Dot’s Diner

This visit had great food and bad service. We got grits, eggs, biscuit & gravy, and bacon. We got chai and coffee, also good. Our server was so-​so, but here’s where it gets interesting…
He dropped off our bill, pretty typical. We put our card in the leather bill booklet, also typical. But then he never came back. After 20 minutes, we assumed we were supposed to pay up front… Nope. Apparently our server went on lunch without telling anyone, including his coworkers (who were very apologetic).
On the bright side, I got a picture of him enjoying his unannounced break. Hilarious.

Easily my favorite breakfast spot in Boulder! Friendly staff, great food, and a cozy, home-​y feel. What more can one ask for?

Service is terrible. We’ll try Dot’s again in hope of a better experience, but this breakfast visit wasn’t so great. I’m adding a star because a diner like this isn’t so easy to find in Boulder. My 2 star review is that service is horrible. They were fairly busy and there was one very busy non-​smiling waitress. We never did get a refill on coffee from her. Omelet was pretty good, grits were too. The problem is when service is so terrible you really can’t enjoy your meal. Taking a second to check back after delivering your food and swirling by with a coffee refill is not too much to ask. Is it?

Friendly, attentive staff, pretty darned good food! The gravy could use a little work, and the biscuits are HUGE, but other than that, I am a fan! Have come here so much, and have left satisfied every time.
But, as a side note: SKIP the Dot’s Diner over on 28^th St. COMPLETELY different vibe from their hill location. Dirty, disgusting, and almost not the same restaurant! How sad.
Choose the hill location instead.

I work in a restaurant so I understand how hard the job can be. As a server, I am insulted at how bad and non existent the service is here. I never leave a bad tip but having to tip this dude even a dollar made me cringe. My boyfriend and I used to go to Dots every weekend, we love the food. The service just keeps getting worse and worse. Sat there with an empty water glass the whole time while he looked at it and then walked right by. Sat for 10min after our plates were empty for our check. He also didn’t check on us once. Last time we ate there we had to go up to the counter to ask for a server because they were all walking right around us but no one came over. That time we said was the last but we tried it out again today and this is definitely the last time. Such a shame because I really like their traditional food :(

Great place. Been around for a while as the interior is kind of worn, but I don’t mean that in a bad way… It’s a diner so you kind of want and expect that type of atmosphere. The coffee is organic and great and we had omelettes and the veggies were definitely fresh… Everything was high quality (I feel like many diners and restaurants will try to cut corners and go for pre cooked or canned veggies). Good prices and all was fresh made (including the biscuits). I also liked how many customers who entered seemed to be greeted by name. Didn’t feel like a greasy diner at all! I recommend

Excellent food! Staff was friendly. Wait was a little long but that’s expected at a popular Saturday morning diner. Will defiantly return!

I’m actually sitting in the restaurant waiting for our food. We have been here for an hour an 43 minutes waiting for a sandwich. At this time it doesn’t matter how it taste, this place sucks. I’ve told the waiter we were leaving twice to which he replied «the food is on its way out».

Dot’s is a wonderful, little diner. I go about once a month. I love the chicken fried steak here, but it’s hit or miss as to when they have it, and it’s often sold out if you come too late.
Open for breakfast, brunch and lunch only.
Great classic rock music in the background. Fun and funky décor. Wonderful waitstaff. Really good, high quailty food for a diner. I’ve never had to wait too long, so I’m generally in and out in 30 – 40 minutes.

Typical diner fare. Portions are huge! Our servers first day, so our order was mixed up a bit. And 2 bucks for a side of salsa that was microwaved? That was a bit weird. Food was pretty good though! No serious complaints!

Hmm this place was kind of meh for us. Good food but not amazing food. Staff was friendly. Place was packed. Prices are decent but again the food is nothing special so I would not be happy if it was more. Husband had the Café Oulait drink and he wasn’t impressed. I can see why a lot of people enjoy the friendly atmosphere though, definitely seemed like a hipster place. I gave it 3 stars cause it’s worth a try. Maybe it’s more up your alley.

Great quality, delish green chile, breakfast burrito at $ 6.25 is best deal in town. Pictured is the *small* which is plenty for me and I’m a big eater. This place would five stars if it served better coffee.

Dots is a great go to breakfast place! Good solid breakfast eats at a good price.
I really like the biscuits and gravy which is usually what I order.
Enjoy!

Food was alright, however the dining experience was terrible. We were seated, took about 15 minutes to get drink orders. Coffee cup went unfilled for over 30 minutes (we had to fill it after becoming tired of waiting). I think we saw our waitress once until the food came.
We did receive 50% off of the food due to the excessive wait, which was really nice, but really too upset about waiting a full hour before food came for it to lift our spirits.
I would give three stars, however I came back an hour later to retrieve my phone that I had left. I was greeted by an angry server who claimed we treated her badly. I’m assuming she was referring to the low tip she earned.
Unfortunately, we won’t be back to either location, despite having tasty salsa.

Classic old school hippy dippy Boulder diner. Simple but tasty breakfasts with daily omelette specials along with Eggs Benedicts or steak end eggs.
Indian food available at lunch.

REVOLTING!!!
I’ve heard a lot of good things about Dots but don’t be fooled, the food was abysmal, the service lousy, and the atmosphere is congested and suffocating. I was with a party of seven and they squeezed us into a table for maybe four. Halfway through my breakfast burrito I actually felt pain in my stomach and was unable to even finish out the meal because I had to go to the awfully maintained bathrooms. Bottom line, I walked into Dots feeling a little hungover, really hungry and tired, in need of a culminating breakfast and walked out feeling 1000 times worse. I feel like that says it all, this place makes you feel awful. If I ever were to come to Dots again, I would need two meals, one for me, and another for the man holding a gun to my head. Look at this. Does it not look horrifying?

Excellent diner. Looking for one? Endless coffee.

When you want a traditional breakfast and you don’t want to be disappointed this is where you come. Dot’s is an institution! It’s been here forever and for good reason. That’s because you go in hungry and come out STUFFED and satisfied. Note that on the weekend this place is packed. Standing room only as you wait for a table! You may get lucky and find a stool at the bar. That is my preference as you are likely to make a new friend sitting next to you. Don’t worry about getting to dressed up. This is a very casual place! Roll out of bed and crawl into Dot’s. They will take care of you.

A small little place off of Broadway, close to the CU Boulder campus. I have always passed by here but never early enough to stop by for a meal.
Recently, a group of friends and I wanted to meet up and catch up over some breakfast, so I suggested that we try Dot’s. The place was packed (it was a Saturday morning), but the waitstaff were calm and collected, even having a conversation with us as we ordered our food. Very friendly people, which is generally a theme around Boulder.
I decided on the french toast. Light with a golden color and sprinkled with some powered sugar. Great flavor and just enough to give me energy at 9 AM on a weekend. The syrup options were delightful too because the sweetness was not overwhelming.
My friends opted for more savory options, which also gained positive reviews all around. I tried some of the breakfast burrito with green chili and I loved that it was spicy with a generous amount of filling.
I was extremely full after breakfast, but I would recommend this place to anyone who wants an authentic diner experience.

Pros:
*LOVE the chai tea. It’s not sickly sweet like dunkin donuts. Wonderful smell too.
*Their biscuits are decent. They are not flaky biscuits but they remind me of buttery scones. I just wish they had a strawberry shortcake option to have homemade whipped cream and strawberries to go with it!
*The pancakes are good (can’t remember much about them but they were good)
Cons:
*Bacon is usually overcooked and dry
*French Toast was dry (I’ve only tried once)
*Hashbrowns are a little boring in flavor and consistency (could use some flavor and crunch!)
*If you get biscuits and gravy, the gravy is REALLY bland. it tastes like the kind of gravy you’d use for a chicken fried steak. Really disappointing because biscuits and gravy is supposed to taste much more sausage flavor.
Overall: Will definitely come back. It was an enjoyable service each time we’ve been. The waitress always has a nice smile on her face. Always nice to go to a diner when the servers have a great attitude and make me feel appreciated as a customer.