Restaurant Week February 2019

4 Bells

The former Joe's Garage is busy with the Loring Park set dipping in for fried chicken, oysters, and low-country cocktails. The rooftop is year-round with great views.

6Smith

A swanky urban restaurant took up the old Boatworks building on Lake Minnetonka. There's a serious selection of beef and lobster dishes on the menu, plus some of the best cocktails west of the 494.

Baja Haus

Baja Haus is providing beachy waves of tacos to the Wayzata lakeside set.

Barbette

It actually doesn't matter who the chef is at this bohemian spot, it cranks out thoughtful French bistro food, great late-night nosh, and some of the best frites around. Check out the extensive list of Champagne and bubblies.

Betty Danger's Country Club

The original Psycho Suzi's space reinvents itself as a cheeky prepster haven. The menu is Mexican-gone-East Coast, but the amenities are where it's at: a mini-golf course weaves through the restaurant and a dining car ferris wheel stands outside.

Birch's on the Lake

Birch's combines classic recipes with modern ingredients. Familiar yet fresh, the menu offers crispy flatbreads, generous sandwiches, and a signature pan-fried Chicken-in-the-Rough.

Boca Chica Restaurante Mexicano y Cantina

Since 1964, Boca Chica has been serving fresh family-recipe Mexican food to the Twin Cities. The Frias family's salsa has a loyal following, as do the chile relleno and the carnitas.

Book Club

In the former Cafe Maude space known as Book Club is serving up fried chicken sandwiches, broccoli mac and cheese, and brunch on the weekends.

Cafe Alma

Cafe Alma is the new addition to Alex Roberts’ award-winning Restaurant Alma.

Café Lurcat

Campiello

This D'Amico trattoria is phenomenally refined for the moderate prices. People love its often superb Italian regional fare and relaxed, warm environment.

Cast & Cru

Launched in the freshly revamped Old Log Theater, this dining spot features meaty, modern American plates whether you're seeing a show or not.

Chino Latino

Far and away the Twin Cities' most rollicking, youthful, edgy restaurant scene. The menu is culled from many of the equatorial countries of the world and remains more fun than refined. Cocktails are huge and infamous, and the late-night happy ho...

Citizen

Citizen Supper Club has revamped as Citizen. The vibe is still very Mad Men, but there’s a brand new menu, complete with local touches like app boards featuring meats and cheeses from Red Table Meats and Redhead Creamery.

Copper Hen Cakery & Kitchen

A Kickstarter-funded spot that takes a local, scratch cooking approach to cakes, breads, and rustic mains like pizzas, burgers, and goulash.

Corner Table

Corner Table has evolved into one of the best neighborhood eateries in town, again. Under the ownership and reign of Thomas Boemer and Nick Rancone, it has become refined but humble and satisfying. A true find.

El Burrito Restaurant y Cantina

A Mexican market & cafe serving classic staples like tacos, enchiladas & tamales, just like mom would make.

Esker Grove

Chef Doug Flicker is heading Esker Grove, the new modern and seasonal restaurant in the Walker Art Center.

Fogo de Chao

With its all-you-can-eat menu, strolling gauchos slicing more than a dozen grilled meats tableside, plus a stellar salad bar, Fogo de Chão not only represents great value, but also offers many cuts of meats and flavors not otherwise found in loc...

Gianni's Steakhouse

An independent suburban steak house that caters to the well-heeled with dry-aged steaks, large pastas, and a signature tableside-spun salad.

Ginger Hop Restaurant

The team behind Chiang Mai Thai created Ginger Hop with a Vietnamese colonial vibe. The food may have a Southeast Asian influence, but you'll find flavors from all over contributing to innovative dishes, including a kimchi Reuben. The subterrane...

Hammer & Sickle

Uptown has a new vodka bar with a light Soviet theme. Check out the menu with a round of pierogis, small plate zakuski offerings, even caviar.

Herbie's On The Park

Levy Restaurants offers catering at Xcel Energy Center and 317 on Rice Park. Try the signature crab cakes with lemon aioli-you won't be disappointed. Liquor service.

Holman's Table

Located at the STP airport, and named for daredevil pilot Charles W. “Speed” Holman, Holman's Table is serving up American fare with a twist in travel-inspired surroundings.

I Nonni

One of the best Italian restaurants in the Twin Cities is in this Lilydale subdivision. The owners regularly perform magic with homemade salumi (his guanciale is awesome), phenomenally authentic pastas, superb first courses such as beef carpacci...

Kendall's Tavern & Chophouse

The Bunker Hills Golf Club has a new draw for the clubhouse: Kendall's has opened with a hearty menu of American tavern fare. Look for big sandwiches, hefty burgers, and wood-fired meats.

La Voya

La Voya is a new restaurant located in the Intercontinental Hotel at Minneapolis–St. Paul airport.

Lake & Irving

The brothers Ikeda have opened this Uptown spot where Asian meets Mediterranean meets Minnesotan. Surprisingly, it all works in a cozy pub-like atmosphere.

Lela

A refreshed space adjacent to the former Sofitel plays sophisticated and modern with crudo, house-made pasta, and some enormous steaks.

Mediterranean Cruise Cafe

In a grand space, this Med-focused restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes, such as kebabs, pasta, gyros, pizza, and more. Check out one of the weekend belly dancing shows or enjoy a hookah on the patio.

Mercury Dining Room and Rail

Downtowners are happy dancing to Blue Plate's Mercury Dining Room and Rail which opened in the former Brasserie Zentral space.

Mystic Steakhouse

If you're down playing the slots, reward yourself with dinner at this classic casino steak house offering chops, seafood, pastas, salads, and more.

Nico's Taco & Tequila Bar

In the former Birdhouse on Hennepin, Nico's is serving up affordable and casual tacos with fresh salsas and tequila drinks.

OCTO Fishbar

OCTO Fishbar lives alongside Almanac Fish Market and Peterson Meats in the Market House Collaborative.

Pazzaluna Urban Italian

This Italian trattoria has a buzzy after-work scene. Sit at the kitchen bar or chef's table to experience Calabrian mussels, handmade gnocchi, or trout with a horseradish crust.

Pig Ate My Pizza

In the former bones of Travail, this cutting-edge pizzeria has risen from the same band of merry cooks. Your pizza might have pork, it might have a smoke-filled dome, it might be covered in potato salad, and that's the fun.

Psycho Suzi's Motor Lounge

Suzi's space is still tikilicious and the menu of kicked-up kitsch bar fare and "Minneapolis" pizza is a great bolster for a night out. The upstairs features three theme bars and a tiki band on weekends. The riverside patio is slamming.

Red Stag Supperclub

As a bar, Red Stag is all that a patron expects—carved wood bar, red and black carpet, low beams, an interesting montage of art (most of it salvaged and reused)—and the drinks are everything you would expect at a supper club.

Rinata

Rinata is an Italian bistro with considerable charm. Simple elegance is applied to the warm, candlelit surroundings as well as the rustic menu. Earthy flavors from all over Italy are featured in dishes such as eggplant involtini, ravioli with br...

Rock Elm Tavern

Rock Elm, a suburban tavern, brings together the owners' greatest pleasures: unforgettable scratch-made food, finely crafted drinks, and fantastic service.

Rodizio Grill

There's a large salad bar and servers who bring you different cuts of grilled and roasted meats at this all-you-can-eat Brazilian steak house.

Ruth's Chris Steak House

Ruth's is perhaps the least flashy of the local high-ticket steak houses. Generous portions, super sides, and great service are its benchmarks.

Salut Bar Américain

Parasole's casual Frenchy is a popular clubhouse in both cities, with fare that's reasonably authentic, except when it isn't. Great rooms and a buzzy vibe make for a fun meal, even if you're just having a burger and oysters.

Salut Bar Américain

Parasole's casual Frenchy is a popular clubhouse in both cities, with fare that's reasonably authentic, except when it isn't. Great rooms and a buzzy vibe make for a fun meal, even if you're just having a burger and oysters.

Sanctuary

In this graciously restored fieldstone building, Sanctuary's menu spans the globe with new-age verve. Call it classic fusion—Latino and Asian flavors via French technique. Chef Patrick Atanalian's plates are surprisingly innovative and playful.

Smack Shack

North Loop finally has the fish shack it's been waiting for. Josh Thoma's lobster truck has evolved into a full-service joint with lobster boils, po'boys, two bars, and a giant patio.

Smith & Porter

This new restaurant and bar just opened on the ground level of a senior living apartment building in the Mill District. Check out the stuffed acorn squash or chimichurri lamb.

St. Paul Grill

There's no denying the appeal of downtown St. Paul's clubby home for power lunches, decadent brunches, and winning pre-theater dinners. The food is classic American, the simpler the better. It's the place to be seen if you're a Capitol mover and...

Stella's Fish Cafe & Prestige Oyster Bar

Incorporate Uptown staple Stella's into your celebration with a rehearsal dinner or an intimate reception. The rooftop patio is a definite "do" in the summertime.

Sweet Chow Restaurant + Bar

An Asian specialized, street-food-inspired menu that blends comforting cuisine from Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Korea, with a modern twist.

T. Morris Pub and Grill

English-inspired pub fare is the name of the game at this Woodbury spot.

The Capital Grille

The one chain steak house that can compete with food-focused restaurants for quality and creativity in downtown Minneapolis. Go for the Delmonico rib eye and wonderful creamed spinach.

The Commodore Bar and Restaurant

St. Paul's legendary bar pays homage to the jazz age. The art deco vibe is spectacular, the fully stocked bar sports Minnesota-made liquors, and the full-service restaurant puts up classic dishes such as braised rabbit and deviled eggs.

The Freehouse

Blue Plate's first foray into the brewing biz, this North Loop brewpub serves its own beer and an ambitious menu of drinker's eats.

The Lexington

It's all about bringing back the classics at The Lex, but giving them a place in the now.

The Lowry

The Lowry's motto: Beer, Whiskey, Oysters, and Eggs. From early morning to late night, the fun and fresh menu aims to feed the young and hungry who crowd the neighborhood apartments.

The Melting Pot

There's an all-fondue menu of four-course feasts, as well as other items, including filet mignon, shrimp, sirloin, lobster tails and a vegetarian option. Also cheese and chocolate fondues.

The Oceanaire Seafood Room

Though the space isn't as cool or swank as it used to be, the fish is still flown-in fresh, the portions generous, and the crab cake the best in town. Happy hour has become a popular pastime.

Tria Restaurant

This attractive north suburban restaurant feels like a European country house and is popular for gatherings. The food is similarly influenced, hearty, and comforting.

Tullibee

Located in the new Hewing Hotel, Tullibee is the restaurant helmed by chef Matt Leverty.

Twin Cities 400 Tavern

This is an all-day, independent restaurant with contemporary tavern snacks like fish 'n' chips, porchetta pizza, and a whiskey barrel burger.

Urban Eatery

Calhoun Beach Club's edgy eatery. Focused on fresh & local food, the menu plays with a few foodie touches such as duck nachos, house smoked pork chop. Local farms get a nod on the menu.

al Vento

Warm and upscale, this Italian trattoria, in a part of town thin on options, prides itself on its scratch cooking, from housemade mozzarella to fresh pasta.

moto-i

Besides being the first sake brewpub outside of Japan, moto-i has really come into its own as a Japanese izakaya with ramen, whole fish, a crazy brunch menu, and one of the more zen rooftops in town.

ninetwentyfive

In the Landing Hotel, ninetwentyfive's menu is upscale-local with things like a walleye roll that will knock you into the lake. In a good way.