been great.We've been 4 times and have always had a consistent experience.
(4)
Edwin S.
I can not understand the poor reviews. I have been to Dale Street Cafe for lunch and dinner at least 10 times total and with different people every time. It has always been delicious the atmosphere is relaxing and charming. All of my friends agree! I especially like weekend dinners with live jazz music. A definite 5-star for me.
(5)
M S.
As a frequent patron of this cafe, I felt the need to leave my own review in response to all of the negativity. I come here about once a week for the soup and bread alone, a bowl and a few slices of their fresh, homemade bread is enough to fill me up for a meal, and at around $4.5 for a bowl or $3.5 for a cup, it's affordable enough. In terms of the other menu items, I have never been disappointed. Their handmade pizzas are huge and delicious, I always have leftovers for the next day. Their mushroom ravioli is my absolute favorite, and I have tried every other one of their pastas and never been disappointed. The family who runs the cafe is friendly, and you can tell that they work hard to run this cute little spot. I take my family here when they visit, and recommend it to all of my friends. It's a great place for a casual lunch or a dinner with friends, and I know I will keep coming back!
(5)
Scott D.
First off, I'm not a foodie. I've been eating brunch here for years and have always loved it. The atmosphere is great and the fact that it's 3 blocks from my house is a +. I've not been in awhile and Saturday decided to give it another whirl. We wanted brunch, but they only do that on Sunday. We decided to stay for lunch. We were one of 3 tables. Artichoke dip and a shared house salad to start. Alas, the artichoke dip never came, and the salad came with lunch. I had the mushroom swiss burger, the gf had Tuscan Chicken Panini. Both served on a homemade white bread. I'd prefer the burger on a bun but the bread was still ok. Both the burger and sandwich were pretty good. For the side, I had Dilled Cream of Artichoke soup. It was good but could have had more dill in my opinion. She had pasta salad as a side, and it was a very small portion. We're both for smaller portions than most restaurants give us statistically overweight americans, but this was almost laughable. We had the large house salad with a creamy horseradish/wasabi dressing to share. Salad was ok but looked like a small and the dressing was awesome. Dessert was a caramel "Teton" shaped hard shelled mousse. It was pretty decent. - Overall meal was 3 out of 5. We went back Sunday for Brunch because that was always my favorite there. Another 3 star meal. Dale Street Breakfast for me, Eggs Benedict for the gf. The French toast was luke warm. She had Eggs benedict with country potatoes. Eggs benedict was good, but the thin round potatoes were very sad. Cold and chewy. I tried them. Kinda like potato jerky if there was such a thing. My girlfriend ordered a bloody Mary on Saturday and said it was bland and kind of boring. On Sunday some ladies ordered one and it was all kinds of spicy looking with worcestershire sauce and celery, etc. The truth is the servers make them, and apparently there is no set recipe. Salt was missing from just about every place it should have been. Spices too. They should use a little more - not too much, but enough to bring out the flavor of the dish. In closing, I'll be hard pressed to give up on this place. It has a ton of potential. I'll return faithfully, but not forever.
(3)
Julie L.
VERY BAD EXPERIENCE, by far NOT FINE DINING, HORRIBLE FOOD, and UNPROFESSIONAL STAFF...I am not one to complain at a restaurant about the food, but here, I had to, I felt if I didn't, someone could GET HURT, literally. More on that in a minute... My husband and I arrived for our 7:30p reservation at the "fireside table"...which literally was 6 inches from the fireplace that had a tacky snowman screen in front. It was a chilly evening, but the fireplace was almost unbearable to sit in front of. BUT...I could have easily been okay with that if the food and service were not so HORRIBLE! The server was nice and kind, but had absolutely no idea how to do her job. There were 2 other couples in the place, to make a total of three tables on SATURDAY night, at 7:30...that should have been our first clue. We started with the soup of the day, the Artichoke dill, and a house salad. The chef must have forgotten where her seasonings were, because I had to add literally about a full teaspoon of salt to my small cup of soup to make it edible. My husbands salad was a handful of bagged greens, a CLUMP of raisins, and a bottled bleu cheese. The server forgot which of us ordered the salad and who ordered the soup 5 minutes earlier, remember there are only 2 other tables occupied. The chef came into the dining room and lowered the lights, would have been a nice touch, except that I literally could not see my plate at all, we were almost completely in the dark. We choked down our salad and soup, and were ready for the entree. I got the seafood over "saffron" rice dish, my husband ordered the shrimp linguine with portabellos. Lets just say, I've DEFINITELY had better at Olive Garden...BY FAR. My food was inedible. REALLY. For $21, I was served a bowl with RICE PILAF (not saffron rice), ONE shrimp, TWO mussels, ONE clam, and ONE scallop, which were sitting in a broth of what tasted like CANNED stewed tomatoes. That's it...Oh, except for the 7 (at least) pieces of shell in the rice, that made the entire thing a complete failure. I had to spit into my napkin at least SEVEN bites of food, because of biting down on hard shell. My husband could hear it each time and was getting nauseated. I am not sure why we didn't just leave, I think because we were starving. I mean, one or two small shells in a dish is excusable, but FILLED with them is not. My husband had what seemed to be packaged spinach linguine, with a runny, COMPLETELY UNDERSEASONED white sauce, almost rotten portabello pieces (about 3), and CANNED button mushrooms, and three shrimp...$19 bucks. AND the salad and soups were a la carte for $5 or so dollars more...didn't even come with the sorry meal. When finished, I very politely and quietly said to the server, "Although my dish was tasty, you may want to inform the chef that it was full of shells, and was almost inedible." Her reply, "Really? Okay." She then proceeded to tell the chef my complaint IN FRONT OF EVERYONE in the dining room, so tacky. To top it off, the chef did not come over and apologize, or say a word, and when the server returned, she gave us our check and said, "Please come back and see us again!" No apology from her either! It was very strange. My husband and I are always very polite to restaurant staff, and we were shown absolutely no professionalism whatsoever. Really, the bottom line...THE FOOD WAS HORRIBLE. There was another couple who had a cup of soup and left....we should have done the same. SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT! We dined up the hill at the Craftwood Inn the night prior which was head and shoulders better food, better service, ambience, everything. DON"T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY at Dale Street. The website is very deceiving, and is nothing like the actual restaurant. The typos on the menus ("Cob Salad", "Futtuccinni") should have been a good clue, and the fact that there is no information on where the chef was trained, what restaurants she's cooked for before, or any of her history as chef/owner of a fine dining restaurant should have been a good indicator as well.
(1)
N B.
Uneven-- sometimes good, sometimes not so great. I ordered a pizza for lunch a few weeks ago and was appalled to find canned mushrooms on it. Their sandwiches and salads are probably a bit better. I live and work nearby and can't avoid going there for work meetings, but I avoid going there on my own time.
(3)
pili p.
A wonderfully relaxing place to enjoy huge plates of unadultrated, freshly prepared, homemade treats. Morning, noon or night, this bistro has freshly baked white and wheat bread like one's mum would serve... In winter, there is a fireplace for cozy warmth, and never a lack of attentive service. When I bring out-of-towners, they rave about their experience as superior to any chain eatery, and have hopes to return again. If one is left unsatisfied upon eating here, it is at their own loss. There is a menu item for everyone, as well as a full bar. The fresh salads are enormous- wild greens, beautiful, and delicious, with a myriad of dressings :)
(5)
Robert T.
For my mood, the atmosphere is fey in a good pseudo-victorian fey way in a goodway. Service was attentive, not smothering. The food very good. Was dining with my friend; the only other diners were two lady of a dignified way.
(4)
Scott C.
Friendly service, awesome French onion, a kicking Reuben, and delectable Turkey Southwest. Definitely coming back throughout my years at CC!
(5)
Kara Z.
This is one of my friend's favorite restaurants and I was excited to try it. I appreciated the coupon I found which really helped make visiting the restaurant more affordable. It's a pretty restaurant that is in an old house. We sat upstairs at a little table and it was a nice (a little quirky but nice) atmosphere. Our server seemed a little stressed but she did a good job. I had the chicken piccata which was really tasty (though a little dry) and I would totally get it again (and maybe ask for a little more sauce). I liked the side salad too- it even had cranberries and almonds on it which was awesome. My friend liked her chicken marsala. Next time I'll try dessert- we were unfortunately trying to catch a concert so were a little rushed on time. The owner came by a couple of times and was friendly which added to the experience in a good way. It's a good restaurant for a nice conversation or nice evening out. Give it a try!
(4)
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Address :115 E Dale St
Colorado Springs, CO, 80903
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Street Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Blonde O.
I just can't find anything positive about this place any more. Service: nonexistent Food: sometime ok, sometimes awful - never worth the crapshoot Location: meh Ambiance: weird - cherubs, christmas decor year round, not sure of the last cleaning, dollar store finds throughout ???? I've given this place far more time, attention and money then it deserves and I'm done.
(1)Sass S.
I love this place. I love the fresh bread, the soups, the wine list... And the meals are always solid. There are some "safe" dishes and there are some more "wild" ones too. I highly suggest you try it!
(5)Kitty K.
Awful experience. I don't know when the new owners took over, but they need a thorough lesson in good food and service, which this place seriously lacks both. We had Eggs benedict for Sunday brunch, and the eggs were uncooked. (yech). Then they refused to honor our two for one coupon, because it was on a phone AP that I paid extra for, instead of a printed book. It was a BIG deal, with the manager brining unwanted attention to the table, and we had showed it to them before we even ordered. The live music was delightful. But, that was the musician's talent, independent of the restaurant, thank goodness.
(1)Terry W.
We ate here this weekend and it wasn't to bad. We ordered jagerschnitzel, sushi, artichoke dip and portabella ravioli. I have to say the jagerschnitzel was really good considering where I was eating at wasn't a German establishment. It had a great flavor and combined with spaetzle it hit the spot. The artichoke dip wasn't a big portion for the price but it tasted wonderful and we all couldn't get enough. The only thing that was just okay was the portabella mushrooms and this might have been because we have never had them before and don't know what to expect. Well my wife say they had a special on spicy sushi rolls and I wasn't expecting much but they were definitely good and I would eat them again. All in all I think they need to update the business with some fresh paint but the food was good and the entertainment out front was worth being a part of.
(3)Lyndsy C.
Had lunch with my grandma here today. Food had no flavor, wouldn't return. Nice renaming atmosphere.
(2)Darlene T.
Wow, after reading all the reviews, I feel like I'm back in 1988 (?) when this place first opened and was definitely inconsistent at best. But I digress... I'm back in town for the 1st times since 1991 and I yelp this restaurant for kicks. My curiosity brought me in for lunch--with my 10 year old boys (not typically a kid friendly type of place). I have to say that all three of us loved our meals. Everything, even the hamburger rolls were freshly made. Soups, desserts were awesome. Our family has traveled extensively and we are foodies. Simply stated, it was an excellent lunch. Good day I guess??? *Notes; Service was slow. We were only the second customers for lunch and the wait for food was fairly long. I would recommend only going to this rest. if you're not in a rush. Ask to speak to the owner if you are not happy with the food or service. The Dale St Cafe/ Bistro is perfectly capable of serving top notch food.
(4)Linda M.
Just had a very nice lunch with my mother. We both had salmon nicoise. Nothing very different in terms of ingredients or presentation, but very nice and fresh and just what we wanted. Good service. Decor is dated but charming.
(3)Chuck S.
What a wonderful meal we had Saturday night. This place can be hit or miss though and I've had some meals that were not as good as this one. Either the food was not quite on or the service was slow however, tonight was one for the record books. It's in an old Victorian house near the CC campus just off the happening downtown area. The house is very quaint with seating in what would have been a dining room, living room and sun room in addition to upstairs (I've never been upstairs). We each ordered a glass of the house wine and then started off with pizza caprese for an appetizer. The crust was wonderfully thin while the mozzeralla was quite thick with just the right hints of spices and balsamic vinegar. It was wonderful. We ordered the french onion soup and cream of artichoke, both were very tasty, we shared and I especially liked the french onion soup and I'll order that next time. For dinner she had the peanut encrusted mahi mahi and I had the chicken cordon bleu. Dare I say again both were wonderful. The mahi mahi was served sort of medium rare and came with a sauce that was a delight. The chicken was very moist with the right combinations of meats, cheese, hint of wine and sauce. While the portions aren't the huge ones that we Americans have come to expect they don't need to be. It's not always about getting big giant portions of food slopped in front of you. We used a restaurant.com coupon and with a 20% tip added, per the restaurant.com offer, The total for the meal was $70. The coupon gave us $25 off so we had an amazing dining experience for $45. Can't beat that! I'll be back!
(5)Chris J.
The location is definitely quaint. It's in an old Victorian home typical of this section of Colorado Springs. A bar and tables are arranged throughout the ground floor. Ambience is good. There was a cute duet playing guitar and clarinet the night our family went, Valentine's Day special. The service was average. Friendly, but not overly attendant. OK, so now the food; spinach pasta was a little wet. Not bad. Peanut crusted halibut was very dry. VERY. Pork shanks were in need of seasoning and could have been more tender. Lemon Pepper shrimp was tasty. Dessert creme brulé was basically pudding without the crusted top. Bread pudding was a slice of Texas toast, not typical. Overall, I'd give it a thumbs up for ambience, sideways for service and thumbs down on the food.
(2)Tim K.
I'd totally give Dale Street Cafe 4 stars had it not been for the inattentive service. After our drinks (water) were brought to the table it seemed we waited for 10 minutes for the server to come back and take our order. The prices were fair, and in the $10 to $15 range for most dinner items. I ordered the Chicken Piccata, with jalapeno mashed potatoes. So good. Chicken was delicious as well. Perfectly tender and extremely flavorful. I'm sure I'll be back to try some of the other menu selections.
(3)David C.
We thought we'd go down and use our Entertainment book coupon before it expired. We remembered that last year they added a 20% tip for using the coupon, we checked the coupon and were pleasantly surprised that they removed that requirement. It now says Suggested 15% to 20% on full price of meal. We walked up and I read a sign for Sushi ! Great, I've really been wanting some sushi lately. Sat down and I looked at the menu but no sushi. Asked the waitress for the sushi menu and she said, no sushi, we have a big party upstairs. Then she said let me check and I think the owner came over and said no. I went back and started looking through the menu. After making a selection, they came back again and said the party was over and I could now have sushi. After going back and forth so many times and searching through the menu, I told them I was over it! Didn't set a real good mood for lunch. So we get through lunch and set out our coupon, the waitress says there's a 20% tip added with the coupon. They also wanted us to write down our name and phone number on the bill because we were using a coupon???? I told them that the coupon didn't say that and she got a little rude and said that the menu did. I told her that the menu and the coupon was contradictory and she just said, well I'm not the owner. I do tip 20% or more when I feel that it's deserved and I have a good experience but this wasn't it. It really irritates me when some restaurants order these coupons and then make you feel guilty for actually using it. On the plus side, our salads came out very quickly and were OK.
(2)Greg S.
Went there because the place looks lonely. There is a bright-shiny outdoor heater out front, that you can't miss, but it looked lonely, too. I always hate to see cool little places like this one being neglected in favor of chains. The place is comfortable, not big, so I wouldn't go there if you want to keep table conversation private or if you want silence. It was a little bit of evil fun hearing people talk about their 'stuff'. We could tell that our conversation was being overheard and judged as well, so call it even. I like it. There were five tables with patrons, one server, and she was not innattentive nor rushed, as some other reviews have written. We got everything we wanted, at the right time. We had two cup-size soups (artichoke and french onion)- both were HOT (yay- lukewarm soup is a pet peeve!) and tasted ok-good, both a little underseasoned. Two pastas - vegetable/marinara with spinach fettuchini was made with fresh ingredients, but again was underseasoned and was just bland; spicy cajun (I requested fettuchini instead of the normal penne, which they had no problem with) which was again, very fresh and tasty ingredients the first bite I was thinking underseasoned - but it came with the spicy kick a few seconds after each taste. Price, the soups were very cheap (only 2.50 per), the pastas were about normal for dinner - 12 to 15 bucks. The portions were NOT big, they were more eat-just-enough-to-be-full size, you will not be boxing any food for tomorrow's lunch. I don't have a problem with a 20% gratuity added to coupon dinners - so many people neglect to tip the proper amount.
(3)Foodie C.
Dale Street Bistro. Not worth the cost. It had been years since we visited The Dale Street Bistro. It is located downtown in an old Victorian that is, unfortunately, in desperate need of updating. What was once nice and romantic seems run down and outdated now, it is evident that not much care has gone into the home in the last decade. The food, although good is not gourmet and does not warrant the $14 to $21 price, and the owners and wait staff are not welcoming. Our biggest disappointment was the Gnocchi Gorgonzola at $13.95. The gnocchi had the tell tale stripes and rubbery taste of Sam's Club pre-packaged gnocchi. Very disappointing. For some fresh homemade gnocchi the way it is intended to be, we recommend going downtown to Fratelli's Ristorante, the food and ambiance there is vastly superior-see our review of Fratelli's.
(1)Sue K.
Is it me, or does this restaurant seem to have a bi-polar streak? According to the reviews, it sure seems like it! Anyway, I went there today for the first time and had very pleasant service, a tiny bit slow in the beginning, but otherwise our server was quite attentive. The food was basic but good and the coffee kept flowing. It's a cute little place right near Colorado College, so I assume students make up the majority of the wait staff. But the owner/chef was friendly and out and about checking on guests. I would go back.
(3)Jenny L.
I haven't been here for a while. I don't anticipate on returning either. I went to this place for brunch with my girlfriends. There were 3 of us in the entire restaurant. The server kept saying how she was overwhelmed. I assume she was doing the cooking and busing the tables then too. Maybe running a daycare in the back? Either way, she was frazzled and her energy was stressing me out. Half of our food wasn't delivered, even after I politely asked for it. Some of it never came at all. Don't worry, I was still charged for it. It was a total hassle to get the order taken off the tab too. The waitress said I should have reminded her again. What was delivered was a half-assed attempt at cooking. I specifically asked if the fruit was fresh or if it was frozen (defrosted grapes make me gag) and was informed it was fresh. It was frozen. I know this because most of it was still frozen when I received it. So I say you shouldn't let the siren call of a nice patio and live jazz music fool you. This place sucks.
(1)Aaliz W.
We went there for our anniversary dinner. Not pleased at all portions were minimal. my husband received 4 small slices of sausage in his pasta. My Rib Eye Steak was 3/4 Fat. The soup of the day was very bland. The service was horrible and the seating with reservations was nothing romantic even after my husband requested it. In fact it was very poor. Server had a NY attitude. Try Walter's Bistro if you want to take your wife to somewhere nice and romantic. Seriously a waste of money! The only thing could say was good was the vegetables and bread. I could see the Patio being nice but there were dead moths on the floor near our seating. Windows looked like they had never been cleaned to view the outdoors. My review is honest the others neat to get out and try better places in the Springs!
(2)Courtney R.
Dale Street Cafe you're like that guy who is super hot until he opens his mouth. There was nothing hiding behind your cute exterior. The food was nothing special and your service left me irritated. On top of everything they were offering a YELP "check in" offer and the waitress and owner claimed to know nothing about it!!! They FINALLY said they would give it to us like it was this huge favor.
(1)Phil S.
I liked the look of Dale Street Cafe... the menu choices and prices I wasn't as impressed with. The artichoke soup is good and the bread is fresh and thats about all I really enjoyed. Also when I went they had a check in offer through Yelp for buy one entree get one free... the server told me that I had to have a printed page to give her. Not really sure how that would work unless I had a mobile printer. Overall really nice looking but for the price there are many better options.
(2)Drew M.
I wonder if we are even talking about the same place I visited. There were 3 in our party. The wait staff was prompt efficient and attentive. We had at least 3 different people check on us at various times. The restaurant was about 1/3 full. I had Chicken Marsala which was very tender decent size and well prepared, although not quite the traditional preparation with a lot of sauce. I also had the french onion soup which was very savory, although it tended a bit on the salty side, but only because I watch my salt intake. My lady had Portabella Ravioli and raved about it. She also had the cream of artichoke soup (house special) and it was very good. Another lady with us had the chicken cordon bleu and again not quite the traditional treatment it was very enjoyable to her. I can only surmize the wait staff has high turnover (perhaps college students), but I have not complaints. The only reason the review isn't 5 stars is I think the food is just a bit on the high side, with soup and salad being extra, but the 3 of us still got out for about $90 with2 of us having a glass of wine. Not outrageous at all.
(4)Yolanda K.
I went here today for lunch. I was very pleased with everything and can't wait to go back.
(4)Zena M.
Coming from Northern California, I look for places that are unique in style. Dale street definitely delivers on a distinct atmosphere, with local art and the Victorian house. My dinner party ordered a variety of dishes. The raviolis were amazing, as was the salmon and the trout. The chicken dish was my least favorite, although the home made bread and roasted garlic bulb was a home run! I have also been there for brunch. Nothing beats the eggs benedict in the garden on a sunny day.
(4)J R.
Unbelievable that I am the first to review this place. What a charming restaurant in a converted, turn of the century home. If you ever make it to C.Springs, do yourself a favor and have a relaxing dinner in this unique, cozy botique restaurant near Colorado College and downtown. This is an overall sensual experience blending a nice menu with comfortable surroundings.
(3)Elissa H.
Overpriced and underwhelmed. Let' start with the positive. The restaurant is set in an adorable Victorian with romantic lighting. OK, that's the positive....hahahah. The food was one of the WORST culinary experiences of my life (hands down). We started with the Dale Street Bruschetta. The web site shows a lovely picture and states "Grilled ciabatta bread and flatbread with melted Horseradish Havarti cheese, served with fresh tomato topping and olive tapenade." What came was, 4 pieces of cold toast and a small ramekin of salsa...no ciabatta, no melted Havarti, no cucumber, no tapenade. At least they were honest about the price ($8.50!...hmmmm). For dinner, I had the special, peanut encrusted Halibut. The crust was 1/4 inch of caked, burnt, unsalted peanuts topped with a soggy mushroom. What! I cannot imagine any scenario where a soggy mushroom would mix with peanuts. The taste and texture were revolting; I couldn't even eat the fish after I pulled the crust off because the burnt peanuts penetrated all the layers. On the side, I had a tablespoon of mashed potatoes (a portion I would feed a two-year old) and some sauteed veggies (1 small carrot, 1 green bean, and 3 mushrooms...yum, thanks). My hubby had the Mahi Mahi. The fish was swimming in oil so the crust became a slimy roux...yuck. He must've gotten the other half of my veggies because he had 3 green beans and pepper:) Accompany that with some Rice-a-Roni and it was a meal. Dessert was bread pudding. It might have been good but it was too hot to eat...even after 10 minutes of cooling. I guess that's what happens when you microwave bread pudding or let it sit under a heat lamp for hours. We would've waited for it to cool but our flesh was experiencing second degree burns from the fireplace and our elbows were sore from being bumped every time a server walked by (here's a tip...don't get the table by the fireplace. It sounds romantic but you are so close that your knees actually brush the fire grate. Talk about uncomfortably hot. You can't move away because you are wedged into the server walkway and are already getting bumped as it is). I had to laugh as my husband ate like a robot, arms close to his side, so that he wouldn't get hit anymore...hahahaha. Service was mediocre. The server was nice but spoke very little English, never brought us bread or butter, and never stopped back after delivering the meals. An after dinner coffee would've been nice (if I could take the heat), maybe a vomit bag. Another server took our check and graciously added 20% because we had a gift certificate. I am a good tipper so we would've left that much anyway but I take offense when restaurants take it upon themselves to add 20% for a party of 2. Bottom line....I cannot imagine what circumstance would EVER take me back to Dale Street Cafe. If no other restaurants in town were open and Dale Street were offering free meals, I might (MIGHT) set foot in the door again. Probably not! Pros: Cute Victorian decor. Cons: Everything else.
(1)Paul B.
I love this place! It's like being in someones house and the food has always been great.We've been 4 times and have always had a consistent experience.
(4)Edwin S.
I can not understand the poor reviews. I have been to Dale Street Cafe for lunch and dinner at least 10 times total and with different people every time. It has always been delicious the atmosphere is relaxing and charming. All of my friends agree! I especially like weekend dinners with live jazz music. A definite 5-star for me.
(5)M S.
As a frequent patron of this cafe, I felt the need to leave my own review in response to all of the negativity. I come here about once a week for the soup and bread alone, a bowl and a few slices of their fresh, homemade bread is enough to fill me up for a meal, and at around $4.5 for a bowl or $3.5 for a cup, it's affordable enough. In terms of the other menu items, I have never been disappointed. Their handmade pizzas are huge and delicious, I always have leftovers for the next day. Their mushroom ravioli is my absolute favorite, and I have tried every other one of their pastas and never been disappointed. The family who runs the cafe is friendly, and you can tell that they work hard to run this cute little spot. I take my family here when they visit, and recommend it to all of my friends. It's a great place for a casual lunch or a dinner with friends, and I know I will keep coming back!
(5)Scott D.
First off, I'm not a foodie. I've been eating brunch here for years and have always loved it. The atmosphere is great and the fact that it's 3 blocks from my house is a +. I've not been in awhile and Saturday decided to give it another whirl. We wanted brunch, but they only do that on Sunday. We decided to stay for lunch. We were one of 3 tables. Artichoke dip and a shared house salad to start. Alas, the artichoke dip never came, and the salad came with lunch. I had the mushroom swiss burger, the gf had Tuscan Chicken Panini. Both served on a homemade white bread. I'd prefer the burger on a bun but the bread was still ok. Both the burger and sandwich were pretty good. For the side, I had Dilled Cream of Artichoke soup. It was good but could have had more dill in my opinion. She had pasta salad as a side, and it was a very small portion. We're both for smaller portions than most restaurants give us statistically overweight americans, but this was almost laughable. We had the large house salad with a creamy horseradish/wasabi dressing to share. Salad was ok but looked like a small and the dressing was awesome. Dessert was a caramel "Teton" shaped hard shelled mousse. It was pretty decent. - Overall meal was 3 out of 5. We went back Sunday for Brunch because that was always my favorite there. Another 3 star meal. Dale Street Breakfast for me, Eggs Benedict for the gf. The French toast was luke warm. She had Eggs benedict with country potatoes. Eggs benedict was good, but the thin round potatoes were very sad. Cold and chewy. I tried them. Kinda like potato jerky if there was such a thing. My girlfriend ordered a bloody Mary on Saturday and said it was bland and kind of boring. On Sunday some ladies ordered one and it was all kinds of spicy looking with worcestershire sauce and celery, etc. The truth is the servers make them, and apparently there is no set recipe. Salt was missing from just about every place it should have been. Spices too. They should use a little more - not too much, but enough to bring out the flavor of the dish. In closing, I'll be hard pressed to give up on this place. It has a ton of potential. I'll return faithfully, but not forever.
(3)Julie L.
VERY BAD EXPERIENCE, by far NOT FINE DINING, HORRIBLE FOOD, and UNPROFESSIONAL STAFF...I am not one to complain at a restaurant about the food, but here, I had to, I felt if I didn't, someone could GET HURT, literally. More on that in a minute... My husband and I arrived for our 7:30p reservation at the "fireside table"...which literally was 6 inches from the fireplace that had a tacky snowman screen in front. It was a chilly evening, but the fireplace was almost unbearable to sit in front of. BUT...I could have easily been okay with that if the food and service were not so HORRIBLE! The server was nice and kind, but had absolutely no idea how to do her job. There were 2 other couples in the place, to make a total of three tables on SATURDAY night, at 7:30...that should have been our first clue. We started with the soup of the day, the Artichoke dill, and a house salad. The chef must have forgotten where her seasonings were, because I had to add literally about a full teaspoon of salt to my small cup of soup to make it edible. My husbands salad was a handful of bagged greens, a CLUMP of raisins, and a bottled bleu cheese. The server forgot which of us ordered the salad and who ordered the soup 5 minutes earlier, remember there are only 2 other tables occupied. The chef came into the dining room and lowered the lights, would have been a nice touch, except that I literally could not see my plate at all, we were almost completely in the dark. We choked down our salad and soup, and were ready for the entree. I got the seafood over "saffron" rice dish, my husband ordered the shrimp linguine with portabellos. Lets just say, I've DEFINITELY had better at Olive Garden...BY FAR. My food was inedible. REALLY. For $21, I was served a bowl with RICE PILAF (not saffron rice), ONE shrimp, TWO mussels, ONE clam, and ONE scallop, which were sitting in a broth of what tasted like CANNED stewed tomatoes. That's it...Oh, except for the 7 (at least) pieces of shell in the rice, that made the entire thing a complete failure. I had to spit into my napkin at least SEVEN bites of food, because of biting down on hard shell. My husband could hear it each time and was getting nauseated. I am not sure why we didn't just leave, I think because we were starving. I mean, one or two small shells in a dish is excusable, but FILLED with them is not. My husband had what seemed to be packaged spinach linguine, with a runny, COMPLETELY UNDERSEASONED white sauce, almost rotten portabello pieces (about 3), and CANNED button mushrooms, and three shrimp...$19 bucks. AND the salad and soups were a la carte for $5 or so dollars more...didn't even come with the sorry meal. When finished, I very politely and quietly said to the server, "Although my dish was tasty, you may want to inform the chef that it was full of shells, and was almost inedible." Her reply, "Really? Okay." She then proceeded to tell the chef my complaint IN FRONT OF EVERYONE in the dining room, so tacky. To top it off, the chef did not come over and apologize, or say a word, and when the server returned, she gave us our check and said, "Please come back and see us again!" No apology from her either! It was very strange. My husband and I are always very polite to restaurant staff, and we were shown absolutely no professionalism whatsoever. Really, the bottom line...THE FOOD WAS HORRIBLE. There was another couple who had a cup of soup and left....we should have done the same. SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT! We dined up the hill at the Craftwood Inn the night prior which was head and shoulders better food, better service, ambience, everything. DON"T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY at Dale Street. The website is very deceiving, and is nothing like the actual restaurant. The typos on the menus ("Cob Salad", "Futtuccinni") should have been a good clue, and the fact that there is no information on where the chef was trained, what restaurants she's cooked for before, or any of her history as chef/owner of a fine dining restaurant should have been a good indicator as well.
(1)N B.
Uneven-- sometimes good, sometimes not so great. I ordered a pizza for lunch a few weeks ago and was appalled to find canned mushrooms on it. Their sandwiches and salads are probably a bit better. I live and work nearby and can't avoid going there for work meetings, but I avoid going there on my own time.
(3)pili p.
A wonderfully relaxing place to enjoy huge plates of unadultrated, freshly prepared, homemade treats. Morning, noon or night, this bistro has freshly baked white and wheat bread like one's mum would serve... In winter, there is a fireplace for cozy warmth, and never a lack of attentive service. When I bring out-of-towners, they rave about their experience as superior to any chain eatery, and have hopes to return again. If one is left unsatisfied upon eating here, it is at their own loss. There is a menu item for everyone, as well as a full bar. The fresh salads are enormous- wild greens, beautiful, and delicious, with a myriad of dressings :)
(5)Robert T.
For my mood, the atmosphere is fey in a good pseudo-victorian fey way in a goodway. Service was attentive, not smothering. The food very good. Was dining with my friend; the only other diners were two lady of a dignified way.
(4)Scott C.
Friendly service, awesome French onion, a kicking Reuben, and delectable Turkey Southwest. Definitely coming back throughout my years at CC!
(5)Kara Z.
This is one of my friend's favorite restaurants and I was excited to try it. I appreciated the coupon I found which really helped make visiting the restaurant more affordable. It's a pretty restaurant that is in an old house. We sat upstairs at a little table and it was a nice (a little quirky but nice) atmosphere. Our server seemed a little stressed but she did a good job. I had the chicken piccata which was really tasty (though a little dry) and I would totally get it again (and maybe ask for a little more sauce). I liked the side salad too- it even had cranberries and almonds on it which was awesome. My friend liked her chicken marsala. Next time I'll try dessert- we were unfortunately trying to catch a concert so were a little rushed on time. The owner came by a couple of times and was friendly which added to the experience in a good way. It's a good restaurant for a nice conversation or nice evening out. Give it a try!
(4)