Get a ‘pizza’ this new restaurant

Located on the 6th floor of the AC Hotel by Marriott lies Benchmark, a four season-rooftop restaurant and bar that is just under a year old. Not only does this restaurant offer handcrafted pizzas and cocktails, it also has a spectacular view of the breathtaking Gallatin Range.

Growing up, whenever I thought of hotel restaurants, my mind would conjure images of powdered eggs, Costco muffins and flimsy bacon. I tend to forget that some of the most underrated restaurants lie in hotels.

Right off the bat, I was impressed with the service and ambiance of Benchmark. The restaurant is more on the quaint side as far as seating goes, but they also offer more seating outdoors on their lovely heated deck. I was quickly seated and never had to wait for more than a few minutes for any services. However, I recommend arriving at an earlier hour, as they got pretty busy with a larger business group around 6 p.m.

I overheard multiple people claim Benchmark currently makes the best pizza in Bozeman - so I had high expectations for the food. I ordered a wedge salad, sausage and broccolini pizza and bacon pizza.

The wedge salad was as good as a wedge salad can get. It was topped with pickled onions, gorgonzola, fresh veggies, and crispy bacon.

As far as the pizza goes, I was nowhere near disappointed, but I would not be quick to claim it as the best in Bozeman. The sausage broccolini pizza was a combination I would never have imagined being as good as it was. The bacon pizza was very light and fresh, but possibly not the best choice for those looking for a meat lover's pizza. The arugula pesto overpowered the bacon flavor, but it was still delicious. Even though the toppings were unique and added incredible flavor, the best part about the pizza was the crust. Fluffy and topped with a parmesan dusting that made it irresistible, the crust was memorable, to say the least, even for the pickiest of non crust eaters.

If you're looking for the perfect spot to grab food downtown while also having the opportunity to gaze upon the reason we all love Montana, Benchmark is worth the try. A great experience is inevitable here during an evening out in town.