There’s a rustic steakhouse in rural Ashland, Nebraska that has an unusual claim to fame: it serves some of the best “nutz” around. Blink and you’ll miss this nondescript building at the end of a dusty driveway, so keep your eyes open and head out for a culinary adventure that you’re sure to remember. What are Bull Fries, you ask? According to most diners at Round the Bend Steakhouse, the answer is “delicious”!

Round the Bend Steakhouse in Ashland is known for a lot of things: great food, lots of fun, and a homey atmosphere that will leave you feeling like a local even if it's your first visit.
Jason Billue/Google Local
But it's probably best known for its bull fries - otherwise known as Rocky Mountain oysters, cowboy caviar, huevos de toro...in other words, deep-fried bull testicles.
Round The Bend Steakhouse/Facebook
The restaurant hosts the Testicle Festival every year. The event, which has been a tradition since 1993, brings hundreds of hungry and curious visitors who all want to load up on this unusual delicacy.
Round The Bend Steakhouse/Facebook
It's held in - where else? - the restaurant's Ball Room. The party spills outside onto the patio, too, where you can pull up a seat at a rustic cable spool table, listen to the live music, sip a cold beer or two, and enjoy all of the delicious offerings.
Shawn H/TripAdvisor
For those who are unfamiliar, bull fries are skinned, breaded, deep-fried bull testicles. They were originally considered a cowboy meal, but they've made their way onto plenty of restaurant menus around the country.
Round The Bend Steakhouse/Facebook

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They're reportedly gamey and have a flavor that's similar to venison. You don't have to wait for the next Testicle Festival to taste them - Round the Bend has a few varieties on its regular menu. You can get them in a combo meal with fries and coleslaw...
Czech Nebraskan/TripAdvisor
...Or, if you're a first-timer and want to try them out before you commit to a whole meal, you can order a "Buck a Nut" and pay $1 apiece for a taste of fried testicles.
Priscy P/Google Local
We would be remiss to skip over some of Round the Bend's other delicious offerings. On Friday evening and all day Saturday, the restaurant offers its juicy, cut-to-order prime rib that's been called some of the best in Nebraska.
Round The Bend Steakhouse/Facebook
Burgers are on the menu, too. One of our favorites is the Ballin' Out burger which includes two bull fries along with cheese, bacon, BBQ sauce, and a perfectly handcrafted beef patty.
Round The Bend Steakhouse/Facebook
And for you lighter eaters, there are salads, chicken, seafood, and more to sate your appetite. Rotating weekly specials keep it interesting, and you'll want to come back to try them all.
Round The Bend Steakhouse/Facebook
Whether you're visiting for the iconic Testicle Festival in NE or just stopping in for a delicious steak meal, Round The Bend Steakhouse is a true Nebraska gem that's bound to become your new favorite place.
McFerrid/TripAdvisor

Round the Bend’s annual Testicle Festival takes place on the Saturday of Father’s Day weekend – a date that was chosen intentionally by a restaurant that doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you’re up for some unpretentious fun, head on over to the steakhouse’s website or Facebook page and check out the menu and other happenings.

Have you ever tried bull fries? Give us your opinions in the comments! For another offbeat Nebraska institution, check out the Alpine Inn, where you’ll have some unexpected fellow diners!

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More to Explore

Bull Fries And More! The Most Unique Restaurants In Nebraska

Raymond Goldfield | March 07, 2023

What are the most unique restaurants in Nebraska? 

  • The Alpine Inn is a small roadside stop specializing in fried chicken, but everything about it is just a little off-kilter. The first sign that this is a unique restaurant is from the European-style aesthetic complete with stained glass windows. The menu is chicken-oriented, but it also has fried livers and gizzards - rare southern specialties you hardly see on the menu anymore. You'll eat your meal in the shadow of a massive tree filled with hungry raccoons gorging themselves on the restaurant's chicken scraps.
  • Brother Sebastian's has the most unusual theme of any restaurant in Nebraska - a peaceful monastery! All the employees here are dressed in the gear of monks, and the restaurant is filled with peaceful and melodic chanting. The fare here is anything but spartan, though - it's a high-end steakhouse, featuring high-quality cuts of beef and an extensive wine list.
  • Monster Club Pub & Grub is located in Omaha, and is a very different kind of temple - a temple to the old-school of monster movies! This themed bar-and-grill features Frankenstein's monster, the Wolfman, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon along with more modern horror-movie rogues. There is memorabilia all over the place at this family-friendly restaurant, but the food is anything but scary - it's traditional fare including burgers and fish-and-chips.

 

What are the oldest restaurants in Nebraska?

  • Johnny's Cafe has been holding court in Omaha for over a hundred years, opening in 1922. This moderately priced steakhouse has a kitschy atmosphere with decor that feels like it comes from decades past, but the food is definitely not past its prime. You'll find hearty steaks, along with an extensive sandwich selection and some classic Italian favorites.
  • Orsi's Italian Bakery opened in 1919, and is believed to be the oldest Italian restaurant in Nebraska. The great thing about Italian cuisine is, the classics rarely change too much - which means this laid-back restaurant is still serving the same great pizzas and calzones! A wall features pictures from the restaurant's long history. Make sure not to leave without getting some of their famous cannoli!

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Round the Bend Steakhouse, 30801 E Park Hwy, Ashland, NE 68003, USA