Montana is known as big sky country, so it’s unsurprising that Big Sky, Montana would be a particularly gorgeous spot. Whether you’re in town for skiing, hiking, or just taking in the scenery from the comfort of your balcony, you’ll want to know where to eat. The town has an excellent selection of restaurants serving everything from farm-to-table steaks to gourmet hot dogs. It’s up to you! Here are our 10 favorites.
Gallatin Riverhouse Grill
Gallatin Riverhouse Grill has quickly become a local favorite in Big Sky. Their menu offers a great mix of barbecue styles from around the country, from Southern style pulled pork sandwiches to baby-back ribs that might as well have come straight from Texas. You don’t come here just for the meat, however. They have an excellent repertoire of specialty cocktails, most of which are familiar bases with fascinating new twists like, for example, a margarita that includes slices of jalapeno peppers or gin and tonic with black pepper and thyme.
Black Kettle Burrito Co.
One of Big Sky’s main draws is the excellent skiing to be had nearby, and if you’re one who’s drawn to the slopes, you’ll want to check out Black Kettle Burrito Co. while you’re up there. It’s a small building, but once you go inside you’ll quickly realize that it holds some big tastes. And how often do you have the chance to get a burrito at 9,160 feet elevation? If you want to set yourself up for a whole day of skiing, have one of their tasty breakfast burritos and it’ll be well into the afternoon before you feel any hunger pangs. If you just want to stop for a snack, they have smaller options like tamales or fresh cookies.
The Montana Dinner Yurt is more than just a restaurant; it’s a full-on dining experience. You meet up with a group at a nearby mall, from which they’ll take you out through the forest to the yurt itself. The experience includes a gourmet three-course meal in the cozy tent, and then you have time afterwards to enjoy the area, stargaze, and socialize around the campfire. This is truly something that you have to see to believe, and you won’t be able to do it really anywhere else in the world; don’t miss your chance while you’re in Big Sky.
Beehive Basin Brewery
Brewery
Beehive Basin Brewery is a craft microbrewery in every sense of the word. They are totally dedicated to perfecting their brews, so if you’re hungry, you’ll have to either bring your own food from elsewhere or take advantage of the food truck that will likely be parked outside. Their beers, however, make it well worth a visit. They have a full range of beers, starting on the light side with their Summer Solstice Saison, making their way through the world of ales with choices like their Li’Beer’ty American Pale Ale and Green Bridge IPA, and finishing up with a couple of porters that will really keep you warm on a cold, snowy night.
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Yeti Dogs
Hot dogs don’t get enough credit for their gourmet potential, and Yeti Dogs is trying to fix that. This isn’t just your average hot dog stand. They have an entire menu of specially crafted hot dogs with great combinations of toppings that you wouldn’t expect, like the Texito, a chili dog with Frito chips, or the Yeti Dog, a fancy take on a classic hot dog that they like enough to put their name on it. They also have a good selection of beer on tap and a patio where you can sit outside to enjoy the weather and the surrounding activities; all in all, a perfect stop on a nice day.
Blue Moon Bakery
Thanks to the range on their menu, Blue Moon Bakery is worth coming by at any time of day. For breakfast, they’ve got you covered with both hot breakfast options and a list of delicious, fresh baked goods that won’t leave you wanting. If you come by later in the day, you’ll be forced to choose between one of their hot or cold sandwiches or their pizza, both of which are much loved by locals and visitors alike. Their pizzas are big, substantial, and great for sharing; or keeping all to yourself.
If you’re looking for fine dining in Big Sky, don’t miss out on Buck’s T-4 Lounge & Restaurant. Their menu isn’t extensive, but you’ll still have trouble deciding between the delicious dishes on offer. They source as locally as possible while at the same time bringing in recipes and techniques from all over the world, all of which adds up to a meal that you won’t soon forget. Get one of their shared plates of appetizers to start, and then choose one of the main dishes for yourself, be it lamb, duck, one of their unique salads, or Montana-raised rainbow trout.
The Café at the Inn on the Gallatin
Hotel
Whether or not you’re staying at the charming and comfortable Inn on the Gallatin, you’ll want to swing by their café for either breakfast or lunch one day. A restaurant focused on patronizing local growers and suppliers, at this place you know that you’ll be eating the freshest and most ecologically sourced food around. You might have a difficult time getting past their signature cinnamon rolls on the breakfast menu, but they also have some great omelets and other breakfast favorites to get your day started off on the right foot.
Owned and run by a couple of New England transplants, Olive B’s Big Sky Bistro combines many different tastes and culinary styles on their menu; you’ll need to come back several times to get the full sense of it. There are few lunch menus that include a lamb gyro, a bison burger, and fish tacos, but you can find all three every day at Olive B’s. Their dinner menu goes farther down the gourmet route, taking some of your favorite dishes and running with them in addition to keeping things exciting with ingredients that can be hard to find elsewhere. Their pheasant is a particularly good choice for the picky diner.
Lone Mountain Ranch
Farm-to-table dining in one of the most beautiful locations possible; this is what you’ll find at Lone Mountain Ranch. Fittingly, they change their menu seasonally to reflect what is available at the time, but whenever you come, you’ll find delicious recipes with taste combinations you never thought possible. Their summer menu, for example, included watermelon gazpacho with goat cheese mousse, and their deviled eggs appetizer comes with candied bacon and pickled jalapenos to spice things up. All of their main dishes offer a different variety of meat (with a vegetarian option of course), and all are expertly cooked and flavored to a T.
Lani is a freelance writer and translator currently living in Prague, Czech Republic. After growing up in Durham, North Carolina, she went to university at Northwestern University in Chicago and then went on to live in Georgia, Scotland, Hungary, and various cities in the Czech Republic.
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