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Buckhorn Grill
Categories: Restaurants Steakhouses Restaurants Barbeque Restaurants Sandwiches Steakhouses, Barbeque, Sandwiches [Edit]
5614 Bay St(at Shellmound St)
Emeryville, CA 94608
(510) 654-2996
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Jeanne C. said: "Really solid Korean restaurant in the Rich! I took my two friends from Russian Hill here as they were desperately driving around in my hood looking for a place to eat. I've passed by the newly owned and remodeled Jang Soo a million…" read more »
170 reviews for Buckhorn Grill
Review Highlights
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"The tri-tip sandwich has always been consistently good." In 81 reviews -
"Quick and yummy burger and sweet potato fries." In 11 reviews -
"Yik Yak for me and Roadhouse for the hubby." In 7 reviews
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170 reviews in English
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Review from Christina H.
Berkeley, CA
3/6/2012
Highly recommend the Roadhouse Salad ($7.50) with tri-tip (Add $3?). This amazing dish is decked out with crispy Roadhouse onions, sweet walnuts and honey-basil vinaigrette. Unfortunately the dressing does tend to be overpowering, so ask for half the dressing on the side since they tend to over-soak the salad.
The normal tri-tip sandwiches are good, but nothing spectacular. The Roadhouse Salads are really the something to go back for. -
Review from Samuel C.
Berkeley, CA
3/15/2012
Pricey, food is alright, probably wouldn't suggest coming here.
Decor: Pretty simple, rectangular layout. Reminds me of a fast food joint. No waiters.
Food:
We got the whole tri-tip, which apparently feeds 5-6, large french fries, and the portabella platter for our poor friend, who's trying to be vegetarian for a week and a half. Let me say something about the whole tri-tip. It does NOT feed 5-6. My two friends and I (excluding the one who had his portabella platter), devoured the tri-tip and the fries so quickly I think we might have finished it quicker than the time we waited for the food. We were thinking about ordering more because some of us were still hungry but decided against it because of the outrageous prices. $13 for the portabella platter? Absolutely ridiculous. It was mashed potatoes, some grilled veggies, and two portabella mushrooms.
As for the taste of the tri-tip, fries, and portabella platter, I'd say they were just alright. The tri-tip was pretty tough and without the jus or bbq sauce, it would have been bland. The fries were pretty tasteless. The portabella mushrooms were fairly tasty, but the mushroom portions in comparison to its price are outrageous.
Honestly, I doubt I would be coming here again. Heck, maybe we ordered the wrong things, but I am loathe to give this place another chance because of its prices. If I weren't in the company of some very good friends, I would have been quite dissatisfied. -
Review from Frances B.
San Francisco, CA
3/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Clean, quick and convenient if you happen to be shopping at this cute outdoor mall.
We came here for the first time, and hubby got the tri-tip and he said it was pretty good. I had the Buckhorn Burger with the sweet sauce, and it was just eh, the normal type of burger. Fries were okay as well. BUT, they do offer salad, and the crispy chicken salad looked good.
This place is located in the cute shopping center so it's definitely a good place to stop and eat, and the prices are not too expensive. During lunch on the weekdays they have a guarantee that if you don't receive your lunch within a certain period of time, it is on the house. Definitely another plus to come and eat here. Overall, it's just a quick place to grab a bite to eat with no frills. -
Review from Stephen L.
Emeryville, CA
5/21/2012 2 Check-ins Here
A local favorite, as I tend to come here whenever my friends come up to visit from south bay. They're known for their tri-tip, but i rarely order it; just a matter of preference. Their burgers are great, the fries are one of my favorites, and even the kid's meal has been enough for me on occasion. I hear their salads are good, too, though i've never ordered one.
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Review from Bill H.
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
The Roadhouse Buck is a delicious sandwich, and appropriate for moments when I forget that I value my life and its longevity. Thinly sliced beef, blue cheese, and caramelized onions? Yes, please.
I haven't particularly liked any of the thicker-cut sandwiches. The free samples given in front of the stand are good, but in a sandwich it's just too damned chewy alongside the bread. -
Review from Amanda L.
San Diego, CA
2/20/2012
Buckhorn has always been a family favorite for the Tri-tip salads and sandwiches. When I ate here the Tri-tip was well seasoned and ample on the salads. The salad was well dressed and large in size as well.
Unfortunately, I heard that they changed management because their serving method and portion size have changed. But I have not been back in a minute to confirm these changes. I guess I will just have the fond memories of tasty tri-tip. -
Review from Tori M.
Fairfield, CA
4/2/2012
Food was good, I had the charbroiled chicken sandwich with the sweet potato fries. My BF had the krispy chicken with the fried onions. Both were very good, and the service was fast. The only thing that was a bit on the bad side is that the seating here can be terrible. We happened to get lucky and get a window seat, but I saw some others with a larger party having a hard time. Over all a good place for a quick bite.
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Review from Rex D.
Burlingame, CA
3/28/2012
Had a quick bite to eat here while waiting for a movie. The location is good, close to the movies and stores. The restaurant was clean and the service was attentive. The line gets long - quick so you'd better grab a seat first. The salad portion was very generous and I was happy with the taste and quality. I think due to it's location near the movie theater, it can get quite busy during the peak times. The sandwich we had was just okay. You order your food yourself so it's not a sit down with waiter service restaurant.
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Review from Sergio G.
Updated - 11/14/2011 11 photos
So it was brought to my attention from the kids that they haven't came here as often as they'd like........
Sofia and baby Sara had a burger and fries.
The accountant had a 4oz Tri-tip Sandwich w/ salda
i wwent all out and got the Krispy Chicken and Avacado Salad.
Total amout ummm a measly $45.00 ........ Not badListed in: Sergio's Favorite
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/9/2011
After a day of up and downs we couldn't decide what to eat but the accountant wanted to have some… Read more »
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Review from Carolyn Y.
Berkeley, CA
10/24/2011
So, so cheap! This place could get away with a $5-10 price raise if the place had more ambiance and wasn't 'pick up your order from the counter' style. I like that it's so reasonably cheap though.
We got the tri-tip plate (steak was okay, red mashers were great, vegetables were a good addition too, and cornbread was decent as well) and the Roadhouse salad (not worth it..but huge portion).
Overall, I'd come back for the prices and decent quality but it's not a must. -
Review from Tone P.
Berkeley, CA
3/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Had a decent tri-tip sandwich, a little salty, but the Au-jus sauce was good with it.
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Review from Jean K.
Oakland, CA
2/26/2012
There are two types of Buckhorn Grill, for those who have never tried any of the other six locations.
The preferred BG are the full-service restaurants such as their downtown Napa location. Service there is crisp and efficient; the menu executed with care and some skill. Nothing fancy, menu is similar but a bit larger, but they're a decent value for the money.
The lesser BG storefronts are like this Emeryville horror. It has all the ambiance of a closet, and about the same level of food execution, like an overpriced deli.
If you must eat here, stick to the tri-tip. Everything else, even the burger, is absolutely mediocre. The iced tea had so much fake mango flavoring, it tasted faintly soapy.
You're better off eating anywhere but here. Unless you judge good food by the pile of the sloppily prepared, inferior quality ingredients piled upon the plate, that is. -
Review from Kristina F.
Sacramento, CA
I had the small tri tip plate and a side salad with a side of ranch to go last night for $15. I ate it on the deck outside and enjoyed the sunset and people watching.
The food was really good. I had experienced Buckhorn in Sacramento as well and this chain maintains a good selection of quality food.
My small tri tip plate came over a bed of fried onion strings (I didn't care to eat those since I was trying to not eat absolutely everything in my container). The small plate was enough to fill me up and the meat was extremely tender and cooked to perfection (medium- a touch of pink). It was a bit salty due to the seasonings on the outside of the meat and the cups of ajou (sp?) and creamy horseradish was also bit salty. The side salad was a great accompaniment to the meat.
I am now a fan of the Buckhorn. I love the menu and the choice of options! A great place to bring your favorite meat eater! -
Review from Katrina T.
Cupertino, CA
Sad this place wasn't as good as I thought it would be. Alright. Nothing exciting. When I first saw this place I thought it was a sit down, restaurant style place where a waiter comes up to your table and asks for your order. This place is a sit down restaurant style, but you go up to the register and place your order, get a number/vibrating thingy and then pick up your food.
What I got was pretty filling and worth it, what my cousin and boyfriend got was such a rip off. My Cabo Chop Salad was decent. The cool part was that it came in a big crispy tortilla. That tortilla definitely added more flavor to my salad. The salad was like any other salad from any other restaurant having avocado, black beans, corn, jicama, radishes, tomatoes and blue cheese crumbles. I liked their honey-lime dressing that came with it though! From the looks of the other meals, mine clearly was the best. The sandwiches seemed so tiny once they were served to my boyfriend and cousin. It did not seem filling at all! With such a small sandwich fries should not have been charged as an extra addition!
"Buckhorn Grill" sounds way better than it is. The name itself sounds like it should be like a Bj's style restaurant. -
Review from Taylor W.
San Francisco, CA
12/3/2011
What's going on, yeah, i miss you to - Have been eating, been around but all is good.
Music is still in the air and right this moment i am on youtube just listening to some blues - BB King / Eric Clapton / Buddy Guy / John Vaughn "ROCK ME BABY"
yeah ,many of us forget to give credit to their talented talents. Love those blues, they just say what's on the tip of our tongue, right ? - Some of us just don't have the nerve to speak up.
When you feel like eating out fast foods, Buckhorn Grill is the place to check out.
The Tri tip sandwiches are great big and juicy!
I love the "Roadhouse Salad" remember the salad is HUGE & good for 2 people.
they serve wine and beer - I do know wine is 4 to 5 bucks something like that and the choice is okay, nothing to brag about.
PARKING: Yeah, it's about $3.00 for about 3 to 4 hrs, not bad. Don't even try to find parking on the streets where all the stores are located - it may take you a long long while -
Many don't know that the meters run everyday and until closing - careful you may come back to a parking ticket it's a hit & miss, the ticket person comes when you least expect it.
if you want to shop before or after their are many stores but be careful YOU may overspend.
Well, don't know what else to say but as Joe Crocker sings," I Need Your Love So Bad" and i'm just caught up in one of those blues days - i missed going out today, i haven't had my smile but let me tell you BLUES run thicker than water - Gary Moore couldn't put it any better "Still Got The Blues "LIVE at Mmersmith Odeon 1990 ~
The guitar forces that Gary Moore puts out could tie with the passion that I feel for you ~ -
Review from Nick S.
9/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This afternoon Buckhorn and a few other restaurants were giving out free samples in the courtyard just outside Teacake Bake Shop. So I got to have free tri-tip AND received a coupon for $1 off before going in and ordering more!
Basically, the tri-tip here is amazing. The Little Buck is plenty for anyone with a normal appetite. Also, skip the fries and go w/ red mashers, which is just fancy talk for mashed potatoes. They're equally delicious. -
Review from TIFFANY D.
Pittsburg, CA
8/13/2011
decent food, but overpriced.
The huge salads are the best bet there! Because I work in this "mall" i call ahead to avoid the line- they make phone orders first!
and P.S make sure you subscribe to their email list. For the month of August mention the Store manager's name on a Friday and get half off any salad! -
Review from Tiffany Y.
Berkeley, CA
10/6/2011
Yum! A great for place for a hearty steak dinner with crazy fast service. A wonderful and satisfying dinner stop after a day of Emeryville shopping.
I shared the chicken and tri-tip combo with a friend which was a good idea because portions are perfect for 1 hungry man or 2 not-so-hungry girls. The tri-tip was tender and delicious though the chicken was just average. The sides of mashed potatoes, corn, cornbread, and zucchini and vegetables were also pretty good, though the vegetables were cut in really huge pieces making them difficult to eat.
The restaurant is noisy and crowded with lots of families and Emeryville shoppers. The tables aren't that clean, but Buckhorn Grill is still a tier above your average shopping mall food court diner, though a tier below a full-service sit-down restaurant. Service is ridiculously fast. I thought it would take long to cook the steak and chicken, but the food was done in less than ten minutes.
WILL I come back: Yes, it was a delicious and wholesome meal
WHEN will I come back: When I am super hungry or crave steak
WHAT will I do differently: Eat a whole plate by myself; it was THAT GOOD -
Review from Justin C.
San Francisco, CA
You looking to catch a movie, shop or spend all day in IKEA then you should eat here to fill up on engery. The food was great. I had a perfect grilled chicken sandwich with a side of sweet potato fires.
Remember the based dipping sauce for sweet potato fires is BBQ sauce. -
Review from Bo W.
San Pablo, CA
8/27/2011 4 Check-ins Here
The tri-tip here is perfect. I've had the sandwiches with the caramelized onions, which is simply heavenly. Then I went on the low carb diet, so I just get the plates of meat. Amazingly enough, despite the lack of the caramelized onions, the meat is indeed enjoyable all by itself.
The service here is pretty good. The food comes out pretty fast, but I got to say that it's pretty pricey for a sandwich... but what a sandwich. -
Review from DJ F.
Union City, CA
12/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
When ever I go to Ikea its a must that I stop here for lunch. I always get the Big Buck Sammy. There extra good and always fills me up. 4/5 stars because they have changed the bread and the old bread was better.
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Review from Nick C.
Hayward, CA
7/15/2011
Buckhorn is one of my go-to spots when I'm looking for ideas of a cheat-meal (anything that would be an exception to my normally strict diet). The portions are definitely filling, and the service is quick and efficient. I can't say this is some of the best food of its kind that I've ever had, but it definitely does the job. For the price of the food and the coma-inducing portions, I'd say it's a spot well worth visiting for lunch.
My favorite here has to be the Roadhouse buck. The combination of roadhouse onions with bleu cheese and tri-tip (although not the most tender) when lathered with a bit of BBQ or chipotle sauce is one of the things I live for. I definitely can't pass this place up whenever I'm nearby. Luckily, I rarely venture to emeryville.
Along with the food, the area itself is great for shopping and other activities (movies, grocery shopping, walking around ikea pretending to inhabit the various model rooms). Beware, parking isn't free, but it's not expensive either. If anything, I'd recommend you refresh yourself with a nice beverage from starbucks afterward and get parking validation. -
Review from Frank L.
San Leandro, CA
Located at the second level of Bay Street, Buckhorn Grill great place to dine before or after you go shopping or before a movie. My friend at work mentioned about the proportion and the delicious meals they served here for a reasonable price therefore I decided to try this restaurant out. Parking was fairly easy if you don't mind paying for it.
Walking into the restaurant the overall presentation felt like a coffee shop or a fancy fast food restaurant that serves beer. The hard part was trying to decide what to eat. Reading almost every item on the menu made my mouth watered. It probably took me around 10-15 minutes to make a final decision. I ordered the California Burger with the Roadhouse Onions.
The difficult part is listening to the staff scream out the numbers with his heavy Spanish accent. It took me a few minutes to figure out that he was calling out 14 when I thought he was yelling 40 the whole time.
The burger was fantastic. A great amount of lettuce, tomatoes, avocado and the meat was not over cooked. It was about medium done. If you like your patty well done I would suggest that you mention it to the cashier when you order. I thought the Roadhouse onions were like onion rings but it was more like onion scraps like the ones that you would use to stuff in your burgers or for presentation. It was still delicious. I topped it with the ranch sauce mixed with the BBQ sauce and it was perfection. The sweet potato fries is also another item you should consider trying.
I will definitely return for another burger soon. The restaurant could be a little messy when they get busy and the staffs are slow in cleaning up the tables during those hours. The restaurant is a little too small for big groups since most of the tables could only seat up to 4 people.
Suggestion: California Burger w/ Roadhouse Onions topped with a mixture of ranch and BBQ sauce.
Sweet Potato Fries.Listed in: Tasty Boogers To Pick & Eat!
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Review from Hello K.
Fremont, CA
2/13/2011 1 photo
I like Buckhorn Grill, they always have tasty meats and sandwiches here. I came here for lunch and had the char-broiled chicken sandwich. I added bacon and cheese to it...it was yummy! The chicken was good and my meal came out fast. I believe Buckhorn has a policy where your food will come out in 5-10 min (?) or its free or something?
The thin cut fries were also good. Prices here were reasonable also-mostly $10 and under but I left full.
Would return again if at Bay Street and I wasn't craving IKEA meatballs! -
Review from Jana S.
12/16/2010 2 photos
3.8
Nice classic tri-tip infused with lots of flavor... I could have appreciated just a bit more 'jus' in the roast itself.... meal platter as well as sandwich tried.. those onions were too thin and too much batter coating for me appreciate them.
Solid -
Review from Kathy V.
9/22/2010 3 photos
After a long day of running errands without food in my tummy, I decided to make a stop in Emeryville to grab a bite to eat. Buckhorns was calling my name as I started to think about their Portabella Samich. LOL
The location of Buckhorns is located @ the Bay Street shopping center on the second floor. When you walk in there is a large area for seating and direct ahead is the grilling area. Looking at the menu, there were many choices of salads and Tri-tip sandwiches. I ordered the Portabella Buck: marinated and grilled, served with lettuce, tomato, provolone cheese and Romesco sauce meal. My meal came with a choice of drink and an option of a salad, potato salad, or fries. I chose sweet potato fries. My lil one ordered the Little Spike: which is a small thinly sliced tri-tip sandwich.
After ordering the cashier rang me up, and the total was $16.95. Umm kinda pricey but hey I don't come here often. He then gave me a talking buzzer device to let me know when my meal was ready. 10mins later the buzzer alerted me and said "your order is ready" Kinda neat huh?
My portion of my sandwich was a good size and the flavor was A-ok. I think it was the Rosmesco sauce that didn't taste right. It look liked Thousand Island dressing. So I removed the top of my French roll and ate my sandwich with one piece of bread. I loved the crispy sweet potato fries that came with my meal. They were perfect!! With some of the places I go, I usually get them burnt or some soggy. But this spot had it on point.
Hmmm what else can I say? I've tried better but my cravings were OK with it. Now my daughter, she loved loved her sandwich!! She never tried this before either lol, she liked dipping her sammich in Ajus and adding Horseradish on top of her meat. It was all a different experience for her, as I haven't exposed her to fine dining food yet such as going to House of Prime rib or Ruth Chris for steak.
Overall an A-ok spot for fast service. -
Review from Dominic T.
San Francisco, CA
3/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
It was either here or Asqew Grill right across. I knew that I got a March special in my email but I didn't remember what it was, so I had to dig it up in my Gmail inbox on my phone. The Caesar platter is $8.99 for this month (savings of $1) so I decided to go for it. Little did I know that the cashier wouldn't let me because I needed to print it out. I could've ordered online right in front of her instead and saved myself $1 and less attitude. Good thing I submitted a comment card after my meal, and I'm thankful that I did. I want to see reform in this era of daily deals and e-coupon redemption! Time for this restaurant to get an app on the App Store shoot.
Food took less than 5 minutes. The presentation was alright, over half the plate was the Caesar salad. The tri-tip looked yummy but I was surprised it was so thin. The bun is well, a small bun with butter. I just devoured the salad first with the salad and saved the tri-tip for last. Croutons were the best part of the salad, so perfect. There was an excessive amount of cheese that really destroyed the flavor. How about taking a second look at what amount of cheese you grab before dumping it on my salad? Anyway, the slim tri-tip was just as usual, delicious but not enough. I just can't believe I paid ~ $10 for a small salad and 2 slices of meat. There should've been at least a mound of signature onion strings thrown in my plate.
I can say that the dining room staff are really kind and respectful. -
Review from debbie t.
3/8/2011
Love the sandwiches here! Tri-tip--YUMMY! The salads here are pretty big so you might want to share that. Fries are decent so get mashed potatoes instead.
Oh yea, they have hot tea/water here! Yippie!
Cheap. Fast. Delicious. What more can you ask for? -
Review from Mark H.
Hercules, CA
11/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
i always order the cabo chop with salmon no beans extra corn. thats 1 of my favorite salads here or wherever i go looking for salads. i cant think of the ingredients off top but its very refreshing and i recommend you try this if you like salads.
sweet potato fries are very tasty also. staff is nice, place is clean. -
Review from Christine S.
Fremont, CA
8/3/2010
A couple of conversations from my hot date last night:
Date: Get the thinly sliced meat. The thick sliced is rare.
Me: Oh, it's okay. I love rare meat. The bloodier, the better.
I wish he had warned me about the thick slice only being ONE slice of meat instead of being rare! I don't know if any of you have ever tried, but biting into an inch (maybe less) of medium rare tri-tip is not an easy feat... especially when you're with a guy, trying to looking cute. Sorry Date, but I had to go caveman status last night.
Date: We're not gonna win. We're not gonna win.
Me: Huh? What do you mean?
Date: If your food takes longer than five minutes, you get a free meal.
How cool is that?!? We had our meal in three minutes and some seconds (not even exaggerating!). It would've been cooler if we got a free meal, but knowing this, I want to come here during peak lunch hours and see if I can get a free meal.
I like their variety of toppings and affordable pricing, but I lived on the central coast for two years (home of tri-tip!) and their meat was not up to par. I'll definitely come here again though (during peak lunch hours and get the thin sliced). -
Review from Krystie M.
12/28/2010
I didn't have high expectations of this place because it's located in Bay Street. Let's face it: the restaurants here are pretty subpar and they're all chains, so I wasn't too enthused about coming here. Fortunately, Buckhorn Grill was a pleasant surprise!
ATMOSPHERE
Surprisingly enough, it had a very cozy feel to it! I went in December, and there was definitely a Christmasy feel to it (there were Christmas lights and a tree!).
The seating wasn't what I expected either. There were comfortable booths, but unfortunately there wasn't too much seating. We had to look for tables like hawks.
There really isn't any "service" here since you simply order at the counter and pick it up. It has such a strange feel to it. I felt so torn between thinking it was a sit down restaurant or a to-go restaurant. Strange.
FOOD
I ordered the small plate of tri-tip, which came with roadhouse onions. OH MY GOD. SO good.
The TRI-TIP was juicy and I loved how tender the meat was. I just wish that it wasn't so burnt on the outside.
The ROADHOUSE ONIONS were amazing. I don't normally like onions, but I couldn't get enough of these!! Thin, crispy, and flavorful, they didn't taste like onions!
The portions were enough for 1 person, but I shared with my boyfriend so I was still hungry afterwards.
I tried my friend's mashed potatoes and damn, they were so good too.
Overall, good restaurant with a casual and cozy feel to it. The food quality is great and I will definitely be coming back whenever I go shopping at Bay Street. -
Review from Jay H.
Oakland, CA
5/8/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Every time I go here I usually don't have to wait long, then again I'm never there on a Friday or Saturday night.
About the food? It's great and I never have to wait forever to get it. I'm going to come back and that's a sure thing. -
Review from Soo Jung R.
Berkeley, CA
10/13/2011
I know Buckhorn Grill is a chain, but I like this one on Bay Street more than the one in SF (westfield). The portion here seems a bit bigger, and they give more vegetables. I went with my mom, and she ate a little bit of the veggies but then wanted her meat a bit more cooked. When I took the dish to ask them to re-cook the meat, they did it, and actually gave some more veggies so it looked like a completely new dish again! Love the service, good food.
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Review from Janice C.
5/24/2010
I know they're known for their slow-roasted tri-tip sandwiches, but I'm thankful for the healthy salad options on the menu: Caesar salad, tortilla salad, etc. you're not just stuck with one boring salad choice here.
I opted for a large house salad with grilled chicken, a perfectly light dinner that's good for the heart.
Well, that and a big order of crispy roadhouse onion rings. -
Review from Kim D.
My parents are unbelievably frugal... then again, they're not sweating the economic situation... so I guess all those years of dressing 5 kids in home-sewn jumpers that would have made the Von Trapp Family Singers proud have literally paid off.
Another real money-saver for the WASPy parents was an annual matinee at the dive movie theatre (25 cents a child under 12) and of course: home made snacks smuggled in our backpacks: sliced apples, nectarines, tangerines and carrots from our backyard, packed cleverly in Tupperware containers. Oh, and plain pop corn... popped on the stove and passed around for all to share. No butter. No salt.
Flash forward to present day: of course, I am psychologically incapable of paying movie theatre prices for any concession items. I hit the Movie Size Candy Aisle at Walgreens, or bring actual food in, smuggled via shopping bag or Birkin Bag.
I had just spent $700 at Sephora, while Caveman and the Cadet meandered. Before I emerged, I stashed my loot in my purse and the Boys announced that they wanted to see a movie. I cursed. We'd just missed the matinee cut off.
Grudgingly, I purchased our tickets. "You're killing me! Movies were only 25 CENTS when I was your age - what, do you think I'm made of money?"
The Cadet looked into my eyes, and replied in earnest: "Well, you're not taking inflation into account... plus, you're really old, Mom." I almost splurged and squinted, since I'd just acquired a new, luxe under-eye cream. Decided against it.
"Also, I'm hungry," said the Cadet. The Caveman seconded.
We made a run for Buckhorn, which was hectic, cramped and noisy: trifecta imperfecta. Still, I ordered a Big Buck (oh, sweet irony!) sammich for the Cadet... the Roadhouse Salad, minus the bleu cheese; + double tri-tip for the Grown-ups.
They pack everything well if you want it to go... and as we rushed back to the theatre, Caveman reached for my purse - as if I wanted my crocodile bag to smell like tri-tip. He didn't realize I was serious until I promised to divorce him if he didn't let go.
We procured a shopping bag and used the Jedi Mind Trick to convince the Ticket-Rippers that we were just carrying our recent purchases, not mall-meals into the theatre.
The Cadet inhaled the Big Buck, and declared it "Meaty."
Our configuration of the Roadhouse Salad was savory, but heavy on the dressing, and the tri-tip was tragically overdone. But did we eat it? Yeah, but I had an awful case of heartburn post haste. I forgot my Prilosec...
Back in Orange County... my Dad was smiling. Not because he knew I was in acid reflux hell... but because he owns AstraZeneca stock. -
Review from Mike W.
San Francisco, CA
8/16/2010
In the world of you can do no wrong, Buckhorn has a pretty permanent place as far as I am concerned. I love the tri-tip sandwich, the chicken sandwich, the french dip, the Road House salad, the Yik-Yak salads, the fried sweet potatoes, the onion strings,
The only stuff I didn't like from here I never ordered again. My taste, not their preparation. For example, I will never order cooked beets. Never. If they show up, I ain't eating them. Period. End of story.
Fresh sliced in a salad they are great. Cooked? Nada, -
Review from Greg G.
9/10/2009 2 photos
A few years back when the Bay Street Shopping and Dining area was being built I was one of the very first to try this Buckhorn Grill. I remember them giving samples outside and really luring customers to come in to the new restaurant! I was excited, however upon ordering I realized the prices were pretty high, and upon receiving my meal noticed the portions were incredibly small. I vowed I would not be back.
Flash forward a few more years(2 weeks ago), and I find myself craving a Tri-Tip sandwich after watching a movie. I know Buckhorn is here, but is it what I remember it as? I have to try it again, maybe things have changed.
"Well O to the M to the G!", I tell myself! This place is awesome! It is totally not what I remember it being and it is a whole heck of a lot better than i expected! I ordered a Tri-Tip and BACON with Cheddar Cheese, with fries and drink for under $10! And guess what? It tasted bomb!! With a little BBQ sauce and a little Honey Mustard on the side... it was satisfying.
Definitely a hit now. Good prices and good value. I will be back! And Thanks to Betty H. for reminding me to review this place! lol -
Review from Aaron D.
Anaheim, CA
3/6/2009
Let it be known that Tri Tip i only a concept known in California. Everywhere else in the world its just a triangular cut of the sirloin.
But, this place had great portions, its clean, the service is wonderful.
Salad was pretty good here as well. And the crinkly onion rings were super tasty but a bit greasy. Overall I would say if you love meat and are in the area - you might really enjoy it. -
Review from Rocco B.
San Francisco, CA
2/28/2007
I have a love / hate relationship with Buckhorn grill.
Buckhorn is awesome, but if I'm eating Buckhorn, it's usually because I'm on my 13th consecutive 14 hour day at work, and the executives bump me up to a gourmet $10 dinner instead of Mcdonalds or pizza.
It's actually pretty damn good and reasonably priced for what you get. The tri tip is a little chewy, but it makes a delicious sandwich. Approved (by both me, and the expense report). -
Review from Katie S.
8/16/2011
After hours of shopping and spending too much money at Sephora and J Crew, we wanted to eat at somewhere that is cheap, fast, and delicious. Buckhorn was the perfect place. Whether you want tri-tip sandwiches, hearty salads, or big hunks of meat, Buckhorn would have something great to offer. And if they take more than 5 minutes to make your food, your meal is free! I wish they took longer to cook mine =(
