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Buckhorn Steakhouse
Categories: Restaurants Steakhouses Restaurants American (Traditional) Steakhouses, American (Traditional) [Edit]
2 Main StWinters, CA 95694
(530) 795-4503
- Hours:
Mon 4 pm - 9:30 pm
Tue-Thu 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri 5 pm - 10 pm
Sat 4:30 pm - 10 pm
Sun 4 pm - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
122 reviews for Buckhorn Steakhouse
Review Highlights
"Char Roasted Sirloin (oh yum, yum, yum) and Smoked Sausage."
(in 5 reviews)
"Highly recommend the garlic mashed potatoes."
(in 16 reviews)
"The dish that I love to get there is the Tri-Tip Roast."
(in 13 reviews)
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122 reviews in English
-
Review from Joe Y.
Elk Grove, CA
First time dining for me. I was amazed at how many we're waiting to get a table at 7pm on this Sunday evening. We had a confirmed reservation for 13 people at 7pm and only waited about 5 minutes until we were ushered to our table at 7:05pm. The restaurant actually is very large and can accomodate quite a few large parties.
We decided to order two Family Feasts for all of us, which feeds 5-6 people each. It comes on a large platter family style with delicious cuts of beef tritip ( best I've ever had), smoked sausage, 1/2 chicken, a slab of St. Louis ribs, baked beans, french cut fries, broccoli salad, and corn muffins. We also ordered two sides of garlic mashed potatoes. The food was very good and we actually had leftovers to take home. BTW, their sour dough bread and ample butter topped off this great meal.
We definitely enjoyed this nice restaurant and will return. On future visits, we will try one of their famous Angus beef steaks. Too bad Winters is almost an hour away from our home in Elk Grove. However, it would be a nice dinner stop on a Sunday evening returning home from the Bay area. Just head north on Interstate 505 at Vacaville to Main Street in Winters. CALL DAYS AHEAD FOR RESERVATIONS! -
Review from Geoff B.
Vacaville, CA
1/23/2012
Strike two tonight.
Back in July my wife and I along with two other couples went to celebrate our anniversaries (all within 1 week of each other). My wife likes her char roasted sirloin well done. It was not. When it was sent back, it was returned to her literally flaming (yes on fire), with the comment, "its done now". - Strike one -
Tonight we again went to celebrate with a big bunch of friends and their kids and my wife's birthday. We made arrangements well in advance and stated it was a birthday for her. We also made arrangements so they'd split the bill for the 7 different families. When the time came the bill was not split and we were told by "Troy" that the computer system can't do that. We also told him it was her birthday after reminding them when we checked in but it was "overlooked" (again, it wasn't in the "computer system). The tip alone was over $110. We were a big group and the kids were annoying...but for a total bill of $660, you can comp someone some mud pie. - Strike two -
We are sad as this has been our "Birthday/Anniversary" spot for the last 10 years. I hope it was just the "computer system".
If the restaurant reads these, you know how to get a hold of us...otherwise we may give it one more chance but it won't be for a while. -
Review from John S.
Lodi, CA
1/15/2012
We (my wife and I) had the pleasure of dining at the Buckhorn Steakhouse on Friday the 13th (01-13-12). We arrived at 5:45 PM for a 6:00 PM reservation and were seated right away. Our server (Rodrigo) was polite, well read, and very knowledgeable regarding the steakhouse and the menu. We ordered the following:
Roasted Artichoke (Starter - Complementary with coupon from the Abbey House Inn)
Roadhouse Combo (Steak, Ribs, Shrimp)
Prime Rib
Soup (Clam chowder)
Salad
Rodrigo said the steaks are aged in house Angus beef, and would be very good. Having dined in lots of places with all the "ours is the best" hype, you have to take that with a grain of salt. When our meals arrived, they were huge and very well presented. We will have to say after eating, Rodrigo was correct. Our steaks have to rate in the top 2 or 3 pieces of meat we have ever eaten. My wife and I enjoyed our meals very much. I would also like to add, the large bowl of clam chowder that arrived with my meal, was bar none, the best I have ever been served. The chowder is even better than I have been served in San Francisco, Seattle, and Boston !
We would recommend the Buckhorn Steakhouse to anyone, who is seeking an outstanding meal at a fair price. Who could have dreamed that sleepy Winters had such a gem!
John & Patty -
Review from A P.
Fairfield, CA
1/24/2012
The food wasn't that great for the price. A thin 14 oz rib eye (it didn't look like a 14oz steak) wasn't appetizing at all.
Better go to a different steakhouse, even the website isn't updated with correct information.
Definitley not eating here again... -
Review from Jocelyn C.
Orange County, CA
12/12/2011 1 photo
Eight of us ate here after brothers graduation ceremony at UC Davis this past weekend. Food was okay - meat was somewhat undercooked. Drink was watered down...extra star for great service. Think we'll stick to Ruth Chris next time we're in the area.
-
Review from maria g.
Davis, CA
10/2/2011
I came here with a bunch of starving friends after a trip out on a ranch in the wilderness. The ranch was miles away from any type of grocery store, so by the time we finally had dinner we were dying of hunger. We came on a Sunday evening and took advantage of their family meal deal, which feeds 5-6 people for about fifty bucks. It came with sausage, chicken, ribs, and steak. The sides included were fries, cornbread, veggies, and baked beans.
The place was really busy, but our food came out very quickly on a large platter. We instantly became ravenous beasts and scoured our food down to the very last morsel. We ordered an extra side of mac and cheese and a large cesar salad. All of the sides were good. We all also really enjoyed the baked beans and the ribs the best out of everything. I didn't really like my steak because the outside was way too charred for me.
We had decent food and were full by the time we were finished. The price came out to be around 16 bucks a person, which was great after having tons of food AND dessert. All in all, it was a good experience, and I would come back. -
Review from Nathan B.
Vacaville, CA
10/9/2011
Friday night, called for a 7 pm reservation and were seated immediately. Initial service was slow, but after our waiter arrived it was top notch.
We brought our own bottle of wine, no corkage fee which was nice to hear (doesn't mention anywhere on the menu one way or another either). Their wine list was ok, but they did a quite a few 'local' bottles that could be interesting.
Appetizer: Calamari...it was good, not great. Mixed bell peppers and other types of peppers that were different.
Salad: House or Caesar...house salad had solid spring-type mix and the caesar was fresh and had good flavor. Overall, above average.
Main courses: Baseball sirloin and filet mignon. The baseball is awesome, HIGHLY recommend. Pleasantly surprised with the wine reduction sauce accompanying it. Came w/broccoli and garlic mashed potatoes as well. Both were good too, but the cut of meat was the highlight. Aged, angus sirloin is their 'niche' and it did not disappoint. Filet was also excellent, had broccoli and a baked potato with it and all were solid choices.
Dessert: Didn't have a chance to confirm the actual name on the menu, but we were there for my birthday and it was free and resembled a mud pie-type plate that we shared. Very good nevertheless.
Mentioned the service above as slow initially, but then awesome. I haven't had a better waiter in a while. Attentive, helpful, and (pay attention military folks) informed us of the 25% discount on our bill up front! HUGE win for a $85+ bill!
Overall, highly recommend especially if you enjoy SIRLOIN ANGUS cuts of steak, such as I do! -
Review from Linda K.
Woodland, CA
11/14/2011
OMG. Next Sunday get yourself and your friends to the Buckhorn in Winters for their Family Feast special. $49.95 provides a feast that will serve 5 to 6 adults. There were 4 of us and both couples took food home, The Family Feast (served family style on a big platter) includes a full slab of St. Louis-Style Ribs, 1/2 Herb Roasted Chicken, 1 lb. Char Roasted Sirloin (oh yum, yum, yum) and Smoked Sausage. Served with Fresh Cut Fries, Baked Beans,delicious Broccoli-Bacon Salad and Corn Bread Muffins. What a deal - Buckhorn quality meat (which is the best) at such a great price - for the 4 of us that equaled $12.50 per person - the deal cannot be beat. Only on Sundays. Make reservations as Buckhorn is always full. Easier to get in earlier - we got a 5:30 reservation.
-
Review from Monelle P.
San Francisco, CA
7/26/2011
"Winters is where?!"
First, I'm a SF snob. I scoff at reputable restaurants outside of SF, let alone a city outside of SF that I have not heard of.
"A chain restaurant? You want go to a chain restaurant?!"
Second, I'm not a fan of chain restaurants. I never like the food and I like to support mom & pop establishments. Buckhorn Steakhouse is the original location for the Buckhorn chain.
But wow, Buckhorn Steakhouse has made me eat my words.
Buckhorn is located in Winters, which is about 15 minutes outside of Vacaville. The town is quiet and sleepy, but quaint.
A meal here is a FABULOUS value. Dinner Includes: Sourdough bread, soup or salad, vegetable, and baked potato, garlic mashed potatoes, or rice pilaf. The bread is AMAZING. It's served warm and is soooo good. I had trouble stopping myself from eating the bread. I've had both the salad and soup of the day here. The salad has a delicious honey mustard dressing. I've had clam chowder the two times I ordered soup and it was thick, chunky, and creamy, but well flecked with clam bits. The baked potato is served LOADED.
And those are just the SIDES before you get the centerpiece of the meal.
I always get the Baseball Sirloin, a 12 oz. steak. It is truly tender and "STEAKHOUSE THICK." It's served with a Port Wine Cherry Sauce that is fabulous. I've never had this kind of sauce with a steak. I've only had this kind of fruity, sweet reduction with gamey meats, like lamb or duck. But WOW, it was fantastic with my sirloin steak. This thick, syrupy, darkly sweet cherry reduction with full cherries was the perfect compliment to the steak.
Service is awesome and the ambiance is fun. Think, old saloon in a western movie. -
Review from Terrye C.
Vallejo, CA
12/7/2011
Excellent staff & food...the best Cajun bone-in Rib eye ever...and a very good Panko crusted Halibut pan fried in butter...yummo
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Review from Teresa F.
7/25/2011
I think we were swept into some time/space phenomenon where perfect elements of an evening met at the same time at the same place, Winters. Perfect temps, pretty lights strung over outdoor seating, ideal server, delicious food, live music. and surprise dessert made for a perfect evening.
Dropping in on Winters on recent Saturday evening, we decided to dine at the Buchhorn on a whim. We expected a wait. As it turned out the wait was for tables inside and we got a table outside right away. Out of the sun, the temps were just right.
We've had the Buckhorn's well known tri-tip many times and were intrigued by their steakhouse items. My husband and I ordered the Hunter's grilled trio (lamb chop, elk, and buffalo) to share ($33.99) from the specials menu. Our friends ordered the rack of lamb to share ($31.99). Dinners include soup or salad, vegetables, and choice of starch (baked potato, garlic mash, and rice pilaf). The soup of the day was cream of mushroom. We decided to order a bowl of the soup to share along with the standard salad with creamy dill dressing. The soup was Wonderfully thick with cream, lots of tiny pieces of mushroom, and rich with flavor. I was tempted to lick the bowl!
The griled trio were 5 oz. each and grilled to medium, as requested. Each had a light compote sauce matched to each. The buffalo (cherry sauce) was tender and had mild lean beef flavor. The elk (a red fruit sauce I can't recall now) was also tender and mild. The lamb chop was a little more gamey than I preferred, but the sweet/sour mint sauce helped offset the gameyness. I had a taste of the rack of lamb, which was milder in gameyness as compared with the chop. The rack had a nice crust of salt and seasonings that gave it a little cruch and good punch of flavor. Our sides of green beans and garlic mash were perfectly made and delicious.
Our server, Olivia, was excellent. She asked if we had been there before, explained the relationship of the restaurant with its other outlets, kept the water glasses full, and was attentive without before intrusive. At the end, she asked if we were celebrating a birthday or anniversary. There was neither. When checking my husband's ID for the credit card, she apparently silently noted that his birthday is near and brought a gratis slice of ice cream pie with a candle on it. What a thoughtful and generous surprise! We were full from dinner, but magically we found space to enjoy that tall piece of coffee ice cream pie!!!
The Buckhorn is situated across the street from the Palms, which does not have AC. On warm evenings, they open their windows during shows for air. As a result, we enjoyed our dessert with live music drifting thorugh the air.
After driving through the orchards and ag fields of Winters, we returned to reality. Lucky for us, our perfect evening in Winters was no dream or abduction into an alternate universe. Stop by the Buckhorn for dinner on a balmy summer evening, sit outside, and enjoy a real treat. Special occasion optional. -
Review from Emily H.
8/19/2011
Let me get this straight, I DON"T enjoy eating steak at all, but THIS place changed my mind- that's how delicious their meat is!
The Roadhouse salad was probably the best salad I've ever eaten because the house vinaigrette is to die for, and most importantly, the sirloin strips were so tender and flavorful that I think I actually...*gasp* LIKE steak now!
It'll be a crime if you don't save room for dessert because their mud pie is worth gaining 2 pounds for the night! Yum.
This place has it all- great affordable high quality food, relaxing atmosphere, and fantastic service! -
Review from Sarah A.
Martinez, CA
7/1/2011
5 STARS!!! Bryan (with a y, not i) was our server and he was very friendly, attentive, and very informative with their menu! Hope you get him as a server! Great service :)
My dad has been telling our entire family about Buckhorn Steakhouse for a while now but never got a chance to go until it my sister and him combined their birthdays.
My tip is to get the Rib Eye (24 oz) for an EXCELLENT price of $36.99! It's tender, juicy, and seasoned to perfection. I was able to share an order with my boyfriend and was satisfied. It comes with string beans and your choice of garlic mashed potato, baked potato, or rice pilaf. Highly recommend the garlic mashed potatoes!
My sister ordered the "Surf and Turf" special for only $29.99! GREAT deal! -
Review from Dawn A.
Pacifica, CA
6/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
The food is Undeniably Delicious!
The service, well this night it sucked! The waiter was annoying when he came to the table, and then he was missing for long periods of time. For "fine dining" I expect superior service and our server definately did not live up to the standards.
I'd give 1 star for service.
I'd give 5 stars for the good.
Averaged to 3 stars. -
Review from Sara E.
Sacramento, CA
6/18/2011
Had a combination father's day/retirement celebration with my inlaws, husband and uncle. We had reservations for when they opened and we watched the place fill up within minutes.
Everyone ordered something different and we agreed the mushroom soup and salad with creamy-dill dressing were great, as were the rice pilaf, baked potato, garlic mashed, green beans and onion rings.
Among five of us, one thought their steak was rather tough and two others thought their "medium-rare" beef was closer to medium. I had the Taylor Sirloin, which looked and tasted like Filet Mignon wrapped in super thick, smoky bacon. It was a HUGE piece, very tender, but closer to medium than rare.
For a steakhouse, the prices were a bit high but ok, especially since they include salad, potato and vegetable. Plus, the portions are HUGE, so lots of leftovers came home with us.
Service was OK, our waitress wasn't super eloquent and at one point she disappeared for 20 minutes. There was a problem with our check, which she remedied quickly.
All in all, it was a good meal and a decent restaurant in a fun and historic little corner of California. I don't know that I would drive 45-60 minutes out of my way for it again unless I had other plans in the area. -
Review from Lea may K.
Suisun City, CA
4/18/2011
When I offered to take my parents here for dinner one night, my dad politely declined. He told me fifteen years ago he visited the Buckhorn and wasn't impressed with their steak. Of course I talked him into coming, telling him that fifteen years ago was a pretty long time ago and that the company may have gotten a new cook since then :P.
The service was absolutely up to par. We had a really great waiter that was always attentive and never left us alone for too long. Our drink were always refilled and our questions were always answered. Their bread that they service with the salad was amazing. We asked where they got their bread delivered from and our waiter told us they get it from a company out in Oakland. He also had a great sense of humor while going over the menu and telling us about their onsite butcher. And since he was a Baseball fan, he and I got into talking about the next great game.
We all ordered the Lobster and Steak along with an order of their fried onion. Each one of us ordered our steak different, I ordered mine medium rare (which was fantastic). My father on the other hand, wasn't too pleased with his steak. I think it was because he ordered his medium rare with no blood, when he had a few bites of mine he liked it. When he told our waiter this, our waiter said that the next time we didn't like something to our taste, to let him know so that he can fix the problem.
A great feature of this restaurant, there's moose heads all over the upper walls of the dinning area. I'm still shocked that a moose can get as big as the moose head hanging above the entrance! -
Review from Brenda R.
Davis, CA
11/7/2011
The Baseball cut sirloin was wonderful. This was our first time there. it is a large restaurant, and it was so busy. We had a reservation and were seated right away. The wine list was great. The whole evening went well. We celebrated an anniversary and were treated to a piece of mud pie.
-
Review from Brandon T.
San Jose, CA
7/6/2011
The steak here is fantastic!! I've tried a variety of items on their menu and all of them have been impressive.
Very flavorful meat at a decent price. Service has been very friendly and prompt from my 3 visits here.
This is definitely a hidden gem that not many know about particularly since it is in the small town of Winters, CA. The only reason I know about it? I frequently pass through Winters on my bike rides and my colleagues insisted I try the place. A worthwhile experience. -
Review from Johnathen D.
Davis, CA
7/20/2011
My lovely took my steak loving ass here for my birthday once (this review is a long time coming, lol). We went in the evening, when the sky was nice and the breeze was cascading and cool. It's a beautiful restaurant, or at least is attractively situated in its environment. We ate outside on the patio, which was quite nice, except for the wannabe gangmembers and white supremist looking kids cruising up and down the street attempting to look ominous. That was easily ignorable.
The steak was perfect. Tender, juicy, full of flavor, and well presented. Per my usual when the food is awesome, I have no clue what my lovely had. I do know that she wasn't nearly as satisfied as I was. Sorry for her. She should've had a steak. It's a steak house. lol.
The wait staff was nice. Everything was perfect. The one drawback, apart from the gangster street parade, was the presence of a group of loud, drunk, very casual, steak taco eaters. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that a great steak house would have a casual night and cheaper food for the less monetarily endowed (shit, that makes me want to go back actually), but I was there for something more fancy and felt a bit awkward in my pressed slacks and button down. It's all ok though, I probably should've just at inside.
I will be back for more steak and, why lie, I want a steak taco and a beer too. holla. -
Review from Jenny T.
Davis, CA
5/6/2011
So far I've been here for my anniversary in February and for my birthday in April and I have had an excellent meal from this restaurant both times.
Service here is great. The servers are attentive and they are always happy to give suggestions, especially for appetizers.
My recommendation for appetizer is the Fire-Roasted Artichoke. It's yummy!
I like to order off from their Sirloin Menu. My first time here I got the Peppercorn Sirloin while my boyfriend ordered the Prime Sirloin Medallions. The Prime Sirloin Medallions was very good! The Peppercorn Sirloin was ok--I can definitely see people who love peppercorns enjoying this dish, but it's not personally my favorite.
For my birthday I ordered the Taylor Sirloin and the sirloin was so tender! I definitely recommend ordering the Taylor Sirloin and the Prime Sirloin Medallions.
If it's your birthday they give you a big slice of mud pie!
I always have leftovers from this place because the soup is so filling! -
Review from Mark S.
Woodland, CA
6/18/2011
Buckhorn is the only decent steakhouse in the Winters-Woodland-Davis area, and it's a good one. It is located on the corner of Main Street in the little "downtown" area of Winters, which has undergone a sort of small town gentrification with art boutiques and wine tasting rooms popping up around the restaurant. Despite the revitalization, the old Buckhorn remains the center of gravity in Winters downtown.
The atmosphere is casual. The dining room is always packed on weekends, and surprisingly busy during the week. The service is casual but attentive. The steaks are very good. I wouldn't compare them to Ruth's Chris or Mortons but this is not that kind of restaurant. The steaks are FAR better than you will find at the average chain steakhouse such as Outback or the more local Cattlemen's restaurants.
The bottom line: You can get a couple of great steak dinners and a bottle of wine for under $100. I highly recommend Buckhorn. -
Review from gloria l.
Davis, CA
My family and I went to the Buckhorn for the first time to celebrate my 21st. I had been wanting to eat there for a long time, so I was looking forward to dinner.
There were a LOT of people on Saturday night, so making a reservation is crucial. My family and I waited in the bar room, and a suggestion would be to have more seating for people waiting to be sat.
After we got sat at a table, the server, Fidel, came by with bread and water. He learned that it was our first time there, so he told us about the beef they serve (high quality stuff). Since I had just eaten a big meal a few hours before dinner, I was stuffed. I wanted to order something meat-based, but I could only eat the Mediterranean salad, which had DELICIOUS honey-basil vinaigrette (and juicy tri-tip). I tried a piece of the medium-cooked ribeye that my brother ordered, and, man.. it was delicious. He even said it was the best he'd eaten. Throughout the dinner, the server came by to check up on us. He made us feel comfortable since he joked with us and wasn't completely serious like the way most other servers are.
Since it was my birthday, the server gave me a slice of mud pie and asked if I'd like them to sing for me! After they sung, all of the desserts were slowly being eaten away.. we were so stuffed from the dinner.
Amazing dinner. Overall, delicious food and excellent service! -
Review from Kevin M.
Sacramento, CA
11/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
I took my first trip there on a Sunday night. I went with a few friends and was seated at a big table roomy enough for 6. That's great. I like lots of space and don't like feeling cramped.
We started off with a shrimp cocktail to share. The shrimp were huge and had that fresh taste to them. You can tell when shrimp are frozen.
The steaks came and were amazing. They were cooked perfectly and super-tender. Also things tasted pretty fresh.
They have a special BBQ menu that they serve. The food comes complete in a plastic basket lined with a red and white checkerboard paper. This seems to be quite the deal as it is only 1/3 for what other entrees cost.
The food was good, fresh, but they are big portions of heavy stuff. I felt like in a food coma after eating a huge prime rib. It is a great place for special occasions. Like my birthday... hint, hint. -
Review from Paul T.
Davis, CA
1/17/2011
The place to go for a great steak if you're in the area. They know carnivore. Medium rare steak comes medium rare instead of well done like so many other "steakhouses."
Personal favorites: fire-roasted artichoke, steamer clams, pan seared elk with Jack Daniels sauce, and last but not least - filet mignon with gorgonzola butter. -
Review from Yod S.
Roseville, CA
7/30/2010
This would have been a four star review, if not for a serious and crippling issue with their signature dish.
Those of you who have dined here know that their signature dish is their baseball sirloin. It's cut in house by their butcher. They only get two per cow.
Now, the menu says do not order this steak at any temp over medium. In 99% of good steakhouses, when you see this warning it basically means "We don't waste good meat on people that like their steaks cooked to death." It's usually a very good sign.
Not here.
The reason that warning is actually on the menu is because they have some strange cooking technique for the baseball sirloin. It comes out two levels more cooked than you ordered it. I suspect that instead of grilling or putting it under a salamander, they just put it in a normal oven.
Here's what happened:
I ordered the baseball sirloin "very rare". It showed up medium well (no pink at all). I called the waiter over. He then engaged me in a discussion about what the different temps mean, and did I understand how they worked. Umm, yeah, I've been eating steak since I was about 4, I know how they work and what they mean. Very rare does not translate to grey meat!
He then took my plate and utensils from me and started slicing up the steak at my table! "I have to check this myself," he said. After a few minutes of my waiter slicing into my steak and staring at different pieces, he said "Perhaps this is a little overcooked" and took it back to the kitchen.
(Let me just pause here and mention that my waiter is a nice guy, and his odd behavior I blame 110% on the kitchen/chef. I'm sure so many of these steaks get sent back that the waiters are tired of getting yelled at by the cooks.)
Fifteen minutes go by and he comes back with a new one. "This is as black and blue as they can make it," he delightfully told me. This next steak was borderline med rare/medium. I gave up at this point.
This is inexcusable considering my date's rare cowboy ribeye came out cooked to perfection. The kitchen knows what they're doing with meat, so why so incompetent with their signature dish?
The warning on the menu and the actions of my waiter prove that they know there's an issue and are too stubborn to properly deal with it.
Buckhorn: just tell the truth on your menu! If you want to offer your signature steak only between medium and well done, then just say so. People who like their steak bloody can be warned and order something else.
I think next time I'll just order a double serving of cajun steak bites and call it a night. -
Review from Kimron S.
8/27/2011
Service was good but the food very poor. My wife's steak was overcooked and I had finished my meal by the time the second one arrived. I had ribs, which were also overcooked, obviously reheated by microwave, and full of cartilage. But worst of all was the music; the Buckhorn was playing their music and Putah Creek Cafe across the street (much better food, by the way) was competing with their own. Each set of diners was forced to listen to both. Come on, why not alternate nights?!
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Review from robert a.
West Sacramento, CA
10/8/2011
Over priced, under delivered. Prime rib at the Sizzler is better. service is poor, waitress forgets requests, loud, uncomfortible,Calamari was oily, no dipping sauce, Ribs seemed like left overs, the Puda Creek Cafe across the street looked much better should have gone there.wont be back.
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Review from Jaclyn L.
Berkeley, CA
12/12/2010
I went there last night with my boyfriend and his parents to celebrate, but the evening did not start out as planned.
We had dinner reservations at 7:15 p.m. and arrived a little earlier (7:09p.m.) and we were handed a pager and our name was added to the waiting list. We went to the bar and ordered some sangria while we waited. We waited....and waited....and waited....
By the time it was 7:40 p.m. we were just too hungry and decided to order some calamari at the bar while we ate our sangria. The calamari arrived 5-10 minutes later and it was delicious. Not the best calamari I had, but definitely good and large portions.
Finally around 8:10 p.m. (55 minutes after our reservation) we were seated. Fortunately after the insanely long wait everything got better and better.
Our waiter, Chris, was extremely nice, polite, and attentive. At some point in our meal he came over to fill up my boyfriend's water, even though it was still 3/4 full. He even trotted or lightly jogged back to the kitchen to get another thing of dressing of my boyfriend's mom.
I ordered the Taylor sirloin with garlic mashed potatoes and cream of mushroom soup. The soup was delicious.... I could feel my arteries clogging with the creamy goodness, but it was worth it. The sourdough bread was also excellent - nice crunchy crust while soft and delicious on the inside. The portions here are huge! I was full after the calamari, soup, 2 pieces of bread and a glass on sangria. However, I had to put my game face on and keep eating since I had the bacon wrapped sirloin and mashed potatoes awaiting me.
The sirloin was good, not great, only because I think I ordered poorly. I ordered it medium rare, however it can out a bit more cooked than I hoped. I didn't realize they could cook it "very rare" so the cooking guidelines are shifted. My boyfriend order a medium rare cajun ribeye with the soup and mashed potatoes.
Next time we go back, one of us is definitely ordering a rare cajun ribeye. SO GOOD.
The best thing was at the end of the meal, our waiter, Chris, brought us a slice of mud pie which was AWESOME. Even though I was stuffed, I had room for dessert.... and my taste buds were happy.
Be prepared to have left overs! I definitely recommend ordering a bit rarer than usual and the cajun is mouthwatering. I'll definitely be back... Enjoy! -
Review from Christine C.
Pleasanton, CA
12/29/2010
I was never a huge restaurant steak fan. But, I was taken here for an anniversary dinner and we decided to get the Friday special, Buy one get one free Char-Roasted Sirloin...I officially LOVED steak after this dinner!
Ordered: Char-Roasted Sirloin BOGO and Calamari for appetizers.
Steak: AMAZING. JUICY. Perfectly Cooked. SO flavorful. The Buy One Get One Free deal just made it ten times better. Got a side salad with one of our dishes, a soup with the other. Soup had great flavor, but was a bit rich.
Calamari: Filled with red and green peppers, lemon, olive oild, such great seasoning...definitely beats out your standard fried calamari at any ol restaurant. Delicious.
Presentation/Service: The chef comes out to personally slice your meat for you in front of your table. The waiter was extremely friendly and continually came back to check on us. I guess he forgot about our salads and was so apologetic about making us wait too long that he offered us 2 complementary drinks- we got 2 glasses of the Sangria (great! and honestly, we didn't feel like we waited that long at all).
This restaurant is definitely pricey, but they have great specials during the week that you would be a fool to not take advantage of. Officially my new favorite steak restaurant! -
Review from Jennifer B.
Sacramento, CA
10/18/2010
Even though I am vegan, I end up coming here every year for my dad's birthday dinner. I've started calling in advance to let them know that I'm coming in and to ask what they can offer me that evening. It's been a different dish every time. This year it was a pasta dish. It was pretty flavourful and the proportions are always huge! I never eat everything.
The service is always exceptional. I feel like several of the servers have been there for years and keeping their customers happy is top priority.
Seeing as I've come here every year since I can remember and growing up in a heavy hunting family, the decor of the place doesn't phase me and the smell of meat doesn't bother me a bit.
My dad is incredibly particular about his meat, so the fact that he has returned to this place for the past 30 years gives me the impression that it is very good. I can't really comment on it. -
Review from Jennifer M.
Davis, CA
8/23/2010
I don't get the appeal. Maybe I'm asking for too much, but I think if you go to a steakhouse like this, and pay what you are charged for a steak, then the product you receive (including sides) should be quite a lot better than what you could make at home for a fraction of the price. I've only been here once, so maybe it was a fluke. However, it was just bland and boring.
I had the buffalo sirloin, with a salad and garlic mashed potatoes. The steak was decent and cooked perfectly, but I get buffalo top sirloin steak at the Davis Food Co-op that's just as good or better, and I can whip up a better marinade/sauce in seconds flat. Salad and mashed potatoes? Also just mediocre and easily replicable.
Service was pretty good, not excellent, but good enough to merit a nice tip. Having served for years, I get the impression that the staff may be hounded a bit to upsell and such, which always makes staff more stressed and then their service suffers a bit. He seemed strained and unhappliy overenthusiastic. Wine list was okay, cocktail list was okay, cocktail was okay. Overall just not anywhere near worth the price, and not that pleasant of an experience. -
Review from Signe C.
Martinez, CA
10/9/2011
I made a reservation for Sun lunch at 2pm on Open Table many days prior to the lunch. My party increased by one person so I courteously called at 11am to inform them. Joe the Butcher took my call and said the gal who handles this sleeps in until noon, call her at 1pm and let her know. Really?
The Gal- called me at 12:30pm to tell me that they had decided not to open until 4pm that day WTF?. We were IN THE CAR on our way from Martinez to Winters! This was a very special going away lunch. What kind of idiots call the day of, no, less than 2 hours away from your reservation to say we just changed our hours. Seriously? How do you stay in business? No apologies- nothing. Presumably Joe the butcher knew when the restaurant opened and could have mentioned it then, but apparently everyone there shares the same below average IQ.
You could have had 7 devoted fans, instead you have created a terrible reputation for service and we will never go to your restaurant. -
Review from L B.
Sacramento, CA
8/2/2011
The best place for a night out. Wonderful steaks. Really worth the drive out to Winters :)
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Review from Kaycie L.
Sacramento, CA
9/26/2010 7 photos
Came here for one of my birthday gatherings... and I must say that I LOVE their cajun dipping sauce!!!
PROS: Awesome cajun dipping sauce! Great service! Cozy environment. Steak is good. Did I mention GREAT service??? The calamari is good. No reservations needed.
CONS: The drive. Location is a little far.
SUGGESTIONS: Cajun style.
BONUS: If you're there for a special occasion, let them know. The server may hook you up! =) -
Review from Eric F.
Torrance, CA
6/12/2010
For my brothers graduation in nearby UC Davis we made reservations for this place. After he graduates we head out and after a while we finally arrive in the small town of Winters, population a few cattle, a few Mexicans, and... Buckhorn Steakhouse. That's not only racist, but it's also false... the town is indeed very quaint but the sign said 6,000 people lived there and Main Street, where basically everything is located, was moderately packed on this particular Friday evening.
To further describe the town and the restaurant itself: Main Street is very "old school," IE sort of like a more developed town you'd find in the tail end of the Wild West era. The actual building that the restaurant occupies is over a hundred years old and definitely looks the part; inside there is the front dining era, a bar with seating, and I am pretty sure another back room for eating. If all the women wore corsets and long skirts and somebody hit somebody else over the head with a bottle in the bar, starting a bar fight, I swear I would have not even realized I was living in the year 2010. The gigantic animal heads mounted on the wall and the dimly lit, red-wallpapered restroom only further prove my point. The bank just down the street is the type of bank that would be robbed in one of the classic movies.
Onto the food... I got the "Roadhouse Combo," which was comprised of a 5 ounce bacon wrapped steak, ribs, tempura-styled prawns, and the sides, of which I got garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, fried shoestring onions, and clam chowder. Call me crazy, but this steakhouse, a ways from the ocean, had some of the best clam chowder I've ever had and several family members agreed.
It's pretty obvious that if you order steak from this place and you make them cook it correctly (see: rare or medium rare) that by definition of the type of restaurant you are eating in, the meat will be good. I'm NOT a steak person but I still devoured my steak pretty quickly. Everyone around the table said the meat was good but it did not get the same reaction as the clam chowder did, oddly enough. I'd like to comment on the portions and say they are MASSIVE, especially for the Roadhouse Combo that I got.
So yeah, I like this place, and I like the town it's pretty much centered around. It's a shame that I'll probably never come back to this place since I'll never have any reason to be in the area again, but for what it's worth, the Buckhorn Steakhouse was great. -
Review from Sean F.
Elk Grove, CA
7/2/2011
If you're feeling like a nice steak.....make the trip and treat yourself to some of the best around.
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Review from Heather C.
Vacaville, CA
6/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good steakhouse. We come here every year for my husband's birthday.
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Review from Chris Y.
3/1/2010
This is THE PLACE that puts Winters on the map. (Pizza Factory is awesome, too, but it has multiple locations). Winters is definitely worth the drive - and steak at the Buckhorn will not disappoint. It's one of my personal top three all-time best places to get a steak!
The steaks here are very comparable to Cattlemen's in nearby Dixon - which is high praise in my book. But they've got something Cattlemen's doesn't -- class. From the retro "Main Street USA" that is Winters, the timeless style inside this historical building, to the highly competent wait staff, this place is classy! DEFINITELY a good place to take a date - well, a fancy date.Listed in: Awesome Steak - in order of…
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Review from Toni M.
10/12/2009
Call it 4.49 stars. I'm a retired psychotherapist. I used to work in an intensive outpatient program. I ran groups. Groups aren't always serious and they aren't always focused 100% on treatment. One day several members of one of my groups spent 10 or 15 minutes talking about the Buckhorn Steak & Roadhouse. They were unanimous that it was wonderful. That was 10 years or so ago. I've wanted to check it out since. Imagine my surprise and disappointment at trying Buckhorn Grill. Not the same thing, though they're related.
Today Alan and I planned our trip home from Ashland so we could have dinner at the Buckhorn Steak & Roadhouse. Rather than my usual dash back to the barn, we meandered along. We stopped at the Village Inn and Suites to check out time share trade possibilities for next summer. We stopped at Callahan's so I could show him how they'd rebuilt it after the fire. We stopped at the Bridge Bay turnoff by Lake Shasta, which I've always wanted to do. A few other stops and we arrived in Winters about 5:30. We'd already checked the menu online and knew they had a 14 oz ribeye as their Monday special.
We walked in to a large room w/ high ceilings which had a country hunting lodge feeling to it, fostered in no small part by animal heads mounted on the walls. Through the double doors on the right of the dining room was the bar. In the bar were booths and tables, the booths raised off the floor. And more animal heads. At the back of the bar were the bathrooms, which were clean and generously sized. Originally the building had housed a hotel in the late 1800s. The placemats gave an extensive history of the place.
We were seated immediately at a table in the main dining room. Warm sourdough bread and butter appeared. Alan had researched the menu more extensively than I and discovered they had calamari w/ rings and tentacles and sweet peppers. Of course we ordered it. The portion was generous. There was no dipping sauce, just a couple of lemon wedges, sauteed slices of red and green bells and red and green marinated cherry peppers, all tossed w/ olive oil and garlic. It was incredible. All of it. The calamari was perfectly cooked. Although we didn't eat the cherry peppers we enjoyed the piquancy they added. It was reasonably priced at $12.99.
We both ordered the ribeye medium rare. It came w/ soup or salad and we both chose salad, Alan w/ the house dressing and me w/ bleu cheese. It was a good sized, delicious salad. The steaks came cooked as ordered, both w/ garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed green beans. My steak was very flavorful. Alan was equally pleased w/ his. The potatoes were tasty. The green beans were good, but a minute or two past al dente. It was an excellent dinner and very well priced at $21.99. Service was engaged, professional and helpful. If we lived closer we'd be regulars here. As it is, we'll do what we can to stop in when we're passing through.Listed in: Collecting Calamari, Retro Restaurants
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Review from Ms. T.
San Francisco, CA
5/14/2011 3 photos
A wonderful find in a small little town along Highway 5. Situated on a corner with outside seating and located on Main St in Winters, CA. This beautiful old building used to be the towns hotel, long....long....long ago back in the goldrush days. On this nice warm evening I took advantage of their outside seating and had a nice sampling of their BBQ. On a norm their menu is outrageously priced and so expensive. But thank goodness for their specials. They had Thursday and Sunday specials which is almost half the price of their regular menu. And of course I was lucky enough to run accross on one of their specials. My BBQ special consisted of BBQ Ribs (2 btw),BBQ grilled chicken, BBQ beef tip, and two sides for under $15.00 The restaurant is very clean and well kept. Service was not exceptional but good. And best part is they have a wonderful big BAR. I would definitely come back.
