Atmosphere Gastropub — Restaurant in Colorado Springs

Our favorite place in town. Menu is eclectic and inventive, food is phenomenal. A refreshing change of pace from the plethora of fast food and soulless chain restaurants that abound in The Springs. One great thing about this place is that you have healthy options that are still amazing in the taste department such as the Tuna Tartare (with Sesame, ginger and scallions, packs a bite and loaded with flavor), the Baby Kale Salad (with shaved Parmiggiano, dried black currants and pine nuts...never knew a 'salad' could taste this good) and the Togarishi Sprouts...and then you have more decadent dishes such as the Bulgogi Steak Fries (Out of this word), the Baked Lobster Mac and Cheese and the Duck Poutine (Loaded with duck meat and melty cheese)...All are just a flavor explosion. Chef Steve has a uniquely advanced palate and truly knows how to put flavors together. The recently added Reuben features some the best quality pastrami I've ever had. Shrimp Tostones are magnificent, the shrimp are huge and plump and the flavors meld perfectly together. And the Devils on Horseback are in a league of their own; the flavors just come at you in waves - spicy, rich, salty, peppery, just incredible. Truffle Chicken Sandwich is absolutely the best grilled chicken sandwich in town and one of the best I've had anywhere (I ask for the onion strings on the side, I feel they detract from the overall sandwich and fried anything cheapens the quality of this sandwich). Mussels, Sausage & Beer is my wife's favorite and is completely loaded with flavor, plus the ciabatta bread is perfect for soaking up the remaining broth. As far as drinks, they have a great cocktail selection, small but impressive selection of vino and some really good beers. The guys behind the bar are, in a word, excellent - Travis, Adam and...dammit, I can never remember the other guy's name! Whatever, they're all awesome.

Negatives: Bacon Jam Bison Burger - Was good but I could barely taste the bourbon bacon jam. Shaved Prime Rib Sandwich - A bit bland, could barely taste the creamy horseradish sauce. Not a huge fan of their lobster roll but I'm a New Englander born and raised on them so my standards are admittedly sky high.

Overall: Best joint in...

Was one of my favorite places for excellent food, quality service, and friendly staff. Their drinks never disappointed, and everything on their menu was crafted to perfection! Until last night, I had not been there in nearly a year. Now let’s break down our experience of last evening at GastroPub: 100% opposite of all my previous ones. The food was awful; like shockingly bad. Their oysters and sausage were not only pitiful in flavor and blandness, but it was also ultra fishy and too cool in temperature. The Tuna tartar is typically amazing, but this time more “meh” and I honestly don’t know how they could have messed that one up, as it’s been one of their long-standing dishes since they’ve opened. The martini I ordered was equally bad, with little floaties and particles in it. I’m honestly super upset with myself because I didn’t complain at all, and I didn’t even hint to our waitress how awful everything was. Which is why it’s even more surprising that she was such a rude server who acted put off for simply being there. She was honestly the rudest and most “annoyed-acting” server I’ve ever experienced at a restaurant. I can only imagine how rough her attitude would have been had I dared ask her to replace the horrible food and floatie-infested drink. But instead, I was very polite and courteous. She just had an overall terrible attitude and made us feel like asking for water was inappropriate. She never came by to check on us after quickly taking our food order in the beginning, and when we paid the bill, she didn’t even acknowledge us. If I were the owner/manager of that restaurant, I would be mortified to have one of my servers treat my patrons in such a manner. I hope this is just a “one off” but in all honesty, it was bad enough for me to never return. For the higher-end pricing of the food, they can ill-afford to have delivered such a poor experience to their patrons. Hopefully they aren’t simply resting on their laurels (having success in the past so they simply don’t have to try anymore). I was always happy to pay the higher costs for their food and drinks in times past…now it is nothing more than a bitter...

Saturday was my third time at Atmosphere Gastropub and probably my last. First of all the good parts. Their apps and small plates are excellent! I haven't had a bad food item there in two sit down visits. Now the negative. I stopped by there about a year and a half ago and after standing at the front entry where the hostess stand was, in an almost fully empty place, for well over 5 minutes, and after having numerous employees look at me, one guy finally came over and, almost begrudgingly, asked if he could help me. I asked if they had a to go menu because at that point I had no interest in staying. Of course they didn't and no alternative was offered. A year and a half later a friend talked me into going there. We were promptly seated, food and drink was good, and our waitress, I think her name was Sophie, was incredible. Thinking they'd turned a corner I stopped by at 3:15 Saturday afternoon, 1/14/23, to grab a table for 5 of us who were celebrating a colleague's new job. Place was maybe 1/3 full, plenty of empty tables and the same guy from a year and a half ago, brown hair, thin moustache, standing behind the bar, came over and when I told him what I was looking for seemed very put out and said he didn't know if they had any tables. Wait, say what? You're 1/3 full and you're not sure if you have any tables? Finally a hostess came over and said she could seat us at a high top table but that we would have to be gone by 5 as the table was reserved for then. Since everyone was headed that way we ended up staying, but after telling everyone in our party what had happened, during this visit and the one a year and a half ago, it's a good bet none of us will go back. UVA Wine Bar, just a stone's throw away from here, much more friendly and welcoming with no deadlines as to when you...