There are not many places where you can sip a $6.50 Bloody Mary, watch three different March Madness games at once and accidentally lock eyes with a very naked painting of Adam and Eve mid-brunch.
Mother Muffs in Old Colorado City pulls it off seamlessly. It is an eclectic blend of an artistic dining experience and a chaotic sports-and-billiards bar.
With arguably the best-priced Bloody Marys and happy hour deals in Colorado Springs, it is dangerously easy to stay.
I sat at a large high-top table carved from what looked like a tree trunk sliced lengthwise. It is both rustic and striking and, more importantly, it gives you a full view of the sports bar side of the restaurant, including a front-row view of Adam and Eve.
I ordered the house Bloody Mary, priced at $6.50, and half off at happy hour, which feels almost suspiciously low given the quality. It arrived with a salted rim, homemade mix, crisp pickle, two large olives that brought the perfect salty balance and a piece of celery with an immaculate crunch. I gingerly finished the celery stick before the rest of the drink, and our waiter, who had been warm and attentive throughout, brought me an extra stick without hesitation.
The glass was not overloaded with ice, which meant you actually got the volume you paid for. The tang was sharp but not aggressive, cut cleanly by a fresh lemon slice. The vodka and tomato base were present but never overpowering, and there was a subtle smoky finish that added depth without taking over. Most importantly, there was little sediment at the bottom of the glass, something that often ruins the last few sips of an otherwise glorious Mary.
It was a drink you keep thinking about after you leave, especially because it didn’t break the bank.
The law of diminishing marginal utility is the best way to describe the value of a Bloody Mary. Here’s why. The first sip is life-changing, rocks your world and may very well reset your circadian rhythm. Each additional sip will never quite match the magnitude of the first, but it measures how much you enjoy consuming more of the same product.
The ultimate test: would I order a second, and would it taste as good as the first? Yes, it would, and nothing would beat that initial taste. But the price, value of the drink and overall taste are a different story.