Photo by Jen Brodal/MDN Terry Peterson, owner/operator of the Blue Rider Bar stands alongside Johannah Grosz, bartender, before an original Blue Rider painting on the wall, done by artist and previous owner Walter Piehl.

User reviews have identified a winner. Minot’s Blue Rider, located at 118 1st Ave SE, has been selected as the “best dive bar in North Dakota,” according to Yelp, a popular online business directory.

A “dive bar” can be characterized as an old drinking establishment that has low lighting and an eclectic and uncomplicated local clientele as the niche. But Blue Rider bartender Johannah Grosz and boniface Terry Peterson agree that pickled eggs are also among the required criteria.

Blue Rider had been owned by local artist and Minot State University art professor Walter Piehl. Peterson took ownership in April 2020. Peterson, a Minot local, works for Rehab Services Inc., in the day, and by night oversees Yelp’s top choice for dive bar in North Dakota.

Having five-star ratings and an influx of great reviews makes the “well-worn, hole-in-the-wall” — the description given by Yelp — well worth a visit. Grosz admits that a limited liquor selection makes interesting orders for the guest in the market for creative mixers. Blue Rider has a capacity for 50 patrons inside and has held many fundraising street events. Parade permits allow more room in the street in addition to the outdoor deck. When Blue Rider has wild winter nights, what do they do?

“Our best,” Grosz said of accommodating the crowd.

Peterson mentioned a Blue Rider-named beer that Atypical Brewery of Minot brews annually, but it currently does not brew its own beer. Blue Rider offers many popular brew selections and among various other features, Fernet, an Italian bitter or amaro that is made with a mix of herbs and spices.

Peterson said as it stands, “Blue Rider is the number one bar for Fernet sales in North Dakota, competing against one other bar in South Dakota that has them beat.”

Adding to the uniqueness of Blue Rider is that Peterson is always saying “yes” and has a hand in many community events in addition to the bar’s own fundraising events. One of the recent events was the Double D-Haw shrimp boil and breast cancer awareness bra auction.

At the very least, Blue Rider is worth checking out for the decor featuring a variety of Piehl’s original art pieces, ’80s memorabilia, neon bar lights and extensive record collection, not to mention the pickled eggs and that wonderful local dive bar vibe.