The Purple Onion — Restaurant in Colorado Springs

If you drove by the Purple Onion and told someone it was a Turkish restaurant no one would believe you.

I'm guessing this spot started out in life as a dive country western music bar and went out of business when Colorado traded Chevy for Subaru. The outside says 70's country and so does the inside - until you notice the Turkish flags over the bar and the smell of falafel from the kitchen.

Normally I comment on places that aren't clean - and the dining room of the Purple Onion is not clean. The front door is half black with hand prints and the furniture looks like it was selected to minimize losses in a bar fight. No one spent much money on decor and the cleaning staff aren't particularly motivated.

But...that's ok. Because, weirdly, it's part of the charm of this crazy place.

You could sit at a table but I recommend you don't - the action here is at the bar where the lead bartender is clearly in charge. Before you take your coat off she's offered you a drink and put a menu in your hand. If you're eager to get your buzz on, there's a roasting tray filled with bottles and a handwritten sign offering shots for $3.

The main attraction of the Purple Onion is the food. It's really, really good. The falafel has a spicy kick, the burgers are made with a Turkish twist, and the meat platter was spectacular.

Yeah, the dining room isn't that clean. Yeah, the decor is...not. But the people are chill, the service is top notch and the food is some of the best in...

The food was decent. The experience was awful.

I have celiac disease and explained I can't have wheat. I was pointed at the rice bowl which seems safe enough. Unfortunately that "rice" has orzo (a rice like pasta) in it. Since the place is nearly unlit, I couldn't see the orzo until someone opened the door while coming in.

I understand I'm taking a chance eating out, and normally think whatever happens is on me for taking that chance, but the waitress should know what's in the food. Our waitress was uncaring and had to be prodded to check with the kitchen to confirm that it was orzo and not just a dark rice mixed in. She didn't seem terribly concerned that I was going to end up very sick, and didn't even make a token effort to try to make things right.

More generally, I think the place is really not very good. It's more of a bar than restaurant. It's poorly lit, and kind of uncomfortable. The iced tea was terrible (I think it's Nestea), and the price was pretty bad. The meal prices start off high, and when they ask "Would you like tomatoes and cucumbers?" apparently they mean "Would you like to pay an upcharge for tomatoes...

Door dashed got my salad very wrong! Purple onion Wouldn’t answer phone didn’t make it right was missing meat and feta. This salad was on par with like elementary school salads.

So nothing,not a single good thing no meat no cheese no protein I have to assume they gave my order to some one else ??I’ve heard good things but here look at the photo, compared to theirs this is the gyro salad would you pay 20$ for this?

So I called them and they pretty much told me to call the dasher dude didn’t speak English no refund. They wouldn’t pick up their phone from 9:30-10 on Saturday my wife and I went hungry.

I’ve never met Greeks who were so…. Unhelpful?bad at cooking? Usually they’re so nice and good at what they do?!

But please see photo below that is not a gyro salad .

Also the other gyro on the receipt was for my brother in law so . Oh I only eat meat once a week and this was my big event lol so annoyed ! P.s. the door dasher claimed “no English” when I tried to call to have him go back door dash didn’t refund me . Thanks guys!...