Oct. 30, 2025

Umami Cafe & Catering has closed after three years in business operating out of the kitchen at Signature Flight Support at the airport. Owner Jess Blodgett said she is moving to North Carolina to be near her son who joined the Army. Her final event was teaching a cooking class Tuesday night at Plum’s Cooking Co. Blodgett started her culinary career in Sioux Falls with a food truck, Bite Me Mobile Bistro, worked in several restaurants and was the food and beverage director and executive chef for the Sioux Falls Canaries before starting her business.

Denny’s is giving away a free Original Grand Slam meal to rewards members because of the grand slam during the first game of the World Series. If you aren’t a rewards member, you’re still eligible as long as you sign up before Monday, Nov. 3. The offer can be redeemed Nov. 3-10. The Original Grand Slam is two pancakes, two eggs, two strips of bacon and two pork sausage links.

As food insecurity grows, Rudy M. Navarrete’s Taco Bus will be serving a free meal to anyone in need beginning at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House. The Masons of Minnehaha Lodge No. 5 are sponsoring the meal.

Fernson Brewing Co. is addressing the need, too, by pledging to donate $1 for every pint sold in November and 10 percent of Totally Rad Eats sales on Thursdays next month — not Thanksgiving Day, but Black Friday — to Feeding South Dakota.

Queen City Bakery has added a daily soup to its lunch lineup. “Flavors will change frequently, mostly based on what we want to eat!” the restaurant wrote in a social media post announcing the addition. Here’s the tomato soup, which is made in-house with tomatoes, onion, garlic, tomato paste, veggie stock, sea salt and “finished with a little bit of cream.”

Totally Rad Eats at Fernson Downtown also is embracing soup season with fully loaded chili, classic tomato soup and a rotating soup of the day.

After taking a year off, Poppy’s Popcorn Co. is back to selling Word of Life peanut brittle for the holiday season. Also back on the shelf: Cajun popcorn, which is expected to be available at least through Christmas.

The Saturday brunch feature at R Wine Bar & Kitchen for November will be the Hawaiian special loco moco. It’s a beef patty smothered in onion and mushroom gravy and topped with a sunny-side-up egg. Brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Check out the November feature menu at Chef Lance’s on Phillips, which includes the return of the often-requested ribs and grits.

Cracker Barrel has added a Meals for Two dine-in special on weekdays. Get two full-sized entrees and a choice of appetizer or dessert to share for $20. See the options here.

Chef Bryan Moscatello of Harvester Kitchen by Bryan has added two dates to his Feast of Farewells event after this coming Sunday’s dinner sold out quickly. The added dates are Nov. 9 and 16. Each evening is limited to 10 guests, who will get a chance to tour the new HK restaurant that’s under construction at Cherapa Place, return to the original kitchen in the Harvester Building for a preview tasting of dishes in development and gather around the table for “wine, conversation and a toast to the journey ahead.” For reservations, click here.

To celebrate the return of Flannel Antlers, Severance Brewing Co. is teaming up with Intoxibakes for a free treat Saturday, Nov. 1. Wear flannel and get a sweet item made with the maple pecan flavored brown ale – while supplies last. The downtown brewery opens at noon.

The Lodge Bar & Grill at Jacobson Plaza on the north end of downtown has created a seasonal featured cocktail menu.

Squealer’s Smoke Shack in Tea is having its annual pheasant tail feather contest. Bring in a feather, and get a BOGO deal on Bud Light taps. At the end of the season, the longest feather will win a Bud Light cooler and bottle of Good Boy Vodka.

Here are a few Halloween deals we spotted:

• Chipotle: Boorito is back. Reward members who visit the restaurant in costume after 3 p.m. Friday can get one entree for $6.
• McNally’s Irish Pub: Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal Friday. Bring in a pet food donation, and get a free pretzel bites appetizer. Trick-or-treating for the kids will be from 3 to 7 p.m., and adults can buy “haunted drinks.”
• Cracker Barrel: Kids can eat for free after 4 p.m. Friday with any dine-in entree purchase of $10 or more by a rewards member. Kids in costumes accompanied by a rewards member also can pick up a free thin stick of candy.
• Smoothie King: Dress up like an avocado Friday, and get a free loaded avocado toast at participating locations.
• Juice Stop: Wear a costume Friday, and get $1 off any 24-ounce smoothie.
• Sickies Garage Burgers & Brews: Kids in costume eat free from 3 p.m. to close Friday; get up to two free kids meals with each adult meal purchased.
• Outback Steakhouse: Get a free kids meal with the purchase of an adult entree Friday. If you order online, use the code SPOOKYFREE.
• The Human Bean: Kids in costume get a free cake pop Friday. While you’re there, ask for a drink from the Halloween secret menu: Vampire Blood energy drink or Ghost Face cold brew.
• Ziggi’s Coffee: Wear a costume Friday for a BOGO offer on drinks.
• Hook & Ladder Kitchen & Bar: The restaurant has a special Halloween menu through Friday.

Changes in hours, service

• The only B&G Milkyway still open for the season – Cliff & 69th – closes Friday, Oct. 31. Stock up with half-gallon Avalanche flavors and novelty treat grab bags.
• On Saturday, Severance Brewing Co. switches to winter hours: 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
• Burger Time has new hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
• Beginning next week, Juice Stop will begin closing earlier on weekdays. New hours will be 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Hours remain 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
• The Lodge Bar & Grill has added online ordering through Toast.
• Kingbird Coffee Shop in Brandon has added delivery in the Brandon area. The service is available from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays with a $20 minimum order.

Here are other food and drink headlines from the past week.

West-side coffee shop to close

Pho Thai to expand to east Sioux Falls

Restaurant featuring sticky rice to open in mall’s food court

Taco John’s offers free meal to those in need of food

Local restaurants commit to full Halloween experience