Photo by Eliesa Johnson
Bachelor Farmer tabletop
<< See More Best Restaurants 2014
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112 Eatery
Isaac Becker's original solo effort is still the object of foodists affection, probably because it stays open late and treats a cheeseburger like royalty, and manages to make foie gras meatballs feel like a revelation every time you order them. And after all these years, it's become the kind of place it once subverted: an institution. 112 N. 3rd St., Mpls., 612-343-7696, 112eatery.com
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The Bachelor Farmer
Three years after it opened, The Bachelor Farmer is still a coveted reservation. And while the restaurant's Nordic sensibilities are still apparent on the menu, they've become less conspicuous as chef Paul Berglund settles into that easy relationship with eaters, one based on trust and consistency over flash and fad. 50 2nd Ave. N., Mpls., 612-206-3920, thebachelorfarmer.com
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Barbette
Chef Sarah Master has long been a quiet force in the restaurant industry, but lately she’s come into her own. Uptown’s go-to French eatery can always be counted on for spectacular oeufs, top-notch fries, and a few great glasses of bubbles, but lately there’s a spark to the cooking—consider the current rendition of the duck cassoulet—that has brought a freshness to the old bohemian space. 1600 W. Lake St., Mpls., 612-827-5710, barbette.com
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Bar La Grassa
One might have thought that the BLG crowd would automatically migrate to Burch, Isaac Becker’s new joint in Lowry Hill. They didn’t, and for good reason. How could you leave behind this North Loop staple, the place that makes you feel warmly welcome and special? And how could you leave perfect blue marlin crudo, hearty mushroom and taleggio agnolotti, and perhaps the only really true bucatini with Bolognese in town? 800 Washington Ave. N., Mpls., 612-333-3837, barlagrassa.com
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Birchwood Cafe
Relax in the vibe of this artful, simple café. Chef Marshall Paulsen’s vibrant menu matches the welcoming scene, from the seasonal savory waffles (fresh corn-studded cornmeal beauties in August; kale, kernza, and fontina in January) to the burger or the tempeh tacos. 3311 E. 25th St., Mpls., 612-722-4474, birchwoodcafe.com
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Blue Door Pub
Burgers inspire passionate debate around these parts; Minnesotans are simply mad about their favorites. Maybe that’s why we picked BDP for this list, because it also seems simply mad about burgers. Even if you don’t normally go in for a Lucy-style burger, you’ll be tempted by BDP’s creative versions, such as its special homage to the Big Mac, in which white American cheese oozes forth under a mantle of special sauce and chopped house pickles. 1811 Selby Ave., St. Paul, 651-493-1865, thebluedoorpubmn.com
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Brasa Rotisserie
Brasa makes you wish you’d grown up with chef-owner Alex Roberts. The casual eatery is an homage to his childhood traditions and his mom’s home cooking: a warm blend of Creole, Southern, and Caribbean dishes. Sure, you can find pulled pork or braised beef all over town. But only at Brasa can you get it from a James Beard Award-winning chef who balances flawless execution and phenomenal sourcing with an intuitive sense of comfort and soul satisfaction. 600 Hennepin Ave. E., Mpls., 612-379-3030; 777 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651-224-1302, brasa.us
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Borough
Borough/Parlour
In the hottest neighborhood in Minneapolis, this is the hottest spot. Upstairs at Borough, a kitchen run by multiple chefs kicks out playful and exciting plates in a space that defines rustic warehouse chic. Downstairs, Parlour is a laid-back lounge where the pros behind the bar crraft some of the best bozy-wonderful cocktails in town, and where the burger—a veritable spectacle of meat, pickles, and cheese—sets a new standard of snacking. 730 Washington Ave. N., Mpls., 612-354-3135, boroughmpls.com
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Broders' Cucina Italiana
The three Broders’ destinations deserve to be seen as a whole, committed as they all are to the same high standards of quality and authenticity. The Pasta Bar dishes up freshly made ravioli to an always waiting crowd, the Cucina stocks the best ingredients from Italy alongside unfussy meals to grab and go, and now Terzo Vino Bar provides a place to hang out over a glass of Chianti from a well-curated list, all while snacking on modern but modest plates. Longevity itself is rare in the restaurant business, but after 30 years, the Broder family has successfully passed the baton to the next generation, assuring us that they’ll be feeding us for years to come. Pasta Bar, 5000 Penn Ave. S., Mpls., 612-925-9202; Cucina, 2308 W. 50th St., Mpls., 612-925-3113; Terzo, 2221 W. 50th St., Mpls., 612-925-0330, broders.com
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Butcher & The Boar
There’s no denying the crazy hotness of B&TB. It certainly hits the Minnesota dining sweet spot: lots of wood-fire smoke aromas to lure you in, a menu chock-full of sausages and meat, and a beer garden that defiantly stays open all winter long. Plus there’s the opportunity to splurge on a beef long rib or hang loose with a wicked footlong hot dog and a flight of wheated bourbon, all depending on your wallet or whim. 1121 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-238-8888, butcherandtheboar.com
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Cossetta
A major renovation has allowed Cossetta to become a mini-Italian empire of the east side, a place where many (many, many) parts have finally come together to make a rather magical whole—something you truly have to see to believe. There’s the market, the bakery, the pasticceria (with its Wonka-esque supply of pastries and sweets), the cafeteria, and a full-service rooftop restaurant where the good vibes flow as freely as the wine. 211 W. 7th St., St. Paul, 651-222-3476, cossettas.com
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Dakota
If you don’t like to listen to live music while you eat, you might have written off the Dakota. That would be a mistake. Besides lunches that are leagues above what you’ll find in the skyway, there’s a glorious patio in the warmer months where you can sample from one of the best happy hour menus in town. Then there’s dinner in the side room, which allows the best of both worlds: a little music and your duroc pork belly and day boat scallops too. 1010 Nicollet Ave., Mpls., 612-332-1010, dakotacooks.com
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El Burrito Mercado
It may not be fancy, but this multi-generational family-owned empire has become an icon of authentic Mexican fare in the Twin Cities. In the market, El Burrito has seemingly limitless versions of its salsa, legendary house tamales, and a house-butchered meat section that would make any charcuterie guy blush. And at the full-service restaurant in St. Paul, there’s a mean margarita to wash down your sopes, pozole verde soup, cochinito pibil, or menudo (if you dare). Midtown Global Market, Mpls., 612-227-2192; 175 Cesar Chavez St., St. Paul, 651-227-2192, elburritomercado.com
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Grand Szechuan
Grand Szechuan
The food at Grand Szechuan is some of the most authentic fare to be found in the Twin Cities, particularly when it comes to the restaurant’s extensive selection of Szechuan specialties. And while nose-to-tail cooking has become au courant in recent years, the wok stars in the kitchen at Grand Szechuan have been serving up tripe, tendon, kidney, belly, and ears for years. 10602 France Ave. S., Bloomington, 952-888-6507, grandszechuanmn.com
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Icehouse
The unassuming (for Eat Street, anyway) Icehouse has become one of the best live music and food destinations around, with a space that’s warehouse revival and a cocktail menu that’s inventive and fashionable, in a neighborhood that has upped the ante on booze. Eating here is both playful and nostalgic: The burger topped with foie gras is lush and gratifying, the buttermilk fried chicken with bacon-cornmeal waffle is a post-cocktailing dream, and the mushroom pot pie with creamy taleggio cheese is one of the best new expressions of meatless cooking around. And, oh yeah, there’s great music too. 2528 Nicollet Ave., Mpls., 612-276-6523, icehousempls.com
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Jax Cafe
There’s something comforting about a restaurant that doesn’t change to fit trends or cater to the crowd of buzz seekers. Jax keeps it honest and old-school, from the vested barmen to the famous crab rolls and pierogi. It’s not a concept; it’s a tradition of hospitality, one designed to make you feel special in the simplest ways. 1928 University Ave. NE, Mpls., 612-789-7297, jaxcafe.com
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The Kenwood
Despite its off-the-beaten-path location, in a space that has seen more than a few tenants come and go, Don Saunders’s eatery has defied the odds to become the quintessential neighborhood restaurant. The loyal following is due in no small part to Saunders’s eggs en cocotte and brunch menu burger. At night, the room feels like a neighborhood dinner party, with people greeting each other over unexpected plates such as the hearty wild boar papardelle. 2115 W. 21st St., Mpls., 612-377-3695, thekenwoodrestaurant.com
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La Belle Vie
It’s a powerhouse at the height of its powers, the best restaurant between Chicago and the West Coast. And it’s not just because of the food, which is at once delicate, lilting, and vigorous. La Belle Vie has turned into one of those spots where the sum is much greater than the parts, and that’s due to the team, a core group that has been working together for 16 years or more. Stability and longevity are not much celebrated in restaurant culture, but it’s the combination of people working in concert at La Belle Vie that makes it such an impeccable joy. 510 Groveland Ave., Mpls., 612-874-6440, labellevie.us
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The Lynn on Bryant
When you’re looking for an under-the-radar gem, go directly here. Chef-owner Peter Ireland’s cooking is spot-on, blending a bit of whimsy with exacting French technique, even while he manages to keep the restaurant neighborhood-humble. Even so, Ireland’s most remarkable, if unexpected feat, might just be creating a gluten-free muffin that tastes like a sinister plot against anyone on a Paleo diet. 5003 Bryant Ave. S., Mpls., 612-767-7797, thelynnonbryant.com
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Mandarin Kitchen
Mandarin offers the most authentic dim sum brunch in town. While other places rely on frozen products and shortcuts, Mandarin’s carts ply eaters with fresh-from-the-kitchen clams in black bean sauce, barbecued pork buns, housemade dumplings, and a hundred other things that come from family recipes and a tradition of quality. 8766 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls., 952-884-5356, mandarin-kitchen.com
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