Montana's Rib and Chop House

By Jonas Webster

The drive to Livingston, MT, home of Montana’s Rib & Chop House and my destination, takes me through a beautiful mountain pass. Since I am coming from Bozeman it is a pleasant, but short drive. I arrive at the restaurant around 1pm, park in a mostly empty lot, and walk towards the faded brick building. I open the door and am shot with a pleasant gust of warm air which makes me blink. I observe that the restaurant gives off a private vibe. I proceed to twist my head around and try to pinpoint what makes this restaurant exhibit the private feel. I decide this vibe is created by dim lights, quite music in the background and plenty of room between the tables. First impressions over, I ask for a table and am whisked off to be seated and given a menu.

The waiter arrives as I scan the lunch menu which consists mainly of burgers, as well as sandwiches, and soup with meat. As suggested by the name of the Restaurant, the selections are best suited for the carnivore lover. As I read the menu more thoroughly, I see fish tacos, a departure from the meat theme, and decide to order them along with a side of mash potatoes and a calamari appetizer.

After a long wait, the calamari finally arrives. The golden calamari is delicately arranged around a light pink sauce that sits in the center of a dull yellow plate. Provided with my calamari are small appetizer plates and with my spoon. I deliver the delectable dipping sauce and crispy calamari to my plate. The calamari is encrusted in a thinly textured skin. My first bite is without sauce. I feel the skin crunch under my teeth and am rewarded with a stringy, bland chewy inside. The golden promise was a lie. I try another bite, but this time with sauce. This time the flavor is apparent and delicious and I conclude that the calamari should come pre-sauced.

After a painfully long wait, my fish tacos and mash potatoes arrived. Two tacos lay side by side on a long rectangular plate and next to them chips, messily plopped down without any plan. The tacos are beautifully made with a deep purple cabbage on top; under the dark purple canopy there are deep fried chunks of fish covered with a festive red and yellow pineapple salsa. I pick the taco up and take a tentative bite, not wanting to intrude upon its beauty. My teeth puncture my prey, biting through the soft slightly over cooked shell and reaching the crispy golden nuggets of fish covered in salsa. This is when the adventure begins. The fish makes a salty journey through my mouth and down my throat. The salsa on the other-hand is sweet, tangy and spicy and is a definite meal maker. I take another bite slicing through the cabbage, it is as juicy as a cabbage can be and is delicious. I turn to the heavenly white clouds sitting in a bowl just a few inches away. I take my spoon and scoop up the mash potatoes in a colossal sized bite. The moment before the spoon enters my mouth, I am full of excited anticipation. The potatoes are just as smooth as they looked and are a small, creamy, buttery sanctuary. After eating my mash potatoes I determine I am full and request a box to hide away the remainder of the meal for a later rediscovery.

In review, the restaurant had a nice, quiet ambiance. Although the service was slow, the waiters were friendly. The menu was varied and a provided many choices for those who savor meat. The portions were ample and for a restaurant in the middle of nowhere, the food was satisfying, but not overly memorable. I give this restaurant three solid stars.