Everywhere Awesome to Eat and Drink in the North Loop
Photo: The dark and cozy interior at Bar La Grassa
Sifting through the restaurant-dense neighborhood for the best bites
1. Bar La Grassa
Minneapolis, MN
James Beard Award winning chef Isaac Becker’s Italian eatery is perpetually packed. Small and large plates are available and are best shared with friend
Every city has its cool kids neighborhood and the North Loop is Minneapolis’ hub, humming with creative excitement and it’s an easy walk from downtown. Near the Mississippi River, it’s a condo-dense area with dive bars, upscale cocktail rooms, fantastic coffee, high-end shops, and nationally renowned restaurants.
Restaurants are listed in geographical order from West to East.
2. Be’Wiched Sandwiches & Deli (Closed)
Minneapolis, MN
One of the early pioneers in this neighborhood, Be’Wiched takes fine-dining level chef skill and focuses it upon the humble sandwich. Taste the pastrami to see what inspires so many workers to crowd this counter during lunch time. Be’Wiched also serves breakfast daily.
3. Borough
Minneapolis, MN
Parlour Bar’s more upscale sibling restaurant with beautiful plates of food and a wonderful side patio for lingering on when the nights are warm. Borough recently added brunch and lunch menus in the past year under the guidance of executive chef Mike DeCamp.
4. Parlour
Minneapolis, MN
This subterranean bar is known for high-end cocktails, friendly bartenders and an absolutely insane diner-style hamburger.
5. JUN
Minneapolis, MN
The lunch dumplings are incredibly popular midday and the bar is packed by night with people inhaling hand-pulled noodles and digging into increasingly spicier dishes and this mom and son run restaurant.
6. Rise Bagel Co.
Minneapolis, MN
This shop was an immediate hit, inspiring none other than Andrew Zimmern to declare, “Finally, a worthy bagel in the Twin Cities.” Office heroes are made by stopping by early and sharing several everything bagels and a tub of scallion cream cheese.
7. Smack Shack
Minneapolis, MN
The unlikely home of great lobster in the heart of the country, Smack Shack is a large warehouse space with a perpetual cauldron roiling, waiting to kick off another lobster boil. Don’t miss the lobster roll, which has been featured in the national food press as one of the best of the buttery sandwiches.
8. Black Sheep Coal Fired Pizza
Minneapolis, MN
Coal-fueled fire kissed chewy edges mark each of the pizzas found inside this ground-level pizzeria that also serves a wide selection of locally brewed beers.
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9. Nolo’s Kitchen & Bar
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Upstairs is a casual neighborhood eatery serving breakfast through dinner and downstairs in a nouveaux-dive bar with a food-service window.
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10. Cuzzy’s Grill & Bar
Minneapolis, MN
A classic neighborhood dive bar that has remained true to its roots as the neighborhood has grown up around it.
11. Monte Carlo Restaurant
Minneapolis, MN
A throwback to another era, Monte Carlo hasn’t changed a thing in years to create a 50’s style dining room with ice cold martinis. In the warm months there is an expansive patio, but the can’t miss dish here are the wings. Massive and coated with a carefully guarded secret spice rub.
12. Red Rabbit
Minneapolis, MN
A casual neighborhood gathering spot, Red Rabbit is especially popular before a Twins game. The menu stars pizza, pasta and other Italian-influenced dishes. There is also a full bar with a deep and long cocktail menu worth diving into.
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13. Spoon and Stable
Minneapolis, MN
Gavin Kaysen changed the conversation around Minnesota dining when he left New York to open his first restaurant in his hometown. Two years after opening, this remains one of the most sought-after reservations in town.
14. Red Cow
Minneapolis, MN
Burgers and beers are available at this red and cow-hide decorated restaurant.
15. The Bachelor Farmer Cafe
Minneapolis, MN
The Bachelor Farmer Cafe has incredible pastries like perfectly-sized cinnamon rolls and grilled sandwiches created by the same chefs who lead the high-end restaurant next door, but with more affordable prices. The coffee is possibly the best brewed in the neighborhood and a little patio in the alley next door makes this an ideal place to start any warm weather Minnesota day.
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16. The Bachelor Farmer
Minneapolis, MN
What if Minnesota cuisine could be elegant and groundbreaking? That was the presumption that Eric and Andrew Dayton used to open this landmark restaurant that led the charge to changing the North Loop dining scene.
17. Sweet Chow
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Southeast Asian street food in this slim restaurant with a few outdoor tables. Try the mammoth-sized sticky wings with a glass of Elbling.
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18. Marvel Bar
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Grab a bite at the upstairs Bachelor Farmer before heading into the below level speakeasy. (Enter through the unmarked door facing the parking lot.) These boundary-pushing cocktails are the kind of thing mixology nerds geek out about, but are also divine to simply sip.
19. Kado No Mise
The most elegant stop for sushi in the North Loop. There aren’t many seats, but with such gorgeous food, it’s worth jockeying for space. Kado No Mise serves lunch Tuesday through Friday, dinner Tuesday through Saturday and adds a special late night menu on Fridays and Saturdays. It also has a Japanese whiskey-stocked bar.