Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [423]
NEAR THE PARK
WEST YELLOWSTONE
Bullwinkle's Saloon, Gambling and Eatery
19 Madison. ☎ 406/646-7974. Lunch $5–$8; dinner $9–$24. Summer daily 11am–2am. AE, DISC, MC, V. AMERICAN.
Boisterous crowds, families and fishers, gamblers and goof-offs fill this restaurant, and they leave well fed. Both menus abound with traditional American entrees: burgers and salads for lunch; huge chicken, rib, and steak plates at dinner. The house specialty is elk medallions.
The Canyon Street Grill
22 Canyon St. ☎ 406/646-7548. Most dishes $6–$12. Mon–Sat in season 7am–10pm, shorter hours in winter. MC, V. AMERICAN.
You gotta like a restaurant whose slogan is "We are not a fast food restaurant. We are a cafe reminiscent of a bygone era when the quality of the food meant more than how fast it could be served." This delightful 1950s-style spot serves hearty food such as popular hamburgers and chicken sandwiches. Accompany your meal with a milkshake made with hard ice cream or a crisp glass of huckleberry cream soda.
Eino's Tavern
8955 Gallatin Rd. (9 miles N of town on U.S. 191). ☎ 406/646-9344. Reservations not accepted. Main courses $5.50–$20. No credit cards. Daily winter 9am–9pm, spring–fall daily noon–9pm. Closed Thanksgiving to mid-Dec. AMERICAN.
Locals snowmobile out from West Yellowstone to Eino's (a trail follows Hwy. 191) to become their own chefs at the grill here. It's a novel concept, and one that keeps people coming back. At the counter, order your meat—steak, teriyaki chicken, hamburger, or hot dog—and don't be surprised when it arrives raw. Go to the grill, slap it on, and stand around, drink in hand, shooting the breeze with other patrons until your food is exactly the way you like it. Steaks and chicken come with your choice of salad (or twice-baked potatoes in the winter); hamburgers come with chips. The restaurant enjoys a fine view of Hegben Lake. Snowmobilers can purchase gas and oil here.
The Outpost Restaurant
In the Montana Outpost Mall, 115 Yellowstone Ave. ☎ 406/646-7303. Breakfast $4.50–$10; lunch $5–$11; dinner $7–$20. AE, DISC, MC, V. Daily 6am–11pm. Closed Oct 15–Apr 15. AMERICAN.
Tucked away in a downtown mall, this restaurant has a family-oriented, home-cooking style—exemplified in the beef stew. There's also salmon, steaks, trout, liver, and an excellent salad bar. For breakfast, if you're really hungry, you can't beat the Campfire Omelette, smothered in homemade chili, cheese, and onions. The menu isn't all that adventurous, and the restaurant offers none of the vices you'll find in the local taverns (no video poker, beer, wine, liquor, or smoking), but it serves solid fare in a quiet, family-friendly atmosphere.
GARDINER
The Chico Inn
Old Chico Rd., Pray, MT. ☎ 800/HOT-WADA or 406/333-4933. Reservations recommended. Main courses $20–$30. AE, DISC, MC, V. Summer daily 5:30–10pm; winter Sun–Thurs 5:30–9pm, Fri–Sat 5:30–10pm. CONTINENTAL.
The Chico Inn is 30 miles north of Gardiner, but if you're in the area, stop here for some of the best food in the Rockies and a quick soak in the resort's hot springs. The carnivorous traveler will enjoy the selection of top-drawer beef, and the pine nut–crusted Alaskan halibut is a seafood aficionado's dream. Many of the incredibly fresh veggies originate in the resort's garden and greenhouse, and the menu always includes a vegetarian selection. You'll want to linger over the food, so consider a night's stay.
Helen's Corral Drive-In
U.S. 89 at Yellowstone St. ☎ 406/848-7627. Reservations not accepted. Menu items $2.25–$10. No credit cards. Daily 11am–11pm summer, shorter hours fall–spring. BURGERS.
Okay, so it's not much to look at, and the menu's most adventurous item is a basket of fried shrimp. But proprietor Helen Gould's half-pound beef and buffalo hamburgers are the stuff of legend, topping out at 7 inches from top to bottom and featuring all of the fixings. The drive-in earned the nickname "Helen's Hateful Hamburgers" from a local who found the waitstaff's