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A labor of love: Homemade meals at Papa Don's Grill A unique family-atmosphere restaurant, Papa Don's Grill opened in the summer of 2005 in Polson, Montana to become a great success. Owners Stephanie, Don and Tavia Clement are new to the restaurant business, but, longtime avid cooks. Native Montanans, they have family scattered everywhere under the Big Sky. They, like many people who end up leaving the state in search of better jobs ended up in other areas of the country to try and make a living, but, found that home kept on calling. They feel extremely fortunate to have been able to turn their love of cooking into a business, one that puts them right at the shore of Flathead Lake in the hearth of what Stephanie Clement calls "God's Country." "If I drive through Polson and do not pick up Papa Don's Ribs for my husband...I get a spanking" - R.T., Coram, MT - from our guest book Tod Clement, an off-road racer in Baja, (and Stephanie and Don''s nephew) started a tour company called "Wide Open Baja." Don and Stephanie started doing big crew dinner and special function meals for the tours, which go their love of home-style cooking fired-up. Feeding upwards of a thousand people at one meal gave then a unique appreciation of the art of cooking, and, after countless rave reviews, they decided to open their own business. When they found the location for the restaurant, they knew they had the perfect combination to set their dream in motion. They feel that they have been fortunate to bring together a great team of people to work at the restaurant, and firmly believe that the staff is part of the family. "We have a terrific core of people, and, we honestly wouldn't have made it through the summer without them." The menu attests to the passion and dedication that goes into each selection: everything at the restaurant is made from scratch, from the signature barbeque sauce to the croutons and salad dressings. they have their own in-house smoker, so they can control every step of the process before it reaches their customers. "Best food we have had on our entire trip. Love the baked beans!" - G. M. - from our guest book "Word of mouth in a small community is wonderful. It is so uplifting to have people come in and say 'three different people recommended you for dinner,'" says Stephanie. They are currently expanding their menu and have recently added fresh wild salmon and the famous "Wild Thing" burger. Soon they will have their barbeque sauce bottled and available for take-home and for sale on-line. Customers can enjoy the beautiful panoramic view of the lake from almost every table, savor corn on the cob hot off the grill and dig into Tri-Tip, Chicken and Ribs while sipping local micro-brews. During the warmer months a large deck allows diners to enjoy both the delicious food and the fresh air. Whether the customer is a local who just can't get enough, or, someone just passing through on vacation, they can be assured that they will be greeted like a friend. The relaxed decor reflects the eclectic tastes of the owners, which ends up being comfortable and cozy, but distinctive. The owners and staff or Papa Don's Grill make sure that everything they serve is top quality; the best of the best and that people genuinely enjoy themselves. By Meg Tracy "Delicious dinner - a gem of a restaurant - good local beer too!" - H. & J., McLennan, Alberta - from our guest book |
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