Wasta Bar — Restaurant in Wasta

I came to South Dakota looking for something. I found it at the Wasta Bar.

My friend and I had just left the Badlands, still reeling from the raw beauty and stark isolation of the landscape, and we were heading back to Rapid City. Thirsty and seeking a place to unwind, we spotted exit 98. It didn’t seem to offer much, but we decided to take a chance and pulled off US-14 into the Wasta Bar parking lot.

As we sat in the parking lot, I felt a bit of apprehension—being strangers in an unfamiliar place, not knowing what lay beyond those doors. But as soon as we stepped inside, all that uncertainty melted away. We were immediately welcomed by the warm smile of Mary, the bartender and owner, whose hospitality felt like a comforting embrace. She brought us a couple bottles of Miller High Life, as suggested by a friendly local, and we settled at the bar, letting the atmosphere wash over us.

The bar was small and cozy, with tables scattered around and a modest bar area. The walls, lined with wood planks each branded by local ranchers, felt rich with history. It wasn’t fancy, but it exuded a genuine charm – comfortable and clean. The rodeo played on the TV above the bar, providing a familiar backdrop. At a nearby table, locals laughed and chatted like old friends, while a mother and her young son shared fries at the bar. The air buzzed with conversations about the upcoming fire hall and community center, voices brimming with hope and excitement. It was a snapshot of real life—authentic, unpretentious, and simply human.

We decided to share a burger, and Mary served it to us with fries on paper plates, accompanied by a Coke in a red Solo cup. It felt like a backyard cookout with friends—a simple pleasure that hit home. The burger was perfection—crispy on the outside, pink and juicy on the inside. It was, without a doubt, the best burger we had in South Dakota. As we savored the last bites, a young boy next to me, no older than eight, tapped me on the shoulder. With shy pride, he said, “Sir, the meat from your burger came from our ranch,” and handed me a couple of Schell Ranch beer koozies for my friend and me. That moment, so pure and unexpected, moved me deeply. I looked over at his mother, whose face beamed with pride and joy, and felt a lump in my throat.

Just as we were about to leave, a woman walked in and asked if they sold ice. Mary’s response encapsulated the spirit of the place: “No, I don’t sell ice, but I’ll give it to you—how many bags do you need?” It wasn’t about making a sale; it was about being a good neighbor, about community and kindness.

The Wasta Bar is more than just a bar—it’s a reminder of what truly matters. It showed me that life doesn’t have to be complicated, that genuine connections still exist, and that despite what the media often portrays, America is going to be just fine.

Cold drinks. Local beef. Good people. Highly...

Best little bar in the area. Ice cold beer, great food, and a wonderful owner. A buddy of mine from Missouri and myself, from South Texas, stopped in on a bird hunting trip. The locals were awesome and the bar owner even let us feed and water our dogs out front while we sipped cold suds, munched on burgers, and shot the bull. If we find ourselves in this part of the country again we will...

Joe, the owner, is a great host. We had wonderful conversations with him over drinks. He shared lots of local knowledge. The bar is right off I-90 between the black hills and the Badlands. Quaint and nostalgic interior. Clean and cozy. We got ourselves a T-shirt saying “Wasted in Wasta.” Kitchen is coming soon and will round out the experience of unique South Dakota hospitality. Small...