After our train ride Leaf Peeping In Leadville, we decided to have lunch in Leadville too. We chose the iconic Silver Dollar Saloon.
The Silver Dollar Saloon has been around since 1879, 147 years, and is still going strong today. If walls could talk, these walls would have so many stories to tell, and each one would blow your mind. It is a living relic from the days of the wild, wild west. Doc Holliday was a permanent fixture in this bar for the last six years of his life and his old piano is still in the back corner of the bar. Molly Brown and her husband used to frequent the Silver Dollar Saloon too, as did many other historical persons of interest from the days of the wild, wild west. It is still wild today as well, just in a different way; or is it? 🙂
The Silver Dollar Saloon is legendary in many ways, and it was packed to the gills. People were being told there was a long wait to be seated. Larry and I were lucky, and were seated pretty quickly. We sat at a high top table in the bar. Almost everything in the restaurant is the original from when it first opened.
Doc Holliday’s piano is in the back right corner, on the stage.
As I was taking pictures, Kevin, the Manager and Bobbi, our bartender/server wanted to be recognized as well. They are definitely part of this living legend and deserve to get their names in the books of history too.
The food was deliciously rustic and wild, just as you would expect with such a wild restaurant. 🙂 I have been craving a burger now for quite some time, so a burger just hit the spot for me. But it wasn’t any ordinary burger. No, no! It was a big Yak burger. I don’t think I had ever eaten yak before, but it was definitely delicious. I can add it to my list of exotic foods, which is ever growing. Another wild, exotic item I was considering was the rabbit and rattlesnake sausage sandwich. I have eaten both before too, and both are also very tasty. But the yak burger won out; this time.
Larry ordered a lamb French dip sandwich, which was also very good. Because the restaurant was so packed and busy, the food took awhile to get to us. We were perfectly fine waiting. We took in all the scenery and stories as we were waiting. But Bobbi thought we had been waiting too long, and brought over a fresh Caprese salad for us to enjoy as well. I know the tomatoes were super fresh, because I saw them in little containers in the back while I was walking around. We had the last of them too. Someone else saw our salad and wanted to order one, but I think we got one of the last ones available for the day.
If you are adventurous, and/or a history buff, especially for the days of the wild, wild west, you DEFINITELY need to go check out the Silver Dollar Saloon when you visit Leadville. Both the town and the restaurant will have stories to tell that will knock your socks off, AND they are all true too. Some things, you just can’t make up. 🙂
Life is short. Sometimes you just have to walk on the wild side and live “dangerously” every now and then. Get those juices flowing and enjoy the wild, ride. Have a great day and make everyday great. ‘Til next time.
