April 15, 2014 - The Windbag Saloon and Grill - Helena, Montana

Several of us employees at the Bullhook Community Health Center, Inc. are in Helena for the Annual Meeting of the Montana Primary Care Association...and attending training sessions.


The group includes Lynne Nash, Cindy Smith, Kathy Shrauger, Brandi Baker and I.  Tonight we chose the Windbag Saloon and Grill for dinner.

Windbag Saloon and Grill

19 South Main Street

Helena, Montana

(406) 443-9669

Cindy ordered the Coconut Battered Shrimp – six large shrimp battered and rolled in coconut served with wasabi lime sauce.

Lynne ordered the Filet Mignon – 8 ounce filet grilled and topped with their own basil chardonnay sauce atop fresh bacon bits.

Brandi and Kathy ordered the King Salmon – 8 ounce filet of king salmon, charbroiled and served with basil chardonnay sauce.

I ordered Mushroom Peppercorn Filet – 8 oz. Beef Tenderloin filet with sautéed mushrooms, peppercorns and feta cheese crumble.

Wine – Kathy and I ordered the Big Dorothy’s Whorehouse Red (CA) – a  blend of Petite Sirah, Malbec and Petit Verdot with blackberry, plum and licorice and hints of vanilla, smoke.

Cindy, Lynne and Brandi ordered the Fat Monk (Pinot Noir)  CA – exhibited complex flavors of cherry, raspberry and strawberry with hints of nutmeg and allspice.

"Oh" the waiter says, "3 monks and 2 whores."   Read the history below to understand some of the names on the menu.

The building has had many diverse occupants over the years.  There are stores of a burlesque hall which eventually became a moving picture theatre and later a bowling alley.  Numerous drinking establishments are also report to have entertained their patrons within these walls.  This building is probably most well known for its famous madams and red lights.  Dorothy Baker, and before her, Ida Levi, ran one of the cleanest, most respected bordellos in all of Montana.  Up until 1973, when Big Dorothy was finally closed down, this building was traditionally a focal point of Helena’s night life.

The Windbag Saloon and Grill was established in 1978.  Mary Jo Brown remembers the night they closed down Big Dorothy’s.