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Posted By: Around Cheyenne
Related Subjects: Dining
I have been to Little America a few times in the past and have always had a wonderful time, and was made to feel very special by the entire experience. My food has consistently been wonderful and the atmosphere luxurious, glamorous, sophisticated, and welcoming. All in all, I have counted Little America as one of my very favorites over the years. So, when it was suggested that I review the Sunday Offerings and Brunch at Hathaway's Restaurant in Little America, I was absolutely delighted!
I called my dining partner and we squealed to each other on the phone in pure excitement. Our plans were made; we got gussied up and went to do a review that showed every sign of being the absolute highlight of my week. Just thinking about going to Hathaway's in Little America is an exciting prospect, and we were properly excited!
We decided to plan our arrival for just about an hour after the Sunday Brunch began, thinking they would be really rolling and in the groove, so to speak, by then. We were right, they were all set up and the Brunch was in full swing. The offerings are delightful and some of the selections included; fresh fruit and berries, cold cereal, yogurt, breakfast pastries, a domestic cheese tray, smoked Salmon with condiments and bagels, Egg casserole, Eggs Benedict, French Toast with Candied Pecans, Mini Pancakes with Maple Syrup, Cheese blintz, Cottage Style Potatoes, Bacon, Sausage, an Omelet Station, and Honey glazed Ham. What a fabulous assortment, just the aroma alone is satisfying. Too bad we don't have a scratch and sniff so you can share in the mouthwatering aroma.
When we presented ourselves at the door, the hostess asked if we preferred a booth or a table. We requested a booth and were promptly led to a table, when we again asked for a booth; we were then shown to a half booth and half table. My dining companion sat on the booth part and I was on the other side of the table with a big heavy chair. I kept attempting to adjust the chair with no luck; it was just a bit too far away from the table to be comfortable. My companion and I decided to not have the Brunch after all and ordered from the menu as the choices were equally tempting. She chose "The Sante Fe," a breakfast Burrito filled with eggs, bacon, green chili, cheddar cheese, and green onion served with sour cream, salsa, breakfast potatoes, and choice of beverage. I choose "The Benedict," an English muffin topped with poached eggs, Canadian bacon, and served with Hollandaise sauce, breakfast potatoes, and choice of beverage.
I need to go back a little to tell you about our server, she was delightful. She is a young Russian girl here working for awhile before she returns home. She was very sweet, very helpful, but very hard to understand. We did a lot of "excuse me's" and "I beg your pardons." It was a challenge, but a very fun challenge. All three of us were delighted when we got something across correctly. I ordered hot tea and my companion ordered coffee. The coffee was delicious, the tea was a mess. The small teapot had no lid, so a saucer was substituted, and as it was larger than the teapot it was difficult to pour a cup of tea without spilling on the table, myself, and some of the surrounding area. The tea was my favorite kind and piping hot, and once I managed to transfer it to the cup it was just fine.
When our food arrived it looked very appetizing, but I was surprised to see no garnish on the plate. However, in these tough times I imagine those garnishes are simply expensive garbage, as I don't think many eat them, do they? My companions food was really good, an excellent portion and she enjoyed every single bite. I was not so lucky this time. My eggs were not set, my English muffin was soggy, and the Hollandaise sauce was cold. I suppose I could have sent it back, and I am positive it would have been redone and the result would have been wonderful, but I did not. Visiting a restaurant for a review is to judge the food, service, atmosphere, and overall experience on the first impression. So, that is what I am doing. I still adore Hathaway's at Little America, and it is still in my top five restaurants. I will definitely go back, and so should you. The stellar reputation Hathaway's at Little America enjoys is well deserved, and it remains one of the "special" places to celebrate anything from an ordinary Tuesday to an anniversary.
I give Hathaway's at Little America a classy rating of 4 out of 5.
Posted By: Around Cheyenne
Related Subjects: Dining
Downtown Cheyenne has a new eating establishment that is certainly a welcome addition. The owners of 2 Doors Down, Jerry and Sandy Inniss, also own the very popular Pizzeria Venti, which as it happens is just two doors down from their new venture, right on 17th between Central and Warren. 2 Doors Down offers Gourmet Burgers, Fries, Salads, Beer on tap, bottled and mixed drinks, and of course the regular assortment of soft drinks and tea. Even though they have been open just a short time, they appear to have worked out any kinks in their system.
While parking can occasionally be a bit of a challenge downtown we were able to find a space close to the restaurant, and only had to dodge a few raindrops getting inside. The crisp, fresh, red awning makes it easy to locate 2 Doors Down, and inside there is a surprising amount of open space, even with most of the tables occupied the restaurant it did not feel crowded. The inside has a sports feel with a touch of European style. Comfortable wooden chairs and tables fill the downstairs, while the upstairs is more lounge-like, with comfy sofas, big screen TVs, and a very casual atmosphere. 2 Doors Down is just different enough to be fun. When we arrived, we thought the music was too loud, but soon it was just background noise and we could visit comfortably. When you arrive, you order at the counter and are given a number. In a few minutes your food is brought by a pleasant server who provides good service with lots of smiles and good humor.
We ordered "The Magnificent" and the "Green Chili Burger." Both were excellent; The Magnificent was served on Italian Bread with red onion, tomatoes, Swiss and American cheese. It was named correctly. The burger was large, made with fresh ingredients and absolutely delicious. It was served with endless Steak Fries, and the Raspberry Ice Tea was a good choice with the burger. The Green Chili Burger was delicious, and served open faced with lots of cheese and green chili.
The prices are moderate and a great value for the money. You will feel comfortable taking your family, a date, or a group of friends. 2 Doors Down is a good place for a family dinner, a business lunch, or anything in between. We will definitely visit often and think you should do likewise.
They are open from 11am to 9pm Monday through Thursday, and open until 10 pm on Friday and Saturday; closed Sundays. We give 2 Doors Down a finger licking rating of four out of five!
Posted By: Around Cheyenne
Related Subjects: Dining
For more than 30 years Jim and Cassie Rauzi welcomed the people and visitors of Cheyenne to come dine with them in Poor Richard's Restaurant located at 2233 East Lincolnway. They do not rest on their laurels. A glance at the menu and specials will tell you the favorites remain but a variety of new items will tempt you.
When my husband and I sat down to chat with Jim about his background and the origin of Poor Richard's, we discovered common roots. Both of the men's families immigrated from adjoining Northern Italian regions of Alto-Adige and Trentino, just below Austria. Their fathers even enjoyed the same brown veal gravy on their polenta.
We relaxed in the inviting lounge area. The fireplace's flickering light reflected around us. Numerous vintage and custom stained glass windows hang between booths along the far wall and are mounted in the walls and doors. Carved antique wooden panels adorn the walls, complimenting the ceiling's warm wood beams. Jim scoured the Denver antique districts and procured these gems. The quiet surroundings hold small dining groups engaged in animated conversations.
Wednesday nights Poor Richard's offers a special treat featuring your choice of Sliders. The Salmon slider comes a close second to the pulled pork. Others say only the Kobe beef will satisfy. The expanded appetizer menu gives you even more decisions. A whole range of seafood from Oysters Rockefeller or Oysters on the Half Shell to Applewood Smoked Bacon Wrapped Shrimp with BBQ sauce and a Crab and Artichoke Dip with pita chips made decisions delightful. Maybe your tastes lean toward the Crispy Calamari, Mussels with Garlic and White Wine, Smoked Salmon Quesadilla or Escargot. Of course, the Italian influence steers me to the Portabella Mushroom Ravioli.
We greeted some friends and the woman took me to her favorite, the salad bar. Besides the fresh homemade Soup Du Jour, an abundant array of toppings, including sweet Jicama Root slices, fill the area. Be sure to combine the warm homemade hot-bacon dressing and the fresh spinach. Her husband boasts, "I've been eating here longer than Jim." (Before Poor Richard's opened its doors, a Big Boy Restaurant occupied the building.)
When Jim and Cassie celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of Poor Richard's ownership, their long time staff surprised them. Not only did this core group prepare a party, they also gave Jim and Cassie pictures of the Big Boy and Poor Richard's restaurants and a framed collection of diminutive menus throughout the years since 1977.
The current menu encompasses a vast selection. For smaller appetites, the generous salads serve as dinner. You may choose to order your Caesar Salad with chicken. The Seared Salmon Salad accented with cranberries and cranberry vinaigrette dressing ranks as a favorite with me. Olives, hard-cooked eggs, red onions, tomatoes and French green beans generously top the Seared Ahi Tuna Nicoise Salad.
Mouth-watering veal and beef entrees, including their famous prime rib, present many choices and toppings that add to your variations. Either Brandied Mushrooms, Straw Onions, Bacon Wrapped Shrimp or Blue Cheese Mushrooms can be included on your meat. The Veal Saute in Brandy Cream with shrimp and mushrooms tops my list for our next visit; or maybe the Wild Mushroom and Rosemary Tenderloin Tips Saute will win.
Five chicken dishes from Chicken Cordon Bleu and Chicken Dijon or Lemon (each with a mushroom risotto cake) to Chicken Piccata or Marsala cover nearly every possible combination of wonderful recipes. The pasta category lets you pair seafood, chicken or fresh vegetables with linguine, angle hair or penne pasta.
Salmon, Tilapia, scallops, shrimp, lobster tail and crab legs vie for your favor in the seafood section. The Crab and Boursin Cheese Stuffed Salmon, finished with beurre blac and accompanied by the tri-citrus rice, sounds perfect. If this were not enough, you may add a small steak to any seafood selection.
The lunch menu offers more salads such as the Rosemary and Mushroom Beef Tenderloin Salad and Mediterranean Chicken Salad. Beef and buffalo burgers stay perennial favorites. Then come (are you ready?) seventeen creative mixtures for sandwiches. Several that piqued my interest include the Club (turkey breast served with bacon, lettuce, sprouts and blue cheese mayonnaise on toasted bread) and the Portabella Mushroom Sandwich (roasted red peppers and provolone cheese top the marinated mushroom with sun dried tomato mayonnaise on a toasted Ciabatta roll). Try the Prime Rib sandwich (tomato, lettuce and horseradish mayonnaise on a fresh croissant). Another prime rib choice comes from the popular sliders. This one sits on Jalapeno Cheddar Rolls. The lunch menu offers quality food at budget-conscious prices.
If you need a heartier meal, select from a baker's dozen of entrees. Again, the seafood lover need not despair. The Mandarin Orange Steamed Halibut, Wonton Crusted Salmon topped with Sesame Chile Sauce and Cajun Shrimp Pasta represent only half of the seafood items. You can order a Chicken Fried Chicken entrée or the traditional steak variation.
Jim told me, "We're adjusting our menu to offer some smaller plates and additional choices to attract a wider range of age groups and customers. Poor Richard's is a great steak house and much more." For those tech-aware individuals, especially the young crowd, they may text PRS to 95495 and hit send for daily specials and discounts/coupons. Also check out Poor Richard's specials in the Around Cheyenne "Daylight To Dusk Dining Deals" and "Out For The Night" sections.
Join your neighbors for lunch Monday through Saturday from 11AM to 2:30PM or for dinner beginning at 5PM. The restaurant is usually closed on Sundays except when special holidays occur such as Easter, Mother's Day and Father's Day. If your organization needs a quality meeting place serving a varied, delicious menu call 307-635-5114. Whether you need to book a small or large party, Poor Richard's provides three banquet rooms that accommodate 10 to 70 people. Catering at your own location is another option. Visit the website at www.poorrichardscheyenne.com.
Posted By: Around Cheyenne
Related Subjects: Dining
Close your eyes, smell the tantalizing aromas and transport yourself to Tuscany in Northern Italy. You don't have to be Italian to hear your Nonna (grandmother) Francesca encourage you to eat, eat. Before you can say basta! (enough), you'll be tempted to top your scrumptious meal from Cheyenne's Pizzeria Venti at 112 E. Seventeenth Street off with a delicious serving of tiramisu or other Italian pastry delicacy and the bottomless soft drinks, beer, and wine.
Billed as "America's Only Authentic Sliceria," Pizzeria Venti derives its name from the twenty (venti) varieties of pizza offered by the slice or full pan daily. According to Jerry Inniss, co-owner with his wife, Sandy, the secret to the exquisite taste is the key ingredients (pure Italian water, top quality Italian sausage, superior quality prosciutto, special dough conditioning agent, salt, fl our, yeast and choice Italian seasonings) imported direct from Italy. Combined with extra virgin olive oil and other Italian meats you have the makings of great Italian food. They pair these Italian foods with fresh produce and authentic Tuscan recipes. Of course, it takes a bit of knowledge and some secret recipes to mix all of these ingredients into Italian masterpieces. That's where experience and the Tuscany training come into play.
Both Jerry and Sandy were born and raised in Cheyenne. Jerry brings 25+ years of restaurant experience, working from the ground level up to management. His nephew Adrian Samora declared, "Uncle Jerry has always been a great cook." Sandy left a position with the Wyoming State Bar Association to round out the venture. With Pizzeria Venti, Jerry came back to the food of his roots since his great grandfather emigrated to America from Sicily.
January 4th marked the third anniversary of Pizzeria Venti in Cheyenne. Fate played a part in the restaurant landing here. Sandy's family in Michigan ate at one there and sent them an article on the new Italian restaurant concept. That piqued his curiosity about what was new and exciting. He called the founder of Pizzeria Venti who came to visit Cheyenne. Our Pizzeria Venti became the fifth one in the United States. His search for the right building led him to the 1930s structure, complete with vintage overhead lights and original woodwork which fit the décor perfectly. The first year business grew about 10 percent and in 2008, as word spread from satisfied customers, volume is up 15-20 percent.
The interior is decorated with reproductions of vintage 1920s Italian food and drink posters, a picturesque Tuscan landscape, and Roman Forum faux marble pillars. "We want our customers to experience the unique Tuscan ambiance and character of our restaurant." Customers have commented about the cosmopolitan feel of the restaurant, "It's like getting out of Cheyenne without leaving town."
As they say, traveling to Italy for cooking classes is tough but somebody has to do it. Jerry and Sandy stayed in Olivello, a Tuscan farm house in the mountain above Monteroni. Their hostess, Marina, taught them the secrets of creating gnocchi (silent g). She effortlessly made sauce by simply putting a bit of garlic, basil from her garden, olive oil, salt and pepper, and roma tomatoes in a bullet mixer and tossed it with the pasta for a memorable meal.
During the two week session in Tuscany, Jerry developed a respect for the Italians and their pace of life while absorbing their food tradition and culture. "They are very resourceful and don't let anything go to waste. If they can't get something they want, they work with what they have to substitute without sacrificing flavor. The people greet you with a sense of family and we strive hard to create that feeling here in Cheyenne."
The delicately seasoned food reflects their philosophy of less is more. When you take a bite you taste all of the different flavors rather than being overcome by one flavor. Come and you will feel the passion and love for the food they share with you.
The most difficult thing about eating at Pizzeria Venti is deciding what to order. In addition to the multitude of pizza combinations to choose from, you have a virtual smorgasbord of other dining options. A variety of the mouth-watering trademarked Timpanini (stuffed pizza pie) in six variations including Three Cheese and Herb, Spinach Ricott a (red sauce), Chicken Venti (blend of Italian cheeses, artichokes, mushrooms and garlic with Alfredo sauce), Italian Trio (ham, coppicola and salami with onions and tomatoes), Bolini (stuffed with pepperoni, cheese and red sauce), and Del Giorno (the daily special), innovative appetizers, traditional baked pastas of ravioli, lasagna, manicotti, and gnocchi, salads, and soups await.
The Bocce Balls are a favorite. No, an impromptu game of tossing wooden balls will not break out between the tables. These bocce balls are Italian meatballs of pork and beef at the center with a 50/50 blend of Italian cheeses and pizza red sauce surrounded in a baked crust. The dough and all dishes are made fresh daily, sometimes two or three times. If you want something else, call ahead and they will create a custom order for you from available ingredients.
Prices are reasonable with baked pasta or Timpanini entrees at eight dollars or less, salads at four and one half bucks for a house salad or up to seven dollars for a field greens and apple salad. On family night, you can order one of three pan pizzas, bottomless salad and beverages for only $20.00.
After trying the Gnocchi Basilico, my husband has finally stopped complaining that you can't find good gnocchi in a restaurant. To be honest, I have not tried all of the items on the menu, but give me some time and I will, for they are all tantalizing and promise to be new gastronomic adventures.
Your Italian experience does not stop there. Italian restaurants excel in recreating the family atmosphere. Pizzeria Venti is no exception. You will be greeted with open arms and a friendly smile from the owners, Jerry and Sandy, their children, nephew, sister and especially Jerry's mother, Mary. While kisses on both cheeks are not yet part of the routine, you can expect a warm welcome and personalized service.
Opt for a large table for a lunch or dinner with friends or family, an intimate table for you and your sweetheart, a table in the upstairs balcony, or sit in the window alcoves and watch life pass by as you would at a sidewalk café in Tuscany.
Hours of operation are Monday and Tuesday 11AM to 8 PM, Wednesday through Saturday 11 AM to 9 PM. Closed on Sunday. If you want to book a party, the balcony dining is available for a private gathering of up to fifty people. You may request the entire restaurant for a larger gathering. Another option is to have the Italian food come to you for a catered event, including wedding receptions. "We strive for the complete satisfaction and happiness of our customers. Where there is a will there is a way to fulfill our customers' wishes," Jerry says.
Posted By: Around Cheyenne
Related Subjects: Dining
If you have ever had the opportunity to visit the Nagel Warren Mansion, you know what a wonderful treat it can be, but visiting for Afternoon Holiday Tea, is a Christmas treat to remember.
The historic Nagle Warren Mansion, located at 222 East 17th Street, serves primarily as a Bed and Breakfast. During the holidays, owner, Jim Osterfoss has the Victorian Mansion beautifully decorated top to bottom. Guests are welcomed by period furnishings and 19th Century artwork. The service received during high tea is the best accommodations in town.
At the Nagle Warren Mansion Bed and Breakfast, the teas commemorate the tradition of afternoon tea begun by the English, Scottish and Irish who brought this gracious ritual to frontier Cheyenne.
Traditionally, high tea is served 5pm to 7pm, instead of dinner. The Nagle Warren Mansion serves Afternoon Tea, as a light afternoon refreshment in lieu of the traditional high tea meal. The Christmas High Tea menu was expanded and offered an enormous array of items it was easy to leave feeling as though we had consumed an entire meal. The sixteen plus item menu prepared by Sandra McClelland and Jane Branigan was so appealing, it was hard to choose. Some of our favorites included the Orange Poppy Seed Scones, Roast Beef Pinwheels, Ham & Cheese on Baguettes and Chocolate Chestnut Roulade. Each item was unique, fresh and absolutely scrumptious!
High Tea at the Nagel Warren Mansion Bed and Breakfast is not only a holiday treat. The opportunity for High Tea indulgence is offered throughout the year among other wonderful opportunities to experience the ambiance of the mansion. Whether it be Fine Wine & Dine at the Mansion, Romantic Valentines Evening, Murder Mystery Dinners, High Tea, or a weekend getaway; your visit to the Nagle Warren Mansion Bed and Breakfast is guaranteed to be a special time.
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