Eight Indulgent Twin Cities’ Tasting Menus Worth Every Cent

Fine dining at its finest

by Julie Zhou Aug 9, 2019, 9:53am CDT

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Ziti at Restaurant Alma.

| Restaurant Alma/Facebook

by Julie Zhou Aug 9, 2019, 9:53am CDT

Though known for their tiny portions and hefty price tags, tasting menus are having their reputations revitalized across the Twin Cities. From casual, choose-your-own-adventure menus to three-hour, kaiseki-style dining, here are nine restaurants across the Twin Cities offering tasting menus worth the splurge (or the deal!).

Icehouse

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Cloistered in the privacy of the chef’s bar with full view of the kitchen, Matthew Bickford’s tasting menu is one of the best deals in town. With two seatings daily and both a 10- and 5-course option, there are options for every kind of diner. From supple handmade pastas to decadent desserts, pull up a chair and leave dinner in Bickford’s capable hands.

2528 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404

(612) 276-6523

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An eye opener at Icehouse. Photo courtesy Icehouse Facebook page — An eye opener at Icehouse.

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Joan's in the Park

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With a set of four to five options for each course, Joan’s In the Park offers a tasting menu built for those who’d like more control of their meal. Though the options rotate out seasonally, the menu always offers four courses and a dessert, with creative flourishes like a molasses-thick black olive caramel, or a kombu-cured scallop.

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631 Snelling Ave S, St Paul, MN 55116

(651) 690-3297

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Kaiseki Furukawa

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Delicate knifework, impossibly fresh seafood, and the brilliant talents of chef Shige Furukawa are on full display at this reservation-only, 10-course kaiseki-style restaurant. The cerebral sibling of downstairs’ Kado No Mise, Kaiseki Furukawa showcases technique-heavy dishes ranging from pristine cuts of sashimi to jewel-like nigiri to clarified dashi and kombu broths.

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33 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401

(612) 338-1515

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Cosmos Restaurant

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At this restaurant nestled in downtown Minneapolis’ Loews Hotel, chef Tim Fischer’s table is the place to dine. With a Chef’s Table tasting experience, dine at a table inside the bustling full-service kitchen, where Fischer features local and foraged ingredients in a series of creative, thoughtful off-menu dishes.

601 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403

(612) 677-1100

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Tenant Restaurant

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At this tiny, South Minneapolis gem in the space, the eight-seat counter opens its dinner-only service from Tuesday through Saturday. Meals for all diners are six courses, seasonally and locally sourced, and diet-sensitive—reservations book out well in advance.

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4300 Bryant Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55409

(612) 827-8111

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Demi

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The latest venture from Gavin Kaysen, Demi’s 20-chair seatings are ticket- and reservation-only with reservations opening at noon on the first day of the month. With a focus on local and seasonal ingredients and an environs featuring locally sourced everything, from cutlery to music—the menu is a little unpredictable, a little experimental, and all the way Minnesotan.

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212 N 2nd St Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55401

(612) 404-1123

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Meritage

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At this warm, charming French brasserie, chef-owner Russell Klein offers five- to nine-course tasting menus nightly, tracing the current seasonal menu on offer with a few bits of creative license. Wine pairings are available, and weekly rotating oysters often start off the meal.

410 St Peter St, St Paul, MN 55102

(651) 222-5670

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Alma

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At Restaurant Alma, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan tasting menus are always available upon request, with dishes just as playful, lovely, and thoughtful as their full-menu peers. Always save room for the dessert course, and make sure to pick up a croissant or two from Cafe Alma on the way out.