Minneapolis' Top 15 Restaurants
Butcher and the Boar
If you love perfectly smoked meats and bourbon, Butcher and the Boar should be on the top of your list! Using ingredients from local farms, the restaurant features meats, handmade sausages, charcuteries, and decadent sides. Popular dishes include a long rib that is over one foot long and red hot Brussels sprouts. If you are waiting for a table, feel free to stop by its Beer Garden located at the same address for drinks and appetizers.
112 Eatery
Owned by Isaac Becker, 112 Eatery specializes in fine dining for a price that many can afford. Located at the outskirts of the North Loop, 112 Eatery has a menu filled with shareable plates and the best of wines. One of its more famous dishes is the 112 Burger, a beef patty between a freshly baked English muffin that is topped with a thick slice of brie cheese and drizzled with truffle oil. A decadent burger for a decadent crowd — get yourself over to 112 Eatery and make sure to save room for a slice of its tres leches cake!
Bachelor Farmer
Owned by the Dayton brothers, The Bachelor Farmer is located in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis. The winner of a James Beard Award in 2016, the restaurant's dishes honors Minnesota and the culture of the surrounding Northern region. This restaurant even grows its own herbs and vegetables on the rooftop farm, the first of its kind in Minneapolis. The menu features Nordic dishes such as smoked lake trout and pork weininleike, and during brunch, a pastry cart is pushed around for guests to select from. After your meal, be sure to visit its sister restaurant, Marvel Bar, a speakeasy located at the same address that is churning out fantastic drinks and offering Cheetos in beaker glasses!
Restaurant Alma
Opened since 1999, Restaurant Alma is a staple in Minneapolis. The meal is centered on a constantly changing prix fixe three-course menu where diners can choose from an array of dishes. You will be able to taste the care that goes into each of these dishes as well as the wine pairings that the chefs have thought through for each meal. You are in for a treat!
Spoon and Stable
Owned by James Beard award-winning chef, Gavin Kaysen, Spoon and Stable is a French inspired restaurant located in the North Loop. The location used to be a horse stable, hence the name. The menu changes with the seasons and expect a wait if you don't have reservations. Some favorites include the dry-aged duck breast and the spaghetti nero featuring prawns, mussels, and octopus. Each meal ends with a box of delicately made sweets, courtesy of the chef! The restaurant is a must-try and if you are waiting for a seat, feel free to enjoy a drink at the bar (maybe even the hand-cut fries).
Bar La Grassa
Another Isaac Becker restaurant, Bar La Grassa is Minneapolis's top destination for freshly made pastas and bruschettas. When at the restaurant, make sure to order the soft eggs and lobster – eggs smoothed with cream cheese, with big chunks of lobster folded in thick pieces of toasted bread. Make sure to follow this course with the rabbit cavatelli or the pasta negra with sea urchin. The ambiance of the restaurant is very welcoming and once you are done, you're guaranteed to leave with a full stomach!
Travail Kitchen & Amusements
If you are looking for a dinner and a show, Travail Kitchen & Amusements is the place to go! The restaurant has a ticket reservation system set up for its chef's tasting menu. Tickets are sold out two to three months in advance and ticket prices vary based on the time and date selected. With a ticket, diners will have the opportunity to try over 14 dishes that change seasonally. These aren't your ordinary dishes — they range from small tasting plates to interactive presentations. Reserve your tickets soon — this experience will be out of this world!
Café Lurcat
Café Lurcat is located right downtown, across from the Basilica in Loring Park. The trendy venue hosts a large dining room, as well as, an expansive bar and lounge. Part of the D'Amico company, the restaurant has stylish dishes which feature fresh ingredients. The apple, cheese, and chive salad is a diner favorite, as well as, the Chilean sea bass. Make sure to save some room for the warm cinnamon-sugar doughnuts that arrive piping hot. And if you're in the company of someone special, stop by for the Date Night Specials — $50 will get two people each a three course meal and one bottle of wine to share!
The Kenwood
Minneapolis is full of amazing brunch places and the Kenwood is at the top of the list! Appropriately named for being set in the Kenwood neighborhood of Minneapolis, the local restaurant features seasonally fresh ingredients in its dishes and has a continually changing menu. The brunch menu features favorites such as an omelet Florentine or a healthy stack of pancakes, but depending on the season, you could get the Korean style shrimp and grits or the Kenwood burger (complete with pork belly)! It's a smaller, more intimate space so get there early but if you have to wait, it will be worth it!
Borough
Featured on Bon Appetit's list of Top 50 Best New Restaurants in America in 2013, Borough offers a variety of seasonally changing, innovative dishes in its expansive restaurant. There is a dining room, bar, and outdoor patio for the restaurant. The menu is organized by courses so each group can either get a mix of small plates or order individual entrees. If you happen to have room after dinner, make sure to save some time for dessert — the donut is out of this world!
Burch Steak and Pizza Bar
The final Isaac Becker restaurant on this list, Burch Steak and Pizza Bar, is the newest edition to Minneapolis, which was happy when it arrived to Uptown! With an extensive menu of 100 percent grass fed beef as well as Wagyu options, any meat lover will find heaven here! Another portion of the menu is dedicated to different kinds of sweet and savory dumplings — make sure to get these as a starter. If you are interested in a more casual meal, feel free to go to the basement where there is a fully array of pizza options!
Haute Dish
Located in the North Loop, Haute Dish is a creative and eclectic restaurant with a menu that matches its personality! The dishes are satisfying, rich and hearty. Favorites include the hot dish as well as the General Tso's sweetbreads — an interesting take on a classic Chinese dish. If you are a fan of burgers, definitely make time to join them during happy hour when they have a $10 special for a beer and burger!
4 Bells
Created by the founders of Butcher and the Boar, 4 Bells brings the South to Minneapolis! 4 Bells specializes in seafood, fried chicken, and craft drinks — it seems like a funky mix but it totally works! Start your meal off with oysters from the coasts before you dig into a bucket of perfectly crisp fried chicken (don't forget the macaroni and cheese!). If you are more in the mood for drinks, enjoy the bar that features an extensive champagne list.
Coup d'etat
Located in Uptown, Coup d'etat is a stylish restaurant that has an expansive selection of dishes from pizza to vegetarian entrees to finely cut meats. The restaurant has a patio, balcony, and an spacious restaurant that can fit enough guests for nearly any occasion. The Happy Hour menu features casual dining options including the largest portion of French fries you have ever seen. Even better, if you are in a munchie mood while going out to a nearby bar, feel free to stop by its to-go window and get the burger or cheese curds!
Smack Shack
Craving a lobster roll? This is the place for you — it was voted one of the top lobster rolls by Bon Appetit magazine! Originally launched as a food truck, Smack Shack is located at the heart of the North Loop and they are churning out the best seafood in the Twin Cities! Here, you will find lobster in everything from the rolls to the mac and cheese. They have been featured in Diners, Driver-ins, and Dives and you can even find some of their dishes at 1029 bar!