Best Restaurants In Minneapolis, Minnesota

Housed in a historic 19th-century brick-and-timber warehouse in Minneapolis’ North Loop neighborhood is The Bachelor Farmer. It opened in 2011 on two floors of the house, with a small rooftop farm. This place draws inspiration from the creativity of contemporary Scandinavian cooking and pays homage to Minnesota’s rich Nordic history. The Bachelor Farmer’s chef Paul Berglund adheres to simple flavors that showcase the freshness and quality of their ingredients. This respect for ingredients can be seen in their menu, which changes seasonally. Try The Bachelor Farmer’s meatballs (ingredients vary) and any of their toast options. Or, stop by for a refreshingly delicious Sunday brunch.

Be sure to watch where you walk when you visit this place because the industrial-chic dining room is paved with pennies — literally. Located in the historic Harmon district of Minneapolis, Butcher and the Boar brings its sausage specialties and Mississippi Delta favorites to the Twin Cities. Already, the restaurant has gained national attention under the direction of chef Jack Riebel. It has won a nomination for the 2013 James Beard semifinalist for Best New Restaurant and Best Chef: Midwest. Butcher & the Boar is a true specialist and is a meat-lovers haven with a huge selection of house sausages and cured meats. Sausage-and-beer aficionados rejoiced when Butcher & The Board announced the opening of its all-season heated beer garden. It serves house sausages, German nachos and more with a great selection of beers.

Molecular gastronomy meets Minnesotan culinary tradition at Travail Kitchen & Amusements. Having closed its doors in April in anticipation of a new Kickstarter-funded Robbinsdale space, Travail Kitchen & Amusements promises to reopen with a bang. In 2011, Travail Kitchen and Amusements came in at No. 4 on Bon Appétit Best New Restaurants in America list. Fun and innovative, with an eye on fusion flavors, Travail Kitchen energized the Minneapolis food scene. They turned the kitchen into a creative lab for experimenting with local ingredients, whether foraged or locally grown. Plus, they conceptualized never-before-seen combinations that simply work.

Shortlisted by Bon Appétit as one of the 50 Best New Restaurants in America, Borough is in Minneapolis’s North Loop neighborhood. Borough offers a beautiful dining experience with its glass-paned wall, simple furnishings and unusual lighting fixtures. The cheese graters transformed into ceiling lighting are a delightful touch that give the restaurant an elegantly rustic ambiance. They serve dishes made using organic, locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Try the octopus with yam, soya, daikon, coriander, lime and peanuts and bay scallops.

From its humble beginnings as a mobile food truck with a loyal following, Josh Thoma’s Smack Shack officially opened its first brick-and-mortar shop in early 2013. This was much to the delight of Minneapolis’ seafood aficionados. Lobsters are undoubtedly the star of the show at Smack Shack. Midwestern locals come here for the beloved lobster roll. Chunky lobster meat is sandwiched between a roll and served either New England style or with a Connecticut twist. The menu also features po’ boys, crab rolls, lobster mac and cheese and more.