In the realm of dining, some things are universal: everybody loves McDonald’s french fries, for instance. Other things, however, are strictly local, as evidenced by GeeGuy’s endorsement of Taco Treat: “Since I am a local, born and raised, I have been a Taco Treat fan since before I can remember.” Amen. Just about everybody that I know that is a true “local” feels the same way about Taco Treat. My girlfriend, for instance, who is also a true “born and raised” local. Case in point: when her high-school buddy came back to visit Great Falls for New Year’s Eve, the first thing that they did when he got off the plane was head to Taco Treat.
Me - well, despite the fact that I now consider myself a true citizen of Great Falls (approaching 6 years!), the wonders of Taco Treat still elude me. I’ve tried it - and the Amigo, too. I just don’t get it. To be honest, I’d rather grab some Taco Bell. But fortunately, I have found ONE thing at Taco Treat to enjoy: Krust-Os! Crispy, cinnamony, snacky; and with a name like that, what’s not to love?
The only other place that I can think of that falls into this same “gotta be raised on it” category is Borrie’s, with the pasta sauce that only locals can love (I’m learning to love it). OK, so let’s hear it: what other eateries around town fall into this category?
May 5th, 2008 at 9:53 am
You’re right on with Borrie’s. You sound just like my wife!
May 5th, 2008 at 10:21 am
I dunno; having lived here a mere twelve years, I haven’t yet been bitten by the Taco Treat bug. Oh, I’ll eat there, but I don’t get the worship. Haven’t gotten around to trying Borrie’s.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Both restaurants used to be much better.
Taco Treat: Amigo Lounge sucks—the good ones are on 10th and NW Bypass—and even those good ones it has a lot to do with whether it is a good day or not–they used to be consistently good now it is once in a while–but when you get that once in a while it is nice!
Borries is always bad IMO—they were good when I was a kid (24 now–so maybe around 10 years ago) but 3D has always ruled them into the ground—-I LOVE MONGOLIAN GRILL BABY!
May 5th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I have never liked Taco Treat. ever. Maybe because as a kid our “treat” was Borrie’s or Eddie’s. I love the steaks at Borrie’s as well as the ravioli. 3D is always on the top of any list for a night out.
But, sadly, the people who made those places wonderful are long gone. (At least the ones I remember)
May 5th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Of course there is always the Howard’s Pizza debate too!!
May 5th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I am so home sick,sitting in my office in Boise eating my lunch at my desk, so i thought about Great Falls. May is always great back home. I found this blog. Taco Treat for the teens in the 80’s and 90’s was our place. I often think of the Cheesy fries shared with friends. Borries ment the prom, and Eddies was a great place anytime. What about the Feed Lot, and a fluffy taco from the Elcomador. Are these places still open?
May 5th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
The Burg!! (Burgermaster) And ElComedor! Two places that I love & that mean Great Falls/Home to me.
May 5th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
I am happy to say that within a week of arriving in Great Falls in 2002, I became a True Believer in Howard’s Pizza. There is nothing else that comes close. A pox on Pizza Hut, Domino’s, and Papa John’s!
May 6th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Tracy’s downtown. been awhile, but the daily lunch specials were great. working night shift or getting out of the bars - scrambled eggs and minced ham.
during highschool the Burg or Ford’s …
May 6th, 2008 at 10:59 am
If we are talking pizza, the garlic chicken pizza at Godfathers when piping hot is to die for….
May 6th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Does anyone remember Dagwood’s? Their bread was the best! I love all of the local places mentioned. Taco Treat, Borrie’s, Eddie’s, Burgermaster, Howard’s, El Comedor!! My family and I have patronized all of them more times than I could possibly count!! The Sting too and I’m not happy that it moved! And yes Taco Treat has always been the favorite of my entire family. When my brother brought his girlfriend home for the first time from Boise, he took her there, and I did the same when on vacation with a friend last year. My mom in the past has brought Taco Treat to me here in Phoenix when she visits!! Hey, maybe you do have to be born and raised to appreciate them, but I can say for certain that all those places were one of the few great things about growing up in Great Falls.
May 6th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
DAGWOOD’S! I almost forgot about them. The ex & i ate their french fries by dipping them in chocolate shakes.
@Air - Feedlot is still in business.
Of the hometown places I remember only Dagwood’s, the Jack Club, & now the west side Burgermaster have closed. I hope they can sell the other Burgermaster to someone who appreciates it.
May 6th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
yeah, bring back the canopies, car hops, and the Flying Saucer!! (or do they still have it?)
May 7th, 2008 at 6:42 am
Borries is an enigma. The place is straight out of the 60s and if anyone were to look at it objectively, c’mon, be honest, the place is a DIVE.
But, the steaks are good.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:09 am
When I left North Carolina and was stationed at Malmstrom (I thought Montana would be in Spain)..I discovered Taco Treat. Its good.
Borries sauce is what I like. The tart tomato sauce that is used in many Italian foods just is not my thing…but the rich gravy like sauce of Borries is awesome.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Ok……Dave is going to hate me for this but I can’t find anywhere good to eat around here. I’m from TX (don’t say anything Dave!) and I just can’t seem to wrap my mind around the fact that there really aren’t eateries around here. I’ve been to McKenzie River and they’re ok….but I have to admit the Nifty 50’s place is pretty good. If you guys have any ideas or suggestions please fill me in. And as far as Taco Treat is concerned I don’t get it. Then again I’m Hispanic and I make my own Mexican food…..’nough said.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Sema, I think the Mongolian Grill at the 3D is pretty good. Other than that, what are you looking for?
May 8th, 2008 at 8:03 am
I liked the Treat, too, when I was a kid.
This brings back memories (and is making me hungry) The burgers at Burgermaster were so big and juicy. And Howard’s Pizza with sausage is what is the mental measure for pizzas back here in the east.
Does anyone remember the place down in Ulm where they used to get seafood flown in? I think it was sometimes lobster, but it’s been over 30 years, so some of the details have faded from my memory.
May 8th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Byrd, it’s the Village Inn. It’s closed.
May 8th, 2008 at 11:46 am
byrd, that would of been the village inn, now known as Griffens. Still amazing food though!
As for local eateries…what style food are you going for?
Greasy spoons
R&R has a restaurant, bar and casino open 24/7 and has a colorful fun crew.
Tracys’ while i’m not a fan is a local favorite. I hear they make some killer breakfasts!
Coffee Shop Style.
Cool Beans has a great Motif, a wonderful atmosphere…. AND REALLY BIG furniture (but I’m only 5 foot)
Or
Morning light coffee…mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…enough said.
and of course Park and Ponder!
May 8th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
What about Zandy’s? i love the fries with a big scot mmmm good. I always try to get my family to fed ex next day to me taco treat but they have yet to do it. That’s the first place I go when I get back for visits and the last place on my way to the Great Falls INTERNATIONAL Airport. Enjoy Y’all!!!!!
May 8th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Zandy’s is still open.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Thank you, GeeGuy and Janna Lee.
Another place that’s gone, I think, at least the old stand on Central is: Bailer’s (sp?) Ice Cream. They were in the small building on the south side of Central near 9th St. Our old dentist, Dr. Pellet, would give out a card for a free ice cream if we were good at our check-ups, when I was a kid. They made wonderful Peach Ice Cream in particular.
May 11th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Oh man bailard’s my brother and I were just talking about that the other day while I was in town visiting. Every Sunday we went there. I loved the lollipop’s, a ball of vanilla ice cream dipped in chocolate on a stick. mmmmmmm I love this blog
May 11th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
I forgot about Bailors (sp?)! That was soo good.
May 11th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
I never heard of Bailors (sp?) We always went to Stumps Ice Cream Factory and I saw today that they are now The Udder Ice Cream Factory.. As in the udder company :P… I hope it’s still as good!
May 14th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Ahhhhh - I could never wait till mid summer when Bailer’s made their seasonal home made fresh peach ice cream. My grandma always made it a special trip to go down there on hot Sunday afternoons when they had it in stock. MMMMMMMMM!!!
May 16th, 2008 at 6:50 am
Well, Janna Lee, it was a good while ago. I’m going to be 52 next week, so my Bailer’s Ice Cream memories are over 30-35 years ago.
I don’t remember when Bailers closed, but my parents still live in Great Falls, so they might recall.
Not food, but drink: When I was a kid we would go down to Giant Springs in the Summer and just get water right out of the spring to take home in bottles for as long as it lasted (which wasn’t long). And we’d just wade in the Spring and drink out of our cupped hands.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Whatever happened to the owner of Dagwood’s? She was nice! Good food too.
August 19th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Renee, I miss Dagwood’s…..
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Thanks for all of the information on places to eat. We just moved here from Indiana, and do not yet understand the lure of Taco Treat. Yikes. Some new friends of ours will be opening a Taco del Sol on 6th St. down town, and after having tried it out recently in Missoula…we are sooo excited! Fabulous burritos, and a great deal. We’ll check out some of the ones mentioned above. Sure wish there was a coffee house open in the evening…even one or two nights a week. We love love love Howards…and we thought we had the best pizza back in IN.
January 19th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
We have started up a GF Restaurant Food Blog.. Stop by!
I miss Dagwoods too! Just wrote about it in the blog…
May 19th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
There was a pizza store in the Great Falls Mall that served this bread they called Bobbie bread. Man that was some very tasty stuff. I also liked the Dagwoods sandwiches. Hope they are still in business. Jakers used to be called Jake’s. Good food! Black Angus was good. There used to be an all night cafe in the downtown area. also good for late night snacking.