Shhh. It’s a secret.

Sometimes, when you find a treasure, you want to show everyone, shout it out: Hey, look at this great thing!

But then there are times when you want to keep it to yourself, when your secret is too precious to share.

So it’s with a troubled heart that I tell you about Detz Cafe in downtown Colorado Springs (211 E. Cucharras). We love it, and we’d like it if you love it, too, but we also don’t want it to become so popular that it’s ruined. Maybe it’s best that there are no reviews of it anywhere. Maybe it’s best that the Yelpers haven’t discovered it. We like it just the way it is.

In the back of my mind, I’ve always known about Detz. It’s always been there. I just always thought it was closed or defunct. And sometimes, I think I must have thought it’s just a building that’s part of the Jiffy Lube next door. It’s nearly invisible. But since we’ve been moving, and since someone can’t seem to figure out how to attach the stove to the gas supply, we’ve been eating at Detz nearly every day.

I can tell you it isn’t any kind of incentive to fix that stove.

Detz serves perfect American comfort food: corned-beef hash; pancakes; burgers; meatloaf. They take credit and debit cards, and they’re open every day except Saturday (still, open on Sunday in this town is a victory). The service is wonderful. Go ahead and try Detz, if you must. But don’t ruin it.

Detz Cafe, downtown Colorado Springs.
The no-frills Detz Cafe. Notice the log trim above the walls. Nice touch.
The Philly sandwich, with onion rings, at Detz Cafe, downtown Colorado Springs.
The Philly steak and cheese sandwich is delicious. Try it with onion rings.
The Philly sandwich, with onion rings, at Detz Cafe, downtown Colorado Springs.
The Philly sandwich at Detz. Behold its beauty.
Cheeseburger at Detz Cafe, downtown Colorado Springs.
Adrienne is a connoisseur of the cheeseburger, and she gave the Detz burger a thumbs up. Detz uses Ranch Foods Direct beef, and it was cooked perfectly. Me, I liked the shredded lettuce.
Detz Cafe, downtown Colorado Springs.
Detz looks like it's out of business for some reason. Something about their sign or their building. Something.
Detz Cafe, downtown Colorado Springs.
If you've been downtown, you've probably seen this sign. Or have you?
Blueberry pie, Detz Cafe, downtown Colorado Springs.
Judging from the remains on this plate, we might have scarfed down some pie after gorging on other food.
Blueberry pie, Detz Cafe, downtown Colorado Springs.
Ah, yes, looks like someone had the presence of mind to take a picture of the pie before it was devoured.
Pancakes, Detz Cafe, downtown Colorado Springs.
The single pancake. In addition to being a connoisseur of the cheeseburger, Adrienne is also a savorer of the pancake, and she says this rivals Maggie's for the best in Colorado Springs.
Hot turkey sandwich, Detz Cafe, downtown Colorado Springs
I am a huge fan of the hot turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes. Detz did not disappoint.
The Early Riser breakfast at Detz Cafe, downtown Colorado Springs.
The Early Riser breakfast at Detz. I think I've just overdosed on AMERICA: pancakes, coffee, bacon, scrambled eggs, ketchup. It's like eating an American flag.
Dinner salad, Detz Cafe, downtown Colorado Springs.
The dinner salad at Detz comes with the retro crackers.

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