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Montana's Cook House
Categories: Restaurants Steakhouses Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Steakhouses, Canadian (Traditional) [Edit]
194 Chain Lake DriveHalifax, NS B3S 1C5
(902) 450-1011
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
19 reviews for Montana's Cook House
19 reviews in English
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Review from Todd B.
2/19/2012 2 Check-ins Here
We have been here many times before. We had several different things and everyone enjoyed what they had. The portions are large so we never have room for dessert. As far as chains go this one is great but it is a little pricey
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Review from Sarah D.
Halifax, NS
12/4/2011
Very close to the worst resteraunt experience I have ever had.
Upon entering this establishment I was notified that my party and I had no ability to dine until a range of 45 minutes to an hour has passed. In lieu of this we were offered Bar-top seating. We agreed to it to appease our grumbling tummies and sat side by side at the bar.
Intermittent to serving drinks about 15 minutes the BARTENDER took our order. My boyfriend ordered a simple burger and fries, I opted for the Philly cheese Sandwich and ceaser salad and my best friend had the Club house sandwich and salad. We also ordered the combination "taster" appetizer which featured all of there "highest rated" appetizers.
After ordering our food, we sat with our drinks and waited....waited...waited.
A nice old couple sat down beside us ordered there food, and within about 15 minutes were eating.
After 45 minutes I began to feel less then happy. I informed the bar tender that we had been waiting (He joked to try to cut the tension which I appreciate, since he witnessed us sitting here attempting to keep our cool and said he would check on our food)
Another 20 minutes later I inquired again as to why we had not received our meal. After much confusion one of the kitchen staff appeared with what we ordered, well what they THOUGHT we ordered. We all received our rather pathetic main course (I will elaborate on that epic fail in a few moments) Minus the appetizer we ordered (...Aren't starters suppose to come first?)
By this point my ability to keep my cool was wearing thin. I explained that if they weren't going to give us our appetizer before our meal they shouldn't advertise it on the menu.
As for the food?
My steak sandwich was ice cold, the meat and sauce was congealed and the salad was withered. My best friends Clubhouse was soggy, and cold. Same issue with the salad. My boyfriend's burger was missing half the ingredients and was also sub-par.
By this time I was finished. I asked for a manager and refused to eat my meal; The manager arrived about 10 minutes later with the excuse that it was "So busy" some how the confusion resulted in our lack of proper service. To which I replied "If you don't have the ability to keep up with service, don't offer to serve customers." I think she could sense my irritation and tried to appease me by offering us a coupon each for $10 off our next order (Which in fine print stated one coupon per table, not valid with any other offer and expired within 2 months of receiving it) she also gave us a whopping 10% off our order. Whoopdy doo.
I left the rester aunt unhappy, cheated, and hunger. I will never eat there again and I will be happy to state just how awful they are to anyone who asks.
I have also directed a letter to the company as a whole and they are currently "conducting an internal investigation" which will probably never happen.
In short:
This place sucks. -
Review from David H.
11/25/2011
FAIL!
The steak was thin and overcooked. It was only slightly overcooked but still not spot-on. I could have gotten it for free as per the guarantee but I didn't want to spend the time dealing with that. I had a rib-eye and it was as tasteless as what you find at the Golden Corral. It was gritty and I really didn't come away with a beefy taste.
An aside is that I am a steak snob. I know what a steak should taste like and I expect to get that when paying $15+ for a steak. I don't expect perfection.
The rib-eye didn't have the flavor from the fat and I had made adjustments for the beef being grass fed (less fatty than corn fed). Even with that adjustment the piece of beef was lacking the proper flavor. It didn't help that the filet was cut very thin and that made it even harder to keep the meat tender and delicious even though I ordered it cooked rare. If you don't eat your steak rare then this would be awful even if you had lower standards for steak than I. You may not hate the steak but I guarantee (money back!) that you will never crave a steak from this place. This is a subtle sign that even less prejudicial palates will subconsciously know they didn't get the flavor and joy of food that is expected of a rib-eye.
Moving to the sides are only more disasters. Salad was a bland iceberg lettuce generic style with almost no vegetables (tiny slice of tomato and I think a hint of a piece of onion). My friend didn't get his dressing, he asked for it again (and so did I making it 3 attempts). We did manage to get dressing but not the kind we asked for three times. The baked beans were dry and overcooked, the onions were dry and overcooked, and [fill in the blank] was dry and overcooked.
Summary: Wait staff was friendly, attractive and incompetent. The entree was a failure and tasteless, the sides were overcooked and hard on your palate, the salad was of the lowest quality.
Please don't disregard my review - I enjoyed Outback Steakhouse and Texas Roadhouse Steakhouse. I do enjoy some of the steakhouse chains but not this one. -
Review from Tiffany T.
Halifax, NS
8/30/2011
So yah, if your looking for a fantabulous salad or you know, something made with love you're probably not going to find it at Montana's. However you will find delicious steak, mouth-watering burgers and the best damn nacho's I have ever tasted. Yes, that's right! Nacho's better than any place downtown(The Coast can quote me on that, too)! And, the portion is huge and includes chili. The first time the bf and I ordered them we also ordered burgers, big mistake. Had to take the burger home to eat the next day! I had the Veggie Feta Burger, and although it made met it's "left over" status, it was still very, very good.
Service isn't bad and prices are reasonable. Also, if you are a Caesar fan, they make different kinds-which are very yummy.
The menu can be limiting, because well it's mostly all meat. But I go for the NACHO'S! -
Review from Peter B.
Halifax, NS
8/3/2011
Yadda yadda yadda I know chain restaurants aren't exactly haute cuisine, but you know what? Sometimes everyone needs a break from having to make decisions that require too much thought, dressing to impress, or paying too much money to eat in a pretentious eatery.
Montana's is one of those safe, stand-by establishments where you're assured that the food you order will almost always be a delicious, large (almost too large), and reasonably priced meal.
Amazing burgers, delicious nachos... And mugs of beer the size of a toddler.... I love it.
On top of that, we have yet to encounter a rude server, ever.
The place is usually packed on a Thursday through Saturday evening, so, as others have mentioned, arrive early or hit it up for lunch. -
Review from Janis S.
Halifax, NS
10/26/2011
Probably some of the worst expensive food I have ever had. Been there once with family and my mothers steak was oozing water. So we complained and they told her it was probably at the bottom of the barrel. So kindly they gave us a gift card to come back some other time.
Came back and the food was sooo over cooked and no taste.
And went twice more with friends and got shitty food. The ribs are decent but not worth it.
I have finally learned my lesson and will never go back. -
Review from Mark C.
Halifax, NS
7/4/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Typical big-box restaurant. My faves off the lunch menu are the pulled pork sandwich, and the buffalo chicken sandwich.
Service can be a bit slow at times, and the price of the entrees is fairly high. A few times I've ordered the "Ribs & Wings" combo, which is around $23. It's tasty and always leaves me exceedingly, belt-looseningly full. -
Review from Erin P.
4/4/2011
Went recently for dinner. We each ordered the same thing: Fire Cracker Burger. We both said the same thing at the end of the meal: that was the BEST burger we've ever had. Hands down. This thing was absolutely amazing. This burger coupled with a cold glass of Rickards makes for a delightful meal. Don't order this burger if you plan to have desert. You will not have room at the end!
Service was fantastic. They were busy, but the service didn't lack. Everyone from the hostess to our server to the bartenders were top notch.
They've got a good thing going! I'm generally not a huge fan of chain restaurants, but Montana's is the exception to the rule. -
Review from Krista P.
Halifax, NS
6/12/2011
Strap on your spurs and ten gallon hat and get ready for a meal fit for a cowboy! (or girl).
Actually, like Erin P., I tend to steer away from chain restaurants as I normally find the food and service lacking compared to their non-chain counterparts. However, Montana's is a different story. I've always found the wait staff to be friendly and attentive, and the service to be relatively quick.
The food is also quite good overall. I love their pot roast soup, and their pot roast dinner (with yorkshire pudding...mmmm) in particular. Also of note are the goat cheese penne, classic sirloin burger, and the roasted turkey club.
Then there are also the nachos, which are delicious and put all other chain restaurant nachos (and many establishments' nachos in general) to shame. Plus they come with house made baked beans, which is just the icing on the cake as far as I'm concerned.
And on your birthday, you get to wear a big pair of antlers while the staff sing loudly to you! (yeah, I spend my days making a fool of myself in front of large groups of children, so I don't tend to embarrass easily...)
See you there, partner!Listed in: Nacho Average Nachos!
-
Review from Sarah H.
Halifax, NS
7/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's a pretty typical chain restaurant. The food was ok but the service was really really slow, and the restaurant was packed. As someone who only eats chicken, seafood or vegetarian, my meal options were very limited. You're probably thinking "why the heck did you go to a steakhouse then?" Well, I had a gift card for my birthday and had never been there before.
Personally, I probably wouldn't go back, but like I said the restaurant was packed the night we were there. It obviously appeals to a much different crowd. -
Review from Joel K.
4/28/2011
So obviously as a veggie, Montana's seems to be just a little bit like hell on earth.
But you know what? The service was pleasant and fast, the food (had the veggie burger) was lovely, and all-in-all I had a good time.
Well played, Montana's. Well played... -
Review from Elizabeth L.
Halifax, NS
7/16/2011 1 photo
This is one of our favorite go to spots for eating out. Unfortunately though, I always do the same stupid thing... forget to plan for the amount of food that arrives. I always leave Montana's needing to roll out the door.
The problem is the food is so good....
We went for early dinner today, arriving around 330pm. The place was pretty empty which was great, no waiting for a table. We sat in the bar area on the high booths, of course being short, I immediatly lost my shoe. That's where the hardship of the meal ended. Our waitress arrived immediately, introduced herself and took our drink order. We ordered 8 wings mild sauce as a starter while we were still selecting our main course. Our drinks arrived right away and a few minutes later so did our appetizer. The wings were good, especially for a chain restaurant. We normally order the Antijitos (which are the bomb!!) but we decided to try something different today.
We placed our main course orders, both getting full rack ribs mine with a loaded baked potato (here's where the too much food comes in). The food arrived shortly after we finished our appetizer and the waitress came and refilled our drinks right away.
The ribs were so tender the meat basicly fell off the bone. The baked potato was loaded with bacon , cheese and sour cream on the side. Adding corn bread (which I don't get the purpose of... but that's another whole post on its own) and cole slaw on the side... this was a meal for two people.
We finished what we could and didnt wait long for the waitress to recognize we were done. Coming over to clear our plates and offering coffee or dessert, we managed to exert a full stomach answer of "no".
The part of any restaurant I love is being able to pay at the table, which is another part of why I love Montana's.
I have never had a poor service experience at this Montana's, hopefully if you go, you'll be lucky enough to be served by Kendall. The best in the service industry. Always disappointed when we are not sitting in his area.
The food portions are definitely well sized and the price is proportionate to the food serving.
If you are looking for good ribs and don't want to fight trying to find a parking spot downtown to go to the Q or Boneheads... then definitely Montana's is the place to go. -
Review from K M.
Halifax, NS
12/3/2010
Stopped in for a bite the other night and the waiter spilled this sauce all over my wife. Of course accidents happen and this was one. When the manager came over and gave us a $10.00 voucher I was surprised and somewhat insulted! However the wife did not want to make a big deal out of it so I didn't say anything.
I think the meal should have been on the house and dry cleaning paid for! -
Review from Martine M.
Tantallon, NS
11/20/2010
We had lunch at Montana's today. Staff were very friendly. I loved the chicken philly cheese sandwich and sweet potato fries, and my hubby really liked the wings (with the hot sauce on the side, he did not find them too hot).
I know weekend evenings in Bayers Lake restaurants are crazy, so either go early or try Montana's for lunch like we did. -
Review from Bethany J.
Halifax, NS
4/23/2010
Montana's is the place to go when you want red meat and lots of it. The entrées are ranch-sized and offer a decent quality of food. One thing I've noticed is that the food is always piping hot - sometimes too hot! The mashed potatoes with gravy are to die for, which isn't something you often hear about restaurant mashed potatoes.
My boyfriend's father raves about the pot roast soup - says it's the best he's ever had (and that's saying something!). I've had both steaks and sandwiches here, and every time, I have been more than satisfied.
I will say that the service leaves a little to be desired, especially at busy times. It seems as though they leave themselves short-handed, because it's almost impossible to get your server's attention if you need something.
However, the staff are friendly and always happy to oblige. On one occasion, I had to send my steak back because it was cold. I'd been eating my sides while waiting to catch a server and when my plate was returned, they had replaced my sides with new portions and gave us a $10 voucher for our next visit. That's the way good customers are born! -
Review from Jens G.
Halifax, NS
11/4/2010
My face is still on fire from their wings !!!!
Generally not a huge fan of chain restaurants, especially when there is a theme involved. Heaven forbid eating wings in a pre-fab assemble yourself eatery. That I usually save for a pub with a wing night.
If you enjoy hot wings, order the medium as they have enough zing to keep the lager flowing. Then again you can always order the hot and later beg the question, what was I thinking.
The hostess was extremely friendly, server was bang on and the manager did table checks. Pre-fab bliss !!!!! -
Review from D B.
Halifax, NS
5/16/2011
My fam and my parents headed to Montana's this past weekend to celebrate my DD's birthday - hubs, myself and my parents all ordered the same $17.99 sirloin special and we were all pleased with our meals - I have been to this place before and had steak and ha not received a good meal (steak was obviously pre-frozen) so this was a pleasant surprise to say the least. My DD had the kids pasta with cheese sauce and garlic bread and cleaned her plate. Only complaint is that my side of onion fritters were stone cold so the server promptly took them back to be re-heated. My DD got a kick out of wearing the antler hat as the staff sang Happy Birthday to her. Our server was also top notch and very attentive. Kept coming back to check on us regularly - a sign of a great server. All in all a very pleasant and affordable meal out for a family of 5.
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Review from Krista L.
Westphal, NS
9/26/2009 2 photos
With a ranch style theme featured throughout the restaurant, Montana's is a fun and exciting place to go for any occasion. They offer an extensive menu with something for everyone. Personal favorites are the Chicken Pasta Bake and the All You Can Eat Ribs. The prices may be a little steeper than average, but the proportion you receive are bigger as well.
If you go on your birthday, the staff will be sure to embaress you by singing their own special rendition of Happy Birthday and by honouring you with the crowning of the Moose horns. -
Review from Shawna D.
Chester, NS
4/23/2010
Montana's Cook House - the smell that comes from here alone drives my crazy when I am out in the park, it smells so good.
We went her the other week for the first time. I was told it was good food and it lived up to the expectations. We had the ribs, they are to die for! Messy and good, just how ribs should be.
The interiors is a ranch look and you can't help but look at all the food as it passes by your table. The steak looks, Ssssoooo goood.
