2013 Western Trip – Two Breakfast Joints In Kalispell

I just love seeing the various culture differences around the county.  Remember when I posted about the restaurant/bar/bowling alley (Features) in Wisconsin, well in Montana it was a restaurant/bar/casino and while gambling is heavily regulated in many places, especially in the East, that does not seem to be the case here.  Many businesses where customers walk in off the street – restaurants, gas stations, bars, etc. have an attached casino – the independent spirit seems alive and well in MT.

We asked at the campground and were given two nearby references for breakfast.  Our first meal was at Nickel Charlie’s Casino Eatery.  It was very nice inside and out.

They had a menu of good sounding breakfast fare and Bev and Pat opted to share the One Pounder Chicken Fried Steak and eggs described as Custom breaded and butter grilled to perfection.  Served with creamy bacon gravy and two farm fresh eggs for $12.29 - it was huge as can be judged by the steak knife.

While it was big with a crispy deep-fried coating both of them said they preferred the flavor of the meat and the gravy of the one they had gotten in Avon when we ate with the Dixon’s.

I went with the Nickel Original Skillet of smoked ham, Italian sausage links, pan-fried with country potatoes, onions, & peppers with mounds of melted cheddar, topped with two over easy eggs and sided with a biscuit for $9 and it was also a very big meal – I ate about half.

Except for the dry, crumbly biscuit, I thought my meal was very good and look forward to the leftovers.

The second meal was at Cislo's, which is highly rated by the online customer review sites (Yelp, etc) - but they have no website.  

Based on a pretty full parking lot any time we drove by and a full house the mid-week morning we ate there, it is obviously popular.

For the third restaurant breakfast in a row, Bev ordered chicken fried steak and once again, it was a huge meal requiring a platter and a plate to serve.  It was pan fried which I believe is the more traditional method.

Pat had a breakfast sandwich which I didn't get a shot of and I had the chili omelet which had chili inside and out.

Bev said this was good chicken fried steak but still not as good as the one in Avon, Pat enjoyed her sandwich, and I thought mine was just okay for my taste, but it was totally due to my preference in the taste of chili.  I would definitely eat there again, as I  would at Nickel Charlies, but based on our experience and the crowd size Cislo's serves the better food.

Photos best if enlarged by clicking on them. 

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.

Larry

8/26 & 8/27/2013 meal dates