From a new brunch to signature flavors, 3 dining destinations await a short drive away

This paid piece is sponsored by Travel South Dakota.

From a pumpkin cold brew worth the road trip to legendary broasted chicken and a new resort brunch, you easily can sample and sip your way across eastern South Dakota this fall.

And, when you do partake, you can check things off your Travel South Dakota passport and be on your way to earning prizes.

The Great Finds, Peaks to Plains and State of Create passports highlight hidden gems, state parks and outdoor attractions across the state. Many of the sites on these road trips will get you one stamp closer to winning prizes as you explore unique — and delicious — destinations across the state.

Here’s a taste of what you’ll find.

The Grind Coffee + Cafe, Wilmot

You’d be hard-pressed to walk into any coffee shop from September to November and not find a pumpkin-something on the menu. At The Grind Coffee + Cafe at 713 Main St. in Wilmot in northeast South Dakota, the seasonal treat is the Pumpkin Sweet Cream Cold Brew.

“It’s been deemed the best around by many of our pumpkin-loving customers,” owner Ashley Ammann said. “For a different fall treat, we would recommend our Caramel Bourbon Brulee Latte. This tasty drink is served hot with flavors of caramel sauce and bourbon flavoring for a deep, rich flavor. To top it off, we add a sugar top that is torched to perfection and drizzled with caramel sauce — a cozy fall treat to warm you up on a chilly day.”

The Grind started construction in March 2020, and when COVID-19 hit a week later, “life got turned upside down,” Ammann said. But she kept going and opened for business in August.

“We were blown away by the support of our local small town as well as surrounding communities,” Ammann said. “Every year, we gain more and more loyal customers and regulars. Our reach is within a 45-mile radius of us! We are amazed at how many new people show up to The Grind each week.”

And while all the flavored drinks are fun, Ammann said her favorite offering is espresso. “It can’t be beat,” she said. “There’s no wonder our customers drive for miles to get their caffeine fix!”

The Grind offers six new specialty drinks and six new Lotus drinks every month. Lotus is a plant-based energy drink with fruity flavors and unlimited combinations, Ammann said, noting that it was one of the first shops in the state to sell them. And the shop has other fresh daily specials. “They leave you full and satisfied,” she said. “Taste, quality and aesthetics are always our goals.”

Think buffalo chicken wraps, broccoli cheese soup, and chicken and wild rice soup.

Ammannn keeps all the past menu items in a recipe book – which means if there was an old favorite, chances are you can order it again. “We have three years of creative items to choose from,” she said. “That’s the beauty of being a small, locally owned shop. The possibilities are endless.”

But right now? As the leaves are falling? Ammann recommends the Caramel Apple Cider – “perfect to pick up before heading out on your fall adventures for the day.”

Hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Toby’s Lounge, Meckling

If you’re going to Toby’s Lounge, a restaurant, bar and liquor store along Highway 50 between Vermillion and Yankton, you’re going to have to eat broasted chicken. It’s an original to the restaurant – and something it’s known for.

Jim Slattery, who owns the business with his brothers Tom and Nick, said the menu also features burgers, saucy wings and soft-serve ice cream. “The bar has top-shelf bourbons, pop and ice-cold bottled beer,” Slattery said. Toby’s also added six taps last year and sell spirits and wine.

Toby’s was started in 1971 by Stanley “Toby” Larson, who focused on liquor sales, fried chicken and potatoes, Slattery said. The building at 31364 Meckling Road hasn’t changed much, but the menu continues to evolve.

“Toby himself managed the restaurant day-in and day-out until he died in 2008,” Slattery said. The business has a strong following, and in 2022, the Larson family sold the business to the Slattery brothers. “We are all dedicated to Toby’s chicken recipes and overall environment for all to enjoy.”

If you’re headed there, you have to order the three-piece broasted chicken with broasted potatoes, Slattery said. “It’s very filling and easy on the wallet.”

But more than great food, Toby’s connects the community.

“Toby’s is the town center for Meckling, and while you may fill your belly with the best broasted chicken in the universe, you can immerse yourself in Meckling/Vermillion history and talk with the friendliest people around.”

It’s open from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Buffalo Ridge Resort & Spa, Gary

The atmosphere at the Rock Room Bar & Grill in Gary is hard to beat.

The name comes from the stone cottage walls original to the building at 1312 Coteau St., which was built in the early 1900s. And there’s an expansive deck that overlooks the property at Buffalo Ridge Resort & Spa, about 90 minutes north of Sioux Falls.

“It feels very cozy inside,” said Patricia Fields, managing member of the resort, who purchased it earlier this year. “And in the summer, everybody eats outdoors.”

The Rock Room Bar & Grill features dinner and live music from local musicians and, while the weather holds, a large outdoor dining area. It serves burgers, paninis, salads, smoked brisket and steaks as well as a children’s menu. The restaurant has more limited hours in the winter, which are always updated on the resort’s website.

In just a few weeks, it plans to begin a brunch service from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sundays.

“It’s salmon and shrimp cocktail, and it’s going to be a very nice brunch,” Fields said. “We’re going to make it a little more spectacular.”

The resort includes the restaurant, hotel, meeting rooms and more. It’s on the site of the state’s first School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and the property retains much of the historical appeal of the site.

Fields, who is from Tampa, was looking for a property for a resort spa. She wasn’t necessarily looking in South Dakota, but when she saw Buffalo Ridge, she knew it was right. “I saw the photos of the buildings and thought, they can’t be this good,” she said with a laugh. “But they are! So I took the plunge, and here I am.”

A 4,500-square-foot spa is slated to open in spring 2024 and will include a sauna, massages, facials and more. It will be open to the public with a day pass or can be part of packages for guests of the resort.

“You can stay all day, go have lunch. It’s a beautiful day and a great girls’ day,” Fields said. “I’ve wanted to do something like this for a long time.”

The resort also offers a gym, a disc golf course, sand volleyball and a giant chess game on the lawn, as well as a brand new pickleball court. You can stay on the site with two different accommodations. The historic Herrick Hotel includes 19 renovated rooms and offers suites. The family suite has 16 rooms and sleeps up to 50 people. It has a fully furnished full-size kitchen, large dining and living room areas, a private balcony and six bathrooms.

Fields describes it as more of a bed-and-breakfast atmosphere and said the grounds are spectacular. “A trip out to Buffalo Ridge includes a beautiful drive through the rural landscapes of the Great Plains,” she said. “It’s extremely relaxing and, of course, no traffic. It puts you in that relaxation mood right away.”

It isn’t easy moving across the country to open a business, but Fields said she has had a lot of support. “I love it here. From the moment I got here, I had so much help from the community, above and beyond what you would ever expect.”

From changing foliage to Oktoberfest inspiration, here’s your guide to fall S.D. getaways