The Universal

This was a planned destination. I had the Hangar Steak Korean style. It was too heavy to be a breakfast choice for me. It was really good nevertheless. The meat was tender and seasoned well with Korean– inspired seasoning. It came with some gravy and biscuit somewhere there.
The place was busy but people move pretty fast. Great service and awesome unique dishes.
If you’re looking for ordinary run of the mill breakfast it’s not here. But if you want to scratch your head and be surprised then come here.

Best breakfast I’ve ever had. Had the universal with sausage (from scratch), grits, biscuits and gravy, and two eggs over easy. Lots of natural heat, and all components worked well with each other.

There’s a new spot added to my Go-To’s in Denver.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It also happens to be the most delicious meal of the day. It gets even better when you head into the highlands and enjoy some incredible creations at the Universal.
Nothing too cute or whimsical going on here, just some straight up delicious breakfast/​brunch choices. I’ve had both the cornbread rancheros and the eggs benedict and both item’s were filling and delicious.
One thing that sets this place apart is the freshness of the ingredients. You can just tell that everything is made to order and nothing is going old, drying out or about to expire. Breakfast is delicious on it’s own, but when ingredients are fresh then it gets even better.
I’ve also had incredible and timely service each time i’ve gone. I can’t remember our waitresses name, but she was excellent. And, the owner works there and walks around making sure everything is perfect.
5 Stars, 2 thumbs up!!! A perfect place to become a regular!

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!

I hope it was the owner of The Universal that treated us so poorly because it would be a shame for an employee to harm their reputation with such callousness.
I’m not sure why, and maybe this is why it was so frustrating, but we were completely ignored by the host. We were patiently waiting for our table and the host was coming torward us to show us to a freshly vacated and cleaned 4 top. Another customer intercepted him and they began a long and casual chat. The host reverted to his station and continued to chat about this and that, very casually as our table sat empty. This lasted for ten our fifteen additional minutes.
We noticed the wait staff continue to look at the host wondering what was going on, but they never interrupted him to gain his attention. I walked up to engage the host, but he was just too busy with this other guest, who I assume at this point must be a very important person.
We were a family of four with two kids. We had the only kids in place, so I can only assume it is not a kid friendly establishment. This is my only guess for this treatment. Disappointed and aggravated.

I have eaten here several times and I have always been happy with it in the past. I would have given 4 stars before. However, today make me question do all good things need to come to an end.
Let’s start with a cup of tea with only a half a cup of water. Second, in the year 2016 no modification!!! Really! I ask for jalepenos added to my scrambled eggs, but they could not do that!!! Tell me how difficult could it be to add an extra item to scramble eggs??? Last but not least the scramble was spinach, tomatoes, and mushrooms. I had one bite of spinach in the whole thing??? Unsatisfactory service not happy!!!

Great breakfast! We both got the special, Jambalaya Grits, which was delicious and had a nice kick to each bite. Couple that with the never ending coffee and I left satisfied. Portion size is large, and I couldn’t finish it all. Wait staff was friendly and service was excellent.

When I was trying to get my boyfriend to consider moving to the Highlands, I took him here. After brunch, he demanded that we live within walking distance. Now we do!
The Universal is hands down some of the best brunch I’ve had in a long time. We bring all of our out-​of-​towners here, and come quite often ourselves. The staff is amazing, and we usually just get whatever is on the specials board since it’s always amazing!
Recently we went and had some sort of BBQ sauce with one of our meals (I think it was on special) and have been trying to recreate it ever since. It. Was. Amazing.
Go here. Eat it all. And whatever you do, get a Keoke. It’ll wake you up and knock you on your ass at the same time, and it’s DELICIOUS!

Cute place! Fun atmosphere. Very limited seating though. If you’re going at a crowded time make sure there’s nice weather as you’ll likely be waiting outside. The service and food was great. We were sat by the door so felt a little rushed through our meal given those on the wait list staring us down :)
Ordered: Bloody Mary and Custard toast

I was quite surprised to find this popular breakfast joint in a strip mall. Luckily, there is no strip mall vibe once you’re inside and there’s also plenty of free parking. We dined on a Friday morning without waiting, thank goodness! Despite the beautiful weather, the patio wasn’t open but there were plenty of available tables inside.
I realize that I am in a very small minority with this two star review. Maybe it is a bit harsh, but I hold Southern cooking to a very high standard, as did my ancestors before me. No complaints whatsoever about the friendly and efficient service!
If you know me, then you know I ordered a mimosa. They come in several flavors: orange, pineapple, cranberry, and something else (maybe mango?) for $ 6. They also have peach for $ 7 but I think that one has an extra ingredient. I didn’t notice a bottomless option but that may be reserved for weekend brunch. My pineapple mimosa was presented in a tall glass with ice. Strike one.
I wanted to try both the biscuits and the grits, so I ordered The Universal, which also comes with two eggs your way and your choice of breakfast meat. Our food came out quickly and portions were large.
I am convinced that authentic Southern-​style biscuits do not exist in this town. And honestly, the altitude rightly shoulders much of the blame. I have yet to see a restaurant biscuit that is crispy golden brown on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside (but if you know where I can find one, I’m all ears!). The Universal’s biscuits are nicely browned but far too dense on the inside (and also too yellow but I’m guessing that’s from unbleached flour). Thankfully, I did not detect any sugar, so points for that. Sausage gravy has never been my thing, therefore I have no comment on it on way or the other. The Anson Mills grits were perfectly flavored, even with the included sprinkle of pepper, which I never put on my grits. However, the texture was all wrong. They were thick and lumpy, perhaps from sitting around in the pot all morning. I enjoyed the meaty texture of the Tender Belly bacon and because Tender Belly specializes in such high quality meat, I didn’t mind so much that it wasn’t the least bit crispy. Mr. P. had some kind of boar sausage scramble and he really liked the link sausage (possibly also from Tender Belly) but didn’t have any other raves about the dish.
I’m glad I gave this place a try to see what all the hype was about and now I can cross it off my list. No need to make the drive across town when there are much better breakfast options close to home.

The best Bloody Mary in Denver. I had an egg white scramble with cheddar cheese and mushrooms. It came with crispy potatoes and an English muffin. The blueberry jam is awesome!!! Our server was great, highly recommend!!!

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.

My daughter and I stopped in for some breakfast on Mother’s Day, everything was great. There was so many delicious options to choose from. I had the grits special with pulled pork and collard greens. The pork was super good it was spicy, and smokey. The service was great too, my food accidentally taken when I took my daughter to the restroom, but the manager was really apologetic and offered me a fresh plate (2^nd serving of deliciousness). I left full and 100% satisfied.

We’re brunch people. We have a two year old, so the hours, food and option of booze keeps up frequenting brunchy type places. Saw this spot featured in westword, checked Unilocal and headed out after naptime.
I’m a server so I know the woes of people coming in before close (they close at 230, we got there at 2). However, tiny humans have short attention spans so we’re usually in and out. The hostess was super friendly and warm, but I got the feeling our server wasn’t thrilled with our presence. She wasn’t rude, just not friendly. They definitely do not cater to families as we were not given a kids menu, crayons or even a drink for the kid. Seriously, she brought us two waters right away but nothing for the little one. I figured they probably didn’t have kids cups, so I didn’t ask.
Started with a bloody. It was great. Nothing over the top presentation wise, but for $ 6 a good deal. Perfectly seasoned.
I asked the waitress for her recommendation between the seasonal veggie Benny or the Ranchero. I went with the Ranchero, their take on huerovos. It was fantastic. I should’ve tasted before adding pepper because it needed zero seasoning. I requested hot sauce, but it went unused. The flavor profile in this dish was perfect, for me. The corn bread (instead of tortillas) was incredible. I mashed it up and mixed it with the egg, black bean, cheesy, saucy goodness, and the bread provided just the right amount of sweet amongst the savory, southwestern smoky.
Ordered my kid a banana walnut pancake. It was crazy good. I’m going to try to copy those walnuts at home. They were candied with cinnamon and absolutely made this pancake one of the best I’ve ever had. She though so too and nearly ate the entire thing, which was bigger than her head.
My partner got the Universal, which is a little bit of everything. He choose scrambled, grits, housemade sausage and biscuits and gravy. He said, of course, best grits ever ever. However, he thought the sausage had way too much seasoning and too peppery, so that went untouched on his plate. I tried it and thought it was good, but he says that’s because I like too much pepper He also wasn’t a fan of the biscuits and gravy. I, on the other hand, also found this to be one of the best versions of it ever. They might use the same sausage in the gravy and it was perfect to me. The biscuit was also perfectly prepared.
We got out of there for $ 34 plus tip, not bad at all for two adults, one kid and a bloody.
We’ll definitely be back.

Items Selected:
Coda Coffee
Corn Bread
Biscuit with Preserves
Banana Walnut Pancakes
Custard Toast — Soaked in Nutmeg Custard Overnight, Griddled, Baked, Garnished with Orange Marmalade and Berries
Located on West 38^th Avenue with a reputation as one of the best spots for breakfast in town, it was with a local friend that I sat down at The Universal and although only open from 7am-2:30pm daily the homey restaurant nonetheless takes itself very seriously, everything from food to service highly praised by patrons as well as media ever since opening the doors in late 2012.
Described as «Southern» by some, though recent culinary trends would more appropriately classify the menu as Modern American Comfort Food with craftsmanship and quality sourcing helping to enliven even the most basic omelet or hash, it was in acknowledging my friend’s Vegetarianism and my substantial Sweet Tooth that a four-​part order was created, the tiny $ 22 tab literally raising eyebrows in the setting of so much food.
No longer under the toque of its opening chef, though staff turnover has seemingly done little to diminish to quality or popularity of the space, it was acknowledging at 20-​minute prep-​time for The Universal’s signature entrée that locally roasted Coffee from Coda was sipped slowly, a sizable wedge of cornbread rich with butter amidst toothsome textures while a fluffy biscuit separated in soft layers ready to be gilded in honey or housemade fruit purée.
Okaying both main plates to be served simultaneously, the hubcap size short-​stack eating far lighter than one might guess considering a substantial studding with Bananas and toasted Nuts, there is little doubt that the morning’s spotlight shined most brightly upon Nutmeg soaked Brioche souffled after a quick pan searing, the pure Maple Syrup blending nicely with bitter Orange Marmalade and a handful of Fresh Fruit.

Strip malls hold many secrets and surprises. Sometimes they’re the kind you would rather forget about, like the things you might witness in the dark shadows behind closed businesses, but more often than not, they’re the kinds of secrets you simply cannot keep to yourself. The Universal is one such story, but based on the mighty long wait we experienced, this secret is already out! I’ll tell you about it anyway…
The Universal is a real deal, neighborhood breakfast, brunch, and lunch joint, and though it’s located in a strip mall, the character of is flowing out of the front door, plastered all over the façade of the building, and alive and well on the outdoor patio as well. You might be asking… Who would want to dine on a patio in a strip mall? I’ll answer that one… Anyone, so long as they’re enjoying the homestyle eats coming out of this kitchen.
The menu is pretty simple. Eggs done many ways, including scrambles and omelettes, or with a side of Tender Belly bacon or housemade sausage, Custard Toast, Breakfast sammies, and the real star on the menu, The Universal’s grits bowls! There are a few standards on the menu and one daily grits special on the board.
So what’s special about the grits? For starters they’re Anson Mills heirloom grits, which means more flavor and texture right out of the gate. Add to it whatever mixture of butter and cream The Universal pours in, and you’ve got this incredibly rich and decadent, savory dish that would be amazing all on its own. Using it as a base for building a breakfast, you could add just about anything to it and it would be absolutely fabulous. The special of the day was a house smoked pulled pork and braised collard greens with bacon, to which I added a few poached eggs. Man was that incredibly good. The pork was smoked and seasoned and fantastic, collards had that tangy vinegar finish and smokey hit from the bacon that makes them authentically southern, and the egg yolk just melded it all together!
This is really 4.5-stars. Why? First, I felt service had some slip ups including coffee spilling on the table from the carafe a few times, and no move was made to help clean it up. My warm biscuit came out before my meal (someone else at the table had ordered there’s that way) and then was almost accidentally cleared because I’d covered it with a napkin to keep it warm. Last, my dish came to the table warm but not hot, and the grits has skinned over a bit, typically a sign it had been sitting for a bit before delivery.
All that said, these were minor service slips that didn’t detract from the delicious food or great company. I’d return to The Universal in a heartbeat. In fact, I’d recommend The Universal land on your must eat spots when visiting Denver!

We decided to take a walk, one Saturday morning, wanting to try a new breakfast place. We had heard good things about, «The Universal,» so, why not?
After a 2 hour walk there (no kidding, we like to walk), we had to wait 45 minutes, but that was no problem. The outside of the restaurant has a small (uncovered) patio area, where the chairs were stacked, so we couldn’t use them yet (it was the end of February, not Spring yet in Colorado). There is a very small waiting area just inside the front door, with about 8 chairs. The host stand is directly inside the restaurant, right by the front door. Your name is taken, and you wait. From reading other Unilocal!reviews, the earlier you get there, the better. We will take that into consideration the next time we go. (Oops, I gave that away too soon. LOL!).
Once seated, at a small table for two just inside the door, which I would have preferred another location, but after waiting 45 minutes, I was not going to wait any longer. My husband and I sat down and looked over the menu. I had my regular of bacon and eggs, or what is referred to there as, «The Universal»: two eggs any style, potatoes or grits, pancake or biscuit and sausage gravy, and choice of meat. I choose the potatoes, as I usually am not crazy about grits, or have not yet found any that I really liked, let’s say that. I also upgraded to the fruit pancake (an additional 75 cents), which was good, nothing spectacular, but good.
My husband also had «The Universal,» but choose the biscuit and gravy, and grits instead of the potatoes. I tried his grits, WOW! Their grits were very, very good! I’d definitely would have them again! Awesome! My husband said the biscuits and gravy were good, a black pepper kind of spicy, which I also like. Not a hot sauce spicy, which was a nice change.
On the menu, you will also find scrambles, such as the sausage scramble with chicken sausage and onions, or the bacon and tomato scramble. There are omelets, fried egg sandwiches, pancakes, grains — like oatmeal, and yogurt with granola. They also have Grits of the Day too (sounds inviting!). These are just a few things on their menu.
The interior is nice, open, and very bright. It is noisy, so be aware of that before you go. The tables are very close together, so don’t bring large bags or backpacks, as it will be hard to move around with such items, and there really is no place to put them. While there, one couple brought in their baby stroller. Yes, it folded up (somewhat), but to me, this seemed inconvenient and rather inconsiderate to the other patrons, but that’s my opinion.
Service was good, I have nothing to complain about there. The final bill was what you would expect for breakfast today (without tip, $ 30.51). While checking out the bottom of the bill, it states only Visa and Mastercard are accepted there, and, of course, cash. We only had coffee, no alcoholic drinks. One Unilocal!review of this restaurant, states for two, their total was $ 50. I wonder what they ordered, or how much they possibly drank?
Parking is on the street, or a nearby side street, but it’s free, so that’s awesome.
With their (small) outdoor patio area, our thought was to put a cover over it, and put out the chairs, and a few small tables, add some outdoor heaters, and they would have a decent waiting area for their customers. It’s a thought as there really is not much of a waiting area now. You can try to grab one of the few chairs just inside the door or you are waiting (standing) outside in the elements, which in Colorado, can be gorgeous, or a bit chilly.
Yes, you bet we will be back. Good food, good prices.
Thanks Universal, see you next time!

I“m dedicated to finding the best bloody in Denver. Luckily for me, I have found the perfect partner in crime, Lindsey K. We decided to head here for our latest installment of the bloody mary tour, and we were not disappointed.
Personally, I like a chewy, spicy, and «thick» bloody. With plenty of salad. The Universal serves theirs with a giant stalk of celery, a slice of cucumber, peperoncini, and an olive. The spicy salt they use to rim the glass is terrific with the celery. One will leave you pretty happy… more than two means you need to über it home.
Food:
I ordered the nitty gritty: anson mill grits with two over easy eggs and choice of breakfast meat. I got the bacon (tender belly). Mmmmm. PERFECT. Grits were creamy, eggs were cooked to perfection (nice and runny yolks), and the bacon crispy. I tried Lindsey’s dish too, the grits of the day. Pulled pork, collard greens, and grits. ZOMG.
I can not wait to keep returning to try the entire menu. Despite the fact that it’s located in a strip mall, this place has a nice atmosphere. Service is spectacular, and we were seated faster than expected.

Not a good experience when I was here. Waited about two hours for a table– cool, well have a couple Bloody Mary’s while we wait. Finally got seating at the bar. Waited 30 minutes just to get noticed. Order. No Hollindaze sauce for eggs Benedict– what? You’re a brunch place!
Order two eggs with bacon, toast, and potatoes. Waited ANOTHER two hours just for some freaking eggs– finally our food comes. It’s cold, and obviously had been sitting in the window for quite some time.
Will not be back.

Woke up with a craving for pancakes (which is very rare for me) and had never been to The Universal. When I saw the pictures of the larger than your face pancakes I was sold… and it did not disappoint. I had the blueberry and then we also tried a single banana pancake. They were fresh and delicious!
The boyfriend had their green chili pork grits which were excellent as well. Everything that we saw coming to tables looked great!
Overall great brunch spot with great prices. Can’t wait to try it again!