Review of Montana Saloon & Grill in Lincoln, Alabama

Montana Saloon & Grill

75023 Hwy 77

Lincoln, Alabama

(205)763-1225

http://montanasaloongrill.com

Montana's Sign

Sometimes I feel like I am becoming a food snob. It seems like everything has to be perfect for me to give a review that is glowing and kind to a restaurant. With that said I am going to start my review with my complaints about Montana Saloon & Grill. When I pulled into the parking lot at the top of the hill for my dinner at Montana Saloon & Grill, it was full. Yeah, that might be the only complaint that I have about this place. As you read the rest of this review I need to let you know that this is now one of my favorite places that I have ever been to. Montana Saloon & Grill is an established restaurant that is located near the Talladega Super Speedway known for its NASCAR races. Just off exit 168 at the top of the hill sits this establishment that is becoming a bona-fide world famous grill.

Montana's Porch

After my frustration with finding a parking spot, I mosey (if I am walking into a saloon, I am gonna mosey) onto the porch area and hold the door for a couple as they walk out talking about how good their meal was. Wouldn’t you know it, they had a parking spot in the very front, I’m not gonna move now though. I am greeted by the hostess and she takes me to a table around the left side of the bar. Alabama is still one of the few places in America that you are asked at the door if you want smoking or non. Since I am a non smoker I am always curious as to how each place handles smoking sections. Montana Saloon & Grill have built a separate room that totally separate the smoking and non smoking sections, this is a nice feature for those non smokers who are always looking for a reason to complain about smokers.

Having barely had a chance to sit down I am greeted by Kaleigh, she offers me a sweet tea and that sounds good. When she returns I have had a chance to look at the menu a little bit but have yet to make a decision, I take a sip of tea and let her know it is good. Kaleigh tells me thanks, she made it herself. I pick a few appetizers to ask about whether it will be the Mountain High Cheese Fries, the mushrooms, even thought about the oysters, but the server lets me know that she made the Mountain Man Salsa served with chips. This sounds good, and it is under 3 bucks too.

Chips & Salsa

Shortly, she brings me the salsa and takes my order. Before I place my order I have to ask her what is the absolute best item on the menu, is it the sandwiches, shrimp dinner, crawfish, or maybe one of the steaks. She gives me a couple of options and I went with the Beef Tips Montana served with a salad and the garlic mashed ‘taters’. She smiles and leaves me with my salsa and the basketball games that were being played on 5 screens visible from my table. Now I am a fan of salsa and love it when it is really fresh, this salsa may very well be the top salsa of any restaurant ever. The chips were good, but this salsa was absolutely fantastic. As Kaleigh walked by to help another table I asked her to tell me what was in it that gave it that perfect kick, she giggled and said it was a secret. If the tea and salsa is any indication of the meal to come I am not on the edge of my seat for the main course.

Main Course

The salad comes and I had decided to try the tomato based dressing, since I had been notified that none of the dressings were made in house I thought I would at least try something different. To be on the safe side I ordered a little bit of ranch dressing too, but it was not needed. I started with dipping a cracker in the tomato dressing before I decided to just pour the whole cup on the salad. While I ate my salad the main course arrives. It looks fantastic, with the Monterey Jack cheese melting over the onions, mushrooms, and beef tips that had been cooked just a little bit longer than I like but were wonderful. If a meal arrives and is great, I am not going to complain about the preparation just to complain. If it is good food, then it is good food. The server continues to fill my tea, water, and brings me extra napkins, she must know my kind.

After this grand meal I sit there as she takes the empty plates and offers dessert. Looking at her I say no, but tell me if any of the desserts are made on property and not out of a frozen box. Then she tells me that she made the cheesecake herself. After the experience with her sweet tea and her salsa I tell her that I will get the cheesecake. Now I ask her what she recommends to put on the cheesecake and she lets me know that it is perfect with no topping but the whipped cream. She takes off to the back to return with the cheesecake, whipped cream, and a side cup of strawberries. After tasting the cheesecake and seeing how light and fluffy yet so full of flavor I think to myself that this waitress is going to make someone very happy. Hell, I am just a customer in the Montana Saloon & Grill and I have been swept away by her sweet tea, salsa, and cheesecake. (But my heart belongs to Rhonette)

Cheesecake

My recommendation for you is to make Montana Saloon & Grill in Lincoln, Alabama a special stop. When you are traveling through from Atlanta to Birmingham this is a must for any individual or family, even though the name has saloon in it they are a family friendly restaurant. However they do not have a kids menu they certainly have options that will make kids happy from the sandwiches to the flatbreads. Most items on the menu are under ten dollars, and my meal with the dessert and all was under twenty bucks before tip. As good as it is these guys are worth a special trip at any cost.

Review by Pie, email: pie@piesplate.com