Best inside-casino restaurant experiences I've had in MN!…read more
I would absolutely recommend Hop House to any first-timers or anyone visiting the casino. From the outside, it doesn't look like much, but once you walk in, it opens up into a huge, thoughtfully designed space that feels perfect for sports watching, live music, and trivia nights. The decor is beautiful and clearly intentional because it doesn't feel like a typical casino restaurant at all.
The menu has a really solid variety of elevated bar food with some standout options like bucatini pasta, a bahn mi sandwich, and even steak.
We started with the cheese curds, which were excellent. They were flash-fried with a delicate batter, and served with a spicy jam sauce that I really enjoyed.
The bucatini pasta was solid but definitely on the spicier side, kind of what you'd expect if spaghetti got an upgrade and a kick of heat.
The "An Ounce of Pain" burger was probably the highlight of the mains. It was ordered medium but came closer to medium rare, which I personally didn't mind because it still tasted great. The toppings made it very creamy overall, so the bacon jam didn't stand out as much as I expected, but the caramelized onions were the real star. The arugula also added a nice fresh crunch. Fries were just okay, but I would order this entire meal again!
The Chicago-style hot beef sandwich was another strong pick for its huge portion/good price, good spice from the peppers, and a really nice homemade-style roll that was crisp on the outside but soft inside. It held up well without getting too soggy, especially with the au jus bottom dip.
And then the skillet cookie...easily the best part of the meal. Huge, perfect for sharing (though I definitely could've eaten it alone), warm, rich, and easily one of the best desserts I've had in a while. The sea salt topping was perfect. The pop rocks were a little unexpected and not totally necessary, but there wasn't much of it, so it didn't take away from how good it was.
Overall, Hop House is a place I'd absolutely come back to on my next casino visit, especially during football season. Hoping they offer brunch because this would be an easy go-to spot!