East Idaho Eats: 511 Main Fountain and Pizzeria has ‘father of all pizzas’

ASHTON — Two Ashton locals are a year into a restaurant adventure that has locals, and out-of-state travelers excited to try their food.

Utah native Don Stevens said he and his wife make it a point to stop at 511 on their trips to Bozeman, Montana.

“Local restaurant, local flavor, they’ve done a really good job with the decor here, (and) the food is very good,” Don Stevens said.

511 Main Fountain and Pizzeria is the must-try place that features gourmet pizzas, soups, malts, and milkshakes.

“Everything is custom. Everything is made from scratch here,” co-owner Katherine Stronks said.

Although the menu offers a lot of items, Billy and Katherine Stronks have said their mainstay is pizza.

One pizza that’s been a customer favorite combines creativity and Ashton-grown potatoes. This specialty pie came about because of an excess potato problem at the restaurant’s potato bar.

“We have all of these leftover baked potatoes, and we had to do something with them instead of just throw them away,” Katherine said. “We’ll make a pizza out of it!”

The Darth Tater is a 511 pizza topped with baked potatoes, white sauce, Canadian bacon, bacon, red onions and cheddar cheese.

Since its birth, The Darth Tater, “Father of all pizzas,” has been a winning favorite. Pizza makers at 511 say they use more baked potatoes on this gourmet pizza than they do at the baked potato bar.

Another fun attraction at 511 is its Soda Fountain from the 1920s.

“Keeping the soda fountain here, it keeps that nostalgia,” Katherine said.

Billy said the Soda Fountain is what the restaurant was originally built around.

“There’s not too many 1920s soda fountains left. It’s pretty unique — they’re rare,” Billy said.

The space originally started out as a bank,transitioned into a drug store, and most recently became a restaurant in 2009. The Stronks rescued the spot in 2015 after it closed for six months in 2014.

Employeee Donna Steinmann who’s now in her 80’s would come to drug store when she younger.

“The city drug was the main place to go. We always wanted to come here because they had the best sundaes and the best milkshakes. At that time you could get a milkshake for 25 cents,” Steinmann said.

Billy said if it’s your first time at 511, you should order the Darth Tater and a huckleberry milkshake.

“You can’t come here and not get a milkshake,” Billy said.

For menu items and hours go to 511’s website, or Facebook page.