We had an absolutely wonderful dinner here recently. We were seated outside on the patio with our dog, and able to enjoy the gorgeous sunset while we ate. The ambiance was lovely and warm with the cool evening breeze, light music in the distance and the sparkle of the sunset on the water. The overall vibe does feel a bit bourgeois but not in a bad way. You can tell they know they're very good at what they do. It seemed like most of the people here were regulars. When we first arrived there wasn't anyone at the front of house to greet us and we did have to wander around a bit before finding someone which took longer than expected and was a little awkward. It was also kind of a surprising for an establishment that is obviously sophisticated, however, once we were seated, the service was friendly, attentive and never rushed. The food was absolutely incredible. We had hoped to order the roasted onion fleishkuekle but we were advised that they were out of ingredients to prepare it. I ordered the Hasselhoffs, which were rich, comforting and packed with flavor. My mind kept telling me to eat slow and savor it, but my mouth wanted to gobble it down it was so good. It was like really elevated home cooking. My husband had the Fine Schwein, which was a braised pork dish. It was wonderfully savory and deeply flavored and was beautifully prepared and presented. He really enjoyed. We finished with a kitchen for dessert and everything we ate was outstanding. Despite the small hiccup at the start and the unavailable dish that we were hoping for, this was one of our best dining experiences in a long time. The setting the quality of the food and the overall atmosphere made for a fantastic evening for my husband and I and it is a place we would definitely return to regularly. read more

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tl;dr the service is comically poor and the food falls flat at this riverfront neo-Nordic cocktail bar Bismarck, North Dakota, was named in honor of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, and the population has a strong German and Scandinavian background. So, it seems fitting that one of the most popular restaurants is a German- and Scandinavian-inspired cocktail bar: the Huckleberry House. Part of the Missouri Valley Heritage Alliance's riverfront revival project, the Huckleberry made its debut on the Missouri River in 2022. (The restaurant's name is a reference to Huckleberry Finn, who rafted along the Missouri in the eponymous Mark Twain novel.) Since its opening, the restaurant has become a favorite among locals, and Head Chef Cody Monson was even named a James Beard Award semi-finalist for 2025. The Huckleberry shares a riverfront post-and-beam warehouse with the Lewis and Clark Riverboat ticketing office. The minimalistic decor feels straight out of Ikea. The HVAC is left exposed toward the peaks of the soaring ceilings. The firetruck-red garage door windows and the vibrant houseplants provide the only pops of color against the otherwise whitewashed walls and lightwood furnishings. Half-booths run the length of the restaurant, flanked on either side by trim two-seaters and larger bartop tables. Woven chairs are organized underneath expansive umbrellas on the riverside patio. Soft instrumental is barely audible above the respectful din of chatter. Sunshine through the wide windows leaves the un-air-conditioned dining room feeling uncomfortably balmy. We arrived for weekday dinner, and immediately, the service was palpably poor. The staff declined to seat us in order to "pace the kitchen." Despite the nearly empty house, we weren't seated for 45 minutes, and we were over an hour in before having the opportunity to order. At least we had ample time to thoroughly review the menu beforehand -- or so we thought. Our waitress rattled off items that the kitchen was out of, and it was nearly half the menu. No matter, we quickly adapted and asked for every plate to be brought out as it was completed. Fortunately, this was only a matter of minutes (shorter, even, than the time between being seated and our order being taken). The best dish, surprisingly, was the Hasselhoffs (an elevated take on tater tot hotdish). Although the tater tots were obviously the frozen grocery store variety, they were paired with an eyebrow-raisingly dynamic combination of rich cheese sauce and tangy sauerkraut. The Buttermilk Chicken Schnitzel was passable; the overcooked chicken was at least crispy, and tasty charred cabbage helped cover up the gummy spaetzle egg noodles. The Smorbrod (a traditional open-faced sandwich in rye) had memorable soggy bread; otherwise, the beef and blue cheese were forgettable. The mashed potatoes-esque Curried Pumpkin Knoephla (German dumplings) was heavy on the curry spices and exceedingly light on the pumpkin or knoephla. One member of our party asked if the dish actually did have pumpkin, to which our waitress tried to explain that the pumpkin was kept to a minimum because patrons don't like the flavor of it (I wondered to myself why those pumpkin-hating people would order a dish with "pumpkin" in the name in the first place). Lastly, the Peachy Keen salad was topped with sliced apple instead of peaches; however, our server inexcusably neglected to tell us about this swap until after the salad had hit the table, offering little more than a shrug ("peaches are out of season right now"). In stark contrast to our extended wait for a table, our server was quick to usher us out the door. She slapped a check onto the table before we even finished our meal (without even the cursory mention of dessert). It felt as though the staff were in a hurry to close up early, even though it was just after 8PM. The prices weren't outlandish (the appetizers were all less than $20, and our entree was less than $30), but no dish was worth the price. While the ambitious fare sounded thrilling in theory, it fell flat in practice. And service was laughably unpalatable; I needed a full debrief afterward to believe what I had just experienced. Regrettably, I'd be more likely to recommend McDonald's than the Huckleberry; at least McDonald's won't take 2 hours and $100+ to serve you food that only loosely adheres to the menu description. read more

Huckleberry House - Buttermilk Chicken Schnitzel - Comfort Food Near Me - Bismarck, North Dakota

The first restaurant we tried in Bismarck was a hit! The waffle was crispy and light. We had their crispy chicken sandwich to share and it was so delicious we didn't get to take a picture. I did not have a handmade cocktail but heard it was amazing. read more

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Really good brunch menu, quality presentation and taste. Fun drinks and great view of the river. Highly recommend . read more

This restaurant has so many windows to provide natural lighting and would be a great option on a nice sunny day to enjoy their patio. The day we dined was too windy to sit on the patio. The hasselhoffs were delicious and perfect for sharing. I wasn't sure about the sauerkraut, but it worked well to cut through the grease and richness of the tots and cheese sauce. The fishwhich had a generous portion of walleye in it and I loved the shoestring fries. The spatzle was very rich and way too cheesy and creamy for my husband. It basically was like a bacon mac and cheese dish. The bison burger was a little dry, but not completely dried out like a lot of bison burgers can be. It got an overall thumbs up in taste. Service was okay. Our server was replaced by someone else who bluntly said he didn't know what he was doing, but would do his best to figure it out. He did fine, but it was weird hearing that proclamation. I wish they offered their dinner items during lunch. I was hoping to try out the dinner menu, but the day we dined the restaurant was closed for dinner service for a private event. read more

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This was the first restaurant we tried while staying in Bismarck for a few months, and we went back a handful of times to really give it a shot. But it just kept failing at different avenues. Firstly, the location and view can't be beat. Period. The interior is clean and well lit, and the patio is spacious. Bathrooms are clean and bright. Of the food items we've had, they were mostly ok with a few excellent outliers (I honestly can't remember the menu items now, because most of the time they were unavailable). Service had always been quite slow, and I mean SLOW. What really irked me was every single time, there were several items not available from the menu. What makes that even worse is just how small the menu actually is! At one point, we even had to leave after having an advanced reservation for 4 adults and several kids, after being told practically everything we had ordered was unavailable! It's as if they don't keep stock of... well, everything they need to make their menu items. Another thing worth mentioning, we never got a hostess who made eye contact or who seemed interested in her job. Management needs to seriously step it up on several fronts--y'all have the potential to make this a really amazing place! read more

It was a delicious lunch! I had the white buffalo sandwich which was amazing. My mother had the fish sandwich and loved it. The portions are generous. It was a nice leisurely lunch. read more

This was a very comfortable dining room with a beautiful river view. I can only imagine how nice it is in the deck in the summer. The chicken schnitzel was delicious, although the chicken to cabbage ratio was way off. Maybe 4 oz. Of chicken at best, with a sprinkling of spatzle. The flavor was very nice however. The Ribeye was tasty and I enjoyed the potato side as well. I think there was a drizzle of lingonberry sauce that really made the dish pop. Service was friendly and professional and prices were very reasonable. As we finished our meal, the server brought the check with no mention of dessert. Maybe they were hoping to close early. 8 pm on a Saturday night and we appeared to be the last table. read more

I don't leave bad reviews often, but The Huckleberry House absolutely earned this one. From the start, the experience was a mess. It took 40 minutes just to get seated, even though there were several empty tables in plain sight. No explanation, no apology just a bored host who barely acknowledged us. Once we were finally seated, things somehow got worse. Over half the menu was unavailable. No burgers, no salads. At that point, we should've left. I settled for The Clucker sandwich, and I regret it. The chicken was dry and flavorless, the bun was soggy, and the sauce tasted like cheap cafeteria dressing. My friend ordered the pretzel appetizer, which came out tough, lukewarm, and laughably overpriced. The service was slow and indifferent. It took 20 minutes to get our drinks, and the staff looked more annoyed than apologetic anytime we asked a question. The atmosphere didn't help either dim lighting, sticky tables, and a musty smell that hit as soon as we walked in. All around, The Huckleberry House felt like a place that had run out of energy, effort, and most of its food. Easily one of the worst dining experiences I've had in years. Save your time and your money this place is all name and no quality. 2/10 read more

The Hucklebeery House is located right on the beautiful Missouri River. The food was outstanding. The chef menu was perfect. They have a regular menu and Chef specials of the day that are amazing. The service was perfect and wait staff was friendly. The food came exactly as expected, quick and hot!! You need to go here. It will not disappoint. read more

The menu and location is very good. Yet The overall service needs help. Making guests to wait for 15 minutes without bringing waters and asking if we wanted a drink was lame. We had to resit ourselves at the bar to get service. read more

If you're ever in the area, you must come here! My dad and I were on a road trip from California to North Dakota. He wanted to pull over somewhere and take pictures of the Missouri river. It was almost dinner time, so while I was searching for a place on Yelp, I happened to notice a cute restaurant along the shore. I tried searching for some reviews or insights on what the menu was, but found nothing. Huckleberry House did not have a Yelp or Google Maps page yet. We decided to give it a try and it were so pleased. The food was delicious and the staff was super friendly. We ate outside on the patio and the ambiance was simply wonderful. read more

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Great hamburger Walleye...looks like a hotdog. Overpriced!! Service. We were there on a Saturday night and there were very few people there and lots of waiters. So why did we always have to look for our waiter. No one ever checked after food was delivered to check if it was ok or whether we needed anything...like a second drink. Staff definitely needs to train their waiters read more

Good Scandinavian food in a riverside setting. Awesome wait staff, too. One minor nitpick: The restaurant staff was really busy that night, which meant the host was scrambling to set tables, fill water glasses, etc. So we had to wait a long time to be seated. Other than that? A really good experience. read more

Traveling through North Dakota, which has a very large Scandinavian population, I was excited to check out Huckleberry House, a delightful restaurant on the Missouri River that re-imagines traditional Scandinavian dishes. I started with the Widow Maker - Widow Jane 10-year, gunpowder green tea syrup, and smoked thyme. The drink came to the table smoking. This paired perfectly with the Devil's Eggs. No ordinary deviled eggs these, but rather smoked eggs, horseradish, smoked chilis, crème fraiche, pickled mustard seeds, and chives. What a fantastic combination! I went with a second appetizer for my entree: Köttbullar - Swedish-style bison meatballs with allspice gravy, lingonberry, and crispy potatoes. The dense and flavorful meatballs needed the creaminess of the gravy and the tang of the lingonberries (together, they were filling and tasty). Dessert was lefse (Norwegian flatbread/pancake), which I believe was layered with white-chocolate cream and nuts and topped with a bourbon-banana glaze and sliced bananas. The view of the Missouri River is stunning, and the staff was very friendly. read more

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I had the breakfast Hasselhoffs. It was very good, even with the sourkraut, which I normally wouldn't like, but I decided to try it any way, and I am glad I did. The service was excellent, and I liked the ambiance. read more

Huckleberry house called me 2 hrs before an important meeting we had reserved for 8 at their restaurant telling me their dining service and bar service was limited that night. I wasn't too happy especially since they have a 24 hr cancelation policy and I'm just given 2 hours to try and make something else work? I told them this and was promptly hung up on. Sorry Huckleberry House you just lost 8 potential customers and probably more. A bad reputation just keeps on building. read more

The smoked deviled eggs are delicious! I also had their pistachio kuchen and it is incredible! The crust was soft and the custard with macerated apricots on top were really good. Who'd a thought? read more

Braydon is very entertaining, thorough and witty. Trainer Tru is very kind and polite, very attentive and kind. Love the managers T Jacobs is so helpful and accommodating. One of the best Manhattans I've had in Western ND. Ambiance, Service, Drinks and Food Fantastic. We will definitely return when we are in Bismarck read more

inconsiderate non-apologetic once in a lifetime graduation experienced ruined. They kept us on the hook for an hour and a half to two hours before taking our order. They served other people while we waited. They ran out of food. Table of 12 read more

Went at 6p with coworkers 12pple out of half the menu. Order a signature drink took 15 min to arrive then was told they ran out of rum

Had their pretzel bun eggs benedict, bison bleu burger, and deviled eggs. They all were amazing. Great quality food! Definitely will order there again. Love to see a local artisan Scandinavian restaurant. read more

The chef knows what they are doing. I tried the buttermilk chicken schnitzel and Huckleberry Cooler. Man... the food reminds me of Folktale Winery in Carmel. Each ingredient compliments each other. I live in the Monterey, CA peninsula and this place would flourish over there, no doubt. The bartender Dante recommended both the dish and drink. Shoutout to him because it was the perfect combo. 10/10. read more

Huckleberry House - buttermilk chicken schnitzel - Comfort Food Near Me - Bismarck, North Dakota

Amazing views of the river from the Huckleberry House wall of windows. Interesting drink and food menu and the service was outstanding. There's an outdoor patio if the weather is good. It's a must stop destination the next time you're in Bismarck. read more

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This review is a repeat of all 1 star reviews: long wait, rude owners, indifferent & rude service, no food...too bad.

Here are the things we liked. The location right on the river is great (I'm sure it would be even more enjoyable in the summer when the patio is open). The restaurant is super clean and modern looking. The food was very creative. We especially liked the deconstructed kuchen. The cocktails were also on point. We went pretty early, so there was no wait, but it filled up fast and there were people waiting for a table the entire time we were there, and they don't take reservations. Service was friendly and efficient. Here are the things we like less. The chairs were not comfortable. There was no place to hang coats. If you read the familiar dish names on the menu expecting Norwegian or German food, that is not what they have. They have creative "interpretations" of traditional dishes. Some work better than others. Despite having meat in the name, the fleischkuekle has no meat. The cheese buttons have a lot of deep fried breading and very little cheese. On the other hand the walleye was delicious. They're kind of new, so I have high hopes. read more

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Great food, atmosphere, and staff. Went here w a party of 6. The view of the river off the balcony was beautiful. We ordered a bottle of wine and an the fleishkekla appetizer starter. Ordered a wide variety of food and tasted most of the dishes at the table. We finished off w three desserts. Couple of the dishes were needing a touch more character and the carrot cake was a bit dry but these are little details vs the whole experience. I have eaten throughout the world and honestly, this is a gem anywhere but in ND was unexpected surprise. Highly recommend. read more

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We went here for the first time and it was a very pleasant experience. The huckleberry house is a mid level upscale restaurant with a highly refined menu with Nordic influence. The views all around the restaurant are reflected in the simple, modern, and clean interior. Our server was extremely helpful and patient. Our table ordered an array of items including a chicken sandwich, fish, meatball, and fleishkuekle. The flavors were Nuanced and subtle but clearly high quality. The best dish at our table was the Swedish meatball, it was like thanksgiving on a plate it had rich gravy and a sweet berry sauce. The wine for the table was a moscato frizzante from Breton vineyard which was delicious, light and fruity. My Cocktail the huckleberry cooler was one of the best cocktails I have ever had it was sweet, summery and well rounded. The Desserts we ordered were a cardamom carrot cake, lefsa, and a pistachio kuchen. To be honest the carrot cake was disappointing it was not moist, the carrots should've been grated smaller and the frosting was more of a whip consistency than one would usually expect from a cream cheese frosting. The lefsa was decent and had an amazing salted caramel, but the best was the pistachio Kuchen with peach topping. I personally am not a huge fan of pistachios but it was a light, subtle flavor that was just nutty enough to compliment the sweet peaches. read more

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We were visiting Bismarck from AZ and attempted to eat here twice. First night we were told it was reservations only. Tried lunch another day, but they ran out of all sandwiches... practically the only thing on the menu and we found out as we were being seated, so we left. The actual restaurant was super cute with a great view of the river, but unfortunately we can't review the food. read more

Amazing new restaurant next to the Missouri River. The inside is light and airy, with patio seating as well. While waiting for our table, a server offered to get us drinks in the waiting area. After being seated, our very attentive young waiter(Braeden) brought us a pitcher of water immediately. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and offered great suggestions. We had smoked eggs for an appetizer. They were delicious! My husband had the Swedish Meatball, also delicious. I decided on the Short Rib. Both entrees were fresh and beautifully presented. For dessert, we splurged on 3 of the 4 offerings. The Lefse cake was our favorite, followed by the carrot cake, then the kuchen, but all were oustanding,with out of the ordinary ingredients and all prepared in house. Our compliments to the Executive Chef and his kitchen staff. This is the best meal I've had since moving to North Dakota and one of the best meals I've ever had. We will definitely be back. Bismarck, don't let this gem of a restaurant close! read more

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The muffins were delicious and had wonderful appearance. Gave as gift and to my surprise she gave me a couple warm muffins.

We've been to Huckleberry House a few times now and most things we've ordered looked and tasted different than we expected -but in the very best way. The walleye was wrapped like an egg roll and the fleishkuekle had potatoes in place of meat. Both were delicious! My favorites so far are the grilled beef skewers and the Swedish Meatball which is max comfort food. The signature drinks are great. I really enjoyed the Salma Hayek but the 5.5oz glasses don't do any favors when it when it's 90 degrees on the deck. The riverside setting makes it a perfect place to bring visitors from out of town. All in all very good! read more

Lovely location, but mixed experience. The chicken schnitzel was delicious, but the spaetzle was doughy and contributed nothing to the dish. The steak was a bit tough and lacked flavor. It was fun that they offered mocktails, but the one I had tasted only of lemonade. The seats are uncomfortable and service felt indifferent. The 'pastry' was dense and heavy. We will return as we were told they serve a great brunch, but I hope it will be more consistent. read more

Tried it for the first time and was not disappointed. There was a 20 minute table wait, but I could sit and dine at the bar right away. The servers were friendly and quick. Cocktails were great. I have a food sensitivity request and the kitchen was accommodating. The menu is shallow, check before coming if food is what you want. Very cute and clean inside. read more

Huckleberry House - Delicious lavender flavored drink with an edible hibiscus topper - Comfort Food Near Me - Bismarck, North Dakota

This place is amazing. Contemporary. Welcoming. Unique. Right on the river (hence Huckleberry in the name). Lots of seating options, indoors and out. Gourmet North Dakota comfort food (Norwegian/German with a twist but not upity)! Sista and I stopped for drinks and fell in love with all the menu has to offer. read more

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What an amazing atmosphere & experience! Beautifully nestled on the banks of the Missouri River. Friendly and helpful service, great food & marvelous drinks. Definitely a MUST in Bismarck/Mandan!!! read more

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The service was amazing. The *only* reason for the three stars is they were out of certain foods, and the fact that the site led is to believe they were open later than they were. That was the hours for their sunset cruise, not the restaurant so our meal ended up being rushed and we couldn't even have dessert. read more

we went there for my wife's 50th birthday, and they gave her a free dessert, which was very good. Phenomenal food with a great atmosphere overlooking the Missouri river. The deviled eggs are wonderful with a glass of the house Chardonnay. The service was phenomenal and you could tell she really cared about her job and her guests. It is a great place for summer as they have a large deck overlooking the river have been there many times during, the summer to overlook the river good variety of food would highly recommend. read more

we went on Saturday they had a valentine special,the service was amazing and so was the food i did give it 4 stars due to our second dish coming out cold it was really good but the only thing that seemed just a tad bit warm was the potatoes read more

The food was superb. Limited menu but everything we had was delicious. Would come back for sure.