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5 Best Lunch Spots in Thompson, ND

Hamburger at Darcy's Cafe.

Lunch is the often forgotten meal of the day. Many people rush through it just to get something that will keep them satisfied until dinner while others see it as an inconvenient necessity. However, this sometimes overlooked meal is an important part of your daily schedule that provides an opportunity for you to enjoy some quality food. Whether you're from Thompson, North Dakota, or are just visiting the Grand Forks area, you'll be pleasantly surprised with the unique eateries and diners you'll find ready to serve you. 

Read on to learn about our staff's suggestions for the top five best lunch spots near and in Thompson, North Dakota. 

Darcy's Cafe

Image via Flickr by adactio | License CC by 2.0

Darcy's Cafe is the perfect destination to head to when you're needing some quality comfort food to get you through the day. Whether you're craving a burger or some cinnamon roll pancakes, Darcy's Cafe will help you fill your tummy with some comfort food that is "better than your grandma's, as good as your mom's." With their friendly atmosphere, attentive service, and helpful staff, Darcy's Cafe will make your midday meal a delight. 

Darcy's serves breakfast all day, so whether you are an early riser or prefer eggs and bacon for lunch, you'll find that Darcy's is ready to please your appetite. Loyal customers love Dave's Special. This breakfast platter comes with a pile of crispy hash browns or American fries topped with sausage, bacon, ham, diced onions, mixed peppers, cheese, and two eggs. Customers can choose either toast or pancakes along with this delectable dish. 

If you want the full Darcy's Cafe experience, you must try the Piggy Burger at least once. All burgers start with 1/3 pound of fresh hand-formed quality beef and a grilled bun. The Piggy Burger is topped with smoked ham, bacon, smoked cheddar cheese, and barbecue sauce. The smokey flavor mixes perfectly with the sweet and tangy barbecue sauce for a pop of flavor in each bite. 

You'll find Darcy's Cafe at 105 North Washington in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It is only a few miles away from Thompson, but it's completely worth the drive. Darcy's is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. They offer dine-in and curbside services. Their curbside pickup window makes ordering something on the go easy and convenient. For information or to place an order, call 701-775-4050.

Northside Cafe

Northside Cafe cooks it up just like mom used to. The menu comprises an array of home-cooked food sure to take you back to your days of sitting at your mom's kitchen table, enjoying quality conversation and food made just for you. This family-friendly establishment knows how to please groups with varying food preferences, with a menu as diverse as their clientele. Locals love the sirloin dinner for only $8. It is a perfectly cooked and seasoned steak served with a twice-baked potato, coleslaw, and ice cream. 

The Northside Cafe sits at 3450 Gateway Dr. in Grand Forks. To give yourself a break from a busy Sunday morning, try ordering their family-style breakfast. This treat, available for takeout only, will save you time and help you avoid the dreaded pile of breakfast dishes. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. For information or to place your takeout order, call 701-738-8500.

Brewskis

Those looking to have a relaxed lunch while washing everything down with a fresh pint of lager should head over to Brewskis. The owners have cultivated a fun and welcoming atmosphere that is ideal for a lunch with friends or a casual afternoon date. The menu at Brewskis, clearly displayed, offers a little of something for everyone, no matter what you like. They have appetizers ranging from pickle fries to cheddar nuggets, offer unique pizza topping, and serve up some creative and juicy burgers. Their wings, which pair perfectly with the beer they have on tap, are crispy and savory. 

You'll find this hidden gem at 402 Pacific Ave., right here in Thompson. For information, call 701-599-9087. 

The Blue Moose Bar and Grill

The Blue Moose Bar and Grill in East Grand Forks provides a unique atmosphere with some quality food that can't be beaten. If you're looking to nosh on some walleye, a local favorite, or chomp on some barbecue ribs, the Blue Moose Bar and Grill is your lunch destination. 

The Blue Moose Bar and Grill has both a seasonal and regular menu, ideal for those that love consistency and for customers who like to try new things. The kids' menu has the tried-and-true favorites little eaters adore. Tiny diners can choose from chicken strips, mac and cheese, corn dogs, and pasta. For the adults, we suggest the Tequila Lime Chicken. This perfectly grilled chicken breast sits on a bed of cilantro-lime rice and is topped with fiesta sauce. 

The Blue Moose Bar and Grill is at 507 2nd Street NW, near Thompson. They open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. This family-friendly spot is a great location for your next family celebration. They offer catering and banquet services. For information, call 218-773-6516.

Ground-Round Grill and Bar

This barbecue spot offers customers an enormous meal for a great price. The Ground-Round Grill and Bar serves some of the best barbecue you'll find near Thompson. The menu has everything from bourbon salmon to burgers. There is also a gluten-free menu for customers with special dietary needs and an extensive kids' menu to keep hungry tummies happy. Order the St. Louis slow-smoked barbecue ribs and you'll never want barbecue from anywhere else. 

The Ground-Round Grill and Bar is 2800 32nd Ave. South in Grand Forks. You can order online or reserve a table for faster service. For information regarding their catering, call 701-775-4646.

So there you have it. Rydell Nissan of Grand Forks has shared with you our list of the top five best lunch spots in Thompson, North Dakota. If you're at a loss for where to grab a bite to eat, one of these suggested restaurants is worth your time. What do you think of our list? Did we miss your favorite local lunch spot? If we did, let us know! Leave a message and we'll be happy to check out your ideas. 

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Agassiz Natural Wildlife Refuge

Fun Ways to Spend the Day in Thief River Falls

Just 50 miles east of Grand Forks is the charming town of Thief River Falls, Minnesota. The area offers many outdoor recreation opportunities and plenty of fun family activities. Whether you live in Thief River Falls or you're just visiting, check out the Rydell Nissan of Grand Forks team's list of fun things to do. more Go Bird Watching at Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge Image via Flickr by Joe Passe CC BY-SA by 2.0 Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge is one of the nation's top destinations for wildlife viewing and bird watching. The 61,500-acre wildlife refuge, established in 1937, is home to sandhill cranes, black terns, yellow-headed blackbirds, night herons, and five species of grebes. Most years, as many as 250 pairs of Canadian geese and 7,500 pairs of ducks nest at Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, and the refuge hosts one of the largest colonies of Franklin's gulls. 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Top 7 Fishing Spots In and Around Thief River Falls

Fishing is an enjoyable pastime that gives you the chance to get some fresh air and enjoy a beautiful natural setting while you drop a line in the water. Best of all, fishing is popular during any season of the year, with boat, shore, or pier fishing over the summer and ice fishing over the winter in colder climates. Local anglers may know of the many great fishing areas around Thief River Falls, Minnesota, thanks to the area's plentiful lakes and rivers. The team at Rydell Nissan of Grand Forks searched for some of the best local fishing spots and created this guide for your convenient reference. more Red Lake River in Thief River Falls, MN The Red Lake River is a state water trail in northwestern Minnesota that provides many excellent opportunities for year-round fishing. A popular fishing area on the Red Lake River is where the Thief, Clearwater, and Black rivers join at the Red Lake. Other quality fishing spots are in Crookston and Red Lake Falls, below the Otter Tail Power Company dams. You can catch walleye, northern pike, crappie, and smallmouth bass in the Red Lake River. It's also a great place to angle for channel catfish. Maplelag Resort in Callaway, MN Maplelag Resort offers an ideal relaxing respite for lovers of nature, with fishing as an added bonus. The rooms have no TV or phones to help your getaway truly get you away. Spend time with the family doing puzzles, playing board games, or preparing for the Saturday night talent show. Maplelag provides countless other entertainment opportunities throughout the year, including the hot tub and spa, bird-watching, skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, and sledding. Maplelag Resort is on the shore of Little Sugarbush Lake, where the fishing is great in winter or summer. For ice fishing, the resort has two fish houses available so you can fish in comfort. When you're ready to drop your lines into the water in the warm months, the resort offers free canoes to guests. You'll be able to try to catch giant walleyes and many other species in Little Sugarbush Lake. Buffalo River State Park in Glyndon, MN Buffalo River State Park offers a wonderful opportunity for a fishing excursion in warm weather. Stay for several days of fishing at the beautiful campgrounds. The park has 35 electric sites and amenities like showers, ring fire pits, and picnic tables. Head over to River View Trail for some quality fishing. The river is narrow and shallow and offers many prime fishing locations. Channel catfish are a popular catch, and wading and fly-fishing are popular here too. This is a great location for fishing from spring through fall, with especially high catch levels in the spring as the water levels rise. The park only has four sites available over the winter season, so plan your fishing trips here for the warmer months. Itasca State Park in Park Rapids, MN Itasca State Park is Minnesota's oldest state park and features over 100 lakes on its 32,000 acres of land. Lake Itasca is the largest lake, and it's also the recognized headwater of the Mississippi River. Make sure to walk across the headwaters on your visit. The lake has a fishing pier, boat launch, and a concession stand that rents canoes and fishing boats. Or you can bring your own boat, and it's worth it because you're likely to catch plenty of walleyes, northern pike, bluegills, crappies, perch, and more on Lake Itasca. Boat launches are available on Lake Ozawindib, Elk Lake, and Mary Lake. All the lakes at the state park are very undeveloped, which makes these areas more natural and peaceful for fishing excursions. Elk Lake is a deep, clear lake with a large stock of muskie, which is catch-and-release. Lake Ozawindib and Mary Lake are suitable for peaceful canoe fishing, and both lakes have large panfish populations. Turtle River State Park in Arvilla, ND The Civilian Conservation Corps built Turtle River State Park in the 1930s and the Turtle River flows through the park's wooded valley. The state park offers enjoyable year-round activities like camping, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and sledding. The Turtle River is stocked with rainbow trout and is a popular fly-fishing destination. You can also catch northern pike in the river, along with other species. Tamarac Lake Fishing Pier in Erskine, MN Rydell National Wildlife Refuge offers two access points to Tamarac Lake, the North Fishing Pier and the West Fishing Pier, accessed via trails from the Visitors Center. Tamarac Lake is 445 acres in size and only 11 feet at its deepest point. The lake has a high population of northern pike. Many other species abound in the lake, including bluegill, black crappies, panfish, and bullheads. The most common methods of fishing here are hook and bobber and casting crank-baits into the weeds surrounding the piers. Nets will help anglers bring fish in easier at Tamarac Lake. Lake Bronson State Park in Lake Bronson, MN Lake Bronson State Park is found between the Red River Valley and the aspen wooded area on the east. The diverse wildlife and beautiful lake make this a popular recreation area. Climb the tower for a bird's-eye view of the park and to observe its 14 miles of hiking trails. The park offers 157 campsites and features a picnic area and shelter, a playground, a sandy swimming beach, and a volleyball court for family fun. The park office offers boat, kayak, and canoe rentals, along with any necessary fishing equipment. Anglers may catch walleye pike, northern pike, bass, and perch on the lake or off one of the two fishing piers at Lake Bronson. Ice fishing is popular in the winter and the park has a warming house available to keep ice fishing enthusiasts warm. 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