I'm always looking for your basic breakfast with flavor and it's usually so hard to come by. Most places have your classic "bacon, eggs & the works" breakfast but they always seem to be so bland. Though The Universal was not one of those places. Everything from the atmosphere to the service to the food was superb. I had The Universal breakfasts with flavorful biscuits and gravy, over hard egg and bacon. Each bite complemented the other perfectly. Will defiantly return to try other menu items. read more

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

Universal has everything you could want in a brunch: - Delicious and flavorful coffee - Friendly servers - Best banana pancakes I've ever had - Talented chefs and quality ingredients. The eggs were cooked to perfection and the house made sausage was definitely house made. I highly recommend! read more

The Universal - The Universal with pancakes, house made sausage, and potatoes. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Place is great, friendly staff and awesome food. Will be back. U need to try "The Universal" with biscuits and gravy! read more

I've eaten here several times and always enjoyed it, but had to write about our most recent experience, which was not good. We were celebrating a girlfriends birthday with a group breakfast of about 10. Several girls arrived first and the hostess would not seat the girls even though the restaurant was 75-80% empty. As more and more of our party arrived, they still would not seat us. A few girls wanted coffee and were made to pay at the counter rather than being offered to have this added to the tab. When we were finally seated, the waitress was horrible. She was slow to take our order, would not accommodate any substitutions, rolled her eyes when asked for to-go boxes and basically just gave us attitude. My opinion is that the food was good, and this place is probably fine for a small group, but they were not very gracious at handling a larger party. I won't be back. read more

This place is always packed so be prepared to wait for a while. The servers are friendly but not that attentive. This place serves similar food to other hipster brunch places around town. Generally decent place to go for breakfast and/or brunch. read more

As the first stop for brunch on a recent girls weekend, we were excited to check this place out. Located at the end of a mini strip there is a bit of parking in the lot as well as on the street. They do have a patio which gives a bit more room. We were warmly welcomed and sat right away on a weekday at 10:30ish. The space is small and cramped inside. My only other complaint was the temperature inside. I could see the thermostat from where I sat and it was 78 degrees. Way too hot. Now onto the food and service. Service was very good. Our server was friendly and engaging. My bff who loves Eggs Benedict was told this was a must have here. It did not disappoint! In fact, she stated this may be the best one she has ever had!! I had the 2 eggs standard. The potatoes were very good and the bacon was really yummy. I would definitely return here and try something new. They are known for their grits and serving breakfast all day is a beautiful thing!! read more

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Food was decent, but it's absolutely not that kid-friendly. No kids menu, servers that seem a bit impatient with kids ordering, and most of all bringing oatmeal to a 4 year old in a bowl that was scalding hot, not just warm. read more

Was on vacation this week and wanted to try this place on a non weekend. It was still pretty full. Sat at the bar for breakfast. The staff was awesome and friendly. The food was really good, and fast out of the kitchen. Will be back soon. read more

This was our second time eating breakfast here, and have to say, the best eggs benedict I've ever had. The bacon was so delicious and the hollandaise perfect! Their products are fresh and tasty. Our waiter was very friendly, and the atmosphere cozy. I'm going to take all my out of town guests here! read more

Omg was the service amazing here. The universal with the biscuit and gravy were to tie die for. The gravy tasted like my grandmother had worked on it all morning and so much love was cooked in. Thank you for starting our trip off so pleasantly read more

Very cozy and staff was friendly! I got the Universal which when I first saw it I was like this little bit of food! but it filled me up and every bite was tasty. Hubby got the wild boar scramble and it was very tasty as well. Definitely will come again read more

Best breakfast in town by far. Great service too. Whenever I find out one of my friends has not been here, i take them and they always end up loving it as much as I do. The daily specials are always on point, so hats off to the chefs and the cornbread rancheros is amazing. Keep up the great work. I love you guys. read more

15 minute wait on a Sunday at noon? This was odd but appreciated. The food was fantastic! Homemade sausage, rich grits and perfectly cooked eggs! Service was great! Go get some! read more

Great place for brunch and lunch. I typically save this spot for visiting friends and relatives. Is in the neighborhood and has never disappointed. Drinks are great. The food is high quality with large portions. Lines can be bad on the weekends, but that is pretty common for any decent restaurant that specializes in brunch. read more

You must order the bacon! I'm not sure how they prepare it but their bacon is really amazing. I ordered the Universal breakfast which is big so bring your appetite. Grits were excellent. The biscuit was extremely good. I did not care for the sausage gravy but I can't say it was bad, just too spicy for my taste. They make their own sausage which I would describe as high quality but too spicy for me. read more

Awesome veggie Benny with cloud-like poached eggs and crisp home fries. This is our sisters fave brunch celebration spot nestled cozily in the Wheatridge area. We arrived with our noisy bunch of kids, ten minutes before closing and they graciously accommodated us. Friendly and delicious. What more could one ask. Oh and I hear they have excellent coffee although I didn't try it this day. read more

This is a review strictly for the bar service. Standing here on a beautiful day waiting at the bar. Waiting waiting waiting. Everyone behind the bar working working working away. About 4 of them. Smiles, every one of them is smiling as they continue to walk past us but seem to have lost their words. Fortunately, we made friends. A couple standing at the bar when we walked up. Both drink less. 2 mins, 4 mins, 6 mins later 1 of the 4 behind the bar learned to speak, "someone will be right with you" , "great, thanks" 10 minutes, "what can I get for you" "2 minosas" 15 minutes....18 minutes......i'm drinkless. read more

This is one of the best brunches I've had in Denver! I went by myself around 11am and got a seat at the bar right away. The place was full but didn't have the overcrowded stressful feeling that a lot of brunch restaurants have. Bar staff was friendly and attentive. I had a grapefruit mimosa (delicious) and I was torn between the cornbread huevos rancheros and the veggie Benedict. My server recommended the Benedict and it was incredible! Carmelized onions, tomatoes, and a delicious hollandaise sauce plus breakfast potatoes. Every bite was perfect! Service was super and I'll be back to try the rancheros. I liked how many vegetarian options there were and the quality of the food was amazing. read more

We are only here in Denver for a couple of days and decided to check this breakfast place out. My four friends & I LOVED the food!! It is so tasty! Definitely try their Gravy, it's amazing! I'll never forget this place that said, I give the FOOD five stars but the service could get friendlier, and not so rushed. This place definitely rushed you out the door, they even have a sign on the tables suggesting customers hurry up. read more

The Universal is definitely a spot to consider if you are looking for breakfast in Denver. Overall, the food was great. The only issue I found was that the Biscuits and Gravy were unexpectedly very spicy. They weren't bad at all, just spicy. Everything else was on point! If you go, ask for Leah. She did an amazing job serving my table. read more

Nice atmosphere, tentative staff, relatively small menu but what they have is good. Food does not come out of the kitchen superfast but it is good quality. Today I had a $12 chuck burger and it was awesome in every way, added avocado (it was a sliced half) for only an additional $1. Will be back for sure... read more

I like this place, good food, high (ish) prices, and the wait can be a hassle. But it's super worth it if you can get in there during the week! This is a must go to when I have guests in from out of town. read more

A good solid 4 for sure. Have been here several times, mostly busy, and the food is top notch. The portions are legit - read probably shareable - and they serve Coda coffee which is a definite bonus. Biscuits and gravy, grits, pork products all done well with the accouterments to match (greens, etc). My only complaint, and it's becoming more and more common... is how loud it is when busy. read more

BEST biscuits I've ever had. All of the food here is amazing. Absolutely try this spot.

Solid breakfast choice close to our new digs, and I can't wait to go back. Was able to sneak in a Monday morning breakfast with a girlfriend, and immediately wished it wasn't a workday when our server offered "mimosa or Bloody Mary". Opted for the nitro cold brew which was just the right amount of cold and caffeinated for sitting on the patio. Felt like a bore so I ordered the two egg standard, and while I usually don't get breakfast meat (who am I?) I couldn't resist the chicken apple sausage. It was amazing, and I would eat a plate of that on my own. My girlfriend built her own scramble which was a good choice when you can't quite decide. Home fries were a good balance of soft and crispy. Will be returning when I do not have to work and can enjoy an adult beverage on the patio! read more

We love this place, the atmosphere, the friendly staff and most importantly the food! Always amazing! Lots of gluten-free options and they just started offering GF pancakes. Be still my pregnant, gluten-free heart. We probably go about three times a month. read more

Amazing food, great vibe & cool staff No wait and reasonably priced What more can ya say!!! read more

This place has amazing decor with a lovely reclaimed wood wall, white subway tile behind the espresso bar, and in general a nice "rustic chic" feel. The grits. are. amazing. Actually everything I've ordered there has been pretty spot on. Staff is super friendly, especially the guy with the handlebar stache. I really hope this place makes it. read more

The meal was Fantastic !!! Thanks to Steve for sharing his house with us and Toby Rocks !!! We had The Universal breakfast and Custard Toast with house made sausage was Super !!! read more

My hubby and I made the long trek from Longmont, to enjoy brunch at the Universal; needless to say Longmont is in need of really good breakfast places. Upon arrival we were so happy we made this choice. The atmosphere is industrial yet cozy, the staff is so nice and helpful, and the food is absolutely delicious. We ordered the grits of the day (pork belly), and the cornbread rancheros, and a side of biscuits and gravy. We love biscuits and gravy and have to try everywhere we go. We both loved all the dishes that arrived. We also ordered Bloody Mary's to accompany our breakfast, and they had the perfect space and flavor and we will definitely be going back to enjoy brunch again. The only thing I would ask to improve on would be more gravy with the biscuits and gravy as it was a little bit dry that the gravy was to die for. Also, my family is from the South, and we don't skimp on grits. I would make the suggestion of having a bit more grits on your grits dishes. Other than that, everything was perfect. read more

My favorite French toast in town, hand down. They also have great pancakes, bacon, and grits, which are so hard to find and they do them oh so well. Definitely worth the trip out for the grits and French toast. Coffee is strong and endless. There is sometimes a wait, but the worst I've ever dealt with is 20min. The device has always been friendly and fast. And even when they are slammed, I've never felt rushed by the server. One of my favorite breakfast joints in town. I put it above Snooze, hands down. read more

I ended up here when I drove up to Hash Cafe and discovered they were "Closed for Repairs". I was hesitant to choose The Universal because of the notoriously long waits I had heard they are known for but I took the plunge and I'm glad I did. While I did have a 40min wait for a table you are able to order drinks while you wait. The coffee was great and at least distracted me a little. Once we got a table the service was quick and attentive. There was a mix up with our order but it was rectified quickly and we were given a warm homemade biscuit and playful banter to make up for it. There are several appealing vegetarian options on the menu and I settled on the Tempeh Hash which I would order again... and the potatoes are amazing. So prepare for the wait but don't let it scare you away from The Universal. They have many great things to offer. read more

Great food and great service. Been here a few times. Love it! The grits are great and love the homemade breakfast sausage. So much food on The Universal plate, I can never finish it. Oh, and the biscuits and sausage grave, I just drooled a bit thinking about them. The Bahn Mi sandwich is a must try as well. Worth the drive into Denver from Lafayette read more

Visited for the 1st time on Friday October 10, 2014. Wow! The mrs. ordered the Corn Bread Rancheros and that was delicious! The roasted salsa was fantastic, and everything was fresh and well prepared. I ordered the Wild Board Scramble (a relatively new item, it's not on the Yelp copy of the menu yet). It was great too. The boar sausage had a great flavor (not gamey, and not so strong that it overpowered everything else). I got an english muffin as my bread side with the scramble and the homemade preserves that they brought out with it knocked my socks off. (I wonder if they sell that stuff by the jar?). The only thing keeping this fabulous place from a 5 star rating is the coffee - good but not outstanding. If they ever decided to serve a custom roast (vs what tasted like a good, but store bought brand) then this place would be over the top. The staff was friendly and service was prompt. The food was good and reasonably priced. We enjoyed it and we'll definitely be back! read more

My fav breakfast spot. It's good, consistent and reasonable. I go often and often bring clients for business. It might be time to redo the booths and make them a bit more comfortable. read more

This place was fabulous!! Our server convinced me to try their special and it was one of the best things I've ever had. Grits with sliced pork belly, a stuffed tomato, and arugula salad. I wasn't sure how much I'd like it but I trusted our server, seemed like a rad dude, and he definitely didn't disappoint. The restaurant has a cool vibe on the inside and had good music playing. read more

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

Good food. Servers were great. Sat at the bar and the server with a sweet mustache was really lively and funny. Biggest complaint was the wait, but that's to be expected with a brunch place on a Sunday morning! Also I thought it was a bit spendy for three people, but it wasn't that big of a deal we were visiting from out of town, so it was kind of a special circumstance. read more

The Universal - yummy drinks at breakfast. the one on the left is a "virgin screwdriver" per our server - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Amazing food! The menu has a lot of plates with grits and they are delicious. I had a smoked salmon special over grits and highly recommend it. The Universal does not look like much from the outside, but the inside is very hip with a large bar. It was busy on a Monday morning so I imagine the weekends are hectic. The service was very friendly. read more

Have you ever enjoyed an over-the-top, incredible food item at a restaurant and you thought, that was unfreakingbelievable!? Today was that day for me. The Universal served a tender belly bacon partnered with their fresh hominy grits triggering an extrasensory breakfast experience. Visit The Universal. Soak up the great ambiance, enjoy their great service, go home happy. read more

I liked this place better than my husband did but I'd mark this place as kind of new and trendy versus the home style ambiance and cooking that my husband likes. I had the eggs Benedict. It's one of my favorite breakfasts of all time and I usually cannot get enough of the hollandaise sauce. However, the hollandaise sauce was not the star of this dish. It was mediocre and there wasn't very much if it. But, the ham made up for it, and I am not even a big ham fan. The ham was amazing and pulled the whole dish together. I would definitely order it again. Now my husband's complaints: there isn't any white sugar at the table for coffee, there is only a sugar substitute and sugar in the raw. Our server did bring is a small cup from the kitchen when we asked. They also do not have fountain soda. Instead they have glass bottled soda that is not your typical Pepsi or Coke brands. It's a soda made with cane sugar. Overall the service was friendly, the food was very good and I would come back again, but probably without my husband. read more