Bridge Creek Backcountry Kitchen and Wine Bar

Info
Reviews

Location & Contact:

116 South Broadway
Red Lodge, MT 59068
406-446-9900

Visit our website

Description:

Bridge Creek, a picturesque stream that flows into the Boulder River, is a special place to Anne & Peter Christ for at least two reasons. It's the place where they were engaged, and it's the place that lends its name to their business: Bridge Creek Backcountry Kitchen & Wine Bar. "Our favorite spot was a small footbridge that straddled the creek," explains Peter. "In fact, we were standing on that Bridge when I proposed. So when we decided to open our own restaurant, we knew it just had to be named Bridge Creek."

The challenge was to create a restaurant that was a special place for its patrons, just as the original Bridge Creek is a special place for the Christs. To do that, they started with a menu that ties the restaurant to its Red Lodge setting by designing a menu filled with items Peter dubs "Mountain Cuisine." The keys are freshness and simplicity; all items are prepared to enhance the flavor of key ingredients, not smother them. Importantly, many of those ingredients are from local sources, including fresh trout, locally-grown produce, Montana micro brews, and Montana-raised beef. The restaurant also takes extra effort to make its meals transcend the ordinary; all seafood is flown in fresh from the coasts, and items that might not otherwise be found on Montana menus are specially ordered.

Even the setting enhances the food. When designing and building the space, the Christs started with the most important element; the kitchen. The open kitchen is in the middle of the restaurant, putting all of the seating nearby, an absolute necessity in Peter's mind. Believing that a dining experience should engage all the senses, Peter wanted to make sure his guests could see, hear and smell the food as it was being prepared. At the same time, the seating is designed to offer privacy and intimacy to each table. On the building's second floor are banquet facilities for groups up to 120 people and an open-air balcony overlooking Red Lodge's historic downtown. The 10,000 square-foot facility also features a temperature-controlled wine cellar that houses over 150 selections and 1,000 bottles. The impressive wine list has garnered Bridge Creek six consecutive "Awards of Excellence" from The Wine Spectator magazine.

Still, it all comes down to the food. The entire staff is dedicated to removing the pretension from food and wine. By being innovative without being overbearing, Peter believes that Bridge Creek Backcountry Kitchen & Wine Bar offers the perfect dining experience. And if the contented looks on his guests' faces are any indication, he's succeeding.

Hours:

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Wednesday: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Thursday: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Friday: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Saturday: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Sunday: Closed

Type of Meals Served:

LUNCH - Served daily 11am until 3pm in a casual setting featuring freshly made soups, salads and sandwiches. Some of the more innovative dishes are often found within the daily specials (download menu)

BAR MENU - After lunch and before dinner, a lighter menu is available in our lounge after 3pm and features a collection of appetizers and light entrees. (download menu)

DINNER - Served after 5pm in our dining room and lounge, our menu highlights the finest in Montana-grown and raised ingredients. Steaks, fresh seafood, wild game and creative pasta dishes are the cornerstones of our nightly offerings. (download menu)

WINE LIST - Identified as one of the best wine lists in Montana, Bridge Creek works hard to source rare and unique bottlings that match with the innovative cuisine coming from the kitchen. (download glass wine & beer list)(download full wine list)

KIDS (No Parents Allowed!) - Children of all ages are always welcome at Bridge Creek and we have a great menu for kids under 12. (download menu)