The Breakfast King

Hitting the Breakfast King on Sante Fe after a late night show in Denver is an old tradition for those who like to play in the city after dark. Ordering a dinner at 2am can however leave you wondering how this place has stayed open for so long.

Walking in, the bright orange 1967 decor will give you the kind of jolt you get when ordering a Starbucks Double Shot. Also from 1967 is the menu of diner classics like chicken fried steak and burgers. Despite its name I was in the mood for dinner and per the waitress' suggestion ordered the fried chicken plate which comes with soup or salad and a side of greens.

Starting with one of the soups of the day, Navy Bean soup, I was soon settling in for a walk on the bland side. Not much to taste there in the small cup of primarily white bean soup. A couple of chunks of ham were the highlights of this otherwise silent dish.

The fried chicken plate arrived in a timely manner with three pieces of golden chicken, a side of green beans and hash browns. (I know, the hash browns just sounded good when she read the choices for a side.) The green beans were slight mushy and reminiscent of a canned adventure my mother use to serve. The hash browns were nothing spectacular and as good as it gets for a diner. Biting in to the chicken soon brought the meal to a frozen halt, literally. The chicken was still frozen in the center. Outside the chicken was almost hot but apparently the frozen chicken was not in the fryer long enough to get it up to temp.

When I flagged down the waitress and explained that green house gasses had started melting the polar ice caps but had not reached my chicken she quickly removed the plate and had a new order in for me without hesitation like a seasoned professional.

The replacement plate of a double deluxe cheese burger was at least cooked but not much of a tasty ride. Served with a side of thick fries I sampled the short cuts which looked like the remains from the bottom of the bag. Not a signature dish for the Breakfast King.

The Breakfast King is no royal meal but simple diner food with nothing to highlight.

Its too bad the food doesn't match up to its decor.  Next time I'll try the breakfast.