15 Best Restaurants Near The Twin Cities

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As a passionate food enthusiast living near the vibrant Twin Cities, I’ve had the delightful opportunity to explore a plethora of dining establishments. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, these 15 restaurants promise an unforgettable gastronomic experience. From cozy cafes to upscale eateries, let’s embark on a culinary journey through the heart of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

1. Alma: 4.6/5 (1,784 reviews) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Description/Tips: Alma is a fine dining restaurant that serves contemporary American cuisine with a focus on seasonal and local ingredients. The menu changes frequently, but you can expect dishes like roasted duck breast with parsnip puree, grilled lamb loin with mint salsa verde, and chocolate cake with caramel sauce. Alma also offers a seven-course tasting menu, a casual cafe, and a boutique hotel.

Popular Items: Roasted duck breast, grilled lamb loin, chocolate cake.

Price: $$ ($31-$60)

Menu Link: View Menu

Website Link: View Here

A Customer Review: “Alma is one of the best restaurants in the Twin Cities. The food is exquisite, the service is impeccable, and the atmosphere is cozy and elegant. I highly recommend the tasting menu, which showcases the chef’s creativity and skill.”

2. Martina: 4.7/5 (1,610 reviews) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Description/Tips: Martina is a trendy restaurant that serves Argentine-inspired cuisine with a twist. The menu features dishes like wood-fired octopus with chimichurri, crispy pork belly with apple slaw, and dulce de leche flan with candied pecans. Martina also has a lively bar, a brunch menu, and a happy hour.

Popular Items: Wood-fired octopus, crispy pork belly, dulce de leche flan.

Price: $$ ($11-$30)

Menu Link: View Menu

Website Link: View Here

A Customer Review: “Martina is a gem in the Twin Cities. The food is delicious, the drinks are amazing, and the vibe is fun and energetic. I love the wood-fired octopus, which is tender and smoky, and the dulce de leche flan, which is creamy and decadent.”

3. Tilia: 4.6/5 (783 reviews) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Description/Tips: Tilia is a cozy and casual restaurant that serves American comfort food with a twist. The menu features dishes like fish tacos with cabbage slaw, fried chicken sandwich with honey mustard, and macaroni and cheese with bacon and breadcrumbs. Tilia also has a bakery, a wine bar, and a kids’ menu.

Popular Items: Fish tacos, fried chicken sandwich, macaroni and cheese.

Price: $$ ($11-$30)

Menu Link: View Menu

Website Link: View Here

A Customer Review: “Tilia is a great place to go for a casual and satisfying meal. The food is fresh, flavorful, and filling, and the service is friendly and attentive. I love the fish tacos, which are crispy and tangy, and the macaroni and cheese, which is cheesy and crunchy.”

4. Petite León: 4.6/5 (415 reviews)

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Description/Tips: Petite León is a charming and intimate restaurant that serves Mexican and Spanish cuisine with a modern twist. The menu features dishes like pozole rojo with pork and hominy, paella with chicken and chorizo, and tres leches cake with whipped cream. Petite León also has a cocktail menu, a brunch menu, and a happy hour.

Popular Items: Pozole rojo, paella, tres leches cake.

Price: $$ ($11-$30)

Menu Link: View Menu

Website Link: View Here

A Customer Review: “Petite León is a cozy and delicious spot to enjoy some Mexican and Spanish flavors. The pozole rojo is hearty and spicy, the paella is rich and savory, and the tres leches cake is moist and sweet. The service is warm and attentive, and the ambiance is romantic and relaxing.”

6. The Kenwood Restaurant: 4.6/5 (642 reviews) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Description/Tips: The Kenwood Restaurant is a quaint and cozy restaurant that serves American comfort food with a twist. The menu features dishes like pancakes with blueberries and maple syrup, burger with bacon and cheese, and pot roast with carrots and potatoes. The Kenwood Restaurant also has a bakery, a coffee bar, and a patio.

Popular Items: Pancakes, burger, pot roast.

Price: $$ ($11-$30)

Menu Link: View Menu

Website Link: View Here

A Customer Review: “The Kenwood Restaurant is a great place to go for a hearty and satisfying meal. The food is fresh, homemade, and delicious, and the service is friendly and welcoming. I love the pancakes, which are fluffy and sweet, and the pot roast, which is tender and juicy.”

7. Owamni by The Sioux Chef: 4.7/5.0 (1,550 reviews) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Description/Tips: Owamni by The Sioux Chef is the first indigenous restaurant in the Twin Cities, serving dishes that celebrate the native ingredients and traditions of the region. The menu changes with the seasons, featuring items such as smoked duck, wild rice, cornbread, and berry desserts. The restaurant also offers a four-course tasting menu, mocktails, teas, and a selection of beer and wine. Owamni by The Sioux Chef is located on the sacred grounds of Owamniyomni (St. Anthony Falls), overlooking the river and the park.

Popular Items: Smoked Jalapeños, Beef Long Rib, Wagyu Denver Steak, Blueberry Compote Pork Chop

Price: $$ ($31-$60)

Menu Link: View Menu

Website Link: View Here

A Customer Review: “I took 3 colleagues to eat at Owamni, and their responses were the meal of a lifetime, I will always remember that amazing meal, and “wow.” We ordered 1 of as many things as we could and split them up to share four ways. Everything was delicious, fresh, and unique.”

8. The Butcher’s Tale: 4.7/5.0 (563 reviews) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Description/Tips: The Butcher’s Tale is a modern steakhouse that specializes in house-smoked meats, hand-cut steaks, and hand-crafted sausages. The restaurant also serves fresh seafood, salads, and sides, as well as a variety of cocktails, beers, and wines. The Butcher’s Tale is located in the former Butcher & the Boar space on Hennepin Avenue, and features an open kitchen, a cozy dining room, and a spacious patio.

Popular Items: Sesame-Fried Veal Sweetbreads, Sliders, Wagyu Denver Steak, Double-Cut Pork Chop

Price: $$ ($31-$60)

Menu Link: View Menu

Website Link: View Here

A Customer Review: “Such a great place! Waiters are highly trained, with a huge knowledge of what they are offering! Rib Eye Tacos with Marrow are the best I have ever tried! We went to this place wanting to have a nice meal and leave, but ended up staying for hours enjoying the food, drinks, and atmosphere.”

9. STEPCHLD: 4.6/5 stars (297 reviews) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Description/Tips: STEPCHLD is a hip and funky restaurant that serves Southern and soul food with a twist. The menu features dishes like fried chicken and waffles with maple syrup, shrimp and grits with bacon and cheese, and peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. STEPCHLD also has a cocktail menu, a brunch menu, and a live DJ.

Popular Items: Fried chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, peach cobbler.

Price: $$ ($11-$30)

Menu Link: View Menu

Website Link: View Here

A Customer Review: “STEPCHLD is a fun and delicious place to enjoy some Southern and soul food. The food is crispy, creamy, and sweet, and the service is friendly and fast. I loved the fried chicken and waffles, which were crunchy and fluffy, and the peach cobbler, which was warm and gooey.”

10. The Nook: 4.6/5 stars (4,037 reviews) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Description/Tips: The Nook is a classic and cozy restaurant that serves American comfort food with a flair. The menu features dishes like burger with cheese and bacon and a side of fries, hot dog with chili and cheese and a side of onion rings, and brownie sundae with whipped cream and nuts. The Nook also has a beer list, a jukebox, and a bowling alley.

Popular Items: Burger, hot dog, brownie sundae.

Price: $ (Under $10)

Menu Link: View Menu

Website Link: View Here

A Customer Review: “The Nook is a great place to go for a casual and satisfying meal. The food is simple, tasty, and generous, and the service is warm and welcoming. I enjoyed the burger, which was juicy and cheesy, and the brownie sundae, which was rich and decadent.”

11. Hola Arepa: 4.6/5 (3,264 reviews) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Description/Tips: Hola Arepa is a colorful and lively restaurant that serves Venezuelan and Latin American cuisine with a twist. The menu features dishes like arepas with various fillings and sauces, ceviche with lime and cilantro, and tres leches cake with coconut and pineapple. Hola Arepa also has a cocktail menu, a brunch menu, and a patio.

Popular Items: Arepas, ceviche, tres leches cake.

Price: $$ ($11-$30)

Menu Link: View Menu

Website Link: View Here

A Customer Review: “Hola Arepa is a fun and delicious place to enjoy some Venezuelan and Latin American flavors. The food is fresh, spicy, and filling, and the service is friendly and fast. I loved the arepas, which were crispy and soft, and the tres leches cake, which was moist and sweet.”

12. W. A. Frost and Company: 4.3/5 (1,859) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Description/Tips: W. A. Frost and Company is a historic and elegant restaurant that serves American and European cuisine with a flair. The menu features dishes like roasted salmon with asparagus and lemon, beef tenderloin with mushroom sauce and mashed potatoes, and chocolate mousse with whipped cream and berries. W. A. Frost and Company also has a wine list, a lounge, and a patio.

Popular Items: Roasted salmon, beef tenderloin, chocolate mousse.

Price: $$ ($31-$60)

Menu Link: View Menu

Website Link: View Here

A Customer Review: “W. A. Frost and Company is a beautiful and classy place to enjoy a fine dining experience. The food is exquisite, the service is impeccable, and the atmosphere is cozy and romantic. I enjoyed the roasted salmon, which was flaky and zesty, and the chocolate mousse, which was smooth and rich.”

13. The Sample Room: 4.6/5 stars (951) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Description/Tips: The Sample Room is a modern and cozy restaurant that serves American and Mediterranean cuisine with a twist. The menu features dishes like cheese and crackers board with grapes and nuts, lamb meatballs with tzatziki and pita bread, and baklava with honey and pistachios. The Sample Room also has a beer list, a brunch menu, and a happy hour.

Popular Items: Cheese and crackers board, lamb meatballs, baklava.

Price: $$ ($11-$30)

Menu Link: View Menu

Website Link: View Here

A Customer Review: “The Sample Room is a fun and delicious place to enjoy some American and Mediterranean flavors. The food is fresh, tasty, and generous, and the service is friendly and fast. I loved the cheese and crackers board, which was varied and crunchy, and the baklava, which was sweet and flaky.”

14. Luci Ancora: 4.6/5 stars (339) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Description/Tips: Luci Ancora is a traditional and charming restaurant that serves Italian cuisine with a flair. The menu features dishes like spaghetti carbonara with bacon and cheese, chicken parmesan with tomato sauce and mozzarella, and tiramisu with coffee and mascarpone. Luci Ancora also has a wine list, a catering service, and a gift card.

Popular Items: Spaghetti carbonara, chicken parmesan, tiramisu.

Price: $$ ($11-$30)

Menu Link: View Here

Website Link: View Here

A Customer Review: “Luci Ancora is a lovely and authentic place to enjoy some Italian cuisine. The food is classic, flavorful, and satisfying, and the service is warm and attentive. I enjoyed the spaghetti carbonara, which was creamy and smoky, and the tiramisu, which was light and creamy.”

15. Sonora Grill: 4.4/5.0 (1,134) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Description/Tips: Sonora Grill is a Mexican restaurant that offers a fusion of flavors and techniques from different regions of Mexico and the world. The restaurant is known for its creative tacos, burritos, and tortas, as well as its signature sauces, salsas, and marinades. Sonora Grill also has a full bar, featuring margaritas, mojitos, sangrias, and more. Sonora Grill is located in the Midtown Global Market, a vibrant and multicultural marketplace that showcases local businesses and cuisines.

Popular Items: Cochinita Pibil Taco, Baja Fish Burrito, Cubano Torta, Sonora Margarita

Price: $$ ($11-$30)

Menu Link: Sonora Grill Menu

Website Link: View Here

A Customer Review: “We love Sonora Grill! The food is always fresh and delicious, and the service is friendly and fast. The tacos are amazing, especially the cochinita pibil and the shrimp al pastor. The sauces are also very tasty and add a nice kick to the dishes. We highly recommend this place!”

Conclusion

The Twin Cities are a food lover’s paradise, offering a variety of cuisines and experiences to suit every palate and occasion. Whether you are looking for a traditional steakhouse, a modern fusion restaurant, or a casual taco joint, you will find it in the Twin Cities. These 15 restaurants are some of the best near the Twin Cities that you should try in 2023, but they are not the only ones. Explore the Twin Cities and discover your own favorites, and don’t forget to share your reviews and recommendations with us. Bon appétit!

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Picture of A.J. Beasley
A.J. Beasley

I've lived in the Twin Cities for the last three years and in that time I've been able to visit hundreds of restaurants around Minneapolis and St. Paul.

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