So lucky to have this amazing local restaurant in downtown Lakeville. First and foremost the food is amazing. Breakfast, make sure you trade up from potatoes to get the cheesy hash browns. I could them with every meal. They're insanely good. Dinner, get the short rib or the lamb shank. Delicious. The buffalo cauliflower as an appetizer is a must do too!! Whether you sit at the bar or a booth the service and the ambiance is great. Definitely one of my favorite spots in the south metro. read more

Yum, yum, yum. Gosh, these guys are good. We went with a group of five for Sunday brunch/lunch, and everyone liked their food and drinks. My wife and I have been here many times, and there's a reason we keep coming back. That said, not everything is perfect. The food here is consistently great. I could go into more detail, but we've had so many different dishes over the years that it's hard to list them all. For my own notes, I had the Short Rib Melt this time and absolutely loved it. I wanted more! The Burrata Bruschetta was amazing too. It was way too expensive for only four small slices of toast, but it was delicious. We've also really enjoyed their French Toast in the past, along with several other menu items. The cheesy hashbrowns are usually amazing, but there were something off about ours this time. Maybe we just got a bad batch...? Their coffee drinks are also very good. A few people at our table ordered lattes and said they were much better than an average latte. They were also very large. One thing that's both good and bad is that they change and rotate their menu fairly often. On the plus side, you can visit and try something new that you may not have seen there before. On the downside, some of our favorite dishes are no longer on the menu, which can be disappointing. The same thing seems to happen with their specials and deals. They used to have a Smashburger special, one day of the week, but I don't think that's offered anymore. I also remember several other specials they used to run that are no longer available. There have been a few times when that has kept us from visiting. Their hours are also weird at times, so I strongly recommend checking the hours on their website before making plans. They may not be open when you expect them to be. For example, we've wanted to go there for dinner several times on a Monday or Tuesday, but they aren't open. Kitchen closes early several other days. It was extremely busy when we arrived around 10:50 to 11:00 a.m. on a Sunday. We were honestly surprised by how packed it was, and there was a wait for a table. Just an FYI if you're planning to visit during a busy brunch time. Also, in case the owner is reading this, using AI-generated images on your website and inside the restaurant is a massive turnoff. I don't want to see AI-generated artwork on a restaurant's website or hanging inside the restaurant itself. That is an easy star deduction for me. The design and style of the restaurant are really nice. It has more of an open concept setup, so it can get a little loud, but for some reason it never seems to get as loud as you might expect. If you go during a slower time, it can be very relaxing. Overall, I really like the look and feel of the restaurant. I feel like I say this in 95% of my Yelp reviews at this point, but I'm going to keep saying it. The prices aren't great, especially compared with the portion sizes. I won't spend too much time on this, but if you're looking for a budget-friendly restaurant, this probably isn't the place. The service was mostly great. They were clearly very busy, but our waiter never refilled my water, and he didn't come back often enough for me to ask. He also didn't know what soups they had for the day, and instead of offering to go check, he just said he "didn't know" and my friend ordered something else for their side. Not a huge deal, but maybe a coachable moment. Since the restaurant was so packed, it also took quite a while to get our food and drinks. That was understandable considering how busy they were, but it's worth knowing if you're in a hurry. Overall, we really love The Better Half. The food is great, the coffee drinks are better than average, the restaurant has a nice and relaxing atmosphere, the staff is friendly, and there's usually something new to try. The higher prices, weird hours, rotating menu, discontinued specials, AI-generated artwork, and occasional slow service keep it from being perfect, but the great food and overall experience will keep us coming back, just not as often as some other places. read more

We thought 'let's try something in a small town "- yelp reviews looked decent and it seemed small town owned. My quintessential breakfast item is eggs Benedict and cappuccino- this is how I begin my evaluation of good food. So it was a toss up between The Better Half and the Lakeville Brewing Co which share the same parking lot. AI told me to go to Lakeville Brewing for the Benedict if I expect it to be done right. However it said The Better half will have way better cappuccino. Entryway into The Better Half was nice . The ambiance reminded me of High Hat on Selby on Cathedral Hill in St Paul. However the warmth wasn't there at The Better Half. The big bar had a few people sitting there, bartender looked at us but didn't say anything. No welcome - no smile nothing. No host at the front door- there was only a sign saying "please wait to be seated". We stood there for about two minutes until someone came from the back to seat us. Our server was a different person, she seemed warm and personable. They should put her in charge as hostess. First impressions are everything. Also train the bartender to be talkative, that's usually why people go to bars- they know at least the bartender will be friendly. Cappuccino was decent and good sized, no complaints there. The Benedicts were executed poorly. The eggs were hard boiled on both dishes. Hollandaise was thick, tasteless and slopped all over the plate. It didn't look appetizing - we had to send it back. With that said the ham was a good thick slice and the potatoes were fried up well. But there was nothing special about the potatoes. Due to poor execution of the eggs Benedict and hollandaise, coupled with the stoic bartender who was unwelcoming- I'd have to give this place a 1.5 star. It's unfortunate since I want to cheer for the small town restaurants. There's so much they could offer in personal touch and experience. Unfortunately this experience left us feeling like "if this is the better half, then I don't want meet the other half." Management needs to step up their game, it's not fair to the workers to let guests start off with a poor experience and then have the food quality continue to degrade the experience. The server never gets a chance to earn a great tip because the bartender, lack of host greeting and poor execution of food overshadows the server who was trying her best. We tipped her well anyway but this is why the lengthy review.. For a breakfast place you gotta get your eggs right. That's 101 cooking. read more

The Better Half - Eggs Benedict- hollandaise slop - Bars Near Me - Lakeville, Minnesota

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Such a cute little brunch spot. My friend recommended and I see why she loves it. I ordered the Miel iced latte and it's delicious. The vanilla iced latte was also good but I'd recommend the miel. We ordered the burrata bruschetta without the balsamic and it's delicious. The focaccia that it's on is so soft and buttery. It tastes delicious. I got the eggs Benedict with no meat and the hollandaise sauce was yummy and tasted homemade. The breakfast potatoes are good. The cheesy hashbrowns has an interesting taste to me. Neither my mom nor I cared for them. We would recommend and we will be back. Our server was amazing and very attentive. read more

The Better Half - Breakfast potatoes - Bars Near Me - Lakeville, Minnesota

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This was such a fun find today!! Definitely a hidden gem. I've never been to this area in Lakeville and it's soooo sooo cute. We also got ice cream at the place next door and it was delish! Anyway I can't wait to go back to this place and try literally anything else on the menu. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. read more

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This place is usually good, but a meal that cost me more than $80 last night featured undercooked carrots and raw-ish Brussels sprouts, a tough piece of "short ribs" and an overcooked hanger steak. Mashed potatoes were not hot and the ambiance for 5:30 pm was too dark. I complained to the waitress and she didn't acknowledge it other than to shrug. Off my list. read more

Oh my goodness, the breakfast steak bowl was amazing. My wife and I were visiting from out of state and I am sad that I won't be able to get after we leave. read more

Aaaaaahhhhhh! Yummy Sunday brunch! Amazing care by staff! GO!! Just GO!! Accommodating, generous piryions. Im back! read more

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Delicious meals all around that were very filling. Would absolutely return when we are in the area

Our first time here. Great food and friendly service (Ryan and Megan at the bar) were fantastic. Food was excellent and we'll be back. read more

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Had a dinner date with my sister and saw this place had good reviews. Most of the reviews I looked at prior to going to this spot talked about poor service but great food. We had the opposite experience. This is a small spot located in Lakeville and has free street parking and a shared parking lot in the back of the building. When you first walk in, the vibes are trendy and fun. Loved the lighting up on the ceiling and saw they do have a small patio on the side of the building. The service was OUTSTANDING! And it is the ONLY reason why this is a 4 star and not 3 star review. Our server was funny, personable and did a great job checking in on us. The food: We tried multiple items and nothing stood out to us. My sister got a mule and said it was good. We tried the drunken shrimp. It was 4 shrimp for $15! The plating was awful and the sauce was very bland! Save your money. The fries tasted like they came out of the freezer and were not crisp. They were spongy. Skip. The aioli is good but not enough to save the dish. The steak was good but did not come out medium well like my sister asked for. The chicken wings had a good smokey flavor along with a citrus dry rub. However, these were very dry. The dessert had such a strange plating.... It looked like something my kids would do... the server told us they have the cheesecake shipped in (which is fine lots of places do that) but it tasted fake and overly sweet). I'd be willing to give this place another chance based on the service and vibes but if you look at my pictures and past reviews you can tell the quality here has definitely dropped. read more

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Drinks, food and service is amazing! We like going here often and recommend it to anyone looking for a good brunch spot.

Looking for a new date night location with my wife and we decided to keep it close to home this time and try something local. I'm glad we did. The Better Half I would say is a modern take on an American diner with an upscaled touch. The decor celebrated famous couples (famous and made up) and had a Burger Jones (you guys remember Burger Jones???) kind of vibe. Very Uptown Minneapolis in the heart of Lakeville, I like it. To start the night, my wife had a cocktail from the bar. The Aviator was a great fuschia tinted gin drink. The couples sips I snuck in were very good. For food, my wife tried the scallops. First impressions - the scallop to price ratio here was very generous. We've been to "fancier" seafood places in Edina and Minneapolis that charge $$$ for scallops and then short you on how many you get. Not here. The scallops were cooked perfectly, tender and sweet. Great dish. I settled for comfort and has their breakfast burger. Patties were juicy and cooked perfectly. The burger was a sloppy good mess, how all good burgers should be. I greatly enjoyed it. Our waitress/bartender was friendly and attentive and no complaints on that end. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here and the prices were very reasonable. It's like this place was uprooted from Uptown or Lynlake and dropped right in Lakeville, great spot. We will be back! read more

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This is a great little place in Lakeville and I was really impressed with the food! The atmosphere is clean and comfortable, the service was terrific. I had the BLT and it was really tasty with fresh high quality ingredients! Others in my party had flatbread (looked amazing), Scallops which were done perfectly with a beautiful cream saffron sauce, and the Wedge salad again with fresh ingredients. It was a really great place for a dinner or to meet some friends. read more

Went here for the first time for breakfast on Black Friday and was able to be seated right away. It was nice not having to wait in a long line. Once seated I chose to get a crafted shot (Blue Collar Combo). The description sounded a little different from what it actually was when I got it. It was ok, definitely wouldn't get it again but was fun to try. For my food I chose the Classic Benedict and got a side of avocado. Anything extra was ale carte and a minimum of $2. Because of this the price adds up fast so keep that in mind if adding or subbing items. When I got my meal I noticed my poached eggs were not truly poached - it seems like they rushed it because the white wasn't even cooked, it was all runny. (And I like runny and know how poached eggs are supposed to be but this wasn't cooked long enough - needed another 2 to 3 minutes). The flavors were very bland too so I ended up have to salt and pepper it a lot. The hollandaise sauce also was crusted on top - so looked like it had been sitting for a while. I don't know if I would come here for breakfast again, or on a holiday. I assume maybe they had an early morning rush and that's why things were a bit off and because of that will look to try again maybe for lunch or dinner and see how that is. read more

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The food was delicious! I went to breakfast/brunch in the morning with 4 of my friends. The only negative comment on the food was the hash browns had a nacho cheese short of taste which wasn't our favorite but the breakfast potatoes were a delight. The service was meh but it is very busy in the morning so be gracious during that time. The ambiance was very pleasant and calm I enjoyed it very much. There isn't a ton of seating so I would recommend making a reservation if possible. read more

The Better Half - Classic Breakfast (with gluten free toast and scrambled eggs) - Bars Near Me - Lakeville, Minnesota

Excellent food and amazing service. Our server Lindsey was fantastic and the atmosphere is super chill and comfortable. My better half definitely approves ! Avocado Toast BBQ Chicken Flatbread read more

The Better Half - BBQ Chicken flat bread with a side of Zombie Dust - Bars Near Me - Lakeville, Minnesota

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We tried something new off the menu this time and it did not disappoint! As always, the service was prompt, attentive, and incredibly friendly. We're frequent visitors here for a reason--this place consistently delivers great food and a warm, welcoming atmosphere read more

The Better Half - Brisket Sandwich grass-fed house-smoked brisket | pickled shallots | alabama white sauce | arugula | focaccia $17 - Bars Near Me - Lakeville, Minnesota

The place is buzzing, evidence of the quality of service and food. My wife & enjoyed their "classic smash" and "better smash" burgers along garlic aioli fries! Mmm, worth coming back for. Plus all so reasonably priced! Heads up, tap list is short, but we found suitable options. Psst, they do have a "Date Nite" special on Wednesday nights that is pretty sweet! We'll be back. read more

Tried this eatery for lunch for the first time. The waitress suggested the corned beef melt and she was right, this sandwich with beer cheese soup was good! I went my own route and ordered the tacos. The flavors were good but the shrimp was over fried so tougher and dry (had it not been for the sauce). The truffle fries were luke warm and I prefer to eat mine almost right out of the fryer. So kinda sad for $9 french fries to not have them crispy and hot. So take the waitresses recommendation when visiting. They won't steer you wrong. The service was excellent and the decor is charming. read more

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I love gnocchi and was excited to try a new version. Because we care for someone who has Alzheimer's we often order takeout and eat in the car. This prevents a very upsetting scene in a restaurant and keeps everyone happy. The gnocchi had a very pronounced smokey flavor throughout. Very little in the way of squash, pancetta or mint. It was off-balance. The gnocchi was also heavy instead of fluffy inside. What we ordered: PAN SEARED GNOCCHI Smoked pancetta, butternut squash, cherry tomatoes, fresh parmigiano reggiano, parmesan cream, basil, and mint. Smash Burger - it was okay but a little on the dry side. We were going to order the chocolate cake but they were out. read more

The Better Half - a tray of pasta and vegetables - Bars Near Me - Lakeville, Minnesota

Used to love coming here for breakfast. It WAS brightly lit with quirky decor, friendly staff, and fresh, hot food. You could have a conversation in a normal tone. Went again AFTER their revamp. At 8:30 a.m., music was blaring. New trendy, dark decor with nightclub lighting. Apparently, they're no longer branding themselves as a breakfast and lunch place. Service was slow and self-absorbed. No one came by to refill our coffee. Despite not being busy, it was a long wait for our food. It arrived cold. They used to make really amazing scrambled eggs; French style, glossy. Instead, we were served dry, clumpy eggs with brown edges, like you get on a big buffet. Disappointing. read more

Food was great service was terrible during our late afternoon lunch. The waitress/bartender was more worried about flirting/conversations with the guy at the bar vs taking care of our table to the point I had to get up to request to get her attention to order, get silverware to eat, get the lemmings I requested for my water. Ambiance cute diner style place with a great patio. Food tasted good was fresh. What should have been a quick lunch took over an hour. read more

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Great place to eat. Portion sizes are nice size. The servers are really friendly. I highly recommend anything that you can get the chimichurri sauce. My only recommendation is to have more veggie variety. Perhaps roasted carrots or zucchini. Beautiful place overall. read more

Food was delicious absolutely LOVE their drunken shrimp!!!! That saffron cream sauce is dreamy. Instead of ordering as my meal we shared this tonight as an app and I decided to be a big girl and try their smash burger which was perfect! Each bite better then the last. I got the fried with their truffle oil and Parmesan cheese but honestly to just swish the fry in the leftover saffron sauce was really a hit! My daughter got the BBQ chicken salad that she did not care for at all, she said it was very bland and over dressed. She ate maybe 5 bites. They no longer offer fruit with the kids meals which was a dissapoinment. The risotto was good but my son thought more soupy then in the past. Would love to give 5 stars again but because of the salad and waitress forgot to place the kids meal order they only got 4 read more

Stopped in for lunch and the place was busy. This is a good sign. Meals were great. Loved the coffees. Service was top notch. The restaurant has a nice layout and a variety of sitting arrangements. read more

A new favorite spot in Lakeville! A little finer dining than any other place in downtown Lakeville, but we needed something like The Better Half. Drinks: amazing. Their espresso martinis are devine and the best I've had. Their cocktails are super good and espresso based beverages are also great. Food: Breakfast tacos, biscuits & gravy, waffles, omelets, bagel and egg sandwich.. all so good. I've only had breakfast here, so unsure of dinner. But I've always wanted to come for the all you can eat crab legs. Dessert: GET THE BLONDIE. OMGGG This has become a dessert my family loves to come get on our birthdays. It's so amazing. Vibe is good. Smaller restaurant. Bar area is great. read more

Pretty solid brunch. The breakfast tacos and cheesy hash browns are a must get. Everything else was meh read more

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Great place for breakfast with my sister and friendly staff! Yum. I'll be back . . Tomorrow! read more

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Great food , many options & the vibe inside is amazing! The service was energetic and friendly! read more

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Very impressed with food quality; unsure why the salmon & skillet desert was not available. Service was excellent ( wish I knew the name of our server-no nam badge). She was very attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. We took advantage of the discounts offered for happy hour. Highly recommend! read more

I could not recommend The Better Half more. Comfiest bar stools, stellar food quality, and great drinks. Not to mention the service is tippity top notch. Paige smells like roses and Lyndsey has the kindness of 100 puppies. read more

Food was amazingly good and was served really fast! The server was really nice and was attentive. Latte was really good! Overall everything was awesome would totally recommend and come back for lunch and dinner sometime to try their other goods! read more

The Better Half - Creme Anglaise French Toast - Bars Near Me - Lakeville, Minnesota

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This was my first visit and I highly recommend! It has the appearance of a cute diner but the menu is so much more. Our waitress knew the menu well. I had the better mash with truffle fries. Everything they put on this burger just works. Would definitely order again. read more

The Better Half - BBQ Chicken Salad - Bars Near Me - Lakeville, Minnesota

After further visits, I've had a lot better experiences here. I love their drunken shrimp with a side of asparagus. They also have great breakfast tacos. Been disappointed in their salads; I've learned to stick with their apps. Service can be hit or miss. read more

First of all. Sensing a woman behind this great little breakfast spot. Too much consideration, effort and planning to be anyone else. Very attentive wait staff just informed me, yes. GM is a woman. Thank you so much for that. Secondly. Forget any mediocre or negative reviews. Only complimentary truths can be possible here. Welcoming, clean, upscale and hometown all on your first impressions list. Wow. Next, most importantly, the food looks and tastes great. Ole retired Greek Restaurant manager here. What could I possibly know? Well, basics are what work. Will find it here. Your turn. Stop in soon. See for yourself. Pleasant surprises in store for you. read more

The Better Half - Great modern clean upbeat atmosphere here. - Bars Near Me - Lakeville, Minnesota

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I was pretty dissappointed in the few meals I've had here so far (I keep coming back hoping for better) but I get the sense it is the menu whom is the culperit. Largely, it's pretty tame in terms of taste. Normally, when this happens, that is due to an economized selection of ingredients. Surprisingly, that is not the case here. It's a deliberate choice. A perfect example of this is the Spicy Chorizo Bowl. It is neither spicey nor particularly unique in taste (to say nothing of the texture) - it could at least be a little on the salty end of things.... Frankly, dishes at this level should be rotated out until the cook rehabs the plate. I had to use a significant amount of hot sauce and bum some lime from the bartender in order to make it editable. Another example of "defeat being snatched from the jaws of victory" would be their Creme Brule French Toast. Overall, the french toast is great... until you add the maple syrup.... it tastes cheap and feels like something a local could easily grab from their local Cub Foods. What an odd thing to slip-up on! I'm not being negative with the intention of knocking the place. My partner and I were SO EXCITED to see a breakfast place opening so close to where we live. We just expected more - especially since the owners are already established restaurant owners in the community. WHY I AM GOING TO KEEP COMING BACK: That all said, the service is good and the staff will only get better as everyone finds their "sea legs." Moreover, the management the owners selected is reputable person and I'm excited to see where she takes this place. read more

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Cute and casual place! Burgers, brunch, coffee, cocktails! Nice patio too. BLTA and fries were delicious.

Service is good and friendly but it seems a little understaffed (even when slow in the early AM) but there could be a lot of reasons driving that. The menu is so-so if I'm honest. Great at Americana foods but any tries at anything ethnic are not adviseable (ingredient choices/balance for those dishes make zero sense). Maybe worth taking those off the menu completely until getting those even remotely close to authentic? (might be a money-saver too) Very middle of the road and probably good for taking a big group there where preferences are likely to be all over the map. Food quality is fine but still some work to do if they want to be at the level of other restaurants in downtown Lakeville. read more

We went here twice during a recent trip back to visit friends and family. Once for lunch and once for dinner. Both times the food and service were great. I hope this place is around for a long time. We will definitely be back. read more

The Better Half - Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos (3), Chicken Corn Chowder, and Breakfast Flatbread. - Bars Near Me - Lakeville, Minnesota