Bacon Social House: Brunch in Denver, Colorado

Down this brick alleyway is Bacon Social House, a popular brunch spot in Denver, Colorado
Down this brick alleyway is Bacon Social House, a popular brunch spot in Denver, Colorado

Bacon Social House is a popular brunch spot in Denver, Colorado, known for its bacon-centric menu and relaxed, vibrant atmosphere. While their menu has a wide range of options from sandwiches to pancakes to avocado toast, most come for the bacon dishes, including their bacon flights.

Since opening its first location in Sunnyside in northwest Denver, Bacon Social House has become a favorite of locals and tourists. Due to their popularity, it is not uncommon for there to be a long wait on weekends. But the wait is worth it.

Today, Bacon Social House has two locations in Denver, one on South Broadway and the Sunnyside location on W 44th, and one in Littleton.

On my recent visit, I checked out their Sunnyside spot a few miles northwest of downtown Denver, hidden off a small street down a narrow brick alley covered in murals.

Arrival at Bacon Social House

Customers waiting for a table
Customers waiting for a table

I planned my visit to Bacon Social House at the last minute, and I arrived at the worst time without a reservation, a Sunday at 11:00 AM.

A few people were waiting outside in the narrow alleyway for a table. I was about to turn around and leave, but I walked inside to see how long the wait would be.

I was told it would be a 45 minute wait for a table. I gave my phone number to the hostess, who told me I would receive a text message when my table was ready.

As it was a Sunday, football was on. Instead of waiting at the restaurant, I walked down the street to a bar, where I enjoyed a cold beer while I waited.

When my table was ready about an hour later, I received a text message. I then returned to the restaurant and, after a few minutes, was led to a table.

While the wait was not horrible, I would recommend making a reservation through OpenTable or Yelp.

Interior of Bacon Social House

The footprint of the dining room wasn’t too large, but the space felt massive and bright thanks to high ceilings, an open layout, large windows, murals, and a second floor.

In the background, music played softly, but it was loud, as concrete walls, brick pillars, and exposed metal pipes amplified voices. The vibe felt more geared toward people looking for a lively atmosphere rather than a quiet date.

Small bar
Small bar

I was seated at a booth on the first floor, with a small bar with a few seats to my left. The bar, with a couple televisions playing football, was compact but had a retractable door for indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor section, though, was closed during my visit.

Busy patio on a warm fall day
Busy patio on a warm fall day

Another retractable door between the dining room and the outdoor patio made it feel like the restaurant flowed seamlessly from inside to outside.

While I did not sit on the patio during my visit, the busy patio seemed like a great place to sit on a warm Denver day.

While the restaurant was busy, a few open seats at the bar and tables caught my attention. With a 45-minute wait, it seemed strange that tables were either being turned over slowly or left empty.

Bacon Social House Menu

The brunch menu at Bacon Social House, Denver, Colorado
The brunch menu at Bacon Social House

The menu at Bacon Social House offered a wide variety of great options, many of which, not surprisingly, featured bacon.

You could find bacon dishes, house specialties, French toast, pancakes, sandwiches, healthier options, and sides on the menu.

One of the most popular items was the Baller Bacon, featuring thick-cut bacon that was both sweet and spicy. You could also order a flight with 3 or 6 pieces, with flavor options like applewood, BBQ, candied, chili lime, and French toast.

House specialties included chicken and waffles, eggs Benedict, a breakfast burrito, and biscuits and gravy. There were unique French toast and pancake options, such as Boozy French Toast with bourbon caramel and Carrot Cake Pancakes with a cream cheese glaze.

For sandwiches, there was a Triple Decker Breakfast Sando, BLTA, chicken sandwich, and more. Healthier options included Avocado Toast and a Breakfast Salad.

The drink menu
The drink menu

The drinks menu was just as impressive, offering mimosas, handmade cocktails, a large selection of Bloody Marys, craft beer, wine, and non-alcoholic options like soft drinks, coffee, and lemonade.

While I don’t drink mimosas or order cocktails too often, I did try a local craft beer from Denver, an Irish cream stout that reminded me of Guinness.

Chicken and Waffles

Chicken and Waffles, Bacon Social House, Denver, Colorado
Chicken and Waffles

I don’t usually order Chicken and Waffles, but when I saw others getting it, I knew I had to try it.

The dish came with Belgian waffles, signature sausage gravy, and crispy chicken thighs with applewood smoked bacon on the side. I couldn’t believe how much food was on the plate.

There were three pieces of crispy chicken thighs, tender and moist inside. However, some bites on the edges were more breading than chicken, with thin pieces of meat underneath.

The breading reminded me of the hot chicken I’ve had in Nashville. It was crunchy and coated in a bold, smoky seasoning, though not spicy—at least for me.

Close up of the crispy chicken thighs
Close up of the crispy chicken thighs

The only thing I want to mention is that when I ordered, my server asked if I wanted the chicken spicy or not. Since I love spicy foods, I said yes.

While it was only $2 extra, I wish my server had mentioned the additional charge when ordering. The menu didn’t list the extra charge, which I found to be a shady practice. And to top it off, the chicken wasn’t even spicy.

Complementing the smoky chicken were two Belgian waffles, which were airy and light with a subtle sweetness. I drizzled syrup over both the waffles and the chicken for extra flavor.

On the side was the signature sausage gravy, which tasted homemade, thick, and filled with chunks of tender pork. It just needed a little bit of salt.

The final part of this dish was two pieces of applewood-smoked bacon. The bacon had a smoky, rich, salty, and slightly sweet flavor with a chewy bite. While I prefer my bacon crispier, I still thought it was pretty good.

Carnitas Benedict

Carnitas Benedict, Bacon Social House, Denver, Colorado
Carnitas Benedict

Next up was the Carnitas Benedict. The unique dish came with carnitas, hollandaise sauce, ranchero sauce, and crispy cheddar cheese on a bacon cheddar biscuit.

The first thing I noticed was the lack of hollandaise sauce. I saw a hint of the yellow sauce, but there wasn’t enough to taste, which was disappointing. As for the ranchero sauce, it reminded me of a simple pico de gallo.

While there was barely any hollandaise sauce, the eggs were thankfully cooked well, each bursting with golden yolk when I cut into them with my knife.

Close up of the Carnitas Benedict
Close up of the Carnitas Benedict

The star of the dish was, by far, the carnitas. There was a mix of pork chunks and shredded pieces. The meat was tender and moist, with a peppery, smoky, and salty flavor.

Hidden under the meat and eggs was crispy cheddar cheese. The circular fried cheese was rich and salty while crispy yet chewy.

The final component of this dish was the bacon cheddar biscuit. Unfortunately, its thick, doughy texture, which was almost wet, made it nearly inedible. I couldn’t eat it.

Service

Even with the restaurant busy, I found the service efficient and friendly. My server was around when needed.

My only issue was when I ordered the Chicken and Waffles. Though only an extra $2, I wish my server would have mentioned the additional charge when ordering the spicy chicken.

Besides that, my food arrived quickly, and I had no other issues with the service.

Conclusion

Bacon Social House has become one of Denver’s most popular brunch spots thanks to its bacon-focused menu.

There were many things I liked about my visit. The portions were big, the decor and atmosphere were inviting, and the menu featured a lot of unique options.

But there were also a few things I didn’t like. First, the extra charge for the spicy chicken felt a bit sneaky. I also wanted more hollandaise sauce on my eggs Benedict. Finally, the bacon cheddar biscuit was shockingly soggy and wet.

So, would I return to Bacon Social House again on my next visit to Denver? I would. The menu had many unique items that I would want to try.

But instead of waiting an hour, I would either make a reservation on Yelp or return on a weekday.

Pros

  • Menu had many great options, including with bacon
  • Beautiful interior
  • Friendly, efficient service
  • Outdoor patio wonderful on a warm day

Cons

  • $2 charge for spicy chicken not mentioned by menu or server
  • Long waits on weekends
  • Needed more hollandaise sauce on Carnitas Benedict
  • Bacon cheddar biscuit was soggy
  • $2 operational fee on all checks

Hours

Wednesday - Thursday: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Friday - Sunday: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Monday: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday: Closed

Address

2434 W 44th Ave, Denver, CO 80211
GPS Coordinates: 39.77626,-105.01687

Map



Website

https://www.baconsocialhouse.com/

Last Updated on November 12, 2024