A recent jaunt to Castle Rock for lunch with friends from Denver turned into the discovery of not one but three remarkable dining gems in a hacienda-like compound.
Our destination was Savina’s Mexican Kitchen, 6361 Promenade Parkway. Our friend said it was the second location of La Loma, a Denver Tex-Mex restaurant with more than 50 years of history.
The Castle Rock location opened in 2020 as Loma. Through a series of business decisions, co-partner Mark Brinkerhoff of the family-run Brinkerhoff Hospitality rebranded it as Savina’s Mexican Kitchen.
“The new name honors Savina Mendoza, the woman who started it all and whose portrait greets guests at each location,” said Jo Brinkerhoff, Mark’s wife. “Although the name changed, her treasured recipes remain at the heart of the restaurants. And the same family owners and many longtime employees who have stewarded this tradition for decades remain in place today.”
The hilltop restaurant is huge, with 10,727 square feet of dining space, surrounded by a garden of marigolds. Inside, a portrait of Grandma Savina greets diners, while walls of windows provide sweeping mountain views.
We savored Savina’s Hamburger, a house-ground burger with refried beans and melted cheese tucked between fresh flour tortillas and topped with Grandma Savina’s famous, award-winning green chile. Tortillas are made daily at the entrance.
As we admired the restaurant and food, our friend told us about another restaurant next door, The Brinkerhoff.
“I’ve tried to get a reservation, but they are always full,” he said. “It’s a Mexican-style steakhouse and sushi.”
A few weeks later, we joined him for lunch. The Brinkerhoff, 6373 Promenade Parkway, dazzled with crystal chandeliers, sweeping windows, and a busy bar. The food was spectacular: pristine sushi, prime rib tacos grilled to perfect medium rare and desserts worth a visit on their own.
Crispy rice cracker with spicy tuna, avocado, and jalapeño served at The Brinkhoff Mexican-style steakhouse and sushi restaurant in Castle Rock. Teresa Farney, The Gazette
First to hit our table was a basket of hot rolls with pimento cheese.
“Be sure to pour some hot honey on the pimento cheese,” our waiter said. “Sounds strange, but it really works.”
He was right. The bread was gooey, soft and buttery, and the honey made a surprisingly great combination with the cheese.
Then we noticed another building inside the courtyard.
“Oh, that’s Bar Hummingbird,” our server said.
Tomato bisque with pimento sandwich, a small plate served at Bar Hummingbird in Castle Rock. Teresa Farney, The Gazette.
Yes, we made another trip to Castle Rock. Hummingbird is a dazzling, cozy space begging diners to linger over Champagne and small plates. We had tomato bisque with pimento sandwiches — velvety, spicy soup with thick-sliced grilled cheese. Elegantly presented and soul-satisfying.
Visiting the trio of Brinkerhoff eateries takes some planning. Consider a weekend stay in Castle Rock for the dining excursion.
Green Chilies quesadilla from the 2025 Quesadilla Day at Spencers Lawn and Garden Center. Courtesy photo
Turning up the heat
Mariachi music and the smell of roasted green chiles will waft through one of Colorado Springs’ oldest farmers markets during Quesadilla Day, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 12.
The outdoor market at Spencer’s Produce, Lawn & Garden, 1430 S. Tejon St., will celebrate Colorado’s signature Pueblo green chilies with samples, salsa and fiesta-style music by Mariachi Lobos.
Test your spice tolerance and sample various chiles for free before deciding what to take home.
The family-run business started the annual event in response to Pueblo’s Chile & Frijoles Festival. Since Spencer’s highlights Colorado-grown produce, you won’t find Hatch chiles at Quesadilla Day, but you will find chiles from Pueblo and Palisade.
The 2026 Chile & Frijoles Festival in Pueblo is Sept. 18-20. Visit tinyurl.com/bdhmjytc for details.
Dining and Cooking