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

Grill | $$ | 12310 SD-44, Rapid City, SD 57702

Settling In

I’ve lived in the Black Hills almost my whole life. I’ve been writing this column for close to a year now. And somehow, this place had never crossed my radar until a buddy tipped me off to it. That’s the thing about these hills. You think you’ve found every corner worth knowing, and then someone mentions a spot tucked along the canyon and you realize you’ve got more exploring left to do than you thought.

If you’ve never spent much time out past the edge of town, the Rimrock area runs along Highway 44 and Rapid Creek, tucked into the eastern Black Hills between Rapid City and US-385. It’s a scattering of small communities, places like Hisega, Johnson Siding, and Placerville, spread along the creek and canyon walls.

Moontime Grill sits right off the road on SD-44, small enough that you could drive right past it if you weren’t looking for it. Inside, it’s tight. Maybe 30 seats, tops. The afternoon we went, every one of them was full. Peace symbols cover the walls, and the whole room stayed loud and friendly, packed with people clearly enjoying themselves. If you can’t get a table, the restaurant shares space with the Happy Tavern next door, so the overflow just walks on over and keeps right on eating. A bar and a grill sharing one roof, splitting the crowd between them, works just fine out here.

The Little Stuff

The onion rings hit the table first, and they were worth waiting for. Hot, crisp, with a little sweetness underneath that made me think there was beer batter involved. I didn’t ask, but I’d bet on it.

Anytime you’re eating out, it’s nice to see the owner or cook step out from behind the grill to check on everyone. In a room this size, he could do it without much trouble, and he did, more than once. He asked how the food was and moved right on to the next table. Attention like that isn’t something you’d expect at a place this casual, and it was a nice touch while we were there.

The Reason You’re There

The Chicago dog is the real deal. Snap on the casing, the right mix of toppings, no ketchup in sight, just the way it should be. Anybody from Chicago would eat this without complaint, high praise for a hot dog served in the middle of the Black Hills.

The burger was every bit as good. It’s a blend of ground chuck, ribeye, and brisket, topped with cheddar on a brioche bun, and it came seasoned well enough that I didn’t reach for a single extra condiment. Cheese, bun, meat. That was plenty. This one didn’t need the help.

Both sides did their job without trying too hard, nothing fancy about either one. The potato salad tasted like something out of a Black Hills backyard cookout, the type you keep going back for seconds on until somebody finally puts the lid on the bowl. The coleslaw leaned wet rather than dry, which happens to be exactly how I like it.

What Sticks With You

Moontime Grill fits right into a drive through the canyon. Motorcycle riders pull in. Tourists passing through pull in too. Locals who’ve lived here for decades, apparently, also pull in, some of us just later than we should have.

After the meal, we wandered next door to the Happy Tavern for one cocktail. The bartender was one of the friendliest we’ve run into anywhere in the Black Hills. She just had that natural ability to make you feel welcome, even when it was just a quick one and done.

Victoria’s Taste

“A place like this reminds you what it’s like living in the Black Hills. A beautiful drive up a canyon that surprises you with a lunch that compliments the trip. Moontime is worth pulling over for.”

Final Bite

A year of writing this column, and a lifetime of living here, and the Black Hills still has places waiting to surprise me. Moontime Grill is proof there’s always another canyon worth driving up, another small room worth squeezing into, another cook willing to walk out from behind the line just to ask how your lunch was. Pull over. You’ll be glad you did.

Taste the Room pays for every meal we review. We don’t accept comped food, and restaurants aren’t notified of our visit in advance. It’s how we keep our reviews honest and independent.