From blue-collar bites to epicurean delights, the Flathead Valley is an unlikely foodie haven featuring a surfeit of palate-pleasing dining options emphasizing local, seasonal ingredients while fusing traditional Rocky Mountain fare with exotic flair.
The culinary catalog includes budget lunch options at traditional, old-world Italian delis, fine dining at acclaimed restaurants, a panoply of fresh seafood courses, and an abundance of appetizers and aperitifs, all of which commix and mingle to make the region an oasis of gustatory glee.
Whether you’re driven by hedonism or just plain hunger, Northwest Montana’s gastronomical glut of haute cuisine, cunning cookery and humble hash houses will sate your dining desires, while the emergent craft beer and cocktail scene will slake your bibulous yen.
The competitive prices will help you avoid eye-popping sticker shock, while farm-to-market philosophies deliver fresh produce, provincial pork and quality seafood right to your table.
Here again is the Flathead Beacon’s annual “Food Issue,” showcasing the region’s bouchons and breweries, chefs and charcuteries, and featuring recommendations for marquee meals, light noshes and signature suds.
Keep in mind that what follows is a mere snapshot of Northwest Montana’s offerings, a quickening to whet your appetite, arouse your senses and open your eyes to the Flathead’s first-rate fetes that won’t sink you in debt.
Bon appetit from the Beacon!
Fresh Fare for Seafood-Loving Landlubbers
For over 30 years, Flathead Fish and Seafood Co. has served the region with high-quality ocean fare
By Tristan Scott
In landlocked Montana, where menus are better known for meat-and-potatoes offerings than maritime meals, it’s a bit baffling when visitors see local restaurants peddling striped sea bass, scallops, fresh oysters, and sashimi-grade sushi. READ MORE »»»
Saving the Best for First
A selection of some of the most popular appetizers at valley restaurants
By Molly Priddy
Traditionally, there’s a certain order to a nice meal: order a drink, then an appetizer, but the real star of the evening is usually the entrée. READ MORE »»»
Signature Brews
Top choices in the Flathead Valley craft beer scene
By Dillon Tabish
A breakdown of four craft beers from Bigfork up to Whitefish and in between. READ MORE »»»
In Lakeside, the Culinary Scene Flourishes
The revitalized town center near Flathead Lake expands with a pair of homegrown dining options worth tasting
By Dillon Tabish
Within only a few short blocks of the scenic west shore of Flathead Lake, a rich culinary scene is flourishing. READ MORE »»»
Savory Lamb with Chef Nai Kang Kuan
A year after his first visit to the Flathead, world-renowned chef returns for seconds
By Justin Franz
A year ago, Chef Nai Kang Kuan visited Flathead Valley Community College to prepare a special dinner and teach students at the Culinary Institute of Montana a thing or two about working in a kitchen. READ MORE »»»
Rocky Mountain Fare with Italian Flair
New Three Forks Deli in Columbia Falls features cured meats, cheeses and artisanal sandwiches
By Tristan Scott
Since the earliest Italian immigrant settlements, the cornerstone of a thriving city neighborhood was its offertory of meat markets, grocery stores and delis, where large storefront windows displayed cured hams, trussed pig carcasses, coils of marbled sausage, and other staples of Italian cuisine – olives, oil, pasta, preserves, pickles and canned tomatoes. READ MORE »»»
Time to Wine
Dinner pairings from Brix Bottleshop in Kalispell
By Molly Priddy
Sometimes, the best meal in the valley comes from your own kitchen, or that of friends and family. READ MORE »»»