Restaurant Roundup: Downtown ice cream shop won’t reopen; food & drink events coming up
Jan. 3o, 2025
The owners of Polar Bites have decided that they won’t reopen the downtown location this spring. Matt and Jess Rooney plan to focus instead on the 41st Street location and the two Dakota Snow mobile units. Polar Bites, then known as Sub Zero Desserts opened in spring 2023 in the 8th & Railroad Center.
Casa del Rey has event night deals. If you’re attending a game or event at the Denny Sanford Premier Center, show your ticket and get 15 percent off your order and half-off one appetizer per table, excluding street tacos.
Saturday is Ice Cream for Breakfast Day at Stensland Family Farms. This year’s offerings include caramel rolls, Belgian waffles, churro French toast, kids doughnut sundaes and stuffed doughnuts – all served with ice creams. Hours are 9 a.m. to noon at the store, 3101 W. 41st St.
And, if you’re a fan of black licorice ice cream, it’s this week’s featured flavor at Stensland. It’s available in dips and quarts. The shop also is offering BOGO on single dips of any flavor through Friday.
Cellar 54 is hosting a soup contest from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday. For $5, taste all the soups, and vote for your favorite. Ten cooks are competing for the top-three prizes.
On Saturday, Kingbird Coffee in Brandon is celebrating its third anniversary under the current ownership with half-price drinks, bagels and pastries.
Umami Cafe & Catering is having a special lunch buffet Sunday because it will be closed Saturday because of a catering event. The menu will include barbecue pulled pork, brisket, Korean barbecue roasted chicken, bacon mac-and-cheese, jalapeno bourbon baked beans, coleslaw, cornbread, buns and blood orange tres leches cake. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2p.m. The buffet price is $20, or $10 for those younger than 12. Large groups can call 605-413-3346 for reservations to use one of the conference rooms for seating.
Fernson Brewing Co. is celebrating its 10th anniversary by opening up the brewery next week at 1400 E. Robur Drive to the public. Here’s the schedule of events. Note that Fernson Downtown will be closed for maintenance Feb. 2-9.
Check out the new featured menu at The SandBar & Grill. Those are the Bang Bang Shrimp Lettuce Wraps in the featured photo.
Pita Pit at 69th and Western has new daily specials for $8.
Ruby Tuesday has several new menu items. For smashburgers, there’s a Triple, Five-Cheese and Garlic Lovers. The restaurant put a spin on its fan-favorite Deconstructed Steak Kabobs with the new Deconstructed Mahi Kabobs that are served over a bed of rice pilaf. There’s a Steak Ramen Noodle Bowl, Shrimp Scampi, a caramelized Brussels sprout appetizer, turtle cheesecake and Chocolate Brownie Explosion.
Outback Steakhouse has a new three-course meal starting at $15. Choose one of 10 entrees, soup or salad and a slice of New York-style cheesecake. See the menu here.
Sioux Falls Food Tours is celebrating its eighth anniversary in February with a special offer. Book a tour, and get a free El Mulo – a twist on a Moscow Mule — at Dahlia Kitchen + Bar or a free dessert at Ironwood Steakhouse.
Sioux Falls Food Tours has four alternating routes it follows on Saturdays, but on months when there are five Saturdays, there’s always a special tour. Here’s the calendar for this year.
Brix Wine Bar has a new wine list with 15 wines by the glass, each with a description and tasting notes. There also are more than 140 selections by the bottle from around the world, with more being added weekly, co-owner Riccardo Tarabelsi said. The wine cellar is stocked with 1,000 bottles. Brix customers can order food from neighboring Maribella Ristorante’s menu — minus the tasting menu, Tarabelsi said.
New flavors have arrived at Mission Nutrition. Upgraded Bombs are Winter Sangria, Jack Frost and Fun Dip. For shakes, try Frozen Hot Cocoa, Caramel Brule Latte or Champagne Cupcake. They’re available through March.
Changes in hours, service
- The new Taqueria Juanita is closing an hour earlier Tuesday through Thursday. New hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Here are other food and drink headlines from the past week.
Downtown Burger Battle behind the scenes: Minervas details making of Alan Watts Burger
