The Bison Turf Review
Just North of the Loaf & Jug at the corner of University Drive and Twelfth Avenue North stand the historic Bison turf. I say historic, because it has been there since sometime in the seventies, and has been involved in at least a couple of underage and binge drinking incidents. Before the Turf opened, the building was occupied by a cheap restaurant called the SU Hasty Tasty. I ate there once and only once.
The Turf has had its ups and downs. I used to eat there several times a week, since except for the NDSU Memorial Union, there wasn’t anywhere else to eat, and they had daily specials that would keep one moderately healthy if one stuck to the regimen of their specials. However, it was, particularly at night, primarily a bar, and not always a pleasant place for those that did not want to indulge heavily. At one time, I know several NDSU faculty that would not take their visitors there for lunch.
Recently, I had occasion to take a visitor of my own to the Turf. Much to my pleasant surprise the place was clean and well lit. It still is divided into two halves: a restaurant and a game room with a full bar available to each. The menu is mostly appetizers and sandwiches, but what a list of appetizers! Of course, if they are catering to a bar crowd, that is to be expected, but thery have 25, at least. There are also some salads and burgers, of course, including a buffalo burger, which I wish more restaurants had. Buffalo meat, if you don’t know, is like very lean beef, and has always been a favorite of mine.
The sandwich menu is also extensive, covering a full page on the menu. Chicken, beef, turkey, sea food, and traditional club style sandwiches So many that I can’t really pick out any to discuss, but would like to point out that prime rib and ribeye sandwiches are available.
The sevice is prompt and friendly (presumably these are college students), and the food at least good, And they do have specials. As one might expect, catering to a college crowd, the prices are very reasonable. It would be easy to have lunch, even with a drink or two, for under $10. Definitely not your father’s Turf.