Treat’s Eats: Urban Egg

May 9, 2024 | OPINION | By Sam Treat

Well, folks, here we are: the last Treat’s Eats ever to be published in The Catalyst. Having inherited the food review column from a great writer and an even better man, Hank Bedingfield, I can only look back at my time in this position with the hope that I would have made him proud. For those of you who did not have the good fortune of sharing this campus with ‘rugby Jesus,’ I strongly recommend exploring The Catalyst website and reading some of his reviews (as well as any articles about him). They put mine to shame. 

When I began Treat’s Eats, it stood alone as the only column dedicated to reviewing food and drinks. Now, as I depart, the space has become more and more saturated with those hoping to achieve my level of readership, wordsmithing and consistency. 

While I respect these young guns for throwing their hats in the cutthroat world of reviews, copycats can hardly substitute for the real thing. After all, as Oscar Wilde famously said, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” But enough with firing shots at Bros, Babes and whatever the burger reviews call themselves (not memorable enough for me to remember and not important enough for me to look up). Let’s focus on the real meat and potatoes of this column: meat and potatoes. 

Urban Egg has long held the top brunch spot for not only Colorado College students but for most of downtown Colorado Springs. Recently, Urban Egg underwent major renovations and restaffing, only reopening a few weeks ago. 

I ventured down Tejon St. to investigate the new version of this classic eatery. On first impression, the main changes to the interior seemed to reflect a conscious effort to move in a trendier, more millennial direction — similar to some often slandered establishments further down Tejon St. (see Treat’s Eats: Streetcar 520 for more). 

The new layout felt more sterile and modern than the old design, almost like Urban Egg could have been any other trendy brunch spot from Instagram. Likewise, the art choices for wall decorations were devoid of personality. A strange assortment of high-quality stock images of different types of fruit lined the walls. The service was attentive and friendly, maybe even a little too friendly. For me, though, that is a fairly low bar (I’m a grump). 

Thankfully, unlike the interior, the Urban Egg menu did not undergo major changes. Fan favorites and traditional classics are all still available, and the only real differences I noticed were an upgraded and longer list of cocktails available. Indeed, the new Urban Egg also has a full-service bar (with bar seating), and one got the impression that a part of the remodel was to focus more on pushing their alcoholic beverages to customers. 

Electing not to drink on a Tuesday morning, I ordered a house roast coffee and a flight of the cinnamon swirl pancakes. To make sure I had the savory bases covered as well, my counterpart ordered the huevos rancheros. The sweet vs. savory brunch battle is one that I simply cannot decide on. The ideal, as I think many have realized by now, is both. To that end, I had the pleasure of trying both dishes. 

The cinnamon swirl pancakes come with a swirl of cinnamon baked into each one, as well as a side of cinnamon-sugar butter. The cinnamon flavor was superb, but I did feel that the pancakes could have been lighter and fluffier. Still, with that delicious butter concoction on top, these were hard to put down. 

As for the huevos rancheros, I think that Urban Egg created one of the better “huevoses” that I’ve had in the Springs. Served with a choice of either chorizo, bacon or veggies, the obviously correct choice is the chorizo. The green chile that the dish came smothered in was flavorful with a slight kick, but not too spicy for those sensitive to that sort of thing. The tortilla was crunchy and held the weight of the egg, bean and meat mixture that the meal would inevitably devolve into. The hash browns, which come with any egg entree, were crisped and well-seasoned. A pro move from Urban Egg that separates it from the competitors’ blander version of potatoes. 

I’d recommend Urban Egg to anyone looking for a good breakfast spot to catch up with friends or take your family to, especially with the grad season fast approaching. It is reasonably priced ($12 to $16 for most entrees), with good portion sizes and attentive service. Go if you’d like. 

In all seriousness, I want to thank anyone who has taken time out of their day to read anything I’ve written. It means the world to me. For all that I have been involved with during my storied CC career, there is little I am more proud of than this column. The few times I have been asked if I am “Sam Treat from Treat’s Eats” made me happier and more full of gratitude than I can even explain. Food is a beautiful thing and it’s been my pleasure to share my journey with you. I guess all I can say now is that it’s been a treat’).

Sam Treat