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38 Essential Restaurants in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Winter 2022

The 14 Hottest New Restaurants in Minneapolis and St. Paul Right Now, January 2022

Where to Order Christmas Meals Around the Twin Cities

The Eater Mpls Heatmap: Where to Eat Right Now

by Claire Stanford
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by Claire Stanford

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 two new spots to the list: Robbinsdale's Pig Ate My Pizza and Powderhorn's Smoke in the Pit.

Did we miss your personal favorite hot, new restaurant? By all means, let us know in the comments or email the tipline.


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

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Smoke In The Pit

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3733 Chicago Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55407
This takeout BBQ spot has already been widely written up for its addictive smoked wings (they also have fried wings, but you're going to want to get the smoked). Also on the menu: ribs, brisket, fried catfish, cobbler, and lots of other BBQ goodness.

2. Rincon 38

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3801 Grand Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55409
(612) 824-4052
(612) 824-4052
Visit Website
The latest offering from Hector Ruiz - of Café Ena and the now-shuttered El Mesón - brings late-night tapas and small-plates to Kingfield. Even though they're small plates, they're often big enough to share at least a few bites, so order a bunch of dishes for the table and try everything. Standouts include the saffron-poached cauliflower and the cardamom-crusted scallops.

3. Spill the Wine

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901 West Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 339-3388
(612) 339-3388
Visit Website
The longtime downtown wine bar has picked up and moved to a new location in Uptown. It brings a huge selection of wine by the bottle or the glass (and some pretty good wine happy hours), as well as lunch and dinner all week and brunch on the weekends. Three words: truffle cheese curds.

4. Origami Uptown

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1352 Lagoon Ave
Minneapolis, MN
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Origami's downtown location has long been known as some of the best sushi in the Twin Cities. Now, you can get the same fresh, creative rolls in Uptown, along with a wide selection of noodles (ramen and udon) and other Japanese entrees.

5. Burch Steak & Pizza Bar

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1942 Hennepin Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 843-1515
(612) 843-1515
Visit Website
This multi-level spot from James Beard Award-winning Isaac Becker (of 112 Eatery and Bar la Grassa) offers a modern steakhouse on the ground floor and a pizzeria in the basement. Sounds simple, but everything has the Becker touch. Upstairs, you'll find three different grades of meat on the menu, plus way more than steak (pro tip: head for the dumpling section); downstairs, pizzas come with lobster, burrata, smoked pork shoulder, octopus, and a host of other unusual toppings.

6. Pig Ate My Pizza

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4154 W Broadway Ave
Robbinsdale, MN
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This new pizza spot from the team behind the much-acclaimed Travail (and located in the former Travail space) isn't serving up your standard pie. Look for cracker crust and brioche crust pizza, as well as housemade charcuterie for the toppings (plus a separate charcuterie menu).

7. Sample Room

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2124 Marshall St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55418
(612) 789-0333
(612) 789-0333
Visit Website
The Sample Room has been a Northeast favorite for a decade, but now it's shaking things up with new chef Geoff Haussman - who has cooked at Victory 44 and Travail. With Haussman comes a new menu that breaks everything down into small plates, sandwiches, and salads, making all the dishes immensely shareable (and affordable). Never fear, the menu still features the Sample Room's trademark charcuterie.

8. Potter's Pasties & Pies

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1828 Como Ave SE
Minneapolis, Mn 55414
(612) 819-3107
(612) 819-3107
Visit Website
Just like a traditional British pasty shop, there's no seating in Potter's Pasties new brick-n-mortar space. But you'll find the beloved truck's same flaky, filling pasties, without having to track them down all over town. Plus, they're open late (til 10 pm on weekdays and 11 pm on Saturdays) and, bonus, they deliver to a wide radius around the U of M.

9. Daily Diner Frogtown

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615 University Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55104
(651) 789-7573
(651) 789-7573
Visit Website
Do good and eat well at Daily Diner Frogtown. Run by Union Gospel Mission, Daily Diner offers job training to men and women transitioning out of homelessness and poverty. The menu offers diner standards, but with killer execution, particularly the must-order chicken and waffles.

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1. Smoke In The Pit

3733 Chicago Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407
This takeout BBQ spot has already been widely written up for its addictive smoked wings (they also have fried wings, but you're going to want to get the smoked). Also on the menu: ribs, brisket, fried catfish, cobbler, and lots of other BBQ goodness.
3733 Chicago Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55407

2. Rincon 38

3801 Grand Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55409
The latest offering from Hector Ruiz - of Café Ena and the now-shuttered El Mesón - brings late-night tapas and small-plates to Kingfield. Even though they're small plates, they're often big enough to share at least a few bites, so order a bunch of dishes for the table and try everything. Standouts include the saffron-poached cauliflower and the cardamom-crusted scallops.
3801 Grand Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55409
(612) 824-4052
Visit Website

3. Spill the Wine

901 West Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55408
The longtime downtown wine bar has picked up and moved to a new location in Uptown. It brings a huge selection of wine by the bottle or the glass (and some pretty good wine happy hours), as well as lunch and dinner all week and brunch on the weekends. Three words: truffle cheese curds.
901 West Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 339-3388
Visit Website

4. Origami Uptown

1352 Lagoon Ave, Minneapolis, MN
Origami's downtown location has long been known as some of the best sushi in the Twin Cities. Now, you can get the same fresh, creative rolls in Uptown, along with a wide selection of noodles (ramen and udon) and other Japanese entrees.
1352 Lagoon Ave
Minneapolis, MN
Visit Website

5. Burch Steak & Pizza Bar

1942 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55403
This multi-level spot from James Beard Award-winning Isaac Becker (of 112 Eatery and Bar la Grassa) offers a modern steakhouse on the ground floor and a pizzeria in the basement. Sounds simple, but everything has the Becker touch. Upstairs, you'll find three different grades of meat on the menu, plus way more than steak (pro tip: head for the dumpling section); downstairs, pizzas come with lobster, burrata, smoked pork shoulder, octopus, and a host of other unusual toppings.
1942 Hennepin Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 843-1515
Visit Website

6. Pig Ate My Pizza

4154 W Broadway Ave, Robbinsdale, MN
This new pizza spot from the team behind the much-acclaimed Travail (and located in the former Travail space) isn't serving up your standard pie. Look for cracker crust and brioche crust pizza, as well as housemade charcuterie for the toppings (plus a separate charcuterie menu).
4154 W Broadway Ave
Robbinsdale, MN
Visit Website

7. Sample Room

2124 Marshall St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418
The Sample Room has been a Northeast favorite for a decade, but now it's shaking things up with new chef Geoff Haussman - who has cooked at Victory 44 and Travail. With Haussman comes a new menu that breaks everything down into small plates, sandwiches, and salads, making all the dishes immensely shareable (and affordable). Never fear, the menu still features the Sample Room's trademark charcuterie.
2124 Marshall St NE
Minneapolis, MN 55418
(612) 789-0333
Visit Website

8. Potter's Pasties & Pies

1828 Como Ave SE, Minneapolis, Mn 55414
Just like a traditional British pasty shop, there's no seating in Potter's Pasties new brick-n-mortar space. But you'll find the beloved truck's same flaky, filling pasties, without having to track them down all over town. Plus, they're open late (til 10 pm on weekdays and 11 pm on Saturdays) and, bonus, they deliver to a wide radius around the U of M.
1828 Como Ave SE
Minneapolis, Mn 55414
(612) 819-3107
Visit Website

9. Daily Diner Frogtown

615 University Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55104
Do good and eat well at Daily Diner Frogtown. Run by Union Gospel Mission, Daily Diner offers job training to men and women transitioning out of homelessness and poverty. The menu offers diner standards, but with killer execution, particularly the must-order chicken and waffles.
615 University Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55104
(651) 789-7573
Visit Website

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