The Grilldog report: 

With a major storm front approaching and my back still sore from sleeping in the Dallas Ft Worth air port, I started my journey early.  The storm front just hit Corpus and flights began to be canceled faster then network TV's, new spring released sit-coms! So I jumped an earlier flight.  I prefer roller coaster rides in amusement parks...however, I was in for a full day of bumps and grinds.  Continental and Northwest were all nicer then the American Airlines bunch from my previous flight.  I arrived in Houston for a short lay over then went to Minneapolis, where we waited in the plane for an hour before we took off to bounce our way to the Great Falls, Montana run way!...

Great Falls, MT is a great town. The people are friendly and will strike up a conversation with you with out a problem...However, I think they should claim the town not as the city of Falls but the town of beer halls!  Yes wall to wall pubs all with different themes, food and happy hours...Plus they all have slot machines, well those poker and keno ones at least!  Plus they all have at least one pool table and many much more...Also, there are tons of Bowling alleys!  What's up here!  I've never seen so many Bowling alleys in a small town, hell, never seen that many in a large town either.  My first day here I asked the hotel clerk what there was here in Great Falls to do and she said "Billiards, Bars and Bowling!  and she wasn't joking.

OK FOOD REPORT..

First, downtown, Tracey's is a God send...Arriving at 11pm from an all day flight I was ready to eat anything, even a chicken McNugget!  Shows how desperate I was!  Well, across from the hotel (Best Western Ponderosa) was Traceys, open 24 hours...that's my kind of gal!  It's a Cash only home style cooking and it's great, large portions of great home style food....ahh. don't tell Mom OK!!! <wink>

The Portafino.  It's dead center downtown connected to the Best Western Hotel. I, Grilldog, never go to a restaurant that is associated with a hotel, it's over priced, the food is poor quality etc.  However, so many folks here recommended it, I wandered in.. It was surprisingly good!  The owners are Italians from New York who moved to Great Falls quite a number of years ago.  I had the grilled Portobello's and grilled polenta, on a bed of lettuce with a balsamic vinaigrette hmm hmmm it was great.  They make their own Gnocci there, so I had that in a tomatoes Gorgonzola sauce, I was not impressed by the sauce, it needed more flavor, it was very bland...maybe some Basil guys!!! Later I sampled the grilled chicken breast Primavera, that too had fresh ingredients but bland, I also had the homemade spinach ravioli in a walnut cream sauce - again - Fresh but bland.  Oh well...Use some spices guys! However, it is authentic Italian and the town folks love it, it's unfortunate that ethnic restaurants have to cook bland so people will eat it.  On the brighter side, I requested the angel hair pasta with mussels and shrimp in a white sauce and requested it prepared to my taste and they did an excellent job!

3D International restaurant is actually a group of restaurants open for lunch and dinner.  They have a Mongolian Grill there that is Excellent...Lots of ingredients to choose from, friendly atmosphere and good prices...a three paws up from Grilldog!

The MacKenzie River Pizza on 10th street is awesome...It ain't no Pizza Hut! All gourmet style pizza's and you have to have a salad just to sample their dressings....Woo hoo 4 paws up from Grilldog!!!

The Great China Wall...not just your usually, China Buffet, all fresh ingredients, everything is homemade and on the dinner spread is Alaskan crab legs, mussels in black bean sauce, and much more!!! a Grilldog Favorite!

Ranch Girl Wild West Confectionery on Central Ave downtown is awesome.  They make all their own fudge and chocolate dipped yummies!  They are expanding and changing their name but you can find them at 120 Central Avenue, near the Civic Center.  Stop in and say hi to Elizabeth Bruskotter and tell her Grilldog Sent ya!!!

TidBits, ok, TidBits is not a place of food, it's a weekly published flyer.  However, it has great tips and coupons to places to eat and see.  If your located in Great Falls and want to Advertise in TidBits, give my buddy Lori a call 455-1565 and tell her Grilldog sent ya!!

Of course there's the Iron Tree Lounge.  The Iron tree is connected to the Best Western Ponderosa Down Town by the Civic Center.  The Staff are really good, they have a Big Screen TV for sporting events and a Great Happy Hour.  Four Paws up and a Tail for Carla the Bar Manager for having an excellent staff and setting a great atmosphere.

I can't forget the Best Western Ponderosa.  It's a great place to stay and they have great rates too!  There's a heated pool and a men's and women's sauna, underground parking too.  There's a refrigerator and microwave in each room!  But the great thing about the Hotel is the Staff, they are friendly and courteous and treat everyone like they are a Royal Guest...So 4 paws up and a tail to Milt the GM for a great Job!