My fiancé and I moved to Colorado from Southeast Kansas in the summer of 2018. It didn’t take long for us to realize, and fall in love with, the Denver social norm that is “Brunch”. To be honest, you Coloradoans had me at “Bottomless Mimosas” and “Breakfast for Lunch.”
Fast forward three years to 2021, and we found ourselves experienced brunch connoisseurs living in the small touristy town of Idaho Springs, which is roughly a 30-minute drive west on I-70 from Denver and has a population of just over 1,800 residents. With it being on the way to ski towns like Silverthorne and Vail, traffic is often the worst part of living here, at least during the summer and ski season. One of the best things is that downtown, home to so many amazing local shops, bars, and restaurants, is less than a mile from my front porch. Choosing which restaurant to write about from all of these amazing local places wasn’t easy, but it’s Main Street Restaurant that has taken the cake, or pancake, I should say.
On Saturdays, I’ll take the 15-minute walk downtown and post up at the small bar in the back or a table, either inside or out depending on availability. Kelly, the amazing waitress I most often get seated with, gives me a few minutes to decide if it’s a Mimosa or Irish Coffee kind of morning. As she is getting my beverage of choice, I work to decide on my main course. They have many “Morning Type Food” options to choose from, ranging from a savory and healthy Spinach and Mushroom omelet with a side of toast and hashbrowns to a sweet tooth’s dream-like S’mores Buttermilk Pancakes. Yum!
On the rare occasion my fiancé accompanies me, he rarely looks at the menu. First on the list is his Bloody Mary called the “Bloody Bacon”, which in my opinion is not only an adult beverage that’s acceptable to drink before noon, but also quite suitable as an appetizer with the Ribeye Bloody Mary Mix and all the bacon strips. It’s no wonder a lot of his go-to meal, the Morning Special which includes plate chicken fried steak, sausage gravy, two eggs and toast, almost always comes home in a left-overs box for a late afternoon snack.
Although I’m still working my way through the Main Street Restaurant menu, I am looking forward to trying their Cajun Benedict and their Santa Fe Burger, in the very near future.
Pros: The food, the staff, and the drinks are always fantastic.
Cons: The wait. Unfortunately, the secret is out and the small establishment fills up quickly, even with outdoor seating.
Recommendations: Try the Ciderosa – a Stella Cider or Pear cider mixed with fresh squeezed Orange Juice paired with the homemade banana nut bread French toast. Also, arrive before 9AM or go when you are not in a hurry and enjoy the scenery or visit some of the other shops around town!
So, next time you’re headed “up the hill” or have a Saturday or Sunday free for adventure, I hope you’ll stop in at our local favorite, Main Street Restaurant, and enjoy some mountain vibes with your Irish coffee and homemade banana nut French toast. Maybe I’ll even see you there!