Restaurants in Fort Carson

Though many of North End Diner's recipes are straight from owner Jackie's own mother, the 50-year-old diner has also adapted to changing times. Though the menu now includes locally sourced Callicrate beef burgers and several gluten-free items, twangy vintage guitars still blare from the jukebox and hand-scooped shakes clatter onto tables. In the dining room, the aromas of baking meatloaf and simmering gravy make guests feel at home and mashed potatoes feel extremely nervous. A daily blue-plate lunch special arrives within 10 minutes of ordering, and at the fully stocked bar, diners question servers about North End's live jam sessions.

Servers at Angels & Mariachis deliver pitchers of margaritas, fresh guacamole, and an array of gourmet Mexican plates. Soft tortillas wrap meaty taco cores composed of high-quality ingredients such as duck, lobster, short rib, and chipotle cream. Chefs derive entrees from a reimagined cuisine in which risotto is infused with smoked chipotle pepper and chicken glistens with brazilian black-beer-mustard glaze. Signature margaritas flow from glasses and pitchers, DJ music permeates the air, and karaoke nights give patrons the chance to wield the microphone or just scream into soft tacos.

Thanks to its impressive selection of varietals from more than 95 local wineries, The Wines of Colorado has been lauded as "one of the most unique wine shops in the country" by Wine Trail Traveler and featured in the Wall Street Journal. Inside, a mural of larger-than-life bottles lines one wall, and an adjacent room houses an expansive tasting counter that stocks a lineup of bottles filled with Colorado reds and whites, which are often compared to Californian vinos. Their food has received it’s fair share of recognition as well, earning numerous awards, including Best Creekside Dining from the [Gazette] in 2010 and 2011. The chefs sizzle up signature buffalo wine burgers and creamy dill mahi-mahi, which guests can enjoy on the pine-tree-lined outdoor patio as they sip wine mere steps away from the burbling Fountain Creek.