The Wildflower Café of Colorado

by Jake

Arriving in Denver early for a conference can have its perks—especially when you take the time to drive through the mountainous region of Route 70 and discover a rare treat nestled into a valley of the Rockies. A quick exit toward Evergreen and a sharp left turn, to avoid a splash into a lake, finds you in the town of Evergreen, Colorado.

The town is small. It reminded me of an old miner’s camp. A walk on a wooden boardwalk takes you past The Wildflower Cafe, Colorado’s version of a greasy spoon breakfast diner with a touch of Colorado’s version of the Hippie. My curiosity really got a hold of me. On one window, “Breakfast & Lunch Cafe” and on the other “Thursday Night Sushi”. It was the only restaurant open for breakfast, so I went in.

A quaint space, with tables jammed together and the sound of Bob Dylan’s unmistakable harmonica sound greeted my colleague and me. The menu was filled with breakfast and lunch items, but once I saw Biscuits & Gravy, I affably placed the menu down and prepared the GreasyFork’s next review.

The service was quick—but you expect that at a small diner. My cup of coffee almost welcomed me to my seat. The waitress, and most likely owner, took our order and the food was delivered a short time later. One look at the 4 biscuit plate smothered in the thick brown gravy was intriguing. Mixed into it were specs of blacks, reds and oranges. I could tell that this wasn’t going to be a normal experience. But, I had been here before as my taste buds began to warm up and salivate as visions of sugar plums danced in my head. I had to remain poised. I took a sip of coffee and started in.

The gravy was thick—almost too thick for my liking—as I tossed it around on my plate to expose the biscuit. (I like to inspect the meal prior to eating to make sure I know what I am getting myself into.) The puck itself was of an English biscuit variety, not your normal, flaky, American, KFC version. Picture with me a skone-esque biscuit, thick and sweet. The gravy was very flavorful. A touch of spice from the red pepper flakes and crushed black pepper. Not too salty. I could tell that this chef—obviously from his sushi experience—knew that a good sauce needs no additives at the table. Unlike Shannon’s and my experience at Stockholm Inn last Friday, this chef was a fine specimen of culinary commitment.

Without the coffee, it would have been somewhat demanding to swallow each bite. But, together with the smooth rich flavor of the brew, I was very satisfied. The biscuit blended beautifully into the taste of the gravy and the sausage subtly let you know it was there. This surprising treat delighted my buds. 4 forks from me.

Coffee: 2.5 spoons

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Wildflower Cafe
28035 Highway 74
Evergreen, CO 80439
(303) 674-3323