The Loon Café
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In the Minneapolis area for work and some of my friends that live here swear by the Dragon Wings at The Loon! So, I checked them out and let's see how it went! Atmosphere/Appearance: The Loon, being one of few long-time surviving restaurant/bars of downtown Minneapolis keeps it charm by having that old school vibe. There's neon signs scattered all over the walls, tons of sports memorabilia and just possess that old tavern feel. I can dig it! I mean this place has been here since 1981. Lol. It wasn't very loud when we came since it was like a Wednesday night or something, but it was easy to talk to one another. Service: Kat took excellent care of us, made great recommendations and I had no complaints. Food: Have you ever heard of The Grape Ape shot/drink? Apparently, The Loon Cafe is who invented it! That's kinda awesome! I had no idea. But The Grape Ape is Three Olives Citrus vodka, Buddy's Soda, sweet & sour mix and a splash of sprite. It sounds a bit on the sweet side, but it reminded me of Dimetapp medicine, the grape Jolly Rancher and the grape Skittle. Lol. Next up was the Hot Spinach Con Queso Dip. It's a mixture of queso cheese and spinach artichoke dip. The chips were strong enough to support the weight of the dip even though they looked thin. I did really like this dish though and I feel it was a very interesting mix that I would certainly order again. Next up we had their Chicken Chili ala Ski-Dad which is a thick, rich, spicy blend of chicken, peppers, onions, green chilis then topped with jalapeño cream cheese and green onions. It comes with warm tortillas. This was DELICIOUS. It was a good medium spice which so many flavors in each bite. I really enjoyed the crunch I got from the green onions and I liked how they used cream cheese as a fat instead of sour cream. Quite clever. I loved this. Lastly, the Dragon Wings. These are described as "Our famous "Drummies," tossed in our sweet, spicy Thai Dragon sauce and topped with sliced green onions." Firstly, I was expecting all drums due to the use of that word "drummies" but maybe they just meant pieces of the wing? Also, these were on the small side. So at least I know these are probably organic and/or GMO free. Lol. These were breaded to Hell, but gave a great crunch. The sauce was decent for sure, but nothing crazy. Value: Sports bar-like prices. Nothing crazy at all. I got 10 wings for $15.95. Dip was $12.95 and the chili was $9.95 for the cup I had. A little on the high side, but you are downtown so that comes with a premium. Overall, not bad. In conclusion, this place as cool. It's more of a sports bar and gathering place. I loved the soup and the chili, but the wings were not it. Everyone's different...
Came here for an early lunch this weekend and enjoyed the experience. The place was busy, people enjoying their conversation and a good vibe. I ordered a Bloody Mary that was fantastic, so good. We ordered a buffalo chicken wrap, that was amazing and so well packed. Everything was spread evenly in the wrap and it was amazing. We had cheese curds and Southwest egg rolls as well. I loved the cheese curds so much. A Minnesota classic. The southwest egg rolls were good, but being from AZ I feel like they could have had a little more spice, but nothing negative. This place was sooo good :)
In Minneapolis for a concert. Stopped here for lunch on a Friday, one of the few places open for lunch in the area! Ideal spot by the stadiums and various other venues downtown. The service was great, kind of a pub/sports bar vibe inside. The buffalo chicken wrap was a 10/10, southwest egg rolls were okay... definitely missing something, and you can't go wrong with cheese curds when you're in the Midwest.
Honestly, the Loon has a great vibe, good drinks (gotta get a Grape Ape) and great location if you are looking to pregame for a game downtown but the food is mediocre at best. With that said, we keep coming back to this place because of the location and vibe. My advice is to order drinks and appetizers - you can't go wrong with that combo. The food isn't terrible by no means. The menu isn't too special, reminds me of something you find at a small town sports bar but with a downtown digs price tag. Those two things don't quite much up. My friend and I ordered a couple of sandwiches and they were OK but the quality left something to be desired. My chicken sandwich was pretty thin and needed more heft to fully make up for the pricetag. Oh well, I'll be back for another Grape Ape at some point. Good size, good price, and fun times with those.
We popped into the loon for a drink after we had dinner just for something to do on a Saturday night. We took a seat at the bar where the bartenders were helpful and attentive. The open kitchen concept is GREAT, for establishments who have employees who follow food standards and safety protocol. My husband and I witnessed more then a handful of times a woman and male cook taking food out of the cold well and eating it with their BARE hands, licking their palms, double dipping chips in a sauce of some sort. These are all items being served to customers, raw product. Being a foodservice Director I am appalled, although we didn't eat here there's so many terrible things happening in the open that are exposing customers to serious food problems. BEWARE
Good place to stop between sessions of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament. After snacking on junk food, it was great to get a Greek salad. Dressing was a bit heavy on the oil but the salad had lots of toppings, especially Kalamata olives and feta cheese. I requested a cracker to eat with it and they brought a couple of packets quickly. Service was quick which was great with limited times between games. I like the atmosphere there and lots of TVs to catch up with your other sports. Good stop.
Stopped here for lunch during a shopping trip downtown St Paul. There were just three of us and it took quite awhile to just get waters. We each ordered a sandwich and one order was placed incorrectly. I had the soup of the day-shrimp and corn chowder. It should have been called spicy soup as it had my mouth burning!! I also had the BLT which had rubbery bacon and soggy fried green tomatoes. Al three meals were mediocre at best. Disappointing.
Something about the dark wood bar and floors intrigued me about this place. You could tell the Loon Cafe has been around and is a staple in the downtown community for many years. It was slammed after the Twins game but I luckily found one of the last spots at the bar. The bartenders were quick to make drinks and take food orders. Mine even made a few recommendations. I ordered the beef nachos and the Pinto's Diablo chili. Yes it was a lot of food but I was told their chili is excellent so figured I'd give it a try. It was excellent. I can tolerate heat but this wasn't burn your lips off spicy: it was the spicy that had a hint of sweetness behind the heat. And since chili absolutely should contain beans (much to the ire of my fellow Texans) Minnesota chili has kidney beans in it. Buttered Texas toast came on the side for dipping (or not). The chili was a meal itself. The nachos were just plain huge. There was no shortage of meat and cheese and it came accompanied with a generous helping of guacamole, sour cream, and salsa. Despite being packed after the ball game the staff here stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the park with the food and service (baseball pun intended).
Lunch at @thelooncafempls will now be a regular occurrence when in Downtown Mpls! * A very unconventional burger but it was very solid and on brioche buns The burger meat was also shaped to fit the buns haha. French fries were served really hot and with a side of homemade ranch The pickle spear on the side really made my day though and let me know that their kitchen staff is like a well-oiled machine‼ * This seems to be the go-to spot before or after games or shows. Very busy, yet they do a wonderful job of getting you seated. Excellent service, classic meals, friendly and casual atmosphere
We visited The Loon to grab a drink and apps before a game at the Target Center. We ordered the cheese curds and southwest egg rolls to split. The cheese curds were exactly what you'd expect. The egg rolls were packed full of ingredients and paired well with the spiced ranch. The crispiness of the exterior balanced the soft filling. The waitress was a gem especially being busy but apologized for the service with a round of Grape Apes (completely unnecessary but who were we to say no, when they claim they're home of the Grape Ape?).
The Loon is a must stop. My wife and I enjoyed a Twins pregame stop. We opted for the Grain Belt Premium Draft ($3.00). I know they are famous for their grape ape drink/shot but we refrained. We also stopped in on a quiet Monday night for a pint. The manager and bartenders are all very friendly and professional. The manager spoke to me periodically throughout the night and we were talking baseball and concerts. This is a great option in downtown Minneapolis. I'd return in a heartbeat. read more
5 days ago
In the Minneapolis area for work and some of my friends that live here swear by the Dragon Wings at The Loon! So, I checked them out and let's see how it went! Atmosphere/Appearance: The Loon, being one of few long-time surviving restaurant/bars of downtown Minneapolis keeps it charm by having that old school vibe. There's neon signs scattered all over the walls, tons of sports memorabilia and just possess that old tavern feel. I can dig it! I mean this place has been here since 1981. Lol. It wasn't very loud when we came since it was like a Wednesday night or something, but it was easy to talk to one another. Service: Kat took excellent care of us, made great recommendations and I had no complaints. Food: Have you ever heard of The Grape Ape shot/drink? Apparently, The Loon Cafe is who invented it! That's kinda awesome! I had no idea. But The Grape Ape is Three Olives Citrus vodka, Buddy's Soda, sweet & sour mix and a splash of sprite. It sounds a bit on the sweet side, but it reminded me of Dimetapp medicine, the grape Jolly Rancher and the grape Skittle. Lol. Next up was the Hot Spinach Con Queso Dip. It's a mixture of queso cheese and spinach artichoke dip. The chips were strong enough to support the weight of the dip even though they looked thin. I did really like this dish though and I feel it was a very interesting mix that I would certainly order again. Next up we had their Chicken Chili ala Ski-Dad which is a thick, rich, spicy blend of chicken, peppers, onions, green chilis then topped with jalapeño cream cheese and green onions. It comes with warm tortillas. This was DELICIOUS. It was a good medium spice which so many flavors in each bite. I really enjoyed the crunch I got from the green onions and I liked how they used cream cheese as a fat instead of sour cream. Quite clever. I loved this. Lastly, the Dragon Wings. These are described as "Our famous "Drummies," tossed in our sweet, spicy Thai Dragon sauce and topped with sliced green onions." Firstly, I was expecting all drums due to the use of that word "drummies" but maybe they just meant pieces of the wing? Also, these were on the small side. So at least I know these are probably organic and/or GMO free. Lol. These were breaded to Hell, but gave a great crunch. The sauce was decent for sure, but nothing crazy. Value: Sports bar-like prices. Nothing crazy at all. I got 10 wings for $15.95. Dip was $12.95 and the chili was $9.95 for the cup I had. A little on the high side, but you are downtown so that comes with a premium. Overall, not bad. In conclusion, this place as cool. It's more of a sports bar and gathering place. I loved the soup and the chili, but the wings were not it. Everyone's different... read more
Came here for an early lunch this weekend and enjoyed the experience. The place was busy, people enjoying their conversation and a good vibe. I ordered a Bloody Mary that was fantastic, so good. We ordered a buffalo chicken wrap, that was amazing and so well packed. Everything was spread evenly in the wrap and it was amazing. We had cheese curds and Southwest egg rolls as well. I loved the cheese curds so much. A Minnesota classic. The southwest egg rolls were good, but being from AZ I feel like they could have had a little more spice, but nothing negative. This place was sooo good :) read more
1 year ago
In Minneapolis for a concert. Stopped here for lunch on a Friday, one of the few places open for lunch in the area! Ideal spot by the stadiums and various other venues downtown. The service was great, kind of a pub/sports bar vibe inside. The buffalo chicken wrap was a 10/10, southwest egg rolls were okay... definitely missing something, and you can't go wrong with cheese curds when you're in the Midwest. read more
1 year ago
Honestly, the Loon has a great vibe, good drinks (gotta get a Grape Ape) and great location if you are looking to pregame for a game downtown but the food is mediocre at best. With that said, we keep coming back to this place because of the location and vibe. My advice is to order drinks and appetizers - you can't go wrong with that combo. The food isn't terrible by no means. The menu isn't too special, reminds me of something you find at a small town sports bar but with a downtown digs price tag. Those two things don't quite much up. My friend and I ordered a couple of sandwiches and they were OK but the quality left something to be desired. My chicken sandwich was pretty thin and needed more heft to fully make up for the pricetag. Oh well, I'll be back for another Grape Ape at some point. Good size, good price, and fun times with those. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
We popped into the loon for a drink after we had dinner just for something to do on a Saturday night. We took a seat at the bar where the bartenders were helpful and attentive. The open kitchen concept is GREAT, for establishments who have employees who follow food standards and safety protocol. My husband and I witnessed more then a handful of times a woman and male cook taking food out of the cold well and eating it with their BARE hands, licking their palms, double dipping chips in a sauce of some sort. These are all items being served to customers, raw product. Being a foodservice Director I am appalled, although we didn't eat here there's so many terrible things happening in the open that are exposing customers to serious food problems. BEWARE read more
3 months ago
Food was a 10/10! Amazing service even on a busy night before a concert. We had some beverages with our meal and they were well priced. Will definitely be coming back! read more
4 months ago
5 months ago
6 months ago
Good place to stop between sessions of the Big Ten Basketball Tournament. After snacking on junk food, it was great to get a Greek salad. Dressing was a bit heavy on the oil but the salad had lots of toppings, especially Kalamata olives and feta cheese. I requested a cracker to eat with it and they brought a couple of packets quickly. Service was quick which was great with limited times between games. I like the atmosphere there and lots of TVs to catch up with your other sports. Good stop. read more
4 months ago
Stopped here for lunch during a shopping trip downtown St Paul. There were just three of us and it took quite awhile to just get waters. We each ordered a sandwich and one order was placed incorrectly. I had the soup of the day-shrimp and corn chowder. It should have been called spicy soup as it had my mouth burning!! I also had the BLT which had rubbery bacon and soggy fried green tomatoes. Al three meals were mediocre at best. Disappointing. read more
3 years ago
Something about the dark wood bar and floors intrigued me about this place. You could tell the Loon Cafe has been around and is a staple in the downtown community for many years. It was slammed after the Twins game but I luckily found one of the last spots at the bar. The bartenders were quick to make drinks and take food orders. Mine even made a few recommendations. I ordered the beef nachos and the Pinto's Diablo chili. Yes it was a lot of food but I was told their chili is excellent so figured I'd give it a try. It was excellent. I can tolerate heat but this wasn't burn your lips off spicy: it was the spicy that had a hint of sweetness behind the heat. And since chili absolutely should contain beans (much to the ire of my fellow Texans) Minnesota chili has kidney beans in it. Buttered Texas toast came on the side for dipping (or not). The chili was a meal itself. The nachos were just plain huge. There was no shortage of meat and cheese and it came accompanied with a generous helping of guacamole, sour cream, and salsa. Despite being packed after the ball game the staff here stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the park with the food and service (baseball pun intended). read more
Lunch at @thelooncafempls will now be a regular occurrence when in Downtown Mpls! * A very unconventional burger but it was very solid and on brioche buns The burger meat was also shaped to fit the buns haha. French fries were served really hot and with a side of homemade ranch The pickle spear on the side really made my day though and let me know that their kitchen staff is like a well-oiled machine‼ * This seems to be the go-to spot before or after games or shows. Very busy, yet they do a wonderful job of getting you seated. Excellent service, classic meals, friendly and casual atmosphere read more
We visited The Loon to grab a drink and apps before a game at the Target Center. We ordered the cheese curds and southwest egg rolls to split. The cheese curds were exactly what you'd expect. The egg rolls were packed full of ingredients and paired well with the spiced ranch. The crispiness of the exterior balanced the soft filling. The waitress was a gem especially being busy but apologized for the service with a round of Grape Apes (completely unnecessary but who were we to say no, when they claim they're home of the Grape Ape?). read more
7 months ago
3 years ago
"I am going to need something to kill time before my second beer. How about a first one?" ~Norm from Cheers It's friendly, fun, familiar, like your favorite chair where you cuddle up to watch TV on a cold, rainy Sunday afternoon. The Grape Ape is a fun drink to try. It feels like a local place where you know everyone and everyone knows your name. The bartenders were chatty and fun too. read more
7 months ago
2 years ago
We popped in here for dinner our first night in town. We were told about this spot as a sports bar from a couple of the locals. We came in during game 6 of the NBA and this place was packed! They have TV's throughout the place and they were playing the sound of the game. They had a huge menu and I decided to try the Loon Addict Special. It was really good and had great flavor! This is a great spot to catch the game and enjoy some good food! read more
We stopped by the Loon Cafe before a Twins game to grab some drinks & food, and I was pleasantly surprised! The vibe of this place is a cross between the village pub and sports bar - it's warm and woody with lots of fun signage. The four of us sat at the bar and really had the "local" feel. Service here is superb - great for before a game! Drinks were on the table right after we ordered, and our three appetizers were out in minutes. Pro tip: make sure to get the Grape Ape here! They're known for them, and they taste like a purple jolly rancher. For food we ordered the nachos, Buffalo wigs and the spinach queso dip. The nachos were pretty average, and we ordered the smoked chicken on top. But who doesn't love some nachos? The Buffalo wings were delicious - tender and not too hot, they even had a little bit of sweetness to them. The winner of the three was definitely the spinach queso dip! It's the perfect mix between a hot and spicy queso with spinach and artichoke dip. Highly recommend! Overall, amazing service and good food - will definitely be back before a game! read more
1 year ago
Chili was way too salty. Waitress told me everyone else likes it. "waygu burgers" were just lean ground beef. I asked for a bigger plate for my fries, waitress said I had another saucer I could use as pushed it in front of me. You can tell bad food by the attitude of the help. Both were bad. read more
3 years ago
We flew into MNP for the weekend and took the Blue Line Metro to Loon on a Friday afternoon. Cool, old bar vibe right next to the Metro stop which was nice cuz we had luggage. Get the chili and walleye and you won't be disappointed. Service was fast and friendly too! read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
The Loon is one of my favorite stops before an event at target center or target field. This time was pre basketball. I got the Buffalo chicken wrap which came with fries but I did the $1 upgrade to fries. Good decision. The wrap was messy and delish. Beer is always cold with a good selection of bottles and taps. read more
2 years ago
We popped into this fun bar right by the ballpark on our way to a Twins game. We were greeted warmly by Robbie, the manager, and bartenders Alex and Henry were quick and friendly with anything we needed. While the menu looked fantastic, we stuck with some pregame beverages, including the famous Grape Ape. I also had to try a Grain Belt beer after seeing the historic sign on Nicollet Island. The atmosphere of this place is incredible, and I think a big part of it comes from the staff. They always looked to be having a good time, even though they were absolutely slammed with business. It also speaks well of a place when you see the owner and the manager delivering food, busting tables, and seating guests. While it was a blast hanging here before a baseball game, I bet it would be out of this world before a Vikings game. Great job and five stars guys: y'all rock. read more
I thought the food was below average. The wrap I got had chicken breast, ham, cheese, mayo, ranch, lettuce, and tomato. I thought it tasted okay but nothing exciting about it. My partner got the Cajun chicken breast sandwich. The bun they used was bad. It was way too much bread for the sandwich. It was also dry. However, the chicken was decent. The spicy sauce that came with it also was not very interesting. The service was okay. I hated how sound carried in this restaurant. It's was pretty loud in here with the chatter and music. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
The Loon is my go-to spot for dinner or drinks before an event downtown! The employees are kind and efficient, and the food is great classic bar fare. Went before a Timberwolves playoff game and it was PACKED, but they got us seated, in and out in 40 mins! Definitely try a Grape Ape while you're here! read more
3 years ago
What a fun stop for us before the Minnesota Twins game! Food & drinks came out super quick and our server (Ali I think?!) was great too! Laid back and fun sports bar that is family friendly! Can't wait to come back the next time we are in town! read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
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More info about The Loon Café
500 1st Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Warehouse District, Downtown Minneapolis
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(612) 332-8342
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http://www.looncafe.com
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