The food scene in Missoula definitely surpassed our expectations given its size. Boxcar was the perfect start to our evening. The decor inside was unique and inviting, but a little smaller than expected. From a service standpoint, our server was friendly, attentive, and welcoming. My only small critique was that the service felt a little more casual than I expected given how elevated and polished the restaurant is. Nothing that negatively affected our experience, but a slightly more refined style of service would have felt more cohesive with the atmosphere and overall dining experience. Started with escargot, steak tartare, and ossetra caviar service. The rye bread that comes with the tartare and escargot was very herbal and complimented everything very nicely. The blinis that came with the caviar were made fresh and very tasty, I think they were made with buckwheat. While tasty, they did overwhelm the flavor of the caviar a bit. Paired the starters with a glass of cremant, very good! Entrees again were all very good. The table shared steak frites with bernaise, caille farcie (quail), pork pané, and sea bass grenoblois. All of the sauces were balanced and paired well with their proteins. The sea bass could have used a little more seasoning. Shared a bottle of Soter Pinot, paired great with the quail, pork and steak. Finished off the meal with a lemon meringue, bread pudding, and espresso. Everything was really good, the foie gras caramel on the bread pudding adding a nice savory element. The lemon custard was a little thin, but the custard to tart shell ratio was perfect. Will definitely be back next time we visit Missoula! read more

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Small and intimate with a lovely French theme. The food was excellent however my steak was nearly well done when I ordered medium rare. The server immediately brought it back and made another. The 2nd one was cooked perfectly, but over seasoned. Very salty. However, we still enjoyed our meals and they gave us a top off of our wine and dessert complimentary. If we are in the area again, we would return! read more

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Great bistro atmosphere with an eclectic Euro feel. Zeb, our waiter was fine, maybe not the most experienced in a higher priced restaurant?? The Blackened shrimp was yummy. Nice flavors. Duck confit was very nice with pomegranate reduction adding a tasty balance. The sea bass was tasty. It came out undercooked, but they took care of it. We often get a dessert wine after a meal, but these wines were pretty expensive. I get the alcohol mark up, but when a muscat that sells for $13 a bottle is priced at $23 a glass that's too much for me. We will definitely go back though. read more

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Enjoyed a very nice evening at Boxcar Bistro with our daughter and her husband in Missoula. Was having such a good time that I forgot to take pics! Ladies started with a sparkling wine Cremant de Limoux -France and was very pleasant. I wanted a Pinot Noir and have tended to lean to Willmette Valley and had a taste - pretty decent but our bartender suggested the Domaine Gachot -Monot Pinot Noir burgundy region France Made for an elevated experience. Fabulous doesn't do it justice. Served in expansive Riedel glasses. For me, it worked really well with the Duck Confit which was combined in a cassoulet. Cassoulet was a real high point and Was so delicious I am graving it as I write this the next day. Two of us had the duck and two had the Steak Frites which were very good but a little light on portion size for the frites. Frites were salty but yummy yummy. Shared the vanilla bean crème brûlée good as you would expect but not extraordinary. Would recommend this restaurant and its attentive team. Really a beautiful space. Some unique seating.. Parking easy a plentiful on a Friday night. read more

Our food was very good. However BUYER BEWARE! The beer was o.k. A little high-priced, but we were SHOCKED at $25 PER GLASS for a Napa Valley RED BLEND! A red blend is usually one of the more reasonably priced wines on the menu! As stated, our food was very good but after 5 years of this being our GO TO place, we will not return!. We did not have a drink menu! The waiter described the drinks and never mentioned the userious prices! However, we did get 5 sprigs of asparagus compared to the previos 2, so that's a plus. We've recommended this place to many. NEVER AGAIN! SO DISAPPOINTED! read more

Took my family for a celebration dinner and it was super yummy & the service was really great.

Love, love, love this place! French inspired bistro in Missoula. It is small and intimate. Wonderful food- steak and sea bass were our selections. Can't wait to go back. read more

I gave never left a review, but when I pay $200 for a birthday meal, I expect to be wowed. I was greatly disappointed. Perhaps this was an off night, since we ate here last summer and enjoyed our meal. Tonight the food did not meet the price point. I could have fixed a better meal myself for my investment to purchase a ok meal. The dessert was comped when I expressed my dissatisfaction. The espresso pots de cream had no flavor. The biscotti was like a brick and tasted like flour. The lighting was so poor I had to get up from my table to read the menue. So sorry for the negative review, but you can't fix the problem unless you know you have one. read more

Disappointing dinner for the price. Sea bass was recommended by waiter. Received a pale white piece that was chewy, required a knife to cut and tasted like nothing other than salt and butter was used as seasoning. The prices on their own website are incorrect, the prices were significantly higher on site. The service was good though. The ambiance is fine. Maybe the food preparation was just off that night but I think it was probably a one and done visit for us. read more

Sadly, I really wanted to love this place. I'll go back and give it another try. It just was so-so in flavor. Service was OK, nothing spectacular. First is location. It's hard to find this place a bit. It's off of Wyoming street. The front door is not on the main drag. It looks like a first floor commercial office space refurbished to use as a restaurant. The designers did a great job, but still, it does not have the look and feel of a restaurant. The front door, shouldn't be a glass office door opening around the corner, it should open up to the sidewalk on Wyoming, welcoming people. 2) When you put up a curtain in front of your door, to create the illusion of a swanky restaurant, it makes it difficult for the hostess to see patrons entering, and thus you might be left to wait there a while encircled in a cylinder of fabric while diners who can see you just stare. Hopefully in the future your success will allow you to move into a better space, a restaurant space. For now it seems like a secret club. I had the French onion soup, a glass of champagne and the vegetable risotto. All were overpriced for what you get. The French onion soup was fair, not great. The best part was the croutons and melted cheese. It basically lacked flavor, perhaps not enough wine or salt in it. Just bleh. The risotto, though somewhat tasty, was not risotto. Firstly, it was not made with Arborio rice, you know, the type of rice you have constantly stir and slave over the stove for about 20 minutes constantly adding broth little by little to get a smooth, creamy consistency? No. Instead think rice soup with beef bouillon and a few al dente veggies thrown in. The rice was in their full grain-iness, not creamy, but rather seemingly from some 99 cent bag of Texas long grain. No cheese either in this $27 rice soup. Oh sure, it had interesting tiny pieces of cauliflower, or some odd sweet potato chip on top, but it's like they're trying too hard to reinvent this classic Italian dish to make it work in a "French" restaurant. Here's an idea: call it vegetable rice soup and shave $10 off the price! That would be a fair offering. People rave about this place, but honestly, I cannot. Sorry. I've eaten French food in many a place, even France, and this did not even come close. Maybe I just chose the wrong dishes. Hope so. When my server asked me how my meal was, I did remark I wasn't too happy with the vegetable rice soup sold as risotto. She just shrugged her shoulders and said "yeah, that's just how the chef does it here. " I hardly think my server even knows what risotto is. I'll be back and try something different. Perhaps it will be better. read more

Cute little Bistro, great decor with chandeliers, wine bar, and a cool arrangement of seating. Sorry should have taken more pictures. There is a nice selection of food to choose from. What I appreciate is that there is verity but yet not too many selections. Wine was delicious, appetizers was awesome and the owner paired it with a Sherry which really drew out the flavors, Tenderloin cooked beautifully, desert was a great compliment to the dinner and night with friends. First time having Foie gras, it was delicious. It had this sear on it which really added to the taste. read more

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Visited this restaurant with family. Despite the restaurant being relatively empty, we were not seen for more than 10 minutes after sitting down. It was my mom's birthday, so we asked them to surprise us with a desert. The waitress brought out spoons for the desert five to ten minutes before bringing it out, ruining the surprise. Overall, the service was not thoughtful or attentive. The food was also far too expensive for the quality. Skip the flair and try a more authentic local spot instead! read more

We started our vacation here and ended here. The food is sooo AMAZING and the service is great! This was a random find for us while traveling to the national park, and it turns out to be a remarkable experience! We had the duck confit and steak with surprisingly delicious dessert "the bread pudding". If you are in the area, must try as many as you can. I almost wanted to move across street to be able eat here whenever I want. It's that good read more

Boxcar Bistro - Duck Confit - French Near Me - Missoula, Montana

An alleged "medium rare" burger. Priced at $24.00. A talented veterinarian could bring this cow back to life. I don't know how a restaurant could serve a burger this raw, it was basically a beef-based ceviche. I got halfway through it before I realized how raw it was and it started making me sick. read more

Boxcar Bistro - Raw meat - French Near Me - Missoula, Montana

We checked out Boxcar Bistro last night just for dessert and I'm really excited to check it out again for a full meal. The place is cozy, classy, and affordable. It's not a big space but they were pretty full when we arrived. We sat at the bar and had a great chat with the gentleman behind the bar who gave us the full story behind the bistro and how they came up with the concept and menu. The food we saw looked delicious and the staff really sold us on coming back. They are still working on their menu, adding new items as they try thing out. Duck Confit or Escargot? Just added to the menu today! The desserts were pretty good. They're still perfecting some of their recipes. The flavor of the creme brûlée was great but the consistency wasn't quite there. The bread pudding was pretty good. Good texture and consistency but not quite sweet enough for me, but the caramel sauce they added was a little too sweet lol. Happy we are trying them in their infancy (they've been open 2 weeks) and looking forward to coming back on my next visit to see how their items have changed or developed. All their menu items were under $30 which was so surprising considering the finer dining feel to the place and their menu options. Will report back after trying the full menu. read more

Boxcar Bistro - Bread pudding - French Near Me - Missoula, Montana

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Good bar and service I love it you good service and the food was awesome I would go back again and again I loved the place and would say it's my favorite restaurant in Missoula now read more

Small and local this place is a great hole in the wall. Delicious food that will leave your tastebuds extremely satisfied. Beautiful and quiet atmosphere that is perfect for a treat yourself meal or a date night. Will definitely be back here again. read more

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Yumminess!! This was an excellent dinner out and very special experience. My husband has the quail and loved it. My risotto was yummy although the portion was overwhelming. Service and wine were great. The only concern was my 13 year old daughter had difficulty finding something she wanted. She was happy eventually with her steak - and I concede that 13 year olds are not the target clientele - but it will be hard to go back as a family option. But it is a definite date night favorite. read more

Boxcar Bistro - Quail - French Near Me - Missoula, Montana

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Stopped into this lovely restaurant while on vacation with my boyfriend. He currently lives in Montana and saw this restaurant was newly open. We usually pick a nice night out to end our time together before I head back home and this was the absolute best place to be. Ben and the rest of the staff (so sorry, we didn't get the other two ladies names!) were so accommodating as we didn't have a reservation. There are seats open on the patio and bar for walk-ins. They were very attentive and knowledgeable about the food and wine. While at the bar, we shared some great conversation with the rest of the diners. The best thing we had at this restaurant was the beef tartare appetizer. I've ordered this at many different French inspired restaurants and wine bars but I can happily say it was the best I've ever had and would gladly order 5 for dinner alone with a glass of wine. We ordered the chicken and steelhead for our meal which were both delicious. My boyfriend couldn't stop talking about the chicken on the drive back home! We finished off our meal with the creme brûlée which was also great and came with some heavenly whipped cream. My boyfriend has lived in Montana for most of his life and has told me about some of the restaurants he's been to in different cities. This, hands down, is one of, if not the best places he's been to. If traveling to Missoula for a day or wanting a great night out, this is a must. This puts Missoula and honestly, Montana on the map for some delicious fine dining while still being approachable and absolutely affordable. Will DEFINITELY be dining here on my next trip! Ambience, service, food 10/10! read more

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So excited for this new restaurant in the Old Sawmill District. Excellent food, wonderful staff, beautiful space! We had the raclette, chicken chasseur, and risotto and split the bread pudding (best we've ever had!). Highly recommended! Edited: we visited again last night and it was just as delicious! read more

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Amazing food....amazing service...everytime we eat there it is a fantastic experience....best place in town hands down

Love the ambiance in this restaurant. Nice high-end dining without the high prices. Alex, our waitress, made some recommendations and we decided to order them all. We started off with the Escargot and Steak Tartare. My only gripe would be that the escargot was searched with rye bread. It would have been much better, in my opinion, served with the toast that came with the tartare. That minor complaint aside, both were fantastic. Next we tried the Duck Confit. The presentation was nice and the flavor even better. Finally, we got to the Beef Tenderloin with Seared Foie Gras. Without exaggeration, it was one of the best steaks we have ever had. I don't know what is in the sauce but it is superb. Nice location, great service and food that will have you coming back for more. Would I go back? Absolutely! This is one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. Highly recommended! read more

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Food quality / price (value) rating: 10. The atmosphere is neo-classical, with chandeliers, textures and colors brought together by a talented designer. There is a cute outdoor seating area as well. One typically needs to make reservations well in advance for this restaurant for good reasons. The Chef, Rachel, is the main reason for this. She should be made a partner NOW to prevent losing her! Her extraordinary palette and artistic talent joins together to create a very rare and exceptional gastro-experience. We concluded our Montana vacation on the highest note possible by having our final dinner here. We started with the Fromage Board, a wonderful mix of rare and unusual cheeses, crackers, olives, nuts, seeds, pickles, honeycomb, jelly, dried apricots and figs, and a hot mustard. Incredible! For an entree, I had the Double Cut Pork Chop. The presentation was one of the most beautiful I've ever seen, one that would make any artist envious. The photo speaks for itself. It was the most tender pork I've ever had the pleasure of eating, so tender that the WEIGHT OF THE KNIFE WAS ENOUGH TO CUT IT - I am not kidding! The mixture of textures and flavors was a true Meistro's symphony. You must read the description on the menu, as I am not enough of a poet to properly enshrine it's splendor. The wife had the Herb Roasted Chicken, where again, one must read the description on the menu to appreciate the ingredients and their place in the universe. We split a Bread Pudding ala mode, where the vanilla ice cream was super high quality. A couple of cappuccinos and we were finally satiated. Our server, Jewel, was very attentive without being imposing, and made our visit everything it could be. They have a wine and beer license only, so have your martini beforehand. Check out the photos, and look no further for the best food experience you can have in Missoula.....and possibly Montana. read more

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During a visit last weekend I came across this restaurant and saw the flawless star rating. Decided to give it a try and the party of 3 I went with were not disappointed. Ben was a fantastic host/sommelier/server who treated us with both delightful enthusiasm and courtesy. Practically everything we tasted was fantastic. I highly recommend tasting the various cheeses, the beef tenderloin with foie gras added as well as the duck confit and bread pudding for dessert. Really though, nothing will disappoint and ar the extraordinarily reasonable pricing, a meal worth having over and over. read more

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While I have been to Boxcar once more after my initial review I wanted to update my first review. I recently dined at another fine dining establishment in Missoula and while not wanting to cause a ruckus or hurt anyone's feelings, Boxcar is still far and away, in my humble yet wide experience, the absolute best dining in Missoula. From beginning to end Boxcar is my go to place, period. Sorry for cheating on you Boxcar, but you know I love you best. read more

Boxcar Bistro - Duck confit - French Near Me - Missoula, Montana

Came here for appetizers and a drink on our anniversary Excellent service, excellent food and gorgeous atmosphere. We tried the raclette with bacon jam, the beet salad and the tartare. The tartare was perfectly seasoned and the rye bread was a delicious addition to one of my favorite things. The raclette was really delicious and I looooove bacon jam. It was a perfect balance served on buttery crisp toasts. What they used for the bright tangy dressing on the beet salad was nothing short of magical. So many delicious flavors. Service was excellent, the atmosphere is gorgeous and romantic...i didnt feel like i was in Montana. Such a great spot. Can't wait to go back read more

We have dined here several times and have enjoyed most items on their menu. Cozy, relaxed ambiance and decent service. Try it.

Fantastic food. Duck, sea bass and onion soup were all terrific . Intimate atmosphere. Perfect service. Highly recommend

I had dinner here last night with some friends. The food, service, and experience were fantastic across the board. The only thing that could make my dinner memories any better, would be to go there right now and find an empty field. We ate lotus blossoms with sirens in Valhalla. Led there by the earthly form of Bacchus. read more

Good food, over priced and could get the same thing elsewhere. Ambiance is nice and service was good. Likely won't be back just because for the price it's nothing special read more

This is a much needed addition to the neighborhood! Can't get over how affordable it is in contrast to the intimate, beautiful decor and stellar service. My husband and I wanted to make our way through the extremely well thought out and exciting wine list. Our food was not as exciting (burger and steak frites that frankly tasted old), but it was our first visit so I'll give it a few more tries before I make a final judgment on that front. We'll be back monthly for the well-executed wine list and insanely professional service. read more

Staff, food, and ambiance were perfect. Beer pairing was spot on and added to the duck confit. Highly recommend!

The scenery is what really gets you here. Very elegant, clean and the food had great presentation . I can't rate this 5 stars because some things were off on the food . The escargot was overpowered with star anise and my braised bison was pretty tough . My fiancé's duck was AMAZING I wish I would have ordered that instead . read more

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This place is super cute and in a great location. The restaurant was extremely accommodating when I asked to add one person to the reservation. They have a vast wine list as well as local craft beer, something for everyone and very tasteful. We tried multiple appetizers none of which disappointed. The service was great and made the experience even better. The main course was my favorite part. The food was not only delicious but the presentation was so well done. Everyone loved their dish. Kudos to the head chef and his amazing crew for running such a great business! Definitely will be coming back next time I'm in missoula and would highly recommend. read more

We had the New Years Eve dinner. It was a set menu with five courses to include breads, salads, charcuterie, lobster or waygu steak entree, and beignet dessert. Each course included a wine pairing. While the food was fabulous, at $190 before tip per person, this was not worth the cost. Admittedly, we should have called ahead and asked about the price, but Boxcar should have advertised the price upon reservations or via social media. $1000 for dinner for four in Missoula Montana was too expensive for this experience. read more

We are Montana locals and love to eat out and Boxcar is absolutely our new favorite place to eat!! Great food!!! Excellent service!!! Fabulous ambiance!!! Home run all the way around! read more

Best date in Missoula. Intimate atmosphere. Good food. Great wine. Definitely recommend.

Place was intimate and beautiful the food was delicious and not overpriced. We even ordered a bottle of bubbles. Lovely service plan on going back very soon! read more

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This is a wonderful new restaurant in Missoula! I wanted everything on the menu. Settled for the mussels with frites ( fries). Was not excited about the frites, but they are a wonderful pairing for the mussels. Next time, and there will be a next time, duck or steelhead. Can't imagine a bad selection. Wife had beef sirloin cooked to perfection. Be sure to get reservations. Again, best penn cove mussels that I've ever had. read more

Boxcar Bistro - Beef steak. - French Near Me - Missoula, Montana

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Sweet little bistro! Absolutely loved the raclette, fig jam, and toasts...Yummm! The muscles & fries were awesome (shallot and cream sauce on the bottom was so good)!! The tables were small but intimate and charming. We also had a great Sancerre and press coffee there. Perfect! Can't wait to go back! read more

Boxcar Bistro - Mussels and fries - delightful!! - French Near Me - Missoula, Montana