Three Forks Grille — Restaurant in Columbia Falls

Stopped in on a whim because we were staying 2 nights in the area and we were hungry while waiting for our vrbo to send codes. Upon entry the hostess was very warm and welcoming. There's not a ton of seating and being a party of 5 she let us know we'd have about a 15-20 min wait. They did have a small bar so we sat there and had a couple drinks while we waited. We could've eaten at the bar but we chose to wait for a table. The bartender was friendly and attentive. They have kombucha on tap and we were intrigued so he gave us a sample to make sure we would like first. It was very good and he told us it was made locally. Our table upstairs became available and Austin was our server. He was delightful. Very well versed in the menu and helped answer our questions as well as gave some recommendations. We had the 11 oz bison ribeye that was on special. Cooked to perfection and well worth the $41. The mashed potatoes tasted fresh and homemade. The sautéed mushrooms were tasty as well as the green beans. The broccoli gnocchi appetizer was phenomenal. We wanted to lick the plate! The duck sugo was amazing! Seasoning was on point. Noodles cooked perfect and the duck tender and juicy. The fish and chips were excellent as well. The fish was battered in buttermilk and cornmeal. Baked not fried so the fish was flaky and fresh tasting with a slight crisp. The trout was fantastic as well. Cooked with almonds and a lemon vinegarette. Flavorful and filling. We didn't care for the red potatoe salad that was offered with it so they substituted homemade steak fries instead which was more to our liking. The whole time we waited I kept seeing these beautiful canolis leaving the kitchen. I literally said out loud, I'm getting that for dessert. Unfortunately by the time we ordered dessert it was near closing time for them and they were out so I opted for the chocolate flour less torte instead. Another person in the party ordered the olive oil pound cake. When Austin showed up with our desserts he had brought me a canoli instead of the cake bc I had expressed how much I had been looking forward to that canoli. He said he managed to find one shell so he made it himself. What a doll!! As expected it was phenomenal. Crunchy flavorful shell and the filling was absolutely divine. Creamy with a hint of pistachio and amaretto. I was in heaven. The olive oil pound cake was superb as well. Moist and fluffy. The whipped cream was homemade, light and flavorful. The huckleberry sauce gave it just the lil boost of sweetness. Needless to say, we thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. I overheard they change their menu seasonally and in a few days it was set to change. Let me tell you, if we weren't headed back home we'd definitely be going back to check out the new goodies. Definitely give this place a try!! Portions and pricing...

Three Forks was our first meal back in civilization after 6 days and nights backcountry camping in Glacier. We went on a Tuesday night in shoulder season around 7p. Wait time was minimal and gave us time to salivate over the menu.

Hostess and server (Aiden) were polite, the latter deserving a special nod for putting up with two semi-disheveled backpackers telling him stories about Glacier he probably hears a hundred times without ever seeming anything less than enthusiastic and affable. We ordered and I sipped an excellent draft kombucha and my partner enjoyed a local ginger beer.

We had opted to split a number of smaller plates, and they arrived in a timely manner. First up came the calamari and gnocchi. The calamari was cooked well without being overdone, which was almost overshadowed by the excellent artichokes that mingled with them, all swimming in a delicious sauce with diced peppers. The gnocchi was good, the marinara above average, and included a hefty helping of cheese to apply as you like.

Salads were next, we both got the caesar with smoked trout. This was the only point against the entire experience. Ingredients were fresh and tasty and the portion seemed generous, but it quickly became apparent that the overwhelming bulk of the volume was the julienned lettuce. I would have much preferred a smaller quantity of salad or larger helpings of the trout and croutons to get a better balance of flavor and veggies.

Opting in for desert (6 days of backpacking builds an appetite), Aiden gave us a very detailed breakdown of the options and tolerated my spirited opinion on what a true tiramisu is (Vaccaro's in Baltimore's Little Italy is my gold standard), she and I decided on the flourless torte. And after hearing the "blasphemous" take on the italian classic, I yielded to the dessert chef's style here. It was rich and strong without the cement-like density that so often occurs in the dish. The coconut cream on top was also a delight.

Overall it was a fantastic welcome back to dining not out of a pouch, with everything we had and I saw looking far above what I would expect from a small town dining experience, less the salads. Service was great, especially considering the touristy nature of the area. Definitely worth your night before or after enjoying the natural...

My dining experience had highs and lows. I will start with I am a tourist and had no experience with this restaurant, however the menu items seemed interesting. Resturant was nice and staff seemed friendly. We were sat in Sarah's section. We ordered appetizers and moments later our main course. Our apps arrived at our table and other than getting a bowl of soup when I ordered a cup, they were fine. This is when my dining experience became annoying. Our main course did not show up for an hour after our apps. Now during this time I watched tables all around us get their food in a timely manner. Our waitress (busy with other tables) never checking on us or our food. After about 45 min she walked by and had a look of where is their food. I watched her walk to the computer look at it and had an expression of OMG I didn't put their food in. She left the computer and walked into the kitchen for 15 min and then returned with our food (shrimp risotto, and a medium rib eye) when she placed the food down no apoligy for the time or explination why it took an hour for two dishes that might take 10 min to cook. Food was average at best and surely not worth the menu price but you expect that in a tourist town. My biggest complaint is that we were not spoken to by any staff about our wait or given anexplination. I'm sure plenty of dinners did not experience the long wait and this review is not ment to discourage any patron from attending this establishment for a dining experience, but more as a recomedation to management to stay on top...