The Pioneer Saloon: Best Eats in Ketchum Idaho

My first time ever in Ketchum Idaho I was taken to the Pioneer Saloon for dinner. The exterior of the building is nice and inviting. When we walked in I realized the front half of the building is a bar. They have these little nooks with red benches inlaid for seating. It looked pretty cool and interesting but I was starving and confused on where the restaurant part was. Fortunately a waitress came right up to us and asked if we wanted to have dinner. We told her yes and she got us seated immediately.

The restaurant part of the Pioneer Saloon is so thrilling to the eye. They have rustic antiques placed strategically to entertain you while you eat. Right next to our booth there was a plaque of barbed wire. On the top of the plaque it informs you that they are the different types original wires that were used throughout the Magic Valley. There was also a large bull’s head on the wall across from us. Which helped give it a country/rugged feel. There were really just all sorts of interesting decorations all over the place. Especially the bathrooms. The Men’s (not personally I just had my boyfriend get the picture for me), and the Women’s both of which had pictures and decorations that caught the eye. I liked the women’s bathroom sink

Our booth was right next to the grill, but anywhere you are you can see the chef grilling food. I love it when restaurants make it so you can see the process your food takes to get to your plate. At the Pioneer Saloon they even cut their own steaks/meat. The steaks cooking on the grill look thick, juicy, and amazing. I ordered the shrimp and beef kabob combination ($22.95). This meal was absolutely amazing! I asked for my meat well done and it was perfect. The edges of the steak were crisply charred, just enough for perfect flavor while remaining extremely juicy. It was served with a side of what tasted like a soy/teriyaki mixture. The vegetables were your average green pepper, onion, and red pepper which were charred on the edges but still slightly crispy to the bite.

The peppers were sweet bringing in a great mixture with the juicy steak. I was shocked when I bit into one piece of my kabob…It was a Mushroom! It was sooooo good! It was totally unexpected but wonderful. The mushroom was such a great mix I will probably even use it on my own kabobs in the future. My meal also came with shrimp which were butterflied in the shell, seasoned and served with a slice of lemon and a dish of melted butter. Very good flavor. There was seasoned rice on the side which was average compared to the rest of the food, but still really good.

My companion had the 8oz. sirloin special. This meal came with a blue cheese butter dip, which I’m told was really good especially on such a juicy steak. I however am not a fan of blue cheese so we will have to take their word on it. It also came with seasoned rice and a side of grilled onions. The onions were soooo good! They were caramelized and sweet to the taste, not stringy at all. (This meal was on special for $19.95).

Our table was served with a loaf of bread. Which was a hard bread (one of my personal favorites) and tasted like sourdough (another of my favorites). The bread loaf had notches sliced in the side for easier tearing. Both of our meals came with a fresh salad first. The salad was crispy and beautifully arranged. The lettuce was piled up in the middle and the tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots were placed along one edge. We ordered ranch as our dressing and it was exquisite.

The waitresses were all friendly. Our water glasses were never empty, and they kept checking on us to make sure we were ok. If your ever in Ketchum Idaho I suggest eating at the Pioneer Saloon. I rate them 5 out of 5 stars for their Ruggedly Amazing Food and Atmosphere.

Source: Personal Opinion/ Experience


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