The Search for the Best Breakfast in Great Falls: The Montana Club

Everyone (two people) kept tellin’ me, they said, “Ya just gotta try the Montana Club! It’s got the greatest breakfasts in town!” And based on its online menu, it had some that looked interesting, for sure. But I procrastinated, and did not try it for several years, because I am not a great fan of the Montana Club due to the jet-engine level noise at dinner time. But after the disappointment of the previous week I thought I needed a good breakfast, and maybe the time had come for the Montana Club.

So there I was on a cold weekday morning, heading in after taking a deep breath of that sweet sweet refinery air. And was surprised: Not very busy, and not all that noisy at all. So far so good.

After perusing the extensive menu of tasty-sounding breakfast items I decided to go with the “Montana Club Original” Hot Sizzlin Skillet, described as, “Sliced Italian Sausage, Hickory Smoked Bacon, Peppers, Onions, grated Cheddar and diced Ham with your choice of Eggs. 12.49” Plus fried potatoes on top of it all.

Doesn’t that sound wonderful?

Well, it was not wonderful. One might even describe it as not-so-wonderful. Mainly because it was overcooked, to the point where the potatoes were hard, and the cheese melted on like a glaze of industrial varnish hardened into a tough and crusty coating holding everything together in the skillet as one massive lump. I had to cut this thing with a knife to separate the components, and it ate like that, too. The sausage underneath it all was not the greatest Italian sausage I have ever tasted and was greasy to boot, which made the onions and peppers and ham chunklets greasy, too. The eggs were okay, and the bacon was okay, and the toast was pretty good.

But, after the $12.49 base price plus coffee plus tip the grand total came up to like $18, and this was not a breakfast value at all, for a real unremarkable meal. Maybe I will go back some time and try something else, because the menu certainly reads real good, but it won’t be soon.