Date Night in Sioux Falls: R Wine Bar & Kitchen

This is the Date Night feature: a regular look at a standout restaurant, wine bar, or experience in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area, from me, Jennifer Krosch, a Realtor with eXp Realty. This week's pick is R Wine Bar & Kitchen at 322 E 8th Street on the East Bank of downtown, an Italian-inspired wine bar that holds a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and is a relaxed, well-lit spot for an evening out.

What makes it special

R Wine Bar & Kitchen sits in the historic Frank Building on the East Bank, close to the falls and an easy walk from the rest of downtown. It is run by the Tarabelsi family, who describe it as one of the best Italian restaurants in South Dakota and one of the best wine shops in the country. The wine program is the draw: about 20 wines by the glass, 50 by the bottle, and 12 local craft beers on tap, a selection that earned the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. It is the kind of place where you can order a glass, share a few plates, and take your time.

The bar is cozy and intimate rather than stiff, which makes it a natural date night choice. Because the room is small, the restaurant notes there is limited space for walk-ins, so booking ahead is the reliable way to get a table.

What to order

The menu leans Italian and is built for sharing. Start with a charcuterie (salumi) board or the whipped ricotta with honey and crostini. For a main, reviewers and the restaurant highlight the Pasta Al Limone, the lemon pasta, and the braised beef and mushroom ragu. If you have room, the tiramisu is a popular way to finish. Pair whatever you order with a glass from the by-the-glass list, or let the staff steer you based on what you are eating.

Price range

R Wine Bar & Kitchen is a mid-range date night. OpenTable lists it at $30 and under, and a typical per-person spend runs from about $10 to $40 or more depending on how much wine you add. A couple sharing a board, two pastas, and a bottle will land comfortably in the middle of that range.

Hours and reservations

Monday through Thursday it is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 to 10 p.m., with the kitchen closing at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday it is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 to 11 p.m., with the kitchen closing at 10 p.m. It is closed on Sundays. Book online through the restaurant's reservation page at rwinebar.com/reservations or on OpenTable.

The realtor's take

I feature spots like this because a great date night is part of what makes a neighborhood feel like home. The East Bank is one of the areas I show relocating buyers, and a place like R Wine Bar & Kitchen is a good example of the walkable, downtown energy that is hard to capture in a listing photo. If you are visiting Sioux Falls to look at homes, plan a relaxed dinner here and take a short walk around the East Bank and the falls afterward to feel the area for yourself.

FAQ: R Wine Bar & Kitchen