Silver Fern has become one of my favorite coffee shops in Minneapolis. I work remotely a few days a…read moreweek, and this is one of my go-to spots to get work done. The space is cozy, filled with natural light from the large windows, and has plenty of seating, including comfortable spots near the fireplace. It's usually quiet enough to focus, and since it's right by the Mississippi River, it's the perfect place to grab a coffee and take a walk afterward. I also love that there are other local shops nearby, making it easy to spend a few hours in the neighborhood. On this visit, I came on a Saturday around 9:30 a.m. with a friend who was visiting from out of town. We were surprised by how busy it was--the line was almost out the door--but it moved steadily and was definitely worth the wait. I ordered the Bananas Foster Latte, which was absolutely delicious. It was rich, flavorful, and topped with vanilla cold foam and a caramelized banana slice. It felt like such a fun twist on a classic latte, and the large size was perfect. For food, we shared the Breakfast Flatbread, which was one of my favorite things we ordered. The combination of house-made ricotta, mozzarella, confit tomatoes, onions, eggs, and garlic olive oil was flavorful, hearty, and easily enough for two people to split. We also ordered the breakfast sandwich with maple mustard glazed ham, which came with a side salad and was equally satisfying. One thing to know before you go: Silver Fern is definitely on the pricier side. My latte and the flatbread came to about $28 before tip. I also wish they had a few more hot breakfast options since much of the menu leans toward pastries and baked goods. What really keeps me coming back, though, is the atmosphere and the people. The owner is incredibly kind, and the baristas were especially thoughtful with my friend's nut allergy, taking the time to answer questions and make her feel comfortable ordering. I also really appreciate that they offer 20% off for students and teachers every Tuesday, which is such a thoughtful way to support the local community. If you're looking for a cozy café with excellent coffee, delicious food, and a welcoming atmosphere--whether you're meeting a friend, working remotely, or grabbing a drink before a walk along the river--Silver Fern is absolutely worth a visit.

Visited with friends for the first time. I ordered café miel, which is my fav drink to order at…read morecoffee shops. We were in line to order, drinks took about 15 mins to come out-- it was crowded. The decor was nice and shop felt so lively. I enjoyed my cup of coffee, I started grabbing cafe miel everywhere I go and I can say this has been one of the best in mpls that I've had so far. I will say it was on the higher end, a 12oz with regular whole milk was a bit over $8 total. Parking wasn't too difficult, metered street parking. It's located in a very walkable area.

Small, but mighty. Cozy, but not necessarily comfortable. Great wine, good food…read more The concept is great! A fabulous wine menu and knowledgeable staff. We wanted a recommendation and the wine picked for us was excellent. Went with the Plavac Milos. The food is honestly incredible! The carrots were my favorite. Someday I'll get enough courage to try the tinned fish. I wish seating was a little more comfortable for the whole "drink a bottle and stay awhile" vibe. It also can get pretty loud when it's busy in the tight quarters.

We came because of the concept -- music and wine at the forefront. Seemed like a nice spot for our…read moredate night. We pivoted to just a glass and a starter and went some place else after experiencing the place. Though there are 3 staff working the front area, we had to order at the counter. That really pulls us from our date setting. Also, deciding when to join the line to pay at the end? At one point I said, should I pause this story so you can pay or finish the story? Not the date vibe we were going for. It felt like the staff were watching us. The seating was uninviting -- add some pillows to the bench and the stools would be very unpleasant. The music was very loud coming from the front speakers and it felt like we had to talk loud to be heard (and so did the table a couple over from us, which we could hear every word). I'd love to write about the food (great) and wine (seems like a well curated selection) or even the music selection, but overall it was not worth the ambiance. To steal a line from another review (KS, spot on): "[Their] menu invites questions. It invites curiosity and conversation." -- not something you can have in a line at a counter. If we are supposed to order a bottle of wine and stay awhile, I want to feel like we are welcomed. Some warmth and table service would go a long way. We left and had the fantastic intimate dining experience and date night within walking distance.

Beautiful setting with exposed brick, vaulted ceilings, and large windows. We made an online…read morereservation and ended up arriving early. We were seated at our reservation time but the host took our drink order and we hung out and enjoyed conversation as we waited for our table. They have a bar but it's used for seating so you are not able to hang out in that area as you wait for your table. Dinner was fantastic. We chose the fish of the day which was branzino. The whole fish was served in a banana leaf with tasty toppings. We shared it and it was a perfect size. For a side we chose the noodles per our servers recommendation. Lots of colors, textures and tastes in that dish. The menu items are meant for sharing and we shared that side as well. Finally, we wrapped up our meal with a chocolate lava cake. It had a chili pepper spice on it which definitely gave it a bite. I loved that they served it with a candle for my birthday. Grateful to see wine from Sovereign Estates Winery in MN on the menu. Small businesses supporting small businesses. Husband also had the deviled eggs as he loves them but since they are not my fav, he ate them all. Service was excellent. Parking was on street and not too difficult to find. Great experience!

Had this spot on the list of places to try since they opened. Mums requested going here for a…read morerecent birthday, so decided to oblige. I will say the space is very nice and comfortable. I had heard really good things about the bar and couldn't wait to try a cocktail. I tried the hmoob ntsuab, which was a delightful fruity cocktail. The cocktail game here is definitely strong. I will admit, when I looked at the menu, I knew I was going to be in trouble, as I have a very sensitive shellfish allergy. They did ask about allergies at the table and did say there were items they could make modifications to and some that couldn't be. We started with the deviled eggs minus thw shrimp. Those were quite good, with the thai basil. Hubs got a beef dish and I had the cauliflower with a different dressing which was SO GOOD. Mom had a salad that had fish sauce, so I didn't try that but it also looked fantastic. Since we were celebrating a birthday, we also got a free mango cheesecake, absolutely fantastic. I do love that this restaurant introduces a different food culture and definitely interesting items to try.

I needed to kill an hour while in the north loop and I wandered into Barcelona. It was fabulous. On…read morea nice sunny warm afternoon, I got a table against the huge windows to people watch and enjoy the MPLS skyline. It was happy hour and they had a nice Rioja available by the glass. I also got a happy hour tapas plate special of Patatas Bravas which were crispy potato bites sitting in a nice tomato salsa and topped with aioli. It was a perfect amount of food and wine. Service was excellent. I love the vibe. With exposed brick and ceiling, large picture windows and stone bar top, it was cozy and hip. I want to come back and try more tapas plates. So may good options to try.

With its roots in Connecticut, Barcelona Wine Bar has become a popular national tapas chain that…read morestruck the right chord at the right time. The restaurant business is so fickle. A tapas craze crossed the Atlantic in the 1980s and helped launch the small plates revolution. Tapas was hot, hot, hot. Then, like most trends, it fizzled out, and tapas became commonplace. Somehow, Barcelona Wine Bar knew when to catch the public's fancy. These restaurants are popular in every city they're located in, and Minneapolis was no exception. On a Tuesday night, Barcelona Wine Bar was hopping with a loud and youthful crowd, happy to be out on Washington Ave in the North Loop. We found two seats at the crowded bar, and the cacophony was just below annoying, but we could hear each other. Our bartender/server, Jessica, was professional and charming, helping make our second evening in our new neighborhood fun. Although BWB is a chain, the chefs create their own menus. The food was decent, nothing special, but BWB is about the scene. You share some wine, have a few cocktails, and laugh out loud. We had a good time and will return knowing it's not about an award-winning kitchen. Barcelona Wine Bar is about having a good time.

I loved the atmosphere and the drinks were great! Our server was helpful with recommendations and…read moredidn't rush us. Billy after dark is not in Billy sushi, but behind the building. You walk down the alley and then turn left and see the red lights/door. Note - parking in this area is always tricky so be ready to loop around to find a spot or park in a garage and walk.

Finally made it down there and definitely plan to return!…read more BAD is beautiful and quiet... perfect for hanging out after dinner. Grab a couple drinks and snacks and you're golden. The only thing I would change is adding more dessert options... this wohld be an amazing after dinner spot to chill and snack a little.

The ambiance and service were great. This place loses a star on the food however. The food was…read moreunderwhelming because we were expecting fresh handmade pasta and other menu items to follow that vibe. Not sure if the pasta is made in house as it didn't taste like anything special and was quite bland for a "browned butter garlic cream fettuccine." The cake also looked premade and it was one out of only two dessert options. Finally, we asked for no croutons on the Caesar salad but had to pick them out. I wasn't a fan of the Caesar because it had a mix of romaine and spinach, but was heavier on the spinach--just romaine finely chopped would have been better.

We live nearby and high hopes since this used to be amazing pasta. It was so so and the service…read morekept coming to our table so often we couldn't even have a conversation. Don't ask how are the first bites three times! Rigatoni was good and the Caesar was good too but the meatball sauce was different than the pasta vodka sauce so my guest said that was a problem. Best dish was the olive tapenade appetizer and the bar was packed.

AMAZING! I visited on a Thursday around 6pm and sat at the bar with my friend. We ordered the Chefs…read moreChoice cocktail to start with which I highly recommend! It's a jalapeño and basil infused gin with Aperol, Cucumber Oleo and lemon-so good we ordered two each! To eat we ordered the Baked Reginette Bolognese and the Smoked Brisket Sandwich. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. The servicing sizes are pretty big so you are likely to have leftovers. The service was superb and we were never left waiting. Great place for happy hour or a bite to eat.

I really want to love this place. Great ambiance, location, and busy but never packed. My first…read moreexperience was a takeout order during Covid to support local businesses. I don't like to review based on takeout so I left it be. It was nothing special and clearly previously frozen. Decided to stop in again but for brunch. They have a full bar but only list 3 drinks on the brunch menu. Mimosa, Irish coffee, and Bloody Mary. Their mimosas were a great pour and I didn't feel the need for more than one! We ordered the Crab Benedict and Eggs Florentine. Both had FANTASTIC flavor! Unfortunately, the poached eggs on the crab were practically hard boiled, and my Florentine was a soup. I had to drink the eggs. Not super pleasant. The flavor, as mentioned before, was yummy! Very buttery, with tangy roasted tomatoes. Service was good, and we didn't feel rushed. They have a host stand, but it wasn't super clear if you should seat yourself or not. I saw people doing both. Street parking but not too hard to find a spot. I will definitely give it one or two more tries and update my review. Need to go for dinner, and I'm curious to try their French toast!

Stopped in to grab an early dinner with a friend without a reservation and we're fortunate enough…read moreto get a patio seat despite it being busy. This is one of my favorite spots and favorite burgers in the city. My friend and I shared the cheeseburger and the chicken sandwich and fries. I had not had the chicken sandwich before, but will definitely be ordering it again as it was delicious. The burger continues to be one of my favorite in the area. If you're not super hungry, you can definitely share the fries. It's a pretty decent size portion! Our server Donika was super bubbly and friendly and one of the best servers I've had in a while! She had great recommendations and was quick and attentive. The spot is great time of year, but especially in the summer when they have the doors open! The inside bar is also so cool. Somewhere I bring out-of-town guest again and again :)

Have been wanting to come here since they opened, but always forget about it behind the store…read more After seeing photos from a friend who stopped by, I decided to make a reservation and finally give the sidebar a try. The space is very nice. A little loud, but not so bad you can't have a conversation. I love the big windows along the side and being behind the storefront on the other side. For the food...fantastic. I saw arancini on the menu, which I can never say no to. These had a pea pesto, which was perfect for spring. I ended up getting the chicken sandwich for my dinner and had a couple fabulous cocktails. Since we stopped in for a birthday celebration, we were also treated to a delicious scoop of cake batter ice cream. Our server was delightful, very fast and incredibly friendly. He also had great suggestions for those who wanted a recommendation. All in all, would definitely come back to the Sidebar!