Inside the Park--You'll find above-average food served at above-average prices in the dining rooms at the major properties. Glacier Park Lodge has the Great Northern Steak & Rib House, which has Western decor and a menu of beef, barbecued ribs, fish, and chicken, plus a full breakfast buffet; and The Sunset Lounge, which offers a bar menu of sandwiches and appetizers. At Lake McDonald Lodge you'll find Russell's Fireside Dining Room, which has a hunting-lodge atmosphere with rough-hewn beams and hunting trophies, and specializes in American standards, including beef tenderloin, roast duckling, seared mountain trout, roast turkey, Alaskan salmon, and steaks, plus has a full breakfast buffet. Also at Lake McDonald Lodge is the Stockade Lounge, which serves a bar menu of sandwiches and appetizers. Many Glacier Hotel has the Ptarmigan Dining Room, which has Swiss decor in keeping with the lodge, emphasizing spectacular mountain views, and serves continental and Swiss cuisine plus a breakfast buffet. Many Glacier also has the Swiss and Interlacken Lounge, with a bar menu of sandwiches and appetizers. The dining rooms open with the park and close sometime in September, depending on the facility. At each dining room, breakfast is served from 6:30 to 9:30am; lunch from 11:30am to 2pm; and dinner from 5:30 to 9:30pm. Coffee and snack shops open either at 7 or 8am and close at 9pm. All of the above restaurants are no-smoking.
The alternatives include second-tier restaurants in close proximity to the hotels, most of which are comparable to chain restaurants in both quality and price. The Two Dog Flats Grille at the Rising Sun Motor Inn serves "hearty American fare"; the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn restaurant is the Italian Garden, which serves meals from 6am to 10pm. Lunch and dinner feature combinations of salads, sandwiches, pasta dishes, and "create your own" pizzas. At Apgar you'll find the Cedar Tree Deli, which specializes in sandwiches, ice cream, and cold drinks, and Eddie's Cafe, a family dining arrangement.
In East Glacier--In addition to the restaurants described below, the Whistle Stop, 1020 Mont. 49 (tel. 406/226-9292, call for current hours), may serve up the very best breakfasts in the area, mostly in the $5 to $10 range. Omelets and French toast are a specialty; they come in seven different styles, including a Spanish omelet with chorizo, lots of peppers, tomatoes, onions, and spinach. Definitely an eye-opener. They're also known for barbecue ribs and chicken. Try their huckleberry pie.
In West Glacier--The nightlife in West Glacier consists primarily of long walks, or having a beer at the bar portion of the West Glacier Restaurant and Bar, a hangout for locals that they call "Frieda's." It's very friendly, and you may find yourself drafted as a partner for a game of pool.
