For anyone who might be moving to Great Falls, one way to gauge the size and “type” of the community is to compare it to your own. So here’s a tally of some of our “chain” restaurants to give you an idea of what you’ll be getting into. Bear in mind that this is only the chain-style places; we have plenty of local and regional (McKenzie River, anyone?) restaurants that – believe me – are as good or better than anything else out there. But you’d be amazed at how many people that are new to Great Falls complain that there isn’t an Olive Garden or IHOP or such. Sure, it might be nice to have some more of the chains here (Chili’s for me!), but we do just fine with what we’ve got.
We have:
5 Subways (yes, 5); 4 McDonald’s; 3 Burger Kings; 2 Pizza Huts; 2 Hardee’s; 2 Taco Bells; 2 Quizno’s; 1 Tony Roma’s; 1 Applebee’s; 1 Wendy’s
We do NOT have:
Chili’s; Macaroni Grill; TGI Friday’s; Jack In The Box; Olive Garden; Outback
If I missed any, let me know.
There are usually some rumors floating around that Hooter’s is coming, or the Cheesecake Factory, or Denny’s, but such talk usually is just that. Which reminds me: does anyone know the status of the Boston’s The Gourmet Pizza that was in the news months ago?
UPDATE, May 2008: Great Falls now has Chili’s and Macaroni Grill!
Dave add the following:
3 Taco Johns, 2 Arby’s, Dominoes. Papa Johns, 1 Taco Del Mar
1 A & W, 2 KFC, 1 Perkins, 1 Elmers, 1 Cattins, 1 JB’s, ? DQ, 1 Godfather’s Pizza, 1 Fuddruckers, Starbucks
I’ll keep thinking.
Yeah, a bunch of DQ’s for sure. And don’t forget, a second A&W coming soon at the 10th. Ave. KFC location.
McDonald’s inside Walmart is gone. There are 3 DQ. 4b’s is a chain isn’t it? 4 Howard’s Pizza!
We Don’t have a Red Lobster, Sonic or Ruby Tuesday!
I think the Boston thing is still in the works- drive over by 2J’s & see how it’s coming.
What we really need is a good Sushi restaurant.
What happened to the Walmart Mickey D?
Amen to the motion for sushi! I’ve heard that a few Brinker International concepts have plans for Great Falls — Chili’s, Macaroni Grill, and On the Border. Not sure if these will be franchises or corporately owned locations.
We do not have a kosher delicatessan (nor do we have an appetizing store: assorted types of smoked fish, salads, cheeses). The nearest kosher delicatessan is a 5 hour drive, across an international border, in Calgary, Alberta.
The McDonalds in Walmart is still open…?
It’s supposed to close due to lack of sales (profit)
Sushi @Teryaki kitchen? I ate it today.
That’s not Sushi served at Teriyaki Kitchen. A lame attempt on par with the pre-packed junk rolls sold at Smiths, but not Sushi.
We do not have a bakery that makes traditional breads: crusty rye bread, crusty french and italian breads, pumpernickle, flaky kaiser rolls, onion rolls, miamis (soft onion rolls), etc., etc.
— Don’t have —
P.F. Chang’s
Panda Express
B.J.’s
Buca de Beppo
Maggio’s
IHOP
So we know the problem… who’s willing to fix it?
If every town had every restaurant, where would the variety be when we traveled????? Cook the odd stuff you love at home…hmmm, novel concept, cooking at home.
Todd,
Cooking at home is a great idea. However, this topic was about dining out. So really your solution doesn’t apply to the topic at hand, right?
ZenPanda,
I don’t think it’s something that is easily fixed. I think it’s a culture that is often apparent that new things in this town, especially chain stores/restaurants, are bad. Also, many restaurants don’t think they would succeed here based on the population and internal studies. So it’s not just something we can go out and fix instantaneously.
I don’t see a Skippers or a Red Lobster on the list.
Rob- I guess I hate to read the negative here. We have a good number of restaurants for the occasional night out. Do we really need more?
I can see increasing the variety- yes, a real sushi restaurants would be nice but is it sustainable?
I think I can see where Todd has a point about traveling- I still like to make a trip to Billings for Red Lobster.
Can we focus on what is good about having the ones we do?
Thank you Zen…it just gets old hearing “Great Falls doesn’t have….” It is the things, including restaurants, that Great Falls has that makes it such a great place.
Also, since this entry is about “Chain” restaurants, no one has mentioned the “non-chain” restaurants…such as Bories, 3D’s, Tracey’s and many others.
Had a great dinner at the 3D last night, and we love Borrie’s, too. My husband and I try to avoid the “chains” and support the locally owned restaurants in Great Falls. I don’t see what is so appealing about chains anyway, other than you know the food will always taste the same. Where’s the fun in that?
Well, I have to say that I enjoy food, and it seems as though we are running out of places to go if you eat out frequently. McDonalds is gross, Burger King–Gross, Taco Bell–Gross, all these place have gross food handling practices and with all the ecoli out breaks who likes fast food anymore? Not to mention, they raised all of the prices because they cant pay their workers 5.15 hr anymore. I agree, why you say that Borries, 3D, and Eddies, Bert and Ernies, Breaks, Elmers, all of these local restarurants blow the chains outta the water! go eat ribs at the Cattlemens Cut and then go eat at Tony Romas, Cattlemens wins by a knock outta the park! Dont get me wrong, Olive Garden is awesome and so is Red Lobster, but Applebees? They sell prepackaged food that is microwaved, it tasted good, but its not anything like the locals. TGI’s is good, and some others, but seriously, the locals are better. Now, if you want to talk about chains, maybe great falls should look into getting some good shopping in this town. we made an improvement with Ross, Old Navy and Scheels, but where is TJMaxx, American Eagle, Dillards, Gap? I mean, everyone looks the same here, we need some variety! anyway, good thread everyone, food is a great subject! lol.
by the way, sonic is awesome too! I would love one of those!
McKenzie River Pizza tonight…hmmm, hmmm, hmmm good! Gotta love Montana!
I don’t know…. I just can’t see leaving my money in Billings everytime I get that old Red Lobster flavor in my mind…..I’m a “greesy spoon” kind’a guy… the greasier the better….. The whole cholesterol deal is over rated I think… and Yes… 3D is supreme…. Sushi???..Well, Don’t we have plenty of raw fish in the river already??….
When I get to missin’ my dad it’s time for Borries or Eddy’s. I could eat the local spots more often than the chains.
I would love TJmaxx or Dillards to move in. I’m even excited about Ross.
No more “burgers in paper” please!
What about a Chuck E Cheese?? We need a fun place to take the kids. Somewhere to have kids birthday parties. I think something like that would do awesome here. I’m fairly new to town, is there anything like that now besides the nasty McDonalds/Burger King play house??
Another vote for sonic….on the non-chain side though, I’d like to see a good German restaurant. Is there one in Montana anywhere?
Ray- the only good german restraunt I knew was in Dillon & I believe it has closed.
DoubleJPK- there used to be a couple places for kids- Hauer’s Family fun center, is about all I can think of right now.
According to Google, there’s a restaurant that serves German food in Bigfork: http://www.wildmiledeli.com/.
That’s about 215 miles to the northwest, in the vicinity of Kalispell.
Well, to update, you can cross Chili’s, Macaroni’s and TGI Friday’s off the not-here-yet list. Chili’s and Macaroni’s are in the process of being built (as is Boston’s just off 10th Ave South). Friday’s is also coming (no known location yet).
Teriyaki Kitchen – A real dissapointment to the ONLY japanese restaurant in great falls. The teriyaki bowl had chewy beef and the only vegetables were undercooked carrots and 3 tiny brocolli flowers. Very few selections on the menu, only three or four. The meat was not made fresh and looked like it had been sitting for a while. After eating it my boyfriend and I both felt sick, couldnt even finish half of the meal. Real waste of 11 dollars. If you want a good japanese restaurant look in another city!
When did Friday’s announce they were coming? I must have missed that one.