Texas Rancher Sam Maverick didn’t brand his cattle. Cowpunchers took to calling them Mavericks. If you want good grub put your branding iron on Mavericks Restaurant above Deadwood, South Dakota’s Gold Dust Casino. The town has been tamed, mostly. Gold made Deadwood famous. The Wild West of 1875, in the Black Hills, when thousands of miners crowded mountain streams looking for a pan full of nuggets, passed slowly away. Gambling remained.
“There was always gambling in Deadwood. We just made it legal,” Bill Walsh once said. Bill and other visionaries kept Deadwood’s charm and character, its Saloon #10 where Wild Bill Hickok was shot and bawdy mannequins in period costumes in second story windows reminiscent of the days when the town was wide open for all manner of vice. Magnificent brick and stone buildings grace its Main Street. What Deadwood needed was good restaurants.
“We’ve just been open four months,” Mavericks manager Jenn Raymond said. The restaurant was busy. Some diners walked up from the Gold Dust to plunk down a portion of their winnings for cocktails and steak dinners. Others were intent watching sports on the many large screens around the room. Most enjoyed booths and dinner served in the restaurant’s casual atmosphere.
A large rectangular bar is the center piece. There are tables with high chairs and comfortable booths against the walls for more intimate dining. The floors are bare wood, the tables bare pine lit with overhead lamps. Leila Ferrigno took drink orders first. Her bright smile and hat were welcome trademarks. “I just like hats,” she said when she returned with amply filled cocktail glasses. Originally from Connecticut, Leila found Deadwood to her liking and settled.
Mavericks menu is simple and straight forward. The portions are enormous. Appetizers are meals in themselves. Gunslinger rolls are egg rolls filled with chicken and cream cheese and run $8.99. Texas Toothpix are an unusual mix of thin sliced, breaded jalapeños and onions, not mild but no need to call the fire department, $6.99.
Main courses include beef steaks, ribs, and fish. Those wary of casino food and buffets with day old meats under infra red lamps that look as unpalatable as they taste, need to try Mavericks. This food is delicious. It is reasonably priced and served up by friendly staff.
Main courses come with soup or salad and a side included. Evenings after 5 PM their prime rib is a special treat. It is served in either 12 or 16 ounce portions ($22.99 or $26.99). The prime rib comes to table succulent, thick, juicy and marbled just right to give the meat a wonderful flavor. South Dakota is beef country and Mavericks serves up amazing beef. For those that prefer filet mignon the 6 or 9 ounce ($22.99 or $28.99) is delicious.
“Our baby back ribs is a signature dish,” Jenn said. “The meat falls off he bone.” A half-rack is $16.99 the full rack $21.99. Portions are exactly as Leila said they would be, enormous. A main course with included embellishments is a hefty meal. For those that prefer fish Mavericks offers broiled salmon, $17.99 and walleye $20.99. Walleye is a delicacy. The fish is white and savory.
There is a whole menu page devoted to Jack Daniels preparations from the grille. The sauces and bar-b-cue is tangy and sweet. Leila’s suggestions were perfect. The prime rib came to table thick cut. It was so tender it could be cut with a fork, had a wonderful taste that only slow cooking can impart. The walleye was amazing. Soft, tender, flaky white fish cooked to perfection.
There is more to come with Mavericks cheesecake or lava cake desserts. The portions are just as generous as everything else they serve. Mavericks sweet temptations are not to be missed.
When in this part of the Wild West and a rumbling inside beckons, stop for a good, hearty meal at Mavericks Restaurant above the Gold Dust Casino. Fine ingredients, perfectly prepared are served by friendly hosts. For more information about Deadwood, South Dakota contact their visitor bureau at 1-800-999-1876 or visit their website at www.deadwood.com. To make reservations at Mavericks Restaurant call 605-578-2100 or visit their website at www.maverickssteak.com located at 688 Main Street.
