Marigold Cafe & Bakery — Restaurant in Colorado Springs

We use to live in Colorado Springs and this Restaurant was our backbone for elaborate business or special occasion dinners, decadent desserts, fancy lunch or top notch breakfast until sadly, they stopped serving breakfast. This was the “go to” place to buy a whole fruit torte or cake when you want to impress party guests. The owners were hands on and attentive. Service was always impeccable. No surprise why it was the first choice for the many business dinners.

We moved to Texas 4 years ago and while we were here for a visit, we were looking forward to an opportunity to revisit Marigold. A few other favorite restaurants were gone. Even Denny’s was gone in Colorado Springs so no free birthday breakfast. For my husband’s birthday we showed up 5 minutes before Marigold’s 8AM opening and waited for them to unlock the door. They only sell bakery items and beverages until lunch time. 8 AM seems late for pastry items. Too late to pick up on the way to work for example. Which might explain why the whole time we were there (about an hour), we only saw 2 customers come in for a purchase. There before us was all the familiar desserts in the case but the huge, fresh from the oven croissants were our choice from the rolling carts of assorted fresh baked goods. I had an almond croissant, my husband had a cream cheese filled one. Both were excellent. Croissants the way they are suppose to be. Buttery, flakey, fluffy and indulgent. The cream cheese one was still warm so it just doesn’t get better than this. We discovered during conversation with the hostess that the restaurant had changed hands but not to worry as the original owners (for 25 years) were very hands on and diligent with training so we went back for a birthday lunch which is saying a lot since we gave up several options with emailed certificates for a free Birthday entree or dessert at other restaurants. Lunch was a disappointment. Looking at all the dishes being served, I wasn’t drooling after anything except the bread basket. That should have been my first clue. Our bread basket arrived right away. I was so looking forward to this. Sadly, the bread tasted stale. How is this even possible? We brought it to our waiters attention. He instantly brought us a new bread basket. Sadly, the same dry to the touch, stale tasting and overly chewy crusted bread. I was disappointed as I was looking forward to the bread with my order of chicken corn chowder. My husband settled on a club sandwich but since the breads were so disappointing (maybe they prepare the baskets in the morning and they just sat out too long) he asked for the sandwich to be on a croissant since we knew those were fresh this morning. Waiter replied that he would if there are any left. Fortunately the sandwich arrived on a croissant which was still very good. It was accompanied by a pasta salad. My husband mistakenly thought it was served with seasoned fries. The waiter graciously with a twang of annoyance at us by now, brought out a side of fries. Sadly after all that extra effort, we weren’t impressed with the fries or the pasta salad. Neither had any flavor. I don’t know how that was even possible, they both looked their part but had no flavor. Oh well, we do have a bowl of Chicken corn chowder. Another disappointment. I consider chowders to be a hearty soup. This was a thin broth, a few specs of corn, a few chunks of chicken and a massive amount of tasteless potato squares. The broth did have some flavor. The lunch experience did not give us the confidence that the new owners could provide us the dinner experience we were accustomed to so we won’t be making a dinner reservation. Meals here were pricey but always worth it. Instead, I grilled up a prime rib steak with sautéed mushrooms at home for the Birthday dinner. We mourn the loss of the original owners (Rumor is, they are running a B&B now). 3 Stars are for the pastry chef and the fact that the Mountain View was...

I haven't given a 5 in a long time but this is justified and necessary. I've been to the Marigold in the past. I've ordered their French baguettes and various pastries on several occasions. This time I decided to have a sit down meal. Where to begin? Let's start with Eugene. Eugene is the gentleman that welcomed me to the Marigold as soon as I walked in. Impeccably dressed and soft-spoken he treated me like an old friend who is glad that you stopped by. I felt quite inadequately dressed for the place ( I just came down from the Garden of the Gods wearing shorts and a T-shirt) but he was unconcerned. He calmly guided me to my table and I went out to get my wife. The place was quite full with the lunch crowd. Unintelligible words, laughter and the typical sounds of plates and silverware were mixed with the soft background music filled the air. I felt how the different delicious smells invaded my nose and foreshadowed what was about to unfold. Rhet was our server. A pleasant, smiling and unassuming man that made us feel that we were going to be well taken care of as soon as he greeted us. Menus were brought and it all sounded enticing and appealing. After careful review I had to taste more than one thing. The muffaletta sandwich and the curry chicken pocket were my choices. My wife asked for the chicken caprese sandwich. We ordered coffee and tea while we waited and a complimentary bread and butter basket arrived right after our beverage. Great coffee, great tea, great bread. All kinds of people around us enjoying their meals, conversations and company. The environment was buzzing and energetic yet calm. Our food was served and the sights and smells were making my mouth water and my senses awaken. The muffaletta was an explosion of New Orleans flavor as soon as I savored that first bite. Salty, briny, crunchy, fresh, hearty, meaty and complex, this is so good that I close my eyes as I try to find descriptions to explain to my wife what is happening in my mouth. I see her and she is in her own little culinary heaven . Her chicken caprese was so flavorful and delicious. She wasn't disappointed at all with her choice. I could see how much she was enjoying her food. There was silence at our table. We were lost in the feast our senses were experiencing. We tasted each others plates and with looks and oohs and aahs we smiled with joy. Rhet touched base with us in perfect balance. Not too often and not forgetting about us. We were asked how our meal was. I could only nod with approval since words weren't justifying my gastronomic journey. What can I say about the curry chicken pocket? It was so on point! The pita pocket, the sprouts, the lettuce and tomatoes were fresh and perfectly balanced and the curry chicken was almost an ecstatic trance of flavor and texture. It's like every bite deepened my perception of taste, smell and the love of a middle eastern grandma poured into the dish. Pasta salad was so good, Fries were well seasoned, crunchy, hot... good fries indeed. We were offered dessert. The dessert menu deserves several visits alone. We chose one double chocolate mousse cake to share. It was so beautiful when it was put in front of us. I didn't want to ruin it with my fork but I had to. Rich, smooth velvety, chocolaty, creamy and crazy good. It was the perfect close to a superb meal and as if it hadn't been amazing enough, they gave us a bag of baked goodies for the road.

If you're in Colorado Springs for any reason, you have to visit them. I've been a foodie, a home cook and a frequent restaurant patron for many years. Disappointment if often the case but this was above and beyond a great experience. Congratulations to the team at Marigold. I'm am your fan! May you all be blessed always and I'll...

Subject: Commendation for Exceptional Service by Nancy and Sierra, during my recent visit. I am writing to express my utmost satisfaction and delight with the exceptional service provided by two of your staff members, Nancy and Sierra, during my recent visit to Marigold Restaurant in Colorado Springs.

From the moment I walked in, Nancy and Sierra went above and beyond to ensure that my dining experience was nothing short of amazing. Their professionalism, attentiveness, and friendly demeanor truly stood out and contributed significantly to the overall enjoyment of my visit. Not only were they knowledgeable about the menu and attentive to my needs, but they also exuded a genuine passion for providing top-notch service.

Moreover, I must commend the culinary team for the outstanding food quality and presentation. Every dish that I had the pleasure of trying was not only delicious but also beautifully crafted. The ambiance of the restaurant further enhanced the dining experience, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that made me feel right at home.

In light of the exceptional service rendered by Nancy and Sierra, I strongly believe that their dedication and hard work deserve to be recognized. I would like to recommend that they be considered for a raise as a token of appreciation for their outstanding performance and commitment to ensuring customer satisfaction.

Once again, thank you for maintaining such a high standard of service and for employing individuals like Nancy and Sierra who truly go above and beyond to create memorable dining experiences for your patrons. I look forward to visiting Marigold Restaurant again soon and enjoying the same level of excellence that I have...