I had the pleasure of finding a wonderful little treasure that is a small but quaint coffee shop called Montague’s. It is located at 1019 S Tejon St, downtown Colorado Springs, CO. When you step across the threshold you feel as if you stepped back in time. Montague’s Coffee Parlor allows you to remove the modern day stress and leave it at the door. The service can be a bit confusing when you first visit Montague’s. When you enter your first instinct will be to find your favorite chair. If you find a seat first you may have to wait a while for someone to take your order. The expectation is to go to the counter when you first arrive and place your order, then to find your favorite seat. I was guilty of this on my first visit; I sat in this very comfortable chair for approximately fifteen minutes before realizing that I should have ordered first. During my second visit, I stopped at the counter to place my order. While standing at the counter to give my order all I could do is to look around to ensure that my favorite chair was still available.
When you order the coffee don’t expect the cups to match. Very few cups match just as you would expect at grandma’s house. They offer an assortment of drinks and would satisfy even the most critical barista’s expectation. The cups are so large that you will be satisfied with the portion and taste. Montague’s offers other drinks like you would expect at any coffee shop. My favorite is the Carmel cappuccino. Don’t hesitate to bring your children because they will make the kids old fashioned flavored soda drinks. If you enjoy tea then expect to experience a real tea time. Montague’s serves your tea in an old fashioned tea pot with a cup and saucer. It reminds me of when my grandmother would have visitors come and she would serve tea.
Coffee and tea is not the only reason to visit Montague’s there is a good variety of menu items offered at Montague’s. The food is all-homemade in their kitchen that is just a few steps away from where you will be sitting. When you first look at their menu it may seem to be a bit confusing. If you’re not familiar with some of the items you may need to get an explanation. An example of what can be confusing is the lox and capers. This is a bagel with cream cheese, salmon and capers which is very healthy and delicious. One of the customer favorites is the baked oatmeal. It sounds a bit different but is enjoyable and you can choose different flavors. The soups are tasty just like the kind your mother made when you were a child. They have breakfast, lunch and dinner items on the menu. So it will not matter what time of the day you choose to visit you will be able to enjoy a drink of your choice and something from the menu.
If sweets are your cup of tea then Montague’s is the place for you. The counter is filled with fresh homemade cookies, cakes and pastries. My husband will take time out of his day to visit Montague’s with the intent to quench his strong craving for his favorite sweet the coconut cream cake; he swears it melts in his mouth. There are other sweets to choose from like the red velvet cake, German chocolate cake, cookies, pies just to name a few. Your taste buds will thank you for a visit to Montague’s because the sweets are made fresh every morning. The location is easily accessible and has a great little parking lot that is just large enough for their customer base that is able to find this jewel. The primary customer base seems to be long time customers. If you’re a new customer it is probably because you heard about it from word of mouth or accidentally tripped into this little jewel. Monique’s does not advertise like the other chain coffee shops. This is a part of what makes it such a wonderful find.
The price can be considered a bit much for some of the menu items. Some items feel like you just got a bargain; it all depends on what you order. The cakes and sweets come in large quantities. You may even wonder if you can eat all that is brought to your table. If you order the quiche you wonder if some slide off the plate on the way to your table. If you love the outdoors then there is outside seating. The views have a lot to be desired. The deck in the back faces the parking lot. If you like to keep an eye on your car then that is the place for you. If you enjoy exhaust with your coffee then I would suggest finding a seat in the front patio area, it is beside a busy street. With all of that taken into consideration I am now going to tell you my very favorite part of Montague’s.
The Ambiance, makes up for the small imperfections. It reminds me of sitting around in grandma’s living room, talking and having fun with my family. It can be busy and a bit crowded at times. The overlarge stuffed chairs are so comfortable that you feel like you have to crawl out of it when you want to stand up. It leaves you feeling like you got a hug from grandma. If the first chair doesn’t fit you just right, try another one. It’s a bit like the three bear’s house; you will be able to find the chair that fits perfectly. When life seems to be a little overwhelming I take a good book then head over to Montague’s to order myself a Carmel espresso. When crawling into those wonderful overstuffed chairs, it’s time to let the troubles roll away. With a few hours spent relaxing in the presence of good food, great coffee and an interesting book life is so much better. Montague’s was awarded Best of Winner by the Colorado Springs Independent in 2012 and the award is well deserved.
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