I want to give 4.5 stars. My favorite part of the meal was the cardmonum kettle corn with sunflower seeds they give you at the end! This stuff is so surprising, novel, and delightful. I came here because of the high yelp and tripadvisor ratings. I ordered the roast corn and bison soup and the sautéed bison medallions as an entree. The soup had a nice flavor but was unremarkable. The bison medallions were very tasty with wonderful flavor and cooked very nicely. The ambience doesn't totally match the food, for example, the tables were covered in paper and each table has crayons. I'm not complaining, it just didn't seem to have a cohesive theme. My one hangup was the small portions for what I think are pretty high prices. Another thing worth mentioning is my friend is a vegetarian and there weren't many options available for him. Overall this restaurant was definitely worth checking out and the food was very good. read more

Pirogue Grille - Sautéed ND bison medallions with bordelaise sauce, and roast barley pilaf - New American Near Me - Bismarck, North Dakota

Absolutely great food and service! We had a party of 8, they seated us at a big round table and didn't miss a thing, drinks were delivered on a timely basis, food was delivered at one time and every meal was done to perfection. Will definitely return on my next visit ti Bismarck. read more

The Pirogue Grille is by far our favorite restaurant in Bismarck. We have been going for years and they never disappoint. The staff is professional and go above and beyond. The food is perfection. We recommend trying one of their steaks or the scallops. Their seafood specials are always good. We also love the potstickers. You can't go wrong with the Pirogue. read more

See all

We had the specials for Mother's Day and they were both awesome. I had the Alaskan Halibut and it was delicious.

After a long day at work, I stopped in for appetizers at the bar. They still service their full menu there, but in addition, there are some bar bites that are only available in the front of the house. For March Madness, (almost) all appetizers and bar bites were 1/2 price, which meant I got quite a smattering. You wouldn't think of Bismarck North Dakota being such a haven for game meat, but the deer sausage was wonderfully smoky and surprisingly lean. The BBQ sauce on the rabbit was a little sweet for my tastes, but the wild rice cake it came on was a wonderful crunchy counterpoint. The fish three ways (cake, smoked, and prosciutto-wrapped) was also flavorful, distinct takes on the same fish that was really well-executed. The staff was friendly and I got to meet some locals who were regulars, they couldn't say enough good things about it. read more

Real five star. From the service (Deb) to the food. Nothing pretend or just for show here.. Just the right size plates. Exquisite. Delicate. Perfect. read more

Pirogue Grille - Walleye perfectly done. Savory with just a very small touch of sweetness. Exquisite. - New American Near Me - Bismarck, North Dakota

Had the bbq rabbit appetizer, buffalo corn soup, and the lamb chops. The rabbit was good but in a small portion, the soup was excellent, and the lamb chops were also well done. Very please with the service as well. read more

Pirogue Grille - Rabbit appetizer! - New American Near Me - Bismarck, North Dakota

This restaurant is one of the best I've been to in a long time. I was traveling with a family of 5 and we arrived thirty minutes before they closed. They seated us and allowed us time to look over the menu without rushing us. The service was effective and quick while also not interrupting out conversation. The servers are kind and personable. They were knowledgeable about the menu and answered questions with detail. The decor was a conversation starter because of its beautiful artwork. The artwork isn't too distracting while also adding to the overall design. The tables are set up in a way that one doesn't feel crowded or too far away from everyone else, which allows people to feel they have privacy and feel connected to others at the same time. The restrooms were spotless, which is hard to maintain in the food industry. They had simplistic decor that was appealing to the eye. This decor adds a calming touch without causing need to linger in the restroom for a long time to study it (unless you're an art fanatic). The paper towels were the softest I have ever felt in my life and I wish I knew where to buy them. Now onto the menu, the menu has very diverse options where almost everyone can find something they like. Most of their menu options are locally sourced, allowing a very unique style of options. Their plating is quite pleasing. The proportions of food are healthy and perfect. They don't give too little and they don't give too much. Most people can finish the plate with ease without feeling the need to order more (Except maybe Dessert). Their desert options have something everyone will love: from the youngest child to the pickiest eater. It is plated beautifully and has wonderful and diverse options. Each item is created with care. Overall, this restaurant is unique and wonderful. Everyone in my family found something to enjoy, from the pickiest eater, to the one who'll eat everything. I would definitely come again. read more

Pirogue Grille - The Arnold Palmer is really pretty - New American Near Me - Bismarck, North Dakota

Have never been disappointed here. Food and atmosphere are wonderful. Service is top notch. Best place in Bismarck

My husband and I were in Bismarck to meet our first grandchild. We felt it would be wonderful to treat our daughter and son-in-law to a fine dining experience. Pirogue Grille delivered all across the board. Our granddaughter is three weeks old and they were most accommodating having a stroller. Grandma was comforting the baby while her entree arrived. Staff took her entree to keep warm. I was concerned that the protein, bison, would be overdone due to the warming process. No, it was perfect and I like my red meat rare.....actually still moving! Considering that my husband and I come from the NY area and eat at very highly rated establishments on a regular basis I would look forward to visiting Pirogue Grille on out next trip to Bismarck! Kudos all around! read more

This was one of the best restaurants I have eaten at in a long time! We had a couple of specialty drinks - Cherry Limeade and Brown Sugar Mojito - both very good. My husband had Bison Medallions in a bordelaise sauce, which he loved, and I had the Yorkshire Pork Chop witb rhubarb and orange sauce, and it was delicious. We both had the dill mashed potatoes, they were awesome. We loved everything about this place!! read more

Pirogue Grille - New American Near Me - Bismarck, North Dakota

If there is a finer restaurant in Bismarck, I would love to see it. Everything about fine dining was here. Attentive staff, elegant atmosphere and delicious food. The martini was smooth. The venison sausage was spiced just right. The roasted corn and bison soup was hearty and the bison rib eye was cooked to perfection. Seasoned just right to allow the flavor of the bison to come through. The angel food cake with a berry compote finished the night perfectly. It was worth every penny to enjoy this restaurant's offerings. read more

Rude treatment by hostess; didn't bother staying for more of the same, walked out and had a great meal at Amina Cucina!

After several years I finally got around to giving this a try, for an anniversary date no less. I'd heard and seen so many good reviews that I think our expectations were a little too high going in. That said...we tried several different plates, and were overall disappointed. The peanut and chicken pot stickers were decent, but things went downhill from there. The walleye trio app had the smoked walleye going for it, but the cake seemed to be held together by a fishy gelatin and final member of the trio was surprisingly fatty. The evening seafood pasta special was overcooked in every way, to the point that the fettuccini was mushy and the scallops rubbery. They attempted to salvage the dish with entirely too much basil. The bison medallions were ordered medium rare, due to bison being a lean meat. One of the two came out cooked perfectly, the other was thicker and was cool and raw in the center. The sauce on them was lackluster. The flavor of the rice pilaf was good, but pilaf needs to be rinsed as it tends to leave a film if not prepared right. This...was not rinsed, and left a coating in the mouth that was difficult to get past or wash down. Drinks were hit or miss. The pineapple mojito in particular came out with more mint leaves than actual drink in the glass and was tasted and then ignored for the rest of the meal. Dessert was ok. The rhubarb soup was certainly interesting but not something I'd be likely to order again, certainly not for the price. The cheesecake was heavy on ricotta, which is fine and even preferable for people who prefer an Italian-style cheesecake, but needs to be stated. Overall the flavor profiles were not in line with a meal ticket well in excess of the $100 mark. I would have expected to pay $40-$50 for food of this caliber and would not be nearly so critical. But when you're charging this much in this city, you are asking to be held to a higher standard, and the Pirogue Grille fell well short of the mark. It should be said that both the ambiance and the service were excellent. The staff was friendly, attentive and informative, and well deserving of their tip, even if the food was disappointing. I'm question whether other reviewers were glowing due to confirmation bias or if we were there on an off night, but would defer to the latter as patrons two tables down from us sent their food back. It may deserve another chance, but I'm in no hurry to go back. read more

Wonderful dinner in Bismarck. Fantastic from appetizer to dessert. Very attentive waitstaff. Perfectly cooked vegetables (super picky about this) and all topped off by some excellently balanced cocktails. read more

Delicious!! I got the bison and my mom got the walleye. Service was amazing and our server was great and helpful

I wanted a good dinner and I got it here! The smells coming from the kitchen were so enticing. Started off with a bison corn chowder - delicious. Enjoyed the bison medallions with barley and veggies for my main course. Finished off with the creme brûlée - awesome. Excellent service. Wonderful ambience. Highly recommend this place. read more

Sensational Solo Dining Experience - and Superb Meal! I am in Bismarck, North Dakota, for the first time for a mountain bike tour of the Maah Daah Hey Trail. My friends already flew home and I was on my own for dinner tonight. Though my biking is done my appetite is still on fire! I don't typically enjoy solo dining, much less on a Saturday night, but I had a wonderful time - and fantastic dinner - at Pirogue Grille. I stumbled on the place by chance and was grateful to find this spot after walking by McDonald's, Pizza Hut, KFC, Applebee's, etc. near the downtown center. I liked the classy-looking ambiance and by the look of the menu posted outside, it looked the chef was confident! It was upscale, but I could still go in my sneakers, fleece and windbreaker and feel okay. Service - superb. I decided to eat in the bar area by the window for the best people-watching and was lucky enough to be waited on by the bartender, Derrick. He was friendly and I felt very comfortable there. Especially when dining alone, a friendly server makes a world of difference. Dinner Menu - I bypassed regional novelties (for me) like corn and bison soup and bison medallions. Instead, I chose two specials of the evening: cous cous salad and the fish, wahoo, which was new to me. Entrees ranged from $19 for chicken and pasta to $30 for lamb and pork chops. Both of my selections were superbly prepared, tasted delicious, presented beautifully and were reasonably priced and portioned. I was really pleased. If there had been chocolate cake/souffle or somesuch on the menu, I would have indulged. But I wasn't tempted by the chocolate pate or chocolate crepes. There were about 6 offerings and I would have sprung for the dessert sampler ($14) if I had someone to share it with. The only flaw that I can see is that they will not be open for business tomorrow, Sunday, or else I would go back for my last supper in North Dakota. read more

I heard about this place from my cousin who lives in Bismarck, so I decided to check it out. The decor is pretty modern but still has a quaint feeling about it because of the North Dakota-esque artwork. The service was great. They were very attentive yet left my friend and I alone to chat while we were dining. We started out with the potstickers (pretty good). I had the chicken breast with veggies and polenta, and my friend had the bison medallions with veggies and mashed squash/potatoes. I wasn't crazy about the bison (I think if you are a fan of red meat you'd do well to order it) but I loved the polenta, chicken and veggies. I would definitely dine here again, though not on a regular basis because it's a spendy little place for a town like Bismarck. I'd reserve it for special occasions, or if you want peace and quiet. read more

Pretty good . I tried small dishes here so I don't know what the meals taste like but the dishes were good . This is a place to check out if your in North Dakota . One of the few restaurants that is good around the area . I got the three way walleye and it was delicious !!! It came cold, wrapped in prosciutto, and one that was like a walleye cake . It was a small portion . Pretty expensive but I guess walleye is a delicacy after all . I also got to try the rice balls with marinara and cheese. It was okay . Nothing special but it tastes good . I probably wouldn't get this again as there are many other things on their menu that are way better options . Oh and the creme brûlée is a must try !!! It was made perfectly . Service is amazing too . The bartender was super nice and friendly and everyone there seemed to work well together . No bad attitudes , just a happy environment from the ambiance to the coworkers . Thanks again for the great service !!! read more

See all

Pirogue Grill is hands down my favorite restaurant in town! I try to eat here every time I visit family and friends in my good ole hometown of Bismarck. From the moment you walk in, you are greeted by warm, welcoming staff and an intimate, romantic atmosphere. Enjoying a fabulous glass of Colomé Argentinian Malbec while surrounded by artwork from local artists while indulging in consistent, delectable Midwestern regional cuisine and good conversation is a special, memorable experience that I crave. Hence, the reason I keep returning. The charred corn, tomato, basil salad is a refreshing appetizer that I love. For seafood and curry lovers, I would highly recommend the sautéed scallops with fenugreek curry sauce and jasmine rice. The bison medallions and lamb entrées are also good choices. The only thing I would like to see change with would be the complimentary bread served before meals. The bread is a bit mundane for this wonderful restaurant. The addition of something uniquely North Dakotan like lefse or pumpernickel with French bread and crostini would be nice. Pirogue Grill strives to support the community by using as much meats and produce from local suppliers, and displaying art from ND artists. I would highly recommend supporting this wonderful winner of best dining in the Rocky Mountain region! read more

I went here with several local co-workers in very cold weather (below 0). I don't generally eat steak, so I ordered a chicken plate. It was great! Not something you can say in most steakhouses. The best part, though, was the chocolate malt cheesecake ... absolutely delicious. I can't wait to try it out again and maybe find out if they get it from a bakery. Oh, and they FedExed my lost scarf back to me in California. Apparently, the owner actually is a head cook at the restaurant and will sometimes come out and meet customers. It was a business meeting and I didn't pay for the meal. So I can't speak on price and therefore will refrain from giving it 5 stars. read more

LOVE the food. Worth the price. Customer service is on point! Those crab cakes tho!!! so goood! Menu changes quite a bit so you always get to try new food. read more

Food was very good, service was excellent! Waitress was very nice and very informative, I worked in a restaurant before so I always tip for how good the service is. Which was very good, was my older sister's birthday and she was very satisfied with everything. Would eat here again! read more

Pirogue Grille - Lamb loin with butternut mashed potatoes. Very good! - New American Near Me - Bismarck, North Dakota

I really like this restaurant! Now, it would not be 5 stars in Manhattan, and probably not even in Minneapolis. But I do think it may be Bismarck's best. The best part about this place is the atmosphere. They did a truly wonderful job with the exposed brick, high ceiling, bar and other aesthetic touches. The booths are comfy and the entire layout is relaxing. I'm a bit uncertain how to describe the service. Everyone from the hostess to the wait staff to the bartender is extremely nice, gracious and really aim to please. The last time I was there (9/14) our waiter knew nothing about the menu - what ingredients were used, how things are presented, is the steak big or small, is the fish broiled or fried, etc. It's like they pulled him in off the street and put on a waiter's uniform. Yet I'm not going to ding their rating for this. For all his flaws, he was attentive and trying very, very hard. Every time we asked him a question to which he didn't know the answer (by which I mean every time we asked him a question) he ran to the kitchen and came back with a clear and complete answer - he must have been tired because he sprinted back and forth a half-dozen times. Being earnest buys a lot in my book, and I think his can-do attitude and hard work make up for the other stuff. The food was pretty good. Not outstanding, but good compared to most Bismarck fare. I had a pork chop and my friend had the bison medallions. The pork was cooked to perfections and the medallions were tasty, too. I do have one complaint about the menu: their bread stinks. It is awful - like some cheap bread they toss on the table at pizza hut. It was day-old dry and the whole loaf came sliced (hint: this may contribute to it drying out!). It was neither crusty, nor dense, nor light and airy...nothing. Just cheap and bad. My two tips to the owner are: don't put your wait staff on the floor until they're ready and get better bread - or don't serve any. Despite its flaws, this is a nice place. Give it a try and savor the atmosphere, pull up a barstool and have a cocktail, and enjoy the ambiance and the good food. read more

What an outstanding restaurant. Had the Walleye trio appetizer. Fantastic. Then had the Bison medallions which were cooked to perfection and the exact temperature I ordered. The vegetables and mashed potatoes/acorn squash was such a wonderful change from the ordinary vegetable accompaniments. Very flavorful food. Had the Angel Food cake for desert. One of the best I've ever had and their homemade whipped cream is awesome. Excellent and knowledgeable wait staff. A very classy place but with a family atmosphere. read more

I was in Bismarck for a business trip recently and was pleasantly surprised to find Pirogue upon a recommendation from the client. I started off with the venison sausage, which was paired great with the potato salad. I had the Kurobuta pork chop for the main course, which was fantastic. Would definitely come back again and sample more of the unique-to-Bismarck" menu... Yeah, I struggled to find good eats there. Sorry, Bismarck. read more

This gets 3 stars based on the Bismarck scale...it would get 2 or 2.5 otherwise. That said, Bismarck does not have many really good food options....yet. As of now there are basically 4 places that people seem to recommend (5 if you include Peacock Alley...which is awful). Those 4 are: Pirogue Grill, Toasted Frog, The Walrus, and the Bistro. Pirogue grill has a nice atmosphere, with white table cloths, dim lighting (aka romantic), and good service. The food is ok. Nothing fantastic. The wine was good, the bread basket was regular wheat sandwich bread cut in half (HAH!! we couldn't believe this!) and the dinner salad was a joke....a small plate of lettuce with a couple chopped tomatoes on the side. wow. We ordered the Walleye, which was ok, but would be better without the red pepper sauce. If they served it over garlic mashed potatoes, risotto, or some sort of delish rice...would be so much better. They have potential! read more

Fabulous. Had a good meal and they had Blanton's Bourbon in the bar. Can't beat that! Staff was friendly, prompt and courteous. Will return.

This was a nice restaurant with a dressy/casual atmosphere. There were people like us, dressed casually, but also people dressed up for a nice night out and both styles were equally accommodated. They have paper on the tables probably for clean up convenience, but the staff nicely brought over a jar of colors to entertain our toddler. The seasonal grilled mushroom salad with grilled corn and onion dressing was excellent. The mushrooms were cooked perfectly and the combination of flavors really worked well together. We also had the bison corn soup which while flavorful was reminiscent of a canned soup - little bits of veggies and bison floating in an okay broth. The BBQ rabbit appetizer dish was not very good - the bbq sauce was flavorful but it was served on a potato cake which was a bit rubbery. For entrees we had the rainbow trout which was topped with a crab pecan slaw. The fish was perfectly cooked and flavorful. It didn't need the slaw and I found that to be a confusing addition to the dish. It needed more acid or another ingredient to tie it together. We also had the sautéed lamb with a cherry rosemary sauce. The sauce was delicious and the flavors really complimented the lamb. For a side we both got the Barley pilaf. I thought it would be a nice change of pace since the other choice was a dill mashed potato, but the barley was bland and dry and stuck in my mouth. The potatoes would have probably been better. We got a slice of peanut butter pie to go. It was great - not too sweet, excellent graham crust, chocolate topping. Yum. Overall, this was a tasty meal, with a friendly atmosphere. I would be a return customer if I ever get back to Bismarck. read more

We were once again in Bismarck for sad reasons. However, after a couple so-so dinners we were thrilled to find this place still open and serving very good food. Both my husband and I wanted a lighter dinner and opted for a salad and appetizer. All very good with some subtle twists. Their portions are ample to make this a complete and filling meal, but.....the dessert sampler once again made it to our table :-) The menu had very few changes from our 2 year ago visit. Guess you could say if it's not broke, no need to fix it. read more

This place is really good as in food. We have eaten here probably about 4 times. Filet is outstanding. I love they have buffalo however the buffalo medallions were under cooked and too tough. The buffalo stew is outstanding! We have been lucky with servers even when coming in late. Which is where my complaint comes in. They advertise. They are open till nine. However, if you show up at eight everybody is extremely rude especially the elderly hostess. From my days working in a high end restaurant not that long ago. Open till 9 meant if you walked in the door at 8:59 we would treat you no different than when you walked in at 6. In fact if you popped in at 10 after closing we'd check with the cook and if the grill was still on we'd happily serve you. We have ate at 40 steak serval of the times we would have eaten here because they welcome you with open arms even late. I really feel they should adjust their hours to their 8/8:30 actual closing time. They lost our business. read more

I was headed to Minot on business last summer, and the Minot flooding forced me to stay over in Bismarck. What great luck that I would discover the Pirogue grille through Yelp. The restaurant's atmosphere is fitting for the building, and the downtown area, and the food was better than expected. I had the walleye trio appetizer, and the bison medallions. Any restaurant with bison earns major points in my book, and the Pirogue did not disappoint. I will be heading back to Minot this summer, and will definitely be staying in Bismarck so that I can again enjoy dining at the Pirogue Grille. It is worth the 200 mile round-trip drive. read more

Absolutely delicious! Definitely the best food in town. Have had the walleye trio and gnocchi appetizers and they are both amazing. I will have dreams about the smoked walleye that is part of the trio. As far as entrees go, the sea scallops are amazing. Everything was cooked perfect and the service was great. The place is a little pricey but you get what you pay for: excellent food. read more

Venison, rabbit, walleye, bison, pheasant, beets, and a well stocked bar... Died and gone to a North Dakota themed culinary paradise?! Nope! Just dinner at the Pirogue. On a more serious note, I have only been here once and was blown away by the unique ingredients and innovative dishes featured on the menu. Awesome to see this sort of eatery doing it's thing in NoDak. On a slightly negative note...the appetizers were embarrassingly small. Not really sure of the idea? I guess, they aren't meant to be shared? Point being, if you want to try a walleye "flight" prepared 3 different ways, you better get one order per head. With that being said the menu is a bit pricy, but not really for the decor, complexity of dishes, or service. However...Despite the mostly high prices making this a special-occation/fancy-dinner joint, they do have a $9 lamb burger --- Highly recommended. read more

Very pleasurable fine dining experience. We were seated in front by the window. Sincerely enjoyed the view, tho I don't believe there is a bad seat in this lovely atmosphere. They went out of their way to accommodate us with no reservations late in the evening on New Years Eve!! Such a kind and gracious staff, ALL of them. Drinks were wonderful, food quite pleasing. The scallops and filet cooked to perfection, appetizers simply scrumptious and dessert so very decadent. We were able to stay for nearly three hours, savoring every moment. We were pleased to be able to compliment the chef personally. Everyone was so attentive. We will definitely go back whenever in Bismarck. Highly, highly recommend you put this at the very top of your list. You will not be disappointed . Enjoy!! read more

Best restaurant in Bismarck. The chicken pot stickers are wonderful, and they always have interesting and delicious desserts! Amazing place. It's such a treat having a restaurant like this in Bismarck, it stands above and beyond everywhere else. I've eaten at Noma, rated the top restaurant in the world, and the service at Pirogue is reminiscent of my experience there. Extremely attentive without anyone seeming to hover over your table. Whether you are looking for a fancy celebratory meal or just treating yourself, there's nowhere else in Bismarck you should go! read more

See all

Great tasty food with friendly service. Service is a but slow but very friendly! Overall atmosphere is biz casual. read more

See all

The atmosphere was fantastic, the menu selection was excellent, food tasted really good, the service was excellent, the environment was pleasant, and all the little extra things they did made it a five-star experience in Bismarck. Too bad I didn't leave room for dessert! read more

Had the fillet and scallops. Both were fantastic! Will definitely swing in our next time through town! Highly recommend