What’s New on Missoula’s Food Scene: A Downtown Drive-Thru, Tacos for the Old James Bar and Pastrami on the Way |
Liquid Planet opens on West Broadway, a Kalispell taco shop readies the former James Bar, Pastrami Franks aims for December, and Tagliare lands on campus. |
Missoula’s food scene is shuffling this fall: one coffee favorite has a new downtown home, a beloved bar is becoming a taco spot, and a pastrami shop is on the way.
Here’s what’s open, what’s coming and what we know about when.
Now open: Liquid Planet’s downtown drive-thru
Liquid Planet opened a new downtown location with a drive-thru at 400 W. Broadway on Oct. 5, Newstalk KGVO reported, citing the company’s Instagram.
It shares the building with The UPS Store and an AI company, CubCloud AI.
The move follows the closure of the company’s Liquid Planet Grille on Brooks Street earlier this year, KPAX reported.
If your morning commute runs along Broadway, you now have a coffee stop you don’t have to park for.
Coming soon: Atomic Tacos at the old James Bar
After nearly two decades, the James Bar poured its last drinks on July 25, NBC Montana reported.
The space at 127 W. Alder St. won’t stay quiet. Kalispell-based Atomic Tacos is taking it over and turning it into its own restaurant and bar, according to the James Bar’s announcement, as reported by Newstalk KGVO.
In Kalispell, Atomic Tacos is known for tacos that pull flavors from around the world, according to the Daily Inter Lake.
The Missoula location has been hiring, the Missoulian reported. No opening date has been announced, and we’ll let you know when it is.
On the way: Pastrami Franks
Pastrami Franks plans to open at 311 W. Front St., with old-school hot dogs, half-pound pastrami sandwiches and fresh-baked rolls, Newstalk KGVO reported in September, citing the business’s social media.
It’s expected to open sometime in December.
Openings slip, so we’ll confirm the date before you plan lunch around it.
Now on campus: Tagliare
Missoula’s Tagliare Delicatessen added a third local location, inside the University Center on the University of Montana campus.
It was scheduled to start serving students Aug. 24, according to a UM Dining Services post reported by Z100.
Still pouring: Great Burn Brewing
Great Burn Brewing must leave its McDonald Avenue home after 12 years, but it plans to stay open through the end of 2026 while it looks for a new spot in Midtown or the Southside, NBC Montana reported.
Its block is part of the planned Midtown Market redevelopment. We covered that in our Whole Foods story.
Opening, moving or closing? Tell us at info@zootownlowdown.com.
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