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    Foster's Bighorn

    3.9 (368 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Bars
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Foster's Bighorn Takeout or Delivery

    Foster's Bighorn Photos

    FOSTER'S BIGHORN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Foster's Bighorn

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    Outdoor sign
    Jason S.

    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.

    Eric T.

    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.

    Cindy W.

    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 .

    Robert B.

    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

    Teresa C.

    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.

    Trophies at Fosters in the bar
    Julie P.

    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.

    Chicken Marsala
    Dennis H.

    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.

    Nice and appetizing, however don't ask for the end cut the meat was over done and dry. The onion rings were on point.
    Michael D.

    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.

    Pastrami sandwich

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    3 months ago

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    13 days ago

    Delicious food, fast service and family oriented. Love the back story of the restaurant and its many attractions on the walls.

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    2 months ago

    Fun place! Great friendly service. Exotic setting with elephant, giraffe and others. Go see!

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    11 months ago

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

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    8 months ago

    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.

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    Page 1 of 10

    Ask the Community - Foster's Bighorn

    Is this a kids friendly place?

    Yes! There’s a restaurant area in the back, that is away from the bar area in the front. We just took our 13 and 5 year old and they enjoyed all the cool animals on the walls.

    Do they have ADA seating ot tables?

    Yes, the rear dining room has movable tables and chairs. Room to accommodate everyone!

    Are you still open for business?

    Yes

    Are you open for outdoor dining now?

    No, it's strictly indoor dining

    Open for sitdown?

    Yes, even front counter, like in the old days.

    How is the beer? At least one IPA?

    Yes

    View All 7 Questions

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    Peter's Steak House - Shrimp Cocktail

    Peter's Steak House

    4.0(268 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $$

    Stopped here for dinner one weekend when we were staying at Ko-Ket. The owners are so incredibly…read morefriendly and sociable. The food was really nice and not expensive. Also, inside does not match the outside. It is very clean, well kept and spacious. They really take care of this old historic building. And the owner (Sorry I cant remember his name) used to be a chef/cook at the old Hotel Del Rio and IYKYK how good their prime rib was. :) I had the prime rib, obviously. I find it hard to believe that anyone would have a bad experience here. We definitely will be back.

    came here with a group of about 15 of us and i really hate to say it, but we just felt like a…read moreburden to the staff. we asked for waters all around, but the waitress only brought waters to those who didn't order another drink. once we finished our drinks and asked for water, she threw her hands up and said, "oh now you all want water?!" when my husband was ordering his salad and asked for ranch on the side, the server rudely asked, "why?" like it was such an inconvenience. she also seemed annoyed when one person in our party didn't want their water refilled in their soda cup. little interactions like these just made us feel unwelcome throughout the meal. moving on to the food... most of us ordered the prime rib since that's what they're known for. it looked like it was cooked perfectly, but unfortunately it ended up being really chewy. i hate leaving bad reviews, but i just felt like both the service and the food were really disappointing. i was hoping for a much better experience ):

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    Foster's Bighorn - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

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