The Dining Room at Jenny Lake Lodge is a well-known restaurant in Grand Teton National Park.
Located in the historic Jenny Lake Lodge, a rustic log property dating to the 1920s, it reflects the style of early national park tourism in the American West.
The dining room's menu features Rocky Mountain trout, bison, elk and seasonal produce.
I enjoyed the grilled flat iron tacos with grilled peppers, cremini mushrooms, caramelized onions and chipotle aioli. And a side of kettle chips with scallion creme. I actually liked these together so I could get a crunchy element with the taco.
Dessert was cheesecake with huckleberry compote and mint chantilly. The compote made this feel even more indulgent than cheesecake already does. I didn't get the mint chantilly, but I waa happy even without it.
Grade: B
Ernie’s Bakery and Deli is a longtime West Yellowstone institution, serving breakfast, lunch and baked goods just minutes from Yellowstone National Park’s west entrance.
The restaurant is known for its hearty breakfasts, including omelets, breakfast sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, and pancakes. Fresh-baked breads, pastries and croissants are made in-house, while the lunch menu features deli sandwiches, soups and salads. A handful of French-inspired offerings, including crepes and croque monsieur, reflect the bakery’s roots.
Royal Breakfast Sandwich - amoked salmon, cream cheese, dill, egg on a bagel. The runny egg spurted out the top of the bagel, so the texture left a lot to be desired. There was no lack of flavor though - especially dill.
For dessert, I had a "Yellowstone Mudpot" treat, which features a sourdough pretzel covered in caramel and chocolate, and a "Haystack," which has toasted coconut and cocolate. Plus Mimi's caramel.
The Mudpot delivered the perfect balance of sweet and salty. The Haystack combined toasted coconut and chocolate for a rich, chewy treat, while Mimi’s caramel was buttery, smooth and hard to stop eating. All three felt like fitting rewards after a day spent exploring Yellowstone.
Grade: B
Connie’s Restaurant & Saloon is one of the Yellowstone area’s longtime local institutions. It’s a rustic, cabin-style restaurant and saloon just off U.S. 20.
Opened in 2014, the restaurant is known for hearty portions, friendly service and a menu that caters to Yellowstone visitors.
I had to try finger steaks. Finger steaks are one of Idaho’s signature foods, a regional specialty that originated in Boise in the 1950s. Made by cutting steak into finger-sized strips, battering and deep-frying them until crisp on the outside and tender inside, they’re typically served with fries. They're like the beef version of chicken tenders. I like this as an alternative. But I'd love it even more with a side of steak sauce.
I ordered the St. Louis BBQ Baby Back Ribs, because they were noted as a specialty. 1 3/4 lbs. ribs and you could get a side of spaghetti. I am not mad at all at this combo, though I think both were fairly average. Ribs were a bit tough; marinara was a bit bland.
What was not bland, though, was that piece of pie. Huckleberry a la mode. Huckleberries are one of Idaho’s most popular local foods. The small purple berries grow wild in the mountains, and many families have favorite picking spots they return to every summer. Because huckleberries are usually gathered from the wild rather than grown on farms, they’re considered a special treat. You’ll find them in everything from pie and pancakes to ice cream, jam and syrup. The berries are so closely tied to the state that Idaho named the huckleberry its official state fruit.
Grade: B
TeaSpoons is a hidden gem in South Hills that offers bubble tea, acai bowls and other small bites.
They also had a short run at the Tech Park where their specialty item was a smashburger -- so I had to try it.
The smashburger cane with cheese, lettuce, tomato, crispy onions, mayo & ketchup. I also added a side of potato salad and a mango tea.
The burger was pretty good. I liked the thin patties, and the veggies were fresh. I would've liked more seasoning - some simple salt & pepper. The drink was the star for me - sweet, refreshing and a great pairing with the burger for a summer meal.
Grade: B
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