A great addition to town is the Philipsburg Cafe (136 W. Broadway, 406/859-7799, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Wed.–Sun., 6–8:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat., lunch $7–8, dinner $12 Fri., $20 Sat.), serving good lunches (yet another place to try a pasty) and special dinners with a choice between two entrées: Friday nights are pretty homey (spaghetti and meatballs or chicken teriyaki) whereas the several-course Saturday night meals reveal the chef’s culinary-school training (skirt steak with mushroom sauce or a lemon-roasted chicken).

If you choose to forgo all nutritional guidelines, then by all means pig out at the Sweet Palace (109 E. Broadway, 406/859-3353), a huge candy store.

Doe Brothers (120 E. Broadway, 406/859-7677, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. daily summer, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. winter, $5–13) strikes a good balance—it’s an old-fashioned soda fountain that also serves pasties.

The Gallery Cafe (127 E. Broadway, 406/859-3534, 8 a.m.–8 p.m., $4–7) serves good food and the atmosphere of a Richard Hugo poem.

For a traditional Montana evening meal of steak or prime rib, stop by Montana John’s Silver Mill Saloon (128 E. Broadway, 406/859-7000, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Sat.–Sun., 4:30 p.m.–10 p.m. Tues.–Thurs., 4:30 p.m.–11 p.m. Sat.–Sun., $9–36).