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    The Buff Restaurant

    4.4 (2.1k reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 2:00 pm

    The Buff Restaurant Photos

    THE BUFF RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Buff Restaurant

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    Lauren A.

    My favorite place for brunch for over a decade! This is a must visit when in Boulder, but be prepared to wait, or get there early before all the college kids. Don't skip the coffee -- their white buffalo is a must!!

    CALIFORNIA OMELETTE
    Tom G.

    The California omelette was delicious but the potatoes were not. The coffee was good as was our service. It is nice inside and there is easy parking.

    Veggie omelette
    Adam S.

    Nice spot to grab breakfast with both tons of space and tons of options on the menu. We didn't have to wait long at all on a Saturday morning, and the service was prompt and friendly throughout. I had a veggie omelette, breakfast potatoes, and an English muffin. All pretty standard fare, and all pretty good! Nothing was insanely wowing, but it all really hit the spot. I also went all-in on a dirty chai since we're pretending it's fall already, and that was surprisingly good as well. Not too sweet, and loaded with caffeine. Bonus points to them for being directly across the street from the hotel we were staying at. Just a nice, classic, quality breakfast spot.

    Mikhala F.

    YUM! Loved our meal here. This place is massive, so even though it was busy, we got our name in and waited less than 10 minutes. SPACE This place is huge but still feels cozy! Tons of different nooks and rooms, all decorated well. SERVICE Service was a highlight here - efficient but friendly and very personable! FOOD Their breakfast/brunch menu is where it's AT. I had a hard time narrowing things down, but got the Ole skillet with chorizo and a side of tortillas and it was incredible. I love that they have so many gluten free options - so great! I didn't get a drink, but saw many people at tables around us drinking iced coffee from MASSIVE mason jars. Love it. This is a must for brunch in Boulder!

    Eat in The Buff!
    Matt C.

    Eat in The Buff! 30 years running, The Buff Restaurant continues to be one of the busiest places to eat in Boulder. After a recent stay across the street, I ate here two mornings in a row for breakfast. The first morning, we were able to snag a seat quickly. The second morning, I dined in solo a little bit closer to brunch hour and after a few minutes I was able to snag a coveted seat at the bar. I commend the front of house team, especially the hostesses, for managing this busy busy BUSY line of people with total ease. True hospitality professionals. Sitting at the bar, I watched them deal with all kinds of people; mostly pushy, hungover, or impatient people who wanted their table ASAP. They deserve a raise! When it comes to food, no one leaves here hungry. Portions are large and so is the menu. Is it revolutionary? No, but it's consistent and well-prepared breakfast food. +American Skillet // Potatoes, diced onions, and blended cheddar cheese. Simple, yet tasty. My eggs came out the way I like them, toast was buttered, and I doused the whole thing with Cholula. This is the kind of breakfast I'll make at home, this is what the doctor ordered. +Steak & Eggs // Top sirloin breakfast steak and eggs with choice of toast. Massive portion...of course I cleaned the plate. Little outdated with the greens and orange slice garnish, why is it there??? No one eats it! I asked for medium rare and got medium. Could've used more seasoning, but once it combined with the potatoes and eggs we were cooking. A solid dish that cured the craving. Service was great all the way around and I think this is what they do best. Serving this many people in such a short span (7am-2pm) is tough work. I applaud the operators for running a tight ship! The Buff is a reliable breakfast spot in Boulder!

    Steak and Eggs
    Hannah M.

    Great food and friendly service. Although there is usually a wait, the wait goes quick, so don't let it discourage you from going there! They have a lovely dining room with a good atmosphere and a large menu with lots of variety. We love the Buff! (Also the $0.99 mimosas and bloody Mary's are so fun!)

    *NEW* BLTT
    Kimber H.

    This place is a Boulder staple and "iconic" or so I've been told. Went here for a work lunch and it was relatively busy. It's primary focus is brunch. Hours are 7-2 everyday to give to you an idea of menu items. They have a crazy drink special where it's 99 cents for a Bloody Mary, mimosa, or tequila sunrise (all on tap) with the purchase of an entree. We had the cheeseburger and B L T T. It was decent, but next time I'll go for the breakfast items as I think that's where they shine.

    Sophia S.

    The most wonderful breakfast restaurant!! On our 5 day stay to Colorado Springs, we drove two hours twice to have The Buff. We ordered the Two Step (which has delicious house potatoes, perfect pancakes, and the best bacon) and the Biscuits and Gravy. Absolutely delicious!! The service is great, too. Even with a wait, we were seated quickly and the food came out faster than we could believe!! Very cozy vibes. Wish we lived closer or had one in Michigan!

    Dan S.

    Decided to do a little road trip over to Boulder this morning at The Buff Restaurant. We got there around 9:30AM and was shocked to see how busy it is. Not because it's so good, but thought with the university out for summer it would be less busy. I put my name in and was pleasantly surprised it was only a 10 minute wait. Our waiter was friendly and very chatty which was nice. I got the Rustic Benedict which was really good. The only thing I would do differently is get rid of the bacon. The chopped of bacon crumbled reminded me to much of bacon bits. It was still very good and definitely a much have for someone who like a good comfort food.

    OLÉ SKILLET

    Great food, good service, not as loud as you would think but very busy, at least on Sunday mornings. It took me 30 minutes to get in.

    Chicken sandwich
    Jamie C.

    The service gets five stars, they are always so friendly here. The ambience and food is closer to 3 to 4 stars, more of a fun place rather than a craving something specific place. But they have all the basics of breakfast and lunch and they work hard to manage the crowds. We eat here every couple of weeks.

    Skillet
    Sara C.

    If you're looking for a good, classic brunch spot, the Buff is your spot. They've got every classic brunch element covered: seasonal-flavored pancakes, fresh squeezed oj, hearty skillets, healthy lighter options. We ordered the Matterhorn and olé skillets - both really delicious, I wish the potatoes were cooked a tiny bit more. We also got the classic eggs benedict which was perfect. We ordered yummy seasonal lattes that weren't too sweet which was nice. The service was quick and friendly.

    Susan S.

    Molly was so kind and patient. I asked for samples of the chili was really good. I had the French toast with fried chicken and potatoes a little piece of pineapple and strawberry and maple syrup. They had dollar bloody Mary's and dollar mimosa with entrée my daughter's friend got this delicious looking coffee that could probably feed two or three people. The food was good. The service was good. Homemade ketchup.

    TWO STEP

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    10 months ago

    All I have to say...best pancakes ever. There really is nothing else to say. The Buff is a must stop for breakfast.

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    The food was pretty good. The service was great. Not sure if it's worth the wait though.

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    The Buff Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Buff Restaurant

    Do you have a dog friendly patio?

    We allow only service animals. The City of Boulder has a ban on animals in the facility or patio.

    Do they take reservations?

    No. They only take who come first get the service first.

    View All 5 Questions

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    Santo

    4.0(300 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$$

    Another fun evening at Santo for Happy Hour. We were there early enough to get our favorite seats…read morein the roomy big area along the east wall. Plenty of table space to lay out all of our food and drink choices at once to browse. My husband chose a dark lager and I had my fave Jamaica Agua Fresca, house made. We chose newer items we love though our old faves are still around too. Tonight we had the media lunas, the bbq wings and the pork adovada nachos which has quite a kick. Turns out, this was a huge portion for happy hour but we know these items travel well so we brought them home to finish tomorrow. It's always so much fun here, the staff is friendly and more than competent. The other diners tend to be friendly and those wanting to avoid the children in this family friendly spot in north Boulder can get their seats at the cool bar with so many options to drink and a staff of knowledgeable bartenders.

    Wanted a new experience, so we checked out the menu for this new restaurant and it looked tasty…read moreenough to give it a shot on a Sunday afternoon. We walked in and at first it seemed like it had a decent vibe. I had actually been to this location before when it was a different restaurant. Seems like this spot changes ownership pretty frequently, which in hindsight probably says something. Right away we noticed a bunch of tables, especially the booths, still hadn't been bussed. We were told to "sit anywhere," but the only clean tables available were high tops and we wanted a booth, so we waited for the busser, who moved at a pace that honestly felt unbelievable. He seemed to be clearing tables one cup and one plate at a time, walking each item individually back to the kitchen. It was painfully inefficient. It was obvious both he and the girl at the bar saw us standing there waiting for a booth to be cleared, but nobody seemed concerned about it. Eventually the table was finally cleared, but then it sat there dirty for a long time without being wiped down. At that point we just sat anyway, assuming someone would quickly come over and clean it once they saw guests sitting there. In most restaurants, that's standard. Not here. After waiting even longer, I finally asked for a rag so I could wipe the table down myself. The response I got back was rude: "Why don't you just sit at one of the tables that's already clear?" That pretty much sealed it for us. The vibe was off from the second we walked in, and you could feel the lack of care throughout the whole place. At that point we didn't even want to order food because it already felt like the experience was headed downhill. We got up and left. Honestly, I'm glad we did. Service and atmosphere usually reflect what's happening behind the scenes, and I had zero confidence the food experience would've been any different. After leaving, we went to El Centro instead and had a much better experience. I'd recommend choosing that over this place any day of the week. Giving people a good dining experience really isn't that complicated. Sometimes it honestly feels like restaurant staff have never gone out to eat themselves and experienced what good hospitality actually feels like. Unfortunately this place completely missed the mark. We won't be back, and I wouldn't recommend it.

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    Ambience

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    Sopapillas

    Santo - Barbed wire fence post sculpture. So cool!

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    Mason’s Dumpling Shop - Boulder - Steamed Soup () & Pan Fried Pork ()

    Mason’s Dumpling Shop - Boulder

    4.2(107 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    This was one of the dirtiest establishments I've eaten at in a long time…read more When we arrived, no one was at the counter to take orders, and there was no clear indication of how to order. Another customer eventually helped us figure out that orders needed to be placed online. About half the tables had not been bussed, and new customers were clearing dirty dishes from previous customers themselves just to have somewhere to sit. One table remained covered with dirty dishes and leftover food for over an hour, the entire time we were there. What made this particularly frustrating was seeing staff sitting and taking a break while the dining area remained in this condition and customers were clearing tables themselves. The food itself was decent, but nothing particularly memorable. Unfortunately, the condition of the dining area and lack of attention to cleanliness overshadowed the meal. I understand restaurants can get busy or be short staffed, but this was unacceptable.

    Decided to stop in for a late lunch on a Sunday. Never been here before so I didn't know what I was…read moreexpecting. Let's start with the cons. 1st off, it would be an order at the counter but they try their hardest to have you get a table and order off your phone, with QR codes everywhere. I had it ready to order off my phone and then it wanted only Google pay, which I don't have hook up to any card. So we had to redo the order on my husband phone. There was not cashier or anyone to ask questions to, not even a greeting when we walked in. When checking out, it automatically asked for 20% tip, I have no waiter or anyone to talk to, why the tip request? Order a couple of things which came out at different times. I did see the sign saying expect 20-25 mins per meal, with it being quite dead in the place I figured our two dumpling orders would at least come out together. I was already done with my meal when my husband's came out. The bathroom! Come on! Not the fact you have to walk through a storage room to get to it, the fact it was so poorly stocked. No toilet paper, paper towels couldn't be in the wall container, but stacked high where a small adult like myself could barely reach it, let alone a kid. Two wall soap dispensers neither were filled, the store bought soap on the sink was almost out. Now why would you say it got three stars? The pan fried dumplings were huge and you got 10 pieces per order. The soup dumplings were good but got super sticky when I tried to wait to eat before the others came out. Pancakes app were great especially with vinegar. Would have appreciated maybe a green onion ginger sauce to be a topper options for the dumplings. The huge pan fried dumplings saved this place, would I go back... Undecided.

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    Mason’s Dumpling Shop - Boulder - Interior

    Interior

    Mason’s Dumpling Shop - Boulder - Pan Fried Pork ()

    Pan Fried Pork ()

    Mason’s Dumpling Shop - Boulder - View

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    Dragonfly Noodle - Chimera's Ramen

    Dragonfly Noodle

    3.8(230 reviews)
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    This is the best ramen in Colorado. All of the components are just right. Located near plenty of…read morestreet parking (paid), parking is easy. The staff is always friendly and there is always ample seating. Try some apps! The bathroom situation is a little sketchy, you have to go through the back to a hallway with shared restrooms. But they are clean! A nice lunch is served rapidly and delivered to your table with a smile.

    This friendly locally owned eatery is on 10th but just off the corner of the west end of Pearl…read more It's right next door to Pearl poke owned by the same family. Their original kitchen, Zoe Ma Ma is now a half block further west on Pearl. They cover much in the way of Asian specialties for West Pearl. At Dragonfly, they make their own noodles and they are very good. I had some last night in my pho and am looking forward to getting the Yuki Udon next time. My husband wanted a selection of Bao so chose the roasted duck, the pork belly and the Dragonfly. He really liked them all. I love duck Bao so I had one too. Because it was chilly out I got the smoked brisket Pho too and had to bring some home since it was a lot to eat on top of the Bao. I lived the fresh basil leaves and the crunchy crisp bean sprouts. I opted out of the spicy peppers an onion as I find them harsh everywhere. I totally forgot to add a few other options as I live bok choy too. You can get a full menu of options online to order at your table by phone but we prefer and they offer a full sized menu at the counter. Note, that a nominal tip is included which is thoughtful and fair to customers and workers alike. They share duties but noted the owner who makes the noodles in the adjacent space was leaving as we were eating. You can see some of the equipment through the glass partition. They were out of oolong tea and I was hoping for some on a chilly day so I hope it is there next time as a long winter ahead of us. My husband had the iced Thai tea with his Bao. That tea is too sweet for me with condensed milk in it. We will definitely be back later. If I have pho again or my husband has it with rare steak as he plans , I hope the broth will be hotter to cook it some. If we could rate with half stars I'd go 4.5 though it was not quite perfect enough for a 5. But we will be back and pretty soon.

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    Dragonfly Noodle - Fortune cookie dessert (green tea/chocolate). /

    Fortune cookie dessert (green tea/chocolate). /

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    Flower Child

    Flower Child

    4.4(387 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$
    Healthy dining
    Gluten-free friendly

    The friend I had lunch with today is vegan, and she suggested this place. It's loud and rather…read morestark, but inside is air-conditioned, which was needed in this 100-degree day. However, there were people sitting on their outside patio. Hardy folks, I guess! My friend was nursing a sore tummy, so she just had some grilled veggies and mashed potatoes. She loves everything she's had here. It was my first time. I ordered the chicken bowl with yakisoba noodles. It was lukewarm, but that's fine for me. I think they must have microwaved it because it was steamier as you ate down the bowl. The veggies were crisp, the noodles perfect, the chicken was tender. It was spiced at what I'd call a medium level, and quite yummy. My friend then ordered their vegan chocolate pudding, which we shared. Yummy and light. My one big criticism is that they charge $4 for iced tea. I questioned it and the cashier was kind of snippy about it, but the customer behind me approached after I dispensed my tea and said she agreed it's too expensive. The meal was appropriately priced and there is plenty of food, but the drinks? C'mon. It's worth maybe $2.50. They really should reevaluate that. It's the main reason that I gave the place 4 stars instead of 5. The other people who work there were nice and helpful. I didn't grab a fork but the server who brought my bowl cheerfully went and got me a fork and napkin. Very nice. It's obviously popular, it filled up as we sat, with quite a variety of people, from babies to seniors. I might go back, but perhaps next time I'll just get water. I hope they don't charge for that!

    Excellent food. Solid ambiance. They have recently changed how people go about getting food from…read morethem, so the line area is strangely blocked off. But I'd go back any time. Love their teas and they variety of healthy options. A Flower Child is opening in my area of the KC metro - my family and I are SO excited to have one in the neighborhood!

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    The Buff Restaurant - breakfast_brunch - Updated September 2026

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