Aaron M.
Yelp
Our Bay Area friends that grew up in Bozeman told us they always stop at Cafe Regis for breakfast any time they're in Red Lodge. I'm so glad they told us about this little local gem, as we never would have found it on our own.
Cafe Rouge is a little off the beaten path, 2 blocks from Main Street, in a quiet residential neighborhood. Street parking was free and plentiful.
The dining space is dated but comfortable. There's a single step at the entrance, but there's also a fully accessible side door that was open when we arrived, and easy to reach from the garden.
Speaking of which, the restaurant is on a fairly large plot of land, with a large well manicured lawn, including table-service-dining on the patio and on the lawn, as well as a pair of well kept greenhouses at the back growing seasonal veggies. We found assorted lettuces and garden fresh tomatoes growing that should be ripe by the end of July. The big outdoor area was perfect for the kids to run around and explore. We appreciated being able to let them blow off steam while we finished our coffees before piling back into the car on our way to the Beartooth Highway.
We received warm and welcoming service from the staff. They were friendly towards travelers but also clearly had a loyal following of local regulars. Our coffee cups were never empty, and the staff seemed to be enjoying themselves. The chef clearly took pride in serving and showcasing local and organic ingredients. When he switched the special from Strawberry Rhubarb French-toast to Caramelized banana, he made one of the guests' day, and his joy was visible.
The food was fresh, creative, and prepared perfectly. The kids got kid-sized corn-cakes for less than $2, and they even indulged our request for apples AND blueberries inside. Our eggs were organic, free-range, and cooked perfectly. Most of the breakfasts come with a choice of: toast, crumpet (like a homemade whole wheat English muffin), or a slice of fruit bread (tasted like banana bread with carrots and other goodies baked inside). I accidentally received rye-bread instead of fruit bread, but they were quick to bring a replacement, and I didn't let any of that buttery rye toast go to waste (although it may go to my waist).
I loved that they offered a dozen different kinds of hot-sauce to accompany our meal. It was fun comparing old favorites with others we'd never seen before, including a garlicky option from Gilroy, not far from our home. Go figure, we had to come all the way to Red Lodge to discover it.
We enjoyed a pretty perfect breakfast at Cafe Regis, and would definitely come back again.
