Courtyard Social — Restaurant in Castle Rock

Ah, let's embark upon a culinary adventure, shall we? The service, my dear gastronomes, is a shining beacon of competence amidst the labyrinthine confusion that seems to shroud this establishment's atmosphere. Imagine a tavern that yearns to be a social hub while simultaneously juggling an assortment of other identities like a befuddled chameleon. Methinks the proprietors could use a GPS for their restaurant's personality.

Now, feast your eyes upon the decor – a curious mix of sports bar panache and home goods store chic. Abstract photos mingle with vinyl records on the walls, forming an alliance that even Sherlock Holmes would struggle to decipher. One wonders if a mischievous poltergeist rearranged the decorations after a raucous midnight party. A bit of aesthetic coherence, my dear restaurant, wouldn't hurt.

The grand illusion continues as the menu tantalizes with dreams of fine dining, only to present diminutive portions of simplicity scattered across its pages like a culinary scavenger hunt. Verily, the menu's verbosity dances the tango with pretentiousness, only to land in the arms of straightforward mediocrity.

And now, dear friends, we traverse the culinary battlefield. Ah, the chicken wings – a dish so simple, even cavemen would have nailed it. Yet, lo and behold, these wings emerge as the black sheep of the poultry kingdom. Smoked? More like they had a distant smoke-related daydream. Brined? So much so that you'd think you were munching on a deflated dodgeball. A true quagmire of culinary missteps, I say!

Behold, the burger, that bastion of American gastronomy. But alas, it delivers a performance as exciting as a monotone lecture on the history of paperclips. And what's this? A gluten-free bun, as if the burger were attempting a diet makeover! Bravo, dear burger, for aspiring to healthiness, but one must wonder if a beef patty between lettuce leaves would be next.

Venturing deeper into the abyss, we encounter the "everything bagel Reuben." A valiant attempt to revolutionize a classic, the choice of an everything bagel as the wild card of innovation tickles my curiosity. However, a humble request to the chef: a tad less rigor in the bagel's texture would be delightful. One shouldn't risk dental work while sampling the avant-garde.

But hark! Amidst the chaos, a savior emerges – the prime rib sandwich. A beacon of hope amidst the sea of menu confusion, yet I can't help but raise an eyebrow at the five prime rib renditions on offer. Is this prime rib's grand farewell tour? The culinary stage, it seems, demands a bit of pruning and rethinking.

Kudos for portion control, my culinary compatriots. The fries, those humble warriors of the potato realm, arrive in quantities that would make a rabbit blush. Clearly, the establishment has embraced a health-conscious disposition – perhaps the fries are part of a culinary detox program?

In summation, my discerning diners, this establishment teeters on the precipice of potential. A dash of coherence in concept, a pinch of precision in execution, and perhaps a sprinkle of culinary charisma could work wonders. As for the kitchen brigade, a few less cooks may lead to fewer cooks in the kitchen and, in this case, that's no bad thing....

Edit to add my second review - scroll to see the new pics and vid

Courtyard Social – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Alright Castle Rock, we need to talk about this steak 🥩🔥. I’ve been on a carnivore kick lately (aka professional steak taster 🤓), and let me tell you—Courtyard Social’s Steak Bordelaise might just be the best steak I’ve had, period. Perfectly cooked, melt-in-your-mouth tender, and flavor that made me want to stand up and clap 👏. It’s the priciest thing on the menu, but honestly? I’ve paid more for steaks that tasted like a leather belt. This one? Worth. Every. Penny.

My daughter ordered the cast iron chicken pot pie 🐔🥧—and when it hit the table in that skillet, she lit up like it was Christmas morning. Fun presentation, hearty, and totally different from your “grandma’s pot pie.” She devoured it.

My wife went with the tequila lime chicken pasta 🍋🍝, and her grin said it all. Bold flavor, cooked perfectly, and she made me promise to let her order it again next time. (So yeah, there will be a next time.)

Bottom line: Courtyard Social, we’re coming back. Again. And again. And you better be ready for us 😎🍽️.

See below for my first review which was 4 stars.

We had a nice meal for lunch there today. Our food was good our waitress was great and the atmosphere was really nice! I’d come back! We got the green chili chicken sandwich and the Prime dip sandwich. Prime dip meat was really good! Very tender! The sandwich was smaller than I had expected based on similar sandwiches I get at other local establishments. The green chili chicken was great. A full healthy piece of chicken! Really good with that green chili! For sure check this place out if you’re looking for a relaxing...

NEW UPDATE: My wife and I returned for a second visit last week. She went with the tacos and I went with the "Everything Reuben" on a bagel. We also shared a cup of the beef chili. All three were outstanding. The idea of a deli standard like a Reuben on a bagel is a bit "different," but I gave it a try and it was really, really good. The best news is we got the name of the server who helped us out last time with the "cheat sheet" for the Happy Hour specials. She's Tiffany and she is the best! Well done!

My wife and I came in to try the new menu. We had previously gone to the restaurant when it was labeled as "Siena." The upgraded menu was quite good. You can now get a prime rib (for $42). It seemed to us that the food was worth the price. You can now get oysters on the half shell or baked. Even when you only order them individually rather than as a full platter, the presentation was first class. We would have gone with five stars overall except for two things. The first was the sports bar vibe. That hasn't changed. It's loud with multiple TVs, etc. Frankly, we've always learned to live with it.

The second item is something that we would very much like to see changed. The only happy hour menu is a QR code on the table. I personally won't scroll through a phone to attempt to read a menu. Luckily...our terrific server had a paper "cheat sheet" in her pocket. It wouldn't break the bank for the management to spring for some 3 inch by 12 inch, plastic coated, "happy hours" menus like pretty much every other place in town. It almost seems like they're keeping their happy hour deals (which are quite good) a...