The Desoto Grill

Downtown Kalispell barbecue with 14-hour brisket and elk sausage, open Tue–Fri, 33 miles from West Glacier.

When to come

A weekday lunch after arriving at Glacier Park International Airport, or a Tuesday–Friday dinner on a Kalispell base night; it is closed all weekend.

Dining

Dining★ 4.7

The Desoto Grill is a Montana barbecue restaurant in a converted blacksmith shop at 227 1st St W in downtown Kalispell, about 33 miles from Glacier's West Entrance via US 2. The owners moved from Portland with a commercial Traeger smoker and named the place after a 1954 DeSoto Powermaster; the menu runs to 14-hour smoked brisket, 8-hour pulled pork, St. Louis ribs, elk sausage, pork belly, and four kinds of mac and cheese. It is open Tuesday through Friday only, so it fits a mid-week Kalispell base night or a big lunch on a rest day rather than a weekend stop. Grab-n-go and catering menus round out the dine-in service.

Quick facts

Cuisine Type
Barbecue (Montana smokehouse)
Meals Served
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Signature Dishes
Smoked beef brisket (14 hours), pulled pork (8 hours) with slaw and DESOTO Q-Sauce, St. Louis ribs half rack, elk sausage hoagie ("Montana Dog"), Supercharged BLT with house-smoked pork belly, pork belly "PBJ" bites with Thai peanut and huckleberry dipping sauces, Desoto Burger with local beef.
Local Specialties
Elk and hot link sausages from Lower Valley Meats in Kalispell, local beef in the Desoto Burger, huckleberry cheesecake and warm smoked huckleberry-peach cobbler, Flathead Lake Huckleberry canned soda.

What to order

Cuisine Type
Barbecue (Montana smokehouse)
Meals Served
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Signature Dishes
Smoked beef brisket (14 hours), pulled pork (8 hours) with slaw and DESOTO Q-Sauce, St. Louis ribs half rack, elk sausage hoagie ("Montana Dog"), Supercharged BLT with house-smoked pork belly, pork belly "PBJ" bites with Thai peanut and huckleberry dipping sauces, Desoto Burger with local beef.
Local Specialties
Elk and hot link sausages from Lower Valley Meats in Kalispell, local beef in the Desoto Burger, huckleberry cheesecake and warm smoked huckleberry-peach cobbler, Flathead Lake Huckleberry canned soda.
Menu Recommendations
First-timers: the brisket platter or a pulled pork sandwich with pork belly collard greens. Adventurous: elk sausage hoagie or the Supercharged BLT. Sharing: smokehouse nachos, then huckleberry-peach cobbler.
Dietary Options
  • Gluten-free bun available on sandwiches
  • Smoked portabello sandwich (vegetarian)
  • Salads with veggie or portabello option
  • Stuffed baked potato with veggie option

Prices & reservations

Price Range Symbols
$$

Hours & seating

Operating Hours
Tue–Fri 11 AM–9 PM; closed Sat–Mon
Closed Days
Saturday, Sunday and Monday

Visit strategy

Best For
  • Big post-hike dinner
  • Mid-week Kalispell base night
  • Groups who want platters to share
  • Barbecue and huckleberry desserts
Not Ideal For
Weekend visitors (closed Sat–Mon), strict vegans, and anyone wanting a quick counter-service meal before an early park drive.
Service Type
Dine-in table service, grab-n-go takeout, and catering
Vibe
  • Casual
  • Retro hot-rod theme
  • Converted blacksmith shop
Tips Advice
  • It is closed Saturday through Monday, so plan it for a Tuesday–Friday night.
  • Platters come with corn bread, honey butter and two sides or macs; the combo platter covers three meats and three sides for a table to share.
  • Ask for a gluten-free bun on any sandwich.
  • Desserts are baked in small batches and sell out, so order banana pudding or cobbler early.
  • The grab-n-go menu is a way to stock a cooler before the drive to West Glacier.

More details

Takeout Available
Yes
Beverage Program
Beer and wine license (ask the server for the current list); root beer on draft from Glacier Brewing; Fieldhead's Wild Mile coffee; house strawberry lemonade; bottled Mexican Coke and sodas.
Local Beers
The menu says to ask your server for the current beer and wine selection.
House Made
Sides (potato salad, smoked veggies, two slaws, Grandma Kat's baked beans, pork belly collard greens), chili, sauces (DESOTO Q-Sauce, grizzly sauce, mustard), four mac and cheese styles, and desserts baked by the pastry team (banana pudding, peanut butter pie, huckleberry cheesecake, cobblers).
Family Friendly
Yes
Unique Factor
A Portland barbecue family's Traeger-smoked menu in a converted Kalispell blacksmith shop, with a 1954 DeSoto car theme and elk sausage from a local butcher.
Best Time To Visit
A weekday lunch after arriving at Glacier Park International Airport, or a Tuesday–Friday dinner on a Kalispell base night; it is closed all weekend.
The Order Strategy
Order a combo platter for the table (three meats, three sides) plus one seasonal salad, and save room for one dessert; sandwiches already include a side, so skip extra apps unless the group is large.
The Vibe Check
A DeSoto car theme in a former blacksmith shop; loud and busy at dinner, relaxed at weekday lunch.
The Crowd Factor
Downtown locals and Glacier-bound travelers; with roughly 1,900 Google reviews at 4.7 stars it draws steady crowds on the four nights it is open.
Eat Here If Skip If
EAT HERE IF: you are basing in Kalispell mid-week and want a serious smoked-meat dinner with local elk sausage and huckleberry dessert. SKIP IF: your Kalispell night falls on a weekend, or you need a fast meal before a dawn Going-to-the-Sun Road start.
Distance From Park
About 33 miles (roughly 45 minutes) from the West Entrance at West Glacier via US 2 east; downtown Kalispell location.
Review Summary
About 1,900 Google reviews average 4.7 stars, a high mark for a restaurant this busy; the volume suggests it is one of the most visited dinner stops in downtown Kalispell.

Location

Slice of chocolate chip cake at The Desoto Grill in Kalispell, MontanaWeathered wooden facade with barn-style doors at The Desoto Grill in Kalispell, MontanaBusy lodge-style dining room at The Desoto Grill in Kalispell, MontanaWooden exterior of The Desoto Grill decorated with wreaths and flags in Kalispell, Montana

Frequently asked questions

How far is The Desoto Grill from Glacier National Park?

About 33 miles from downtown Kalispell to the West Entrance at West Glacier via US 2 east, per the National Park Service.

What days is The Desoto Grill open?

Tuesday through Friday, 11 AM to 9 PM. It is closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday, so a weekend Kalispell stay will miss it.

Is it good for kids?

Yes. There is a kids menu with mac and cheese, a cheeseburger, a pulled pork taco and a slider, served with Cheetos or seasonal watermelon.

Are there gluten-free or vegetarian options?

Sandwiches can be made with a gluten-free bun, and there is a smoked portabello sandwich plus salads and a stuffed baked potato with a veggie option.

Can I get food to go for the drive to the park?

Yes. The restaurant offers grab-n-go takeout and catering alongside dine-in; call ahead for current grab-n-go availability.

Beldi

Seasonal Mediterranean plates using local Montana produce; GF options available, but GF environment not guaranteed.

Sources

Editorial review: YourNPGuide Editorial Team. Information is compiled from official sources, verified traveler reviews, and editorial research; no firsthand visit is implied unless explicitly documented. Learn how YourNPGuide works.

Last updated September 2026. Report an issue.