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The Eater MPLS Heatmap: Where to Eat Right Now

Get out there and eat.

by Joy Summers
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by Joy Summers

Restaurant obsessives want to know what's new, what's hot, which favorite chef just launched a sophomore effort, etc., and more often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? What is the "it" (ie, newest) place of the moment?

Thus, we offer the Eater Heatmap, which will change often to continually highlight where the food-focused crowds are flocking to at this very second. This time around, please welcome new spots Le Town Talk Diner & Drinkery, The Workshop at Union and welcome back Corner Table. Did we miss your personal favorite hot, new restaurant? By all means, let us know in the comments or email the tipline.

11/6: Added: Paddy Shack at Half Time Rec and Saguaro

10/2: Added Le Town Talk Diner & Drinkery and The Workshop at Union

9/4/14: Added Foreign Legion, Haute Dish, Libertine, The Strip Club Meat & Fish, The Third Bird

8/7/14: Added Lyn 65, Bogart Doughnut Co., Public Kitchen + Bar, Agra Culture Kitchen, CoV

7/3/14: Added Tiny Diner, Dong Hae Korean Grill & Sushi, Little Szechuan St. Paul, Tongue in Cheek, 65Smith

6/5/14: Added Hola Arepa, The Copper Hen Cakery & Kitchen, Lago Taco, Agra Culture Kitchen & Press, Hot Indian Foods, the newly renovated Birchwood, and the new location of Corner Table

5/1/14: Added Heyday, Brasserie Zentral, and Cook St. Paul

4/3/14: Added Hen House Eatery and BoneYard

3/6/14: Added La Fresca, Kyatchi, and the Birchwood pop-up at Verdant Tea

2/6/14: Added Day Block Brewing, Relevé Champagne Lounge, Coup d'Etat, Travail, and The Rookery

1/2/14: Added Sonora Grill, Chef Shack Ranch, The Freehouse, and Hammer & Sickle

12/5/13: Added The Mill NE, Lake & Irving, and DiNoko's Bar Zia

11/7/13: Added The Rabbit Hole, Honey & Rye Bakehouse, and Umami Dim Sum

10/3/13: Added Seventh Street Social, Eat Street Buddha Kitchen, and Union Fish Market

9/5/13: Added Umami by Travail

8/1/13: Added: Ideal Diner, Town Hall Lanes

7/11/13: Added: Verdant Tea Tasting Room, The Buttered Tin, Terzo Vino Bar, Sandcastle

6/16/13: Added: Pig Ate My Pizza, Smoke in the Pit

5/2/13: Added: Potter's Pasties, Daily Diner Frogtown

4/4/13: Added: Spill the Wine, Origami Uptown, The Sample Room

3/7/13: Added: Rincón 38, Smack Shack, Burch Steak & Pizza Bar, One Two Three Sushi

2/7/13: Added: Parka, Blue Door Longfellow

1/3/13: Added: Borough, Parlour

12/6/12: Added: World Street Kitchen, Union

11/15/12: Debuted: The Lynn on Bryant, The Left Handed Cook, Fika, Icehouse, The Gray House, Nightingale, The Kenwood, Café Maude at Loring, New Bohemia
· All Heatmap Coverage [-EMSP-]

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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. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Half Time Rec

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When the weather matches a certain mood: the leaves have left the naked trees, the sky threatens snow, but won't follow through, it's time to make an appointment for some day drinking. Half Time Rec is an ideal spot to lean in on elbows and order an early-afternoon whiskey. This doesn't have to be a day wrecker because now the food is as good a reason to visit as the atmosphere. The menu is entirely written by chef Jack Riebel and boasts beautiful bar food with an Irish flare. From wings to poppers to a burger that tastes like God's Big Mac, this is the spot to wait out winter.
1013 Front Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55103
(651) 488-8245
(651) 488-8245

Brasserie Zentral

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Just order the speck and spaghetti before we even talk about why this spot is still buzzing months after opening. Studded with poppyseeds and brightened by a healthy dose of lemon juice, this dish is so perfect in its simplicity that the plate makes an ideal accompaniment to a visit to cozy gold and maroon colored dining room.
505 Marquette Ave A, Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 333-0505
(612) 333-0505

Lyn 65 Kitchen & Bar

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Even the most skeptical have been seduced by the drinks and comfort food inside this strip mall located spot in Richfield. The cocktails are some of the best and affordably priced in the metro area, plus the luscious textures coaxed from winter vegetables in this kitchen are a culinary cozy sweater.
6439 Lyndale Ave South, Richfield, MN
(612) 353-5501
(612) 353-5501

Also featured in:

Foreign Legion

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Now is the time to tuck into this cozy spot and dive into a panini pressed, cheese laced sandwich and a flight of exquisite wine. Order the pungent raclette, melted and scraped onto a plate that then becomes a race against time to shovel it all into your mouth before it cools.
Minneapolis, MN
612 333 0505
612 333 0505

saguaro

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There aren't a lot of Arizona/Mexican restaurants floating around the Twin Cities, but this new spot is introducing the cuisine to locals and we are falling in love. Zesty flavors, a crave-worthy chimichanga (seriously) and an experience restaurant crew running the show is winning new fans every day.
5309 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55419
612-886-2083
612-886-2083

The Third Bird

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This pretty little spot at the edge of Loring Park has hit their groove. Chef Lucas Almendinger's cuisine balances out flavors make a symphony of tart, sweet, bitter, and savory. The restaurant is the work of Kim Bartmann, who made her name by creating now iconic Minneapolis spots like Cafe Barbette and Bryant Lake Bowl. Chef and owner of the lauded Tilia , Steven Brown consulted on the menu and Bill Summerville of the forthcoming Merchant pulled together the wine list.
1620 Harmon Place, Minneapolis, MN
(612) 767-9495
(612) 767-9495

The Strip Club

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These guys prove that a plate of food, demanding your attention doesn't need a mountain of foam or jiggly gelees of celery. Truly great food speaks to the soul, and that is what Chef and co-owner J.D. Fratzke does best. Co-owner Tim Niver's singular hospitality makes any night ending in "y" feel like a party being held in your honor. As they gear up for the forthcoming Saint Dinette, the duo have hosted pop ups allowing for Saint Dinette's staff to shine. Always order the specials and remember, the nightly $4 bowl of soup is one of the best dining bargains in the Twin Cities. [Photo credit: Stephanie A. Meyer of FreshTart.com]
378 Maria Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55106
(651) 793-6247
(651) 793-6247

Corner Table

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Even as the team behind this beauty ramps up construction on their second restaurant, the forthcoming Revival, not a thing has diminished at Corner Table. If anything, the popularity has grown as more people pull out of town guests towards Kingfield, raving about the elegant presentation, astounding wine pairings and glorious flavors held within. It's not uncommon to pop in at 9 o'clock on a Tuesday and find the dining room still abuzz with activity. For those that love great local dining with refined cooking technique, approachable fare and an exquisite neighborhood experience, there is no way to resist the siren call of CT.
4537 Nicollet, Minneapolis, MN 55419
(612) 823-0011
(612) 823-0011

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Heyday

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What do you mean you haven't tried the rabbit dish at Heyday yet? It's as if you're Farmer McGregor and we've won the war against those meddlesome bunnies! The plate is a study in victory of sumptuous textures and flavor sensations. Dishes inside Heyday are beautifully inventive, playful and always delicious. The easy front of house service adds comfort and class to the rustic neighborhood spot.
2700 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 200-9369
(612) 200-9369

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Half Time Rec

1013 Front Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55103
When the weather matches a certain mood: the leaves have left the naked trees, the sky threatens snow, but won't follow through, it's time to make an appointment for some day drinking. Half Time Rec is an ideal spot to lean in on elbows and order an early-afternoon whiskey. This doesn't have to be a day wrecker because now the food is as good a reason to visit as the atmosphere. The menu is entirely written by chef Jack Riebel and boasts beautiful bar food with an Irish flare. From wings to poppers to a burger that tastes like God's Big Mac, this is the spot to wait out winter.
1013 Front Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55103
(651) 488-8245
(651) 488-8245

Brasserie Zentral

505 Marquette Ave A, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Just order the speck and spaghetti before we even talk about why this spot is still buzzing months after opening. Studded with poppyseeds and brightened by a healthy dose of lemon juice, this dish is so perfect in its simplicity that the plate makes an ideal accompaniment to a visit to cozy gold and maroon colored dining room.
505 Marquette Ave A, Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 333-0505
(612) 333-0505

Lyn 65 Kitchen & Bar

6439 Lyndale Ave South, Richfield, MN
Even the most skeptical have been seduced by the drinks and comfort food inside this strip mall located spot in Richfield. The cocktails are some of the best and affordably priced in the metro area, plus the luscious textures coaxed from winter vegetables in this kitchen are a culinary cozy sweater.
6439 Lyndale Ave South, Richfield, MN
(612) 353-5501
(612) 353-5501

Foreign Legion

Minneapolis, MN
Now is the time to tuck into this cozy spot and dive into a panini pressed, cheese laced sandwich and a flight of exquisite wine. Order the pungent raclette, melted and scraped onto a plate that then becomes a race against time to shovel it all into your mouth before it cools.
Minneapolis, MN
612 333 0505
612 333 0505

saguaro

5309 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55419
There aren't a lot of Arizona/Mexican restaurants floating around the Twin Cities, but this new spot is introducing the cuisine to locals and we are falling in love. Zesty flavors, a crave-worthy chimichanga (seriously) and an experience restaurant crew running the show is winning new fans every day.
5309 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55419
612-886-2083
612-886-2083

The Third Bird

1620 Harmon Place, Minneapolis, MN
This pretty little spot at the edge of Loring Park has hit their groove. Chef Lucas Almendinger's cuisine balances out flavors make a symphony of tart, sweet, bitter, and savory. The restaurant is the work of Kim Bartmann, who made her name by creating now iconic Minneapolis spots like Cafe Barbette and Bryant Lake Bowl. Chef and owner of the lauded Tilia , Steven Brown consulted on the menu and Bill Summerville of the forthcoming Merchant pulled together the wine list.
1620 Harmon Place, Minneapolis, MN
(612) 767-9495
(612) 767-9495

The Strip Club

378 Maria Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55106
These guys prove that a plate of food, demanding your attention doesn't need a mountain of foam or jiggly gelees of celery. Truly great food speaks to the soul, and that is what Chef and co-owner J.D. Fratzke does best. Co-owner Tim Niver's singular hospitality makes any night ending in "y" feel like a party being held in your honor. As they gear up for the forthcoming Saint Dinette, the duo have hosted pop ups allowing for Saint Dinette's staff to shine. Always order the specials and remember, the nightly $4 bowl of soup is one of the best dining bargains in the Twin Cities. [Photo credit: Stephanie A. Meyer of FreshTart.com]
378 Maria Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55106
(651) 793-6247
(651) 793-6247

Corner Table

4537 Nicollet, Minneapolis, MN 55419
Even as the team behind this beauty ramps up construction on their second restaurant, the forthcoming Revival, not a thing has diminished at Corner Table. If anything, the popularity has grown as more people pull out of town guests towards Kingfield, raving about the elegant presentation, astounding wine pairings and glorious flavors held within. It's not uncommon to pop in at 9 o'clock on a Tuesday and find the dining room still abuzz with activity. For those that love great local dining with refined cooking technique, approachable fare and an exquisite neighborhood experience, there is no way to resist the siren call of CT.
4537 Nicollet, Minneapolis, MN 55419
(612) 823-0011
(612) 823-0011

Heyday

2700 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
What do you mean you haven't tried the rabbit dish at Heyday yet? It's as if you're Farmer McGregor and we've won the war against those meddlesome bunnies! The plate is a study in victory of sumptuous textures and flavor sensations. Dishes inside Heyday are beautifully inventive, playful and always delicious. The easy front of house service adds comfort and class to the rustic neighborhood spot.
2700 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 200-9369
(612) 200-9369

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