A relaxing weekend meal takes flight in Boulder
As the weather teases us with random days of warmth and sunshine, thoughts of lazy summer afternoons begin to float amongst students and locals alike.
Luckily, those eager to jumpstart this relaxing routine can enjoy one of the many weekend brunches now available around town.
“We just started serving brunch a month ago,” said Martin Hammer, owner of Restaurant 4580. “It’s a good niche up in North Boulder because not a lot of other restaurants up here do it.”
The restaurant has been around for about two years, but its two outdoor patios and accessible parking make it a carefree place to spend a weekend morning.
4580 is not the only place currently serving this luxurious meal. Brunch seekers can head to the 29th Street Mall to enjoy Laudisio’s weekly helping of both traditional and Italian brunch fare, or to Zolo Grill on 28th and Arapahoe for a unique Southwestern version.
“We have traditional brunch offerings like Eggs Benedict and omelets, as well as items from the Italian table like spaghetti and eggs,” said Mark Kretz, General Manager at Laudisio. “The Italian accent is what sets us apart from other restaurants.”
David Reamer, manager at Zolo Grill, said people are attracted to the brunch menu at his restaurant because of its distinctive Southwestern flavor.
“Our banana and chocolate chip corn cakes are really the only nod to the whole pancake and waffle thing,” Reamer said. Other menu items at Zolo include a southwestern omelet with mole, eggs with chorizo, and Huevos Rancheros served atop half an avocado. Reamer also emphasized the popularity of the restaurant’s $2 Bloody Marys and Mimosas.
For a more upscale experience, Q’s Restaurant in the Boulderado Hotel offers a stylish array of traditional brunch items on both Saturdays and Sundays. Restaurant manager Mike Gleason said Q’s has been serving brunch for ten years, which is quite a long time in the Boulder brunch scene.
“Up until a few years ago, there weren’t that many places to go for brunch,” Gleason said.
Indeed, many restaurants have only recently added brunch to their repertoires. But Gleason emphasized that the level of service at Q’s is what makes it unique.
“Lots of restaurants have great food,” Gleason said. “But it’s our level of service. We do French-pressed coffees and we have white tablecloths. It’s the little things that set us apart.”
The service one receives while dining out can certainly make or break the experience. Similarly, a restaurant’s atmosphere has much to do with its customers’ enjoyment.
For a truly unique dining environment, consider Chautauqua Dining Hall.
“A lot of people like to do a hike and then come down for brunch, or vice versa,” said General Manager Su Tate. “We have a musician that comes to play. The atmosphere is cozy, lively and very family friendly.”
Brunch at Chautauqua would be a perfect outing for those wishing to make the most of a beautiful day.
Yet perhaps it is the concept of brunch itself that particularly lures people in.
Reamer said he thinks brunch is the epitome of relaxation.
“You get up late, you come over, you get comfort food and people wait on you,” he said. “Hopefully you’re on the patio and there’s sunshine. You can forget all your worries and just have a drink.”
Kretz similarly emphasized the lightheartedness of the brunch meal.
“It’s a weekend phenomenon,” Katz said. “There’s no pressure to get back to work. And since it’s kind of a mixture of breakfast and lunch, everyone can find something they like.”
Since so many Boulder restaurants have jumped onto the brunch bandwagon, finding a delicious-sounding menu should not be difficult. Whether it is traditional pancakes and eggs or sophisticated worldly fare, any brunch meal aims to please.
“Brunch items don’t need to be dressed up,” Hammer said. “It’s food that brings you back to being a kid. It just feels good.”
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Lauren Duncan at lauren.duncan@colorado.edu.
