The “Ted” in Ted’s Montana Grill is indeed for media mogal Ted Turner, who along with George McKerrow, the founder of LongHorn Steakhouse, created this chain serving hearty fare in a casual saloon-style setting.

I — like many other bloggers — was invited recently to sample and write about the restaurant. We started with the St. Philip’s Island crabcake ($15) served with a dollop of guacamole. The cake contained more crab than bindings but was served luke warm, as were the grilled shrimp on garlic ciabatta with drawn butter. Although not hot enough (an easily remediable situation), the flavor of each was good, especially washed down with a glass of Kim Crawford ($14) New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

The heat, though, was quite apparent both in taste and temperature of the bison chili topped with shredded cheese, fresh jalapeno slices and diced red onions. I recommend a flavorful bowlful, which could be a light lunch, or dinner with a salad.

Those salads arrived served on chilled plates. Nice. The Caesar ($7) contained crisp romaine, fresh croutons all in an eggless dressing. I’d suggest the farmhouse salad ($8) as a meal in itself, with kale and romaine, topped with diced tomato, cucumber, bacon, Gruyère, corn and basil all in a lemon vinaigrette.

I was thrilled to find one of my favorite Pinot Noir on the menu. Although the menu said the Sokol Blosser was a 2009 ($72), it was the 2011, a better Oregon vintage.

I asked for my cedar plank grilled salmon to be accompanied by steamed asparagus, instead of the menu offered country-style green beans ($25).  I’d recommend that and the amazingly tender Bison fillet ($36), also cooked to perfection. Do not miss this lower calorie, cholesterol and fat meat choice; it’s much more flavorful than the beef fillet ($31)

Sadly dessert wasn’t worth the calories. The double chocolate cookie ($2) should have been served warm with the chips melting as you ate it. And the Kahlúa fudge brownie ($7) was dry, even topped caramel sauce, with Kahlúa fudge sauce, Haagen Dazs vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.

Still, I’d suggest a meal at Ted’s as the food is reasonably priced and tasty, the service helpful and the noise level where I could hear my dining companions without straining.  If you’d like a chance to win $100 gift certificate to Ted’s Montana Grill, be sure to visit that listing our Freebie section before November 7 at midnight EST.

– bonnie

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Ted’s Montana Grill
Midtown West
110 W 51st St (between 6th and 7th)
New York, NY 10020
(212) 245-5220
Ted's Montana Grill on Urbanspoon