LOCAL PAIRINGS Buffalo House - A Duluth destination for great food, camping, and year-round recreation

If you’re a local, chances are excellent that you’re familiar with the Buffalo House restaurant. Located at 2590 Guss Road, Buffalo House is just 10 minutes from downtown Duluth, but also tantalizingly close to Cloquet, Carlton and Esko.

You can’t miss its mascot – a giant buffalo statue – standing by, vigilantly announcing the entrance to the 150-acre property. Featuring the well-known Buffalo House restaurant, Buffalo Junction event center, softball fields, Buffalo Valley Campground, and more, this all-things-buffalo Duluth destination is a one-stop shop for tasty vittles and year-round recreation.

And if it’s food you’re after, Buffalo House has you covered. Featuring great made-fromscratch food including burgers, appetizers, seafood, Mexican dishes and more, there is something for everyone.

And, yep: they even serve buffalo.

Rich family history

George Stoyanoff opened Buffalo House in 1972. After his passing in 2008, his children, Scott Stoyanoff and Shelly Stoyanoff Huffman, took the reins. Our excellent server for tonight’s dining adventure is also a member of the clan: Stoyanoff Huffman’s 19-year-old daughter, Paige Hill, who started here as a

By Andrea Busche

dishwasher several years ago.

Although buffalo once roamed the estate, today the only place you’ll find them is on the menu. But the iconic name, which is woven tightly with the rich family legacy, remains.

Scratch-made classics

The Buffalo House restaurant has a Northwoods-lodgey feel. The tables are made of thick, lacquered wood, and there is ample seating in both the dining room and bar area for small groups, as well as larger gatherings.

Much of their food is made from scratch, including their bread, dressings and soups. The restaurant offers daily, themed food and drink specials with happy hour running from 3-6 p.m. During happy hour, appetizers are discounted and you can buy buckets of four beers for $17.

Buffalo burgers

We had a “when in Rome” moment, and decided to order up a pair of buffalo burgers – one served with regular fries and one with waffle fries. We also tried a cup of the amazingly creamy chicken wild rice soup. We paired our fare with a Leinenkugel’s Honey Weiss and a Two Harbors-brewed Castle Danger Cream Ale.

Neither Mike nor I had ever tried a buffalo burger, and we weren’t quite sure what to expect. We agreed they tasted very similar to a regular hamburger, but perhaps a little chewier. According to Stoyanoff Huffman, they are a much healthier, leaner alternative to beef. The burgers were served on square, pillow-soft buns that are baked in-house. The burgers are huge, and can satisfy even the heartiest appetite.

We both loved our burgers, both varieties of hot, crispy fries, and the rich, creamy soup, and have plans to repeat the whole enterprise sometime soon. Bonus tip: Buffalo House’s waffle fries taste amazing when dunked in their homemade ranch dressing. Thanks, Paige!

One-stop shop

With great food and service, an upbeat atmosphere, and plenty of opportunities to recreate, Buffalo House is a one-stop shop for family fun – convenient for country dwellers and city slickers alike. And no matter what you’re craving, whether it’s ribs, breaded cod, prime rib, salad, or burgers … buffalo and otherwise … there is something on the menu for everyone. For more information, please visit buffalohouseduluth.com. While you’re there, be sure to check out their informational video, produced by Duluth.com!