Time is passing faster than I like, it seems to be something that happens as we grow older. No matter how fast time passes, some things still remain the same. I can recall very vividly the times when as a police officer and during times of doing the bidding for the rich and powerful being told, “your attitude sucks” and my canned response was, “just wait, it will get worse, much worse.”
I mentioned the above due to another “dining experience” in good old Billings, Montana, the true home of some of the worst dining without question in the world! Again, love the state, but how did it happened that such horrible food can be prepared, manufactured or generated in the kitchens of this city? Up until Thanksgiving Day when we dined at the Northern Hotel’s “famous 10 restaurant,” at 19 North Broadway, Billings, Montana 59101 that lightening struck again. The Montana Club, Billings Montana and Rib and Chop House, Billings Montana are not the worst Blue Ribbon Champions of just the worst and disgusting food imaginable! Welcome to the “10 Restaurant,” I am researching my Bible readings, I am sure it is in The Good Book to avoid this Northern Hotel and its restaurant “The 10,” so help me, God! The level of BAD in the description of this so called restaurants’ food is Biblical….. I don’t think, if, we could ship this dining disaster to Gaza would the starving populace would have even eaten it!
I sent a text message/Letter to the General Manager Mike Nelson care of Jolayne Buffington who I was told was the “10’s manager” I am attaching it for your reviewing pleasure:
November 29, 2024
Mike Nelson, General Manager
Northern Hotel
19 North Broadway
Billings, Montana 59101
On the 28th., myself and two of grandsons thought it would be a great idea to have dinner at your hotel. The mistake was of course the ‘thought,’ without much question we would have gotten better food down the road at one of the homeless shelters! Having traveled a great deal through the years, buffets are always sketchy with a few exceptions. When I made my initial complaint to Allison as to the the only choices was incredibly dry turkey slices or really very rare beef. Not a fan of turkey and love prime rib ( Lawrys, Beverly Hills /Prime Rib, San Francisco) this prime rib was as tasteless and way too rare. The young man carving told me this is the only choice, rare. $75.00 and there is no choice?
The sweet potatoes barely warm and dry, the salmon not too bad the rest of the meal was absolutely terrible. However, my two grandsons, I actually think they may have enjoyed the meal, again, 13 year old and a 10 year old, they would have loved Wendy’s as well.
The real sting was the $35.00 dollar tip, a tip so I could serve myself, a tip for a meal I could hardly eat, a tip of that size for a buffet of this caliber? Outrageous, I did speak to a young lady wearing a flowing black outfit and she gave me a card to send my thoughts to. The point of this letter is that I want the $35.00 dollar tip and one $75.00 charge to be refunded to my American Express card, check # 22014292 table T41.
The best part of the entire miserable experience was when I told Allison that the food was frankly not up to standard. Her response was, “try us when we are open with our regular menu, it is a lot different.” “A lot different than this.” Another great comment was that the ‘hotel had the entire staff working and that the tip would be split amongst all of them.’ Paying your staff at your hotel is not my problem and please do not get me wrong here, I am a great tipper; for great food and great service! The water pours, the Pepsi refills and my cup of coffee was just fine, just not $35.00 ‘fine.’
As a contract writer for several magazines and websites, John J. Nazarian, America’s Food Critique, I will be publishing my thoughts of this disaster that was served up at your hotel. On an up swing, I do enjoy Bernies for breakfast and lunch, however I would never ever eat at ‘The 10’ under any circumstances.
The above was a copy of my correspondence with The Northern Hotel.
Note: The “ Mashed Potatoes “as served could have been used to patch the hull of a sinking ship…. so thick, so heavy, SOOOOOO BAD! Was there an executive chef in the kitchen when this pig slop was being dished up for consumption by those of us who were getting slammed in the dining room? ** I make the best mashed potatoes any human can prepare, lots of fresh cream, lots of warm butter and lots of caring. When served with a delicious home made gravy, it is heaven on a plate…… the polar opposite of the ‘body putty’ The Northern calls “mashed potatoes.” The prime rib was just too rare for my tasting pleasure. When I see bloody meat on my plate I get flashbacks of my years in the ‘embalming room!’ Medium well is my choice, however The Northern Hotel for some reason thinks they know better, what a disastrous dining event this was!
I hear the word elegant at times in describing “The 10” restaurant at the Northern Hotel ambiance & furnishings. Where did this come from….? The dining room of my Airstream is more elegant and for sure has a much better ambiance than this refurbished dump!