1. How do you compete with a next door restaurant with a world class view of the deep blue alpine lake, surrounded by forests, with majestic soaring mountains, glaciers and snow in the background? By having the only television for 20 miles around!
2. Swiss Lounge, formerly Interlaken Lounge, is the bridesmaid restaurant to the Ptarmigan at the historic classic Many Glaciers Hotel in Glacier National Park.
3. There are not too many places to eat in this area, some 20 miles from the main section of park on St Marys on the Going to the Sun road.
4. There is a pizza joint and small restaurant at Swiftcurrent motor inn, 2 miles down the road. Parking can be difficult in the park, and I'm not about to surrender my spot for pizza!
5. The Ptarmigan is open only 630am-10am, 1130am-2pm, and 530pm-930pm. Come any other time, and you are out of luck, and have to settle for Swiss Lounge, open 10am-11pm.
6. Lines can be long at the Ptarmigan, which doesn't take advance reservations. If you have only 2 people, the Swiss Lounge can be your go to spot.
7. Swiss Lounge has only 14 tables, 11 tables for 2 people, 2 tables for 4 people, and 1 table for 6 people. So if you have more than 2 people, you can be in for a long wait!
8. Nonsocial nerds and sports fanatics sit at the bar, in front of the flat screen TV, watching the latest on ESPN, or football. You expected the cooking channel!?
9. For those unfortunate to be sitting out of view of the TV, you can check out the handicapped parking, and truck unloading area in front of the hotel through the screened windows.
10. Swiss Lounge uses the same kitchen as the Ptarmigan, but slightly different menus. This restaurant is mainly a soup, salad and sandwich-burger restaurant.
11. One of my favorites here is the $14 Farmers mixed salad, with mixed greens, olives, onions, diced tomatoes, blue cheese, rye croutons, green beans, sliced egg, and bacon smothered in your choice of dressing.
12. The serving size is huge, so huge that my wife and I split a plate, with the blue cheese and croutons dropped, and the tomatoes, onions, olives and dressing on the side. The order was messed up with the yucky blue cheese saturated on the lettuce. The wife got the tomatoes and olives, while I got the raw onions. Not a hot date, so no problems with bad breath!
13. A local favorite is the Huckleberry cream soda. One time they ran out of the locally bottled soda, and asked if I wanted a sprite with Huckleberry syrup. Sure, why not. Tasted good, and free refills for the sprite. Tasted like tart blueberries.
14. Another dish that I liked was the sausage sampler, with three types of sausage, bread, and a vegetable, along with mustard on the side. I liked the spicy jalapeno laced sausage the best, as did the wife. No French kissing afterwards with that breath!
15. And yes, they do have the $12 1/3 lb Glacier hamburger with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickle, just like in the Ptarmigan.
16. The more expensive meat and fish dishes at the Ptarmigan are not on the menu at the Swiss Lounge, and they can't order it for you, on crowded nights, due to short supply, so they say. Yeah sure! Got to save if for the Ptarmigan folks!
17. Finally there is the delicious dessert with the apple cobbler covered by Huckleberry ice cream!
18. Tables are very close together, so I can show off my womens light blue strap Chako sandals. Very noisy when full.
19. Place closes at 11pm - I know because I can hear the rowdy drunks wandering down the main hallway at that time from my room 137 on the corridor! read more