Big Sky Eats – 10 Family Friendly Restaurants in Billings Montana

If you’ve thought about Montana travel – even a little – you’ve probably researched all the things to do at beautiful Glacier National Park,  but truly? There is so much more of Montana to explore. Billings, Montana, is a veritable foodie’s paradise and there’s good news for parents: Billings has lots of choices when it comes to kid-friendly eats. If you are looking for family friendly restaurants in Billings, Montana, we have  you covered with these mouth-watering choices.

Big Sky Eats – 10 Family Friendly Restaurants in Billings Montana

If you’re anything like me, planning where you’re going to eat on a trip is a big part of planning that trip. One of the best parts about getting to know a new place is sampling local cuisine and checking out locally owned restaurants. If you’re planning a trip to Billings, Montana, I’ve done your food research for you. And yes, you should totally plan a trip to Billings, located in Southeast Montana. Western Montana gets a lot of attention  and for for good reason.  Glacier National Park is beautiful, but there’s a whole state to explore, both inside and out of restaurants. If you’re looking for info on the best restaurants in Billings, look no further.

Food tends to be one of the larger experiences on any trip. We try to stay healthy, which means little to no fast food or takeout. We do a limited amount of grocery delivery if we have a room with cooking facilities (the ability to order online is pretty sweet when you’re traveling) but we have a lot of fun checking out local restaurants. Here are some of our recommendations. All of these places have solid reviews on Trip Advisor and Yelp.

To note: my family doesn’t have any dietary restrictions beyond a preference for eating gluten free when possible. We didn’t scope out these menus for vegetarian or vegan offerings, so if that applies to you, please research beforehand (Google, Yelp, or or Trip Advisor are all great resources) or ask your server.

1. The Divide Bar and Grill

Montana is known as Big Sky Country, and you don’t have to spend much time here to figure out why. One of the best places to check out the Montana sky while enjoying a delicious meal is at The Divide Bar and Grill in Billings. The Divide Bar and Grill offers both indoor and outdoor seating. The patio is covered and offers amazing views. Try to sit outside if weather permits.

The Divide, located in the West End of Billings, has a simple but creative menu offering various burgers, sandwiches, and salads. Typical American fare. They also offer several varieties of tacos and some seafood options. Their kids menu is small but adequate: macaroni and cheese, corn dogs, and chicken strips. The average price of an entree at is around $12. The Divide is open for lunch and dinner. Don’t forget to check out the full bar menu with local brews and daily specials.

2. Bullman’s Pizza – Because you need a pizza place on a list of restaurants in Billings

Bullman’s is a Montana-based wood-fired pizza joint. They offer table service and a full bar, so the atmosphere is more family-friendly gastropub than basic pizza joint. Bullman’s offers several inventive varieties of pizza, such as feta cheese with spinach and pine nuts or the Garnet (prosciutto, parmigiano-reggiano, mushrooms, Roma tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and arugula). Of course, there is the traditional pepperoni and sausage if your thing is basic pizza. I love getting adventurous with pizza toppings, but I equate the traditional toppings with comfort food.

In addition to pizza, Bullman’s offers appetizers, sandwiches and salads, all with an Italian flare. They offer two kid-size pizzas but kids can easily share a pizza with adults if they’re more adventurous eaters. Bullman’s also has a full bar.

TravelingMOM Tip: Take your kids to nearby Scheel’s and ride the indoor Ferris Wheel. Scheel’s is a huge sporting goods/outdoor store than has a ton of exhibits and interactive fun. You can easily spend an hour in here and not shop. You can’t miss Scheel’s from the parking lot of Bullman’s.

Bullman’s menu is available online, but their online menu does not include prices. I ate here with my two kids and the bill was around $30, so it’s mid-range as far as prices go but not far off what you’d expect to pay for pizza, on average.

3. The Sassy Biscuit

The Sassy Biscuit is a bruncherie in downtown Billings serving breakfast, brunch, and lunch. This place gets busy on weekends, so go early or prepare to wait in line.

The Sassy Biscuit has counter ordering with table service after that. Predictably, their menu is centered around biscuits, but with a twist. They offer waffle pressed biscuits, biscuit french toast and something they call “spooned cakes” which translates into a sort of breakfast casserole. They also serve porridge and sandwiches. There are five options on the kid’s menu: four breakfast items and the kid diet mainstay, macaroni and cheese.

 

I recommend The Louisiana Purchase. It was a delicious mix of  poor man’s gravy, garlic and butter poached shrimp, smoked ham, crisped bacon, blue grits and a biscuit. It’s basically an elevated version of shrimp and grits. One of my kids ordered this and he probably got to eat about a third of it because everyone else kept sneaking bites of his food. It was really that good. I have no shame.

The average price of an entree is about $10. This was great food and the cute, bistro atmosphere was really fun.

4. Stella’s Kitchen and Bakery

Stella’s is a Billings icon and a popular place with the locals. If you fancy a dinner plate size cinnamon roll, this might be your place. As with The Sassy Biscuit, plan to go early and expect to wait.

Stella’s serves a variety of breakfast and lunch items (they are not open for dinner), but the focus is most definitely on baked goods. If you are a sweet breakfast person, this is one you’ll want to put on your list. This eatery has a very extensive kids menu, which doubles as their senior menu. Note: Stella’s doesn’t have a website, but you can find their menu online easily.

The average entree price is about $8 and the individual baked goods will run you about $3 per item, depending on what you order.

5. The Burger Dive

I’d be remiss if I didn’t include the Burger Dive on my list of  Billings restaurants. Billings residents are very proud of The Burger Dive. The Burger Dive has won several “best burger” awards and appears on Trip Advisor’s Top 10 burger list. Trip Advisor has never steered me wrong…just sayin’.

The Burger Dive has a large selection of burgers, with both basic and inventive toppings, such as huckleberry hatch sauce. They also serve hot dogs, chili and soup. If you want a place with a long list of creative milkshake flavors (Twinkie, Flaming S’Mores, Strawberry Balsamic) then this is one to check out.

The Burger Dive has a basic kids menu (hamburger, cheeseburger, grilled cheese). They also offer a kid sized shake. The average price of a burger and fries is about $12. The Burger Dive is only open for lunch.

6. Bernie’s Diner

Bernie’s is located inside the historic Northern Hotel on North Broadway and has all the best diner food in an upscale environment. They have an extensive brunch menu. From eggs Benedict to burritos to chicken fried steak, if you like to eat it for breakfast, they have it. Although most of their breakfast food is on the heavier side, they do offer a limited selection of lighter/more health conscious fare.

Their lunch menu has standard diner fare and a great selection of burgers, hot and cold sandwiches, and salads. If you really want to treat yourself, check out the Vacation Breakfast, which is a slice of chocolate cake and a milkshake. Yes, you read that right! I mean…you are on vacation, so what better way to celebrate than by ordering something that would never fly at your breakfast table at home?

Bernie’s Diner is open for breakfast and lunch. The average price of an entree is about $13.

7. Last Chance Pub and Cider Mill

This family friendly spot offers amazing farm to table cuisine along with hard cider made in-house. It’s got quirky and comfortable seating and decor and is a fun place to grab a full meal or just an afternoon beverage.

 

The kids menu includes cheese and macaroni and chicken strips. The rest of the menu is on the creative side. If you consider yourself a foodie, you’ll love this place, but if you’re a basic meat and potatoes person, this one might not be for you. We shared a selection of appetizers and really enjoyed the heirloom tomato caprese salad and the hummus plate. The caprese salad and hummus were tapas size portions which was perfect for us.

We thought the Last Chance Nachos were a little weird, though. The homemade chips were nice and fresh, but the pickled vegetables were not to our liking. As Texas residents, we all have pretty well-developed Tex-Mex/Mexican palates, and these were a miss for us. The service and  atmosphere were A+ and we’d definitely return again for the good food.

The average price of an entree is about $16.

8. Stacked – A Montana Grill

This is a great spot for both lunch and dinner if you’ve got a big appetite or if you’re looking for hearty food with a twist (i.e. espresso rubbed filet). Stacked has competed in the World Food Championships in the burger category and have landed in the top ten. If you consider yourself a burger connoisseur, you may need to check this one out and compare it to The Burger Dive. In the name of burger research, you know.

Stacked has a very extensive menu: a large selection of steaks, seafood,  sandwiches and tacos. They also offer bacon-wrapped meatloaf, which I find very intriguing. A lot of the dishes have an Asian twist. A lot of the menu descriptions have a definite Thai or Korean flare. They also have a fun selection of appetizers, to include Wasabi Deviled Eggs and bacon wrapped dates. Prices vary greatly, from $36 for a ribeye to $20 for gnocchi. Burgers average at about $14. Gluten free buns are offered on the menu.

Stacked  – A Montana Grill was highly recommended to us by our hosts at Visit Southeast Montana as a family friendly place to get a great steak with great ambiance. We were trying to decide between Last Chance Pub, Cider Mill and Stacked based on their online menus and two things swayed us in the direction of Last Chance: the fact that Stacked didn’t have a published children’s menu and the fact that we just weren’t that hungry. There aren’t any places on this list of restaurants in Billings that I’d call “fancy,” but Stacked is definitely one that appears to be the most upscale.

9. The Big Dipper because I can’t not include ice cream in a list of restaurants in Billings!

I have to include ice cream, right? I love sampling local cuisine and sampling locally made ice cream is included in that. Ice cream is cuisine, isn’t it?

The Big Dipper in downtown Billings is a don’t miss. They offer basic chocolate and vanilla but also some really unique flavors like El Salvador Coffee and Cardamom. I can personally vouch for the awesomeness of the White Mint Oreo.

If you’re looking for more things to do in Billings, Montana besides eat, here’s a great list of family friendly activities. Have fun, then visit one of the great restaurants in Billings!