I squeezed in one last birthday celebration yesterday with some book shopping and lunch at a new-to-us restaurant called MacKenzie River.

Here’s how they describe themselves on their website:

MacKenzie River was born & raised in Montana by free-spirited people who believe life should be a wide-open, constant exploration. The first employees were ski bums, hikers, kayakers, and anglers—outdoor enthusiasts who worked hard, played harder and valued a drink and a good meal at the end of the day. MacKenzie River is designed to give everyone a place to go that reflects the mind and soul of “The Last Best Place” in attitude, atmosphere and in a menu that offers tried-and-true favorites with a twist of exceptional mountain flavor.

They have great atmosphere with vintage black and white images taken in nature and just a handful of outdoorsy accents that create character without making clutter. I regret not snapping a few pictures inside the restaurant. Another time.

The service was good but the food was excellent. They are meat heavy with things like bison burgers and interesting pizza combinations but they do have some vegetarian dishes. The black bean burger was tempting but I eat those all the time. I am pescatarian and so chose the Korean BBQ Salmon Bowl.

This isn’t something I would normally order because I was sure it would have a kick but I’m so glad I tried a new dish. It has a rice base with carrots, red peppers, perfectly cooked broccoli, shredded red cabbage, and baked salmon in Korean bbq sauce. Some scallions and sesame seeds were in there too. Honestly, I would have been thrilled with the veggies, rice and sauce but the salmon was good too.

The sauce did have a kick – enough to clear my sinuses – but it was a delicious change and a wonderful reminder to occasionally try new things.

Whether it’s a different workout at the gym, a new route to work, or just something different for lunch, experimentation can be a good thing!

What can you try today that is new to you?

They have several locations out west as well as two in Ohio and one in Kentucky. Click here to learn more!