Join Us on a 4 Week Adventure ~ Where to Eat in South Dakota (Week #2)

Our 4 week adventure takes us through Sioux Falls, Badlands National Park, Rapid City, Custer State Park, Hot Springs and Deadwod.  This week, on our trip through South Dakota, we will be focusing on which restaurants to eat at.

Phillips Avenue Diner

121 S. Phillips Avenue

Sioux Falls

(605) 335-4977

phillipsavenuediner.com

Sioux Falls is likely your first overnight stop as you make your way into the Black Hills.  Phillips Avenue Diner offers classic booths and a dessert case that tempts you upon arrival.  Be prepared to spend a fair bit of time poring over the menu— too many choices!  Burgers, meatloaf or mac’n cheese go great with the root beer floats.  Chicken and waffles will keep your tummy full for a good stretch . There’s also a local treat called chislic—a salty, cheesy pile of thin strips of beef garnished with tomatoes and onions.  Your server will likely prime you for your next stop with photos and tales of a recent camping trip into The Badlands.

Firehouse Brewing Company

610 Main Street

Rapid City

605-348-1915

firehousebrewing.com

You can’t miss the big brick building with the red and yellow truck doors on Main Street.  Take your pick from two floors inside or grab a seat on the big patio for a great view of the main drag.  The original Rapid City fire station now houses this uber popular restaurant and brewery, specializing in craft beers.  Quench that July thirst with Wilderness Wheat, a fruity, refreshing brew served with a lemon wedge that goes down oh-so-easy.  Pair your beer with fish tacos featuring beer-battered halibut served with all the fixins—cabbage, cheese, diced tomatoes and salsa.  Depending on the night your visit, you might luck out with some live music.  The Firehouse also loves to entertain families.  Each wee ones gets to don a fire hat while dining.

American Legion Post 18 Café

107 N. Main Street

Mitchell

(605) 996-7781

They’re lined up on a Sunday morning waiting to file in for a small-town America breakfast if there ever was one.  The soaring Mitchell Corn Palace gets all the attention, but you’d be doing yourself a disservice by passing by this legion hall at the end Main Street.  The huge hall is open 6 am to 2 pm daily and serves breakfast all day long.  Dart machines line the walls with trophies up above, letting you know that you’re in fact in a legion.  The breakfast special will set you back $3.50—a hearty meal that includes two eggs, hash browns, toasts, your choice of meat and coffee, tea or milk.  It appears to be a meeting spot for families on weekend mornings.  You’ll see grandpas in suspenders sharing a table with grandkids sporting Tony Hawk t-shirts.

Shel writes about the outdoors, travel and food when she’s not playing outside, on the road or eating. Her recent adventures have included a trip to the tundra to serve as cook at a caribou hunting camp and making a long overdue journey to Ukraine with her dad Merv. She’s the founder of a group called the Manitoba Food Bloggers as well as an avid angler and hunter. She lives in Winnipeg with her husband Ivan and their son Clark. [email protected]