Iconic South Dakota Restaurant to Be Featured on National TV

There is no shortage of great local restaurants in the state of South Dakota. One establishment is known for its diverse menu, especially when it comes to cooking pheasant.

The Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge in Brookings is the oldest restaurant in the city. Opening in 1949, the Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge " has been under the same local, family ownership and operation for nearly half a century and three generations! Many of the signature recipes at the Pheasant have been favorites for just as long." This history and the delicious pheasant meals have been recognized by many national publications. Now a national television network will feature this South Dakota restaurant in the spring of 2024.

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In a post on its Facebook page, the staff at the Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge was thrilled to announce they will be featured in America: The Bountiful series on PBS in April of 2024! They posted a picture of the America: The Bountiful crew and host Capri Cafaro filming the restaurant late last week.

America: The Bountiful is "an original food and travel series that will air nationwide on public television in 2024 to explore the regional food traditions of America’s heartland." The Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge is one of the many great eateries that will be featured on the program!

So what can we expect to see from the Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge when its episode airs? This episode will perfectly describe South Dakota. They will talk about hunting, cooking, and eating pheasant! How appropriate for pheasant hunting season in the state!

Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge is known for its tasty Pheasant Salad Sandwich. This sandwich includes of course pheasant meat, chopped apples, cranberries, and roasted pecans, topped with melted Swiss cheese and served on marble rye toast. Food & Wine says the Pheasant Salad Sandwich has just "stood the test of time" over the years! Yum! I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge (via Instagram)

We cannot wait to see the Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge on an upcoming episode of America: The Bountiful series on PBS in April of 2024!

The 10 Most Redneck Towns in South Dakota

Are you a 'Redneck?' I guess to some people, all of us in South Dakota are rednecks.

If we use the Jeff Foxworthy Scale of Redneckeness, I have, in fact, been too drunk to fish. So by definition, I am a redneck. And so are many people I know.

Not that being from the country is a bad thing, and it can be fun to poke fun at ourselves.

With that in mind, we found that the folks at RoadSnacks put together a list that claims 'These Are The 10 Most Redneck Cities In South Dakota.'

What is a Redneck?

The dictionary says that a redneck is someone "...who lives in a small town or in the country, especially in the southern U.S., who typically has a working-class job, and who is seen by others as being uneducated and having opinions and attitudes that are offensive."

Well, a few things. First, South Dakota isn't THAT kind of 'south.' We're to the south of North Dakota, but to the north of 'The South.'

Plus that definition sounds awful mean and serious. I thought we were having fun here.

RoadSnacks leaned into the funny, Jeff Foxworthy-based version of a redneck. Then they rounded up select data on places in SD to determine their rankings. RoadSnacks Redneck Criteria:

Small towns
Least amount of high school graduates
Number of bars per city
Number of mobile home parks per capita
Number of tobacco stores per city
Number of places to get fishing gear
Number of guns and ammo stores per city
Walmarts, Bass Pro Shops, and dollar stores nearby

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns

11 Things You’ll Only Understand After Living in South Dakota

From soda to pop to sloppy Joes, different parts of of the country have their own local quirks and language. Simple phrases can have totally different means, local events may seem weird, and food may go by a unique name.

If you're new to South Dakota here is a sort of translation guide for some odd things you may see or hear.

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns