I’ve long been a resident of Colorado Springs, but despite my constant pursuit of tracking down good eats in the area, somehow Jake & Telly’s Greek Tavern had skipped my dining plans thus far. After all, why go for pricier Greek entrees a gyro and fries combo from a walk-in cafe seems to hit the spot every time? Last night, I quickly discovered what I had been missing out on, finally giving the Old Colorado City Greek spot a try. A dinner there left with me nothing but good things to say.

Headed there for a special occasion and on many recommendations from trusted friends, my girlfriend and I walked into the Jake & Telly’s to be greeted by friendly staff and a small crowd of locals. We ordered a bottle of white wine we couldn’t pronounce and started to explore the menu.

The first course was, of course, sliced pita. Many times I’ve turned into a bottomless pit when consuming this simple dish, and dipped in a blend of olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette, the Jake & Telly’s pita was some of the most tender and tasty pita I’ve ever had. A sign of things to come.

After a bit of debate over the appetizers as all options looked so tasty, we opted for the Meze Plate to try a bit of it all – meatballs in red sauce (lamb, if I remember correctly), several chunks of grilled gyro meat, more pita, tzatziki, hummus, marinated olives, a block of feta cheese, and a few dolmas – at $25 and as the highest-priced appetizer option, this sampler platter still felt like a great deal. And I’m happy to report that each item followed suit with the fresh pita as top-notch varieties of each dish. The serving sizes were great, too, as we were both approaching fullness before entrees even crossed our minds.

But then we ordered our entrees, of course, from a selection that made it hard to pick just one dish – the menu was already begging us to come back.

She went with the ‘arni steak’ – a grilled Colorado lamb top round served with garlic mashed potatoes, butter braised green beans, and tzatziki. This was the dish that brought us there in the first place – one she was craving from a prior visit and one that she claimed was one of the best meals she’d ever had.

I went with one of the ‘special’ menu items – chicken Greek meatballs atop a bed of fettuccini with some sort of cheese sauce and served with garlic bread.

The entrees arrived quickly, and once again, the dishes hit the spot. Her steak lived up to the hype she’d formed in her mind since her last visit – a rare feat – and I found my chicken meatballs and pasta to be on par with some of the best pasta I’ve had in recent memory.

And then there was desert – baklava – a filo pastry filled with crushed walnut and honey. Again, another hit.

From start to finish, the meal at Jake & Telly’s was delicious and memorable. It’s no surprise I’d heard so many great things about the restaurant leading up to our dinner, and from now on, I’ll be one of the people with some great things to say, too.

Rated 4.5 stars on Google, this spot is a must-try on the westside of Colorado Springs. Plan a visit here.

It’s also worth noting that Jake & Telly’s Greek Tavern is located in the historic Old Colorado City area of Colorado Springs, which can be a greatly spot for popping around to check out various stores, galleries, and bars. Make some reservations on a ‘First Friday ArtWalk‘ night for a well-rounded date.

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