If you've ever driven through Rio Vista, you've probably heard of Foster's Bighorn (and if you haven't stopped in yet, you should.) Foster's Bighorn is a local peeps restaurant and bar. It houses a private collection of over 300 big game specimens from Africa and North America, making it a great place to see what big game hunting looked like in the 1930s. The moment you walk in, you're surrounded by world-class trophies covering the walls near the ceiling. It's unlike any other dining atmosphere around in the east bay. For me, this place is pure nostalgia. My dad used to bring me here once a year when he had business in Rio Vista. I remember being completely fascinated by all the trophies mounted on the walls. Large game hunting wasn't something my family participated in, but growing up in a farming family, animals raised for food were a normal part of life. Even so, the quality and quantity of the collection always left me in awe. Going back as an adult, I can say that feeling hasn't changed. The collection is still impressive. This visit, we kept it simple with drinks and appetizers. My friend ordered a margarita on the rocks, and I had a pale ale. Both were delicious and reasonably priced. The bar itself is a classic 65-foot bar that feels like it belongs in another era. For food, I had the Caesar salad, and we split the ten-inch pepperoni pizza. The pizza featured roni cups and felt like a solid, classic appetizer-style pizza . The side Caesar salad was a great portion with crisp lettuce, shaved Parmigiana, and crunchy croutons, simple and tasty. Foster's Bighorn offers a Chop House style menu for lunch and dinner, making it a great spot for a quick bite or a full sit down dinner. I'd absolutely go back: first for the nostalgia, second for the drinks, and third for the food. It's a one-of-a-kind place that feels like stepping into history while enjoying a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. read more

Foster's Bighorn - Trophies at Fosters in the bar - American Near Me - Rio Vista, California

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This place was pretty good. The staff were very friendly. You can tell this is a place the locals like to hang out at. The food was pretty good, except for the catfish sandwich. I felt it was dry and the catfish was flavorless, or else it was just so damn thin you couldn't taste it. It was over powered by the red onions and tomatoes. The star of the dish was the one thing you couldn't taste which was disappointing. Everyone else loved their food. read more

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Love the ambience, love the food, but long waits. Also, they need to spruce up the menu a bit, like what's at The Buckhorn Exchange in Colorado. https://www.buckhorn.com/ Denver Steakhouse | Denver's Oldest Restaurant | Buckhorn Exchange read more

Rio Vista a cute town, and this place is fits right in. If animal hunting and animal stuffing is not your thing, it may be best to find another diner but if you're looking for a good unique burger and great onion rings, this is the place. The Shrimp Louie salad was the perfect way to start the meal and the fish and chips is a must try. If you're undecided on the burger, go for the Bighorn Beast Burger with fries (fries had an extra crunch to them) as it's more flavorful and not as lean as the Bison or Elk burger although the Bison and Elk burger was just as good, just on the lean side. The Onion Rings are a must try as they're fresh battered. Even though there was only one waitress, she was bustling and managed to serve everyone. read more

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Nice place good ambiance American food. Fry calamari is a must. Service was fast and pleasant parking everywhere. read more

Can't make it to the Smithsonian? Come see the museum quality taxidermy collection amassed here at Foster's. Some incredibly rare beasts only because this is a vintage collection. Fellow wildlife advocates, try to get past the past and appreciate the collection, it's quite ancient but incredibly interesting and spectacular. Do enjoy a meal in the dining area to really immerse yourself. You can't go wrong with the fish and chips in this old school style restaurant. In my opinion, this is a historical plaque worthy California institution. Rio Vista is a film worthy backdrop of a time and place in California. Anywhere you live in the Bay Area it's worth the drive or maybe even via the Delta . Even if you don't dine in the people who run this icon are friendly and can totally appreciate your curiosity . read more

Foster's Bighorn - American Near Me - Rio Vista, California

Called in an order for pick up, ordered a pastrami sandwich asked for onion rings instead of fries paid extra for them and got fries. We called to let waitress know and she said she would get some made for us and we could pick up the "4" onion rings. Sandwich needs a sauce or spread it was just pastrami and cheese. Cesar salad with steak was raw and 2 fish taco appetizer ($20) was way too much for this and was very fishy, usually a sign fish was not fresh. I'm very disappointed especially since this place is under newish management I thought I'd give them another shot. read more

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Lobster tails are amazing! Must try if you love seafood! Excellent customer service as well! read more

The food was good but the service was absolutely terrible! They only had 1 waitress for like 15 tables. Waitress forgot my order and I didn't get it until everyone else at the table was done eating, drinks were empty almost the whole time and whenever we asked for something she would forget to Bring it read more

Foster's Bighorn - American Near Me - Rio Vista, California

This was an amazing place to go for dinner. Especially when celebrating a birthday or like we celebrated, Fathers Day. My dad loved this dinner and we all enjoyed ourselves too. It's similar to a museum. When you walk in you're in awe with all the animals on the walls. I mean there are places that have a deer head or maybe a moose, but this restaurant has an entire safari of animals. Elephants, moose, hippos, zebras, giraffes, monkeys, and many more. I felt guilty that I was enjoying all these animals that were shot and killed and then put out for display but I guess it is what it is. This man experienced amazing adventures throughout his life and shared it with everyone. This was a busy restaurant and it was the day before Father's Day when we went so we pretty much planned on a little wait, however it wasn't bad at all. We sat right underneath the huge elephant. It was very cool. The food was really good. In fact they have the best onion rings ever. Oh my goodness. I want more of those. Within our party we had the chicken Marsala, chicken Parmesan and steak dinners. My dad had the special which was a Buffalo Ribeye. He liked it but was a bit disappointed with how it was cooked. Or how little it was cooked I guess. He asked for medium rare but it came out really rare so he had to send it back. He was afraid of it then coming out tasting like a steak "cooked twice", which he said that's exactly what happened. I just don't quite understand what he meant by that. The chicken Parm was good but my niece was expecting a breaded chicken breast. It was a grilled chicken breast. My chicken Marsala was amazing. I had no complaints. The prices are pretty high. For our party of 5 it was around $240sh. But when thinking about the entire picture it was definitely worth it. We really enjoyed it there and will be back for sure. The service was great. Between the 2 servers in our area we had everything we needed or wanted and they were very attentive. I hope you have a chance to visit this hidden adventure. You'll love it. I'm excited to go back. read more

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Wow! We hadn't been here in years--a visiting relative suggested we try it for dinner--and we were all impressed. Compared to our last visit, the new-ish owner had brightened up the entire place, now with more emphasis on the restaurant, but still with it's huge bar. We probably didn't need a reservation, but we were greeted by the name on the reservation, probably because we looked like we were the only ones who would bother to make a reservation for three. Chicken marsala, fish and chips and lamb chops were all excellent, as was our server. The owner came by our table to check on our experience and confirmed that he had initiated the changes that we had noticed, as well as some that we hadn't. If you like seeing the animal trophies from a bygone era, this is a great place to have a drink or a meal. read more

Stopped in as a backup. As soon as we stepped inside we were amazed with the decor. The history of this place is quite interesting, so be sure to ask for the story. The bartender Tiany was great! Drinks were poured well and service was good. Ordered the deep fried asparagus and fish and chips. Food was delicious and plentiful. This will now be our stop in Rio Vista while motorcycling in the area. read more

Had the Chicken Marsala and it was very good. Chicken tender and the Marsala sauce was excellent. The service was terrific and on point. The taxidermy is cool and it looks like what Noah's Arc could have been like. Very well done and in good taste. read more

Foster's Bighorn - Chicken Marsala - American Near Me - Rio Vista, California

Walked in on a Wednesday night and sat down. Nice pace of service, offered drinks and got down to have a very pleasant dinner. We didn't order any appetizers, but the onion rings I had with dinner rather than a baked potato were delicious. Two specials were ordered the prime rib and the lamb. I had the rib and my wife the lamb. I was disappointed with the end cut hoping for more seasoning, but just the meat was a bit dry; note to self don't ask for end cut next time. The lamb special was on point and delectable. The service was great. Definitely a place to visit in Rio Vista. Also per many of the other reviews the decor is all about the taxidermy on display. They also have labels next to each display which I appreciate. read more

Foster's Bighorn - Nice and appetizing, however don't ask for the end cut the meat was over done and dry. The onion rings were on point. - American Near Me - Rio Vista, California

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First time here didn't know what to expect. It's a good crowd of bikers outdoorsman, families and seniors. If you're not a fan of taxidermy this might not be the place for you, but if you are a fan of good food then get on down there. The staff were welcoming and genuine. Full bar at reasonable price. Food is good. My buddies got the New York steak and they were cooked as ordered. It came with veggies and choice of potatoes. My other friend got the prime rib dip and I looked great. I got the Bighorn Beast burger and it was fantastic. It is 8oz of equal parts wagyu, bison, boar, and elk with the normal burger accompaniments. It wish I didn't add mayo and ketchup. The burger was flavor full by itself. The one issue we had was the last round of beers took a long time to get to us. (It was busy and waitress explained that the bartender accidentally threw the ticket away. I was just at a steakhouse the night before and was thinking to myself that this was better than dinner I had last night. read more

Foster's Bighorn - In the dining room. Wall to wall. - American Near Me - Rio Vista, California

We always stopped for lunch when passing through. The last several times they have been closed. No posted hours. Sad, always enjoyed the atmosphere and grub. New owners have changed the place. Now we go to the old bait shop on the corner or the place at the marina. (Can't say names :-( ) read more

Definitely a diff vibe! Small dining area with all the heads watching hahaha! Ordered the fish and chips. Could have been more fries. Clam chowder was just ok. Server was super nice. read more

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Coldest beer in town !! Best pizza in town !! Best pastrami sandwich in town !! And the calamari is fire !! read more

Really cool place! Great service and drinks- loved it! The only issue is all the dead animals- it brings down the energy and makes me sad. If animals are gone I'll be back but not until. Thanks read more

Best restaurant in the entire Delta area. Ambience is excellent (unique African taxidermy on walls and photos from early 1900s)-300 heads), tables chairs and booths are in perfect condition, the floor, walls, tables are clean, condiment containers are full and clean to hold. Food was delicious - we had the catfish and a mixed burger (elk, boar, bison, wagyu) which came beautifully plated with fries in a fancy container. They care about every aspect of the dining experience. There's a full beverage selection from wines to beers. Service was impeccable - quick, friendly, and professional. 5 out of 5 Stars!!! read more

I have mixed reviews, about this place. Has great ambience. Lots to look at, very friendly waitress very nice, Food was great, ,went with a large group 13 people and they provided separate checks GREAT! pricing was questionable. Not sure to recommend this place, The night we went they had a special buy 1 lobster tail get second one free, When asked about the special was told, there was only 3 left. and she would check, came back and said they were all gone, when questioned about it she stated they had 7 when the opened. Disappointed. Waitress gave us the other specials and when asked the price, she quoted $$, Ok great we ordered drinks and they came back with different drinks than what we had ordered. Said sorry and went to get the correct drinks. Brought food, was done fantastically, great flavor and hot, which is hard when service 13 people. Got the bill and the specials were a higher price $$$ than quoted. (Ok I thought she forgot to give us the specials price?) when asked she said sorry honey I misquoted, and again questioned from other people that got the specials and the pricing was different-she says SORRY. That was it. Sorry. Bait and switch? read more

So glad we took a detour to Foster's Boghorn! Where else can you dine under the watchful gaze of an elephant that probably has more travel stories than you? The vintage African big game heads on the walls give the place a safari lodge vibe--minus the mosquitoes and ants, thankfully. As for the food, it's like a wild game night, but without the board games--just seriously tasty dishes that make you glad you're not vegetarian. A special shoutout to Lisette, who juggled our high-maintenance table like a pro. She deserves an award for keeping us all in line and still managing to smile through it. Five stars - and an extra star for the elephant's impeccable taste in decor! read more

Foster's Bighorn - Let's address the elephant in the room. - American Near Me - Rio Vista, California

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The food is really good, I love the prime rib on Thursday nights. The service is always great and pretty fast too. The ambience is questionable because of all the trophy hunting heads mounted all over the walls, but taking into consideration they are over 100 years old it is kinda of interesting vintage wise! BUT best of all! They have my favorite bartender of all times GARY. He's the best around and you're always guaranteed an excellent mixed drink or a good cold beer or glass of wine . read more

A must see!!! The collection of big game is amazing. The new owner 'Chris' has done a great job of 'spiffing' up the place.

Omg. Had the Prime Rib special. I think I died and went to Heaven! Current owner Chris; came over and enjoyed talking about the year Fosters was created was the same as my friend Alex Winkler's birth year- 1933! Its such a great place! Go! You won't be disappointed! read more

Foster's Bighorn - American Near Me - Rio Vista, California

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Allie Knapp was very helpful and communicated well to help me understand the vacation package that I had available and she gave me some great advice. Thank you, Allie!!! read more

Foster's Bighorn - Golden Gate Park windmill across from the Pacific Ocean. - American Near Me - Rio Vista, California

Excellent food. Had Elk hamburger, it was a treat. Service was excellent. I have been here in past. Looks like they have done alot of work to the place. Improvements were noted. An experience to enjoy. Well worth the drive. read more

Stopped in on our way back home to Galt. Hubby was excited but I wasn't sure about the "wall art". I must admit I was very pleasantly surprised! Super CLEAN! Friendly service. Happy hour specials on drinks and Hors d'oeuvres. The fish tacos were great!! Love the history! A must see/check out location! We will definitely be back! read more

The food was good and so was the service. The restaurant is open and clean. My brother came from New York and wasn't disappointed.

I thought I'd take a trip to Rio Vista to check out this restaurant. Went here for dinner and as we walked in. There was a nice big bar and the back portion was the restaurant seating area. Had a cute vibe to it with lots of animals on the wall. I ordered a hamburger w/fries, side salad and onion rings. Everything was good but the service could have been a little better. I asked for bread and she never brought me any. The other table around me had bread. She told me the bread was still being made. Find that kinda fun a I never got any. As she was walking around asking the other table how was your meal. She for got to ask how my meal. Thank goodness the food was pretty decent. My favorite had to be the onion rings. They were very crispy and they were topped with parmesan cheese. Anyway try the onion rings if you're ever in the area. Maybe I'll go back to try something else. read more

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The food was great. Loved the trophies. New menu from back in the day, ownership changed, but they have done a great job at sprucing up the place. I miss the old roast beef dinner they used to serve. My prime rib dip was awesome. And the ladies enjoyed their Chicken Marsala and Fish and chips. read more

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The walls covered with trophies is unmatched anywhere around, Tony's would be second. Very nice bar and good restaurant.

Walking in, I felt like I was walking into a cave. It's pretty dark. There's a very long bar when you walk in with a small dining area in the back. I ordered a BLT. It took quite a while for the food to come. The sandwich was decent but I have had better. I have to say, all of the dead animals hanging all over made me very uncomfortable. I would not have gone to the restaurant on my own but a friend was visiting and she wanted to check it out. It seems like a good place to hang out for the locals but it's just not my cup of tea. read more

Interesting spot. Dozens of old safari trophy heads on the walls. Many of them are over one-hundred years old. A unique place to have a beer or a meal. read more

Come one, come all, to the Halloween Horn Inspiration Palace! Pick out your horns for your next horned Halloween costume as you take in the farm to fork goodness of effortfully prepared dishes of Americana. Founded in 1933 as a veritable taxidermist's dream with multi-species trophy heads all over the walls, Foster's Bighorn is a unique dining experience that anyone who visits Rio Vista should experience. read more

This place is amazing if you are into hunting, wildlife, and adventure. There are trophies from all over the world: tigers, snow leopard, rhinos, elephant, mule deer, etc. There are no dinks. All the critters are trophy quality, top notch specimens. You can spend an hour or two here, easy. Lots of pictures with hand typed notes. This guy lived an amazing life of adventure. Food is good quality and you will be satisfied with whatever you order. read more

Great history in this place! Love the pictures and the taxidermy and the fact that they have a good menu.

incredible customer service! From the hostess, to the waitress, to the owner and his daughter. Served with a smile and a genuine sense of family they went above and beyond to make sure our dinner and experience was top notch. And the help with the uber ride was invaluable, :) read more

From the moment you walk into Foster's Bighorn, the heads of dead animals mounted on the walls will literally take your breath away. I can't even describe it, because as soon as I walked in with my husband and kids, my body went into shock. At one point my cousin was like "if you're not comfortable we can go somewhere else". Oh and the heads are all real. In the front you'll see pictures of when they were killed, mostly in Africa I believe. The biggest one was the elephant right in the middle of the room. As you're sitting in the dining area, you'll probably think and ask yourself, "How the hell did they get that head through the doors and onto the wall?" If you really want to know, walk down the steep ramp to the bathrooms. There should be an article on the wall that explains it. I had to rock my baby down for their nap, and it was the quietest area in the restaurant, so I started reading it, lol. I will say it's definitely a great conversation starter if this is your first time here. So, long story short, we came here last Friday with a huge group of family. We arrived early enough to be seated quickly. For anyone reading, we came around 4pm and there wasn't a wait on a Friday. Around 6pm it starts to get a bit crowded. For food, I ordered the prime rib dip with fries for $23 and the sliders for $21, and I thought it was really good. For my drink, I ordered the Cali Squeeze, and the taste reminded me of shock top - fruity and refreshing. Ok last thing, the bathrooms are down a steep ramp, so walk carefully. I feel like if you're wearing heels, you'd fall, so don't rush downstairs. Other than that, the bathrooms were clean, and the service was great. Overall, I'm not sure I would come back, but it was a great experience. I hope you enjoyed reading my review! read more

We visited around 3:30 place wasn't very busy. The host sat us down quickly. Then she disappeared for a great amount of time. She came back didn't offer any kind of apology or water while waiting she Took the drink order took 15 minutes for her to return and then it was like good luck catching her until the food was ready. On another note ever since this place sold the service and food preparation has gone downhill badly over cooked as well. read more