I saw a bumper sticker the other day that read, “Where’s the best burger in Jackson Hole? The Brakeman American Grill in Victor, Idaho.” After sinking my chops into this beauty, I have to agree.
The Crazy Brakeman pictured here is a half-pounder with grilled mushrooms, onions, jalapeños, bacon, a double slice of Colby jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo. Beef chuck for the Brakeman burgers is ground on site and mixed with their own secret spice blend. Elk, buffalo, turkey and veggie burgers are available as well, and all are accompanied by hand-cut Idaho fries. Various other delicious combos are offered, and they even have a pretty good gluten-free bun.
My husband and I usually split one burger and one salad — their wedge is big and juicy and covered in bacon, julienned Granny Smith apples, blue cheese crumbles and buttermilk ranch dressing. It used to be B.Y.O.B., but they finally wrangled their way through the Victor liquor policies and now serve a wide variety of local beers and wine as well as local soft drinks.
Totally kid-friendly, the busy staff is unphased by toddlers running back and forth from tables to the bookshelf area trading out their finds. A server actually patted me on the back and said, “Don’t worry about the kids. It’s what we’re all about.” For only $3.50 the Little Brakeman, 2.5 ounces of Brakeman beef, cheese and pickles on a bun with fries, really is a “Happy Meal.”
Personally I can’t imagine eating at The Brakeman without expending a lot of calories beforehand. Some obvious choices are skiing at Grand Targhee or skinning up Mt. Oliver. Other pre-game winter adventures in Victor that the whole gang can enjoy under the alpenglow and dramatic sunsets that bless the west side of the Tetons include:
Skate skiing at Teton Springs
Sledding with kids at the Mike Harris Campground at the bottom of Teton Pass
Hiking and sledding the Mud Lake trail, our local Snow King climb and a favorite for dogs; snowmobiles pack it out; a thrilling adult adventure is to hike to the top with a saucer and sled the entire way down.
Snow-biking the snowmobile trails in the Big Holes or Darby Canyon road, rentals available at Fitzgerald’s Bicycles
Ice Skating at the Kotler Ice Arena
It’s a busy place, especially at lunch time and on weekends before Pierre’s Playhouse movies. Be patient, the cook’s motto posted above the open kitchen says, “This is not Fast Food. This is Good Food cooked as fast as we can.” True story.
