A Benson County, North Dakota Bar Has a 4.9-Star Google Rating and a Burger Worth the Drive

Minnewaukan has a population of a few hundred people and sits along US-281 in Benson County, North Dakota, on the southern shore of Devils Lake.

It also has the Old 281 Tavern at 241 6th Street East, which carries a 4.9-star Google rating, a 5-star Facebook rating, and the kind of reputation that makes food writers make long drives on a weekday.

'A Diamond in the rough, in the middle of nowhere,' wrote one Google reviewer. The food backs up the description. It made the nation's best burgers, state by state.

In a part of North Dakota where the distances between towns mean local institutions carry more weight than they do elsewhere, the Old 281 Tavern serves as a genuine community anchor. Grill master Candace, cited by name in multiple Google reviews, and owner Matthew run a kitchen that treats every guest like a regular regardless of whether they've been before.

What to Order

The cheeseburger earns the most consistent praise across reviews: juicy, thick, and cooked exactly to order. The Au Jus Burger adds a braised depth that makes it the house specialty for those who've been before.

The menu also covers seafood baskets, steaks, and the full range of bar-and-grill staples that a Northern Plains community restaurant needs to serve multiple occasions and multiple generations of the same family. For more on the food scene nearby, see small-town North Dakota restaurants that overdeliver.

A Community Anchor in Benson County

The tavern hosts sports viewing for teams across the region and serves as the social hub for Benson County's scattered communities.

For travelers on US-281, it's the kind of stop you weren't expecting to find and find yourself returning to. The 4.9-star rating is not an outlier. It's what consistent quality and genuine hospitality produce over time.

The bar area at Old 281 hosts community events, birthday celebrations, and regular sports viewing that forms the social calendar for towns this size across rural North Dakota.

For travelers on US-281, which runs from the Canadian border to Texas, Old 281 Tavern sits at a natural stopping point. The 4.9-star rating is reason enough to plan the route around it.

Whether you are stopping by after a long day of fishing on Devils Lake or just passing through on a road trip, this beloved local watering hole delivers an unforgettable small-town dining experience.

The 4.9-star rating is not the result of a single viral moment. It is the accumulated score of hundreds of visits from customers who came expecting a good burger in a small town and left surprised by how much the kitchen delivered. For more of the state's dining history, see the best restaurants in North Dakota.

Plan Your Visit

Old 281 Tavern is at 241 6th Street East in Minnewaukan. Kitchen hours run Wednesday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Closed Sunday through Tuesday.

Call (701) 473-0281 before making a long drive, as hours can vary seasonally. While you're planning the trip, check out where to eat near Devils Lake.