While vacationing in summer 2002, Joanne Maguire and her husband wandered into the Frontier Room restaurant in Seattle. They were blown away by the mouth-watering Southern barbecue and the décor of the downtown hotspot. Little did they know that this restaurant would play a large role in their future.

Joanne grew up in Spokane, Washington, “in a family of crazy Italian cooks.” Her grandfather owned a popular steakhouse in Florida, and her mother encouraged all three children to experiment in the kitchen, which led Joanne and one of her brothers to become professional chefs.

Joanne received a Business degree from Eastern Washington University, and a Hotel and Restaurant degree from Spokane Community College. She spent 12 years in restaurant management while her real love of cooking simmered in the background. While managing the Spokane House Restaurant in 2001, she met and married native Montanan Brew Michaels. They moved back to Kalispell where Brew is now a popular radio personality at B-98.5 FM and Joanne could finally focus on cooking.

Rick Paulson gave Joanne a chance in his popular Café Roma restaurant in Kalispell, where she was quickly promoted to head chef, setting high standards for their all-home-made Italian cuisine. When the building was sold and the lease lost, they went their separate ways.

When Joanne received a call from Rick asking if she was interested in working together again at the Frontier Roadhouse, where we was now manager, she was amazed to learn that this was the second location of the Frontier Room restaurant in Seattle, which has impressed her so much. Her answer was an enthusiastic “Yes!”

After working her way up the ranks and learning the many nuances of Southern barbecue, she took over the head chef position and incorporated her all-by-scratch, homemade cooking style creating a perfect marriage with the Roadhouse's focus on balancing their barbecue-based menu with top-quality seafood, vegetarian, and Montana specialties.

Frontier Roadhouse & Golf is located at the intersection of highways 35 and 206, seven miles east of downtown Kalispell. Lunch and dinner are served Tuesday through Sunday with the golf course open daily. The Roadhouse features live music on Wednesday nights with John Dunnigan, and on Saturday nights with the “Under the Stars” music lineup which includes local and national acts Rob Quist, Tim Torgerson, the Bad Larrys, and Gene Gordner all performing on their giant outdoor deck.

“One of the ten best barbeque restaurants in the West.” — Sunset Magazine

FRONTIER ROADHOUSE —Flathead Living Magazine

Summer is in full swing, and that means one thing—barbeque! Frontier Roadhouse and Golf specializes in private parties for large groups, golf outings, receptions, and special events. You may reserve an area at the Roadhouse for your group, either inside the restaurant or outdoors on their giant deck. Catering is also offered for outside events, and you have a choice of either picking up your order or having it delivered, as well as having their staff coordinate to serve your group at the event site. Special Tip; Put together a golf tournament for your group with Golf Pro Jeff Chapman, and include lunch or dinner before or after your tee time.


FRONTIER ROADHOUSE —Flathead Living Magazine

While vacationing in summer 2002, Joanne Maguire and her husband wandered into the Frontier Room restaurant in Seattle. They were blown away by the mouth-watering Southern barbecue and the décor of the downtown hotspot. Little did they know that this restaurant would play a large role in their future.

Joanne grew up in Spokane, Washington, “in a family of crazy Italian cooks.” Her grandfather owned a popular steakhouse in Florida, and her mother encouraged all three children to experiment in the kitchen, which led Joanne and one of her brothers to become professional chefs.

Joanne received a Business degree from Eastern Washington University, and a Hotel and Restaurant degree from Spokane Community College. She spent 12 years in restaurant management while her real love of cooking simmered in the background. While managing the Spokane House Restaurant in 2001, she met and married native Montanan Brew Michaels. They moved back to Kalispell where Brew is now a popular radio personality at B-98.5 FM and Joanne could finally focus on cooking.

Rick Paulson gave Joanne a chance in his popular Café Roma restaurant in Kalispell, where she was quickly promoted to head chef, setting high standards for their all-home-made Italian cuisine. When the building was sold and the lease lost, they went their separate ways.

When Joanne received a call from Rick asking if she was interested in working together again at the Frontier Roadhouse, where we was now manager, she was amazed to learn that this was the second location of the Frontier Room restaurant in Seattle, which has impressed her so much. Her answer was an enthusiastic “Yes!”

After working her way up the ranks and learning the many nuances of Southern barbecue, she took over the head chef position and incorporated her all-by-scratch, homemade cooking style creating a perfect marriage with the Roadhouse's focus on balancing their barbecue-based menu with top-quality seafood, vegetarian, and Montana specialties.

Frontier Roadhouse & Golf is located at the intersection of highways 35 and 206, seven miles east of downtown Kalispell. Lunch and dinner are served Tuesday through Sunday with the golf course open daily. The Roadhouse features live music on Wednesday nights with John Dunnigan, and on Saturday nights with the “Under the Stars” music lineup which includes local and national acts Rob Quist, Tim Torgerson, the Bad Larrys, and Gene Gordner all performing on their giant outdoor deck.