TT
Tayler Thorne
Oct 7, 2026
I’m currently working out of town, and I was literally telling my girlfriend over the phone that Montana’s was one of my favourite places to eat while travelling for work. Unfortunately, tonight’s experience completely changed that.
I placed an online order at 8:03 PM, with an estimated pickup time of 8:23 PM. Fair enough. I’d just finished a 14-hour shift and was staying at the hotel across the street, so I walked over at the scheduled pickup time.
I stood at the front entrance for approximately 10 minutes before anyone acknowledged me. When someone finally asked if I’d been helped, I explained that I was picking up an order for Tayler. I was directed to walk around to the back and retrieve my order from a table.
I followed those instructions and walked over to the table, where there was a single takeout order sitting. Naturally, I approached the table to see whether my name was on the bag. It wasn’t. I never picked up the bag, touched the order, or attempted to take it. I simply looked for my name, exactly as I’d been instructed to do.
While I was doing that, another waitress came over and yelled at me. Apparently, following one employee’s directions was enough to warrant being reprimanded by another, in full view of the restaurant.
By 8:35 PM, I was still standing around in my dirty work clothes, in front of the entire restaurant, waiting for an order that was supposed to be ready nearly 15 minutes earlier.
Another employee came out and asked if I’d been helped. I explained, again, that I was Tayler and was waiting for my order, which should have been ready 15 minutes ago.
A few minutes later, the same waitress who had yelled at me returned and said my food would be ready soon. I told her I wasn’t particularly impressed with the experience so far.
That’s when the excuses started.
Apparently, they were short-staffed, despite there being three servers visible, a bartender sitting at the bar, and approximately four occupied tables, although one was admittedly a larger group of 10 or more.
I was also told they had run out of potatoes but had managed to make my order anyway.
Now, I’m a welder by trade. I can make a lot of things happen that might look like magic, but producing potatoes out of thin air isn’t one of them. Perhaps Montana’s has figured something out that I haven’t.
I finally walked out with my food at 8:45 PM, 42 minutes after placing my order and 22 minutes after the estimated pickup time.
And after all that? I got back to my hotel, opened my meal, and found what I can only describe as the saddest excuse for brisket I’ve ever seen.
The food was mediocre at best, but the service was what really ruined the experience. I can understand a restaurant running behind. I can understand staffing issues. What I can’t understand is being ignored, yelled at for following an employee’s instructions, and then given a string of excuses instead of a simple apology.
I went from recommending Montana’s to my girlfriend that evening to seriously questioning whether I’ll ever eat there again.
Thoroughly disappointing, especially from a restaurant I’ve genuinely enjoyed for years.