Montana’s BBQ & Bar — Restaurant in Barrie

Driving my father-in-law home from up north, we stopped in Barrie for a quick dinner with an hour and a half left in the drive as it was after 6 pm. Montana's is usually very consistent and reliable., so we thought we would take our first restaurant experience in two years at Montana's on Bayview Drive, off Maple View.

About 6:12 we were told the wait would be an out 20-25 minutes to be seated. And about 6:35 we were on the patio and a short time after giving our drink orders, which came right away. That was the last we saw if the staff for another 20 minutes.

Time ticked by, and after An hour after being seated went by with no one returning to ask if we needed anything, etc, I was ready to leave, announcing ten more minutes and we will leave and find an alternative along the remainder of the trip. The person clearing the table adjacent to us probably overheard me, as she went inside a moment later before returning to finish clearing the table.

Our meals arrived only a minute under the wire. I was just reaching for my sunglasses and wallet and starting to explain it was time to go. 7:44 pm

After bringing out the dinners, I was asked if we needed anything else, so I asked for the cheque right away so we would not be left waiting again.

I realise the restaurant service industry has struggled for the last two years and there is a staff shortage, but keeping people waiting for that long without even an acknowledgement or forwarding of the wait time for kitchen service is not a way to encourage returning customers.

There are lots of independent restaurants out there that suffered far worse. Guess where I will take my business...

Terrible Experience – Extremely Disappointing

Our experience at Montana’s Barrie was beyond frustrating and deserves to be shared.

We called ahead to make a reservation for 8 people and a dog. I specifically asked if they had a patio and if dogs were allowed — they confirmed both and took down my name and phone number, assuring us it was all set. I told them we were coming from Wasaga and would arrive in about 20 minutes. Just two minutes later, I called back after checking the GPS which showed a 40-minute ETA instead. I updated them immediately, and again, they confirmed the reservation with no issues.

After driving all that way, we arrived only to be told at the gate that they couldn’t accommodate us because they were short-staffed and had sent servers home. Not once during our two calls did they mention this. They had my number — a simple phone call could have saved us the trip.

We went inside to speak with the manager, who was completely unaware of our reservation. They had 40 minutes' notice— this wasn’t a walk-in. And the manager's attempt to “make up for it” with a spinach dip felt insulting. It was like being offered scraps for their mistake.

Honestly, this experience was a massive letdown from what’s supposed to be a reputable chain. The staff clearly lacked communication and interest in customer service. I won’t be returning to this location, and I definitely won’t be recommending it to anyone.

Do better,...

We recently visited Montana’s to celebrate two special milestones—our eldest daughter passing her course and our son-in-law’s a birthday. We drove over an hour from Caledon, excited to enjoy the warm atmosphere and great food that Montana’s has consistently delivered in the past. It’s always been our go-to spot for family gatherings, thanks to its reliable service and relaxing vibe.

Unfortunately, this visit didn’t quite meet our expectations. The restaurant was quite busy, and while we understand that can affect service, our experience was impacted. The food arrived cold, and when one of the orders was redone, it came back incorrect again—fries instead of vegetables, and chicken tenders in the wrong sauce. By the time the correction was offered, the rest of the family had finished eating, and my appetite had faded.

The service felt a bit rushed. Our server, though friendly, only checked in briefly after taking the order and again when delivering the bill. She also used terms like “honey” and “dear” that felt overly familiar for our comfort, and asked for ID from everyone including me when she could be my daughter to serve alcohol, which was unexpected.

In the end, I chose to take my meal home rather than eat at the table. While this visit didn’t reflect the Montana’s experience we’ve come to love, we know that every place can have an off day. We’re hopeful that next time will be back to the high standards we’ve come...