Buckhorn Exchange, which is just a few blocks from the 10th/Osage Lightrail Station, is an example of a piece of Denver history that has managed to survive despite more than a century of change. Buckhorn Exchange, dubbed "Denver's original steakhouse," first opened its doors in 1893 and is the city's oldest restaurant. According to Buckhorn's website, it also boasts the distinction of being Colorado's "Number One" liquor license holder. The Rio Grande Exchange was formed by a man named Henry H. "Shorty Scout" Zietz, who eventually changed the name to Buckhorn Exchange.

Cattlemen, miners, railroad builders, silver barons, Native Americans, and old-timey businesspeople used to dine at Buckhorn Exchange, which represents Colorado's rough and interesting history. In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt paid a visit and allegedly requested Shorty Scout to go big game hunting with him after dinner. Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan, as well as a colorful cast of old Hollywood luminaries, astronauts, and even a British princess, have all visited Buckhorn Exchange.

Buckhorn Exchange now houses a large collection of historical relics as well as over 500 mounted animal heads. If you haven't guessed, this eatery specializes in meat, from baby back ribs to buffalo steak to more unusual options like elk, Cornish game fowl, and quail.

The restaurant is known for an unimaginatively named dish called "The Big Steak," which costs $220 and includes a 4-pound steak. Although the menu specifies that this option is for five people, it begs the question of whether anyone has attempted and succeeded in eating the entire meal alone at the Buckhorn in its long history.

Address: 1000 Osage St, Denver, CO 80204, United States

Phone: 303-534-9505

Website: https://www.buckhorn.com/

Coloradans are increasingly focusing their attention on the state's southern half, which, until recently, seemed to be missing out on the state's northern counterpart's fast expansion and international recognition. Places like Pueblo have a tenacity and unpretentious character that many believe is currently missing from other sections of the Centennial State, thanks to a cost of living that is still reasonably accessible and a style of life that is significantly less hectic than Denver or Boulder's.

Bingo Burger, which opened in 2007, doesn't have much of a history, but its birth story and local legacy exemplify Colorado's DIY, odds-defying attitude. During Pueblo's Annual Chile & Frijole Festival, chef Richard Warner set up a grill outside of his wife's bakery. Warner's excellent burgers were well-known in town, and a brick-and-mortar location was constructed three years later to fulfill rising local demand. In Colorado Springs, a second facility was later opened.

The skillful inclusion of the Pueblo chile, a characteristic Colorado ingredient that should not be confused with New Mexico's Hatch chile, is what sets the "Bingo Burger" apart. Unlike other burgers that merely add chiles after they've already been cooked, the sweet, pungent chiles are blended with the beef and then grilled to perfection.

As a result, the burger is addictively tasty and stands out due to the utilization of unique local ingredients. Warner began his legacy with a grill and a simple desire to provide people with something special and memorable. Today, he's reimagining Colorado cuisine and breathing fresh life into a region of the state that has long needed it.

Address: 132 N. Tejon St. Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Phone: 719.418.6223

Website: https://www.bingoburger.com/

Biker Jim, the namesake of the famed Denver hot dog joint, is a real person with a backstory that could be found in a cool new Netflix comedy. Jim Pittenger was a repo man long before he started serving delicious hot dogs to Denver locals. During his career, he confiscated about 12,000 cars, according to his own estimate. Pittenger took a vacation from his day job in 2005 and began selling hot dogs on a Denver street corner. Biker Jims is one of Colorado's biggest culinary success stories, with 700,000 dogs and 15 years under its belt.

The world first learned about Biker Jim's from Anthony Bourdain, who highlighted the Pittenger's unique take on hot dogs on his episode No Reservations in 2010. Biker Jims sparked widespread interest, with appearances on The Travel Channel, Food Network, Cooking, and Sundance channels. According to Biker Jim's website, Yelp ranked it as the country's 12th best restaurant.

What makes Biker Jim's so unique? Pittenger's made-for-TV origin story is a great draw, but the rare meats the restaurant is able to offer for a reasonable price are what actually pulls throngs of people and prominent TV personalities. Unless your grandfather's name is Jim Pittenger, this isn't your grandfather's hot dog. Reindeer, wild boar, German veal, and even rattlesnake and pheasant are minced into sausages, shaped into hot dogs, and delivered to customers who want to try something new. Biker Jim's is expanding its hot dog carts and brick and mortar storefronts to new markets with no indications of slowing down, so don't be shocked if you see their distinctive dogs in new Colorado communities and beyond.

Address: Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs2148 Larimer Street,Denver, CO 80205

Phone: 720.746.9355

Website: https://bikerjimsdogs.com/

In Colorado, Beau Jo's is a divisive topic, especially among newcomers to the state. Are their "real mountain pies" divine gifts from pizza heaven, or are they just heaps of tasteless dough topped with ordinary pizza toppings? It depends on who you ask, but the fact that Beau Jo's is a Colorado institution is undeniable. For decades, Colorado residents have patronized Beau Jo's outlets, and the pizza company is credited with inventing "Colorado-style pizza," which is created with braided dough and a plethora of toppings.

What distinguishes it from Chicago's deep dish style? The pies in Chicago are baked for about 40 minutes, while those in Colorado are only cooked for ten minutes at extremely high temperatures. Local honey, rather than sugar, is used to make Colorado style pizza. Beau Jo's offers their pizza by the pound, a commercial move taken due to the restaurant's extensive topping application. The Colorado pizza slingers have established a slew of new sites in recent years, with the first flagship establishment opening more than 40 years ago in Idaho Springs.

The eatery is well-known for their ridiculous pizza challenge. Beau Jo's challenges you and a friend to complete its insane pizza with 14 pounds of dough, cheese, meats, and vegetables, and will give it to you for free if you succeed. If you're a normal person who isn't capable of eating that much pizza, you'll be charged $79.99 and publicly embarrassed. Monsters who finish the pizza receive $100 in cash, free t-shirts, and a lifelong desire to never eat anything remotely like pizza.

Address: 7525 W 53rd Ave • Arvada, CO 80002

Phone: (303) 420-8376

Website: https://www.beaujos.com/

The Mint may not be as well-known as some of the other Colorado restaurants described here, but it is a genuine historical gem that provides contemporary diners with an unforgettable dining experience. The Historic Mint, unlike Mongolian barbecue places, allows you to prepare your own meat on a grill in the center of the restaurant. While this restaurant could easily get away with its remarkable historical past, it instead attempts to provide clients with a gratifying, friendly experience complete with premium meats and delectable cocktails at rates that are likely lower than you'd anticipate.

The bar area of the Mint's structure has seen more Summit County history than "any living individual," according to the website. The bar, which had been a mountain tavern serving miners in the settlement of Kokomo, was demolished and relocated to Frisco. It's unclear how or why this happened, but it was the first of many significant adjustments the establishment would go through over the years. After being incorporated into the town of Dillon in 1882, the tavern changed its name from Jack Ryan's Saloon to The Mint.

The Mint was a popular local bar renowned for excessive drinking, card games, and pool. It survived multiple fires and snow blockades on Dillon's main street until the Great Depression and a state decision to abandon the town to make way for the Dillon Reservoir forced the establishment to relocate once more, this time to Silverthorne (the original Dillon townsite was flooded under the reservoir). The Mint has clearly seen a lot, yet it's tough as nails and will most likely outlast us all.

Address: 347 Blue River Pkwy,. Silverthorne, CO 80498
Phone: 360-284-2517
Website: https://www.thehistoricmint.com/

To some, The Fort is a revered culinary venue known for hosting presidents and serving classic western cuisine. Others dismiss it as gimmicky and inhumane because of its practice of selling Rocky Mountain Oysters, which are a humorous moniker for bull testicles for the uninitiated. The Fort, which is located in Morrison, was built in 1961 and was inspired by Bent's Old Fort, an adobe trading station that was built in 1833 in southeastern Colorado and still survives today. The structure was created and hand-carved by artists from Taos in a classic style, and all of the furniture was designed and hand-carved by William Lumpkins, a well-known architect from Santa Fe.

The Fort was planned to be a family home for the Arnolds, but as it became evident that the project would significantly exceed its original budget, their bank advised turning it into a business. The Arnolds consented, and The Fort opened its doors as a restaurant in 1963, with the family's residential quarters on the second floor. The fact that the restaurant's current proprietor Holly Arnold Kinney acquired a bear cub when she was 9 years old and remained with it until it died 19 years later is a piece of Fort lore that appears to be fictitious but is very real. She went so far as to write a children's book about it.

Since its inception, bison, elk, and quail have been mainstays at The Fort. The meal, like the structure, was inspired by the cultural fusion that occurred at Bent's Old Fort when traders arrived from modern-day Mexico and carried their culinary traditions with them. The Fort now serves over 80,000 buffalo meals per year and is known around the world for re-creating a piece of Colorado history.

Address: PO Box 569Morrison, CO 80465

Phone:(303) 697-4771

Website: https://thefort.com/

Eating at one of the Brown Palace's restaurants is a unique way to connect with Colorado's history in a setting unlike any other in the state. In 1892, the Brown Palace opened its doors to accommodate the growing number of passengers passing through the mountain west at the time. The opulent hotel was built by Henry Cordes Brown, a carpenter who originally bought the triangle-shaped area of land to graze his cow. Brown also bought a piece of property in Denver's Capitol Hill district, which he later sold for a substantial profit. This provided him with the capital he required to build an opulent hotel, but he was obliged to evict his cow from the plot of land.

To be honest, the facade of the Brown Palace does not do its inside justice, and you'll realize why once you step inside. A beautiful atrium lobby with cast iron rails and fantastical lights rests beneath eight storeys. When you visit the Brown Palace, you can't help but feel like you're a small part of something special and genuine in a state that is frequently chastised for trading in genuine traditions and spaces for fads and easy profits.

Several restaurants have opened inside the Brown Palace over the years, bringing with them some long-standing Denver eating traditions. Afternoon Tea is one such ritual, which includes herbal teas, scones, and finger sandwiches while listening to the sounds of a harpist or pianist nearby. There are three restaurants at the Brown Palace, each with its own personality and function. Palace Arms promotes itself as a fine dining culinary destination that values history, local products, and meals cooked using traditions found all around the world.

Ellyngtons offers unique food, professional service, and a Dom Perignon Champagne Brunch on Sundays for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. The Ship Pub, which is open for lunch, happy hour, and supper, provides premium steaks, burgers, and cocktails in a tavern that mimics an old ship. Except for a menu item named "Hardy's Perfection" at the Palace Arms, which costs $900, Brown Palace's restaurants aren't as pricey as you might think. Aside from that, most of the Brown Palace's basic dishes are comparable to those found at other downtown Denver restaurants.

Address: 321 17th Street, Denver, CO 80202
Phone:(303) 297-3111
Website: https://www.brownpalace.com/

If you're familiar with Colorado fast casual restaurant history, you already know that Chipotle, Qdoba, Quiznos, Noodles and Company, Tokyo Joes, and Snooze all had their start in the Centennial State. Illegal Pete's is a fresh and exciting addition to this list, with 11 locations in Colorado and Arizona with more presumably on the way. Pete's serves burritos and tacos in the same way as Chipotle and Qdoba do, but what sets it apart is its irrepressible attitude of fun, generosity, and inclusivity, as well as a commitment to supporting artists. The Starving Artists initiative allows musicians touring through cities with Illegal Pete's restaurants to stop in and dine for free.

Pete's even started its own record company, which has published records by local musicians and comedians. In addition, the chain makes an attempt to offer time, money, and other resources to causes in the communities where its stores are located. Pete himself, yep, he's a real person, came to Lyons, Colorado in 2013 to assist the town after flooding destroyed the area. Pete's is a renowned Colorado culinary classic, with restaurants that everyone from punks to investment bankers want to eat, drink, and hang out in, despite occasional controversies over the restaurant's name. Illegal Pete's can offer considerably superior food for a comparable price since it has expanded at a slower rate than competitors like Qdoba and Chipotle.

Apart from the simple awesomeness of mixing your burrito's ingredients together before rolling it up (to ensure consistency in every bite...unlike Chiotole or Qdoba), another characteristic that makes it a popular among hungry Coloradans is that it serves real green chile. However, it is unknown if the restaurant's chile comes from New Mexico or Pueblo, putting it at risk of becoming a victim of the destructive and wholly unfounded "chile war" and the focus of future controversies.

Address: Boulder, Colorado, United States
Phone:+1 720-287-5233
Website: https://www.illegalpetes.com/

The Broadmoor Hotel, like the Brown Palace, exudes a distinct, opulent Colorado character. But, unlike the Brown Palace, the Broadmoor has a long history dating back to the Civil War, and it has a lot more restaurants on its large resort grounds––there are 11. Since opening its doors in 1865, the Broadmoor, located amid the foothills west of Colorado Springs, has provided guests with an authentic mountain resort experience. The restaurants at the Broadmoor depict an era of Colorado that many people are unaware of today, one that embodies an ambitious, elegant, and adventurous culture that was popular in the area immediately before statehood in 1876.

Guests can enjoy activities such as horseback riding and fly fishing, as well as some of the best spa services in the mountain west. Fine dining, on the other hand, is at the top of the list of important Broadmoor activities. Penrose Room, the Broadmoor's signature restaurant, is Colorado's only Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond establishment.

Seasonally inspired, this restaurant provides artistic versions of classic European dishes and, like the rest of the Broadmoor, has a rigorous dress code. A renowned steakhouse, a genuine Italian restaurant, and a whimsically decorated breakfast and brunch dining area are among the other Broadmoor eateries. Broadmoor isn't inexpensive, but it will almost certainly provide you with a meal to remember for the rest of your life. Just keep in mind to dress nicely, mate.

Address: 1 Lake Avenue, CO, Colorado Springs, 80906, United States

Phone:(844) 602-3343

Website: https://www.broadmoor.com/

The food at Casa Bonita is terrible. This statement isn't groundbreaking, but what's noteworthy about this well-known Colorado eatery is that it continues to thrive despite its awful and popular reputation for offering up unappealing food. If you look at Casa Bonita's Yelp reviews, you'll find a slew of complaints about bad cuisine being sold for a ridiculous price. But here's the thing: if Casa Bonita went bankrupt, I and many other Colorado residents would be devastated. It's still exactly the same area it was 30 years ago when my parents took me there to celebrate my fifth birthday.

The cliff divers gracefully jumping over a 30-foot constructed waterfall into a turquoise pool in the center of the restaurant, the guy in the cheap gorilla suit rushing around and spreading havoc, the horrible plays put on by sincere teenaged actors Food has always taken a back seat to the actual reason people keep coming back to Casa Bonita after 40 years: pure, shameless spectacle.

Casa Bonita has been in Lakewood, Colorado, since 1974, and is marked by a massive pink tower soaring above an unremarkable strip mall. Many Coloradans think of Casa Bonita as a Colorado institution, yet its founder, Bill Waugh, founded the first location in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, of all places. At the first Casa Bonita, Waugh pioneered the "all you can eat" beef and chicken platters, which have disappointed countless patrons at the Lakewood site over the years.

Other variations of the restaurant have come and gone over the years, but the Lakewood location has thrived, and the Lakewood Historical Society even designated it as an official historical landmark in 2015. After being featured in one of the show's episodes in 2003, the eatery became internationally famous. Casa Bonita, on the other hand, shrugged off the attention and went back to doing what it had been doing for decades––delighting, infuriating, and perplexing people.

Address: 6501-6791 W Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO 80214, USA
Phone: +61 3 9016 3168
Website: http://casabonitadenver.com/