The Buff Restaurant

Love this place! Friendly owners and staff. The food, drinks, and coffee are amazing every time I go to the Buff. If you live in boulder and haven’t been to the Buff, then you aren’t doing breakfast right!

Well, this is quite the popular place! The fact that it was actually father’s day probably had something to do with the long wait time. ;) The good news was that there was open bar seating– first come, first serve. We got lucky and snagged a couple of seats so we wouldn’t have to wait an hour (ouch!) for a table.
While we were hanging out, I noticed that many people had these HUGE mason jar beverages. They were filled with iced coffee or bloody marys. Maybe they make them that large so that people stay occupied while they wait?
Anyway, I ordered the Pacific Benedict (my first benedict order EVER btw), and it was magnificent. The smoked salmon was deliciously flavorful all while being tender. It reminded me of a better version of the honey smoked salmon from the grocery store. My love got the corned beef Leahy’s benedict and he loved it.
Oh yeah, and to top it off we got a free Bloody Mary with the Unilocal check-​in. Do it! It was pretty tasty and a very well-​balanced bloody. Not fully loaded like those mason jar ones, but the drink itself was good.
This is definitely a breakfast worth making the trek for!

My favorite breakfast place in Boulder. The staff has always been prompt and attentive. The quality of the food is superb. They’ll work with you on any dietary constraints you might have. Since they’ve moved to their current location, the wait times have dramatically been reduced. That said… it is worth the wait. You can order a cup of coffee at the bar so you can begin caffeinating while you wait.

The food was great! Big portions so we couldn’t finish everything. But the service was good and the food very tasty!

Holy delicious in my mouth! They make it hard to choose your entrée with all the choices but easy when you can get a .99 Bloody Mary with it! Party of six got in and ordered right away! Eggs Jenny (?) meal had the right combo of flavors and worked perfectly. Everyone enjoyed the meals so you can’t go wrong!

My first dining out breakfast experience in Colorado and I’m sorry to report that it very underwhelming after reading all these stellar reviews. We were all annoyed that we wasted our stomach space on such a disappointing meal.
I ordered the Leahy’s Benedict, which is a corned beef hash benedict. I was very excited when I found this on the menu because I love corned beef hash and benedicts, so it was a no-​brainer for me. My excitement soon turned to disappointment when I had my first bite of the corned beef hash, which turned out to be bland. I was trying to be optimistic, so I thought that they didn’t want to make the dish too salty. When I took a bite of the egg+corned beef+hollandaise, it was still tasteless.
My friend ordered the buffaquiles (Chilaquiles) and he was very disappointed in that as well.
The only positive aspects of our experience here was the free bloody mary or mimosa with a Unilocal check-​in and our friendly server.

Delicious! Awesome spot for brunch! $.99 mimosas and bloody Mary’s! Limit three BUT I gathered a nice little buzz from a couple of them :) I had the Pacific eggs Benedict and it was one of the best I have ever had, lots of salmon in it. Sooooo good
The pancakes are also super fluffy

LOVE this place! There was a long wait, but we were able to squeeze in two of us at the full service bar pretty quickly. I ordered their house favorite, the iced latte that I think was called the black and white and it was really good and huge, served in a large mason jar. The pancakes with bacon in them were sooo good, probably the best pancakes I’ve ever had. We also ordered the spinach eggs Benedict which was really great too. Definitely recommend this place for breakfast (especially compared to snooze).

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I went here. From the outside, I would guess it was an old Bennigan’s or something of the like.
We were seated immediately — but the seating was pretty weird. No matter where we sat, we would run into a wall on two sides (tight squeeze high top) or two other tables on the other sides. I couldn’t figure out how a waitress would get through.
There are tons to choose from. I couldn’t decide from the Buffaquiles, Chimi Pollo or the Matterhorn. I went with the Matterhorn because the mushrooms, Canadian bacon and Swiss cheese sounded so good. Everything looks delicious.
I went to another place on this same trip for brunch — and I would say the Buff is much better. My biggest surprise here was the potatoes. I am not sure what they put on them, but the seasoning was different — parsley maybe? I don’t think that is it, but there is something to the seasoning. It is delicious. Highly recommended.
My only minus here is the mimosas. Ok, I can’t really complain, because they are $.99. But they are really all orange juice. And I am not a huge orange juice fan. Asked for Pineapple mimosa, and they don’t have pineapple juice. So, I stuck it out, but probably would pay for a better brunchy drink next time.

One of my absolute favorite brunch spots in the Denver/​Boulder area. There’s almost always a wait, but it’s always worth it. You really can’t go wrong with $ 0.99 Bloody Mary’s and the option of selecting several items from the menu as «half-​orders»! If you roll in with a crew, and every gets a few half-​orders, you can basically try everything on the menu :)
I’m a huge fan of the benedicts, and the skillets are amazing as well. My usual dining partner loves sweet breakfast options, so by the end of the meal, I’ve tried four or five different savory and sweet meals! The pancakes are also incredible. But, just a heads up, regardless of the name, clothes are mandatory!

Great place for a bountiful breakfast in a friendly atmosphere. If the weather is working in your favor, sit outside and overlook the Flatirons. I had the Med Omlette packed with artichoke hearts, fresh basil and feta cheese. My friend, who was celebrating his 60^th birthday, ordered his favorite Basic Breakfast but also received a sweet surprise to help launch the day of fun.
Great service, great food in a great location.

Unilocal challenge 2016 (⁵⁷⁄₁₀₀)
Honestly, probably the best breakfast place out here in Colorado. It was definitely worth the drive from Denver and the 40 minute wait.
They have quite a variety on the menu. For apps, you MUST GET the Caramel Pecan Quesadilla. It has nice texture and wasn’t too sweet.
I got The Atlantic (smoked salmon omelette) which was sooo good. I also liked the Corn Beef Hash Skillet and the Corn Beef Benedict.
Out of the 3 pancakes we tried (Blueberry, Saddlebag Bacon, and Lemon Pecon), I really liked the Saddlebag Bacon pancakes. They were fluffy but had a nice crisp on the outside. You can upgrade toast to pancakes for $ 1.75.
Don’t forget the FREE Bloody Mary or Mimosa with a check in on Unilocal!If not it’s ONLY 99 CENTS! I would love to come back

Came in here for breakfast with my nephew. He plays football for the university and took us here because his coaches brought him here. The wait was surprisingly short considering it was Sunday morning. We came in at the perfect time because it felt like the whole city woke up as we left the restaurant.
The eggs Benedict was sooo delicious, the pancakes were fluffy, and the drinks were great. They had trouble with a couple of our entrees and we had to send a few back. The management was nice enough to remove the meals from our check.
I really want to try this place again. It’s a happening spot and I’m sure we caught them at a bad time. Don’t forget to check in for offers!

The Buff is a fan favorite for my family and we seem to go for Brunch more often then most places. The restaurant is very nice inside, the service is normally very friendly and helpful, and the place draws a large crowd pretty much any time I have been there.
I very much enjoy their drinks. They have Bhakti chai’s dialed in (nice and spicy), and if you order a mocha it comes out in the largest mason jar I have ever seen with a tower of whipped cream.
The food, however, has never really excited me. I am still not really sure why. I keep thinking it is the items I order, so I branch out most times to find that one item that makes me fall in love with the Buff. I have yet to find it.
They have a decent selection of vegetarian entrees. Several omelets, a couple scrambles, some benedicts, and of course some pancakes and waffles. Here is what I have tried:
The Baja Benny — This is the normal vegetarian benedict like you have encountered elsewhere. Avocado, tomato, artichoke topped with poached egg and hollandaise. Their benedicts (and most of their egg dishes) are served in small skillets so they come out hot. I love the description of this dish but the taste just doesn’t quite match up. The hollandaise is heavy and drowns everything else to be the sole flavor.
The Eggs Florentine — Also a vegetarian benedict. Spinach, cream cheese, tomato, mushrooms, and hollandaise. Again, I taste heavy hollandaise. Might as well just remove the veggies for all they added.
The American Skillet — The skillets are potato based with ingredients tossed in. This one has onion and cheddar cheese. The flavor is as you would expect considering the ingredients but nothing spectacular. LOTS of cheddar. Like, I don’t know if they had any left after making my meal.
The Harvest Skillet — This is a veggie heavy skillet with potatoes, a cache of vegetables, and muenster cheese. Never really being sure what a «cache of vegetables» is, I have pretty much determined it is just whatever is seasonally available. I think this would be my go to meal if it weren’t for the muenster. Way too strong of a pairing. Can’t taste anything else. They do accommodate changes normally so I will try this again with a different or no cheese.
Overall, the place fits the three stars. I do not dislike it, but it would not be my first choice for brunch. Since the family likes it, I know I will be back and will continue my search for an entrée that suites me. Hopefully something will come up that is a little less heavy handed so that the flavors of all ingredients can be tasted.

We ordered the pecan caramel quesadilla and it was amazing!!!
Then we ordered the Rustic Benedict and the two step breakfast. Both were delicious! We had a great waiter and loved the atmosphere.
We would definitely come back to eat in the buff !

Finally, finally tried this place. It is a Boulder institution. Always busy. We were expecting it to be excellent, but found it rather middlin’. A couple of levels below our favorite breakfast/​brunch/​lunch spot in Boulder. Won’t be back, given the much better option.
Our food missed the mark. The Buffaquiles, which are supposed to be like chilaquiles, weren’t like chilaquiles at all. Simply putting tortilla chips in a bowl, ladling over some «chile con carne», and topping with eggs, isn’t chilaquiles. Very disappointing. The accompanying salsa was tasty. Sweetie ordered the Chimmi Pollo, a burrito that was supposed to contain «fajita chicken.» But guess what? No chicken. The accompanying potatoes were decent, the rice fair.
The place offers 99 cent mimosas, bloody marys, and tequila sunrises. At that price I was expecting tiny drinks with little alcohol, but I was wrong. They were of decent size, with a decent amount of alcohol. The mimosa was good. The bloody mary, however, contained way too much tabasco. Tasted like we were drinking straight tabasco.
The atmosphere is nice. While the place is very noisy, it is light, bright, open, and attractive. A decent place for college kids to take visiting relatives, which I suppose is one of the reasons for its popularity.
Service is very efficient, but to the point of being rushed. We had just received our meals, had taken a couple of bites, when the server brought our check. Put it on the table. Never came back and asked us if we wanted more drinks, or anything else. The place clearly wants its patrons to eat quickly and leave as soon as possible. No leisurely brunch allowed, apparently.
Subtracted one star for this. There was an older woman working there who was snotty to us for absolutely no reason. (Sorry for asking a simple question.) Someone told me she is an owner, but I can’t believe that’s true.

As a Boulder native, The Buff has long been in my «Locavore» repertoire before that was even a thing. I feel as though they’ve really grown (literally and figuratively) since they relocated from the bygone Best Western location to the former Black eyed Pea location. That, and the visits from Obama and Adam Zimmern chalk up to some serious following, as evidenced by the HUGE waits comprised of mostly CU students on the weekends.
Don’t forget the «limit 3 99-​cent mimosa/​bloody mary» deal w/​purchase of an entrée on weekends; you also get one free with a Unilocal checkin!
Who can blame the kids and the regulars? The Buff is AWESOME! They run a really well-​greased wheel of efficiency — even though you might be waiting 45 minutes to an hour for your table, once you are seated, the process is very streamlined, and their kitchen is clearly adept at dealing with crowds, so you’re not left wasting away at your table. What is also nice is that they have a separate coffee/​mimosa/​tea bar behind the hostess/​cashier station, so you can easily order up some liquid refreshments to take the edge of your wait. There’s plenty of seating outside to soak up the Boulder sunshine as you wait for your name to be called (it’s on a PA, so you don’t have to worry about carrying a buzzer or straining to hear someone yell your name).
Enough about the wait and runtime logistics, let’s focus on the food! The Buff, for me, represents everything I love (and miss) about Boulder and about Colorado/​southwestern cuisine. They’re able to accommodate pretty much any dietary need/​preference, including dedicated gluten-​free grills and fryers. They also mark on their menu what is vegetarian, GF, and how to make healthier options. However, don’t think for a hot minute that you can’t find your ultimate indulgence/​hangover cure here at The Buff! Allow me to introduce you to BUFFAQUILES, which takes the Mexican breakfast comfort food, Chilaquiles, and elevates it to a whole new level of awesome with thick homemade tortilla chips which stand up to the fabulous chile con carne and eggs. I can’t even. Not your thing? I HIGHLY recommend all of the Southwestern Kick options, from the breakfast tacos to the huevos rancheros, to the Primo Chimi.
Oh, you don’t like Southwestern/​Mexican food for breakfast? Well, not to worry. There’s a whole boat load of traditional breakfast choices from the griddle, including some killer stuffed pancakes called Saddlebags, and also some very, very good omelette options, such as the California. Don’t forget the large selection of Benedicts, Skillets, and even salads/​soups/​grilled sandwiches/​burgers (if you happen to be dining with non-​breakfast food people).
I think the prices are incredible, especially given not only the quantity of the food, but also the quality — so much is made in-​house, sourced locally, and the presence of the owner/​operator (Jackie) speaks to the attention to detail and love for the business here at The Buff!

A great place for breakfast. I ordered the saddlebags. They were very delicious. I sat at the bar where I saw them make the Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas. The waitress was very busy but attended to everyone to the best. I highly recommend the Buff!
Enjoy! #SeñorFood

I had heard about the breakfast served here for a while so I gave it a try. The place was starting to get real busy at about 7:30 AM on a Sunday morning. I ordered French toast, 2 eggs, bacon and fried potatoes. I have had better breakfasts at lots of places that cost less.
The bacon was cooked right and the eggs were cooked as I requested, I like my eggs sunny side up but at restaurants I order over easy because they seldom get them right. The French toast was very ordinary and I make better French toast at home. The potatoes were crispy on the outside which is good but mushy inside which is not good.
I had a 99 cent bloody mary that was pretty good and had someone else been driving I might have had another. Our waiter had no personality and gave the vibe that he didn’t want to be there on a Sunday morning. The experience was just so so and I can have better for less at lots of places.

I’ve been to The Buff several times with friends. It’s a popular choice among CU students for brunch (mostly whilst hungover!). With huge portions, tons of variety in the menu, and awesome drink specials, I can see why everyone goes here!
Unfortunately…I didn’t love the food. I’ve ordered the skillets, the two step, various lattes and mochas, and pancakes, and in all that time nothing really blew my mind. The ingredients are very fresh but not very flavorful. The skillets were bland and needed loads of hot sauce. The pancakes, yes, are huge and tasty, but lacking the homemade and authentic taste.
However I will say the white buffalo mocha is a must order!
Great ambiance and staff, but not necessarily worth the price and the wait.