Solid breakfast/brunch spot in dinner. Great Bloody Mary, delicious Benedict and Burrito. Def recommend and will be back! Instagram Tomorrow morning, make my eggs wit onions cheesy for me Daily Special Benedict over grits Breakfast Burrito Bloody Mary @TheUniversalDenver A breakfast and lunch restaurant serving homemade comfort fare and re-imagined classics. The Universal is committed to quality and consistency from the ingredients of the kitchen to the service at the table. Whether you join us for our homemade biscuits and preserves, signature cornbread rancheros, or our grit special, you will leave with the desire to return tomorrow. Denver, CO read more

Great Service from Bryan resolved my dilemma: get the "Signature," Corn Bread Rancheros, or my standard breakfast barometer, biscuits and gravy? Why not both? Ok! Also kept my coffee hot! EXTRA STAR Service! B&G was wonderful. Nice, thick spicy gravy with sausage on a terrifically light biscuit. Nice presentation. I'll be back for this. Highly rated breakfast restaurants surround The Universal. They cannot offer a Specialty dish served cold, and with canned black beans. Also what's up with the sound system? Speakers but no music? So I get to listen to a loud-talker discuss internet providers pros and cons: My bad. Next time I'll bring my earbuds.....or find a place with music and warm food. read more

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This place is amazing!! We love going out for breakfast/brunch and have tried many places in west highlands/sloan lake. Not sure how we missed the universal but it's definitely #1 for us. The home made biscuits and sausage are amazing, potatoes were perfectly cooked, and all the dishes looked incredible. It's very unique while at the same time good old breakfast fair. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The signage is a little hard to see so look out for it in strip mall on 38th.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We met Courtney, the owner, who gave us a sample of their delicious grits. Service was perfect, this should be your go to place. Wait wasn't bad even on a busy Saturday. read more

The Universal is the best breakfast place in Denver, hands-down. Megan anticipated my every need before I even knew what I wanted. The bloody Mary's are amazing, the food is of the highest quality. I wish I could eat it all because they serve so much food! To top things off, they have a evil Knievel motif throughout the whole restaurant and it's nice and cool in here on a hot day. If you're falling asleep, they even have top-of-the-line espresso machines, and guess what, Megan also happens to make the best lattes! read more

The Universal - Awesome Bloody Mary's and beautiful people! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Having heard the buzz surrounding The Universal, my brunch loving friend Marissa C and I made our way there to see if it was really worthy of all the hype. Quick answer: it totally is! All the delicious detail below. The Space: Cozy and simple are two words that perfectly describe the atmosphere at The Universal. There's a variety of textures throughout the space, but it's not overwhelming. Ample light streams in from the large windows. A small selection of Americana inspired pictures adorn the walls as well as a large American flag. Plenty of seating options, including a patio, ensure that you can accommodate any sized group. For those coming to dine alone, there is bar seating available too. The Eats: While they're know for fun plays on grits, I just couldn't help myself when I saw the Corn Bread Rancheros: cornbread layered with black beans, roasted tomato salsa, pico, two fried eggs, cheddar cheese, sour cream, and avocado. Yes please! It was soo soooo delicious. My fellow diner opted for one of their scrambles and was beyond thrilled with her choice as well. I'll definitely have to make my way back to sample their famous grits and griddle options too! The Sips: Seeing that my brunch going companion and I are avid bloody mary fans we just had to sample The Universal's take on our favorite brunch bevvie. The classic bloody comes with family jones vodka, housemade bloody mary mix, cucumber, pepperoncini, celery, olives, lemon, spiced rim - it did not disappoint. They do feature a variety of other adult bevvies including some tiki inspired ones that truly peaked my interest as well. The Service: Our server was on top of it. She popped back to check on us and was beyond helpful with narrowing down all the drool-worthy menu options. Perfect amount of attention. We were definitely impressed by our brunch outing at The Universal. To say I'm exciting to come back and sample more of their bomb-dot-com menu options is an understatement. Who wants to start a brunch club with me? First stop: The Universal! Cheers, Denver! read more

I live right near The Universal and it's always so busy on the weekends, you can see the line outside when you're driving by! I finally decided to go this weekend and now I understand why there's always a wait! I will note that you can add yourself to the waitlist from your phone, which is super helpful (especially if you live close by like I do). The inside is quite small but nicely decorated and feels very homey. Everything on the menu sounded good, and looked even better as we saw plates of food walk past us. My friend and I both ordered black coffee and The Universal breakfast plate... which came with eggs, potatoes (or grits), your choice of meat and choice of a pancake or biscuit and gravy. After ordering, our food came out super quick and it was all amazing. I ate every bite and was super impressed by everything. The bacon was cooked perfectly and the biscuit and gravy was also delicious. Not dry at all and the gravy was very flavorful. On top of the great food, all the staff were also super friendly. Can't wait to come back here to try some of the other items on their menu! read more

The Universal - The Universal - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Advance waitlist = A+ We planned to arrive as our wait time decreased. Took us maybe 10 minutes to be seated. Drinks = A+ big mimosa with ice hit the spot on a Saturday! Service = A+ Server was very accommodating to dietary needs and requests even while very busy. Food = A+ Everyone loved their meals! read more

Note, get in their waitlist before you get there. Didn't know we you could do that so we ended waiting close to an hour. Friendlyish staff, I opted for the boar scramble which was yummy. Hugh, lots of sausage and eggs and the potatoes were good. No huge complaints minus the long wait. read more

I really enjoyed my breakfast, having restrictions is difficult for me mostly but Sarah and Miles accommodated me wonderfully and I am a returning guest because of them. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Super fun brunch spot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]What a cool experience just by yourself or any "hangout" situation.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Thanks yall, what a hidden gem to stumble upon. read more

Great food, drinks, and service! We have tried a few different brunch items but the Benedict and HIBL are our favorites. Highly recommend! read more

The Universal - The HIBL and Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Great food and totally worth the wait! Had the huevos rancheros with a side of apple sausage. I was to hungry to remember to take a picture but it was The service there was excellent and the vibe was chill. Definitely will return when back in Denver read more

I personally wouldn't choose this place to come back to. Went on a Saturday morning around 1130. Be sure to join the waitlist. We waited outside just a few minutes before getting the notification to come in which was great. We got bar seating which was fine. The grits and eggs were good, however the Korean hanger steak I added was loaded in pepper and chili flakes - so spicy, and this was not noted on the menu. So I would be sure to ask what has spice in it vs doesn't before ordering. We also ordered the biscuits and gravy which was fine. A side of bacon was over $4 and only 2 pieces, we expected at least 3 for a side. Overall the meal was fine. Nothing special about the ambiance. read more

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Thanks to our awesome waitress Lauren, at Briar Common Brewery & Eatery, we found out about this place. She said it's different from a lot of the other restaurants. Everything is homemade, fresh, just good comfort food. One of the best breakfast spots I've ever been to...no lie! The pancakes, my GAWD the pancakes. They were on par with my moms. And hers are infamous. Slathered with butter and syrup, the perfect thickness, cooked evenly, crispy on some edges, I mean just GOOD! I'm a grit connoisseur. Love my grits. These grits were good. I had a side of them, I wanted more. Little salt, lots of butter, not watery at all, good spoon-worthy consistency. My steak was cooked perfectly, little pink in the middle, marinade on point. Then, just because I'm on vacay, I got a biscuit on the side. Saved it till the end. I wanted to try the fresh, homemade strawberry preserves. I'm not a big grape jelly girl, so I was excited! Perfect, buttery, flaky, with the sweet strawberries. My sweet ending! read more

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My husband and I are staying up the street from The Universal and decided to try it for breakfast...we were not disappointed! My quinoa bowl was AMAZING and my husband loved the HIBL. We also split a blueberry pancake, which was so light and tasty. What a gem to have in the neighborhood! read more

The Universal - Sweet and savory quinoa bowl...fabulous! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Denver, Colorado

We love this place. Food is good and not your typical breakfast menu, service is good and [[HIGHLIGHT]]they have a cute patio area too![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The BLT WAS SO GOOD, the jalapeño aïoli was just a little hot, beware. And those banana walnut pancakes a must!! read more

Love the gluten free blueberry pancakes here! And the green tea is fantastic too. The staff is excellent and cheerfully accommodating as well. read more

Came here for breakfast on our last day visiting Denver. Not sure if Veteran's Day had any effect on the wait time, but luckily we were seated as soon as we walked in. The diner had a homey feel to it serving comfort food. We saw some unique dishes on the menu and opted to try the universal, wild boar scramble, and custard toast. The Universal - the usual breakfast of eggs, meat, and potatoes. We chose the biscuit and gravy over the pancake. Looks like they use small red potatoes, sliced, and roasted in the oven. They were crispy and delicious. The gravy had a spicy kick to it, which was a nice balance to the dish. Wild Boar Scrambled - thought the wild boar sausage would be gamey, but it was not. Good flavor and reminded me of a chicken apple sausage. Couldn't really taste the onions and smoked gouda, but overall it was a hearty dish. Custard Toast - by far my favorite dish. When it came out, we were served with 3 humongous toast sticks. My eyes got big after taking one bite. First thing that I noticed was how moist and light the toast was. It had that melting in my mouth effect since the bread was soaking in custard overnight. Since the custard toast isn't overpoweringly sweet, the berry compote adds tartness. Or you can dip the toast in traditional syrup. Either way, very delicious and I highly recommend. I highly recommend this restaurant for breakfast/brunch and can't wait to come back to try the other dishes. read more

This is my favorite brunch spot in Denver. The menu is unique and offers something for everyone. I love the bacon and tomato scramble, the HIBL, and the corned beef hash. They also have a daily grits special that is always amazing. Don't leave without trying the lavender mimosa. I've started making them at home after experiencing them here. Make sure you come hungry because the portions are large. The staff are excellent, and many have been here for several years. read more

Amazing brunch spot for you and your friends to enjoy! Their PANCAKES are amazing to the point where we vowed no judgement on anyone for ordering another one! Waitstaff was amazing in their recommendations and patience in waiting a large party. The aesthetics of the restaurant was pleasing to the eye. Food came out hot and ready to devour! If I'm ever back in town, I plan on definitely returning! read more

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Forreal forreal bomb brunch place. This place had a really long wait so make sure you put your name on the list before you even go there. We all got a variety of brunch items - the HIBL, toast, and scramble. You are also even able to customize your own scramble if you wanted too! All breakfast items were fantastic but what blew me away was the huge jiggly toast. Pictures don't even begin to describe how yummy it was!!! Really solid place in Denver read more

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So yummy! Came to The Universal for brunch on a Monday and it did not disappoint. The interior is casual and fun. So many options on the menu, from sweet to savory and from vegan to meat-packed, made for a very tough decision making process. I ultimately went with the cornbread rancheros (substitutes chèvre for cheddar) and a grapefruit mimosa. My eggs were cooked perfectly and the black beans and avocado beautifully accompanied the dish. The cornbread on the bottom was a new flavor combination for me, but man was it good! The food came fairly quickly, service was prompt, and the portions were huge. The cost for an entree and drink came to only around $20, which is a great price for a quality meal. Parking can be a bit tough as many of the lot spaces are reserved for other businesses, but do a few loops or consider parking on a side street and you'll be good to go. I will for sure be back to check out some of the other menu items...great find in the Highlands area! read more

The Universal - Cornbead Rancheros (sub chèvre for cheddar) and grapefruit mimosa - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This is a nice little breakfast spot off of Federal and 38th. They have a small but nicely setup patio with plenty of shade. The bar is always a fun option as well. Cute but definitely get there early or get on the waitlist. The service is always really fast and friendly and the food is good. I had the gluten-free pancakes and I love that they have GF options. The pancakes were a little "gooier" than I like but getting GF consistency can be tough. The bacon could have used a few more minutes but all-in-all a good choice. The drinks are on point for a Sunday Funday and have a nice pour. read more

The Universal - Gluten free pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Came for breakfast on a Saturday. If you're not there early, there'll likely be a wait. There was nothing available inside, so we sat outside in the patio in order to not wait. Our server was semi-competent, but nice (she couldn't answer most of our simple menu questions). They also had difficulty splitting our bill for some reason and ended up having to void a transaction. Food was amazing! They had a few dishes that offered grits, so it felt like home to me. I had their Universal breakfast. There are several options for that dish. I went with eggs, bacon, biscuit and gravy and grits. Loved it! Only knock is that everything seems a bit pricey. read more

The Universal - A variation of The Universal - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Stopped here for a Saturday morning breakfast. We arrived right around 845am and there was no wait. We sat on the patio which was nice and shaded. I really liked the vibe and atmosphere. It has a fun kinda old school but hip diner vibe. Food was good. I got The Universal with a berry pancake and grits and everything was delicious. Bacon and pancakes were on point. Service was good as well. Came back here again and got a scramble with bacon, eggs, cheese, tomato, onion, and spinach. It was delicious, although a little heavy on the cheese. They do not skimp on any ingredients! There was so much bacon!! Also, I got the biscuit and it was one of the best biscuits I've had in awhile. read more

The Universal - The Universal - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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We went here for breakfast the last time we were in Denver. We opted for the cornbread rancheros and some granola. Both were excellent. If you haven't had fresh granola, I highly recommend it. There's something about the freshness and honey that is delicious! We had great service with several of the wait staff refilling coffees and water while asking if we needed anything else. There's also a parking lot which is a huge plus. We'll be back for sure. read more

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The food and drinks at The Universal were incredible! There are a wide variety of options, especially for vegetarians. The service wasn't bad, just very limited conversation with the wait staff. Our server did have things out in a very quick manner and was constantly filling our waters which goes forgotten at other establishments, so that was much appreciated! The ambiance and vibe was nice and chill. It was a great place to be chatting with friends early in the morning. read more

The Universal - Build-Your-Own Scramble with spinach, mushrooms, and gouda. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Great Little breakfast spot. Got the pesto sandwich and it was delicious. Potatoes on the side were a little burnt but still good. Quick service, will definitely be back. read more

The Universal - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Walked to The Universal from "The Hen House" Airbnb with my boyfriend while in Denver this past weekend, and it was delicious! Great system for social distancing (you wait outside until they are able to seat you!) I got the Veggie Benedict and it was delicious! The caramelized onions really make the plate! The side potatoes are amazing too! My boyfriend got the breakfast burrito, which I can't find on the menu online, but I promise it's there! We were stuffed by the end of it! read more

The Universal - Seasonal Veggie Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Denver, Colorado

The Universal is definitely my go-to for brunch. They have the best eggs benedict hands down and there's a lot of bennys out there.. But we decided to check them out for dinner, just their second weekend in and we weren't disappointed! They have a cute, romantic set up outside with strung lights, perfect for a date night. I would describe the menu as your casual favorites with an upscale twist and a smaller breakfast menu available.. We arrived a little later so we weren't able to check out the happy hour menu, which looked amazing! My only feedback is it would have been great to see some of those items for appetizers or small plates on the regular menu. I'm sure if I would of asked they would have definitely accommodated, the staff was great! We will definitely be back to check the happy hour out! My boyfriend got the philly with a side of baked mac and cheese and I got the bison stroganoff. The stroganoff was exactly what I wanted, a feel-good home style meal and it was everything and more, I would absolutely get it again! We paired our meals with a couple of cocktails which were all very good! And finished our meal with the bourbon custard toast and took some cookies to-go. I was hesitant about ordering the custard toast, but I was pleasantly surprised and would absolutely get it again! I would definitely recommend everyone check them out for dinner!! read more

The Universal - Philly with a side of baked mac and cheese, bison stroganoff - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Great service. Really tasty food. Highly recommend. Easy parking. Great morning drinks.

I always drive by and see people waiting outside, but I feel like that's how it is on the weekends with most brunch places. We decided to give this a try for brunch. Great thing is that we were able to call ahead and add our name to the wait so we didn't have to wait ass long. Our server was okay, not as attentive. We were seated at the bar. This place wasn't anything special that stuck out for me. The breakfast burrito smothered with green chili was okay, we felt like it was overwhelmed with just eggs and no other fillings. The green chili was good though, had good taste but needed a more kick. The egg Benedict is always my go to for any breakfast and this was okay. The side salad did not compliment my breakfast at all and the potatoes weren't crispy and just bland. My friend did her steak well done so I couldn't try that. She said her meal was fine. I probably will not come back for brunch read more

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Huevos Ranchero with corn bread?!!! Absolutely Nitty Gritty with Hangar Steak??? Ugh YES! This place has it going on! I love their entire menu and I always come back for more. Even if I choose the same thing I had the last time! Super consistent with their meals! Try anything on the menu, I promise you will love it. This place is low key and the staff is wonderful. BTW: don't forget to order your coffee with oat milk, they have the delicious kind! read more

The Universal - Chocolate chip banana pancakes Nitty gritty with Korean hangar steak Special: Chile Rellenos with grits!!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Great breakfast/brunch spot in the Highlands/Sunnyside area of Denver. This spot always has a line outside on weekends so we decided to check it out. You are able to join their waitlist online which is helpful to reduce wait time. Service is quick once you're seated. They serve local coffee with bottomless refills which was great. I enjoyed the chipotle breakfast sandwich. Good portion size and amount of spice. The eggs Benedict also looked delicious. Seemed like a local neighborhood breakfast spot which was cozy. read more

The Universal - Eggs Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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I had hopes for this spot and had heard good things about it. Yet sadly I can't see why people rave about this place. I got the Breakfast Burrito with the smothering - I got the smothering on the side. Not only was it wet and soggy inside, but there were way too many mild flavors going on inside. It was just a wet and soggy burrito. Not even that flavorful. Plus with the smothering that I put on the 2nd half, it just was a soggy mess. If you smother a burrito, it should be dry inside to balance out the wet smothering. Maybe I'm just not used to Colorado Style burritos with a fried egg inside. But they just don't hit the spot. It's odd and I just want them scrambled and not soggy. Plus the burrito should be fried a little to make it crispy. I'm so used to proper California Breakfast burritos. I had hoped this spot would be better. Honestly Colorado's food scene is very Meh! read more

I haven't been to the universal in a couple years and was happy to see it was hitting all the right notes. They also allow you to put yourself on the waitlist remotely which is a big improvement...I had stopped going there on weekends because I could Mt stomach the very long waits. They have one of the most generous pours in a denver for their mimosas (mostly champagne with a dash or orange juice)...i can't stand paying $10 for a flute of mostly orange juice with no evidence of champagne. The cornbread rancheros are a staple (it could use some spice but add a little hot sauce and you have a great meal). read more

The Universal - Mimosa - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Solid breakfast place that I'd return to for a cozy comforting brunch but can't say I was struck with novelty. The pancakes are large and fluffy, very satisfying. The egg sandwich is made w a croissant that will not disappoint. Would rec the grapefruit mimosa!!! read more

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I can definitely see why this place has the large fan base and the high star rating! After a suggestion from my friend I decided to venture here on a Sunday afternoon. She suggested we come for brunch between 8-9am because of how packed they get. We came in around 8:50am and they already had a 30 minute wait!!!!!! The line grew as time went on, glad she asked us to go early. Service was FAST! For how busy and packed they were I was quite surprised. I got the green chili grits. It was pretty dang good but it was more of a soup texture than grits. I still ate it all up. It also had some delicious meat hiding in the grits that I wish there was more of but I still got pretty full. Good spot, good for kids, and great food. Overall, I'm a fan. read more

The Universal - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Delicious. Perfect spot for my first brunch in town. Staff is very friendly and efficient. Fresh squeezed OJ, homemade biscuits, sausage and hollandaise...the meal was so good. Looking forward to my next visit. read more

We brought 3 friends to The Universal and everyone enjoyed their meals. Collectively, we ordered the scramble, biscuits and gravy, the burrito and the polidori chipotle breakfast sandwich. The burrito was good due to the grits but could use a bit more sauce. The sandwich got the best reviews - my husband loved it. The scramble was your basic b scramble. read more

The Universal - Customized scramble and breakfast sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Denver, Colorado

The Bennies here have me in a short leash. The wait time was worth every bite! This place rocks