The Sitting Duck

This place is right on the lake with a long pier for boats. The food was awesome, and the drinks were hardy. The staff seemed preoccupied with themselves, but they came to serve when you called on them. I liked the feel of this place with a large gas fireplace and great views of the lake.

The view at this place is unrivaled. We made a special trip to give it a try. We were waterfront with some incredible food. We had the bison burger, steak tacos, and the spicy burger. We got our food quickly and drinks from the bar, if you’re considering eating here, you won’t regret it.

Amazing food and views. Highly recommend the ahi nachos and pretzels for appetizers. The elk brat was meh, but everything else we ordered really hit the spot. They have a dog friendly multi-level patio out back overlooking the water making this a place you must stop in to enjoy. Honestly it’s a bit pricey, but this is typical for the area.

I had an amazing time at **The Sitting Duck**! The bartenders were fantastic—friendly, attentive, and made the experience even better. The day started off cloudy with a whisper of rain, but, in true Montana fashion, the weather turned quickly, transforming into a stunning scene faster than a duck’s fart! The restaurant itself is a gem—great atmosphere, beautiful views, and excellent service. Whether you’re stopping in for a drink, a bite, or just soaking in the lakeside vibes, it’s a must-visit spot. Highly recommend!

What a hidden gym! We keep going back. The food and drinks are great along with the best setting in the area and fantastic local hosts. If you’re looking for a casual and relaxing break, stop here just past Bigfork.

This was the worst food I’ve ever enjoyed! Seriously, you have to go. This is a one-of-a-kind dive that features awesome service and ambience! You can’t beat the lakeside tables and classic rock tunes playing! The food…it sucks. The elk brat is a shriveled up embarrassment that supposedly comes with grilled onions? But that brat wasn’t nearly as bad as the greasy, gummy, chewy fries that were completely inedible. My wife had the cod basket and the cod was a greasy mess and tasted like the oil hadn’t been changed in a while. They had steak in the specials board and I’m so glad I didn’t waste my money on that. If you can’t make fries right, you have no business doling out $40+ steaks!

Randomly decided to stop by as we were driving and was pleasantly surprised! Service was great! The cocktails we had were top notch! And we had 6 of their smoked Huckleberry wings paired with probably the best Bleu cheese sauce I've ever had. Ended the visit with some pictures down by the water.

Groovy Atmosphere. Food super quick at lunch. The amazing looking mega bloody Mary is even better tasting IRL. The pics don't lie.

We only stopped at the Sitting Duck on our road trip between Kalispell and Missoula, Montana. My sister and I were out driving around to look at the cherry blossoms when we decided we needed something to drink... non-alcoholic... And to find a restroom. I really enjoyed this establishment. It has a beautiful view of flathead lake in Montana, with a wonderful deck that overlook the water. The inside is bright and airy with plenty of seating, and the bartender was fabulous! BTW... This place also had slot machines

The drinks were decent but the food not that great. They didn't have wait staff for the tables- we had to go to a window like we were at a Dairy Queen. The fries were fresh cut but over cooked and the beer cheese dip for the fries were burnt. The cheese steak sandwich was overcooked too and the bread was hard like it was old. The location was a beautiful view of the lake - too bad they didn't have food to match the location.

First off, it's good to know you order drinks at the bar and then go to a window to order your food. I hate that I wasted one of my vacation meals on this place. I ordered the Works Bloody Mary, the wait to get it was 20 minutes. The drink was mediocre but the toppings tasted like they had been fried in week old oil. In fact, I threw it up before even leaving. My dad ordered the fish tacos and the fish also tasted like bad oil, was clearly frozen (shaped like a block) and my brother's chicken tenders and fries were burnt. The bartenders were friendly and it's clearly a locals favorite hangout, the location is right on the lake. But I know now why the locals only ordered drinks.

Parking for The Sitting Duck is on a very busy road-you have to literally run across the road in order to not get hit-as there are only a couple of spots in front, and no parking lot. The entrance is though the bar, and we were not greeted or told where to sit. After wandering to the back of the bar, we found the open air seating right on the water- fabulous views and nice casual dining area. But-you order your food via the QR code at your table. This is becoming pretty common now, so no problem. We placed our order but there were no drink options, not even for a soda. So we went back into the bar to ask the bartender and found out all drinks, even soda, have to be ordered and paid for at the bar, then you take them back to your table. After almost an hour, we flagged own a server to ask how we knew our order was even placed as you do not get a confirmation when using the QR site. We were told to ask someone in the kitchen (???!!!), so we wandered to the kitchen, poked our head through the door, and asked a kitchen staff to check to make sure our order had actually gone through. It had, they were just slow. Back to our table we went. Well the food took so long to arrive at or table that our drinks were long gone. The food finally arrived, and it was disappointing. Our app of Huckleberry Chicken Wings were very good, but my "Grilled Chicken/Avocado Salad" was super small ($17.95) and consisted of cold chicken and salad greens from a bag-the only thing good was the avocado. We also ordered the "Elk Brat", which had inedible dry/hard bread and a tasteless brat. Service-0 Food-1 Ambiance (the View of the Lake)-10 Order an app and take in the view, but be prepared for a completely self-service experience.

Nice view, but that's about it. You have to order your food, then go to the bar to order drinks (any drinks). There's a water cooler on the bar and cups, but might as well go dip it out of the lake. I'm pretty sure that's where they got it. If you want anything else with your food, extra sauce, etc., forget it, asked three times and got nothing. $100 bucks for 3 appetizers, a salad, and some tacos. Food wasn't prepared as shown on the menu either. May be a good place to stop for a drink, but that's about it...

Everything could improve. If it wasn't for the fact they're on the lake they wouldn't be in business. No service, no food, & get this, no water. WOW ! ! !

While visiting the lake, this was a dog friendly patio option and we decided to give it a try. With a pet, you head through the front door to the back deck to grab a table and can order food from your table QR code. The huckleberry wings were tastier than I would have expected (not a big sweets fan)! I'd have again, for sure. Sadly, the visibility was low due to air quality/fire smoke...but still absolutely stare worthy for a Colorado girl who misses water! I wish you could have ordered drinks like food. Getting up and dragging the road show up/down the stairs while waiting for food seemed daunting for a single human. As per another review, confirming stairs are pretty much required if mobility is an issue.

Food was not great, fries were old and hard. We had fish tacos, not very good. Steak tacos were good. Burger was good.

The food is great. Ordering is a little unconventional but definitely worth the stop! Nice to sit along the lake in the shade and enjoy the fresh air and the food. Kids played in the water while we waited for our food.

Enjoyed lunch at The Sitting Duck. Grilled teriyaki chicken sandwich with fries and my friend had chicken tenders with fries. Both were great! Sat outside, scanned QR code at table to order food. Had to go in to get drinks. Not a big deal.

The view from this restaurant is UNREAL! There are spots up on the balcony and below for amazing views of Flathead. The works Bloody Mary was great; filling and good food and tasty bloody!

Very cool mountain vibe! The pretzels were good, loved the huckleberry cider, and the burger was great!

Besides the lake, the Bloody Mary is probably the only thing worth coming for. Very low quality all basic frozen foods.

Meh. The food was okay.. the drinks were weak. You gotta basically serve yourself. The games are a nice touch and they have rewards if you enter your email. So not all bad. The quack quack here is good. But not sure if it has alcohol

I love this atmosphere, the food is fantastic, even if a little overpriced it's worth it!!! The staff is absolutely amazing, I have been waited on by the actual owners multiple times, and it is a wonderfully close family!! it is the most homey feeling place in all of Montana!

Great food and wonderful bar tenders! The patio has a beautiful view of the lake. If you go for karaoke it's an absolute blast. highly recommend!

Fantastic food stopping her for lunch while dropping off fliers for Emily area. Definitely will stop in again!

Saw that other reviewers were thrown off by the style of ordering drinks and food separately, but I thought just popping around the corner to order and then getting a drink going at the bar was pretty straightforward. Settling up for food when you order, then having a bar tab going was actually convenient in my opinion. Have been to a few places like this where they have limited staff/no waiters, and I think it really works for the vibe here. You can go down to the dock and take in the gorgeous lake view, sit on the patio to chow down on a burger, and then cruise up to the deck or play some slot games if you fancy. I liked feeling free to go from one area to another, especially as there's lots to enjoy here! After a lot of Montana bar/pub/restaurant food, I'd gotten pretty tired of fries and huckleberry being ever-present, but the fries here are actually bomb and the huckleberry wings were surprisingly delicious. But I can't forget the epic bloody mary! That thing was off the chain. The slider + potsticker + egg roll were all tasty and hot (on top of a cold drink! Did the bartender sprint to bring it to me??)! Plus a big ol' prawn and a bunch of pickled veggies in there. Huge fan of this place.

Awesome awesome patio by the lake, really can't beat the environment. The Bloody Mary was also really good and we loved all the food that came on it! The duck Norris burger was okay, I like the concept with the jalapeño popper but the burger itself was really heavy. The tater tots were good! Definitely recommend checking this spot out for a drink at least if in the area. @main_guy_eats

Food was pretty good. View was to die for! Definitely sit outside if you come here, and beware that it is more of a bar than restaurant! Not many workers around, and you can order / pay on your phone which is convenient. Pretzel sticks were our favorite of the order.

If you have any type of accommodations needs skip the duck. It has ZERO handicap parking, tons of stairs EVERYWHERE with no ramp options, and non accessible bathrooms, decks or tables. They don't even pretend, and don't GAF. The view might be fantastic, but if you use a cane, walker, wheelchair, crutches or anything.... Just keep driving.

In the past having a drink here on a warm afternoon has been quite pleasant. However a small group of friends and I ate here for dinner recently and the food was extremely underwhelming. We were left still hungry and disappointed overall. Would not recommend eating here at all.

The works Bloody Mary was LEGIT!! Great spot to sit and enjoy the view of beautiful Flathead Lake

Great place to stop and have just about anything. Great view of the lake (either inside or outside). Beer is cheap. Weekly BINGO is a hoot. New owners (less than a year ago)...great handoff. Parking can be an issue but you can't have everything. Will return.

Perfect location, vibe, and food was delicious too. Get your drink at the bar and food at the kitchen, house made ranch with the crispy fries is perfect too.

Dining with a view! This of the beaten path gem has excellent views of flathead lake. Outdoor seating, decent beer selection and a food menu with plenty of options makes this place a great food option when staying or passing through Big Fork, MT! I had the chicken teriyaki sandwich and washed it down with a sitting duck pale ale. Both were great choices!

We had Huckleberry wings and bison burger. Both were good. We sat on the patio and loved the views of the lake. You order drinks at the bar and food at the grill window. Our navigation app showed the restaurant to be across the street from the water. However it's right on the water. Make sure you look on both sides of the road so that you don't miss it!

The bar tender was super sweet and poured a stiff margarita. The fish and chips were quite good. The cheese burger was also tasty! The foreign waiter was a bit cranky but young man who took our order was very nice! There were a few too many flies for me!

The Sitting Duck is the realest spot we've been to while in Montana. One hell of a Karaoke bar and everyone who was on the mic came extremely correct. Full bar, a bunch of top shelf liquor, large flat screen TV's, and the rooftop deck was so beautiful, I could only imagine what it looks like during the daytime. We will definitely be back.

Booked a spot at the Islander Inn while on a roadtrip and decided to check out The Sitting Duck across the way. Great staff, food, and views. Ended up chatting with the new owners and they were so friendly. They mentioned wanting to make it more of a community bar and I'm just bummed I won't be here for their karaoke or bingo nights. If we're ever passing through again, we'll be sure to stop.

Very tasty lunch (blt with tots) with Arnold Palmers. Great service, kind, friendly staff (met hard working owners, very nice people) Totally agree with other reviews.. incredible views and true Montana vibe!

Although I miss the days of linen table ware and the steaks they used to serve, the food is still good and located right on the water and the view what more could you ask for

Great place for crispy wings and a bold shrimp cocktail while getting a beautiful view of the lake! Staff was so friendly and the bus boy worked his tail off!

The Sitting Duck has a long history in Woods Bay, stretching back to the 60's as Derry's Marina. We have been going there since the late 70s. It has had its ups and downs over the years but the last owner worked hard to get it back up. The new owners have built on that. It is a rustic, friendly, old time Montana bar and restaurant. You are always greeted with a smile, food is good and the atmosphere is genuine and hard to beat. The new owners have upgraded the menu even more, adding weekend brunch and prime rib dinners on FR and SA. Everything is outstanding. We had the prime rib, prepared exactly as we had ordered. The serving was ample, with a huge baked potato and salad. Hard to beat!!!

Excellent place to have a meal or just kill a few hours. The staff is wonderful and the view is perfection. My favorite place to spend a few hours on a Sunday afternoon.

Wish I could give it zero stars. We came by today at the recommendation of locals we met last night at another local watering hole, Kelly's. We sat for ten minutes with NO ONE acknowledging our presence. Two servers walked right past us and said nothing. We got up to leave and the bartender said "Thanks for coming in!" Like the hell? Why bother? Obvious you didn't want to serve us. We went two doors down and to The Raven. Had a GREAT experience! Good food and good drinks ! Your loss Sitting Duck!

Best Prime Rib night ! Stop by anytime for great food and the people ! Enjoy the #1 Bloody Mary !

Giving 1 star because the pretzel bites weren't bad and the service was fast. Went in on a Sunday just wanting a chill dinner on the lake and got the opposite of that. Very loud and a ton of drunk people yelling at 5pm on a Sunday...

Great location and view. New menu with good food and nice people. Got the chicken bacon ranch, Philly and fried shrimp basket. Blood orange margaritas were great. Will be back this summer on the boat.

A local spot that's been around since I was a child, I have many good memories here. The people are kind and the drinks are good. The views, extra good.

Dan was the best bartender. Kept us entertained for hours while watching the winter sunset. Highly recommend. Friendly staff, great drinks, fun atmosphere, and beautiful lake/Mountain Views.

Laid-back, casual place to eat lakeside that wasn't overly crowded, and the food was tasty and affordable. Our group ordered wedge salads, prime rib sandwiches, hot wings and fish and chips - no complaints. And, we enjoyed stepping down from the patio to the beach after dinner.

Well were here for afternoon drinks about 3 years ago and found the place delightful. Full bar, oldies music and a two-tiered deck right on the flathead lake. Scenery was beautiful. Si we are back staying in the area and checked out their lunch menu. I read some previous reviews that weren't so flattering saying staff was rude, food wasn't good and so on but we went anyway. We got there and the cook wasn't there yet so we waited on deck and took in the scenery (hadn't changed, still beautiful). Waited a little while longer but our order taker explained that the owner would cook our food. How's that for service. We ordered burgers and tots that were really good and not greasy! Our order taker whipped up some delicious fry sauce too. So all you naysayers, stop your complaining because this is a great local hangout!

Make sure to order the Duck Norris- it is delicious! Bartender was so kind and helpful. Felt right at home at the Duck. A great spot for drinks, food, friends, and lake views.

I seriously love every bartender here. They are all awesome outgoing and good heart dudes. Tip them well!!!! I recommend THE WORKS it's a Bloody Mary with a meal on top... don't order this if you have a huge party who wants them it will take 30-45 min to have it out and prepped and can be a big hassle for the bartender when it's busy like the summer time. THE WORKS is available afternoon when the kitchen opens which is 12 I believe. Go here for the best view of Flathead (in my opinion), great drinks, awesome bartenders and Karaoke!!

It's really nice when someone is good at their job. Bartender handled everyone with ease and knows mixology. I have been places where that is not the case. Trust me... it is important. The place is right on the lake with an awesome view. We had a really good time on a Saturday night. Maybe a little too much fun :)

I had always been a Raven/Bonfire person and overlooked Sitting Duck. However, I was missing out. Their Cajun pasta is amazing!!! It is one of the best dishes around here. Also, their Works Bloody Mary is not to be missed. Every time we have guests in town we bring them by for this and they are blown away.

Burgers and tots are good I'd say slightly above average. The atmosphere is laid back in the middle of the day and early evenings, we've never gone here outside of that. Overall it's a nice place to chill on the lake.

Where's the dislike button? I've Tried to give this place business 4 times and it seems they don't want it... Whoever's running this place is lucky it's one of very few on the lake. Otherwise they'd be out of business.