Minerva's is one of those long-standing DTSF institutions that locals speak about with a certain level of affection and pride. Having been part of downtown Sioux Falls since 1977, it carries the kind of history and familiarity that newer restaurants simply cannot manufacture overnight.
My husband and I have slowly been working our way through many of the better-known downtown restaurants -- places like Minerva's, Mirabella Ristorante, Chef Lance's, and several others -- as part of our ongoing effort to really experience the local dining culture here in Sioux Falls. We have not completed our unofficial culinary checklist quite yet, but Minerva's was certainly an important stop along the way.
As I have mentioned in previous reviews, my husband and I have a longstanding tradition whenever we celebrate special occasions together:
We order French onion soup.
It started years ago during one of our earliest dates and somehow became one of our little anniversary traditions over the decades. This particular version was actually quite good. Rich, savory, comforting, and full of deep onion flavor. Personally, I would have loved an even more generous layer of bubbling cheese and a little extra crostini on top, but otherwise it was genuinely delicious and very satisfying.
The salads were also noticeably fresh and crisp, which we appreciated.
One thing Minerva's does exceptionally well is presentation. The plating throughout the meal was elegant, polished, and thoughtfully done without feeling overly pretentious.
For dinner, I ordered the sirloin alongside a baked potato, while my husband chose the ribeye with one of his favorite vegetables: asparagus.
Thankfully, they prepared the asparagus beautifully. Not overcooked into limp surrender as happens far too often elsewhere, but still slightly crisp with excellent texture and freshness.
The wild rice was another standout for us. Wonderfully balanced in texture -- neither dry nor overly firm -- and full of comforting earthy flavor that paired nicely with the steaks.
And then came dessert.
We ordered the ice cream cake finished with warm chocolate sauce poured over the top tableside, and honestly it was a wonderful ending to the evening. The rich velvety chocolate slowly melting into the creamy layers of the dessert was absolutely decadent and delicious.
Now, the only reason this review is not quite a full five-star experience for us comes down primarily to the service that evening.
The restaurant was very busy, which we completely understand, but throughout the dinner our drinks frequently sat empty for fairly long stretches, and at times it was genuinely difficult to flag down someone for assistance. Nothing disastrous occurred, but the pacing and attentiveness simply did not quite match the otherwise elevated atmosphere and quality of the food.
Still, we genuinely enjoyed our evening here and absolutely understand why Minerva's remains one of downtown Sioux Falls' most enduring dining landmarks. It feels like one of those restaurants that generations of locals continue returning to for celebrations, date nights, family dinners, and special occasions, and after our visit, it was easy to see why. read more