Our monthly happy hour hang out brought us to Volstead House this month to check out the snacks and…read moresips! Plenty of parking available in the shared lot out front! Enter through the Burger spot and look for the Coca Cola machine! Once you enter Volstead House, you can't help but be transported into what feels like a Spirit Library. A huge accent wall lined from floor to ceiling with spirit bottles is the perfect back drop to this cozy hang out. Perfect for a date night, friend catch-up, or solo Whiskey adventure, Volstead House is a vibe! Pair the atmosphere with top notch, educated bartenders and mixologists...you know you'll be taken care of! We started with the A La Louisiane, a spirit-forward, whiskey cocktail with some funk from Peychauds and Absinthe. It was delicious and well balanced. We also shared the Glazed Carrots and the Parm Fries. The carrots didn't hit for me, as the glaze and sauce lacked a punch of flavor but the fries were crispy and delicious. If you have a spirit enthusiast or someone that likes to explore the world of cocktails, I think this is the perfect vibe!

Finally crossed off Volstead House from my A-Z restaurant list, and honestly this one was more…read moreabout the experience than the food for me. First off, going through the hidden Coke machine entrance is actually really fun and makes the whole place feel like a little adventure. The decor and speakeasy atmosphere are definitely the standout. Very cool space. VERY loud though. Like "lean across the table and say WHAT?" loud at times. The waitress was super nice and recommended a mocktail for me that called Ass in the Sand. It ended up being really good. It tasted like an elevated lemonade and was probably one of my favorite parts of the meal. Started with the rolls and whipped honey butter which were delicious. Very soft, warm, and honestly dangerous because I could've just kept eating bread all night. For the main meal, I did the Wagyu Burger with Parmesan fries. The burger itself was okay but surprisingly didn't have a ton of flavor outside of the grilled/charred taste. The Parmesan fries were actually the standout for me -- hand cut fries and parmesan fries are just hard to mess up. My partner tried the Mushroom Soup en Croute and wasn't a fan because the mushrooms were blended and he said it lacked flavor. He also had a Steak Taco special using their medallion steak and said even with lime it still needed more flavor. Finished with Crème Brûlée which is always a classic favorite for me and this one was good. Overall: fun experience, cool hidden entrance, great decor, good mocktail and bread, but the actual food menu is pretty limited and the flavors didn't totally wow me for the price. Glad I went and finally crossed it off my list, but probably a one-and-done visit for me.

Came to Omni to get an Xmas themed cocktail at Blitzens but there was an 1.5 hour wait so we went…read moreto Ember & Ice to waste time They were full as well but they said they would double check to see if they could squeeze us in and they did Such a cool vibe! Good for groups or a date night! Food: Cheese fondue for 2 - you could definitely share with more people *lots of different food options to pair with the cheese* Drinks: Duluth Cider and wine Fireplace, patio during patio season, bar, couches/lounge by fireplace Service was slow but they were busy. Staff was nice!

Since we were at the pop up bar downstairs, we decided to go check out the restaurant on level 2…read more We were told to take the elevator behind the bar, once upstairs the restaurant will be on the right. It was a big restaurant, gave Viking vibes. Large tables, big lounge area by the fireplace and antler for chandelier. We decided to try couple of entrees, ceasar salad and beef shirt ribs. Since we had a far drive, we decided to go with mocktail instead.

Great selection of in house and rotating beers, full bar and scratch kitchen foods. They also have…read morea fun patio, bags games and other games. Really fun place!

Nice bar in the suburbs! I loved the self service beer wall. You have to get a card from the…read morebartender and pay how many ounces you get when you are done. I liked the choice of doing the flight since I'm always trying to taste everything. They had a wide variety and I usually like the fruit beers and I found the pineapple one to be delicious! The old fashion was quite strong! The bar is pretty big and open, good for mingling. The food looked delicious too but we were only here for late night drinks. They have popcorn and pull tabs available too. They also do trivia and happy hour. We loved the vibes here. The bartender was friendly, servers got us water once but don't come back to check on us but we were ok with being left alone that night.

I came here for a work going away happy hour. It has a great elevated towny vibe. Casual, but still…read morepretty nice inside. We got several plates of apps - boneless and bone-in wings, some fried cheese curds (because...MN), and some kind of cheese dip with toasted pita bread wedges. The apps all were solid, no complaints at all. The server was nice and efficient in getting waves of drinks for us - all over the map from cocktails to wines to beers. No mistakes, either. The drinks were great - all good all around. This is a great spot for happy hour, get togethers with friends, etc. Loads of parking outside, too.

Food is great especially the wings!!!…read more Service is inconsistent between staff. I went Wednesday, delicious old fashioned and good suggestions from the bartender Then I went on Friday the bartender was leaving and there was another bartender and I asked him if he can make the same old fashioned and he ensured me. However it tasted worse than a dive bar in a basement. Barely finished our drinks and walked to Volsteads... The restaurant has been clean and neat on both times I was there.

Bad Julia. I was so busy enjoying myself that I failed to take pictures. Anyway, this is an awesome…read moreplace. I came in to enjoy some live music with a couple of amazing local bands, and I am absolutely sold. Highlights include: tons of street parking nearby, superior selection of drinks (more on this later), and awesome people. Everyone, from the folks behind the bar to the other patrons, was ultra welcoming. I'm pretty sure this is the neighborhood Cheers. Seriously--amazing vibes, and it's great for solo people. (I realize that might be ambiguous, so what I mean by "great for solo people" is that you won't feel uncomfortable coming here alone. It's easy to chat with people if you want to; it's easy to just enjoy the music if you want to.) Okay, I know you want to hear about the drinks. They have a great selection of beer on tap. They have tons of cocktails, including a selection of barrel-finished cocktails. Not drinking tonight? They have plenty of THC and even a CBD-only option (winning!), along with some non-altering choices that include switchel(!). There's a huge outdoor patio with fire pits that I will probably check out next time. Anyway, this is a great spot!

The White Squirrel Bar was just okay to me. There was live music going on, which was a nice touch…read moreand probably the highlight of the visit. The inside of the bar is pretty small and felt a bit cramped, especially with how busy it was on a Sunday. They do have a back patio that is fairly large, which I appreciated, but during the day it did not feel very inviting. Without lighting or much going on, it came off a bit plain. As for drinks, I tried a non alcoholic half and half with lemonade and iced tea, which I actually really liked. I also had a mojito style cocktail that was not my favorite and tasted a bit too strong for me. The overall vibe just was not really my thing, but I could see it being more fun at night or with a bigger group.

Monday Night Soul: The Unfiltered Rhythm of Bogey's If the…read morenearby Lucky 13 is a study in suburban polish, Bogey's Bar--located just down the street--is its soulful, unvarnished counterpoint. It is the kind of local joint that doesn't bother with the "bartender's handshake"; you won't find a bottle of Fernet behind this bar. Instead, Bogey's offers something far more visceral: a room that breathes with the collective energy of a great local crowd and the heavy, rhythmic pulse of live music on a Monday night 6-11pm when most of the world is quiet. To find live music on a Monday is a rarity; to find it played with such bluesy, evocative conviction is a genuine gift. The fact that this high-caliber entertainment is provided free of charge is perhaps the establishment's greatest virtue. The music transforms the space, lifting it from a standard neighborhood taproom into a temporary sanctuary for the weary and the soulful. The culinary philosophy here is refreshingly utilitarian, leaning into the nostalgia of the American Midwest. On Mondays, the kitchen turns out a Sloppy Joe and potato salad special that serves as the ultimate comfort-food anchor. It is a messy, honest, and deeply satisfying meal that pairs perfectly with the low-stakes drama of the games playing on the televisions scattered throughout the room. For those seeking a breath of fresh air, the outdoor patio provides a prime vantage point during the warmer months, allowing the music to drift out into the Mendota Heights evening. It is a space designed for conversation and community, lacking any of the pretension found in more curated venues. Bogey's is a testament to the power of the "local joint." It doesn't need the secret handshakes or the herbal elixirs of the old world. It wins on the strength of its bluesy tunes, its Monday night specials, and a crowd that knows exactly where to find the heart of the neighborhood. If this dispatch from the Mendota Heights bar scene offered a helpful roadmap for your next Monday night, please leave a like or comment below so I can continue writing these reviews for your education and enjoyment.

We ended up here after our 40th Sibley High School reunion, and it was so fun! It's been about…read morethat long since, and I'd been there only once I believe. My high school friend would rave about this bar that was "split level." Nothing seems to have changed there, and it's conveniently located next to Chet's Liquors. That's cool they have the local popular frozen pizza. The staff was kind to let our group leave late at our leisure closing the joint.

The buffalo Mac and cheese was veryyy buffalo forward, it's basically buffalo pasta haha but still…read morevery tasty! This would be a good one to share with a few people since it is very rich. The nachos are sooooo fire!!! The chicken is fantastic but could be more cheesy! I'd ask for a side of the cheese next time I go haha Service was quick, the patio was pretty busy but we ordered, ate and paid all within an hour and a half. This is a multipurpose space, it gives bar and grill but also has a very cute patio that could be a nice date spot!

Happy hour runs 3-6. Appetizers are $8, wine $6. Noisy but still able to easily hold a…read moreconversation lighting is dim and tavern like. Started with the onion rings which are huge and come in a serving of 6, which is more than plenty. They were extremely salty, the batter was over seasoned and we couldn't finish our order. We also tried the yum yum wings served w ranch. They were sweet with good flavor but the chicken itself was overcooked and dry, we couldn't finish them. Watermelon salad with grilled chicken was delicious as was the mad cow burger (3/4 lb!). The chicken sandwich on Texas toast was good but after eating half we realized it was still pink in the middle. Server (Amanda) was wonderful but overall we were disappointed that half of our food missed the mark. One last note - bartender was constantly adjusting her hair (she must have been hot), and then resumed making drinks (grabbing lime wedges etc, eek!). They should probably wear their hair back to keep their hands clean? Total bill came to $80ish.

Well known local place if you are at Eagan Minnesota. Decent drink and menu selection definitely a…read morepopular one. You got to try it, our server she is super friendly has recommended us few options. Our portions were huge, my gyro sandwich is pretty tasty and generous portion fries as well.

I've eaten in and ordered out from this place a dozen times. Some favorites include the chicken…read morefingers, so good. I always get the boneless buffalo wings because their blue cheese dressing is to die for. However, never comes with celery, even though it's at the pic. The Greek salad with chicken is excellent. I also love their onion rings. The steak bites are pretty good, but the horseradish dip was great. French fries to go are never great, but they were very good when dining in. Really good fresh ingredients with solid flavors. Classic local bar vibe with outdoor seating. Support your local restaurants!

Great vibes and ambiance. Staff and food were great! Would…read morebe a great date night spot!

Met a friend for Happy Hour at this spot to catch up and enjoy some small bites…read more Plenty of parking in the strip mall lot where this restaurant is located. The interior is modern and inviting, with some fun wallpaper making a statement. We cozied up to the bar during this visit. I will say that bar was a bit sloppy during our visit...bartenders' water bottles cluttering the visible space, bartenders spilling our drinks a bit during delivery, and weird transitions of staff that were a bit distracting. The Espresso Martini was the best item I ordered! Well balanced and the addition of the cold foam really made for an enjoyable sip. Would absolutely return for that one! The bites we ordered had great flavor, but some fell a bit flat when trying to live up to their creative ideas. The Fried Pickles were the best food item: perfectly crispy medallions with two delicious dipping sauces. The "burnt ends" cauliflower are really just roasted cauliflower with BBQ sauce on top, missing out on the umami juiciness of their namesake. The Chips that came with the Dip were just ruffled potato chips, not housemade or interesting. Solid spot for happy hour if you're looking in the area!

Suburban Reliability and the Bartender's Handshake: A Night at Lucky 13…read moreIn the manicured landscape of Mendota Heights, Lucky 13 serves as a reliable suburban anchor, offering a communal atmosphere that bridges the gap between a casual family eatery and a seasoned neighborhood pub. It is an establishment of high floors and occasional ceilings, where the experience is dictated by a mix of classic Minnesota staples and surprising, sophisticated pours. The culinary offerings during my visit were a landscape of hits and minor frustrations. The kitchen provides a complimentary bowl of popcorn that is, quite frankly, addictive--the kind of salty, buttery overture that makes the wait for an entrée entirely palatable. The Greek salad, too, was an exercise in generosity; it arrived as a sizeable, vibrant mountain of produce that could easily stand as a meal in itself. However, the "dumpling soup" suffered from a crisis of identity. One expects a certain structural integrity from such a dish, but the dumplings were so sparse they felt like an afterthought. What was presented was essentially a decent chicken soup, leaving the diner to search the broth for the namesake heart of the meal. Compounding the evening's minor setbacks, the bar had unfortunately run dry of Blue Moon on tap--a staple of the craft-adjacent world that was conspicuously missing from the evening's roster. The most sophisticated discovery at Lucky 13, however, is the presence of Fernet-Branca. Finding this intensely bitter amaro in a suburban strip mall is a "good send" indeed. Originally formulated in 1845 by Bernardino Branca in Milan, Fernet was first marketed as a medicinal tonic--a cure for everything from cholera to nervous ailments. Its recipe remains a closely guarded secret, a dark infusion of nearly 30 herbs and spices including saffron, myrrh, and chamomile. Over the decades, it has evolved from a digestive aid into the "bartender's handshake," the cult-status spirit of choice for industry insiders who appreciate its unapologetic, medicinal punch. The room maintains its local charm with a healthy selection of pull tabs, inviting a bit of low-stakes drama to the table. And in a nod to the basic civilities that often go overlooked, the restrooms were maintained with a surgical cleanliness that reflects well on the overall management of the house. Lucky 13 is not without its eccentricities--the soup may be light on dumplings and the taps may occasionally run dry--but the presence of a sizeable salad and a bottle of Fernet makes it a worthy port of call in Mendota Heights. If this dispatch from the Twin Cities suburbs offered a helpful roadmap for your next outing, please leave a like or comment below so I can continue writing these reviews for your education and enjoyment.

This place is not good, from service, to organization, just a mess!…read more I had a bar tender take my order and he never brought it. When I checked back in it turned out he was a bar back who couldn't pour drinks but he asked me for my order! I was also waiting on the waitlist for a table and the buzzer went off so we gave up our space at the bar, only to be told they buzzed the wrong person. The vibes were also off be square we inadvertently went there during Thur night bingo and it was super crowded and just not a fun scene. I hope to not come back here.