Having a passion for omelets, it was inevitable that I discover The Omelet Parlor in Colorado Springs. It had come highly recommended when I threw the question out on my Facebook page, “Where can I find a great place to eat breakfast with great omelets?” A few restaurant suggestions were made, but I was most intrigued by a restaurant with the name “Omelet” as part of the name of the eatery. After eating there on two occasions, I decided to go back and write a review.
As I drove into the parking lot for my third visit, I was ready to take notes on the menu, the surroundings and write a report as I would any other eatery. I always considered myself a very observant person. I had noticed the brightly colored booth benches and the cheerful homey décor on my first two visits. But, I had totally missed the historical significance of the building and the display memorabilia giving homage to a wonderful singer of a bygone era.
My epiphany regarding the magic of this facility began when I sat down and started reading the history of The Omelet Parlor in the menu. It had not always been a restaurant. In fact, an early 20th century diva had lived here as a retirement home. Ruth Etting was a very famous singer throughout American during the late 1920s and early 1930s. She had sung as a member of the Ziegfeld Follies and was known nationwide as a great singer. She recorded over 200 songs, six Broadway shows, appeared in 3 movies and a nearly 3 dozen short movies.
Sadly, her wild popularity came to an end when her husband shot her accompanist Myrl Alderman, a pianist and composer, whom she had fallen in love with while performing regularly with him. Her husband went to jail; she subsequently divorced him and married her new lover. The drama of it all was considered scandalous and she never would enjoy the same degree of fame again.
Throughout the restaurant you can see pieces of her favorite china, albums, articles and pictures of the beautiful singer. At one point, Ruth and Myrl turned their home into a restaurant called The T-Bone House which she and her husband managed. Later it would become The Hackney House before arriving at its current name of The Omelet Parlor. Somewhat humored, I read the page of the menu that deals with etiquette. As some of her china is on display, I can only guess that she found the issue of etiquette important. The article discusses everything from handling your knife to how to properly pick at your teeth. The humorous part is when the article mentions how close to have your chair to the table…when the restaurant only has stationary booths.
The menu is interesting to read after you have chosen your entrée of choice. Most of the menu items are aptly named after Colorado themes such as The Cadet, The Thunderbird, The Royal Gorge, etc. I had the Broadmoor named after the famous luxury hotel in southwest Colorado Springs. This tasty omelet has Italian sausage, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and oregano. I had browned hash browns and an English muffin. After that meal, I will certainly become an early morning regular.
It’s no wonder the local newspaper has routinely awarded them their best breakfast award. The Omelet Parlor is a treasure located at 900 East Fillmore about a mile and a half east of Interstate 25. It certainly has a unique history and offers great cuisine in a very cheerful atmosphere. I am sure glad I discovered it and wonder why it took me so long. I simply have to get out more. Thank you Ruth and Myrl for the memories of your life on display at The Omelet Parlor.
Sources: http://www.omelette-parlor.com/history.htm
http://www.ruthetting.com/bio/
