Minneapolis' loss is Bigfork's gain, or so it goes with a pair of entrepreneurial restaurant aficionados and their chef.

INVITE - American Kitchen and Bar quietly opened its doors May 11, 2006 on downtown Bigfork's Electric Avenue, and the restaurant's popularity is growing with each restaurant-goer who discovers the contemporary dining experience.

Andy and Andrea Kriss started INVITE as a change from the fast-paced city life of Minneapolis, Minn. After three years of devising a plan, Andy said INVITE quietly came to life this spring without a grand opening.

"We opened the doors and said 'Come on in" sort of thing," he said, saying that the crew commonly hears from patrons that they had no idea the restaurant was there. But the Kriss' experience in the restaurant world is changing that with the philosophy of doing all things well.

"No matter what you're doing, do it to the highest quality you can," Andy said, adding that's something he learned from his diverse restaurant days from Mom and Pop restaurants to high-end affairs. Add to the Kriss' expertise the more than 17 combined years of kitchen experience Executive Chef Ryan Crum and Sous Chef Andy Wickert bring to INVITE, and a restaurant with the quality and elegance of a "food town" as renown as Minneapolis is born.

Years of friendship and working side by side add to INVITE's smooth transition into the Bigfork dining scene. Andy Kriss and Crum have been friends since three years of age, and Crum and Wickert have been cooking together in some capacity for the last five years.

The stretch from Minneapolis to Bigfork wasn't as great as some may think, Andrea said, as Bigfork and the Flathead Valley holds its own with good food and drink.

"The area had a good base for a restaurant," Andrea said. "It's known for good food and known for having good wine, and we felt we could fit right in."

Andrea said she and Andy fell in love with the area and decided to make the move to Bigfork when they realized they had something to offer the community through their food, fine wines and specialty cocktails. The couple said Bigfork is a special place to own a business, saying it has a true "community feel," where the business owners downtown support one another. That closeness is a change from business life in the big city, Andy said. "Out here everyone wants everyone else to be successful," he added.

Crum calls his menu an "American blend" of cuisine -- with options. Entrees range from $17 to $35 and include traditional American cuisine, such as a 19oz. Delmonico steak with Garlic Smashed Potatoes, seafood delights and game dishes that highlight Montana's heritage. Rod and reel caught Cornmeal Crusted Flathead Lake Whitefish is a local dish and fresh tuna from Honolulu makes up the Black Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna entree. Andy said the Cedar-planked Sea Scallops are a favorite. Game entrees include a Char-grilled Elk Chop and Bison Short Ribs. However, the menu changes seasonally.

Salads include a summer house and Caesar salads. Dressings are homemade. Homemade Chicken Wild Rice Soup is on the menu, making the trip from Minnesota. Crum said it is a "staple of the culture" in that Midwestern state.

Appetizers, wines and cocktails are the choice of many people this summer. Crum said the idea is to offer a taste of everything through the appetizer portions, saying many choose to simply order a round of appetizers and cocktails and enjoy a light meal. Crispy Coconut Shrimp, Elk Carpaccio, Grilled Stuffed Onions, Steamed Mussels and Fried Cheese Curds dipped in a Moose Drool beer batter with capers are appetizer options ranging between $5 and $10.

Invite's Grill Menu is available open to close and provides more traditional menu choices. Dishes on the grill menu include meat loaf, walleye fish and chips, a bacon burger, vegetable risotto and an Ahi tuna burger.

"We wanted to do something for everyone," Crum said of the restaurant's diverse menu, adding that the restaurant's menu and decor is intended to make people comfortable whether wearing a shirt and tie or blue jeans and a T-shirt.

The atmosphere is indeed inviting, whether enjoying a cocktail on the open-air patio with views of Bigfork Bay or sitting in the well-lit bar and lounge area. The lounge's wood decor adds a rustic feel, yet the restaurant throughout is very contemporary and modern. "What we wanted was elegant, Montana-casual," Andy said. The dining room reflects that elegance with soft lighting, warm colors and adorning art pieces from local artists.

Andy serves as Invite's rendition of a bartender, as he is just two courses away from master designation as a wine steward from the International Sommelier Guild - an international school of wine.

In a very short time INVITE has become a welcome fixture in the town of Bigfork. Whether you are interested in a light lunch or dinner, or a night to remember all you’ll need to remember is “You’ve been INVITE’d”

Bigfork Eagle
P.O. Box 406 / Bigfork, Montana 59911 / 406-837-5131