Walrus Restaurant — Restaurant in Bismarck

Walking into the walrus, I was surprised by its dim romantic vibe, coming from the strip mall parking lot next to the family dollar, I was not expecting that. It gave the impression that it would be a fantastic place for a date. Unfortunately for me I was there with a coworker, but fortunately we were able to joke about the romantic setting.

We were started with a dense fresh warm bread with herb butter. The butter had something interesting in it (sage or fennel) and I liked the touch, but it was served in plastic ramekins, for the overall price and ambiance I would expect glass ramekins.

After ordering my entree, the waitress asked “would you like a soup or a salad with that?” I chose the Caesar salad and my coworker chose the chicken and wild rice soup but this is an important note that I will come back to.

The salad was disappointing. It was a big pile of romaine on a very small plate with pre grated Parmesan and store bought croutons. And the dressing was very salty (but good). The plate was so small that the salad kept falling off. My coworker noted that the chicken with wild rice soup was disappointing, with not much chicken, and the chicken that was present was small and obviously came from a can. These are important notes that I will come back to.

The entree, meatball stroganoff, was fantastic. It was 5 stars. Very nice flavor, good amount of mushrooms, perfectly cooked noodles. The sauce was savory but not overly rich. It was herbaceous. The meatballs were nice and there was a good ratio of meatball to pasta. The variation in type of cut (long skinny onion, various shapes of mushroom) showed the touch of a chef that was obviously well trained.

When we got the bill, I was shocked and appalled to see that I was charged $7 for my salad, and my coworker was charged $7 for the soup. When asked “soup or salad?” I assumed that it came with the entree, it was not posed to me as an additional item. I have never seen this done before and I was very frustrated. To make it worse the salad was honestly atrocious. I could have thrown together a nicer salad in my hotel room. This left a bad taste in my mouth right at the end of the meal, which is the mist important time to satisfy the customer.

The walrus was about to get a rare 5 star from me. I was willing to overlook the plastic butter ramekin, and even willing to overlook the salad. The stroganoff was easily worth the twenty some dollar price tag. But being charged for something posed as something that came with the meal really rubbed me the wrong way. All in all, I will be returning to the walrus, it’s probably the best place I have been to eat in Bismarck. But I will not be getting the soup or salad. Maybe after a second, better experience I will increase my...

The Walrus Restaurant in Bismarck is more than just a dining spot for us—it’s a cherished local gem that consistently delivers exceptional experiences.

My husband is particularly fond of their eclectic beer selection. His go-to is the Deschutes Black Butte Porter, and he’s recently been enjoying the Chocolate Bock. The variety ensures there’s always something new and exciting to try.

When it comes to meals, the ribeye steak is his top choice—always cooked to perfection and bursting with flavor. For me, it’s a toss-up between the rich, comforting stroganoff and the spicy rock pasta with shrimp, which offers just the right kick. Although it’s no longer on the menu, we’re grateful that the staff still accommodates our request for the bruschetta; it’s hands down the best in town.

Their soups are another highlight. The beer cheese soup is my husband’s favorite, while I find the tomato basil consistently delightful. The chicken wild rice soup, paired with their freshly baked bread, is a comforting choice that never disappoints.

Beyond the food and drinks, what truly sets The Walrus apart is its warm, welcoming atmosphere and commitment to the community. As a locally owned establishment, it exudes a sense of authenticity and pride that’s hard to find elsewhere. The staff’s dedication to excellent service makes every visit feel special.

Supporting The Walrus means supporting a cornerstone of our local dining scene. We’re always eager to return and share this favorite spot with friends...

This place is delicious. Do try it!!

We ordered: Sirloin steak, rare (side: potatoes) Salmon (side: fettuccini Alfredo)

The surprise hit: veggies that came on the side (perfectly seasoned and lightly sautéed better than I’ve tasted in a long time).

Wouldn’t order again: the salmon. Was fine and I was satisfied, but it was over cooked. Not in an offensive way, but just to the point that I wouldn’t recommend it.

Would definitely order again: steak and our sides. The potatoes are truly creamy—but they’re cut potatoes with a cream sauce, which one of us liked more than the other. The Alfredo was incredible. I’d order it again in a heartbeat. It’s light yet rich. That being said, there were some gritty things in it that I couldn’t figure out. It was almost as if someone sautéed the stalk part of a head of garlic. I’m hoping it was a one-off.

It was easy to call in an order. They are understandably busy, so we had to wait extra time for our carry out meal. We worried that our higher priced meal would be compromised, but it all still tasted as though we had ordered it while dining there. It was in containers that were easy to eat from, except eating steak with a plastic knife was a bit challenging! (Not sure what the...