Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota — Food and Dining
Restaurants in Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota
Restaurants
Expensive
Cosmos
Cosmos has been credited with helping to develop Minneapolis’ fine dining scene. A sleek, modern interior and fine service add to the ambiance. Serving ambitious, eclectic dishes with a strictly contemporary feel and unhindered by tradition, it has definitely made its mark with such innovative creations as crab cakes with caviar or the sausage stuffed chicken breast with bok choy, kimchee cream cheese, peanuts, and pear ginger sauce.
601 First Avenue North, Minneapolis
Tel: (612) 312 1168.
Website: www.cosmosrestaurant.com
Moderate
Heartland
Sourcing its ingredients from small family farmers and artisanal producers, Heartland serves excellent food with a strong emphasis on natural, organic flavors. North American midwest regional dishes with ingeniously combined ingredients make for a unique and interesting culinary experience. The organic approach is reflected also in the earthy yet vibrant arts and crafts décor.
1806 St Clair Avenue, St Paul
Tel: (651) 699 3536.
Website: www.heartlandrestaurant.com
Kincaid's
An archetypical American eatery, Kincaid's is a traditional fish, chop and steakhouse offering generous helpings of traditional American fare with elegance and flair. Juicy beef from Omaha, salmon from Alaska, fish from Honolulu - the food here is unambiguously American. The menu also boasts classic cocktails, a good variety of wines by the bottle and the glass and several beer choices. Casually elegant, this is a place with atmosphere and a character of its own.
380 St Peter Street, St Paul
Tel: (651) 602 9000.
Website: www.kincaids.com
Cheap
Bar Abilene
Far more than just a bar, this place offers what it calls ‘Cowboy Fusion' cuisine, mixing Southwestern basics with ingredients and flavors from Asian, Mediterranean and other culinary traditions. In addition to the extensive and varied food menu, there are more than 25 freshly-made margaritas, over 100 tequilas and guacamole made by the table.
1300 Lagoon Avenue, Minneapolis
Tel: (612) 825 2525.
Website: www.barabilene.com
Black Forest Inn
Strudel, schnitzel, sauerbraten, spaetzel - authentic, handmade food in the mode of Old Europe and particularly Germany- is a specialty at the Black Forest Inn. Since 1965, this hearty, nourishing, robust and very tasty food has proved popular with both locals and visitors.
1 East 26th Street, Minneapolis
Tel: (612) 872 0812.
Website: www.blackforestinnmpls.com
Café Brenda
Café Brenda, located in the Minneapolis’ historic warehouse district, has been around for more than two decades. The cuisine, based on natural ingredients and offering an exciting and imaginative mix of flavors and textures is lip-smacking. Its reputation as an innovative gourmet vegetarian and seafood restaurant springs from offerings like southwestern mock duck tacos and savory wild mushroom pistachio pie.
300 First Avenue North, Minneapolis
Tel: (612) 342 9230.
Website: www.cafebrenda.com
Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant
Both a jazz club and restaurant, this is the place for good music, tasty food and a very respectable wine list. Autographed photos of artists like Ahmad Jamal, who have performed here, decorate its brick walls while barrel-shaped benches line the walls. The food is as lively as music with hors d'oeuvres like beef and basil carpaccio for starters and star prairie trout ‘saltimbocca’ with prosciutto and brown butter.
1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
Tel: (612) 332 1010
Website: www.dakotacooks.com
Fire Lake, Grill House & Cocktail Bar
Located in the Radisson Plaza Hotel, this sleek, earthy-toned dining room with open kitchen and barrel-style benches features regional ingredients. Such favorites as walleye pike and honey-cured pork chops are cooked over a wood-burning fire and are often accented with a strong touch of the Mediterranean. All is complemented by a fine wine list. Save room for dessert, like the black bottom cream pie.
31 South Seventh Street, Minneapolis
Tel: (612) 216 3473.
Website: www.firelakerestaurant.com
Hell’s Kitchen
Hell’s Kitchen may look like an eerie basement–black walls, ‘blood-splattered’ pictures and a ceiling-hung red cage with stuffed, black crows—but it serves mouthwatering fare. Though lunch and dinner are pretty awesome, this is a favorite place for breakfast which is served all day. Expect unusual fare like toasted sausage bread, porridge with hazelnuts, wild rice, dried blueberries and peanut butter with cinnamon and honey. Everything is made from scratch.
80 South Ninth Street, Minneapolis
Tel: (612) 332 4700.
Website: www.hellskitcheninc.com
Hoa Bīên
With so many Hmong people here, it would be a shame to come to the area and not try the local food. Basically this no-frills, family restaurant serves Vietnamese fare and it is delicious. Pho, a beef broth noodle soup comes with beef or chicken and lots of vegetables on the side. The spring rolls are heavenly as is the grilled shrimp and beef with vegetables and noodles.
1105 University Avenue, St Paul
Tel: (6851) 647 1011.
Mickey's Diner
A vintage dining car, Mickey's opened in 1939. It has yet to be remodeled which is part of its charm. Each red booth has its own juke box. This St Paul institution attracts everyone from tourists to locals who aren't particularly interested in counting calories. Order breakfast or burgers at any time and include a Mickey's specialty, Potatoes O'Brien - potatoes with peppers, onion, cheese, bacon bits and tomatoes. Open 24/7.
36 West Seventh Street, St Paul
Tel: (651) 222 5633.
Website: www.mickeysdiningcar.com
Pazzaluna
Meaning ‘crazy moon' in Italian, this restaurant combines casual and cool. The menu is effortlessly sophisticated in typical Italian fashion - at once robust and hearty and innovative and elegant. With choices like saffron risotto and chicken, gnocci or steelhead trout with horseradish salt, it is easy to please the palate. An attractive and highly popular place, Pazzaluna has an artfully designed and stylish interior and a welcoming atmosphere.
360 St Peter Street, St Paul
Tel: (651) 223 7000.
Website: www.pazzaluna.com
Nightlife
Nightlife in Minneapolis and St Paul is lively. The Twin Cities are on the touring circuit for many big-name bands and solo artists and several local musicians have risen to fame, most notably Prince. Blues and jazz are particularly big here but everything from rock to reggae can be found most nights of the week and cover charges for music venues are often free or inexpensive.
Downtown Minneapolis is a center for nightlife, although popular bars and music clubs are located throughout the metropolitan area. The legal drinking age is 21 years old. Bars must stop serving alcohol at 0100 but are allowed to remain open until 0300.
Entertainment and nightlife listings appear in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the St Paul Pioneer Press and the weekly free tabloid, City Pages.
Mystic Casino Lake Hotel
Offers gaming tables, slots and bingo.
2400 Mystic Lake Blvd, Prior Lake
Tel: (952) 445 9000.
Website: www.mysticlake.com
Treasure Island Resort & Casino
Offers slots, a live poker room and table games.
5734 Sturgeon Lake Road Welch
Tel: (651) 388 6300.
Website: www.treasureislandcasino.com
Grand Casino Hinckley
It has over 2,000 slots and 28 game tables. Hwy I-35, Hinckley
Tel: 800 472 6321.
Website: www.grandcasinomn.com
Bars
Champp's
Sports bars with numerous TV monitors for watching sporting events are hot in the Twin Cities and one of the most popular include Champp's, which has locations in both.
100 North Sixth Street, Minneapolis
Tel: (612) 335 5050.
Website: www.champps.com
The Lounge
This is one of Minneapolis' more upmarket watering holes and also features live music. Expect to drink exotic cocktails against a backdrop of animal skins, plush velvet pillows, canvas art and film images.
411 Second Avenue North
Tel: (612) 333 8800.
Website: www.theloungempls.com
Patrick McGovern's Pub
Located in in a turn-of-the-century building, this spot is renowned for its friendly service and attracting sporty-minded drinkers.
225 Seventh St W
Tel: (651) 228 1868.
Website: www.patmcgoverns.com
Clubs
Great Waters Brewery Co
Beer lovers are spoilt for choice here. Over 85 different hand-crafted beers are served in this watering hole, with bosses claiming their secret ingredient is holy water; the building rests on the site of a former cathedral blessed with a natural spring water well. Located in the heart of Downtown St Paul, it boasts a patio open throughout the year.
426 St. Peter Street, St Paul
Tel: 651-224-BREW (2739).
Website: www.greatwatersbc.com
Bellanote
This s an upscale lounge with music, cool atmosphere and a dance floor.
600 Hennepin Avenue South
Website: www.bellanottempls.com
Gay 90s
This is a massive multi-room mixed and gay club, popular for its great house music, piano bar and drag shows.
408 Hennepin Avenue
Tel: (612) 333 7755.
Weebsite: www.gay90s.com
Envy
Formerly the Fahrenheit, Envy has contemporary atmosphere and state-of-the-art sound and lighting. It attracts a mix of celebrities, local athletes, and a cosmopolitan, fashionable crowds.
400 First Avenue North, Minneapolis
Tel: (612) 673 9694.
Website: www.envympls.com
Bootleggers
Located in the warehouse district, Bootleggers boasts a live DJ dance floor and lots of TVs. Declaring itself to be the modern day answer to the speakeasy of old, the bar also features a lounge area decked out with pool tables, a darts board and video games.
323 first Avenue North
Tel: (612) 338 4555.
Website: www.bootleggersmpls.com
Live Music
The Dakota Jazz & Supper Club
This place features some of the best jazz in the area and offers a packed calendar. Music lovers can also enjoy cheap bites.
1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
Tel: (612) 332 1010.
Website: www.dakotacooks.com
First Avenue
Made famous in the film Purple Rain, First Avenue is the city's largest live music venue, booking top touring bands and artists.
701 First Avenue, Minneapolis
Tel: (612) 332 1775.
Website: www.first-avenue.com
The Cabooze
Another top venue, The Cabooze has a huge dance floor and nightly blues, rock and reggae acts.
917 Cedar Avenue, Minneapolis
Website: www.cabooze.com
