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Campus eats: Cimarron
Cimarron trying to fill big shoes
By Josie Klemaier
jklemaie@mscd.edu

Photo by Heather A. Longway-Burke • longway@mscd.edu Cimarron’s atrium offers good lighting and a quiet space for studying or friendly conversation.

Occupying what is arguably the most valuable retail space in the Tivoli, Cimarron Café and Grill made its debut in mid-January, standing in the shadow of 15-year veteran occupant the Daily Grind.

So the question stands: What kind of a place is Cimarron? Student governments and devoted patrons of the Grind alike put pressure on the Auraria Board to make sure the new occupants would be independently owned and would provide healthy food. Does Cimarron live up to the expectations?

Though Cimarron has its share of shortcomings, it surfaces as an alternative to the deep-fried corporations whose smells drift from the lower floor.

The general layout of the café has stayed the same, but Cimarron offers a noticeably different atmosphere that is both comfortable and classy. The walls are a warm, textured orange and the deco-style iron sconces and chandeliers play on the nostalgia of the antique copper distillers and high ceilings of this section of the old Tivoli Brewery. Tastefully framed photography adorns the walls of a cozy alcove lined with padded bench seats and dotted with café tables.

On the other side of the café, the atrium offers a beautiful view of Denver’s skyline, a scene that spurs both meditative studying and intriguing conversation. Wherever one sits in the large space, the lights reflecting off the gleaming casks and warm walls harness the full potential of this historical gem.

Behind the espresso bar, the coffee and espresso are worth the long morning lines, standing out as high-quality, fair-trade brews at fair prices. Their coffee menu includes original caffeinated creations offered at special prices. With sweet-treat likenesses such as raspberry truffle and Snickers, they exceed expectations.

Every dining experience at Auraria must face the fact that better deals can always be found off campus. This said, Cimarron lies in limbo between what is good and what is attainable during a 45-minute breakfast or lunch break.

The breakfast menu, served from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., is an exception to the otherwise pricey café menu. The fulfilling breakfast burritos and sandwiches, French toast, pancakes and omelets are fresher than those of any other food court, hut or corner store on campus. The “Cimarron skillet” is a deal at $3.75 for two eggs any style with green peppers and onions, hash browns, toast and bacon or sausage, all topped with cheddar cheese.

For lunch or dinner, patrons can chose from a simple selection of sandwiches, salads, or wraps. The grill offers burgers, a steak sandwich, a Rueben or hot dogs. Though each dish carries the appeal of fresh American food, they do not carry much oomph on the plate.

The chicken salad is good, but the bread and tortillas are thin, and the salads are tasty but merely snack-sized. All extras are a la carte, right down to the 75-cent cheese.

The biggest blunder is the vegetarian menu, which includes the over-played veggie burger and peanut butter and jelly sandwich. In a ridiculous mistake among the vegetarian options, Cimarron also lists a spinach Florentine – a spinach salad that comes with bacon and bacon dressing. These ills are within reach of a cure. Overall, Cimarron fills the shoes of the Daily Grind as a place on campus to escape the high-paced atmosphere of the rest of Auraria.

This wing of the Tivoli should not stay a secret for much longer, especially as Cimarron gets comfortable and smoothes out the wrinkles.