This place is so pleasant to visit and sit at your table taking in all the decor. The service was excellent, very friendly and helpful when we asked about local attractions. We shared the nacho platter which was okay. Afterward we walked around back to see the waterfall and surrounding scenery read more

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We were in the Hills this week and looking for somewhere to go for breakfast. Let me tell you Latchstrings did Not disappoint. Best view while dining I've ever had and the Food & Service were Great. So good we made a return trip that same evening for dinner. That was also Amazing! And you can take a hike after. We will definitely be back! read more

Latchstring Restaurant - Breakfast Skillet - New American Near Me - Lead, South Dakota

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Looking to have lunch before our hike to Spearfish Falls. The Latchstring Resturant is just feet away. So warm and inviting. Like dining in someone's cabin. We decided to dine inside however there was outside seating available. Even a glass bubble to dine in for $10 per person per hour. I ordered the grilled chicken wrap with fries. Sandwich tasty with chucks of chicken. The fries were not very hot or fresh. My husband ordered a garden salad with trout on top. He loved his fish. Stated it was seasoned perfectly. Waitress was sweet and service was good. read more

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Worthwhile (and only) meal choice within Spearfish Canyon. Fortunately for all the Lodge occupants, this restaurant is open 7 days a week and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Upon arrival, I was immediately seated and serviced at my choice of location - if a favorable climate prevails always choose the outdoor patio with magnificent canyon views (see pics). The hugh baked trout was draped on a Garden Salad and was fantastic. This selection was a welcomed alternative to Steak and/or Hamburgers! Additionally, the grilled chicken wrap was flavorable however the string French Fries were extremely thin and too crispy (overcooked). After eating, feel free to work off your calories with a short and easy .75 mile hike to the canyon namesake: Spearfish Falls located right behind the restaurants. read more

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We went to Latch String Restaurant during peak fall colors, so we completely understood there would be a wait to get seated. We waited about 30-45 minutes, which wasn't a big deal because we knew Spearfish Canyon was very busy that weekend. Unfortunately, the service after we sat down was a completely different story. It took about 10 minutes for our server, Dausen, to take our drink order, then another 20+ minutes before he came back to take our food order. After ordering, we waited another 30-40+ minutes for our food. When it finally came, my dad's meal was completely missing. Dausen told us another member of the waitstaff had apparently taken his order and said it would take about five minutes to remake it, but it ended up being closer to 15 minutes. He did bring us a complimentary soup because of the wait, which we appreciated, but when my mom asked if my Dad's meal could be comped given how long he had been waiting, Dausen basically responded that he had already given us the soup and that it was a $9 soup. That felt pretty dismissive considering we had already waited well over an hour for our food and an entire meal had been forgotten. What bothered me most was Dausen's attitude throughout the experience. He was very flat, seemed uninterested, and there was very little communication about why everything was taking so long. We also watched him interact with another couple at the table beside us who had been waiting for someone to take their order. When they pointed out that several waitstaff had walked past them, Dausen started arguing with them and became very defensive, saying they were "really busy" and that this was just how things worked there. By that point, though, the restaurant was barely half full, so it really didn't seem like they were slammed. I understand that restaurants get busy, especially during a peak fall weekend, and we were completely willing to be patient. But there is a difference between being busy and leaving customers sitting there with no communication, forgetting an entire meal, and then being rude and defensive when people are understandably frustrated. We were there for nearly two hours just trying to have lunch, and unfortunately the service and attitude completely ruined the experience for us. read more

I am a big foodie and their Trout Almondine has been the single best dish I have had in the Black Hills. Their cocktails are good too.

Didn't get to eat, although went out of our way to on our last day in the area. Asked hostess if there is a way around for us to the patio with our dog. She directed us through the dining room to the patio which faces the main road and the parking lot. She put down the menu and our silverware onto a filthy dirty table and I asked if we could sit on the back patio. She said no -- I said I'm not sure we'll eat here because it's getting hot here. I did not point out the filthy table. She sent over a waitress and it was 1035am and so we could only choose the breakfast and I said I was interested in lunch. She said she would be back later. Looking at the table. It has visible food and sauce on it as well as the other tables on this patio area as well as empty beer bottles. Not inviting whatsoever. None of the tables have been wiped down today. the umbrellas were not put up and it was hot and sunny. The host came back and let me know. Only service dogs can be on the back patio. My dog is a well behaved retired service dog so I feel punished. Please reconsider why only service dogs can be on the scenic and shady back patio while people with pets must sit on the dirty, hot and neglected front patio facing the parking lot and main road. read more

The lobster tail was a nice size and the steaks were pretty good too. The baked potato was nice and creamy and the garlic masked potatoes were the best part of the meal according to my daughter. read more

Latchstring Restaurant - Menu front - New American Near Me - Lead, South Dakota

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We've eaten here twice, both times the service was excellent and the food is great. It's a relaxed, cozy atmosphere. read more

Latchstring Restaurant - The Latchstring Restaurant - New American Near Me - Lead, South Dakota

Nice view of the mountain side. on the patio, they have a bubble you can sit in that has a heater in it. We had chicken fried steak with potatoes. We added onions to our potatoes. It was good. The gravy had great flavor.we enjoyed it. great stop as we were driving through. I guess there are some falls under the patio darn it didn't find out tell after we left read more

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We went for Thanksgiving buffet dinner. We had made a 2:30 reservation a couple of weeks earlier and they even called me to confirm. We got there only to find out that our name was no where to be found. I thought that it was over priced for a buffet. Almost $70 for the two of us. Nothing special about it other than they had turkey and ham. read more

Service was excellent and friendly. The order took a little longer than I'm used to. Most of the food was good; about the quality of a small town dinner. The prices matched the area. A trailhead is right behind the restaurant which is convenient. read more

Best Buffalo stew anywhere! 'nuff said! I learned of this place on the Internet as I was getting ready for a cross-country trip. I am so glad I did! Anytime I am in SD, I will make sure I get back to the Latchstring Restaurant. read more

It was ok considering location. prices a bit too high for what you get. side salad was very lacking. smallest i've ever had at a restaurant but balsamic dressing was good burger was juicy but overpriced for bison not sure if return read more

We were checking out the beauty of Spearfish Canyon and happened upon Latchstring restaurant. Is very rustic design is surrounded by stunning canyon views. Lots of deer and Buffalo heads watched over us as we ate our walleye and trout dinners. I had the trout. It was two large fillets covered in a white wine cream sauce and shaved pecans. The fish was good but I wish I had asked for the sauce on the side as it was much more than was needed. I also chose the baked potato and the house veggies were roasted peppers and zucchini (probably my least fav veggie side). We also got a roll and a side salad with our meal. The dinner had a supper-clubby vibe which fit the atmosphere. I am glad we stopped. Service was excellent. Unique place. read more

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The 2025 Thanksgiving buffet was excellent. It gets better every year. The food was great, the right amount of classic Thanksgiving dishes along with plenty of other great dishes to try. We were seated right away and were very impressed with the friendly staff and organization of this huge event. We also thought the food donation raffle was a meaningful addition to the day. read more

My husband and I decided to eat at Latchstring Restaurant. I had eaten there several times for brunch and dinner in the past (their trout almondine is mouth-watering!) but have never ordered the lobster dinner. I could not believe how amazing it was and the price was exceptional. $35 for 2 6-8 ounce lobster tails with a baked potato and a salad! My husband ordered the stroganoff and shared a bite with me. The sauce was amazingly light and so delicious. Our server was delightful and it's always wonderful to spend time in the canyon. read more

Good place to grab a bite while driving leisurely through the scenic Black Hills National Forest. Even better, hike to the two nearby waterfalls to work off lunch. Nice staff, a great deck to take in the view, and solid chow. read more

The restaurant is in log building decorated with historical photos and information about the history of the restaurant. Great fireplace, several mounts m, and a deck to enjoy the canyon views. The hostess was less than friendly, and seated us at a dirty table, which she cleaned when requested. The condiments on the table were clean. Our sever was Sierra and she was friendly and attentive. Many tables including ours didn't receive silverware until requested and after the food arrived. I don't recall being asked about drink refills. I saw the hostess prepare a tray of water for a table and as she counted glass she touched the top of the glasses with her palm. The food was good. We ordered an appetizer, split a burger, and ordered two deserts. The total was over $50. I would go back for the view. read more

Had a great dinner at the Latchstring! Food was delicious, I got to try their famous dishes, the trout almondine (although I got the sauce on the side) and the cinnamon roll. Highly recommend both, very fresh with generous portions. The employees are friendly, I think there were only 2 servers working the night we came in but the service was good despite this. The restaurant itself has a nice, cozy feel and I enjoyed the music they played. Of course, the scenery outside is absolutely stunning and I imagine dining on the patio is very pleasant when the weather is warmer. Definitely stop by if you're in the area! read more

Latchstring Restaurant - Trout almondine with sauce on the side - New American Near Me - Lead, South Dakota

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We were at an event at Spearfish Canyon Lodge in April. As a couple we had an evening meal (walleye) that was so so delicious. The walleye, vegetables, and the bread pudding - Loved it!! Also, a shout out to Kirsten who served us that evening. She made the evening perfect. read more

Enjoyed the Western Omelet for breakfast and husband had scrambled eggs and link sausage (excellent). The roasted potatoes were great but then again so were the hash browns! Coffee was hot and a great way to begin the day. Most impressive of all was the service! Two servers were helpful, smiling, brought a whole new definition to what service means! read more

The service here was not bad, but the food was not good at all. I ordered the country fried steak and it did not taste authentic to what it should be. The prices were unreasonablely high for the food not tasting that well. read more

Frazzled staff! Nice view out the back big windows. Mediocre food. We came for the hike that starts from the parking lot. I guess that's all I need to say. ;) read more

This was my secondary visit and I was super looking forward to returning (my last visit was over 3-years ago). Located within Spearfish (a gem of a town) - Latchstring Restaurant is nestled right next to a few walking trails that we enjoy. One of them even has a waterfall which is a nice bonus. Pros: spacious interior, large parking lot, delicious food, nice restrooms, inside gift shop and two outdoor patios (one is for dogs and one is normal), dog patio serves water dishes with ice for the pups and the stand up bar section has dog hooks to attach leashes onto. Additionally if you sit outside the views of the mountains are lovely. Cons: slow slow slow service (totally understaffed) and our waitress didn't know the specials up on the front board which was really frustrating because she had to go back in to look. If staffing increases, I would come back. Otherwise, I'll try out something different next time. read more

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Went to SpearFish Canyon for a wedding and made friends with the staff... beautiful cabin environment and attentive staff. Our waitress for two days was super awesome... her name started with a T... gave helpful tips and suggestions. We ate there for three meals and were super happy with the breakfast! Carmel Roll ... wow! Hashbrowns crispy and delicious! They have hashbrown and fried potato options... dinner was great too. They have flies but what to do about that. Not a lot of options for them to keep them outside. read more

Latchstring Restaurant - Apps... spicy shrimp and cheese curds... - New American Near Me - Lead, South Dakota

We originally stopped here for a cup of coffee and a light snack after a hike up to the Roughlock Falls. I succumbed to order a carmel roll - freshly homemade and covered in luscious buttery carmel sauce - definitely one of the best breakfast pastries I've ever had. I also ordered a breakfast to go - chislins and eggs. I had been wanting try to chislins while I was in So Dakota and they were very good - would definitely order again. Service was great and we enjoyed our meal on the patio gazing at the beautiful forest and listening to the sounds of the waterfall. read more

The view is wonderful, the people friendly, and the food pretty darn good. I had a chicken jerk fettuccine one day and Tuscan chicken the next. Hubby had wings and a hamburger. Nicely seasoned fries. read more

Latchstring Restaurant - Tuscan chicken. It was actually presented better than this...I always forget to take the picture until I've started eating.‍ - New American Near Me - Lead, South Dakota

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We dine here often. That will now change. Tonight's experience was a bit shocking. Shocking enough to prompt this review - er - warning to others. To be fair, the food is normally quite good and the ambiance is worth the drive. We were served by someone new to us. The shift manager is someone we have known for years. We ordered the pasta special and the burger special: both advertised on the chalkboard at the entrance. $27 and $18 respectively. No drinks, no desert. Our bill listed $29.86, $21.43, $2.14 sales tax and $2.08 credit card fee. We asked our server why the ticket didn't match the advertised price. She said she would check. Upon return, she said that the bill included the credit card fee. We had not yet declared how we would pay. Upon offering that answer she walked briskly into the kitchen. After some time, we approached the cashier station to pay the cash price. It was at this time that the shift manager emerged from the kitchen to demand that I apologize to the server for screaming and making her cry. Based upon our familiarity, I at first thought he was kidding. He was not. I asked what he had been told. Instead of answering, he told us to pay and never come back. Like many tourism restaurants, the dining room staff turns over often; we'll wait until the next "group" - including the manager - is on board before returning. read more

We just happened to be in the area hiking and saw this restaurant. We figured we could eat a bite before continuing to our next stop so went in at the ripe time of 3:30. Since it was an odd hour, there were many available tables and we were seated right next to one of the windows overlooking the canyon views. I saw a patio with more seating outside but with the temps in the 50s, obviously nobody was out there. It would definitely be the perfect spot on a warmer day though. Now for the food. We are from out of state so wanted to try the chislic we've been hearing about over truffle fries. Then we got a bowl of bison stew with corn cakes. A very unique, traditional meal and they sure delivered! The chislic was very flavorful but chewy. I didn't love how chewy it was because it took forever to eat it but I guess it forced me to savor it more. The sauce that went with it was aaa-mazing and the fries were nice and crispy the way I like them. The bison stew with the corn cakes was definitely the highlight though. The bison was very tender and the fell apart in your mouth, while the corn cakes with butter and honey on top was just melt in your mouth perfection. Loved the meal and the views. Highly recommend the stew with corn cakes if you visit! read more

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What a great place! The reservation got tangled up and we were not given the inside private room we requested. Instead they gave us a beautiful outside setting which was even better. We were treated fantastic. Food was wonderful. read more

You're out of town, you're looking for some GREAT food..... stop here! The Latchstring Restaurant is not only in the beautiful Spearfish Canyon of South Dakota, but the restaurant itself (a lovely log cabin-type home) is worthy of your attention all by itself, and the food & service is just awesome! Surrounded by fresh snow just a couple days ago, our visit was even more scenic as the autumn leaves were still hanging on as well. We had the marble rye club sandwich and blackened trout sandwich, which were both beyond our expectations. Top that food off with the most beautiful interior, a gift shop & views of the cliffs behind the restaurant, and you have found a gem! And, an added bonus... is the opportunity to walk right around the corner of the restaurant and down the winding path (approximately 1 mile) to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the area. This place has it ALL! Don't miss stopping @ Latchstring on your visit to Spearfish Canyon. read more

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Super shocked that the reviews here aren't higher. Stayed at Spearfish Canyon Lodge across the street 3 nights and ate here twice for breakfast and once for dinner. All meals were very good. Loved the atmosphere inside and on the patio with view of the hills and sound of the waterfall below. Had the skillet breakfast with perfectly cooked eggs, sweet roll and the Savoy omelette. For dinner Bree made some excellent recommendations and provided service which was top notch. We decided on the cheese curd appetizer and chislic dinner with a green salad. Both were new to us and very good. Then she suggested their homemade bread pudding which was also very good. On a side note the evening we ate dinner on the patio they were hosting a large wedding reception on the rooms adjacent to the restaurant. On a Saturday night. Other than the restroom being a little crowded you would never know. The staff and kitchen pulled it off beautifully and coming from a food service background I know how tough that could possibly be. read more

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The appeal for us is the Puppy Patio. Seating was an issue as our table was not stable. No amount of shimming could keep it from wobbling. Other than that, the ambiance was very good. Service: could have been better. A lot better. There was no attempt to help us stabilize the table. Our server was the kind that says, "I'll get that started for you." Our condiments showed up after the salad and the main dish. The food: we ordered the Buffalo Stew Bread Bowl for $18. It looked like a giant hamburger bun until the top was removed. This revealed what looked like a can of Campbell soup Chunky Beef inside. The bread was not sourdough as advertised for sure. The Buffalo was tough as shoe leather and did not taste like bison. The veggies were straight out of a can for sure. The $6 side salad with the raspberry vinaigrette was okay but having salt and pepper would have been nice. Back to ambiance: a couple came to the patio and took the only remaining table. There was only one bar height chair available so the server said she would bring a wooden stool. We were leaving so I offered one of our bar height chairs. read more

Total disappointment. The waitress was an imbecile and I ordered a salad. How can you mess up a salad. I asked for no onions and I got lettuce cheese and strips of chicken. That is not a southwest salad. I asked for balsamic vinaigrette and she brought me out. Balsamic vinegar poured out of a bottle. Biggest waste of $20. Worst meal on my vacation left really dissatisfied. read more

The food was fresh and delicious. We sat on the Puppy Patio, where our girl had a chicken patty. Beautiful view as well!

The food is great, service is awesome Eric and Ava were both awesome and helpful. They both represent the restaurant well. As always, the location is the is the best. read more

We had several breakfasts and dinners at the Latchstring. We tried different things each time and they were all excellent. It's a cozy place with great views of the canyon. read more

This restaurant is so cozy, and welcoming! We went for my son's birthday and everyone had an amazing time. The food was so tasty, and the portions were very good. Our server was so attentive, and gave us details about certain items on the menu. I will definitely return to this restaurant! read more

Great log cabin restaurant in Spearfish Canyon. Staff friendly. Food arrived quickly and was tasty. We're there for breakfast. My husband had the veggie omelet and I had 2 eggs over easy done perfectly. read more