Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [225]
Old Yellowstone Garage
175 Center St. ☎ 307/734-6161. Main courses $15–$36. AE, DISC, MC, V. Tues–Sun 6–10pm. ITALIAN.
Since relocating west from Dubois in 2000, the Old Yellowstone Garage has continued its 10-year tradition of serving delectable Italian in a casual Western atmosphere. The self-dubbed "slow food" served here includes starters such as cozze mie (mussels in garlic–white wine sauce), calamari, and antipasti plates. The dinner menu includes risotto (prepared differently every day), the San Remo (deep-fried zucchini stuffed with mascarpone), and slow-cooked lamb shank, a wintertime favorite. Wood-oven pizzas round out the menu (and are the menu on Sun), the specialty being pizza bianca, with homemade cheeses and fresh herbs. All of this is served in a room with hardwood floors, big windows, tables, and booths, marked simply on the outside with the letters OYG.
Rendezvous Bistro
380 S. Broadway. ☎ 307/739-1100. Reservations recommended. Main courses $9–$20. AE, MC, V. Sun–Thurs 5:30–10pm; Fri–Sat 5:30–11pm. Closed mid-Apr to mid-May and Sun in winter. AMERICAN/SEAFOOD.
Taking over a building that once housed a Denny's franchise, the Rendezvous opened in 2001 and garnered a fast local following. It's easy to see why: The place is contemporary yet casual, the food is affordable but very good, and the service is well above average. Climb into one of the intimate booths and order a dozen oysters on the half shell and slurp away, but save some room for a main course, such as steak frites or whole Maine lobster. It might sound formal, but it's not—the beauty is that the food is top-notch, but the atmosphere is laid-back and friendly.
Snake River Brewery
265 S. Millward St. ☎ 307/739-BEER. Reservations not accepted. Most dishes $6–$12. AE, DISC, MC, V. Daily 11:30am–11pm. Bar open later. MICROBREWERY.
One of the West's best microbreweries, the industrial-meets-contemporary establishment offers a menu of pasta, applewood-fired pizzas and paninis, and salads. The standouts are the beers, especially Custer's Last Ale and Snake River Pale Ale. This place is a local favorite and a great lunch spot, with daily $6 specials like turkey-and-brie wraps and chipotle BBQ sandwiches.
Snake River Grill
Town Square, Jackson. ☎ 307/733-0557. Reservations recommended. Dinner $20–$40. AE, MC, V. Daily 5:30–10pm. Closed Nov and Apr. CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN.
This is a popular drop-in spot for locals, including some of the glitterati who sojourn in the area. It's an award-winning restaurant for both its wine list and its menu, which features regular fresh-fish dishes (ahi tuna is a favorite), crispy pork shank, and some game entrees such as venison chops and Idaho trout. From a wood-burning oven come pizzas with exotic ingredients such as duck sausage or eggplant with portobello mushrooms. The front-room dining area overlooks the busy Town Square, but a more private, romantic room is in the back.
Sweetwater Restaurant
85 King St. ☎ 307/733-3553. Reservations recommended. Lunch $5–$8; dinner $13–$22. AE, DISC, MC, V. Daily 11am–3pm and 5:30–10pm, shorter hours in winter. AMERICAN.
Though this little log restaurant serves American fare, it does so in a decidedly offbeat way. The eclectic menu includes, for example, a Greek salad, a Baja chicken salad, and a cowboy-grilled roast-beef sandwich. The dinner menu is just as quirky; try the unique chile-lime crab cakes before diving into the giant salmon filet or buffalo pot roast. Vegetarians