The Fort Restaurant

The Fort Restaurant is an award-winning establishment located in Dakota Ridge, Colorado. The restaurant is a unique adobe replica of Bent’s Fort, an important fur-trading post from the 19th century. The Fort specializes in “New Foods of the Old West,” recreating popular recipes from the 19th century with a modern twist. Their menu features regional game such as bison, elk, and quail, alongside seasonal fish and vegetarian dishes influenced by American Indian and Mountain Man cuisine. The restaurant draws inspiration from the diets of pioneers, mountain men, Native American tribes, and Mexican and Spanish traders who once frequented the Santa Fe Trail. A rare cookbook library with over 3,000 volumes informs their culinary creations. The Fort is renowned worldwide for its buffalo specialties, serving over 70,000 bison dinners annually, more than any other independently owned restaurant in the country. For dining reservations or inquiries, visit The Fort's website at thefort.com.