Metro Area Breakfast Joints to Try

By Monica Parpal Stockbridge

Denverites love breakfast and brunch. They fuel our high-altitude adventures, get-togethers with friends and lazy weekend rambles. And luckily, there’s no shortage of breakfast-focused restaurants to explore in the Mile High City. Whether you’re looking for a jelly doughnut, legendary pancakes or bacon all day, every day, there’s plenty around town to sate your appetite.

Denver Biscuit Co.

denbisco.com

Denver Biscuit Company has earned a reputation in Denver and beyond. The moment the biscuits arrive at the table, many guests experience an instant, Instagrammable “wow” factor. First, there’s the sheer size of the biscuits. You’ll need two hands to hold one, or just go in with a fork and knife. The Franklin — a biscuit sandwich brimming with buttermilk-fried chicken, bacon and cheddar cheese, then smothered in housemade gravy — is a popular choice. Each hand-rolled biscuit is served no more than 20 minutes after coming out of the oven, so you know you’re in for the freshest biscuit. On a typical weekend, any one of the five Front Range locations will sling more than 1,000 biscuits. The restaurant group, Atomic Provisions, also recently rolled out a new ice cream concept, Frozen Gold. So, if you possibly have room for ice cream after breakfast, you know where to go.

Sassafras American Eatery

sassafrasamericaneatery.com

Sassafras first stole Denver diners’ hearts with its original Jefferson Park location, where each table was set with fabric napkins and characteristic salt and pepper shakers. It all looked like something out of grandma’s house. They’ve since moved, and now have locations in the Highlands, Capitol Hill and Golden, where Sassafras is spreading delightful, distinctively southern eats throughout the metro area. Chef Colin Mallet expresses his Louisiana roots in dishes like the Breakfast Po’Boy, Breakfast Mac and Chicken Fried Eggs & Bison Hash. A new menu launch brought back the much-loved Eggs Sardou (creamed spinach, artichoke, scallion grit fries, fried oysters, poached eggs, diced sassafras bacon and smoked cayenne hollandaise), in addition to several vegan options alongside gluten-free and vegetarian choices. With 10 different Bloody Marys and nine different mimosas on the menu, guests might feel compelled to sit and stay awhile.

Jelly Cafe

eatmorejelly.com

Jelly Cafe brings out all the fun and whimsy of breakfast. The cheerful pink and orange decor and the vintage cereal boxes displayed on the walls are sure to conjure childhood memories of Saturday morning breakfast — or at least get you in the mood for a jelly-filled mini doughnut. The location at East 13th Avenue and Pearl Street in Denver’s Capitol Hill has been serving the neighborhood for 10 years; the University of Denver location has been open for seven. First-timers and regulars alike love Jelly Cafe for its fun atmosphere and delightful made-to-order mini doughnuts. Try the signature jelly-filled or the maple-bacon varieties. Savory staples such as the breakfast burrito topped with house-made pork green chili and the Haco Benedict with red chorizo chili also are constant crowd-pleasers. Newer to the menu, the Cauliflower Rice Hash is quickly becoming a favorite. It combines fried cauliflower rice with broccoli, edamame and onion, then is topped with two eggs any style.

Bacon Social House

baconsocialhouse.com

Bacon Social House opened in Denver’s Sunnyside neighborhood in 2015, much to the delight of bacon lovers throughout the metro area. A Littleton location opened just last year. Naturally, bacon is king at this high-spirited brunch-time destination. The bacon flight is a must, featuring six varieties of bacon (applewood, barbecue, candied, habanero, paleo and a rotating flavor) and a hardy pair of kitchen shears for easy snipping and sharing. The Bacon Shrimp & Grits is another customer favorite, featuring a polenta cake topped with shrimp, a flavorful broth, veggies and goat cheese. A garden omelet and other veggie-friendly entrées salute the non-bacon eaters. And for those who like suds with their brunch, a new beer collaboration with Tivoli Brewing Company helps wash it all down.

Snooze

snoozeeatery.com

Snooze first opened in Denver in 2006, and this playful pancake paradise can still draw a robust crowd on the weekends. That’s largely due to those legendary Snooze pancakes. The fluffy and flavorful cakes — they come in buttermilk, sweet potato or gluten-free varieties — start with a super-secret batter recipe, and are completed with extra special toppings. The signature Pineapple Upside Down pancakes have brown sugar in the batter, and caramelized pineapples, vanilla crème Anglaise and cinnamon butter on top. Today, there are four Snooze locations in Denver alone, and seven others around the state. Each location creates a pancake of the day, such as the savory “loaded baked potato” pancakes stuffed with bacon and topped with sour cream and chives. A flight of pancakes is perfect for sharing — or for when you just can’t decide.

Syrup

syruprestaurant.com

Syrup first opened in Denver’s Cherry Creek neighborhood, later launching locations downtown and in City Park, where guests can choose between a trendy atmosphere, buzzing urban experience or year-round patio and park views.. At every Syrup, diners pour in for breakfast dishes like the Cherry Creeker Benedict (made with award-winning corned beef hash), the Nutella Stuffed French Toast topped with fresh bananas and strawberries, and the “Crack Bacon,” seasoned with a mix of brown sugar and black pepper. Owner Tim Doherty’s previous career as a bartender inspired his syrup infusions. Today, he uses fresh ingredients to come up with unique and interesting flavors such as butterscotch syrup, Kahlua syrup and coconut syrup. You can learn to make your own with the downloadable Syrup cookbook on the website.

Lucile’s Creole Cafe

luciles.com

Lucile’s is a Colorado institution, dating back to 1980 when it first opened in a quaint, pale yellow Victorian house in Boulder. The family dining destination — named for the owner’s mother, Lucile — still offers gourmet breakfast and brunch, but now operates six restaurants from Fort Collins to Littleton. Guests love the chicory coffee and fresh-squeezed orange and grapefruit juices. Bloody Marys from the full bar ease the substantial weekend wait times. The ambience and theme take inspiration from Creole cooking culture. Zydeco, jazz or Cajun music reminds diners of New Orleans, and you might see Mardi Gras beads as decoration. Choose from dishes like Pain Perdu (New Orleans style french toast), Eggs Pontchartrain (with fresh pan-fried mountain trout) or Shrimp & Grits with andouille sausage — and don’t forget to order a round of hot beignets at some point during your meal.

Monica Parpal Stockbridge writes about food, travel and technology in Colorado and beyond. Read more of her work at monicastockbridge.com.