Thunder and Buttons II

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Filed by John "Prairie Dog" O’Byrne, Former Disturber of Colorado Avenue (Est. 1888) I have returned from the late 19th century to inspect what has become of my beloved Old Colorado City. I am pleased to report: the spirit remains intact. Upon entering Thunder & Buttons II — named for my elk, who once scandalized the civilized citizens by trotting where horses feared to tread — I expected reform, temperance, and disappointment. Instead, I found proper defiance. Ordered the Lunch Pail: beer and a shot. Efficient. Democratic. Frontier-approved. The keg sputtered mid-pour like an 1880s mining operation, which only confirmed authenticity. The barkeep (Chelsea — competent, sharp-witted, likely would have survived 1888) handled the chaos without flinching. Laughter loud enough to spook livestock. Respectable pour. Upstairs karaoke produced noises reminiscent of coyotes disputing territory under a high moon. Downstairs allowed for strategic planning and mild mischief — exactly as a Colorado Avenue establishment should. When I drove elk down this street, it was to annoy the uptown crowd. I am comforted to know the tradition continues. Five stars. Should the gentry object, I recommend they harness wildlife and build their own saloon. — J. "Prairie Dog" O’Byrne Elk Enthusiast. Civic Problem. OCC Loyalist.

Stopped by the day after Christmas around noon to check out their Rocky Mountain Oysters and also grab some other things for lunch before heading into Manitou Springs and it was pretty dang decent for lunch and the place was still quiet until a crowd came in around not too long after we did. We tried their : Rocky Mountain Oysters - 7/10 (not bad) Pikes Peak Nachos - 7.5/10 (wish the chips were a little less thin so the nachos didn’t get soggy so quickly) Wild Game Sausage Plate - 7/10 (the blueberry green chili jam and elk sausage is delicious) Whiskey bacon jam beef burger- 7.5/10 (pretty decent burger, love the battered fries) Fish and chips - 8/10 (battered fries and crispy battered cod) Overall customer service : 100000/10 even when they were with one less help that day. 10/10 would recommend. 10/10 would come back and try other dishes.

My husband and I went here for the first time today for lunch. It was DELICIOUS! We started off with a big pretzel with their signature beer cheese and oh my…. So good! I literally drank the beer cheese! I got the fish and chips and my hubby got the whiskey bacon jam burger. The fish and chips were great! Crispy, not soggy, and delicious! The whiskey bacon jam burger was SOOOOOOO delicious. I would go back again JUST for that burger! I had the Goat Patch Red Ale and a Sangria, both very good! The atmosphere is super inviting and cute! They do trivia, karaoke, live music, etc…. Highly recommend!

Cool spot. I will say, it was prob one of the more busier days and that’s why the service was the way it was but definitely didn’t hit the spot today. Got a Bloody Mary, the one I requested, they weren’t making today. Advertised one of the best in the area, strongly disagree but still good. Food tasty. Waitress got drink and food order quick. Food was brought out. Tried asking our waitress for another beer two separate times and she stormed off before hearing me out. Finished my meal without a refill of water. Not sure exactly what a living wage is in the receipt but sounds like something the establishment should pay… overall, okay experience.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thunder & Buttons II is exactly what Old Colorado City needs — unpretentious, welcoming, and actually fun. Chelsea behind the bar was on point all night. Quick, friendly, and handled everything smoothly even when things got busy. Great energy without being overbearing, which is harder to pull off than people think. Kept it simple: Labatt Blue and a shot of Kentucky Deluxe. Nothing fancy — just a classic beer-and-shot combo — and it hit the spot. Drinks were poured right and service stayed consistent. Upstairs karaoke was legit. People were committed, crowd was into it, and it added a whole extra layer to the night without overwhelming the downstairs vibe. Overall: solid drinks, great service, good crowd, and a spot that still feels like it belongs in OCC. Definitely coming back.

Cozy little bar/eatery that my wife and I pop in to during the weekend for a beer and a meal. The staff is always friendly, the majority of the beer is either Colorado based, and the food is delicious. I haven't checked it out at night but there is live music or if that isn't your thing I highly recommend stopping in for brunch on the weekends.

First off, the music was spot on. Nice classic rock. Southwest ceasar salad with grilled chicken. Very tasty. Elk chilli had just the right kick to it. Great drink choices as well.