Regardless of how the food is, I'm honestly not sure I want to patronize the place, given the way the cafe's long-time proprietors were treated at the end of last year. The current business operators know they're going to make a pile of money this summer from people who think they're patronizing the "old" Park Cafe ... essentially they're making money from three decades of other peoples' hard work.
I would like to give the new team a chance, you never really can know why a lease is terminated or the details of the change in management. Mike Beason managed it back in the 80s and is a personal friend. I think we can just hope they have the secret pie recipes and continue the great attitude.
I'm familiar enough with the recent backstory to know that I would not feel at all comfortable supporting the current cafe owners, but I'll have to leave it at that.
If I make it to the east side this summer, I will give them a try, it is unfortunate, that often, the property owners of business will lease them out and let someone else build a reputation, then the future generation terminates the lease hoping to cash in on others work, that is the way business has been done since the beginning of time. As popular as that place has been over the years, it won't take long for the visitors to figure out if it is still good, or destine to fail. When dealing with Glacier, unfortunately, there is really not all that many options especially on the east side of the park!
I hope we get some updated reviews posted this summer, both for new places and our old traditional places. And also for lodging places as well.
I understand that on the west side a new restaurant/coffee shop is opening on Route 2 at West Glacier at the location of the former Rawhide Trading Post which is closed.
went by the park café the other day. the original owners of the building are going to try and make a go of it. we were in the gift shop/grocery side, the restaurant was not open. the grocery looked the same but the gift shop side was very thinly stocked. spoke w the new manager, an ex st mary lodge guy that lives on duck lake. there were also a couple of elderly ladies there that I assume are part of the family. they are all real nice and I wish them luck but seem inexperienced.
ate dinner at two sisters last Friday night, opening night. had a great meal, the red burger, friends had the chicken fried steak. we were the only folks there at the end of our meal. john and daughter/sisters had taken a week off after opening up.