Review - Staggering Ox - 12/10/2025 For our ROMEO Club (Retired Old Men Eating Out) adventure today we celebrated our second “Second Wednesday, Second Chance” meal. You might recall that the last time we visited the Staggering Ox back on August 1st, we were disappointed because they stopped serving breakfast right as we got there. At 10:45 AM the hostess explained to us, “I don’t have anyone back there who knows how to make breakfast.” Back then, the lunch menu sandwiches were great, but we knew that sometime in the future we would want to partake of their breakfast offerings. So today they were the target of our Second Wednesday, Second Chance ROMEO Club adventure.
We had agreed to start early, so I got up at the crack of 8:00 AM, and I was in Otto’s driveway by 9:00 AM. By 9:30 we were striding into the Staggering Ox with great expectations.
In our previous review I mentioned how eclectic the decor is, with plenty of seating for different sized groups. In a recent social media post the owner was looking for more local artists to display their work on the restaurant walls.
Entering the restaurant from the front door I remembered that In order to order breakfast you have to walk all the way to the back of the dining area to the Red Atlas coffee shop where they also offer fancy coffee drinks.
The meal that we were both looking forward to is found on the Keto-friendly section of their breakfast menu. It consists of three eggs and six slices of bacon smothered under three slices of cheddar cheese. Otto substituted pepper jack cheese.
We both ordered normal coffee from the self service coffee bar. You help yourself to a mug of coffee from a choice of regular or decaf, and you can dress up your drink with multiple sugar and non-sugar options and cream. As we were waiting for our food, Otto remarked, “You know, they didn’t ask how we wanted our eggs cooked.” So we both gave our opinion of how they would be cooked. I said, “Since they didn’t ask, you have to assume scrambled.” Otto thought that they would be fried, probably “over medium.”
As our good-hearted debate was drawing to a close, our server arrived with our meals in a rectangular styrofoam container with plastic silverware inside a brown paper lunch bag.
It turned out that Otto’s guess was closer to the truth. My eggs were pretty much over easy while Otto’s eggs were a little more done. His eggs had a lot of crispy around the edge which he considers overcooked. The color of the eggs was an unappealing gray, as if they had been cooked in the bacon grease. The melted cheddar mixed with the yellow egg yolks was unappetizing. The lack of egg options and the difference in our identical orders makes me wonder if the cook actually knows how to cook eggs. Even with salt and pepper added the flavor of the eggs was just blah. On a positive note, the thinly sliced bacon was very well cooked, nice and crispy, and not burnt. (I hate bacon that flops around like a wet lasagna noodle.)
Plastic silverware and styrofoam “plates” is an automatic downgrade in score. On the positive side, we both liked the “serve yourself as much coffee as you like” service.
The Staggering Ox has great sandwiches, some of the best in town, but as a breakfast place the food was only so-so. There are much better options.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
John Cochrane
Club foot sandwiches are a treat! Great selection with all kinds of flavors.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Sandwich, The Nuke, Chipotle Ranch
Jeff Davidson
Every time i order and receive my food, i am greeted with great attitudes and wonderful food. price, like everything else, is a bit strong... but worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
CHRYL POORE
I ordered 2 sandwiches...bread on both were dry. I live in East Helena. I ordered a nuke with sunflower seeds and black olives and ranch dressing. When I got home and ate the sandwich...the nuke did not have one seed or one olive nor any ranch in bag. I gave a 15% tip...I called to advise...vm is full which means I will need to make a special trip to them to see if I can get any kind of a refund. While I was there waiting for my order...another customer complained about his order. Big buckets line the counter...for tips. First time I've had a bad meal at this restaurant but have noticed that the workers...just don't care. They make more per hour then I made when I retired after 38 years with my employer...PLUS tips...PLUS they won't have to claim the tips as income. I'm very disappointed with several restaurants in Helena and now will be marking this one off my list...very few left to choose from. So far...Applebee's and Teriyaki take out have earned my repeat business...sadly, that's about it. Staggering Ox...expect a visit....since I can't reach you by phone.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Patrick Flaherty
I ordered a Rice of the Sea. I got a half order of rice with some cheese. Nothing that should be in the order, when I called and complained, they said sorry. They also said I could come back and get another, 20 minutes before they closed...I live 30 minutes away. Doesn't work out. VERY DISAPPOINTING.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Cali Morrison
Home of the clubfoot -- the unique sandwich concept. Always fresh -- including Creative sauces to dress up your sandwich. Counter service was excellent-- great energy and an eclectic mix of art and vintage garbage pal kids cards on thr walls.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
John Wagner
I found a large hair inside my sandwich before I even took a bite. When I asked for a refund they refused and said refunds were not allowed. Said they’d make me a new sandwich but no thank you. I won’t eat there again.
Ali Reb
Bread is great. The meat tastes a bit old sometimes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
H\u0026H Fabrication and Trailer Repair
The best customer service in Helena. As a buisness owner customer service is so important. We had the same gentleman up front 2 days in a row. He was genuine, patient, and very friendly. Even if the food was bad, it's not, I would come back because of him. 10/10. Keep up the great work!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mary Erdman
My favorite sandwich shop! I have tried most of the cold sandwich’s and never been disappointed. If you are looking for a place to bring someone who is visiting Helena I always stop here!
Food and service up front were great, As we sat by the west door. We could hear someone coughing. In the kitchen, over the wall.. My Girlfriend said, Asked if that's the kitchen and not someone coughing on the food.... Well, guess what... Now I'm Sick.... Coughing and hacking up a storm.. Could be a lawyer situation...I've ruled out everywhere else... No one else was sick.. Thought you should know
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 4
Mattie T
The most unique buns you'll ever see. The home of the clubfoot bun. Friendly service and tasty food in a unique environment. You can't beat it definitely stop in trust me.
Review - Staggering Ox - 12/10/2025
For our ROMEO Club (Retired Old Men Eating Out) adventure today we celebrated our second “Second Wednesday, Second Chance” meal. You might recall that the last time we visited the Staggering Ox back on August 1st, we were disappointed because they stopped serving breakfast right as we got there. At 10:45 AM the hostess explained to us, “I don’t have anyone back there who knows how to make breakfast.” Back then, the lunch menu sandwiches were great, but we knew that sometime in the future we would want to partake of their breakfast offerings. So today they were the target of our Second Wednesday, Second Chance ROMEO Club adventure.
We had agreed to start early, so I got up at the crack of 8:00 AM, and I was in Otto’s driveway by 9:00 AM. By 9:30 we were striding into the Staggering Ox with great expectations.
In our previous review I mentioned how eclectic the decor is, with plenty of seating for different sized groups. In a recent social media post the owner was looking for more local artists to display their work on the restaurant walls.
Entering the restaurant from the front door I remembered that In order to order breakfast you have to walk all the way to the back of the dining area to the Red Atlas coffee shop where they also offer fancy coffee drinks.
The meal that we were both looking forward to is found on the Keto-friendly section of their breakfast menu. It consists of three eggs and six slices of bacon smothered under three slices of cheddar cheese. Otto substituted pepper jack cheese.
We both ordered normal coffee from the self service coffee bar. You help yourself to a mug of coffee from a choice of regular or decaf, and you can dress up your drink with multiple sugar and non-sugar options and cream. As we were waiting for our food, Otto remarked, “You know, they didn’t ask how we wanted our eggs cooked.” So we both gave our opinion of how they would be cooked. I said, “Since they didn’t ask, you have to assume scrambled.” Otto thought that they would be fried, probably “over medium.”
As our good-hearted debate was drawing to a close, our server arrived with our meals in a rectangular styrofoam container with plastic silverware inside a brown paper lunch bag.
It turned out that Otto’s guess was closer to the truth. My eggs were pretty much over easy while Otto’s eggs were a little more done. His eggs had a lot of crispy around the edge which he considers overcooked. The color of the eggs was an unappealing gray, as if they had been cooked in the bacon grease. The melted cheddar mixed with the yellow egg yolks was unappetizing. The lack of egg options and the difference in our identical orders makes me wonder if the cook actually knows how to cook eggs. Even with salt and pepper added the flavor of the eggs was just blah. On a positive note, the thinly sliced bacon was very well cooked, nice and crispy, and not burnt. (I hate bacon that flops around like a wet lasagna noodle.)
Plastic silverware and styrofoam “plates” is an automatic downgrade in score. On the positive side, we both liked the “serve yourself as much coffee as you like” service.
The Staggering Ox has great sandwiches, some of the best in town, but as a breakfast place the food was only so-so. There are much better options.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Club foot sandwiches are a treat! Great selection with all kinds of flavors.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Sandwich, The Nuke, Chipotle Ranch
Every time i order and receive my food, i am greeted with great attitudes and wonderful food. price, like everything else, is a bit strong... but worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I ordered 2 sandwiches...bread on both were dry. I live in East Helena. I ordered a nuke with sunflower seeds and black olives and ranch dressing. When I got home and ate the sandwich...the nuke did not have one seed or one olive nor any ranch in bag. I gave a 15% tip...I called to advise...vm is full which means I will need to make a special trip to them to see if I can get any kind of a refund.
While I was there waiting for my order...another customer complained about his order.
Big buckets line the counter...for tips.
First time I've had a bad meal at this restaurant but have noticed that the workers...just don't care. They make more per hour then I made when I retired after 38 years with my employer...PLUS tips...PLUS they won't have to claim the tips as income.
I'm very disappointed with several restaurants in Helena and now will be marking this one off my list...very few left to choose from.
So far...Applebee's and Teriyaki take out have earned my repeat business...sadly, that's about it.
Staggering Ox...expect a visit....since I can't reach you by phone.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
I ordered a Rice of the Sea. I got a half order of rice with some cheese. Nothing that should be in the order, when I called and complained, they said sorry. They also said I could come back and get another, 20 minutes before they closed...I live 30 minutes away. Doesn't work out. VERY DISAPPOINTING.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Home of the clubfoot -- the unique sandwich concept. Always fresh -- including Creative sauces to dress up your sandwich. Counter service was excellent-- great energy and an eclectic mix of art and vintage garbage pal kids cards on thr walls.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I found a large hair inside my sandwich before I even took a bite. When I asked for a refund they refused and said refunds were not allowed. Said they’d make me a new sandwich but no thank you. I won’t eat there again.
Bread is great. The meat tastes a bit old sometimes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
The best customer service in Helena. As a buisness owner customer service is so important. We had the same gentleman up front 2 days in a row. He was genuine, patient, and very friendly. Even if the food was bad, it's not, I would come back because of him. 10/10. Keep up the great work!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My favorite sandwich shop! I have tried most of the cold sandwich’s and never been disappointed. If you are looking for a place to bring someone who is visiting Helena I always stop here!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing bread
Always visit in Helena
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Top notch
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food and service up front were great,
As we sat by the west door.
We could hear someone coughing. In the kitchen, over the wall..
My Girlfriend said, Asked if that's the kitchen and not someone coughing on the food....
Well, guess what...
Now I'm Sick....
Coughing and hacking up a storm..
Could be a lawyer situation...I've ruled out everywhere else...
No one else was sick..
Thought you should know
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 4
The most unique buns you'll ever see. The home of the clubfoot bun. Friendly service and tasty food in a unique environment. You can't beat it definitely stop in trust me.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sandwich
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