Highway 83 - 2 miles east of Highway 35 outside of Bigfork. Corner of Echo Lake Road and Highway 83.


Average Overall Rating:

(5 out of 5)

Average Coffee Refill Rating:

(4 out of 5)

(3 out of 5)

Review by: BadLarry on 10/28/2008

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I am a local Bigfork Guy. Visitors to the area often ask me where to go and what to do in the Flathead Valley. I make sure they are going to Glacier Park on a hike and then I let them know that it is mandatory that they have breakfast at the Echo Lake Cafe.

The coffee is organic, the orange juice is fresh squeezed and the produce is locally organically grown. The owners even raze the beef on their property down the street.

I think that I have had everything on the menu over the last 10 years, but my favorite is the Echo Lake Crepes. I could eat that every day for the rest of my life if I had the money.

They have a new website www.echolakecafe.com that has photos of the food and restaurant. It even has unedited comments from the customers.

If you have one thing to do in Montana... Go to Glacier Park, but if you can squeeze in two things... Go to Echo Lake Cafe as well.

Award Nomination: Best Breakfast Ever

Review #15202Review by: governor_judy on 5/7/2006

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While campaigning to become governor of the State of Montana, I came to Bigfork a few times. The very Northwest corner of the state is reliably Republican, and I came to this cafe in search of my people.

Imagine my surprise when I showed up at Echo Lake Cafe and found NONE of them here! "Well", I thought, "I'll patiently wait. They'll be here eventually". While passing the time, I ordered the breakfast burrito. The plate placed before me was a feast for the eyes and nose, and I soon discovered that the fork had a mind of its own, as well as a direct route from the plate to my mouth (from which, by the way, I previously removed my feet).

Potatoes, chorizo sausage, mushrooms-----and so much more-----were the fresh ingredients in the burrito. I was so fond of the flavor and texture that I forgot all about asking for support (and money!) from my red-neck electorate.

Well, my Republican voters never showed up at that cafe. I learned later that a rumor was circulating that an aptitude test has to be taken before walking in the door to eat, so that might've scared my people off. Of course, that doesn't explain how I was waited on and served----so I'm sure it's really just a rumor (although obviously an effective one). Whether they'll have me in here remains to be seen: A couple of people recognized me, and while I was waiting to be seated (I was lieutenant governor at the time! Why should I have to WAIT??), both pretended to be waitstaff of the cafe and wanted to show me to my own 'personal' dining room. Well, I was not at all amused. I'd been in bathrooms before, and although I've had more than a few meals in them, I didn't see how I could conduct a campaign meeting in a bathroom stall! Oh, on that issue: the bathrooms are immaculate here. Best I've seen.

My only complaint about the meal: please call it something other than a 'burrito'. That is a Mexican word, and in Montana (as it should be in America and all over the world), we don't speak Mexican. Things are getting out of hand with all this very slight and subversive 'Browning of America', as Paul Harvey so aptly called it. Let's start by calling food by good, wholesome American names. I think this meal should be called the Echo Lake Breakfast Bomb! Now THAT is something I'd endorse! Americans love bombs----but we don't love Mexicans who come across the border from Canada. Nope, we don't like that one bit at ALL.

Award Nomination: Best Breakfast Ever

Review #7442Review by: Eggywegg on 7/10/2005

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Excellent food, excellent service, excellent view. On Sundays, there might be a wait. It's worth it. A really comfortable, great eat.

Review #5388


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Reviews submitted here are meant to pertain to breakfast only. While Mr Breakfast cannot vouch for the validity of each restaurant review, he feels pretty good vouching for the excellent character of the residents of Bigfork, Montana - who are primarily responsible for the review(s) you see above for Echo Lake Cafe.