Denver is ranked number one on US News & World Report's list of Best Places to Live in 2016. No surprise there. After all Denver has so much to offer, including its abundance of restaurants. If you ride the light rail into Denver, you might not realize that hidden among all the eateries, you're passing a very big part of Denver history. Located at 10th and Osage, the Buckhorn Exchange is the oldest restaurant in Denver.
It was founded in 1893 by a man named Henry Zietz. Back in the time of the old Wild West, Zietz use to entertain his customers with tales of the decade he spent on the frontier. He served everyone from Indian chiefs, to cattleman, to miners. They enjoyed dining on high-class cuisines, many still served today.
Since then, it has become a huge tourist destination. Not only is it a steak restaurant, it has also become a national historic landmark and a western museum. Not to mention, the restaurant has the number one liquor license in Colorado.
Customers look forward to the unique ambiance as the walls are embellished with over 500 pieces of taxidermy. Most hunted and collected by the original owner. There’s everything from a two-headed lamb to raccoons riding in a canoe. There is not a space left empty as every spot on the walls are covered. I’ve never seen so many animal displays at once. It’s pretty cool to see, but I’d recommend not making eye contact with them while you’re eating. I ordered the Buffalo Reuben Sandwich and could feel the mounted buffalo head staring at me the whole time. I felt bad for a second, until I tasted the delicious food. Then I couldn’t stop eating.
The walls are also decorated with old antique guns and pictures of well-know people who have eaten there, including former presidents, Dwight Eisenhower, Franklin Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. Some popular pieces mounted across the restaurant include a water buffalo shot by former president, Teddy Roosevelt and Chief Red Cloud’s Niece’s wedding dress. They also have John F. Kennedy’s fishing license on display. After you’re done eating, you can actually walk around and look at all the different pieces that are displayed. Feel free to take tons of pictures. I definitely did.
Customers are also drawn to the exotic food. There are foods on the menu that you can’t find just anywhere like rattlesnake, quail and buffalo. Of coarse no meal is complete without their specialty Rocky Mountain oysters. If you don’t know what that is look it up. Though it sounds gross, I was tempted to try it. It wasn’t bad. It tasted like chewy chicken. I also had their Rattlesnake dip and it was so tasty. Now I can say I’ve eaten rattlesnake. How cool! There are so many foods I wanted to try, that I’m already planning to eat there again. I think I’ll try the quail next.
Next time you’re in Denver, stop by the Buckhorn Exchange and experience this little slice of Denver history for yourself.
