Jax Fish House and Oyster Bar Opens in Colorado Springs

Take a visual preview of the sustainable standout, get sample menus, and see why the new Jax is a must-visit Colorado Springs restaurant.

Call it a mix of selfish motivation and insightful business sense. Back in 1994, Boulder restaurateur Dave Query wanted to eat some oysters. “There wasn’t a place to sit down and mack a plate of oysters in Boulder, and I love the whole process,” he says. So he opened Jax Fish House nad Oyster Bar that autumn to add to his growing family of restaurants. 

Fast forward 25 years, and Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar opens in Colorado Springs Jan. 7. The new addition to the Springs’ dining scene is the sixth Jax, joining the others in Boulder, Denver’s LoDo, Glendale (Cherry Creek), Fort Collins and Kansas City. 

The high-end yet casually comfortable brand has long been lauded for its excellence and sustainability, and Executive Chef Sheila Lucero serves as a member of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Watch’s Blue Ribbon Task Force, a national network of chefs leading the conversation and execution of seafood sustainability. “All of our menu is sustainable,” Lucero says. “To be a partner with James Beard and Monterey Bay, they require 98% of the menu is sustainable, and we exceed that.”

We visited Jax new home at 11 South Tejon Street with Query and his team for an early preview. The group has transformed the former, long-time home of Il Vicino into a cozy oceanic-themed eatery. Leaving no room for doubt, diners are greeted by fresh, chilled shellfish upon entering the front door. The two-sided bar runs full-length down the center of the dining room, and the open kitchen is visible in the rear of the restaurant.

In a word, the several dishes we sampled were superb. But we’ll let the photos tell that story below. You’ll also find a list of sample menu items and weekly specials. To read more about the Jax backstory, check out Front Range Hot Spot Jax Fish House Hits the Springs. And make sure to get yourself to Jax soon.

Fried calamari at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, Colorado Springs
Fried calamari. Photo by Jason Fleming.

An order of fried calamari includes cuttlefish, a tender, delicious addition. The starter is served with tangy mango-chile mojo sauce and lime aioli and topped with microcilantro.

Shucking oysters at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, Colorado Springs
Shucking oysters. Photo by Jason Fleming.

Oyster lovers will find their favorite mollusk in any desired variety. Of course, there’s always raw on the half shell, and Jax features proprietary Emersum Oysters sustainably raised in the Chesapeake Bay. You can add a fried oyster to the Niman Ranch Burger, which has won Westword’s Best Burger. And members of the Oyster Club gain exclusive access to coast-to-coast seasonal varieties for carryout home consumption.

Lump blue crab cake at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, Colorado Springs
Lump blue crab cake. Photo by Jason Fleming.

The lump blue crab cake is the best I’ve ever tasted, tender, fresh, and lightly seasoned to let the mild meat stand deliciously on its own. “We make it in small batches,” Lucero says. “We’re really gentle with the lump, so it doesn’t break apart. You’ll see big chunks, with very little binder to hold it together. There’s a little bit of whipped egg, a little bit of mayonnaise, lemon juice and shallot, a teeny bit of breadcrumb. And it’s dipped in clarified butter.”

Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar team open Colorado Springs restaurant
Photo by Jason Fleming

The Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar team. From left: Owner and founder Dave Query, Executive Chef Sheila Lucero, Chef de Cuisine Jesse Guare.

New England Sea Scallops at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, Colorado Springs
New England sea scallops. Photo by Jason Fleming.

New England Sea Scallops are a delicious fixture on the seasonal menu. The large pan-seared shellfish are currently served on a bed of butternut squash gnocchi, a treat on its own. Crispy-fried kale tossed with aqua pozza and pomegranate seeds add fresh texture and a savory-sweet combination. The gorgeous entree is plated with a silky fennel soubise.

Kitchen at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, Colorado Springs
Photo by Jason Fleming

Executive Chef Sheila Lucero and the culinary team break in their new Colorado Springs open kitchen.

Kitchen at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, Colorado Springs
Photo by Jason Fleming

 


Jax Sample Menu Items

Full menus can be found here.

Dinner

Rotating fresh-shucked oysters – MKT
Daily selection of East and West coast

Fried Calamari – $12
Mango-chile mojo, lime aioli

Lump Blue Crab Cake – $19
Preserved lemon aioli

Ahi Tuna Poke – $21
Sushi rice, fuji apple, avocado, black pepper ponzu, spiced cashew

Clam Chowder – $7/$14
Clams, ham hock, potato, mirepoix, fried zesta

Peel N’ Eat Shrimp – $8-$14
¼ lb – ½ lb

Spanish Octopus – $30
Risotto, piquillo peppers, preserved lemon, ‘nduja, cilantro, roasted almonds

Passmore Ranch White Sturgeon Caviar – $85/$165
15g-30g

Niman Ranch Burger – $14
Lettuce, tomato, pickles, Jax mustard, fries

Lobster Mac N Cheese – $36
Butter, poached lobster tail, truffled breadcrumbs, pickled mustard seeds

Whole Alamosa Bass – $29
Roasted fennel, mushroom conserva, salsa verde

River Bear New York Strip (16 oz) – $46
Smashed-fried potato, NOLA butter, arugula, demi-glace

Lunch

$5 Martinis M-F lunch

Beets and Burrata – $15
Seaweed pesto, balsamic reduction, kale, smoked sea salt, beet chips

Crispy Fish Sandwich – $13
Pete’s tartar sauce, iceberg lettuce

Lobster BLT – $27
Candied bacon, aioli, brioche

Fish N Chips – $19
Beer battered, crispy fried, french fries, slaw

Brunch

The Commodore Bloody Mary (33 oz) – $45
Green chile vodka, spicy house bloody mix, 6 oz dungeness crab, jumbo cocktail shrimp, oyster, golden caviar

Breakfast Marg – $11
Reposado tequila, agave, lime juice, egg white

Beignets – $6
Basket of small fried pillows of pleasure, sugar, seasonal preserves

Fried Shrimp and Waffles – $16
Fried eggs, collard greens, hot maple butter

Oscar Omelet – $17
Blue crab, arugula, hollandaise, choice of breakfast potatoes or grits

Classic Benedict – $14
Shaved ham, toasted english muffins, roasted tomato, hollandaise sauce, choice of breakfast potatoes or grits

Kentucky Hot Brown – $13
River Bear ham, pepper bacon, tomato, poached eggs, mornay, toasted sourdough

Hours

Mon-Fri 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sat 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sun 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Dinner daily 4 p.m.
Happy Hour daily  3-6 p.m. and ALL NIGHT Monday
Lunch Monday-Friday 11 a.m.
Brunch Sat-Sun 10 a.m. [Note: Brunch service starts Sunday, January 11]

Weekly Happenings

All-Night Happy Hour Mondays

Tuesday Burger Night
Over-the-top burger specials and $3 cans of Howdy Pilsner

Wine Wednesdays
Half-off bottles plus perfect paired pastas

Shrimp Bucket Thursdays
Low-country boil and $15 buckets of beer

Cioppino Sundays
$5 Martinis

Service Industry Sundays


Read More

30 Best Restaurants in Colorado Springs 2022

Best Brunch in Colorado Springs

Where to Eat Vegan in Colorado Springs

Jeremy Jones
Jeremy Jones
Jeremy Jones is Springs’ co-founder, editorial director and chief outdoor officer. He loves building community by telling stories about all the people, places and culture that make Colorado Springs an amazing place to live. And he’s especially stoked when exploring new places in the Springs, Colorado and beyond. Watch for him hiking, running or mountain biking the local trails with his wife and kids.

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Call it a mix of selfish motivation and insightful business sense. Back in 1994, Boulder restaurateur Dave Query wanted to eat some oysters. “There wasn’t a place to sit down and mack a plate of oysters in Boulder, and I love the whole process,” he says. So he opened Jax Fish House nad Oyster Bar that autumn to add to his growing family of restaurants.  Fast forward 25 years, and Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar opens in Colorado Springs Jan. 7. The new addition to the Springs’ dining scene is the sixth Jax, joining the others in Boulder, Denver’s LoDo, Glendale (Cherry Creek), Fort Collins and Kansas City.  The high-end yet casually comfortable brand has long been lauded for its excellence and sustainability, and Executive Chef Sheila Lucero serves as a member of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Watch’s Blue Ribbon Task Force, a national network of chefs leading the conversation and execution of seafood sustainability. “All of our menu is sustainable,” Lucero says. “To be a partner with James Beard and Monterey Bay, they require 98% of the menu is sustainable, and we exceed that.” We visited Jax new home at 11 South Tejon Street with Query and his team for an early preview. The group has transformed the former, long-time home of Il Vicino into a cozy oceanic-themed eatery. Leaving no room for doubt, diners are greeted by fresh, chilled shellfish upon entering the front door. The two-sided bar runs full-length down the center of the dining room, and the open kitchen is visible in the rear of the restaurant. In a word, the several dishes we sampled were superb. But we’ll let the photos tell that story below. You'll also find a list of sample menu items and weekly specials. To read more about the Jax backstory, check out Front Range Hot Spot Jax Fish House Hits the Springs. And make sure to get yourself to Jax soon.
Fried calamari at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, Colorado Springs
Fried calamari. Photo by Jason Fleming.
An order of fried calamari includes cuttlefish, a tender, delicious addition. The starter is served with tangy mango-chile mojo sauce and lime aioli and topped with microcilantro.
Shucking oysters at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, Colorado Springs
Shucking oysters. Photo by Jason Fleming.
Oyster lovers will find their favorite mollusk in any desired variety. Of course, there's always raw on the half shell, and Jax features proprietary Emersum Oysters sustainably raised in the Chesapeake Bay. You can add a fried oyster to the Niman Ranch Burger, which has won Westword’s Best Burger. And members of the Oyster Club gain exclusive access to coast-to-coast seasonal varieties for carryout home consumption.
Lump blue crab cake at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, Colorado Springs
Lump blue crab cake. Photo by Jason Fleming.
The lump blue crab cake is the best I’ve ever tasted, tender, fresh, and lightly seasoned to let the mild meat stand deliciously on its own. “We make it in small batches,” Lucero says. “We’re really gentle with the lump, so it doesn’t break apart. You’ll see big chunks, with very little binder to hold it together. There’s a little bit of whipped egg, a little bit of mayonnaise, lemon juice and shallot, a teeny bit of breadcrumb. And it’s dipped in clarified butter.”
Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar team open Colorado Springs restaurant
Photo by Jason Fleming
The Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar team. From left: Owner and founder Dave Query, Executive Chef Sheila Lucero, Chef de Cuisine Jesse Guare.
New England Sea Scallops at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, Colorado Springs
New England sea scallops. Photo by Jason Fleming.
New England Sea Scallops are a delicious fixture on the seasonal menu. The large pan-seared shellfish are currently served on a bed of butternut squash gnocchi, a treat on its own. Crispy-fried kale tossed with aqua pozza and pomegranate seeds add fresh texture and a savory-sweet combination. The gorgeous entree is plated with a silky fennel soubise.
Kitchen at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, Colorado Springs
Photo by Jason Fleming
Executive Chef Sheila Lucero and the culinary team break in their new Colorado Springs open kitchen.
Kitchen at Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, Colorado Springs
Photo by Jason Fleming
 

Jax Sample Menu Items

Full menus can be found here.

Dinner

Rotating fresh-shucked oysters - MKT Daily selection of East and West coast

Fried Calamari - $12 Mango-chile mojo, lime aioli

Lump Blue Crab Cake - $19 Preserved lemon aioli

Ahi Tuna Poke - $21 Sushi rice, fuji apple, avocado, black pepper ponzu, spiced cashew

Clam Chowder - $7/$14 Clams, ham hock, potato, mirepoix, fried zesta

Peel N’ Eat Shrimp - $8-$14 ¼ lb - ½ lb

Spanish Octopus - $30 Risotto, piquillo peppers, preserved lemon, ‘nduja, cilantro, roasted almonds

Passmore Ranch White Sturgeon Caviar - $85/$165 15g-30g

Niman Ranch Burger - $14 Lettuce, tomato, pickles, Jax mustard, fries

Lobster Mac N Cheese - $36 Butter, poached lobster tail, truffled breadcrumbs, pickled mustard seeds

Whole Alamosa Bass - $29 Roasted fennel, mushroom conserva, salsa verde

River Bear New York Strip (16 oz) - $46 Smashed-fried potato, NOLA butter, arugula, demi-glace

Lunch

$5 Martinis M-F lunch

Beets and Burrata - $15 Seaweed pesto, balsamic reduction, kale, smoked sea salt, beet chips

Crispy Fish Sandwich - $13 Pete’s tartar sauce, iceberg lettuce

Lobster BLT - $27 Candied bacon, aioli, brioche

Fish N Chips - $19 Beer battered, crispy fried, french fries, slaw

Brunch

The Commodore Bloody Mary (33 oz) - $45 Green chile vodka, spicy house bloody mix, 6 oz dungeness crab, jumbo cocktail shrimp, oyster, golden caviar

Breakfast Marg - $11 Reposado tequila, agave, lime juice, egg white

Beignets - $6 Basket of small fried pillows of pleasure, sugar, seasonal preserves

Fried Shrimp and Waffles - $16 Fried eggs, collard greens, hot maple butter

Oscar Omelet - $17 Blue crab, arugula, hollandaise, choice of breakfast potatoes or grits

Classic Benedict - $14 Shaved ham, toasted english muffins, roasted tomato, hollandaise sauce, choice of breakfast potatoes or grits

Kentucky Hot Brown - $13 River Bear ham, pepper bacon, tomato, poached eggs, mornay, toasted sourdough

Hours

Mon-Fri 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Dinner daily 4 p.m. Happy Hour daily  3-6 p.m. and ALL NIGHT Monday Lunch Monday-Friday 11 a.m. Brunch Sat-Sun 10 a.m. [Note: Brunch service starts Sunday, January 11]

Weekly Happenings

All-Night Happy Hour Mondays

Tuesday Burger Night Over-the-top burger specials and $3 cans of Howdy Pilsner

Wine Wednesdays Half-off bottles plus perfect paired pastas

Shrimp Bucket Thursdays Low-country boil and $15 buckets of beer

Cioppino Sundays $5 Martinis

Service Industry Sundays


Read More

30 Best Restaurants in Colorado Springs 2022 Best Brunch in Colorado Springs Where to Eat Vegan in Colorado Springs