The Universal

Mid range price, everything is homemade. Not a large menu but I had a special, barbacoa grits which was excellent. My wife had the corned beef hash which was spot on. Coffee was pretty standar, but got a table quick and had a good meal. Solid choice for a quick brunch.

New favorite breakfast spot! Have lived nearby and just never went in - now I will go often! They have a great selection of food and drinks. Honestly the best chai I’ve had in a while. I’d go back just for that! Delicious breakfast and decent gluten free toast, which is always nice to find. The scramble was delicious. They had lactose free milks to choose from as well. Highly recommend this spot!

Great breakfast/brunch. Went on a Saturday around 1:30 so it was not packed and we were out by 2:10. Food came fast and was pretty good. Only thing that lacked seasoning were the eggs. The custard toast was delicious and their grits are amazing.

We came here to try a new place on our anniversary and walked out feeling great. The food was very good. We got the special (a phenomenal chicken grits-to-perfection dish) and a smokey tomato scramble that we will have to go back for. They also carry queens collective coffee which is always a treat. Service was just lovely - our server was great. Great pace, checked in without overbearing us and just good vibes. We asked for a window table on a rainy day and they made sure to draw up the shades for us. Thanks so much for a lovely start to our day.

Yummy place that has a great menu with decent prices. Grits are fantastic here if you are a grits person. Always check the daily specials. We got in at 1230 on a Sunday and there was no wait and food came out hot and fast. I highly recommend the Korean hanger steak - WOW. And the bacon was amazing too!

This is a wonderful place to eat. I usually take my friends here when they come to visit. The food is fresh and delicious. The gravy they make for the biscuits and gravy is unique but traditional. It’s a bit darker in color and has amazing flavors. My personal preference for corned beef hash is that it be a traditional hash which would mean everything is more finely chopped- they make theirs a bit more “ rustic.” That is, the ingredients are large chopped. Great flavors just not my preference. I recommend. I also heavily judge breakfast eateries on if they at least offer real maple syrup… I forgot to ask and I couldn’t exactly tell- maybe it was a blend? Next time, and I’ll update my review.

Delicious! Coffees were on point and the food was amazing. A little bit of a wait but it was worth it! Highly recommend the corn beef hash. Didn't get to try the pancakes but they looked really good as well.

Hidden gem. The Universal is very unassuming from the outside as it is tucked into a strip mall; however, the food is outstanding. There is indoor and outdoor seating. Today we had a build your own omlet and potato’s and I added a side of pancakes. Warning these are not “side pancakes” they are humongous and delicious.

Came here for breakfast. I would say it is a diner but a little nicer than a regular diner. Service was great, much better than in most places in Denver. I wasn't a fun of the seats because they were too hard. Otherwise place is clean and appealing, The menu is pretty large and has lots of selections and reasonably priced. I think it was the cheapest meal we had in Denver and it was also high quality and tasty. I had quinoa ball that was unique and filling. My husband had breakfast plate with eggs and meat patty. Meat patty was actually made of real meat and not some processed food. Definitely recommend.

I've been wanting to come here for a while and so glad we stopped in! Just missed the rush and we're seated quickly around noon. I had the biscuit recommendation and my husband got the grits- I love that both dishes came with greens of some sort! Both were good but I preferred the biscuit dish as the grits were a bit on the all one note a little too liquidy. Ambiance was casual and friendly! Solid spot for brunch.

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

Holy crap. One of the best breakfast burritos I've had in Denver. The Universal isn't a massive restaurant, and it gets busy, so if you're going to walk in for brunch like me and my two friends did on a Sunday morning, I'd recommend arriving early, especially to find parking. We were eventually seated at the bar in some corner seats. The U Breakfast Burrito ($15) has jalapeño, cheddar and pepper jack grits, pulled pork, eggs, and habanero honey, smothered with pulled pork green chili and cilantro. OMG! It's huge, packed with flavor, and fresh. I didn't get a chance to try their Bloody Mary but definitely will next time. Service was quick. Would come back and get another burrito.

One of our breakfast staples. Their food is unique and delicious and their grits are the best around (daily specials are awesome). I love coming during the week for discounted mimosas and bloodies. Come early on the weekends to avoid the wait. I prefer to sit at the bar where the staff give great service, and people watch.

I don't know what I was thinking with the last review. This is by far our favorite brunch spot in Denver BY FaR. In a world where people are more focused on health this is the perfect balance of diner meets quality. Where you can have amazing tasting dishes but not feel like you're rolling out the door. If you're in DENVeR don't think twice!

This place can get pretty busy on the weekends, so expect to wait a bit. There is free parking in the parking lot. Always had a solid experience here. Servers are really nice and attentive. Food comes out super fast! Their pork sausage is homemade and so good! They are thick patties - highly recommend! Also love their potatoes. They come thinly sliced and some parts are crispy, which are my favorite. I got an iced chai and they have a spicy or honey version. I ordered honey and it was great, just a bit too much milk was added. The server was nice enough to add more chai for me. So if you want light milk, might be worth letting your server know

Met my girls group for a beginning of summer brunch... The hostess was great and accommodating. While they dont seat you until your whole party is there, they keep your place in line. We all chose their signature Bloody Mary which was so delicious! Our meals were hot and tasty! Burritto and eggs benedict were yummy. I tried the smoked tomato scramble... While I love tomatoes and spinach in my eggs, I wasn't a fan of the smoke flavor. And, there are some many other delicious items to try! What a great way to start our summer!

Absolutely amazing service, employees, owners, and best of all the FOOD!! The owner greeted us and brought us to our table, only knew she was the owner because I asked, she was so amazing. We had a group of 8 and were seated in 15 minutes!! Every person loved their food. Can't say enough good things.. we'll be back! Our server was Ryan :) what a sweetie!

Really enjoyed brunch here! My friend and I split the U Breakfast Burrito and the Custard Toast. The breakfast burrito was a tasty combination of sweet, spicy and savory. The Custard Toast was realllly good, but I don't recommend it if you are weird about partially "wet" bread (from the custard). I would absolutely order it again and again! There was ample parking, a small back patio area, and attentive service. I'd love to go back!

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

I think my last review was for something else, but I went back to home base for my visit today. So, I am going to go on record that I THINK that the Wild Boar Scramble from here is my favorite breakfast in all of Denver. Know that you have to embrace sun dried tomatoes, as I do. But, if that is the case, then this will be bliss for you also. Marco was my server today, but note that they are ALL great servers, and it is a team effort that is seamless. I personally am a bar sitter, and the bar is spacious and clean. You will wait on weekends if you don't set an alarm, but that is a good thing. They always have a grits special on the chalkboard. If you like grits, this will be bliss for you too. Definitely recommend, updated pic of the WBS is below, and see you there.

We came here for a July 4th brunch and beat the crowd so got seated right away. This was my second time here and always a solid breakfast place and meal. Both got a spicy Bloody Mary and coffee. The bloody was the perfect amount of spicy. We got the chipotle sandwich and chicken sausage scramble. The scramble had some goat cheese on the side and took this meal to a whole other level. I was feeling full but powered through so I could finish the meal. It got busy by the time we left but wasn't a big deal. The waiter acknowledged he was spread a little thin, even though we didn't notice, so gave us a free coffee to go. Overall, great spot for a nice relaxed breakfast and the staff help make it an even better meal!

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

Bacon was crispy and tasty and the coffee was good. The banana pancake was good. But not great. My daughter had the veggie Benedict, which she said was excellent. They had a good selection of juices. The waitress was pleasant and attentive.

Gonna start with the service here is awesome. Everyone was so nice and attentive, and they were quick to seat us before 10am. Food wasn't really that great, though. The biscuits we had were dry and my veggie egg dish was pretty flavorless. Thinking if I come back I need to try something on the griddle side instead!

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!

With how close this is to my home I've only ate here twice in the 4+ years we've lived in Sunnyside (also had carry out a few times). Every time I've ate food from here I've always really enjoyed it. This go around I got the Custard Toast and boy was it delightful. I typically go for savory for breakfast but the toast sounded SO GOOD (plus someone next to me got it and it also looked SO GOOD!) Rich and very dessert like! Definitely a treat that I'd get again. Service was quick and attentive. And it has a chill brunch vibe.

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.

Nice little breakfast joint on the west side. Everything is just a little elevated without being over the top. I opted for "The Universal" with biscuits and gravy. Gravy was extra seasoned, which is always a bonus, compared to the usual cream gravy. Service was quick and friendly. Server was extremely conscious of mentioning potential meat products in case someone has a restriction (fortunately I don't). Price is a little high, but what isn't these days. Overall, a fun little spot to check out.

First time visiting Denver and had weekend brunch here. Generous portion, attentive service by our server. Came here on a weekend and asked to be seated by the patio and everything was going well until we felt that we were treated differently from the other tables by the employee who was supposed to ensure everyone's water and coffee(when asked) was filled . The employee asked individually each table before us if anyone would like their coffee/water filled but when she came to our table neither did she fill our water cup or asked if we would want coffee when clearly one of our coffee mugs was empty, and just walked pass the table. We felt uncomfortable with such unprofessional service...

I met a friend from Aurora here as it is the same amount of time for both of us. I was pleasantly surprised by the amazing food as it was my first visit. We were seated immediately and the staff was friendly and helpful. We both ordered the lavender mimosa - I'm not a big fan of bubbly, but this drink was light and delicious without being overpowered by the lavender. It is also a large mimosa! The food was fabulous and I've been telling my friends that this is my new favorite brunch place! I ordered the U Breakfast burrito and the grits inside were flavorful and creamy - the perfect grits! The pork was tender and juicy and the balance of sweet, spicy, savory made this one of my favorite breakfast burritos of all time. My friend ordered the cornbread rancheros and I got to have a couple of bites. Another wonderful and well balanced dish! I will be back with friends and family. Thank you for making our birthday brunch amazing!

Used to come here once in a while and it was fine but probably won't be back again. The staff was nice enough but the food was just not good especially for the price. The granola and yogurt with "fruit compote" was really cherry pie filling with what tasted like yoplait. It was so nasty. We saw a bunch from other tables going back to the kitchen full. Others said their hash and biscuits and gravy was good!

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.

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

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!

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

Went with some coworkers after a long night shift - got to the parking lot at 7:40 on a Wednesday AM and there were 6-10 people sitting in their cars waiting - it's that good!! I had been meaning to try it & I am so glad I did!! Super easy to park. Cute interior, clean bathrooms & nice waitstaff. We ordered a few dishes for the table: Cornbread rancheros - amazing. Never thought of this concept before but delicious!! Large portion & super filling. Bacon & tomato scramble - this one caught me by surprise. I was sure the cornbread rancheros would be my #1 but this scramble was incredible!! One of the best I can remember having. I can't put my finger on what made it so good but it was outstanding. Biscuit & gravy - I am from the south so this was a hard one for me as they didn't quite stand up to the ones back home. Biscuit was good but I would skip out on the gravy next time. Custard toast - wow, amazing. Sweet and delicious, great texture & the compote made it! I will be back!

I'm so glad I read the Yelp reviews ahead of time because it steered me to order the cornbread ranchero plate and it was fantastic!! I never would have thought to put cornbread with eggs (made your way), black beans, avocado, green chilies, cheese, pico and a dollop of sour cream, but it was so good that I ate the whole thing! I also ordered the lavender latte which was perfectly calming to sip on before my meal. My hubs ordered the Universal plate with eggs, bacon, super thinly sliced potatoes and a buttermilk pancake (there were multiple bread options to choose from). The pancake was thin, likely cooked on a griddle and wasn't warm when served but it was still tasty. He also ordered a regular coffee. Table sugar options included raw sugar (my favorite) and Splenda.

The last time I was here it was January 2020, just before the pandemic swept into our lives. The pandemic has made me into such a different person! I'm not the same youthful, optimistic young lass I once was. Anyway the food is still great! I went recently with some friends and I was not disappointed on my second visit! From boozy coffees, a masculine modern interior that almost feels like a retro high school gym, to thoughtfully prepared breakfast plates, this is a really great spot. They have vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy free options. Everything is fresh, seasoned very well, and features some local ingredients. I can't say enough great things about this spot. Everything on their menu has been 5/5 stars. It's one of my favorite breast/brunch places!

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.

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!

All I can say is yes go here! It's a fairly unassuming spot upon arrival but the food is so good! The pancakes are amazing! I'm guessing they're cooked in a bit of butter cause they have a perfect crispiness to them that I can totally get behind. Not on the menu- the option for chocolate chips which is the number one thing I woke up craving for my birthday breakfast and I was so thrilled when they delivered. I ordered one pancake as a side and a Greek yogurt parfait ( hey I was trying to get some protein) the parfait was a game changer. It was so unexpectedly delicious!!! Lastly I had a London Fog another item not specifically on the menu.

Cute brunch spot in the highlands area with a parking lot! They have a wait list you can join online before you arrive and I highly recommend this especially if you are visiting on the weekend . They no longer have a waiting area, so I ended up waiting in my car after checking in with the host. All the staff are wearing masks and patrons are encouraged to only take them off at the table. Once you sit down, you get quick, efficient service and their staff are wonderful and welcoming! I have basically only ordered their scrambles up to this point and they do a good job with those. Portions are a good size, with potatoes and toast to go alongside your eggs. You can get jam for your toast upon request, and this changes so you get to try a variety of their house made preserves. I'd definitely come back, especially to try their pancakes. They're the size of a large dinner plate! The Universal has become my go to brunch spot in the highlands and is convenient half way point for meeting friends who live in Westminster/Broomfield.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Service wasn't the best, but the food made up for it. The wait was long and they were out of a lot of things but regardless our meals were incredible. The French toast was life changing, the breakfast sandwich with chorizo- amazing, and the corn bread dish with pulled pork green chili was delicious.

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.

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.

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.

My friend and l our regular breakfast there yesterday. We eat there frequently and the experience we had was totally different. The Hanger steak was so salty as to be inedible. The server recommended the house made pork sausage as a replacement. The sausage was also totally over salted. The grits served with the breakfast were sour and not good at all. I let the server know and she made some unclear comment about there being a new prep cook. We were charged for our meals even though we ate very little of them.

The food was delicious and plentiful. It was nicely plated and served with a smile. The menu was varied and had enough variety to please just about any dietary choices.

I'm what they call "grit obsessed". I've had many different kinds of grits, and find I'm more into savory than sweet, but will still eat them nonetheless. Back in July, my husband and I met his dad and wife at this Highlands hot spot, at my request, because WHY NOT try a new spot for brunch! Here are the takeaways: ++ Despite being located in the bustling Highlands neighborhood, The Universal is easy to find and offers ample parking. We pulled up at 10AM on a Friday morning, with plenty of spots open, with no wait! I will note - pre COVID this spot is known to fill up fast so come early, especially because they don't take reservations. ++ We opted for a spot on the patio, as it was a gorgeous day. Socially distanced to perfection, we snagged a table in the shade and easily could have sat there all afternoon. The patio is small, yet well designed, and made for a fine space to dine. Interior is much larger, offers a variety of seating and is decorated with a cute southern flare. ++ Staff is beyond welcoming, friendly and adheres to COVID policies. Our waitress was helpful in suggestions on the menu, refilled our waters and boozy beverages quickly and was super sweet! ++ THE FOOD IS BOMB. Eying the special, I opted for the Special of the day - shrimp and grits loaded with collard greens and an over easy egg! The grits were cooked to creamy perfection and loaded to the brim with deliciousness. My husband opted for the traditional Universal breakfast of pancakes, ham, eggs and potatoes! Our guests dined on another traditional breakfast and the eggs benedict, which they seemed to be pleased with! YUM! ++ Boozy beverages! We opted for a round of drinks to get our morning started - the blood orange mimosa for me, a screwdriver for him, and a margarita for my father in law. His wife opted for a fresh chai, which looked and smelled delicious! I'm certainly glad we made our way to this hot spot, as I know we'll return!

I have been coming here for years and food, drinks and service have been consistently good. They have a great breakfast and lunch menu plus daily specials. Delicious bar cocktails plus barista drinks. I'm happy to have such a nice place close to my home

Nice gem off 38th in Highlands/LoHi. When you dine at The Universal, be sure to get The Universal for brunch. See what I did there!? It's damn good. Comes with two eggs (any style), choice of sausage, grits or potatoes, pancakes or biscuits and gravy. I mean talk about options. You can sub the grits or potatoes for a salad if that's what you really want to do. You can also add fruit to your pancakes. These are some of my other favorites: Cornbread Rancheros - AHHH MAAA GAAAD. SO GOOD. Biscuits and Gravy - GET THAT! Probably the best Biscuts and Gravy I've had in Denver so far. The Nitty Gritty - ORDER THAT THANG WITH THE HANGAR STEAK. You're welcome. Pancakes - These are HUGE. I like the powdered sugar on the pancakes. You don't need to use much syrup on them. Chicken Apple Sausage - I like that it's a sausage link & they have a nice crust on them. I'm not a fan of pattied sausages. Weird I know. You get what you pay for here. The menu isn't too big and they have enough options for everyone in your party. If you're super picky and don't want to order a menu item, they have 15 side options. Just make your own plate! Their mimosas are served in a pint glass and they have a nice selection for brunch cocktails if you plan on getting a little toasty. I love the neighborhood feel of The Universal. It's just a 5 min drive from our apartment and my boyfriend and I love the service here. It's quick and easy. Managers, Servers, and the Barista/Bartender work as I team. LOVE TO SEE THAT. They're following all COVID guidelines. Denver, don't be scuuurreeed. My boyfriend and I feel very safe eating here. Pull up in your car/bike and be ready to eat good! We'll be back!

Great food. Their menu has a wide selection. Great neighborhood place. It wasn't busy on Super Bowl Sunday so it was easy to get in and out.