Alpine Inn
225 Main St, Hill City, SD, 57745
Alpine Inn Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Hill City for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Hill City for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Hill City for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
225 Main St
Hill City, SD, 57745 - Phone (605) 574-2749
- Website https://alpineinnhillcity.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Jim B.
Great food and good prices. We went 4 times this week. Cash only but has a ATM machine
(5)Dave G.
Best place to eat in the Black Hills! You get your choice of a large or small filet..lol thats it, but they are Great. They give you a quarter head of lettuce for your salad, its alot. My advice is to get there early They have limited hrs. And they get very busy!
(5)Jeff P.
Very crowded during Sturgis event. Here at 4:30pm, 5pm seating full, waiting for 6pm seating. Finally seated at 6:15. Liz ordered her 9 oz Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon well done, seasoned with black pepper only. (Liz is allergic to bell peppers, allspice, paprika, etc). I ordered mine medium rare. Both filets were perfect. I also substituted the baked potato for Spaetzle. It had Swiss cheese with it. Awesome! Our deserts were, as Liz says, "ohh - very good" Worth the wait!
(5)Eva C.
There is only one reason that I'm an giving this establishment three stars, and it's one of their employees. After patiently waiting for our large group (13) to be seated we were brought back to two separate tables. We asked if we could bring the two tables together and got a flippant reply of "Those are two different server areas!" Uh, okay. Because it is crazy to ask, and heaven forbid that we question you. So we offer a solution (using two others in the same section) and Mrs. Delightful then starts literally throwing tables around. Huffing and puffing, mumbling under her breath, and then declaring "There is nothing lady like about moving tables!" Well... there is nothing lady like about you. I can only assume that she is the owner or the manager for there is no other reason that you have been able to maintain your position in customer service. The steaks were delicious, our waitress was lovely and attentive. Avoid the short, cropped haired Ursula-esque "lady" and your visit will indeed be wonderful.
(3)Christina H.
The Alpine Inn is magical. If you are ever anywhere near Hill City, South Dakota make a detour to stop here. I promise it's that good. The big deal here is that for dinner they only offer filet mignon, and the prices are very inexpensive (6oz is $12 and 9oz is $14). So, you can see why this place is hugely popular. After reading reviews (and my trusty Black Hills guidebook) all advised arriving early to get on the list for dinner. They don't take reservations so you want to be one of the first ones there to be seated as soon as they open for dinner. Of course, I was on vacation and running late, so by the time we arrived they took my name and estimated an hour wait for a table. We took our time and walked along the main street and checked out the gift shops. We returned to the restaurant around 45 minutes to find that we still had quite a wait. We managed to find an outside table and had a couple drinks from the bar until our name was called. It was over an hour, but I was prepared for a long wait, so not a big deal. For dinner we all ordered the filet, and you have a choice on the size, a smaller or larger portion. They also offer a vegetarian option, which is vegetable spaetzle. We also ordered an extra dish of the spaetzle for the table, just so we could try it. FYI, it is delicious. Vegetarians have nothing to worry about here. The meal started with a basic lettuce wedge salad. It didn't look like much but the ranch dressing (house-made, of course) was amazing. My whole family loved the salad, kids and adults alike. The filet entree was perfect. All of our steaks were cooked just they way we ordered them and seemed like good cuts of meat for the price. I was really impressed. I think we also had a baked potato, but that's unimportant. To finish the meal we ordered several of the desserts they offer. They have a huge dessert menu, in contrast with the limited dinner options. Everything we tried was amazing and tasted homemade. We loved everything. Our server was incredible. She was super busy the whole time we were there but extremely efficient and upbeat. She was carrying armloads of steaks around like nothing. We all commented on how good she was. And of course, don't forget to bring cash, and bring more than you think you will need. After a few drinks and extra desserts we ended up visiting the ATM before we left. Alpine Inn was such a great experience for us we hoped to go back the next day for lunch, alas, they are closed on Sunday. Hopefully we'll make it back there again someday.
(5)Jeremy P.
You will most likely have to wait and hour plus in line, but after you have a meal here you will understand. Your choices of dinner is quite limited for a reason. For $11.95 you get one of the best filet mignon you will ever put in your mouth. Also included is a great iceberg wedge salad and potatoe. To top off a fantastic meal the desert menu is even better. We always wait patiently and are never disappointed when we visit Hill City.
(5)Huong D.
If you get here early enough and don't have to wait in line then it's definitely worth it for the price. If you have to wait in line out the door and are hungry- then go elsewhere and try coming at 4pm the next day- minus Sunday. We had the vegetarian schnitzel because I needed some veggies and he had the 9oz steak. And you HAVE to get the bread pudding with caramel sauce--- so amazing. We arrived on a Saturday at 4:30pm, seated at 5:08pm and outta there by 6:15pm.
(4)Oliver P.
For dinner, the Alpine Inn has two choices: filet mignon or spaetzle primavera. My wife got the steak and I got the spaetzle, which we split and shared. Both were excellent, and the price was great. We arrived at 7:15 on a Monday. There was a wait, but we just grabbed some German beers and watched the world go by on the porch. We were seated at 8. I got the bread pudding for desert. It was very sweet and much too heavy after the meal we had. Warning: the Alpine Inn does not take credit cards, though they do take out-of-state checks.
(4)Rosie S.
First of all it says on the website that they do not take reservations and when you call they say they don't take reservations. We got in line towards the very front. Well, after standing in line for an hour waiting for dinner to open at the designated time, we noticed that people we're going in ahead of us. When we asked why we were told that those people had reservations. I guess if you walk in there during the day early you can get reservations but only if you walk in there and get them which is not advertised. So we were pretty miffed about that. When we finally did get up to the the desk and the snooty, crabby and sarcastic hostess to be seated we were told we had to wait another hour and 15 minutes for seating. So, we stood there watching people still being seated because of "reservations". We figured it would be worth the wait. Wrong! Nothing explained, we were brought to our table and told the waitress would be with us soon When she came she asked how would you like your steak without even explaining that there really was no other choice. You do get a choice of potato or soup. No choice with the salad; just a wedge quarter of a head of lettuce drowned in their homemade ranch dressing which was nothing special. The steak was tender but as far as taste it was average. The dessert menu appeared to offer redeeming choices. We ordered several for the four of us to sample a bit of each. The creme brule' was by far the best if for only the nice crunchy torched top. We decided the whole hours long experience was definitely not worth it.
(2)Dawn A.
For the local market, we give the restaurant at the Inn 4 stars. There were 2 entree options to choose from. The filet is great, especially considering the price. The salad is fantastic! The desserts are only so-so. The ice cream sundae was fine, but the apple strudel was full of uncooked apples and mediocre. Try the sparking moscato!
(4)Brian Z.
Truly a unique experience in the hill city area, very reasonable prices and great food. If you are a fan of traditional German fare (beer included) it's a great stop! The potato salad was my favorite!
(4)Tracy K.
Steaks are always done just right! Huge fan and you can't beat the price. Great desserts too.
(5)Michael S.
During our visit to South Dakota, multiple people told us a visit to the Alpine Inn was in order. My son and I arrived early. We waited in the bar and as we did, the bar started to fill up and got pretty crowded. You want to place yourself near the door to the left of the bar. Even though Austin and I were first there, the crowd pushed their way to the front and we ended up getting in near the middle of the pack. Truth be told, I wasn't too concerned about it. I had a really awesome bock beer in the bar so I was definitely going with the flow. We get seated. There is no menu. Do you want a small or large filet mignon with potato and lettuce wedge salad. Large, of course. The wedge came out first. The wedge lettuce was very fresh, the dressing was....good. I've had better. My biggest nit with the wedge salad was the lack of bacon bits on the salad. They really missed on that. Without the bacon bits, the item is a missing flavor element. The filets came out. The filets were good. They were approximately choice, definitely not prime. Choice is good. The potato was a 3. It was on the smallish size and only came with butter and sour cream. Again, some bacon bits for the potato would have been nice. The filet is wrapped with bacon so I know they could make bits if they wanted. We had the bread pudding for desert. Bread pudding is a big deal in South Dakota evidently. I can honestly say it is the best bread pudding I have ever had.
(4)B C.
Small steak or large steak. All steak cooked perfectly. Great homemade ranch. Worth doing but moister wait every time we tried. 1.45 hour the first night at 630. 1.15 the next at 730. Glad we did it. Good meal and experience.
(4)Barb L.
This is an interesting place in the Black Hills. I have never been to a place with such limited menu. There is literally like 3 things you can order for dinner. But the steak they are known for is excellent. Cooked perfectly and served with a wedge salad (with ranch) and a baked potato. Simple food, cooked well. This place always has line and they open at 5pm. Was wheelchair accessible but parking is a bit away and the ramp is a little steep. Someone in a chair may need help navigating it. Wonderful porch to sit and wait on. They don't accept credit/debit but have an ATM near by.
(4)Kevin S.
So let's start with the menu, it's a little weird. There are 2 choices for dinner, bacon wrapped filet mignon or primavera. Same goes for the kids, either hot dog or spaghetti. I've seen small menus before but then there is a good size drink menu with some not so common German beers...I loved that part; and then there's almost 30 different desserts. So there are a lot of choices but not for your main dish. The mignon and primavera were good but not memorable, however the prices were outstanding! Only $12 for a filet mignon, and about $6 per German beer and per desert, not too bad. The desserts were outstanding! We had a party of 9 so we tried 5 different ones and shared them. The bread pudding was amazing! This is the busiest place in town so there always seems to be a wait. We waited about an hour which isn't that bad for a party of our size. Also, they only accept checks or cash but have an ATM, which I dislike, just get with the times. All in all, I would go back for a date night or just for dessert, but it was the best place we ate in Hill City so I'll give them credit for that too.
(4)Jennifer S.
Great deal...$9.95 for a full filet mignon dinner with salad and baked potato. The restaurant opens at 5pm, but the line starts forming long before that. We ended up waiting a little over an hour for a table, but it was definitely worth the wait. Cozy, family atmosphere with friendly service rounds out the entire experience. The dinner is great, but you MUST save room for dessert. The dessert menu is so extensive you'll need to keep coming back to try everything because it all sounds delicious. I ended up with the napoleon and my husband had the cheese and apple streudel with caramel sauce...they both were sinfully good!
(4)Richard F.
We were staying nearby and a friend recommended the Inn to us. German is my favorite food when i can find it. So it was nice to find this place. We had a very good meal. I had the German sausage with kraut, red cabbage and pot. salad. My wife had the Wienerschnitzel with kraut and pot. salad. The meal was good, but they were very skimpy with the bread. We got two little pieces and it wasn't even fresh. Our service was marginal so we couldn't even ask for more. Prices were reasonable.
(4)Mary C.
Surprise of a little place in Hill City, SD to find German specialties - the schnitzel and kaes spaetzel with jaeger sauce was delicious. Sauerkraut and red cabbage and German potatoes were also very good. Service was good but you need cash to eat here, they don't take credit cards.
(4)John G.
Went to dinner June 4th. Had their small, bacon wrapped filet. It was delicious. I went back tonight and they're closed on Sundays. A definite restaurant to want to go back to.
(5)John L.
I can't put into words how much of a "John L" (me) type of establishment this joint is. Set in the majestic Black Hills in an old fashioned Hill City setting, Alpine Inn is the premiere no-nonsense restaurant I love so much. No reservations, so you have to plan ahead and get there early (I love that "first come first serve" attitude!), cash only (there's an ATM in house for the rookie patrons), and two dinner entire selections: German vegetarian meal or bacon wrapped filet mignon. The 9oz filet was cooked to medium rare perfection with an equally delicious baked potato to match. I Washed it all down with one of their several fantastic dessert selections. Total cost: $16 plus tip. Championship! Anyone in the area would be a fool not to stop at this place for a meal. And I've heard nothing but good things about their German lunch menu!
(5)Susan L.
Can't think of a way our dinner could have been better. Wedge salad, 6 oz filet, baked potato with butter and sour cream. Then bread pudding and tiramisu for dessert. Yum!
(5)Renee K.
Food was awesome at a good price. The waitress was very good. We will be back. Loved it.
(5)Joan M.
Lunch..sandwiches/salads good. Desserts were awesome!!! The Napoleon was by far the best I have ever had!
(5)Jeff T.
We came here for lunch. They serve a large menu of salads and sandwiches. I ordered the Monte Cristo. My wife ordered the club sandwich and smokey potato soup. My mom ordered the beef and cheddar and my dad ordered the French dip. Everything was delicious! I highly recommend this place! Will try to come back for dinner!
(5)Barbie D.
This is literally my favorite restaurant. I live in Nebraska and have traveled to SD many times and not once have I left without going to the Alpine Inn once or twice! During the day the menu is superb! I recommend the cheesy turkey and bread pudding! At night they have a set menu which is just as amazing! Love this place with all my heart!
(5)Merri F.
My great uncle introduced me to this place over 20 years ago. Ever since this has become a required dining spot when we visit the hills. I've only dined for dinner and like the reviews state its steak & what size do you want? I've always found my steak prepared perfectly which is pretty amazing considering the volumes they deal in. We had a lovely server and she made sure to explain our options. I highly recommend you save room for their home made desserts. It's two pages long and not a bad choice to be had. My personal fav is the Apple Napoleon and my cousin says they make the best brownie sundae. Even in the off season they had a full house for the 5 o'clock seating. If you have to wait the have a cozy bar & in warmer months a beautiful deck to wait on. Reservations can be made for groups of 8 or larger. Bring cash!
(5)Rosemary K.
Ranked amongst local peers, it's probably some of the better food. Ranked against what we can get in Dallas or Austin...no comparison. Realize that serving a 9oz filet mignon for $11 is difficult to provide without serving a lesser grade filet. The service, salad, potato and dessert were decent. Hard to beat the cuisine we can get in Dallas or Austin. The 1 hr 45 min wait was painful.
(3)Michael M.
Was recommended by family member for the history and uniqueness of this place. Was not disappointed. Always feel like a bum asking for a table for one when I'm traveling but they accommodated even in a busy hour. Good and unique beers and great food. They only serve one thing: lettuce wedge, baked potato, and steak. All were great, would definitely rercommend!
(5)Yvonne L.
We ate here once for lunch and once for dinner. As stated by other yelpers, lunch menu is long and dinner menu is very short. My first time to have German food. Food is good but not spectacular. Prices are great! Service was fine. Cash only. We waited about an hour to be seated for dinner on a Monday night. So pleased that they serve Bogle wine here. If I'm ever back in Hill City, then I would definitely return here.
(4)Ed A.
Had the schnitzel for lunch with the German potatoes and dumplings; it was very good and reasonable price. Desert was fantastic, I had the Belgian Waffle Turtle Tower.
(4)Brad A.
Very underwhelming. Primarily for tourists and not quality food at all. Only serve steak. Filet mignonette wrapped n bacon for $9.95 or $11.95. The prices says it all. Indifferent service and just too casual for me. Beware they don't accept credit cards
(2)Carrie F.
Grew up in hill city love, love this place every time I go back home need to stop in everything is so good never can go wrong with anything here
(5)Alex H.
If you are in the area and like meat, you MUST stop here. We had the 6 oz filets - $9.95!!! I was actually a little worried by the low price, but the meal was excellent. The star is the bacon-wrapped filet, which came perfectly done to the table. The baked potato had a soggy jacket, but I am NOT complaining about anything. Just saying to be reasonable with expectations. The folks next to us were unhappy about something, and I just have no idea what it could have been. Desserts were tasty and very big. Sharable size. When we are in the area again, we will absolutely return. By the way, in late October there was no waiting at all -- the restaurant was not full. One last thing - they don't accept credit cards, so bring cash.
(5)David D.
If standing room only is a sign of how good the food is then this place is awesome. The atmosphere alone sets the temple of a great dinning experience. Set in the beautiful black hills of South Dakota in a historic town of Hill City lies this gem. Wedge of lettuce doused in blue cheese dressing followed by a generous cut of melt in your mouth filet mignon and to finish off your evening some of the best desserts you can imagine.
(5)DeLyle D.
Ate here a week ago while traveling thru. Food was great (2 choices for dinner - filet & vegetarian meal). 7 oz filet at $9.95 & 9 oz @ 11.95 with baker & lettuce wedge is a terrific price for a very tasty meal. Came back thru tonight & stood in line for 40 minutes for 5 pm opening only to find that when we got to hostess station we were told it would be a 40 min wait! They should have come outside to let people know - many left. I'd rate the first stop 4+ & today give them 1, so to be generous, a 3 average.
(3)S C.
I've eaten here many a time - the daytime menu is diverse and straight up awesome, and the night menu is simple and spectacular. Great beer, good wine, and exceptional desserts complete the experience. The owners, Mony and Wally (short for Wilhelmina?), are one of a kind. ...except there are two of them. But they're mother & daughter, so, you know...the description works. And the wait staff is just plan rad. Good people with great recommendations for things to do. We've also stayed at the hotel for a few days during the Black Hills Film Festival and had a time, indeed. Mony even let us raid the dessert fridge after hours! ...don't tell her mother. In short; Go here! Do this!
(5)Luis G.
Outstanding food. I like how simple the menu is. The salad comes with a very nice home made ranch dressing, simple but tasty. Both my wife and I got the steak which surprisingly was perfectly cooked (mine was rear and my wife's was medium-well). My kids' meals were also very nicely served. We finished dinner with the chocolate tower which was also outstanding. No credit cards.... No problem, the meal was very affordable and tasty that we'll go there again tomorrow night!
(5)Sonja K.
The food is wonderful here!! A must if you are in Hill City or passing through. We ate here about 3 years ago, had lunch here today and plan to go back tomorrow. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Allison C.
Keep in mind...they tend to have 2 items on the menu, it's not a traditional restaurant where you select something off a menu. When we went, it had a meat and veggie option. Also keep in mind that you may have to wait for your table, especially during tourist season. I'll admit, I was skeptical with the lack of menu. But damn, was the food good! The place is adorable, very homey. We waited for our table in the bar, they have a great German beer selection. My husband had bacon-wrapped filet. I had spaetzle with vegetables, it was spicy (I love spicy!). For dessert, my husband and I split a heavenly tiramisu. They won me over!
(4)Jared G.
This was such a fun place to eat. We took the family here. The atmosphere seemed to encourage the best manners out of the kiddos. Loved the food. They even had a vegetarian option on the night we went. Just make sure to bring cash...
(4)Nancy S.
They only offer one thing on the menu but they do that one thing very well. I'm not a fan, though, of the 1/4 chunk of iceberg lettuce with ranch dressing. That's not really a salad!
(4)Peggy R.
We went for lunch while visiting the 1880 train. We went about 11:30 on a Tuesday and did not have to wait. Our service was excellent although not overly friendly, we are okay with that. We both ordered the schnitzel with jaeger sauce and spaetzle. This was the most authentic German food we have had since we left Germany! It was fabulous! The cheese spaetzle was a little over the top but still tasty. The perfectly cooked schnitzel was tender and moist and came with kraut, red cabbage, potato salad and German bread... it was great. Took the bread pudding to go and had that later that evening and it was good but I hear the other desserts rock. CASH ONLY!!!
(5)David L.
Called in the afternoon for the hours of the restaurant and was they close at 9:30. Stepped in approximately 8:45 and was told they were no longer serving and was closed. No apologies as the hostess was eager to get back to a conversation about drapery. Too bad, was looking forward to the food here. Get your act together. This leaves my family with nothing to eat for dinner as nothing else opens this late in a small town without driving 20 miles out.
(1)Mike A.
Potatos are amazing steak is ok. Service was good. I would eat here again. Kinda fun atmosphere.
(4)Liz H.
Very good German food. Would recommend it! They had a 9 oz bacon wrapped filet mignon for 11.95 which looked delicious.
(4)Kevin H.
I say good.. but flawed. the food was good.. it really was (hold on i'm talking myself into adding another star).. how much can you say though.. there's only one thing.. and they make it pretty well. The service though.. angry ladies serving food.. that's it.. just angry ladies serving food..
(3)Norm H.
We had the Fillet Mignon and it was fantastic at $12 for the 9 ounce dinner. The desserts were also exceptional highly recommend.
(5)Alice C.
They keep everything simple.There is only three options from their evening menu,6 oz or 9oz steak or a vegetarian option. The steak and dessert are the best in Hill City.
(5)Tamara W.
This was the first place we saw after our train ride and since I was starving we stopped. What luck! Everything was amazing. Great service. Food wise during our week long trip this place was the memory maker. I had a turkey sandwich with cabbage, my husband had the german plate and my son had beef sandwich. All came with german potato salad. Everything was superb. Now lets talk about the desserts. I specialize in dessert. We got three desserts, tiramisu, a napoleon and a bread pudding, they were all exquisite! You don't want to miss this place if you like german food. This place accepts cash only, ATM on site.
(5)Becky S.
The fixed menu is a given, as is the looooong wait. However, the porch is a lovely place to hang out with a drink while you wait for your table. The food is reasonably tasty, but not mind-blowing. Smallish portions, and the 'Texas toast' was just dry toasted white bread. Although the inn is old-fashioned and nicely decorated, the service was rushed and businesslike to the point of feeling like a cafeteria during the busiest times. Desserts (we had the brownie delight and the raspberry mousse; they were out of our first choice, unfortunately) were generous, but nothing special. Basically, a nice enough place for South Dakota, but far from wonderful.
(4)Jerod M.
An absolute must stop in if you are in the area. We stop and eat here every time we come back to the Rapid City area (live in Arizona). The dinner menu is my favorite, you get the choice of large or small...that's it.. You either get a 6oz or 9az fillet that is wrapped in bacon. The wedge salad with blu cheese that you get before your steak is amazing. We have also came for lunch several times and that has always been equally amazing. You also need to get desert whether you are here for lunch or dinner. One tip, you need to being cash or a check. They do not have a credit card machine, but do have a ATM in the bar area if you forget.
(5)Esther Z.
Yummy, yummy, yummy!!! Best place near MT Rushmore or Keystone to eat, bar none. Go before 4PM for the the best German food around. At 5, steak only menu is only choice. We had lunch. Tried to ear dinner but the line was formidable and we wanted to catch the 8PM Mt Rushmore show. Come early and with your patience in tow for dinner. We waited about 15 minutes for lunch. However, they had run out of German potato salad and accepted a substitute. Try to save room for desert. Unless you have a huge appetite, share the desert.
(5)Justin T.
The Alpine Inn, compared to many other restaurants around, is as good as it gets. If you're a tourist just dropping by, this is the place to check out before you leave. You will never find a better steak as such a pretty price for at least a few hundred miles. The food they serve is just fantastic. For dinner, you either order the 6 oz or 9 oz size filet mignon, both wrapped with bacon. The steak, for me, has always been cooked perfectly to how I ordered it as, and not only does your order come with the filet, but with potatoes, German (I believe, it may be western toast as well) toast, and a lettuce wedge appetizer, covered in the Alpine Inn's homemade ranch dressing, included in the price. For lunch, they have a broad variety of sandwiches and meats. My personal favorites are the chipotle chicken and the "Monte Cristo". Not only is the food done right, but the dessert menu is simply glorious. Two full pages of pure sugary goodness. In the past, I've always gotten the grand chocolate tower, a tall cup with layers of brownie, chocolate mousse, and chocolate chips. The service is quick, friendly, and to the point: they know their job well. Business is always busy, so it seems, so don't be surprised if you come at 5:30, and get an hour and a half wait time. My advice is to come earlier and put your name in. You're more likely to get in in less than a half hour. Overall, it's a great, small, treat out here in Hill City. Don't forget the word small, however: even though the restaurant may look big from the outside, don't judge it as if it were a Ruth Chris. This is a family owned and operated restaurant, and if you want a friendly, relaxing place to eat delicious food, and perhaps bring your friends too, the Alpine Inn is the place.
(5)Darren G.
Heaven. Best place on earth, the food is perfect and the price is mouth dropping. Perfectly chilled German beer goes well with flawless service and great atmosphere.
(5)Kimmi M.
The Alpine Inn is a restaurant that I have dreams about. After dining, my brothers and I begged my mom to make from scratch ranch dressing, much to her dismay. We dined here for dinner, but the lunch menu is a larger menu full of traditional German offerings. Set in the majestic beauty of the Black Hills, the Alpine does one thing for dinner, filet mignon, and they do it right. Choose a 6 oz or 9 oz portion, and it comes perfectly prepared, wrapped in glorious bacon. For $10.95 for the 9 oz portion, how can you lose? Great food for a great price is what we are all searching for, right? Each meal comes with a wedge of lettuce with homemade, to-die-for, creamy ranch dressing, a baked potato, and a slice of Texas toast. I highly recommend the Grasshopper ice cream pie for dessert. The Alpine Inn does not accept cards, only cash or check. The dining room fills up quickly, so get there early. I await my next trip back to the Alpine Inn. Till then, I'll think about the filet in my dreams.
(5)Nate W.
This is a popular place for locals and tourists, too. It's housed in a gorgeous old building that was built at the turn of the century for the local tin mining company. There are wedding suites upstairs, gorgeous rooms furnished in antiques. I don't know if they still rent those room out anymore, but I snuck up there and took some pictures a few years ago. You should be informed a few things before you try this place. 1. They do not have an open menu at night. You can choose between two sizes of steak, a baked potato and a wedge of Iceberg lettuce with choice of dressing. So, it goes to say if you're not a big steak fan, then this isn't your go-to place. I wouldn't call it terribly kid-friendly, either (in regards, obviously, to the menu, unless your kids love steak and baked potatoes). This is a steal, because the meal, get this, is under $10. 2. Also, you need to come about thirty minutes to an hour before they open and just hang out, have a glass of wine and wait. It gets THAT packed in the evenings. 3. They only take local checks and cash, no credit cards. 4. They have a different lunch menu, and at least at lunch, you don't have to wait terribly long for a table, but like others have mentioned, most of the food is German dishes. You will want to call ahead for lunch hours. I've been here several times and always order the Southwest Salad with black beans, a fantastic Mexican Ranch dressing, onions, grilled chicken and cheese. It's so good, I don't feel like trying anything new. 5. If you like sweets, they have a pretty extensive dessert menu.
(4)Warren R.
On our Black Hills vacation we decided to stop in Hill city about supper time. We were told that the Alpine Inn serves a great steak at a reasonable price. What is so interesting is the supper menu has only 2 choices. You can choose between the 6oz or the 9oz filet mignon. The service and the food were both outstanding. Clearly they are doing something right because the place was packed with a 45 min wait to get a table. But it was worth the wait. Hope to go back some day.
(5)Sue K.
Apline is a "must go" if you are in the area. I can only speak to dinner, they are open for lunch but my group has only gone for dinner. As I understand it the lunch menu has a variety of tasty treats available, perhaps someday we'll make the trek for lunch. Now for dinner: Plan to wait at least an hour for a table, it's always busy, even when it's snowing hard and in the 30Fs, there's still a bunch of folks in the bar area and out on the veranda waiting in line for a table. The line starts to build before the restaurant even opens for the night, so don't think an early arrival will prevent a wait. With a group of at least eight, reservations are available....everyone in the group needs to be there when you check in for your reservation, and you still need to be prepared to wait a bit (usually 20-30 minutes instead of the hour plus without reservations). It is so worth the wait. While you wait, have a beer or a glass of wine...they have some nice options, foreign and domestic, including a delightful German near-beer for the designated driver - I am usually the driver, so this is my drink at Alpine. For a long time the dinner options were "small" or "large" filet Mignon cooked to order and served with a piece of Texas toast and a baked potato, before the meat comes out you get a "salad" which is a wedge of iceberg lettuce with house made ranch dressing...it is fab and I want the recipe. Recently they've added a vegan dish...spaetzle I think (it doesn't show up on the menu on the website, but it was on the printed menu when we went earlier this month)...but I have nothing to say about it (I haven't tried it), other than they have a non-meat option for your non-meat eating friends now, but I am a carnivore, so I always have a "large" cooked medium well. There is also a kids menu, the small ones in my group usually either have a corn dog or they split a steak. After your meat feast, if your have a little room left, the dessert menu always has something worth the calories...my fav is the bread pudding closely followed by the creme brulee. No room for dessert? They have after dinner drinks and coffees. Bring cash or a checkbook, they don't take plastic. The good news? You don't need a lot of cash: small is $9.95 and large is $11.95. The alcohol and desserts are reasonable priced too. Last time we had a group of over a dozen and dinner was about $250 with the included 18% tip that is part of dealing with a group the size of ours....that about $20 a person with drinks and desserts and a tip. On the last visit my guy mentioned to the hostess that he and his best friend had been dining at Alpine for 30 years; she retorted that they've only been open for dinner for 27 years....the quality is unchanged and needless the say "we are long time fans"....we'll be going back next time we are in the area.
(5)L M.
Great German food - just like what I've had in Germany and Austria. The wiener schnitzel and German plate are wonderful, as are the desserts. Good service and prices.
(4)Darla D.
Food was very good & service was very friendly and quick. Liquor selection was excellent! They only serve filet mignon for dinner, but at an excellent value! You first get a wedge salad with homemade ranch dressing. The filet mignon is served with a baked potato. The Bread pudding was amazing! We also had the Napolean which was also delcious.
(4)Amy F.
Food was very good. Only 2 choices for dinner but the place was packed. Desserts looked very good but I was too full to try. Only downside is they only take cash. So make sure to have it in your wallet.
(4)Susan H.
This was about the only resturant open while we were in the area off season. It is in a very quaint building, which also rents rooms for the night. The dining rooms were small, like being in an old home. They only serve filet mignon in the evening. 6 oz. & 9 oz.. Served with a lettuce wedge and homemade dressing and a baked potato. They follow the saying- "Keep it simple" to the letter. However, the steak was tender and flavorful and the lettuce wedge wasn't bad either. Don't see that anymore. We had the mudpie for dessert- which was really good! The wine list was pretty minimal, but at least they had wine. They also have a full bar I believe. In general the meal was pretty good, the service good and you certainly coud not complain about the price! Speaking of - be sure to bring cash or a check as they do not accept credt cards.
(4)John G.
Ok so ya know what is on the menu. For the price you can not beat this place, the German sweet red wine is superb, while on vacation must do for a great meal had an appetizer, 4-9 oz. steaks, salad, and a desert with a couple of beers- for 72.00 bucks, can't beat that. If you agree send a Compliment....
(5)Craig J.
Was just on family vacation in the Black Hills and without a doubt this was the best meal we had on our trip. Frankly it was one of the better meals I have had in an city I have visited on vacation or for work in the last few years. Food and service were excellent and the prices fair. Everyone really enjoyed their meals, including our kids! The only downside is they don't accept credit cards (or debit cards) and that caught us by surprise. However, its more than worth a quick trip to the ATM before heading over here to eat.
(5)Nathan S.
Their lunch is the best German food you will find anywhere. We never go to the Black Hills without stopping at Alpine Inn for lunch. I almost always order the German Plate and add the spaetzle, but I've never had anything bad on the menu. If you're going there during the summer, make sure you arrive early or you'll be waiting to get a seat.
(5)Elizabeth S.
I'm being generous with that extra star because I enjoyed the restaurant's decor. Very moody and dark, but not gothic. First, they don't accept credit cards. Small businesses with this rule, I understand, it cuts into their meager profits, but Alpine shows no shortage of local and tourist appeal. Second, the food selection, while quite dedicated to German cuisine, lacks variety. Any dietary restriction whatsoever? Don't go to Alpine. There really aren't that many options if you can't have meat and potatoes. My meal came with an unadvertised side of something made with beets. I wouldn't eat it, but my aunt tasted it. She told me it was dull and slightly creamy. When we asked the waitress what is was, maybe some of the ingredients, she had no idea. She told us the cooks make something "different" most mornings and while she usually watches them make it, she hadn't done so that day and no notes were left. For me, this wasn't a big deal on the surface, but what is a patron supposed to think of a restaurant that doesn't take pride in the food it serves? That's the message I got out of the mystery beet side.
(2)Amy C.
While visiting Mount Rushmore just after the tourist season ended we were worried that all we would find was bland, from-a-can food. We read the reviews here on Yelp of the Alpine Inn and decided to head there for lunch. I'm SO glad we did. I had the grilled pork cop and my husband had the breaded pork chop. Both chops were perfectly cooked! Sides were fabulous sauerkraut, cabbage cooked in beet juice (they call it red cabbage, but I assume they refer only to the color), and german potato salad. We both got a side of spaetzle (+1.95 with any entree). I didn't care for it too much, was a bit bland but my husband gobbled it down. We made the mistake of ogling the desserts coming out of the kitchen and decided this was out calorie splurge of the day. I got a piece of incredibly rich tiramisu. I cried uncle about halfway through, but it wasn't because of the awesome taste. My husband got the Roasted Apple Napoleon. I thought he was going to lick the plate at the end. This was an amazing lunch. Thank you, Alpine Inn!
(5)Mona A.
Bang for your buck! There's no better place in the Black Hills where you can get such great quality meal for $10.95. For dinner, they only have two entree options: 6 or 9 oz filet mignot, wrapped in a strip of bacon. The meal includes a salad which is a head of lettuce generously dressed with their fantastic home-made ranch, two slices of texas toast, and a baked potato. Contrast to their limited dinner entrees, their dessert menu have many wonderful ways to end your meal. I recommend the blondie, enough for two, maybe even for four, but this dessert is so amazing I can finish it by myself. This place is a definite MUST-GO! Just be prepared to wait in line though, especially during the tourist season, but well worth it.
(4)Jamison E.
Went there for dinner. Since there arent many dining options in Hill City, South Dakota, Alpine Inn is considered "fine dining". It was a 2 hour wait so we had a couple of drinks at the Mangy Moose (which I recommend) down the street which I will add in another review. At dinner there is only one choice....steak, baked potato, toast and salad. As a vegetarian you have even less choice...just the sides. While you have very little choice you cant beat the price. Roughly $11 for the steak dinner. Be aware they only accept cash! The dessert is where it is at. Lots of yummy choices. Next time I would definately try the lunch menu since there are alot more choices and supposedly german style food.
(3)Travis B.
i recommend this place a lot to my friends that are planning to go to the Hill City area, but i tell them to just go there for lunch. seriously, it's a much better menu, with traditional german fare, along with novel dishes. even if you don't save room for dessert, you simply MUST bring some home. if you go in the evening, you have exactly two choices. they have a cool selection of german import beers, which i really appreciate. it's a happening place, so it's adviseable to either make a reservation or belly up to the bar and wait for your name to be called.
(4)Liz B.
The dinner is simple but done right! Their ranch is made fresh everyday from scratch. The lunch is amazing home recipes done right. All deserts are made from scratch and huge portions. The restaurant has authentic German decor and is very cozy. Great date night place.
(5)C B.
Good food, good service- we try to eat here on each trip to the black hills. No credit cards, so a slight deduction there.
(4)Ralph K.
My wife and I chose the Alpine Inn for my birthday dinner and it was a very good decision. We picked this place after reviewing the other reviews on YELP. and from recommendations from locals. I can echo the other reviews here. The fillet mignon was excellent and cooked to perfection and the ranch salad dressing was probably the best I have ever tasted. They seat 100 people and it is still packed....get there early!
(4)Ken L.
For dinner, you can choose between the 6oz or the 9oz filet mignon. The service and the food were both outstanding. You won't get a filet as good as this one for the price. The meal comes with a lettace wedge, baked potatoe and Texas toast. The only negative is that they only take cash.
(4)David S.
Stopped in for lunch just before 2:30 and hostess said we we're just in time before they closed, and had us grab a table on the front porch. A few minutes later a waitress came by and curtly told us "sorry, we're closed." We bailed. Too bad, we heard they had good German food.
(1)P.J. H.
As has been pointed out by other reviewers, unless you want to order the kids' hot dog, you get a choice of either a small or large filet. For some, that is a big issue. But if anyone does a bit of homework they'll soon learn that this is the S.O.P. for the Alpine Inn. I actually prefer it as the cooks/chefs can focus on doing ONE thing and get that thing perfect. The price is great, and one of the reasons that the restaurant can serve you that steak at a great price is that they only take cash. No overhead of credit card surcharges or the hassle of bounced checks. So the consumer wins in this case. I've been to the Alpine more than once and each time was very satisfied with how the meal turned out.
(4)L S.
My family of 4 went in the evening and got the bacon wrapped filets ....w/ a lettuce wedge with homemade ranch dressing. That's the menu. Simple and awesome. Being from Iowa..I'm picky about my steak...these were seasoned perfectly and cooked perfectly (MR) We had creme brule for dessert (should've had them leave the whipped cream off) and a turtle cheesecake....both excellent. We'll be back for sure! Great service. We were there early and got seated immediately.When we left it was PACKED. Cash or Check only...or use their ATM :D
(5)Brittany B.
Best value in the area. It's delicious, but it's all steak. The salad (a wedge of lettuce with amazing ranch dressing). Anyway, it's kind of expensive for the area, but it's outstanding.
(5)Nathan R.
We were here on a busy summer night just a week after Sturgis ended, and the place was packed. We waited over an hour for a table for 5, but it was worth the wait. The only dinner option is either a 6 oz fillet, or a 9 oz fillet, but in either case the meat is prepared very very well and had tons of flavor, especially for the rock bottom price. The "salad" we were served was nothing more than a wedge of lettuce soaked in ranch dressing, no veggies or garnishes. Easily the least impressive part of the meal. Beer and wine selection was good, and the dessert were very impressive. Definitely the best place to eat while staying near Hill City.
(4)Janine A.
We were looking for a good dinner after eating the complimentary breakfast at our hotel every morning and quick food we had packed for our lunches while on hikes. We noticed that the Alpine Inn had lots of patrons every night. Our wait was about 40 minutes, but well worth it. Before we entered we had no idea that they offer only two selections - filet mignon and a German vegetarian selection. We learned that they have been serving filet since opening 28 years ago. It was a wonderful dinner - bacon-wrapped filet mignon, a baked potato, and lettuce wedge - the 9 oz. portion is $11.95 and the 6 oz. is $9.95. Wow! Simple, delicious, and very reasonable. We didn't order dessert, but saw those brought for others. Generous portions at reasonable prices. If we are in the area again we will certainly return to the Alpine Inn.
(4)Keelin C.
Hill City, SD is this restaurant's location. It's a picturesque Black Hills town and this is the place to eat dinner if you are staying there. They serve a very limited dinner menu. You can choose large or small (steak that is). The dinner is basic, but they have it mastered. It's a great steak and it's an awesome prequel to the desserts. The desserts are the reason this place gets 3 stars. They are awesome! My suggestion is that everyone order something different at your table because there are so many great ones! The chocolate waffles are the best! There are a few drawbacks to this place. First, as many have said before me they only take cash, but they do have a cash machine in their bar, so don't worry you can survive without your credit card ;) Second, if you are not staying in Hills City it is a hike from Rapid City (the main city in the area). The major bummer is that the roads are pretty dark and turny on the way home, so don't drink too much wine with dinner. Last, the wait staff can be a little short with you if they are busy (they stretch them a little thin). I guess that's what you get when you only serve small and large.
(3)Sarah B.
This is a quaint spot in the heart of Hill City's touristy strip. I've been several times for lunch and each time was fine. The set up is very old-school and feels like Grandma's house during the holidays. You know, when the dining room is full so she sets up card tables and random chairs in the side rooms? Not 'just' like that, but kinda. The menu is full of German fare and there is sure to be something for everyone. Popular tourist spot; perfect for lunch when shopping the strip.
(3)Greg A.
Limited dinner menu but Good food and cheap. Worth a stop if you're hungry.
(3)Mary Beth A.
Good food but not great. There are two items on the dinner menu while the dessert menu has like 30 choices. We ordered the filet mignon with baked potato, toast, and lettuce wedge. The cut of meat tasted more like sirloin. Service was good. We were sitting in close quarters with a couple of other folks so it was natural to chat with them during most of dinner. They only accept CASH!!!! You've been warned.
(3)Mama K.
We had hoped to make it to the Alpine Inn last night for dinner but were staying about 30 minutes away and didn't make it. Instead, we drove up to Hill City today and had lunch there. I'm sure it was a very different experience than the filet-mignonapalooza, but we really enjoyed it. We opted for German dishes that came with the red cabbage, sauerkraut, and German potato salad - all were very tasty. They also came with some delightfully dense German bread and butter. My husband ordered a beer (which turned out to only cost $2.25! How great is that?) and a cup of the delicious cream cheese soup, and we split an apple streudel for dessert. It was a very enjoyable lunch in all. As others note, they don't accept credit cards, which is a pain, but come prepared with cash. It will be worth it. Oh, and we learned a trick from our server if you want to avoid the evening wait for dinner, which can apparently be up to a couple of hours. Arrive at 4:00 p.m. and wait in the bar with a drink or two; then you'll be in line to be seated as soon as the dining room opens. Someday we hope to make it back to try the Alpine Inn's filet mignon. In the meantime, we hope that you can enjoy it for us!
(5)Craig E.
Fresh food at reasonable prices in a pleasant setting-all in a tourist town. Tough to beat.
(5)Sherry R.
Great ambiance and the steak was scrumptious! Only fault I would have is not many choices for the dinner menu, however the price was great!
(4)Rachel A.
Lunch is my favorite - a menu of really good German food. Dinner is just one option, and it's good, but clearly, you have to be in a specific mood for it. Desserts are always delicious, and do have a nice wine list, including Prairie Berry selections. It is cash only, so be aware.
(4)Leigh Z.
Ordered filet medium, but it was over cooked, dry, tough, and tasted a little gamey. I was very disappointed especially after reading all the rave reviews. I guess you pay for what you get at $11.95 for a 9 oz steak including salad, and baked potato-one cannot expect much. Service was good though.
(2)Team Pfeiste X.
I want to give this zero stars, but I'm denied the option. First of all, the dinner menu is 1 option: steak. Granted, you can choose between two sizes, but you can't get chicken, fish, god forbid something vegetarian- steak it is. How is that a menu? Secondly, once we told our waitress (nervous at our hesitation after being told the dinner "menu,") that we would like to just have the salad and baked potato (not potato au gratin, because it had ham in it), we were served a wedge of a head of iceberg lettuce with a ladle-full of ranch dressing poured on top. No dressing choice- not even on the side!- no croutons, no nothing. How is that a salad? Desserts might have been good, I couldn't say- we just wanted to get out of there and get some real food. So... if you're really into steak, or you're a vegetarian who's okay with having a lone potato for dinner, this could be the place for you. OH! and they don't take credit cards. Enough said.
(1)Dave S.
The place to be in Hill City! Enough said.
(4)Lora M.
While we waited almost an hour to get seated, it was absolutely worth it! You get either small (6 oz) or large (9 oz) filet mignon, a wedge salad, baked potato and texas toast. The steak was cooked perfectly. We also got creme brulee for dessert, also delicious. The best part was when the check came and it was only $30! Whenever we are in Hill City we will go there. Oh, just so you know, they do not accept credit cards. Cash only.
(5)John H.
What a great find for dinner in Hill City. Great location, friendly staff and the menu -- at least for dinner -- is simple and straightforward. Two filet options, that's it. Comes with a lettuce wedge, baked potato and veg. Not bad for 8.95 or 10.95! Desserts were also amazing.
(5)Tom K.
Either get 7 friends together or be prepared to wait an hour or two for a table. (you need a minimum of 8 to make reservations) The Alpine Inn is more an a great dinning experience, The Alpine is a South Dakota destination. "Locals" drive in from Nebraska, Wyoming, and half way across South Dakota to do dinner at the Alpine. The savvy tourist is lucky enough to get there early. And the smart tourist will wait for a table no matter how long it takes.
(5)Wendy H.
Awesome place!!! I remembered this place from a previous trip to South Dakota and I was thrilled to find that it is still as great as I remembered. Great food, great prices, great service!
(5)Colin C.
They only have filet mignon at night, but I've been there twice now and each time it was cooked perfect. There is also something to be said about a restaurant whose salad is a lettuce-wedge. Just lettuce and dressing that's it. They think they're something to show such audacity. In a pinch between October and April its the "fancy" restaurant around Custer, and its tasty enough to warrant 4 stars
(4)Susan C.
A 9-oz filet mignon for only $10.95? It must be too good to be true. But it's not! Not at the Alpine Inn in Hill City, SD. You only have two choices for dinner... a 6 oz filet or a 9 oz filet. That's it! Each dinner comes with a baked potato (sour cream on the side and a small bowl of butter packets), a wedge salad with ranch dressing (no dressing choice) and a piece of Texas toast. I ordered my steak medium and it was cooked to perfection. But look out for the dessert menu!! There are about a dozen choices. Mom had the Roasted Apple Napoleon, served with ice cream. Delicious! I had the Raspberry Tart. Yellow cake with a layer of sweetened cream cheese and raspberries topped with whipped cream. Heavenly! The only drawback to this restaurant is that the do NOT accept credit cards and they don't announce that very well. But they do have an ATM on site. Best deal in town for dinner!
(5)Ellen M.
Not sure why this place has $$$- if you do any traveling, you'll find this place is a great deal. We go every time we're in the area!
(5)Lauran H.
Yup-limited dinner choices. Yup-very popular. Yup-incredible dessert selections. Yup-very reasonable prices for what you get (we spent $110 for six people including a bottle of wine). Yup-they only take cash and you may have to wait a while for dinner. But, in Hill City you don't have a ton of options and we felt like the Alpine Inn was one of the best if if not THE best. OK, they did undercook a couple of steaks, but the filets were high quality. And definitely ask for dressing on the side or you will have a lettuce wedge floating in a small lake of house made ranch dressing. Great experience - try it!
(3)Todd V.
Bring cash and be prepared for a wait, but you won't be disappointed! The lunch menu is great. Here's a tip though, ask your server if there are any rhubarb desserts availble as soon as you sit down! My wife insists on going to Hill City everytime we are in the Black Hills, just to get a rhubarb dessert at the Alpine Inn. Dinner has about has much variety as the color choice of a Model T Ford, but the Filet Mignon is awesome. Lunch or dinner, get a wedge salad with their 'homeade' ranch dressing.
(4)Burbalicious X.
Review of dinner - for the price, how can you beat this? A decent piece of steak, a salad, a baked potato... amazing desserts, too. We enjoyed it and would go back if we were in the area. The wait was long but we hung out at the bar and had some wine (they were out of a few wines we wanted...boo). Definitely kid-friendly. We saw plenty of families dining.
(4)Jennifer S.
Amazing food, the price was right. The raspberry tart is perfect. We went for dinner, so they only had the small or medium filet. The ranch on the lettuce was homemade and very good. The steaks were great. The price is amazing.
(5)Kim G.
Not taking credit cards is a major downer. Fortunately we had brought plenty of cash on our vacation. I wonder what they do when someone can't pay, as we normally do not carry around $50 cash these days! We were here for lunch. The German food we had was wonderful, but I was disappointed to find only 3 or 4 German choices. Otherwise the rest of the menu was typical fare. Everything we had was good though. Our 3 kids loved the extensive children's choices. The waitress was nice and the place was full, but we didn't have to wait. We were tempted to go back another day because it was that good, but we like the eat at local places when traveling. In retrospect I do wish we'd ordered dessert b/c I've heard great things!
(4)Rob J.
Don't let the line fool you....the food is worth the wait. I prefer the lunch menu - even though I never tire of Filet Mignon! Great desserts...always ask what the special of the night is...everything is made fresh....
(5)Marie H.
Good food, great desserts! We ate there once getting off the train from Keystone, it was packed, cramped seating, service was adequate. The decor was that of a quaint old time restaurant. I would go back for the dessert which is what made me give it 3 instead of 4 stars, maybe it's just me but a place should be more than good for just desserts!
(3)Paul M.
11:00 A.M. - 2:30 P.M Luncheon with German menu 5:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. FILET MIGNON 6 oz. $8.95 9 oz. $10.95 - This is the entire dinner menu - served with baked potato and lettuce wedge salad w house dressing. No need to bust the brain trying to make choices except for choice of dessert. Open Year Round - Monday thru Saturday Wildly popular with locals and tourists. We went there for lunch and for dinner. Varied German menu at lunch. Food and service were both very good and very inexpensive. No credit cards or non-local checks; bring cash, you won't need much. Seating strategies: Lunch - we went at 11 AM; there was already a line for the dining room, so we elected to dine on the patio. Dinner - odd arrangement; no reservations. Lounge opens at 4 PM and sometime during that first hour people start lining up for the dining room. After the first seating they begin taking names to call as other restaurants do; we were told the wait for those on the list ranges from 60 to 90 minutes. We would go there again.
(4)Jeff P.
Very crowded during Sturgis event. Here at 4:30pm, 5pm seating full, waiting for 6pm seating. Finally seated at 6:15. Liz ordered her 9 oz Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon well done, seasoned with black pepper only. (Liz is allergic to bell peppers, allspice, paprika, etc). I ordered mine medium rare. Both filets were perfect. I also substituted the baked potato for Spaetzle. It had Swiss cheese with it. Awesome! Our deserts were, as Liz says, "ohh - very good" Worth the wait!
(5)Eva C.
There is only one reason that I'm an giving this establishment three stars, and it's one of their employees. After patiently waiting for our large group (13) to be seated we were brought back to two separate tables. We asked if we could bring the two tables together and got a flippant reply of "Those are two different server areas!" Uh, okay. Because it is crazy to ask, and heaven forbid that we question you. So we offer a solution (using two others in the same section) and Mrs. Delightful then starts literally throwing tables around. Huffing and puffing, mumbling under her breath, and then declaring "There is nothing lady like about moving tables!" Well... there is nothing lady like about you. I can only assume that she is the owner or the manager for there is no other reason that you have been able to maintain your position in customer service. The steaks were delicious, our waitress was lovely and attentive. Avoid the short, cropped haired Ursula-esque "lady" and your visit will indeed be wonderful.
(3)Christina H.
The Alpine Inn is magical. If you are ever anywhere near Hill City, South Dakota make a detour to stop here. I promise it's that good. The big deal here is that for dinner they only offer filet mignon, and the prices are very inexpensive (6oz is $12 and 9oz is $14). So, you can see why this place is hugely popular. After reading reviews (and my trusty Black Hills guidebook) all advised arriving early to get on the list for dinner. They don't take reservations so you want to be one of the first ones there to be seated as soon as they open for dinner. Of course, I was on vacation and running late, so by the time we arrived they took my name and estimated an hour wait for a table. We took our time and walked along the main street and checked out the gift shops. We returned to the restaurant around 45 minutes to find that we still had quite a wait. We managed to find an outside table and had a couple drinks from the bar until our name was called. It was over an hour, but I was prepared for a long wait, so not a big deal. For dinner we all ordered the filet, and you have a choice on the size, a smaller or larger portion. They also offer a vegetarian option, which is vegetable spaetzle. We also ordered an extra dish of the spaetzle for the table, just so we could try it. FYI, it is delicious. Vegetarians have nothing to worry about here. The meal started with a basic lettuce wedge salad. It didn't look like much but the ranch dressing (house-made, of course) was amazing. My whole family loved the salad, kids and adults alike. The filet entree was perfect. All of our steaks were cooked just they way we ordered them and seemed like good cuts of meat for the price. I was really impressed. I think we also had a baked potato, but that's unimportant. To finish the meal we ordered several of the desserts they offer. They have a huge dessert menu, in contrast with the limited dinner options. Everything we tried was amazing and tasted homemade. We loved everything. Our server was incredible. She was super busy the whole time we were there but extremely efficient and upbeat. She was carrying armloads of steaks around like nothing. We all commented on how good she was. And of course, don't forget to bring cash, and bring more than you think you will need. After a few drinks and extra desserts we ended up visiting the ATM before we left. Alpine Inn was such a great experience for us we hoped to go back the next day for lunch, alas, they are closed on Sunday. Hopefully we'll make it back there again someday.
(5)Jeremy P.
You will most likely have to wait and hour plus in line, but after you have a meal here you will understand. Your choices of dinner is quite limited for a reason. For $11.95 you get one of the best filet mignon you will ever put in your mouth. Also included is a great iceberg wedge salad and potatoe. To top off a fantastic meal the desert menu is even better. We always wait patiently and are never disappointed when we visit Hill City.
(5)Huong D.
If you get here early enough and don't have to wait in line then it's definitely worth it for the price. If you have to wait in line out the door and are hungry- then go elsewhere and try coming at 4pm the next day- minus Sunday. We had the vegetarian schnitzel because I needed some veggies and he had the 9oz steak. And you HAVE to get the bread pudding with caramel sauce--- so amazing. We arrived on a Saturday at 4:30pm, seated at 5:08pm and outta there by 6:15pm.
(4)Oliver P.
For dinner, the Alpine Inn has two choices: filet mignon or spaetzle primavera. My wife got the steak and I got the spaetzle, which we split and shared. Both were excellent, and the price was great. We arrived at 7:15 on a Monday. There was a wait, but we just grabbed some German beers and watched the world go by on the porch. We were seated at 8. I got the bread pudding for desert. It was very sweet and much too heavy after the meal we had. Warning: the Alpine Inn does not take credit cards, though they do take out-of-state checks.
(4)Rosie S.
First of all it says on the website that they do not take reservations and when you call they say they don't take reservations. We got in line towards the very front. Well, after standing in line for an hour waiting for dinner to open at the designated time, we noticed that people we're going in ahead of us. When we asked why we were told that those people had reservations. I guess if you walk in there during the day early you can get reservations but only if you walk in there and get them which is not advertised. So we were pretty miffed about that. When we finally did get up to the the desk and the snooty, crabby and sarcastic hostess to be seated we were told we had to wait another hour and 15 minutes for seating. So, we stood there watching people still being seated because of "reservations". We figured it would be worth the wait. Wrong! Nothing explained, we were brought to our table and told the waitress would be with us soon When she came she asked how would you like your steak without even explaining that there really was no other choice. You do get a choice of potato or soup. No choice with the salad; just a wedge quarter of a head of lettuce drowned in their homemade ranch dressing which was nothing special. The steak was tender but as far as taste it was average. The dessert menu appeared to offer redeeming choices. We ordered several for the four of us to sample a bit of each. The creme brule' was by far the best if for only the nice crunchy torched top. We decided the whole hours long experience was definitely not worth it.
(2)Dawn A.
For the local market, we give the restaurant at the Inn 4 stars. There were 2 entree options to choose from. The filet is great, especially considering the price. The salad is fantastic! The desserts are only so-so. The ice cream sundae was fine, but the apple strudel was full of uncooked apples and mediocre. Try the sparking moscato!
(4)Michael S.
During our visit to South Dakota, multiple people told us a visit to the Alpine Inn was in order. My son and I arrived early. We waited in the bar and as we did, the bar started to fill up and got pretty crowded. You want to place yourself near the door to the left of the bar. Even though Austin and I were first there, the crowd pushed their way to the front and we ended up getting in near the middle of the pack. Truth be told, I wasn't too concerned about it. I had a really awesome bock beer in the bar so I was definitely going with the flow. We get seated. There is no menu. Do you want a small or large filet mignon with potato and lettuce wedge salad. Large, of course. The wedge came out first. The wedge lettuce was very fresh, the dressing was....good. I've had better. My biggest nit with the wedge salad was the lack of bacon bits on the salad. They really missed on that. Without the bacon bits, the item is a missing flavor element. The filets came out. The filets were good. They were approximately choice, definitely not prime. Choice is good. The potato was a 3. It was on the smallish size and only came with butter and sour cream. Again, some bacon bits for the potato would have been nice. The filet is wrapped with bacon so I know they could make bits if they wanted. We had the bread pudding for desert. Bread pudding is a big deal in South Dakota evidently. I can honestly say it is the best bread pudding I have ever had.
(4)B C.
Small steak or large steak. All steak cooked perfectly. Great homemade ranch. Worth doing but moister wait every time we tried. 1.45 hour the first night at 630. 1.15 the next at 730. Glad we did it. Good meal and experience.
(4)Barb L.
This is an interesting place in the Black Hills. I have never been to a place with such limited menu. There is literally like 3 things you can order for dinner. But the steak they are known for is excellent. Cooked perfectly and served with a wedge salad (with ranch) and a baked potato. Simple food, cooked well. This place always has line and they open at 5pm. Was wheelchair accessible but parking is a bit away and the ramp is a little steep. Someone in a chair may need help navigating it. Wonderful porch to sit and wait on. They don't accept credit/debit but have an ATM near by.
(4)Kevin S.
So let's start with the menu, it's a little weird. There are 2 choices for dinner, bacon wrapped filet mignon or primavera. Same goes for the kids, either hot dog or spaghetti. I've seen small menus before but then there is a good size drink menu with some not so common German beers...I loved that part; and then there's almost 30 different desserts. So there are a lot of choices but not for your main dish. The mignon and primavera were good but not memorable, however the prices were outstanding! Only $12 for a filet mignon, and about $6 per German beer and per desert, not too bad. The desserts were outstanding! We had a party of 9 so we tried 5 different ones and shared them. The bread pudding was amazing! This is the busiest place in town so there always seems to be a wait. We waited about an hour which isn't that bad for a party of our size. Also, they only accept checks or cash but have an ATM, which I dislike, just get with the times. All in all, I would go back for a date night or just for dessert, but it was the best place we ate in Hill City so I'll give them credit for that too.
(4)Brian Z.
Truly a unique experience in the hill city area, very reasonable prices and great food. If you are a fan of traditional German fare (beer included) it's a great stop! The potato salad was my favorite!
(4)Tracy K.
Steaks are always done just right! Huge fan and you can't beat the price. Great desserts too.
(5)Jennifer S.
Great deal...$9.95 for a full filet mignon dinner with salad and baked potato. The restaurant opens at 5pm, but the line starts forming long before that. We ended up waiting a little over an hour for a table, but it was definitely worth the wait. Cozy, family atmosphere with friendly service rounds out the entire experience. The dinner is great, but you MUST save room for dessert. The dessert menu is so extensive you'll need to keep coming back to try everything because it all sounds delicious. I ended up with the napoleon and my husband had the cheese and apple streudel with caramel sauce...they both were sinfully good!
(4)Richard F.
We were staying nearby and a friend recommended the Inn to us. German is my favorite food when i can find it. So it was nice to find this place. We had a very good meal. I had the German sausage with kraut, red cabbage and pot. salad. My wife had the Wienerschnitzel with kraut and pot. salad. The meal was good, but they were very skimpy with the bread. We got two little pieces and it wasn't even fresh. Our service was marginal so we couldn't even ask for more. Prices were reasonable.
(4)Mary C.
Surprise of a little place in Hill City, SD to find German specialties - the schnitzel and kaes spaetzel with jaeger sauce was delicious. Sauerkraut and red cabbage and German potatoes were also very good. Service was good but you need cash to eat here, they don't take credit cards.
(4)John G.
Went to dinner June 4th. Had their small, bacon wrapped filet. It was delicious. I went back tonight and they're closed on Sundays. A definite restaurant to want to go back to.
(5)John L.
I can't put into words how much of a "John L" (me) type of establishment this joint is. Set in the majestic Black Hills in an old fashioned Hill City setting, Alpine Inn is the premiere no-nonsense restaurant I love so much. No reservations, so you have to plan ahead and get there early (I love that "first come first serve" attitude!), cash only (there's an ATM in house for the rookie patrons), and two dinner entire selections: German vegetarian meal or bacon wrapped filet mignon. The 9oz filet was cooked to medium rare perfection with an equally delicious baked potato to match. I Washed it all down with one of their several fantastic dessert selections. Total cost: $16 plus tip. Championship! Anyone in the area would be a fool not to stop at this place for a meal. And I've heard nothing but good things about their German lunch menu!
(5)Susan L.
Can't think of a way our dinner could have been better. Wedge salad, 6 oz filet, baked potato with butter and sour cream. Then bread pudding and tiramisu for dessert. Yum!
(5)Renee K.
Food was awesome at a good price. The waitress was very good. We will be back. Loved it.
(5)Joan M.
Lunch..sandwiches/salads good. Desserts were awesome!!! The Napoleon was by far the best I have ever had!
(5)Jeff T.
We came here for lunch. They serve a large menu of salads and sandwiches. I ordered the Monte Cristo. My wife ordered the club sandwich and smokey potato soup. My mom ordered the beef and cheddar and my dad ordered the French dip. Everything was delicious! I highly recommend this place! Will try to come back for dinner!
(5)Barbie D.
This is literally my favorite restaurant. I live in Nebraska and have traveled to SD many times and not once have I left without going to the Alpine Inn once or twice! During the day the menu is superb! I recommend the cheesy turkey and bread pudding! At night they have a set menu which is just as amazing! Love this place with all my heart!
(5)Merri F.
My great uncle introduced me to this place over 20 years ago. Ever since this has become a required dining spot when we visit the hills. I've only dined for dinner and like the reviews state its steak & what size do you want? I've always found my steak prepared perfectly which is pretty amazing considering the volumes they deal in. We had a lovely server and she made sure to explain our options. I highly recommend you save room for their home made desserts. It's two pages long and not a bad choice to be had. My personal fav is the Apple Napoleon and my cousin says they make the best brownie sundae. Even in the off season they had a full house for the 5 o'clock seating. If you have to wait the have a cozy bar & in warmer months a beautiful deck to wait on. Reservations can be made for groups of 8 or larger. Bring cash!
(5)Rosemary K.
Ranked amongst local peers, it's probably some of the better food. Ranked against what we can get in Dallas or Austin...no comparison. Realize that serving a 9oz filet mignon for $11 is difficult to provide without serving a lesser grade filet. The service, salad, potato and dessert were decent. Hard to beat the cuisine we can get in Dallas or Austin. The 1 hr 45 min wait was painful.
(3)Michael M.
Was recommended by family member for the history and uniqueness of this place. Was not disappointed. Always feel like a bum asking for a table for one when I'm traveling but they accommodated even in a busy hour. Good and unique beers and great food. They only serve one thing: lettuce wedge, baked potato, and steak. All were great, would definitely rercommend!
(5)Yvonne L.
We ate here once for lunch and once for dinner. As stated by other yelpers, lunch menu is long and dinner menu is very short. My first time to have German food. Food is good but not spectacular. Prices are great! Service was fine. Cash only. We waited about an hour to be seated for dinner on a Monday night. So pleased that they serve Bogle wine here. If I'm ever back in Hill City, then I would definitely return here.
(4)Ed A.
Had the schnitzel for lunch with the German potatoes and dumplings; it was very good and reasonable price. Desert was fantastic, I had the Belgian Waffle Turtle Tower.
(4)Brad A.
Very underwhelming. Primarily for tourists and not quality food at all. Only serve steak. Filet mignonette wrapped n bacon for $9.95 or $11.95. The prices says it all. Indifferent service and just too casual for me. Beware they don't accept credit cards
(2)Carrie F.
Grew up in hill city love, love this place every time I go back home need to stop in everything is so good never can go wrong with anything here
(5)Alex H.
If you are in the area and like meat, you MUST stop here. We had the 6 oz filets - $9.95!!! I was actually a little worried by the low price, but the meal was excellent. The star is the bacon-wrapped filet, which came perfectly done to the table. The baked potato had a soggy jacket, but I am NOT complaining about anything. Just saying to be reasonable with expectations. The folks next to us were unhappy about something, and I just have no idea what it could have been. Desserts were tasty and very big. Sharable size. When we are in the area again, we will absolutely return. By the way, in late October there was no waiting at all -- the restaurant was not full. One last thing - they don't accept credit cards, so bring cash.
(5)David D.
If standing room only is a sign of how good the food is then this place is awesome. The atmosphere alone sets the temple of a great dinning experience. Set in the beautiful black hills of South Dakota in a historic town of Hill City lies this gem. Wedge of lettuce doused in blue cheese dressing followed by a generous cut of melt in your mouth filet mignon and to finish off your evening some of the best desserts you can imagine.
(5)DeLyle D.
Ate here a week ago while traveling thru. Food was great (2 choices for dinner - filet & vegetarian meal). 7 oz filet at $9.95 & 9 oz @ 11.95 with baker & lettuce wedge is a terrific price for a very tasty meal. Came back thru tonight & stood in line for 40 minutes for 5 pm opening only to find that when we got to hostess station we were told it would be a 40 min wait! They should have come outside to let people know - many left. I'd rate the first stop 4+ & today give them 1, so to be generous, a 3 average.
(3)S C.
I've eaten here many a time - the daytime menu is diverse and straight up awesome, and the night menu is simple and spectacular. Great beer, good wine, and exceptional desserts complete the experience. The owners, Mony and Wally (short for Wilhelmina?), are one of a kind. ...except there are two of them. But they're mother & daughter, so, you know...the description works. And the wait staff is just plan rad. Good people with great recommendations for things to do. We've also stayed at the hotel for a few days during the Black Hills Film Festival and had a time, indeed. Mony even let us raid the dessert fridge after hours! ...don't tell her mother. In short; Go here! Do this!
(5)Luis G.
Outstanding food. I like how simple the menu is. The salad comes with a very nice home made ranch dressing, simple but tasty. Both my wife and I got the steak which surprisingly was perfectly cooked (mine was rear and my wife's was medium-well). My kids' meals were also very nicely served. We finished dinner with the chocolate tower which was also outstanding. No credit cards.... No problem, the meal was very affordable and tasty that we'll go there again tomorrow night!
(5)Sonja K.
The food is wonderful here!! A must if you are in Hill City or passing through. We ate here about 3 years ago, had lunch here today and plan to go back tomorrow. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Jim B.
Great food and good prices. We went 4 times this week. Cash only but has a ATM machine
(5)Dave G.
Best place to eat in the Black Hills! You get your choice of a large or small filet..lol thats it, but they are Great. They give you a quarter head of lettuce for your salad, its alot. My advice is to get there early They have limited hrs. And they get very busy!
(5)Allison C.
Keep in mind...they tend to have 2 items on the menu, it's not a traditional restaurant where you select something off a menu. When we went, it had a meat and veggie option. Also keep in mind that you may have to wait for your table, especially during tourist season. I'll admit, I was skeptical with the lack of menu. But damn, was the food good! The place is adorable, very homey. We waited for our table in the bar, they have a great German beer selection. My husband had bacon-wrapped filet. I had spaetzle with vegetables, it was spicy (I love spicy!). For dessert, my husband and I split a heavenly tiramisu. They won me over!
(4)Janine A.
We were looking for a good dinner after eating the complimentary breakfast at our hotel every morning and quick food we had packed for our lunches while on hikes. We noticed that the Alpine Inn had lots of patrons every night. Our wait was about 40 minutes, but well worth it. Before we entered we had no idea that they offer only two selections - filet mignon and a German vegetarian selection. We learned that they have been serving filet since opening 28 years ago. It was a wonderful dinner - bacon-wrapped filet mignon, a baked potato, and lettuce wedge - the 9 oz. portion is $11.95 and the 6 oz. is $9.95. Wow! Simple, delicious, and very reasonable. We didn't order dessert, but saw those brought for others. Generous portions at reasonable prices. If we are in the area again we will certainly return to the Alpine Inn.
(4)Keelin C.
Hill City, SD is this restaurant's location. It's a picturesque Black Hills town and this is the place to eat dinner if you are staying there. They serve a very limited dinner menu. You can choose large or small (steak that is). The dinner is basic, but they have it mastered. It's a great steak and it's an awesome prequel to the desserts. The desserts are the reason this place gets 3 stars. They are awesome! My suggestion is that everyone order something different at your table because there are so many great ones! The chocolate waffles are the best! There are a few drawbacks to this place. First, as many have said before me they only take cash, but they do have a cash machine in their bar, so don't worry you can survive without your credit card ;) Second, if you are not staying in Hills City it is a hike from Rapid City (the main city in the area). The major bummer is that the roads are pretty dark and turny on the way home, so don't drink too much wine with dinner. Last, the wait staff can be a little short with you if they are busy (they stretch them a little thin). I guess that's what you get when you only serve small and large.
(3)Sarah B.
This is a quaint spot in the heart of Hill City's touristy strip. I've been several times for lunch and each time was fine. The set up is very old-school and feels like Grandma's house during the holidays. You know, when the dining room is full so she sets up card tables and random chairs in the side rooms? Not 'just' like that, but kinda. The menu is full of German fare and there is sure to be something for everyone. Popular tourist spot; perfect for lunch when shopping the strip.
(3)Greg A.
Limited dinner menu but Good food and cheap. Worth a stop if you're hungry.
(3)Mary Beth A.
Good food but not great. There are two items on the dinner menu while the dessert menu has like 30 choices. We ordered the filet mignon with baked potato, toast, and lettuce wedge. The cut of meat tasted more like sirloin. Service was good. We were sitting in close quarters with a couple of other folks so it was natural to chat with them during most of dinner. They only accept CASH!!!! You've been warned.
(3)Mama K.
We had hoped to make it to the Alpine Inn last night for dinner but were staying about 30 minutes away and didn't make it. Instead, we drove up to Hill City today and had lunch there. I'm sure it was a very different experience than the filet-mignonapalooza, but we really enjoyed it. We opted for German dishes that came with the red cabbage, sauerkraut, and German potato salad - all were very tasty. They also came with some delightfully dense German bread and butter. My husband ordered a beer (which turned out to only cost $2.25! How great is that?) and a cup of the delicious cream cheese soup, and we split an apple streudel for dessert. It was a very enjoyable lunch in all. As others note, they don't accept credit cards, which is a pain, but come prepared with cash. It will be worth it. Oh, and we learned a trick from our server if you want to avoid the evening wait for dinner, which can apparently be up to a couple of hours. Arrive at 4:00 p.m. and wait in the bar with a drink or two; then you'll be in line to be seated as soon as the dining room opens. Someday we hope to make it back to try the Alpine Inn's filet mignon. In the meantime, we hope that you can enjoy it for us!
(5)Craig E.
Fresh food at reasonable prices in a pleasant setting-all in a tourist town. Tough to beat.
(5)Sherry R.
Great ambiance and the steak was scrumptious! Only fault I would have is not many choices for the dinner menu, however the price was great!
(4)Rachel A.
Lunch is my favorite - a menu of really good German food. Dinner is just one option, and it's good, but clearly, you have to be in a specific mood for it. Desserts are always delicious, and do have a nice wine list, including Prairie Berry selections. It is cash only, so be aware.
(4)Leigh Z.
Ordered filet medium, but it was over cooked, dry, tough, and tasted a little gamey. I was very disappointed especially after reading all the rave reviews. I guess you pay for what you get at $11.95 for a 9 oz steak including salad, and baked potato-one cannot expect much. Service was good though.
(2)Team Pfeiste X.
I want to give this zero stars, but I'm denied the option. First of all, the dinner menu is 1 option: steak. Granted, you can choose between two sizes, but you can't get chicken, fish, god forbid something vegetarian- steak it is. How is that a menu? Secondly, once we told our waitress (nervous at our hesitation after being told the dinner "menu,") that we would like to just have the salad and baked potato (not potato au gratin, because it had ham in it), we were served a wedge of a head of iceberg lettuce with a ladle-full of ranch dressing poured on top. No dressing choice- not even on the side!- no croutons, no nothing. How is that a salad? Desserts might have been good, I couldn't say- we just wanted to get out of there and get some real food. So... if you're really into steak, or you're a vegetarian who's okay with having a lone potato for dinner, this could be the place for you. OH! and they don't take credit cards. Enough said.
(1)Dave S.
The place to be in Hill City! Enough said.
(4)Lora M.
While we waited almost an hour to get seated, it was absolutely worth it! You get either small (6 oz) or large (9 oz) filet mignon, a wedge salad, baked potato and texas toast. The steak was cooked perfectly. We also got creme brulee for dessert, also delicious. The best part was when the check came and it was only $30! Whenever we are in Hill City we will go there. Oh, just so you know, they do not accept credit cards. Cash only.
(5)John H.
What a great find for dinner in Hill City. Great location, friendly staff and the menu -- at least for dinner -- is simple and straightforward. Two filet options, that's it. Comes with a lettuce wedge, baked potato and veg. Not bad for 8.95 or 10.95! Desserts were also amazing.
(5)Tom K.
Either get 7 friends together or be prepared to wait an hour or two for a table. (you need a minimum of 8 to make reservations) The Alpine Inn is more an a great dinning experience, The Alpine is a South Dakota destination. "Locals" drive in from Nebraska, Wyoming, and half way across South Dakota to do dinner at the Alpine. The savvy tourist is lucky enough to get there early. And the smart tourist will wait for a table no matter how long it takes.
(5)Wendy H.
Awesome place!!! I remembered this place from a previous trip to South Dakota and I was thrilled to find that it is still as great as I remembered. Great food, great prices, great service!
(5)Colin C.
They only have filet mignon at night, but I've been there twice now and each time it was cooked perfect. There is also something to be said about a restaurant whose salad is a lettuce-wedge. Just lettuce and dressing that's it. They think they're something to show such audacity. In a pinch between October and April its the "fancy" restaurant around Custer, and its tasty enough to warrant 4 stars
(4)Susan C.
A 9-oz filet mignon for only $10.95? It must be too good to be true. But it's not! Not at the Alpine Inn in Hill City, SD. You only have two choices for dinner... a 6 oz filet or a 9 oz filet. That's it! Each dinner comes with a baked potato (sour cream on the side and a small bowl of butter packets), a wedge salad with ranch dressing (no dressing choice) and a piece of Texas toast. I ordered my steak medium and it was cooked to perfection. But look out for the dessert menu!! There are about a dozen choices. Mom had the Roasted Apple Napoleon, served with ice cream. Delicious! I had the Raspberry Tart. Yellow cake with a layer of sweetened cream cheese and raspberries topped with whipped cream. Heavenly! The only drawback to this restaurant is that the do NOT accept credit cards and they don't announce that very well. But they do have an ATM on site. Best deal in town for dinner!
(5)Ellen M.
Not sure why this place has $$$- if you do any traveling, you'll find this place is a great deal. We go every time we're in the area!
(5)Lauran H.
Yup-limited dinner choices. Yup-very popular. Yup-incredible dessert selections. Yup-very reasonable prices for what you get (we spent $110 for six people including a bottle of wine). Yup-they only take cash and you may have to wait a while for dinner. But, in Hill City you don't have a ton of options and we felt like the Alpine Inn was one of the best if if not THE best. OK, they did undercook a couple of steaks, but the filets were high quality. And definitely ask for dressing on the side or you will have a lettuce wedge floating in a small lake of house made ranch dressing. Great experience - try it!
(3)Todd V.
Bring cash and be prepared for a wait, but you won't be disappointed! The lunch menu is great. Here's a tip though, ask your server if there are any rhubarb desserts availble as soon as you sit down! My wife insists on going to Hill City everytime we are in the Black Hills, just to get a rhubarb dessert at the Alpine Inn. Dinner has about has much variety as the color choice of a Model T Ford, but the Filet Mignon is awesome. Lunch or dinner, get a wedge salad with their 'homeade' ranch dressing.
(4)Burbalicious X.
Review of dinner - for the price, how can you beat this? A decent piece of steak, a salad, a baked potato... amazing desserts, too. We enjoyed it and would go back if we were in the area. The wait was long but we hung out at the bar and had some wine (they were out of a few wines we wanted...boo). Definitely kid-friendly. We saw plenty of families dining.
(4)Jennifer S.
Amazing food, the price was right. The raspberry tart is perfect. We went for dinner, so they only had the small or medium filet. The ranch on the lettuce was homemade and very good. The steaks were great. The price is amazing.
(5)Kim G.
Not taking credit cards is a major downer. Fortunately we had brought plenty of cash on our vacation. I wonder what they do when someone can't pay, as we normally do not carry around $50 cash these days! We were here for lunch. The German food we had was wonderful, but I was disappointed to find only 3 or 4 German choices. Otherwise the rest of the menu was typical fare. Everything we had was good though. Our 3 kids loved the extensive children's choices. The waitress was nice and the place was full, but we didn't have to wait. We were tempted to go back another day because it was that good, but we like the eat at local places when traveling. In retrospect I do wish we'd ordered dessert b/c I've heard great things!
(4)Rob J.
Don't let the line fool you....the food is worth the wait. I prefer the lunch menu - even though I never tire of Filet Mignon! Great desserts...always ask what the special of the night is...everything is made fresh....
(5)Marie H.
Good food, great desserts! We ate there once getting off the train from Keystone, it was packed, cramped seating, service was adequate. The decor was that of a quaint old time restaurant. I would go back for the dessert which is what made me give it 3 instead of 4 stars, maybe it's just me but a place should be more than good for just desserts!
(3)Paul M.
11:00 A.M. - 2:30 P.M Luncheon with German menu 5:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. FILET MIGNON 6 oz. $8.95 9 oz. $10.95 - This is the entire dinner menu - served with baked potato and lettuce wedge salad w house dressing. No need to bust the brain trying to make choices except for choice of dessert. Open Year Round - Monday thru Saturday Wildly popular with locals and tourists. We went there for lunch and for dinner. Varied German menu at lunch. Food and service were both very good and very inexpensive. No credit cards or non-local checks; bring cash, you won't need much. Seating strategies: Lunch - we went at 11 AM; there was already a line for the dining room, so we elected to dine on the patio. Dinner - odd arrangement; no reservations. Lounge opens at 4 PM and sometime during that first hour people start lining up for the dining room. After the first seating they begin taking names to call as other restaurants do; we were told the wait for those on the list ranges from 60 to 90 minutes. We would go there again.
(4)Jared G.
This was such a fun place to eat. We took the family here. The atmosphere seemed to encourage the best manners out of the kiddos. Loved the food. They even had a vegetarian option on the night we went. Just make sure to bring cash...
(4)Nancy S.
They only offer one thing on the menu but they do that one thing very well. I'm not a fan, though, of the 1/4 chunk of iceberg lettuce with ranch dressing. That's not really a salad!
(4)Peggy R.
We went for lunch while visiting the 1880 train. We went about 11:30 on a Tuesday and did not have to wait. Our service was excellent although not overly friendly, we are okay with that. We both ordered the schnitzel with jaeger sauce and spaetzle. This was the most authentic German food we have had since we left Germany! It was fabulous! The cheese spaetzle was a little over the top but still tasty. The perfectly cooked schnitzel was tender and moist and came with kraut, red cabbage, potato salad and German bread... it was great. Took the bread pudding to go and had that later that evening and it was good but I hear the other desserts rock. CASH ONLY!!!
(5)David L.
Called in the afternoon for the hours of the restaurant and was they close at 9:30. Stepped in approximately 8:45 and was told they were no longer serving and was closed. No apologies as the hostess was eager to get back to a conversation about drapery. Too bad, was looking forward to the food here. Get your act together. This leaves my family with nothing to eat for dinner as nothing else opens this late in a small town without driving 20 miles out.
(1)Mike A.
Potatos are amazing steak is ok. Service was good. I would eat here again. Kinda fun atmosphere.
(4)Liz H.
Very good German food. Would recommend it! They had a 9 oz bacon wrapped filet mignon for 11.95 which looked delicious.
(4)Kevin H.
I say good.. but flawed. the food was good.. it really was (hold on i'm talking myself into adding another star).. how much can you say though.. there's only one thing.. and they make it pretty well. The service though.. angry ladies serving food.. that's it.. just angry ladies serving food..
(3)Norm H.
We had the Fillet Mignon and it was fantastic at $12 for the 9 ounce dinner. The desserts were also exceptional highly recommend.
(5)Alice C.
They keep everything simple.There is only three options from their evening menu,6 oz or 9oz steak or a vegetarian option. The steak and dessert are the best in Hill City.
(5)Tamara W.
This was the first place we saw after our train ride and since I was starving we stopped. What luck! Everything was amazing. Great service. Food wise during our week long trip this place was the memory maker. I had a turkey sandwich with cabbage, my husband had the german plate and my son had beef sandwich. All came with german potato salad. Everything was superb. Now lets talk about the desserts. I specialize in dessert. We got three desserts, tiramisu, a napoleon and a bread pudding, they were all exquisite! You don't want to miss this place if you like german food. This place accepts cash only, ATM on site.
(5)Becky S.
The fixed menu is a given, as is the looooong wait. However, the porch is a lovely place to hang out with a drink while you wait for your table. The food is reasonably tasty, but not mind-blowing. Smallish portions, and the 'Texas toast' was just dry toasted white bread. Although the inn is old-fashioned and nicely decorated, the service was rushed and businesslike to the point of feeling like a cafeteria during the busiest times. Desserts (we had the brownie delight and the raspberry mousse; they were out of our first choice, unfortunately) were generous, but nothing special. Basically, a nice enough place for South Dakota, but far from wonderful.
(4)Jerod M.
An absolute must stop in if you are in the area. We stop and eat here every time we come back to the Rapid City area (live in Arizona). The dinner menu is my favorite, you get the choice of large or small...that's it.. You either get a 6oz or 9az fillet that is wrapped in bacon. The wedge salad with blu cheese that you get before your steak is amazing. We have also came for lunch several times and that has always been equally amazing. You also need to get desert whether you are here for lunch or dinner. One tip, you need to being cash or a check. They do not have a credit card machine, but do have a ATM in the bar area if you forget.
(5)Esther Z.
Yummy, yummy, yummy!!! Best place near MT Rushmore or Keystone to eat, bar none. Go before 4PM for the the best German food around. At 5, steak only menu is only choice. We had lunch. Tried to ear dinner but the line was formidable and we wanted to catch the 8PM Mt Rushmore show. Come early and with your patience in tow for dinner. We waited about 15 minutes for lunch. However, they had run out of German potato salad and accepted a substitute. Try to save room for desert. Unless you have a huge appetite, share the desert.
(5)Justin T.
The Alpine Inn, compared to many other restaurants around, is as good as it gets. If you're a tourist just dropping by, this is the place to check out before you leave. You will never find a better steak as such a pretty price for at least a few hundred miles. The food they serve is just fantastic. For dinner, you either order the 6 oz or 9 oz size filet mignon, both wrapped with bacon. The steak, for me, has always been cooked perfectly to how I ordered it as, and not only does your order come with the filet, but with potatoes, German (I believe, it may be western toast as well) toast, and a lettuce wedge appetizer, covered in the Alpine Inn's homemade ranch dressing, included in the price. For lunch, they have a broad variety of sandwiches and meats. My personal favorites are the chipotle chicken and the "Monte Cristo". Not only is the food done right, but the dessert menu is simply glorious. Two full pages of pure sugary goodness. In the past, I've always gotten the grand chocolate tower, a tall cup with layers of brownie, chocolate mousse, and chocolate chips. The service is quick, friendly, and to the point: they know their job well. Business is always busy, so it seems, so don't be surprised if you come at 5:30, and get an hour and a half wait time. My advice is to come earlier and put your name in. You're more likely to get in in less than a half hour. Overall, it's a great, small, treat out here in Hill City. Don't forget the word small, however: even though the restaurant may look big from the outside, don't judge it as if it were a Ruth Chris. This is a family owned and operated restaurant, and if you want a friendly, relaxing place to eat delicious food, and perhaps bring your friends too, the Alpine Inn is the place.
(5)Darren G.
Heaven. Best place on earth, the food is perfect and the price is mouth dropping. Perfectly chilled German beer goes well with flawless service and great atmosphere.
(5)Kimmi M.
The Alpine Inn is a restaurant that I have dreams about. After dining, my brothers and I begged my mom to make from scratch ranch dressing, much to her dismay. We dined here for dinner, but the lunch menu is a larger menu full of traditional German offerings. Set in the majestic beauty of the Black Hills, the Alpine does one thing for dinner, filet mignon, and they do it right. Choose a 6 oz or 9 oz portion, and it comes perfectly prepared, wrapped in glorious bacon. For $10.95 for the 9 oz portion, how can you lose? Great food for a great price is what we are all searching for, right? Each meal comes with a wedge of lettuce with homemade, to-die-for, creamy ranch dressing, a baked potato, and a slice of Texas toast. I highly recommend the Grasshopper ice cream pie for dessert. The Alpine Inn does not accept cards, only cash or check. The dining room fills up quickly, so get there early. I await my next trip back to the Alpine Inn. Till then, I'll think about the filet in my dreams.
(5)Nate W.
This is a popular place for locals and tourists, too. It's housed in a gorgeous old building that was built at the turn of the century for the local tin mining company. There are wedding suites upstairs, gorgeous rooms furnished in antiques. I don't know if they still rent those room out anymore, but I snuck up there and took some pictures a few years ago. You should be informed a few things before you try this place. 1. They do not have an open menu at night. You can choose between two sizes of steak, a baked potato and a wedge of Iceberg lettuce with choice of dressing. So, it goes to say if you're not a big steak fan, then this isn't your go-to place. I wouldn't call it terribly kid-friendly, either (in regards, obviously, to the menu, unless your kids love steak and baked potatoes). This is a steal, because the meal, get this, is under $10. 2. Also, you need to come about thirty minutes to an hour before they open and just hang out, have a glass of wine and wait. It gets THAT packed in the evenings. 3. They only take local checks and cash, no credit cards. 4. They have a different lunch menu, and at least at lunch, you don't have to wait terribly long for a table, but like others have mentioned, most of the food is German dishes. You will want to call ahead for lunch hours. I've been here several times and always order the Southwest Salad with black beans, a fantastic Mexican Ranch dressing, onions, grilled chicken and cheese. It's so good, I don't feel like trying anything new. 5. If you like sweets, they have a pretty extensive dessert menu.
(4)Warren R.
On our Black Hills vacation we decided to stop in Hill city about supper time. We were told that the Alpine Inn serves a great steak at a reasonable price. What is so interesting is the supper menu has only 2 choices. You can choose between the 6oz or the 9oz filet mignon. The service and the food were both outstanding. Clearly they are doing something right because the place was packed with a 45 min wait to get a table. But it was worth the wait. Hope to go back some day.
(5)Sue K.
Apline is a "must go" if you are in the area. I can only speak to dinner, they are open for lunch but my group has only gone for dinner. As I understand it the lunch menu has a variety of tasty treats available, perhaps someday we'll make the trek for lunch. Now for dinner: Plan to wait at least an hour for a table, it's always busy, even when it's snowing hard and in the 30Fs, there's still a bunch of folks in the bar area and out on the veranda waiting in line for a table. The line starts to build before the restaurant even opens for the night, so don't think an early arrival will prevent a wait. With a group of at least eight, reservations are available....everyone in the group needs to be there when you check in for your reservation, and you still need to be prepared to wait a bit (usually 20-30 minutes instead of the hour plus without reservations). It is so worth the wait. While you wait, have a beer or a glass of wine...they have some nice options, foreign and domestic, including a delightful German near-beer for the designated driver - I am usually the driver, so this is my drink at Alpine. For a long time the dinner options were "small" or "large" filet Mignon cooked to order and served with a piece of Texas toast and a baked potato, before the meat comes out you get a "salad" which is a wedge of iceberg lettuce with house made ranch dressing...it is fab and I want the recipe. Recently they've added a vegan dish...spaetzle I think (it doesn't show up on the menu on the website, but it was on the printed menu when we went earlier this month)...but I have nothing to say about it (I haven't tried it), other than they have a non-meat option for your non-meat eating friends now, but I am a carnivore, so I always have a "large" cooked medium well. There is also a kids menu, the small ones in my group usually either have a corn dog or they split a steak. After your meat feast, if your have a little room left, the dessert menu always has something worth the calories...my fav is the bread pudding closely followed by the creme brulee. No room for dessert? They have after dinner drinks and coffees. Bring cash or a checkbook, they don't take plastic. The good news? You don't need a lot of cash: small is $9.95 and large is $11.95. The alcohol and desserts are reasonable priced too. Last time we had a group of over a dozen and dinner was about $250 with the included 18% tip that is part of dealing with a group the size of ours....that about $20 a person with drinks and desserts and a tip. On the last visit my guy mentioned to the hostess that he and his best friend had been dining at Alpine for 30 years; she retorted that they've only been open for dinner for 27 years....the quality is unchanged and needless the say "we are long time fans"....we'll be going back next time we are in the area.
(5)L M.
Great German food - just like what I've had in Germany and Austria. The wiener schnitzel and German plate are wonderful, as are the desserts. Good service and prices.
(4)Darla D.
Food was very good & service was very friendly and quick. Liquor selection was excellent! They only serve filet mignon for dinner, but at an excellent value! You first get a wedge salad with homemade ranch dressing. The filet mignon is served with a baked potato. The Bread pudding was amazing! We also had the Napolean which was also delcious.
(4)Amy F.
Food was very good. Only 2 choices for dinner but the place was packed. Desserts looked very good but I was too full to try. Only downside is they only take cash. So make sure to have it in your wallet.
(4)Susan H.
This was about the only resturant open while we were in the area off season. It is in a very quaint building, which also rents rooms for the night. The dining rooms were small, like being in an old home. They only serve filet mignon in the evening. 6 oz. & 9 oz.. Served with a lettuce wedge and homemade dressing and a baked potato. They follow the saying- "Keep it simple" to the letter. However, the steak was tender and flavorful and the lettuce wedge wasn't bad either. Don't see that anymore. We had the mudpie for dessert- which was really good! The wine list was pretty minimal, but at least they had wine. They also have a full bar I believe. In general the meal was pretty good, the service good and you certainly coud not complain about the price! Speaking of - be sure to bring cash or a check as they do not accept credt cards.
(4)John G.
Ok so ya know what is on the menu. For the price you can not beat this place, the German sweet red wine is superb, while on vacation must do for a great meal had an appetizer, 4-9 oz. steaks, salad, and a desert with a couple of beers- for 72.00 bucks, can't beat that. If you agree send a Compliment....
(5)Craig J.
Was just on family vacation in the Black Hills and without a doubt this was the best meal we had on our trip. Frankly it was one of the better meals I have had in an city I have visited on vacation or for work in the last few years. Food and service were excellent and the prices fair. Everyone really enjoyed their meals, including our kids! The only downside is they don't accept credit cards (or debit cards) and that caught us by surprise. However, its more than worth a quick trip to the ATM before heading over here to eat.
(5)Nathan S.
Their lunch is the best German food you will find anywhere. We never go to the Black Hills without stopping at Alpine Inn for lunch. I almost always order the German Plate and add the spaetzle, but I've never had anything bad on the menu. If you're going there during the summer, make sure you arrive early or you'll be waiting to get a seat.
(5)Elizabeth S.
I'm being generous with that extra star because I enjoyed the restaurant's decor. Very moody and dark, but not gothic. First, they don't accept credit cards. Small businesses with this rule, I understand, it cuts into their meager profits, but Alpine shows no shortage of local and tourist appeal. Second, the food selection, while quite dedicated to German cuisine, lacks variety. Any dietary restriction whatsoever? Don't go to Alpine. There really aren't that many options if you can't have meat and potatoes. My meal came with an unadvertised side of something made with beets. I wouldn't eat it, but my aunt tasted it. She told me it was dull and slightly creamy. When we asked the waitress what is was, maybe some of the ingredients, she had no idea. She told us the cooks make something "different" most mornings and while she usually watches them make it, she hadn't done so that day and no notes were left. For me, this wasn't a big deal on the surface, but what is a patron supposed to think of a restaurant that doesn't take pride in the food it serves? That's the message I got out of the mystery beet side.
(2)Amy C.
While visiting Mount Rushmore just after the tourist season ended we were worried that all we would find was bland, from-a-can food. We read the reviews here on Yelp of the Alpine Inn and decided to head there for lunch. I'm SO glad we did. I had the grilled pork cop and my husband had the breaded pork chop. Both chops were perfectly cooked! Sides were fabulous sauerkraut, cabbage cooked in beet juice (they call it red cabbage, but I assume they refer only to the color), and german potato salad. We both got a side of spaetzle (+1.95 with any entree). I didn't care for it too much, was a bit bland but my husband gobbled it down. We made the mistake of ogling the desserts coming out of the kitchen and decided this was out calorie splurge of the day. I got a piece of incredibly rich tiramisu. I cried uncle about halfway through, but it wasn't because of the awesome taste. My husband got the Roasted Apple Napoleon. I thought he was going to lick the plate at the end. This was an amazing lunch. Thank you, Alpine Inn!
(5)Mona A.
Bang for your buck! There's no better place in the Black Hills where you can get such great quality meal for $10.95. For dinner, they only have two entree options: 6 or 9 oz filet mignot, wrapped in a strip of bacon. The meal includes a salad which is a head of lettuce generously dressed with their fantastic home-made ranch, two slices of texas toast, and a baked potato. Contrast to their limited dinner entrees, their dessert menu have many wonderful ways to end your meal. I recommend the blondie, enough for two, maybe even for four, but this dessert is so amazing I can finish it by myself. This place is a definite MUST-GO! Just be prepared to wait in line though, especially during the tourist season, but well worth it.
(4)Jamison E.
Went there for dinner. Since there arent many dining options in Hill City, South Dakota, Alpine Inn is considered "fine dining". It was a 2 hour wait so we had a couple of drinks at the Mangy Moose (which I recommend) down the street which I will add in another review. At dinner there is only one choice....steak, baked potato, toast and salad. As a vegetarian you have even less choice...just the sides. While you have very little choice you cant beat the price. Roughly $11 for the steak dinner. Be aware they only accept cash! The dessert is where it is at. Lots of yummy choices. Next time I would definately try the lunch menu since there are alot more choices and supposedly german style food.
(3)Travis B.
i recommend this place a lot to my friends that are planning to go to the Hill City area, but i tell them to just go there for lunch. seriously, it's a much better menu, with traditional german fare, along with novel dishes. even if you don't save room for dessert, you simply MUST bring some home. if you go in the evening, you have exactly two choices. they have a cool selection of german import beers, which i really appreciate. it's a happening place, so it's adviseable to either make a reservation or belly up to the bar and wait for your name to be called.
(4)Liz B.
The dinner is simple but done right! Their ranch is made fresh everyday from scratch. The lunch is amazing home recipes done right. All deserts are made from scratch and huge portions. The restaurant has authentic German decor and is very cozy. Great date night place.
(5)C B.
Good food, good service- we try to eat here on each trip to the black hills. No credit cards, so a slight deduction there.
(4)Ralph K.
My wife and I chose the Alpine Inn for my birthday dinner and it was a very good decision. We picked this place after reviewing the other reviews on YELP. and from recommendations from locals. I can echo the other reviews here. The fillet mignon was excellent and cooked to perfection and the ranch salad dressing was probably the best I have ever tasted. They seat 100 people and it is still packed....get there early!
(4)Ken L.
For dinner, you can choose between the 6oz or the 9oz filet mignon. The service and the food were both outstanding. You won't get a filet as good as this one for the price. The meal comes with a lettace wedge, baked potatoe and Texas toast. The only negative is that they only take cash.
(4)David S.
Stopped in for lunch just before 2:30 and hostess said we we're just in time before they closed, and had us grab a table on the front porch. A few minutes later a waitress came by and curtly told us "sorry, we're closed." We bailed. Too bad, we heard they had good German food.
(1)P.J. H.
As has been pointed out by other reviewers, unless you want to order the kids' hot dog, you get a choice of either a small or large filet. For some, that is a big issue. But if anyone does a bit of homework they'll soon learn that this is the S.O.P. for the Alpine Inn. I actually prefer it as the cooks/chefs can focus on doing ONE thing and get that thing perfect. The price is great, and one of the reasons that the restaurant can serve you that steak at a great price is that they only take cash. No overhead of credit card surcharges or the hassle of bounced checks. So the consumer wins in this case. I've been to the Alpine more than once and each time was very satisfied with how the meal turned out.
(4)L S.
My family of 4 went in the evening and got the bacon wrapped filets ....w/ a lettuce wedge with homemade ranch dressing. That's the menu. Simple and awesome. Being from Iowa..I'm picky about my steak...these were seasoned perfectly and cooked perfectly (MR) We had creme brule for dessert (should've had them leave the whipped cream off) and a turtle cheesecake....both excellent. We'll be back for sure! Great service. We were there early and got seated immediately.When we left it was PACKED. Cash or Check only...or use their ATM :D
(5)Brittany B.
Best value in the area. It's delicious, but it's all steak. The salad (a wedge of lettuce with amazing ranch dressing). Anyway, it's kind of expensive for the area, but it's outstanding.
(5)Nathan R.
We were here on a busy summer night just a week after Sturgis ended, and the place was packed. We waited over an hour for a table for 5, but it was worth the wait. The only dinner option is either a 6 oz fillet, or a 9 oz fillet, but in either case the meat is prepared very very well and had tons of flavor, especially for the rock bottom price. The "salad" we were served was nothing more than a wedge of lettuce soaked in ranch dressing, no veggies or garnishes. Easily the least impressive part of the meal. Beer and wine selection was good, and the dessert were very impressive. Definitely the best place to eat while staying near Hill City.
(4)