While visiting Denver, we rented a car and decided to start exploring the other areas of Colorado. We drove the Rocky Mountain National Park and saw some of the most beautiful scenery. Everything was so green with only the peaks of the mountains having a little snow on top.
One of the small towns we drove through was Grand Lakes. Several years ago, when Colorado had those massive wildfires, Grand Lakes came really close to being destroyed. As you drive through the outskirts of town, the devastation of the forest can still be seen all these years later.
It was lunch time while we were in Grand Lakes, so we decided to stop at Sagebrush BBQ & Grill. It was a local place filled with Western décor.
What made me excited about this restaurant was their menu of wild game meat. There were several I have never had before and was looking forward to trying. The first thing I tried was the Buffalo Red Chili. It was ground buffalo, and it was tender. It really tasted like beef when it was combined with the red beans and the chili seasoning that was extremely savory.
For my main lunch meal, I ordered the Rocky Mountain Elk Burger. The large patty was topped with Swiss cheese, smoked bacon, and a raspberry chipotle sauce. Of course, there was lettuce, tomato, and onion included. The elk meat was juicy, and it seemed to fall apart easier than a beef patty. There was a slight gamey taste to the elk, but it disappeared from the saltiness of the Swiss cheese and the sweetness from the raspberry sauce. I was really surprised how great the burger tasted with the sauce.
I got French fries with my burger and instead of using ketchup, I decided to use their homemade BBQ sauce. The sauce was sweet with a slight peppery flavor.
To wash down the burger I tried a unique bottled soda. The brand was called Old Centennial and the flavor was Orange Cream Soda. The soda was not overly sweet. The flavor of the orange was subtle but there really was a creamy taste to the soda even though it was not actually creamy.
I also got to try the Buffalo Meatloaf Sandwich. They baked their meatloaf in a red tomato sauce. The buffalo was seasoned nicely, and it stayed moist through the baking process. They served it on a baguette. This bread was able to hold up well even with all the sauce that was on the meatloaf. There was also a generous portion of mashed potatoes and gravy on the side.
If you are interested in trying different game meats, then Sagebrush is for you. There are several other types of game dishes to try; However, if you are not feeling adventurous they do have some traditional meats as well.
Check them out at www.sagebrushbbq.com
Enjoy!
T
