Located in the northwestern reaches of Montana, the scenic ski town of Whitefish has been dubbed one of the coolest small towns in America and its eclectic dining scene, no doubt, plays a part. Whether sophisticated seasonal cuisine, Montana-inspired ‘Mountain Mexican’ or soulful Southern fare whets your appetite, our guide to Whitefish’s 10 best restaurants will feature something to suit your tastes.
The Boat Club’s exclusive location within the lovely Lodge at Whitefish Lake means it boasts the only lakefront dining in town, with the serene waters of the lake visible from its classy dining room year-round, and picturesque patio deck in warmer months. Executive chef Jorge Morales focuses on Montana-grown produce while blending comfort food classics with contemporary flair to create tempting starters like elk meatballs with huckleberry barbecue sauce and puffed wild rice and mouthwatering mains like Montana Wagyu meatloaf with smoked cheddar mashed potatoes, baby carrot, asparagus, bacon sun-dried tomato jam and chasseur sauce.
The Boat Club, The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, 1380 Wisconsin Avenue, Whitefish, MT, USA +1 406 863 4000
Bringing a fresh take on typical Mexican fare, Pescado Blanco serves unique ‘Mountain Mexican’ cuisine. Chef-owner David Lewis artfully fuses the culinary sensibilities of southern Mexico and northern Montana to come up with dishes like local elk chorizo tacos with sautéed onions and chili, cheese, salsa and roasted jalapeno crema; or honey-cumin Coho salmon with smoked corn black bean salsa and cilantro rice. Classics like freshly made guacamole, burritos and enchiladas are also served alongside a number of batidos – a Latin American take on a smoothie.
Pescado Blanco, 235 1st Street, Whitefish, MT, USA +1 406 862 3290
Sweet Peaks Ice Cream was born from husband and wife Marissa Keenan and Sam Dauenhauer’s mutual love of ice cream. From its small parlor in downtown Whitefish, it has since grown to include branches in Bigfork, Kalispell and Missoula and even has an ice cream truck often seen at local events and festivals. Using milk and cream sourced from Montana’s Hutterite dairy farms mixed with local and exotic flavors to craft its ice cream, Sweet Peaks offers 16 regularly rotating varieties which range from classics like Madagascar vanilla to creative recipes like lemon dill and orange cardamom.
Sweet Peaks Ice Cream, Whitefish, MT, USA +1 406 862 4668