This place fires on all cylinders: food, service, ambience. The restaurant is laid out in a manner that gives it an intimate charm. From many tables, you may not see another table or you might see one or two other tables. One result of this is that the restaurant is pleasingly quiet. We sat at a table near a large window, and we could see the sun setting behind a big pine tree. You select either three or five courses from a fixed-price menu. You can also elect to have wine by the bottle or wines paired with your food. Service is excellent. Our waitress was attentive and she explained the the items on the menu well and knew her stuff. Two of us ordered steak, one ordered sea bass, and one ordered the Gnudis (basically gnocchi made with ricotta). The steak dishes were fabulous and the bass was cooked perfectly. I poached some of my wifes Gnudis; these were in a rich creamy sauce. They are quite tasty but could be a little heavy to eat an entire entree of them. All in all, a very successful run at a great place. I expect this will be a must-visit every time we come to Colorado Springs.
(5)
Terry W.
Great place to chill and get some good breakfast after hitting the farmers market. They also do movie nights on friday and it where they fold down a screen and you can hang out and watch a movie will enjoying some drinks or late dinner. Great local joint!
(4)
Autumn O.
One of the best places I've eaten. The love of cooking with the Chefs really comes out. We had the 5 course meal and everything was perfection on a plate, wonderful service and the place has terrific ambiance. I look forward to going back!
(5)
Lara J.
One of the best places to eat in the Springs!! The ambiance, flavors and service were incredible! Our server Devan was the best!!
(5)
Megan H.
Our favorite place! We love summer meals on the patio or evenings in their bar downstairs for something a little lighter. This place is a hidden gem. Also, they have a Farmers Market during the summer and a fantastic brunch. Check it out!
(5)
Brittany C.
I was in a 20+ group. The service was quick and friendly. It was not exceptional. There was no formal greeting from the server or any recommendation. The lunch menu is short and concise. The bread is delicious. The Mushroom Bisque was yummy. The Pork Tacos should not be considered an entree. 2 tacos with one corn tortilla each, guacamole, sour cream, lettuce, and a salsa. It was good and simple. The Crumb Cake for dessert was sweet but dry. I will try this restaurant again for dinner.
(4)
Cesar P.
Simply fabulous all around. Wish portions were smaller to do the 5 course menu. Well worth it.
(5)
Chris B.
We found this new favorite spot tucked away in an odd location. We walked in with no expectations and walked out only wanting to come back. There are many options of food and service (eat in a jazz filled downstairs or have a 3 or 5 course elegant meal upstairs). No matter how you decide to dine, I really don't think you can go wrong. We chose the jazz experience. The smoked empanada appetizers were amazing. We all tasted each other's food, so I can speak with experience when I say that the tacos de jour (carnitas this particular evening) were stupendous. The steak was cooked to perfection, and the chicken wings were just the right amount of spice and smoky sweet BBQ. Beyond great food, the atmosphere was exactly what we were looking for. And if we chose to have a more intimate dining experience, there's always upstairs. And if it hadn't been raining all week (and maybe slightly warmer), I bet the patios would have been packed as well. There's live music too I hear. Devin, our waitress (and I really hope I spelled that correctly), made our night very enjoyable. And the chef, Ben, came down to sit with us for some time just to chat. I can't say enough great things about our evening. If you live here, you probably know all about this fantastic place. If your in town traveling, don't miss out on this opportunity.
(4)
Leah Y.
This place is over-priced and the food is not that great. The waiter ignored us for 20 minutes before I finally got up and asked if we could get drinks at our table. He said he'd be right there but after 15 more minutes passed by, I found the manager to complain. When the night was over, they over-charged my card by $12.63. Unsure of how that happene, when I called to discuss the issue, I got attitude and told that I was not being honest. I said that I would show my receipt and my card print out. When I arrived, the lady I spoke to still made excuses. I never received an apology. Don't waste your time or money here folks. Bad service is one thing. This is down right uncalled for and should have never happened. There is still no explanation as to why it happened. The only thing I could think of was the waiter wanted a tip that he didn't get and didn't have the right to. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE.....EVER!!!
(1)
Donna E.
Nothing spectacular. Overpriced compared to other set menu places. We opted for 3 courses each, with 1 drink each and bill was $90. Shrimp roll appetizer we didn't finish, broccoli bisque soup was just ok, entree was alright but nothing to rave about. We sat on the right side as you walk in the door and after dinner we checked out the left side - completely different, seemed more cozy, more intimate and just a better overall atmosphere. Despite not being impressed with the main restaurant, I will be going back to check out the bar and enjoy $2.50 sangria during happy hour, 4:30pm to 6pm. The bar was definitely good for small groups, great vibe and guy playing a banjo!
What a wonderful fun and funky place to have dinner and drinks in a great outdoors space. Service and food were exceptionally good.
(5)
Barb L.
This is our favorite restaurant. We've been going there for years. Never disappointed. With kids and without. The food and charming atmosphere is amazing. We just keep coming back.
(5)
Norma H.
UPDATE** The chef of the Margarita at Pinecreek, Eric Viedt, contacted me with an apology and offered to prepare a meal for me and a guest to make up for my last dinner. This is a very gracious and generous offer. One bad experience after many wonderful meals--so I am changing my rating to a well deserved 5 stars.
(5)
Laxsamee L.
Hidden gem!! Don't be fooled by the tacky entrance signs and location next to seedy hotels. Delicious and super friendly!
(5)
Mathew H.
A fantastic facility with a Southwest spin. Outstanding food and drinks. Great art to view as well while you relax in this beautiful setting.
(4)
Stacy Y.
Great food!, both gundi and steak were off the charts good! A bit bummed we couldn't get seated in the main dining room at 8:30pm with a kitchen that closes at 9pm, but the patio offered a seat and full menu service, so we were glad to get fed. Nice wine list, but less choice by the glass.
(4)
Diana S.
Great food, flavors, service and atmosphere. FYI.. If you eat in the lower level or on the patio you not only have the flexibility of the upstairs 3 or 5 course meal ala carte or the lounge menu and you usually will not need a reservation.
(5)
Linda K.
We recently celebrated a birthday at Margarita at Pine Creek. We enjoyed the food and ambiance very much. We had a delightful waiter who kept the evening flowing.
(5)
San A.
I do not review places often but this place was absolutely magical! Traveling cross country we found this place on yelp by accident and it was one of the best experiences ever. Amazing food, amazing service and amazing place. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would!
(5)
Jonathan B.
We had the fixed menu for New Year's Eve. It was awesome. Also, it was very well priced. The quality and quantity of food we received was pretty amazing. I got the wine pairings and was impressed with each flight. They were also very accomodating to our young son and did everything they could to make him happy with food so my wife and I could enjoy our meals. This may be the best value in the Springs. The food is really amazing.
(5)
Kevin V.
Unique and wonderful dining experience. The menus change so often, you almost aways enjoy a different meal. Great job, Chef Eric!
(5)
Ash T.
A fancy dinner in Colorado Springs? It could go one of two ways: unexpectedly good or expectedly not so good. hey, I live in the Bay Area, one of the food snob capitals of the world. The many surrounding strip malls and car dealerships definitely did not instill confidence. Nor did the name Margarita's. While I understood Margarita's to be one of the nicer restaurants in the area, that name is usually reserved for divey Mexican food joints catering to the spring break crowd. Seriously, is Margarita a family name or something? Anyway, it was the Tuesday before Xmas, and what better way to celebrate than with a feast of the seven fishes? That was the name of the themed prix fixe dinner that night, which was apt given the proximity in time to Jesus' birthday, however I did wonder why the dinner failed to reference any loaves. Was this going to be a gluten free meal? We arrived at the Margaritas, which is located next to the freeway behind a Quality type Inn, on this cold winter night and shuffled our butts inside. The restaurant has an adobe ranch house feel to it, with several different dining rooms. I was somewhat confused by the host station, which looked more like the checkout counter to a gift shop than a host stand at a restaurant. We were seated in the first dining room. I have to say it was a bit chilly in the restaurant( I had to keep my thermal jacket on for much of the meal. While I've complained in several recent reviews of the ambient temperature, considering that it was about 12 degrees outside, they should have had considerable heAt blasting in that place. But I digress. We were promptly presented with the night's menu, at first sight of which I thought to myself, this dinner is no joke. It was a five course meal, with a tripartite appetizer plus three wine pairings. The nice thing about the set menu is that you don't have to make any decisions. So it went down like this. Appetizer course: bay scallop bruschetta, baked oysters, and fried calamari and what was billed as "tiny fishes" and appeAred to be sardines. All of the appetizers were amazing. I especially enjoyed the bruschetta, which I thought was very creative and perfectly executed. Next the soup course: white bean and shellfish with chorizo. The flavor was great, and the generous amount of chorizo was quite exciting to me, as it was the only non ocean sourced meat of the meal. I was a bit disappointed by the lack of mussels in my bowl; I only got clams while everyone else had a mussel or two, but otherwise, it was delicious. They also brought out a warm ball of bread at this point, which was tasty and good for dunking into the soup. Yes, you read that right, their bread is shaped like a veritable ball about the size of a small cantaloupe. The salad course was, in my opinion, the weakest. It was a baccala over greens. There wasn't much baccala and what there was tasted mainly of olives rather than fish. What the hell is baccala, you ask? So did everyone at my table. See my review for Sotto Mare, infra. Next, entree: grilled swordfish with potatoes, leeks, and haricots verts. I don't get excited about swordfish and haven't ordered it in years. My experience with this billed fish is that it sounds exciting but comes out tough and dry and tasteless. Apparently, every place I've had it before was cooking it wrong. This place nailed it. The fish had a nice seat on the outside and was juicy and moist in the inside and was simply amazing. It seriously showed me the light about how good swordfish can be. Finally, the dessert: a choice of panna cotta or tiramisu. With four people at our table, we got to try both. And I have to say, both were perfect. So, in the end, Margaritas was way more than unexpectedly good. While things were a little weird at first, the food was unexpectedly stellar.
(5)
Jim M.
Writing the words for this review is easy; picking a star rating is not. The restaurant claims to be fine dining, and indeed the food is first class, innovating, boldly flavorful, and a real joy to enjoy (must be breaking some rule of English there). I had scallops prepared wonderfully, an unbelievably good and spicy lobster bisque, a lobster as good as any just plucked out of the ocean, and an innovative carrot cake with pecan pralines. The dining room itself was well set up with linen and crystal. It's the surroundings that confused me. While the dining room is nice, there are a lot of contrasts: a handyman in dirty jeans walked through the dining room a few times carrying broken lamps and other items to go outside, staff are dressed comfortably bordering on sloppy, outside patio area furniture is old with badly chipped paint and the whole area needs a lot of TLC. My waitress was very nice and knowledgeable, but I kept thinking I'd rather go out drinking beer with her. That's not a bad thing, but it's probably not the impression a fine dining establishment wants to make. I took everything into consideration including the fact that this is basically a family run establishment. In the end, food quality won out so I'm comfortable with a four star rating. It may be that ownership is okay with the presentation as is and that's fine. I just note that with a few relatively minor tweaks, this place could be five plus stars easily.
(4)
Darlene T.
Absolutely loved this delightful gem! My husband and I stumbled in on a Sunday morning for brunch. The food, service, patio atmosphere was perfect. I was thrilled to find such a quality restaurant in my new neighborhood.
(5)
Sabrina R.
We were celebrating my birthday and wanted to try something new. We made reservations and were sat at a very small table by a wall. The stucco walls made it very cold. We were greeted by a waitress in black stretch pants, that well were very see-thru when her sweater rose up and she bent over. CLASSY!! Brunch was not at all what we imagined. When you consider brunch a plethora of fruit and breads, but we were served coffee cake (the best thing we had) and dab of fruit. I had the huevos rancheros (poached eggs in two fried tortilla shells) with green chili and beans. While the presentation was enjoyable it was barely luke warm and flavorless. My Husband had the steak & eggs, which also didn't have much flavor and was a very small portion. The ambiance was well, different and the food was barely warm and bland at best. We would have had better food at Cracker Barrel. We won't be back!
(1)
Heidi E.
This place is awesome! The decor is interesting! The food is always fresh and you can taste it is chef prepared!!! The pimento cheese mad in house is wonderful and they have the BEST french onion soup! I have tried the bar food and have ate in the dining room and I have never been disappointed.
(5)
Brittany V.
Went there with a gift certificate we received from our wedding for my husband's birthday back in November. Unfortunately it was not a fine dining experience that we are accustomed to... The server spilled our wine numerous times, and was incompetent in all levels. The best part of the meal was the scallops and if we could have just had those... This review would receive 5 stars! Unfortunately, our main course was served raw. My pork wasn't cooked at all and my husband's steak was blue, when he requested medium rare. Once we brought this to the waitress' attention, she took it back to the kitchen immediately. About 15 minutes later when the chef brought it back out, it no longer even resembled what we originally ordered and ingredients that we're there before were gone... We quickly dismissed it so that we could receive dessert and leave. As the waitress knew it was my husband's birthday, they actually served us all dessert options. That was very thoughtful, however the only edible thing was the chocolate cake! The creme brulle was cold inside of a piping hot ramikin. The caramelized top, that I love to crack, was burnt. We rushed through it so we could leave. I'm not sure if the actual chef was off that night, and we were just stuck with the mediocre line cooks, or if that's what their food typically tastes like. I'm just glad we didn't spend our own hard earned money on it!
(2)
Peggy I.
INCREDIBLE New Years Eve dinner!!! Every single dish was a piece of art & GREAT taste. Chef Erik continues to amaze us with his wonderful creations.
(5)
Gina C.
I met some girlfriends here for cocktails and enjoyed time outside on the patio. Although the service was slow, the food was quite good. There was a small band playing: one of the members played a trombone while playing the accordion - very impressive! The patio is pleasant and was perfect for a summer evening. The prices were ambit on the high side given the portions, but flavor was overall good.
(3)
Richard R.
Beautiful patio dining in summer. Lovely, peaceful setting. Usually has great live music from local bands. The food easily outshines other, more expensive venues. Chef-prepared, fresh, innovative and delicious menu. Service is excellent - friendly and attentive servers who really seem to be proud of the menu. I've never been disappointed here. Truly a local treasure.
(5)
Zoe Z.
Ambiance. 3. (10%). Tables in the main room are quite private. Rustic and inviting. Noise level is a bit high with the tile floors and wood ceilings. Cleanlisess. 4. (20%). Tables, floors, and restrooms were fairly clean on a busy night. Service. 5. (25%). Our waitress was friendly, informative, and attentive though very busy. Other wait staff shared responsibility for our table. Great service. Food. 5. (35%). We had the three course dinners. Each course was nicely prepared and presented. Fresh ingredients and very good sauces. Value. 4. (10%). Ample portions. $35 each for the 3 course meal. Note: We didn't have a reservation and were fortunate to get a table even on a Wednesday evening. We recommend calling ahead.
(4)
Tim K.
I'd heard about The Margarita over the years. Was always told it was this expensive and swanky place. I went for brunch today and wasn't overly impressed. The exterior of the restaurant looks like a rundown/ unkept home. And the interior reminds me of an eccentric 70's artist's residence. where unique pieces of art hang on strange stuccoed or wood paneled walls. I had an omelet. It was pretty good. The "fresh fruit" left something to be desired as it was nothing more than a single very very thin piece of cantaloupe and two strawberries. I might venture here again to try out the dinner, but for breakfast or brunch I'd rather eat at The Omelet Parlor. ***Reviewed elsewhere on Yelp on 02-13-11***
(3)
Lauren P.
We visited for brunch on Sunday and the amuse bouche was delicious: fruit plate and coffee cakes. The coffee was really good, too, she kept us full the whole time. The bloody mary was ok; they make it with horseradish. We had the huevos rancheros and crab eggs benedict. The hollandaise sauce was really good on the eggs Benedict because it was fresh. The pork chili was awesome, another local rendition and they were served in little taco shell. The only issue was our meals took a long time to come out, despite that they weren't all that busy, or so it seemed. The prices were pretty decent so we will probably come back.
(4)
Mina W.
We attended a catered wedding rehearsal brunch on the outdoor patio of this restaurant. Quaint and rustic, it was a lovely setting for a formal occasion. Mimosas were really good- strong but lots of pulp! Our food options were eggs benedict or salmon, both were delicious and cooked to perfection. Service was also very attentive and efficient. Highly recommended, and I would definitely come back if I come back to Co Springs.
(4)
David R.
Grounds and facility badly in need of cleaning and "sprucing up". Facility is showing signs of complete neglect, along with the landscaping. This is a restaurant living on its past reputation. The food was average, but not exceptional.
This is a fantastic restaurant. The food is wonderful as is the atmosphere. One of the best in Colorado Springs!
(5)
Sarah P.
I've only eaten here twice but both times have been in large parties in private rooms. The first time I had the 5 course dinner with the NY Strip steak entree... a lot of food! The second time I had a buffet selection of stuffed chicken breast, steak and salmon. Both times the food was delicious and the service has been great. I especially enjoy the atmosphere here and this restaurant is now one of my top picks for a special / fancy evening. Highly recommended!
(5)
Angela G.
YES YES!! This place is wonderful. The service was so nice... the location beautiful, the food to die for!! Lunch is about $15-20 a person. And I haven't been for dinner but asked for the menu to look at and it was $42 for a 5 course meal. Though they have a separate menu $15-20 to sit on the patio in the bar area. So that is affordable. Oh and there is the cutest dog Gus (I think) who is the official greeter outside. So bring him a treat or kick a little pine cone around for him to play with!
(5)
Patrick B.
I went to the Margarita a lot as a very young kid for art fairs and parties, so I have a lot of fond memories that made me think that I would probably be disappointed as a brunch diner 40-some years later. Blessedly, they're still making really good food, with really good, local, sustainably-raised ingredients, all these years later. The outdoor terrace is lovely. All the food was wonderful. I had the huevos rancheros, which were not really huevos rancheros but a poached egg in a crisp corn tortilla "cup" filled with green chile and beans. (The departure from tradition did not bother me, because everywhere outside the Southwest, people call all kinds of things huevos rancheros, so it's been ages since I've actually had real HR.) The amuse bouche was coffee cake and fresh fruit. Everything was tasty and abundant and I'm glad they're still doing it right. A photo of our meal is here flic.kr/p/aduECU and here's an interesting architectural detail flic.kr/p/adrRkF
The food is excellent. There are two different dining experiences. Inside is a multi-course meal. Very good and moderately pricey ($60+). I prefer the outside dining at the bar. The bar menu is superb and they quite possibly have the best burger I have ever had. Also, dining at the patio with friends while the sun goes down is just awesome. During the winter months there is a bar/lounge area in the basement. Not as nice as the patio, but same food. However, I have to say that the service is not that great. It's surprising that a place with such good food has such mediocre service.
(4)
Mike G.
I have to admit, this review is from an experience there 4 years ago, things may have changed since. The service was downright lousy and even worse considering the price we paid. We went for a multi-course meal with two couples and the cost was ~$60/person total. At this price, I'd expect the server to wear at least a belt with his tucked in collar shirt. The inside dining area didn't seem top notch either and that food was okay but didn't seem to fit well with the atmosphere. If you're going to offer fine dining, I'd expect everything else to be spectacular. If you want to go to this restaurant, I wouldn't recommend going there for the first time with the intent to impress someone.
(2)
Christopher S.
Wow. I feel like an idiot. I wish I had read the reviews first. We met some friends for dinner here tonight and ordered the five-course prix fixe menu, which consisted of an appetizer, salad, soup, entree, and desert. My appetizer (blackened trout, fried green tomatoes) was pretty tasty--nothing spectactular--but definitely enjoyable. The soup (some tomato curry combo) and salad were dissapointing; they tasted like something you'd get at Panera Bread. My entree was a flatiron steak with what I think were supposed to be mashed potatoes but were really just a white-ish runny puddle underneath my steak. I ordered my steak cooked to medium but they brought it out practically moo-ing. Worse yet, it was still tough! I should have known better. Flatiron is a cut that Chili's and TGI Fridays like to serve. It sounds fancy but it's really not. The dessert was a throw-away apple bread pudding with crème fraiche. It lacked flavor and it didn't have many apple pieces at all. Come to think of it, there wasn't much sauce on it, either. All in all, I would have rated this meal a 3.5 - 4 stars here on Yelp. The shocker came when I got the bill. For my Chili's steak and Panera soup and salad I paid---drumroll--- $80 per person, plus tax and tip! I had no idea this was coming. There are no prices on the menu at Margarita. Had I known this was an $80/person dinner, I would have been furious when they delivered my tiny, tough, and undercooked steak. I would have also objected to the campy, underdressed waitresses and slow bar service (it took almost 30 minutes to get a round of margaritas). I truly expected that this was a $35-40/person meal and I shocked to see the truth. Don't get me wrong: I have nothing against an $80 meal. But this wasn't an $80 meal. This was a $40 meal and a pretty mediocre one at that. What a rip-off.
(1)
Charlene W.
The food was great, we had the 5 course dinner, but the service was amazing!
(4)
Patricia M.
This is the 3rd time that we went there to eat, twice to dinner and the last time to the lounge to catch some of the live music and some appetizers. Now, to be fair the food is good, the service however is not only unreasonable slow but unfriendly as well. I'm not a big fan of a waiter/waitress to come by every five minutes to ask if everything is alright, but to wait thirty minutes to order a Glass of wine (my husband had to go to the bar to get drinks) or to get the check is not acceptable. We could not get anybody to come over to our table in the lounge, this was the same scenario for a lot of other customers. You could not even make eye contact with the staff it almost felt like that we were bothering them. we really liked the ambiance and the food but I do not feel that I need to trip a waiter/waitress to get their attention in order to get service. Too bad, you had three shots, that's it!
(1)
Paul B.
This is the best restaurant in town!! I am always blown away with how amazing the food is and every night is something unique and wonderful.
I've never heard a bad word said about this place. Ambience: Great for dates or groups of 4 or less, with tables being hidden amongst quiet little nooks. I went with a group of 20 so we were broken up into 4 tables which was less than ideal. I've been told that there is often live music with celtic and harpsichord nights. Service: Our waitress was a little scatter-brained but I think this came from the fact that they were understaffed by 1 or 2 servers. In spite of that we got our food pretty quickly (considering 20 ordered at the same time). Food: Terrific. I like their approach which is to offer 3 or 5 course meals. The 3 course is soup or salad with main course and appetizer or dessert. The only problem I had was that one of our group wanted two of the appetizers only and was given a very definitive "NO". The dishes were original and very tasty. I had mussels for appetizer and it was pretty good. The highlight though, was the pork medallions which were the most moist pork I have had in COS. The flavors for both dishes were fresh and imaginative. Meanwhile my friends had treats such as goat (appetizer) and mahi mahi which one raved was the best fish she had ever had in her life. Since this was a group of foodies, this sort of praise is hard to earn. Our hostess told us the menu changes ever few days or so as the chef prefers to buy according to availability which means I'll just have to go back again (and again) to see wat else is on offer. Price: Not too bad, with the 3 course being $34 and 5 course $40 (not including wine). Bottom line: I'll be back.
(4)
E L.
We enjoyed Mother's Day dinner here. If you bring kids, they can adjust the prix fix menu so that it's smaller. Your kids have to enjoy things other than chicken fingers though, cause you won't find it here. Our kids are both small and they were able to share a kids prix fix for $18. Kids liked the food. On the menu were crab cakes, salad, veggie soup, salmon and chocolate mousse. Our waitress was very kind in helping us figure out the menu. You don't want to be in a hurry here. Waiting the arrival of 5 offerings will definitely take at least 2 hours of your time, but it's so nice to enjoy the views and just talk. You feel like you are sitting in the woods instead of just a few hundred yards from the freeway. The food was terrific too!
(5)
Suzanne B.
A 'Ladies Who Lunch' outing with my mother - for me, Margarita at Pine Creek will always evoke that kind of memory. I've never actually had dinner here - just their wonderfully light yet filling lunches of salad, bread, soup and that incredible spicy cheese spread. Hmmmm, may I please take some home? Steal the recipe? Anything? The building is wonderfully quirky - full of nooks and crannies and delightfully overgrown houseplants. The service is discreet and attentive. And the food is...well, you heard about the cheese spread, right?
(5)
Emilie L.
For many, the Margarita at Pine Creek is a place where they go for the previously mentioned prix fix menu, which has never disappointed me. What I prefer, however, are summer nights on the patio with live lounge music, a perfect view of Pikes Peak and the front range, yummy margaritas, and the bar menu. There is not a bad burger on the bar menu...I love them all, all made with quality ingredients that make you wonder if what you have been eating your whole life have actually been burgers. The cheese plate is also a favorite off of the bar menu, as it is always a different combination of cheeses and meats that makes for a great snack to go with your drinks. And don't forget about dessert! The last time I was there we had a dessert sampler with cheesecake, tiramasu and some other chocolate mocha cake...I was so glad the waiter talked us into it!
(5)
Kima W.
One of the loveliest evenings I have had was my evening at The Margarita at Pine Creek. The atmosphere was calm and serene, the service was fantastic, the views were amazing and the food was surprisingly good. I was seated in the North Patio, which is a beautiful outdoor oasis. My table was shaded by a gorgeous ponderosa pine. The beautiful abode wall encloses the area, but doesn't take away from the beatiful panoramic views of Pikes Peak. I didn't have the opportunity to enjoy the prix fixe dinner option, since I dined out on the patio, I opted for the Bar/Patio menu. I enjoyed bruschetta for my appetizer, and it was so far above and beyond anything else I've had by this name that I fell in love at first bite. The bread was grilled to perfection, then topped with beautiful ripe tomatoes, laced with slivers of basil, with just the right amount of cheese to hold all toghther then drizzled nicely with a sweet, thick basalmic vinegar. For a salad I had a very light sesame chicken salad. Fresh mixed greens tossed in a sesame oil and topped with cooked, juicy, tender chicken. For my entree I enjoyed the chipotle crusted shrimp cakes with a mango tomatillo coulis. This dish was out of this world; the shirmp cakes were seasoned perfectly, the chipotle added just the right amount of heat. The mango tomatillo coulis added the right balance of sweet that combined very nicely with the heat of the chipotle. To accompany my meal I had an Orangetini; which was very delicious and paired nicely with the shrimp cakes. I will surely be dining here again, before summer's end.
(4)
Joseph D.
Margarita's at Margarita are good. Service was very nice and helpful but unfortunately also very slow. The food was okay, but it seemed that the chef after making a pretty tasty dish, always added one too many ingredients. Every dish burst with flavor, but the reaction from everyone at the table was there were too many sauces and spices for what would have been very good food without.
(3)
Michael G.
An extraordinary dining experience at a moderate price! The Margarita at PineCreek was recommended by some friends and they did me right. I was in town from New York on business for a few weeks. I was glad I went early on my trip so I had time to stop in 3 times. Each meal was better then the last. I cant say enough about the food and the atmosphere and the service. I look forward to my return to Colorado Springs but more so another meal at he Margarita at PineCreek.
(5)
jeff T.
if you want to support a great local restaurant that has been a part of our community for over 30 years with the same owner.The Margarita has ton of character, that buys from local farmers, they even grow there own herbs, they have the BEST patio in the Springs. With laied back service (not super quick) so go when you have some time to enjoy a meal. They have a couple of different menus one is a set 5 course menu that is more formal go with a date, special occasion, or just to enjoy great experience. They also have a bar menu that is fun with anything from a good burger to a fab cheese plate it changes once a month to keep you coming back the lounge is fun and downstairs. My favorite time to go is Friday nights in the summer get there around 6:30 to get a table on the patio listen to the live music and get ready for the movie its sooo much fun it reminds me so much of a drive in movie. The movie is free and sometimes Eric the chef will do a theme dinner (i saw Jaws he did seared tuna, Macao shark) it was a lot of fun. The movies will be over soon but the lounge is super cool and the setting is great. This is a true jewel of Colorado Springs. Oh if you havent eaten at a place in over 4 years you should go back before you review it!
(5)
Nick W.
price is now $42 for 5 course meal and coffee. in this town, a comfortable place, people say "I Love that place" but forget that it exists. The patio movies in summer are a nice touch.
(5)
Gourmet G.
The decor here - a series of alcoves with white stucco walls and terra cotta floors, and a nicely landscaped patio (with unfortunately uncomfortable metal chairs) for alfresco dining - is so subtle it doesn't prepare you for the outstanding meals turned out by an ambitious kitchen that relies heavily on seasonal ingredients. The nightly prix fixe dinners, amazingly low-priced at $33, include an appetizer, soup, salad, and dessert that nicely complement the selected entree, one of which is usually Mexican, the other two Continental or New American. Sunday brunch selections include fresh fruit and coffeecake warm from the oven. Smoked salmon cakes, heavy on seafood and light on breading, are served on mesclun salad with lemon vinaigrette and dill tartar sauce, and their take on Huevos Rancheros - poached eggs with beans and cheese in a corn tortilla shell with a side of pork green chili - is superb. Saturday evening dinner is served to the accompaniment of live harpsichord music, but plan to eat early, because even on the weekends last seating is at 8:30pm.
(5)
Kari L.
The food here is always fabulous. The Marcelo Burger is the best burger I have ever had. They use a lot of organic, Fresh ingredients. I have tried the bar food and had course meals, I have never been disappointed
(5)
Malissa S.
We came here for my boyfriends birthday. It was a mostly good experience. The host seemed a little rushed and was openly complaining about a table while he was on the phone. After he hung up, we were seated quickly, on the left side of the restaurant, in an interesting nook with one chair and then a bench cut out of the wall. It was a small space and we couldn't sit across from each other. Our waitress stopped with water quickly. She looked like she just came from the gym. The entire wait staff was dressed oddly. Some were very casual, some dressed up, like they weren't quite sure if they worked at a nice restaurant or not. I'm also not sure if our waitress ever told us her name. She was good at explaining the menu and drink selection though. We decided on the 5 course meal. A really good value for $42. We added the charcuterie plate as well. It was okay, 2 of the meats were very very greasy, but the other two were really tasty. For the appetizers we had pork arepas and lobster wontons. Both were amazing. The pork was sweet and spicy with a lot of layers of flavor. The lobster was good, one of the dipping sauces was a bit sour, but the other was a perfect compliment. We both had the tomato basil bisque, I'm not a huge fan of tomato basil, but it was really good. It had a good creamy flavor, without the basil over powering the tomato. One of our salads had no dressing, it was supposed to be that way, but we didn't notice that. The cucumbers and tomatoes were marinated in a red wine vinaigrette, which had good flavor. The other salad was the sesame one. It was really good with bitter lettuce and sweet carrots. For our entrees, we had the snapper and the pork chop. The snapper was cooked well, not over breaded and had a good sauce. The asparagus was a bit wilted though. The pork was amazing, with a mustard sauce. The polenta was very creamy and delicious. For dessert we had chocolate panna cotta and tres leches cake. The panna cotta was rich, sweet and decadent. The tres leches cake was a bit dry, but light and sweet. I wish it had a few more black berries. The whipped cream on top was really good. Overall, the value was really good. The portions were large and I felt the price was good for what we got.
(4)
Bill F.
This is a (almost hidden) gem! I was staying at a local hotel for a few days for business and just happened to see a sign for this restaurant. I am glad I took a chance! I was sick of some of the chain eateries within walking distance of my hotel, and this place delivered the type of meal I was craving. The menu changes weekly, but there was something for everyone - gluten free, vegetarians or carnivores. I went with the 3 course meal, which was just enough food to fill me up. I was tempted with the 5 course meal but sometimes my eyes are bigger than my stomach. My server, Melissa, was friendly, passionate and knowledgeable about the menu. The service, decor and quality of the food were all excellent. I would happily come back here the next time I am in the area. Hint: They wont take OpenTable reservations after 1600 the day of, so plan ahead!
(5)
Amanda K.
AGAIN!!!!! Had a wonderful dining excursion again. Had the four course menu and want disappointed. Really recommend a visit and enjoying the great food and beautiful restaurant.
(5)
Larr G.
I love this place. The service was great! Our waitress was informative, funny and just a plain old delight. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. All of dinning areas are partitioned a bit so that while you are in a very large facility, your dinner experience is that of eating in a small intimate setting. There was live music on the night that we were there. The music did not intrude on our conversation; however, once in a while I would pause to listen to a song that I really liked. Given the work that was ahead of use over the next two days, I really treated myself well. I had the five course dinner, with the wine pairing. Yep, I went whole hog and got the 3 glass serving. Everything was great. The presentation of the food was excellent, as was the taste. My two dinning companions and I all agreed that the choice of Margarita at Pine Creek was an excellent idea. Oh yes! The view was very relaxing. All-in-all, a wonderful way to spend an evening. Gluten Free is available and they can work with just about any dietary restrictions, unless you are allergic to great food.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
John M.
This place fires on all cylinders: food, service, ambience. The restaurant is laid out in a manner that gives it an intimate charm. From many tables, you may not see another table or you might see one or two other tables. One result of this is that the restaurant is pleasingly quiet. We sat at a table near a large window, and we could see the sun setting behind a big pine tree. You select either three or five courses from a fixed-price menu. You can also elect to have wine by the bottle or wines paired with your food. Service is excellent. Our waitress was attentive and she explained the the items on the menu well and knew her stuff. Two of us ordered steak, one ordered sea bass, and one ordered the Gnudis (basically gnocchi made with ricotta). The steak dishes were fabulous and the bass was cooked perfectly. I poached some of my wifes Gnudis; these were in a rich creamy sauce. They are quite tasty but could be a little heavy to eat an entire entree of them. All in all, a very successful run at a great place. I expect this will be a must-visit every time we come to Colorado Springs.
(5)Terry W.
Great place to chill and get some good breakfast after hitting the farmers market. They also do movie nights on friday and it where they fold down a screen and you can hang out and watch a movie will enjoying some drinks or late dinner. Great local joint!
(4)Autumn O.
One of the best places I've eaten. The love of cooking with the Chefs really comes out. We had the 5 course meal and everything was perfection on a plate, wonderful service and the place has terrific ambiance. I look forward to going back!
(5)Lara J.
One of the best places to eat in the Springs!! The ambiance, flavors and service were incredible! Our server Devan was the best!!
(5)Megan H.
Our favorite place! We love summer meals on the patio or evenings in their bar downstairs for something a little lighter. This place is a hidden gem. Also, they have a Farmers Market during the summer and a fantastic brunch. Check it out!
(5)Brittany C.
I was in a 20+ group. The service was quick and friendly. It was not exceptional. There was no formal greeting from the server or any recommendation. The lunch menu is short and concise. The bread is delicious. The Mushroom Bisque was yummy. The Pork Tacos should not be considered an entree. 2 tacos with one corn tortilla each, guacamole, sour cream, lettuce, and a salsa. It was good and simple. The Crumb Cake for dessert was sweet but dry. I will try this restaurant again for dinner.
(4)Cesar P.
Simply fabulous all around. Wish portions were smaller to do the 5 course menu. Well worth it.
(5)Chris B.
We found this new favorite spot tucked away in an odd location. We walked in with no expectations and walked out only wanting to come back. There are many options of food and service (eat in a jazz filled downstairs or have a 3 or 5 course elegant meal upstairs). No matter how you decide to dine, I really don't think you can go wrong. We chose the jazz experience. The smoked empanada appetizers were amazing. We all tasted each other's food, so I can speak with experience when I say that the tacos de jour (carnitas this particular evening) were stupendous. The steak was cooked to perfection, and the chicken wings were just the right amount of spice and smoky sweet BBQ. Beyond great food, the atmosphere was exactly what we were looking for. And if we chose to have a more intimate dining experience, there's always upstairs. And if it hadn't been raining all week (and maybe slightly warmer), I bet the patios would have been packed as well. There's live music too I hear. Devin, our waitress (and I really hope I spelled that correctly), made our night very enjoyable. And the chef, Ben, came down to sit with us for some time just to chat. I can't say enough great things about our evening. If you live here, you probably know all about this fantastic place. If your in town traveling, don't miss out on this opportunity.
(4)Leah Y.
This place is over-priced and the food is not that great. The waiter ignored us for 20 minutes before I finally got up and asked if we could get drinks at our table. He said he'd be right there but after 15 more minutes passed by, I found the manager to complain. When the night was over, they over-charged my card by $12.63. Unsure of how that happene, when I called to discuss the issue, I got attitude and told that I was not being honest. I said that I would show my receipt and my card print out. When I arrived, the lady I spoke to still made excuses. I never received an apology. Don't waste your time or money here folks. Bad service is one thing. This is down right uncalled for and should have never happened. There is still no explanation as to why it happened. The only thing I could think of was the waiter wanted a tip that he didn't get and didn't have the right to. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE.....EVER!!!
(1)Donna E.
Nothing spectacular. Overpriced compared to other set menu places. We opted for 3 courses each, with 1 drink each and bill was $90. Shrimp roll appetizer we didn't finish, broccoli bisque soup was just ok, entree was alright but nothing to rave about. We sat on the right side as you walk in the door and after dinner we checked out the left side - completely different, seemed more cozy, more intimate and just a better overall atmosphere. Despite not being impressed with the main restaurant, I will be going back to check out the bar and enjoy $2.50 sangria during happy hour, 4:30pm to 6pm. The bar was definitely good for small groups, great vibe and guy playing a banjo!
(2)David J.
Just came back from a dinner party of 28 people. The wife and i had really high hopes for this place. The first issue was only one server for all of us. She did do as well as can be expected. I was a little shocked that in a place of a higher caliber that their selection of bourbon lacked, I stopped drinking wild turkey back in my 20s. Bread was served but wasn't anything to rave about. I had the sesame salad which was rather plain but something with the dressing was way off. The entrée was the best part of the night. I had the Mahi Mahi and it was great. The wife had the Manhattan steak and enjoyed it as well. All of us though were not happy about the desert. The warm gingerbread was cold, the custard was more like Greek yogurt and the chocolate the lady had one bite and pushed it away. Now for the real kicker. This place has no POS system to do your bill. They didn't even give you a chance to review your bill before they swiped your card AND automatically added the gratuity. The scary part about the whole thing was the bartender sitting at the bar using his cell phone calculator to add up the bills! Doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy. So with the 3 course meal, two bourbons and 2 glasses of wine our bill was 112.00. Of course I have no idea what each thing cost because we never received an itiemized receipt. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this place.
(3)Pat Z.
What a wonderful fun and funky place to have dinner and drinks in a great outdoors space. Service and food were exceptionally good.
(5)Barb L.
This is our favorite restaurant. We've been going there for years. Never disappointed. With kids and without. The food and charming atmosphere is amazing. We just keep coming back.
(5)Norma H.
UPDATE** The chef of the Margarita at Pinecreek, Eric Viedt, contacted me with an apology and offered to prepare a meal for me and a guest to make up for my last dinner. This is a very gracious and generous offer. One bad experience after many wonderful meals--so I am changing my rating to a well deserved 5 stars.
(5)Laxsamee L.
Hidden gem!! Don't be fooled by the tacky entrance signs and location next to seedy hotels. Delicious and super friendly!
(5)Mathew H.
A fantastic facility with a Southwest spin. Outstanding food and drinks. Great art to view as well while you relax in this beautiful setting.
(4)Stacy Y.
Great food!, both gundi and steak were off the charts good! A bit bummed we couldn't get seated in the main dining room at 8:30pm with a kitchen that closes at 9pm, but the patio offered a seat and full menu service, so we were glad to get fed. Nice wine list, but less choice by the glass.
(4)Diana S.
Great food, flavors, service and atmosphere. FYI.. If you eat in the lower level or on the patio you not only have the flexibility of the upstairs 3 or 5 course meal ala carte or the lounge menu and you usually will not need a reservation.
(5)Linda K.
We recently celebrated a birthday at Margarita at Pine Creek. We enjoyed the food and ambiance very much. We had a delightful waiter who kept the evening flowing.
(5)San A.
I do not review places often but this place was absolutely magical! Traveling cross country we found this place on yelp by accident and it was one of the best experiences ever. Amazing food, amazing service and amazing place. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would!
(5)Jonathan B.
We had the fixed menu for New Year's Eve. It was awesome. Also, it was very well priced. The quality and quantity of food we received was pretty amazing. I got the wine pairings and was impressed with each flight. They were also very accomodating to our young son and did everything they could to make him happy with food so my wife and I could enjoy our meals. This may be the best value in the Springs. The food is really amazing.
(5)Kevin V.
Unique and wonderful dining experience. The menus change so often, you almost aways enjoy a different meal. Great job, Chef Eric!
(5)Ash T.
A fancy dinner in Colorado Springs? It could go one of two ways: unexpectedly good or expectedly not so good. hey, I live in the Bay Area, one of the food snob capitals of the world. The many surrounding strip malls and car dealerships definitely did not instill confidence. Nor did the name Margarita's. While I understood Margarita's to be one of the nicer restaurants in the area, that name is usually reserved for divey Mexican food joints catering to the spring break crowd. Seriously, is Margarita a family name or something? Anyway, it was the Tuesday before Xmas, and what better way to celebrate than with a feast of the seven fishes? That was the name of the themed prix fixe dinner that night, which was apt given the proximity in time to Jesus' birthday, however I did wonder why the dinner failed to reference any loaves. Was this going to be a gluten free meal? We arrived at the Margaritas, which is located next to the freeway behind a Quality type Inn, on this cold winter night and shuffled our butts inside. The restaurant has an adobe ranch house feel to it, with several different dining rooms. I was somewhat confused by the host station, which looked more like the checkout counter to a gift shop than a host stand at a restaurant. We were seated in the first dining room. I have to say it was a bit chilly in the restaurant( I had to keep my thermal jacket on for much of the meal. While I've complained in several recent reviews of the ambient temperature, considering that it was about 12 degrees outside, they should have had considerable heAt blasting in that place. But I digress. We were promptly presented with the night's menu, at first sight of which I thought to myself, this dinner is no joke. It was a five course meal, with a tripartite appetizer plus three wine pairings. The nice thing about the set menu is that you don't have to make any decisions. So it went down like this. Appetizer course: bay scallop bruschetta, baked oysters, and fried calamari and what was billed as "tiny fishes" and appeAred to be sardines. All of the appetizers were amazing. I especially enjoyed the bruschetta, which I thought was very creative and perfectly executed. Next the soup course: white bean and shellfish with chorizo. The flavor was great, and the generous amount of chorizo was quite exciting to me, as it was the only non ocean sourced meat of the meal. I was a bit disappointed by the lack of mussels in my bowl; I only got clams while everyone else had a mussel or two, but otherwise, it was delicious. They also brought out a warm ball of bread at this point, which was tasty and good for dunking into the soup. Yes, you read that right, their bread is shaped like a veritable ball about the size of a small cantaloupe. The salad course was, in my opinion, the weakest. It was a baccala over greens. There wasn't much baccala and what there was tasted mainly of olives rather than fish. What the hell is baccala, you ask? So did everyone at my table. See my review for Sotto Mare, infra. Next, entree: grilled swordfish with potatoes, leeks, and haricots verts. I don't get excited about swordfish and haven't ordered it in years. My experience with this billed fish is that it sounds exciting but comes out tough and dry and tasteless. Apparently, every place I've had it before was cooking it wrong. This place nailed it. The fish had a nice seat on the outside and was juicy and moist in the inside and was simply amazing. It seriously showed me the light about how good swordfish can be. Finally, the dessert: a choice of panna cotta or tiramisu. With four people at our table, we got to try both. And I have to say, both were perfect. So, in the end, Margaritas was way more than unexpectedly good. While things were a little weird at first, the food was unexpectedly stellar.
(5)Jim M.
Writing the words for this review is easy; picking a star rating is not. The restaurant claims to be fine dining, and indeed the food is first class, innovating, boldly flavorful, and a real joy to enjoy (must be breaking some rule of English there). I had scallops prepared wonderfully, an unbelievably good and spicy lobster bisque, a lobster as good as any just plucked out of the ocean, and an innovative carrot cake with pecan pralines. The dining room itself was well set up with linen and crystal. It's the surroundings that confused me. While the dining room is nice, there are a lot of contrasts: a handyman in dirty jeans walked through the dining room a few times carrying broken lamps and other items to go outside, staff are dressed comfortably bordering on sloppy, outside patio area furniture is old with badly chipped paint and the whole area needs a lot of TLC. My waitress was very nice and knowledgeable, but I kept thinking I'd rather go out drinking beer with her. That's not a bad thing, but it's probably not the impression a fine dining establishment wants to make. I took everything into consideration including the fact that this is basically a family run establishment. In the end, food quality won out so I'm comfortable with a four star rating. It may be that ownership is okay with the presentation as is and that's fine. I just note that with a few relatively minor tweaks, this place could be five plus stars easily.
(4)Darlene T.
Absolutely loved this delightful gem! My husband and I stumbled in on a Sunday morning for brunch. The food, service, patio atmosphere was perfect. I was thrilled to find such a quality restaurant in my new neighborhood.
(5)Sabrina R.
We were celebrating my birthday and wanted to try something new. We made reservations and were sat at a very small table by a wall. The stucco walls made it very cold. We were greeted by a waitress in black stretch pants, that well were very see-thru when her sweater rose up and she bent over. CLASSY!! Brunch was not at all what we imagined. When you consider brunch a plethora of fruit and breads, but we were served coffee cake (the best thing we had) and dab of fruit. I had the huevos rancheros (poached eggs in two fried tortilla shells) with green chili and beans. While the presentation was enjoyable it was barely luke warm and flavorless. My Husband had the steak & eggs, which also didn't have much flavor and was a very small portion. The ambiance was well, different and the food was barely warm and bland at best. We would have had better food at Cracker Barrel. We won't be back!
(1)Heidi E.
This place is awesome! The decor is interesting! The food is always fresh and you can taste it is chef prepared!!! The pimento cheese mad in house is wonderful and they have the BEST french onion soup! I have tried the bar food and have ate in the dining room and I have never been disappointed.
(5)Brittany V.
Went there with a gift certificate we received from our wedding for my husband's birthday back in November. Unfortunately it was not a fine dining experience that we are accustomed to... The server spilled our wine numerous times, and was incompetent in all levels. The best part of the meal was the scallops and if we could have just had those... This review would receive 5 stars! Unfortunately, our main course was served raw. My pork wasn't cooked at all and my husband's steak was blue, when he requested medium rare. Once we brought this to the waitress' attention, she took it back to the kitchen immediately. About 15 minutes later when the chef brought it back out, it no longer even resembled what we originally ordered and ingredients that we're there before were gone... We quickly dismissed it so that we could receive dessert and leave. As the waitress knew it was my husband's birthday, they actually served us all dessert options. That was very thoughtful, however the only edible thing was the chocolate cake! The creme brulle was cold inside of a piping hot ramikin. The caramelized top, that I love to crack, was burnt. We rushed through it so we could leave. I'm not sure if the actual chef was off that night, and we were just stuck with the mediocre line cooks, or if that's what their food typically tastes like. I'm just glad we didn't spend our own hard earned money on it!
(2)Peggy I.
INCREDIBLE New Years Eve dinner!!! Every single dish was a piece of art & GREAT taste. Chef Erik continues to amaze us with his wonderful creations.
(5)Gina C.
I met some girlfriends here for cocktails and enjoyed time outside on the patio. Although the service was slow, the food was quite good. There was a small band playing: one of the members played a trombone while playing the accordion - very impressive! The patio is pleasant and was perfect for a summer evening. The prices were ambit on the high side given the portions, but flavor was overall good.
(3)Richard R.
Beautiful patio dining in summer. Lovely, peaceful setting. Usually has great live music from local bands. The food easily outshines other, more expensive venues. Chef-prepared, fresh, innovative and delicious menu. Service is excellent - friendly and attentive servers who really seem to be proud of the menu. I've never been disappointed here. Truly a local treasure.
(5)Zoe Z.
Ambiance. 3. (10%). Tables in the main room are quite private. Rustic and inviting. Noise level is a bit high with the tile floors and wood ceilings. Cleanlisess. 4. (20%). Tables, floors, and restrooms were fairly clean on a busy night. Service. 5. (25%). Our waitress was friendly, informative, and attentive though very busy. Other wait staff shared responsibility for our table. Great service. Food. 5. (35%). We had the three course dinners. Each course was nicely prepared and presented. Fresh ingredients and very good sauces. Value. 4. (10%). Ample portions. $35 each for the 3 course meal. Note: We didn't have a reservation and were fortunate to get a table even on a Wednesday evening. We recommend calling ahead.
(4)Tim K.
I'd heard about The Margarita over the years. Was always told it was this expensive and swanky place. I went for brunch today and wasn't overly impressed. The exterior of the restaurant looks like a rundown/ unkept home. And the interior reminds me of an eccentric 70's artist's residence. where unique pieces of art hang on strange stuccoed or wood paneled walls. I had an omelet. It was pretty good. The "fresh fruit" left something to be desired as it was nothing more than a single very very thin piece of cantaloupe and two strawberries. I might venture here again to try out the dinner, but for breakfast or brunch I'd rather eat at The Omelet Parlor. ***Reviewed elsewhere on Yelp on 02-13-11***
(3)Lauren P.
We visited for brunch on Sunday and the amuse bouche was delicious: fruit plate and coffee cakes. The coffee was really good, too, she kept us full the whole time. The bloody mary was ok; they make it with horseradish. We had the huevos rancheros and crab eggs benedict. The hollandaise sauce was really good on the eggs Benedict because it was fresh. The pork chili was awesome, another local rendition and they were served in little taco shell. The only issue was our meals took a long time to come out, despite that they weren't all that busy, or so it seemed. The prices were pretty decent so we will probably come back.
(4)Mina W.
We attended a catered wedding rehearsal brunch on the outdoor patio of this restaurant. Quaint and rustic, it was a lovely setting for a formal occasion. Mimosas were really good- strong but lots of pulp! Our food options were eggs benedict or salmon, both were delicious and cooked to perfection. Service was also very attentive and efficient. Highly recommended, and I would definitely come back if I come back to Co Springs.
(4)David R.
Grounds and facility badly in need of cleaning and "sprucing up". Facility is showing signs of complete neglect, along with the landscaping. This is a restaurant living on its past reputation. The food was average, but not exceptional.
(3)Spiro T.
We had reservations and were promptly seated upon our arrival. We were seated at a very wobbly table and asked to move. They moved us with no attitude. Our waitress, Dorothy, knew her stuff and was very helpful throughout the night. Our 5 course meal was $42/person, a great value. We also opted for an outstanding optional cheese plate. Stilton, 2 semi hard cheeses, Brie, spiced honey & fresh fruit were included and all were tasty with an excellent presentation. Pork belly shrimp wonton tostada was memorable. Micro greens and sauce was excellent (avocado purée). Porcini arachata paired my bottle of 2009 duck pond Pinot quite well. Excellent deep fried porcini risotto with an amazing marinara sauce. Mushroom bisque with brandy and cherry was pretty good. Needed a little salt. That night, a Baroque 3 pc ensemble was playing live in the dining room. Throughout the night, we were glad that they were not trying to rush the meal. Cozy place. Rustic ambiance w plenty of character. Main courses were orgasmic. Sorry to say that the dessert is what knocked this place down by one star. They are in serious need of a dessert/pastry chef. We tried all of their desserts and it was like a high schooler made them in home economics class. Thankfully, I ordered a tawny port to accompany the dessert and that was the only thing that I liked. Too bad that they don't carry aged ports, though. We had a brownie that tasted like a poorly made betty crocker instant brownie. Their flan had way too much egg in it. Not appealing at all. Good espresso ice cream though. Our waitress observed that the flan was not being eaten and brought out an alternate dessert. That one fell flat, too. Altogether, the apps and main courses definitely rival any fine dining establishment in the Springs, to include the Broadmoor. Their food is inventive, flavorful, and well executed. Dessert is lacking, but that won't keep me from visiting again.
(4)Cathy B.
This is a fantastic restaurant. The food is wonderful as is the atmosphere. One of the best in Colorado Springs!
(5)Sarah P.
I've only eaten here twice but both times have been in large parties in private rooms. The first time I had the 5 course dinner with the NY Strip steak entree... a lot of food! The second time I had a buffet selection of stuffed chicken breast, steak and salmon. Both times the food was delicious and the service has been great. I especially enjoy the atmosphere here and this restaurant is now one of my top picks for a special / fancy evening. Highly recommended!
(5)Angela G.
YES YES!! This place is wonderful. The service was so nice... the location beautiful, the food to die for!! Lunch is about $15-20 a person. And I haven't been for dinner but asked for the menu to look at and it was $42 for a 5 course meal. Though they have a separate menu $15-20 to sit on the patio in the bar area. So that is affordable. Oh and there is the cutest dog Gus (I think) who is the official greeter outside. So bring him a treat or kick a little pine cone around for him to play with!
(5)Patrick B.
I went to the Margarita a lot as a very young kid for art fairs and parties, so I have a lot of fond memories that made me think that I would probably be disappointed as a brunch diner 40-some years later. Blessedly, they're still making really good food, with really good, local, sustainably-raised ingredients, all these years later. The outdoor terrace is lovely. All the food was wonderful. I had the huevos rancheros, which were not really huevos rancheros but a poached egg in a crisp corn tortilla "cup" filled with green chile and beans. (The departure from tradition did not bother me, because everywhere outside the Southwest, people call all kinds of things huevos rancheros, so it's been ages since I've actually had real HR.) The amuse bouche was coffee cake and fresh fruit. Everything was tasty and abundant and I'm glad they're still doing it right. A photo of our meal is here flic.kr/p/aduECU and here's an interesting architectural detail flic.kr/p/adrRkF
(4)Mark C.
The food was ok and the service was reasonable good, but the steak was a poor cut of beef, the Creme brûlée was bad, salad was fresh but the dressing had no flavor. The tables are too close and the servers never refilled our wine glasses. Lots of little problems! Very slow service!
(2)Eddie F.
The food is excellent. There are two different dining experiences. Inside is a multi-course meal. Very good and moderately pricey ($60+). I prefer the outside dining at the bar. The bar menu is superb and they quite possibly have the best burger I have ever had. Also, dining at the patio with friends while the sun goes down is just awesome. During the winter months there is a bar/lounge area in the basement. Not as nice as the patio, but same food. However, I have to say that the service is not that great. It's surprising that a place with such good food has such mediocre service.
(4)Mike G.
I have to admit, this review is from an experience there 4 years ago, things may have changed since. The service was downright lousy and even worse considering the price we paid. We went for a multi-course meal with two couples and the cost was ~$60/person total. At this price, I'd expect the server to wear at least a belt with his tucked in collar shirt. The inside dining area didn't seem top notch either and that food was okay but didn't seem to fit well with the atmosphere. If you're going to offer fine dining, I'd expect everything else to be spectacular. If you want to go to this restaurant, I wouldn't recommend going there for the first time with the intent to impress someone.
(2)Christopher S.
Wow. I feel like an idiot. I wish I had read the reviews first. We met some friends for dinner here tonight and ordered the five-course prix fixe menu, which consisted of an appetizer, salad, soup, entree, and desert. My appetizer (blackened trout, fried green tomatoes) was pretty tasty--nothing spectactular--but definitely enjoyable. The soup (some tomato curry combo) and salad were dissapointing; they tasted like something you'd get at Panera Bread. My entree was a flatiron steak with what I think were supposed to be mashed potatoes but were really just a white-ish runny puddle underneath my steak. I ordered my steak cooked to medium but they brought it out practically moo-ing. Worse yet, it was still tough! I should have known better. Flatiron is a cut that Chili's and TGI Fridays like to serve. It sounds fancy but it's really not. The dessert was a throw-away apple bread pudding with crème fraiche. It lacked flavor and it didn't have many apple pieces at all. Come to think of it, there wasn't much sauce on it, either. All in all, I would have rated this meal a 3.5 - 4 stars here on Yelp. The shocker came when I got the bill. For my Chili's steak and Panera soup and salad I paid---drumroll--- $80 per person, plus tax and tip! I had no idea this was coming. There are no prices on the menu at Margarita. Had I known this was an $80/person dinner, I would have been furious when they delivered my tiny, tough, and undercooked steak. I would have also objected to the campy, underdressed waitresses and slow bar service (it took almost 30 minutes to get a round of margaritas). I truly expected that this was a $35-40/person meal and I shocked to see the truth. Don't get me wrong: I have nothing against an $80 meal. But this wasn't an $80 meal. This was a $40 meal and a pretty mediocre one at that. What a rip-off.
(1)Charlene W.
The food was great, we had the 5 course dinner, but the service was amazing!
(4)Patricia M.
This is the 3rd time that we went there to eat, twice to dinner and the last time to the lounge to catch some of the live music and some appetizers. Now, to be fair the food is good, the service however is not only unreasonable slow but unfriendly as well. I'm not a big fan of a waiter/waitress to come by every five minutes to ask if everything is alright, but to wait thirty minutes to order a Glass of wine (my husband had to go to the bar to get drinks) or to get the check is not acceptable. We could not get anybody to come over to our table in the lounge, this was the same scenario for a lot of other customers. You could not even make eye contact with the staff it almost felt like that we were bothering them. we really liked the ambiance and the food but I do not feel that I need to trip a waiter/waitress to get their attention in order to get service. Too bad, you had three shots, that's it!
(1)Paul B.
This is the best restaurant in town!! I am always blown away with how amazing the food is and every night is something unique and wonderful.
(5)Susan P.
What an amazing experience we had at Margarita on Pine Creek. They offer three and five-course meals along with entertainment (the night we went we enjoyed harpsichord and recorder music). Our waitress was wonderful--she was like an away-from-home mom, taking care of us like we were her own kids. The food was outstanding. For an appetizer, we had fried artichokes (with a much fancier name I can't remember now). They were delicious--tender and flavorful with two sauces for dipping. The soups were wonderful, too. My husband had a vegetable bisque and I had gazpacho. This was followed by a fresh field green salad and roll. Our entrées were delightful. My husband had a baked chicken dish with Israeli couscous (which I can't describe adequately but he thoroughly enjoyed it). I had homemade pasta with spinach pesto and roasted vegetables. It was creamy, understated, and elegant. For dessert my husband enjoyed a chocolate torte and I had the strawberry marscapone shortcake. This was certainly the best meal we had in Colorado Springs.
(5)Geoff A.
I've never heard a bad word said about this place. Ambience: Great for dates or groups of 4 or less, with tables being hidden amongst quiet little nooks. I went with a group of 20 so we were broken up into 4 tables which was less than ideal. I've been told that there is often live music with celtic and harpsichord nights. Service: Our waitress was a little scatter-brained but I think this came from the fact that they were understaffed by 1 or 2 servers. In spite of that we got our food pretty quickly (considering 20 ordered at the same time). Food: Terrific. I like their approach which is to offer 3 or 5 course meals. The 3 course is soup or salad with main course and appetizer or dessert. The only problem I had was that one of our group wanted two of the appetizers only and was given a very definitive "NO". The dishes were original and very tasty. I had mussels for appetizer and it was pretty good. The highlight though, was the pork medallions which were the most moist pork I have had in COS. The flavors for both dishes were fresh and imaginative. Meanwhile my friends had treats such as goat (appetizer) and mahi mahi which one raved was the best fish she had ever had in her life. Since this was a group of foodies, this sort of praise is hard to earn. Our hostess told us the menu changes ever few days or so as the chef prefers to buy according to availability which means I'll just have to go back again (and again) to see wat else is on offer. Price: Not too bad, with the 3 course being $34 and 5 course $40 (not including wine). Bottom line: I'll be back.
(4)E L.
We enjoyed Mother's Day dinner here. If you bring kids, they can adjust the prix fix menu so that it's smaller. Your kids have to enjoy things other than chicken fingers though, cause you won't find it here. Our kids are both small and they were able to share a kids prix fix for $18. Kids liked the food. On the menu were crab cakes, salad, veggie soup, salmon and chocolate mousse. Our waitress was very kind in helping us figure out the menu. You don't want to be in a hurry here. Waiting the arrival of 5 offerings will definitely take at least 2 hours of your time, but it's so nice to enjoy the views and just talk. You feel like you are sitting in the woods instead of just a few hundred yards from the freeway. The food was terrific too!
(5)Suzanne B.
A 'Ladies Who Lunch' outing with my mother - for me, Margarita at Pine Creek will always evoke that kind of memory. I've never actually had dinner here - just their wonderfully light yet filling lunches of salad, bread, soup and that incredible spicy cheese spread. Hmmmm, may I please take some home? Steal the recipe? Anything? The building is wonderfully quirky - full of nooks and crannies and delightfully overgrown houseplants. The service is discreet and attentive. And the food is...well, you heard about the cheese spread, right?
(5)Emilie L.
For many, the Margarita at Pine Creek is a place where they go for the previously mentioned prix fix menu, which has never disappointed me. What I prefer, however, are summer nights on the patio with live lounge music, a perfect view of Pikes Peak and the front range, yummy margaritas, and the bar menu. There is not a bad burger on the bar menu...I love them all, all made with quality ingredients that make you wonder if what you have been eating your whole life have actually been burgers. The cheese plate is also a favorite off of the bar menu, as it is always a different combination of cheeses and meats that makes for a great snack to go with your drinks. And don't forget about dessert! The last time I was there we had a dessert sampler with cheesecake, tiramasu and some other chocolate mocha cake...I was so glad the waiter talked us into it!
(5)Kima W.
One of the loveliest evenings I have had was my evening at The Margarita at Pine Creek. The atmosphere was calm and serene, the service was fantastic, the views were amazing and the food was surprisingly good. I was seated in the North Patio, which is a beautiful outdoor oasis. My table was shaded by a gorgeous ponderosa pine. The beautiful abode wall encloses the area, but doesn't take away from the beatiful panoramic views of Pikes Peak. I didn't have the opportunity to enjoy the prix fixe dinner option, since I dined out on the patio, I opted for the Bar/Patio menu. I enjoyed bruschetta for my appetizer, and it was so far above and beyond anything else I've had by this name that I fell in love at first bite. The bread was grilled to perfection, then topped with beautiful ripe tomatoes, laced with slivers of basil, with just the right amount of cheese to hold all toghther then drizzled nicely with a sweet, thick basalmic vinegar. For a salad I had a very light sesame chicken salad. Fresh mixed greens tossed in a sesame oil and topped with cooked, juicy, tender chicken. For my entree I enjoyed the chipotle crusted shrimp cakes with a mango tomatillo coulis. This dish was out of this world; the shirmp cakes were seasoned perfectly, the chipotle added just the right amount of heat. The mango tomatillo coulis added the right balance of sweet that combined very nicely with the heat of the chipotle. To accompany my meal I had an Orangetini; which was very delicious and paired nicely with the shrimp cakes. I will surely be dining here again, before summer's end.
(4)Joseph D.
Margarita's at Margarita are good. Service was very nice and helpful but unfortunately also very slow. The food was okay, but it seemed that the chef after making a pretty tasty dish, always added one too many ingredients. Every dish burst with flavor, but the reaction from everyone at the table was there were too many sauces and spices for what would have been very good food without.
(3)Michael G.
An extraordinary dining experience at a moderate price! The Margarita at PineCreek was recommended by some friends and they did me right. I was in town from New York on business for a few weeks. I was glad I went early on my trip so I had time to stop in 3 times. Each meal was better then the last. I cant say enough about the food and the atmosphere and the service. I look forward to my return to Colorado Springs but more so another meal at he Margarita at PineCreek.
(5)jeff T.
if you want to support a great local restaurant that has been a part of our community for over 30 years with the same owner.The Margarita has ton of character, that buys from local farmers, they even grow there own herbs, they have the BEST patio in the Springs. With laied back service (not super quick) so go when you have some time to enjoy a meal. They have a couple of different menus one is a set 5 course menu that is more formal go with a date, special occasion, or just to enjoy great experience. They also have a bar menu that is fun with anything from a good burger to a fab cheese plate it changes once a month to keep you coming back the lounge is fun and downstairs. My favorite time to go is Friday nights in the summer get there around 6:30 to get a table on the patio listen to the live music and get ready for the movie its sooo much fun it reminds me so much of a drive in movie. The movie is free and sometimes Eric the chef will do a theme dinner (i saw Jaws he did seared tuna, Macao shark) it was a lot of fun. The movies will be over soon but the lounge is super cool and the setting is great. This is a true jewel of Colorado Springs. Oh if you havent eaten at a place in over 4 years you should go back before you review it!
(5)Nick W.
price is now $42 for 5 course meal and coffee. in this town, a comfortable place, people say "I Love that place" but forget that it exists. The patio movies in summer are a nice touch.
(5)Gourmet G.
The decor here - a series of alcoves with white stucco walls and terra cotta floors, and a nicely landscaped patio (with unfortunately uncomfortable metal chairs) for alfresco dining - is so subtle it doesn't prepare you for the outstanding meals turned out by an ambitious kitchen that relies heavily on seasonal ingredients. The nightly prix fixe dinners, amazingly low-priced at $33, include an appetizer, soup, salad, and dessert that nicely complement the selected entree, one of which is usually Mexican, the other two Continental or New American. Sunday brunch selections include fresh fruit and coffeecake warm from the oven. Smoked salmon cakes, heavy on seafood and light on breading, are served on mesclun salad with lemon vinaigrette and dill tartar sauce, and their take on Huevos Rancheros - poached eggs with beans and cheese in a corn tortilla shell with a side of pork green chili - is superb. Saturday evening dinner is served to the accompaniment of live harpsichord music, but plan to eat early, because even on the weekends last seating is at 8:30pm.
(5)Kari L.
The food here is always fabulous. The Marcelo Burger is the best burger I have ever had. They use a lot of organic, Fresh ingredients. I have tried the bar food and had course meals, I have never been disappointed
(5)Malissa S.
We came here for my boyfriends birthday. It was a mostly good experience. The host seemed a little rushed and was openly complaining about a table while he was on the phone. After he hung up, we were seated quickly, on the left side of the restaurant, in an interesting nook with one chair and then a bench cut out of the wall. It was a small space and we couldn't sit across from each other. Our waitress stopped with water quickly. She looked like she just came from the gym. The entire wait staff was dressed oddly. Some were very casual, some dressed up, like they weren't quite sure if they worked at a nice restaurant or not. I'm also not sure if our waitress ever told us her name. She was good at explaining the menu and drink selection though. We decided on the 5 course meal. A really good value for $42. We added the charcuterie plate as well. It was okay, 2 of the meats were very very greasy, but the other two were really tasty. For the appetizers we had pork arepas and lobster wontons. Both were amazing. The pork was sweet and spicy with a lot of layers of flavor. The lobster was good, one of the dipping sauces was a bit sour, but the other was a perfect compliment. We both had the tomato basil bisque, I'm not a huge fan of tomato basil, but it was really good. It had a good creamy flavor, without the basil over powering the tomato. One of our salads had no dressing, it was supposed to be that way, but we didn't notice that. The cucumbers and tomatoes were marinated in a red wine vinaigrette, which had good flavor. The other salad was the sesame one. It was really good with bitter lettuce and sweet carrots. For our entrees, we had the snapper and the pork chop. The snapper was cooked well, not over breaded and had a good sauce. The asparagus was a bit wilted though. The pork was amazing, with a mustard sauce. The polenta was very creamy and delicious. For dessert we had chocolate panna cotta and tres leches cake. The panna cotta was rich, sweet and decadent. The tres leches cake was a bit dry, but light and sweet. I wish it had a few more black berries. The whipped cream on top was really good. Overall, the value was really good. The portions were large and I felt the price was good for what we got.
(4)Bill F.
This is a (almost hidden) gem! I was staying at a local hotel for a few days for business and just happened to see a sign for this restaurant. I am glad I took a chance! I was sick of some of the chain eateries within walking distance of my hotel, and this place delivered the type of meal I was craving. The menu changes weekly, but there was something for everyone - gluten free, vegetarians or carnivores. I went with the 3 course meal, which was just enough food to fill me up. I was tempted with the 5 course meal but sometimes my eyes are bigger than my stomach. My server, Melissa, was friendly, passionate and knowledgeable about the menu. The service, decor and quality of the food were all excellent. I would happily come back here the next time I am in the area. Hint: They wont take OpenTable reservations after 1600 the day of, so plan ahead!
(5)Amanda K.
AGAIN!!!!! Had a wonderful dining excursion again. Had the four course menu and want disappointed. Really recommend a visit and enjoying the great food and beautiful restaurant.
(5)Larr G.
I love this place. The service was great! Our waitress was informative, funny and just a plain old delight. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. All of dinning areas are partitioned a bit so that while you are in a very large facility, your dinner experience is that of eating in a small intimate setting. There was live music on the night that we were there. The music did not intrude on our conversation; however, once in a while I would pause to listen to a song that I really liked. Given the work that was ahead of use over the next two days, I really treated myself well. I had the five course dinner, with the wine pairing. Yep, I went whole hog and got the 3 glass serving. Everything was great. The presentation of the food was excellent, as was the taste. My two dinning companions and I all agreed that the choice of Margarita at Pine Creek was an excellent idea. Oh yes! The view was very relaxing. All-in-all, a wonderful way to spend an evening. Gluten Free is available and they can work with just about any dietary restrictions, unless you are allergic to great food.
(5)Shawn L.
Wow....I took my fiancé to this place. You will not be disappointed. The food was amazing. They inside and outside seating. The outside seating is so nice. You are surrounded by trees. If I am ever back in Colorado I will go back to this place.
(5)