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Northern Lights Saloon

4.4 (48 reviews)
ModerateRestaurants
Closed • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Northern Lights Saloon Photos

Business Info

NORTHERN LIGHTS SALOON ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Northern Lights Saloon

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Reviews With Photos

Steak Burger with coleslaw
Meredith B.

After a long day and long drive we were greeted by Bill at the NLS. He went over the menu with us and even pulled out all the cans of cider/seltzer so I could check what was gluten free. Totally above and beyond, he made us feel at home! We were so surprised to find so many gluten free options at an 'off the beaten path spot! Everyone working seemed to be very aware of allergies and what could be made gluten free. All the patrons else seemed to be traveling too and it was positive vibes all around. The tuna tar tar was amazing and the pita with it was GF! Went back the next day to get the tuna tar tar again, the food didn't disappoint but the bartender was not as overly friendly as Bill. Definitely a place to stop on the way to Glacier and situated in a cool rural town. Hope you run into Bill!

Bar area
Mike G.

Neat spot to enjoy some drinks. We sat on the porch on a nice afternoon. Good-looking menu, but we didn't eat anything. The woman working the counter was very friendly. Like the Mercantile next door, a must-stop while in Polebridge.

Northern Lights Saloon
Bob K.

Northen Lights first impression it's a small cozy dive bar. I walked in the door and they were busy. Once the bartender was ready to serve us he stopped looked us in the eyes and said "My name is Bill". I liked that...A lot!! The beer selection and craft cocktails are great. The food is upscale and the presentation is white table cloth in a dive bar!' Check out Polebridge Mercantile for sure But, you would be making a big mistake not to stop in and say "Hi" to Bill!!

Would have given 6! What an amazing place to stop at. The food is exceptional, the staff is friendly and so engaging. I had such a nice visit, got lots of great recommendations for local activities and places to go. Do not miss this place! 11/10

Brat
Anna E.

I was famished after a long hike in Glacier and couldn't wait for dinner to get some hot food so dropped in on a whim. The atmosphere is amazing and food really hit the spot. The potato salad is different than any I've ever had, more vinegar (?) based with fresh chopped veggies and perfectly tender red potatoes than the Mayo based. Really liked it but be warned, it is different than you might be used to back home. Brat was well cooked and bun perfect. All in all, a really nice spot with good food and ambiance. The property is awesome and looks to host concerts in summer as well. Would definitely make another trip here in the future to catch a summer concert.

Shannah H.

Visiting the Northern Lights Saloon should be on everyone's Glacier National Park area to-do list. Why? 1) Relatively uncrowded (unless everyone reads this review and takes my advice). 2) Piece of heaven. Off-the-grid, chef-driven, local flavors, fresh-fresh-fresh, willing to accommodate food allergies...what more can you ask for? 3) Mountains in the background while you eat. 4) Did I mention local? Fresh caught fish. Elk meatloaf, Bison burgers, Huckleberry sauce. Local brews. Local liquors used in creative cocktails. I read previous reviews that talked about how great the food was, with the caveat it was a little expensive. I think the "expensive" depends on your normal eating out budget/expectations. My husband ordered the elk meatloaf (came with salad - with house-made dressing, roasted potatoes, grilled vegetables and fresh baked bread and butter). I ordered the rainbow trout (freshly caught and pan seared, with the same sides as my husband's meal). Between the two of us we ordered 3 beers. The total for all of the above was $50 even. I don't consider that expensive. You can pay via card here, even though they're off the grid. As of writing (2017) they use Square and pass the convenience fee on to you. It's about 1.25% of your total bill. NOTE: Many people talked about the trek to Polebridge on the Outer North Fork Road (out of Columbia Falls) being a washboard gravel road. We found the 30 mile trip to be about 2/3 paved and 1/3 gravel. The gravel road was in excellent condition with no ruts or potholes. It took us about 45 min to make the drive because it was a new road to us and we wanted to be cautious. Also the road is slightly narrow so you want to be aware of other vehicles and wildlife (lots of wildlife!). Fill up your tank before making the drive because there aren't any stations once you head north out of Columbia Falls.

Brat and pasta salad

Amazing place to eat at when staying in Polebridge. We loved it so much we ate it for dinner all three nights we were there. We didn't find a single bad thing on the menu. Loved the huckleberry mules. Menu changes slightly depending on the day

Ashley L.

Northern Lights Saloon is like something out of a movie. The town is off the grid and runs off solar energy. Just to get to this bar you have to drive to the middle of no where on a gravel road. Inside is where the magic is. We went last night and had drinks, dinner, and dessert. There was live music and good energy. There were lots of locals, which is a good indicator people love this place. Can't wait to tell my friends about this town and its uniqueness!!

I'm Your Huckleberry burger (the color tone is due to the high sun and a red umbrella, which is why it may look a little off)

Visited here in late June ('21) because the timing worked out with their weekend hours and when we were arriving in GNP. The drive up to Polebridge from West Glacier/Apgar is fantastic, so getting there truly is a positive part of the experience (unless you don't like the outdoors, in which case you should not look any further into Polebridge or NLS). So the establishment is mostly for outdoor seating, but they do have a few spaces inside (hopefully this changes once were post-post-COVID), and most of the table have umbrellas. The way things were currently being run, you order inside and receive a pager for when your order is ready (and it looked like the team running things pretty much knew what table ordered what, so getting your order didn't look problematic during the 90 minutes or so we were there during lunchtime). We each had the "I'm your Huckleberry" burger, with a side of chips. It was cooked as ordered and the huckleberry/chipotle dressing is unique/good. All of the tables around us generally seemed satisfied with things and we overheard a few people commenting positively on their orders. Now, a word about logistics for people who don't understand or appreciate what it takes to run an operation like this in such a remote area: COVID or not, running a seasonal restaurant in an area like Polebridge is extremely challenging. Sourcing ingredients, finding the right menu/chef, the capital investment in the facility, the paperwork with city/county/state, retaining quality employees, etc etc. Some of the reviews (granted, several are years old) do not seem to understand the things I've called out above. Regardless of those reviews, and when you've done Yelp or TA as long as I have you know how to read reviews (and some people in the world just don't like anything and should stay home). Polebridge, Northern Lights, and Polebridge Mercantile are all worth a visit. Looking foreword to getting back up there.

World famous Northern Lights Saloon during winter.
Jeff V.

5 stars?! You bet! The NLS isn't fancy, chic, trendy, or anything you would expect a 5 star rated place to be. It is, however, a quintessential Montana experience and of all of my Montana memories and experiences, this one is tops! Because of it's location, it doesn't get a lot of traffic, except by the backpackers coming out of Glacier National Park, people like me who know it for the gem it is, and the locals. But don't let the word "locals" scare you off, they are a very friendly lot, but there are not many of them. Actually, the endangered species in the Polebridge area out number the residents. It doesn't have a huge menu, it's more of a case of this is what the cook cooked today, which one would you like. They have a full bar too, so you can get your bourbon and coke that you've been craving. The only illumination in this historic cabin is what's put off by the rope lights that are wrapped around the log beams in the ceiling. When the town generator is turned off at a certain time of night , the propane lamps are then lit and the evening continues. When it gets chilly, they fire up the wood burning stove. What I've always found weird about the NLS is how musical instruments just start appearing out of nowhere during the course of the night. You'll just be sitting there, enjoying your bourbon and coke out of a mason jar, when all of a sudden you hear a guitar being strummed. A few minutes later, another guitar. A few minutes later a fiddle. A few minutes later someone is playing the piano. The NLS band? No, these are people (locals and campers) who just spontaneous start showing up and music start happening. It's pretty damn magical! If you're up in that neck of the woods, the NLS is not to be passed. You'll drop in for a drink, but you end up there for the whole evening. The new owner has made it a seasonal operation now (not open in the Winter), so make sure you check to see if it's up and running before you make the drive up there.

Laura S.

This bar/restaurant is a must for anyone visiting the North Fork. We stopped here to eat dinner on our way home from Bowman Lake and the service was excellent. We were tired and they got our food out pretty quick. Our bartender and server were very nice and made us feel at home. We did have a special request with our food (because of allergies) and I was impressed that the cook Dan came out to our table to talk to us about it. Great food great staff and great place to visit. We will definitely be back!

the entrance to the saloon

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11 months ago

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10 months ago

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6 years ago

Closed for the season on September 10, will reopen in 2021. More details on the Facebook page.

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5 years ago

Cheeseburgers are good and the drinks are great! Love the vibe of this place! The live music is much appreciated!

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11 years ago

Wonderful food and atmosphere! Outdoor seating and pet friendly! Friday night is pizza night! The supreme is amazing!

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12 years ago

1985, was a great place! Spent a week in Polebridge and ate and drank here every day. Its been too long, I have to get back!

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11 years ago

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Twin Butte Country General Store - Veggie enchilada with rice and beans

Twin Butte Country General Store

4.9(18 reviews)
39.4 mi
•$$

Before heading down to Waterton, I had multiple people recommend that I grab dinner at the Twin…read moreButte General Store. Based on my experience, I'll be passing on that recommendation to other people going forward as well. Located about halfway between Pincher Creek and the Waterton park gates, The Twin Butte Country General store is an unassuming roadside attraction. From the outside, it would be easy to miss if you don't know what you're looking for, but on the inside is one of the best tex-mex restaurants I've been to in Alberta. Service is friendly and fast. Our appetizers arrived very quickly after ordering and main courses soon after we were done with the first course. At a glance, the menu doesn't have many vegetarian options but most things can be made veggie on request if you like cheese, rice, and beans. I ordered a single enchilada with rice and beans on the side and it arrived smothered in delicious salsa and cheese. My husband also really enjoyed the fish tacos. It can get busy so reservations are recommended. We didn't have one and were lucky to snag the last table, but I won't be chancing it next time. I'd hate to miss out!

I love this place. Way off the beaten path with amazing Mexican food made by people who care. Make…read morea reason to head out towards Waterton for no other reason than having lunch here.

Photos
Twin Butte Country General Store - Huevos rancheros with homemade chorizo

Huevos rancheros with homemade chorizo

Twin Butte Country General Store - Front store

Front store

Twin Butte Country General Store - Smoked Beef Brisket Chimichanga and Mexican Lasagna

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Smoked Beef Brisket Chimichanga and Mexican Lasagna

The Desoto Grill

The Desoto Grill

4.6(881 reviews)
39.3 mi
•$$

This place was packed on a Friday night. The man handling drinks and host duties was on it. We had…read morea bit of a wait to get seated at the bar, but understandable on a packed night. Husband and I split the 3 meat plate (although we were tempted by the special-beef ribs on mashed potatoes). We had brisket (good and my favorite), pork ribs (fall off the bone good and tasty), pork belly (hubby said it was good since it isn't my thing). For our sides we had collard greens (we fought over those they were so good), bacon Mac (creamy and smokey), and corn bread (so glad we each had our own serving of that or there would have been bloodshed). That cornbread was the best I have had at a restaurant in ages. Staff were on it. They were personable and friendly. Kitchen staff--wow. It was awesome to watch the magic and teamwork happening in the very small wizard's workshop. Thank you for the great night and the leftovers.

So, I really don't know why people come here. Maybe we got unlucky but let's run it from the start…read more Upon entering, the place does look very cool. It almost feels like you're in a mineshaft or an antique store, which I thought was awesome. We are immediately greeted with a very friendly smile and told there were seats at the bar (the restaurant was packed, another good sign). A few minutes go by and we're still standing at the check-in, and another couple comes in. They are greeted in the same way, offered seats at the bar, and are thusly ushered to their seats... while we were still standing there. Okay, few more minutes go by and we call out the table that was just cleaned, and we get seated. The menu looks phenomenal, and we ended up getting the meat combo to try everything. This is where it gets even worse. The barbecue itself took a while to get to our table, which would be fine if it wasn't cold. Yes, you heard correctly, the barbecue was all cold. Baked beans had to have been Bush's. Potato salad and Mac was good, same with the cornbread. But the main things we paid $60 for were cold. The ribs were beyond burnt, and the brisket was tough. Oh, and the single sausage we got was slathered in mustard and barbecue sauce, come to think of it everything on the plate was slathered in barbecue sauce. Usually not a good sign lol. I really wish I could say nicer things about this place but I unfortunately cannot recommend it to anyone. But hey, they're packed so maybe that's just the quality of the food around Kalispell. Food: 1/5 Service: 3/5 Ambiance: 3/5 Value: 2/5 Overall: 2/5

Photos
The Desoto Grill - Restaurant view from table near the door

Restaurant view from table near the door

The Desoto Grill
The Desoto Grill

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Northern Lights Saloon - restaurants - Updated May 2026

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