Butte's food reflects its immigrants. Irish, Cornish, Serbian, Italian, Finnish and Chinese families arrived to work the mines, and each left a mark on the menus. A visit here is a chance to eat history, and it is easy on the wallet.
The pasty
The Cornish pasty is Butte's signature lunch. Miners known as Cousin Jacks carried the hand pie, filled with beef, potato and onion, into the mines, where it stayed warm in a lunch pail. Today, pasty shops in Uptown, including the one often mentioned by trolley guides, sell them hot, with gravy or ketchup depending on local debate. One pasty is a meal, so share if you are not very hungry. Go before mid-afternoon, since small shops close early.
Chinese food with deep roots
The Pekin Noodle Parlor, on Mercury Street beside the Mai Wah museum, is described as the oldest continuously operating Chinese restaurant in the country. It is up a steep flight of stairs, in a historic building with private booths, and it typically opens in the evening. The menu is classic American-Chinese comfort food, and many visitors recommend the curry. Pair dinner with a visit to the museum earlier in the day.
Steaks and supper clubs
Montana is beef country, and Butte has steakhouses and old-school supper clubs where the portions are large and the decor has not changed in decades. Ask locals for current favorites, since small restaurants change hands. Reservations are wise on weekends.
Irish pubs and old saloons
Uptown has bars that have poured drinks for more than a century. Irish heritage runs deep, and St. Patrick's Day brings one of the largest celebrations in the state, with a parade through the historic district. On any evening, you can find live music, a friendly bartender and a crowd of locals. Many bars also serve simple food.
Coffee, bakeries and breakfast
Uptown cafes and bakeries are good places to start the day, especially before a morning tour. Your hotel breakfast is another option, since most chain hotels offer one, but a local cafe adds flavor.
Craft drinks
Breweries and distilleries have joined the Uptown revival, offering flights and tasting rooms. They are a good stop after a day of walking.
Dietary needs
Traditional spots tend to be meat-heavy, so vegetarians should look at larger restaurants and call ahead. Allergies are best handled by phone. Some small places prefer cash, though most take cards.
Eating on a day trip
Anaconda has pubs and cafes near the Washoe Theatre, Helena has a lively downtown on Last Chance Gulch, and Fairmont Hot Springs Resort has on-site dining. Plan a picnic for the caverns, since food options near the park are limited.
Festival food
The Montana Folk Festival in July brings food vendors alongside free concerts, and other festivals celebrate Serbian, Irish and Chinese heritage with traditional dishes. If you travel during a festival, book dinner early.
A simple eating plan
Breakfast at a cafe, a pasty for lunch, an afternoon snack from a bakery, and dinner at the Pekin Noodle Parlor or a steakhouse. Finish with a drink at an old saloon, and you have tasted most of what Butte offers.
Prices
Butte is inexpensive by Western standards. Pasties and noodles are affordable, and even steakhouses cost less than in tourist towns. Spend what you save on tours.
Tips for ordering
Ask what the pasty comes with and whether the gravy is homemade. At the noodle parlor, ask the server for suggestions, and share dishes if you are in a group. At steakhouses, ask about cuts and sides, and mention allergies before you order. Tipping customs are the same as elsewhere in the United States.
Food and the trolley
The Old Number 1 trolley passes pasty shops and historic restaurants, and the guides often have personal favorites. Ask for their picks at the end of the tour, since they know which places are open on a given day. Combine a late-morning tour with a pasty lunch for an easy plan.
Takeaway and picnics
Pasties travel well, which is why miners loved them. Buy a few in the morning, wrap them in a towel and eat them at the Granite Mountain overlook or the Lewis and Clark Caverns picnic area for a memorable meal with a view.