The Wapiti Colorado Pub - Estes Park

The Wapiti Colorado Pub  - Estes Park Location

247 W Elkhorn Ave  

Estes Park  CO 80517

(970) 586-5056

http://www.thewapitipub.com/

Daily   11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Tucked away in the small mountain town of Estes Park sits a small pub called the Wapiti. In case you were wondering,  a “Wapiti” is the second largest species of deer which flourish in the Estes park area. But, If seeing the heads of these creatures mounted to walls, while eating, this may not be the place for you.

Atmosphere:  This location is in the downtown area of Estes Park right along the Thompson River with the Rocky Mountains as the backdrop. This place is tucked away behind small offices and souvenir shops but the signs will get you there. It is everything you should expect a mountain town restaurant and bar. One side is a small eating area with tables and chairs situated near a blazing fire place while the other side is a dark, rugged and inviting. The paneled wood walls are donned with beer plaques, historical  local art and mounted deer heads. The ceiling is a combination of wooden beams and glass, which gives the dining area an outdoor feeling while warm inside.

Service:  When walking in we were greeting by two hostesses who speedily sat us at a table. Our server was prompt and polite offering us the daily specials for lunch and drinks. After lunch we visited the dark bar and had to wait a bit to get a drink but the bartender was friendly.

Drinks:   Having 100 Colorado bottled (or canned) beers to choose from made it a tough choice but we managed. The menu has everything categorized by beer type with everything from IPA’s, Bocks, Stouts, Ciders and even a unique section. We tried the Hercules IPA by Great Divide out of Denver and True Blond by Ska out of Durango.

Food:  The menu consisted of mostly traditional American bar food with some Mexican and Italian food plates. There is a kids menu and a dinner specials section with some seafood items as well as ribs. They also offer burgers made with elk or buffalo patties for those adventurous, lean meat lovers. We opted for burgers, having the Big Daddy Fire Burger and the Ranch Hand Burger. Both were decent size burgers and decent tasting. The Big Daddy was a bit of a letdown only because it wasn't very “hot”. Our burgers came with potato fries and onion rings. Both were good but the onion rings were definitely memorable above all else.

Amenities:  HD TV’s, free Wi-Fi, catering, reservations, kids menu, patio, royalty rewards cards, vegan menu, largest selection of Colorado beers in the state.

Parking:  Street parking as well as parking lots are available in downtown Estes Park.

The Buzz:  Trivia on Wednesdays at 7:30 pm, Open mic nights on Sundays, happy hour Monday through Friday from 4 pm to 6 pm.

The Rio Grande - Fort Collins

The Rio Grande

143 W. Mountain Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80524

970.224.5428

www.riograndemexican.com/fort-collins

Sun- Wed       11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Thurs               11 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Fri  &  Sat       11 a.m. – 12 a.m

There is no question that The Rio Grande or “Rio” is the place to go for margaritas. It seems like every time we stumble in here there is some kind of drink special happening, allowing us to take full advantage of the margarita choices offered.

Atmosphere:  When walking through the front door you immediately get the feel that this place is strictly a restaurant, but once past the hostess stand you will see the bar hiding behind it. The bar seems to always be full of people with a margarita in hand. There is seating at the bar, if you can find a stool as well as in booths along the outer bar area. The place is decorated with a no frills Mexican theme. In fact, not much represents it being a Mexican restaurant except for the name. Off of the back of the restaurant is a nice  and spacious patio. It has a large fountain in the middle and makes up in Mexican flare where the inside falls short. The crowd is always very diverse but between 6 and 9 pm you are likely to see a more family crowd there for dinner.

Service:  The service is usually slow in the bar area because of the crowding factor. If you manage to get a table outside of the bar, the service is better and you are likely to get drinks faster.

Drinks:  The big draw at the Rio is the margaritas – period. They come in 3 sizes and 3 flavors, strawberry, mango and lime. You can mix the flavors if you want to spice things up, but overall they are good margaritas and not too strong. Other than margaritas they have a full stocked bar with an impressive selection of tequila offerings. There are only four beers on draft and the rest in bottles with most being Mexican beers, but again this place is known for margaritas.

Food:  The Rio has an impressive menu but don’t let that fool you. It’s not horrible food, it’s just not that good. They offer burritos, tacos, fajitas, appetizers and a few seafood dishes from $6 to $15. Chips and salsa is served at every table and a great pairing with margaritas.

Amenities:  Private party ballroom, huge outside patio with fountain, tequila vault.

Parking:  Parking available where you can find it in old town.

The Buzz:  College night on Thursdays from 9 to 11 pm with $4 margaritas, Happy hour Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 pm, Wednesdays  margaritas are only $5, go big with a $6 Big Tex margarita, Salsa dancing on Tuesdays from 7:30 to 10 pm for $3, weekend brunch.

Sanford’s Grub and Pub - Fort Collins

Sanford’s Grub and Pub

1526 Oak Ridge Dr.  

Fort Collins, CO 80525

(970) 206-0400

http://thegrubandpub.com

Mon - Sat:  11:00 am- 10:00 pm

Sun:  11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Some may call it artery clogging food but for us it’s pub food with a twist. And what goes best with cheap beer and tacky décor, reminiscent of an old hillbilly junk yard? Our answer - Sanford’s and even more beer!

Atmosphere:  Sanford’s is situated on the southern side of Fort Collins on Harmony. The first thing we noticed about the outside is the large outside patio. Once inside, we were transported to a hillbilly cluttered paradise, packed with people. The décor is a cross between a Hollywood and a Vegas junkyard with items and signs strewn all over the walls and ceilings. There were also cartoon like hillbilly drawings on the walls and menus, as well as unique lead pipe stands holding paper towels near the tables. The bar itself is large and surrounded by HD TV’s and country music could be heard at conversation worthy levels. There is high top tables available in the bar area as well as booths and regular tables in the restaurant side.  Sanford's clientele seemed drawn in, in large part, by the kitschy cocktails (Hillbilly Martini’s) and cheap beer, but mostly cheap beer.

Service:  We tried to find a seat at the bar to no avail. The bar was packed, but we were fortunate enough to find a table towards the entrance to the bar area. Service in the bar was attentive and fast, even with $1 beers, our glasses never sat empty.

Drinks:  Have we mentioned they have $1 beers? Oh, and they have $1 beers.  But besides that they have $1 beers. Oh and some other happy hour specials (wine & wells) and fun drink names like coconut cream pie and fuzzy mint. But we went for $1 beers.

 Food:  Sanford’s menu is extensive. There are more than 20 appetizers, 18 salads and countless combo creations. They feature the usual BBQ staples, smokehouse ribs, pulled pork sandwich, barbecued chicken,  as well as broiled steaks, sandwiches, fried chicken, wings, burgers and some Southern influenced touches such as; chicken & biscuits, jambalaya, Cajun shrimp fajitas, Andouille sausage penne. We opted for burgers on this visit, having the Pants on Fire and the Easy Cheesy. Our sides of choice were the Sweet Georgia Browns (fried sweet potatoes) and Cajun Fries – both delicious. The portions were large and our complaints only came from our aching bellies after the damage was done. Overall our food was fresh, flavorful and very fattening.

Amenities:  Large patio, HD TV’s, video games, sauces and Sanford’s merchandise for sale.

Parking:  There is plenty of parking in Sanford’s parking lot.

The Buzz: $1 PBR’s all day every day, live music on Tuesdays and Saturday nights, Sunday and Tuesdays kids eat free, Monday through Friday  from 3pm - 6pm, daily drink specials.

Nordy's BBQ - Fort Collins

Nordy’s BBQ

151 N College Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524

(970) 568-8358

www.nordysbbq.com/

Mon – Thu 11:00 am-10:00 pm

Fri – Sat 11:00 am-11:00 pm

Sun 11:00 am-10:00 pm

Although old town Fort Collins is lined with great places to eat, we find ourselves back at Nordy’s when we want to be engorged  and filed to the brim with meat – while sitting at the bar. What is it about this place that makes us go back? The sauce? The atmosphere? A large variety of smoked meats? Or maybe the large bar in the back with $2 beers (during happy hour).

Atmosphere:  Located in old town Fort Collins, Nordy’s is a two story brick building facing college Ave. You can enter through a standard glass door or take your chances in the turn style door when entering. The decor is rich and masculine with dark wood work throughout giving it a homey feel.  There are many booths as well as tables throughout and a bar area with additional seating in the very back of the lower level. The bar area is open and inviting with a few flat screen TV’s and daily specials written on a chalk board. The warm colored walls are simple for the most part and decorated with beer signs in the bar area. Country music can be heard throughout the place and the crowd seems to be made up of mostly families and friends out for a bite to eat.

Service:  Service here has been consistently good. There is always a hostess at the front door greeting us and offering us a table. Service at the bar is fast and friendly as well.

Drinks:   The bar offers the typical domestics brews, as well as a balanced selection of local micros and imports. Drink menu’s are displayed on the tables and offer a few fun concoctions wroth trying but they do have a fully stocked bar with daily specials and a happy hour.

Food:   During our visits we have sampled a variety of their offerings and have never been let down. The sides offered for sandwiches, burgers and entrees include mac n cheese, beans, slaw, onion rings, fries and sweet potatoes tots , just to name a few. The menu also features appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, combo meals, rib platters and a few salads. The serving portions are pretty healthy sized so we have never tried the home made desserts listed on the menu.While the  food has never disappointed, the sauces send  it over the top. They offer three BBQ sauces (Texas, Jalapeño and Kansas City) as well as a Spicy Brown mustard called Carolina, all of which are good, but the Jalapeño is our favorite.

Amenities:  TV’s, catering service, kids menu, gluten free menu.

Parking:  Parking is available in Old Town Fort Collins.

The Buzz:  Happy hour Monday through Friday 3 pm to 6 pm with $5 appetizers, $3 wells, wine and micros, $2 domestics, Saturdays and Sundays 50 cent wings and talls for the price of smalls, Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM all you can eat Lunch Buffet. $10.95, All You Can Eat Dinner Buffet Monday through Thursday from 5:00 to 8:00PM for $12.95.

Island Grill - Fort Collins

Island Grill
2601 S. Lemay Ave. #12
Fort Collins, CO 80525
Phone: 970-266-0124

http://www.islandgrillrestaurant.com

Sun  & Mon        10:00am - 10:00pm

Tues                    11:00am - 10:00pm

Wed & Thurs      11:00am – Midnight

Fri  &  Sat           11:00am - 2:00am

Stranded in the middle of a shopping center, Island Grill is another tropical beach themed bar in a town that is swimming in them.  We found ourselves drifting by on a Sunday afternoon for the recommended brunch buffet.  Although it was a little early, there were a couple of people already anchored  at the bar and the wait staff vigorously cleaning the hundreds of pieces of paraphernalia strewn throughout.

Atmosphere:  The décor inside is what you would expect from a place called “Island  Grill” times 10. Every wall has some kind of mural with trees, animals, surfboards and other tropical beach-like elements. There are fish tanks located throughout the place and cheap plastic plants that were not tropical in nature. Old school rock and blues type music was playing low via the bartender’s iPod  while sports aired all over the bar on flat screen HD-TV’s. The bar area offers high top table seating and there are booths around the outer areas.

Service:  The hostess at the front door greeted us with a smile and the service was good and friendly at the bar where we sat. 

Drinks:  Island Grill has a fully stocked bar and enough local and domestic taps to keep your whistle wet.  Friends and other reviews mention the bloody mary's being cheap and good so we thought we should try them out. Let’s just say at $2 , cheap was right but good is questionable. You get a 10 ounce glass full of ice and a bland bloody Mary mix. You definitely get what you pay for.Fortunately there are several types of hot sauce provided at the bar to spruce the bloody mary’s up a bit.

Food: The menu is what you would expect from another tropical- beach- theme –bar , with burgers, tacos, sandwiches and appetizers in the $7 to $10 range. They do offer a few specialty items like burritos, penne and stir fry ,with a seafood twist, for around $11. We opted for the brunch on this visit, which is their version of a buffet. They offered 5 breakfast items – Bacon, Sausage, eggs, biscuits, potatoes and then gravy for added flavor.The gravy was really good. The food was just OK, and  not worth the $10, unless you go back for thirds.

Amenities:  ATM machine, Foosball game, fish tanks,  patio in front, Party room, Pool table, free WiFi  HD TV’s all over, bear claw toy machine, good size stage, video game machines,live music.

Parking:  Plenty of parking is available in the shopping center where it is located.

The Buzz: Monday's poker from 7 - 10 pm, karaoke on Wednesday nights from 9 -12, live music on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 8:30 pm, live trivia on Thursday nights, Sunday brunch 10 - 1 pm, daily happy hour from 3 to 7 pm.

The East Coast - Fort Collins

The East Coast
238 Linden St
Fort Collins, CO 80524

(970) 472-8265

Mon- Sun 5pm to close – but no one really knows

When in old town, we usually end up at this bar and are always prepared to drink.  Besides people watching and consuming alcoholic beverages, there isn't much else to this bar.  It is a no frills kind of place that exhibits little east coast flare, unless you stumble upon the owner. He’s a friendly guy who is more than willing to have a drink with you . His concoctions usually include tequila - since that’s what he loves ( you have been warned).

Atmosphere:  This bar is dim by day and very dark by night. It is a small place with very little seating unless you find an empty stool at the bar. There is bench seating along the east side wall, but no real tables, only tall cocktail stands and the walls are lined with pictures of East Coast city scapes. You will find a mixed crowd on any given night, but always an even balance of genres. There are two very clean bathrooms located in the back but be warned -they are unisex. There is usually good music playing via DJ or band and people dancing throughout.

Service:  Mostly bar service is provided, but you will occasionally see a cocktail waitress on patrol.  The bartenders all know their “stuff” and stay on top of their job. Occasionally the bar gets crowded and it might take a minute or two longer to get a drink, but the owner seems ever ready to pitch in.

Drinks:  This bar is equipped with the usual selection of local craft and domestic brews at a little lower price than other old town bars. In addition to brew, it is a fully stocked bar. East Coast is also the home of the “Bombito” which is a smaller version of a Jager (jagermeister) Bomb poured into an over-sized shot glass with only a little bit of Red Bull.

Food:  No menu. No food. No kitchen. Who needs it? This place is strictly a watering hole.

Amenities:  Jukebox, small patio area out front, pool table, bubble hockey, small stage.

Parking:  Parking is available on the street in old town where ever you can find it.

The Buzz:  Comedy on Monday nights, live music and/or Dj on Tuesdays.

Dancing Pines Distillery - Loveland

Dancing Pines Distillery

1527 Taurus Court. #110

Loveland, CO 80537

970- 635-3426

www.dancingpinesdistillery.com

Tasting Room Hours
Saturday 1pm - 8pm

Dominated by breweries, Northern Colorado was in need or something different. Dancing Pines distillery in Loveland proves spirits are on the rise.

Atmosphere:  Dancing Pines is among several warehouse buildings in an industrial park. The building doesn't  look like much but once inside it’s a bit cozier. The tasting room is small and rustic with several small tables and a bar off in the corner. When we arrived the place was packed with people waiting for the final tour of the evening. We grabbed a few drink specials and waited for the tour to begin.

 Tour : The tours begins in the opposite building from the tasting room. The tour guide, who is also one of the owners, gives us the story of how it all began and where the name came from (we will let you hear it from them). After the run-down of the distillery’s history, we are led into a back room over to the stills.  The large distillation room has several holding tanks for the “mash” to ferment.  Also two large stills, the first and most noticeable is a large hand hammered copper pot still made in Spain by a family who has been making stills for generations.  The other still is a more modern design that allows for a process called “reflux” that helps purify the alcohol.

The next room is full of barrels where the aging process occurs.  The guide informed us that the aging process for some of their liquors can take up to two years, depending on the flavor profile they are trying to reach.

The last stop is the bottling room which is lined with the big steel holding tanks. It seemed a little old school, but the bottling is all done by hand with a small bottling machine.  The bottles are then sealed by hand, labeled by hand and put aside for packaging.

The tour ends back at the tasting room where we ordered a few tasting trays which did not disappoint.

Spirits:  We tried both the LIQUEUR Tray  and the RUM Tray,  which included the following spirits:

LIQUEUR Tray

• CHAI LIQUEUR- Winner of a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and their most popular liquor. It has the perfect balance of flavors from whole leaf black tea and five spices.
• BRULEE LIQUEUR -Made from caramelized cane sugars and sweet like the cooked candied topping of Creme Brûleé dessert. This one is the winner of a Silver Medal at the New York Wine & Spirits Competition.
• CHERRY TART LIQUEUR -Made from tart pie cherries, sipping it is like a bite of cherry pie.
• ESPRESSO LIQUEUR -Made with real espresso beans roasted by Cafe Richesse in Fort Collins Colorado. This one is for true coffee connoisseurs!

      RUM Tray

• SPICED RUM – This rum is sweet with  hints of  nutmeg, vanilla bean and cinnamon  stick.
•  BOURBON – With a 44% alcohol content this classic made from corn, rye and malted   barley is a tasty classic.
•  CASK RUM – This rum is age to a perfect light molasses taste.
•  RUM – Slowly fermented with sugar cane molasses, this is a classic rum.

The Buzz:  Distillery tours Saturdays at 2pm, 4pm and 6pm, live music on select Saturdays, merchandise for sale, tasting room.

Tony's Bar - Fort Collins

Tony's Bar 
224 S. College
Fort Collins, CO 80524

(970)484-6973

Monday-Friday:   11:00 am to 2:00 am

Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 am to 2:00 am

Tony’s Bar is still a dive but was due for a re-evaluation since they have made some changes -for the better.  This is usually the spot we start at on a night out because of its south- side- of -old -town location and the cheap drinks. There is much people watching to be had here. You may see anything from stumbling old locals ogling stumbling young girls to frat guys being thrown out by security for being unruly. Do go with a group of friends.  Don’t go alone looking to make friends.

Atmosphere:  Now when entering the bar downstairs the aroma of urine and vomit are no more. It is still dark inside, but the floor is no longer dirty and speckled with old gum. It appears the floors have been resurfaced and replaced with hard wood. There seems to always be music blasting from the touch-tunes jukebox and the downstairs bar is usually lined with unsavory older men. If you make it to the upstairs bar, it’s a little more uplifting. The rooftop patio bar is covered and well heated.  It has ample seating around the bar and plenty of high top tables where the smokers tend to congregate. By day the bar is populated with the older crowd mentioned above.  At night there seems to be an unstable mix of some of Fort Collins shiftier residents and the lower end of the fraternity gene pool. Regardless, it's always a good time.

Service:  The service is average and you’re ordering will done at the bars, unless seated at one of the high top tables on the patio. 

Drinks:  You will find an average selection of beers on tap with your local breweries, featured in front of a few imports and domestics. They now tout having the coldest beer in town thanks to the ice taps beer is poured from. They did also add a new selection of wines displayed nicely in small wine barrels behind the bar.   The upstairs bar has a slushy machine on hand that is a dangerous concoction of vodka and Monster energy drink.  The bar staff always has a tasty shot in the repertoire that they are more then happy to shoot with you.  Do your self a favor and stay away from “The Jimmy Shot”.  Named after the charismatic owner, it’s an awful combination of vodka and diet coke. The flatness and flavor does not do “Jimmy” any justice. 

Food:  Apparently there is a menu but we have yet to dare try it. We did see a platter of fried food being delivered that actually looked edible and over heard people raving about the fried mushrooms.

Amenities:  Touch tunes jukebox, large covered patio upstairs, pool tables, shuffle board, TV’s, dart boards, bathrooms both upstairs and downstairs, skee ball games.

Parking:  You will have to find a place to park somewhere on the street. There is a parking lot behind Tony’s but you will have to walk around to the front to get in.

The Buzz:  Daily food specials,$2 anything on tap 8 p.m. to midnight on Wednesdays, bean bag toss on Tuesdays,  Happy Hour from 3 to 7 pm M-F.

Pourhouse Bar and Grill - Loveland

Pourhouse Bar and Grill

124 E 4th Street

Loveland, CO 80537

(970) 669-1699

www.pourhousebarandgrill.com

Mon & Tues           11a - 9:30p

Wed & Thurs      11a - 11p

Fri & Sat              11a - 12a

Sunday            11a - 9:30p

When in Loveland we make it a point to stop at the Pourhouse for a few beers and to enjoy some live music. We really like this place but were weary when we heard it recently changed hands. We have reviewed this place in the past but felt it was time for an update and we are happy to report that very little has changed. 

Atmosphere:  The revolving door as you enter gives you the feel that you’re not in an average Loveland bar.  The pleasant low lighting and modern woodwork gives this large space a very cozy and intimate feel.  There is a good amount of seating with several large horseshoe booths, a handful of high and low tables and a large bar area to sit at. The walls are adorned with musical instruments and art work of various music legends. There is also a flamboyantly painted vintage piano at the front of the place. The crowd was made up of younger couples and large groups of guys around the bar as well as several groups in booths and tables. The guys out numbered girls in this bar 5 to 1, but maybe that’s Loveland? And not necessarily a bad thing - ladies? 

Service:  We sat at the bar, as we usually do and received great service. The bartender was friendly and greeted us the moment we sat down. There were several servers running back and forth from the bar to their assigned tables with drinks in hand the entire time we were there.

Drinks:  They feature a well-rounded selection of specialty micro brews on tap and with $2.50 well drinks and pints during happy hour you can definitely afford to try something new.  There is also a large selection of bottled beers available.  With a full bar and a well thought out drink menu it shouldn’t be hard to find the right libation for any pallet.

Food:  The menu appears to have a few new items but includes things you'd expect to find at a bar and grill: burgers, sandwiches, pizzas and appetizers, but everything else is slightly more cosmopolitan. The more impressive items on the menu include bruschetta wild salmon, Pourhouse rib eye and St Louis style ribs. Gone are the stuffed pork chops and lobster tail entrees but new additions sound like tasty replacements.

Amenities: HD TV’s around the bar and a few in the table area, dance floor area, stage area.

Parking:  Parking is available in downtown Loveland.

The Buzz:  Live Jazz music on Tuesday nights, ladies night on Wednesdays with live DJ, Unplugged music on Thursday nights, live music on Friday nights, Happy hour Monday - Friday 11am - 6pm & Sundays ALL DAY.

d'Vine - Fort Collins

d'Vine Bistro
580 E. Harmony Rd. Ste. 102 
Fort Collins, CO 80528
(970) 472-9999
http://www.dvinebistrocolorado.com
Monday 11:00am-9:00pm
Tuesday – Saturday 11:00am-10:00pm
Sunday  5:00pm-9:00pm

d’Vine is a nice “wine bar” experience that allows you to experiment and refine your tastes in wine in a non-intimidating environment. With its casual atmosphere, small food plates and great wine at reasonable prices, the bar may become so popular they will need to expand.

Atmosphere:  Stepping into d’vine was like stepping into a sardine can mainly because of the tightness of the room as well as the smell of fish. We assume someone ordered a fishy dish that had no place to air out. There are tables and chairs through the center of this small room and booth like bench seating along the east wall, but don’t try scooting your chair out. There is a small bar area but no one was sitting at it and it did not appear inviting in such a small place. The décor in this dimly lit space was a feeble attempt to detract from the fact this bar is sadly a converted strip mall store front. There is a small patio out front, but useless for dining on cold nights, but nice otherwise. The crowd here was mostly couples and small groups enjoying tapas and wine.

Service:  Our server was quick and polite. She knew her wine and made several recommendations. No complaints where the service was concerned.

Drinks:  We both had and enjoyed a flight of wine.  Some favorites of ours were: Cashmere a blend by Cline, Cabernet Sauvignon by Chateau St. Jeans.  To be honest neither of us is that knowledgeable about wines, but we can definitely appreciate the ones we like. 

Food:  The menu is made up of Tapas, flat bread, salads, soups and small plates. We tried the Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus and Hot Goat Cheese, Spinach & Artichoke Dip. All very good but left us wanting more!

Amenities: Patio, Gluten Free Menu, Reservations.

Parking:  There is parking located in the lot surrounding the shopping center it is located in.

The Buzz:  Happy Hour  from 3 pm to 6 pm daily, live music every Thursday and Sunday evening, half off on all 2 oz tasting pours of wine on Tuesdays, half off all bottles of wine priced under $50 and 25% off bottles over $50 on Sundays.

 

West End Pub - Fort Collins

West End Pub

1119 W Drake Rd

 Fort Collins, CO 80526

(970) 377-0039

Monday – Sunday 11 am to close

We were lucky enough to stumble upon this place one night while out with friends. This is the perfect place to just chill out, have a beer and play darts or pool while listening to the jukebox.  The patrons posted up where of a mixed variety and all very friendly. 

Atmosphere:  This place is everything you expect from a typical dive bar , yet very clean. It is set up in a strip mall and has a store front entry. Once inside the long bar is on the northern wall with the south side of the bar is filled with pool tables, video game machines and darts. There are recliner couches along the front of the bar, directly under the windows and also towards the back, for those who want to lounge around. There is a jukebox on the back wall that played a lot of country music but offered some rock classics. There is ample seating at the bar and the few high top tables throughout the place.The crowd was very diverse with a few college guys, couples and old guys watching the TV;s around the bar and playing pool. The walls and ceilings are painted in dark colors and decorated with typical beer signs and plaques.

Service:  We only noticed one person working behind the bar and she seemed to have it covered. She was friendly, engaging and knew her liquor.

Drinks:  West End Pub has an average selection of domestics and craft beers.  There is a dry erase board behind the bar listing specials mostly some shots and concoctions we had never heard of, although they sounded good.  We didn't try any of the specialty shots because the bottle of Black Velvet behind the bar was just too enticing and comical. we had to keep it real and toss one back only to then see the bottle of Yukon Jack.  The bar is stocked with  all the usual liquors nothing super high end. 

Food:  There is a small selection of typical bar food here. There did not appear to be menus so we had to ask , but they do carry items such as poppers, burgers, pizza, fries and a few other less healthy options that go perfectly with your beer.

Amenities:  Jukebox , cork dart boards, electronic dart boards, Pool table, HD TV’s, pinball machine, video game machines, mega touch machine, ATM, skeeball, recliners.

Parking:  There is ample parking in the lot where the bar is located.

The Buzz:  Live music on Friday and Saturday  nights, dart tournaments, Wednesday night karaoke, daily drink specials , Monday through Friday Happy Hour .

Inca Mexican Restaurant - Fort Collins

Inca Mexican Restaurant

2413 S College Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80525

(970) 484-3400

http://www.incamexican.com

Monday - Thursday 12 am to 9 pm

Friday and Saturday 11 am to 10 pm

On the hunt for some margaritas our first stop was closed so we improvised and ended up at Inca.  We have been to Inca before and while the food is not so memorable, the margarita’s are unforgettable.  This pleasantly pastel painted restaurant is located in the front of the King Soopers parking lot on College Ave., so it isn’t hard to miss.

Atmosphere:  Probably the most amusing  part of the décor is the murals of tropical birds and Mexican landscapes painted on every wall. There are turquoise colored booths with floral upholstery patterns, tables and chairs down the center of the restaurant area and a Catina in the back. Most of the place is done in pastel- like- colors and decorated with festive Mexican art. There always seems to be crowds of  people enjoying family meals here while the Catina remains scarce. We went straight to the Catina where we watched soccer, airing on the flat screens perched above the bar. Other than the bus boys, manager and servers popping in to get the score, we had the place to ourselves.

Service:  The service was good at the bar. The bartender offered to make some custom margaritas for us, in the event we were not pleased with their selection of ten plus flavors. The manager was often wandering around,  greeting customers and helping out when needed.   

Drinks:  There are 4 beers on tap and those are your basic domestics. They do have several domestics in a bottle and a good selection of imports like Dos Equis XX, Modelo and Bonhemia. There is a thorough drink menu offering  several flavors of margaritas and pina coladas. They also offer a lengthy tequila selection as well as specialty margaritas in grande or mucho grande.  We had the grande strawberry margarita. It was the perfect combination of sweet and strong.

Food:  We won’t lie. The food, although good portions, is not so great. We mainly return for the margaritas. The menu is choc full of Mexican classics like burritos, fajitas, tostadas and enchiladas as well as combination plates with beans and rice. They do have a kids menu and as well as an American food section  offering  cheeseburgers, fish & chips and chicken strips for the gringo’s.

Amenities:  HD TV’s in the Catina, patio in front , catering,  free chips and salsa.  

Parking:  Parking available in the parking lot surround Inca Mexican restaurant.

The Buzz:  Kids eat free Wednesdays (10 and under), happy hour Monday through Thursday from 3 to 6pm, 20% off appetizers during happy hour, $3.50 Margarita Mondays.