Editor’s Note: As of August 2020, Foster’s Bighorn is temporarily closed.
Located at the eastern end of Solano County is the quaint town known as Rio Vista. Home to just 7,360, the town isn’t really a hot spot for tourists but locals seem to be happy with their charming little community. If you found yourself driving through it, you wouldn’t believe there was any unique attractions worth stopping for. You’d be wrong. Rio Vista is home to one of the strangest restaurants in all of California and it’s definitely the type of place you need to see to believe. This unique restaurant is well worth a visit…but maybe not if you’re a vegetarian.
Along Rio Vista's main street is a beloved local restaurant known as Foster's Bighorn. From the outside, it looks like any other small town pub and eatery. However, once you step inside you'll see that there's simply no other place like this in the world.
Foster's Bighorn happens to be home to one of the largest and strangest taxidermied animal collections known to man. Lining the walls of this seemingly innocuous restaurant are hundreds upon hundreds of big game animal heads.
All in all, there are approximately 300 animals hanging from these walls. All of them were collected by a man named Bill Foster who took a serious interest in big game hunting during the 1930s. He passed away in 1963 but his massive collection lives on (sort of).
Among the many, many specimens you'll observe in the restaurant are an African Elephant, walrus, giraffe, and a moose with 76-inch wide moose antlers. Back when the bar opened in 1931, this was the only way many people could get a look at these majestic animals.
The tavern-like restaurant is open every day from 10:00 am to 12:00 am. The mounted animal heads aren't the only thing that you'll remember. The food is pretty dang good, too!
The restaurants serves good ol' fashioned comfort food that will remind you of your mom's cooking. Dig into a big, juicy steak or a rack of baby back ribs.
Their lunch menu boasts a variety of hearty sandwiches that are sure to satisfy, such as the smothered Prime Rib sandwich on grilled sourdough pictured below. It may not be gourmet but it tastes downright delicious. After all, that's really all that matters.
If you consider yourself an avid meat eater or hunter, you'll feel as if you've reached paradise at Foster's Bighorn. You can pay them a visit at 143 Main St, Rio Vista, CA 94571.
Did you know about this incredibly unique restaurant? It’s hard to believe such a notable taxidermy collection is hiding in little ol’ Rio Vista! Check out our list of 12 Restaurants In Northern California To Visit Before You Die for more one-of-a-kind gems.
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