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An open fireplace outside Lucile’s Creole Café keeps diners cozy as they wait to be seated for brunch. Lucile’s explores the melting pot of southern Creole cooking.
The menu offers meals influenced by French and Cajun cuisine. Each dish is a masterpiece of fresh produce that comes from their own organic farm in Niwot, Colo.. A 10-minute wait goes quickly and hot plates of food are served quickly despite the crowd.
The original restaurant is in Boulder and was established 29 years ago as a family-owned restaurant named after the owner’s mother. Lucile’s was mentioned in the Boulder Weekly as “best breakfast and brunch” and Westword magazine called it “best Creole restaurant.”
Lucile’s now has four locations in Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins and Longmont. The Denver location is at 275 S. Logan St.
Take the light rail north and get off at the Alameda stop. The restaurant is a short walk east and sits near the intersection of East Alameda Avenue and South Logan Street.
A single grand dining room holds large family-style tables. The option of community seating is offered, where separate parties share the same table.
“I really love the atmosphere,” said sophomore Trevor Strickland. “It is really a community atmosphere where anyone can sit at your table as long as there’s room. It reminds [me] of a family reunion.”
The butter is store-bought, but that’s about the only thing that is. Each table has homemade sauces, jams and jellies. Strawberry rhubarb, apple butter, blueberry jelly and spicy berry jelly are among the optional condiments. The ketchup also is made in their kitchen, along with a house hot sauce and loose seasonings.
Start your order with a plate of warm Beignets, New Orleans-style donuts sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with their home-produced Pain Perdu syrup. A full-serving of four treats costs $3.95.
Entrée prices range from $6 to $10. According to one of the café’s servers, two of the most popular meals on the menu are the “eggs New Orleans” and the “Cajun breakfast.” The “farmer’s eggs” and “Hank’s eggs” are two of the cheesiest and most ordered.
Each entrée, with the exception of the French toast and the Benedict, is served with a homemade, plate-sized biscuit. These buttermilk biscuits are alone a meal—light crispy edges surround sultry bites.
The Eggs New Orleans is two poached eggs with hollandaise sauce served over fried eggplant slices with Creole sauce, for $8.95, with a choice of grits or potatoes as the side. Order a large glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice for $3.95 or a mug of hot homemade Chai for $3.25, to compliment to the meal.
Two poached eggs with hollandaise sauce served on a plate of read beans and meat is the “Cajun Breakfast,” for $7.60. Enjoy the house-squeezed lemonade, homemade hot chocolate for $3.15 or grapefruit juice for $3.45.
The Farmer’s Eggs are $9.20, is three eggs scrambled together with potatoes, onions, peppers, cheddar cheese and sausage. Hank’s Eggs is the same plate without the sausage and topped with avocado and tomato for $9.20. The homemade ketchup has a sweet aftertaste and Lucile’s hot sauce has its own unique flavor. Both serve as a wonderful escort to the potatoes.
A popular vegetarian option is the Eggs Jennifer which is two poached eggs and hollandaise sauce served on top of a Thomas English muffin adorned with a side of spinach, tomato and avocado. This is served for $10.20 with a choice of grits or potatoes as a side. Another drink option is a cup of Southern Louisiana style Chicory coffee for $2.25.
“Pain Perdu” is the New Orleans style French toast. It is served with fresh fruit, one egg and Louisiana sausage all for $9.10. Enjoy French toast with Lucile’s very own homemade Pain Perdu syrup, or with pure maple syrup sent directly from its homeland in Vermont.
“I really like it, they have really good fresh ingredients,” said sophomore Jamie Schuster. “The staff is really personable.”
“I think it’s decidedly delectable and delicious,” said sophomore Colin Griffith.
Be aware that Lucile’s does not split checks, does not take reservations on the weekends and the dining room can get loud with the busy crowd.
Visit their Web site at luciles.com for more information on their menu prices, other locations or catering. Lucile’s is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
