Montana’s BBQ & Bar — Restaurant in Newmarket

Hands down one of the best dining experiences we’ve had in a while! We visited this Montana’s after an afternoon of hiking nearby, and it turned out to be the perfect place to relax, recharge, and enjoy some incredible food.

Food wise — we ordered the full rack of ribs, and it was absolutely massive. Honestly, it was way bigger than what we’ve had at various ribfests. The portion size alone blew us away, but on top of that, the ribs were tender, flavorful, and cooked just right. If you’re hungry and craving barbecue, this is the place to go. We ordered Texas Bold for the ribs.

Service wise - it was truly exceptional. From the moment we arrived, the staff were welcoming, inclusive, and so attentive. We had our service dog with us, and they were not only accommodating but also genuinely friendly toward him. It really meant a lot to us that they welcomed him on the patio without hesitation. Even more touching — our dog, who is normally very alert in public spaces, was surprisingly calm and relaxed the entire time. He clearly felt safe and at ease with the place. It’s rare for our service dog to let his guard down like that, and it speaks volumes about the environment.

Our server checked in on us regularly even though we’re just the people in the patio — about every 15 minutes — just to make sure everything was going well, without being intrusive. That level of attention is something you don’t always get, and it made a big difference. They weren’t lazy or disengaged like you sometimes experience elsewhere; they genuinely cared about how we were doing.

Location wise - it is another big plus. It’s super accessible — close to Yonge Street and also just minutes away from some great hiking trails (Dave Kerwin Trail, Clifford Perry Boardwalk, Thornton Bales, etc). We actually had just come off the trails before heading here, and this Montana’s location was exactly what we needed — hearty food, comfortable seating, and friendly faces.

Overall, we left feeling very satisfied and appreciated. Between the amazing food, outstanding service, and welcoming atmosphere (for both people and service animals), this location really exceeded our expectations and really unexpected especially we’re tired and hungry. We’ll definitely be back — and we’ll be recommending it to friends and family too!...

Went in today for dinner with my spouse and had a pretty awful experience. I'll preface by saying it was not busy and our waitress was friendly and professional. We started by ordering an app and drinks, and said we'd order an entree after having a chance to look over the menu. When we placed our entree order (large rack of ribs and a regular rack of ribs), they arrived at the exact same time as the app.

The medium wings we ordered ended up being too hot for my partner to eat, and her ribs (the regular ribs) were less than satisfactory.

After eating some of my own meal (the large ribs), I noticed a long hair baked into my cornbread, and strung throughout my fries and on my ribs. I alerted the waitress who apologized and returned it to the kitchen.

A few moments later, I was brought out a replacement meal. It was a regular sized rib, not the large, and it looked like they had dumped my fries from the previous order onto the new plate, as they were cold and scattered. The ribs didn't even have sauce on them. I was told they were gonna take the meal off the bill.

When we asked for the bill, I noticed they had compensated us for my partners regular sized ribs, and still charged us for the large.

Overall, the food is bland, overly salty and apparently hairy. Managment should have compensated the whole meal, or at least the right meal.

Our waitress was professional and friendly the whole time and apologized constantly, so we still tipped.

We won't be back and I recommend avoiding...

As a Newmarket local, I've tried just about every restaurant in town. I've had some less-than-stellar experiences at Montana's in the past, but I'm thrilled to report that something has changed – for the better! From the moment we walked in, the service was exceptional. Our server, Sue, was fantastic. He was attentive, friendly, and went above and beyond to ensure we had a great experience. He even let me know the coffee would be a few minutes because they were brewing a fresh pot and it was worth the wait! There's nothing like a good cup of Joe. I drink it black and it was definitely not burnt and not very acidic.

The food was also on point. My girlfriend's pulled pork nachos were a huge portion and delicious. I opted for the two-piece fish and chips, and it was cooked to perfection with a crispy beer batter. The kids enjoyed their pizza and fries and sliced cucumber, which were also well-prepared. It seems like maybe new management or some kind of internal shift has happened because this visit was a complete 180 from past experiences. If you've been hesitant to try Montana's or had a bad experience before, I highly recommend giving them another chance. They've definitely stepped up their game and are living up to the Montana's name. Highlights: Exceptional service (thanks, Sue!) Delicious food with generous portions Freshly brewed coffee Family-friendly atmosphere Overall, we had a fantastic lunch at Montana's and thank you for a great meal and a wonderful...