There’s never a bad time to feast on delicious smoked meats, but there’s something extra-special about enjoying a rack of ribs or some brisket on a warm summer day, preferably by the lake. If you’re planning a trip to Flathead Lake this summer, don’t forget to stop at Cherries BBQ Pit in Polson. There’s a reason Montanans come from all over Lake County (and beyond) to get their hands on this food.

Cherries BBQ Pit is located on 2nd Street East in Polson, where it has been a beloved local hot spot for years.

Cherries BBQ Pit / Facebook The Pit is pretty petite, but rest assured, it’s big on flavor.

The restaurant is open year-round, but it’s especially popular when the weather warms up.

wealwaysWAnder / Google On summer days, you’ll rarely see an empty seat at the outdoor picnic tables.

At Cherries Pit, the meat is slow-cooked over cherry wood for hours until it’s tender and juicy with a perfect smoke flavor.

Cherries BBQ Pit / Facebook They make everything from scratch here, including the tasty sides.

The menu consists mainly of ribs, brisket, and scrumptious sandwiches.

Cherries BBQ Pit / Facebook In addition, you’ll almost always find daily specials here ranging from street tacos to pork chop sandwiches.

Since some menu items take over eight hours to cook, the team has to estimate how much meat they’ll need every day.

Bill Daniels / Google As you can imagine, this means they often run out of menu items before closing time. Just call ahead if you have a big order to place to make sure they’ll be prepared.

From the slow-cooked meats to the house-made sauces, this place simply does everything right.

WeAlwaysWAnder / TripAdvisor There’s no trick or gimmick here — they simply use fresh, high-quality ingredients and make everything from scratch.

Montana restaurants are slowly reopening. But at Cherries BBQ Pit, you can always hit the drive-thru or get your order to-go to enjoy it by the lake.

management / TripAdvisor Their hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Get up-to-date information on business hours and special menu items at Cherries BBQ Pit here.

Cherries BBQ Pit / Facebook

The Pit is pretty petite, but rest assured, it’s big on flavor.

wealwaysWAnder / Google

On summer days, you’ll rarely see an empty seat at the outdoor picnic tables.

They make everything from scratch here, including the tasty sides.

In addition, you’ll almost always find daily specials here ranging from street tacos to pork chop sandwiches.

Bill Daniels / Google

As you can imagine, this means they often run out of menu items before closing time. Just call ahead if you have a big order to place to make sure they’ll be prepared.

WeAlwaysWAnder / TripAdvisor

There’s no trick or gimmick here — they simply use fresh, high-quality ingredients and make everything from scratch.

management / TripAdvisor

Their hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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Address: 105 2nd St E, Polson, MT 59860, USA