Excellent cuisine, stunning view worth the price at upscale hotel restaurant in Colorado Springs | Dining review

By ROBIN INTEMANN features@gazette.com July 24, 2025 | updated 1 year ago

Mushroom Pea Risotto with mystic mountian mushrooms, chive, paprika oil, and sugar snap peas (The Gazette: Cody Van Hooser)

Pamela’s at Hotel Polaris has the distinction of providing, if not a literal bird’s-eye view of the Air Force Academy, an inspiring vista of its grounds and the Front Range.

At first glance the prices might seem sky high, but dining here is worth it thanks to the excellent service, food and above-mentioned landscape, which contributed to a soft landing when the bill arrived.

Besides the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that highlighted the view, the decor is also noteworthy. My first thought was of “The Jetsons,” so at one time it would have been futuristic, while now it just seemed oddly dated. Fortunately, eyes are drawn westward.

Not long after being seated, our server brought a basket of warm rolls and honey butter to the table. In addition to several entrees, the one-page food menu featured some items that could be considered the main course, including salads, soups and appetizers.

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Colorado Corn Chowder with apple wood bacon, yukon gold potatoes, green chili, and pico (The Gazette: Cody Van Hooser)

We started with Colorado corn chowder ($14) and a Caesar salad ($17). Our server cautioned that both were large portions; she did not exaggerate. The chowder was a sizable bowl of roasted corn, pieces of applewood bacon and chunks of Yukon gold potatoes. Each spoonful was heavy with corn and bits of green chile, which added an element of spiciness without overwhelming the smoky flavors of the other ingredients. This would have sufficed as an entree.

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Caesar Salad with parmesan crisp, crouton, and ceasar dressing (The Gazette: Cody Van Hooser)

The salad, too, was a generous serving. Chopped romaine was topped with thick croutons, thin cheese crisps and shredded Parmesan cheese. The dressing was velvety, rich and slightly salty — in a good way.

Among the entrees was mushroom pea risotto ($37), which I would readily order again. Brilliant-green, fresh peas in the pod and a medley of mushrooms added earthiness to the creamy, nutty rice. A handful of mixed greens added another splash of color and texture. The hearty serving was enough for reheated leftovers the next day and tasted just as rich as the night before.

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Verlasso salmon with a side of roasted Brussel sprouts and Colorado corn chowder is served at Pamela’s at Hotel Polaris.

Cody Van Hooser, The Gazette

Items in the Ranch and Rivers menu section, along with sides, are served a la carte. We opted for Brussel sprouts ($13) to go with the Verlasso salmon ($29). The fish is sustainably farmed. Although it arrived with artistic grill marks on one side, there was too much char on the other. Our server noticed something was amiss and quickly had the kitchen make things right. The result was a firm, buttery, not fatty piece of fish.

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Mushroom Pea Risotto with a side of Roasted Brussel Sprouts and an ice cold Bourbon (The Gazette: Cody Van Hooser)

The roasted sprouts, cut lengthwise, included a small part of the stem. Pieces of cut bacon were plentiful. The smoky flavor they imparted blended well with the balsamic glaze. This was also a large, shareable portion.

Our server graciously packaged our leftovers, of which there were many, including the soup, risotto and Brussel sprouts. We were too sated to even consider dessert.

Hotel restaurants often get a bad rep because of perceptions that guests might have few options for meals. True, nothing else is within walking distance here, and there are certainly no nearby fine dining establishments. Fortunately, dining at Pamela’s isn’t limited to registered guests.

Pamela’s at the Polaris Hotel

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