The Best Cheeseburger In South Dakota Takes Surf And Turf To A Whole New Level

While tracking down the best cheeseburger in every state, one South Dakota establishment stood out for taking the format into inventive territory. Neighbors Grub and Pub's signature creation, The Claw, has won accolades for its build of a beef patty topped with a butter-poached lobster claw. Described as "surf and turf on a bun" by owner James Schwab to Dakota Farm Talk, The Claw is made with a half pound of seasoned beef that is hand-formed into patties. Schwab explains that the fat quality helps make their burgers special, serving as the ideal vessel to combine with other flavors. The recipe has taken home several awards, including first place for two consecutive years in the statewide Beef Burger Showdown competition.

While the combination of lobster and steak on a burger bun doesn't make sense to every customer, as one sampler noted on Facebook, "somehow it works." The unconventional burger is topped with Asiago cheese and a house-made garlic and herb sauce. The sear of beef and the sweetness of buttery seafood have even skeptical burger lovers praising the creation. "Amazing, highly recommend that," one guest told KELOLAND News. 

Alongside The Claw, other burgers on Neighbors Grub and Pub's menu are consistently described as thick and juicy and have been noted as doubling as conversation starters. "Their menu is insane — any kind of burger combo you can dream of, they can make," wrote a thrilled guest on Yelp.

Specialty burgers change monthly, never repeating, to keep regulars coming back to Neighbors Grub and Pub. The Angry Neighbor, a half-pound patty topped with Hatch green chilis, jalapeños, and the restaurant's Angry Neighbor sauce has also bagged a statewide title. The restaurant's fixed menu offers burgers like the Stallion (cheddar, onion rings, bacon, and BBQ sauce), the Spicy Barnyard (fried egg, smoked pulled pork, and sriracha aioli), and The Wellington...ish (topped with mushroom duxelles, Black Forest ham, hollandaise, and melted white American). 

For those who want other comfort foods, smoked gouda bites, steak tips, chicken fried steak sandwiches, beer-battered fish and chips, and Cajun tortellini pasta fill bellies. Battered mushrooms have been labeled a standout appetizer, and different brews are placed on tap to refresh palates. "Some of the best food I've ever had!" wrote a fan on TripAdvisor. Those with room for something sweet can feast on deep-fried bread pudding served with homemade whiskey caramel sauce to finish meals. Visitors note that friendly service feels like an extension of a living room, with staff remembering customers' names and workers wearing pajama pants. Housed inside an old bank extension building, Neighbors Grub and Pub has changed hands since its conception, but ever since, the family-owned operation has made a name for itself for its quality and culinary creativity and has many South Dakotans wondering what the owners will come up with next.