The Pastime Marmarth, North Dakota

The Pastime of Marmarth is approaching legendary status. From the front it looks like any old Great Plains tavern, and in fact, the front half of the interior is just a regular tavern, with local patrons and sojourning roughnecks chugging beers and swapping stories. Go into the back dining room, though, and you enter a surreal environment of campy pretension and remarkably good food. Check it out.--TI 7/12/99

The lighting was low, the lime-green walls were hung with framed stills from silent movies. The tables were set with green linen tablecloths and napkins to match, with a vase of fresh flowers to each table. The high-school waitstaff were kitted out in tight black skirts and trousers, with white dress shirts and black ties. The male diners were eating filet mignon and Chanteaubriand steaks with their Stetsons set back on the heads, and exchanging rainfall figures in one-hundredths of an inch. There was a wine list. It was short, but it was a wine list.--Jonathan Raban, in Bad Land

I first began eating at this particular steakhouse in 1993. I still go there, I love the food and the hometown people that greet you when you walk in the door. The food is the finest quality you can buy, the filet melts in your mouth, the pastas are lovely, and they have the BEST ribeye I have ever tasted! The staff is wonderful and very caring about your needs and expectations in such a fine dining atmosphere. It is a very well known establishment and for good reason, I sincerely suggest the Steakhouse if ever you are in North Dakota.--Melody R. Carroll, Dining Room Manager, LatchString Inn