Out to Eat in Sioux Falls: Tavern Grill satisfies
I walked into the Tavern Grill, situated near the Empire Mall on South Louise Avenue, at around 5 p.m. on a Saturday.
The restaurant’s layout was relatively spacious. With tall ceilings and white walls rising from dark, wood-paneled floors, the restaurant’s layout felt very spacious. The brick and reddish-brown wood accents along the walls helped to create a warm and modern feel. The restaurant has multiple seating areas — the bar, the tables and booths around it and other tables in a separate area. For this dining experience, I was seated at a table by the bar.
Despite being prime dinner time, there was no wait. Once I was seated, the waitress arrived quickly, introduced herself and took my drink order.
Looking at the menu, the prices seemed a bit steep, with most of the entrees’ cost ranging from the high teens (such as $16.00) to high twenties (such as $26.00). One of the draws of The Tavern Grill is their “Build Your Own” menu, including “BYO” burgers, pizza and salads.
After looking through the menu, I ordered the “BYO” burger, which cost $16.00. With the order, I was able to get one of their patty options (which also had black bean and impossible meat options for the patty), a choice of their bun selection, four toppings, sauce and a side, such as waffle fries or onion rings. All of these choices are customizable, which helps to create a delicious meal that the customer is excited to eat.
As a splurge, I also ordered the cheese curds, which cost $14.50. The plate came out quickly, and there was a good portion served with regular and spicy ranch. While the cheese curds came out promptly, the curds were not fully fried. Most were pale in color and tasted doughy.
The wait time for the entrees was fairly short considering the food ordered. The food portion was large and left me feeling full (in my opinion, a great marker for price to food ratio). My burger was cooked well, and the toppings added a mild flavor that wasn’t overpowering to the palate. For my side, I got waffle fries, which were fried to perfection and crunchy without being overcooked.
As a final splurge, I ordered both the Skillet Cookie ($13.00) and the Key Lime Pie ($10.00). The Skillet Cookie arrived at the table piping hot with a chocolate chip cookie bottom, soft vanilla ice cream and warm fudge. While being tasty and sweet, the Skillet Cookie wasn’t terribly unique or special. The Key Lime Pie had a sweet, tart flavor, with a consistency similar to cheesecake. While both desserts were tasty, neither was a “must have” for an already expensive meal.
Throughout the dining experience, the staff was attentive and understood the menu well. They remained prompt and delivered the food quickly and continued to check in regularly regarding food quality and my needs.
The Tavern Grill was an enjoyable experience. While pricey, the convenient location and attentive staff makes this upscale eatery a solid choice for anyone seeking a reliable dining option in Sioux Falls.
