The trendy city of Bozeman in Montana is home to an impressive collection of restaurants serving everything from creative takes on the traditional breakfast pancake to hand-cut steaks and spicy burritos. As just one visit to this beautiful city is never enough, we have updated our list of Bozeman’s Top 10 Restaurants to ensure that you have an abundance of new venues to visit next time you’re in town. Courtesy The Nova Cafe
The Nova Cafe
Often said to serve the best breakfast in Bozeman, the Nova Cafe gets its well-deserved reputation from its lemon blueberry ricotta pancakes and its forager omelette made from Portobello mushrooms, artichoke heart, roasted red pepper, spinach and provolone cheese. Conveniently located in the historic downtown, the café sources its ingredients wherever possible from local farmers and producers in a bid to give something back to its community. It also hosts a rotating exhibit of works by local artworks which diners can peruse before or after tucking into their delicious meal. Alongside the ordinary menu, there is also a children’s menu, an espresso bar and a selection of homemade gluten-free baked goods worthy of a visit all on their own.
Known for its impressive happy hours, Starky’s Authentic Americana serves a range of microbrews, appetisers and delicious main courses in its heated and covered outdoor patio area. Diners can enjoy a traditional Philly cheese steak for lunch or a fresh fish, hand-cut steak or pizza for dinner. Everything is made from scratch daily in the restaurant from the soups to the pasta dishes, and the starters to the entrées. Works by local artists adorn the restaurant walls and Starky’s is also actively involved in many of the community’s non-profit programmes.
This quirky little cafe opens daily for breakfast and lunch, serving home-cooked filling meals to locals and tourists alike. The decor at Cateye Cafe is certainly colourful and features everything from off-beat artworks to old toy drawers, cat paraphernalia and a tongue-in-cheek list of restaurant rules. Specialising in comfort foods and winter warmers, the breakfast burrito filled with bacon and seasoned beef, cheese, scrambled eggs, pinto beans and chilli verde is sure to satisfy any appetite; and to top it all off, the café’s the sausages, beef, bacon, eggs and potatoes are sourced from local producers ensuring top quality and unbeatable freshness as well as great flavour.
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Dave’s Sushi Off Main
The place to go for the freshest sushi in the city, Dave’s Sushi Off Main is situated just a few blocks from Bozeman’s downtown. The vibe here is extremely laid back as the owner tries to prove that sushi joints do not have to be full of modern artworks, and that the ‘hang-loose style of Hawaii’ is much more suited to his eatery. Alongside the tempting sushi options, the menu is packed full of sashimi, nigiri, speciality rolls and maki. Try the crab and cream cheese wontons and the baked mussels to start and follow with a Thai style scallop bowl. Wash it all down with a glass of sake for the true Dave’s Sushi experience. Courtesy Emerson Grill
Emerson Grill
Ideal for romantic meals, the Emerson Grill specialises in home-style American cuisine and Italian delights. The maple flooring, warm lighting and creative interior give the restaurant a warm and inviting atmosphere. Likewise, the outdoor patio shaded by trees is a beautiful spot to enjoy a steak dinner and glass of sweet wine as the sun sets. Alongside the extensive wine menu, Emerson Grill also offers several microbrewed regional beers as well as bottles imported from Italy. For a hearty meal try the bison skirt steak or the handmade fettuccine bolognese.
Offering diners beautiful views of the Lone Mountain, Olive B’s Big Sky Bistro serves New England-style cuisine with splashes of influence taken from Asian and Mediterranean cuisines. The outdoor patio is the perfect place to enjoy a dinner in the summer months whilst the dark wooden restaurant with its open kitchen is a cosy and welcoming space for indoor eating. Olive B’s puts a large focus on fresh fish but also serves a variety of pasta dishes and burgers and has an extensive first rate wine list that connoisseurs will love. For those that have room left after dinner, the homemade rum caramel banana bread pudding is a must-try for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Plonk
Restaurant, American, Wine, Beer, Cocktails, Street Food, Fast Food
A restaurant designed to please all the senses, Plonk commissions original artworks to adorn its walls, selects background music to fit with the mood and creates food combinations that tickle the tastebuds. An ideal spot to stop by for a quick after-work cocktail, an intimate meal for two or a decadent nine-course banquet in the private cellar; Plonk is the perfect choice for every occasion. Order the braised pork belly or the watermelon caprese for dinner or stop by mid-afternoon for a tasty Ploughman’s platter.
The Coffee Pot Bakery Cafe
Bakery, Cafe, Coffee, Tea , Fast Food, American, Dessert, Pastries
Sharing a roof with the Mountain Arts Pottery gallery, The Coffee Pot Bakery Cafe makes for a great breakfast or lunchtime stop before taking a tour of the pottery studio and browsing the gallery full of works by local artisans. Set within a 1932 log cabin, the café is enchanting and boasts a certain charm impossible to replicate in more modern buildings. The brilliant breakfast menu is available all day long and the cinnamon rolls have won awards for their deliciousness. Grandma’s homemade chicken pot-pie is another dish demanding to be sampled and the cafe’s signature coffee ensures caffeine lovers keep coming back for more.
Specialising in simple yet scrumptious home cooking, the Western Cafe is old-fashioned in decor with its wood-panelled walls resembling the state’s cowboy heritage. Celebrating all that the West has to offer in terms of friendly service and comfort foods, popular dishes here include chicken fried steak and eggs, and biscuits and gravy. Open for breakfast and lunch daily, the Western Café is a casual spot great for family meals and lively brunches with friends looking for a glimpse into Bozeman life before it became the bustling city it is today.
Z’s Meze Market
Cafe, Restaurant, American, Fast Food, Mediterranean, Vegetarian, Gluten-free
Order a feast of small plates and platters to share at Z’s Meze Market to experience a truly authentic Turkish meal. Guests here can choose to dine inside in the colourful cafe, enjoy Bridger views from the patio area or take their food to go to be enjoyed picnic-style in a nearby park. All of the dishes on the menu at Z’s have been created using traditional family recipes ensuring that flavour and taste never falters. Order the meze sampler of hummus, tabouli, crispy feta rolls, falafel, dolma and gyro meat with tzatziki to share as a starter before tucking into either a chicken kebab platter or a gyro pita sandwich for main course.
Chloe Hay is a 24-year-old food obsessed Londoner who spends her days thinking, talking and writing about food. When she's not scurrying around her home city seeking out the next hottest deli or underground speakeasy, she's likely to be on the hunt for the best local eateries abroad. To see what she's been up to this month, check out her website or follow her on Twitter.
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