Montana’s BBQ & Bar — Restaurant in Thunder Bay

After a long, difficult day of travelling, my wife and I tossed a proverbial coin. Tails sent us to Montana's with the intention of saving a few bucks over eating at The Keg, which is literally a stone's throw from Montana's. Biggest mistake of the day by far. Our server left me thirsty, brought us very well done steaks and mismanaged the timing of our food and drinks from the start. We both ordered steak and rib combo's only to be served our replacement steaks well after the ribs were gone and our side dishes were cold from trying to stretch them to pair with our steaks. One of the two steaks was brought out almost 10 full minutes after the first replacement steak was served, which meant the second steak was to be eaten without a side dish to accompany it. I knew after my replacement steak was served that I would have plenty of time to enjoy a second beer while my wife ate her replacement steak, so I ordered another. Our waitress walked past our table 3 times over the next several minutes without my beer. I was starting to pucker from the parch when finally my wife's replacement steak arrived. The difference between the two steaks was unreal. While my medium strip bled out on my plate, my wife's was faded pink, no juice and nearing the well done category closer than medium. Beyond Salty would be a fitting title for the gristle glob she was served. In the end the food was a terrible strike out, and what followed only escalated the experience from bad to absolutely terrible. Our server brought us the bill. Not one "adjustment" made for the complete lack of pleasure or enjoyment one should be able to expect from "Montana's", no matter what location. When our server returned to grab our card, I told her I wanted to talk about our bill and experience. With a flippant, "Of course.", she did a heel spin and promptly walked away without further acknowledgment or consideration. When "The Chef" then came to our table, she initially addressed us in a "Honey-boo-boo" voice saying, "How-oh", when clearly an adult, "Hello." would have been appropriate, and professional. Well, excuses are like armpits, and she had a couple of them and they stunk. Her: "I haven't got there yet." Me: "Excuse me?" Her: "You want a discount. Is that what you're waiting for? I haven't got there yet." Me: "Actually I'm looking more to tell y..." Her: "You want a discount. That's what you're waiting for. Well, I haven't got there yet." Me: "Actually I'm..." Then she grabbed our bill and left. She never did allow me an opportunity to share my experience or voice my concerns, opting rather to exercise her passive aggression with our second heel-spin-departure of the evening. Before leaving, we were offered a $20.00 discount, but still got hooked for nearly $70.00 for a salty gristle wad and two bad flavors in my mouth. One from the less than impressive meal, and the other from the experience. I'll not even go into my issues with the foul language we had to endure from what appeared to be a "regular". To close this review, I cannot express enough, the importance of supporting The Keg instead of going with a coin toss. It's not worth the risk of having an experience that now has my wife and I competing for time in the biffy. Learn from our mistake. This place doesn't live up to the positive reviews. Those people are either drunk, have low standards or are the "regulars"....

From the moment we were seated, Rosey, our server, made our experience feel special. She consistently checked in on us—not in a rushed way, but just enough to help us stay focused and actually order, since we were a bit distracted chatting. Her attentiveness extended throughout the meal, making sure our drinks were refilled promptly and our questions were answered with kindness and clarity. One thing I really appreciated was how she explained the Wednesday All-You-Can-Eat Ribs buffet. That stood out to me because the ribs here were outstanding. I’ve tried ribs at many places, and they’re often too tough or dry—but at Montana’s, they melted in my mouth. The meat was tender, flavorful, and the sauce didn’t overpower the natural taste of the ribs. It was perfectly balanced.

The rest of the food was just as impressive. The Fajitas had bell peppers cooked just right—not burnt or soggy—and that made all the difference. The salad was fresh and crisp with no wilted or off-tasting ingredients. The shrimp was delicious, though slightly spicy for me, but I still couldn’t stop eating it because the flavor was so good. And don’t get me started on the nachos! The cheese melted beautifully over the chips, and the chicken inside balanced out the spice of the jalapeños. It was an explosion of flavor in the best way possible. I also tried the Antojitos (the dish with blue cheese and a warm wrap), and it was my first time eating something like that. The cheese was perfectly warmed and blended into the wrap, giving me this unique, tingly mouthfeel—an experience I wasn’t expecting but absolutely loved.

Beyond the food and service, the atmosphere made the evening even more enjoyable. Our table had paper and crayons to draw with, which was such a fun way to pass time while waiting. Then, the TVs aired live hockey games, which kept us entertained, and the restaurant offered free Wi-Fi—which was a nice bonus for saving data. Everything about the place, from the presentation of the food to the cozy setup of the tables, felt thoughtfully put together.

In conclusion, this was a 4-star experience from start to finish. The service, the food, the ambiance—all of it was excellent. I highly recommend Montana’s to anyone looking for a satisfying meal and a genuinely enjoyable dining experience. I’m already looking forward...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Montana's and I must say, it was an exceptional experience. From the moment I walked in, Bryannah, our server, provided us with outstanding service that was both nice and caring. Her attentiveness and commitment to ensuring our dining experience was top-notch were truly commendable.

Bryannah's warm and friendly demeanor made us feel welcome right away. She took the time to explain the menu and made excellent recommendations based on our preferences. Her knowledge of the dishes and willingness to accommodate our dietary needs was impressive. It was evident that she genuinely cared about our satisfaction and went above and beyond to ensure we had a memorable meal.

Throughout the evening, Bryannah remained attentive without being intrusive. She always had a smile on her face and promptly attended to any requests or questions we had. Her efficiency and professionalism were truly remarkable, and it made the overall dining experience even more enjoyable.

One piece of advice I would give to those considering dining at Montana's is to visit mid-week. During our visit, the restaurant was relatively quiet, allowing Bryannah to provide personalized attention to each table. It was evident that the mid-week atmosphere allowed the staff to focus more closely on their guests, resulting in an even more delightful dining experience.

In terms of the food, Montana's did not disappoint. The menu offered a wide range of mouth-watering options, and the quality of the dishes was superb. From the succulent ribs to the perfectly cooked steaks, every bite was a delight to the taste buds. The portions were generous, and the presentation was visually appealing.

Overall, my experience at Montana's was exceptional, and much of that credit goes to Bryannah for her exceptional service. Her friendly and caring nature, coupled with her attention to detail, truly elevated our dining experience. I highly recommend visiting Montana's and, if you have the opportunity, being served by Bryannah. Just remember, for the best experience, try to visit mid-week when the restaurant is less crowded. You won't be...