Russell's Fireside Dining Room of the Lake McDonald Lodge is on Lake McDonald at West Glacier in Glacier National Park. The Lodge and Russell's are spectacular examples of the government actually doing something right - incredible natural setting and superb tributes to turn-of-the-last century mountain west architecture (the Lodge was designed by Kirtland Cutter and built in 1913.) We had lunch here on Russell's season opening day so the crowd was thin but it allowed for tailored service by the staff. Our server was attentive and provided insight into the fare while the rest of the team ensured we didn't want for refills of anything. The manager noticed our Dartmoith and Harvard fleece garments and, being a New Englander, made a point to stop at our table and personally welcome us. The menu emphasizes fresh and local and we ordered the bison buger and pesto farfalle. Everything was prepared to perfection and we could not have been more pleased with the quality and quantity. The bison is from a local ranch while the pasta was perfectly al dente. The exclamation point on the mealk, however, was the huckleberry pie topped with local huckleberry ice cream (huckleberry is a local product.) No meal at Russell's is complete without this dish! Mountain rustic with finely crafted local food is a winning combination. Well done Russell's! read more

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I came in with my family for a nicer dinner within Glacier National Park and we had a good meal! Things are a bit pricey here (understandably), but the food was solid. I ordered the Pesto Pasta and added chicken, and I was very pleased with the portion size! Be prepared to wait or make reservations if possible. We came in around 6/6:30 or so and had to wait about 30 minutes for a table. The bread was quite underwhelming - it tasted like the bread had been bought from a grocery store and just placed in baskets. read more

Russell's Fireside Dining Room - Pesto Pasta (+Chicken) - American Near Me - West Glacier, Montana

Memorable breakfast listening to the creek running next to the window. My breakfast experience at Russell Fireside Cabin was truly delightful. Stephanie was a wonderful server, providing warm and friendly service that made us feel right at home. I enjoyed a delicious scrambled egg plate with sausage, which was perfectly cooked and satisfying. The rest of my family indulged in a very generous Montana-style buffet, offering a variety of hearty options that everyone appreciated. Overall, a fantastic breakfast spot with welcoming service and generous portions -- highly recommended! read more

Russell's Fireside Dining Room - American Near Me - West Glacier, Montana

Came here on our first day in the park. We were headed back from avalanche lake and it was on the way. We had heard the food was ok. We were just really hungry and wanted something close by so we stopped here. We ended up being seated right away, we sat on the "'more casual" side cause service seemed to be quicker. Me and my dad got some drinks. I had a huckleberry spritz and he had a huckleberry margarita. The drinks were fine. My dad said his margarita was fairly sour. For food I had the steelhead trout. It was OK, definitely needed some more lemon and seasoning. It was all very bland but again I was hungry so it was good enough to eat. I wouldn't recommend going here unless you have to. There are better food places outside of the park that aren't run by pursuit or xanterra that actually have decent food. read more

Russell's Fireside Dining Room - Huckleberry spritz - American Near Me - West Glacier, Montana

I had one dinner and two breakfasts here. The quality of food was overall better than I expected. I had a particularly outstanding trout, great flavors in the seasoning and well prepared I appreciate how all of the cocktails used Montana liquor and most incorporated mountain flavors. The ambiance very much matches that of the lodge, an elevated rustic lakeside environment. For breakfast, if you're in a hurry, do the buffet: we didn't want that much food (or cost) so we ordered from the menu, but both times it was fairly slow. Service was very different across the three visits: one waiter was outstanding, one very good, and one...not very good. Like I observed her ask another table "how's the breakfast" literally without slowing her walk to hear the answer. read more

Got the chicken cordon bleu sandwich, it was yum. Was it the best lunch I ever had? No but I'm hungry in Montana and there's no cell phone service so I can't check the Yelp or Google photos. I was happy to see some diversity in the staff. read more

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This was really disappointing. I've eaten dinner at restaurants in several National Parks restaurants such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Hawaii Volcanoes, and each was such a wonderful experience. I expected eating in Glacier National Park would be similar. The only great thing was the atmosphere. The dining room was rustic and beautiful as you would expect in this historic location. The food, on the other hand, was not good at all. The menu said the pork loin was brined so you would not expect it to be dry. It also lacked flavor and needed more of the accompanying sauce. The fingerling potatoes were sliced in half lengthwise, and the vegetables were bland. The huckleberry pie was delicious. Service was good but the waiter could have been friendlier. It was near 8:00pm so maybe he was just tired. read more

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My wife and I had dinner in the dining room last Friday. We felt like splurging so we both ordered the ribeye. When it was presented my wife and I both questioned the waiter as it did not look like a ribeye normally looks and it was super tough and overcooked, not medium as requested. We should have sent both steaks back but we didn't want to cause a scene. The manager eventually came around table to table to check with diners and I gave her my honest opinion- "worst steak ever"!! We weren't looking to be comped for the meal. She offered dessert and free drink. The Huck pie was great but the most expensive piece of pie I have ever had!! Save yourself the money and just get a drink and appetizer in the bar, take it out and sit near the lake!! I guess at the end of the day - the location and view made up for a really bad and expensive meal. I give Russell's one star for food and service, five stars for location and ambience. read more

We had dinner at Russell's Dining Room after a boat tour on Lake McDonald. I'm updating my review because we really enjoyed our entrees and I feel like our evening entrees were of a better quality than lunch. My Columbia River Steelhead Trout was perfectly grilled and the hazelnut brown rice and quinoa was nutty and flavorful. The grilled squash and broccolini complemented the fish as well. My companion's chicken, though a little dry, had a delicious mushroom and herb sauce as well as the hazelnut quinoa and veggies. The dining area was a little cramped but our entrees came out quickly and service was friendly and efficient. read more

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Stopped for snack for two: Charcuterie Board:$17 buys two cheeses two meats, no fruits, no fresh veggies, pickled onions and toasted bread. Average Food Good Service Great Ambience read more

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Absolutely amazing! I had the white bean ravioli as my meal and it was excellent! I paired with a glass of Huckleberry wine and wish I had 2. Despite being slammed the service was very good. The waitress was friendly and efficient. read more

We had a great time at Lake McDonald's Lodge visiting this beautiful historic restaurant with wonderful Lake views. The charcuterie was locally sourced and just delicious but the star was the smoked whitefish appetizer. The Calin quinoa salad was fresh delicious and even the small serving size was generous with delicious roasted chicken. But the best was the huckleberry pie with vanilla ice cream. It really made our meal and we were lucky to have a fantastic server who kept us entertained while we waited for our food. read more

Came in 8 p.m. off the 7 p.m. Lake McDonald boat tour with the dining room closing at 8:30 p.m. Wasn't the neatest of buffet setups (we were coming in at the end) Didn't feel rushed by service, but we still got our plates cleared and drinks refilled. The buffet, cold and hot, were replenished still even past 8:30 as they respected provided food to those who they seated before closing time. Salad bar included a build your old salad bar with avocado, goat cheese, blue cheese, and parmesan. A charcuterie plate was provided with smoked duck, game sausage, and some kind of roast. (some additional signage would actually boost diners impressions of what they were eating). Smoked salmon also provided. Lentil soup finished that bar. Hot entrees included a chicken, fish, and a pork loin entree with gaps filled in with rice pilaf, roasted new potatoes, and mashed potatoes. Other veggie (cauliflower, asparagus, sweet peppers medley) options disappeared by the time some of our party got up there and didn't get restocked. Dessert varieties (coffee cake, pastries, cookies) were maintained to the end. Adults $30, children 10 or under $15, seemed reasonable price for the quality and quantity of food provided with convenience in the remote location. Provided an advantage over driving out a half hour to dine elsewhere where we would still await our food after seating/ordering. Enjoyed a moonlit lakeside drive on the return home. read more

We stopped here while in the park for a bite to eat. My husband ordered the burger and said it was alright. We both had fries and they were good. Only complaint I have is that I ordered the turkey blt- I always check to see what is on the sandwich because I'm not a fan of mayo. Mayo was not listed under what was on the sandwich and my sandwich had mayo. Just a heads up. read more

I should say this place is way beyond my expectations for a dining spot in the national park. Surprisingly they had a decent number of vegetarian options. It was the only place that was open around 9pm in the national park. Ordered falafel and caprese sandwich. The falafel sandwich was good and tasty. The caprese sandwich was filling and had a good texture but didn't taste so good. The portion of fries with sandwich is filling. The food is little pricey which is kind of expected in a national park with limited resources. The service was great. They always ensured that you get what you have asked and also that your glass of water is atleast half full. Overall i would rate it somewhere between 3 and 4 for the taste and the menu options but a solid 5 for the service read more

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We went here for dinner even after seeing the negative reviews. There are few options nearby at this time of year. The service was great, everyone was friendly and attentive. The restaurant is located in a charming lodge next to the lake. However, the food was awful and I'd love to meet the lead cook or GM just so I can ask them "why". Why would you serve a pork loin for ~$25 that was obviously boiled and then seared? Forget the price, why are you boiling pork loin? The texture was off putting and was described by my dining partner as "pork-flavored tuna" because it was so flaky. Why would you put effort into all other aspects of the restaurant and then serve dubious food? read more

The dining room had closed for the season but they were still serving outside via an order window. They would bring you order food in a paper bag. It seems pretty crazy you can't eat at a table even if you have to order at a window and that the restaurant closes for the season even when it's in the 70s temperature wise. Food was fast however, which is needed after a super long hike for the day. The double bacon cheeseburger was fine. I was so hungry it made it better but nothing to write home about. Fries were basic. I think they get away with only okay food service since the options are pretty non existent. Elk burger was very dry. read more

Russell's Fireside Dining Room - Double bacon cheeseburger - American Near Me - West Glacier, Montana

We got a recommendation to have lunch here, but unfortunately this was one of the worst experiences of our entire trip. We sat down and were ignored by the waiters for 30 minutes. They started taking orders of everyone who sat after us so I flagged one down. I nicely told her we were ready to order. She had a major attitude and was acting annoyed about taking our order. Our drinks came out warm. My margarita had melted ice and was only half full. The elk burger was not edible at all. Burnt to a crisp, chewy, came out with a tiny scoop of sauce, soggy lettuce and random pieces of crushed Lays chips. The pesto pasta came out cold, with soupy sauce, unmelted cheese, and flavorless. Overall, a very bad experience all the way around. read more

3.5 stars The food here was kind of pricey, but the food quality was above average. The meal started off with some complimentary bread that was fresh and delicious. I ordered the sweet corn and potato chowder and prosciutto wrapped pork tenderloin. The sweet corn and potato chowder bowl was a decent size and just enough soup for 2 people. The complimentary bread was a perfect pair with the soup. The prosciutto wrapped pork tenderloin was yummy although it could have been a little more rare. The prosciutto tasted almost like bacon since it was so fried and crunchy. The dining room was rustic and certainly fit the nature theme. read more

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Everyone was friendly from the host who sat us to our waitress. The food was very good. I had the elk burger. My husband had the Montana burger and my parents shared an appetizer. The elk burger was a twist on a more traditional burger and it was good. My parents said the appetizer was good and different from the things they normally eat. It's a good place to eat within the park. read more

Lake McDonald Lodge turns 100 years old this year. But there is a timeless quality about this grand old building and that also extends to the beautiful Russell's Fireside Dining Room that overlooks Lake McDonald. It is a special place and should be treated with the respect that a Centenarian deserves. The morning we drove up to have breakfast there at the Lodge was the day following the 100 year anniversary celebration. And the young hostess was not so much interested in respecting her elders as she was in entertaining herself by playing the (so-called) background music so loud that it was intrusive and hampered our enjoyment of our meal. Our server, Dana, was understanding when we asked if the music volume could be turned down enough to qualify as background music and he did immediately go and lower the volume enough to be bearable. But within minutes the music was once again cranked up and intrusive and the only person that could have done the adjustment was the young and thoughtless hostess. Whether she was bored or just ignorant, I do not know. As for our actual breakfast I ordered basted eggs with bacon, potatoes and toast. Hubby had the same except he had link sausage. The basted eggs were a bit underdone with the remainder of the meals being fine. It would have been easier to overlook the minor flaws in the meal if we had been able to have a peaceful dining experience. As it was, I'm only able to give our visit 3 stars. And I would remind those who deal with the public as customers and consumers. It is about THEIR perceptions of your service and your job is to accommodate reasonable requests whenever it is possible. Not having to be subjected to someone else's taste in musical selections while eating isn't really a difficult request...especially at a classy locale such as the Lake McDonald Fireside Dining Room. How much better it would have been to have light Classical music playing quietly in the background. read more

Was this the best dining experience of my entire life? Frankly, no. But expectations must be adjusted in a place like busy, crowded Glacier National Park. We had tasty food that was (in our opinion) reasonably priced, sat in an historic dining room, and scored a table by the window to admire the lake and the evening breeze. Can't complain. My husband and I enjoyed the pickled vegetables and deviled egg appetizer, a burger for him, trout for me, and old school piano playing setting the scene. While nothing was an exciting dish, everything was perfectly prepared and satisfyingly delicious - a perfect end to a hunger-inducing day of hiking 13 miles on Glacier's beautiful mountains. A nice stop for those tent camping (like us) who want a civilized meal in a pretty setting. read more

My family and I ate lunch at Russell's Fireside Dining Room and while the view of the lake and the lodge atmosphere of the place were very inviting the food was just okay and the prices too high. I understand that this is in the middle of a National Park and is trying to cater to a certain (captive) clientele but the quality of the food compared to the price you pay is not reasonable. I had a buffalo burger which was okay, but earlier in my trip I had a buffalo burger which was much better for a lot cheaper. The service was also a bit lacking in that often times I would find my drink empty and our waiter wouldn't come by for 5 minutes at a time. Russell's is definitely upscale on their prices and atmosphere but their food and service leave something to be desired. read more

This is a classy upscale place to grab a meal. I had a very traditional breakfast with all the american favorites: Bacon, Eggs, Hashbrowns and Coffee. I also had good pancakes a different day. It was reasonably priced for a quality breakfast to start your day on. Not cheap but definitely worth it. Probably the best place within the park to eat! Otherwise check out Polebridge Mercantile on the West End of the Park or the Northern Lights Cafe for an amazing off the beaten path experience. read more

We dined here while staying at the lodge and had a decent experience. The price and service is definitely not a reflection of the quality of your experience but it was fine. I really enjoyed the elk burger we ordered and we also got the rockfish plate which was really good as well but there were 2 potatoes as the side and that seemed like too small of a side dish for the price. We didn't have dessert as we felt like the price versus the quality wasn't really worth it. read more

This place knows how to look and act very fancy, complete with a nice big shiny price tag on each entree, but the food failed to impress me. I have to say though - the atmosphere is really nice. We sat by a window overlooking Lake McDonald and it was gorgeous. I tried the lentil and tomato soup, which was quite bland and boring. I would normally get a burger at a lodge like this, because it's much cheaper and, you know, how can you go wrong with a burger? But I was getting a little sick of burgers because it seems like that's all you can get at a lot of places, so I got the lamb chops. They were alright - they were cooked fine, but the "rosemary garlic demi-glace" was so sparse, it's like they were rationing it. The potatoes and colorful cauliflower and carrots were barely seasoned at all and made me regret trying to eat slightly healthy for once. It wasn't terrible, just kind of average in a disappointing way because of the atmosphere and the fact you are on vacation. All this, and the plate wasn't even very filling, for 25 dollars. I don't know - maybe I'm just your average American male who has gotten used to 2000-calorie over seasoned meals swimming in sauce? Who knows. One thing that I did love here was the huckleberry ice cream, which I believe started me & my wife's obsession with huckleberries the short time we were in Montana. Also, the service was over-the-top excellent, but it's all part of the show, you know? The atmosphere, service, and presentation were amazing here, but if the food isn't that satisfying, whats the point? read more

Russell's Fireside Dining Room - Lamb chops and "seasoned" vegetables - American Near Me - West Glacier, Montana

This was an extreme disappointment. The prices are high, and the menu looks like it was *written* by a chef, but the execution is sub-par 'sysco heat-n-serve'. Stop, run away, and go straight to Belton Chalet where you won't pay much more and the food will be very good. read more

Solid restaurant in the beautiful MacDonald Lodge. We ordered the steelhead trout, pork loin, elk burger, and salad with steelhead trout, and charcuterie board, and everything came out medium-portioned and very tasty. My pork loin in particular was nicely juicy and tender with creamy mashed potatoes and light side vegetables. We loooved the whole-seed mustard and bison pastrami in our charcuterie board. Ryan, our waiter, was very nice and welcoming, and we loved the lady at the piano serenading everyone. The only disappointment was dessert - huckleberry pie and flourless chocolate cake - which were each $7.25 for the absolute tiniest portions. Definitely visit if you're bored of eating trail mix and sandwiches! Russell's Fireside has a wonderful selection of dishes that represent Montana very well. read more

I don't usually post negative reviews but this place totally stole my joy! Extremely long wait for poor service and food. Sorry we went.

I had a very nice lunch today with excellent service. The elk burger and side salad were very good. The huckleberry pie was very tasty. I tried a pint of a local beer, too. For a meal within a National Park this was above my expectations. My water glass was never empty and they set the expectations regarding the wait time for preparing the burger during the lunchtime rush. Would definitely return. read more

This was a classy place. Good service. Overpriced food that didn't really have a wow factor to it. The chocolate flourless was a little plastic in texture, but very rich in flavor. The tomato lentil soup was good but very watery. The pollock and crab was savory, but almost over powering. The veggies it was served with that sub par. Overall I wouldn't eat there again unless I was starving and it was the only place open in the park. read more

Just the ambience alone is worth it if you are inclined to eat here. The food (I had a lamb shank which was decent and good sized) is average and the service left much to desire. The beauty of the environment overcomes the human element and makes this a desire able place to have a filling dinner.... read more

I think the guy I overheard in the gift shop had it right. When asked about his dinner he responded, "It was just ok." It's the type of food my (simple eating) grand parents would consider fine dining. Nice preparation but very little flavor. Nothing exceptional, particularly for the price point. Granted, they have a monopoly on eats and have very little clientele for a good chunk of the year so you can expect a markup. I had the chicken roulade which comes with a side of veggies (carrots, broccoli, potatoes). It could have used a little more sauce, particularly to roll the veggies in. The SO had the trout which she found of great quality, but she found the flavor to be ultimately forgettable. read more

The service at this place was extremely slow. We waited about 40 minuets to get our food. However we saw another couple came in after us but got their appetizer before our entree. Food was just so so. Definitely it's not worth for what you pay. read more

Honestly I think it's good to have a quality restaurant like Russell's around the Glacier Park area. To me the food was very pricey.

Had dinner here food was very good, service was fine. Restaurant is in the McDonald lodge.

We had a fantastic lunch and a decent dinner here. It is probably more expensive than the other restaurants in the park but of much better quality. Charcuterie and Bison burger was fantastic. Went back for dinner and charcuterie was still great - fish was a little bony imho. read more

the menu at Russell's Fireside dining room is not for the average person. we ran into several people who could not, would not eat there, except for breakfast. the prices are high and the actual selections are not good. many of the staff are stiff and unfriendly. we found evan to be super - attentive, friendly and actually smiled! we found jammers for dinner, swift current and st mary's as great alternatives. read more

on my last day at GNP I wanted to have a good breakfast before heading back to WA state. The place was beautiful and the menu had some good selections. I ordered the quiche with breakfast potatoes. I wished I had taken a picture for this review and I wished I walked out when it was delivered but didnt. First the server spilled water and ice on the table and did not clean it up. I ordered and the food was delivered by the same waiter. Their so-called breakfast potatoes were small pieces of french fries served with a ramiken of ketchup. The quiche was a good size but had been sitting out as the sides and top were dried out and crusted. I also had on the plate about 6 berries (raspberry/blackberry) which were the best part of the meal. The waiter never came back to ask my how my meal was nor did he has me when he brought my the check/change for my meal. I would not recommend eating here. I had the best food at West Glacier Cafe and the staff were way more friendly! read more

We were a party of 10 and arrived for lunch at 1:30. We were seated 30 minutes later all at the same table, so far so good! Waited 55 minutes after placing our order for food to be served. There were tons of flys near the corner of the restaurant NEAR our table. I personally could not enjoy my corn chowder because I had to keep moving my hands, head and legs so flys would not land. My Caesar salad was tasty but 1/2 croutons not much else . Food was pricey! Waitress was attentive but she could not kill the flys. Drinks were never refilled. Health Department should check in here. read more