Crystal Park Cantina 178 Crystal Park Road, Manitou Springs, CO 80829

"From beginning to the end, it was a wonderful meal. Arrived early and the place filled up fast. Everything is fresh, not the traditional heavy Mexican. The queso is lovely and not spicy, but you know how to do that yourself to your desired level. The chips are cripsy and thin as they are made in-house, yay. The plates are large, so if you are a light luncher, consider bringing a friend to share with! The tres Leche cupcake was a moist and divine ending to the meal."

"Party of 3 for a bday dinner. Parking is a bit sketchy to find sometimes. A wait of 30mins and not able to get a drink while we waited was the biggest bummer. Small and quaint and colorful on the inside. The queso fandido was so oily from the chorizo we had to use napkins to napkins to soak up all the grease. It tasted like pizza cheese, good though. Fish tacos, burritos and chili rellenos, we all pretty tasty. And some good strong Cadillac drinks to polish it off.. I don't think 1 of the drinks was enjoyable..was told it had like a grapefruit like after taste.. waitress she was cool. And on point."

"Food was good, a little different than we're used to (from the southeast). Seems like all the Mexican food in The Springs was expensive. Parking could be hit or miss. Service was ok. Server kept forgetting to bring the items asked for, wasn't terribly busy when we were there."

"Title: A Quaint Surprise - Crystal Park Cantina, Denver, Colorado Review: After an invigorating hike in the Garden of the Gods, we stumbled upon Crystal Park Cantina, a charming little restaurant tucked away in the vicinity. We were instantly drawn to its quaintness and welcoming ambience, which felt like an oasis after our extensive outdoor adventure. Stepping inside, we were greeted by a comforting interior that felt both casual and inviting, giving off an unmistakable homely vibe. However, our experience was slightly marred by the evident understaffing issue. With only one or two servers to cater to a bustling crowd, service was inevitably slow. We found ourselves waiting longer than usual for our drinks to be refilled and to catch a server's attention for additional orders. Moving onto the food, the taste was unquestionably delightful, embodying the zest and richness we've come to associate with Mexican and Latino cuisines. However, the portion sizes were a bit disappointing, especially when considered against the relatively high pricing. We've enjoyed better value-for-money experiences in terms of taste and quantity at other establishments around Denver. In short, Crystal Park Cantina offers a pleasant dining experience with a lovely ambience and tasty food. If hunger pangs hit after a visit to the Garden of the Gods, it can serve as a convenient stop. However, if quantity and value for money are your primary concerns, it might be worth exploring other Mexican or Latino eateries in the Colorado Springs area or even venturing towards Denver. All things considered, while we enjoyed our time at Crystal Park Cantina, it's not a place we would necessarily return to. There are other eateries in the area that offer more satisfying experiences in terms of both quantity and price point. I hope this review is helpful for your future culinary adventures in Denver, and thank you for reading!"