Within only a few short blocks of the scenic west shore of Flathead Lake, a rich culinary scene is flourishing.
Two new savory destinations have surfaced in the heart of Lakeside in the last year, boosting the lakeshore nook’s reputation as a bountiful gathering place in the Flathead Valley.
Seven — named after Flathead County’s license place tag — opened last May in the revitalized Lakeside Town Center as a farm-to-table restaurant serving dinner and drinks Tuesday through Saturday. Across the hall, Farmhouse popped up in March, welcoming breakfast and lunch diners to sit down and enjoy the best Montana’s farmers, ranchers and growers have to offer. The comfortable café is open daily from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The credit for these two homemade dining destinations goes to Josh and Andra Townsley, who also own and operate the Tamarack Brewing Company across the creek from the new businesses.
Since moving to the lakeshore community and opening the brewery six years ago, the couple has continued to re-invest in the town and seek ways to reinforce its small-town charm.
“We love Lakeside,” Andra said. “But the way the highway bisects the town makes it really difficult to have a gathering place. And this building was here and it’s beautiful.”
The Lakeside Town Center was originally built in the late 1990s and filled with offices and small shops, as well as a restaurant named Bluestone. But by 2006, a lot of the businesses had cleared out and the expansive building sat mostly vacant. The town center gained a new lease on life when the Townsleys purchased it in 2013 and completely renovated the site, making it a true community gathering place with public couches, televisions and free wireless Internet. Today six businesses are now operating there, including the two thriving restaurants.
The Townsleys took the same ingredients that made Tamarack succeed and developed Seven and Farmhouse as complementary sources of distinctly Montana dining.
The success of Tamarack showed it could be done. In only six years, the brewery quickly developed into one of the most successful in the state with two sites, in Lakeside and Missoula, with loyal followings. An expansion is underway in Lakeside, promising further growth in the heart of the community.
“We kind of see a bigger vision for the town. We’re trying to create a new downtown,” Andra said. “The people here are great and are very supportive. It’s on the lake and it’s gorgeous. And with Blacktail Mountain right up the hill, with the ski area and all the Nordic trails, it really gives you that four-season lifestyle that we think most people just don’t know about.”
Both Seven and Farmhouse stay true to their roots, sourcing everything local or from across the state. That can be difficult, especially in the winter months, but the growing number of farmers markets and co-ops has made it easier to find fresh, local ingredients and products.
Customers are increasingly searching for places that put an added emphasis on “farm to table.”
“We see it a lot, especially with customers at Tamarack. They like to know who’s making their products and where it’s coming from,” Andra said.
“There’s a growing customer base that is really interested in that. They’re being more locally conscious and health conscious and more aware of where they’re putting their dollars.”
The Farmhouse features a tasty menu that fits right into the pastoral lifestyle of Montana’s culture — farmhouse hash, made with sweet potatoes; buttermilk biscuits; “the pitchfork burrito” and more made-from-scratch breakfast items. Lunchtime specials include a list of sandwiches made with similar Montana-minded products, including house smoked pork from a family on Farm to Market Road and free-range roasted turkey, from regional Hutterite farms.
At Seven, the mindset is the same but the atmosphere transitions into a fine-dining layout with a full bar to choose from and a selection of regional wines. The menu features a delectable selection of entrees, including bacon-wrapped Montana ranch beef filet, farm-to-market pork loin and Bitterroot Buffalo Company Buffalo Burger.
The lineup of sides features a green chili mac n’ cheese that alone is worth the drive from across the valley.
“I like the ability to bring in locally sourced products,” head chef Eric Larson said. “I like the fact that we can change up the menu and highlight what Montana has to offer, which is a lot.”
For more information about Seven, visit http://www.sevenlakeside.com, amd about Farmhouse, visit http://www.farmhouselakeside.com.