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    Independent Ale House

    4.5 (566 reviews)
    ModerateBars, Pizza
    Open • 11:00 am - 12:30 AM (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

    Independent Ale House Photos

    Business Info

    INDEPENDENT ALE HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Independent Ale House

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    This is the beer on draft menu today.
    Julie B.

    Pizza, we had the three pigs, was great. Beer selection was 50+ on tap. Reasonable prices. Great service

    The Legendary Mashed Potato Pizza, though upstaged by the Spinach Artichoke special...
    Wendy H.

    The ONLY reason for a 4 out of 5 is due to the tweaking of the mashed potato pizza. Instead of a few dollops of sour cream, it was drizzled. The Spinach Artichoke special pizza for the win!

    Pepperoni and Italian Pesto Pie
    Janet A.

    Stopped in on a Sunday evening for dinner. Just a block away from the Hyatt, great atmosphere, friendly waitstaff and a vast array of beer and pizza choices. Pizza is flatbread style, we really enjoyed our two choices and drinks.

    Andrea U.

    An old style bar with outdoor tables & 200 craft beers on tap. I sampled the cabana cruiser wheat brew & enjoyed it. Joanna was that waitress she was helpful and accommodating. Prices were very reasonable. We had a good time perusing the menu. A pickled pizza, spicy chicken, mashed potato pizza... So creative and interesting! We shared a carnivore pizza with Canadian bacon, pepperoni, bacon, sausage, ground beef. The pizza was excellent, very flavorful with spicy and smoky hints.

    French onion flatbread
    Dee C.

    Took my granddaughter here for lunch while visiting from California. Food was very good and so was the service. Very friendly and great vibes. Would definitely recommend.

    Bob's Popper Pizza
    Austin B.

    tl;dr the food menu is equal parts fun and flavorful, while the extensive draught list will appeal to weekend warriors and beer snobs alike Across my National Parks travels, I've found bars and breweries to be the safest of bets for reasonable dining in the middle of nowhere. In Rapid City, one of the most popular spots is Independent Ale House in the quaint downtown area. This taproom boasts an extensive list of local and international brews, paired with a cheeky lineup of slightly elevated pub fare. Independent doesn't particularly pop against the well-manicured brick buildings downtown, but it's one of the few spots with steady foot traffic. Warm accent lights dimly light the interior. The exposed-brick walls are decorated with an eclectic assortment of brewery-branded neon signs and antique tchotchkes. Wooden tables flank both sides of the entrance ramp, while upholstered booths are hidden in the back. A human-height blackboard above the bar is chalked with countless color-coded rows of available beers. Contemporary music is drowned out by chatter. My group visited on a weekend for an early dinner, and we had no trouble securing a booth. For brews, I loved my Lost Cabin Lord Grizzly Scotch ale, while my partner enjoyed her Cohort Cranberry Hibiscus mead. Beyond the drinks, I was pleasantly surprised by the pizzas. The oval-shaped pies were about the size of a menu. The thin, chewy crust was more akin to flatbread, but it never felt cheap or fast-food-y. The toppings were pressed close to the edges, and each pie was cut into 8 two-bite slices. Our consensus favorite was the recommended Bob's Popper pizza, a bacon-ranch pie that added a few unorthodox ingredients: cream cheese and raspberry preserves. Put simply, the components just worked. The 3 Little Pigs pizza was no slouch either. The rich combination of meats infused a flavorful savoriness but never felt overwhelmingly greasy. The Dub's Thai pizza combined an ambitious array of ingredients (from peanut sauce to sliced coconut), with an overarching flavor of the cinnamon- and cumin/forward garam masala spice blend. The resulting pie was more fun than forgettable, even if I would try another variety over this one next time. House hot sauces and other dips on the side infused new flavors into any untopped crusts. Beyond pizza, the special Sweet & Salty High Salad (topped with pretzels and popcorn for texture) was an inoffensively playful take on a spinach-and-goat cheese salad. The service was efficient, if not somewhat absentminded -- our server didn't bring water until after food was served, and she nearly forgot one of our items. The pizza was a tad expensive (at $15 for some varieties), but Independent otherwise delivered my most enjoyable and well-rounded meal across the Dakotas.

    Wild Mushroom with Sausage
    Marie S.

    Great atmosphere and flatbreads! Was in Rapid City for work and this was recommended by colleagues. Had the Wild Mushroom and added Sausage - it was delicious! Also offered Kombucha, which was pleasantly refreshing and did not taste like a regular vinegary Kombucha. Our server/bartender was awesome and checked in on us several times. Another great place to check out if staying in Rapid City.

    They let DOGS in here.  Great beer though!
    Rickster F.

    Damn. I hate giving 5 star reviews. But .. .... Expansive list of beers and other stuff .... Food was very good - salad and flat bread .... Johanna's service was extraordinary/superior .... Cool place with a good "vibe" (I hate that term) Yes. Recommended. Just do it.

    Bernardo...two adults can share
    Rob S.

    Good spot for pizza and beer. Over 50 beers on tap. One pizza can be shared with someone else. Inside is very nice however expect the noise to be louder. The bar area has a very nice vi take look. Outdoor seating only had 4 tables and is very limited, but it works. Service here was speedy and polite.

    Bob's Popper Pizza (bottom- THE BEST!! Highly recommend!!) and Italian Pesto Pie (top)
    Marisa E.

    Wow!!! If I could rate it higher I would. I'm not a huge pizza person but I would come back over and over for their Bob's Popper Pizza (Ranch Sauce, Cheese Blend, Jalapeño, Bacon, Cream Cheese,& Raspberry Preserves). I dipped it in their bottle of green hot sauce that was on the table and it was fantastic!! My husband got the Italian pesto pie which was good (and he really enjoyed it) but in my opinion nowhere near as good as the popper pizza. We both got the Blakes Triple Jam Cider and that was also phenomenal!! Loved it sooo much!! Wish we lived here!! (Or this was in DC )

    Maura L.

    Great beer selection, but the spicy chicken pizza has absolutely no taste of BBQ and tasted like the sauce base was just Frank's Red Hot. Otherwise the Greek salad was fantastic!

    3 Little Pigs

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    2 months ago

    The services fast and friendly. The pizza is my favorite in town as I like the New York style, and they do the thin crust exquisitely.

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    4 months ago

    The pizzas are amazing! I enjoy the unique choices on specials, it always makes for a fun lunch or dinner.

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    Page 1 of 15

    Ask the Community - Independent Ale House

    Do they allow dogs on their patio?

    sure, if the dog does not bark, for no good reason, I think it is a welcome guest. But if you have one of those dogs that bark at everything, and you simply say "It's just friendly and participating" stay away.

    Gluten free options?

    Yes. They do have a gluten free dough. I believe it's a little extra but the option is available.

    View All 3 Questions

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    Press Start - Mac and cheese with smiley fries

    Press Start

    3.9(38 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    •$

    This place was so cute and fun. It was such a nice stop when visiting the area. I wish we would…read morehave had more time to spend here. The people working here were so welcoming and inclusive. They have cool drinks both alcohol and na options and food and lots of old fun games and some newer stuff too. There's a couple different floors of stuff and so much to explore. I even made a little video about it on my Instagram page because it was so unique and perfect fitting in their beautiful downtown area. We will definitely make this trip again one of these days and will spend some more time at press start!

    Go here for the games, but skip the pizza…read more Came here with the family. The kids love an arcade! They loved playing games and getting tickets and then getting their junky candy and trinkets as prizes. We did eat here on our first visit. I ordered a wedge salad and shared a pepperoni and mushroom pizza with my husband. The kids had kids meals. Portions were huge, but the food was pretty unremarkable or worse. The wedge salad was off. I think the lettuce had frozen and then then thawed. After one bite, I decided to stop eating rather than risk food poisoning. The pizza was maybe a step up above Chuck E Cheese? Bland but very greasy/oily. The kids meals had huge portions that neither kid could finish. I had a cocktail that was mostly juice. Very drinkable because it was juice. Thankfully it was a bargain (only $9.99). But other than the food stuff, the family had fun here. Enough that my husband took the kids back again (after dinner) the next night.

    Photos
    Press Start
    Press Start - Mushroom and pepperoni pizza

    Mushroom and pepperoni pizza

    Press Start - Inside

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    Inside

    Paddy O'Neill's Irish Pub & Grill - Rapid City

    Paddy O'Neill's Irish Pub & Grill - Rapid City

    3.6(198 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    •$

    I visited Paddy O'Neill's Irish Pub & Grill during my last visit to Rapid City, SD in May 2026 and…read moreenjoyed my lunch and the excellent service. The place was selected by realtor as she is a native of Rapid City and knows the restaurant well and highly recommended it. Interestingly, it was not busy when I arrived a little before Noon. It grew somewhat more crowded as lunchtime went on. My realtor and I both ordered BLT sandwiches which came out promptly. I asked for mine on white toast; the bacon was cooked perfectly, and the lettuce was crisp and the tomato perfectly ripe and juicy. It made for a nice little mess! :-) The establishment has been redone internally and while the building may have once been a car repair garage, it is clean, inviting and decorated well. Our server was excellent. I plan to try the place for dinner when I am next in Rapid City. Give it a try, their selections are pretty comprehensive and reasonably priced.

    This has gone continuously downhill. Customer service is very much lacking and relied on…read moreblameshifting. *The ONLY good was the attentive and polite kitchen staff.* This establishment wouldn't survive if they were not attached to a local landmark. Watched as the bartender was putting dirty things into the trash, touching dirty plates/drinks, pouring drinks, and taking payment. There was absolutely no handwashing between any of these tasks. It is now circling the drain, and would be best suited for a complete overhaul.

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    Paddy O'Neill's Irish Pub & Grill - Rapid City
    Paddy O'Neill's Irish Pub & Grill - Rapid City
    Paddy O'Neill's Irish Pub & Grill - Rapid City - Paddy's

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    Paddy's

    Teddy's Sports Grill

    Teddy's Sports Grill

    2.4(7 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    •$$

    If you want to watch football in Rapid, Teddy's is definitely the place to go!…read more When I lived in SD I used to go to Teddy's every other weekend to watch games. I'm a Bears fan and there are always other Bears fans there, so we generally get a big screen to ourselves to drink beer and eat good food and watch a game. The place is huge and there are TV's all over the place so you can get by watching a couple of games at a time. I've never been there to watch any other sports, but I'm sure it's the same. The staff is really friendly and cool and they'll put a TV on whatever you want (well, as long as it's sports . . .). The food is pretty good. I noticed that sometimes the nachos were good and sometimes they were fair. The inferno wings are REALLY hot. The chicken sandwich isn't bad. But the best thing is that if you hit it during happy hour (which you most likely will during a game), you get big discounts. The beer here is good. They carry a few of my faves but the selection isn't top notch. But the bartenders are super cool and friendly and that is what I like. The place is HUGE. Two sets of bathrooms which makes it great when it's busy and it's always clean. There's several pool tables and dart games and such. And if you like dancing, the other half of the bar is dance club. It's hoppin' on Fri/Sat nights. That's not really my scene though and I prefer the sports bar side. I really miss Sunday's at Teddy's now that I'm back in CA. It was one of the best places to watch football that I've ever been to.

    Weekend nights are fun. Pool tables not hard to get on, drinks are served quickly, but I did have…read moreone bad experience that ruined it for me. The beer pong tournements. A friend of mine was playing in one. Being as that he is there every weekend, the staff knew him pretty well. They knew he was military and had orders to leave soon. Same guy made it to the finals of this beer pong tournement, before the game started, the ref gave the winnings to the other team because they were also usuals. When my friend asked why, they replied, "because you have orders and want them to come back." Soon after we tried to report then to the better business borough and they had no record of Teddy's or moonshiners. Service-5 Establishment-3 Management-1 Policys-1 Comes out to about a 2

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    Teddy's Sports Grill
    Teddy's Sports Grill
    Teddy's Sports Grill

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    Juniper at Vertex Sky Bar - Logo

    Juniper at Vertex Sky Bar

    3.6(138 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    •$$

    If you go in recognizing that this is a gourmet experience that emphasizes the presentation and…read moretaste profile in lieu of portion size, then you should be very satisfied. Our entrees were expertly prepared and presented. They offered a number of lovely cocktails that pleased the rest of my party, while I enjoyed a glass of the lovely Austin Hope Cab. I'm knocking off a star for the excessively loud 80's music curated by an aging DJ, along with over-worked waitstaff that were challenged to respond to every party. Expensive (for Rapid City), but a lovely splurge to celebrate the birthday of our friend. I only wish that the temperature (103F at 6 pm) would have allowed us to sit on the rooftop patio.

    An amazing restaurant at the top of the historic Alex Johnson hotel! We are visiting Rapid City and…read moreMt. Rushmore for Independence Day this year. We made reservations a few months ago for this restaurant. Very thankful we did as it was full to the brim! The decor and ambiance brought us back to the roaring 20's. Our server, Alexis, was awesome. She was highly informative and gave us greet recommendations! I had the watermelon and strawberry gazpacho as an appetizer! Refreshing with spicy twist....delicious! Wish I had the recipe! My husband & I had the specialty pasta for the evening....a ricotta and herb filled tortellini with a melt in your mouth herbed chicken breast...all in a creamy light red sauce. Fantastic! Our friends had the beef filet (cooked perfectly by the way) and the Elk ribs. They both said they were the best they've ever had! We all shared the combination dessert plate....plentiful! Overall an amazing experience! Highly recommended!

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    Juniper at Vertex Sky Bar
    Juniper at Vertex Sky Bar
    Juniper at Vertex Sky Bar

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    Independent Ale House - bars - Updated September 2026

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