Missoula Independent: Food and Drink

Best Restaurant

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Pearl Caf� and Bakery Also, Best Romantic Dining and Best Restaurant Service When a restaurant scores this kind of trifecta, it sends a pretty clear message to anyone planning a special night on the town. Pearl Cash, the owner of this Front Street treasure, runs a comfortable yet elegant eatery that has cemented her reputation as one of the finest chefs in the Northwest.…

Best Asian Food

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Sa Wad Dee Is it bad that we have Sa Wad Dee�s day-by-day lunch menu memorized? Or that we own-and often wear-a Sa Wad Dee T-shirt?…

Best Budget Lunch

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Taco del Sol Also, Best Place to Eat Alone Taco del Sol�s lunch hour crowd frequently trails out the door.…

Best French Fries

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Iron Horse Brew Pub It�s difficult to improve upon something as classic as ketchup, but the Iron Horse has with its Missoula-famous chipotle variety. The finger-lickin� smoky, spicy and sweet ketchup has more than a little to do with Indy readers voting the downtown brewpub�s french fries the best in town.…

Best Milk Shake

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Uptown Diner One look at the wall of this Higgins Avenue eatery and it�s clear what item on the menu is most popular-dozens of awards hang in honor of the Uptown�s signature milk shakes. If it�s news to you that it makes the best shake in town, then you need to pop in, belly up to the counter and suck and spoon your way to dairy delight.…

Best Convenience Store

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Holiday on Higgins Not too long ago, the Indy offices were located next to the Holiday on Higgins, and it�s safe to say that the 99-cent Doritos, back wall of refrigerated beverages and walk-in freezer of beer helped get us through many weeks of publication. We�re not in there quite as often anymore, but that doesn�t mean we don�t still stop in for a deadline Red Bull or post-production six-pack, and it warms our hearts like little hot dogs on a spinning rack to still get the genuine welcome when we walk up to the register.…

Best Romantic Dining

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Pearl Caf� and Bakery Also, Best Restaurant and Best Restaurant Service When a restaurant scores this kind of trifecta, it sends a pretty clear message to anyone planning a special night on the town. Pearl Cash, the owner of this Front Street treasure, runs a comfortable yet elegant eatery that has cemented her reputation as one of the finest chefs in the Northwest.…

Best Mexican Food

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

El Cazador There aren�t many places in Montana that serve up authentic flan, enchiladas rancheras and chicken mole. But El Cazador does, and that�s why our readers consistently vote it numero uno.…

Best Place to Eat Alone

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Taco del Sol Also, Best Budget Lunch Taco del Sol�s lunch hour crowd frequently trails out the door.…

Best Bakery

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Bernice�s Bakery Creaming almond croissants, perfectly flaky spanakopita and delightful English scones are among the baked treats that earn Bernice�s this award year after year. But what makes this Hip Strip establishment even more deserving is the way the 22-year-old bakery does business.…

Best Microbrewery

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Kettlehouse Brewing Local beer enthusiasts got a big scare this Easter when one of our own, that perpetually smiling taproom hand Angie Oakins, had a serious slope-side accident at Snowbowl. But Tim O�Leary and the Kettlehouse crew proved they can take care of their own when they hosted a big fundraising bash in May to help cover the costs of Oakins� surgery.…

Staff Pick - Best Social Networking Site

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

On any given day you can walk into Break Espresso and witness a sea of students and business folks, flanked by mugs of coffee and pastries, peering at their laptops and textbooks. One table discusses the historical events leading to the Wilderness Act.…

Best Restaurant Service

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Pearl Caf� and Bakery Also, Best Restaurant and Best Romantic Dining When a restaurant scores this kind of trifecta, it sends a pretty clear message to anyone planning a special night on the town. Pearl Cash, the owner of this Front Street treasure, runs a comfortable yet elegant eatery that has cemented her reputation as one of the finest chefs in the Northwest.…

Best Seafood

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Sushi Hana Seafood is sort of a scary idea in a landlocked state. But Sushi Hana has fish, miso, wasabi and rice lovers clogging its doors, especially every Monday and Wednesday night for fresh $1 specials.…

Best Pizza

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Biga Pizza Also, Best Chef: Bob Marshall You can tell what time of day it is by the location of the sun in the sky, just like the changing of the seasons is reflected in every pie served at Biga Pizza.…

Best Breakfast

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

The Shack Cafe Want an example of The Shack�s breakfast status in Missoula? Just drop in during the University of Montana�s Homecoming week or graduation weekend and try snagging a table.…

Best Local Brew

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Cold Smoke Scotch Ale, Kettlehouse Kettlehouse Brewing founder Tim O�Leary has said several times he has no idea why Cold Smoke became the brewery�s flagship beer. He originally intended the label to be nothing more than a tasty seasonal scotch ale, mostly shared among his friends at ski resorts in Montana and Colorado.…

Staff Pick - Best Excuse to Eat Sugar

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Wander through the new Carousel Sunday Market in Caras Park or Out to Lunch every Wednesday and you�ll discover the most unexpected�and seemingly unnatural�USDA-certified organic food product. Fairy Floss Cotton Candy is spun right there in the parking lot, apparently from pure, all-natural, no-additives sugar.…

Best New Restaurant

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

The Silk Road Missoula, quite simply, hasn�t seen a restaurant like The Silk Road before. The Risho family�s latest creation offers patrons a virtual around-the-world tour through an ever-revolving tapas menu and wine list.…

Best Steak

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Lolo Creek Steakhouse Last year, The Depot edged out perennial winner Lolo Creek. This year, Lolo Creek is back.…

Best Chef

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Bob Marshall Also, Best Pizza: Biga Pizza You can tell what time of day it is by the location of the sun in the sky, just like the changing of the seasons is reflected in every pie served at Biga Pizza. Or that�s how it seems, anyway.…

Best Coffee

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Butterfly Herbs Winning Best Coffee in Missoula is like winning Best Wine in California�s Napa Valley-there are so many worthy candidates that the winner must be pretty damn awesome. Butterfly Herbs certainly fits the bill.…

Best Bartender

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Al Pils, Kettlehouse Kettlehouse ale slinger Al Pils is just as quick with a fresh pint as he is with pointed commentary. His thoughts on topics ranging from Missoula politics to the most influential rock albums of all time rotate regularly on a large white board that hangs above the Myrtle Street bar.…

Staff Pick - Best Gelatinous Balls

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Admittedly, not everyone finds the idea of sipping deliciously sweet tea filled with edible gelatinous balls appetizing. But the signature Bubble Tea at Iza gives us a smile.…

Best Waiter/Waitress

editor@missoulanews.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:00:00 -0600

Annie Rice, Biga Pizza How does a waitress keep things fresh after four years tending the same tables? For Annie Rice, 23, the answer�s simple: Treat work like play.…