The list of good places to eat in Lakeside is getting longer. There’s the Homestead Cafe, Tamarack Ale House, Glacier Perks, The Docks (when in season), and pub fare at the Spinnaker and the Short Branch Saloon.
And now Grateful Bread joins the list, with its new location at the Lakeside Town Square (just up the road from Blacktail Market at 306 Stoner Loop).
Grateful Bread – like its original location in Bigfork – serves fresh breads, pastries and other delicious treats. And since its grand opening on Aug. 12, it seems the word has quickly gotten out. A recent visit found the 90-seat eatery at least half full, with more folks enjoying a late breakfast at the tables outside.
Perhaps Grateful Bread is most noteworthy for its bread, and particularly, peasant bread. While there are seemingly just as many definitions for peasant bread as there are recipes, the one common thing about peasant bread is that it’s typically simple – and simply delicious – and Grateful Bread doesn’t disappoint.
And true to the word, it also makes “hobo bread.” During the Great Depression, when many out-of-work souls took to the rails, “hobo bread” emerged as a staple of sorts. Unlike most other breads, hobo bread had an obvious distinction: it was round from typically being baked in coffee cans. Back then, the ingredients for hobo bread often included whatever the different hoboes had to share around the campfire.
While bearing the name, Grateful Bread’s version of hobo bread is also distinctly round, but far more delectable and delicious.
Its pies also seem to be a specialty as well. The only problem with them appears to be that, at times, there aren’t any left. Scones and cookies seem to have a similar problem as well.
Aside from great breads and pies, perhaps the label “bakery and café” is a bit of a misnomer, as Grateful Bread is a bit more of a “bakery/restaurant.” It serves paninis, salads, soups, sandwiches and wraps.
And it’s not short on breakfast fare, with a varied menu of omelets, quiche, waffles, Amish baked oatmeal and wild huckleberry pancakes.
Grateful Bread also serves a variety of hot and cold drinks, from espresso to smoothies to frappes to hot chocolate.
Grateful Bread is open everyday from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m.
However, sometime in September, it will be open later, since it plans to host pizza and beer/wine specials in the evening. And the word is, that like the bread dough made fresh on premises, the pizza dough will be made fresh as well.
Grateful Bread in Lakeside is owned by Michael and Garbiela Massie, who have owned the original location in Bigfork since 1996.
For more information, visit Grateful Bread (just follow the signs from Highway 93 at Blacktail Road along Stoner Loop) or visit them online (a far less sweet or savory experience) at acebook.com/GratefulBread.