Service: Service was very attentive and jovial! The waitress brought things in a very timely maner and had a personality which is a plus.
Ambiance: The Ritz is not a place to come for a relaxing family dinner. It has more of a loud atmosphere, similar in it's atmosphere to Jack Quinn's
Food tastes excellent and wine was perfect!
We've been going to the Ritz for many years. Â It was our go-to spot for lunch. Â The last time we were in the Springs it was closed, so we were exited to see them back open and to try the new menu.
It was a disappointment! Â My husband was pleased to see the Voodoo Chicken sandwich was still on the menu...but found it was changed! Â The name was the same, it was chicken but that was it! Â Usually I see lots of things that interest me...not this time! Â I ended up with what I thought was going to be a salmon BLT....didn't see any tomatoes and they slathered on a bottled tartar sauce that totally overpowered a nicely grilled piece of salmon. Â At least serve that "stuff" on the side, so it doesn't need to be scrapped off. Â My side of fresh fruit was barely enough to be considered garnish, never mind a side! Â The iced tea looked like tinted water.
The only thing that at matched the Ritz that we have always enjoyed was the excellent service!
I'm a sucker for fish and chips when they appear on a menu. I was not disappointed. Crispy batter and flaky fish. Yummy fries. I did have to ask for more tartar sauce, but that seems to be the rule anywhere. The server brought it right out and there was no charge so I was good.
I was surprised to get a full shaker along with my peachtini. Also delicious.
My friend and I get together once a month to catch up, so we sit for quite a while after we're done eating. We usually are either ignored once we pay or are "checked on" so frequently that they might as well just say, "Get out." This server had the knack of making sure our water glasses were filled without seeming to urge us out the door.
All in all, a very nice evening.
Downtown Spot: the food here isn't good; however, I don't go to the Ritz for food. Ritz is good for a night out in downtown. The weekend evening crowd isn't too young (like Blondies) or too old or have a ghetto feel like Thirsty Parrot. I think it's easier to meet and mingle with new people here (compared to other downtown places) because of the the way Ritz' seating is set up.
Review Source:We went with a friend that used to live in Colorado Springs and raved about the voodoo chicken. Â The place looks like a nice restaurant but way too bright with funky bar stickers behind the bar and speakers every where. Â The dark cherry wood would make you think this was a classy upscale restaurant. Â Alas, no. Â There was no hostess at the hostess stand so we figured we would just eat at the bar. Â We were pretty much ignored for a good 5 minutes. Â (He was nice after that) I would have walked out but our friend liked the place so I was trying to be patient. Â I did notice 2 different parties in this time frame turn around and walk out. Â
We were so hungry so everything looked good. Â We sat at the bar so there is a separate bar happy hour menu for food. Â We decided on three different apps to split: Â the calamari, the salmon and the voodoo chicken. Â Based on my dining experience and the description on the menu (HOUSE SMOKED SALMON Flat bread crackers / herbed cream cheese /shaved red onion / capers / diced tomatoes) I wrongly made the assumption it would be thinly sliced salmon. Â Um, no. Â It was a huge slab of salmon that seemed only semi-smoked. Â It was a little overwhelming. Â The only savior of this dish was the funky green sauce that came with it.
The calamari was typical and rubbery and the red sauce that came on the plate was horrid. Â It tasted like tomato paste with a couple chunks of something in there. Â
The voodoo chicken was the biggest disappointment. Â It was chicken strips on a plate. Our friend was so looking forward to this. Â He took the first bite and the look on his face was "WHAAAATT!!!" Â He said it didn't taste the same as before. Â I tasted it and it tasted a little like Franks Red Hot Sauce mixed with something sweet causing each flavor to cancel each other out.
We didn't say anything at the time because our friend was a fan. Â We should have sent back everything. Â We won't be back. Â Three items and none were good...the odds are the rest of the food won't be either.
I have never been here for their late-night atmosphere, but I have been for lunch and dinner and I must say, I am a fan! First off, they have tater tots so I was automatically in love! I have only ever ordered their bacon cheeseburger (mostly because it comes with the option of tots) and it is pretty good. Not the best burger I have ever had, but definitely not disappointing.
The service is great. My waitress has always been perfectly attentive- refilling water without you having to request it and clearing plates in a timely manner.
Another thing worth noting is their selection of martinis. They have so many that sound so good it just makes me want to order one of each! ...I am sure I wouldn't regret that decision the next day! HA!
I have heard through the rumor mill that this place is not so good a destination for your late-night escapades- a girl can't even walk through the bar without being propositioned. Meh. What place in downtown Colorado Springs isn't that way?? They do have live bands though, and that I like.
Not sure why this place has such mediocre reviews. Came here for dinner with a group and had great service. I ordered a flat iron steak with broccolini and potatoes and it was delicious. Steak was perfectly medium-rare as I ordered. Everyone else's meals were also commended. Only negative was my cosmopolitan, which was pretty bad. But the peppermint chocolate martini made up for it.
Review Source:I only go to the Ritz if my buddies band is playing there. Â First major complaint with this place is the food. Â IT IS AWFUL. Â Don't give me butternut squash with that isn't smooth and creamy and tell me it is topped with chorizo when it is clearly topped with andoui. Â GROSS. Â I once walked by this place on a Thursday evening when it was hip hop night, and as I sang a Gwen Stefani song that was playing he ask, "What chu know bout that, white girl?" Â So I laughed and said the girl singing is white dummy....People. Â So the food is bad, the people are bad, the service isn't great, and everything is over priced....SKIP!!!!
Review Source:Wife, daughter and I went to the Ritz for lunch yesterday after a bit of Christmas shopping. It was very good...fast service...a great view of the street for people watching....outstanding gumbo ...and good sandwiches. Â The marinated & grilled chicken was really nice and the tater tots were really crisp. Â We'll definitely return to try other items on the menu!
Review Source:My wife and I went to the Ritz last Sunday night. Â Really nice space, retro feel and all. Â Nice service. Â i did find something on the menu that I enjoyed (the tilapia tacos) but, other than the chicken sandwich (which....is just a chicken sandwich) there was not much on the menu that I'd personally order.
Review Source:Lunch review only:
This is seriously a place I want to do well, and a place I want to enjoy (because of proximity), but I cannot get behind it.
I have tried it several times, and I have left each time wondering why I went. Â With all the other choices in downtown springs, I don't think I will be going back unless someone from the group wants to go.
I have tried several dishes and they have all been just ok. Â Service also has been fine (actually better than the food in my book). Â
I have had both the patty melt and the cajun chicken and shrimp. Â Both were ok. Â The cream sauce on the chicken was a bit heavy for my liking.
maybe they don't do lunch as well their other niches. Â My 2 cents, there are lots of better options downtown than this one.
We had a high school reunion dinner downstairs in the Elbo Room. Â It was nice, quiet and clean with our own staffed and stocked bar.
Mara worked with us to get us the best event within our budget and I think the evening turned out great!
Once our dinner was over we went upstairs to leave and the bar was crowded and very loud (Saturday night). Â But we hadn't heard any of that downstairs, so I'll list it as "Quiet" here.
I would recommend this place for a small, special event. The Elbo Room probably seats 50.
Ambiance: Nice enough space. Great retro bar - very art deco, is the centerpiece of this establishment. Several dozen tables are slightly elevated to one side of the restaurant, and overlook the bar area. Also, there are tables downstairs for overflow. This place takes on four distinct identities: 1) Weekend brunch 2) Happy hour cocktail spot 3) Dinner crowd and 4) Late night rowdy place with live music.
Service: Varies. Happy with bar service, but have had issues a few times with inattentive waitresses during meal times.
Food: Not sure if they still do the $1 Wednesday oysters or not, but they are really good when in season. Their brunches, though heralded by some, are not all that great. Hollandaise sauce is served cold over eggs benedict. Rest of brunch menu is unremarkable. They also seem to slightly miss the mark in the execution of the dinner entrees, and I have never been overly-impreessed with any of them. I really do not like this place at all late at night, nor the crowd that patronizes this place at that time.
Overall, I like this place most for cocktails and snacks after work during happy hour. Not so much a fan of their kitchen or this place the rest of the time. With the great atmosphere, I have always thought this place could be so much better than it is. Has so much unrealized potential.
Nice location, good decor however will never go there again!! Our waitress was unable to tell us the daily special, she then went to find out and we were told there was none that night. Then upon ordering the short ribs a rits favorite, she comes back 20 minutes later, serves my food and then tells my husband they don't have any short ribs left what would he like? I told her to take away my food and to bring us the check for our drinks and appetizer, she then said she will speak with the manager and let us know if they can do this since they made my food. I couldn't believe it. For the price of the entree's they had mcdonalds customer service!
Review Source:Good food and service but overpriced.
Ambience: Varies depending on when you there. Lunch is mostly businessmen and dinner is a more upper class casual older type. After 8PM it gets younger and busier with a more drinks-only emphasis.
Service: Very good. Friendly, attentive and knowledgeable staff.
Food: Good quality with excellent flavors. Only problem is they charge for the presentation which is very fancy. I have tried a rose-pasta special which was rice and creamy and nicely balanced. A friend of mine had the asian salad which was well sized and flavored. I came back another day especially to try the ahi spring rolls. Again it was delicious, but the portion was tiny and clearly they had been prepared well in advanced and simply taken out of the fridge when ordered, so the rice wrap was rubbery and cold. Desserts were good but it's a fairly ordinary selection.
Bottom line: Go there if you're feeling flush or you're trying to get a big business contract.
I have a love hate relationship with The Ritz (as the locals call it). There was a time in my life where you could find me at the ritz every night.
During the day Ritz Grill is a decent lunch and dinner spot. Good Drink specials with good food and a nice patio perfect for people watching. Back when I lived in The Springs and had Tuesdays and Wednesdays off I would meet up with my Pops and share an appetizer (The Voodoo Chicken ROCKS!) and a nice refreshing vodka tonic and watch people get off work. Â Some of my favorite foods include the mentioned Voodoo Chicken which is a sweet and spicy boneless chicken strip meal. You can get it in a sandwich too, as well as their Jolly Green Sandwich, which is vegetarian and yet so satisfying.
At night The Ritz is transformed into a bar/club. Featuring a full bar with good bartenders and decent drink specials as well as some of Colorado Springs best local bands it can be a pretty fun place to party it up on a Saturday. Just be wary that sometimes the crowed can get a little rowdy. But the mix of people is always interesting and fun with all sorts of age groups. There were very few crazy nights I didn't enjoy at The Ritz...Such good memories...also some not so good memories, but that is a story for another time.
If you want to take your family or friends to lunch this is a good place with something for everyone. Dinner might be better reserved for adults as the night time scene transforms this place from restaurant to bar with full menu pretty fast. At night its a great way to get away from the scummy rum bay scene and have a good time.
The Ritz is like an old friend you don't know if you really like but keep hanging out with anyways.
Having spent the majority of my Friday and Sat nights there in my early 20's, it is the background to the drunkest of my memories.
The drinks are good and the prices are respectable. The bands are hit or miss. You can and should dance like a fool here because this is the best place to do so. The dance floor is itty bitty so you feel comfortable. If nobody is on the floor, keep walking. That means the band sucks.
This is the kind of place you can take a client during the day and be molested by your Jr. High science teacher at nights. That's just part of the charm.
Avoid this place if you have anxiety in crowds. It's super packed by the stairs to the Elbow Room.
Also note, they have a smoking hot bartender who works upstairs. I don't know his name but he has worked there forever.
Enjoy!
This is the downtown business lunch place of choice. Â I love bringing clients or meeting friends for a quiet meal where we can hear each other for conversations. Â The waitstaff is always friendly, professional and unobtrusive.
I totally love the Southwest Pasta - Rock shrimp and chicken in a roasted red pepper sauce, over angel hair and topped with jack cheese. Â Be careful of getting salads and appetizers as the meal portions are large.
If you are into the party scene, this place rocks on Friday and Saturday and the crowd tends to be more mature. Â The bar makes great drinks and isn't stingy on the alcohol in mixed drinks. Â If you aren't into crowds, don't go near this place at night on the weekend.
As previously mentioned, there seem to be two different Ritzes...the Friday and Saturday night packed to the brim with a so-so band and drunk people spilling beer on you Ritz, and the rest of the week when you can get a decent lunch or dinner Ritz. Â Now if I was reviewing the Friday and Saturday night Ritz, this would probably only be a 2 star review, but since I avoid that Ritz and go for the food, I will give this place 4 stars. Â The Ritz may not have the BEST menu downtown (for that I would recommend probably MacKenzie's Chophouse or the Blue Star), but they do provide good food of consistent quality. Â The wait staff has always been professional, attentive and polite...and the drinks ARE pretty good.
Review Source:On Friday and Saturday evenings, I feel that the Ritz is most heavily populated by people between ages 35 - 45 who are trying to feel 25. The Ritz has a hip layout and feel, and the music they play is current, so this population can go to the Ritz, feel cool and young, and dance like only older white people can (please note: I am not that far away from 30, and I am white, so it's possible that this is my future). This has been my experience with the Ritz until recently. It's not a bad one, mind you: good music, decent cover bands, decent drinks, a fun atmosphere, and a place to watch others and think, "Oh god, oh god, please don't let that ever be me."
A friend and I went there for dinner last night, and perhaps because I've seen what the Ritz becomes in later hours, I was expecting sub-par trendy bar food. However, I am quite pleased to say the food was delicious. It is moderately priced: I believe my appetizer was $10 and my cup of soup was $5.
The soup of the day was New England clam chowder, and I was sooo sad when it was gone. Had I been at home, I would've licked the remnants out of the cup. It was the best clam chowder I have ever had. I also had the crab potstickers, and they were equally as delicious. My friend had a house salad with a tasty basil vinaigrette dressing, which she was in love with, and also had the smoked salmon appetizer, which she greatly enjoyed. It looked awesome from where I was sitting! The atmosphere was relaxed, and everything was really enjoyable.
In conclusion: the Ritz wears many faces, and my favorite is Dinner-Face.
The Ritz is really a few places in one depending on the time of day. I've had a couple of very solid lunches in their downstairs area. My favorite times there haven been hanging out on the patio for dinner. The late night brings out a hip-hop crowd that is not really my scene thou I know a lot people who've had fun here. Â I need to eat here more to get a feel for their dinners.
Review Source:
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