Big Horn Restaurant - ESTES PARK

Must have gone on an off day. My husband's BBQ was mushy with too much sauce added. My brisket was good but my sweet potato fries were extra greasy. Corn casserole was tasty. We prefer BBQ without sauce added before serving.

Don't normally give amazing reviews but this place was on FIRE! One hour wait and I would have waited 3hrs. Incredibly ridiculous tasty food. EVERYTHING, and I mean everything was just pure GOLD! Best Barbecue place I have ever been too. Their tangy sauce I tried to steal...seriously it's that good! I had a friend there that was trying to suck the marrow out of that bone like Linda Lovelace! Insanity!

Smokin' Dave's is an American BBQ restaurant here in Colorado. This one in Estes Park is, in fact, the original location that open in 2007. They also have locations in Lyons, Longmont, and Denver. I haven't eaten here in a long time. Not for any particular reason, it just hasn't happened. I discovered their Denver location in 2020 and remember liking their tried and true take on BBQ. They don't specialize in one specific region, but rather pull from their favorites i.e. Texas brisket or St. Louis ribs. After a spectacular morning at Rocky Mountain National Park, Smokin' Dave's seemed like a fitting meal to recharge the batteries. The patio was full, so I buckled up at the bar since a refreshing beer was also on my radar. I do have to point out that the service was a little absent at first. The host told me to seat myself at the bar, and a few bartenders didn't greet me for quite some time. Pet peeve of mine when I acknowledge the staff before they do to me, but eventually someone came over. The two meat platter was the move after a hike. It comes with two sides and cornbread. My platter included the aforementioned Texas brisket and St. Louis ribs. I also ordered baked beans and coleslaw as my sides. The ribs are bar none some of the best I've had in Colorado. They're meaty, unctuous, and pull off the bone perfectly. No sauce required if you ask me! The brisket was also very good. Juicy and tender, with the fatty pieces stealing the show. For sides, the baked beans were in a thin sauce which I would have preferred thicker, but still delicious. They are cooked with meat and very flavorful. The coleslaw I could've done without personally. Also, why don't they serve mac and cheese here? I would've LOVED mac and cheese! Smokin' Dave's is a super reliable BBQ restaurant with succulent meats and a solid beer list. Whether you're checking out the OG in Estes or one of their other locations, odds are you'll get a damn good meal!

My husband says Smokin' Dave's deserves 7/5 stars. They're that good. Standout hits at our table included the bison ribs (with a to-die-for sauce), the corn casserole, and the mashed potatoes. We were sat quickly, wait was way shorter than we were originally told. Angel took incredible care of our table. Service was excellent. Food came out hot and as ordered, even with some strange substitutions and requests.

Getting beer and bbq after a long day of hiking truly is the best, but I was a bit disappointed with our choice to eat at Smokin Dave's. The chicken was definitely the best quality meat go with that. The brisket was an up charge on the 2 meat plate and it was sooo dry and flavorless. Drenching it in bbq sauce was the only way to get through it which is super disappointing for a bbq staple. My boyfriend got the pulled pork sandwich and it was really unimpressive. A bun, 3 slices of pickle, and a really skimpy amount of dry pork which also needed to be drenched in sauce. Service and atmosphere was fun though; if I ever come back, it'll be for the beer and chicken.