You would not anticipate North Dakota to be a gastronomic destination, but you may have never heard of Bismarck eateries. At first glance, it seems to be off the beaten road, and it is often the last state visited by individuals attempting to obtain the Visited All Fifty States badge.
But, upon closer investigation, it makes sense as a culinary destination since it serves excellent cuisine. North Dakota is mostly ranches and farms, with more cows than humans. The majority of pasta produced in the United States is made from durum wheat grown in North Dakota. They are the country’s third-largest sugar producer and the leading honey producer. As a result, the farm-to-fork movement is thriving here, and they have some of the top restaurants in the state. Therefore, in Bismarck, North Dakota, there are seven must-try eateries within a three-block radius.
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Contents
- 1 North Dakota’s 7 Must-Try Bismarck Restaurants
- 2 Which of these Bismarck eateries do you wish to try the most? Please share your thoughts in the comments box below!
North Dakota’s 7 Must-Try Bismarck Restaurants
Brunch at Bismarck’s Finest Restaurants
Butterhorn
701-751-0802210 East Main Avenue
One of Chef Stephanie Miller’s first childhood recollections is sitting on the kitchen counter and watching her grandma make butter horn rolls. Butterhorn, her eatery, has become dependent on those puffy croissant-shaped buns. Brunch will include them with vanilla icing, cinnamon butter, and seasonal jam. Salt and butter are served with the buns during supper.
The menu offers a fresh take on Midwestern cuisine with French and Italian influences. There will be a focus on North Dakota foods such as cattle, hog, and bison. Chef Miller creates everything in-house except the soy sauce and if feasible employs locally produced, fresh ingredients.
The biscuits and gravy are a fan favorite that will please your palate. Half-baked biscuits are piled high with gravy prepared from house-made sausage. Chili flakes in the sauce lend a dash of fire to the meal, while chopped chives offer a splash of color.
The maple bacon Pop-Tart was another fan favorite. The Pop-Tart was made with a light and flaky strudel-like crust, then filled with a savory bacon jam and coated with a maple syrup-infused frosting. Then it’s topped with savory bacon pieces. This pie alone is worth the trip to Bismarck; unfortunately, the taste of this pastry varies often, so you never know which sort will be on the menu on any given day.
The restaurant’s art deco decor is highlighted by ornate crystal chandeliers on either side of the doorway. Large-framed mirrors reflect light to create a lively environment on the blue-gray walls with up-lit scones. The original wooden flooring seem to be present. The crown molding frames the white art deco-style tiles on the ceiling. The walls are covered with images of Chef Miller’s childhood family. If you’re searching for a wonderful pastry-infused lunch, this may be the greatest Bismarck restaurant.
Pro Hints:
- It’s a good idea to make reservations.
- For special celebrations call them to find out more about their amore packages.
Breakfast Restaurants in Bismarck
Terra Nomadism
+1 701-751-751-2070514 East Main Avenue
Breakfast, brunch, and lunch are available at Terra Nomad. It’s the ideal spot for the modern-day traveller to relax in a caf environment. Cookies and pastries are available at their coffee shop bakery, so pair them with a cappuccino. Terra Nomad makes everything from scratch using fresh seasonal ingredients. The menu rotates periodically, although quiche and scones are always available.
The chia pudding is a vegan, gluten-free alternative created with coconut milk and organic chia, then flavored with maple syrup. Lastly, fresh berries and almonds are sprinkled on top of the dish.
My favorite coffee drink here is the Ricky Martin latte, which is blended with steamed milk, chocolate, brown sugar, and espresso. Guajillo chili adds a touch of spice to the coffee towards the end. Oh, how soothing.
The smoothie bowl, which tastes like cereal and remains cool in a huge porcelain dish, was my favorite. It began with a chilled smoothie prepared with almond milk, bananas, nut butter, and fruit, which was then topped with house-made granola, sliced almonds, berries, and fresh coconut.
Terra Nomads’ informal counter service is served in a contemporary environment with polished cement flooring, painted white brick walls, and a modern blond wood bookcase for a minimalist ambiance. If the nomad in you craves breakfast, go over to Terra Nomad, one of Bismarck’s top breakfast spots.
Pro Tip: They provide a daily email so you may stay up to date on their daily deals.
Top Italian Restaurants in Bismarck
Cucina Anima
North 5th Street, +1 701-751-1738101 North 5th Street
Local favorite Anima Cucina is an Italian diner with a deli vibe, particularly around lunch. It is inspired by the very spirit of la Bella vita, the good life.
Begin with one of their renowned charcuterie platters and a glass of wine. The personnel at the wine bar can advise you on the best combinations.
The Porchetta is a one-of-a-kind dish. A Berkshire pork loin is wrapped in herbs and pig belly before being roasted on a rotisserie. Porchetta is available as a sandwich for lunch or as an entree for evening. The sandwich is colored in the colors of the Italian flag, which are red, white, and green. The Porchetta was juicy and expertly roasted before being stacked with sun-dried tomatoes, sweet onion marmalade, and spicy arugula. For the ultimate bite, all of this was heaped high atop a house-made schiacciata, also known as Florentine bread. For a delicious summer lunch, I combined it with a red sangria from the in-house wine bar. Porchetta is served as a supper entree with braised cabbage.
Anima Cucina also offers some delicious vegetarian and vegan choices. Portobello mushrooms with a herb sauce are one alternative. The recipe includes spinach and a variety of veggies. Another option is The Herbivorous Butcher’s vegan board, which includes three vegan forms of meat and cheese. Italian food served as inspiration The board is completed with fig jam, rustic crackers, Marcona almonds, castelvetrano olives, and dried fruits. When it comes to Bismarck eating, being stuffed may be a good thing.
Table service starts at 4:00 p.m., so plan accordingly. The restaurant offers counter service before 4:00 p.m.
Bismarck’s Finest Pub Cuisine
Blarney Stone Irish Bar is located in Dublin, Ireland.
701-751-7512408 East Main Avenue
The exposed brick walls, thick dark wood, and several taps at the bar contribute to the Blarney Stone Irish Pub’s true Irish pub feel.
When I viewed the menu at Blarney Stone Pub, I was surprised by the variety of options. Although the emphasis of the menu was on Irish foods, numerous all-American classics were also offered.
The Guinness Irish stew was my favorite meal. It was the epitome of Irish comfort cuisine. The beef stew, rather than lamb, was slow-cooked until fork-tender. The meal included root vegetables, carrots, potatoes, and onions. The rich beef gravy that serves as the foundation for this classic comfort meal is flavored with mushrooms and garlic, thyme, rosemary, and Guinness. To soak up the delicious Irish Guinness and meat gravy, they provide a rustic whole-wheat bun with honey butter.
Every day, the Blarney Stone Irish Pub prepares fresh soup from scratch. Saturdays and Sundays, I served the cheddar Irish ale soup. The taste was enhanced by chunks of celery and carrots in the thick soup.
I finished my lunch with the Jameson Irish bread pudding, which was fragrant with warm winter flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. It was deep-fried and served with Jameson Irish Whiskey sauce and vanilla ice cream. I was really impressed by their prompt service!
With 36 draft beers on tap, I had no trouble choosing the perfect accompaniment to my typical Irish pub dinner. When you leave one of Bismarck’s top eateries, you’ll be singing Danny Boy.
Diners must be 21 years old to enter at any time of day. They also feature a happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Top Beef Restaurants in Bismarck
The Peacock Alley
701-221-BEEF422, East Main Avenue
Peacock Alley is a historic steakhouse located in the foyer of the building that was previously the iconic Patterson Hotel. Peacock Alley American Bar & Restaurant first opened its doors in 1933, after the conclusion of prohibition, and the pictures on the walls represent its colorful past.
Peacock Alley is more than a steakhouse. This restaurant serves the greatest steaks in town and takes pride in their distinctive beef cuts, such as the hanger steak and the Cowboy ribeye. They were the only restaurant in America to be named National Beef Innovator of the Year in 2013.
Peacock Alley only offers USDA-certified Angus beef that has been matured for at least 21 days. The aging procedure enhances taste and tenderness while keeping the meat wet and juicy. Their special 14-spice combination enhances the flavor.
The hanger steak was my favorite meal. As stated on the menu, this steak is known as the butchers steak since butchers would often save this steak for their families rather than selling it owing to its rich taste. Since each animal only gets one hanger steak, the supply is restricted.
The 18-ounce bone-in Cowboy ribeye is Peacock Alley’s most renowned steak. It’s sensitive to the bone.
In addition to the steak, knoephla soup, a German-Russian variant of chicken and dumpling soup, is a North Dakota staple.
Despite the fact that it was not remarkable, I especially appreciated my wedge salad. The contents were the standard wedge of iceberg lettuce, crispy bacon, chopped tomatoes, purple onion rings, and blue cheese dressing, but the components were fresh and crisp, giving it a fantastic start to the steak house dinner.
The house-made gelato is the ideal finish. I must add that they provided excellent service, and I can assure you that the cuisine at this Bismarck restaurant is of the highest quality.
Pro Tip: For maximum tenderness, order the hanger steak medium-rare.
Bismarck’s Finest Fine-Dining Restaurants
Grille Pirogue
North 4th Street, +1 701-223-3770121 North 4th Street
Pirogue Grill, a 70-seat fine-dining establishment in the center of downtown Bismarck, is one of my favorite locations. Although white tablecloths and stemware provide an exquisite touch to the tables, the wood, exposed brick walls, and metalwork create a more relaxed ambience. The open view of the kitchen adds intrigue to the dining room. It’s a terrific addition to the Bismarck restaurant scene, and it’s ideal for big groups and birthday parties.
Pirogue Grille’s kitchen creates everything from scratch, from the stocks and sauces to the bread and sweets and ice cream. The cuisine varies periodically, and if feasible, organic and local foods are used. Although a few trademark meals remain on the menu, new items are added seasonally.
The cocktail hour began with a delicious rhubarb martini prepared with Seagrams gin, Triple Sec, and rhubarb simple syrup. My favorite appetizer was the walleye trio, which included a fish cake, prosciutto-wrapped walleye, and smoked walleye.
There are plenty of game foods available. This dinner includes venison, rabbit, and buffalo. While I am not a fan of game meats, the venison sausage comes highly recommended.
There are also more common proteins like chicken and beef. I appreciated the New York strip steak, which was cooked to perfection and served with a bourbon-mustard sauce. This meal was gluten-free, and gluten-free alternatives are prominently marked on the menu.
When you can’t pick between all of their sweet selections, the dessert sampler is a great option. It comprises a few tastes of every dessert on the menu, and although that may seem excessive, it is just over two dessert plates, making it a wonderful treat to share. If you’re searching for superb fine dining in Bismarck, this is the place to go.
After 4 p.m., the Third Street Parking Garage offers free parking.
Top Pizza Places in Bismarck
Neapolitan Pizza using Firefly Flour
+1 701-323-9000111 North 5th St.
Fireflour Pizza is a Neapolitan-inspired pizzeria that serves handcrafted pizza in a cozy and relaxed setting. The two-and-a-half-ton wood-fired oven, which reaches temperatures of up to 900 degrees, represents the flames. The flour is the most crucial element in pizza dough, thus the name Fireflour.
Handcrafted is the essential word at Fireflour Pizza. The dough is created from scratch using Caputo 00 flour and ferments for 48 hours before being topped with organic Bianco DiNapoli plum tomatoes. Local organic veggies and La Quercia artisan meats are among the toppings available. Next, it is covered with hand-stretched fresh Mozzarella and baked for 60 to 90 seconds, resulting in a delicate, thin, light and crispy crust.
Artisan beers are a requirement to go with that handmade pizza, and they have a large selection. If you prefer wine, they also offer that.
End with a homemade gelato or sorbetto.
The Goddess salad with organic lettuce, tomatoes, shaved fennel, and a creamy basil dressing was my favorite combo. As I added the Berkshire pig fennel sausage to the Daisy, the fennel flavor reappeared in the pizza. A thin crispy crust formed the basis for a blend of organic tomato sauce, hand-stretched mozzarella, basil, and extra virgin olive oil. The house-made salted caramel gelato was the ideal way to end the meal.
Saturday morning caramel rolls go well with anything from the specialty coffee bar. Fireflour collaborated with Minneapolis-based Dogwood Coffee to create an extravagant artisan coffee bar that complements their bread offerings wonderfully.
Pizza is accessible almost everywhere, but this is the place to go in Bismarck for a terrific environment, specialty beers, and the greatest pizza.
Pro Hints:
- From October through May, the first Monday of the month is Monday Night Supper.
- On the Mondays that they serve the special supper menu, they close from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Take-out is available.
- Reservations are accepted.
- Fireflour Pizza doesn’t serve pizza on evenings that they serve the special menu.