Eddie's Mercantile — Local services in West Glacier

Eddies. Oh Eddies, what happened to this place I used to daydream about returning to....? I first visited in 2002, then 2006, 2007,2008, 2010, it was always a classic diner with distinctivtely prepared meals that you knew were meant to bring you back. Huckleberry yogurt, pancakes, and syrup, almost anything could be garnished with the local purple berries. Fresh homemade cinnamon rolls as big as your head, you could smell them when you walked in the door. Want them made into french toast? You could get three slices of heaven topped with huckleberry syrup and thick slices of bacon still hot from the griddle.

I should have noticed something was different in July of 2015 the dull new white vinyl applique sign that replaced the hand painted one, the deck outside and the "cocktails" advertised, the lack of anyone in the place on a Thursday morning at 8:30am when you used to have to wait for a seat, a simplified menu that looked nothing like before.... but it was the food that brought all those red flags into view and what a disappointment. All I can say is what it was, smell of bleach and stale water in the dining room, three other couples seated at 8:30 on a Thursday mid-season. Bagged, sliced french bread french toast with some poor tasting egg white-wash, scrambled eggs from a bag, frozen "hashbrown" potatoes with the same institutional seasoning as curly fries from Arby's, weak coffee and two cold overcooked bacon curls that were very well sitting in a stainless steel pan since before opening. What was missing was no huckleberry garnish (unless you pay 2.50 for a side of them) and all of the soul of a great cafe nestled in the woods. It was shocking, a family run passionate restaurant, now slightly worse than breakfast in the airport. We had planned to eat there every morning we were not hiking, now as a result we will plan to stay away from Apgar. Making good food at such a place, open three to four months a year, could be easy if it was run by an owner with passion. The past proved that.

Being disconnected from the park after returning all those years I researched a bit. I found out about Xanterra replacing GPI and the shady deal that seemed to lurk with that news. Learning of that news I still can't draw a direct line to the experience on my most recent visit. However we surely noticed the same cost cutting factory food faux-local changes made through out their new properties. For example, my burger at the Lake Mc Donald Lodge came with the same bagged and seasoned fries as Eddies, slightly longer to look like "steak fries." I read the article from 2008 in a Montana Living Magazine about the Larson Family selling the place after 32 years, an article that describes in better detail the experience my family had from 2002-2008 when dining there and precisely why we would be excited about returning. It also unknowingly describes all that is missing. What used to be on par with the busy diners of the northwest's great logging towns has been reduced to a cost-centric-product-ordered-from-a-commissary cafeteria just to make a buck off of the unknowing tourists. I know there are five star reviews out there, most people wouldn't be too upset at a blase experience at a park restaurant, they have mountains, rivers and backpacking in the woods bursting just out the door, but awful food didn't build the railroad or get the logs to the mill, or propel you over twelve miles of mountain trail, even Paul Bunyan knew that, and so did the Larsons.

What remains for the time being is the original decor, the mascot grizzly bear Eddie seated at the corner table, and the few booths with amazing views of the lake.

My advice to Xanterra, have a meal at the Two Medicine Grill in East Glacier, they get it, perfectly. My advice to visitors, pack a lunch or head to Buffalo Cafe in Whitefish.

With a bit...

My wife and I ate at Eddie’s twice and did takeout once. This may seem strange for a one star review, but please allow me to explain.

Our first night at Eddie’s was great. Good service, and the food was perfect. We ordered the pulled pork sandwich and the bacon chicken wrap, a drink, and then we finished with the huckleberry peach pie, that includes a scoop of ice cream. For what we ordered, the price was pretty high, we tipped 20%, but we didn’t mind the high prices because there aren’t many warm food options in Apgar, and the food was stellar. I fell in love with the pie.

My wife and I enjoyed Eddie’s so much we decided to go back for our second night in Apgar. We ordered the exact same menu items, the pulled pork sandwich and chicken wrap. Both were pretty terrible. The pork was pretty much completely burnt and crunchy and the wrap was missing a few items, dry, and overall poor. Service was also worse, but we still tipped 20%. I ordered the pie again and out came a huge piece with ice cream. The pie was the only thing good about our second time at Eddie’s.

So, for the third night, we did not go back to Eddie’s for dinner, but I loved the pie, so I went back to get the pie for takeout. The pie is about $10 and this includes ice cream when you get it in house. I’m writing this review, my first ever google review because I’m incredibly irritated that I paid $10.5 for the pie with ice cream, the $1.75 service fee, and a 20% tip, so I paid $15 for the smallest piece of I received over three nights, which wasn’t warmed up, and included ice cream. On the menu, the $10.5 for the pie includes the ice cream, but I guess this isn’t included for take out. I attached a picture of the sad tiny piece of pie for which I paid $15 for. I get it, I ordered the pie knowing the price, but I didn’t anticipate a piece of pie that was half the size of the pieces I received the two nights prior, a pie not warmed up, and without ice cream. I just want to warn other people so they don’t leave Eddie’s feeling as let down as I do.

I’d avoid Eddie’s, it just left a really bad impression on me. Again, the first night was great, the second night was terrible, and the third night for takeout was terrible. It’s really hit or miss. Based on our experience, you have about a 1/3 chance of a good experience, and with the prices Eddie’s is charging for basic food, it’s just not worth it. Eddie’s definitely benefits from its location within the park, it is really convenient if you’re in Apgar. Still, I’d recommend avoiding Eddie’s and eating somewhere in West Glacier where your dollar will go further, and the quality of the food and service is higher. I’m sorry for the bad review, I don’t like leaving google reviews, but this is the first time a restaurant has left such a poor...

There are very limited places to eat in West Glacier Park and Eddies Cafe & Gifts is close to Lake MacDonald. Note: there is no internet service in this area!! So, you can’t read reviews.

Their outdoor dining area is lovely. With the nice weather, we choose to sit there in the shade. Parking is quite difficult and you’ll probably have to circle a few times. During the peak season, it gets very busy in Apgar Village. I’d have to say it’s a little pricey for the food you’re getting.

All 3 of us tried the Montana Cowboy Burger. Not worth it! Plus getting fries, sweet potato fries or onion rings is an up charge. First of all, the burger patty doesn’t seem like an Angus burger; not freshly made, not juicy and very dry. It seemed like a frozen patty that had been reheated up or put under a heat lamp. The BBQ sauce didn’t even cover the whole bottom bun. The sweet potato fries were not crispy. The onion rings were just okay. The bun was dry and not one you’d typically see for a burger. They do put mayo, ketchup and mustard on the table. After eating, I noticed a tray with the mayos, NOT being refrigerated. I have to wonder how long they’ve been kept out that day. A potential health hazard for sure.

Huckleberry Cobbler and Huckleberry Peach Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream is a definite must try! The Huckleberry Cobbler was warm with the most delicious crumble on top! The Vanilla Ice Cream was perfect with the pie. Both are very sweet but worth trying.

After driving around Glacier Park, we went back to see the stars at Lake MacDonald and decided to give Eddies another chance so we went there for dinner. We sat inside this time so that we could charge our phone. The Huckleberry Mule and Huckleberry Sour were okay for drinks, definitely weak.

The Polebridge Pulled Pork Sandwich could have had more pulled pork. The coleslaw is bland, even with adding salt and pepper to it.

The Fish and Chips were hot & good (not the best I’ve had) maybe because it’s something that has to be fried. The tartar sauce was too tangy for me and not the typical tartar sauce flavor. Dipped the fries in ranch, which is good.

Joe Cosley’s Bacon Chicken Wrap was good. It was supposed to have guacamole but didn’t have any on it. It could have used some kind of sauce like a spicy aioli. It was a little dry.

Good customer service from Varvara...