Northern Colorado Reviews

(970) 482-5511
4120 West County Road 54g
Fort Collins, CO 80535

****4 out of 5 stars****

A staple of Northern Colorado, Vern's is a fun place to stop off for breakfast. I have always heard people talk of Vern's, but today was my first visit. And I can promise you, I will be back.

It kind of reminded me of a Dirty Spoon Diner. It's nothing fancy, but will satisfy any picky palate. The walls are covered in taxidermied animals like Bears, Elk, and of coarse Jack A Lope's. If you are offended by such displays, do not go as they cover the walls from every angle and include just about every native Colorado animal.

They have a decent sized menu, and the price is really great. They are known for their Giant Cinnamon Rolls (2.45 each) and are huge. The rolls are a meal in and of themselves. We didn't try one, but they are monsters. For the price, they serve up big portions. I had steak and eggs, and it was very good. The steak was cooked correctly and came with three eggs, hashbrowns and toast. The coffee was good, and I downed 3 or 4 cups. I always think that a sign of a good breakfast place is its coffee.

Our waitress was a bit of ditz, and could have done a better job. Our glasses were always empty, and we had to hunt her down for a refill. But the food came out quickly, so eating kept our mouths shut.

Vern's would be a great place to take the kids, and they do serve lunch and dinner as well. They also serve beer and wine - but limit you to a two drink maximum. If you are on your way to or from the Poudre Canyon, stop off for a bite. You won't be dissapointed.

(970) 484-4777
830 N College Ave Fort Collins, CO 80524

***3 out of 5 stars***

Not having been bowling in awhile, we decided to check out the Cosmic Bowling on Wednesday nights at Chippers North. This is the event they advertise all of the time on 99.9 the Point and you get discounted games and shoe rental. There are lots of strange and confusing rules about prices, so call ahead.

We got there early to avoid paying a cover (arrive before 9) and good thing too. We ended up having to wait 45 minutes for two lanes. The guy at the counter was not friendly, and had an attitude for no reason. So during our wait, we bellied up to the bar for some beers. The beers were $1.50 for domestic drafts and the bartenders were at least nice. Not sure why 99.9 advertises so much for this event on the radio. They were hardly there and said that they would be giving out prizes. Well, they get you to sign up and then took off without anouncing a winner. I'm sure they have already sold my information (I'm such a sucker).

They also had two band play during the night. The first band frankly sucked. I'm not sure what they were called, but they were terrible. They were just screaming into the microphone and this caused a lot of taunting from the audience. It gave me a headache since our lanes were right next to the stage. The second band was better, but not memorable. The lanes finally opened and we bowled three games and had a blast doing it. The lanes were very nice and clean, and the scorekeeping was automated.

The only reason this place gets a 3 of 5 is because we had so much fun with the bowling. But the staff's poor attitude, the misleading antics of 99.9 the Point, and the horrid bands were enough that I would not suggest going on a Wednesday night. It might be better to try the Chippers on Horsetooth. They have more lanes, and hopefully better atmosphere.

(970) 493-8408
1006 Spring Creek Ln Fort Collins, CO 80526

****4 out of 5 stars****

A little out of the way bar, Sliders proved to be a fun Saturday night! It's not much to look at, nesteled in a strip mall - but the staff is very friendly and the beer is cheap.

On Saturday nights, they have domestic beers for a buck, and micros for two dollars. We were sitting at the bar, but they do have a game room with pool and many seating areas in the front. The crowd tends to be older, and less college kid infused as much of the downtown scene is. It was a nice change of pace, and the atmosphere is very mellow and laid back. They serve food until 10 pm, and although I haven't eaten there the food others ordered looked and smelled good. I did take a peek at the menu, and they have lots of hamburgers and many Mexican dishes. And yes, they do serve sliders (sliders are small little hamburgers, and usually you will get more than one - think White Castle).

The bartender and the manager were very friendly, and ended up buying us some shots. They stopped by several times in the night to just chat and see how things were doing. They have lots of beers on tap (at least 10) and keep the beer flowing. I would say that Sliders is a great place for a change of pace. Don't let the looks fool you!