P74: The Downtown Paninos

We recently had a holiday luncheon here in their private room. Super affordable and amazing! We especially enjoyed the baked penne, and the baked chicken veggie dish. Special shout out to Christina who helped me organize and plan out the menu, and Mady who kept us 23 ladies well hydrated and made sure all our needs were met. It was definitely a group effort as there was always someone avaialble if we needed anything! This is a family owned local gem. We go for dinner frequently. The food is always amazing and the service is always friendly and efficient. Special shout also to the bartender who made my delicious and perfectly tangy limoncello martinis! This is a great place to come and bring your friends and family or just to stop in for lunch or dinner after enjoying the downtown area.

I live out of state and I will ALWAYS make the trip to hit up this spot! The owners are so down to earth and personable! Very cool atmosphere, with an unbelievably mouth watering homemade SECRET recipe that makes these panino’s like nothing I’ve ever had! I‘m so sad I don’t live closer, the people of Colorado Springs better know how lucky they are!!! 🤤 I had the Big Bopper, but they are alllll amazing!

We came before the Colorado College hockey game. The main dishes we ordered came out quickly.I had the Philly Cheesesteak panino, crispy! My husband had the Eggplant Parmesan. Both were delicious. My only complaints were 2. The house salad was delivered about 1/2 way through our meal and didn’t come with customary blue cheese crumbles and pepperchinis that we requested. The salad was plain and unappealing. We didn’t really want it because we were almost finished with the main course. Also, I ordered one N/A beer which never arrived and was on the bill when it arrived. We were so surprised at this service because we have been coming here for years.

I’m so grateful for this restaurant. For over 30 years we’ve been coming here for food and fellowship. The staff are exceptional, the service is second-mile, and of course the offerings are delicious. I’m especially appreciative of the managers who personally look after the customers. In particular, the manager helping to serve us tonight is always thoughtful, friendly and attentive. She is the best, even when customers are difficult, she displays patience. Tonight, as always, Paninos delivered a superb casual dining experience.

Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 What a cute spot! I was invited to dinner here and, arriving early, sat at the bar where I was informed that it was still happy hour (from 3 - 6 p.m.), prompting me to order a Moscow mule for the evening. Paninos has the vibe of a mom & pop neighborhood eatery, and that friendly, chill vibe permeated every interaction I had. The bartender and restaurant staff were accommodating and friendly as they sought to find seating for our large group. While I know their paninos are the star jewels of the restaurant, I am a sucker for lasagna. Their lasagna did not disappoint. It is very rare to find a restaurant whose lasagna tastes authentic, meaty, and cheesy, and Paninos NAILED IT. The Moscow mule was very tasty, so much so that I got a second one. Also, I got carded which made me chuckle from the (unintended) compliment. This restaurant is going to be added to my UE list, and I will definitely plan another visit to try out some of their other meals.