I was on the light rail on a Saturday afternoon and I passed the Cardinal Tavern. The Cardinal Tavern is a few feet from the light rail and I knew I needed to make a visit just from the outside look of the place. A few days later, my wife and I stopped by. We arrived around 400 PM and were quickly greeted and seated. Our waitress was friendly and a fantastic waitress. We had onion rings appetizer, wife had a Jucy Lucy, and I had a steak sandwich. She had a Miller Lite draft and I had a Budweiser draft. Both of us really enjoyed our meals. Portion sizes were strong. Waitress couldn't have been nicer and either the manager/owner stopped by three different times and talked to us about a repeat customer program they have in place. A very nice guy. This is definitely a locals favorite but we were welcomed in! There isn't anything fancy about the Cardinal Tavern but if you are looking for good food in a friendly environment, stop by. You will be glad you did. read more

See all

Dive bar 2 of 40 My goal this year is to hit at least 40 dive bars in 2026. My second stop is to hit up one of my old haunts from many years ago when I lived in S. MPLS. So here we are, 38th and Hiawatha. Not a lot has changed over the years, except maybe more selections on tap. walking in from the corner door takes you into a dimly light bar with enough to seat about 10 to 12 patrons. You will also notice there is tons of seating options in the bar and into the second room. Further back you will find the game room with a bunch of pool tables and a couple dart boards for the gaming folks. The vibe in here is typical neighborhood bar, it is relaxed, the patrons are just your regular easy going folks, and you can easily chat up folks here...maybe discover a new drinking buddy! We came in to do a little day drinking, play some pull-tabs and eat some food. First and foremost, winning a couple hundred in pull-tabs already makes this a fun place to hang...actually it would have been fun regardless. The food fare is your standard bar food, however they do serve breakfast, and the entrees I saw people woofing down, I'd hit this place up for breakfast. We opted to order the pork tenderloin and the sour cream and onion burger. Both were served on toast; the tenderloin on whole wheat with pickles and onions (you need to ask for onions) with a sizable breaded tenderloin. If you want a side I.e. coleslaw, cottage cheese, tots, French fries you need to order with your sandwich. The burger served on pumpernickel had fried onions on it with the sour cream. If I lived on the south side, I'd certainly make this my second home. read more

See all

It was my first time in, and it won't be my last! This place was packed on Saturday night for dinner. I was able to grab one of the last few spots in the restaurant's lot across the street and also one of the last tables inside! The inside is such a vibe - fun cardinal paintings in sports theme, 90s pop (thanks to an awesome TouchTunes takeover, I assume), and plenty of TVs to catch Olympics coverage. The food was perfect bar food. I tried the wings and potato skins, which did not disappoint! I'd easily order them again, but there were also signs for so many epic deals throughout the week! I'll be back to try some more stuff! read more

Cardinal Tavern - Wing Dings Hot, Spicy or Cajun Wing Dings - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

The cardinal tavern was just what I wanted it to be- a bit divey and a good place to get a reasonably priced burger and beer on a Friday night. I was excited to find a local bar with pool tables but unfortunately they were all taken when we were there. Service was also pretty slow as there were only two wait staff for a busy night (servers were clearly doing their best though). Will likely return on a week night when it is less busy for a bite and a game of pool. read more

Been passing by for years heard some good talk about the wings and pooped in. The talks were CORRECT haha. Been coming a bit more regularly over last few months and gotta say I judged a book by its cover. The staff are incredibly accommodating and sweet. Food is actually top notch. My girlfriend and I come to play pool which is a little pricey per game but everything else is so well priced I can't be mad. Also $5 burgers on Sunday CRAZY haha. They're actually pretty tasty. Overall I'd say pop in for a good lunch or fun game night with affordable drinks. They have a patio, dog friendly, good food, wonderful staff and all around a great establishment. Thanks yall! read more

Multiple open pool tables, pull tabs, darts, and many more bar favorites make the Cardinal Restaurant and Bar a great spot! The waitress was very friendly and attentive. We got cheddar crisps and fried green beans. A pitcher of beer kept our pool skills sharp and the place was not crowded mid-day on Saturday which allowed for good conversation. read more

Cardinal Tavern - Entrance - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

Amazing staff and good food! I've been going here for several years. I know most of the staff, we've become friends over the years. They have some of the best wings in the Twin Cities. read more

All 3 are included. Food, Service, Ambiance. Top notch. Plus music is great. Perfect area, right off the light rail.

We come here often. The friendliest staff in Minneapolis and the food is good too. This time we had a California burger and a mushroom Swiss. Both were cooked perfectly and the tots were hot. Food comes out quick, good selection of beers and they have pull tabs if that's your thing. read more

I stopped in here while in the middle of a rail-bus transfer. Right away I was greeted by staff. There was a group circled around the bar but no where else. TVs everywhere. I was told there was a special that day: tomato-basil soup and grilled cheese sandwich at a reasonable price so I decided to try that. A tall glass of water with lots of ice they kept refilled. I was offered more food at one point but I can't eat that much these days. I took a tour around and found they had two Skee-ball machines in back. They do have a change machine. The juke box was ultra-modern. I found a bucket of bingo stampers on one table. Overall, I found this to be a super nice place and would stop here again. read more

We've been coming to the Cardinal for years. The food is bar food - nothing wrong with it, but nothing special about it, either. The atmosphere is American Legion. There's trivia, meat raffles, and pull tabs. And the service has always been excellent and friendly. But lately, a few long term servers have left and have not been replaced. (Yes, I realize it's hard to find employees.). So, the service has become slow. It can sometimes take 15 minutes to get your first drink or a half hour to order food. It's not the servers' fault, but the business needs to fix it. read more

The service and atmosphere are casual. The food choices are great bar food prices. Good selection of beers and full bar.

I decided to checkout this place since it was close to me. I decided to order their beer battered fish I honestly had no expectations but this place had good reviews so I decided to check it out. Food: I ordered the fried fish from their dinner menu and it came with the soup of the day and a side of potato. When I got back home and tried it, I was surprised I never tried this place out. The food was freshly cooked and they were generous with their portions. The food was also decently priced for what you get. The soup of the day was fantastic, the fish was fresh and the tater tots could be a bit better but that is okay because the rest of the food was delicious. I will definitely stop by here more often to dine. Service: I was honestly scared at first because there was no counter where you can order and I didn't know who to approach since no one welcomed me. I didn't know whether to sit and they will come or to approach them but all I wanted to do was get a takeout. This lady at the bar helped me out. I had to use Apple Pay because I lost my debit card. She was very understanding and helpful. I waited for a bit and the other girl that helped me out was so very kind and smiled at me so I smiled at her back. Although I didn't get to stay here very long, I could tell that the staff who was serving was kind and I will be back again Aesthetic- it's a typical American restaurant but it does have nice vibes/ ambiance. It would be a good place to socialize and drink with friends. They have a pool table, darts, and even karaoke in some days from what I have seen. It's a cool chill place to checkout. Overall, I had a great time here. I think I got my money's worth and I can't wait to be back again to try more of their menu. read more

Great spot with solid American fare, inexpensive taps, and plenty of games. Kid friendly space too! Golden Tee, Pool, darts and plenty of TV's to watch any game. Friendly and courteous wait staff working hard to keep customers happy! If you're in Minneapolis, it's worth a trip out of your way to view and experience this! read more

Cardinal Tavern - Spicy chicken tender basket, only $9! - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I'm regular and gave it in a review 5 star rating. However, this one star only pertains to my visit this Friday, 06/18/2021. Normally, I don't stop on Friday's but I did today. Two blonde women were working the bar. I've seen them in the past, but know mostly the staff during the other days of the week. They are super. The one woman, blonde, short, ponytail, and rather bad teeth was attentive and when I cashed out she presented me with the bill and called me Mr. Now I am informal and said, "Don't call me Mr." and I was going to follow it up with "Call me Fred". Before I could get the words out of my mouth she said "Ok, asshole." and started to yuk it up and perform for the guys at the bar. It really didn't go over as well as she thought it would. Then she said, "Just kidding." Bullshit . . . she wasn't. My profession before retirement was to read people . . . and I do it well. I had already signed the check and had a $5 tip, which is usually my minimum. I crossed it out and left 2-bucks. I really like the Cardinal. Have met a lot of nice folks, including the staff. I will continue going there, but not on Fridays if this classless twit is the regular. This was an isolated incident I believe, but likely not one with this gal. As I said the staff is superb and I just know from talking with Betty and Noel that this is not tolerated. I had hoped to have put this in an e-mail rather than a public forum, but was unable to find a direct contact on the website. Thank you. read more

The cardinal is a an old fashion bar restaurant. We're neighborhood regulars hang out and talk about life. They occasionally have meat raffles and there specials are priced daily and the food is really tasty. The staff and owner are friendly and helpful read more

Cardinal Tavern - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Cardinal Tavern is a semi-sketchy (in a good way), divey sports bar that is a perfect place to coat your digestive tract with grease and cold beer. Friendly staff, typical redneck decor, great variety of games and pull tabs. I came for the beef, though...2/3 lb of culinary erotica. Seriously, 2/3 lb of grill-kissed, masterfully seasoned steer smothered in molten american cheese, topped with crispy bacon and hugged by a soft, simple bun (toasted & buttered, of course) for under $10. I'm not crying, you're crying. The patties were seared to medium and came in slightly thicker than your typical double -- this thing was hefty! The buns held up very well and the only thing I would've changed would be adding a second slice of American or Habenero Jack per patty, because why not?! In all seriousness, if you're a fan of neighborhood joints that crush classic pub fare, get your ass into Cardinal Bar. I can tell you, with confidence, that their food and service will lift you to the heavens as if you're being carried by a flock of.....Cardinals? Also, their Waffle Fries with Cajun Sour Cream brought the house down. Everyone moaned after trying them. Ridiculously good. read more

Cardinal Tavern - Bacon Double with American - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

We went here for the first time today and had breakfast. It was delicious. Will absolutely be coming back! Huge portions of delicious food for a great price! And karaoke on Saturdays! read more

Cardinal Tavern - French toast - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

The reviews for the food at this restaurant were glowing so we decided to go and check it out being wing connoisseurs. It had been a very long day at the Minnesota Zoo and we were very hungry. We drove to the location to have an amazing lunch. Not so. It was surprising that the building is on one side of the street and parking in a rather small lot is across a very busy street. We made it safely inside and were seated right away. The tables are very small and could use a bit of an upgrade but we were so anxious for the food that we let that visual go. This is a place where tips are shared and everyone serves so service is timely. We ordered Stevie Wings with their signature dry rub, cheese fries, and some drinks. The food is fresh cooked so it took a minute but when it arrived it was hot. We bit into the chicken and I have to say, the flavor of the dry rub was not good. It was reminiscent of Old Bay Seasoning with some other flavors added in. The irony was not even just the flavoring but the way the wings had been prepared. When you get something that is dry-rubbed, it is usually rubbed first then cooked. These wings only had the spice on one side, so it appears to be added after they are cooked and may be hand dipped on one side only. Not sure but I was actually kind of glad that it wasn't on both sides of the meat. Perhaps it was just a bad day but it is unlikely that I would order this again if I ever went back. Not for me. read more

I come to this bar for the atmosphere. It's your typical hole in the wall, friendly bar. I absolutely love the wait staff! They have nightly specials and a great happy hour. And if you're lucky to come on one of their Wednesday meat raffles, the meat comes from everetts butcher down the street. On Mondays there is bingo and on Wednesday there is mafia trivia. This bar is very kid friendly as well. There are games, coloring books, and crayons. I love this bar! read more

This is my third time here and my first for breakfast. I am impressed with the omelette. The eggs are just the right amount of fluffy and the ingredients are not so dense that they overwhelm the flavor of the eggs. The servers are always nice and at no point did I feel like I overstayed my welcome. read more

This restaurant have really great food! If the food was the only thing that matters I would eat here every day! The customer service has been very bad as of late. I usually order via DoorDash during the Pandemic. Yesterday it took the employees 1.5 hours to confirm my order, of course I canceled the order. Ridiculous that it would take this long to look for new orders. Order before this they forgot my beverages. The staff needs help or retraining!!! read more

Great little dive bar with cheap tap beers. We didn't order food, but I wouldn't come here expecting to be blown away by it. It's a great little spot to have a beverage and watch a game (and play pull tabs if you're into that). Love dive bars like this. read more

Cardinal Tavern is totally perfect for what it is. If you're looking for a dive and a bite, look no further. I was there on a Saturday night and they have a DJ giving away prizes--the prizes were DVDs. The service was good and slowed down a bit the busier it got, as expected. I went to the bar instead of waiting for my busy server to come around and I was quickly taken care of. Good prices, amazingly terrible decor, tiny but clean bathrooms. The group I was with said the food was good but I didn't try anything. Can't wait to go back! read more

Cardinal Tavern - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Absolutely loved this place! FOr the Pub Crawl, we got two pitchers and on Wednesday, it is 50 cent Wings day! HH is from 4-6PM and they have $2.5 baskets of onion and rings and other delectable bar foods that go well fro the drunchies! The drinks are pretty cheep ($9 pitchers) and it was the fullest of all the bars that we went to on a Wednesday. The service was the best part! The bartenders were so nice and played 80's music for us since we were in our 80's gear. I would def. come back for another pub crawl! read more

Cardinal Tavern - American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Got wings delivered and they were really good. Super crispy and the dry rub on them is so flavorful. Would definitely get these babies again! Wished they came with celery though. Also got the soup of the day, and it was chili. It was just okay. I thought it could have used more salt, spice and wished it came with more fun stuff like cheese, sour cream, etc. I felt that my chili is better... read more

Update: the overwhelming cologne issue seems to have been resolved and we can eat again! The Cardinal has reclaimed its position as my favorite neighborhood bar in the cities. Was super excited to move to the neighborhood near my favorite Juicy Lucy in the cities, but the last three times I've been in, one of the servers working has had on so much cologne it's ruined the flavor of both my beer and my food. I'd be back more, but the smell is a complete deal breaker. My visits will be limited. read more

I have mixed feelings about this place. We came here with a group last night. I ordered the Royale Burger, as I heard good things. The burger itself way okay for $7, but definitely not something I would go out of my way to eat again. Tasted a little bland, in my opinion. My husband ordered the Philly Beef which had more flavor than my burger. I was, however, impressed with their mac and cheese bites that they had on their happy hour menu. We also tried their cajun wings and fries for appetizers, which were also average tasting. The one thing I found odd was that our food seemed to be coming out in waves, instead of all at once. Also, while our waitress was attentive at the beginning, we couldn't seem to find her when it came time to paying our tab. I think this place is better suited for grabbing a drink and maybe a couple appetizers if you're in the area, but definitely don't go out of your way to come here. Trying to find street parking can also be a nightmare in this area. read more

Meh. Not feeling it. This pub is a dive off of the lightrail, but it is nothing to go out of your way for, in my opinion. You might even want to reconsider if it IS on the way. When we first walked in, we went to grab one of the larger tables for us and friends we were expecting, but were asked to sit elsewhere because someone had breakfast resos at that table the NEXT morning... okayyy? All we got there was one bud light (tap) and a medium-sized pub pizza (the sausage was chopped up breakfast patties), and it was $20 (w/tip)! I'd just rather not. Towards the end of the night we heard the server tell someone that they had to leave because it was past 2:00am (close at 2) but I checked and it was 1:17am exactly. Weird. That was our queue to leave too. read more

This is a neighborhood joint, laid back, no rush. Seems like everyone is known by the staff. I had the standard breakfast, sunny side eggs, hash browns, links and coffee. Solid breakfast, the coffee wasn't that good, you could tell by the flavor it was borderline rot gut quality. The place is much brighter sine they installed the glass garage door in the middle of the place. Everyone seems very nice. read more

Wandered in here, stop 2 in my exploration of 38th street. A disappointing BBQ meal in my stomach, I needed to add some beer before making it to my movie. The Cardinal is a real neighborhood bar. Crusty old regulars crowded the bar, a few younger ones carried on loudly. An elderly woman played a game of video bowling. Pool tables and (electronic) dart boards sat unused as the karaoke was fired up. Accidentally wandering into a karaoke night is kind of like walking in on your parents having sex. The tap selection wasn't my speed (do I really need 5 crappy beers to choose from?). They seemed to have better stuff in bottles, but I didn't bother to inquire. The karaoke probably helped me get through the pitcher in time to make my movie. Had that girl decided to do a repeat performance of "Whoop! There it is!" I may have even abandoned the pitcher unfinished. Unless you live a block away, or are doing a light rail pub crawl, you probably won't ever make it into Cardinal. It's a perfectly decent neighborhood bar, so I can respect it for that. read more

After arriving at MSP Airport, I told my business associate that I was hungry. He took me to the Cardinal Tavern for a late lunch. I was blown away by the food and the service. At his suggestion, I had a Juicy Lucy burger. This is a big, fat, juicy burger patty stuffed with cheese. One of the things that I really appreciated was the fact that it WASN'T loaded with all kinds of toppings (although I wouldn't have minded a slice of raw onion). This is a burger that can stand on its own - and it stands TALL indeed. The fries were hot and scrumptious. The iced tea was very good, too. And the service was prompt and friendly. The atmosphere is, well... it's a bit of a dive. But who cares? The food is killer. If you're looking for a hip, trendy place, you'd probably want to look elsewhere. But if you want a burger that will knock your socks off, the Cardinal Tavern is your place! read more

Last time I was here, I was on a light rail bar crawl. I felt like I should give it a few years before showing my face again, so it wasn't until last weekend that I returned to the Cardinal for a birthday party. I definitely should have read Rachel G's prophecy, because I ended up staying at "The Bird" way longer than I planned to last weekend. It was all good though. The birthday party was in the back area by the pool table, and they kept us well-fed and well-watered by bringing pitcher-after-pitcher-after-pitcher-after pitcher of beer (no hard liquor here). The service was awesome and they had potato chips, veggies, dip and a huge make-your-own taco bar set up in our area. It kind of reminded of a lunch spread at my grandma's cabin. Not going to sugarcoat it... these are not great tacos (neither are my grandma's). And I still ate lots of them after I'd had a few beers. Other notes: The bathrooms were relatively clean for a dive. I spotted a pull-tabs counter, Buck Hunter and a jukebox. They also have parking on the side of the building. read more

For many years I've noticed the Cardinal when driving along 55 and never really thought much about it. Yesterday it fell upon my partner and myself to provide lunch for his mother. Translation - nothing too spicy, dang it. We checked out their menu online before heading over and were amazed at the decent prices and were impressed that they patty their own burgers every day. We ordered three burgers, one plain, two with cheese and fried onions as well as some onion rings and tots. The third pound burgers were well seasoned and well seared for that extra delicious burger taste. The onion rings were of the battered variety and were wonderfully sweet and delicious. The tots were perfectly crisp outside and fluffy inside. To top off the absolutely delicious burgers the bill was just over $20!!! for three people. I can understand why people will sometimes hop the light rail to come here for lunch. Definitely will be back! read more

Delicious food, good folks! Family owned bar that was a blast! Old country juke box to boot!

I've been a fan of the cardinal for years, I can't believe it took me so long to write a review. We have spent many birthday celebrations there - my sister and I are big karaoke fans (in fact, it may have been my sister singing "Whoomp there it is" in another review). There is nothing fancy about this place. It reminds me of my hometown bar (small town). You can count on a self-esteem boost from a regular at the bar hitting on you and you might win something at the meat raffle. Of course the best thing about this place is the great food and the cheap prices. We can eat there, drink all night, and pay about $35 each. Add a generous tip for the servers and it is still a cheap night out. Where else can you do that?? read more

A great neighborhood bar that is good for the whole family as well as groups. The staff is awesome and they have both pool and dart leagues so sometimes seating can be a challenge. The burgers are great and the prices are reasonable. They have pull tab and some video games and many tv's. Please note they only have beer and wine but that shouldn't stop you or your friends! See you at the Cardinal! read more

4 years in a row we have kicked off our light rail pub crawl. They are so accommodating to us each time. We set up in the back by the pool tables, get some pitchers, and get ready for lots of stares (we are usually in some themed get up). Im sad we only stay an hour because we all have a blast. The staff is great and the beer flows smooth. Looking forward to next year already! just an fyi they dont have any liquor - which is probably a good thing on a pub crawl. read more

Great bar food and Trivia Mafia on Wednesday nights with Donna is awesome! We go almost every week.

Careful, her sultry ways will not only make you stay longer than you expected, but will get you coming back. And by "sultry ways" I mean "dive bar - come as you are - tip your server well because they deserve it - get a cheeseburger while you're at it" ways. Note - their parking lot is on the south side of 38th street. Another note - pay attention to thier signs, they often host "chili contests" and the like. read more