By Michael Thompson, Contributing writer

When looking for a quality restaurant in South Dakota, you will discover that a good number of places to eat feature wild game entree options, and that many also embrace Native American themes. In the process, you also will usually beat those big city restaurant prices. This may come as a surprise, especially if you hail from the major cities on the East Coast and the West Coast.

Sylvan Lake Resort's Lakota Dining Room . Located in South Dakota's Custer State Park, this dining room's window dressings and wallpaper feature Native American motifs, although one reviewer on virtualtourist.com opines that this "conveys a kindergarten feeling instead of an authentic image." Still, a writer from Food & Wine magazine listed Lakota Dining Room as a top 10 place to dine in a state, national or city park. Chefs visit from all over the world and typically stay for one year, which leads to an ever-changing menu. Even so, the average meal is priced at about $20 or less.

Clifford's Steak & Ale (Watertown). A trait of many South Dakota restaurants is to focus on the basics and to do them well. Typical is Clifford's Steak & Ale. If you don't want a steak or seafood, you can explore the vegetarian entrees, and you just might get change back from your $20. There's a decent lists of wines and beers. Like many South Dakota restaurants, it's in a traditional small town business district.

Kristina's Cafe & Bakery (Sioux Falls). Consider a stop in a café, even if you don't associate a café in South Dakota with fine restaurant dining. The café restaurant experience is so widespread in South Dakota that there is a separate café rating system. Kristina's Cafe & Bakery in Sioux Falls emerges as South Dakota's best on dine.com , praised as a "best little place to eat" with a wide variety of choices for a simple café. Most meals are priced below $10.

OH Baby O's (Watertown). With a name like this, don't you just have to try it, even though it's fast food? One reviewer raves to travel.yahoo.com , "It's better than McDonald's or Burger King!"

Powder House Lodge & Restaurant (Keystone). You'll encounter a lot of South Dakota restaurants that serve buffalo meat. Chefs must take special care. What makes buffalo meat attractive is the low ratio of fat, but this means an improperly prepared entree or sandwich will taste dry and stringy. One highly rated spot on virtualtourist.com is Powder House Lodge & Restaurant. The menu includes buffalo steak, buffalo short ribs, and of course, a buffalo burger. You can get filled up for $10 or less.