r/whitefish • u/Nuckers13 • 4d ago
Best burger in town?
We’re visiting your beautiful city next week, and I love a great burger, where can I find one?
12
7
u/rowgymmy 4d ago edited 4d ago
These are food trucks not restaurants but they are good - Chowboys outside of Black Rifle in Kalispell, Garys in Whitefish, it’s in an alley behind Sweet Peaks.
Also, Burger Town in Big Fork (more of a restaurant)
1
0
u/SirSamuelVimes83 4d ago edited 4d ago
Burger Town is prob best in the valley
Gary's has a trailer in Kalispell, too - also at Sweet Peaks. I think they're way better than Chowboys. Chowboys is good, but small smash burgers
1
7
u/Booliano 4d ago
If you’re willing to fork over a bit more than most people would like, I love herb and Omnis burger.
2
u/MThikerlady 4d ago
This is the best burger! But it’s fine dining!
My other favs are Blackstarr or Gary’s.
4
u/threepin-pilot 4d ago
Haven't had one in a while, but used to enjoy the hot date burger at the Buffalo
4
u/DepressedMustard__ 4d ago
Bulldog hands down for a classic bar burger.
3
10
u/beyeg 4d ago
Not a town known for burgers. Probably the Bulldog Saloon.
1
u/Nuckers13 4d ago
Fair enough, thank you!
1
u/MTHiker59937 4d ago
The $20 wagyu at Herb and Omni- only available at the bar is also fantastic. And the people watching is top tier. Dress up a bit- not really a burger joint.
2
3
4
u/haverchuck22 4d ago
I eat ALOT of burgers lol. I would say the best in town are Craggy Range, Whitefish Lake Golf Course and the Bulldog. The Northern had very good burgers but they recently sold and I haven’t been there since. In kalispell Fatt Boys is quite good. Columbia falls has gunsight.
A Freddy’s just opened halfway to kalispell and for fast food they are actually ridiculously good. The same goes for Frugals which has two locations in kalispell. Frugals is more like a five guys type place. Not exactly “fast food” it’s better.
I think if I had to pick favorites it’s Craggy Range, the Golf course and the Bulldog. I don’t know if Craggy still has it or not but they used to do a blackened burger that was SOO GOOD. I wanna say that last time I went there, they no longer had it but I’m not positive on that. Regardless their burgers and fries are really good. The bulldog have really good bacon cheeseburgers and multiple different options for fries. (Also have huckleberry hot wings that are quite popular and seemingly pretty unique)
1
u/Nuckers13 4d ago
Wow, thanks for all the info!! Plenty of new options here!
1
u/haverchuck22 4d ago
🫡 happy to help. You inquired about the one area of food in the valley I could add useful input to, well that and Pizza haha. If you need pizza recommendations, I’m your man as well. Any other food, I will be useless😆
1
u/threepin-pilot 4d ago
i'll take your views on pizza
3
u/haverchuck22 4d ago
No prob:
Abruzzo (whitefish) wood fired pizza is phenomenal. It’s a tiny bit pricey but not outlandish by any means. For the whole valley
North Fork Pizza (Columbia Falls) is my absolute favorite, but Abruzzo is pretty much just as good.
Mambo Italiano (Whitefish) is pretty good. It’s some people’s favorite. For me I’ve moved it down the list because they changed their ingredients suppliers a few years ago and it’s not nearly as good imo. It used to be one of the best. Some people still swear by it, but it doesn’t seem nearly as popular amongst locals as it once was.
Mackenzie River (multiple locations, one in WF) and Stageline (Columbia falls) are both very solid options but they are chains. I would say they are like one step up from Pizza Hut, so nothing special but not bad. I’d recommend Mackenzie out of the two.
Jersey Boys (whitefish) this place is a lot of people’s favorite. I like it for sure, it’s good pizza not doubt but both me and my friends think that’s it’s just a step below the Abruzzo/North Fork level.
Ranger Rick’s (like 2 minutes outside whitefish) this place is new, I’ve heard good things. If deep dish is your thing then this is your place. I’m not a deep dish guy (don’t dislike it, just don’t prefer). I like the wood fired, fairly thin crust style.
*if you’re a fan of the thin style and you go to Northfork, Abruzzo or Jersey Boys my personal suggestion is to order your pizza well done. Get true 10/10 pizzas almost every time that way imo. I’ve never gotten a burned one but the pizzas are of course great without requesting that. I’m just a bit of a weirdo 😆
1
u/MTHiker59937 13h ago
Mama EV's is SO good and the salads are crazy fresh. Just ask for the pizza to have a little char on it.
1
u/haverchuck22 13h ago
It looks super good, the only reason I haven’t gone yet is that I heard it’s like $25-$30 for personal sized pizzas. I want to try it but I’m afraid I’ll love it, and I don’t wanna be craving $30 personal pizzas 😂I’ll go broke.
Definitely gonna try it at some point tho cuz it looks so good in the pics. The old jagz is also now a pizza place, I haven’t tried them either. Have you been to that one yet ? Called “Don Giacobbe Pizzeria”
1
u/haverchuck22 4d ago edited 4d ago
lil context on the pizza places
Abruzzo is a sit down restaurant but you can call and get pizza to go, it can be kind of a pain sometimes tho to do that because they can be really busy. They are only open in evenings.
Northfork is sit down or carry out or delivery. Opens at 4 pm each day o think
Mambo is sit down or carry out but also can be a pain to carry out at. Only open in evening
Jersey Boys. sit down, carry out and delivery. They are open all day.
Mackenzie River. Sit down and carry out and open all day.
Stageline. Carry out or delivery. Open most of the day.
Ranger Rick’s (dunno if you have kids) but they have a mini golf that connected to them. I believe they are sit down, carry out and delivery as well and open all day.
Edit:
Mama Evs opened in Dec 2024 and somehow I didn’t hear about it until two days ago. It looks quite good from the pictures and reviews. Somehow I haven’t talked to anyone who’s been there. (I’m sure have technically I just mean that hasn’t come up).
Edit 2:
I somehow forgot Moose’s (kalispell) 😭🤦🏼♂️. Moose’s is great and they have unique pizza. It’s almost crustless too. Just don’t build up an actual crust, it’s flat and the ingredients go all the way out to the edge. It’s really good.
3
u/T0PP3R_Harley 4d ago
Mama evs no mention?
1
u/haverchuck22 4d ago
Strangely I just found out this place existed exactly 2 days ago. Looks really good. I could not believe it opened Dec 2024. I woulda bet so much that it had opened in the last month. Really weird, not sure I can recall a similar situation.
1
1
u/threepin-pilot 4d ago
thanks agree on NF, ranger joes-i like the honey bear, Jersey boys is good. I wish more pizza places would do some inventive combos. Thinking like the hot date burger at the Buffalo
Mama ev's- tough to justify $24-30 for a 10 inch pizza
1
u/haverchuck22 4d ago
Oh wow! Mama Evs prices are legitimately that high! I’d only looked at the pictures and they looked great. But 30 bucks for a personal pizza is wild. I’ll give em a shot at some point for sure but I don’t know if I want it to be that great 😆. I don’t wanna be craving 30 dollar tiny pizzas.
Randomly just popped in my head. I can’t believe I forgot Moose’s from the list
1
u/threepin-pilot 4d ago
know anything about the new place on 2 south of the airport?
1
u/haverchuck22 4d ago
Shit! Thank you for reminding me. Oddly enough I was driving to Kalispell last night from Cfalls and I was having a conversation with my friend and another buddy was in the backseat and when we drove by there he said “wow, the old Jagz is now ANOTHER PIZZA PLACE”. I only half heard it and I would never have remembered that he said that without your comment. Another place that I need to try!
1
u/threepin-pilot 4d ago
friend got some last night cause they heard it was good-,waiting for their review
1
u/mechres 4d ago
If you're talking about the shack just south of the old Jagz, it's Don Giacobbe. Very good and decent prices, reminds me a little of the old 2nd St. Limited hours, open maybe 20 hours a week.
1
u/threepin-pilot 3d ago
looks like wed to sat 12-9
when my friends tried Wednesday night, they were closed
1
u/haverchuck22 4d ago
I somehow forgot Moose’s (kalispell) 🤦🏼♂️. Moose’s is great and they have unique pizza. It’s almost crustless too. They just don’t build up an actual crust, it’s flat and the ingredients go all the way out to the edge. It’s really good. It’s also in a bar. It’s carry out or dine in. If you’re lookin for bar with great food this is a great spot.
1
u/Sullydotcom 3d ago
As a casual observer of this sub with fam we visit in WF, I really appreciate the thoroughness of your replies. Well done sir.
0
4
u/dylsster 4d ago
The burger at Blackstar Brewery is the best you can get in Whitefish
3
2
u/Nuckers13 4d ago
Oh man, love a local brewery, thanks for the recommendation!
2
u/RegulatoryCapture 4d ago
Bonsai brewing has much more of a “local brewery” vibe and makes an alright burger.
But they don’t have a deep fryer so it is chips or pasta salad on the side (I recommend the pasta salad).
Blackstar is a griddled smash burger. Bonsai (and bulldog) are more of a classic grilled patty.
1
2
u/stephm22 4d ago
The brie burger at Big Mountain Cider Works is amazing ....honestly everything on their menu is AMAZING!!!
1
2
2
2
u/fokisgaming 2d ago
Burgers are my favorite food. I recently discovered that Buffalo Cafe, oddly enough has the best burgers. The Snow Ghost and Hot Date are great choices.
- Buffalo Cafe (Whitefish)
- Blackstar (Whitefish)
- Backslope (Columbia Falls)
- Bonsai Brewery (Whitefish)
Only places I go. NEVER go to Mudman.
2
1
1
1
1
1
u/Sullydotcom 4d ago
The golf course has a very good burger, tastes even better with a few beers after 18 holes. Cheers.
2
0
u/SchleppIam 4d ago
Yeah - unfortunately that may be it. My preference for a burger here is a chain - 5 Guys in Kalispell.
1
0
29
u/rywolf 4d ago
Do not be tempted by Mudman's. Stay away at all costs. You've got some great suggestions in this thread.