14 MAY 29-JUNE 4, 2025 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Rise and Shine START YOUR DAY AT ONE OF THE TEN BEST BREAKFAST JOINTS IN DENVER. BY MOLLY MARTIN Denver is a city that loves to brunch — and there are a lot of tasty options to choose from for days that call for a booze-fueled beginning. But brunch isn’t an everyday indulgence. Breakfast, on the other hand, is a must when you need more than coffee to tackle the tasks ahead. A solid morning meal can make the difference between a produc- tive day and hanger-fueled misery. While a fast food drive-thru can be convenient, there are much better options to be found at locally-owned spots that serve breakfast made with care. Here are ten of our favorites, in alpha- betical order: The Bagel Deli & Restaurant 6439 East Hampden Avenue 303-756-6667 After emigrating from Austria in 1939, Paul and Lola Weiner purchased the original Bagel Deli in Mayfair in 1967. While that outpost is long gone, the location on East Hampden has been a staple since 1971 and is still a family-run operation. One part of the space is a bare- bones deli where you can get black-and-white cookies, celery-fl avored Dr. Brown’s sodas and scoops of egg salad to go. The other is a dining room where breakfast is served all day and the walls are covered with family photos and other memorabilia. Dig into omelets, pancakes, huevos rancheros and bagels, of course. While you won’t fi nd any bacon at this Jewish deli, it dishes up baken made from beef. The Bagel Deli also now has an outpost in Concourse A at Denver International Airport, where you can get a fi x of classic deli favorites before getting on a fl ight. The French Press Multiple locations Cisco Lopez founded the fi rst iteration of the French Press in Lakewood in 2010. Although the original was eventually forced to close, he found a new space in that suburb and subse- quently added locations in Congress Park, Aurora and Greenwood Village, all of which are open daily starting at 6:30 a.m. on week- days. The service is always friendly, the food is always fi lling and satisfying, and the menu includes a crowd-pleasing range of options including gluten-free and vegetarian dishes. Whether you’re picking up a burrito to go or indulging in a treat like almond tres leches French toast, this spot does breakfast right. Jelly Cafe 600 East 13th Avenue 303-831-6301 1700 East Evans Avenue 720-596-4108 In 2011, Josh Epps introduced Capitol Hill to Jelly, a brightly decorated breakfast joint decked out with retro cereal boxes on the walls and an array of fancifully fl avored doughnut bites. A year and a half later, he added an outpost near the University of Denver, with a counter covered in Scrabble tiles and the same menu of creative dishes designed to perk up your mornings. Favorites include the sweet-potato hash studded with spicy chorizo; the Haco Chili Benedict, a poblano, chorizo and tomato mix served on a biscuit with poached eggs and Hollandaise; and the rotating pancake specials in varieties such as lavender blueberry, bacon jalapeño corn and cinnamon roll. La Fillette Bakery 6217 East 14th Avenue 303-355-0022 We were fans of La Fillette for years when it was in a small spot in Hilltop, in large part because of the bakery’s customizable break- fast sandwiches. In early 2023, it made the move to a much larger space in the Montclair neighborhood and debuted a larger breakfast and brunch menu, too. While you can still pick up a duck confi t sandwich on a croissant or thick slices of focaccia if you’re in a rush, you can — and should — also stop by when you have time to linger over an early-morning meal of chocolate croissant French toast, quiche Lorraine or corned beef hash over a rosti: roasted potatoes with red peppers, Brussels sprouts, shallots and Hollandaise. Lucile’s Creole Cafe Multiple locations This Louisiana-inspired favorite got its start in Boulder in 1980 and now has seven locations in Colorado. With a full booze menu includ- ing mimosas that come with your own mini bottle of bubbles and a killer Bloody Mary, Lucile’s can get rowdy on the weekends. But on weekdays, it’s the ideal place to start your day with a side of Creole country kitsch. It’s known for its beignets covered with a thick layer of powdered sugar and its giant, buttery biscuits. Other favorites include the omelet stuffed with cheddar, muenster and ricotta cheeses; the Eggs New Orleans, made with fried eggplant slices, Creole sauce and Hol- landaise; and the shrimp and grits. Douse anything you like with the housemade hot sauce, and enjoy your trip to the South. Odell’s Bagel 3200 Irving Street There used to be limited options for bagel lovers in the Mile High but that’s changed in recent years, thanks to several notable addi- tions to the scene. Among them is our current favorite for bagel sandwiches that are anything but typical. Miles Odell, who is originally from New Jersey, opened his LoHi shop in October after fi rst slinging bagels at the Highlands Square Farmers Market. Since then, his open- faced sandwiches served on hand-rolled bagels in varieties such as rosemary and furikake have been a hit. You can opt for a classic bacon, egg and cheese, but what we really love here are seafood options like pastrami lox and sushi- grade hamachi. Odell, who has a background in Japanese cuisine, also operates a kaiseki- inspired dinner concept dubbed the Counter at Odell’s out of the same space. Odie B’s 2651 West 38th Avenue 1350 40th Street Chef/owner Cliff Blauvelt grew up on the Northside and opened the fi rst location of his rowdy little neighborhood sandwich shop and eatery in August 2022. In January, a second Odie B’s debuted in RiNo, serving all the hits from the original with the bonus of expanded hours — including late afternoon happy-hour specials. While both outposts serve much more than breakfast (don’t miss the double cheese- burger for lunch), it’s the morning fare that has turned so many customers into regulars. From the standout breakfast burrito to a basic break- fast sandwich loaded with bacon, eggs, cheese and a hash brown patty on a squishy Kaiser roll and its vegetarian counterpart, the Boujee (an egg sandwich on focaccia with herbed feta, arugula, muhammara and za’atar), an Odie B’s meal makes mornings much more palatable. Olive & Finch Multiple locations Chef Mary Nguyen opened the fi rst Olive & Finch in Uptown in CAFE continued on page 15 FIND MORE FOOD & DRINK COVERAGE AT WESTWORD.COM/RESTAURANTS Remember, breakfast is the most important meal of the day...and Odie B’s shows why. ODIE B’S
