Description: It’s the rare individual that doesn’t get warm and fuzzy feelings about Sesame Street’s characters. My favs were Cookie Monster and Snuffleuppagus, but who could forget Ernie’s rendition of
Rubber Ducky? Hmmm. Be that as it may, our first evening in Great Falls found Bob and me walking through the doors of Bert & Ernie’s.
The historic early-1900s building became Bern & Ernie’s in 1977, and has been renovated twice since then. Its original tin ceiling, ancient ornate cash register, brick walls, and interesting knick-knacks provide plenty of atmosphere. Musicians play live most evening between 7-10pm. (We were too early.)
Bert & Ernie’s have fourteen beers on tap, and even more bottled. Our knowledgeable server, Sienna, informed us that many people rave about
Harvest Moon Brewing Company beers, from tiny Belt, Montana, practically a stones throw away from Great Falls. If we liked dark ales, we would have ordered their Pigs Ass Porter just for the name. Instead, we went with a pitcher of Harvest Moon’s smooth Montana Amber ($14), and were not disappointed.
The food menu includes quite a variety of soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and dinners, but we didn’t get further than the appetizers. That was because they offer three different kinds of nacho platters: regular, supreme, and Irish! (Well, the Irish ones are
fries covered with nacho toppings.) We decided on supreme ($8.95), but Bob wanted shredded beef and I wanted chicken. Sienna solved our dilemma by offering half-and-half.
I was quite satisfied when the nachos arrived piping hot and topped with lettuce and tomatoes, an unusual touch, but part of what makes them "supreme." But Bob had trouble in very short order. "No
BEANS. Where are the beans?" Asking to see the menu again, there it was, beans
not listed. As we continued to munch from our heaping platter, already disgruntled Bob began to comment that there was very little beef on his side, compared to all the tender chunks of seasoned chicken on mine. "You should have ordered chicken" was not the thing to say to him, but I did think it.
From then on, things began to quickly pile up on the negative side on his half of the nachos. "I don’t like how the cheese is melted – the chips are all glommed together. Why do they put jalapenos and salsa on the side? It should be mixed in with everything else." Soon enough he aired his woes to Sienna, who listened attentively and offered to bring him a bowl of beef on the side. Soon she returned looking sheepish, explaining they’d run out of nacho-beef, but would he like a bowl of nacho-chicken instead? Yes.
The dessert menu proved too tempting to forego, but since we were full on the nachos, we ordered desserts "to go." Bob: triple chocolate brownie pie, a huge slice ($4.50). Me: huckleberry cheesecake, but they were out of that too! So I ended up getting Oreo-cookie cheesecake for free.
300 1st Avenue South
(406) 453-0601
www.bertandernies.comClose