Blackfoot Valley Dispatch - The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980

On May 1, 2023, the Montanan Steakhouse transferred ownership. New owners and siblings Stephanie Leonard, Tim Leonard, and David McGhee are bringing back the traditional classic steakhouse with a "scratch kitchen," new menu and welcoming feel to the old Garland's building.

It's going to be all about the guest experience. "We want everyone to enjoy their time here and leave feeling satisfied with their meal and overall experience in the restaurant." said Stephanie.

Each of the siblings bring their own strength to the table. David has more than 30 years of experience as a chef, including his work at 4-Diamond resorts, but he also knows Lincoln food from his time working at the old 7 Up Steakhouse.

Tim is using his design expertise to help create the new brand of the restaurant, as well as his construction skills to enhance the building's beauty and structure, which can be seen in the fencing, flower box, and the refresh of the front exterior of the building. According to Stephanie and David, Tim is also the official "taste-tester" for all of the new items on the menu - a job he takes very seriously.

Stephanie is no stranger to the Montanan. She was head chef when the original restaurant was owned by Barb & Audi Solve when it opened in 2009. She will take her 20 years of culinary and baking experience, along with her catering knowledge, to focus on the baking and Blackfoot Valley Catering side of the business.

The Montanan will have a new menu including lunch and dinner, curated wines and a new classic cocktail menu for the bar. All entrees will be made from scratch, and fresh whole fish and beef will be butchered-down on site. Guests should look for new appetizers such as crab cakes and nachos with shredded beef and signature sandwiches, including a chicken and baked brie sandwich with huckleberry sauce and a "BLAST" sandwich - a twist on the traditional BLT that includes bacon, lettuce, tomato, and salmon. A dinner menu will include items such as trout, ribs and fresh Milford Colony chicken. Bread service also returns to the dinner menu and salads will be served individually over the previous salad bar option. For those who have been inquiring, the huckleberry wings and creamy au gratin potatoes will remain on the menu.

The dining experience wouldn't be complete without dessert. Stephanie has always excelled at creating beautiful, melt in your mouth sweets. They plan to have standing homemade dessert items such as Turtle Cheesecake and freshly baked pies as well as seasonal items like bread pudding, cakes and other sweet treats.

Changes have been made to the building and guests should expect to see some enhancements to the inside of the building that offer a welcoming atmosphere. With these changes guest can expect to see areas for casual and formal dining and fun VIP gaming experiences in the casino.

The siblings are all glad to be home and running a business together. They are excited to be doing something they love and plan to bring a classic steakhouse to Lincoln for a long time to come.

The Montanan is scheduled to relaunch May 18, pending permit and inspection approval . They plan to have a grand opening, complete with live music, over Memorial Day weekend. Reservations can be made by calling 406-362-4244. Reservations are appreciated but not required.

To keep up on what's happening, at the restaurant and important opening information, please check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/MTSteakhouse , on Instagram at @MTSteakhouse, or their website at http://montanansteakhouse.com.