We purposely went to Bar Brava while they were doing Sushi by Baaska! TLDR of this review: great food, but expensive. We parked around the corner on the street, and climbed over icy snow piles onto the completely-iced-over sidewalk. Good news is that there is ample free parking if you can brave the ice. The restaurant is long an narrow, with a big glass case of beverages as you walk in. The cracks in the bricks are plugged throughout with wine corks. It's a cozy unpretentious space. We ordered a variety of dishes for 4 people, so we could taste different things. Our food came out quickly and in no particular order (we didn't mind this, but if you were expecting a more evenly paced meal, you might be surprised). They had a good variety on the short wine list, including Sake, and the sparking rose I ordered was delicious, though I wish it wasn't $20 a glass. The first dish that came out was the crispy tuna rice, and it was also probably my favorite dish. Truly delicious with so much flavor! I split the 18 piece sashimi platter for my main, and learned that I do actually really love good tuna. I got to try 3 types, all with different amounts of fat, and it was so much fun! I wish it came with a simple side of rice though, just a plain bowl as a palate cleanser and for some grains would have been nice. After we split the sashimi, we ordered another roll because we were still hungry. Then we had the Bar Brava roll (which despite my love of salmon, was not my favorite, I think because the sauce was very strong) and the Just Yellowtail Roll (which was more to my liking, but again, the sauce was stronger than I would prefer). Gyoza were solid, and Karaage was perfectly cooked (hot, so hot!) and tender. Lastly, we couldn't leave without trying Chef E's Uni Pasta. IT looked beautiful, and was so rich and creamy that just 1/4th of a serving was enough for me. I am glad I didn't order this as my main, though, because would have had to order more food. The fish was truly the standout in all of the food- it was of exceptional quality and preparation. I can only assume that is partly why the prices were what they were. I have had similar rolls for 1/2 the price that were better than half the quality (meaning they were also good). So, for the amount of food provided, I didn't think the prices were super reflective, and for that reason, I gave 4 stars (though the food was a 5). read more

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Service was great. Quick and water was always filled. We were always attended to without being overly overbearing. Sushi by baaska - wowowowowoowowowow is all I can say. I can't rave about him enough. He ruined other sushi for me. Cannot wait to see him again. If you ever get a chance to eat from this chef, do so. And if you only can get 1-2 dishes, get the 7 piece nigiri and the crispy rice tuna OR the Waygu. Ammmaaaazzzing night. Love how the place is small, super cute date night. read more

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I heard of this spot from another restaurant i was at and didnt realize it was down the street from me. I decided to go, walked in and just sat at the bar. Good looking bar area, small intimate setting. Great service, they asked how the food was and seemed very genuine about it. I got some wings and then a chicken dish with rice. The wings were a little too salty for me, but the other dish was amazing. Food came out right when it was ready, very hot temp wise which I love. It is a wine bar but I didnt actually have any. Maybe next time, and there will be a next time. read more

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Bar Brava does a fantastic job selecting fun and unique wines for their guests. The servers are great at answering questions and helping you pick a drink that you'll enjoy, and it will probably be like nothing you've ever had before. In addition to their wine program, Bar Brava does an excellent job bringing in local chefs for residencies. We loved when Khue's Kitchen was there, and are thrilled that they have their own brick and mortar location now. The current resident, Sushi by Baaska, is also wonderful! Their sushi is beautifully prepared, and they have some excellent non-sushi dishes, like the Crispy Rice Tuna and Chef E's Uni Pasta, that highlighted the savory umami features of seafood. The price point is a bit higher than previous residents, but the quality of the sushi is worth it in my opinion. read more

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Visited 12/30/25. Get your wallet ready for this place because you're going to spend slightly more, but honestly, the food and wine selections were worth it and if you are into sharing you can still leave really full and under $100 per person. Current residency is with sushi by Baaska and it was delightful. We made a reservation about a month and a half in advance and they accommodated us being about 10 minutes late due to the weather, which we appreciated. Street parking was available and easy for us to find but I don't know if that was due to bad weather outside or not. The place itself is really cool and we loved the variety in wine selections. The wine is definitely steeper but dang the sparkling one I got (Jean Baptiste Pinot Noir) was one of the best wines I've had in a while. It paired well with the fish too. By far my favorite thing of the night was the crispy rice tuna appetizer. It was so good that both my sister and I were talking about how we wish we had gotten two orders of it. For rolls we got the just bluefin tuna roll, the bar brava roll, and the veggie roll. I don't know if I could pick a favorite out of these because they each had their own flavor and were delightful. For more of a crunch/savory type flavor, the bar brava roll did the trick, for tuna lovers who love buttery fatty tuna the just bluefin roll was awesome, and the veggie roll was super fresh and we've loved the green sauce on top. With my typical budget would definitely be a bit more of a special occasion type place, but I would definitely recommend it to others while this residency is here! read more

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Excellent service, such a cute place. If you're a wine lover and small plates lover, this is the place. Local chefs are on rotation and it's such a lovely date night spot. Highly recommend as wines change constantly and staff are extremely knowledgeable. Yes, it's pricey, but the vibes are worth it. Love it, can't wait to come back. read more

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I'm not an organic-only girly, but in the case of wine at Bar Brava, it makes a huge difference. Initially reserving with the intent of eating, that plan was thrown out the window by Vinai. So instead, my partner and I opted to sit at the bar, beautifully adorned with shelves of bottles with a white tile backdrop. The service is warm and personable. The vibes are immaculate. The orange wine is the best I've tasted; the whites and sparkling are just as good. There's a good mix of fragrant, funky, and umami wines to cater to every palette, but don't expect your standard Costco wine. If Bar Brava wine was what all wine tasted like, we would all be in big trouble. And the food is so affordable. It always feels great when you don't have to pay $20 for bar tapas. In our case, we only got nachos but we still wouldn't be breaking bank ordering other food. So what are you still doing reading this review? Stop reading and go. read more

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Bar Brava is such a fun spot for natural wine lovers. The selection is always interesting and full of small producers you don't see everywhere. Joao Pato and Domaine du Possible were a couple of standouts on my visit. The staff really know their wines and make great recommendations, which makes the experience even better. The vibe is relaxed but energetic, perfect for a casual night out or a drink before dinner. Definitely one of the best natural wine bars in Minneapolis. read more

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Great spot, Great service, great food. The Owner Dan is a good guy who works hard. You can tell from the amazing spot.

Hands down best selection of natural wines in Minneapolis; constant rotation so my wife and I have been able to enjoy a wide selection over the course of our (many) visits to Bar Brava. The food Has never disappointed and the service and ambiance rounds out the entire experience. Pro tip: ask the owner for the Porron! read more

SUSHI BY BAASKA The food was excellent. Starting with their delicious Waygu Sliders to the elegant BlueFin sushi rolls and the Mixed Sashimi Platter. Everything on this menu was amazing. I highly recommend visiting this pop up restaurant before it is too late. read more

An awesome birthday dinner at the hidden gem - Bar Brava. Nestled outside of the city, this spot has a small menu of incredible small plates. We tried a few of them- including the avocado tostada, the taquitos, the cheese plate for 2 and the potato dumplings. It sounds like the menu changes often, so make sure to come back! The staff was incredible- we talked with owner, Dan, for a few minutes about his experience and his reason for starting the restaurant and how he sources natural wines. Our waiter, Patrick, was personable and went above and beyond. Chefs Axel and Sydney were pros! The inside was small, but well decorated. We will definitely be back! And will certainly recommend this spot to friends and family! read more

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Place, food and wine was great. Service was honestly disappointing. Went there with friend, we both ordered wine and one food item each. He only served my friend her wine (the wrong one) she eventually asked about the second glass and it was brought over. She got served her food item, then the check was delivered without even getting my food, when he came to collect the check we mentioned we were waiting for the second item and that's when he turned around and put it in with the chef. When we finally put down the card he came back with the receipt, having already put in the tip himself, check closed, without giving me the option to put it in myself. We got great service from the young guy who refilled our water though. 31JUL26 read more

Such a nice dinner at Bar Brava! We went on a Saturday night. Service was so kind and helpful. We liked the relaxing intimate atmosphere. Swedish meatballs were tasty but I forgot to take a photo! read more

Bar Brava - Cheese board - Wine Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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The small plates were great (steak tartare, chicken wings, fried rice). Very flavorful and thoughtfully put together. The large plate we had (Chilled Sesame Noodle) neither of us loved, chilled fried pork was a mushy and there wasn't much flavor to the dish beyond what tasted like a very earthy mushroom powder. Huge wine list, they're big on natural wines, no idea what that means and was too scared to ask. Only option for drinks is wines and sake FYI. Well priced, great service, the location isn't glamorous but the inside has got a nice vibe going on. read more

This was my second time at Bar Brava. The food this time was far better! The wine experience was a bit worse. I missed the concept where wines were explained to you based on preferences. But the wines here are still great! There is a good selection and the person behind the bar was knowledgeable. I liked being able to order a "wine shot" to try different types. I had a Croatian rosé that was fabulous. The food was the star here though - Khue's Kitchen, which unfortunately is leaving soon. I ordered the chicken sandwich and it was HUGE. Definitely enough for two meals. read more

Bar Brava - Wine Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I finally got to try the sushi by baaska pop-up and it was so delicious. Having this kind of quality fish in Minnesota is just amazing. The TSY roll was loaded up with fish, I have never had a roll with such huge chunks of fish before so don't be afraid of being skimped out on. I really like salmon so the creamy salmon was my favorite, it had a really tasty scallion mayo sauce that I ended up saving in the shoyu dish to use as a dipping sauce with the roll and sashimi. The pasta was delicious, creamy and decadent. Loved the presentation with the squid ink pasta, really made the uni, lobster, and ikura pop. I was a little worried the ikura wouldn't be fresh tasting but it was perfect. It didn't have the weird flavor and texture that old ikura has so that was nice. I did find the fact that the sashimi choices were not explained odd. Some people are not familiar with different offerings of sashimi so I felt that a quick listing off of the fish on the platter would've been a nice touch, especially since the menu doesn't say what types of fish are on the platter. Bar Brava itself is a really nice space and I'd definitely come back for other pop-ups or just some nice wine. read more

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Cool atmosphere, tasty tapas and quick and friendly service on top of affordability. Their menu changes so a good reason to come back. read more

Bar Brava - Menu - Wine Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Small but warm wine bar that was a fun experience. We had to wait a bit for our reserved table, but the hosts checked in with us and kept us informed. Once we sat down, the host welcomed us with a complementary small taste of a chilled red wine which was quite delicious. We ordered sashimi, nigiri and miso soup. The sashimi and nigiri were excellent and top quality, considering our mid-west location (which is reflected in the high prices). My only complaint was the taste of the miso soup, which was extremely fishy. The chef made the broth from fish bones but maybe too much of a good thing? Overall, we had a very nice night and hope the chef is able to realize his dreams of opening his own place! read more

Great little wine bar serving delicious small plates. Had a lovely time with a larger group there. Wine was very good and every small plate we got was interesting and well prepared. The location is a little strange for such a nice wine bar. Not much for parking near by. read more

Went into this really hoping to enjoy my time but I was so, so disappointed... I don't know what has happened in the last year, but both the service and the food have gone downhill. My granddaughter Remington kept commenting about the smell, and the owner did not make us feel welcome. Bummer! read more

My husband & I came to Bar Brava for a little date night he planned for us, after some friends raved about how amazing it was. We walked in & the place is adorable; I love the decor & the style of literally everything. Everyone who helped us was great, very no-frills but without being rude in any way, which is honestly perfect (we were on a little date so it's nice when the folks are helpful but not hovering). Our service was a 10/10. We originally went in thinking we would be ordering from a Scandinavian-inspired menu, because that's what was online. Surprise! They had a pasta special the night we went. This wasn't a setback, just a change of course. While I do love to pregame the menu before going in, it didn't really bother us that we had different options. We got: --Gnocchi Frito: this was SO buttery & delicious, the chunky salt really added to the dish, too. A great start to our meal! --Summer Veg Cavatelli: I loved all the veggies included, & the pasta was cooked to perfection. I do wish there were a bit more salt/other seasonings, as veggies tend to wash out a lot of the flavor. --Short Rib Papardelle: "Marvelous", according to my husband. He did wish that it wasn't just 1 big long noodle, but we don't know if that's just 'the style' lol. --Tiramisu: The cake layers were SO dense & moist, wow. There definitely could've been more espresso flavor, but I respect the take (& honestly, I'm not mad about eating cake, ever). To drink, we each ordered a cocktail (very reasonably priced at $10, which was a nice surprise). They were both delicious & refreshing: my husband had an amaro spritz & I had something adjacent but lemony. Overall, we'll definitely be back to try another menu. This place was very tasty & still quite affordable for a night out that feels fancy! read more

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Tried bar brava for the first time last night and wondering why we haven't been before! Such a great vibe inside and I love the idea of rotating chefs/menu. How fun! The service was fantastic. Everyone working there seems like they love their job and each other. We had multiple staff members give us recommendations and also insight into wine or sake. The menu was sushi by Baaska which was incredibly. Loved the TSY roll and the crispy rice with tuna. The quality of fish served was great and the portions were generous. Definitely will be back soon! read more

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My wife and I were thrilled to stumble upon this hidden gem because of their James Beard nomination for their unique and extraordinary wine options. We had dinner plans at another restaurant downtown for Valentine's Day and were going to swing in here for a drink first but the weather prevented any of that from happening. But when I called over there, I spoke to the owner Dan and he was great. I also loved the story behind their natural wines and scratch kitchen, so I made a dinner reservation for a later date. That date was last night and we had the Cheese Board, Kroppkaor (potato dumpling), Swedish Meatballs, and Bread Pudding for dessert. Everything was delicious and I appreciated the Scandinavian twist on their cuisine. We sat at the bar and Nate, the bartender, was also great and really made it a memorable experience. Keep up the great work and we will be back! read more

We had such a great time at Bar Brava and eating the food at Khue's Kitchen! It's a welcoming place with bar seating, some tables, and quiet music in the background. Prices for both the wine and food were reasonable. The house red wine in a porrón was palatable and fun to drink out of. The food is delicious! Definitely get the crispy chicken sandwich. There is a perfect crunch on the outside with a piping hot and juicy interior. The sauce was savory and spicy. My favorite chicken sandwich in the Twin Cities! The bok Choy stir fry was also flavorful and had a plentiful amount of vegetables. Waitstaff is very polite and attentive. We are excited to return! read more

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We went to Bar Brava for the natural wine selection but we will be coming back for the service and FOOD. The sushi may be the best in the Twin Cities and the staff treated us like VIPs. We will be back soon. Oh and the wine selection did not disappoint! read more

Food is mediocre, wine is mediocre, overpriced, but service was good. I wouldn't go back again.

Food was Mediocre. I was not attended to upon arrival for the first 15 minutes and customer service lacked. Would not return

Interesting restaurant with rotating chefs and menus. We joined on a "Nordic" night and very much enjoyed plates such as smoked trout dip, potato pancakes, Swedish meatballs and a lovely cheese plate. Service was good. Ambiance is sparse and restaurant is located in an odd place with not much else around. May or may not return. read more

You won't be disappointed going to Bar Barca and experiencing Khue's Kitchen. As a long time lover of Quang's it was a no brained to check this place out. The menu is short and sweet but you can't go wrong! The chicken sandwich was absolutely phenomenal. Perfectly moist and just ever so slightly spicy, balanced with an herb aioli. Not to mention, it's HUGE. You won't want to set this sandwich down. I also got the roast pork Bao. WOW! The bao buns are done to perfection. The house hoisin sauce paired beautifully with the pickled carrots. The scallion and cilantro add perfect subtle touches to the pork. This is the place to get a bunch of items and share with a few friends. The price is very reasonable for the portions received. As for the wine, the menu rotates often! So if you've ever wanted to try a natural wine this is the place to go! Overall, staff was friendly, kind and helpful with the menu. They kept the service quick as well! The vibe was chill, music a bit louder than an average restaurant but not so loud you couldn't converse. I eavesdropped on the people next to me as they chatted with the chef, Eric Pham. He was kind, humble and personable. He mentioned running each new menu item through his family and I couldn't be more pleased to hear it! The entire menu is Rooted in true tradition Vietnamese food with unique, bold twist. Will definitely be back! read more

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Such a cute spot!! Bar Brava has been open since late 2019 and has been powering through the Pandemic ever since! They offer a selection of wines by the glass and bottle and various small and share plates. This is the first place I've seen to carry an orange wine so of course I ordered one of those! The wine was light, fruity and refreshing! Very cool. The second wine I ordered was their rosè which was also very refreshing and slightly bubbly. For food I ordered the ham bikini, which is a French version of a ham and cheese. The sandwich was packed with meat and cheese and had little peppers on the side. The bread was made in house along with the dijon sauce that came on the sandwich. They also offer a wine flight that changes weekly! I'm very excited for this spot to be so close to my house! They change their menu/wines every week and I can't wait to try more! read more

Bar Brava - Ham bikini and an orange wine - Wine Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

What a great experience! The server was so nice and friendly. We had a table with lots of space for us and our baby in a stroller. They were so accommodating and made it a great night. It is a rotating menu, this time featuring Vietnamese. It was soooo good! The food service was very speedy and reasonably priced. Great wife selection, and the server was very knowledgeable in this area as well. read more

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I had dinner at this restaurant with my wife. The food and ambiance were so nice I was compelled to create a Yelp account and leave a review. Despite the fact that we do not drink we still felt that the food was immaculate. Every dish we ordered was great, from the salmon and wings to the Beef Chow Fun everything was on point and cooked to perfection. Service was also excellent despite the fact that we came pretty close to closing time. 10/10 food. read more

We drove just across the river to ease into a cozy winter night at the quiet but steadily comfortable, jazz/R&B grooving, clean-lined wine bar close to our neighborhood. The menu is small, the vibe is Spanish tapas, and the natural wine list is committed to your enjoyment. Please scoot yourself over to Bar Brava. - Sardine toast with ricotta with mint - Smoked Brussels sprouts with chipotle aioli and cotija - Clams with parsley butter and rice dumplings - Chorizo and peppers paella - Natural wines from Old World and New, plus herbal Catalonian vermouth Wine by glass ranged from $8-13 for slightly smaller pours (maybe 3.5-4 oz.?). Food are on the smallish side but two of us were satisfied with the above selections. read more

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Here is a hidden gem with great food, intimate atmosphere and interesting wine selection. And the best part it won't break the bank! We ordered the chicken wings, pork belly, fried chicken sandwich and beef dish! All super tasty and so fabulous! I love this place! read more

Wonderful food! We went during a chef pop up and I shared wontons. For my mains I had the hot chick sandwich and my spouse had the short ribs. Both were amazing. read more

Bar Brava - Short ribs - Wine Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I have nothing nice to say about our experience tonight... We loved coming here previously, but the service tonight from the owner and the bartender was terrible. They were both more interested in doting on a couple of friends and/or regulars while we waited (and waited and waited) for them to pay attention to us. We had one glass of wine and left. This place use to be a fun spot, but time has not done any favors to it or the surrounding neighborhood. Sad to say I can no longer recommend Bar Brava - in fact, based on how things went tonight, I would discourage people from trying it out. read more

SERVICE, SERVICE, SERVICE!!! Best service around. Such fun staff. I love the vibes here and can't wait to go back. Every dish was authentic, delicious, and so FRESH. You could tell all the food was quality. Felt like I was back in Barcelona a bit read more

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I took a group here this last week for a tasting and we had such a good time. Everything they served was delicious. I highly recommend the bacon potato pierogis! The owner, Dan, poured the glasses and you can tell he loves what he does. The service was top notch. We learned a lot about the phenomenal natural wines they serve and we will be back again with more people!!! read more

Nice spot with a great wine selection and really good food - at least with the current Khue's kitchen residency. I really like the fried chicken sandwich and the pork bao. The chefs were super nice and brought us peanuts as a snack while we were waiting for the food. Would go back to try more things on the menu - the only thing is that it gets pretty busy on the weekends and reservations are good to have. read more

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