TNT’s Diner

** THIS RESTAURANT IS PERMANENTLY CLOSED **

Husband and wife team, Tim and Tammy Hagensen opened TNT’s Diner back in 2007. More small town cafe than diner, it is located off the beaten path in a strip mall set back from the main road. When I first visited on a busy weekday evening back in the summer of 2010 I discovered that although it’s not easy to find, that certainly didn’t keep the customers away.

TNT’s Diner specializes in Northern Midwest comfort food such as hot Beef and hot Turkey Sandwiches; with a smattering of local ethnic “German from Russia” and Scandinavian specialites including cabbage rolls and Swedish meatballs. Tammy Hagensen bakes all of the homemade pies herself.

The special of the day when I was there was potato klub. Klub are dense, heavy Scandinavian potato dumplings served with your choice of bacon or thick cut ham with a small tub of melted butter to dip at will, perfect for a frigid, winter heartland evening after a hard day’s work on the farm. The meal comes with a choice of salad or soup. I chose the soup of the day, beer cheese soup, slightly thick and topped with croutons it packs a savory,sharp and hoppy jolt reminiscent of the beer cheese soup at the former Grainery at West Acres Mall in Fargo.

I topped my meal off with Sour Cream Raisin Pie. Less dense with a very subtle underlying hint of “sour”, it still packed flavor loaded with nutmeg, vanilla and raisins. This northern midwest specialty would still deserve a high ranking honorary ribbon at any pie bake-off.

Unfortunately, some folks are too quick to dismiss North Dakota as a culinary wasteland. Although the pickings do seem slim , consider TNT’s diner a Roadfood oasis in the sparse Northern Plains.