(Photo: Tyler Delgado)
By: Jack Adams, Staff Reporter
Denver has quickly become a hub for food aficionados, as an explosion of trendy and tasty eateries continue to make their way to the Mile High City. Due to their delicious nature though, many of these local restaurants are consistently packed with hungry patrons. If you are on a tight schedule and don’t have a ton of time to wait around for a delicious lunch or dinner, which is usually the case for any college student, then this guide to lesser-known delectable dining spots is the perfect way for you to find quick good eats.
While this establishment is typically a bit more crowded than the other restaurants on this list, primarily due to it being located in a compact space, Buchi Cafe Cubano is still a fantastic breakfast and lunch spot for students looking to bring a little culture into their lives. Buchi Cafe Cubano remains true to its name, serving up mouthwatering Cuban food at an affordable price that will work on even the most meager budgets. The restaurant features incredible traditional Cuban coffee and espresso, a number of hearty Cubano-style pressed sandwiches and vegetarian offerings which includes one of my favorite items on the menu–the avocado salad. The low prices make it easy to enjoy a tasty meal for under ten dollars, and the speedy service allows for Buchi Cafe Cubano to be a viable option when you only have a tight window for lunch.
For the less adventurous folks looking to stick to a category of cuisine they are familiar with, I would suggest the low-key Italian joint Dolce Sicilia Bakery. Dolce Sicilia is a quaint Italian bakery that offers a variety of tasty Italian sandwiches, substantial slices of pizza, and a multitude of decadent Italian sweets. The food here is always fresh and flavorful, and the service is extremely quick and pleasant. The best part about the restaurant though is that it is almost never crowded, and oftentimes I have been the only person in there. Only a short drive from Regis, and with breakfast and lunch options starting at under five dollars, Dolce Sicilia is a great option for students looking for an expeditious and delicious lunch option. Dolce Sicilia may be the best-kept secret for divine Italian food near Regis, but a close second goes to Carbone’s Italian. Although the original location for Carbone’s has been closed, the famed Italian sandwiches can still be found at the Monkey Barrel Bar during lunch. The Monkey Barrel is only a short distance from Regis and is much less crowded during lunch than the original Carbone’s location ever was. Carbone’s at the Monkey Barrel is a bit more on the pricey side than the other options listed here, but the massive Italian sandwiches will keep you full for the entire day.
Some honorable mentions for other tasty and discreet lunch spots near the Regis campus include, Vital Root (a great vegetarian option), Thai Bao Vietnamese, and Salt & Grinder. Any of these restaurants will leave you with a full belly, a full wallet, and a fully freed up schedule–truly the best case scenario for any college student.