Restaurant Week lunch. I'm discovering this week that those words mean bad food at too many eateries in town. Yet, the Dakota's pork buns and hot and sour shrimp soup was spot on. Light, flavorful and unique - the dish highlighted the Dakota's great lunch menu nicely. The banana sundae was forgotten by our server - not too much of a loss since neither of us wanted dessert. $10 for the meal. An overall win for the Dakota. If you haven't been, go. The Dakota is our twin cities' most famous jazz club. Home to a consistently amazing lineup of musical acts (Cowboy Junkies and Mike Doughty are both scheduled to play the Dakota's intimate stage in the next few weeks), the Dakota offers musicians the opportunity to play in a room unique to the Twin Cities. Now, I'm not hep cat, no jazz fiend, but I can appreciate good music. The Dakota offers that, plus amazing food. Go for a show. Go for dinner. Just go before someone figures out how to screw up this lethal formula of venue/restaurant. read more

This downtown gem has decent prices, a comfortable atmosphere, and a PHENOMENAL menu. This place just looked good--the colorful chalkboard sign outside advertised the daily specials and the evening entertainment (live music every night). We tucked into a cozy booth that is just big enough for two people and read the simple menu. They have a small "half notes" segment for quick or business lunches, but I opted to order from the full menu. The waitstaff was incredibly attentive and very friendly, despite the fact that I was pretty sure they were setting up all the tables for dinner or a performance. You should order the soufflé when you sit down. Seriously. It takes 30 minutes and is worth every bite. I had a basic chicken caesar salad...there was nothing basic about it! Big romaine, fresh homemade dressing, and I think they breaded the chicken in crouton pieces...easily the best caesar I have ever eaten. This place was so YUMMY! If you're a local or can take the weather, they also had a super cute outdoor patio area. read more

I love to cozy up with a glass of wine and enjoy some tasty tunes here. Service isn't particularly attentive, in my experience. Then again, I come here for the music. I don't really want to be bugged. It does get annoying to hoof it to the bar though, for that second glass. The food just doesn't blow my skirt up. Eat before you go if you know what's good for you. I clearly do not know what's good for me, because I keep eating here. You will pay a premium for food that insists upon itself, but will leave you full on disappointment. Maybe it's just part of the experience. But, I love coming here. It's always a treat and I'm usually smiling half the time watching some of the most excellent music happening in the twin cities. read more

Had a good night here. Dinner was delicious but would have liked the entree to be a little larger. Service was pretty good although the waiter was on his own. Moved inside to watch the show. The musicians weren't to my liking but not marked down for that. Intimate stage and nowhere to hide as the audience! Drink prices were fair. read more

- Slow, unpersonable serivce. Our waiter couldn't have cared less about us. - Show was an absolute BORE. We couldn't wait to leave. - The food was so incredibly underseasoned and over priced it was like a big, stupid joke. Now if you're not going to put some damn salt and pepper on the damn table at least SEASON your food! What is this - a retirement home!? - I went here almost 8 years ago for my 21st birthday and it was literally the most fun I'd ever had (and I rememeber some of the best food I'd ever had up to that point). Since then I've moved away from home to LA - who's food scene is on point - and returned with a very different, more well rounded food palatte. I should have left this place to nostalgia! read more

The food was pricey for lunch, and it wasn't that great. The waiter seemed short, and we had to request our checks to get going. I wish wait staff downtown would realize that people obviously on work lunches can't wait around forever for them. Also, they contaminated what they said was a gluten free meal, and I got sick. read more

Ok. So I hit the Dakota every time I come to Minneapolis and it never disappoints. Tonight I came for "foodie night" and was very pleased. Service was spot on even though the place was packed. Good food too even though the primary reason for coming is the music which was great. Although the I only had the burger and fries and was very pleased with the prompt service and the the quality of the food. read more

I was just at the dakota for the second time, and this is the first time we ate dinner there. Overall, the food was good to very good. I had the prime rib of pork and my wife had the diver scallops. Both were very good, but the pork may have been a bit overcooked. I dont think, however, that the food was good enough to warrant the price. The total bill excluding the cover charge was $210 for four people. Thats roughly the same price that I've paid at Murray's and Meritage which had much better food. Also, even though I knew about it in advance, you'd think they'd waive the $48 ($12 x 4) cover if you're spending $200 on dinner. Finally our service was simply terrible. I don't think that's necessarily the MO for this place as it looked like other tables in other sections had better service. It took us 3.5 hrs to receive our 3 courses. And one person's in our group was wrong twice and had hers comp'd. So the $210 bill was really for only 3 people. I'd recommend this place for late night drinks and music. Would give 3-4 stars for that, but as a restaurant, I'm only giving it 2. read more

The Dakota is the kind of venue that helps keep MPLS in a top 10 ranking of cities. It is a perfect destination spot in downtown for couples. The music is excellent. We were here for Foodie Night, but only had cocktails. The performers were Patty and the Buttons a great old-fashioned jazz ensemble. Patty's voice has a hint of zydeco so I would classify the group as New Orleans jazz versus Miles Davis or Freddie Hubbard. But it was a great night out and we look forward to making the Dakota our place when hitting Minneapolis. read more

Dakota Jazz Club has an awesome vibe and focus. I just love that Minneapolis has a smart, cozy, sophisticated jazz club, bar and restaurant right in the heart of downtown. I came here for a night of Cuban jazz and enjoyed it immensely. Be warned that you might have to pay a cover charge (which will be added to your dining bill). In my case I paid $15 which wasn't bad considering the intimate venue, the one-of-a-kind music and the roughly two hours of actual performance. The staff and kitchen is also exceedingly agreeable and knowledgeable about vegan food. I just wish Dakota would add a set vegan option to the menu and label it clearly (the current menu has NO vegan or vegetarian options, as far as I could see); I suspect if they did so, they'd get a lot more vegans and vegetarians stopping by, as the food here has definite signs of imagination. I let the chef surprise me and got a rice noodle stir-fry in a chili oil broth with chicken of the woods mushrooms, bok choy, baby cilantro and a bit of radish ($18). The dish not only tasted good but easily outdid the boring pastas or risotto-type dishes that most upscale joints make, and never deviate from, when crazy vegans show up. I also shared a basket of fries ($5) which were good but could have been crispier. My friend and I also had a few drinks. Our initial drinks were good, but not great at about $10 a piece (a cuba libre and a "Johnny Come Lately" which consists of apples and vodka, I think). The final drink, a Minnesota Martini ($10) was barely tolerable. The alcohol burned the throat and I felt like I should be treating wounds with the drink rather than imbibing it. The service was friendly if not super attentive. I'd definitely come back to Dakota Jazz Club for special occasions or performances. In the meantime, they should improve their cocktail quality and add a vegan item or two to the menu, and then I might stop by even more often. read more

What a treasure. Thinking about times at The Dakota makes me smile, especially since it's such an intimate space, you really can get to know the people around you enjoying the show. I recommend stopping for a drink as the bartenders I have had here have AMAZING stories about Prince and other well known musicians. The drinks have always been good and the music is great. read more

We ordered dinner and a starter. The mussels were average, but the service was far below acceptable. I ordered a second glass of wine and did not see our waiter again after 15 minutes I walked to the front and paid the bill. When I paid they brought the glass of wine...lol read more

After a long day of classes, we decided to look for a place that would accommodate a large group of hungry and tired people. It was a beautiful night and we wanted to sit outside. We walked down Nicollet and came to the Dakota. I have been before for concerts and other dinners, but no one was sitting outside. We were seated and our service was great (and we even had a challenging person in our group). I had the house salad and steak and fries from the bar menu. The steak was a very good cut of meat and the fries were amazing. The group was very pleased with the food as well. All and all it was a good night with good company in a great setting. Can't wait to go back later this month to see Susan Vega :-) read more

Um, is it that time of year when mahi-mahi is back in season? Because if its on the menu, then you absolutely MUST try this dish. It is sooo good, and it's been quite some time since I have had it last so my description may be inaccurate. First off - Jack (the chef) makes even the most simple of foods taste wonderful. I remember trying his hamburger sliders for an event, and it was a relatively simple dish, but each ingredient was painstakingly picked to create the most flavorful and delicious burger that I have ever had. Even better than Ike's! So, back to the mahi-mahi - the serving of fish is cut into just the right size where it's not too much and not too little. It is served on top of a sweet potato sauce of sorts, and some other sauce that I can't remember. I just remember trying it, and ranting and raving for days afterwards because I hadn't tasted something that good in a long time. I have been lucky enough to try most of the entrees on the menu, and I can't think of any that you shouldn't try. I would recommend ordering off the dinner menu to really get a taste for the food, because the bar menu is okay. It's hard to differentiate between bar food, quite honestly. For drinks - ask the server for his/her recommendations on the best accompaniment in terms of wine, which is what I usually order with the dishes. If you can, try the chef's tasting menu to really get a feel of the food and the wine together. it really brings out all the right flavors that way. As for dessert - they have a fab. dessert chef that works there that makes everything by hand. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but my faves tend to be the ones with lots of chocolate! The service is nice. Also, the food is locally sourced as much as possible, and organic. I swear I don't work for the restaurant. I just love the food so much that I had to know everything about it!! read more

I've only been to the Dakota for a concert and not to eat. So, I really can't comment on the food choices or options. The wait staff seemed super attentive though. As far as a concert venue, the Dakota is spacious and the acoustics are good. I was in the mezzanine and could hear and see everything perfectly. Unlike the Fine Line Music Café, the Dakota did not feel cramped or crowded. Also, I didn't have to worry about some drunk jerk diving for my seat (that I paid for!) everything I got up to go to the bathroom. My only complaint was that they said the doors would open at 9:00 pm. Well, they didn't open up until 10:00 pm. Sorry, but if you say it's going to be open at 9:00 pm it should be open at 9:00 pm (or at least a reasonable time after that). Making people stand around for an hour is just bad form. read more

Pleasantly surprised! I love it when you take a chance on a venue and are wowed. My husband and I had a delicious dinner and the show was outstanding. I like Jazz, but sometimes it can be overwhelming. This group, Charanga Tropical was outstanding. It's a certain type of jazz originating in Cuba. Four violinists accompanied the band. I believe at least 17 music professionals were part of the show. The hubby, a music aficionado, was so thrilled - he said it felt like a birthday present :). I assume the quality of the performances is consistent. Oh, and the dinner was delicious - much better than I expected from a club! read more

Dakota - Music Venues Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Phat Tuesday celebration and a Mardi Gras band brought my significant other, her nine year old son and me to the Dakota. The boy's first exposure to the Dakota--he was well behaved. Sadly the hosting staff proved rude and offended at the idea of a child being in their establishment. Couples before and after us were accommodated with a change to booth seating. We were refused the same option in the exact same area. An arbitrary call by the hosts. The same staff fielded a customer call and seemed annoyed to give a message to a guest. While the Dakota may be amazingly impressed by its own existence, I'd strongly suggest they get a grip on customer service. A dying genre could use a healthy dose of humility and service. read more

Here for a concert ! Our server Thad is M.I.A we asked questions about the menu he didn't have a clue about ingredients , we ordered a bottle of wine and got a beer, Brian a server noticed what was going on and attempted to fix things . Thank you Brian for stepping up to make sure our night out wasn't a complete disappointment . read more

Great venue to see music. Recently saw The Subdudes and The New Standards. Both times had a fantastic night. The drinks are great (especially the Satin Doll Martini) and the food is delicious. Topping it off is the great service. All in all, a really great place that I'm thrilled to have in Mpls. read more

Wowza! What a fabulous place. The menu is really special..offering both moderately priced choices that are really good plus fancier stuff as well. And the music, it will knock your socks off!! Went last year fo rmy wife's birthday, and it was amazing. read more

Great place to see a show. Tight quarters but good value. Menu is limited but good food, you go here for the music, the food is "second fiddle" so to say. Bar is great. Service is great too. read more

Amazing service. Food was alright, had better, but still top notch. The shows are amazing, been to quite a few. Food, like I said, could be better, but I'm not going to say it's disappointing at the very least. read more

Well tricked me all the way here, it's says open till 6:00pm, the fact is they won't open till 5:00 pm. Very disappointing...

Sat in the mezzanine for The Milk Carton Kids. I couldn't hear half the show because the sound system was inadequate and the bar noises were so loud. Worst seats in the house. Could see tremendous improvement with the addition of some sound deadening panels above the bar and a couple extra speakers. I appreciate not being fully blown out of my seat by an over amplified show, but I would still like a full sound experience. I don't want to have to hold my hand up to my ear to hear the show. Not sure I would go back for another show. The food was delicious and the $10 bottle of wine on the patio was a nice surprise but service on the patio was terrible. I'm fairly certain our food order was never put in, and when the host finally asked what we had ordered I asked if it could just be brought up to our table once we were seated. It finally showed up, outside, about ten minutes before the doors were opened for seating. I felt rushed to eat it. And the host took forever to process my tab. read more

Music is AWESOME!! Food-not so much. I had the dinner sized Caesar salad...it was simply lettuce leaves fanned out on the plate. I tried to cut it up, but leaves kept sliding off the plate, so I ended up picking up each leaf and dipping it into my "dressing on the side"....dressing was delicious! Scattered Parmesan CHEESE shaves and croutons. All in all, not worth the money. I'd eat elsewhere first. read more

I met two colleagues here for a very late work dinner. We were sitting out on the patio, because it was a perfect summer night in Minneapolis, and to sit inside, we would have had to pay the cover to hear the jazz band. My colleagues and I were unimpressed with what we could hear, so we opted for conversation outdoors instead. The service was really nice, but sometimes we had to be assertive to get ahold of our server. They give you coasters that say on one side that you're fine, and on another side that you need something. In the dark, no one can tell which side it's on. The cocktails were great. I also had the asparagus with prosciutto. Delicious. Perfect setting for a relaxing late late dinner. read more

I had a gift certificate so I'm not going to say much about the venue except to say this is not where you go for friendly, overdue conversation. It's not possible when the show is on because it is very loud. On the food side, we split a small plate of scallops served on top of a risotto. 2 scallops, $16. Get where this is going? We both chose the halibut, a rare find in Minneapolis. Plated with some very fun carrots and blackeye peas over a strangely tasty apricot sauce. $30. The fish was too salty for my taste (an American preference?) Otherwise it was nicely cooked. The service was great. But I think it would have been more memorable if the music hadn't been overpowering. read more

Staff was highly attentive about keeping my cold brewski replenished while the wife enjoyed her avant garde worblings. Stage was oddly set up for the space in my opinion, but still an overall good experience. read more

Enjoyable but cramped floor table seating and during the performance (this venue solicits excellent performers) the table conversation noise is not addressed by staff, inhibiting the enjoyment of the post dinner live show. One group started a commotion with another table because of this which further detracted from the show. Early intervention to remind patrons that courtesy and respect for others in the audience is required would have preemptive effect on these behaviors. Otherwise food is pricey but enjoyable. The entertainment is the real draw. read more

First of all, you need to know that the Dakota's menu is super pricey and the portions are relatively small. Last time there, I ordered a salad which I shared with the husband. They were kind enough to split it for us, but we had to laugh when there was only one medium sized lettuce leaf on each of the plates. I also had the crab cakes and gnocchi, both of which were fine. The husband ordered ceviche which he liked, but on which I cannot comment as it contained some sort of small animal with suction cups. The more important thing you need to know is you don't go to the Dakota just for the food. If you're willing to spend this much, there are better meals to be had elsewhere. The main attraction here is, of course, the live music. I've seen jazz singer Debbie Duncan and Cuban pianist Nachito Herrera. Both were fabulous! If you go, I'd strongly recommend sitting up top. You'll get a great view and you'll still be able to hear your table-mates as they comment on that poor woman sitting on the main level next to the drummer who is trying to inconspicuously cover her ears as she cringes to the beat. read more

Nice place to hang and listen to some good music and spend a quality night out but if you are coming for the food expect 1 star, maybe minus 1 star. Food is horrific but the cocktails and the music brought my review up to 3 stars. Not a bad seat in the facility and the performance I saw was top notch, I felt like I got my monies worth for 50 bucks but the food especially being from NOLA is what utterly disappointed me. Hopefully they will change there menu in the future or get an executive chef who can make this venue more NOLA style and not what is supposed to be. Absolutely nothing was good about the food. read more

If your looking for a wonderful evening out either on a date or with a group this is the place for you. I wouldn't probably go with a large group because it is pretty loud in side due to the music so you can't hear people to far away. The drinks are higher prices but getting to listen to great jazz and relax is worth it, I would recommend this for and night out read more

Good music but not the food. This is a great place to have some drinks and enjoy the music. The artists are very talented! This is the best place to come and unwind! read more

Loved the place, the service, the music. Everything was amazing. I recommend to go to a Davina and the Vagabonds concert.

Was there today for Restaurant Week. It was Kahluha pork dressed with papaya and a jalapeno slice served with Hot & Sour Shrimp soup. The meal ended with Macadamia nut & warm banana sundae for $10. The portions all small, but it was enough food for a regular, normal serving size. I thought the food was great, it was delicious. The restaurant week menu was pretty simply as there were no other options, but overall it was well presented and pretty delicious. The things I didn't like, due to personal preference, was that the hot & sour soup wasn't actually all the sour. And I'm not a huge fan of banana, otherwise it was quite yum. They have awesome intimate, yet not booths! read more

So many reasons to love the Dakota! The venue is amazing for music. So chill. Great sight lines. Great sound. The patio is lovely for a drink, a snack or a visual parade of the folks on the Mall. The food is delish! I don't know how they came up with the frozen goat cheese with pistachios dessert, but so happy that they did. It is perfectly refreshing and savory with just the right balance or richness and sweetness. The only downside is the ticket prices for some of the shows. I would love to Aimee Mann, but $50? I have seen her a half dozen times over the years and she is fantastic! Tickets have generally been in the $15-30 range though and that seems far more appropriate. $50 is a bit extreme. read more

Wow, I rarely give anything 5 stars, but we had an awesome time at Dakota last night. We bought tickets online in advance for Over the Rhine and Lucy Wainwright Roche. When we arrived, we had unexpectedly been upgraded to an even better table with a can't-be-better view of the stage. This is a sophisticated venue with exactly the kind of atmosphere I like. Exposed brick, smart layout, beautiful colors and art. It's an intimate setting. We felt like we were at a conversational distance from the band, like most other tables in the room, and that made it really fun. The lighting and sound were beautiful. The music! Oh, man, there are no words. The service was extraordinary. Our waitress Dana was attentive and friendly, coming by many times to refill coffees and bring us all kinds of menu items that we wanted on a whim at staggered times. We never had to try to find her or catch her attention. She came with impressive timing and tidied up and cleared away things at the table during the concert without any interruption. She noticed that one of the coffees had spilled a little on the saucer, and came quietly to place a napkin there without comment. She brought extra whipped cream in anticipation of one of our party wanting it, without being asked. These are the kinds of servers that impress me, the ones who notice the little things and make you feel cared for. She told us where Prince's regular table used to be in the club, and she was just a genuinely likable person. The menu prices for food are a bit high, although understandable for the elegance of the place, so we went elsewhere for dinner before the show. But the drinks and desserts we had during the concert were excellent. We were wondering if the price tag would be worth it for this show, and it was unquestionably worth it. Next time I'd probably splurge for dinner there as well. They make the whole experience really special. I hope Over the Rhine plays here every time they are in town. read more

I work downtown and occasionally find myself at the Dakota. The lunch here is always good and since I work right upstairs, it is never a hassle to get to. I've had the duck pastrami a couple times and today I had The Dakota version of Chicken and Waffles. It was a little small (my stomach is growling now) but really really tasty. They also recently started a 10% discount for the people upstairs (you know who you are) which is really awesome. Perhaps I will find myself there more often now. read more

I typically do not not write reviews, but when an establishment earns five stars I must ellaborate. The entertainment was great, saw the Johnnie Brown Experience! They were lively energetic and engaged the crowd. They played so many popular R&B songs and had the crowd singing and dancing. The food was amazing, hats off to the chef and the kitchen staff. It was flavorful and very fresh. There is something on the menu for everyone. They were even very accomating to special dietary needs not only for our table, but other tables we saw as well. The service was emmaculate and above and beyond. Our waitress, Andrea was very pleasent, friendly and honestly a joy. She was very knowledgeable in all aspects of the menu, offered up great suggestions and even told great stories about the club and various speciality drinks. We will definitely be going back. read more

To start with, I like this place more for the music than the food... In other words: I like Jazz, but their food doesn't suck. The food here can seem a bit pretentious (a friend recently ordered ravioli and got 3 small bits of pasta), but always extremely tasty. The sound mix can be a bit lacking on cover charge shows, but the acts are usually very talented. The problem I have is when people don't realize their voices carry depending on where they are sitting and having to hear the extended happy hour drunk girl say "Oh my God Beckie..." every few minutes. It's not church, you don't have to be silent, but you don't have to talk over the talent either. I'll keep going back as long as they keep having good music. Check out the music schedule online and experience the music of The Dakota. read more