The Billings Free Press

Cinnamon Rolls To Go

Stella’s Kitchen in downtown Billings, kitty-corner from the post office, has some really nice and helpful waitpeople, always critical to a restaurant. Their menu items are many and varied, including my favorite, corned beef hash with eggs to your order and fresh-squeezed orange juice. And of course the big cinnamon rolls seen above slathered with sticky icing greet you on the way in and say good-bye reluctantly on the way out. You can exceed your caloric needs just by walking slowly by this group of rolls.

Get there before 1pm as that is when they stop taking late-risers: there always seems to be a fair number of disappointees. This place is well appointed courtesy of the previous owners Ken and Barbara Hickel. Worth a regular visit.

After 1pm on Sunday go over to McCormick’s on Montana Ave. Just to remind you here is a picture from last summer.

OK, where are we now? The price of gasoline has been plummeting. I have a hunch we are already lower. Yes, of course I knew it.

If you don’t like the price of the gas, just wait for a few days and it will be different. This is a useful lesson in the ways of supply and demand. Is anybody paying attention? Be thankful, for goodness sake.

OK now where are we? I’m guessing somewhere on the West end of town. Driving down 27th St? On the corner of Grand and 24th?

OK now, somewhere on a side street in the last few days, practically anywhere in Billings.

This is a little more specific, though our ignorance of languages other than our own makes it difficult.

Yes, of course, now you’re firing all four cylinders. The Dutch Bros Restaurant, on 17th between Grand and Parkhill, made some very good Tomato Basil soup as they always do on Friday. Their sandwiches are pretty good too. And so is their quiche (keesh—not quicky).

Found this little place while taking a shortcut through the residential neighborhood just southwest of St Vincent Hospital. 10th Ave between 30th and 31st. Is it me or is Billings being blessed with a large number of small restaurants? We need some sort of scorecard to remember who all the players are. These are nice people who just opened up a few days ago.

The corned beef with pepperjack cheese on deli rye with some sliced pickles and Dijon mustard was very good. For takeout only as I didn’t see any tables or chairs. They also do a soup of the day but I didn’t have time on Tuesday. Maybe next week.

The venerable Dr. Mueller weighs in on both Soup and Such locations.

I must admit it is one of my favorite restaurants in Billings and I think everyone should stop by and visit.

Heights: 1414 Main St

Downtown: 2716 3rd Ave N

A traveler from Kent, Washington has put in his vote for two of the best place’s to eat in Billings.

John’s choices are The Soup Place and HuHot Mongolian Grill. What are yours?

Soup and Such is fast becoming a Heights institution with their unlimited soup and salad bar.

Not only do they have soups and salad; they also have sandwiches and desserts. The soup bar features seven soups, made fresh daily. You can check out the rest of their menu online at soupandsuch.com.

Antonia and Mike Craighill opened Soup and Such in the summer of 2006 and it has been one of the best kept secrets in Billings. Heights residents know about them but folks on the west end lament the lack of a good salad bar in Billings. I almost hate to tell folks because then it will get more difficult to get a seat in the best soup and salad spot in town but I was raised by my folks to share good things with others.

Because of the success the Craighill’s have enjoyed at 1414 Main St they are now set to open a second location downtown in the former Whistling Waters coffee shop at 2720 3rd Ave N. They have a tentative opening date of October 1st.

The downtown location will only serve soup and salad from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Heights location will keep the same hours of Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Antonia also caters wedding cakes and other baked goods out of the Heights location.

When you go in, tell them Where you heard about them and enjoy!

Fans of Chinese dining in Billings have a plethora of choices here and I must admit Chinese cuisine is one of my favorites. I guess the best way to get me to eat my vegetables is to stir-fry them.

The other night my sister and I went to the Grand Garden at 3839 Grand Ave. The owners used to own the Mayflower of China restaurant which closed when they relocated to their new location. The Mayflower of China was one of my favorite restaurants with good food and generous portions. With the switch to their new location they have kept to the same business model.

The amount of food we received was more than we could eat in one sitting and we had more than enough for dinner the next evening. The temperature, flavor and presentation were first class.

The one thing which helped to remind me that we were still in Billings was the following request of a waiter from a patron at a nearby table, “could I get some chopsticks and some ketchup?” The pained look on the waiters face was absolutely priceless.

Other than that hilarious little episode dining at the Grand Garden was a delicious and delightful experience. I would highly recommend it to any fan of Chinese cuisine.

OK Folks, Alycook444 has the following query:

An upcoming cross-country move will involve stays in Billings, Montana, and Fargo, North Dakota. I would love ideas for things to eat and see. Thanks in advance!

If you have ideas and/or recommendations just leave them here.

Today’s edition of The Billings Gazette has some good stories today which are worth reading.

The first is a story about the Japanese community in 20th century Harlowton and the second is of the last Japanese native in Harlowton. The story of Henry Muneta is especially poignant since he is the father-in-law of a Big Sky blogger.

I’ll let you figure out who the blogger is.

The next story is a nice one about the local Bluegrass music club which has weekly jam sessions at a local Hardee’s. The Gazette also has a nice photo album to go with the story.

I wonder if the Long Time Lonesome Dogs ever play at Hardee’s?

The scuttlebutt concerns the Chili’s Grill & Bar and Romano’s Macaroni Grill which are coming to Billings. The word I’ve heard on the street is that they’re planning to build next to the new Cabela’s on King Ave. East.

Do you have any scuttlebutt you want to share?

Stopped by the Pickle Barrel for lunch today and once again I was able to partake of the best sub sandwich in town. We have several chain sub shops in town but this Bozeman import makes the best sub sandwich I have ever had. The sandwiches are large, piled high with meat and fixings on freshly baked bread and incredibly delicious.

If you like sandwiches and have a healthy appetite then this is the place to be. Check them out.