Restaurant Roundup: Hot Lot Bites, Sonic’s pickle specialties, best wine list
June 26, 2025
Verde Lounge at the Holiday Inn City Centre is featuring Hot Lot Bites from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Fridays on the east side of the hotel along Phillips Avenue. The menu includes New Jersey-style ripper hot dogs for $6, fried cheese curds for $10 and housemade potato chips for $4.
Sonic Drive-In is featuring Grillo’s Pickles in its new seasonal pickle-flavored options. The limited-time The Big Dill Meal features Big Dill Double and Triple Sonic Smashers. Tots and fries include the new Grillo’s Pickle seasoning blend, and there’s a Picklerita Slush made with lime, pickle juice and pickle-flavored boba, garnished with a Grillo’s pickle chip. Get early access now by ordering through the app; otherwise, customers will have to wait until Monday.
Wine Spectator’s favorite wine list in South Dakota is at Harvester Kitchen by Bryan. The Sioux Falls restaurant has received the magazine’s only Best of Award of Excellence in South Dakota this year. “Last year, we were proud to receive the Award of Excellence, and this year, earning the Best of Award of Excellence is truly a meaningful step forward,” Chef Bryan Moscatello said. “Our sommelier, Ashley Stroh, continues to build a thoughtful and dynamic wine program that enhances the guest experience at every level. To be the only restaurant in South Dakota recognized at this level is an incredible honor and a testament to the collaboration, care, and passion of our team.” Wine Spectator gave the Best award to 1,704 restaurants worldwide. Four other Sioux Falls restaurants were recognized with the Award of Excellence: Parker’s Bistro, and the three offerings from Vinyahd Restaurant Group: Brix Wine Bar, Maribella Ristorante and R Wine Bar & Kitchen. That award went to 2,010 restaurants. The top Grand Award went to 97 restaurants; the closest ones are Barolo Grill in Denver and Flagstaff House Restaurant in Boulder, Colorado.
The Tavern Grill also started Burger & Beer Wednesdays in June, and the special will continue through August. Get a burger, side of waffle fries and your choice of a pint of tap beer for $20. Here’s the lineup for July.
With at least a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the coming days, you might get a chance to take advantage of this offer: The Tavern Grill is offering $1 off on cocktails, mocktails, beer, wine and dirty sodas whenever it’s raining – through Monday. Show the restaurant’s post on Facebook from June 19 to get the discount.
Flyboy Donuts has started selling SDSU Ice Cream by the carton, making it easy to create doughnut and ice cream creations at home — or just enjoy the ice cream. Find flavors like Cookies n Cream, Vanilla, Blueberry Cheesecake, Strawberry Revel, Mint Chocolate Chip and more. Flyboy hinted on social media that more collaborations with SDSU are coming.
The new Yonutz has a new Simply Smashed Donut with Oreos. Get a doughnut of your choice stuffed with ice cream that’s hot-pressed, glazed and rolled in crushed Oreos. Get two for $10.
Invictus Pizza Kitchen will be expanding its menu to include burgers and brats for its annual car show Sunday. Put It in Your Mouth food truck also will be there. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For kids, there will be bounce houses, face painting and cotton candy. The Barbershop will be offering free neck trims, and there will be live music from Elisabeth Hunstad.
Culver’s has a new trio of chicken sandwiches: Crispy, Spicy Crispy and Grilled. Each sandwich features lettuce, tomato, mayo and pickles on a brioche bun, and they can be customized with choices like bacon, grilled onions and Signature Sauce. The new chicken filets also can be added to salads.
Neketer Juice Bar has introduced its summer features. Options include Pineapple Whip Bowl, Sunshine Whip Smoothie and Razzy Float Smoothie.
Crisp & Green has a new catering menu suitable for business meetings or celebrations. It includes family-style salads and grain bowls that serve four to six people, signature wraps for 10, sharable sides and artisanal platters for 10 to 12, snacks for 12, beverages and a la carte items. See the full menu here.
DQ Grill & Chill locations that are part of Fourteen Foods are offering $1 small cones through July for customers wearing their youth sports uniform.
The downtown location of Pho Thai has a new lunch special. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, get a selection of two sushi rolls with for $12.88 or three rolls for $13.88. Each offer comes with miso soup.
The Human Bean is featuring half-price Bright Energy drinks from noon to close through July 7.
LaDelle and Fourth Coffeehouse in Dell Rapids is offering its special take-and-bake cinnamon rolls for the Fourth of July Holiday. Get preformed dough, cream cheese frosting, parchment paper and directions. A half-dozen is $14 and a dozen is $25. Half-gallon iced lattes in any flavor are $22. Order by Monday for pickup Wednesday or Thursday.
Trio Jazz Club is having its first after-party Saturday. Stop by from 11:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. for signature cocktails and pizza, EDM tunes from DJ Mr. Wobbles and an upscale nightclub vibe. The cover charge is $10.
Changes in hours, service
- Daily Clean Food & Drink has new hours for summer: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
- The Hideaway in Brandon won’t be open on Mondays as part of new summer hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Here are other food and drink headlines from the past week.
Downtown restaurant group details enhanced spaces, special events
Businesses rally together, plan improvements while dealing with major road closure
