Growing up in Billings I took for granted that the dining scene in Billings was on par with the offerings of much larger cities, but in the last five years, the scene downtown has exploded and made for a very happy Andy. Now as a former division 1 offensive lineman I’m no stranger to food, and while I’m not trying to eat 10,000 calories a day anymore, I still love food. So when my friends from all over Montana (and the country) roll through Billings they hit me up for the details on the best grub in town. So, without further ado, here’s a list that is sure to be controversial.
UPDATED JULY, 2024
Growing up in Billings, I took for granted that the dining scene was on par with the offerings of much larger cities, but in the last five years, the downtown scene has exploded and made for a very happy Andy. Now, as a former Division 1 offensive lineman, I’m no stranger to food, and while I’m not trying to eat 10,000 calories a day anymore, I still love food. So when my friends from all over Montana (and the country) roll through Billings they hit me up for the details on the best grub in town. So, without further ado, here’s a list that is sure to be controversial.d
Breakfast/Brunch:
An essential to kick off any list is to find the best mimosas and brunch to soak up all of the amazing beer you drank the night before (but more on that later).
Fav: Sassy Biscuit. The Sassy Biscuit is a newcomer to Billings, but it didn’t take long for it to find a way to my heart.
My go to: The Kitchen Sink– Home fries, saged sausage, peppers, onions, mushrroms, topped with bacon gravy and a fried egg
Honorable mentions: Seva, Bernies, McCormicks, Hog Wild Cafe, and the legendary Stellas (and cinnamon rolls bigger than my head)
Coffee:
The artisan coffee house scene really has come to its own in the last few years and for that reason, you’ll never catch me at any chain coffee shops.
My go to: Black Dog Coffee House– Whenever I find myself back in Billings, Black Dog is a must to hang out and get some editing done. They’re also dog-friendly, so bringI can my pup with me!
My go to: The cortado! There are plenty of specialty and seasonal drinks to choose from, but I’m a sucker for a good cortado.
Casual Dining
Whenever I’m in Billings I’m hard pressed to ever cook for myself because the casual dining scene is so over the top. Just walking around downtown I’m overwhelmed with options for every mood I’m in.
Fav: Burger Dive – it didn’t win the best burger in the country for nothing! There isn’t a bad burger in the place, and you have to get the onion rings and a milkshake!
My go-to: The “I’m Your Huckleberry” Burger – this burger won the 2016 Burger Championship, and for good reason! A homemade huckleberry hatch chili BBQ sauce with bacon, goat cheese, arugula, and roasted red pepper mayo is the recipe for perfection.
Honorable mentions: Crazy Mary’s Fish and Chips (still the best fish and chips I’ve ever had), Spitz Mederteranian La TInga, Last Chance Pub & Cider Mill, McCormicks, Montana Brewing Company, Montana’s Rib and Chop House, Pickle Barrel and Zydeco
Fine dining
Now, Montana fine dining is far different from big-city fine dining. You’re far more likely to see a man in blue jeans and a nice button-down than in a suit, but don’t let that make you think that the food couldn’t stand on its own against those big city places.
Fav: Marble Table – A newcomer to the food scene in Billings, Marble Table describes itself as elegant comfort food and serves up just that. It was tough to dethrone my previous favorite, Walkers Grill, but Marble Table was up for the challenge .
My go-to: With an ever-changing menu, I won’t put a recommendation here because I always order something different on every visit, and I’m never disappointed! But I will say this: if the jalapeno corn fritters are on the menu, get them!
Honorable Mentions: The Local, Bin 119, Jakes, TEN, and Wild Ginger
Cocktails:
With all of this good food it’s important to know where to go for a night cap to wash it down. And while the fine dining restaurants hold their own for cocktails it’s nice to go to a dedicated cocktail bar.
Fav: Trailhead Sprits
– I’ve never had a bad cocktail at Trailhead, and the distillery awards lining the walls are a reminder as to why. Trailhead has made a name for itself on the liquor alone, but their cocktails seem to only make them better.
My go to: Chocolate Whiskey on the rocks. It’s the ONLY chocolate whiskey in the world, and even if you’re a whiskey snob like me it’ll peak your interest. They add cocoa nibs and vanilla bean into the barrel to give it some sweet notes without an overpowering taste of chocolate.
Honorable Mention: The espresso martini at Doc Harpers can’t be ignored for this list.
Breweries
Saving the best for last, breweries! If I’m in Billings, there’s a good chance you can find me at one of the nine breweries. Six of those breweries, one distillery, and one cider house lie on Montana’s only walkable brewery trail, a 1.5-mile trail through downtown to quench your thirst. Definitely check out this map by my friends at Visit Billings, Walkable Brewery Trail to plan your route.
My fav: Meadowlark- Picking a favorite was no easy task, but Meadowlark stands out for a few reasons, one being that it’s also one of my favorite lunch and dinner spots in town. This iconic Eastern Montana brewery built an amazing and large space out on the far west end.
Honorable Mention-
Angry Hanks, Carters, By All Means, Diamond X, Last Chance Cider House and Pub, and Thirsty Street.
And there you have it! Now I’m sure there are some highly debated places on this list, and I would love to hear your input below! What did I leave out?
Want to see even more tips and restaurants? Check out VisitBillings.com for an even more complete guide to grub.
Happy adventuring (and eating),
Andy
Leave a reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.