Local Elevated Cuisine
As foodies, we love elevated dishes from amazing chefs and crafted cocktails that surprise and inspire us. Here are our favorite restaurants in the valley to go for date night or celebrations.
Whitefish, MT
This upscale Cali-Mex cantina is our go to spot for crafted cocktails. We love to sit at the bar and talk with the bartenders while they shake up delicious mezcal and tequila forward drinks. Our personal favorite is the Smoke and Fire Cilantro Smash, a mezcal and jalapeno margarita shaken with fresh cilantro.
The food is always fantastic with staples and rotating dishes throughout the seasons. Our favorite dishes include the Pozole, Crema Poblano, Tostada de Atun, and Carne Asada Burrito.
Columbia Falls, MT
Three Forks Grille is a hidden gem in the valley, this place is a secret even for many locals. They do not advertise and all their business is word of mouth. Nevertheless it is a secret worth knowing!
The cuisine here is farm to table, with all their ingredients coming from local farms and ranches. All the dishes are crafted to highlight the ingredients themselves. Try our favorites: the grilled pork chop with bacon jam and the shrimp risotto
The restaurant is cozy and intimate, perfect for a celebration. In fact, we celebrated the opening of Glacier’s Edge Cabins at the Three Forks Grille!
Whitefish, MT
With delicious hand made fresh pasta from scratch and wood fired pizzas, Abruzzo is a go to family dinner spot for us.
Abruzzo has great cocktails and even better wine. The wine list at Abruzzo is one of the more interesting and expansive in the valley.
When it comes to food, their menu rarely rotates, but the dishes are consistently delicious. Try some of our favorites: the Elk Tartar, Beets & Burrata, Fennel Sausage Pizza, and the Traditional Bolognese.
Whitefish, MT
The Lodge at Whitefish Lake bucks the trend of bad hotel food and worse drinks. The Boat Club and Tiki Bar restaurants at the hotel serve rich and delicious dishes, classic and seasonal cocktails, and all looking out over the beautiful Whitefish Lake.
You don’t have to be a guest at the hotel to enjoy their restaurants and views. We often come here and sit on the outside deck or at the tiki bar and take in the beauty of the lake and mountains.
Kalispell, MT
Located in the 120 year old historic KM Building in downtown Kalispell, the Mercantile offers a warm and inviting atmosphere than only these old buildings can.
Tucked off of main street in Kalispell, this is a local gem and a personal favorite of ours. We love the cocktails, the extensive wine menu (knowledgable sommelier included), and the steaks.
For cocktails give "The Good Stuff” a try and for food don’t sleep on the Calamari or Smoked Prime Rib.
