Snooze — Restaurant in Denver

I used to travel A LOT for work. I mean week in and week out I was doing the airport shuffle. Most of my travel was in the US with a side of Canada and Mexico. During my travels I’ve had the opportunity to eat at a lot of airport restaurants. So much that I would schedule my layovers at an airport that had a favorite place to eat. For example, Varasano’s in ATL. Their Nana’s pizza with Capicola is simply better than 98% of non airport pizza in this country. At MSP (Minneapolis) it’s beef ramen at Shoyu’s. So a couple of weeks ago I was flying back from Edmonton to Texas by way of Denver where I had quite a voracious hunger and not being super familiar with the restaurants in DEN, I did some window shopping for a bit, and ran across Snooze’s. There were 4-5 people at the bar, some hockey or such on the TV when I pulled up to the bar. They had a couple of bartenders working and I was quickly attended to. I ordered a local Colorado brew and spent some time going over the menu. Nice options on the menu, but quickly settled on the Smashed Avocado Benny with a side of thick cut bacon. BLUF (Bottom Line Upfront): Snooze’s has officially made my top 5 airports with a standout restaurant. (It’s technically holding the #2 spot…trust me that Nana’a with Capicola is seriously legit!). The meal I ate was the best meal I had eaten all week, and that’s taking into account the steak I had at some swanky & chic steakhouse in Edmonton. Let’s deconstruct it and find out why this restaurant and this meal made my short but honored list. The eggs: there is an art to making the perfectly poached egg. First, you need good fresh eggs. These eggs were just that. Then the art of poaching so that the whites are not runny like snot but they yolks are not overcooked and the orangish/yellowish yolk is very warm. They NAILED IT!!! Plus the eggs had seasonings on top that both looked great and tasted great. Properly poached eggs? CHECK!! Avocado: I usually leave avocado alone in airports because they are usually unripe and tasteless. Or this avocado, it tasted like a good ripe avocado should taste, no brown spots, soft with the right texture. Beautiful green, ripe and tasty avocado? CHECK!! Hollandaise sauce: this is the absolute cornerstone of any Eggs Benedict. Get it wrong and it’s a train wreck that Tabasco sauce can’t even fix. I don’t know what their recipe for Hollandaise sauce is or if they buy it pre-prepared, but it didn’t taste like an ordinary Hollandaise sauce. This stuff was rich, creamy and absolutely off the hook good. Man my mouth is watering 2 weeks later as o wrote this review. Hollandaise sauce that is rich, creamy, and so good you can feel your arteries crying? CHECK, CHECK!! DOUBLE-CHECK!!!! The tomato slices were thick and actually tasted like a tomato. That’s kind of rare these days. The oft overlooked muffin of this trifecta of mouth-watering awesomeness was properly toasted, it wasn’t hard like a brick, and it did its job well. The bacon was cooked the way I like it, crisp, salty pork tasting, but not overcooked and brittle. I can’t say if this is the way it is day in and day out at Snooze’s but I am prone to think it is, the bartenders were very courteous & offered to let me sample a few brews. All in all, it was a fantastic experience I had at Snooze’s and after boarding my plane I fell into a Smashed Avocado Benny coma and slept through to Austin. When you think about it, It’s easy for airport restaurants to slack off because their customer base is as transient as it gets, but there is definitely an attention to detail and excellence that is uncommon to find in this genre of restaurants. I am flying back to Edmonton in the near future and I will do my best to connect through Denver if at all possible, so I can stop by Snooze’s. I have it on good bartender authority that they make an amazing Bloody Mary, and I can’t wait to enjoy that awesome Smashed Avocado Benny again! (Sorry the photo isn’t the best but note there is no Tabasco on the eggs. That’s...

Nestled within the bustling corridors of the 2nd floor of the B Concourse of Denver International Airport, where travelers embark on journeys of all kinds, lies a hidden runway viewing gem known as the Snooze. As I found myself with an ample two-hour window before my flight, I sought refuge at this unique establishment that boasts a captivating view of the runway – a sight any aviation enthusiast would appreciate.

From the moment I stepped through the entrance, a genuine warmth radiated from the staff. Their enthusiastic welcome spoke volumes of their sincere appreciation for the discerning travelers who grace their establishment. It was clear that this was more than just a casual dining experience – it was a chance to savor moments before takeoff.

Adorned with an intriguing homage to the cult classic "The Big Lebowski," the Atomic Stars decor transported me to a bygone era, evoking nostalgia and a sense of whimsy. With the runway sprawled out before me, anticipation melded with comfort, a combination that felt like a seamless marriage of my piloting expertise and my craving for culinary indulgence.

As I eased onto a barstool, my anticipation was momentarily suspended. Several minutes elapsed before the bartender acknowledged my presence, eventually presenting me with a menu that harbored the promise of delectable delights. Though the minutes ticked away, I chalked it up as a brief interlude before the next chapter unfolded – a minor hiccup in the grand tapestry of experiences to come.

A symphony of flavors awaited my palate as I embarked on a culinary voyage with the Barbacoa Street Tacos. The meat was a harmonious composition, though I dare say it didn't quite ascend to the pinnacle of culinary ecstasy. A rating of four out of five seemed apt, as the dish, while commendable, left me yearning for that extraordinary spark that elevates a dish from good to extraordinary.

A touch of intrigue presented itself when I requested the addition of hot sauce to awaken the dormant flavors. This minor requirement unveiled the only detraction from my gustatory journey – an unassuming blandness that necessitated a flavorful intervention. The pico de gallo and bean sauce entered the scene, albeit after a prompt from me. Nevertheless, the expedition to heighten the gastronomic delight felt incomplete without the initial guidance from the attentive bartender.

In the realm of service, a trio of observations earned my critique. The initial acknowledgment of my presence could have been more prompt, akin to a well-coordinated pre-flight checklist. Furthermore, post-food delivery, an unanticipated void lingered as the bartender's attention appeared to soar elsewhere. My solitude was only accompanied by the ceaseless hum of the runway – a solo journey within the realm of shared experiences.

Reflecting on my worldwide travels during my tenure in the tech sector, spanning over 27 years and countless destinations, the Snooze emerges as a noteworthy entrant. In a realm where nearby fast-food giants and discount Mexican establishments stand as alternatives, this bistro distinguishes itself, albeit within the scope of the runway's shadow.

From the standpoint of efficiency, the journey from order to presentation was a feat of swiftness, a mere six-minute odyssey. However, within this span, priced at $18.25 for the gastronomic ensemble of three street tacos and a petite bowl of bean paste, an unspoken promise lingered. A promise that whispered of untapped potential, a tantalizing prospect for a gastronomic soiree that could transcend expectations.

In the mosaic of travel and taste, the Snooze stands as an intriguing waypoint. As the runway extends beyond the horizon, the Snooze too has the opportunity to stretch its wings and soar to heights anew. With a tapestry woven of flavor, ambiance, and anticipation, it invites discerning travelers to pause, indulge, and savor – much like the moments before flight, suspended in...

Worst Snooze experience EVER…. I champion for Snooze as I eat at one of their locations daily. When I’m out of town I search to see if there’s a location nearby. This location I’ll probably never eat at again. For starters when I walked up to the bar to place my to go order, the guy taking my order didn’t write it down but instead asked me to tell him what I wanted. I ordered a scramble with ham, jack cheese and spinach, half order of OMG French toast with no coconut and no caramel. Instead I received a scramble with Cheddar and Jack cheese, ham but no spinach. Perfect example of when I’ll take your order mentally goes wrong. Once I mentioned it to him, this is the point where the customer becomes the villain, but mind you he’s the one who screwed up. I told him about the mix up and he responded by saying that’s what I ordered. No sir. I have a long order history, I eat the same meal every time I eat at Snooze. So it was sent back to be remade correctly and the manager brings it to me and apologizes for the mixup. No harm no foul. I get it I understand. Open the lid to check it a second time and there’s vanilla cream puddled all around and on the eggs. I can’t make this up. By this time I’m fuming because it seems like it would be common sense to plate the French toast and the eggs separately since the toast has a liquid that it’s sitting in. If I wanted vanilla cream eggs I would have ordered it that way. Really disappointed in this visit. Also there was no hash brown. Not sure if the airport doesn’t serve the hash brown with the meal like the local restaurants but it would have been a welcoming sight. Also if you’re a Snoozer like me, you can’t get points for your visit because they don’t print a QR code receipt and they don’t give points at that location as I was told by the guy who took my order. I will still continue to eat at and support Snooze as a customer, just won’t be at the Denver...