Settled beneath the Rocky and Mission Mountains along the shimmering shores of Flathead Lake in Lakeside, Montana, Tamarack Alehouse & Grill is where the Flathead Valley comes to exhale. 🏔️
This family-owned Flathead Lake brewery and restaurant — affectionately known as “The ‘Rack” — has been the beating heart of the Lakeside dining scene since 2007, built on a simple but powerful promise: brew bold, adventure-worthy craft beer and cook genuinely great pub food in a space where everyone belongs.
Almost two decades later, that promise has never wavered — and the loyal crowd that fills this place night after night is proof.
How Tamarack Alehouse & Grill Won Lakeside’s Hearts
It takes something truly special to become the restaurant of a small Montana lake town — and Tamarack Alehouse & Grill did it by never trying to be anything other than exactly what it is. 🌲
From day one, the family behind The ‘Rack built their reputation on honest, fresh pub food, handcrafted ales, and the kind of warm, creek-side atmosphere that makes you forget you ever had anywhere else to be.
Word spread across the Flathead Valley fast. Locals from Kalispell, Whitefish, and Polson started making the drive to Lakeside specifically for the French Dip, the Bison Quesadilla, and the Smoked Bacon Mac N’ Cheese.
Desserts, starters, burgers, pizza, rice bowls — the menu grew with ambition over the years, but the philosophy never changed: use local ingredients where possible, cook everything fresh, and make every guest feel like a regular.
The creek-side patio became a summer institution — a magical outdoor space where the sounds of Stoner Creek mix with laughter, cold pints, and the smell of something extraordinary coming off the kitchen, drawing families, couples, and adventure-seekers alike to linger long after the sun dips behind the mountains. 🌅
From Flagship beer flights to hand-cut rib eye steaks, the range of what Tamarack delivers under one roof is extraordinary — the kind of place that makes you realize a great neighborhood brewery restaurant can do everything well, if the family behind it cares enough. ❤️
Food Highlights
- Fish Tacos: Wild-caught, beer-battered Atlantic haddock in flour tortillas with chipotle sour cream, shredded cabbage, tomato, and tri-colored tortilla chips. 🌮
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Baked Brie Salad: Spinach, warm baked brie, local bacon, red onion, apple chutney, pecans, huckleberry vinaigrette, and toasted crostini — a showstopper salad. 🥗
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Keg Nachos: Black beans, melted cheese, jalapeño, black olives, tomato, green onion, salsa, and sour cream — served on an actual keg. 🧀
- Mission Mountain Rib Eye: A hand-cut sixteen-ounce Angus rib eye served with mashers, house-made chimichurri, and seasonal vegetables. 🥩
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French Dip: Au jus beef and melted Swiss cheese on a locally baked baguette with amber au jus for dipping. 🥖
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Smoked Bacon Mac N’ Cheese: Local peppered bacon and Montana-made pasta in an amber ale white cheddar cream sauce, topped with shaved parmesan and green onion. 🧀
- Double Pepperoni Pizza: Marinara, mozzarella, and a generous double layer of pepperoni on house-made dough. 🍕
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Huckleberry Cobbler: Warm, golden-baked huckleberry cobbler — a Montana-proud dessert. 🫐
Atmosphere
Tamarack Alehouse & Grill is a stunning, high-ceilinged space with rustic-industrial architectural details, warm wood tones, and a creek-side patio along Stoner Creek that is widely considered one of the most magical outdoor dining settings in all of northwestern Montana. 🌲
The interior hums with energy on busy nights — the open, airy layout and lively crowd create an atmosphere that is unmistakably festive, though diners note the high ceilings and stone accents can amplify the noise on peak evenings.
Outdoor patio seating with patio heaters extends the season well into autumn, letting guests linger over cold pints and huckleberry cobbler long after the summer crowds have thinned — one of the great pleasures of dining at The ‘Rack. 🍂
Bottom Line
Tamarack Alehouse & Grill is the soul of Lakeside, Montana — family-owned, adventure-fueled, and serving some of the Flathead Valley’s finest pub food alongside exceptional craft beer.
With a legendary creek-side patio, a menu that never stops surprising, and hospitality that makes every guest feel like a regular, this is a true Montana must-visit. 🏔️
Address:
105 Blacktail Rd Suite #1, Lakeside, MT 59922
🕔 Open Daily: 11:30 AM–9:00 PM