New owners bring European elegance to the Bigfork Inn

Francois Zanni and Christopher Languein are making new changes to get back to the old traditions at The Bigfork Inn.

The pair have been running the historic establishment for a little over a year, but they said “all the big changes” began this past spring and summer.

“We wanted to keep the old restaurant traditions,” Zanni said of their fine dining restaurant, aptly named Traditions.

“Before Whitefish was ever Whitefish, Bigfork was the fine-dining destination,” remembered Zanni, who moved to the Flathead Valley 15 years ago. He wanted to bring back some of that culture to the historic building when he took over from the Keenan family after their 37-year tenure at The Bigfork Inn.

While the chalet-style building had become a more casual location in recent years, Zanni said he wanted to utilize his French heritage for his vision of the iconic establishment. He explained he started slowly with converting The Bigfork Inn into a more elegant spot, but the positive response from locals and tourists prompted the large-scale changes this past tourist season.

The menu now features upscale offerings such as pheasant cordon bleu, sea scallops and elk tenderloin. The addition of game meats has been a particular focus recently, and they hope to continue expanding these options.

“For the most part, people are loving are food,” Languein reported.

The pair also “spruced up the wine list” with the addition of international wines and “made a lot of changes to the dining room,” including new tablecloths and flatware to contribute to the overall sophistication of the restaurant. There are now two private dining rooms as well, one that seats up to 20 people and another with a 40-person capacity.

“We always try to create different types of business,” Languein said, such as wine and scotch tastings with local businesses and live music and dancing on Friday and Saturday nights.

Even with the more upscale atmosphere, Zanni insisted, “we still have a lot of casual eaters.” In the summertime, the patio is especially popular and can seat up to 50 people. By next summer, they will also reopen a small portion of the building known as The Marketplace to provide grab-and-go gourmet burgers and desserts.

“We’re still playing with it,” Languein said.

The plans for The Marketplace are far from the only changes still to come at The Bigfork Inn. “We’ll be working on a small plate menu next year,” Zanni promised. He also hopes to develop a lounge area separate from the dining rooms, “to make this place even more elegant.”

The dining menu, too, will continue to evolve. Zanni said he has considered bringing even more of his European background into the Traditions’ menu with possibilities such as escargot. “We’ll see if people are ready for it,” he said with a laugh.

Both Languein and Zanni noted Bigfork can be a quieter place for business in the winter, so the next round of big changes may not come until the spring and summer. But in the meantime, they are looking forward to utilizing the Inn’s classic Swiss architecture during the holiday season.

“It’s such a cool village when you come down for Christmas,” Zanni gushed. “The Inn is a central location and people hang out here during the day.”

Visitors this winter will be greeted with an elaborate holiday display throughout the historic building, put on with scrupulous detail by Zanni’s wife. He said she has been collecting trees, wreaths and other holiday paraphernalia for years.

“She’s very meticulous,” he said. “Every tree and every light is placed in its place.”

He noted the building—which was rebuilt after a fire in 1937—offers an unparalleled opportunity to tap into the local winter aesthetic.

“When people are trying to duplicate the Montana look,” he said, “this is what they’re going for.” ¦

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at bserbin@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.