the safari club thermopolis wy

Safari Club

Updated 2 months ago

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“ This restaurant is located in a hotel very close to Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis WY. ” in 2 reviews

“ One person had a steak, one had shrimp and I had a chicken sandwich . ” in 2 reviews

“ The prime rib was good and soaking Ajou to keep the meat moist. ” in 8 reviews

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115 E Park St

Thermopolis, WY 82443

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Food is very mediocre, at best. I ordered the chicken fried steak and it was bland while the edges were burnt. MIL said her potatoes (that came with the chicken fried steak) were also tasteless. I didn't mind mine - the gravy was actually decent. My daughter ate her chicken fingers and fries with no complaints. Husband had to Rib Eye with potatoes and he had to heavily season it with salt and pepper to be able to taste anything. He only ate half because it wasn't cooked correctly. And was very chewy. Spinach Artichoke Dip was good. Didn't have cheese curds and prime rib available when we went which was unfortunate. Service was great. Our waiter was extremely friendly. He was the only one hosting all the tables in the bar area so service took awhile. We were at the restaurant for almost 2.5 hours. Would we come back here? Probably not. It's great to come look at the pictures and taxidermy animals. However, the food isn't worth it.

Mediocre food, lots of trophy animals on the walls, nothing special even by hotel restaurant standards.

I have to say this place is awesome. The food was great. Everything. The steak was perfect, the shrimp was cooked perfect, the cheese curds and the salad. Best meal we've had in a long time, and we eat out a lot. . Teressa made great margaritas as well. I definitely recommend them by the pitcher. Hope you make it back sometime. Fantail Shrimp

Look . . . the place is full of mounted taxidermy'd animals. To some that will be a total turn off. Me? I've got a European mount of an elk skull or 2 hanging around (:-), showing the majesty of animals I've killed as food; but I'm not a big fan of folks who go hunting just to stuff it and put it on a wall. Seems like a lot of ego in exchange for an animal's life. Not a fair trade-off--and certainly not from the animal's perspective. So as you'll see from the pics attached that display of ego knows few limits concerning the former owners of the Thermopolis Hot Springs Hotel and Spa (in which the Safari Club is the establishment's restaurant). They, however, sold out a few years back and the place is now owned by a hotel chain that's kept the old name of the place (and restaurant). The food 3.5 stars. Good deals on drinks (stay there and get a 2-1 drink coupon good at the restaurant and the wine/beer selections are reasonably priced and decent). Generally an All-American menu (e.g., burgers, sandwiches, fries and the like) but with a few extras like trout, hand-cut steaks, roast beef, and don't forget the Rocky Mountain Oysters if ya wanna have a ball! But, no matter what anyone says about the food, its the preserved (once) wildlife and an incredible array of pictures from their worldwide hunting adventures that get everyone's attention. Would I return? Maybe. (The large hot tub of natural geo-thermal waters was fun and the other guests were down-home and neat to talk with). But if the hordes of dead things will offend you, you might well do better at one of the other local resorts/restaurants/hang-outs. Just sayin' David M

Three of us went in and ordered the prime rib. It was OK but not great. The baked potato was under cooked. Service was slow and as has been noted elsewhere the place is packed with taxidermy. Beer was good. I'd heard that the owner had a great display of hunting guns on display but he died and the family took it away.

Gave it a try even though the reviews weren't great on here. Jack Daniel's steak was pretty good. Everything was decently priced! Glad we tried it.

After a long day on the water fishing the Big Horn River in Thermopolis, WY, we thought we'd try the Safari Club for a drink. The woman sat us down and said she'd be right with us to take our order. Twenty minutes later and she never came over to take our order, despite taking orders from folks coming in after us. Not sure what the deal was, but we walked out. I would never recommend this place and will never be back. Disappointing, to say the least.

Cool stuff to look at, big portions, friendly but understaffed service. Great experience.

I've been here in the past and was sad to see the poor condition of this hotel. From bugs in the hallway lights to dirty floors, rooms were in poor condition. Our dinner was ok but I'm sad to say we'll find different accommodations our next trip. I hope they fix up this historic hotel. It used to be a gem

Interesting menu with a selection that you don't find at many places. Food had a better than i expected flavor. Service was above average. I personally liked the way they had it decorated. I would come back. In this small town I'm sure this is the best in the area.

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The Most Unusual Restaurant In Wyoming Needs To Be Experienced To Be Believed

The Safari Club in Thermopolis, Wyoming offers a unique dining experience with walls covered in taxidermy animals and a menu featuring hand-cut steaks and comfort food.

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Wyoming has plenty of restaurants that serve tasty steaks and burgers, but there's a restaurant in Thermopolis that has the most unusual atmosphere that you've ever seen. For a one-of-a-kind dining experience, you need to visit The Safari Club.

The Safari Club is located at the Days Inn in Thermopolis. The address for the restaurant is 115 E Park St., Thermopolis, WY 82443.

From the moment you walk up to the restaurant's entrance inside the hotel, you'll see that it has more to offer than just delicious dining options.

The walls of the dining room are covered with taxidermy animals of all different species.

Many of the animals are arranged in scenes that depict their natural behavior.

Jim Mills harvested most of the animals on display here over the last 56 years, and some are very rare.

You'll find animals from everywhere on the planet, except for the North and South Poles. While Mills spent years collecting the animals you see here, now he focuses on hunting with an archery shoot and release technique. After the animal is shot with a tranquilizer arrow, it's examined by veterinarians, measured, photographed and released back into the wild.

While there's plenty to look at inside The Safari Club, the food is another reason to visit. You'll find juicy hand-cut steaks on the menu...

...along with tasty burgers, sandwiches, seafood, pasta and more.

You might even look up from your plate to see a live animal staring through the window at you! Local deer love to congregate outside, amusing diners with their eavesdropping.

Have you seen dined at The Safari Club? What's your favorite mount there?

Wyomingites love tasty comfort food, and if you grew up here, then we bet you love these 10 classic dishes .

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For More Than 80 Years, Dining At Svilar’s In Wyoming Is Always A Timeless Experience

Mom-and-pop restaurants offer a unique experience that many restaurants can't: they make you feel like you're dining with family. Hidden gems among a bounty of swanky eateries, these (often) no-frills establishments serve up food made with heart, with menus consisting of recipes that have been passed down through the generations. Our state is home to a number of historic restaurants , many of which have attained iconic status over the years, but precious few are as rooted in local history as one particular small-town gem in west-central Wyoming. For a homey and familiar mom-and-pop dining experience, plus a hefty dose of mouthwatering steak done right, the historic Svilar's Bar & Steakhouse in Hudson is a worthy stop to add to your Wyoming cuisine explorations.

When a restaurant has stood the test of time for nearly a century, it's a clue that there are some pretty magical menu items being served up inside. Svilar's Bar & Steakhouse in Hudson, Wyoming is no exception! This family-owned hidden gem has been welcoming hungry diners since 1941, although the history of Svilar's goes back even further to 1912.

Svilar's has been tucked away between Lander and Riverton for decades now. But before its final iteration as a delicious local steakhouse and watering hole, Svilar's played many roles in the community, from a creamery and ice house to a service station, clothing store, bakery, and more. Even cigar production at one point!

Uniquely, the meat-centric era of this beloved small-town steakhouse first began as a love story.

In 1912, Dan Svilar, a recently-arrived transplant from his native Yugoslavia, purchased the Miner's Bar where the current restaurant now stands. As fate would have it, Bessie Sevenovich, a widow and fellow Yugoslavian, moved to Hudson with her children just a few years later. It was kismet.

What started out as the occasional opportunity to feed down-on-their-luck railroad workers gradually transformed into something bigger. Few could resist the lure of "Momma" Bessie Svilar's homemade fried chicken! The restaurant was made official in 1941, and to this day, Momma Svilar's recipes are still the backbone of the menu.

Since its humble beginnings, Svilar's has fueled up a number of celebrities and big names over the decades. Famous figures like Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, President John F. Kennedy, and even actor Roy Rogers, just to name a few, have dined in this very space.

This historic restaurant in Wyoming definitely has some stories to tell!

Today, you may or may not find yourself seated in a vintage red booth across the way from a celebrity, but you'll definitely be sharing a delicious dining experience with some friendly faces and fantastic new friends. Locals already know that Svilar's is a treasure and will welcome you with open arms to Hudson.

You'll also be treated to a phenomenal meal, whipped up using many of the same recipes Momma Svilar herself used.

Whether grilled at a backyard barbeque, served cowboy-style at a chuckwagon dinner, or seared to perfection at one of our state's most beautiful restaurants, we all know that steak is always on the menu here in Wyoming. And always in season! Fortunately for hungry diners, the steaks at Svilar's are fork-tender and perfectly cooked to your preference.

They were added to the Svilar's menu in 1950.

Momma Svilar's world-famous fried chicken (Chicken in the Rough) is definitely a crowd favorite, along with the incredibly unique and flavorful sarma.

This international take on the classic cabbage roll is absolutely PACKED with filling and out-of-this-world flavor. This delicious and unexpected menu item seems to be hiding some sort of centuries-old magic as well, as it pairs perfectly with absolutely everything on the menu. This tasty side is also hand-rolled and made fresh, just like Momma Svilar made it.

And the homemade ravioli… this is old-world comfort food at its finest. Even today every ravioli is made and filled by hand!

Served under a generous ladle of wood spoon-stirred sauce and you've got yourself something special.

Over 80 years later, Svilar's is still in the family of Dan and Momma Svilar.

The restaurant has been passed down over the years from child to child to grandchild and is now managed by a long-time employee of the restaurant. It's all in the (extended) family here!

And from the moment you walk in, you'll feel like part of the Svilar family too!

We LOVE featuring hidden gems like these! Have you ever visited Svilar's Bar & Steakhouse in Hudson? This is a fantastic place to grab a drink or a hearty meal with friends! Check out the Svilar's Bar & Steakhouse Facebook page to stay on top of hours and specials. While you're at it, nominate your favorite small-town place to dine!

If you're looking for more local dining gems to tuck into, Svilar's is just one of the many humble little restaurants in Wyoming that we can't get enough of and if you plan to visit Hudson on a road trip, don't forget the delicious road trip snacks !

8 Unassuming Restaurants To Add To Your Wyoming Dining Bucket List

Discover some of the best unassuming hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Wyoming.

There is an old saying: "Don't always judge a book by its cover." The same goes for restaurants in Wyoming. Just because a restaurant doesn't quite look up to par, it doesn't mean that the food they serve isn't good. Some of the best food in Wyoming can be found at some of the most unexpected places. Here is our list of the best unassuming hole in the wall restaurants in Wyoming.

1. Silver Spur Cafe

This is one restaurant that you will not leave hungry. Silver Spur Cafe is a mom 'n pop style diner that is located at 832 N. Main Street in Sheridan. Be sure to try one of their cinnamon rolls, pancakes and omelet. This is a great stop for breakfast. If you're there for lunch, check out the bacon cheeseburger around.

2. The Kaffee Klatsch

If you are looking for a different dining experience, then check out the Kaffee Klatsch. For breakfast they serve breakfast sandwiches and for lunch, they serve dishes such as calzone, chicken cordon-bleu, a pulled pork sandwich and a German specialty. Kaffee Klatsch is located at 701 Washington Blvd. in Newcastle.

3. The Busy Bee Cafe

The Busy Bee is a favorite dining spot for both locals and visitors. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in a dining room that overlooks Clear Creek. Some of their dinner specials include chicken fried steak, ribs, steak and beef. The Busy Bee Cafe is located at 10 N. Main Street in Buffalo.

Su Casa serves some of the best Mexican food in Wyoming. A lot of people go to Sinclair just to eat at Su Casa. Some of their menu items include enchiladas, sopaipillas, sandwiches, tostadas and fajitas. This Mexican restaurant is located at 705 Lincoln Avenue in Sinclair.

5. The Antelope Bar And Paisley Shawl Restaurant

Antelope Bar & Paisley Shawl Restaurant is known for its Certified Angus Beef. Some of its main entrees consist of steak (some of the best steaks in Wyoming! ), bone-in pork chops, shrimp, and chicken. This quaint restaurant is located in the Higgins Hotel in Glenrock.

6. Svilar's Bar And Steak House

Although the interior isn't that appealing, the steak at Svilar's Bar And Steak House is exquisite. The recipes are originally from a Yugoslav family who fed the coal miners and cowboys. They also serve traditional Yugoslavian ravioli, sarma, homemade pickled goodies and bread. Their beef comes from local ranchers.

7. Branding Iron

The Branding Iron is located at the base of the Wind River Range at 13882 US Highway 189/191 in Bondurant. Their lunch menu consists of burgers and sandwiches and their dinner menu items include chicken, salmon, pork and steak. You'll find delicious food at this down-to-earth rustic restaurant.

8. Tumblin Tumbleweeds

Editor's Note: Tumblin Tumbleweeds is permanently closed.

Tumblin Tumbleweeds exudes a welcoming western atmosphere and serves amazing food. Some of its chicken dishes included the apple & onion chicken, chicken fried steak, bourbon chicken and chicken & dumplings.

Have you ever been to this/to any of these longstanding restaurants in Wyoming? If so, which ones were your favorites? Would you agree that these are among the best small town restaurants in Wyoming? What other hole in the wall restaurants in Wyoming would you add to the list? We'd love to read about your experience in the comments section below!

We know that some of out there are big foodies, and take lots of culinary road trips. You might consider trying these awesome food containers for snacks in between your gastronomic adventures!

If you’re in the mood for more Wyoming adventures, take a look at this video:

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