Review: Ted's Montana Grill

Part of my Day Zero List was to eat at three new restaurants in Bozeman. I started out with Sobey's (Mexican) for Breakfast (in January). I went to Weebee's for lunch (in February). And most recently, I went with my parents to Ted's Montana Grill for dinner (in March).

I must admit some skepticism about the restaurant itself. Anything connected with Ted Turner around here incites a natural skepticism, if you're really a Bozemanite, anyway. But it turned out to be unfounded skepticism. Well, I should add the caveat that I didn't see Ted Turner, and I didn't think about Ted Turner, but if that sort of thing bothers you, then don't go to Ted's Montana Grill. But that would truly be a shame, because it's been one of the best dining experiences I've ever had in this town.

The food was absolutely excellent. Every single item was made from scratch, right on down to the bleu cheese dressing on my wedge salad. We didn't have any food that wasn't good, and I had several items that I would consider to be among the best in town. My mom had the Bison Meatloaf, which was succulent and tasty. Also, the squash casserole they served with it was quite good. My dad had the Bacon Burger. (Of course. When does he not... although we almost had him sold on the Prime Rib...) The burger itself was quite good, and the fries on the side were really well-seasoned. I had the Beer-Can Chicken, which was one of the most moist and juicy pieces of chicken I think I've ever had. Really, really well-done. The sides were nothing spectacular (and the garlic mashers were quite dry), but the wedge salad was really excellent. Great balance in their bleu cheese dressing. And they included just the right amount of toppings for the wedge salad. I was very impressed by the balance, in general, in all their food. That speaks of a talented chef. And when there's a talented chef in the kitchen, you probably won't have many bad meals in that place. Good sign.

The kicker was the Key Lime Pie. Anytime I go to a restaurant that has Key Lime Pie, I want to try it. I have been on a mission to make the best Key Lime Pie for quite awhile, and it's always interesting to see how they differ from one another. See if I can spot that one mystery ingredient that will just make it soar. While it wasn't the best I've ever tasted (that, by far, was at a restaurant in South Carolina), it was definitely up there in the top three. And I've had a lot of Key Lime Pie. This was definitely the best I've ever had in the state of Montana. The crust was looser than most of the pressed graham cracker crusts you'll find in restaurants, which I really appreciated. It has a more homemade feel, so I know you didn't buy a 100-pack of pre-made crusts from the grocery story (or Costco). There was enough tart that the lime flavor came out brilliantly, and there was a lime wedge on top so that you could enhance the lime flavor if you wanted. I chose to do just that. It was sublime. Pun intended. Anyway, that was definitely the highlight of the evening.

I highly recommend, if you're ever driving through Bozeman, that you stop at Ted's Montana Grill. You'll find it on the corner of Main Street and Willson Avenue, in the historic Bozeman Hotel. The interior of the restaurant is enhanced historic, with wood floors, period valances, and mood lighting. But it definitely still has the paper-table feel of a steak house. While we didn't try any steaks, the waitress says that their "Salt & Pepper Onion Rings" and their Prime Rib are what make them famous. So the next time I go back, I will have to try that. It's a bit pricy ($80 for three people, including wine & dessert), but it's definitely worth every dollar for the experience and the quality of the food. All-in-all, I would say the best finer dining experience I've had in Bozeman is at Ted's Montana Grill.

Good on you, Day Zero List. Because Ted's Montana Grill is one of the only restaurants in Bozeman that I had not previously sampled. So finding new restaurants was difficult. And if I hadn't "had" to try it, I probably never would have gone to Ted's Montana Grill. So thanks to an arbitrary goal, I have just uncovered one of the truly great restaurants in this city. I hope, if you do go someday, that you'll let me know what you think. I definitely enjoyed myself at Ted's Montana Grill. And I hope you do, as well!