Restaurants

Dinosaur Cafe: the hidden treasure (Kaimin Pick)

If you haven't heard about the Dinosaur Cafe or seen the sandwich board sitting up outside the front door of Charlie B's, you might not even know about one of the best hidden food gems in Missoula. The Dinosaur Cafe packs its menu with Cajun and Creole meals, along with classic bar food. Go with one of more than a dozen styles of burgers, or try something new and get a catfish or oyster po-boy sandwich or some shrimp ettoufee. A large menu and great prices make the Dinosaur Cafe a great place to add to your eating-out lunch rotation. Do yourself a favor and try the part gumbo, part jambalaya, "gumbolaya."

#1 Gyros: no, really, they're #1

Missoula has a few good gyro joints, but #1 lives up to its name. Gyros are made fresh when you order them, and ripping open the paper sleeve they come in and taking a bite is a truly satisfying experience. The gyros are good sized and the reasonably priced, making for a good value. The menu is a little small and is mostly centered on the gyro, but there are also other Greek dishes like souvlaki and baba ganoush.End your meal by trying some baklava, a sweet treat that is worth ordering at least once.

Rattlesnake Gardens: where you'll never get bored

It might be a little out of the way out in the Rattlesnake neighborhood, but Rattlesnake Gardens is well worth the trip. It has a large menu, serving up soup, salads, sandwiches and burgers, in addition to a can't-miss breakfast on weekends that includes a great selection of omelets. There's a limited amount of seating inside, but lots of picnic tables outdoors. Rattlesnake Gardens has daily specials for lunch and dinner, like roast turkey or Thai chicken gai yang. All of the meals can be ordered for take-out and there's a full menu posted on their Facebook page. Get a side of the spicy garlic fries, you won't be sorry.

Sa Wad Dee: where they warn you when things are getting hot

Cooking the best Thai food in town, Sa Wad Dee is an exotic taste not to be missed. Walk in and head to the back to order from the hot bar. There's a rotating board of a few dishes ready in the warming trays each day, but you can order any item and they will whip it up for you. And because Thai food can get a bit spicy, Sa Wad Dee includes helpful indications on how much heat you can expect from each of their plates. Get there a bit early if you are eating lunch during the week, as the place tends to fill up fast. Also, while Sa Wad Dee is open for dinner, it switches over to a bigger menu and waitress-style restaurant. It's very good, but lunch is the meal to be there for. [TIP: If you're on a budget, grab a couple of potato balls instead of a full plate for one of the best inexpensive dishes in town.]

Vietnam Noodle Restaurant: leftovers are bound to appear.

Vietnam Noodle is a fantastic value. Apart from the sign, you could easily pass it over from the outside, but once in and seated, you're in for some of the largest portions you can find in Missoula. Bring a friend — or don't eat for days before – because shocking plates this big are supposed to be made for one person. Dig in to a mountain of sweet and sour chicken, deep bowls of Vietnamese soups, pad Thai or wontons with complimentary tea. Box up whatever you can't finish for late-night leftovers. Nothing is better once it starts getting colder than a bowl of pho, a noodle and beef soup.

Worden's: sandwiches, sandwiches and sandwiches