Fargo's Twin Peaks lives up to reputation for cold beer, comfort food and 'scenic views'

FARGO - The Red River Valley is flat as a pancake, but when patrons walk into the new Twin Peaks bar and restaurant, the aim is to make them feel like they’ve added some elevation.

“We want them to feel like they just walked into a mountain lodge retreat. Rugged, and yet sophisticated,” said Tony Zemmama, director of operations for Twin Valleys Management. “We’re about sports, good food, good beer, and making friends in the process.”

Management announced in February they planned to open a location at 1515 42nd St. S. in Fargo. The "sports lodge" chain already familiar to many North Dakota State football fans who travel to Frisco, Texas, for the national championship game, lives up to its reputation.

Known for what it calls its "scenic views," Twin Peaks features attractive servers and bartenders in cleavage-promoting and midriff-baring plaid tops and Daisy Duke shorts.

Along with the elk horn chandeliers and a mounted moose head, there are about 90 big-screen TVs mounted on the walls throughout Twin Peaks, Zemmama said Thursday, Oct. 7.

“Wherever you’re sitting, you’ll be able to watch multiple games at the same time,” he said. “We carry every package, every sport, anywhere from hockey to MLS soccer.”

Twin Peaks has seating for about 40 people at the sprawling main bar, with tables and other seating for 325 more indoors and 240 on the patio.

Service is key, Zemmama said, with plenty of staff on hand to help guests.

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“Service is what we’re known for. Hospitality. When our guests come in, we like them to be taken care of. It’s not just speed of service. We teach our staff that it is the responsibility of every employee to serve the guests,” he said. “You may sit at the table and be served by seven, eight or nine girls. You do have your dedicated Twin Peaks girl, but everybody gets involved in taking care of your table.”

The West Acres Shopping Center-area Twin Peaks is the first of the chain in North Dakota, taking over the building once occupied by Shotgun Sally’s. Oklahoma-based franchisee TVM is partnering with local businessmen Robert and Norman Leslie in the endeavor.

“One of our owners lived in Fargo for a short period of time … and once he decided he was going to own Twin Peaks, he always had in mind Fargo,” Zemmama said.

Twin Peaks is easily accessible, across from West Acres mall, next to the Delta Hotels by Marriott, with Target and scores of other stores nearby.

“The clincher was ... we had a lot of fans already” thanks to North Dakota State University supporters, Zemmama said. For years Bison fans have made pilgrimages to Frisco, Texas, to watch their football team play in Football Championship Subdivision championship games, routinely packing the Twin Peaks there.

In a nod to the Thundering Herd, this Twin Peaks gets to have a bison statue out front, rather than the chain's signature elk.

The eatery is open to all ages. It serves up made-from-scratch American comfort food: burgers, sandwiches, pot roast, chicken fried steak, fried chicken and chicken wings.

“We put our own twists on our own sauces,” Zemmama said. “Our wings are never frozen, they’re always fresh. That’s the key really, making food from scratch. Every day we chop, we dice, we mix, we cook everything from scratch.”

There are 32 beers on tap, including several Fargo brands, and all of them are served at 29 degrees, just a couple degrees above the freezing point for beer. Each beer mug is used but once a day. That requires having 2,000 22-ounce mugs on hand, Zemmama said.

Twin Peaks also stocks an extensive selection of fine spirits such as bourbon, whiskey, scotch, tequila and wine.

In the back are two Top Golf Swing Suites. The local outlet is the first in the chain to install them. Zemmama said they’ve been in use since Day 1. The suites offer a simulator screen and a selection of virtual games from Zombie Dodgeball to simulations of iconic PGA tour courses. Suites also include food and beverage service. Charges are $30 per hour on weekdays and $50 per hour on weekends, Zemmama said.

Work continues on the patio. Old fire pits are being replaced and more fire pits and fire features are being added. Due to supply chain issues, some patio furniture is still en route. The bar servicing the patio can also be enclosed, making it usable year-round, Zemmama said.

For information on hours, events and store updates, visit twinpeaksrestaurant.com/locations/fargo .

Seven Valleys Management operates four Twin Peaks restaurants, with other locations in Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Twin Peaks was founded in 2005 in the Dallas suburb of Lewisville. It has 84 locations in the U.S. and Mexico.