Great all around. Beautiful location and quick & friendly service!
JohnW Miller
This week’s ROMEO adventure is a recommendation from my brother-in-law John. As it turned out, the gorgeous twenty minute drive from East Helena was an inspirational aspect of the experience. York Road winds past several reservoirs and twists between rocky outcrops in a sparsely populated section of Montana. Otto remarked, “This looks like bear country.”
The restaurant located at the end of our short trip is the The Friendly York Bar, commonly known as simply The York Bar. Built in 1930, the building itself is worthy of mention. It retains its original log construction and original wooden floors and walls. Stapled on the ceiling and walls are dollar bills with various names and pictures scribbled on them. Our waitress, who also doubled as our cook, explained the origin of the “money on the ceiling.” Apparently the old gold miners used to leave behind money so that if they ever went completely broke they could come in and have enough left for a drink.
Otto and I arrived six minutes before they opened at 11:00 am and were prepared to sit on the quaint rocking chairs on the front porch. Relaxing there for less than a minute, we were a little surprised when the heavy wooden door creaked open and we were greeted with a friendly, “I guess we can open up five minutes early for you two.”
Although it is a bar, it doesn’t feel like a bar. The tables and chairs are standard wooden restaurant furniture. The walls are decorated with historical photographs from the area. Highchairs are stacked in a corner next to the stone fireplace and the overall impression is of a typical log cabin-themed family diner.
The menu consists of mostly burgers and upgraded burgers with a nice assortment of appetizers. The burgers are served with a small bag of chips and, appropriately enough, a York Peppermint Patty.
You place your order at the bar and pay either then or after the meal.
The burgers were amazing! They were perfectly cooked, exactly as we ordered them. I was not surprised to see the award for “Best Hamburger in Helena” from a few years ago displayed at one end of the dining area. They have been sourcing their meat from the same Utah provider since the Eighties. Otto particularly enjoyed their hot mustard, which they make in-house. Actually, we discovered that they make all of their sauces in-house, (which every great restaurant should do.)
The service was excellent, as the waitress/cook noticed our need for refills without being asked. She was happy to talk about the history of the restaurant, her time there as an employee, and the activities in the area that draw tourists.
Otto and I agree that this restaurant definitely deserves another visit, and soon.
B
Cool place, iconic. The quality of the beef on the burgers could be much higher for the price
Jered W
Absolutely worth the drive. In the winter, Thursday night Steak nights is awesome.
Say hello to the cook/bartender depending on days- Chris, he is a retired veteran and good dude! 👍
Gary Spencer
This is a great find. Huge burgers, wide selection of draft beer. Biggest plus for me was that it is NOT a casino. They have a few (4) machines but it is not the focus. Funny but they don't do fries with the burgers but onion rings are available. I'll be back.
Doug Baranek
Great hole in the wall kind of bar with very good burgers. Highly recommended.
Amy Roeber
Curious of how York bar can still call themself friendly with a racist like Pricilla working there? Letting her post all over public feeds about how much she hates children and immigrants isn’t a good look for a small town bar that thrives off summer tourism. As someone who grew up in the area I’ll be making sure my following doesn’t visit York bar till Pricilla is no longer employed! I would say this establishment is definitely not kid friendly!
Andrew Bird
Amazed the York Bar is still in business. I lived a half mile or so up York Rd from the bar for several years in the early 1990s. I remember they had a Rocky Mountain oyster festival there every year. I also remember livestock drives up York Road when ranchers would move their stock up to higher pastures then back down again a few months later. I only ate at the York Bar a few times, even then it was a bit pricey. But I remember one meal there would be filling enough I didn't have to eat again for a day or two.
Dan Green
Go for the atmosphere and a beer or two. The food is mediocre and incredibly expensive for what you get. $15 for a regular cheeseburger and NO fries is just unacceptable. Old Salt in Helena serves local grass fed beef cheeseburgers with house made fries for less.
Eu Guevara
Not a friendly business, the burgers make me sick. We went into the business and we were confused about if we need to seat down or not .
Cute little place in the middle of nowhere! This place has anything from beer to,gambling machines,and its own little racist Japanese ( he jokes, not racist at all). Very entertaining for how small it is. I would definitely go back .
Kelly Dipzinski
Great bar to get a burger and a cold bearage. Spend your time with friends or just relax and take in a conversation with friends and locoals.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hamburger, Bacon Cheeseburger, Double Cheese Burger, Chips and Salsa, Original Cheese Burger, Mac and Cheese Bites, Fried Pickle Spears, Swiss Mushroom Burger, Sausage and Kraut, Grilled Bacon & Cheese, Hot Dog, Soft Pretzel & Cheese, Grilled Ham & Cheese, Jalapenos Poppers, Mini Corn Dogs, Double Swiss Mushroom Burger, Mushroom Swiss Burger, Chicken Nuggets, Original Hamburger, Bacon Pepper Jack Cheese Burger
National Parks or Bust
Friendly place and always a great place for a burger. Hard to beat the drink menu and the scenery.
Parking: Great parking
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Hamburger, Bacon Cheeseburger
Jasey Stauduhar
$42 for a burger (super average) onion rings one coors and one glass of boxed wine? Seems super expensive to me idk I guess it’s the new normal?
Great all around. Beautiful location and quick & friendly service!
This week’s ROMEO adventure is a recommendation from my brother-in-law John. As it turned out, the gorgeous twenty minute drive from East Helena was an inspirational aspect of the experience. York Road winds past several reservoirs and twists between rocky outcrops in a sparsely populated section of Montana. Otto remarked, “This looks like bear country.”
The restaurant located at the end of our short trip is the The Friendly York Bar, commonly known as simply The York Bar. Built in 1930, the building itself is worthy of mention. It retains its original log construction and original wooden floors and walls. Stapled on the ceiling and walls are dollar bills with various names and pictures scribbled on them. Our waitress, who also doubled as our cook, explained the origin of the “money on the ceiling.” Apparently the old gold miners used to leave behind money so that if they ever went completely broke they could come in and have enough left for a drink.
Otto and I arrived six minutes before they opened at 11:00 am and were prepared to sit on the quaint rocking chairs on the front porch. Relaxing there for less than a minute, we were a little surprised when the heavy wooden door creaked open and we were greeted with a friendly, “I guess we can open up five minutes early for you two.”
Although it is a bar, it doesn’t feel like a bar. The tables and chairs are standard wooden restaurant furniture. The walls are decorated with historical photographs from the area. Highchairs are stacked in a corner next to the stone fireplace and the overall impression is of a typical log cabin-themed family diner.
The menu consists of mostly burgers and upgraded burgers with a nice assortment of appetizers. The burgers are served with a small bag of chips and, appropriately enough, a York Peppermint Patty.
You place your order at the bar and pay either then or after the meal.
The burgers were amazing! They were perfectly cooked, exactly as we ordered them. I was not surprised to see the award for “Best Hamburger in Helena” from a few years ago displayed at one end of the dining area.
They have been sourcing their meat from the same Utah provider since the Eighties.
Otto particularly enjoyed their hot mustard, which they make in-house. Actually, we discovered that they make all of their sauces in-house, (which every great restaurant should do.)
The service was excellent, as the waitress/cook noticed our need for refills without being asked. She was happy to talk about the history of the restaurant, her time there as an employee, and the activities in the area that draw tourists.
Otto and I agree that this restaurant definitely deserves another visit, and soon.
Cool place, iconic. The quality of the beef on the burgers could be much higher for the price
Absolutely worth the drive.
In the winter, Thursday night Steak nights is awesome.
Say hello to the cook/bartender depending on days- Chris, he is a retired veteran and good dude! 👍
This is a great find. Huge burgers, wide selection of draft beer. Biggest plus for me was that it is NOT a casino. They have a few (4) machines but it is not the focus. Funny but they don't do fries with the burgers but onion rings are available. I'll be back.
Great hole in the wall kind of bar with very good burgers. Highly recommended.
Curious of how York bar can still call themself friendly with a racist like Pricilla working there? Letting her post all over public feeds about how much she hates children and immigrants isn’t a good look for a small town bar that thrives off summer tourism. As someone who grew up in the area I’ll be making sure my following doesn’t visit York bar till Pricilla is no longer employed! I would say this establishment is definitely not kid friendly!
Amazed the York Bar is still in business. I lived a half mile or so up York Rd from the bar for several years in the early 1990s. I remember they had a Rocky Mountain oyster festival there every year. I also remember livestock drives up York Road when ranchers would move their stock up to higher pastures then back down again a few months later. I only ate at the York Bar a few times, even then it was a bit pricey. But I remember one meal there would be filling enough I didn't have to eat again for a day or two.
Go for the atmosphere and a beer or two. The food is mediocre and incredibly expensive for what you get. $15 for a regular cheeseburger and NO fries is just unacceptable.
Old Salt in Helena serves local grass fed beef cheeseburgers with house made fries for less.
Not a friendly business, the burgers make me sick. We went into the business and we were confused about if we need to seat down or not .
Restaurantji Recommends
Cute little place in the middle of nowhere! This place has anything from beer to,gambling machines,and its own little racist Japanese ( he jokes, not racist at all). Very entertaining for how small it is. I would definitely go back .
Great bar to get a burger and a cold bearage. Spend your time with friends or just relax and take in a conversation with friends and locoals.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hamburger, Bacon Cheeseburger, Double Cheese Burger, Chips and Salsa, Original Cheese Burger, Mac and Cheese Bites, Fried Pickle Spears, Swiss Mushroom Burger, Sausage and Kraut, Grilled Bacon & Cheese, Hot Dog, Soft Pretzel & Cheese, Grilled Ham & Cheese, Jalapenos Poppers, Mini Corn Dogs, Double Swiss Mushroom Burger, Mushroom Swiss Burger, Chicken Nuggets, Original Hamburger, Bacon Pepper Jack Cheese Burger
Friendly place and always a great place for a burger. Hard to beat the drink menu and the scenery.
Parking: Great parking
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Hamburger, Bacon Cheeseburger
$42 for a burger (super average) onion rings one coors and one glass of boxed wine? Seems super expensive to me idk I guess it’s the new normal?
Standard bar food and atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
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