Brunch Biz: Under the Sun

Under the Sun, a spacious South Boulder outpost from the Mountain Sun restaurant family, has been a local favorite since it opened in 2013. Whether us Boulderites are flocking for the legendary Fried Chicken Wednesdays (182 pounds of chicken are brought in each week and never last past 9 p.m.) or just the abundant house-brewed beer selection (more than 150 different beers over the course of a year), Under the Sun is a go-to for casual weeknight dining. Now, we’ve got good reason to make the trek to the Table Mesa and Broadway location on weekend mornings, too. Under the Sun’s new executive chef, Nick Swanson (a veteran of Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Perry St. restaurant in New York City and Boulder’s late PastaVino) rolled out a fresh brunch menu that can satisfy any craving or budget.

The UTS Breakfast Pizza is a must. Prosciutto, goat cheese, mozzarella, and two runny eggs are baked onto a light, wood-fired pizza crust and topped with fresh arugula. Big enough for two and priced at $13.95, it’s actually quite the bargain, especially when paired with one of the $1.50 mimosas. You can also get a taste of the aforementioned fried chicken in the chicken and waffles dish, which comes flanked with both maple syrup and gravy. If you’d rather load up on some sweet carbs before hitting the nearby trails, the Captain’s French Toast is for you. Named for its outer coating of pounded Captain Crunch cereal and topped with crème chantilly and strawberries, the Instagram-worthy dish looks more grown-up than it tastes.

Pro tip: Don’t miss out on Under the Sun’s bite-sized secret menu item: pillow-soft zeppole, or Italian-style doughnuts. These little ricotta pastries are fried, crusted in sugar, and then slathered in Nutella syrup. The best part? They’re complimentary—you just have to ask for them.

627 S. Broadway, Boulder, 303-927-6921