Sheridan WY's Growing
Food Scene

Five years ago, telling someone to visit Sheridan for the food would have gotten you some polite looks. Today, it's a genuinely interesting culinary scene for a city of 18,000 people — built on regional sourcing, a craft brewing culture that's punched above its weight since 2012, and a new wave of chefs who chose Sheridan intentionally, not as a stepping stone. Here's where to eat, drink, and take home.

Fine Dining: Frackelton's & Birch

Frackelton's is Sheridan's most storied restaurant — a steakhouse in a historic downtown building that's been serving the ranching community and its guests for decades. The elk medallions and bison ribeye are the menu anchors. It's not pretentious, but it takes its meat seriously. Reservations required on weekends and essential during WYO Rodeo week.

Birch Restaurant is the newer arrival and the more adventurous option. Farm-to-table sourcing from Wyoming and regional producers, a menu that shifts with the seasons, and cocktails that lean into local spirits and foraged ingredients. The space is warm and intimate — a dinner here feels like a discovery, not just a meal. Get the oyster mushroom starter if it's on the menu.

Casual & Local: Wyoming Cattle & Creek and Luminous

Wyoming Cattle & Creek Steakhouse is where locals take out-of-town family — not the fanciest room, but excellent beef and portions that Wyoming ranching culture demands. The kind of place where the rolls come out immediately and the ribeye is exactly what it promises.

Luminous Brewhouse is the taproom and kitchen on the north end of downtown with a more laid-back vibe. House-brewed beers, a solid pub menu (the burgers are underrated), and a space that functions equally well as a weeknight dinner spot or a weekend afternoon hang. Live music on select weekends.

Craft Beer: Blacktooth Brewing Co.

Wyoming's flagship craft brewery opened in Sheridan in 2012 and has become the standard by which Wyoming beers are measured. The Main Street taproom is the original — high ceilings, a long bar, patio with Bighorn Mountain views, and a rotating tap list built around the core lineup.

Core beers worth knowing: the Saddle Bronc Brown (the flagship — balanced, malty, endlessly drinkable), the Wagon Box Wheat (the summer beer), and the Bomber Mountain Amber (the year-round backbone). Seasonal releases rotate frequently and are worth asking about.

Blacktooth also distributes statewide, but the taproom experience — especially on the patio in late summer — is worth the trip specifically.

Hidden Gem: Tongue River Winery (Dayton)

30 minutes north of Sheridan in the small town of Dayton, Tongue River Winery is producing wines from Wyoming-grown grapes that are worth the drive on their own. The tasting room is informal and the owner will pour through the lineup and tell you exactly what they're trying to do — which is grow wine in a place people said wine couldn't be grown.

Pair the Dayton winery visit with a walk through the Tongue River Canyon Trail that starts near town, and you have a genuinely excellent half-day outing. Bring a picnic.

Coffee Culture

Sheridan's coffee scene is growing. The downtown core has independent cafés that take espresso seriously — a shift from even five years ago when chain options dominated. Ask your Wyo Stays host for their current recommendation, as the scene moves faster than any guide can track. Several new roasters and café concepts have emerged in the past two years.

Local Food to Take Home

Sheridan is a great place to stock up on regional products:

• Wyoming honey: Available at the Farmers Market and local shops — high-altitude wildflower honey from Bighorn Mountain apiaries is exceptional.
• Wyoming beef and bison: Several local ranchers sell direct or through local butcher shops. Ask your host for current sources.
• Wyoming dry goods: Wyoming-branded pantry items, hot sauces, and preserved foods make for genuine souvenirs.
• Blacktooth cans: To-go six-packs are available at the taproom and at local grocery stores throughout the region.

Farmers Market & Local Grocery

The Thursday Farmers Market runs June through September in downtown Sheridan and is genuinely good — local produce, baked goods, honey, meats, and crafts. For weekly grocery shopping, Smith's (Kroger-affiliated) is the main full-service grocery on Coffeen Avenue with a solid selection including local and regional products. There's also a natural foods co-op for specialty items.