South Dakota, Iowa Restaurants Among America’s Best Places to Eat

A pair of restaurants in the Tri-State area are among a select few that have landed on a prestigious national list.

USA TODAY is out with 44 establishments nationwide that have been designated as the 2025 Restaurants of the Year according to food writers from across the newspaper's network of reporters

One South Dakota restaurant is on the honor roll - Sanaa's Gourmet Mediterranean on East Eighth Street in Sioux Falls.

The restaurant is the brainchild of Sanaa Abourezk, a two-time James Beard Award nominee for 'Best Chef Midwest'.

Sanaa's, which opened in 2003, specializes in Mediterranean dishes like fatayers, vegetarian kibbeh, kofta kabobs, and baklava.

The restaurant is open for lunch only every Monday through Saturday.

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One Iowa restaurant is on the list as well.

Oak Park, on Ingersoll Avenue in Des Moines, features a rotating menu with items like bacon-wrapped pork chop, as well as carrot Wellington and potato gnocchi served with truffle beurre monté.

Chef Ian Robertson draws from his experiences in AAA 5 Diamond and Michelin-star-rated restaurants in New York City and Chicago.

His wife, Jess, is the Executive Pastry Chef, and among her creations is a $100 Banana Split complete with pistachio, banana saffron, and foie gras ice creams served with champagne mousse, gold leaf, and finished off with Armagnac caviar, shaved chocolate truffle.