Blue Ribbon Diner

Blue Ribbon Diner on East Dakota Avenue in Pierre, South Dakota's state capital, is a straightforward and well-loved American diner that has served the city's government workers, families, and passing travelers for years. Pierre is a small city — home to the state capitol building — and Blue Ribbon Diner functions as one of its most reliable community anchors. The menu is classic diner territory, executed with care and priced accessibly for this modest Midwestern capital city. The walleye sandwich has become the restaurant's most celebrated item, honoring South Dakota's freshwater fishing tradition with a lightly breaded and fried walleye fillet served on a toasted bun with house-made tartar sauce — a dish that represents the Great Plains diner tradition at its most regionally specific. Homemade pies rotate daily and are frequently cited as the reason locals return; fruit and cream varieties appear depending on the season. The Sunrise Skillet, a cast-iron breakfast combination of potatoes, eggs, cheese, and a choice of protein, is the most popular morning plate. The diner is open six days a week with reduced Sunday hours, closing mid-afternoon to reflect its breakfast-and-lunch orientation. No reservations are accepted; the small dining room operates on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the week.