Emerson Grill
207 W Olive St, Bozeman, MT, 59715
Emerson Grill Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Bozeman for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Bozeman for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Bozeman for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
207 W Olive St
Bozeman, MT, 59715 - Phone (406) 586-5247
- Website https://www.emersongrill.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Music : Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Happy Hour : Yes
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Sarah B.
Back again for pre-Valentine's dinner... Most amazing appetizer ever- Seared scallops with creamed leeks. WOW! I would have that over and over and over again. Scallops cooked perfectly, melting in your mouth and the sauce- excellently balanced, salty, creamy, YUM! He got the stuffed tenderloin with truffled potatoes. I got the Salmon en papillote. His was amazing, mine was good. The fish and veggies inside the parchment were paired with roasted potatoes and grilled broccolini. I found that these items did not seem to make a harmonious dish, and I was missing a creamy textured element or a sauce to tie everything together. The dessert was salted caramel pots de crème... OMG Amazing... whoever came up with that one... what a stroke of genius! Again, a great showing from The Emerson Grill folks!
(5)Betsy Q.
A wonderful neighbor bistro. The staff is lovely--the outdoor dining is delightful. I love the Caesar salad, the chicken dishes, the pork chop, the fish specials, the pasta plates and the wine list. The pizza is also great--HUGE servings. This is truly a Bozeman gem. The private dining in the art gallery is also very wonderful.
(5)Chad D.
I came here with my girlfriend after living in Bozeman for 8 years and hearing from numerous people that the Emerson was top notch and some went as far to say the "best restaurant in Bozeman." Whoa. We really liked the atmosphere and service, nothing to complain about here. We had also enjoyed a glass of wine a few times before on the other side of the restaurant (where there is no food) and we enjoyed that too. But that's just wine, so I can't judge that much. So, our food. Not great. Really, it was nothing special at all and the flavors were really really bland. What's the deal? How does this happen at such a great looking spot with awesome reviews and a good rep? I don't know, but we were left with a big bill and unsatisfied stomachs. A real bummer, especially before we were about to go see Wilco across the hall! The table behind us was bringing another couple to the Emerson for the first time and we overheard them praising all the food to the newbies before it came out. Before we left, we heard them saying that they were also perplexed at "What happened? This was not the same Emerson as before..." It's got too much hype not to give it another try, so I will, someday...
(3)Byrhonda L.
Nice wine selection. The food is ok. Probably the best Italian in Bozeman, but still nothing to write home about.
(3)H P.
Amazing! Fine foods, excellent wait staff and great prices for the menu options. I can't wait to go back .
(5)Willem O.
I really like the Emerson Grill! This is a great place to bring people from out of town for a truly unique dining experience in Bozeman. The ambiance is great and the food is incredible - try the Elk osso buco! Every piece of furniture and decor was hand picked and has made for a beautiful space. Definitely go, and for any MSU students, this is great place to bring your parents when they come to visit as it is a little outside the college budget.
(5)Drewry W.
Emerson Grill is likely five stars for Montana, and the only reason I'm giving it four is due to less than perfect service experiences friends have had and some design issues. I would venture to say that Emerson Grill is the best restaurant in town for dinner (having not yet tried the much talked about brunch here on the weekend). A nice cozy ambience, friendly servers, and a classic menu that roots itself in locavore practice. We never get the same thing, and are always satisfied and often impressed. They could do to change up the starters (for example the baked brie being paired with apricot just doesn't work - you need a runnier, richer fruit addition to this dish). If you live close enough, split a bottle (or two) of their great wines and walk home. The space is small enough that the few tables could benefit from having the kitchen less open/visible. I assume they want you to see what they are doing and feel "involved" in the prep, however with the kitchen being almost larger than the dining space, it seems almost a little imposing. However, all in all, for up to 4 people Emerson Grill is a lovely, intimate night out.
(4)Marely G.
Typically I have a wonderful experience there (Kendra and Jim are awesome), but I went their the other night with a few friends, and it was quite possibly the worst service I have experienced in town. We had Lindsey as our server and it took her 10 minutes to greet our table. It took her over 40 to get our dinner order. She also was super condescending and rude. She fought me on the wine I order with my dinner, wasting my time on trying to sell a glass I told her I knew I didn't like then said, "Oh, when I was younger I couldn't handle a fuller red wine too." It was enough to turn me off of the Grill for a while. The food is consistently awesome, but I can cook just as well for myself at home. I go out for the whole experience. If I go back, I will be requesting any server but her.
(3)Joe J.
In my mind, it's the best restaurant in Bozeman. The food is consistently top notch: the pork chop is next-level good. They have a great wine list, including a number of fantastic Spanish wines from little-known regions like Priorat. The staff know food and wine and provide good service. Although my wife thinks it's somewhat strange to take out-of-town guests to an old school, I think the atmosphere and ambience is enjoyable, laid-back but classy.
(5)Matt P.
In my mind, the best restaurant in town. Food, wine, service, everything is fantastic. I can't write much beyond: Please try it for yourself! The ability to rent a private room for a bigger group is fantastic and I have never been disappointed there. The only thing that could be better, and given the setting can't really be improved, is the privacy. Patrons are right on top of each other. Getting a table is already difficult there so I'd rather deal with it than have them remove a couple of tables. Fortunately, unlike at Blackbird, the space absorbs the sound fairly well!
(5)Brittany N.
Oh the Emerson Grill...I drove by it a million times before finally coming in for dessert one night. What a lovely place! I would love to come back for a full meal sometime. The dessert I had was decadent, delicious and so fairly priced!! The interior and exterior of the restaurant are both truly beautiful and the servers are wonderful, wonderful people. Really great place to come to celebrate anything!
(5)Michael K.
The food and setting was five stars. The service and temperature of the place pulled it down to 4. I still highly recommend this place. My wife loved the calamari and vegetarian special of the night. I think the pork chop may have been the best I ever had. Smokey and grilled to perfection with a slight sweetness of the apple reduction, it was perfect. It had almost a bacon flavor to it. Total for the meal (2 entrees, 1 appetizer, 1 salad and a bottle of wine) ran about $100+tip. They had a seating area outside under a large tree, but we sat inside due to the warmth. The temperature was a little warm with no moving air inside. Our server was ok, but seemed to be new and very unsure of himself. Overall I think this is a great place for a special night out.
(4)Jess J.
We had a fabulous brunch at the Emerson lay weekend. The food was delicious, staff was attentive and friendly and the ambience was lovely. Will come back again, would recommend it.
(5)Jennifer K.
I surprised my husband with reservations to celebrate our anniversary last Saturday. Friends had recommended it and we were really excited to have dinner here. Unfortunately, our experience was nothing exciting or spectacular. We were seated at a small table against a window, with a booth on our left and another small table on our right. It was less than comfortable and we had little or no privacy, I was so surprised they would seat us where they did after we shared it was our anniversary dinner. The atmosphere was loud, with every conversation around us drowning out any hope we had to talk, not at all matching to their romantic quiet music. They depict the Emerson as romantic and elegant, but our seats didn't allow for any of that. On a good note, our waitress was very nice! She told us about their specials and congratulated us on our anniversary. She was the best part of our dining experience. My husband ordered beer, but I passed on the glass of wine I was looking forward to when I saw they started at $11 a glass. We ordered their spaghetti carbonara and the special of risotto with vegetables and sirloin. I also ordered their house salad to start. When the salad arrived I nearly laughed out loud, it was a plate of fancy lettuce mix, purple and green leaves, that's it! I choked it down, if there was dressing on it I couldn't tell. I hoped our meals would be better than the plate of leaves I had been served as a salad, but alas... Our plates arrived, (rather quickly I might add! Another plus for service.) The portions were surprisingly small, with no sides or anything fancy to dress them up and make you feel like they were worth their $25 price tag. They seem to use peas as a filler, both of our dishes had peas, which are fine when in a medley, but seem gross and obviously cheap by themselves in a dish. My husband found the risotto he had ordered to be rather bland and tasteless so I offered to let him have my order of spaghetti carbonara. We ate about half of our food, it just wasn't that great. At that point we started planning to go elsewhere for dessert and drinks. Our server offered us dessert, but we were so disappointed with our meals that we didn't want to risk getting dessert and hating ourselves for that waste of food and money too. After being made to feel cheap for not getting dessert (after our pathetic meal, why would we!?) we paid our check of more than $50 and went elsewhere for drinks and dessert. That part of the evening was much better! I wish I could add this place to my list of Bozeman favorites, but I'm pretty sure we won't ever be back. The service was good, but it didn't make up for the sad meal we were served. Think twice before reserving a table for a romantic evening out!
(3)Alida S.
The calamari at the Emerson is the best ever! Really! Grilled, with some spice to it, yummy! And the risotto (no matter which one) is deemed to better than any he has had in Italy by my husband! The food at the Emerson is always great, and I like their wine selection as well. In the summer they have outdoor seating, and year round they have a private dining room that can be reserved. I've used it twice, and it was great. The only minus is the seating inside the restaurant. Solution? Make a reservation for one of the booths!
(5)Nicorie S.
I met up with two of my girlfriends for a 7 o'clock dinner reservation on a Saturday night. We started out with drinks and a baked brie appetizer, very good. We ordered; I got the Tutti Mari (house-made pasta, fresh fish & shellfish in a spicy tomato brood) and it was very good. Being that we were celebrating a birthday, the birthday girl ordered dessert. Needless to say, it took an hour for us to get our meals, and dessert didn't come until 9:20... That made for a long evening! Service was friendly but very slow and it wasn't even a full house from what I could see. Being in good company made the wait a little easier. The ambiance is great and there's do much to look at and enjoy. Things that could make it better: - Attentive and punctual service. I was drinking San Pelligrino water and at one point, a waitress went around with a water carafe and filled my glass with water on top of the San Pelligrino without asking first, but the motive was nice, so I can't really complain.
(4)Amanda C.
I expected way way better. Really over priced for the sloppy looking cooks you see. Scallops you only get 2 small ones that were under cooked. I ordered a risotto and it was terrible! it was a seasoned scoop of rice! no cream no nothing and was charged $20! I wont be coming back and I wont be recommending this place to anyone. May I add it was my husband and my wedding anniversary and we were looked at like we were disgusting creatures by host! We also didnt like getting a shower when the server spilled half her water pitcher on us.
(2)Jojo S.
We were delighted to stumble upon this fabulous restaurant!!! It is the best restaurant we have dined at in the past year! I had the salmon and it was perfection!
(5)Heywood J.
We have dined here many, many times, and have considered this one of our favorite restaurants in town. But, on this visit, our food sat on the counter waiting for our server for ten minutes, and arrived near-stone cold. I pointed it out, and they took it back, dumped it in a fry pan, swished it around, and brought it back. Luke warm and kind of all messed up and mixed together. Epic fail. No longer our favorite restaurant in Bozeman.
(2)Lauren M.
Went here for a special, we-feel-like-splurging dinner with my fiance. Food was to-die-for status! I got the pork chop that was smoked and then grilled, omg I don't even like pork chop but I became a believer! My fiance thoroughly enjoyed his meal too, though he felt it was over-priced, even at the quality. We also got an appetizer that was mouth-watering and we savored every bite. It was a meat and cheese slices with antipasto veggies type of appetizer (forget the name). I will say it's not 5-star because the place is really small but does not have the cozy, intimate atmosphere you'd expect with a small place. And as other reviews say, service isn't great.
(4)Kelley M.
This place is fully local and organic. It's the most delicious Italian I have ever eaten. We pulled in from a long drive based on other reviews on Yelp and we were impressed beyond belief. The service was great. The wine list was extensive and their bread service was fantastic. They serve herbed focaccia bread with fresh olive oil and balsamic. They salad was fairly simple but good. The fresh pasta we ordered was fabulous. We had the fresh fettuccine bolognese as a split order between my 17 year old daughter and me. It was the perfect amount of food. We rounded the night off with lemon and almond creme brule. I would never ever go to Bozeman ever again without having dinner here. What an amazing find.
(5)Meg F.
Another two outstanding meals at the Emerson Grill! I was in town visiting for a few days and ended up eating at the Emerson two days in a row I was so impressed. The first night I invited a friend from Billings to meet me there. We started our meal with the unbelievably delicious stuffed artichoke. A light fennel sausage and crusty cheese mix enveloped within the extra large artichoke was almost a meal in itself for the two of us. The Emerson includes a choice of house-made soup or salad with each entre. The carrot ginger soup was exceptional! My friend ordered the grilled skirt steak with collard greens and I had the pan seared duck breast with poached pears and figs on a bed of pate and potatoes. Wonderfully prepared and beautifully presented by the most competent staff! We were too full for dessert but were told by the table next to us that the house-made tiramisu and German chocolate cake were to die for. The following night I returned by myself to try their wine bar. They offer a gourmet flatbread pizza and 2 glasses of wine for $20 as a special along with the full dinner menu. Although the pizzas coming out of the oven looked amazing I opted for the salmon special of the evening. It was one of the best salmon entres I have ever eaten! Expertly prepared medium rare on a bed of spring couscous with asparagus it was truly divine. My wait staff, Whitney, allowed me to sample several wines before I decided on a luscious Italian red. Again too full for dessert but I heard a flourless lavender chocolate cake was in the making. What separates The Emerson from other restaurants in Bozeman is the exceptional quality of their food and staff and their desire to make you feel truly welcome and appreciated. The location within the cultural center also allows an engaging art experience along with dining. The Emerson Grill is always my favorite when traveling to Bozeman.
(5)Joyster C.
I was recommended to try this by a friend. As others have noted, the menu is excellent. Unfortunately, given the price, the service is simply not up to par. From the get-go, the staff were very surly. Moreover, not until long after mentioning the specials, and as we were ordering, did our waiter let us know that all but one of the non-meat entrees were unavailable (at 645PM). With half of our party being pescetarian, we had to leave and find somewhere else to eat. Have been going to Bozeman all my life and would love to see some great places to eat. For the $25-40 per entree, however, the service must match.
(1)Ashlee Y.
I know, I know...a mere 2 stars...I'm in utter disbelief myself. My Dad and I went to Emerson Grill last summer for the very first time and was blown away. Well, we revisited just recently and were completely underwhelmed. I'm not even kidding when I say the best thing we consumed were the CROUTONS on the Caesar salad, really. Long story short, my Dad and I were planning on an incredibly nice dinner on his last night in Bozeman (he was flying out the next day; I now live here), and so we'd kind of been planning on hitting Emerson Grill, thinking we wouldn't be let down. Let's just say we both left very disappointed and unsatisfied for the overall service we'd received. Also, I feel bad for ranting and raving about this place to all my friends telling them how great it is! The service was attentive and perfectly timed, and our server was friendly and willing to give helpful suggestions as well. However, the service fell flat when our server told us she "didn't quite know what to do about this situation" after we'd told her how unimpressed we ultimately were with our dinner. Back to the food: Bread - tasty w/ nice seasonings, evoo and balsamic are a nice touch Caesar - very good w/ delicious croutons; Bridger Brewery's Caesar is better Fish Special - salmon was lukewarm and wimpy/thin, the polenta was nicely pan-fried and hot, broccoli rabe was average; isn't the fish supposed to be the hottest and last thing prepared?!? Seafood Pasta (1/2 price from 5-6pm) - more like a tasteless cioppino, so brothy/watery that 1/2 of it sloshed out when brought to the table...I thought it was supposed to be pasta not soup? ***We had this sent back and ordered the risotto in its place Risotto - steak that came on top was overcooked and lacked flavor (server didn't even ask how we'd like it prepared), risotto was bland in flavor; had better steak and risotto at Ale Works a week prior as two of their nightly specials (they both were actually amazing) Beverage - great b/c we took our own bottle of wine! Of course when you don't like a dish (or dishes in our case), the waitstaff it hugely offended and you're "snubbed" for the remainder of the evening...and they even had the nerve to say, "No one else has ever not liked this dish, etc, etc." Yeah, I'm sure everything is ALWAYS perfect and that nobody has been disappointed w/ ANYTHING they've ever ordered from Emerson Grill. Get real! Like I mentioned earlier, when I told our server about our overall experience and how we'd had high expectations due to our previous experience being amazing, she acted dumbfounded and said, "This has never happened before." She took a mere $13 off (1/2 price pasta) and charged us for both the salmon and risotto (we did eat the salmon but barely touched the risotto). Of course charge us for what we ate but for what we were disappointed with and had even told them about? They didn't even attempt to compensate us for a very lackluster meal...horrible customer service in my opinion!!! After we left, we walked around the farmer's market and wished we'd have picked something up from "Island Noodles" instead! So much for Emerson Grill being at the top of my list as one of the best places to dine at in Bozeman.
(2)Jace V.
The food was good, I think we had a 2-3 course meal salad and anti-pasto was great, as was the salmon. Maybe it was the two bottles of wine, but dinner turned out to be waaay too expensive for 2 $180+... I guess that's what I get for letting the lady do the wine ordering... It's much smaller than I expected and it surprised me to see a family with smaller kids eating there. The service was excellent, as was the meal. We ate every bite. The wine dammit!
(4)Sarah M.
Update: we came back for dinner after a slightly disappointing lunch and thank god. It was fantastic. I had the carbonara and big daddy had the steak. Both were fantastic and well worth the $!
(5)Dennis M.
Quaint, small place. Not cheap, but not ridiculous either, for a good dinner. Highly recommended by my neighbor. She was right on! Service was at a perfect, leisurely pace....and VERY friendly (both the Hostess and the Waitress). The Cesar salad plate (appetizer) was really good....with requested Anchovies. My wife loved the Vegetarian plate and I liked the Seafood special, fish, mimi-clams and mussels on noodles and a great sauce. Ample servings of each. Fairly quiet but enjoyingly "noisy" at the same time. The waitress let me sample three wines before selecting what I wanted. Tried for a booth, but ended up at a table for two.....comfortably seated, middle of the room. Make reservations for dinner. One downside: Parking was very hard to find....I parked 2 blocks away in a bank parking lot.
(4)Rosanna Y. D.
The most sophisticated brunch in town. Too bad they don't serve it in winter. My understanding is that most of the staff are skiers so, they close for the season. If that is true, awesome! I have also had dinner here and it is excellent. Very good wine list.
(4)Dana Y.
Great place. Food was excellent. Pear pizza was very good. Had a mushroom over polenta that was very good. Wine selection was good. We got a private room for 6 of us. Will definitely return.
(4)Fozzie D.
Quaint location, the building houses other small businesses and artist spaces. The common hallway walls are lined with artwork from local artists...way cool. The restaurant boasts an open kitchen where you may watch the maestro at work. The good: Food is excellent and portions are generous. We ordered a flat-bread pizza (pear, Gorgonzola and pine nuts....YUM). We then shared a pasta dish (pasta del Mare). Pasta was hand-made, seafood was fresh (salmon, clams and scallops...needed a couple of grilled shrimp for me though..but not a deal-breaker). All of the food dishes were expertly seasoned. The not so good: Service was average. They don't like to write down your order, so this would account for why I was delivered a glass of white wine instead of the red that was ordered. Could have left me the white and also brought me the red, after all, it was their mistake. And speaking of wine, the selection is good, but the storage is not so good. Wines are kept out in the ambient temperature, which this night was quite warm. Need to invest in a beverage cooler. Seems like the wine is an afterthought to the great food rather than an equal partner...too bad. This place is absolutely worth tracking down if you're rolling through Bozeman.
(4)Brice B.
Bozeman is one of those places that conjures up some pretty potent images in the minds of those who haven't been to Big Sky country. There's skiing, ritzy resorts, beautiful views, etc.. In the midst of all of these cliches of the new west, there's still a small city that is thriving on imported talent and native ingenuity. The Emerson Grill is an awesome example of how magical this combination can be. I came to dinner with some business associates, and I had no expectations. From the moment I pulled up on this renovated school building, I knew I was in for something different. The space is great. The Emerson shares the building with a number of local arts organizations, and what appears to be a gallery or two. The restaurant itself boasts high ceilings, cozy booths, and a partially open kitchen. The menu tilts toward Italian, but not too far. We had mussels in a tomato and creme case as an appetizer, which were great. I had the Chicken Ossobucco, while the others had the locally grown NY Strip and the Halibut. We chased it with an excellent bottle of South African wine. Even my starter salad was awesome... who knew there was such a thing as a maple vinaigrette? This is the sort of place that makes you yearn to be a local. I don't ski too much, but atmosphere like this makes me want to hit the bunny slopes. I guess the other route is to become a filthy rich SOB, but that just doesn't seem fair.
(5)Anthony M.
The food and service here is fantastic! Best fresh bread I have ever had.
(5)Silky Dark Boss I.
Wonderful. Definitely not disappointed
(5)C H.
Very good food and a nice comfortable laid back atmosphere. I have only been here twice as it is a bit spendy but it was quite good both times. Not a bad place to take a date if you enjoy talking to the person you are dating ;)
(4)Jody S.
The food is incredible!! Blissful!! I had capellini & pesto. It was light & delicate, rich in flavor, just barely creamy. I did the food happy dance in my chair, I was so impressed. My boyfriend thought the pesto was too potent, but I thought it was bliss! He had a "pepperoni pizza." It was much larger (longer) than anticipated. Again, I thought it was just fantastic. The crust was thin enough to have a bit of crunch, but not so thin to deny you the nice chew a really great dough offers. I was the only one who tried it that thought so, but I swear the sauce had a similar flavor as Doritos. Heaven!! Dorito pepperoni pizza perfection. :) I shared almond gelato...nice. The ambiance is lovely, but not perhaps enough space for a large group.
(5)Chris G.
Fabulous food and ambiance. I have been at least a half-dozen times and haven't been disappointed. Staff is excellent, nice, and well informed about the food.
(5)Echo D.
The food was great but the service was less than desirable. I have a few allergies and instead of offering to help or give advice, the waitress walked away telling me to look over the menu again. At such a fancy place, I expected much better service than that.
(3)Kelsey B.
The food and atmosphere at Emerson Grill are both heavenly. I enjoyed one of the best evenings here in a long time. The staff are friendly and attentive (yet not in your face), and the live guitar music added to the romantic charm of the place. HIGHLY recommend!
(5)Rob S.
went to dinner with friends about two weeks ago. Way over priced for what was ordered. Had seafood pasta dish--four mussels, two scallops, no other seafood. Should have sent it back, my wife had terribly overcooked bison short ribs. Not able to eat this dish. Not going back. Service was okay, food way over priced. Go elsewhere
(1)Kimberly K.
I took a good friend, who was visiting from the fine culinary city of Denver, to the Emerson. It was an amazing experience. My friend could not get over how amazing their breakfast was. She said she had never had anything as good, and I would have to agree. I don't remember what she ordered, but I got the french toast special. I don't like french toast but the the description on the menu made it irresistible. From the first bite to the last, I though I was in heaven. One of the best food/dining experience I have ever had. Plus the music was great!
(5)Jared L.
Tied with John Bozeman's Bistro for the best high end restaurant in Bozeman. Never disappoints.
(5)Drew B.
The Emmerson Grill is probably the classiest dining establishment in Bozeman because it is tasteful but not pretentious. The ambiance is quaint, and the entire menu is well worth sampling. My only complaint is that like most good restaurants in Montana, it is slightly overpriced with entrees ranging from $25 to $40. Regardless, I would highly recommend eating here if you are looking for a quality meal in a cozy environment.
(4)Sarah B.
Back again for pre-Valentine's dinner... Most amazing appetizer ever- Seared scallops with creamed leeks. WOW! I would have that over and over and over again. Scallops cooked perfectly, melting in your mouth and the sauce- excellently balanced, salty, creamy, YUM! He got the stuffed tenderloin with truffled potatoes. I got the Salmon en papillote. His was amazing, mine was good. The fish and veggies inside the parchment were paired with roasted potatoes and grilled broccolini. I found that these items did not seem to make a harmonious dish, and I was missing a creamy textured element or a sauce to tie everything together. The dessert was salted caramel pots de crème... OMG Amazing... whoever came up with that one... what a stroke of genius! Again, a great showing from The Emerson Grill folks!
(5)Betsy Q.
A wonderful neighbor bistro. The staff is lovely--the outdoor dining is delightful. I love the Caesar salad, the chicken dishes, the pork chop, the fish specials, the pasta plates and the wine list. The pizza is also great--HUGE servings. This is truly a Bozeman gem. The private dining in the art gallery is also very wonderful.
(5)Chad D.
I came here with my girlfriend after living in Bozeman for 8 years and hearing from numerous people that the Emerson was top notch and some went as far to say the "best restaurant in Bozeman." Whoa. We really liked the atmosphere and service, nothing to complain about here. We had also enjoyed a glass of wine a few times before on the other side of the restaurant (where there is no food) and we enjoyed that too. But that's just wine, so I can't judge that much. So, our food. Not great. Really, it was nothing special at all and the flavors were really really bland. What's the deal? How does this happen at such a great looking spot with awesome reviews and a good rep? I don't know, but we were left with a big bill and unsatisfied stomachs. A real bummer, especially before we were about to go see Wilco across the hall! The table behind us was bringing another couple to the Emerson for the first time and we overheard them praising all the food to the newbies before it came out. Before we left, we heard them saying that they were also perplexed at "What happened? This was not the same Emerson as before..." It's got too much hype not to give it another try, so I will, someday...
(3)Byrhonda L.
Nice wine selection. The food is ok. Probably the best Italian in Bozeman, but still nothing to write home about.
(3)H P.
Amazing! Fine foods, excellent wait staff and great prices for the menu options. I can't wait to go back .
(5)Willem O.
I really like the Emerson Grill! This is a great place to bring people from out of town for a truly unique dining experience in Bozeman. The ambiance is great and the food is incredible - try the Elk osso buco! Every piece of furniture and decor was hand picked and has made for a beautiful space. Definitely go, and for any MSU students, this is great place to bring your parents when they come to visit as it is a little outside the college budget.
(5)Drewry W.
Emerson Grill is likely five stars for Montana, and the only reason I'm giving it four is due to less than perfect service experiences friends have had and some design issues. I would venture to say that Emerson Grill is the best restaurant in town for dinner (having not yet tried the much talked about brunch here on the weekend). A nice cozy ambience, friendly servers, and a classic menu that roots itself in locavore practice. We never get the same thing, and are always satisfied and often impressed. They could do to change up the starters (for example the baked brie being paired with apricot just doesn't work - you need a runnier, richer fruit addition to this dish). If you live close enough, split a bottle (or two) of their great wines and walk home. The space is small enough that the few tables could benefit from having the kitchen less open/visible. I assume they want you to see what they are doing and feel "involved" in the prep, however with the kitchen being almost larger than the dining space, it seems almost a little imposing. However, all in all, for up to 4 people Emerson Grill is a lovely, intimate night out.
(4)Marely G.
Typically I have a wonderful experience there (Kendra and Jim are awesome), but I went their the other night with a few friends, and it was quite possibly the worst service I have experienced in town. We had Lindsey as our server and it took her 10 minutes to greet our table. It took her over 40 to get our dinner order. She also was super condescending and rude. She fought me on the wine I order with my dinner, wasting my time on trying to sell a glass I told her I knew I didn't like then said, "Oh, when I was younger I couldn't handle a fuller red wine too." It was enough to turn me off of the Grill for a while. The food is consistently awesome, but I can cook just as well for myself at home. I go out for the whole experience. If I go back, I will be requesting any server but her.
(3)Joe J.
In my mind, it's the best restaurant in Bozeman. The food is consistently top notch: the pork chop is next-level good. They have a great wine list, including a number of fantastic Spanish wines from little-known regions like Priorat. The staff know food and wine and provide good service. Although my wife thinks it's somewhat strange to take out-of-town guests to an old school, I think the atmosphere and ambience is enjoyable, laid-back but classy.
(5)Matt P.
In my mind, the best restaurant in town. Food, wine, service, everything is fantastic. I can't write much beyond: Please try it for yourself! The ability to rent a private room for a bigger group is fantastic and I have never been disappointed there. The only thing that could be better, and given the setting can't really be improved, is the privacy. Patrons are right on top of each other. Getting a table is already difficult there so I'd rather deal with it than have them remove a couple of tables. Fortunately, unlike at Blackbird, the space absorbs the sound fairly well!
(5)Brittany N.
Oh the Emerson Grill...I drove by it a million times before finally coming in for dessert one night. What a lovely place! I would love to come back for a full meal sometime. The dessert I had was decadent, delicious and so fairly priced!! The interior and exterior of the restaurant are both truly beautiful and the servers are wonderful, wonderful people. Really great place to come to celebrate anything!
(5)Michael K.
The food and setting was five stars. The service and temperature of the place pulled it down to 4. I still highly recommend this place. My wife loved the calamari and vegetarian special of the night. I think the pork chop may have been the best I ever had. Smokey and grilled to perfection with a slight sweetness of the apple reduction, it was perfect. It had almost a bacon flavor to it. Total for the meal (2 entrees, 1 appetizer, 1 salad and a bottle of wine) ran about $100+tip. They had a seating area outside under a large tree, but we sat inside due to the warmth. The temperature was a little warm with no moving air inside. Our server was ok, but seemed to be new and very unsure of himself. Overall I think this is a great place for a special night out.
(4)Jess J.
We had a fabulous brunch at the Emerson lay weekend. The food was delicious, staff was attentive and friendly and the ambience was lovely. Will come back again, would recommend it.
(5)Jennifer K.
I surprised my husband with reservations to celebrate our anniversary last Saturday. Friends had recommended it and we were really excited to have dinner here. Unfortunately, our experience was nothing exciting or spectacular. We were seated at a small table against a window, with a booth on our left and another small table on our right. It was less than comfortable and we had little or no privacy, I was so surprised they would seat us where they did after we shared it was our anniversary dinner. The atmosphere was loud, with every conversation around us drowning out any hope we had to talk, not at all matching to their romantic quiet music. They depict the Emerson as romantic and elegant, but our seats didn't allow for any of that. On a good note, our waitress was very nice! She told us about their specials and congratulated us on our anniversary. She was the best part of our dining experience. My husband ordered beer, but I passed on the glass of wine I was looking forward to when I saw they started at $11 a glass. We ordered their spaghetti carbonara and the special of risotto with vegetables and sirloin. I also ordered their house salad to start. When the salad arrived I nearly laughed out loud, it was a plate of fancy lettuce mix, purple and green leaves, that's it! I choked it down, if there was dressing on it I couldn't tell. I hoped our meals would be better than the plate of leaves I had been served as a salad, but alas... Our plates arrived, (rather quickly I might add! Another plus for service.) The portions were surprisingly small, with no sides or anything fancy to dress them up and make you feel like they were worth their $25 price tag. They seem to use peas as a filler, both of our dishes had peas, which are fine when in a medley, but seem gross and obviously cheap by themselves in a dish. My husband found the risotto he had ordered to be rather bland and tasteless so I offered to let him have my order of spaghetti carbonara. We ate about half of our food, it just wasn't that great. At that point we started planning to go elsewhere for dessert and drinks. Our server offered us dessert, but we were so disappointed with our meals that we didn't want to risk getting dessert and hating ourselves for that waste of food and money too. After being made to feel cheap for not getting dessert (after our pathetic meal, why would we!?) we paid our check of more than $50 and went elsewhere for drinks and dessert. That part of the evening was much better! I wish I could add this place to my list of Bozeman favorites, but I'm pretty sure we won't ever be back. The service was good, but it didn't make up for the sad meal we were served. Think twice before reserving a table for a romantic evening out!
(3)Alida S.
The calamari at the Emerson is the best ever! Really! Grilled, with some spice to it, yummy! And the risotto (no matter which one) is deemed to better than any he has had in Italy by my husband! The food at the Emerson is always great, and I like their wine selection as well. In the summer they have outdoor seating, and year round they have a private dining room that can be reserved. I've used it twice, and it was great. The only minus is the seating inside the restaurant. Solution? Make a reservation for one of the booths!
(5)Nicorie S.
I met up with two of my girlfriends for a 7 o'clock dinner reservation on a Saturday night. We started out with drinks and a baked brie appetizer, very good. We ordered; I got the Tutti Mari (house-made pasta, fresh fish & shellfish in a spicy tomato brood) and it was very good. Being that we were celebrating a birthday, the birthday girl ordered dessert. Needless to say, it took an hour for us to get our meals, and dessert didn't come until 9:20... That made for a long evening! Service was friendly but very slow and it wasn't even a full house from what I could see. Being in good company made the wait a little easier. The ambiance is great and there's do much to look at and enjoy. Things that could make it better: - Attentive and punctual service. I was drinking San Pelligrino water and at one point, a waitress went around with a water carafe and filled my glass with water on top of the San Pelligrino without asking first, but the motive was nice, so I can't really complain.
(4)Amanda C.
I expected way way better. Really over priced for the sloppy looking cooks you see. Scallops you only get 2 small ones that were under cooked. I ordered a risotto and it was terrible! it was a seasoned scoop of rice! no cream no nothing and was charged $20! I wont be coming back and I wont be recommending this place to anyone. May I add it was my husband and my wedding anniversary and we were looked at like we were disgusting creatures by host! We also didnt like getting a shower when the server spilled half her water pitcher on us.
(2)Jojo S.
We were delighted to stumble upon this fabulous restaurant!!! It is the best restaurant we have dined at in the past year! I had the salmon and it was perfection!
(5)Heywood J.
We have dined here many, many times, and have considered this one of our favorite restaurants in town. But, on this visit, our food sat on the counter waiting for our server for ten minutes, and arrived near-stone cold. I pointed it out, and they took it back, dumped it in a fry pan, swished it around, and brought it back. Luke warm and kind of all messed up and mixed together. Epic fail. No longer our favorite restaurant in Bozeman.
(2)Lauren M.
Went here for a special, we-feel-like-splurging dinner with my fiance. Food was to-die-for status! I got the pork chop that was smoked and then grilled, omg I don't even like pork chop but I became a believer! My fiance thoroughly enjoyed his meal too, though he felt it was over-priced, even at the quality. We also got an appetizer that was mouth-watering and we savored every bite. It was a meat and cheese slices with antipasto veggies type of appetizer (forget the name). I will say it's not 5-star because the place is really small but does not have the cozy, intimate atmosphere you'd expect with a small place. And as other reviews say, service isn't great.
(4)Kelley M.
This place is fully local and organic. It's the most delicious Italian I have ever eaten. We pulled in from a long drive based on other reviews on Yelp and we were impressed beyond belief. The service was great. The wine list was extensive and their bread service was fantastic. They serve herbed focaccia bread with fresh olive oil and balsamic. They salad was fairly simple but good. The fresh pasta we ordered was fabulous. We had the fresh fettuccine bolognese as a split order between my 17 year old daughter and me. It was the perfect amount of food. We rounded the night off with lemon and almond creme brule. I would never ever go to Bozeman ever again without having dinner here. What an amazing find.
(5)Meg F.
Another two outstanding meals at the Emerson Grill! I was in town visiting for a few days and ended up eating at the Emerson two days in a row I was so impressed. The first night I invited a friend from Billings to meet me there. We started our meal with the unbelievably delicious stuffed artichoke. A light fennel sausage and crusty cheese mix enveloped within the extra large artichoke was almost a meal in itself for the two of us. The Emerson includes a choice of house-made soup or salad with each entre. The carrot ginger soup was exceptional! My friend ordered the grilled skirt steak with collard greens and I had the pan seared duck breast with poached pears and figs on a bed of pate and potatoes. Wonderfully prepared and beautifully presented by the most competent staff! We were too full for dessert but were told by the table next to us that the house-made tiramisu and German chocolate cake were to die for. The following night I returned by myself to try their wine bar. They offer a gourmet flatbread pizza and 2 glasses of wine for $20 as a special along with the full dinner menu. Although the pizzas coming out of the oven looked amazing I opted for the salmon special of the evening. It was one of the best salmon entres I have ever eaten! Expertly prepared medium rare on a bed of spring couscous with asparagus it was truly divine. My wait staff, Whitney, allowed me to sample several wines before I decided on a luscious Italian red. Again too full for dessert but I heard a flourless lavender chocolate cake was in the making. What separates The Emerson from other restaurants in Bozeman is the exceptional quality of their food and staff and their desire to make you feel truly welcome and appreciated. The location within the cultural center also allows an engaging art experience along with dining. The Emerson Grill is always my favorite when traveling to Bozeman.
(5)Joyster C.
I was recommended to try this by a friend. As others have noted, the menu is excellent. Unfortunately, given the price, the service is simply not up to par. From the get-go, the staff were very surly. Moreover, not until long after mentioning the specials, and as we were ordering, did our waiter let us know that all but one of the non-meat entrees were unavailable (at 645PM). With half of our party being pescetarian, we had to leave and find somewhere else to eat. Have been going to Bozeman all my life and would love to see some great places to eat. For the $25-40 per entree, however, the service must match.
(1)Ashlee Y.
I know, I know...a mere 2 stars...I'm in utter disbelief myself. My Dad and I went to Emerson Grill last summer for the very first time and was blown away. Well, we revisited just recently and were completely underwhelmed. I'm not even kidding when I say the best thing we consumed were the CROUTONS on the Caesar salad, really. Long story short, my Dad and I were planning on an incredibly nice dinner on his last night in Bozeman (he was flying out the next day; I now live here), and so we'd kind of been planning on hitting Emerson Grill, thinking we wouldn't be let down. Let's just say we both left very disappointed and unsatisfied for the overall service we'd received. Also, I feel bad for ranting and raving about this place to all my friends telling them how great it is! The service was attentive and perfectly timed, and our server was friendly and willing to give helpful suggestions as well. However, the service fell flat when our server told us she "didn't quite know what to do about this situation" after we'd told her how unimpressed we ultimately were with our dinner. Back to the food: Bread - tasty w/ nice seasonings, evoo and balsamic are a nice touch Caesar - very good w/ delicious croutons; Bridger Brewery's Caesar is better Fish Special - salmon was lukewarm and wimpy/thin, the polenta was nicely pan-fried and hot, broccoli rabe was average; isn't the fish supposed to be the hottest and last thing prepared?!? Seafood Pasta (1/2 price from 5-6pm) - more like a tasteless cioppino, so brothy/watery that 1/2 of it sloshed out when brought to the table...I thought it was supposed to be pasta not soup? ***We had this sent back and ordered the risotto in its place Risotto - steak that came on top was overcooked and lacked flavor (server didn't even ask how we'd like it prepared), risotto was bland in flavor; had better steak and risotto at Ale Works a week prior as two of their nightly specials (they both were actually amazing) Beverage - great b/c we took our own bottle of wine! Of course when you don't like a dish (or dishes in our case), the waitstaff it hugely offended and you're "snubbed" for the remainder of the evening...and they even had the nerve to say, "No one else has ever not liked this dish, etc, etc." Yeah, I'm sure everything is ALWAYS perfect and that nobody has been disappointed w/ ANYTHING they've ever ordered from Emerson Grill. Get real! Like I mentioned earlier, when I told our server about our overall experience and how we'd had high expectations due to our previous experience being amazing, she acted dumbfounded and said, "This has never happened before." She took a mere $13 off (1/2 price pasta) and charged us for both the salmon and risotto (we did eat the salmon but barely touched the risotto). Of course charge us for what we ate but for what we were disappointed with and had even told them about? They didn't even attempt to compensate us for a very lackluster meal...horrible customer service in my opinion!!! After we left, we walked around the farmer's market and wished we'd have picked something up from "Island Noodles" instead! So much for Emerson Grill being at the top of my list as one of the best places to dine at in Bozeman.
(2)Jace V.
The food was good, I think we had a 2-3 course meal salad and anti-pasto was great, as was the salmon. Maybe it was the two bottles of wine, but dinner turned out to be waaay too expensive for 2 $180+... I guess that's what I get for letting the lady do the wine ordering... It's much smaller than I expected and it surprised me to see a family with smaller kids eating there. The service was excellent, as was the meal. We ate every bite. The wine dammit!
(4)Sarah M.
Update: we came back for dinner after a slightly disappointing lunch and thank god. It was fantastic. I had the carbonara and big daddy had the steak. Both were fantastic and well worth the $!
(5)Dennis M.
Quaint, small place. Not cheap, but not ridiculous either, for a good dinner. Highly recommended by my neighbor. She was right on! Service was at a perfect, leisurely pace....and VERY friendly (both the Hostess and the Waitress). The Cesar salad plate (appetizer) was really good....with requested Anchovies. My wife loved the Vegetarian plate and I liked the Seafood special, fish, mimi-clams and mussels on noodles and a great sauce. Ample servings of each. Fairly quiet but enjoyingly "noisy" at the same time. The waitress let me sample three wines before selecting what I wanted. Tried for a booth, but ended up at a table for two.....comfortably seated, middle of the room. Make reservations for dinner. One downside: Parking was very hard to find....I parked 2 blocks away in a bank parking lot.
(4)Rosanna Y. D.
The most sophisticated brunch in town. Too bad they don't serve it in winter. My understanding is that most of the staff are skiers so, they close for the season. If that is true, awesome! I have also had dinner here and it is excellent. Very good wine list.
(4)Dana Y.
Great place. Food was excellent. Pear pizza was very good. Had a mushroom over polenta that was very good. Wine selection was good. We got a private room for 6 of us. Will definitely return.
(4)Fozzie D.
Quaint location, the building houses other small businesses and artist spaces. The common hallway walls are lined with artwork from local artists...way cool. The restaurant boasts an open kitchen where you may watch the maestro at work. The good: Food is excellent and portions are generous. We ordered a flat-bread pizza (pear, Gorgonzola and pine nuts....YUM). We then shared a pasta dish (pasta del Mare). Pasta was hand-made, seafood was fresh (salmon, clams and scallops...needed a couple of grilled shrimp for me though..but not a deal-breaker). All of the food dishes were expertly seasoned. The not so good: Service was average. They don't like to write down your order, so this would account for why I was delivered a glass of white wine instead of the red that was ordered. Could have left me the white and also brought me the red, after all, it was their mistake. And speaking of wine, the selection is good, but the storage is not so good. Wines are kept out in the ambient temperature, which this night was quite warm. Need to invest in a beverage cooler. Seems like the wine is an afterthought to the great food rather than an equal partner...too bad. This place is absolutely worth tracking down if you're rolling through Bozeman.
(4)Brice B.
Bozeman is one of those places that conjures up some pretty potent images in the minds of those who haven't been to Big Sky country. There's skiing, ritzy resorts, beautiful views, etc.. In the midst of all of these cliches of the new west, there's still a small city that is thriving on imported talent and native ingenuity. The Emerson Grill is an awesome example of how magical this combination can be. I came to dinner with some business associates, and I had no expectations. From the moment I pulled up on this renovated school building, I knew I was in for something different. The space is great. The Emerson shares the building with a number of local arts organizations, and what appears to be a gallery or two. The restaurant itself boasts high ceilings, cozy booths, and a partially open kitchen. The menu tilts toward Italian, but not too far. We had mussels in a tomato and creme case as an appetizer, which were great. I had the Chicken Ossobucco, while the others had the locally grown NY Strip and the Halibut. We chased it with an excellent bottle of South African wine. Even my starter salad was awesome... who knew there was such a thing as a maple vinaigrette? This is the sort of place that makes you yearn to be a local. I don't ski too much, but atmosphere like this makes me want to hit the bunny slopes. I guess the other route is to become a filthy rich SOB, but that just doesn't seem fair.
(5)Anthony M.
The food and service here is fantastic! Best fresh bread I have ever had.
(5)Silky Dark Boss I.
Wonderful. Definitely not disappointed
(5)C H.
Very good food and a nice comfortable laid back atmosphere. I have only been here twice as it is a bit spendy but it was quite good both times. Not a bad place to take a date if you enjoy talking to the person you are dating ;)
(4)Jody S.
The food is incredible!! Blissful!! I had capellini & pesto. It was light & delicate, rich in flavor, just barely creamy. I did the food happy dance in my chair, I was so impressed. My boyfriend thought the pesto was too potent, but I thought it was bliss! He had a "pepperoni pizza." It was much larger (longer) than anticipated. Again, I thought it was just fantastic. The crust was thin enough to have a bit of crunch, but not so thin to deny you the nice chew a really great dough offers. I was the only one who tried it that thought so, but I swear the sauce had a similar flavor as Doritos. Heaven!! Dorito pepperoni pizza perfection. :) I shared almond gelato...nice. The ambiance is lovely, but not perhaps enough space for a large group.
(5)Chris G.
Fabulous food and ambiance. I have been at least a half-dozen times and haven't been disappointed. Staff is excellent, nice, and well informed about the food.
(5)Echo D.
The food was great but the service was less than desirable. I have a few allergies and instead of offering to help or give advice, the waitress walked away telling me to look over the menu again. At such a fancy place, I expected much better service than that.
(3)Kelsey B.
The food and atmosphere at Emerson Grill are both heavenly. I enjoyed one of the best evenings here in a long time. The staff are friendly and attentive (yet not in your face), and the live guitar music added to the romantic charm of the place. HIGHLY recommend!
(5)Rob S.
went to dinner with friends about two weeks ago. Way over priced for what was ordered. Had seafood pasta dish--four mussels, two scallops, no other seafood. Should have sent it back, my wife had terribly overcooked bison short ribs. Not able to eat this dish. Not going back. Service was okay, food way over priced. Go elsewhere
(1)Kimberly K.
I took a good friend, who was visiting from the fine culinary city of Denver, to the Emerson. It was an amazing experience. My friend could not get over how amazing their breakfast was. She said she had never had anything as good, and I would have to agree. I don't remember what she ordered, but I got the french toast special. I don't like french toast but the the description on the menu made it irresistible. From the first bite to the last, I though I was in heaven. One of the best food/dining experience I have ever had. Plus the music was great!
(5)Jared L.
Tied with John Bozeman's Bistro for the best high end restaurant in Bozeman. Never disappoints.
(5)Drew B.
The Emmerson Grill is probably the classiest dining establishment in Bozeman because it is tasteful but not pretentious. The ambiance is quaint, and the entire menu is well worth sampling. My only complaint is that like most good restaurants in Montana, it is slightly overpriced with entrees ranging from $25 to $40. Regardless, I would highly recommend eating here if you are looking for a quality meal in a cozy environment.
(4)