Restaurant in Montana (Billings, Helena: for sale, restaurants, shop)

[bigtrees]

Sorry, I'm getting a little off topic.

Back to the OP: There are some fine dining establishments in Montana. The crowd that goes there aren't the locals so you have to attract either the tourists or the out-of-state people that have a cabin in Montana that they visit in the summers or for a little while.

Whitefish and Bozeman are the two best towns for this kind of business. Whitefish is plumb full of restaurants as it is, so it might be a tough go. These places are also tough to make ends meet during the off season which lasts a long time.

Bozeman? Hard to say. There was a place called Spanish Peaks that was a fine dining resturant, but it went out of business. Bozeman has a lot of college kids that go to places like Santa Fe Reds or Bennegins rather than upscale places.

One exception is Chico Hot Springs. They have a cheap poolside grill, but if you're brining a girl to Chico you're not going to take her to the Poolside Grill and have her order a Kitchen Sink Burger. The only other place is a fine dining resturant and it's very pricey. But there's no where else to go to eat (literally) so you're stuck.

[GLS]

Originally Posted by chef82

I am looking to open a fine dining restaurant in MT. I have lived in Bozeman for a few years and am somewhat familiar with the state. Several cities I am considering would be Big Sky, Missoula, or Helena. If anyone has any thoughts or ideas I would like to hear them. The phrase "fine dining", I think, has been misused. This restaurant would be Contemporary American with French Influence, similar to those in Napa Valley, Las Vegas, and New York......all places that I have worked before.

Since you are using Napa, etc as benchmarks, I was in St. Helena last week and dinner for four, including one cocktail each and a shared bottle of wine cost $362 at the CIA with tax & tip. This is considered cheap in Napa compared to the French Laundry or La Tocque.

My point is that, as much as it would be great to have "fine dining" in Montana, the prices would be prohibitive for regular working people. Also, from a business standpoint you have to rely primarily on the high dollar tourists, which makes the restaurant seasonal only. I would much rather see a talented chef develop creative, but affordable menus for the locals. Entrees such as cassoulet, with fresh baked bread and a variety of salads, using local ingredients to keep the cost down. Anyone can look good flying in lobster and green lip mussels, but creating great dishes with inexpensive
ingredients is a real challenge. For example on Winter days, I do a pretty good French onion soup with a gruyere souffle top (cost about 50 cents/bowl). Good luck whichever way you go.

[bigbucker00]

Open up a taco joint. That's as fine as you can get.

[darklagerman]

Originally Posted by grizzfan

Missoula has several resturants that might fit your capabilities but I have no idea whether they are hiring:

The Keep - formerly Shadow's Keep - my favorite place.
Pearl - haven't been there for a couple of years but has outstanding cuisine.
Red Bird - Again, haven't been there in years but has great reputation.
The Depot - fine food available but too noisey for my.
Ciao Mambo - Italian mostly but, again, noisey.
Blue Canyon - Part of the Hilton Garden Inn - great kitchen.

That's a start. Good luck.

Moderator cut: edit

Not a Taco joint in the whole bunch. Depressingly pedestrian.

[grizzfan]

Originally Posted by darklagerman

Not a Taco joint in the whole bunch. Depressingly pedestrian.

While I too like tacos, I was trying to match chef82's professed talents with a couple of places here in Missoula that might be able to use them. Taco John's etc have all the UM business management, women's studies and enviromental studies graduates they can use!!

[Mt-7]

Originally Posted by Stephan_K

You know what I really miss and haven't seen in NW MT... a good Italian cuisine restaurant. Man could i go for a good seafood linguine in a white cream sauce, some pasta fagioli and a damn good marinara ! Or maybe some cod or chicken franchese with some risotto and a wicked bowl of wedding soup. All cooked by someone else for a change ! I'm getting sick and tired of having to cook this myself.

Ooo Ooo Ooo... or some home made seafood ravioli in a lobster cream sauce !!!! HOLY CRAP am I getting hungry again. And I just finished dinner !

How about some bad ass sausage soup... Italian stuffed shrimp ?! A kick ass Parmigiana !!!!!

OK... I have to stop this madness now.

Spagettii Bolanase Or a chocolate crepe

[Stephan_K]

Originally Posted by seven of nine

chocolate crepe

dude !!!!

[GLS]

Originally Posted by seven of nine

Or a chocolate crepe

Now you're cookin! Serve mine with a dollop of creme fraisch and a sprig of fresh mint from the garden.

[Ddprsd]

I am hearing some good things about a bakery in Muley,Mt

[Stephan_K]

Originally Posted by ddprsd

i am hearing some good things about a bakery in muley,mt

this thread too !