Montana’s BBQ & Bar — Restaurant in Edmonton

We've had awful hit and miss with this restaurant for about 18 months whether we go together, alone, or with others, during off hours weekdays (no Fridays or holidays). Cleanliness, service, and food quality consistency have been big ongoing issues. It's become the norm to wait 20+ minutes to place our uncomplicated food and drinks order. Add 15 min. before drinks come. Add 30+ minutes for our meal. Add the 5 minutes or so wait to be seated in the first place and that's 1 hour+ since we walked in the door. Add a further 20+ minutes of waiting for napkins or the rest of our order or something that's missing. Add 20+ more minutes waiting for a drink refill. One of us invariably gets up, walks through the empty or almost empty restaurant to find a server and ask them for what's missing or needed. Then they say they'll tell our server. Then comes the wait back at the table for our server, who usually asks us if we need something. More waiting. Food consistency is hit and miss. Sometimes things are burnt, sometimes like rubber. The excuse made is it's the kitchen or the supplier. Okay, but how about offering a substitute?! Saying there's nothing they can do seems far fetched. The limit for me personally has been the trend the past year or so of waiting for over 30 minutes for the bill. We're finished. Passing servers sometimes confirm we're done. We often ask passing servers for our bill. If our server shows up, we ask for the bill and have even mentioned time constraints so we need the bill SOON. Then we wait. We've had to go find a random server to ask again for our bill. Then comes the long wait. We started going to the front counter or bar to pay instead. Each of us has stopped tipping. It hasn't mattered how well we've tipped in the past. Even if a server remembers one of us as a great tipper, we're just as likely to get awful service and a mediocre meal. So why reward that now with tipping. Cleanliness. Last topic. The menus and items on tables often need a wipe down when we first sit down. So, before, during, and after our meal, this restaurant usually lets us down. It takes so little to wipe obvious smears or food off a menu or a seat or crayons cup. Eventually I could only convince one other person to come with me to give this location "one more try". Last time, I quietly used a timer to see how long we waited. I was so shocked, I've sworn off this location. There's little to no respect for customers' time or patronage. However the very rare times we've gone during a "busy" time, service was sometimes faster but not always. I'd wanted to have more than one "not too bad" experience in a row and leave a 3 star review. I'd hoped to have a good experience (and more than one) and leave a 5 star review. I've waited. I've given "one more try" sooo many times. There's no reason to earn a 1 star review :( This restaurant was so much better before about 18 months ago. My old review...

Our server Sydney was above and beyond amazing!!!! Super attentive, funny, kind, professional. We will absolutely request her when we go back.

The food was alright. Protons are good. My oldest had the regular ribs and enjoyed them. My youngest ordered wings, mild, but didn't like the texture. We order another 8 plain for her. They were pretty crispy when they came but she ate half of them. We kept the mild ones too and I thought they were really good, super flavourful and some of the best tasting I have had in a long time.

Sydney brought out some fries so that my youngest kiddo something to nibble on while she waited for her plain wings :) Super thoughtful.

I had the fajitas. They were ok I guess but I wouldn't get them again. The veggies (green, red pepper and onions) didn't taste like they had any seasoning and the chicken also tasted plain but was at least tender.

We also ordered the brisket baked potato skins to share. They were ok. Very heavy/rich. The brisket topping portioning was lacklustre and it bugged me that it was chopped into like 1cmx1cm flat squares lol

We took a lot of food home for leftovers.

All in all. Sydney made our outing great! It was my belated Mother's Day dinner with my two daughters and we really enjoyed our time.

We watched her serve other tables and it always makes me sad to see that the majority of people eating at restaurants barely take the time to acknowledge that their server is a person and not just a body writing down their demands. In my personal experience, dining out is the whole experience! And when you give good energy it comes back in return. Having worked in the industry for years and managing restos, bars and cafes, I appreciate the quality of service we were given tonight.

Thank you again Sydney! 5 stars...

We had such a fantastic dining experience at Montana’s BBQ & Bar, made truly exceptional by our server, Char. From the moment we were seated, Char greeted us with a warm smile and a genuine energy that immediately made us feel welcome.

What really stood out was how personable and passionate she was — it was clear that she genuinely cared about our experience. She took the time to chat with us, made sure our food was exactly as we wanted it, and managed to stay calm and kind even while managing several tables. Her professionalism, kindness, and natural charisma turned a regular meal into a memorable night out.

Now, on to the food — which was just as impressive:

The Spicy Southern Fried Chicken Sandwich was crispy, juicy, and full of bold flavor. The spice level was just right, and the sandwich held up beautifully with fresh ingredients and a soft, toasted bun.

The Antojitos were the perfect start — cheesy, packed with flavor, and served piping hot. A comforting and shareable appetizer that set the tone nicely.

We also tried the Hot Wings and BBQ Wings, and both varieties were fantastic. The hot wings had a great kick without overpowering the flavor, while the BBQ wings were perfectly glazed with that sweet, smoky richness you hope for in a classic wing.

Overall, the food was delicious, the atmosphere was cozy and relaxed, and Char’s incredible service was the highlight of the evening. It’s not every day you come across someone who leaves such a lasting impression. We’ll definitely be back — and we’ll be asking for Char again.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for comfort food, great service, and a welcoming...