I've always wanted to try Rocky Mountain oysters when visiting Colorado, and they did not disappoint! The restaurant itself is cool, filled with taxidermy animals and Western artifacts everywhere you look. We shared the Taste of the Wild, which came with elk, buffalo prime rib, and quail, plus sides. Everything was cooked perfectly and tasted delicious. The Rocky Mountain oysters were surprisingly good too! Such a fun and unique experience, especially with a group. Definitely a visit if you're in Colorado! read more

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You probably can't beat this location as far as interesting decor and an accompanying story is concerned. We spent a good amount of time after our dinner just exploring and learning. Very, very cool. We started with Rocky mountain oysters because we were feeling spicy. They were fine - you can fry anything and make it palatable. Overall, food was yummy but holy cow, was it expensive!! Definitely don't come here if on a cheaper budget. I did enjoy the interesting selection of meats and it was all cooked perfectly. The sides weren't mind-blowing (for that price I expect to be wow'd) and if you're a vegetarian, you're options are very limited. I had the cheesecake for dessert and it fell short of the mark, sadly. Large cocktail selection and their old fashioned was well made (again, high price tag). Service was friendly and plenty of staff happy to give a little history lesson. I would perhaps return to bring someone very into meat and history, but outside of that would pass. read more

Buckhorn Exchange - Wall of heads - Steakhouses Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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It is the oldest restaurant in Denver and I am a sucker for anything with history. Call it a tourist trap, if you will, and there are certainly a lot of tourists here. Maybe locals never go. Honestly, I had low expectations. And yes, you are going to eat bull balls here. That is part of the deal. Fortunately, my low expectations were exceeded considerably. The Rocky Mountain Oysters (the bull balls) basically taste like batter. I would say their consistency and taste are most similar to calamari. A half order is plenty. The horseradish which accompanied the dish was milder than mayonnaise but still tasted nice and it was definitely better than the ketchupy stuff that also came with the plate. The buffalo prime rib was tender and not gamey at all. The (beef) steak was nice. They also offer other game animals like elk and quail. Our server was wonderful. She gave excellent recommendations. You can't discuss this restaurant without mentioning all the stuffed animals everywhere and the zillion animal heads mounted on the walls. It takes a little getting used to. The bar upstairs is very cool and is worth a visit but you want to dine downstairs for the best ambience. The food is good but not amazing. Call me a dumb tourist but this is a unique, fun place. read more

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Was passing through Denver, saw a YouTube video on this restaurant. Ambiance is 10/10. Ate at the bar, bartender was pure class. Buffalo Bill cocktail was really good, paired well with the Rocky Mountain Oysters. Blackened Buffalo ribeye was also a good pick. A little less tender than traditional beef ribeye, but even more flavorful. read more

Gonna have to try the exotic meat like elk and quail. Little bit on the pricey side but the elk steak and birds combination platter was seasoned and cook to perfection. It was juicy inside. We also tried the t bone steak perfectly medium rare. The garden salad with blue cheese was refreshing. We didn't like the mashed potatoes though. Perfect old fashioned whiskey and peach mule as well. Definitely something to try when you're in the area - and the ambience is a plus. Also better to get reservation ahead. read more

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We were traveling from out of state and saw a tiktok about this place. We decided we needed to give it a try since it has history. This was by far the worst part of our trip to Denver... be warned. Parking: There is free parking in the back of the building. When we first walked in we were greeted and brought to our reserved tables upstairs. If you decide to try this place, get a reservation and do downstairs. There is so much more to look at downstairs! Instead, we were brought to a backroom that was much cooler(in temp) and had way less to look at... we felt "put into the corner." It was busy, and it appeared they were short staffed. It took a long time for our server to get to us. She was very sweet and I definitely felt for her, she was really trying! However, it took awhile to get our drinks, the complimentary bread came out after our appetizer and house salads... anything complimentary should come out right away. The food: We got the Rocky Mountain oysters and I actually thought they were good! The cocktail sauce is very tomato forward and the "horseradish sauce" was a joke! There was absolutely no flavor and I am convinced it was just sour cream! If you do order these, ask for their ranch- it was dill flavored and delicious! The house salad was good But wet... like I had water on my plate. If you want a Caesar Salad it will cost an extra 7.50!!!!!!!!! Why!? That doesn't make any sense! The complimentary sourdough was good but the whipped butter had no taste at all... we had to sprinkle some salt on it for it to actually taste decent. We got the New York strip 16oz and the Elk steaks. The New York strip was the worst steak we have ever had! It was supposed to be cooked to a medium but was definitely closer to a medium rare. The butter on top did not have any flavor and was pointless. It had a fair amount of fat on it and the crust tasted "ashy" to us. It was expensive so we ate it, but terrible! The mashed potatoes were not mashed well! I had a whole potato in it! The veggies were mushy and overcooked. The elk steaks were actually very good! I would recommend that! The wild rice was brown rice with a few wild rice pieces... and again mushy veggies! The total price for one alcoholic drink, one bottled soda, a half order of Rocky Mountain oysters, the New York strip and elk steaks was over $200 with tip. We went to the restrooms afterwards and they were disgusting and dirty! If we are spending over $200 on a meal it better be great service, food and ambiance! This missed the mark HEAVILY! If you do feel the need to go here, get a table downstairs, make a reservation, get the Rocky Mountain oysters with the dill ranch and the elk steaks. read more

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Awesome food, great service and fun decor! If you're looking for a place with some good food that has a little flair then this is the place for you! Tried this place for the first time and it did not disappoint. The serving size is huge and can be split between two people. I got the NY Strip and it was soooo tasty and a very large portion. The atmosphere is not only historic but also very unique. There is taxidermy all along the walls as well as historical pieces mixed in between. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful and also full of a cool anecdote or two on the building as well. If you haven't been, I suggest you make your way here to try some delicious food with a little flair. read more

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Glad we came. Elk and bison needed more seasoning but were cooked to order (med rare).... The bison was really tender. The game tips (under appetizers) were good... the navy bean and ham soup was less desirable, had no flavor even though it was made with pork. Lots of history and historical items to view... read more

Buckhorn Exchange - Beautiful at night.. quiet evening - Steakhouses Near Me - Denver, Colorado

The ambiance is a 10 out of 10- when you can look on the wall and see a fishing license that was John F Kennedy's you know that the rustic charm is in full effect. Service- 10 out of 10- the waitress even remembered that it was my son's birthday and offered a free dessert. She was very easy-going and was always there to get me another beverage or if I needed anything. Food- 6/10- we started off with the Rocky Mountain oysters, which I am thankful that the waitress stated that they were your typical oysters and explained what they were. They still were appetizing and we both ordered the bison fillet, which was OK. In my opinion, it's just not my best type of steak. I would rather have spent money going to a higher class steakhouse but this was great just because it is the oldest steakhouse in Colorado. read more

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Many years ago I ate here with friends and it was an adventure trying out different game meats I otherwise never encountered surrounded by ancient (and admittedly somewhat alarming) taxidermy. It was a fond memory and unforgettable experience. Literally decades later, I was back in Denver for a conference with a friend who became enthralled with my description of the Buckhorn Exchange. I was happy enough to let memories lie, but she very much wanted to try it. I had no objections so we went. It was a mistake. I should've left my memories of this institutional restaurant as they were, bathed in the golden light of memory, where my recollections were positive and infused with the unique tastiness of bison and pheasant. My friend and I ordered the combo platter of elk and bison, both of us requesting medium rare. The combo came with a navy bean and ham soup. The soup was mediocre and bland. The meat came out medium well to mostly well done, resulting in both cuts being extremely chewy, dry, and tasteless. It was a busy night, so when the entrées came out and even though we discovered the meat had been overcooked on first cut, we were unable to flag down our friendly but overwhelmed server. Starved, we ate what we could alongside the over cooked vegetables which tasted like they came out of the freezer in a bag. When the server finally checked in with us, we had eaten half of the meat. It had literally been almost an hour since we had sat down so while she offered to go back and tell the kitchen, we declined. The server, seeing how overcooked the meat was, then offered to comp us dessert. Up shot: this is undoubtedly, an iconic restaurant in the Denver area, serving a distinctly unique menu and opportunity to taste different game. I was happy to see that the restaurant is still around. However, I should've let my memories stay as they were, and not returned. The meal was a huge disappointment, and outrageously overpriced for the quality. The server was wonderful and friendly, but absolutely overwhelmed with the number of tables and impossible to flag down when we realized our meat had been overcooked not just by little but a lot. The ambience remains unchanged. Not a surprise since that is part of its charm: well over 100 stuffed animal, heads and full animals posted throughout the restaurant, making for a distinct interior that is unforgettable. Servers are well-versed in the history of the establishment and easily share the colorful tales of how the restaurant came to be. So if you have money to burn, or you really want to try different sorts of game and want the distinct experience of eating at this unusual restaurant, it's worth visiting. Just make sure you check the meat as soon as it comes out, and are not as overly polite as my friend and I were in taking pity on the server, waiting too many tables and not checking in on us. The appetizers and desserts are okay but not worth the trip. Wishing the owners well and rooting for the Buckhorn to still be there next time I'm back in Denver (but I won't be returning). read more

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This restaurant is amazing! I would have visited it just to be in a building that has been around since 1893 and full of antiques and taxidermy. The fact that it serves amazing food is a bonus! There was some complementary sliced sour dough bread and butter that was great. The Buffalo Prime Rib was cooked medium rare and was so tender and good. The salmon was also amazing, it had a sauce that I liked. The garlic mashed potatoes was also good. The garden salad was different from what I'm accustomed to, but I liked it. The Buckhorn Old Fashioned was very smooth and a great compliment to the meal. The service was exceptional and even though they were about to close up for the night, they encouraged us to look around and take pictures If you're in Denver, make sure to visit. read more

I was only in town for a bit and had to try this place. My family stopped in to see it and get a few appetizers. Obviously, the atmosphere is amazing. Everyone was super friendly and we loved being there. As for the food, we got an order of the sweet chili duck wings and the Rocky Mountain oysters. The duck wings were absolutely some of the best wings I've ever had. Amazing flavor! The Rocky Mountain oysters had me nervous because my wife and son had never had them and they were skeptical. Buckhorn does them right. They were fried perfectly and the cocktail sauce mixed with the horseradish sauce pair perfectly. A really fun place to have a meal read more

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Old establishment in Denver. I've been wanting to give it a try. Finally had the chance. It did not disappoint. This place has been in business since 1883, had customers like Teddy Roosevelt & Sitting Bull. Surrounded by museum quality artifacts from the old west. I was content just grabbing a beer and looking around but I ordered the Bison Prime Rib. It was perfect medium rare and delicious. Service was great and friendly. Definitely a must see if you're in the Denver area. read more

We love the buckhorn exchange!! Such a cool location with all the taxidermy and history. A great place to bring people who are visiting. The steak is consistently perfectly cooked, and all our servers have been amazing. Definitely an expensive place, but worth it. Even the bathrooms are worth visiting! read more

Buckhorn Exchange - real taxidermy grizzly! - Steakhouses Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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So, this is an experience. Such a cool old building with so much history hanging on the walls and door frames and ceiling, etc. it's like walking into a time capsule of the late 1800s/early 1900s Wild West. Very cool!! The food was good but not great. For the price, I'd expect something a little better but the beef tenderloin was cooked exactly the way I ordered it (complete with peppercorn crust). It was tender but maybe a bit dryer than I like for a filet. The peppercorn crust was amazing! The Saratoga chips are made in house and they are very good as well. Super crispy with the right amount of salt. We got a history lesson from one of the servers, about 10min worth of backstory about the restaurant and it was almost like dinner and a show. Parking is a bit tight if they're busy but it's downtown Denver so that's typical. Other than the price being a bit high for the quality, this place is a good time and a good meal. read more

Great for a drink, and the decor, pass on the food. If you are considering having dinner at Buckhorn Exchange, my best advice is this: come for a drink to soak in the history, but head elsewhere for a steak. If you're looking for a truly high-end steakhouse experience in Denver, you're much better off at A5, Guard and Grace, or Urban Farmer. The Atmosphere & Service Having lived in Denver for over eight years, we finally decided to look past the mixed reviews and see this landmark for ourselves. The "Old World" charm is definitely there, the taxidermy and history filling both floors are incredibly unique and worth seeing. We were seated promptly for our reservation and opted for the upstairs to get the full effect of the ambiance. Our server, Dan, was friendly and attentive, and the water service was excellent (they never let our glasses drop below half full). The Appetizers Unfortunately, the charm stopped at the decor. We started with the Fried Artichoke Hearts, which were a massive disappointment. They were essentially deep-fried dough balls; it was hard to even find or taste the actual artichoke. We also tried the Smoked Buffalo Sausage, which was flavorful and tasty, though the polenta served with it was completely flavorless--even with cheese on top. The Salads A house salad is included, but we all opted for the $7.50 Caesar salad upgrade. While the lettuce was bright and the dressing-to-lettuce ratio was good, it wasn't anything special. For a nearly $8 upcharge, we expected more than just lettuce, dressing, and two tomatoes in the corner. Maybe consider a smaller upcharge (e.g. half of that) if people opt out of the anchovies. The Entrées For a restaurant that sells itself as a premier steakhouse, the execution on the meat was subpar: * Prime Rib: I ordered mine rare (red throughout), but it arrived medium to medium-rare with no red on the outside. It was clearly overcooked. I didn't even touch the outside edge (it was brown throughout). * Buffalo/Elk Combos: Two people at our table ordered these medium-rare; they arrived medium-plus and were quite crusty and chewy. * Sides: The "grilled" vegetables tasted more boiled/steamed and lacked any seasoning. However, I will give credit to the horseradish cream, the extra fresh horseradish on top was a delicious touch. The au jus was also very flavorful. The Verdict For four people, including three cocktails, our bill came to $500. At that price, you expect precision and high-quality flavors, neither of which were present. We won't be back for a meal. This is a great spot to show out-of-towners the taxidermy over a beer, but for the price of the food, there are far better options right downtown. read more

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So me and the wife heard about this place. So we decided to give it a try. So glad we did the building is amazing so old and got so much character. You walk in there are taxidermy animals everywhere. The staff is so friendly and helpful. Our waitress was amazing and the food was amazing as well. There is so much history in that building and antiques all over it's so awesome just to walk around it has two floors and you need to check everything out. We had the special which was a ribeye and it was delicious. Highly recommend this place if you're in Denver! We definitely will be back. Cheers read more

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This place is amazing and packed with so much history! The service was great from the hostess to our waitress and even the chef! We ordered taste of the wild the lamb and buffalo prime rib was so delicious the quail was cooked to perfection. All in all was a great experience definitely worth trying and next time I'm in Colorado I will dine here again. read more

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Buckhorn Exchange is Denver's oldest eatery; this world famous steakhouse opened its doors in 1893. Buckhorn is a Denver staple and a great spot for anyone traveling in. The walls are covered with so much history you can spend hours looking around! If it's your first time, try a mix of classic game meat our waiter Daniel provided exquisite service and was helpful navigating us through the menu and offering suggestions for selections. Definitely a cool spot for locals and a great spot to experience while you're in Denver! read more

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Oh dear. I have a group of friends that loves exploring all the restaurants we possibly can in this lifetime, across the world. It was someone's going away party, and he wanted to come to Buckhorn Exchange because of it's historical significance in Denver. Someone else protested, and we should have listened to her. This has famously become the worst meal we've ever enjoyed together. From all the recommended appetizers we thought we would be fun (alligator bites, rocky mountain oysters) to the main meat courses, food was mostly left untouched. Flavors, textures, doneness - so many reasons we collectively didn't like anything. Service was okay, but they are clearly overloaded. We had to wait a little despite having a reservation. And I was not prepared for how much taxidermy I would be surrounded by. Definitely make a reservation, and allot time for parking in this neighborhood. Guess I'm glad this was checked off some sort of list? read more

Interesting place for sure, I enjoyed the ambiance and all the history that this place comes with. The food was okay and service was excellent. read more

MY cousin took us here and we had a blast! We started off with some rocky mountain oysters and they were amazing! I love how tasted like chicken nuggets. The interior design of this place is phenomenal. I went upstairs for a quick tour after dinner and took some pictures. We ordered the ribeye special that they had along with Elk and bison combo. We split the food among the 3 of us and had leftovers. The ribeye was super juicy and tender. I'm a huge ribeye fan, so I would definitely order it again if I see it on the menu next time I return. The elk and bison were interesting. I enjoyed trying them, but not sure if I'll order them again. It's one of those you really have to like it to order again, but I don't hate it. The double chocolate rocky brownie was the best way to end dinner after a heavy meaty dinner. Overall, I had a great time here and do not mind coming back here again when I visit Denver. read more

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Overall rating: 3.5/5 Buckhorn Exchange is one of those unique places you have to check out if you're visiting Denver for the first time. You won't have trouble finding parking as there's a lot right next to the restaurant. This restaurant is basically its own historical museum filled with so many taxidermies of hunting animals. You are welcome to walk around the first and second floors after being seated and getting your order taken. Restrooms are available on both floors and were clean. You can make reservations but they also take walk-ins. The workers and servers were really friendly, attentive, and informative about telling us the history of Denver's oldest restaurant. Known for their unique animal meat dishes, we ordered: -Rocky mountain oysters (5/5): since it's fried, it was really crispy and good. Being what it is, it did not have any gamey taste. Comes with horseradish and cocktail sauces. -Combo meat plates that had: 1. elk (3.5/5): meat was tender and sweet but a bit gamey taste. 2. Lamb (4/5): flavored really nicely with herbs but also had a gamey aftertaste. 3. Cornish game hen (3/5): not my most favorite, tasted like chicken but meat was a bit tougher The soup and salads with garlic mash potatoes were good and are options you can pick from for the meat combo plates. I loved that you can customize your meat plate if there were meat choices you wanted to try but was not on the menu. Unfortunately, the meats were a bit too gamey for my preference. Overall, I would recommend coming at least once for the experience but afterwards, maybe better to check out other food spots in Denver. read more

Buckhorn Exchange - Rocky Mountain Oysters - Steakhouses Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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As I roam and collect each state's oldest restaurant visits, the Buckhorn exchange was an experience. The steaks were good but the mashed potatoes weren't anything great. Our waitress was really sweet and attentive - but not too attentive (yeah!) The restaurant, like most really old buildings, has that "antique smell". It is what it is. It's packed with tables and seems to be patrons by tourists. That's not a bad thing but for the price of a meal, you'd think people would dress a little nicer than wearing what you would when visiting the zoo. It's a one and done event. 200 bucks for two people and nothing made me say "you have got to go to this place!" read more

Rocky mountain oysters are bull testicles yall.. I had no idea 5/5 though elk was too dry buffalo tenderloin was pretty good, comparable to a steak. a little gamier. read more

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We visited the Buckhorn Exchange excited to experience one of Denver's historic restaurants. The ambiance is undeniably unique, and the service from our server was friendly, professional, and genuinely apologetic throughout the evening. Unfortunately, the food was a major disappointment, especially considering the price. We both ordered the 17 oz ribeye steaks ($80 each), medium rare. The first time they arrived, they were incredibly thin (certainly not what you'd expect from a 17 oz steak) and cooked well done. After sending them back, the replacements came out blue rare. It wasn't until the third attempt that our steaks were finally cooked correctly. By that point, we had waited well over an hour just to receive our meals. Despite the repeated mistakes, the manager only comped one drink per person. Given that both steaks had to be remade twice, it was disappointing that they wouldn't even remove one steak from the bill. That felt like poor customer service and a missed opportunity to make things right. In the end, we spent nearly $300 for what turned out to be a very mediocre meal. It's unfortunate because the restaurant has so much character and history, but the food simply didn't justify the price. Sadly, we won't be returning, and I wouldn't recommend it to friends or visitors looking for a memorable Denver dining experience. read more

Buckhorn Exchange - Not a 17oz steak and basically couldn't be overcooked more as it would have bought on fire... - Steakhouses Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Love Buckhorn Exchange and brought my family and brother-in-law (he is from the Canary Islands, Spain) and first time visiting the States. Made the reservation on Open Table and we came in for drinks and appetizers and were immediately seated in a cozy corner with a huge Buffalo Head above us and Buffalo Bill portraits. Our server was very professional, attentive and efficient. We ordered the Rocky Mountain Oysters, Smoked Buffalo Sausage and Fried Artichoke Hearts with a variety of yummy dips. Everything was well-prepared and delicious! My brother-in-law was in awe of the restaurant, the history, the decor and thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance and loved everything about it just as we did! Thanks again to the entire staff for such a wonderful experience! read more

Buckhorn Exchange - Rocky Mountain Oysters, Smoked Buffalo Sausage and Fried Artichoke Hearts with a variety of yummy dips-so delicious! - Steakhouses Near Me - Denver, Colorado

10/10 experience, food, everything!! The history is so cool and we loved the ambience. The service was great. Food was sooooo good we got the bison and elk and they were both so good read more

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I've eaten at a lot of steakhouses and plenty in this price range. Buckhorn Exchange is not great. Started at the bar while waiting for our table (got there well in advance of our reservation) and it was very slow to get helped even with only 2 other customers there, and when the table was ready and it was time to cash out - and I had asked for the check before being told the table was ready - it took some time. Also noted that previous signed checks were sitting on the bar like the bartender didn't care. Server for the table was friendly and that was nice. Bread and the appetizer were tasty, but the sirloin game tips was like a stew and I was hoping it would be like grilled meat and separate, my hope was to taste the differences between the meats and I couldn't. It was still good. Did The Big Steak and it was a disaster. Was told to expect 30 minutes but it kept dragging out. Steak was ordered medium rare and about half of the inside was effectively raw. There was a crust on it but it was burnt. The steam was a NY strip but it was extremely tough. Just not a great steak. Garlic mashed potatoes were good, baked beans were very bland. Grilled veggies were flavorless like they were just pulled from a freezer and steamed. Again, service was friendly and attentive. But the meal itself was extremely lacking. The ambience and the coolness of coming to the oldest restaurant in CO raise Buckhorn up quite a bit, that was definitely neat! But I have had much better steaks for this price, and Denver is home of some amazing steaks. J.Ja read more

Buckhorn Exchange - The big steak - Steakhouses Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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This is clearly a local institution for Denver. Lots of historical relevance and significance. Menu is unique with a lot of local wild game from lamb, elk, qual, bison, etc. Prices are pretty steep, akin to very nice steak houses. No problem with the price but the experience, platting, and overall food doesn't align. They have good service and quite the variety, coupled with a unique experience. In the end, I probably won't return but if you're interested in a variety of local/wild meats, this is worth a try. read more

Tasty game meats at a historic restaurant. First, let me say, the decor at this place looks like the scene of a horror movie! Stuffed animals everywhere. Service is good, we were helped immediately and food came out in order of course, without an excessive wait between courses. I had a mixed meat plate, with Duck, Rib Roast, and Elk. All were cooked perfectly. Certainly a great place to go if you're visiting the area and want some local history. The rest of our table (there were four of us on a business dinner) enjoyed their meal and none of us had any complaints. Even the bill was shockingly low! I look forward to visiting again in the future, these truly historic restaurants are hard to find. read more

This is an incredibly unique restaurant that has been around over 100 years. Not only was the food good, but the experience was very cool. There were over 150 taxidermied displays throughout the restaurant, as well as gun displays. Once I got my drink I walked around the entire restaurant to take it all in. The servers were extremely knowledgeable, gave great recommendations, and had a ton of great facts about the place. I got the elk and buffalo combo, buffalo sausage, bean and ham soup and a classic old fashioned. I was the first customer in the restaurant and my food was cooked to perfection. Its a cool spot that should be on your list if you're in the area. read more

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Pitcher this...Burger King and Outback decided to collaborate you get Buckhorn Exchange. Low grade steak for a high price. It was extremely tough to cut and tasted like a charcoal burger threw up a tasteless steak.. mind you we got medium rare...the sourdough bread was ok. read more

A MUST if you're visiting Denver. I learned about the Buckhorn Exchange after trying to look for unique and bizarre places to visit in Denver on Atlas Obscura and I finally had the opportunity to do so on my last visit. You can book a reservation on Open Table and I'm assuming on certain days they get really busy since it's dinner service only. Service was super friendly, welcoming, and checked on me several times throughout my visit. They answered all of my silly questions and I learned a lot about the history of the Buckhorn, as well! Definitely get the spiel about the location because there's little treasures hidden everywhere as far as the eye can see and it is one of Colorado's oldest restaurants, being over 100 years old. This includes: 500+ taxidermy specimens, JFK's hunting license, the first alcohol license in CO after prohibition, Teddy Roosevelt's game he hunted, an albino buffalo, Annie Oakley's guns, poker tables from the 1800's (a zebra head mount too), a jackalope, a kiwi bird, an old timey phone booth, and so much more. Apparently the location is also haunted too, just check the bar upstairs and the women's restroom. And yes, the restaurant does have 2 floors and they encourage visitors to explore and take as many pictures as they'd like. There's also merchandise for sale if you are so inclined. If not, their menu is designed to look like a neat newspaper and you can take that back as your souvenir. During my visit, I had Mark as my waiter and he was super accommodating and made sure my visit was above and beyond. For dinner, I got the: 1) Non Alcoholic Peach Puree Mule: -Loved that it came in the mule mug even if it's a mocktail. And the mug is available for purchase up front too. -Very refreshing with the fizziness and sweet peach taste. Fun to sip on throughout the night. 2) Elk and Buffalo steak: -This wasn't on the menu and it's one of the specials that they had on the day that I visited. This was around $65+. -It comes with soup or salad (extra charge for salad) and a side of my choice so I got the house made Saratoga chips since I knew it wasn't going to be super filling. Loved the crunch it added to the meaty texture of my dinner. -Both meats are cooked to your liking and it's a palm medallion sized piece of meat which is perfect for me since it gave me more space in my stomach to eat dessert and my sides. -It also comes with a side of steamed veggies as well, fancy purple broccoli, thin carrots, etc. -I got both my buffalo and elk medium rare. The Buffalo had a seasoned garlic herb butter on top and the elk had a mixed berry sauce and real berries on top. I have to say I'm a bigger fan of buffalo than the elk but it's personal preference. It tasted like a more tender beef to me where as the elk after awhile tasted very iron-y and like if you forced a liver to become a muscle instead of an organ. I don't think I'd get elk again, but it was a fun first time try. 3) Hot Dutch Apple Pie: - I got this a la mode and you have to get an extra scoop of vanilla ice cream. Balances out the warm cinnamony sweetness of the apple pie. -Comes out very warm and delicious with some whipped cream too. -Perfect crumble and crust and it's the nostalgic dessert perfect to end the meal with. Dinner also came with complimentary bread and butter. I stayed an extra 20 or so minutes after my visit to explore the second floor and it's decorated all throughout the walls and along the stairs too. Since it was the holiday season, there's lots of Christmas decor and little hats and ornaments hanging off the taxidermy which was pretty fun and cute. My favorite has got to be the little forest critters on the canoe. There's a stage coach and the taxidermy bears in the dining room on the second floor. I'd go again for sure to try more of their unique menu and to experience such a fun place to dine. read more

Interesting interior, friendly service, mediocre food. The nice thing is that you can pretty much make your own combination plates so you can try what you want. We opted for the elk and buffalo which happened to be a special; was not a fan of the sauce and the pepper seasoning. Seasoning was also an additional $2. Duck wings were also on special and were probably the best part of the meal. Not from around here so won't be coming back on future visits to the area, but still glad to say we've been to the oldest restaurant in Denver. read more

Buckhorn Exchange - Fried Artichoke Hearts - Steakhouses Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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The service was excellent and the ambiance was exactly what we expected from a historic restaurant that serves wild game as a staple on its menu, loved the restaurant and its ambience. The problem was the quality of the food and its price. The Rocky Mountain oysters were excellent, served hot and fresh!! The navy bean soup was average in flavor. The lamb chops were very good, but probably 30% more expensive than a comparable chop at a steakhouse. The elk and bison combo wasn't well seasoned, the food was served cold and the attention to details and flavors didn't justify the prices. All in all the restaurant is a one off, put a check mark next to the name and move on to better food at better prices. read more

Buckhorn Exchange - Rocky Mountain Oysters - Steakhouses Near Me - Denver, Colorado

We had a large party from out of state. Our server gave us a wonderful historical recount of the place. She was great!! The food was very good. Although I found out I don't like elk. read more

I'm guessing our experience doesn't mirror everyone's as this place has a really cool ambience to lots of 1800s things on the wall. We sat at the bar and got mixed service. One bartender did everything she could to take care of us. The other didn't make an eye contact and actually sat down for five minutes while we had empty drinks. We got the $190 ribeye for two ordered it medium rare and it came medium well. it takes a really long time to cook and we're not ones to send things back typically so we ate it we left a little unsatisfied, but hoping our experience is just one that's out of the ordinary. read more

Having lived in Denver for the past 8 years, Buckhorn Exchange has been on our list to try but the 1 star reviews have kept us from going. That changed when our neighbors said they too wanted to go and we needed to look past the 1 stars and look at all the 5 stars. We arrived on time for our reservation which we made on the earlier side hoping to beat the rush and we were immediately sat down in the upstairs area toward the back of the restaurant. The decor was what their website and all the pictures posted on review sites show. Very interesting history and taxidermy fill the walls, ceilings and floors. I find this stuff interesting so I loved it. Dan our server was friendly and attentive but not over attentive . Bread was tasty, but the appetizers were not. We got the Fried Artichoke Hearts which were deep fried dough balls with very little artichoke, the dipping sauce made them edible. Second app was the Smoked Buffalo Sausage which was tasty and the mustard enhanced the flavor nicely. The polenta that came with the sausage was a hard pass. We chose to "upgrade" our salads (garden salad is included with meal) to Caesar Salads and they had great flavor, nice touch asking if we wanted white anchovies on top. 7.50 for the Caesar Salad upgrade. For entrées 2 of us had the Buffalo/Elk combos, 4oz medallion of each meat ordered medium rare, they came out medium+ and a little crusty/chewy. Garlic mashed potatoes were good. "Grilled" veggies were flavorless and more steamed than grilled. The others got the Buffalo Prime Rib and the NY Strip, both 12oz and were cooked correctly, both liked their meals but the meal in totality was extremely lacking. I've eaten at many pricey steakhouses and don't mind those high prices if the meal is great. Buckhorn Exchange is not great and not worth the 500.00 for 4 people. Would we go back, maybe, but it would be for a beer and to look at more of the history. Food would not happen. read more

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Oldest restaurant in Colorado and quite the experience! Had to try the Rocky Mountain oysters (aka bulls testicles) which I didn't expect to be good, but they were definitely not bad! Also got to try a few different type of game meat: Colorado lamb chop, elk with berry sauce and bison. All were delicious and surprisingly not gamey. The only miss was the pie a la mode which was just blah. The whole restaurant was adorned with dead animals that apparently are a part of history... something about Teddy Roosevelt... google it. We were seated upstairs but the downstairs did seem cooler. Overall cool experience to take in a little Colorado history! read more

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