By Barbara Soderlin

My very nice sister-in-law took us out for my birthday last week and when she asked where we wanted to go, I thought we should check out the new On the Border. It’s not that often we get a big new restaurant around here, so if you’re into restaurants, you’ve probably been there already, but I hadn’t had a chance yet. It was really nice inside and has a fantastic patio with a sweeping view of the Hills.

The first thing that struck me when we drove up, though, was the enormous sign. Maybe the city needs to tighten its sign ordinances, I thought. Talking to the property developer today, though, he said they’re working to get two other restaurants at the same site, and it looks like they’d all share the same sign. It sounded like they’re still recruiting for the restaurants and nothing’s firm, but it’s exciting to think of two more coming.

What do you think we’ll get? Hopefully whatever it is, they’ll give me a free dessert for my birthday, like On the Border did. (Cinnamon empanadas filled with chocolate… yum.) They even sang to me. And they even believed I was 21! I did set the record straight before we left though.

Hi again everyone… just wanted to let you know why some of your comments didn’t make it through. I’m generally not going to allow negative criticism of a business that isn’t making news on its own. If you want to discuss restaurant service please keep it anonymous, postive, or at least constructive. If you had bad service, let the manager know. At one new restaurant I tried recently, my food came really late and they comped the meal. I could tell it wasn’t the waitress’ fault. With me being polite about it, she got it comped without me even having to ask.

And if someone wanted to start their own restaurant criticism site, I bet it would be very popular!

– Barbara

A steakhouse could be on its way to the new Comfort Suites at the Elk Vale Road exit on Interstate 90.

So says Diane Heinis, managing partner of the company that owns the $10 million, 92-room hotel. Oh, that’s set to open sometime between Aug. 1-7.

What steakhouse would you like to see headed to Exit 61?

I was scouring the Internet today, and came across this Rushmore Crossing proposed merchandising plan, on the McDonald Properties Web site. It looks relatively old, at least compared to the Katz & Associates map released this March.

The maps don’t align perfectly, but I was interested to see the restaurants that appeared to in the works to sign a letter of intent.

- Qdoba Mexican Grill
- CiCi’s Pizza Buffet (although the Katz map puts Mens Wearhouse there)
- Shari’s Restaurant
- Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery

I was particularly intrigued by the last two. I’ve never heard of them before.

Anyway, take a look and see what you think.

(Image: www.jonessign.com)

I haven’t made any calls on this,  yet. But this could mean Rapid City’s downtown could get some sort of grocery store with malt liquor sales.

The address is the same as the Body Builder Christian Bookstore that is going out of business.

Here’s the off-sale malt beverage license application before on tonight’s city council agenda:

Matthew J. Batchelder DBA Windsor Block Grocery Co., 610 7^th Street for a Package (off-sale) Malt Beverage License

Having some sort of grocery/drug store within walking distance could make life a lot easier for those living downtown.

What do you think?

It’s some great exposure for two of Hill City’s finest establishments.

Both Prairie Berry Winery and the 1880 Train are mentioned in today’s Wall Street Journal, in a Life & Style article about trains and wine (and wine on trains).

One thing suprised me about the article. There area number of places to enjoy a love for both wine and trains!

(Photo: www.wsj.com)

We’ve been waiting a while to confirm this one. But it’s real, folks.

Buffalo Wild Wings is headed for Rapid City.

The sports-themed, fast-casual restaurant is slated for an empty spot in the Baken Park shopping center. It will include a patio, according to documents filed with the city.

The restaurant, which is applying for an alcohol permit, will fill a hole in the strip mall between Pet Paradise and French Cleaners.

Buffalo Wild Wings is a Minneapolis-based chain of bar and grills that serves chicken wings doused in a variety of sauces.

The Rapid City Planning Commission will consider the restaurant’s on-sale liquor establishment conditional use permit at its July 23 meeting.

A representative of BDUBS LLC recently applied for the city conditional use permit. According to state filings, Matt Benne is the registered agent for that firm, which was incorporated with the state in May.

An attempt to speak by telephone with Benne through Sam Benne of First American Title Company, was unsuccessful. A call to Jeremy Nelson, project manager for the construction with CMA in Minneapolis, wasn’t returned.

If you would like to get some farm-fresh eggs from local chickens and fresh meat and vegetables grown nearby, check out the newest edition of the South Dakota Local Food Directory, recently released by Dakota Rural Action.

The food directory, a consumer’s guide to eating locally, connects to local farmers and food producers who are growing fresh, locally-grown vegetables, eggs, meats, grains, and other foods.

The directory contains 100 listings from around the state and is available free of charge to the public.

Some of the local businesses included in the directory are Sherri’s City Chick Eggs in Box Elder, Country Road Gardens in Rapid City and 777 Bison Ranch/Dakota Bison in Rapid City.

MJ Adams, owner of The Corn Exchange restaurant in Rapid City, uses the directory to find local food to supply her restaurant. According to an e-mailed statement from DRA, she said:

I promote eating locally as much as possible.  Since discovering DRA and the local food directory I’ve been introduced to new farmers and ranchers in the areal This has allowed me to find new food sources that I didn’t know about before.

Copies can be obtained by contacting Dakota Rural Action at 605-697-5204, or by e-mailing action@dakotarural.org.

The directories are also distributed at farmers markets, stores, and events across the state.

It sounds like the Chute Rooster in Hill City is going to open.

An ad in today’s classifieds section from the Chute Rooster says the place is under new owners and management and is hiring for all positions.

It comes with some East River flavor, and it has quietly opened in Hill City.

It’s called Stone Faces Winery, and it’s apparently an extension of Valiant Vineyards Winery, in Vermillion, run by Sherry and Eldon Nygaard.

All I’ve got is a brochure and a Web site.

The brochure mentions Stone Faces’s tasting room, bed and breakfast, private label wines and “Dakotas Best Gift Shop.”

“Stay & Play,” it says.

The winery’s number is 605-574-3600. The location is the former Country Manor Bed & Breakfast that’s been for sale for awhile.

I heard they just opened up, with a so-called soft opening.

How about that? Between this and Prairie Berry, we’ve got a mini-Wine Country a-sproutin’ up.

This just came in through the obituary section:

Austin Chi Hsin Fan, 63, of Rapid City, died at his home, Sunday, July 5, 2009.

He is survived by his wife, Cynthia Fan, Rapid City, a son Steven H Fan, Chongqin, China, a daughter, Jennifer H. Fan, San Francisco, a grandson, Austin R. Fan, Chongqin, China, a sister Chi Ren, Los Angeles, and a brother, Chi Chen, Taipei, China.

Services are pending with Edstrom & Rooks Funeral Services at Serenity Springs.