Date Night in Sioux Falls: Parker’s Bistro

This is the Date Night feature: a regular look at a standout restaurant, wine bar, or experience in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area, from me, Jennifer Krosch, a Realtor with eXp Realty. This week's pick is Parker's Bistro at 210 S Main Avenue downtown, a chef-driven, contemporary American restaurant set in one of the city's last original Sioux quartzite buildings, and a long-running local favorite for a romantic night out.

What makes it special

Parker's Bistro has been a downtown fixture since September 2009, seating about 100 guests in the historic Ballard Block, one of the city's last original Sioux quartzite buildings and a contributing property to the Sioux Falls Downtown Historic District. The room is intimate and quietly romantic, with an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs work. The kitchen is chef-driven and seasonal, led by Executive Chef Carter Newcomb-Weiland, and the bar pours handcrafted cocktails with a full wine and beer list.

The reputation is the draw. OpenTable diners rate Parker's Bistro around 4.6 out of 5 with more than 1,100 reviews, and it is a recurring OpenTable Diners' Choice honoree for best food in Sioux Falls, fine wines, and innovative restaurants in South Dakota. TripAdvisor reviewers give it about 4.4 out of 5. It is the kind of place people book for anniversaries and birthdays, and it shows in the pace and the service.

What to order

The menu changes with the season, so part of the fun is seeing what the chef is working with. Recent menus have featured Wagyu steak and house-made pastas, with handcrafted cocktails behind the bar. For a reliable finish, the Citrus Olive Oil Cake (yuzu cake, orange blossom frosting, pistachio, about $15) is on the dessert menu and reviewers single it out as a must-try. Because the menu turns, check the current menu on parkersbistro.net and let the staff point you to the night's best plates.

Price range

Parker's Bistro sits at the upscale end of a downtown date night. OpenTable lists it around $31 to $50 per person and rates it at three dollar signs, so it is a special-occasion pick rather than a casual weeknight dinner. A couple with a few courses and a bottle will land comfortably in that range, and the pace encourages taking your time.

Hours and reservations

Parker's Bistro is dinner only: Monday through Thursday from 4:30 to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 4:30 to 10 p.m. It is closed on Sundays. Reservations are recommended and can be made through the Reservations tab on parkersbistro.net, by calling 605-250-1322, or on OpenTable.

If the evening runs long, the adjacent Myrtle's Fur Vault & Bar at 208 S Main Ave is a 2023 expansion of Parker's Bistro in the historic Frye Furs building, and it serves the full Parker's menu with lounge hours Monday through Saturday from 4 p.m.

The realtor's take

I feature spots like this because a great date night is part of what makes a neighborhood feel like home. Downtown Sioux Falls is a big draw for the relocating buyers I work with, and Parker's Bistro is a good example of the historic, walkable dining scene that is hard to capture in a listing photo. If you are visiting town to look at homes, plan a relaxed dinner here and then take a short stroll down Main Avenue or over to the river to feel the neighborhood for yourself.

FAQ: Parker's Bistro