I’m operating on the assumption nobody knows much about what restaurants exist in Missoula or Havre.
Havre, MT
Uncle Joe’s is the standout here. It’s the only ‘nice’ restaurant in town; however, since this is Havre, it doesn’t have anything like a formal dress code. It actually has rather good steaks and their signature broasted chicken is certainly worth a trip if you’re in town anyway. Eat At Joe’s.
The Lunchbox is a lunch place. They have coffee, sodas, and the most kinds of sandwiches I’ve ever seen listed in once place. They make a fairly good liverwurst sandwich, so they’re on the list.
Other than that, you’d do well to learn how to cook.
Missoula, MT
The Pearl is one of the two nicest restaurants in town, with wonderful traditional French food served in a sedate atmosphere by waitstaff in the usual dark clothing. Typical classy joint, but relaxed enough they don’t have a dress code (says the guy who went there with a fart joke on his tee-shirt) and you usually don’t need a reservation for small parties.
Redbird is the other nicest restaurant in town. Their cuisine is more eclectic and their menu changes seasonally. It’s a smaller place, squirreled away in a wonderful Art Deco building downtown that is very well-preserved. They have the most fragrant iced tea I’ve ever tasted in addition to the very flavorful food.
The Silk Road is a high-class dive tapas bar. Artsy, adventurous, and taking full liberties from the fact the Silk Road ran from one end of Asia to the other in terms of their cuisine. Another place where the menu changes regularly to take advantage of fresh local food. Great coffee, too.
Sushi Hana is likely the best place to eat sushi in Montana, making it very popular, especially among college kids. It is good sushi, made from fresh-tasting delicate-flavored fish (if you want fish), well-cooked rice, ripe vegetables, and, sometimes, imaginative sauces. Their tea is certainly very drinkable and they also serve hot sake, but no real standouts in the beverages. They have a nice dessert made from tempura bananas and green tea ice cream that’s likely too big for two people who just ate a plate of sushi.
Missoula is big enough to have two Thai restaurants, and Sa Wad Dee is the good one. Lots of curries, peanut sauces abound, and, if you want it, enough spicy food to melt your molars. I have a real soft spot for any restaurant that serves both black rice and sweetened fried bananas in creamy coconut milk.
El Cazador is the best Mexican restaurant in town, and not for lack of competition. (Fiesta en Jalisco also puts in an appearance around here.) Rich sauces, dense bean and rice concoctions, and tender spiced meat all around. What more could you want?
Big Dipper Ice Cream is Missoula gourmet ice cream, which means some of the flavors are made out of beer ingredients. Also, they have espresso milk shakes. Great place. My favorite flavor is Mexican chocolate (chocolate with chili powder), followed closely by maple walnut and black licorice.
