Spearfish, South Dakota
Private Events and Large Group Dining in Spearfish, SD
Rehearsal dinners, holiday parties, graduation dinners, team dinners and birthdays at 539 W Jackson Blvd, steps from downtown Spearfish. We seat groups both small and large, call and we'll confirm the exact number for your date.
Open since 2012 · Chef Nick Caton · Scratch kitchen · #3 of 49 Spearfish restaurants on TripAdvisor · 1,143 Google reviews
What we host
Groups have been eating here since 2012. The ones we do most often:
Wedding rehearsal dinners
The night before, in town, with the out-of-town family.
Company holiday parties
December books early.
Graduation dinners
BHSU and Spearfish High School weekends.
Retirement parties and send-offs
Milestone birthdays
30th, 50th, 80th.
Team and department dinners
BHSU athletics, university departments, work crews.
Business dinners and client entertaining
Celebrations of life and post-funeral gatherings
Quiet room, no fuss, we handle it.
Reunions and family gatherings
During summer travel season.
The space and how many we can seat
We can section off part of the dining room for your group or, for larger parties, arrange a broader buyout of the restaurant on select nights. Tell us your headcount and we'll confirm exactly what fits, whether that's a table for 10 or a room for 60. Screens and sound hookups can be arranged for slideshows or toasts, and the space is step-free and easy to access.
Parking is downtown-adjacent, and we're an easy walk from most of downtown Spearfish for anyone who wants to keep the night going afterward.
How it works
- 1. Send us the details.
Call or email with the date, headcount and what the event is. Takes a minute, and you can do it at 9 PM on a Sunday when you're actually thinking about it.
- 2. We confirm what's available.
We'll come back promptly on the date, the space and how many we can fit.
- 3. Pick your menu.
We'll send options based on your headcount and budget. You choose a set menu, a limited menu, or let everyone order off the full menu.
- 4. Show up.
We handle setup, service and the check. We'll confirm any deposit terms and your final headcount deadline when you book.
Menu options for groups
This is a scratch kitchen. Chef Nick Caton and the crew make the bison chili, the BBQ sauce, the pico, the aiolis and the cheddar sauce in house, and the menu changes as ingredients change. That doesn't stop for a group of 30.
Three ways to run it:
Full menu
Everyone orders whatever they want. Slower on service, but nobody feels boxed in.
Limited menu
We pick a short list, usually a couple of steaks, a chicken or pasta dish, a burger, a seafood plate and a vegetarian option. Fastest service, best for a party on a schedule.
Set menu with courses
Shareables to start, a plated entree, dessert. Best for rehearsal dinners and formal business dinners.
Whichever you choose, everyone at the table can eat. Gluten-free lettuce buns and gluten-free fries on any burger. GF-marked entrees including the Steak Tips, Eggplant Dip, Italian Zoodles and Portobella Stack. A house-made black bean burger and a bean patty option. Gluten-free beer, a full non-alcoholic beer list and two mocktails. Nobody at your event gets stuck with a side salad.
One honest note, straight from our menu: all items are prepared in one kitchen. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free items are subject to possible cross-contamination. Tell us about allergies when you inquire and we'll tell you exactly what we can do.
Browse the full menu to see what you'd be choosing from, plus the bar and cocktail list, including two barrel-aged cocktails and 17 rotating drafts with Crow Peak, brewed here in Spearfish.
Send an event inquiry
Tell us the basics, your name, event date, approximate headcount and event type, and we'll get back to you promptly. If you'd rather talk it through, call (605) 717-1255.
Ready to plan your event?
Call us with your date, headcount and event type and we'll tell you what's available, or send an email and we'll get back to you promptly. If your event is inside two weeks, please call so we can move faster.
Who books us
Black Hills State University
Graduation weekends, parents' weekend, department dinners, team meals, retirement dinners for faculty, recruiting dinners. We're a few minutes from campus and we can handle a table of 20 without anyone eating cold food.
Spearfish businesses
December is a scramble every year, there are not many rooms in this town that can take a staff of 25 and feed them something better than a buffet line. Book your holiday party here and it's the same date, same room, next year.
Couples getting married in Spearfish Canyon
The canyon is beautiful and it has nowhere to feed 30 people the night before. We're at the north end of town, minutes from where the byway starts, easy for out-of-town family to find, and we do rehearsal dinners regularly. Steaks, seafood, a vegetarian option and a bar that makes its own bitters, it's a real dinner, not a holding pattern.
When to book
- December holiday parties: book as early as you can, these dates go first.
- Graduation weekends (BHSU and Spearfish High School, May): this is the weekend every family in town needs a table for 10 and the good nights go first.
- Sturgis Rally week (first full week of August): call ahead to check availability, the town is busy.
- Summer travel season (May through September): book earlier than you think.
- Everything else: a few weeks' notice is usually enough.
If you're inside the window and worried, call anyway: (605) 717-1255. Cancellations happen.
The details people ask before they call
- Automatic gratuity: parties of 8 or more are subject to an automatic 18% gratuity. It's on our regular menu and it applies to events too, we'd rather you read it here than find it on the check.
- Minimum spend and deposit: we'll quote any minimum spend or deposit in writing when you inquire, so there's nothing unexpected.
- Room fee: we'll let you know if a rental fee applies or if it's minimum-spend only for your event.
- Separate checks: tell us in advance how you want the bill handled and we'll set it up before you arrive.
- Cake and decorations: note it on your inquiry and we'll confirm what's allowed, including anything that attaches to walls or tables.
- Music and AV: ask about a screen, projector or microphone for toasts when you book.
- Off-site catering: events are hosted at the restaurant, ask when you inquire about your specific needs.
- Cancellation and final headcount: we'll go over cancellation terms and when we need your final number when you book.
Smaller group? A table for 8 to 14 in the dining room usually just needs a phone call, see a big table in the dining room instead, or start the night with happy hour before dinner.
Frequently asked questions
How many people can Killian's accommodate for a private event?
Send us your headcount and date, or call (605) 717-1255 and we'll tell you in one minute whether it works.
Do you have a private room?
Tell us your headcount and what kind of privacy the event needs, and we'll tell you exactly what the space looks like before you commit.
Is there a minimum spend or a room fee?
We'll quote it in writing when you inquire so there's nothing unexpected. Parties of 8 or more are subject to an automatic 18% gratuity.
How far in advance should I book?
December holiday parties and May graduation weekends fill first, those two should be booked as far ahead as you can. For everything else, call (605) 717-1255, we can sometimes take a booking on short notice.
Do you offer a set menu for large groups?
Yes. We run three formats: the full menu, a limited menu of about six dishes, or a plated set menu with courses. Limited menus are fastest for a party on a schedule.
Can you do separate checks for a group?
Tell us in advance how you want the bill handled and we'll set it up before you arrive. Parties of 8 or more are subject to an automatic 18% gratuity.
Do you cater off-site?
For anything hosted at the restaurant, call us or send an inquiry with your details.
Can we bring our own cake or decorations?
Note it in your inquiry and we'll confirm the details with you, including anything that attaches to walls or tables.
Can you handle allergies and dietary restrictions for a group?
Yes, gluten-free buns and fries, GF-marked entrees, a house-made black bean burger, vegetarian plates, GF beer and mocktails. Note that our Wilson burger contains peanut butter. All items are prepared in one kitchen, so cross-contamination is possible.
Send us the date and the headcount
That's all we need to start, we'll come back with the space, the menu options and the number.
Killian's Food & Drink · 539 W Jackson Blvd, Spearfish, SD 57783 · (605) 717-1255
Mon-Thu 11 AM-10 PM · Fri-Sat 11 AM-11 PM · Sun 11 AM-10 PM