Which South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota Restaurants Are Award-Worthy?

They're known as the 'Academy Awards of Food' and you can have a hand in nominiating which restaurants are in the ruinning to get one in 2025.

The James Beard Awards are celebrating turning 35 next year and will be handing out their annual awards in June, recognizing 'exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media, and broader food system, as well as a demonstrated commitment to equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.'

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So whart role do you play in to this process?

Between now and November 29, you have the opportunity to go to the James Beard Foundation website and nominate your favorite eatery for this distinguished honor.

NOMINATE YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT HERE

Over the past 20 years, seven Tri-State restaurants have been James Beard Award winners:

SOUTH DAKOTA WINNERS

2024: Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge, Brookings - America's Classics

IOWA WINNERS

2015: Archie's Waeside, Le Mars - America's Classics
2009: Breitbach's Country Dining, Sherrill - America's Classics

MINNESOTA WINNERS

2022: Owamni, Minneapolis - Best New Restaurant
2013: Kramarczuk's, Minneapolis - America's Classics
2007: The Pickwick, Duluth - America's Classics
2004: Al's Breakfast, Minneapolis - America's Classics

Better Fried Food In South Dakota Than Minnesota or Iowa

Gallery Credit: Dave Roberts

Road Trip-Worthy Restaurants Within 90 Minutes of Sioux Falls

Veer off the beaten path. Take a road trip and try some favorite small-town eateries. Just by driving a few miles, you could find some delicious hidden gems.

From steaks to seafood, chislic to chicken, these are out-of-the-way unexpected finds that will make your taste buds tingle.

Here's a list of 14 Road Trip-Worthy Restaurants within 90 minutes of Sioux Falls.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown

Dives Worth a Drive in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota

Almost every small South Dakota town has a watering hole. It’s where the locals go to kick back a few brews and engage in conversation.

Some of these establishments are located in buildings almost as old as the town itself. There might be a fresh coat of paint on the walls or new vinyl on the booth seats, but the ambiance is still reminiscent of a good ol’ dive.

If you think a "dive" is all about the sketchy clientele, the smell of the Devil’s lettuce, and stale Grain Belt, you’d be wrong. Not every dive has a bad reputation.

What makes a dive, a dive?

A dive has character. Neon beer signs and local memorabilia adorn the walls.

You might find a pool table, dart board, and a few video lottery machines.

The bartender knows the regulars by name and they know what you drink.

Some dives don't even serve food except for bags of chips and pickled eggs that sit in a jar of brine on the bar.

Dives aren't fancy. You might see 70's-style wood panels on the walls and wobbly tables leveled with a folded napkin.

Finally, the bathrooms. The bathrooms in dives are in a class by themselves and could be a whole topic on its own.

There are several small-town dives in our area with friendly faces, cheap booze with a burn, and even really good food! We use the term "dive" in the most affectionate way.