Off The Grid

 
     OFF THE GRID - HOME RANCH BOTTOMS CAFE AND PUB

  Yep, a cafe and pub that's off the grid.  Meaning no power lines for electricity.  Can you believe a restaurant with no microwave? Well this one ain't got one. And that may be a plus.

  We had headed into the North Fork area along the western border of Glacier Natl. Park to check out a dot on the map called Polebridge.  There's a Ranger Station there with an entrance to the park frequented by hikers, fisherman, and boaters. It's about a thirty mile drive north from the Apgar Visitor's Center and most of the road is gravel.  No problem, it's a good road and we were surprised at the number of vehicles that passed us headed back south.  The views of the mountain peaks to the east proved to be pretty impressive and true to form we stopped way too many times to snap some photos.  So when we spotted the Home Ranch Bottoms sign, we were ready for a meal stop and decided to give it a try. It turned out that Home Ranch Bottoms is more than just a cafe and pub.  There's also a convenience store and camping sites.  The wilderness North Fork area is off the utility power grid so generators must be used to provide electricity. Much of the area is also without phone service. Home Ranch Bottom does have phone service, however.      

  We entered the cafe/pub through the store.  The place had a western feel, cozy and welcoming.  Several patrons were conversing at the log bar or just finishing up their meal. We checked out the menu of pizza and burgers and such but fell for the special of the day - barbecued ribs. We were told the ribs were prepared by a native Texan, and he knows how to do ribs.  How can anyone resist a pitch like that!

   We weren't disappointed.  Our plate of smoky flavorful ribs, slaw, baked beans, and roll was great.  I'm a picky person when it comes to ribs, slaw, and beans and I really enjoyed the Home Ranch Bottoms version. It was delicious to the last bite.  But wait, what is that in the upper left corner of the picture?  What else but homemade Huckleberry Pie.  The only way to finish off a meal in this part of the country!  And A La Mode, too, of course.  I really didn't enter Home Ranch Bottoms with the intention of doing a review.  But friendly and interesting conversation with the rib master and also one of the owners (the lady  behind the bar, center, in the picture above) while we were enjoying our meal was the clincher.  Sometimes the best places are the ones you fall into purely by accident!

  Check out their website at http://www.homeranchbottoms.com/ and when you're out Glacier way, be sure and visit this phenomenon, a cafe/pub without a microwave!    

Scenery along the road to Polebridge.