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Johnson's Corner

A Colorado Icon

Getting There

It is hard to miss Johnson's Corner.  Located on the east side of Interstate 25 between Loveland and Denver, you just have to drive north for about 20 minutes. The sign is clearly visible from the highway and has plenty of parking in front of the restaurant.

The Atmosphere

Let's not mince words here.  It's a truck stop, people. Comparatively speaking, a really nice truck stop but it's a truck stop. The restaurant area is separated from the convenience store and it sports a wonderful view of the Rockies from almost every seat. There are many booths and tables to choose from and even some diner counters for those looking for some nostalgia. Positive affirmations of  Love, Faith, Hope, Blessings, Receive, Give Thanks, and Share hang above the doors which is a nice touch.  Also, as if to prove that you are not in the city anymore, a boot scraper is right outside the entrance for your convenience which was a little perk that we found charming.  They also have a banquet room for larger parties or special occasions.

The Eats

There were three of us that went on this excursion.  One had a breakfast consisting of eggs, corned beef hash, and biscuits and gravy.  Another one of us selected the french dip with American cheese and french fries from the lunch menu. 
Finally our third person ordered the grilled pork chops with hash browns and homemade apple sauce for the dinner selection.  Everything was really good.  The corned beef hash was flavorful and well seasoned. The homemade biscuit was light and fluffy made earlier that day topped with a classic sausage "sawmill" gravy.  The French Dip consisted of real roast beef, not the typical "meat sheet" you find on sandwiches at restaurant chains. 
The hash browns served with the pork chops and eggs were exceptional - crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside.  Johnson's Corner offers weekday daily dinner specials at very reasonable prices.

And now...Dessert.

We selected the carrot cake and homemade chocolate pie.  The carrot cake was a southern type traditional cake - dense, moist, with pieces of actual carrots, raisins, and walnuts.  Definitely a multi-serving slice.  The chocolate pie was amazing.  Most restaurants serve a French silk pie that is so overly sweet that it takes away from the flavor of the pie.  Johnson's Corner's pie is 100% homemade.  The pie is made traditionally with cocoa so you can actually taste

the chocolate not just syrupy sweetness. Even the pie crust is amazing.  Flaky, light, and even has a hint of salt - the trademark of homemade dough.

Even though the desserts were amazing, we were at Johnson's Corner and Johnson's Corner is best known for one thing.  Cinnamon Rolls.  World Famous Cinnamon Rolls, in fact.  These are massive, sweet, cinnamon heaven.  In addition to their regular cinnamon rolls, they offer a special cinnamon roll each month.  Being October, we weren't too surprised to find that this month's flavor is Pumpkin.  They really are amazing.  If you don't go for the food, at least go for the rolls.  Trust us, it is worth it.

The People

The clientele that frequents Johnson's Corner is a mix of all types.  Truckers, families, farmers, and many A-list celebrities have eaten at this well known diner.  Our waitress Mary Anne was helpful and very sweet.

Summing Up

Johnson's Corner is a Colorado Icon.  Joe S. Johnson opened it's doors in 1951 and the doors haven't been closed since.  They are open 365 x 24 x 7.  In 1998 it was voted one of the top 10 Best Breakfasts in the world and was 2004's Best Truck Stop according to the Food Network.  It was featured in the movie Larger Than Life starring Bill Murray and Matthew McConaughey, and has been a welcome stop for truckers and travelers alike for decades.

Although the food was excellent, the service was fair and the cleanliness was lacking.  The restroom was very dirty, but as we stated it IS a truck stop.  For this reason alone, we award Johnson's Corner a Fork.  Definitely worth a visit.  A great Colorado restaurant.

Thank you, Johnson's corner for the excellent food.

The Officially Unofficial Voting Legend
Take it with a grain of salt, we're not professionals.
	Awesome place, we’ll shovel more food in our face!
	It was okay. Not our favorite, but we’ll take another stab at it.
	Didn’t make the cut.

Hunters Grille

Good Food with Local Passion

Getting There

Hunter's Grille is located in the new commons area of beautiful Erie, CO. It opened it's doors on April 5th of this year and is a welcome addition to the community.  They are a little off the beaten path and tucked away so be sure to utilize GPS to find them.  Hunter's Grille has plenty of free parking in front of the restaurant.

The Atmosphere

After experiencing the high end, upscale atmosphere of the establishments participating in Denver Restaurant Week, we appreciated the clean, homey, and comfortable feel of Hunter's Grille. From the log cabin type décor to the soundproof wall that separates the full service bar from the rest of the restaurant, Hunter's Grille is warm, welcoming, and local.  Music plays in the background but is not overwhelming to the point where you are unable to have a conversation with the people sitting across the table from you.

The Eats

The food was incredible.  Everything we tasted was fresh and made from scratch. We started out with an herb bread stuffed with mozzarella cheese which was served with sweet, creamy butter.  The bread was fresh from the oven.  We reveled in the swirls of steam rising from this delicious treat as we tore it apart with our hands.  As we did so, a heavenly herbal fragrance filled the air around us.  It didn't even need the butter (although that didn't keep us from trying it).

Appetizers range from common to exotic.  We chose coconut shrimp with a spicy pineapple sauce and deep fried mushrooms with a side of ranch.  The shrimp was nothing out of the ordinary, typical coconut shrimp but the pineapple sauce was very good  - tangy, sweet, and spicy.  The mushrooms had a nice flavor without being mushy, greasy, or watery.  It was obvious that the mushrooms were not commercial but fresh and packed full of flavor.  We chose some safe appetizers this trip; however, Hunter's Grille offers unusual starters such as Rocky Mountain Oysters and a Wild Game Sampler consisting of bratwurst made from elk, boar, and caribou.

Looking over the menu, we had many questions about the fare and were unsure which items to select and which sides to try.  Our server Peter, was very kind and patient.  He answered all our questions and even provided us with samples of their orzo/couscous, their green chile, and their brand new Hunter's Grille stew. All three were simply wonderful! The orzo pasta was flavorful and hearty with a wonderful herbal undertone. The green chile consisted of tender pork and spices.  Let's just say we were hoping the food fairy would bring us a burrito to drown it in. The stew was our favorite.  Tender beef and fresh ingredients combined to create a "stick to your ribs" type goodness that left us both trying to decide how long it would take before we returned for a full bowl of the stew.

This visit, we were both feeling the need for red meat.  One chose the special and the other chose the rib eye. The special just happened to be prime rib. Peter informed us that the Prime Rib goes quickly so we were smart to get there early. No fancy marinades or anything with the meal.  Just good, quality beef, cooked well and served simply with a loaded baked potato and garden salad.  The rib eye was grilled rather then cooking under the searing heat of a salamander. The prime rib was good, although a little less flavorful than the steak.  The horseradish sauce served with the prime rib was strong but had a wonderful hint of dill which made it very tasty.  Hunter's Grille offers a classic American menu including burgers, steaks, and seafood.  They also offer a full children's menu.  All items are reasonably priced with the most expensive items costing around $25.

As a side note, when you order a glass of wine at Hunter's Grille...you get a GLASS OF WINE. Being used to a typical 4 or 6 ounce pour at Denver restaurants, we were amazed at the amount of wine we were served.  The glass is easily double the size of typical wine servings and it only cost $5 a glass.  Amazing!!!!

Now for everybody's favorite part of the meal...Dessert!  Homemade pecan pie with caramel and chocolate sauce and a slice of carrot cake with cream cheese icing.  Both these dishes were amazing, flavorful, and filling.

The People

Everybody we met at Hunter's Grille was knowledgeable, kind, fun, and friendly.  David, the greeter, was all smiles from the time we walked in the door.  He joked around with us and put up with our corny sense of humor.  Peter, our waiter, was amazing.  He was professional yet welcoming and warm.  Please do yourself a favor and request Peter as your server when you visit.  You won't be sorry.  Kelly, the manager, stopped by our table to talk to us about all that Hunter's Grille offers and made us feel welcomed and appreciated.  She is a great lady who cares deeply about the restaurant and her community.

Summing Up

Hunter's Grille is an exquisite restaurant with a wonderful small town feel.  It's clean, comfy, and unpretentious.  A wonderful place for a date, a family, or a fun group of people.  You can have a meal, watch a game, or sit on the patio and enjoy the clean, country air.  Karaoke is a draw on Saturdays.  They also sponsor the local high school football team - the Erie Tigers.  After the games, Hunter's Grille offers the team and their fans a place to gather, celebrate, and hang out.  They will also be hosting a fundraiser in November for the Salvation Army's Angel Tree.  All funds raised will be kept in the community of Erie where it can do the most good. Please visit their Facebook page for more information and notifications of events.  We are very happy to award Hunter's Grille the coveted "Golden Spoon".  A wonderful Colorado eatery with an equally wonderful staff and food.  Thank you all for an amazing time!

The Officially Unofficial Voting Legend
Take it with a grain of salt, we're not professionals.
	Awesome place, we’ll shovel more food in our face!
	It was okay. Not our favorite, but we’ll take another stab at it.
	Didn’t make the cut.

Next month's restaurant....

Johnson's Corner in Johnstown, Colorado!