Echo Lake Cafe

The service here was very good and our server, Kelly, was so nice and very helpful. The pancakes were very good and very big ( to keep in mind). The hot chocolate was very delicious and the Bloody Mary was also very good. This is definitely a place I would come back to!

Service staff was very friendly and the restaurant was immaculate and thoughtfully designed. My food was OK (chicken fried steak with a morning glory muffin), but nothing to write home about. All the menu offerings are classic breakfast fare, and they seem to do them well. While I likely won’t become a regular, it’s a good staple of Bigfork and can accommodate large parties.

Echo Lake Cafe is a cool spot with a charming ambiance, offering plenty of indoor and patio seating. The property is beautifully surrounded by vibrant flowers and lush green grass, making it a visually appealing place to dine. It's quite popular, so we ended up waiting around 30 minutes for a table. Once seated on the patio at a large table, we found the food to be quite good, though not gourmet by any means. The menu is a bit on the pricey side, and the wait for our food was pretty long—nearly an hour. Despite the delays, it's a great place for breakfast or lunch if you're not in a rush.

Best house made gravy I’ve had in a long time! This place was a great little breakfast stop, we waited 20 minutes for a table, at 10 in the morning, pretty busy BUT for a Saturday morning, that’s to be expected! The only thing I wasn’t impressed with was the cheesy veggie potatoes, too dry for my liking. Overall we would definitely come here again! Mitzy was a fabulous server! Also the little echo lake shop next door was absolutely adorable!

We heard so many praises of this café that we could not miss the opportunity to come for an early lunch in this establishment. The parking lot was crowded, and we had to wait in the lobby before being seated. I am not american, way passed 21 years old, and was refused a mimosa drink when I ordered one, because I could not have my passport loading on my phone to proof my age... My bad, but not off to a great start. Everything the menu wasn't appealing. Not totally my european expectations of a café for lunch. Went for the BLT with rye bread, small, as the waitress told the big was very big. Which I knew would come with chips/crisps. My husband ordered some pancakes, and for the record he is american. He said he had better pancakes at IHOP... We waited a good 25min for this to come at our table. How disappointing was it, when this tiny toasted sandwich superdry sandwich with unsalted corn chips came. My husband ordered a hot chocolate that came with an indecent amount of whipped cream on top, and very sweet. We were pondering into giving a chance to a dessert when the waitress, came with the bill, unsolicited by us. So it really felt like the staff was in a rush, the kitchen not caring about the quality of the products they serve and not in a friendly atmosphere. If you can go somewhere else... do so!

I was in there yesterday for lunch. Had breakfast. Eggs benny. I simply forgot how amazing this place is. Thanks so much guys. What a gem.

YES there's always a 30 minute wait minimum, even on a Wednesday at noon ! But the food and service are the reason. Mark, our bartender and Brenda our server were so on top of things as we asked for things they were setting them down on the counter! Chicken fried steak and French toast very good, but the sides were the stars! Sausage patty soon good I want to know the supplier. The breakfast potatoes had something in them that popped the taste to over 5 stars. The standard wine and bloody Mary were high quality : Dao vinyards and Tito's!

Fantastic! Food, location, and the wait staff were all amazing. Highly recommend the chicken fried steak and the biscuits and gravy. We will be back! Oh, and don't forget the Almond Joy Coffee cake!

This is one of the best spots to grab a traditional, all-American breakfast in the beautiful state of Montana. The hostesses don't take reservations and is walk-in only. My advice is to get your name on the list and walk next door to the coffee/gift shop that is adjacent to the restaurant. There is the option to sit either inside or out and the food options are plentiful. Definitely grab one of their Bloody Mary's as well. I like it spicy so I ordered the Mule Kick and that was just what the doctor ordered after drinking the night before. The breakfast burrito was something that I've been dreaming of for a while and so pleased to have been able to partake here. It was loaded and the kitchen just knocked it out of the park. The veggie omelette was good too with a nice hollandaise sauce that was dripping from the top of the egg to the bottom of the biscuit. I also tried the broccoli & cauliflower soup and it was a hit once I added a dash of cholula. This one is an easy 5 stars for me. Next time I am in the area, this is at the top of my list of places to visit again.

The Echo Lake Café is a great little spot with home cooked food, beautiful outdoor seating, and a friendly staff. Our group of six met for breakfast, but were told we could not be seated until our entire group was physically inside the cafe, and you could not your name on the seating list- OK so we went back outside and waited until everyone arrived. Went back inside with everyone and were then told we would all have to stand by the door as there was a 20 minute wait??!! This was the only disappointing thing that happened, so be prepared if you are with a group. Once seated outside, the staff were so friendly and made sure everyone had coffee which were never empty, and our food came very quickly even though this place gets very busy. Everyone in our group enjoyed their breakfast, and we never felt rushed, and could just enjoy the company. Would definitely recommend the Echo Lake Café!

There is a small lot in front and more parking to the side. This place gets super busy so there is a wait on the weekends especially during the summer. I ordered a Carmel almond milk latter and it as was so yummy. The flavor was great and the coffee smooth. I ordered 2 eggs, bacon, potatoes and gluten free toast. The gluten free toast was some of the best I have had in a while. I got a side of hollandaise and it was yummy with my potatoes. I also enjoyed my bacon it was crunchy and not over cooked. Overall, great breakfast and latte with good service. It isn't huge but the space is used well and on a nice day sitting on the deck visiting with friends and checking out the mountains sounds like a great time.

I saw this place on a list but then a friend of ours said it was good, well you know we had to try it on our way home. A friend and the waitress both said the Huevos Rancheros was good , so I tried it. It was yummy! The tortilla on the bottom was crispy and the sauce had a kick to it but was perfect with the perfectly cooked poached eggs. It had a lot going on but it all came together and was fabulous! My husband had the chicken fried steak and it was really good too. The gravy was way too thick and pasty (for our taste) but the eggs and hash browns were perfectly cooked and the lemon poppy seed muffin was bomb!!! Service was slow and it took a while to get a refill on coffee. Beautiful view!

This place is a staple in the community. Although, in my opinion the quality and service has gone down in the past few years. Food is usually good with some misses, and the prices are high, but it's a tourist stop for sure!

We took a slight detour to check out this spot, and it was totally worth it. The omelette was excellent, the coffee was decent, and the poppyseed muffin was amazing. My daughter had the patty melt, and she loved it. Plus, the service was quick and efficient.

What a great little spot! The outdoor seating was perfect to enjoy the scenery while we ate. Highly recommend the breakfast potatoes with veggies and cheese. Greek omelette was delicious, breakfast burrito was massive! I got a Mugmosa - no complaints. Service was friendly and quick enough. Would definitely come back here!

Super cute area and GREAT FOOD! We visited this restaurant solely for the name. The outside setting was peaceful. The service was remarkable. We'd highly recommend!

The food is always excellent here! The chicken enchiladas with mole sauce special was superb today as well. Service is fast with a smile. Can't beat this charming cafe ambiance.

We really wanted to like this place. The ambience and decor are great. The waitress was short with us. When my husband said he wanted toast as a side she let out a little huff and asked him what kind of bread. He had the country fried steak...one of his favorite dishes. He said it was the worst he's had. The gravy was thick and almost a mashed potato consistency and he said the meat was weird tasting, almost gamey. The scramble I had was good. But the banana nut muffin was very dry and tasteless. Maybe the service and meal were a fluke. Just disappointing.

When we got there we were immediately greeted and then seated the staff was super attentive and responsive when we needed something. I had a patty melt and they let me change the bread and sauce which was nice. The food itself was cooked very well and was quite tasty. It was a pretty solid patty melt nothing super experimental and fancy but tasty and reliable. The seating was quite nice there was an outdoor sitting area as well which would be great when there is good weather present.

Great find...excellent food, very good service and cozy rustic setting.... The breakfast burrito I had was literally stuffed full of chorizo, green onion, mushrooms and cheese...well constructed and absolutely fabulous...home fried potatoes on the side were perfectly crispy and caramelized on the outside and soft and flavorful on the inside. My daughter loved the light fluffy silver dollar pancake plate with side of bacon. Top notch breakfast experience for both of us. We were lucky upon arrival and were seated immediately, a bit later and place begins to fill up and wait time obviously increases. Great way to start the day!

My husband and I have been coming in for years and the last couple times we stopped were just a complete miss. From the partially fermented orange juice to one of the worst Benedict's I ever had followed by an $80 breakfast bill to say we are disappointed would be an understatement. Waited 30+ minutes after we were finished to get a small box and a bill. This used to be our favorite breakfast spot but something has definately changed in the kitchen as well as the front of house. Not geared towards the locals anymore. Thirsty little tourist trap.

The food is always great and the service is quick and courteous. If you want a taste of Montana, then the Echo Lake Cafe is the place to go.

Food was really great and the house baked item of the day was delicious (blueberry muffin). Would not recommend sitting outside at the end of summer given the bees (which really wanted our muffin)

Truly a hidden gem! Stepping back in time, it's like walking into a warm welcoming cabin. Greeted with smiles and amazing service. The food is comfort food at its best. We had the Exho Lake Scramble with their Blueberry coffee cake. Yummmm! It's worth the short drive to this Montana hidden treasure!

The food was amazing. The burrito was enough for two. Waffle was good. Cobb salad was great. Bloody Mary was fantastic. The wait wasn't very long on a Monday late morning. Definitely worth the short extra drive off the beaten path. The minute you walk in it feels like home and you know you're about to have a good meal. The staff there is super nice also, you won't be disappointed.

If you're in the Bigfork area during breakfast time, you got to check out this place. The service was great. All my interactions with their employees were positive. Even though they were very busy, they were friendly. The food was awesome. I got the chicken fried steak with eggs and home fried potatoes. For sure one of the best chicken fried steaks I've had. I have been coming here for many years and they are always consistent with their food and service. Check them out for sure, but just a heads up they will probably be very busy.

Best breakfast in the valley. Food is amazing, service is on point, and atmosphere is perfect.

This place does get busy but put your name on the list because it's definitely worth the try! Welcoming environment, great service, and even better food. My little family will 100% come back and look forward to it.

Food was okay, came a little after 8:00 on a Monday. Both waitresses weren't very friendly. Waited a while for food, when it finally came didn't get our toddlers food. waitress never checked on us or walked by so I could ask about it , toddler cried and fussed the entire time we were there cause he was hungry ended up sharing our breakfast with him. stood waiting another 10 min just to get our check, told her we never got our toddlers food and then she was rude and said we never ordered it, then I proceeded to tell her that was the first thing I ordered then she said sorry and walked away. Was very disappointed lived in Kalispell all my life and heard good things about this place and we finally decided to try it, won't be coming back or recommending to anyone.

If there was any reason to go out of my way for breakfast, Echo Lake is it. I was by myself and reviews led me to Echo Lake Cafe. I had a 15 minute wait to sit at the counter. They have a good system where they will send you a text when your table is ready. They were very busy but service was awesome. I think my server was telepathic! I was thinking of asking for more coffee and she suddenly arrived. When I was just going to ask for my bill she showed up again. Perfect. Food did take a little longer than a typical diner, but it was worth it. Eggs were cooked over medium, which seems to never happen when that is what I request. The potatoes were awesome. I also liked that instead of toast, you had the option of whatever their baked special was, which was a cinnamon coffee cake. It was great! They have outdoor seating as well. I liked the atmosphere. I will be back!

We came here at around 9am on a Sunday morning. We expected it to be busy but there were still a decent number of parking stalls. They have a remote system where they let you know via text when your table is ready so you can wait seated on the indoor or outdoor waiting benches or in your car. They have their menus printed out on paper so you can take one with you to browse while you wait. We were seated within 20 minutes despite it being quite busy and the restaurant being on the smaller side (decent size for a local breakfast spot though!) The wait staff were very attentive and seemed authentically cheerful. My partner got the special of the day which was a cowboy benedict with freshly made biscuits and he loved it. I had a side of bacon and a side of cheesy veg (potato, mushrooms, bell pepper topped with broiled cheese). It was really flavorful and perfect for someone like me that doesn't like sweet breakfasts foods nor eggs! The music selection was great. Young the Giant, America, Zac Brown, and The Archies played while we were there and it wasn't so loud to the point where you felt like you're screaming to talk to the person across the table. The women's restroom was very clean and had a changing table. Judging from the license plates in the lot (no other businesses seemed to be open yet), the crowd seemed to be a mix of locals and visitors. Highly recommend for the great service and great food!

Rude Srvc waitress was extremely rude, no hello slammed down the water, threw 4 straws on the table for 7 people, after an hour wait asked for our food & the waitress just said " you know I don't control the kitchen" not sure why it was an hour wait when as you can see they were not busy. To bad to we were visiting from AZ but won't be returning here or recommending it to anyone. In response to your comment: Since you felt the need to defend your staff I feel the need to remind you that we went to your establishment expecting to be treated decently as a paying customer. We waited outside to be seated for 45 mins then inside for our food another 45mins (as per your comment) In return to be treated rudely by your staff! Your waitress responded very rudely to my friend when she asked if we were going to be eating dinner there instead of lunch. Which is the only time we asked for our food. Your waitress never came to inform us of the situation or if it would be coming out soon. Also just as a side note 2 tables were seated after us received their food before us & left while we were still waiting on ours with no courtesy explanation being provided. Your water girl (which you are correct was not our waitress but obviously worked with her) was the extremely rude one! She never said hello, slammed the water down on the table twice rolled her eyes when we asked for more water (we had waited outside in the sun for 45mins to be seated so by that time yes we were all thirsty) when asked for straws said this is what I have & threw 4 down for 7 people. Brought out a dirty glass which had food stuck to it, then got mad when my friend asked for a clean glass. If your establishment is understaffed then you as the owner should not accept as many people in order to provide your paying customers with the experience they except & to prevent your working staff from being overwhelmed & in return providing BAD customer service! Which I can see from previous reviews is not the first time this has happened.

The food was good, not excellent but good. The potatoes were undercooked. The bloody mary was excellent. Service was very slow and at times we felt ignored. The waitress asked my.wife.if she wanted ranch dressing with her fries and kept forgetting to bring it. My wife was done eating by the time she received it. The ambiance was good but they stuck us at a bar to eat. Dont accept this seating... You will not enjoy it. Tell the hostess you.want to wait for an actual table.

Best breakfast place in Bigfork. Not only the usual breakfast faire, but a great variety of unique & different offerings. Go there allot and have never been unhappy. Service is good for a busy place. Coffee cake is super, try it

Great fast and friendly service. The dining area is very clean. You would think that it would be difficult to stand out when you have pretty typical breakfast and lunch items. Food quality is excellent. Premium ingredients cooked perfectly. My Denver omelette was light and fluffy with the vegetables cooked just the right amount, a good portion of quality ham and melted cheese. My guest's pancakes, eggs and bacon were also cooked perfectly. Most restaurants overly salt their meals. Their house potatos and the rest of my food had just the right amount. Will definitely be back.

We traveled with grandsons in Montana the last two weeks of June 2024 and this was the ONLY restaurant that they requested going back to more than once. They loved the food and staff. We tried the traditional breakfast, waffles, the nutty waffle, the chicken fried steak. All very good. And I loved the service dog sign outside. It's busy, but it is understandable. A great find in the Flathead Valley

Love love love their breakfast & lunch. Always fresh and consistent. Happy to wait for a table anytime! Great owners. Thanks for being here

This place is a such a gem - breakfast/brunch menu offers a variety of favorites that go well with it's eclectic atmosphere. Staff is super friendly and service was amazing. We were party of four and our server was quick to take our order for drinks and food. Oh and they do offer mimosas and screw drivers if you want the full brunch experience! It gets a bit busy, so plan on coming in early or just prepare to patiently wait. In the summer they offer outdoor sitting as well. And you don't want to skip on their desert, even if you take it to go - absolutely delicious coffee cake. Cannot wait till our next visit

Surprisingly fast for how crowded it gets. Eggs Benedict is very good. Looking forward to coming back to try chicken fried steak

Great service..delicious food.. beautiful outdoor ambience! All-around great experience!

Quite possibly the best huevos rancheros I have ever had! The housemade chorizo was delicious. Great service...great food...great place!

This is MY breakfast spot anytime I come to visit. My mother moved to Kalispell from NV 10+ years ago now (not Cali don't worry folks, lol) it's been so fun coming to visit over the years. Typically I come up twice a year. When I do, this is a MUST STOP! The quaint little restaurant is 100% a log cabin feel to make you think your right at home. The service is absolutely outstanding and the over all vibe is a 10/10!! Sadly I'm a Creater of habit and really don't try new things BUT I love what I order! Wrangler Scrambler - huge portion of scramble potatoes and two who pieces of toast cut in slices! A mimosa in a glass, mom always does the mugs.. oh and did I mention you can order A PITCHER!! 100/10 love this spot. Almost don't want to leave a good review because I don't want it to become too popular if ya know what I mean Thank you echo lake cafe!!

We loved the Echo Lake Cafe. We stopped by on our way up to Glacier first thing as soon as they opened. Our waitress was great, super friendly with a witty personality who made the experience very enjoyable for us. The food was FANTASTIC. The muffin of the day - just say yes!! Ours was orange cranberry and it was delicious! Someone in our party had the French toast and we all had to have a bite. The plates of food were huge, so be prepared but definitely make a stop at the Echo Lake cafe!

Always delicious, always great service, always consistent quality, so....always a wait but there are worse places to wait for a table and no better reward at the end. Love it!

Chicken fried steak wasn't all that but the other food is ok. Lack of options in the area makes this one of the better places. Baked goods are amazing. Service was kinda slow but the couple times I was there, it was mid season, so they were packed. All American dinner vibe.

This place has the most amazing breakfast in Montana. Was not expecting that! We called ahead for pickup so that it was only a quick stop on the way to Glacier National Park from the Flathead Lake area. Fresh squeezed OJ - AMAZING. Get the large! Breakfast crepes - so good - so many fillings and a great hollandaise sauce on it. When I first saw it I thought it was going to be way too much sauce but it was thick and ended up being the perfect amount. I hate when there is only one little piece of mushroom or veggie in an omelet. This was a great mixed portion of egg and veggies. You can opt to get two crepes or just one crepe as a "half" order (just get the full, you won't regret it. You need energy for your hikes!) BF got the breakfast sandwich and thought it was incredible. Choice of a couple kinds of bread. We decided to go out of our way to come back on our drive home. It's going on my recommended itinerary for Glacier National Park. Check them out!

Super busy and super delicious. Definitely worth the wait! I had the eggs Benedict with the fruit cup and coffee cake. Absolutely incredible.

Great breakfast! Really fast and efficient even though it is very crowded. Staff is very friendly.

Love this place! Great breakfast & lunch. It's a very popular place, so there might be a wait.

The food here was pretty good actually. I got a turkey club sandwich and my partner got the turkey ortega sandwich. Both of us liked our food. The reduced rating is due to the ATROCIOUSLY BAD service. Three young women were responsible for attending to various aspects of serving us, and honestly, I'd e hard-pressed to decide which one I would fire first. They were--all three of them--simply dreadful and seriously diminished our experience eating here

The BEST huevos rancheros I have ever had!! Crowded day, sat outside, service was awesome!

All around great stop! Beautiful outdoor space to entertain kids while waiting for table, great service, GREAT food! Tried a little of everything. Great kids menu and the kids devoured it all. Breakfast crepes were some of the best I've ever had. Highly recommend if you like a place with lots of options!

We are in Big Fork for a Spartan race and our little air b and b is right across the street so we had breakfast here two mornings in a row. Wonderful little spot! Breakfast potatoes are bomb and the blueberry coffee cake was a delight. Reasonable prices, large portions, amazing service! Love this little spot! Will definitely be back some day!

Fun place with wonderful food only surpassed by the fantastic service which is hard to get these days.

This Resturant is the ultimate fantastic place to eat. Be prepared to wait because they are always packed. It's worth every minute you wait. The staff is extremely friendly and professional. The food is the BOMB enjoy enjoy enjoy!!!!

Absolutely the best breakfast I've had!!! The eggs Benedict where amazing along with the banana pancake. Good quality food for sure!

Warm, welcoming and down right delicious!Echo Lake Cafe is far from basic and is a foundational example of what a restaraunt dine-in expierence should be. Many of their menu items are homemade. You can tell that their food is made with sincere intention and love. Everything is fresh and beautifully platted. Their fruit cup alone says it all (see photo). Sometimes fruit cups come watered down with seasonal fruit selections, but they had everything. Kiwi, pears, melon, and mango, garnished with mint! Coming from the city, I was very surprised to find that this small town in the middle of MT had fresh mango. Their staff knows how to do hospitality right. Expect exceptional & personable end to end service. They made sure to get drink orders right away, properly introduced themselves and made sure to promptly check in during our meal. You do not need to worry about waiting for minutes to get a servers attention when you need something. Big Fork is SO lucky to have this local restaurant in town. This is a must go-to place for food and I would say, a defining destination in the area. They set a high golden standard for accessible local food and customer service.