Ephemera — Restaurant in Colorado Springs

I had been looking forward to trying this restaurant for the past two or three years. For my birthday my husband took me here for a special evening, and based on the glowing reviews, I was genuinely excited.

Unfortunately, the experience took a sharp turn for the worse shortly after we placed our order. My husband politely asked our waitress (who had curly blonde hair and very thin lips) for a paper napkin to dispose of his gum. She acknowledged the request, but after bringing our water and about 10 minutes of waiting, it became clear she may have forgotten, so he asked again. Her response was unexpectedly rude — she gave him a sharp look and said, “One minute, sweetie,” in a condescending tone before walking away.

What followed was even more concerning. We saw her speaking with the chef and what appeared to be the manager, both of whom looked directly at our table during the conversation. Her gestures and expressions made it appear as though my husband had done something wrong, which was deeply unsettling. My husband is an incredibly kind, respectful man, and there was absolutely nothing in his behavior that could justify that reaction.

I rarely bring race into my reviews, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that my husband — the only Black man in the restaurant at the time — was being treated differently. Once the manager noticed I was observing the conversation, she repositioned herself to block my view of the waitress. From then on, the waitress was more neutral in her service, though she noticeably ignored my husband’s polite “thank you” on two occasions, while warmly responding to other guests.

This created a very uncomfortable and upsetting atmosphere that put a real damper on what was meant to be a celebratory evening.

On the positive side, the food was largely excellent. I ordered the five-course meal — the portions were quite small, and while most dishes were good, the top sirloin was overcooked and dry. The dessert, unfortunately, was a letdown — the apricot was scorched, though they kindly replaced it with a blueberry tart for both of us. Sadly, the tart tasted more like a Key lime pie and had a flavorless crust. My husband ordered the duck, which was absolutely phenomenal — we’re still talking about how good it was.

In the end, while the kitchen clearly has talent, the service experience we had was disappointing and disheartening enough that we won’t be returning. A special occasion was overshadowed by behavior that left us feeling deeply...

If there is any single place that is truly an example of the movement in the right direction of Colorado Springs, it is Ephemera. The bravery this restaurant has to pursue their concept in a meat and potato, Applebee's, taco shop, brewery town like this is inspiring. The owner's Ian and Adam are two of the most brilliant, creative, forward thinking people in this city and their food speaks of it. They are truly inspiring.

I just had my second experience here and just so happened to be as blown away as the first.

The first experience, my lovely date and I were so excited to dive right in to their seven course menu. Dish, after dish, after dish, after dish were incredible. The kitchen team's preparation, composition, and respect for every ingredient on every course was something I have never experienced before. They treat every ingredient, on every dish, as it's own individual note on a keyboard. Every dish is harmony.

There were stand outs. The deconstructed spring roll blew my mind, the beet tortellini (no joke) brought a tear to my eye, and the Elk Wellington was one of the most delicious, out there, memorable dishes of my life.

My second experience was all about their oysters. It's truly wonderful to have the chefs present you with a half dozen and guide you through what makes them special. You taste meaning, which is so special. Paired with a glass of delicious muscadet, couldn't be happier.

In a town like this, Ephemera is special. They are truly pushing the culture of Colorado Springs forward. We aren't New York, we aren't San Francisco, we don't ever want to be Denver, but this place epitomizes what is so special about our big little city. There is serious talent here, and this place is showcasing the best of it. Ian, Adam, and Nora are the best of this city and I couldn't recommend a seat at...

We were visiting Colorado Springs from Florida, every time we go on trip we look to try a fine dining restaurant, typically a Michelin starred/bib gourmand or similar accolades. However, we really didn’t want to drive up to Denver and back. The reviews sounded good, suggesting it was one of the best dining experiences in the springs, and the menu looked creative, so we gave it a shot.

The location was kind of hard to find (it’s in sort of a hipster food court collective), we got stuck in a hailstorm around when our reservation time, but they were really understanding. The vibe was relaxed, our server was really kind and warm! The chef came out and talked to us about most dishes. Lovely, prompt, unpretentious service. The QR code menus are my absolute pet peeve though. Our family has a strict no-devices rule whenever we have dinner together, out and at home. It’s just kind of tacky imo, unless you’re a food truck or dive bar. Please consider paper menus, even simple ones make the experience more elevated.

Ok so the food: I would call it experimental, but not yet refined. Some elements were really nice (sun chokes with the duck) while others seemed like an afterthought (a couple pieces of raw kale doused in balsamic. My 10 year old called it “unnecessary”).

Some things were rookie mistakes: underdone fingerlings badly needed salt. Duck breasts not fully rendered (husband said it was probably sous vide and reversed torched?)

The parsnip gazpacho was delightful and well executed, while the shrimp/grape salad was sloppy and weird.

The creativity is there, I can tell there is ambition. Maybe I’ve gotten snooty in my dining expectations over the years, and I’m not even mad considering it was only $75 a head and we had a coupon, but I think Ephemera needs time to grow into what it seems it...