16 North Dakota Supper Clubs Keeping Salad Bars And Prime Rib Alive
North Dakota’s supper clubs are treasured local gems where time seems to stand still. Offering heaping salad bars, perfectly cooked prime rib, and that cozy ambiance you just can’t find at modern chain restaurants, these establishments preserve a slice of Americana.
Why don’t we explore the beloved supper clubs across the Peace Garden State that continue serving up nostalgia alongside generous portions?
1. The Toasted Frog – Fargo
Located in downtown Fargo, wood-paneled walls create a warm atmosphere where locals gather weekly.
Famous for its lavish salad bar featuring seventeen homemade dressings and prime rib aged 28 days, The Toasted Frog maintains traditions while adding modern touches like craft cocktails.
Weekend reservations fill up weeks in advance, a testament to its enduring popularity.
2. Club 99 Supper Club – Minot
Since 1962, families have celebrated special occasions at this Minot institution.
Red leather booths line the walls where generations of North Dakotans have enjoyed the legendary salad bar with its signature pickled herring and homemade croutons.
Weekend prime rib specials sell out by 7 PM, with regulars knowing to arrive early for the coveted end cuts.
3. The Wagon Wheel – Jamestown
Walking through the wooden wagon wheel entrance transports diners back to 1973 when this family-owned gem first opened.
Walls adorned with local memorabilia create a museum-like atmosphere while you load your plate with fresh vegetables and pasta salads.
Longtime server Doris has worked here 42 years and still remembers regular customers’ favorite prime rib temperatures without asking.
4. Dakota Cafe – Grand Forks
College students and longtime residents alike flock to this unpretentious spot near UND campus.
Unlike typical university hangouts, Dakota Cafe maintains old-school charm with its daily-refreshed salad bar featuring locally sourced vegetables when in season.
Friday’s prime rib night has become a graduation weekend tradition, with tables booked months in advance by alumni returning to relive fond memories.
5. The Timberline – Bismarck
Overlooking the Missouri River, floor-to-ceiling windows frame stunning sunset views while diners build towering salad plates.
Lumberjack decor pays homage to North Dakota’s logging history, with vintage saws and photos adorning pine walls.
Meat lovers drive from three surrounding states for the 24-ounce Timberline Cut prime rib, served with a mountain of twice-baked potato that could feed two.
6. The Starlite Supper Club – Wahpeton
Vintage neon signs illuminate the parking lot where farmers and factory workers park side by side every weekend.
Inside, the salad bar stretches nearly 20 feet with five different potato salads – each recipe contributed by a different local family.
Live piano music fills the dining room on Saturdays while servers wheel around the prime rib cart, slicing portions tableside.
7. The Red Barn – Valley City
Converted from an actual barn in 1958, original beams and hayloft create unforgettable ambiance for diners.
Kids love watching fresh vegetables being added to the salad bar throughout the evening from the adjacent garden during summer months.
Four generations of the Peterson family have maintained the secret prime rib rub recipe, which regulars swear contains coffee grounds and brown sugar.
8. The Roundup – Dickinson
Oil workers and ranchers rub shoulders at this western-themed establishment where cowboy hats hang on wall pegs while patrons dine.
Mason jars serve as salad dressing containers at the abundant salad bar featuring prickly pear cactus salad – a local specialty.
Weekend prime rib is seasoned with prairie herbs gathered by the owner’s 82-year-old mother who still insists on doing it herself.
9. The Garden Spot – Devils Lake
Winter ice fishing tournaments end with hungry anglers filling this lakeside institution to capacity.
Summer brings tourists who marvel at the salad bar’s five rotating homemade soups and freshly baked bread still warm from the oven.
Owner Martha started as a dishwasher in 1975 and worked her way up, eventually buying the place and perfecting the prime rib recipe that’s now legendary across three counties.
10. The Silver Spur – Rugby
Located at the geographical center of North America, travelers from all directions stop at this landmark establishment.
Vintage rodeo posters and authentic silver spurs decorate walls while guests visit the salad bar featuring pickled vegetables from family recipes.
Monthly prime rib eating contests have become local legends, with the current record holder finishing a 52-ounce cut in under 30 minutes.
11. The Rustic Table – Williston
Amid oil boom prosperity, this decades-old establishment maintains its unpretentious charm with mismatched wooden chairs and tables.
Regulars appreciate the salad bar’s staying power, featuring the same homemade ranch dressing that’s been mixed daily since 1969.
Newcomers quickly learn that requesting anything beyond medium-rare for prime rib will earn gentle ribbing from third-generation owner Frank, who carves each slice himself.
12. Prairie Rose Supper Club – Valley City
Railroad memorabilia covers the walls of this former train depot where whistles still blow as trains pass by during dinner service.
Glass refrigerator cases display fresh salad ingredients before they make their way to the bar that’s replenished hourly.
Legend claims the prime rib recipe came from a Chicago chef who was stranded during the blizzard of ’66 and traded his secret technique for shelter.
13. The Iron Horse – Minot
Military families from nearby Minot Air Force Base create a diverse clientele in this otherwise traditional North Dakota supper club.
Flags from all 50 states hang from the ceiling while patrons load plates with regional specialties at the salad bar, including Norwegian lefse wraps.
Air Force challenge coins embedded in the bar top tell stories of military visitors who’ve enjoyed the famous slow-roasted prime rib over decades.
14. Meadowlark Supper Club – Fargo
Situated in a century-old former grain exchange building, original hardwood floors creak pleasantly underfoot as diners approach the circular salad bar.
Stained glass windows featuring meadowlark designs cast colorful patterns across white tablecloths during sunset hours.
Jazz trios perform weekend evenings while servers in classic black and white attire deliver signature prime rib with rosemary au jus that’s simmered for 12 hours.
15. Pinecrest Supper Club – Grand Forks
Snowmobilers create a parking lot full of sleds during winter months at this pine-forest-surrounded destination restaurant.
A roaring stone fireplace warms diners who’ve traveled miles through snow to enjoy the famous salad bar featuring hot dishes like Swedish meatballs alongside traditional offerings.
Summer brings outdoor dining where the prime rib is sometimes cooked over open flame during special events under towering pine trees.
16. The Northern Lights – Bismarck
Mounted on a hilltop overlooking the city, diners often glimpse actual northern lights through massive windows during winter months.
Local artwork depicting North Dakota landscapes surrounds the central salad bar island where fresh ingredients are arranged like a colorful painter’s palette.
Monthly full moon dinners feature special prime rib preparations with names like ‘Wolf Moon Cut’ and ‘Harvest Moon Portion’ that change with the lunar calendar.
