Herb & Omni — Restaurant in Montana

As local residents we were cautiously optimistic about dining here after reading poor reviews. But after our meal and entire experience, I think the negative one-star reviews were probably a combination of people who miss the old Casey's bar, diners who had a bad experience during the initial grand opening kinks, or jaded locals who are tired of seeing wealthy newcomers buying up real estate like the celebrity owners have done in the community. We were blown away with the flavors in every morsel we put in our mouths, beginning with the chickpea fritter. It was a unique combo of traditional garbanzos' perfectly seasoned, alongside formed and fried chickpeas, lightly crispy on the outside and humus-like inside. Our server offered a bison filet instead of the usual tenderloin, which I ordered med-rare. It was cooked to temp, basically melted in my mouth, and paired perfectly with a unique baked creamy grits cake, baby carrots, and a tasty glaze garnished with a few flavorful cilantro dollops which added color and spice. My wife ordered the chicken-fried rabbit which was phenomenal to taste; paired with a unique and delicious savory waffle served alongside sweet potatoes which were pureed and diced. We completed our meal with a sweet citrus merengue dessert. For one appetizer, two entrees, one dessert, a $51 bottle of wine, and two ports, the $257 ticket was about what we had expected to pay. The service we received was unmatched anywhere we have eaten, especially in Montana. However, there were a few annoying ploys to ensure patrons paid top dollar. Like, a full menu tasting and wine paring was available for $195, but every person at the table had to order it, not just one person or one couple even. They also refused to take our appetizer order first, insisting that the kitchen required the entrée ordered at the same time, when they obviously just don't want diners to leave satisfied after ordering an appetizer only. And we considered bringing our own bottle of wine, but the cork fee was $50, so we purchased a restaurant bottle for the same price instead. Our biggest complaint was the mismatched attire of the staff and the customers. The male staff all matched and wore professional looking black button up shirts and black slacks. The manager also looked sharp in a classy sport coat and slacks. But all of the females wore separate outfits- one was dressed hippy from head to toe, another dazzling in sequins... I wouldn't have distinguish them from the customers except for their offer to assist us as we waited for our table. I would recommend they wear black cocktail dressed to coordinate with the other staff and be more easily recognizable as front of house. When asked, our first server told us that the water was filtered, although our dinner server told us it was not. I wish there had been a way to keep the cold draft from blowing into the front room where we dined every time new customers walked in. Our biggest frustration was seeing customers walk in wearing sweatpants. As a resort town I can understand some people coming in right off the mountain in ski gear possibly. But sweats? Despite being Montana ski town I think this restaurant would do well to have a dress code for the prices being paid for an experience of a lifetime. At the table next to us set a man in a tuxedo and his date wearing a formal gown, which seemed more fitting considering...

We were in Whitefish for Thanksgiving and Herb and Omni looked like a great choice. The atmosphere is fantastic. Great design and decor. We were early so we found a couch against the wall in the bar area. The bartender was great. Expensive cocktails but perfectly prepared. We then were greeted by a grey haired man with a beard who offered to take a pic of us in front of the tree upstairs. Maybe an owner or a GM but very nice gesture. We then made our way to the table. This is where things kinda went downhill. I don’t know if the waiter was new or just not a good server. Took drink orders from only one of us. Disappeared for long periods of time. One thing I noticed but didn’t really pay attention to until the meal came was that the omnivore side of the menu. None of the protein cuts had ounces on the description. I should have known then. The apps were awesome. Roasted beets with ricotta and a caviar potato chip. For the mains, my wife got the Denver cut steak and I got the “iberico” pork chop. Both portions were extremely small but priced as if they were 12-14 oz cuts. Hence why I mentioned no weight given on the menu description. Also I put “iberico” in quotes bc I am pretty sure it was just a regular pork chop. I’ve had iberico a few times and it melts in your mouth. This was super dry and tough. Same with my wife’s “wagyu” steak. Tough and dry. Meanwhile I don’t know what happened but our mains took forever. Many people who sat after us were having dessert already and we were still waiting on our mains. I asked the waiter and he said they were being plated right now. Well they lukewarm and the taste was described before. I told the waiter that they weren’t even hot and not very good when he asked how everything was. One of the managers came over, I guess he went and told her which is great. She was great and super friendly. Apologized profusely and offered brand new mains. We were over it at this point. The waiter brought the bill and the mains were taken off. Not my goal at all but it was the right thing to do. The weird thing was the water made several screw ups during the evening, plus the mains having to be taken off. Of course the size, taste and quality of the meat was not his fault but he didn’t apologize once. Very odd to both of us since we both have long hospitality backgrounds. “I’m sorry” goes a long way but do you know what goes even further to me than saying you’re sorry? Not saying you’re sorry at all. That is a pet peeve of mine. Whether it be in business or personal interactions. No one seems to say they are sorry anymore. I don’t know if he was “off” that night or that’s just him but it really left a bad taste in my mouth. You would assume someone would just do that automatically when dinner goes that wrong and you work on tips. When I would screw up when I worked I hospitality, I probably almost overdid saying I’m sorry. I don’t know. The place was great otherwise. Could easily be a five star spot and then some but our mains were not what we expected and not very good and the waiter seemed to not be present the entire time. We will definitely be back though because we enjoyed everything...

Herb & Omni is a culinary gem in the heart of Whitefish, Montana.

As Montana regulars we had the great pleasure of dining at Herb & Omni on a warm, sunlit Friday evening in April, seeking a date night reprieve from the snow and rain.

From the moment we stepped in, we were warmly welcomed by gracious hosts and the glorious glow from the stunning bar. A Schrager-ish hue paved the way to a wonderful space dotted with tasteful chandeliers and mirrored walls. The dining room had comfy booths and cozy tables for two, all co-existing in happy unison. We loved the focus on the little things - the green and gold accents of the bar, the lush fabrics, the flower detail on the menus, and the soft lighting, all of it working together in a harmonious flow.

As lovely as the atmosphere and staff were – the food was the real centerpiece. I had the hibiscus mule cocktail du jour which was a beautifully balanced concoction of flavors, spritz and just the right hint of sweetness. Splendidly refreshing and the perfect Aperol to get us going.

The beet carpaccio starter was fresh and tangy and the salad greens refreshing and light with a hint of citrus and the warmth of toasted shallots providing a lovely backdrop. I opted for pan-seared napa cabbage as my entrée with a slice of bison for good measure. It was perfectly paired with a hint of curry and an inventive slice of fried avocado. Who knew? My partner went all in on the free range bison tenderloin with mushrooms, sunchokes and potato puree. It was simply delicious. While I nursed my cocktail over dinner, Richard had a lovely glass (or two) of a Saint-Emilion Bordeaux and found it to be the perfect choice. The wine menu has a nicely curated selection of red, whites, roses, and bubbles, with plenty of choices by the glass or bottle. The food had all the good karma of local produce – inventive dishes that stayed true to the flavors without being overly fussy.

The staff were wonderfully attentive and added to the overall warmth of the evening. It proved to be a unique, immersive experience bringing together great food, luxury, ambience, and great care into a wonderful dining experience. There is nothing quite like this in Whitefish and we absolutely love it! Kudos to Jamie and team for creating a beautiful dining experience that is upmarket but retains its authenticity. Our high expectations were wonderfully exceeded.

We are delighted for this gem which will be a favorite for locals and visitors alike. Fully expect that it is simply a matter of time before the big accolades and...