The Diving Elk

"Stepping into the Diving Elk, you feel sophisticated. This gem is one of Sioux City's best as far as restaurants and bars go in the area with an evolving, seasonal menu that will make you want to try something new every time you visit! Don't sleep on the classics like the truffle fries and brussel sprouts though, there's a reason those always stay. Also try out their weekend specials! After your visit, you'll know why this place consistently has a "Siouxland's Best Bar Tender" nominee. They are experts in their craft with an incredible selection of cocktails and craft beers. Sioux City is lucky to have such a trendy, vibrant spot for the foodies out here."

"Service was fine. Atmosphere was fine...very busy. Unfortunately the food was not good, specifically the fish was terrible. It was 70% batter and 30% fish. One of the pieces of fish was deep fried to the point that it wasn't consumable, it was just a piece of petrified oil. The beer selection was excellent."

"The food here is absolutely delicious. They have a lot of variety - from truffle fries to queso to Mac and cheese, flatbreads. Everything was delicious. Cocktails were also delicious."

"Katie runs a tight ship while still making the atmosphere enjoyable - staff all know their way around a cocktail and a craft beer flight. Everything on the menu is delicious but my go tos are the goat cheese fondue, truffle fries and Brussels sprouts. The weekly slush is always a safe bet for a drink. Cheers to one of Sioux City’s best spots!"

"First off, to satisfy any curiosity on the name of this place, If you Google “Famous Diving Elk Sioux City”, you’ll find plenty to read up on it. Skip to the next paragraph if this part doesn’t interest you, and you want to know specifically about the place and experience. Basically, back in the early 1900’s a local Sioux City resident named W.H. Barnes was mystified how Elk would jump over anything in their way. So he trained some elk to start walking up a ramp he built. Over time, he systematically increased the height of the ramp in increments, while they continued to run the routine. Ultimately, by 1903 the ramp topped off at 40ft. Due to its height, he had a 16ft tub 6ft deep for them to land into. Hence, the diving elk. Google it up for more history. On to the review itself. Place is located in the historical district, and the building inside and out has proper decor to fit right in. It’s a bar and grill, but classy and homey as well. Service was good. The waitress stayed on top of things. The place wasn’t too loud from people talking/yelling, nor did they have blaring music. I personally don’t really care to go eat at a place where you can’t socialize within your table, because all the conversations have turned into yelling over each other or yelling over the music. There’s a place for those atmospheres, but to me, it’s just not over the dinner table is all. That issue wasn’t present here, which was much preferred. Food was actually quite good. We got the chicken enchiladas and the house burger. We both liked what we got quite well, and we both would order the same thing again. That’s always a good sign, as you can return to try something else, and know if that didn’t satisfy your pallet, then you have something you know you can return to for a meal. Pricing was also reasonable for what you are getting. I’ve only been here this one time, and I would not hesitate to try it again sometime. When the service, atmosphere, food & pricing are all in a good place, that will bring the people back."