NYC 2 BIG D: Day 6 – A Hidden Pink Gem, Music, Beer and Thai Food

Live at Five

While conversing with one of MT’s sister’s about great places to eat in Helena, she mentioned a place called The Flamingo Grill in a KOA campsite about 25 miles outside of town that had great burgers, fries and the best Reuben in Montana. My first reaction was one of reluctance of the KOA part, but I proceeded to look it up online and fell in love with the place. First, it really is in a KOA campsite right next to a huge lake, but the best part is you can eat in an old pink bus! I had to check it out, so we went there for lunch. Then, every Wednesday in the summer Helena has an event called Live at 5, which is basically a social gathering outside that consists of a band, beer, and food, so MT, MT’s parents and I decided to go for a little while before dinner. This week, it was barricaded in the newer part of downtown, near Silver Star. The music was great, the beer was flowing, and we even had some great dancing entertainment. Final stop…..Toi’s Thai for dinner, which is a place we were able to try about 3 years ago, and just raved about, but haven’t been able to return because it is either closed or Toi is in Thailand visiting family. We were ecstatic to be able to make it there this year!

The Flamingo Grill

Rating: Yummm…..Impressive

Location: 81 Silos Road, Townsend, MT‎

Category: Burgers, Fries, Sandwiches

Favorites: French Fries, Pulled Pork Sandwich

Pricing: Cheap

Comments:

Definitely don’t go to this place for a quick lunch, but more for a leisurely and scenic meal out of town. Great for a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Once you are at the KOA site, it sticks out like a sore thumb with the pink bus, flamingos and large plastic palm trees everywhere, so you can’t miss it. The little shack in the middle is where you place your order, and the menu was incredible. Milk shakes galore, sandwiches and burgers (all made with Montana Wheat bread) fries, onion rings and breakfast foods. I am a big lover of pulled pork sandwiches, so I had to try theirs, MT ordered the Summer Special, which was a Philly Cheese steak, and our other passenger, MT’s uncle, chose the Turkey Melt. We placed our requests, got our drinks, and went to sit in the pink bus. Little tables filled with condiments and napkins, flamingos, and a side table with a guest book loaded up the bus along with a little radio for background music. It was quite lovely and the view of the lake and mountains was spectacular! Our food was soon brought out to us, and the portions are huge, so come hungry. My pulled pork was not the best I’ve had, but it was still really really good, and the Montana Wheat bread was delicious. I tried MT’s Philly Cheese steak and I’m no cheese steak connoisseur, but theirs was tasty. The big winner of the day was their French fries, which come with every sandwich….Wow…..super crispy on the outside with a soft and tender inside. The best I’ve ever had, and I don’t even like fries that much! After polishing off most of my sandwich, we left with our bellies very very full. Time for a walk!

Pulled Pork Sandwich

Philly Cheese Steak

Toi’s Thai

Rating: Yummm…..Impressive

Location: 423 North Last Chance Gulch Street, Helena, MT‎

Category: Thai

Favorites: The Spiciness!, Green Curry, Banana Sticky Rice, BYOB

Pricing: Affordable

Comments:

I was so glad that Toi’s Thai was open this visit to Montana because we have wanted to go back for years because this woman knows her Thai food and how to spice it up! I know…..good Thai food in Montana? It’s true……some of the best! She didn’t let us down during this pop in either. Also, a big plus……it’s BYOB, considering most of our bill is mostly from alcohol. Not here! Following the opening of our first bottle of wine, MT’s parents both ordered the Dinners, which was a 4 course meal including soup, salad, a main course, and dessert. MT and I didn’t choose the Dinner, so we started off with some Chicken Satay….yum…our favorite. I then ordered a Veggie Stir Fry, extra thai spicy, and MT ordered his regular, Pad Thai, extra chicken, extra spicy. When MT’s parent’s soups came out, I was able to have a sip…good clean flavors. My veggie dish was great swimming in wonderful Thai spices and sauce. Matt’s Pad Thai was a bit too dry, and needed more peanuts, but overall still good. I don’t quite recall everything that was on MT’s parent’s main course plates, but MT’s mom had a side of Green Curry, which she let me try, and I was astounded by it. It had Just the right amount of curry spice with a wonderful contrasting rich creaminess from the coconut milk. Absolutely delicious! Finally, MT’s parents Dinners ended with their dessert, a Banana Sticky Rice, which I gladly took a bite of, and oh my goodness gracious…..so good, sweet and milky! Definitely, do not skip out on dessert at this place. I was impressed!