Just wanted to say that I am really enjoying having yet another great restaurant in town to dine at. I'm sure some folks will disagree with me, but I just don't believe a town can have too many good places to eat - and I count my blessings that Miles City has several.

Now you can add THE IRON HORSE to the list of GREAT places to eat. I have been there several times now and had something different each time - it's all been Five Star quality.

But here's the thing and the reason I created this post. The IRON HORSE's Shrimp Etouffee is absolutely the best Creole dish I've had anywhere - including New Orleans!

It was so good I asked the waitress if the Chef would come out so I could compliement him/her. Well, he did and, wearing a big smile, told me that it is his favorite dish to cook. He actually prepares each order individually, and you can tell he's being 100% honest about that because the shrimp are perfectly cooked, the veggies are perfectly sauteed, and the sauce is fresh, fresh, fresh. The flavors and smells and colors themselves all tell you that this Etoufee hasn't been bubbling away in a big pot for hours on end.

I raved about the Etouffee to one of my friends here in town - in fact, I thought I overdid it and feared he would come back and say something like "Well, it was OK, but it wasn't all that good." I'm pleased to report my fears were unfounded. Both my friend and his buddy ordered the Etouffee, and both were completely blown away by how good it is.

So, if you like Creole food (or if you have never had any and want to discover what all the fuss is about), I can now recommend without reservation the Shrimp Etouffee at IRON HORSE. See you there and ---

Bon appetit!

[This message has been edited by Steve Craddock (12/12/2009)]

Sounds great. Glad to hear it. I look forward to trying the Iron Horse the next time I'm in town.

I'll have to give this place a try. Went to the Rib & Chop last night and just about everyone who ordered seafood was disappointed with it. They do steak very well over there but both the quality and skill in preparation were mediocre at best on the seafood. I'm definitely getting steak when I go there in the future.

I attended a Holiday gathering at the Iron Horse last night and have to say everyone had a good time. We did not have dinner, but we had plenty of good finger food and a tasty beverage, or two, or ... Anyway service was nice and it was really nice to be there in a smoke free environment. What a positive difference that makes in a bar.

Levi - I haven't had any other seafood than the shrimp in the etouffee -- but I can say that it was dee-licious. That was actually my biggest worry when my friend went there and ordered the dish. I thought, Oh man, what if I just happened to be there on the first day that the shrimp was delivered, and now several days have gone by... But no problem. My buddy said the shrimp were as fresh and firm and delectable as if he'd been down at Puerto Penasco buying them directly off the boats. It doesn't get any better than that.

Thank you for deciding for me what to have for my last meal in 2009. I can hardly wait. I've always had really good service there, but I always have the same old flat-iron steak. I did try the steamer clams that they have on the hours de'vors menu, but it was too spicy. Maybe if they had an option with melted garlic-butter on the side(?)mmmmmmm. Anyway, Happy New Year! Good Food, Good Friends, Good Times!!

I wonder what it says about me that I had to look up not only what Etouffee is, but also how to say it.

Then again, my absolute favorite eatery in Vegas (a gourmand's paradise any more) is http://www.originaltommys.com/

Well, jambalaya, an' a crayfish pie, an' file gumbo
Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma cher amio!

Steve,

I'm so glad to hear that the Iron Horse has quality Etouffee. Cafe Zydeco in Bozeman used to be the only place that you could get it. I'll be ordering it this week - thanks for the referral!

I always loved the AC.. but I went to Iron Horse once and got what I normally ordered at the AC. It was a cold smaller portion for the same price. I wont be going back unless my significant other drags me! Its still a nice atmosphere though

My wife and I went to the CA once, never went back. Tried the new menu at the now Iron Horse and it was fantastic. We will be going back there for sure. I actually think it's better than that chainy Rib and Chop house.

I forgot to post it but I finally went to the Iron Horse a few nights ago. I had the braised short ribs. The first one I thought could have spent a little longer braising but it was not tough. The second one was falling off the bone. They tasted very beefy and I'm sure that they were braised in beef stock. Not terribly exciting flavor-wise but very good. My Mom had the shrimp etouffee and she really liked it. Overall I really enjoyed the food and I would go there over the Rib and Chop for anything but steak. The steak at the Rib and Chop House is very good, but when I've gone there and not ordered steak, it was pretty mediocre at best.

What I've had there is good. I just wish they were open Sundays too.

You all can have the Iron horse. Ive have given it a fair shot on many occasions and it always leaves me dissapointed.

The caprese salad is amazing!! One of the best I have ever had

The Iron horse is way to overpriced for what you actually get. I would much rather go to the Rib and Chop where i can get a loaded baked as big as my plate for less than 5 dollars when all of there appetizers at the Iron horse are at least 7or 8 no thanks. Also i hear that the new owners arent that great to the employees there. They wont be getting my money.

yea I also heard from several people that the new owners treat their employees badly, a friend told me she heard screaming coming from the kitchen, Not very professional if you ask me. Like you the ironhorse will not be getting my money. I'd rather at least go to the Rib and Chop, from what i hear everyone loves their job there. Makes a difference in everything I think. But then again I'm all about the community, and these people who treat miles city workers bad should just go back to the east coast.

That's funny because when the Rib and Chop House first opened I heard a number of rumors about how bad the employees were treated now the same is happening at the Iron Horse. I haven't been back to MC to try Iron Horse yet but will next trip.

I highly recommend the Italian flatbread--it was excellent when we ate there last Saturday!

I have not been able to actually visit the Iron Horse but have had several chances to experience the food thru catered events. Everything I have had from there has been wonderful. Hope to go there in person to experience the resteraunt and pricing.

We have eaten there twice and it has NOT been good. Sad to pay that kind of money for a meal and go home and eat something because you are still hungry. Food was really bad both times. The steak tips were so tough you could not chew them.

We have eaten there many times.

It has always been pretty good.

I am just wondering if the rumor I heard has any truth to it. I just heard that the Iron Horse is closing. Does anyone know???

I went to the Ironhorse for the first time since its been the Iron Horse last Thursday and have to say it was quite nice.
The service was great and our waitress was very pleasant. The menu has a really nice offering of different items, some the same as the Cattle-Ac used to offer and some that were new, which I liked. Prices didn't seem outrageous and if they were raised as some folks have indicated, it doesn't seem to be a whole lot. My guest and I both had the tenderloin tips, which I had had before and really did not enjoy, but they were quite good this time.
My only complaint was that the drink menu seems to have been really cut back and focuses mostly on just different wines, and the few specialty drinks that were on it were pretty high-priced.
Granted it was a Thursday, but it seemed kinda slow for being supper hour. Although, there was several more tables when we left than there was when we got there.
I've also heard the rumor about them closing, but am assuming it is just another typical rumor at this point. I sure hope it is!

I hope they don't close. When my husband and I want a "nice" meal, that's where we go. When we go, the service is always good, the food is great and the general atmosphere is nice. My mom and I ate there today and it was pretty good.

I LOVE thier food! Scallops there are awesome, and so is the philly cheese steak YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Service has been great every time!

We went to the Iron Horse for dinner last night, and got there at 7:00. I went with an open mind, knowing that the portions were smaller, but looking forward to a good meal. We got seated promptly and the waiter was friendly. I ordered the special, which was written as Broiled Walleye, it came with 2 sides, so I ordered a Caesar salad and baked potato. They were our of baked potato's, so I had the shoestring fries. My boyfriend ordered the Prime Rib, which they ended up being out of, so substituted a flat iron steak. We each ordered a glass of Riesling. When we got our wine, it tasted old...and there ended up being the little floaty crystals in the bottom of the glass. Our food came promptly, but my Walleye had a smoky chipotle sauce on top. It made it spicy and wasn't bad, but wasn't what I was expecting. The breadsticks that came with our food tasted like they were baked yesterday and sat under a heat lamp all day. They were soft and warm, but stale tasting. The fries were excellent...best fries I've had in a restaurant in a long time...and my boyfriend loved the mac and cheese. Overall, the service was great, but I was disappointed in the food and drink... I'll probably go back, but when we can get there at 5 so they aren't out of prime and baked potatoes...