MISSOULA AND WESTERN MONTANA - Montana and Wyoming - page 288

FOOD
In keeping with the number of strip malls in town, Kalispell has an abundance of chain
restaurants, many of them quite good, like Mackenzie River Pizza (2230 U.S. 93 S., 406/
756-0060, www.mackenzieriverpizza.com/Kalispell.htm , lunch and dinner daily, $8-16),
which serves pies from the traditional to the gourmet, and rounds out the menu with a
healthy selection of sandwiches, pasta dishes, salads, and appetizers. Located adjacent to
the Hilton Garden Inn, Blue Canyon Kitchen & Tavern (1840 Hwy. 93 S., 406/758-2583,
www.bluecanyonrestaurant.com , $19-27) offers everything from flatbread and salads to
bison shepherd pie and elk meatloaf. They also offer half portions of many of the savory
entrées, which is easier on the waistband and the wallet. There are also some fantastic local
restaurants that are well worth finding. The Knead Café (25 2nd Ave. W., 406/755-7510,
www.theknead.com , 8am-3pm Tues.-Sat.) is a great little Mediterranean-inspired breakfast
and lunch joint that rightly calls itself a “spirited fusion of food, art, and music.” An ex-
cellent choice for a gourmet dinner is the family-friendly Jagz Restaurant (3796 Hwy.
2 E., 406/755-5303, www.jagzrestaurant.com , 4:30pm-close daily, $7-30), which serves a
wide assortment of steaks, seafood, and pasta. Hops Downtown Grill (121 Main St., 406/
755-7687, www.hopsmontana.com , 5pm-close Mon.-Sat., $9-19) is known for an exquisite
selection of craft beer and gourmet burgers—from wild boar and buffalo to yak and good
ol' American Kobe beef. Chicken, lasagna, ribs and steak round out the menu.
Whitefish has a surprising number of excellent restaurants. One of the all-around best
places to go for a hearty, delicious meal is the budget-friendly Buffalo Café & Nightly
Grill (514 3rd St., 406/862-2833, www.buffalocafewhitefish.com , 7am-2pm and 5pm-9pm
Mon.-Sat., 8am-2pm Sun., breakfast and lunch $4.50-9.75, dinner $8.50-18). From old-
fashioned milk shakes and blueberry granola pancakes to Mexican specialties and baby
back ribs, this local favorite has mastered comfort food for more than 30 years. And the
service is first-class and speedy.
When breakfast or pie (or any meal whatsoever) is on the docket, one should not
overlook the incredible M Loula's Café (300 2nd St. E., 406/862-5614,
www.whitefishrestaurant.com , 7am-4pm Mon.-Wed., 7am-4pm and 5pm-10pm Thurs.-
Sun.). Breakfast ($6.50-10.50) is everything from Chubby Yuppie Scrambles to Ski Bum
Biscuits and Gravy, eggs Benedict and breakfast burritos. Save room for pie. Lunch ($6-10)
is a selection of mouthwatering burgers, sandwiches, soups, and salads. And pie. Don't for-
get the pie. Dinner can be a more sophisticated affair with changing menus that pair specials
with wine. And pie! If you happen to be in Loula's when the pies come out of the oven and
you don't jump to buy at least one, you will regret it for the remainder of your trip. I'm not