Would you drive 385 miles to eat dinner? How about if it's a Once-In-A-Lifetime Meal? The kind of meal you'll tell stories about for years after.

Pack your overnight bag, fill the car with gas, and start driving toward the Black Hills because a restaurant in Custer, South Dakota has the experience you've been looking for.

There you will find Joseph Raney and Eliza Raney who migrated from Southern California and opened Skogen Kitchen.

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Once-In-A-Lifetime Meal
Skogen Kitchen (29 N 5th St, Custer, SD 57730) VIA Google Maps
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Eatthis.com sought out the Once-In-A-Lifetime Meal in every state and highlighted Skogen Kitchen (29 N 5th St, Custer, SD 57730) as the best in South Dakota. If you think a hotdish casserole or something coming out of a fryer is what we're talking about, then think again.

"The restaurant serves globally-inspired fare with a focus on local ingredients," Eatthis.com said about this Custer favorite. A review says that Chef Raney's place is "...a very fine dining experience without being pretentious."

Chef Joseph Raney is a rising star on the South Dakota culinary scene serving up Pork Shank, Duck, Salmon, Beef, Dover Sole, and Maine Lobster Cavatelli.

Anytime you see housemade on the menu, then you know your dining experience is going to result in a positive review. Just like Steven from Scottsdale, Arizona:

My family gathered for the first time in nearly two years in the Black Hills. Several of us had seen this restaurant online and wanted to try it. There were 7 of us and we were all wowed by the food and service. Great inventive locavore menu and presentation. Everything we ordered was very good. This place would be at home in any big city. ~Tripadvisor

While enjoying a weekend getaway or extended Black Hills vacation, reservations are a must. You're just minutes from Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, and a picturesque drive to Lead and Deadwood on Highway 385.

10 Small-Town South Dakota Restaurants That Are Worth The Drive

The Sioux Empire is full of restaurants that are long-known to be local favorites.

Sure, they might be a short drive from home, but you won't regret the experience at these hometown mainstays.

Here are 10 of the best small-town restaurants in South Dakota.


What Was It like to Vacation in South Dakota’s Black Hills 60 Years Ago?

This time of year our thoughts often turn to planning that perfect getaway to enjoy the warmer weather and extended daylight.

For a lot of us in South Dakota, that means a trek to the Black Hills and all of the things they have to offer.

But vacationing in western South Dakota is hardly a new concept. People from all over the globe have been coming to the area for decades.

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