Smiley’s Bakery and Cafe, Colorado Springs, CO

by adrienne

The first time we went to Smiley’s at 323 N Tejon St. in downtown Colorado Springs I was unimpressed. I don’t remember what I had but whatever it was I thought I could make it better at home myself.

But the place is really cute inside and they have outdoor seating. It reminds me of what a roadside or country cafe in the south would be like. I haven’t spent much time in the south so I don’t really know this from experience but it’s what I imagine one of those kinds of places would be like.

Smiley's Bakery and Cafe, Colorado Springs, CO

Smiley's Bakery and Cafe, Colorado Springs, CO

 None of the chairs match, they have retro signs and ephemera all over the walls, the menu is on a chalkboard inside and handwritten outside.

Smiley's Bakery and Cafe, Colorado Springs, CO

Smiley's Bakery and Cafe, Colorado Springs, CO

 Plus everyone else on earth loves it and it’s only a couple blocks from our house so we gave it a second chance. I’m really glad we did. It’s one of my favorite places now.

Walking to Smiley's Bakery and Cafe, Colorado Springs, CO

Walking to Smiley's Bakery and Cafe, Colorado Springs, CO

I had the cornmeal pancakes with blueberries and some scrambled eggs. It also came with bacon or ham. Lately I’ve been trying to avoid eating pork so I usually give my pork products to Mike. Since he was having bacon with his, I got the ham.

Cornmeal pancakes with blueberries, scrambled eggs, and ham from Smiley's, Colorado Springs, CO

Cornmeal pancakes with blueberries, scrambled eggs, and ham from Smiley's, Colorado Springs, CO

Biscuits and gravy with scrambled eggs from Smiley's, Colorado Springs, CO

Biscuits and gravy with scrambled eggs from Smiley's, Colorado Springs, CO

Doesn’t that bacon look good!? I thought so too.

So I had a bite.

And OMG, this bacon was impossible to resist. It’s funny because even hard core vegetarians have a hard time resisting bacon. But I was always just so-so on it and never really missed eating it. But this bacon will kill you. In a good way. You have to try it.

So the next time we went I got the whole grain pancakes with blackberries, scrambled eggs and BACON. Mike had the chicken fried steak with potatoes and bacon.

Whole grain pancakes with blackberries, scrambled eggs, and bacon, Smiley's, Colorado Springs, CO

Whole grain pancakes with blackberries, scrambled eggs, and bacon, Smiley's, Colorado Springs, CO

Chicken fried steak, potatoes, and scrambled eggs, Smiley's, Colorado Springs, CO

Chicken fried steak, potatoes, and scrambled eggs, Smiley's, Colorado Springs, CO

They also have a large lunch menu with sandwiches, salads and things like that. Oh, and pie. Pie! But they close at 4:00 so you gotta get there early!