April 12, 2018

Want to eat out like it’s 1993? While MacKenzie River Pizza, Grill & Pub has been in downtown Sioux Falls for only 2 1/2 years, the Montana-based chain is celebrating its 25th anniversary with throwback prices. On Sunday, April 15, Diners can get a large pepperoni pizza that’s usually $15.75 for $8.95. The special menu also includes an appetizer, house salad, sandwich, draft beer and fountain drinks.

Another downtown restaurant, Minervas, had fun with its fans after co-owner Ken Bashore found an old menu sticking out of the rafters in a lower-level storage area. Minervas posted a photo of the menu, which is from the early ’80s on its Facebook page and asked diners to comment on their favorite dish for a chance to win a $50 gift card. So far, more than 1,000 people have responded, so the restaurant plans to give away six gift cards. Orange roughy, which plummeted in numbers after being overfished, was among the features, and Cajun dishes were popular at the time. Fortunately, the Cajun chicken linguini has survived to today’s menu! Back then, the salad bar was $4.95. Almost four decades later, it’s still a customer favorite and is priced at $11 for lunch and $12 for dinner.

The oyster bar at downtown’s Carpenter Bar is a regular thing now on Fridays. Dakota Seafood is shucking and selling raw oysters starting at 4 p.m. They’re usually sold out by 8 p.m., said Travis Petersen, general manager of the fresh seafood market at The Bridges at 57th. The oysters sell for $3 a piece and are served with a variety of sauces – lemon, hot, cocktail and mignonette, which is minced shallots and cracked pepper in vinegar.

Kyle Svanda, who owns Sunshine Foods in Tea with his wife, Deb, spends a little time every day cooking meals for the store’s new dining area. The store recently added seating for 22 customers, cases for hot and cold foods, and a beverage station with Pepsi products and coffee and cappuccino machines. Svanda makes two or three hot choices, from goulash and meatloaf to tater tot hot dish and chipped beef on biscuits. Some of the dishes are made from his own recipes, and other items are prepared meals that he warms up.  “The hardest thing is just figuring out what to do.” He tries to have the meals ready to go by 11 a.m. and typically closes down the hot-food case at 7:30 p.m. The cold case has sandwiches, salads, meat and cheese trays and dessert cups.

Spring has to be close! The open doors debuted over lunch today at The Blarney Stone Pub, bringing some fresh air for diners in downtown Sioux Falls. Unfortunately, it will probably be another couple weeks before we see them again.

Pampered pooches can enjoy their own Oh My Pupcakes from Oh My Cupcakes. The bakery at The Bridges at 57th has added the treats for dogs. They’re all-natural with no added sugar, and they’re grain- and gluten-free. EarthWise Pet Supply at 69th Street and Western Avenue also carries them.