Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
is made from scratch, and each meat cut is available in bison or beef. The apple cobbler
dessert is extremely good.
Just up the block is
Over the Tapas
(19 S. Willson Ave., 406/556-8282,
www.bozemantapas.com
,
11am-9pm Mon.-Wed., 11am-9:30pm Thurs.-Sat., tapas $4-16),
an intimate little bistro serving traditional Spanish-inspired tapas (don't miss the bacon-
wrapped dates) and an extensive wine list.
Also in the heart of downtown,
John Bozeman's Bistro
(125 W. Main St., 406/
587-4100,
www.johnbozemansbistro.com
,
11:30am-2:30pm and 5pm-9:30pm Tues.-Sat.,
$9-30) started Bozeman's culinary evolution and continues to set the standard. The menu is
diverse, with everything from steak and Alaskan king crab to a Vietnamese
pho
bowl, and
features as much local meat and produce as possible through the “Montana Farm to Res-
taurant Campaign.” They also have a sizable “superfood” menu that is deliciously healthy.
The bistro occupies a historic 1905 building and went to great lengths to create an elegant
and warm ambience.
For excellent (but pricey!) Asian food,
Sweet Chili Asian Bistro
(101 E. Main St., 406/
582-1188,
www.sweetchilibozeman.com
,
11am-9pm Mon.-Thurs., 11am-9:30pm Fri.-Sat.,
noon-9pm Sun., $14-25) serves up an extensive menu of fresh and flavorful Asian cuisine
along with sushi and a full bar. The room is dimly lit with red lights, lending some romantic
ambience. This is still Bozeman though, and any restaurant is fairly casual.
A more recent, and exceptionally worthwhile, addition to the fine-dining scene in Boze-
man is
Blackbird Kitchen
(140 E. Main St., 406/586-0010,
www.blackbirdkitchen.com
,
5pm-9:30pm Mon.-Thurs., 5pm-10pm Fri.-Sat., $11-27), a tiny little spot that is usually
standing room only. From the kale Caesar salad to the Willow Spring lamb chop, the wood-
fired pizza, and handmade pasta, the country Italian flavors are sensational. The wine list is
extensive, and if you leave without sampling the chocolate
budino
(pudding) sprinkled with
sea salt and drizzled with olive oil, you've made a big mistake.
On the east end of town,
M
Montana Ale Works
(611 E. Main St., 406/587-7700,
www.montanaaleworks.com
,
4pm-10pm Sun.-Thurs., 4pm-11pm Fri.-Sat., $8.25-36) com-
bines a hip eatery with an extremely popular smoke-free bar and pool lounge. The food
is artfully good, with Western staples and an Asian flair. The atmosphere, in a beautifully
rehabbed 100-year-old railroad warehouse, is energetic and suitable for everyone from tod-
dlers to grandparents; it can be loud at any time of the week, so a separate dining room is a
good option for those with noise issues.
As Bozeman has evolved from its ranching and agricultural heritage, many of the classic
diners have been lost to trendier eateries, but two have stood the test of time. The
Western
