Because every restaurant is more than just what’s on the plate

The Gold Bison Grill – Rapid City, SD

There’s something uniquely comforting about dining inside a hotel restaurant. Even if you live in the same city, it still feels like a mini vacation. Maybe it’s the sound of luggage wheels on tile, or the faint aroma of industrial-strength coffee lingering in the air. But it always adds a little something to the meal.

The Gold Bison Grill, tucked inside the DoubleTree by Hilton downtown, feels like one of those pleasant surprises travelers brag about when they get home. If you’re a longtime local, you might still call it the Holiday Inn, and honestly, no one would blame you. The name only changed recently, and while the outside has gotten a nice refresh, the inside still holds the vibe of a memory or two.

As you walk in, the reception desk sits to your right and a cozy little bar is on your left. Don’t let the size fool you. That bar has a surprisingly solid whiskey and bourbon lineup. The restaurant itself is open-air, meaning no walls separate the dining area from the rest of the hotel, so you’re always in earshot of the massive waterfall at the center of the lobby. Somehow, that sound ends up being more soothing than distracting.

Because it was a slower afternoon, we were seated in the bar section, but it shares the same layout and menu as the main dining area. And yes, full disclosure, I’ve been to the Gold Bison before. Usually on Sundays for the buffet, which has always been consistently good.

The menu offers a little bit of everything, but be aware that certain items are only available after 5 pm. That’s something I missed on this visit, which meant no entrees or dinner-focused dishes. But it didn’t stop us from digging in.

The Food

We started with the Gouda nachos, which swap tortilla chips for fried wontons and load them up with smoked Gouda cheese, jalapeños, green onions, tomatoes, black olives, and, in our case, shredded buffalo short ribs. And if you’ve never had Gouda on nachos, well, welcome to your new addiction. The shredded bison is lean and tender, the cheese is smoky and creamy, and the jalapeños give just the right kick. It’s a lot, in the best way.

To keep things from getting too meaty, we split the chicken club croissant. It comes with grilled, Italian-marinated chicken breast, lettuce, tomato, applewood bacon, cheddar, and a peppered garlic aioli, all tucked inside a buttered croissant. The chicken had a great grill on it, the bacon leaned more toward crispy, and the first bite was just a little better than what you’d expect from a typical diner. The croissant added a flaky, almost sweet backdrop that somehow made the whole thing sing.

Of course, since we were splitting, we had to balance it out with sides. So we got both the Parmesan truffle fries (cooked in beef tallow for what the menu calls “rich flavor and superior crispness”) and the sweet potato puffs. The fries were addictive, hot, and just salty enough. The sweet potato puffs came out steaming, dusted in brown sugar, clearly made from real sweet potatoes. What they’re missing is a dipping sauce. Nothing major, but something creamy or tangy would take them from good to excellent.

One small gripe. There’s a 3 percent operations fee tacked onto all checks. It’s clearly listed on the menu, but it still feels unnecessary. Just build it into the pricing and be done with it.

Victoria’s Take

She wasn’t sure about the Gouda nachos at first. Mainly because I insisted on the bison. But they won her over. The sweet potato puffs were a solid appetizer, but she agrees they need a sauce. The chicken club croissant was a hit too, especially the grilled flavor of the chicken. Still, her favorite part of the whole meal was the Parmesan truffle fries. Hands down.

Wrap-Up

Hotel restaurants in Rapid City might not always get the credit they deserve, but they should. Whether you’re staying downtown or just wandering around looking for a solid meal, don’t overlook places like The Gold Bison Grill. They’re doing things right, and they’re doing it with a little flair.

The Bathroom Report

Clean, well-maintained, and easy to find. That’s all you need to know. That’s the best kind of bathroom.