Stopped into Hi-Lo Diner while visiting Minneapolis because my girlfriend said it was her favorite…read morerestaurant and wow this place gets it. I ordered the Nashville Hot chicken and it was incredible. It was crispy, oversized, extremely hot, I was crying after eating it. My girlfriend got the eggs Benedict, which she loved, and I stole some of. The real star of this restaurant is the donuts and spicy cheese curds though. I would literally travel back to Minneapolis just for those. I think I dream about them in my sleep. The vibe is great inside, it's retro, but not in a try-hard way. Solid service as well they're just so sweet and local. Must try spot if you're visiting Minneapolis.

We sat outside and the service was great. Unfortunately the price is way too high for what they…read moreserve. I ordered a Denver omelette. The veg was a very not cut correctly: chunks of green bell peppers and over chunky sliced onions that were not cooked through. Please stop being lazy and chop your veg and cook the onion . Green salad was hot Not impressed. And the Bloody Mary mix is sub par. However, the diner is cute and service is good. Second visit: had to sit at counter which is fine. They were busy. The bad: Bloody Mary's were flat and expensive $13 each. No depth of flavor, thought we would give them a second chance. . Ordered croquette madame. Egg was severely undercooked - the egg white was gelatatinous and the bread way too thick, ham fatty and subpar, where were you Béchamel? I took a bite of my breakfast and he hands me a box at the end when I asked for the check--not asking if anything is wrong. Two bites out of the spring mix salad and sandwich. Bloody Mary full. $70 for a salad, madame croquette, slow service which is no problem. It's a tiny diner and around lunch time. No worries there. But uncomfortable dining service because we could feel the tension between the server and bartender. Again for me? NBD but my daughter did not appreciate this. The good: the Mediterranean salad was delicious according to my daughter. She had the same thoughts about the Bloody Marys. Super cute beer backs- pony miller high life. I brought the croque madame home and my son loved it. Went on and on about how amazing it was. In all fairness my adult kids loved their food. He did microwave it to cook the egg through. Yes I know I am picky because I worked in the restaurant industry for over 22 years. And I can make better food at home. I just expect a bit more if I am going to drop $70 for two lunch entrees and two drinks. Not including the tip. Bottom line: I would not go back for this very expensive diner that doesn't know how to properly cook simple things. Or chop veg. Or make a drink.

Excellent food and service here for lunch! Nice beer choices (especially for our beer snobs)…read more Great Lemon Drop Martini-the bartender even came tableside to see if it was mixed to perfection. I love their Loft Salad of cauliflower/lettuce/bacon! The BLT on toasted sourdough and LOTS of bacon, was perfection in a sandwich! Quiet during lunchtime during the winter months-lovely looking out on the snowy golf hills.

Our monthly luncheon with some retirees. Today, I had the walleye sandwich. We also had a patty…read moremelt and salads. Everything was tasty and the service for ten people was great. I also enjoyed a Surley Oktoberfest.

Aesthetically speaking, the restaurant is absolutely amazing. I had to walk around for a bit just…read moreto take in how cool the place looked. One of the staff members noticed and kindly offered to show me around. Halfway through my mini tour, he told me that he was the one who did all the Christmas décor--and that he's been collecting these pieces over the last 15 years. I was really grateful for that experience. Honestly, the entire visit--from the moment I walked in to the moment I walked out--was top-notch. For food and drinks, I ordered a Moscow Mule, the Meatloaf Wellington, and the lobster with cauliflower cheese. It was my first time trying a Wellington, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but unfortunately it just wasn't for me. The lobster, however, was a definite hit--I ate every bit of it! The drink was very good as well. For sure each items is on the pricier end but given the service your definitely getting your money worth. I also noticed they play live jazz music too, so I'm definitely interested in coming back for some good quality music.

Enjoyed a warm spring evening on the rooftop of the Lexington (recently named in the top three…read morerooftops of the Twin Cities in Msp Magazine!). We were warmly greeted by the host who sat us right away in a sunny spot. Our server was wonderful. I ordered a drink that ended up not being up to par, and he kindly offered to switch it to something else with grace and class, without making me feel badly for asking this. This goes to show the caliber of this long standing institution. Customers are treated well and are respected here. Our snacks from the menu were delicious and perfectly sized. The shrimp cocktail was made well. The lamb meatballs were flavorful and hearty. My Hemingway Daquiri was refreshing without being too liquor forward. Love all the Luxardo drinks on the menu! We will definitely be back!

Very good food Very good service…read more Very fast service Would recommend Will be coming back when in the area

I have been to other 5-8 locations, but never to the original. Finally got to check out the OG…read more The menu seems to be the same across locations, so you definitely get consistency and no real surprises. I had a mushroom swiss burger with onion rings the day I went. Burger was fine, but was slightly disappointed that the onion rings were a little dry, like they were slightly over-fried. Service was fast and friendly. If you're looking for a Minnesota staple Jucy Lucy, you'll also find that here.