Inside the Park
Food options inside the park are primarily dining rooms operated by GPI. They’re convenient, and you’re almost always assured of friendly service from a staff of 20-something students from around the country. Credit cards accepted at all GPI properties include American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa. Breakfasts range from about $5 to $10, lunch entrees are $6 to $15, and most dinner entrees cost $10 to $30.
You’ll find above-average food served at above-average prices in the dining rooms at the major properties. Glacier Park Lodge has the Great Northern Dining Room, which has Western decor and a menu of beef, barbecued ribs, fish, and chicken, plus a full breakfast buffet; and the Empire Bar & Grill, which offers a bar menu of sandwiches and appetizers.
At Lake McDonald Lodge you’ll find Russell’s Fireside Dining Room, which has a hunting-lodge atmosphere with rough-hewn beams and hunting trophies; it specializes in American standards, including beef tenderloin, roast duckling, seared mountain trout, roast turkey, Alaskan salmon, and steaks. There’s also a full breakfast buffet. Also at Lake McDonald Lodge is Lucke’s Lounge, which serves a bar menu, and the family-oriented Jammer Joe’s Grill & Pizzeria.
Many Glacier Hotel has the Swiss Lounge and Interlaken Room, with a bar menu, and Heidi’s, a fast-food counter known for its huckleberry frozen yogurt. The dining rooms open with the park and close sometime in September, depending on the facility.
The alternatives include second-tier restaurants in proximity to the hotels, most of which are comparable to chain restaurants in both quality and price. The Two Dog Flats Grill at the Rising Sun Motor Inn serves “hearty American fare.” The Swiftcurrent Motor Inn Restaurant offers lunch and dinner feature combinations of salads, sandwiches, pasta dishes, and create-your-own pizzas. At Apgar you’ll find a deli and a family dining arrangement.
Near the Park
The gateway cities have a number of restaurants, and there are even more choices in Whitefish.
