The Silk Road Experience in the Black Hills
It has been said a million times, and will probably be repeated a billion more: you never know what you are missing until it is gone. Even though I mostly grew up in small towns, moving back to one after living in cities for over a decade has made me realize what I miss most about city life. Those who have moved from cities to towns can probably list the usual differences: stores, transportation, population size, and the general ability to do something after 8 p.m. But if I had my say, and since this is my piece, I do, I would point to the variety of cuisines cities offer.
One of the biggest issues I have with American food culture is how much we have allowed ourselves to be ruled by chains. From McDonald’s and Burger King to more regional chains like Runza and Grotto Pizza, they have taken over a lot of the restaurant landscape. I get why chains are popular. They are predictable, fast, and unlikely to startle anyone. But predictability is not the same thing as flavor, and convenience is not the same thing as an experience. The best restaurants I have found in cities have usually been created by people with a real passion for food: the child who grew up in the city and wanted to build something of their own, or the immigrant showcasing the food of their home in a new country. They are not only feeding the hungry; they are giving people an experience of flavor. That is why I was surprised, in the best way, to come across The Silk Road Experience in Hot Springs, South Dakota.
In the Black Hills region, it is rare to find a restaurant operating out of an alleyway, though that is a common enough sight in cities around the world. Around here, “alleyway restaurant” is not usually the phrase that comes to mind when making dinner plans. All the seating is outdoors, split between shaded tables and open-air tables. There was even a clear snow-globe-like enclosure that my wife and I enjoyed as an unexpected shower moved through the region while we ate. The shaded seating area has tapestries adorning the walls, giving the space a character that matches the food. At first glance, it may look like it was put together randomly, but that is part of what makes it special. It does not try to be something it is not, which is a trap many restaurants in America have fallen into. The atmosphere feels more like something you would stumble upon in a bigger city, such as New York or D.C., than something you would expect to find tucked away in Hot Springs, South Dakota.
I have found that lamb is one of the hardest meats for restaurants to get right. Even for me, someone who grew up cooking lamb often, getting it tender and full of flavor was difficult. Many times, when I order lamb in America, whether in cities or small towns, the words I would usually use to describe it are: tough, uneventful, bland, and desperately waiting for a sauce to rescue it. But to my wonderful surprise, The Silk Road Experience defied all of those words with their smoked lamb masala. Every bite was rich and layered, with the smoke coming through without overpowering the masala. The lamb was tender, the sauce had depth, and the dish felt like something someone had actually cared about making. Served with basmati rice and garlic naan, it was easily the kind of meal that gives me an excuse to drive an hour back to Hot Springs.
Another outstanding part of the meal was the garlic naan. I was a little surprised to find that it was not as fluffy as the naan I had had at many other restaurants. If I had to describe it, I would say it reminded me more of pita bread than traditional naan. But that did not take away from how enjoyable it was. It was crisp, but not hard, and it balanced beautifully with the rice and lamb. While it is normal to break the naan apart and use it to scoop up the entrée, I have always been someone who enjoys naan by itself, because apparently, I believe bread deserves its own spotlight. This naan could stand on its own, and honestly, it might be reason enough for me to come back.
The Silk Road Experience in Hot Springs brings real flavor to this region. It defies what too many small towns in America have become: places where the same chains appear from coast to coast, offering familiarity, fries, and very few surprises. That is why I would recommend it to anyone in the Black Hills region. For those who grew up on the typical American diet, the food is flavorful without being overly spicy. It is a great introduction to a cuisine that originated outside our borders, and it is a reminder that small towns do not have to settle for the same predictable options.