Grinnell Tap & Grill — Restaurant in Kalispell

I have never in my life had an experience like I just had at this restaurant! We arrived at 6:20pm, put our order in about 6:40pm. I ordered a Caesar Salad with a med rare steak and my son ordered the Grinnell burger. We did decide about 15 minutes after putting our order in that we wanted to order the calamari which did come out pretty quick and did taste good. After 45 minutes of waiting for our entrees we asked if we could just get our food put in to-go boxes when it came up since we were exhausted and decided we wanted to eat it in our hotel room. After about another 20 minutes of waiting we noticed a table that got sat after we put in our order already received their food, so we said something to our server about it and she said our food should be up shortly.

A few minutes later the manager walked up with attitude and said “so what’s the problem over here?” I said “well we have waited for over an hour now for our food and the table over there got here after us and already received their food.” She said “you were told there was going to be about an hour wait for food when you were sat so…” My son butted in and said “No we were not!” We absolutely were not told this or we would not have ate there. She also tried to tell me the other table ordered before us, but we had put our order in before they were even sat! She said with a complete attitude “so what do you want me to do for you?” I said well it would be nice if maybe you offered to take one of the meals or something off the bill. She offered to give us a pathetic 10% discount, so I said nah just cancel our order! She said rudely with a little laugh and a smirk “okay sounds good!” She made me pay for the calamari which is fine since we ate it and did enjoy it and then I let her know I would be writing a bad review and she laughed and I asked her what her name is and she literally wouldn’t tell me and darted to the kitchen. I followed her and waited for our server to come out of the kitchen and asked her what the managers name was and she said it was Ashley (not sure if she told me the truth or not since I could see the manager talking to her through the kitchen window right before she came out.

The fact that we waited for over an hour and 20 minutes and never ended up getting our food and left there around 8:30pm with no dinner is terrible by itself, but to be treated SOOOO horribly is insane to me! My son ended up getting MOD pizza for dinner and I ran over and grabbed a salad from Panera. So messed up that we had to do that.

I know this is a newer restaurant, but if they continue to treat their customers like this and have hour and a half wait times there is no way they are going to last. And “Ashley” or whoever that terrible woman that was managing the restaurant on Sunday, May 26th should absolutely get fired!

I do want to say our server was nice and I know none of it...

This restaurant is having an identity crisis. Is it a sports bar with ChiTV blasting the Dodgers, a bistro with café seating and wine racks, or a steakhouse with an elk head looming over the room? Right now, it’s trying to be all three and ends up being none.

The coconut shrimp appetizer set the tone: five shrimp on a plain white plate with a ramekin of sauce that tasted straight out of a Sysco jug. No garnish, no effort, just cafeteria vibes. Our house salads weren’t much better: rough bagged mixed greens straight from a plastic bin, two tiny cubes of tomato, a dusting of pre-grated cheese, and ranch dressing that screamed “bulk order.” If there’s one sin a bistro should never commit, it’s serving a sad, soulless salad.

For mains, the 12oz prime rib was $44, easily the cheapest cut of meat I’ve seen served at that price. That said, I’ll give credit where it’s due: the flavor and my medium-rare temperature were spot on. The loaded mashed potatoes were a small portion (fine by me since I’m watching my portions) but the “loaded” part was laughable, a sprinkle of pre-shredded cheese, one lonely streak of sour cream, and a few bacon crumbs. Tasty, yes, but only because they were drenched in butter and salt.

Drinks were a mixed bag. The wine list is uninspired. I spotted Seaglass on the rack, which made me cringe, but the beer selection was excellent, with lots of options on tap. Oddly, the menu didn’t list where the beers came from or their ABVs, which made choosing harder than it needed to be.

The saving grace here was the service. The staff were genuinely friendly, attentive, and accommodating. Our bartender was excellent and even swapped out my first glass of wine when it came out a little off.

In the end, this place has potential, but the menu and execution don’t justify the prices. If they leaned into one identity: a true sports bar, a real steakhouse, or a polished bistro, and dropped the Costco greens and Sysco shortcuts, they might actually pull it off. For now, come for the beer and the service,...

We visited on a Tuesday night, an hour before closing. It was quiet and intimate. But, with the lovely decor and atmosphere, I can see this place being vibrant and lively during peak season. There is also an outdoor seating section which would be our go-to in the summer. The food is good and incredibly reasonably priced. A refreshing surprise for this area of Montana! They have 20 beer on tap, which is a HUGE selection for a steakhouse. The wine list is also quite nice. The server was upbeat, friendly and had an excellent vibe. I had Filet Mignon and my husband had Garlic Salmon. You get ALOT of food on the entree menu. In addition to your selection of protein, you get a roll, chefs veggies, soup or salad and a choice of side. And this all comes at lower prices than I have seen in a long time. The salad was fresh and delicious, the proteins and sides were cooked perfectly and everything was great! If youre expecting this place to be like the places that were here before, you're in for a pleasant surprise. The food has been elevated from bar food and the ambience is much nicer. They do have pasta dishes and appetizer offerings as well. I want to return and design my own surf and turf as well as try the French Onion Soup. All in all a really great dining experience at a reasonable price. Go see for yourself!

Edited to add: We just visited on a Thursday for lunch because I wanted to try the French Onion Soup. Let me tell you, this is the BEST French Onion Soup in the Valley! It's meant as a side portion, so if you're really hungry, do a salad as well. My husband had Caeser Salad and we shared Loaded French Fries. All was delicious. We were lucky enough to get the same server, Katie. Katie is happy and vibrant. She's so lovely and makes you feel like an old friend, all while providing top notch service....