tl;dr the outlandish appetizers are more gimmicky than great, but the delicious lamb chops, solid sides, and complimentary creme brulee rounded out a memorable meal When it comes to Denver restaurants, few are as iconic as The Fort Restaurant. This home-turned-restaurant was constructed in 1962 as a full-scale replica of Bent's Old Fort (a historic fur-trading post along the Santa Fe Trail). The wild game-centric menu is inspired by nineteenth century Western fare, with some modern creative liberties. Nowadays, The Fort remains a popular destination for locals and out-of-towners, and the grounds host regular educational and cultural events. It is even listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. In the evening, the bottom-lit fort pops against the pitch-black background. Enter the courtyard to be greeted by a toasty campfire. Check in at the ranch house-style lobby to the left, then roll through the cabin-esque saloon on the right to sip a cocktail and nibble on an appetizer while awaiting a table. The dining room up front, bridging the bar and lobby, is harshly lit and cramped with closely packed tables; the dimly lit, quieter dining room in the back is infinitely more relaxing. Instrumental Southwestern guitar music plays respectfully in the background. I visited with friends for weekend dinner, and The Fort was packed during prime time. We kicked off our meal with a half-serving Historian's Platter, featuring nibbles of The Fort's most iconic appetizers. My favorite was the buffalo tongue crostinis, paired with rich garlic aioli. The lime- and salt-forward guacamole and sturdy tortilla chips were no slouch, either. The "Boudies" buffalo sausage wasn't much more memorable than a hot dog, while the peanut butter-stuffed jalapeños were odd but not off-putting. The Rocky Mountain oysters paired excellent crispy panko battering with a characteristically offaly iron flavor; the accompanying caper salsa was on the sweet side. From the complimentary bread basket, we preferred the autumnal pumpkin-and-walnut muffin to the standard dinner roll. The diminutive side salad sported an addictive chipotle honey dressing and the intriguing addition of salty-and-sour pickled ginger. For our entree, we shared the General Armijo's Colorado Lamb T-bones. The melt-in-your-mouth lamb was excellently seasoned and perfectly cooked; I picked the bones clean. Across the sides, we were most impressed by the cast-iron President Jefferson's Favorite Mild Green Chile Mac N' Cheese, which featured premium cheeses, chile chunks, and a crispy baked top. The Fort Potatoes (chopped and caramelized with onions and beans) were a heartier and saucier take on roasted potatoes, while the Goat Cheese Green Chile Grits were creamy but one-dimensional in flavor. For dessert, we were gifted a complimentary Creme Brulee to celebrate our special occasion. The decadent pumpkin-spice custard was addictive, and the signature "party hat" was icing on the cake (or, erm, creme brulee). The service had its hiccups -- our reserved table wasn't ready for nearly 30 minutes, and our waiter forgot our a la carte elk steak (ultimately, a blessing in disguise, as we were full even before dessert). Nonetheless, we felt welcomed and genuinely cared for. Our bill totaled $150 (including 2 drinks, tax, and tip). While expensive at face-value, the price was on the cheaper side compared to peer kitschy Colorado steakhouses. The overall experience was a net positive, worthy of a visit. read more

The Fort Restaurant - Historian's Platter - Steakhouses Near Me - Morrison, Colorado

I'm honestly disheartened to be writing this review about The Fort, because it has been one of my favorite restaurants for most of my life. I've been coming here since I was 8 years old and have so many wonderful memories here with my grandparents and family over the past 20 years. I even spent my Senior Prom at The Fort. I have literally told everyone about this restaurant for years, raving that it isn't just about top-notch food, but about an incredible experience that you won't forget. That's why tonight was especially disappointing. I chose The Fort to celebrate my 10th wedding anniversary. We came here for our anniversary last year as well, and our kids loved it so much--and my husband and I have always loved it--that we couldn't think of anywhere else we would rather spend such a special evening. Unfortunately, the experience tonight fell far short of what we have come to expect from The Fort. When we first arrived, we were greeted and checked in at the entrance. However, after walking inside to the host stand, we were essentially ignored for at least five minutes while several people stood at the desk. Eventually, someone grabbed menus, confirmed our last name, and told us to follow them. From there, the little details continued to add up. The food was not presented particularly well. My New York steak was chewy and lacked flavor, to the point that I needed to add quite a bit of salt. Our water glasses sat empty for much of the meal. The famous raisin muffins arrived completely smooshed together in the basket. We were also charged for each fountain drink refill because the restaurant now uses bottled drinks poured into glasses rather than a traditional fountain. None of these things individually would have ruined our evening. But together, they contributed to a feeling that the experience we have loved for so many years is changing. It is very noticeable that, with the change in management/ownership, more tables have been added and the restaurant now feels much more crowded and focused on maximizing the number of guests. And while I completely understand that restaurants need to be profitable, I worry that in the process, The Fort is losing the very thing that made it so special. The Fort was never just about the food. It was about the atmosphere, the service, the attention to detail, and the feeling that you were somewhere truly unique. Tonight, unfortunately, it felt much more like a high-class Chili's than the special, unforgettable experience I have spent decades telling people about. That is what makes this review so difficult to write. I genuinely love The Fort and have wanted to continue creating special memories there with my own family. I sincerely hope this was an off night and that the restaurant can find its way back to the experience that made so many of us love it in the first place. read more

My wife and I came to the fort with her parents for dinner on a cool evening in July and sat on the back patio. The music, ambience and views of the range were absolutely fantastic. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable and made recommendations for nearly everyone at the table. However, some of the presentation options are less than satisfactory, specifically the Gonzalez strip, which I ordered medium rare. The steak was perfectly cooked, but it was topped with cold hatch chilies, which were very wet and cooled the steak before I was halfway through. My wife had the Incorrect steak, which was seasoned and cooked a perfect medium rare, and was far superior to my own. Paired with my entree was the prickly pear margarita - it was delicious and flavorful, but on any hotter of a day the crumbled ice will water down your drink before you get to enjoy it. Mine was significantly watered down even on a 75° evening and I did not order another. To cap it off, the server inquired about a zero dollar tip, (a fair ask) which was determined an open check from previous guests that sat at our same table earlier in the evening. Call me nitpicky or particular, but at $80-100 per person, sans dessert, there some missteps in execution. There is nothing about the quality of food or friendliness of staff that is lacking, but I would evaluate other options before deciding to return. read more

Frontier experience with amazing favorites. From the excellent service to the exceptional variety of Colorado favorites of bison sirloin, venison chop, and teriyaki quail, trout and empanadas and a New York beef steak...our table sampled fantastic dishes. The desserts were equally as memorable and generous portions. Excellent service by all the staff and we enjoyed the native american music. What a lovely place to celebrate our 52nd anniversary. read more

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Wow, I've been in Colorado for 17 years and this is my first visit to The Fort. We came for a birthday party, great choice. Located in the red rocks south west of denver, this restaurant has been around for over 60 years and seats over 300 indoor and outdoor with tons of space and room to seat large groups, events or intimate twosomes. There is a Cantina which was recently remodeled but we never went in there. Seemed like a popular spot as well. Service is great and personable. Not too much and not too little. It's modeled after a real historic fort in southern Colorado and brings a definite southwest vibe. Service is very spot on for a restaurant of this caliber. Food is great and priced to come with high expectations for quality and taste which I think they delivered on. Steaks were huge and cooked perfectly. Sides and any number of options available but I just like horseradish with my ribeye. Salads and appetizers were great. Table was swamped at one point and staff was great to help manage things so that you were not feeling awkwardly limited. Drinks came fast and delivered on expectations including ordering a Jim Bridger which is no longer on the menu but available for locals who care. Dessert was so good and wow, enough for four people to share. Also, bread was on the table and delivered hot and fresh. From start to finish we had a fantastic experience. Highly recommend The Fort. read more

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Excellent service and unique environment. Love their courtyard which has a campfire and Teepees! Great place to have drinks and cozy vibe. Really embodies the feeling of a Fort. Staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Service is quick! Food was also good. Bison Taretare was delicious especially with the sauce and the cilantro. I did wish the quail egg was a not over cooked. I think the yolk would have been a great addition to the creaminess. But that's just my preference. The Fort Game plate was good to share! Shared it with my wife. Bison had a rich and natural umami. They cook it so well! Venison was honestly our fav. Cooked so well and super tender. Had the compound better on it too so flavor was excellent. Went really well with their berry sauce. The quail was also cooked juicy and tender, but I feel like the teriyaki taste was unbalanced. Some bites were a lil too salty while others were just right! Potatoes (not pictured) were too salty for my taste but the carrots were super delicious! Great place for a date night and would recommend. read more

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We had a fabulous dinner at The Fort before our concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The service was fantastic, the ribs were absolutely delicious, and the views were amazing. Such a unique Colorado atmosphere and the perfect way to start our evening. We had a wonderful experience and would definitely return. read more

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April 5th, 2025 6PM A friend treated us with a gift card for my birthday after she's stopped by and had an amazing experience herself. We were so lucky to get to come here for "free" as a treat from our friend. The atmosphere, the experience, the service and the food were all amazing. Very unique to Colorado. We started with a 1/2 liter pitcher of Prickly Pear Margaritas, shared across the 3 of us. Not only is it pretty to look at, it's also very tasty. Much more reasonable than to order 3 cocktails separately. We started with the Rocky Mountain Oysters, the batter was nicely done, light and airy. The RMO always has a chew, so if you're not a texture person, I'd recommend to skip it unless you've never tried it before. Def worth a try as it's a Colorado staple. We also tried the Josepha's Buffalo Empanadas, those were so yummy as well with the 2 salsas. Not everyone is a bone marrow fan but we really loved the Roasted Bison Marrow Bones, it did take extra time but it came to our table still sizzling, and really rich with the bread. Moving on to Main Course - I had the Incorrect Steak with fried egg, it was very tender and delicious. We also ordered the Gonzales Steak, yummy with the hatch green chiles. The Fort's Game Plate was a big platter of elk chop, buffalo sirloin medallion and a grilled teriyaki quail... you get to try them all. Favorite Mac and Cheese was so creamy... and we ordered the Spotted Dog Bread Pudding as a dessert to wrap up the birthday celebration. Overall it's a bit on the pricy side for all of the experience but we're really thankful to get to try so many things and add this to our Colorado experience. read more

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Avoid the fort. Service was horrible. Should have turned around d and left when we saw the group in front of us get taken to a table where people were already sitting. We waited 20 min after being seated and finally had to flag someone down to get water. Server took another 15 minutes just to greet us and take our order. The food (ribeye) was overcooked, lacked flavor, and their special Merlot steak sauce - sorry that was just A1. We couldn't get our bill fast enough to get out of there. And to top it off, it is way overpriced. Save yourself and go to a real steakhouse with good food and good service. read more

A very solid and hearty 4.6 stars. Really Enjoyed it. It's a bit out of the way but a gorgeous setting and loaded menu. The herb butter bison filet was astoundingly good, presented well in a cast iron. Lean and incredibly flavorful even at a medium well which is my preference. I remember thinking "if this was my last meal, I'd be very ok with that". Can't recommend it enough. All four of my coworkers got the Japanese ribeye but I think I enjoyed mine much more than they did theirs. Mashed potatoes were ok, not particularly soft or creamy. Chile mac and cheese is very good esp that cheese crust was absolutely perfect. On desserts, their vanilla ice cream is so good, lots of real vanilla flavor and then hot chocolate sundae exceeded expectations Probably very little for vegetarians here and the main reason I'm not a five across the board was the service was functional but not really welcoming or helpful. We were slightly misguided on portions... but it was otherwise fairly well run and due to the multi course meals, you felt like plates were cleared and dishes brought out at a good clip. I'd come back for that buffalo filet again and again read more

The Fort Restaurant - Apps and mocktails Note there's a separate mains and cocktail menu - Steakhouses Near Me - Morrison, Colorado

Our server was kind. However: -When she asked about how our drinks were, we said one of the alcoholic drinks tasted watered down, and she left without responding -We requested a plain burger twice, and first received a burger with everything on it, and the second time received one with everything but cheese still on the burger. The ribs, desserts, and starches were good, but: -The ribeye was not worth $75. They cooked it more than requested and the cut was not worth the price -Most of the mains were underwhelming and felt overpriced for either the size or the taste The ambiance was pretty good with a live flute player and decorations, but: -Flies were everywhere inside and landed on our food throughout the dinner read more

Ok so the good is the place, the view and the service was amazing! I would say if they happen to have a bunch of parties going on it's a bit noisy and I wonder if that impacts the food at all. But I would definitely go again for the ambiance. The food: Appetizer of Smoked Trout Croquettes and the Tartar but were amazing! Smoked Sazerac awesome as well. Two of us had the fillet which was good very tender and the quail was amazing. Where the dinner got off the rails was my Buffalo medallion and my son's buffalo steak. Both were almost inedible. Completely chewy the knife could barely cut it. Flavor was fine but nothing to write home about. Meat was actually cold unfortunately. I also had the venison which was better but also pretty hard to chew and cut. But significantly better than the Buffalo and the sauce was amazing on it. Other than the quail and the appetizers though it was kind of disappointing. I just don't get how the meat could be that tough and sort of undercooked was supposed to be medium rare but seemed more rare which I think led to it maybe not being that tender. Like I said though the view and ambiance was worth the visit. One last note they were out of their Ribs, kind of ridiculous as our reservation was at 5:30 lol! read more

Service was fantastic. We dined for 8 and our waitress took great care of us. Seating was prompt according to reservation. The food was definitely unique if youre not used to wild game, which most of my party was new to experiencing. I thought the appetizer sampler was a good variety and well cooked. The prime rib was cooked to perfection (medium rare) and a hearty 16oz! Duck, hatch green chili steak, and all entrees turned out fantastic! The ambiance was low lit and very manageable to hear conversation across the table. Walking around outside and enjoying all the fort has to offer was great. Grounds are well kept and they even happen to have a fire for the wedding party in the common area. Hope the new owners take as good of care as the previous owners! Sad I didnt take any photos as I was just taking in the experience! read more

This restaurant boasts beautiful scenery. The steak was excellent--very delicious--though the salad was not good. A fly kept buzzing around during the meal, which spoiled the mood. Furthermore, the service was truly poor; there was practically no service, and they didn't even refill the water. read more

The Fort Restaurant - Steakhouses Near Me - Morrison, Colorado

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My wife and I chose to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary here this evening, and sadly, the experience was a real disappointment. Our bill was nearly $250 for the two of us, with just one drink each. My wife's trout was bland, and my $75 ribeye was surprisingly tough, with more rubbery gristle than I would expect from a steak at this price point and very little marbling. The chef came out and asked how everything was. I told him honestly that my steak was tough, although it had good flavor. He simply smiled, turned around, and walked away. I was honestly stunned by the response, especially at a restaurant of this caliber. They also now add a 3% "kitchen bonus fee" to the bill, which was another surprise. After patronizing this restaurant for several years, this was certainly not the meal or experience I had hoped for on our 40th anniversary. Unfortunately, based on this experience, we do not plan to return. I sincerely hope others have a much better experience than we did, especially if you are choosing this restaurant to celebrate a special occasion. For us, it was a real letdown. read more

Three of us popped in for apps and cocktails. We were seated in this cute area between the entrance and the dining room. Just the right amount of space. If you want to go for dinner, make a reservation. Laura, our server, made some great recommendations. Soon we were sipping our prickly pear margaritas and chatting about our day. We ordered the Historian's Platter to share. It included buffalo sausage, The Fort's famous guacamole with tortilla chips, rocky mountain oysters, buffalo tongue on crostini, and peanut butter stuffed pickled jalapeños. The platter also had a creamy dip and a sweet dip. The guacamole is to die for! We all had some oysters and yes, I know what they are. This is the place to get them. The buffalo tongue was not my fav, texture-wise. The sausage was delicious! I love the peanut butter stuffed jalapenos. Always a good choice. There was something for everyone. The service was top notch. We had a great experience. I want to go back and try the Bison eggs and empanadas next time. read more

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My company hosted a dinner here for our team. The staff at the restaurant did an excellent job of keeping us the refreshments and appetizers rolling. The cocktail of the night was very good. I think I had 3 haha. Then once we were ready to move into our private space, we were offered our menus. Everything was very tasty. This was my first time trying elk, and it was great! read more

The Fort Restaurant - The Fort's Game Plate - Steakhouses Near Me - Morrison, Colorado

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Incredible 5 course dinner served by a staff that honor the traditions of the restaurant in the most beautiful setting read more

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Had not been in years. Recent dinner was excellent. Duck was very nicely cooked and presented. Steaks were nice as well. Excellent service. A must for out of twners! read more

Yall, read this. I do not understand how The Fort has such poor reviews on yelp. My fiancé and I travel all around Denver each Friday night to try a new restaurant. We enjoyed our anniversary dinner at The Fort back in October, and it was easily one of the best dining experiences I've had in Colorado! The food was amazing, the service and experience was great. Each part of my meal was spectacular. There was not a single thing I would have changed about my experience here, except maybe less expensive cocktail options. We had such a blast! read more

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4 stars: Unique dining (for me), would recommend to others who want to try a variety of game meat TL;DR: Extensive menu with lots of local game meats, nice service, solid food Came here right when they opened and was able to snag a table. Seems like they get pretty busy/have private events, so make sure you look for reservations! AMBIANCE It's very old time-y feels with lots of wood decor and homey lighting. They do have an area closer to the windows that has a great view. SERVICE Service was very nice, attentive, and informative. Timing of all our dishes/check-ins was wonderful FOOD: ~Prickly pear cooler (3.8/5): Not too sweet and just the right amount of tartness. Just felt like it watered down easily ~Scorched Sazerac (3.8/5): basically an old-fashioned. The smoke was only there during the first sip or two when you initially open the top ~Bison eggs (3.5/5): Egg wrapped in buffalo sausage. Not too gamey and egg was slightly overcooked. The sauce that came with it was tasty and had a nice kick ~Roasted Bison Marrow Bones (5/5): SO GOOD. It lets the bone marrow speak for itself - no frills. The bone is huge and 2 slabs was perfect for us. Too much would have left us feeling too greasy ~Complimentary bread (4/5): Subjective rating, as I love bread. Nothing necessarily special, but the rolls were soft and the pumpkin raisin muffins were moist and flavorful ~Fort's game plate (4/5): Came with: ~~Buffalo tenderloin (4/5) which was very tender but needed a touch more seasoning ~~Bone-in elk (5/5) which made me realize I like elk - so tender and flavorful ~~Quail (4.5/5): This was an even newer flavor for me. Had flavors of both chicken and duck, but with a bit more gamey-ness. I like that they took the rib cage out so it was much easier to eat ~~Assorted vegetables (2/5): meh - could be cooked/seasoned better ~~Roasted potatoes (3/5): some potato pieces were nicely cooked but there were some beans (?) mixed in that were uncooked/hard ~Buffalo ribeye - carne asada style (3/5): Just okay. Was cooked to the right temp, but the fat could have rendered a little more. Overall was a little tough. It came with mashed potatoes (4.5/5) which were really tasty though ~Wild mushrooms (4/5): again, no frills. Doused in butter. Overall, I had never had buffalo, elk, or quail in this form. It was a great experience and was able to try a lot of new things! Would recommend trying at least once. read more

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My wife and I had had a simply wonderful meal there last night. Our server, an absolutely beautiful and statuesque blonde/white haired woman named Catherine, was simply fantastic. Energetic, fun, chatty and efficient. The atmosphere of an old soldier fort is unique and very very cool. The food is high end chef inspired type stuff. Definitely not a Denny's menu. I had salmon and it was prepared perfectly and my wife had a Buffalo steak. She said it was medium rare, tender and perfect. The house white wine was chilled and extremely good, it went with the salmon perfectly. This is a real romantic "date night" type place. The ambiance is simply incredible. You'd have to see it to believe it. My wife was aww struck and melted into the place which really worked out well for me later in the evening. If you want to impress a woman, this is the place. The food and atmosphere simply can't be duplicated in the metro area. read more

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Everything was awesome! We loved the unique food -- everything -- including Quail, Duck, vege stuffed peppers, delicious fresh Fort signature salad, vegan chocolate cake, crème brûlée, and cheesecake with huckleberry! It appeared that we got there for a rare "haunted" day, with glass falling and breaking back at the server station several times during our meal. But the truth is, our server was super nice and friendly, and knowledgable about the menu and local area, and everything else we ordered was delivered with a smile. I've been visiting this place for decades, and it never disappoints. read more

The atmosphere was amazing, definitely something different, the view nice. I'll say for first time experience it was nice, but overall it was okay. The food decent, the desert was BOMB! read more

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A great place to take visitors. A recreation of Bent's Fort in southern Colorado. It has food from the trapping and frontier of Colorado. Wild game is available but also beef, chicken and even vegetarian options. I had Buffalo ribs and my wife had a beef filet mignon. We also had a great appetizer charcuterie plate. All was good. We did miss the bean dip. One of our past favorites. The new owners are keep up Sam and Holly's quality. read more

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Experience authentic Colorado adobe fort and courtyard! Very romantic dining. Try an appetizer!! On a clear evening, views out east to Buckley AF base. This has been our FAVORITE since late 1980's even when we had transferred out of state! Enjoy the Native American flute musician on weekends. He hand carved his flute! read more

Tonight's dinner at The Fort in Morrison was next-level. I've eaten at some incredible spots, but this one shot straight into my top five. We kicked things off with the Peanut Butter Stuffed Jalapeño Escabeche and Josefa's Buffalo Empanadas--both were absolute fire. For the main course, I went all in on The Fort's Game Plate: buffalo medallion, elk chop, and quail. Every bite was dialed in. My wife went with the Akaushi Beef Ribeye--bold flavor and cooked perfectly. My cousin (the birthday girl) chose the "Tenderlips" Colorado Filet Mignon and didn't leave a single scrap behind. We wrapped it up with their bread pudding, which definitely held its own. The menu is stacked, and there are still a bunch of dishes I'd love to try. Sadly, it was our last night in Colorado--guess I've got a reason to come back. The outdoor seating offers a stunning view of the valley, and the whole experience--from food to service--was solid all around. If you're in the Denver area, The Fort is a must. Morrison, CO Wild game, steaks, and frontier vibes Birthday dinner done right #TheFortRestaurant #MorrisonCO #DenverEats #ColoradoDining #FoodieFinds #GameMeat #BuffaloSteak #RibeyeLovers #FiletMignon #FoodAdventure #TravelEats #VacationDinner #EpicEats #MountainViews #DinnerWithAView #BirthdayDinner #BreadPuddingLove #WesternCuisine #EatLikeALocal #Foodstagram Follow me on IG @hungry_dude_usa read more

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For the past year and a half, my friends and I, under my leadership, have been doing a monthly supper club in which we take turns select the restaurant and we get those try a new place every single month. That is how I found my way to The Fort! Opening in 1963, they bring 1800 recipes to the present day to create a style of their own. From Buffalo to Quail, this place does not miss! what we ordered: - Josepha's Buffalo Empanadas - Jalapeno "Poppers" - Fort Bread - William Bent's Buffalo Filet Mignon Aux Poivre - 14-ounce Colorado Natural Beef NY Strip Steak - Smoke House Buffalo BBQ Ribs - William Bent's Grilled Quail - Dish of Magill's World Famous Ice Cream - Chocolate Chile Bourbon Cake - Bobbie Chaim's Famous Cheesecake - Crème Brûlée - Apple & Pear Cobbler best bites: I really loved everything I tried but the NY strip was cooked to perfection! The quail was so flavorful, juicy and so so good! When I stepped away for a second, my friends order five different desserts. While they were all good, the chocolate cake easily stole the show. Wow! read more

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I had not been to The Fort in many years, even though I live only 9 miles away. I thought it had become mostly a tourist destination. However, I went with three ladies this evening to celebrate my birthday and it was phenomenal. Sharon was an attentive and gracious server as well as the back waiter Javon. They both anticipated all our needs. The most amazing was their manager, Chris, who came and checked on our table. I told him that my sampler was not medium rare. He immediately made a new dish that was prepared to perfection. All of the staff was so accommodating, and almost all the other menu choices turned out, wonderfully, especially the trout dish that my friend ordered. I love the outdoor fire pit area. I will definitely be coming back here again soon and bringing the other friends and Visitor. read more

The Rocky mountain oysters were the best I've had. Got the game plate and everything was flavorful. My daughter got the surf and turf and enjoyed it. Mom got a steak and said it was tough. Service was beyond compare. If I regularly had $400 to drop on a meal for three this would be in my regular rotation. Great place for a special occasion! read more

The Fort Restaurant - Bison medallion, elk chop, teriyaki quail - Steakhouses Near Me - Morrison, Colorado

Eat outside and enjoy the views. Probably the best part about the restaurant. We ordered the buttered bison filet with a side of elk and a beef filet. The bison was delicious. Beef was dry. Be prepared they served succotash as the vegetable to a $75 cut of meat... Lima beans and canned corn. The elk tasted great, but was dry... think Christmas turkey dry from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation movie. The server was borderline mediocre because we didn't want an appetizer or alcoholic beverage. Nothing to do with finances... we are both on GLP1s and can't eat a full meal each and an appetizer anymore. I will say that he did go to the kitchen to find me a beef filet when he thought they were out, but that was about the nicest thing he did. read more

Absolutely stunning! This place is very pricy and popular so make sure you get a reservation in advance. Easy to book online or through the Open Table app. The parking lot was not the best. It gets dark around 5pm now so it was pitch black during our reservation time of 7:30pm. There should be more street lights guiding the way. When coming from the road, it was hard to find where to turn in for the parking lot. A street light would have been very helpful. Lights in the lot would have been very helpful as well. Part of the lot is on a hill and if you do go slow you might go off it. The handicap section is at the bottom of the hill and you must follow the ramp down to it but again, there was no parking lot lights so it was hard to see where I was going. After the parking fiasco, we made it inside and were greeting with a friendly smile. We were seated immediately. Our waitress was kind and quick to respond. At first, we were only handed a drink and appetizer menu. So, we got a few drinks and one appetizer. I personally didn't try either of those but my family loved them. We were then brought out the entree menu. We ordered two entrees to share. The game plate and the full rack of Buffalo ribs. The game plate came with a bone-in elk chop, buffalo sirloin medallion, and a grilled teriyaki quail. We absolutely loved this dish! It was delicious trying all the different types of game meat! Highly recommend and it was gluten free! Great for anyone with allergies! We also got the full rack of smoke house Buffalo bbq ribs! Those were enormous! So tasteful and very well seasoned! We had so many left our waitress knew we wanted a box to go! We also got the chef's special crème brûlée! It was apple flavor! I thought it was great! The hints of cinnamon and small apple pieces were delicious! I'm so glad I got to experience this with my family and I hope I can go back one day! read more

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My husband and I ate here last week with another couple. We loved the atmosphere of the entire restaurant. However our table was not in a great location. I had made a reservation over a month in advance and we were placed about as far away from the views of the outside as was possible. So you may want to call and request a table by the patio doors or even out on the patio if the weather is nice (which it was when we visited). On to the food! Bread Basket--3 I didn't care for the small muffinish bread. It wasn't sweet but because of the texture and the shape, I wanted a little sweetness. The roll was just ok. I've had much better bread baskets. Don't fill up on this. Buffalo Empanadas--3.5 They were perfectly acceptable, but they didn't blow me away. I probably wouldn't order them again unless someone else at the table wanted to. Side Salad--4.5 Loved this! We got the recommended vinaigrette dressing. It came with pickled ginger on it and was delicious. Buffalo Ribs--4.5 Very good. Tender and the bbq sauce was pretty tasty. Elk--4 No hint of gaminess and very tender. Chocolate Chile Bourbon Cake--4 I liked this dessert. It did have spiciness, but it was weird because I mostly didn't notice it until I swallowed. Then I felt the heat in my throat. My husband didn't like this but it didn't bother me. The cake itself seemed kind of like it came from a cake mix. I liked the chocolate shavings on top. I'd get it again but I wouldn't make a special trip just for this dessert. Overall I would return to this restaurant. I think I'd split the ribs with my husband and try a different appetizer and dessert. read more

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Came for a Red Rocks concert, decided to bring friends here to dinner. Four of our group grew up in Denver/Boulder area and used to come with our parents. So it was nostalgic. We had a patio table at the edge with a beautiful view. It was perfect weather with a clear sky! Loved the snakes in a blanket, also had the sampler appetizer. The duck, elk, bison, steak, stuffed peppers were all terrific!! Our server and co-server were really good too! It was a lovely, unrushed, truly delightful evening. read more

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As the great American humorist and cowboy philosopher Will Rogers once said, "Things ain't what they used to be, and probably never were." After nearly fifty years of celebrating life's milestones at The Fort Restaurant, I find myself reflecting on that thought. We have been enjoying The Fort since the mid-1970s. Over the decades, it has been the setting for many of our family's major celebrations--birthdays, anniversaries, successes, and even a few disappointments. Our children grew up knowing The Fort as that special place with a uniquely Western atmosphere and outstanding food. Our visit last night still included many of the ingredients that have made The Fort special for so long. However, it is changing, just as we feared after the change in ownership, and based on our experiences over the past several months, not all of those changes are for the better. Don't get me wrong: The Fort remains an excellent and unique dining experience. If this is your first visit, you can stop reading here and simply know that it is one of the great dining destinations on Colorado's Front Range. You will likely enjoy it immensely. However, if you are a longtime patron, as we are, some of the recent changes may leave you feeling a bit saddened or disappointed. One of the best things is that many of the people we have come to know over the decades are still there. The service remains first-class, friendly, and warmly Western in spirit. This was our third visit since January, and each visit has brought another round of changes to the menu and facility. Individually, they may seem minor, but together they are beginning to alter the character of the restaurant. Our biggest disappointment this visit was discovering that the traditional Fort cocktails have been removed from the menu. Favorites such as "The Last Roundup," "Jim Bridger," "Bear's Blood," and many of the other uniquely Western cocktails created decades ago are no longer listed. In their place are more conventional offerings that can be found in many restaurants. To be fair, our waiter informed us that the traditional cocktails can still be made upon request. However, if you are unfamiliar with them, you would never know they existed or think to ask. Another loss is the Buffalo Filet prepared in the cast-iron skillet with herb butter. When first introduced, this dish won awards and became our family's favorite entrée for many years. It was uniquely Fort. The current option of adding herb butter on top of the steak simply isn't the same. The rich flavor developed in the hot cast-iron skillet, with the filet sizzling as it arrived at the table, created an experience that cannot be replicated with a pat of butter added afterward. The appetizer menu has also changed significantly, and many of our longtime favorites have disappeared. There is one bright spot: the burrata with heirloom tomatoes is outstanding. Still, it lacks the distinctive character of items such as the peanut butter-stuffed jalapeños or the Snake Bites that helped make The Fort unlike any other restaurant. The Fort remains a wonderful restaurant, and we will undoubtedly return. My concern is simply that, if the current pace of change continues, some of the unique character that made The Fort such a treasured Colorado institution may gradually be lost. I am grateful that my children, like me, had the opportunity to experience and embrace those uniquely Western traditions before they began to fade. read more

The Fort Restaurant - The burrata with heirloom tomatoes - Steakhouses Near Me - Morrison, Colorado

Great service and ample portions. Buffalo ribs were tender, combined with the green chile Mac&cheese was more than one meal. Bison steak was excellent and very lean as expected. Bread served with the meal was great. An enjoyable evening overall. read more

Definitely stop by if you're a protein lover! We wanted to try a little of everything and as such got the 1/2 Historian Platter, The Fort's Game Plate, and the Negrita. The Historian Platter was quite hefty and had many unique items. Who knew Peanut Butter Stuffed Jalapeños sorta work? Haha. Our favs on the Platter were the Buffalo Sausage and the Buffalo Tongue. The Game Plate was equally as unique. We thought the Quail and the Elk tasted fantastic. The Negrita was a fitting way to top off the meal. Big shoutout to Mikayla and Dylan, our servers! They went above and beyond for our meal: they split the Game Plate in 1/2 for the two of us and also gave us extra breads to-go when we requested a to-go box for them. Worth the splurge to try some game meats read more

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Food was amazing! Guac was ok, husband raved about the jalapeño peanut butter app. I had the filet in herb butter, so tender. Hubby had the elk and said this was one of his best meals and we are from Texas! The views were amazing and Carrie was awesome! Def would be back and bring a crew! I bet fall is amazing with that patio! read more

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Stopped by here for our fancy dinner for our college reunion trip! The main thing we wanted to try were Rocky Mountain oysters and bison steak and the fort had it all and more. The location is amazing, right next to huge red rocks and having amazing views of the city. We got the sampler appetizer that had a bit of everything, we really liked the Rocky Mountain oysters and the jalapeño stuffed with peanut butter was also pleasantly good. For the main entree I ordered the game plate, which had a bit of everything: elk, bison, and quail. Out of the three elk was by far my favorite, extremely flavorful, then bison then quail. read more

The Fort Restaurant - Sampler appetizer - Steakhouses Near Me - Morrison, Colorado

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Well, I've always heard about this place so I wanted to try it while we were in Denver. We probably had too high expectations. It's in a beautiful location. Everything was set up so nice. It was beautiful. I felt under dressed. We ordered Mountain Oysters and the Buffalo Bone Shank for appetizers. The mountain oysters tasted like liver to me. They were cubed which I had never seen before. In my opinion not great. The Bone Shank looked really cool but didn't have any flavor to it. I ended up putting salt and Tabasco on it. But just disappointed in the taste. If the main course we had the trout and a sampler plate that had Elk Steak, Buffalo Ribs and Quail. If they had charged $30 for it I would have thought it was pretty high. But it was $69 for that. And, again, it was pretty mediocre. I always hate to give a not so great review but that is my honest opinion. read more

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