Thrifty Adventurer: Am I Nuts For Eating This?

Eating Rocky Mountain Oysters at The Buckhorn Exchange

When you try The Buckhorn Exchange, you are going to have a dining experience like no other. Here you are going to get a unique taste of the old west. Be it amazing food or incredible atmosphere, the place will truly be a memorable experience.

As we follow our lovely hostess to our quaint booth, I am immediately captivated by their extensive decor. The Buckhorn Exchange is well known for their immense collection of old west memorabilia. They have everything, from Native American headdresses and turn of last century photos, to a wide range of antique weapons and a plethora of animal heads. In fact, they have over 250 trophies, including white tailed deers, plains antelopes, fully stuffed mountain lions, and a massive moose that hangs over the hand carved 120 year old bar. This upstairs bar, is a great place for a nice cocktail, and a place to catch some live folk music. Quite simply, the place is overflowing with old western charm, that you would expect from the oldest restaurant in Denver. This magnificent eatery was opened in 1893 and has been faithfully serving it's die hard clientele ever since.

Besides the eclectic decor, The Buckhorn Exchange is world renown for it's incredible cuisine. Here you can savor a juicy prime cut of beef, buffalo, or elk, and all are grilled to order. Besides thick traditional steaks, they have a wide range of other exotic dishes, like fried alligator, braised ostrich, a southwest chips and rattlesnake dip, and Colorado's most iconic dish, Rocky Mountain Oysters. For anyone who is unfamiliar with the epicurean delight that is Rocky Mountain oysters, they are bull testicles that are lightly breaded and fried to a light golden brown color. The Buckhorn Exchange serves them with a zesty cocktail sauce and a creamy homemade horseradish sauce to dip them in. As a whole, the place is legendary for it's wild game and an excellent place to try these unique culinary treats. So, the next time that you are in Denver and are after a truly unique and delicious culinary experience, then try The Buckhorn Exchange.