A good year, a good meal: Burly’s Roughrider serves steaks and smiles

It's been a good year for Nathan Dutchak.

Burly's Roughrider Steakhouse and Bar's new owner celebrates a full year of serving top-quality food to the people of the Belfield area, the community where he grew up.

"I wanted to provide good food," Dutchak said. "Just good-tasting food and prices that are good for people to pay."

Dutchak stands by the quality of his cuisine, and the price he asks for it. He went into culinary school right out of high school in 2000, and he was familiar with the location that is now Burly's Roughrider all through his childhood. The oil field drew him back home, and after working for 14 years at James Oil Well Service, Dutchak has sunk his roots deep into the community, particularly in the past year.

"There was a lot that happened. On (Dec.) 28 (2016) I had my daughter, and on (Dec.) 29 I closed on (the restaurant) and on (Jan. 1) I closed on James (Oil Well Service)," He said. "So, it's been a hell of a year."

Burly's now seems to soak in the North Dakota atmosphere. Brand symbols adorn the walls, soft, colored lights illuminate rows of liquor bottles. The wooden veneer echoes saloons of classic westerns, and the menu is stacked with hearty offerings, a variety of potatoes, various cuts of steak and prime rib.

Any steakhouse lives or dies on the quality of its meat, and Dutchak is proud to claim all of his beef is domestic.

"Most people get Canadian beef, this is real U.S. beef," he said. "I'm a stickler on that."

Dutchak is grateful to the community for helping support Burly's as it transitions to the new ownership. The increase in quality cuisine has drawn in plenty of diners from out of town.

"Thanks for (the) support," he said. "You see people who haven't been in here before who come in here, a lot of people from Dickinson come in here, because the steaks we have are by far, to me, the best around, especially for the money you pay."

He also acknowledged the hard work and hospitality of his staff.

"We've got a great staff, our waitresses are one of a kind," Dutchak said.

Burly's Roughriders Steakhouse and Bar is located on 125 N. Main St. in Belfield, and is open 11 a.m. through 1 a.m. Monday - Saturday. It is closed Sundays.