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A charcuterie board is piled on a handled cutting board with salamis, cheeses, and homemade crackers, almost glowing in bright afternoon sun.
Take a day trip out west with all of the fabulous eats - and drinks to be had near Lake Minnetonka.
The Grocer’s Table/Facebook

11 Dining Destinations Around the Lakeside City of Wayzata

Stunning views, romantic dinners, packed picnic baskets, dockside margaritas, and more

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Take a day trip out west with all of the fabulous eats - and drinks to be had near Lake Minnetonka.
| The Grocer’s Table/Facebook

Lake Minnetonka is that big, beautiful body of water west of the Twin Cities that is studded with giant homes that’s perfect for a day of boating and swimming. It’s long been a destination for Twin Cities residents looking for an easy escape from the summer heat. Pack a bag and some sunscreen for summer sun around the purifying waters and the lakeside charms of these nearby eateries.

Restaurants are listed in geographical order from west to east.

Most Minnesota restaurants and breweries have resumed indoor and outdoor service. Additionally, that state has ended mandatory mask mandates. Some establishments continue to request guests wear masks when indoors. For updated information on coronavirus cases in your area, please visit the Minnesota Department of Health. Studies indicate that there is a lower exposure risk when outdoors, but the level of risk involved is contingent on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

The lakeside views from the patios have made 6Smith a beloved Wayzata stop for a ideal summer dining. While drinking in the view, there’s also a stellar bar program with lovely wines, tap beers, and cocktails. The menu is abundant with something to please everyone from meat lovers to vegetarians.

Several round plates filled with bar snacks
Dinner is served.
6 Smith / Facebook

Gianni's Steakhouse

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A bonafide classic restaurant that brings a welcome reprieve from the sun on hot summer days. The steaks are an obvious go-to, but the sides also shine: hash browns in a golden, lace-edged disk, deeply caramelized French onion soup, and truffled risotto.

The exterior of Gianni’s with a pergola over a sidewalk patio
Summer on Gianni’s patio.
Gianni’s Steakhouse/Facebook

The Grocer's Table

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This delightful cafe and gourmet grocery spot opened up during the pandemic and still has thrived with just fancy-enough snacks for a long afternoon of wine with a couple of friends, or all the makings to bring a huge spread home to impress a gaggle of guests. The intimate setting is just the right amount of casual-chic for a wandering in post-boating, or making plans for date night.

A charcuterie board is piled on a handled cutting board with salamis, cheeses, and homemade crackers, almost glowing in bright afternoon sun.
Order everything from morning coffee to charcuterie boards at this cafe in downtown.
The Grocer’s Table/Facebook

Josefina

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Daniel del Prado, of Martina and Sanjusan, opened this fresh Italian restaurant just months ago and it’s already become a destination for Twin Cities diners. The menu is stacked with everything from fresh fish to pasta to pizzas with a gorgeous bar and patio to round out the perfect summer dining experience. No matter what the order, don’t miss out on the cauliflower escabeche, served with a vibrant sauce studded with marcona almonds, packing a spicy kick.

An oval table lined by wicker backed chairs in the front floor-to-ceiling windows, edged with a bright blue/green paint.
Fresh fare from Daniel del Prado includes everything from pizzas to a charred steak with woodsy rosemary
Josefina/Facebook

Benedict's

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This cheerful, bright diner in downtown Wayzata, Benedict’s is a local breakfast favorite. A must-order are the eponymous benedicts: from a classic ham and egg to a “Nordeaster” with butter-poached lobster and Old Bay hollandaise, or the “Steak,” with beef tenderloin and smoked onion mustard.

A light-filled restaurant interior with white walls, aquamarine booths, wood tables, and white chairs
Sunlit countertops and bottomless coffee.
Benedict’s

ninetwentyfive (925)

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Nestled on first floor of The Landing hotel complex in downtown Wayzata, ninetwentyfive’s space is sunlit and bright, with floor-to-ceiling windows and sleek, leather-lined booths. Since it’s a hotel, all-day eating is available from breakfast through an elegant, seasonally-sourced dinner. Plus, happy hour runs from 3 to 5 p.m. with $2 oysters and $5 draft beer.

A breakfast plate with toast, hasbrowns, omlette topped with steak
A perfect spot to plan a little staycation
Hotel Landing [Official]

Baja Haus

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With fresh, housemade tortillas and dangerously good mezcal cocktails, this neon-bright beach shack is an essential late-night haunt. Order a few shareables from the “For the Table” menu, and then dig into the extensive taco menu.

A spread of nachos with salsas in front of the bar inside the California surf-styled Baja Haus
Order up stacks of nachos and a round of margaritas
Nicole Neri/Baja Haus

Sushi Fix

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A cool treat after a hot afternoon on the lake. Sushi Fix, tucked inside an unassuming strip mall, serves fresh fish and creative rolls. Order everything to share and don’t miss the impressive sake list.

Vann Restaurant

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Vann is the brainchild of Tilia alum Erik Skaar. With Norwegian and Japanese influences and a coastal-focused menu, every visit to Vann leans into a studied simplicity with impressive results. The menu changes daily, ensuring the freshest seafood that’s just-arrived is prepared to highlight the briny beauties.

Two wine glasses and a lit votive are set on a table looking out a window at a brilliant blue stretch of lake
Fresh seafood and a spectacular view
Vann Restaurant/Facebook

Tequila Butcher At The Caribbean

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Refreshed for this, the summer of return to all things good, The Caribbean has partnered with Chanhassen’s Tequila Butcher for a boat up to the bar casual spot with top shelf drinks. Meats come straight off the smoker for a burgers and sandwiches. Since tequila is in the name, fabulous margaritas are a sure thing, but a crisp caprihana demands attention.

The view from the lake with docking space to the Tequila Butcher at The Caribbean. The building is white with a black roof. A few outdoor tables with umbrellas are visible.
Boat up for a lakeside drink and a big, old messy burger
The Tequila Butcher at The Caribbean/Facebook

Cast & Cru Restaurant

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At this airy, spacious Excelsior restaurant, serves a crowd-pleasing menu ranging from flatbreads to tacos to steak or walleye entrees. The room and patio have all the charm of a rustic up-north cabin.

Cozy up to the bar.
Cast & Cru [Official]

Red Sauce Rebellion

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Classic Italian has found its home in Excelsior with Red Sauce Rebellion, a neighborhood restaurant full of nostalgic favorites: baked ziti, chicken piccata, beef and veal meatballs draped over spaghetti. Make sure to visit the Rebel Room, the not-so-secret cocktail bar tucked in the basement, for after-dinner drinks and a few rounds of shuffleboard.

The classics.
Red Sauce Rebellion

6Smith

The lakeside views from the patios have made 6Smith a beloved Wayzata stop for a ideal summer dining. While drinking in the view, there’s also a stellar bar program with lovely wines, tap beers, and cocktails. The menu is abundant with something to please everyone from meat lovers to vegetarians.

Several round plates filled with bar snacks
Dinner is served.
6 Smith / Facebook

Gianni's Steakhouse

A bonafide classic restaurant that brings a welcome reprieve from the sun on hot summer days. The steaks are an obvious go-to, but the sides also shine: hash browns in a golden, lace-edged disk, deeply caramelized French onion soup, and truffled risotto.

The exterior of Gianni’s with a pergola over a sidewalk patio
Summer on Gianni’s patio.
Gianni’s Steakhouse/Facebook

The Grocer's Table

This delightful cafe and gourmet grocery spot opened up during the pandemic and still has thrived with just fancy-enough snacks for a long afternoon of wine with a couple of friends, or all the makings to bring a huge spread home to impress a gaggle of guests. The intimate setting is just the right amount of casual-chic for a wandering in post-boating, or making plans for date night.

A charcuterie board is piled on a handled cutting board with salamis, cheeses, and homemade crackers, almost glowing in bright afternoon sun.
Order everything from morning coffee to charcuterie boards at this cafe in downtown.
The Grocer’s Table/Facebook

Josefina

Daniel del Prado, of Martina and Sanjusan, opened this fresh Italian restaurant just months ago and it’s already become a destination for Twin Cities diners. The menu is stacked with everything from fresh fish to pasta to pizzas with a gorgeous bar and patio to round out the perfect summer dining experience. No matter what the order, don’t miss out on the cauliflower escabeche, served with a vibrant sauce studded with marcona almonds, packing a spicy kick.

An oval table lined by wicker backed chairs in the front floor-to-ceiling windows, edged with a bright blue/green paint.
Fresh fare from Daniel del Prado includes everything from pizzas to a charred steak with woodsy rosemary
Josefina/Facebook

Benedict's

This cheerful, bright diner in downtown Wayzata, Benedict’s is a local breakfast favorite. A must-order are the eponymous benedicts: from a classic ham and egg to a “Nordeaster” with butter-poached lobster and Old Bay hollandaise, or the “Steak,” with beef tenderloin and smoked onion mustard.

A light-filled restaurant interior with white walls, aquamarine booths, wood tables, and white chairs
Sunlit countertops and bottomless coffee.
Benedict’s

ninetwentyfive (925)

Nestled on first floor of The Landing hotel complex in downtown Wayzata, ninetwentyfive’s space is sunlit and bright, with floor-to-ceiling windows and sleek, leather-lined booths. Since it’s a hotel, all-day eating is available from breakfast through an elegant, seasonally-sourced dinner. Plus, happy hour runs from 3 to 5 p.m. with $2 oysters and $5 draft beer.

A breakfast plate with toast, hasbrowns, omlette topped with steak
A perfect spot to plan a little staycation
Hotel Landing [Official]

Baja Haus

With fresh, housemade tortillas and dangerously good mezcal cocktails, this neon-bright beach shack is an essential late-night haunt. Order a few shareables from the “For the Table” menu, and then dig into the extensive taco menu.

A spread of nachos with salsas in front of the bar inside the California surf-styled Baja Haus
Order up stacks of nachos and a round of margaritas
Nicole Neri/Baja Haus

Sushi Fix

A cool treat after a hot afternoon on the lake. Sushi Fix, tucked inside an unassuming strip mall, serves fresh fish and creative rolls. Order everything to share and don’t miss the impressive sake list.

Vann Restaurant

Vann is the brainchild of Tilia alum Erik Skaar. With Norwegian and Japanese influences and a coastal-focused menu, every visit to Vann leans into a studied simplicity with impressive results. The menu changes daily, ensuring the freshest seafood that’s just-arrived is prepared to highlight the briny beauties.

Two wine glasses and a lit votive are set on a table looking out a window at a brilliant blue stretch of lake
Fresh seafood and a spectacular view
Vann Restaurant/Facebook

Tequila Butcher At The Caribbean

Refreshed for this, the summer of return to all things good, The Caribbean has partnered with Chanhassen’s Tequila Butcher for a boat up to the bar casual spot with top shelf drinks. Meats come straight off the smoker for a burgers and sandwiches. Since tequila is in the name, fabulous margaritas are a sure thing, but a crisp caprihana demands attention.

The view from the lake with docking space to the Tequila Butcher at The Caribbean. The building is white with a black roof. A few outdoor tables with umbrellas are visible.
Boat up for a lakeside drink and a big, old messy burger
The Tequila Butcher at The Caribbean/Facebook

Cast & Cru Restaurant

At this airy, spacious Excelsior restaurant, serves a crowd-pleasing menu ranging from flatbreads to tacos to steak or walleye entrees. The room and patio have all the charm of a rustic up-north cabin.

Cozy up to the bar.
Cast & Cru [Official]

Red Sauce Rebellion

Classic Italian has found its home in Excelsior with Red Sauce Rebellion, a neighborhood restaurant full of nostalgic favorites: baked ziti, chicken piccata, beef and veal meatballs draped over spaghetti. Make sure to visit the Rebel Room, the not-so-secret cocktail bar tucked in the basement, for after-dinner drinks and a few rounds of shuffleboard.

The classics.
Red Sauce Rebellion

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