EAT LIKE A LOCAL Missoula Dining Guide 2021 WE SLOW DOWN AND SAVOR EVERY BITE Where “farm-to-table” is a quicker commute than you might think, and “local” is a given on most menus. This place is Missoula, Montana, and our dining (and drinking) scene DOUBLE FRONT CHICKEN is deliciously unexpected. From downtown distilleries, to midtown mainstays, to traveling food trucks and more, we’ve got something for any occasion and every palate. Bottom line: It’s easy to eat well in Missoula. Culinary tourists can sample new cuisines at every meal and large groups enjoy bus-friendly restaurants as they pass through. We order cocktails and fresh oysters GILD with riverfront views, and sip local brews as we watch live music. Dining in Missoula is an experience in and of itself, and it’s about time you tried it. Missoula’s dining scene is always evolving—find the latest information on restaurants, bars, breweries and more by visiting our website. PLONK 2 2021 MISSOULA DINING GUIDE // DESTINATIONMISSOULA.ORG INSIDE 4 BETTER TOGETHER 6 BIGA PIZZA 8 M-80 CHICKEN 10 MADE IN MISSOULA: ARTHUR WAYNE HOT SAUCE 11 MISSOULA RESTAURANTS 24 FOOD TRUCKS 26 PICNIC LIKE A LOCAL Published by: Destination Missoula Visitor Information Center 101 E. Main St. | Missoula, Montana 406.532.3250 | 800.526.3465 [email protected] destinationmissoula.org #Missoula #VisitMissoula 2021’S HAPPIEST #TheresThisPlace #MissoulaEats CITIES IN AMERICA: Mailing address: MISSOULA, MONTANA 140 N. Higgins Ave., Suite 202 Missoula, Montana 59802 WalletHub 1889 PHOTOS BY TAYLAR ROBBINS 2021 MISSOULA DINING GUIDE // DESTINATIONMISSOULA.ORG 3 BETTER TOGETHER IN MISSOULA Don’t make the mistake of sticking to one restaurant during your visit—Missoula’s local food, brews and other beverages taste even better when paired together with a side of fresh air. So go ahead and get creative next time you grab a meal in Missoula, because the perfect combo is pure magic once you find it. Here are just a few of our favorites: DRINK Hand Rolled Hazy IPA from Back to the Mother Kombucha Draught Works FOOD TRAVELING NEWLYWEDS TRAVELING Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad from Basal Daily Slice from Bridge Pizza ACTIVITY Bike ride along the Riverfront Trail Catch an outdoor concert 4 2021 MISSOULA DINING GUIDE // DESTINATIONMISSOULA.ORG “ Missoula really surprised us. We knew it would be beautiful, and we figured we’d have fun, but we had no idea just how scenic, how adventurous and how advanced this charming mountain town is. From the booming culinary scene to floating down the Clark Fork River with a beer in hand, we had the time of our lives...and we can’t wait to come back!” Alli & Bobby Talley, The Traveling Newlyweds DRINK Mint Cold Brew from Black Coffee Roasting Co. Farmhouse Cider from Western Cider FOOD Breakfast burrito The Clash sandwich from from Market on Front Tagliare Delicatessen ACTIVITY Morning hike on Waterworks Hill Float the Clark Fork River 2021 MISSOULA DINING GUIDE // DESTINATIONMISSOULA.ORG 5 LOCALLY LOVED PIZZA Why we can’t get enough of Biga Pizza. If someone says “pizza” and you ask “cheese or pepperoni?” then you clearly haven’t been to Biga Pizza. Sure, you can grab a classic cheese pizza from Biga (and it will be delicious, no doubt), but you can also bite into a slice fresh out of the brick oven, covered in house-made fennel marmalade, locally sourced bacon, melted gouda—should we keep going? You get the point. The owner, Bob Marshall, has been living in Missoula since 1990 and running Biga for over a decade now. It all started when, as Bob told us, “The stars aligned at just the right moment 15 years ago, when we had a 1-year-old and were expecting our second child. There was an existing pizzeria for sale, and I recognized the potential.” He jokingly added, “My wife and I had, up until then, been working for other people and decided, ‘Why not open a restaurant with life already super busy?’” Life would only get busier as Biga gained recognition and, consequently, a devoted following of pizza lovers. The difference is in the ingredients, the creativity and the care. “Local ingredients are harvested at their prime and won’t sit on a truck or at a warehouse for long amounts of time. Plus, purchasing locally infuses revenue into our local economy… When we created (and evolved) our menu, we chose ingredients from the palate of available local goods.” Their menu continues to keep us on our feet, as Biga changes its offerings with each passing season and new local crop. So, if their iconic Flathead Cherry Pizza isn’t on the menu, BEST PIZZA IN that’s because the ingredients aren’t in season. EVERY STATE: And if it is available, then order up, because it’s perhaps one of the most creatively delicious MONTANA, pizzas you’ve ever tried. BIGA PIZZA Bob’s devotion to local ingredients means Food & Wine, 2021 he serves up some seriously fresh pizza, and 6 2021 MISSOULA DINING GUIDE // DESTINATIONMISSOULA.ORG Missoula Signature Dish: FLATHEAD CHERRY PIZZA TASTE THIS PLACE nurtures a tight-knit connection with his community. “I love this community, and I’m grateful to be part of the food culture here. Sharing our vision with Missoulians and visitors gives me the same feeling as going to someone's grandmother’s house and smelling fresh-baked pie on the porch, a lasting memory that resonates forever. We now employ almost 50 people, as we have added a second kitchen and delivery services, and I’m proud to help literally and figuratively put food on people's table.” You can find Biga Pizza serving up fresh salads, sandwiches and pizzas in downtown Missoula, conveniently located next door to Cranky Sam Public House. If you truly want to eat (and drink) like a local while visiting, you can’t beat Biga. 2021 MISSOULA DINING GUIDE // DESTINATIONMISSOULA.ORG 7 SOME REALLY GOOD CHICKEN Savor the perfect chicken sandwich at M-80. Missoula’s food scene grows more diverse (and delicious) with each passing year, and that goes for our community of food trucks, too. A number of these new mobile eateries popped up in 2020, and one that’s gaining traction quickly is M-80 Chicken. M-80 was the product of a few things—community support, COVID-19 hardships and a passion for fried chicken. The owner, Nick Jackson, made Missoula home eight years ago and attended the University of Montana, but it wasn’t until after graduation that he found his love for Southern food. “My band, Newlyweds, went on tour right after college and we ended up spending a lot of time in the South. I fell in love with the food and couldn’t get it out of my head.” After returning home and seeing a shortage of fried chicken, he began experimenting with new recipes himself. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, he turned bad news into a new opportunity and changed the course of his career path. “When COVID hit, I got laid off from my office job and decided to pivot to something I really cared about. I wanted to fill a gap in the Missoula food scene, and be involved with this community that I love so much.” And with that, M-80 was born. Nick is currently living in downtown Missoula with his fiancée, McKenna, their two black cats and a new puppy, and he gets to run his own business and make delicious fried chicken full time. When it comes to their menu, they keep it simple and do it right. “With M-80 Chicken, what you see is what you get. We don’t claim to be the fanciest meal in town, but we serve up some really good chicken that people love. I spend a lot of long hours in that truck making sure everything is up to our standards, and everyone gets quality chicken.” Aside from cooking great food, Nick loves the community aspect of owning a food truck in Missoula. From fellow business owners to repeat customers, Nick told us, “We’ve felt supported from Day One and we hope to pay that back as much as possible.” That sense of local pride is evident as soon as you make it to their order window, where tourists and locals alike are greeted like friends. “We like to get to know our customers, and we want them to feel like they know us. When you come to M-80, you know you’re going to see me, have a good time hanging out in line and walk away with some really good chicken.” M-80 can usually be spotted outside of KettleHouse Brewing near Missoula’s Hip Strip, and their signature “hot sando” pairs perfectly with a cold pint. And just as much as you’ll enjoy the chicken, you’ll love supporting these friendly, talented and resilient Missoula locals. 8 2021 MISSOULA DINING GUIDE // DESTINATIONMISSOULA.ORG Missoula Recipe: Where to Eat in Missoula COMFORT FOOD DOUBLE FRONT: Signature fried chicken, seafood and sandwiches served in a low-key space. THE DINOSAUR CAFE: Cajun dishes served in the back of a downtown bar. EL CAZADOR: Authentic Mexican food with locations on Missoula’s southside and downtown. JAKER’S BAR AND GRILL: MAKE IT AT HOME: 406 BURGER Contemporary casual regional chain restaurant with steak and (Serves 4) seafood. Is that name a little cheesy? That’s because this RED ROBIN: Gourmet burgers burger is, too. Meet the 406 Burger: a Mannix beef and other American comfort fare.