West Glacier eatery reopens with BBQ fare

WEST GLACIER — After a 12-year hiatus, the Heaven's Peak Montana Kitchen is open again.

Oscar Medrano, the son of lodge owner Trudi Karger, has taken over the kitchen, serving up a simple menu of barbecue pork ribs, beef brisket and chicken.

Medrano said one of the most popular plates is the "smashed-down burger" which is cooked in a ball and then smashed down on the bun. It is molded with cheese inside and served with a huckleberry aioli.

The kitchen has been through several iterations over the years, primarily a finer dining establishment, and Medrano said he'd eventually like to transition out of barbecue entirely and back into the finer dining scene of West Glacier.

"I'd like to be the nice spot in West Glacier," he said, with an emphasis on locally grown products.

But for now, when business gets slow, manager Lindsey Mayer dons the Hickory the Bear costume with a sign advertising their barbecue and goes out to U.S. 2 with a sign. She said it seems to work — people stop by to check the place out, if only to visit with the friendly bear. In 100-degree heat, the suit can be, um, unbearable.

The lodge was built by Jim Mann in 1996 and still houses guests in the summer months. It has also been the host of the Pints for Paths Brewfest for several years and will be again this year.

The new restaurant also serves several local beers and regional wines.

Mayer and Medrano met through the Christian Ministries of National Parks, which brings nondenominational services to parks across the United States.

"When we're not smoking meat we're praising the Lord," Medrano said.

The restaurant is open from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday through Monday.