Last night a friend and I went to have dinner together. We don't get to see each other often and I was looking forward to a nice, pleasant dinner. We both ordered french dip sandwiches. The meat was NASTY. I took a bite and thought perhaps it was the extremely overly salted au jus sauce. I took a second bite and got this nasty taste in my mouth. I opened the sandwich and smelled the meat. NOT GOOD. So my friend smelled it and said the same. She said hers wasn't bad like mine. She ate half and then agree. The waitress didn't seem surprised. she asked my friend if she wanted to send hers back too. When she said no the waitress said "ARE YOU SURE?" My friend then responded..."Is there something I don't know?" The manager (thin woman with short dark hair) came over after the food was returned to the kitchen. She didn't apologize, just asked if I wanted to see a menu again. I said no, and asked for a burger and fries. After an amazingly long time they brought the burger. Not all that great either. I gagged down half as I was starving. The waitress brought the bill for everything. I asked for the manager again and told her I thought that since we had been served bad food that perhaps we shouldn't be charged for it! At that point she said rather rudely that she had TASTED my sandwich and that there was nothing wrong with it. She went on to tell me that she has had food poisoning and knows instantly if food is bad. She then said fine...she would only charge us for the burger and she stomped away.

MY LAST TIME I WILL EVER EAT THERE!

If there is a health inspector in Miles City I would recommend a visit to the Iron Horse.

I guess I figured beef when it said it was made with Prime Rib! Maybe I should have asked.

The County won't let the sanitarian inspect anything in the City limits and I'm not sure the City has anyone to do the job. Part of the County's move to "save" money and make life better for county residents.

Aren't there state inspectors?

Does the county health sanitarian still draw a salary? If so, what does s/he do to earn it?

Don't county residents eat in the city limits? How assinine!

The roast beef was probably free of any spoilage or what not....it just tasted bad. Roast beef gets that way. It is a real hit-or-miss proposition for me ordering a philly cheese steak or a French dip, not knowing the quality of the roast beef. And this is at restaurants everywhere. Particularly when it gets overcooked, roast beef takes on a nasty flavor (at least to my taste). That's why I've given up on ordering any type of restaurant sandwich that has roast beef in it.

Wendy--The State depends on County inspectors.

David--He still draws his full salary. I'm not sure what he does with most of his time. I don't think anyone knows. He is supposed to still inspect all the restaurants outside the City limits.

Kacey--The last crop of County commissioners felt that Miles City was not in the County. I'm not sure how that worked. Things may change with the new administration in January. We can always hope.

Brian Schoof has been hired as the new city sanitarian/health inspector. Give him a call.

In Defense of the Iron Horse,
I have been there many times since they have changed their name and menu and I have on always found the food to be extremely tasty and sanitary. Sorry you and your friend had one bad experience, but having been there a dozen times in the last few months and had zero incidents similar to yours, I think you are far in the minority. I have also never had any reason to believe the food has been unsanitary and the waitstaff has always been pleasant enough. I urge that you give it another try before you go lambasting them based on a single incident.
Try the pasta. Yum, yum.

My daughter has stopped eating any beef there too. The brisket was like shoe leather last time she ate there.

[This message has been edited by Kacey (11/14/2010)]

I have given the Iron Horse more than one chance to impress...and they failed each and every time. We no longer even bother getting dissapointed and if we are going out to dinner, prefer a place that always has better food and service than the Iron Horse. The final straw was when I received a glass of Riesling that tasted like vinegar and had "wine crusties" in the bottom of my glass. They were out of basically every side and the breadsticks tasted like they baked them 2 weeks prior and dropped them on the floor. The crab legs were cold and portions so small for the price... Each time we have been there and tried something different I have thought the food was portioned small and very expensive. I don't mind paying for good food...but this has never been the case at the Iron Horse. It's too bad the food has gotten nasty since the new ownership... I used to enjoy eating there.

When you live in a town with a Rib and Chop house why would you eat anywhere else.

Because the Rib & Chop had 30 people waiting to be seated already! Time constraints. The Iron Horse had lots of room! Now I know why.

When you live in a town with a Rib and Chop house Taco John's why would you eat anywhere else

Fixed that for you...

Umm... I don't think is was broken.

Kacey, a short wait is the worst reason in the world to choose a restaurant. If you are looking for a quick meal, chose a fast food joint. You know what to expect so you won't be disappointed. If you are looking for a decent meal look for a waiting list, especially during peak dining hours.

We in small towns get very twitchy when we have to stand in line for anything!

Hehe yeah, that was one of the things that really struck me when I moved to the big city, standing in line at McDonald's, the Gas station, etc. In California we just assumed that if you're going out to dinner on Friday night and you don't call ahead you would wait at least 30-40 minutes for a table, and that's at chain places like Applebee's and Outback Steakhouse. Rarely happens in Miles City or even Billings for that matter.

The Kacey/spacekace account is so contrary to my own experience of fine food and excellent service that I'm now curious. I intend to reserve my dining out budget over the next month for the Iron Horse. I'll have dinner or lunch there once a week and report my findings back to the list at the end of four weeks. Sound fair?

Anyone care to join me in this adventure?

Well Joe, that is a good idea/bad idea you have there. Good if the food turns out well, bad if its bad. I'd join you but I have a budget of $20 a week on eating out. Not enough for the ironhorse.

I'll have dinner or lunch there once a week and report my findings back to the list at the end of four weeks. Sound fair?

Do you have a Kacey/Spacekace mask? Dining as the mayor might bring a different level of service to the table.

[This message has been edited by Richard Bonine, Jr (11/15/2010)]

Those cards cut two ways, Richard. Standard protocol for elected officials and police officers when dining out is to:
a) dine with someone else, whenever possible; preferably, a political foe
b) wait for your dining partner(s) to order first
c) order exactly what your dining partner(s) orders
d) immediately switch plates when the food arrives.

Well Joe, I for one will probably see you in there. Although to the best of my knowledge, I am not one of your political foes...

The question is who will agree to switch plates? Would you switch plates with Jose Canseco in McGwire's Macaroni House?

How about with Sarah Palin while having dinner at Kacey's?

Or with Dr. Rauh while lunching at the Hospital Cafeteria?

The Mayor at the Iron Horse? Hmmm...who owns it? How did they vote on Bristol's dancing?

I like to eat at the Iron Horse, because it's usually not crowded and have found the food to be very good. I usually order the grilled tilapia or the rib eye steak which is excellent. Their salads are usually very fresh, with tasty greens. Sometimes I order the crab won tons which are very tasty. I never have tried their burgers or french dip. When I go, I usually share a meal with a friend as the portions are fairly large. They are always courteous about splitting the meal and never charge more for the extra plate.

The last time we were there was over a year ago, and the food wasn't good then. We loved the place before the new owners sorry but we haven't gone back. I don't think the new managers care much about the food or they would be checking into why people aren't returning. Sooner or later it will close and that a shame it was a great place to eat.

My family and I love the Ironhorse. We eat there a couple times a week. The food is great. The ribs, steaks, hamburgers and gyros are the best in town. The atmosphere is quiet and the fire is warm. I love that it is locally owned. The staff is friendly and the owners are great and hard working.
I have learned over the years that shaved roast beef is a risky thing to order off any menu. Some folks should stick with Lean Cuisine or Healthy choice meals anyway.

[This message has been edited by miles town native (11/20/2010)]

miles town native: Are you saying that someone on this thread should mix in a salad once in awhile?

Possibly, it is what it is.

I have had good and bad meals there. I also had way under cooked lobster there when it was the cattle-ac and i was very pregnant(not good). It happens pretty much everywhere. As long as the service is decent and they are wiling to correct it if they serve a bad meal i try not to judge either way. I understand it is frustrating when you pay good $ for a meal that's not that good. But it happens. The only place i have ate and never got a bad meal or bad service is Mexico Lindo Love that place!

I don't log in here very often, but whenever I do, I see a dozen threads with "Kacey" complaining about SOMETHING.

For what its worth, I have eaten at the Iron Horse a couple of times while in town, and have had nothing but great food and great service.

My wife a year ago had the same exact problem with the French Dip! We use to eat there once a week and never had any problems. I understand that roast beef can be nasty but that wasnt' our issue. We too got charged for the full bill when they knew us and knew we came in once a week and we yet have been back!

I have however ordered out the potstickers and oh boy they are good!

Usually several of us come to the Miles City area to hunt, shoot the Q, etc., and we'll eat only at the Iron Horse or the Hole in the Wall. None of the others come close to their quality and service at a reasonable price.

You have clearly not been to Mexico Lindo.

Been there. None of us are fans of Mexican food, but it was some of the better Mexican dishes. Wasn't so hot as many of the Mexican vittles are, especially in Mexico or the border towns. I see they've moved from the Olive. Getting more difficult to find good old American food!

WWSPE

Where would Sara Palin eat?

At least spell our future nominee's name right.

Yeah, just like Abrahams wife... God gave Mrs. Palin "h".

Getting more difficult to find good old American food

Getting more difficult to find good old American food!

You mean like hamburgers cooked in Greece and French Fries? In fact, is there really any food that is purely "American"... besides maybe Philly-Cheese steak?

I had a nice dinner of venison haunch cooked over a spit with some boiled camas root on the side the other day....does that count?

Was it death camas?

We need to check Gunnar's alkaloid level.

Actually, the cheese steak sandwich is based on an Italian sandwich made of chopped cow stomach with sauce and cheese. It takes hours of cooking with baking soda and other components to make the stomach fit to cook and eat. Personally I think I'll stick with the Philly version made from chopped steak.

In fact, is there really any food that is purely "American"... besides maybe Philly-Cheese steak?

I suggest that the Native Americans probably have some traditional "purely" American cuisine.

I could sit here all day long posting good and bad things about all kinds of restaurants in many different places. I won't because that would be ridiculous, rude and possibly liable.
I have a feeling there is more to this incident than originally posted. I am sure there is another side to the story.
I also think it is outlandish to think that you should not have to pay for a meal, after you were offered a replacement meal, refused the replacement meal and than consumed nearly all of the original meal. That scam gets used all the time in the restaurant business.
So as I suggested before Kacey if I were you, I would stick to salads might be safer for you and better for all.

I suggest that the Native Americans probably have some traditional "purely" American cuisine.

Somehow I don't think a bilagaana eating a navajo taco (which is extremely tasty)... stop digging Richard

[This message has been edited by Richard Bonine, Jr (11/23/2010)]

This is to the miles town native, have you ever heard the old saying if a business does something right someone will tell one other person and if they do wrong they will tell ten people about their experience. I believe that is all this thread was about in the beginning now it's just people picking on others. Point being who really cares if one person had a bad meal there and someone else had a excellent meal there. Just let it be it's starting to sound like you own the place or something, and if you do own the place you should do something about the service because it sucks and I have not been back in a long time just for that reason IMO.

Sorry for the bump.

Miles City Native: You do not know how to run a restaurant business if you say it's ok for messing up here and there. You make the food perfect and precise every time you do it, that's how it's done, you don't cut corners, you don't blame it on stupid poop, you do it right every time and that's it.

If a prime rib or any other food was bad, their employees need to learn how to fix it PERIOD, it has nothing to do with a hit or miss chance, that's a pathetic excuse. Fix the problem and be done with it.

My opinion on the Iron Horse I don't have one because I haven't eaten there. For everyone else, if you have a bad opinion on them they should take that and fix their own problems bottom line. Quality is first priority over anything.