Agia Sophia
Merging an eclectic coffee shop with a privately owned bookshop makes Agia Sophia the top rated eatery in Colorado Springs according to Yelp.com. This restaurant was designed around the concept of having a place for people to go to enjoy only the best coffees and specialty teas, a café style menu and a vast book selection. This is the type of place where people lose hours discussing religion, politics and business. Spend the afternoon eating a barbeque turkey Panini or Mediterranean plate with hummus, grilled pita, roasted red peppers, dolmas and feta cheese, while losing yourself in a selection of classic books. If you are looking for somewhere quiet to escape, head upstairs and find a hidden nook. As several patrons have stated, there is absolutely nothing negative about Agia Sophia; it is simply perfection.
Carlos' Bistro
Specializing in American cuisine on South 21st Street is Carlos' Bistro, which is an elegant French restaurant that is known for its impeccable service. Diners are greeted as they enter by Carlos himself. The ambiance is warm and dark, making it the perfect location for a romantic dinner. The wait staff is well trained-attentive and fast without being suffocating or overbearing. The artfully plated dishes sent out from the kitchen are the first thing diners' notice at Carlos'. Seafood is the star, so start with the lightly breaded and perfectly tender calamari. Move on to the shrimp scampi, with its perfectly executed sauce or the fruita de mer with fettuccini pasta, calamari, shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels and roasted red peppers in a tomato sauce. Other standouts include the chicken carbonara with taglitelle pasta and a cream sauce and the filet mignon. Complete this fine dining experience with one of the best crème brulees in all of Colorado.
Bhan Thai
Hit up Bhan Thai Restaurant on Centennial Boulevard for a low key Thai restaurant that serves up homemade fare in an unassuming place. Every dish at this Colorado Springs restaurant is crafted with fresh ingredients, daily made sauces and choice meats and seafood. This restaurant has constantly been awarded a gold star by Boulder County Daily Camera. The portions are large, often enough to share or for leftovers. A few dishes that Bhan Thai's satisfied customers rave about are the Thai beef salad, drunken noodles chocked full of vegetables with a delicious meat and sauce and pad Thai with shrimp and crab wontons.
Arabica Café
Serving up unique Middle Eastern fare in the heart of Colorado Springs is Arabica Café on South Tejon Street. This healthy Colorado Springs restaurant received four and a half out of five stars from Yelp.com. Arabica Café opened its doors in 2008 and has since won numerous awards, including best hummus in Colorado Springs and the best Middle Eastern restaurant. The focus of Arabica's menu is the shawarma sandwich, which is thinly sliced chicken or beef served in a pita. All the spices used to marinate the meats at Arabica Café are imported from the Middle East.
