BUTTE, HELENA, AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA - Montana and Wyoming - page 316

Dr., 406/494-6999, www.lq.com , $119-139); Motel 6 (122005 Nissler Rd., 406/782-5678
or 800/466-8356, www.motel6.com , $47-67); and Super 8 (2929 Harrison Ave., 406/
494-6000 or 800/454-3213, www.super8.com , $67-96).
FOOD
No other Montana town can match the culinary history and culture of Butte. The Butte
pasty, inspired by the Cornish dish, is a flaky pastry filled with meat and potatoes for the
ultimate miner's lunch; when in Butte, it is the thing to try. The Gamer's Café (15 W. Park
St., 406/723-5453, 7am-2pm Mon.-Sat., $5-8) is a quaint little spot, founded in 1905, that
feels like an old ice-cream parlor. There are no irritating keno machines, despite the name
(those are next door in the casino), and the home-cooked food is excellent. Breakfast is
served all day, and lunches include homemade soups, burgers, and sandwiches. Still, this
is Butte, and you've got to try a pasty: The ones here are made with New York steak from
Montana beef and potatoes grown just down the road in Twin Bridges. Don't miss the apple
dumpling for dessert, warm with a scoop of ice cream.
For a rare treat and a step back in time, head to Matt's Place (2339 Placer St., 406/
782-8049, 11:30am-6:45pm Mon.-Sat. first Mon. in Mar.-the week before Christmas, $6-9),
which reigns as the oldest drive-in in Montana. Open since 1930, Matt's is loaded with an-
tiques—don't miss the old Coke machine—and is famous for their pork chop sandwiches
and nut burgers (topped with ground peanuts and mayonnaise), both of which ought to be
washed down with one of Matt's world-class milk shakes. Although not exactly healthy, a
meal at Matt's is a unique and worthwhile experience.
Another fun and historic establishment is the Pekin Noodle Parlor (117 Main St., 406/
782-2217, 5pm-10:30pm Sun.-Mon. and Wed.-Thurs., 5pm-3am Fri.-Sat., $6-12), serving
Chinese and American food. The place is casual and utterly authentic.
The locals love Fred's Mesquite Diner (205 S. Arizona St., 406/723-4440, 11am-9pm
daily, $8-30), a casual place with ample outdoor seating and the best ribs and kebabs in
town.
Long considered the best restaurant in Butte, the M Uptown Café (47 E. Broadway,
406/723-4735, www.uptowncafe.com , 11am-2pm and 5pm-close Mon.-Fri., 5pm-close
Sat., 4pm-close Sun., lunch $7.50, dinner specials from $14.50, entrées from $18.50) is a
gourmet restaurant infused with sophisticated style and plenty of Butte spirit. The creative
and mouthwatering dinner menu offers a variety of pasta, beef, poultry, and seafood entrées.
If you want to believe the renaissance in Butte is imminent, enjoy a meal at the Uptown
Café.