Gavin Kaysen’s Spoon & Stable Is An Essential American Restaurant

In the three years that it has been open, Spoon and Stable has become an essential Minneapolis destination for diners and now it’s officially one of America’s 38 Essential Restaurants. Whether looking for an elegant night out, some boundary pushing cocktails, world class wines, stunning plates of food or celebrity sightings, Spoon and Stable remains a hot ticket reservation. Eater’s national roving critic Bill Addison is just one of the multitude of out-of-towners who book a reservation minutes after buying a plane ticket to the Twin Cities.

Of the restaurant, Addison specifically calls out a dish that has been on the menu since day one. He said, “At his versatile, handsome restaurant (yes, once a horse stable), Gavin Kaysen marries upper Midwest ingredients with a world of ideas — but he also keeps it close to home with comforts like fried cheese curds over creamed greens.”

In the time that it has been open, Spoon and Stable has been lauded by multiple publications, handed dozens of awards and often acts as host for internationally renowned chefs. Kaysen’s charity focused Synergy Series often sells out in minutes and brings in people like April Bloomfield, Sean Brock, and Grant Achatz into his kitchen to cook.

Bonjwing Photography / Spoon and Stable

His illustrious investors include Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller. Local chef turned international celebrity Andrew Zimmern sings Spoon’s praises whenever talking about dining here. Kaysen often wings off around the world to compete in international cooking competitions or serve as a guest judge on Bravo’s Top Chef, but he always comes back to Minneapolis and the kitchen of his first restaurant.

Bonjwing Lee / Spoon and Stable

Kaysen was raised in Bloomington before heading off into the world, eventually becoming a James Beard Award winning rising star chef during his time in New York City. He shocked the world by moving back to Minnesota to open a restaurant in Minneapolis’ North Loop neighborhood. Since then he has opened the French bistro Bellecour in Wayzata.

• The 38 Essential American Restaurants [E]
• Gavin Kaysen on the First Year at Spoon and Stable [ETC]
• All Spoon and Stable Coverage [ETC]
• All Gavin Kaysen Coverage [ETC]