South Dakota

South Dakota’s Pheasant Restaurant And Lounge Earns James Beard Classics Award

Published

2 years ago

March 11, 2024

Press Room

South Dakota’s Pheasant Restaurant And Lounge Earns James Beard Classics Award

James Beard Classics Awards winner Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge stays true to its South Dakota … [+] culinary roots.

Courtesy of Pheasant Restaurant

Situated in Brookings, South Dakota, a town of 23,000 people, the Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge that started as a gas station cafÃ© might not have been the most likely of candidates to earn one of the six prestigious James Beard Classics Awards, in this case for the Midwest. But Pheasant Restaurant is going to surprise you in many ways.

And Brookings is not your average town since a college, South Dakota State University and the South Dakota Art Museum, situated on campus, is located there.

Pheasant Restaurant has been owned by the same family since it opened in 1949, and is now overseen by Georgiana Olson and Michael Johnson, the head chef and general manager, who is Olsonâs grandson and the third generation of Olsonâs who have steered it. Previously Johnsonâs mom and aunt ran it. Johnson has been working there for over 30 years and was handed over the reins 18 years ago.

How did Johnson feel when he learned Pheasant had won one of the James Beard Classic Awards? âWe were just doing what we are passionate about, and then this divine light just shone down on our daily gig so unexpectedly,â he replies.

Staying true to its South Dakota roots, Pheasant Restaurant has earned a James Beard Classic Awards and yet has adapted its menu.

But Pheasantâs menu is one of the unexpected factors in its longevity. Though streamlined, the menu offers variations of classics like its duck wings platter, lamb sloppy joes and hummus platter.

Updated Plus Old Reliable Menu

As Johnson explains that its menu combines its history while adapting to modern tastes and âhighlights items from the gas station cafÃ© days, our steakhouse era and a lot of current New American items, but always with local flair.â It also integrates influences of Native Americans, Norwegians and Germans as well as farmers, hunters, fishers and ranchers.

Some South Dakota Specialties

And then there are some entrees specific to South Dakota such as its chislic, which is the stateâs official nosh and consists of deep-fried, cubed local lamb meat served with blue cheese dressing and its seared sirloin bites, six ounces of cubed Angus top sirloin.

It also prides itself on its Upper Midwest classic dishes such as hot roast beef on homemade white bread with mashed potatoes and gravy, its Nordic waffles folded around smoked salmon and bison steak au poivre. And then thereâs walleye, the South Dakota state fish.

âWe love to work with rhubarb, blue cheese, homemade ice cream and anything fresh off the farm,â Johnson explains. âIn the end, itâs a distinctly eastern South Dakotan experience,â he says.

And yet with all the changes, the hot roast beef sandwich and liver and onions were there on the original 1949 menu. Its coffee is made from locally-roasted beans bought from Cherrybean Coffee Co., which makes organic coffee and is based in Marion, S.D. Itâs a bottomless cup, naturally.

Keeping the Prices Low: Not So Easy These Days

At a time when restaurant prices are spiking, Pheasant Restaurant has kept its prices down. Its early bird special served from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday includes a choice of cod liver, pork chop, taco salad or chef salad and costs $9. Thatâs right under $10.

Keeping those prices low, admittedly, has become a challenge. It maintains relationships with âproducers, like farmers and bakers who come right into the kitchen and hand us their goods. These relationships really help with both quality and cost,â he notes.

Itâs also a lounge where it keeps six rotating, seasonal beers on tap such as Ferson Lionâs Paw Lager from Sioux Falls, S.D. and Brau Brothers Moo Joos from Marshall, Mn. It also maintains a wine cellar with a large selection of curated wines.

Sustaining its tradition and appealing to the more sophisticated tastes of people who travel these days have become the bywords of keeping the Pheasant Restaurant dynamic, Johnson suggests.

And what will keep the Pheasant Restaurant pumped up for the next generation? Johnson said his 10-year-old daughter Elsa has declared that she wants to be the chef when she grows up. In the meantime, Johnson says, heâs not going anywhere until âChef Elsaâ is ready for the task.

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Mega Millions, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Dec. 23, 2025

Published

9 hours ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 23, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 23 drawing

15-37-38-41-64, Mega Ball: 21

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 23 drawing

02-04-12-37-42, Lucky Ball: 10

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.

When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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South Dakota

Fact brief: Does South Dakota require front license plates?

Published

21 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Fact brief: Does South Dakota require front license plates?

(South Dakota News Watch) – Yes. South Dakota is one of almost 30 states that require front and back license plates on vehicles, though there are a couple of exceptions.

Vehicles that are used for “occasional transportation, public displays, parades and related pleasure hobby activities” can use a rear-only plate. The plates cost $25 in addition to the normal registration cost. To qualify, drivers must provide their odometer reading at the time of registration and not exceed 7,500 miles in a year.

Motorcycles are also only required to have one plate.

Why use rear-only plates? Many owners don’t like how front plates take away from the aesthetic of their vehicles. But dual plates are touted as a way to assist law enforcement with crime.

South Dakota offers more than a dozen different types of plates: construction, emblem, habitat conservation, Dignity sculpture, historical, amateur radio license, disabled person, firefighter, EMS, tribal, tribal veteran, veteran and several military plates.

Source

South Dakota Department of Revenue, Personalized and Specialty Plates

South Dakota Department of Revenue, License plate application

Lakota Times, South Dakota specialty plates available July 1

South Dakota laws, 32-5-98

Thompson Law Injury lawyers, Which states require front license plates?

South Dakota News Watch partners with Gigafact to publish fact briefs that refute or confirm a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.

Read previous fact briefs.
Read our verification standards and other best practices policies.
Submit a question for us to answer on the South Dakota News Watch Tipline.
Send questions or feedback to factbrief@sdnewswatch.org.

This story was produced by South Dakota News Watch, an independent, nonprofit organization. Read more stories and donate at sdnewswatch.org and sign up for an email to get stories when they’re published. Contact Michael Klinski at michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org.

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South Dakota

SD Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Dec. 22, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 22, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

03-18-36-41-54, Powerball: 07, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

09-16-23-34-46, Lucky Ball: 07

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

01-09-18-19-44, Star Ball: 02, ASB: 05

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.

When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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