My wife and I have now dined at J.W. Heist twice, most recently last night to celebrate our 21st…read morewedding anniversary. Both visits have been positive overall, with excellent steaks, very good service, and several memorable dishes. That said, our most recent experience fell a little short of what I would expect from one of Bozeman's premier upscale steakhouses in terms of atmosphere.
We had a 5:45pm reservation and were seated in a comfortable booth near the front of the restaurant, adjacent to the bar. We started with the fried calamari, which we had also ordered on our previous visit. Unfortunately, this time it was disappointing. There was far too much batter and very little actual calamari. Given how much we enjoyed it previously, perhaps this was simply an off night.
The steaks, however, were excellent. My wife ordered the 8-ounce filet and I had the 16-ounce prime strip, both medium rare. Both arrived properly prepared and were flavorful, tender, and delicious. We shared the loaded baked potato and fried Brussels sprouts. The portions were generous and both sides were excellent, particularly the Brussels sprouts with caramelized bacon and small pieces of Granny Smith apple.
Service was another highlight. Our waiter, Jordan, was attentive, prompt, and thorough throughout the evening. The additional wait staff were equally conscientious and friendly.
My primary reservation concerns the atmosphere. Being seated next to the bar naturally meant more noise, and two nearby tables became particularly loud as the evening progressed. Obviously, a restaurant has limited control over the volume of individual guests, and I also take responsibility for not mentioning when making the reservation that we were celebrating our anniversary. Next time, I'll request a quieter table toward the rear of the dining room.
I was also somewhat surprised by how casual the dress standards are. One of the things I appreciate about living in Montana is its relaxed, unpretentious character, and I certainly don't expect formal attire everywhere. My wife and I enjoy getting dressed up when indulging in fine dining, and while we don't expect everyone to arrive in suits and ties or dresses, we do anticipate a level of dress and decorum somewhat above everyday casual. J.W. Heist presents itself as an upscale steakhouse, and an evening for two can easily exceed $200. Seeing shorts and several baseball caps in the dining room--including backwards caps--detracts somewhat from the elevated atmosphere I would expect at that price point. Casual attire in the bar area makes perfect sense, but I think a modest dress standard in the main dining room would help distinguish the experience and make special occasions feel a little more special.
Overall, we've enjoyed both of our visits. The quality of the steaks and sides has been excellent, the service has been consistently very good, and we would recommend J.W. Heist to others. We will likely return as well. I simply think a few refinements to the dining-room atmosphere would bring the overall experience more in line with the quality of the food, service, and price point.
