Today I'm highlighting another one of my favorite places in town. Pitchers at 1100 West Drake Road in Fort Collins. It's right on the corner of Drake and Sheilds, so it's pretty easy to get to. Added bonus for me is how close it is to my home. It's less than a 5 minute drive and in the warmer months it's just a short walk.
First Impressions: From the outside Pitchers doesn't look like much. You'd be right in guessing that it's a sports bar and it looks the role in every way. From the sports themed sign, the name itself, the look of the building complete with two large satellite dishes, it screams sports bar. Don't let this put you off. Once inside the sports bat look gets even more pronounced, TV's everywhere you look, pool tables cover one half of the building, the center of the main room is dominated by a large bar, lights are low and the seating is in the back. Again, please don't let the look fool you, it can be a little off-putting when you're looking for a meal and walk into a bar scene. But trust me on this one, you're in for a treat if you keep an open mind. Forge ahead and don't wait to be seated, just find an empty booth or table in the back and make sure you're not hiding in the corner or the wait staff may not see you.
The Menu: Once you are seated and the wait staff comes to check on you, you will be asked if you even want a menu. Being a sports bar some folks do just come to have a drink or two and watch a game on one of the many TV's. Looking at the menu itself you will again think I'm crazy or just have no taste, it looks pretty much like any bar menu, burgers, lots of appetizers and pub style food. However the Mexican food section is quite extensive and there are several gems on the menu worth trying. I won't say it's not bar food, because let's face it, it is. But it's some of the best bar food I've ever had.
Having lived in CA for most of my life, I've acquired a taste for authentic Mexican food. This is the closest I've come in CO to getting "the good stuff". No really, trust me on this, no Mexican food restaurant that I've tried in CO comes closer to authentic than the food at Pitchers does. This is primarily due to the green chili. They are very proud of their green chili and they should be, it's excellent, so they put it on most of their Mexican dishes. That's fine by me, it's got a lot of flavor and a little spice to it without being too much for a gringo palate. Even my kids can eat it and they don't care for spicy food. In the picture above you can see the smothered burrito, I cut it open to try and show that they use black beans instead of pinto, and how the entire tortilla is filled with beans and meat. Also you can see that when they say smothered, they mean it. That's a pile of green chili and cheese on top. No skimping here.
Another highlight of the menu is the fries. Wait, french fries are a highlight? Yes, you read that right, the fries here are great. They're homemade from real potatoes and fried on the spot. They don't over cook them either so they're not too crunchy even though they are thin fries instead of the thicker home-fries or potato wedge style of fry. Lastly they aren't over salted either, so you can taste the potato, which I like quite a bit.
Being a bar they also have some great drink selections. Don't look for fruity cocktails here though, this is Colorado which means some of the best beer in the country. Pitchers actually has their own microbrewery so I highly recommend trying one of the house beers. The amber and 808 wheat beer are both excellent and in spring the 420 wheat beer is great as well.
One final note, even though it is a sports bar, I've never had any problems bringing my kids here. The wait staff is great and really try to make everyone feel at home, including the kids and for a bar it's quite clean and well taken care of.
Favorites: The fries, the buffalo wings (which come in a variety of optional seasonings), the smothered burrito (pictured), chili rellenos, or just about anything else smothered in their green chili, the 420 wheat beer and the amber.
Prices: On top of great selection and good food they have good prices too. Dinner for 2 usually ranges from $18-$24 including drinks.
Quick Take: A sports bar with food very unlike a sports bar. One of my favorite places in town for a drink or for Mexican food.
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