Scapegoat Eatery

On the back roads of Glacier National Park you’ll drive through plenty of small towns and villages. We ended up in Lincoln, Montana, for a late dinner, not expecting much in such a small place where business probably dies down after the sun sets. One of two restaurants in town, Scapegoat Eatery caught our attention since it was right off the main road. We were pleasantly surprised to find an extensive lunch and dinner menu. The inside, though clean and attached to a large bar, could only seat a maximum of 20 people. What’s more, there were just two employees working, and according to a handwritten sign, there is usually only one. We immediately gave our order at the counter, anticipating a long wait time, but the hardworking staff prepared our food at a quick pace.

The sandwiches were popular among truckers and road-trippers who stopped by, and after a bite out of their Hot Italian, it was easy to see why. Soft, toasted white bread held together a cheesy and meaty masterpiece. The ham and pepperoni were grilled and charred nicely, as all of the flavor was present along with the tasty but subtle Italian mayonnaise. The mozzarella held the sandwich together like glue so it was easy to eat and relatively mess-free. We chose to enjoy the sandwich with “pepper jack munchies” a creative side of cheese and jalapeño stuffed tater tots that were bites of fried spicy goodness.

The chicken sandwich was unavailable by the time we ordered it but the staff did their best to accommodate us and offered to use diced grilled chicken instead. This modified dish was served on a soft buttered bun though the chicken was dry and not very tasty, the fries that it came with were outstanding. Cut from Montana potatoes and heavily seasoned with pepper, garlic, and salt, this side was especially delicious and stole the spotlight of the entire meal.

We also enjoyed a buffalo chicken salad which came in a very large portion with plenty of fried bits of chicken. The chicken was as dry as in the sandwich and didn’t taste as strong as buffalo sauce should, but the sheer amount green peppers, onion, and tomato took this salad a step up from the average healthy dish. The ample amount of bleu cheese crumble was strong enough to add flavor to every single bit of the salad, down to the last leaf of romaine. The dish came with many sides of ranch dressing, another act of generosity from the busy staff members.

Thankful that Scapegoat Eatery could provide us with a late night dinner, we were delighted by the quality of the food, timely and efficient service, and friendly hospitality. Hikers and travelers; keep your eyes peeled while driving around Glacier, you don’t want to miss this place.