The Union Butcher Shop & Wood-fired Grill by Old Salt Co-op — Restaurant in Helena

I’d like to take a moment to share our experience with The Union and Old Salt. My husband and I have been local Montanans for over 25 years, and we truly appreciate what you’re trying to do for the Helena community. The burgers at Old Salt are fantastic, and the menu items on The Union side are both creative and delicious.

However, our overall experiences have been disappointing, and I feel it’s time to share our feedback with you. We’ve visited your restaurants more than 20 times combined, and unfortunately, something seems to go wrong nearly every time.

On our most recent visit to Old Salt, the mustard dispenser sprayed all over my shirt, staining it. When I mentioned it to the staff, the employee behind the counter casually said, “Oh, that happens all the time,” but offered no apology or solution. That mustard stain has ruined my shirt, and I’ve been unable to replace it.

At The Union, the service has consistently fallen short. We’ve had dinners last over three hours, where we waited for food and drinks only to receive incorrect orders. On one occasion, our appetizers were delivered to another table, and our server didn’t notice until our entrées arrived. We’ve also had to send back several steaks due to being overcooked.

But this week’s lunch experience was the last straw. We were excited to try the Taco Tuesday menu and arrived around 12:30 PM. Three employees walked right past us, made eye contact, and said nothing. We stood at the entrance for over 10 minutes without being acknowledged—this included the owner. We eventually gave up and left, and we’re now seriously considering not returning.

I come from a family of business owners and have worked in customer service for most of my career. The level of service we’ve experienced is unacceptable—especially given the price point. Our bills have never been under $250. While that may not seem significant from a business perspective, we value the experience that comes with spending that kind of money. We’ve also heard similar feedback from others in the community, and I believe it’s something you should be aware of. In the hospitality industry, service truly...

I took my wife there for the first time on Mother's Day. I made reservations over a week in advanced. Upon arriving, we were directed by the hostess to a table up front by the windows which was very hot. I asked if we could have a booth that was empty and she told us we had to request it when we made reservations. I asked her where on the site reservation do we request it and she walked off. No where on the website does it give that option. When the waitress came to our table, she even complained about how hot it was and gladly moved us to the back where it was cooler. The hostess came and told us we couldnt sit there, even though there were several empty tables. We asked where we could sit then, and she once again stormed off. We picked a empty table for two and sat down. The new waitress came to take our order and was very polite and helpful. She knew the menu well and suggested a few items. I ordered the Rack of Lamb (Medium Rare) and my wife ordered the Permium Steak dinner (also Medium Rare). We ordered two sides to go with it along with appetizers. When our meals came out, my Rack of Lamb was burnt and my wife steak was Well Done. One of the sides, the polenta, was crunchy and under cooked with no seasoning. Being from Helena, we were really hoping that this place was a success. We looked forward to our meal here, but were very disappointed with the way the hostess and the food was prepared. The waitress apologized and said that some of the staff didn't come in because of it being Mother"s Day and comped us for one of the meals. She was very friendly and definitely tried to make up for the rude hostess and bad food. She stated that she hoped we would give them another try, but my wife was upset and I was embarrassed that I chose this place to celebrate such a special occasion...

Amazing!! My favorite part is knowing that we are supporting regenerative agriculture, doing our part for a better environment. A restaurant where we can eat humanely, locally raised animals, and food that is not sprayed with chemicals. I was also pleasantly surprised that they partnered with sunflower bakery which makes the best simple ingredient sourdough, and it is offered on the menu!

We ordered a variety off the menu and everything was delicious! The beef fat fried onions were so yummy we ordered a second round. It’s so nice to know you can enjoy delicious food that is not fried in vegetable oil. The charred beet salad was so flavorful. The Hen of the woods Mushrooms is yummy and filling, and a perfect for a non-meat option. The Butcher’s Steak was a sirloin paired with rosemary and olive oil and was a perfectly cooked and beautifully served and pre-sliced. I would suggest offering it uncut so it will stay warmer when served, but it is a preference for some. We ordered all of the desserts. 😆 😋 the S’Mores was my son’s favorite, marshmallow needed to be cooked a little longer so it can melt, but it was delicious. The carrot cake was fantastic, moist and not too sweet. And the huckleberry shaved ice is a refreshing. Menu suggestions would be to add a couple signature mixed drinks. They didn’t have children’s selection on the menu, but they did accommodate us with a beef hotdog on request. We had dinner at a very busy time, but we did not wait long for our food. For the first week of opening they are doing very well with their service, I’m sure they are still working out some kinks. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. We will definitely be regulars here. I Love that Helena has a local farm to table restaurant with a healthy variety to choose...