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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 three new spots to the map: Spill the Wine, Origami Uptown, and The Sample Room. The first is the new location of a formerly-downtown wine bar; the next the second location of a top-class sushi spot; and the last is a favorite Northeast restaurant with a new chef and a new menu.

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


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

Rincon 38

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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
(612) 824-4052

Spill the Wine

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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
(612) 339-3388

Origami Uptown

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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.
1352 Lagoon Ave, Minneapolis, MN
(612) 223-8666
(612) 223-8666

Burch Steak & Pizza Bar

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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
(612) 843-1515

One Two Three Sushi

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One Two Three Sushi - from the same folks in charge of critically-acclaimed Masu Sushi & Robata - brings freshmade rolls to the downtown skyway. But don't stop at the rolls; there's also three kinds of ramen and four kinds of steamed buns on the menu.
80 South Eighth Street #228, Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 354-3040
(612) 354-3040

Smack Shack

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The beloved truck has gone brick n' mortar, and the restaurant is a real beauty. Find all your Smack Shack favorites (lobster roll, lobster mac, lobster corn dog), plus a selection of po' boys, raw bar, and full-on lobster boil. Bonus: the restaurants is ideally situated for a pre- or post-game meal once baseball season gets underway.
N. Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 259-7288
(612) 259-7288

Borough

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This much-anticipated restaurant from two former Travail chefs just opened on Wednesday the 2nd. The menu is divided into small, medium, and large plates, and includes dishes like potato soup with champagne and black truffles and oxtail ravioli. Make a night of it and head to Parlour - the just-opened cocktail bar in the basement of Borough - for a digestif after dinner.
730 Washington Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 354-3135
(612) 354-3135

Parlour

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Located in the basement of the same building as just-opened Borough, Parlour is the latest entry into the Minneapolis cocktail scene. The bar brings the mixologist experience to your table, with bartenders making cocktails table-side, served from a bar cart. The drink menu - designed by Jesse Held, formerly of Eat Street Social - may soon include options for cocktail flights. A menu of small plates is also available.
730 Washington Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 354-3135
(612) 354-3135

Sample Room

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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
(612) 789-0333

Parka

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This new Longfellow spot, which shares space with Forage Modern Workshop, has got you covered for all three meals of the day. Come for Rustica pastries and Dogwood coffee at breakfast (and for that afternoon pick-me-up); for lunch and dinner, Erick Harcey's menu serves up inventive takes on meatloaf, pork chops, green bean casserole, and other classics. Plus: duck fat fries.
4023 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406

The Blue Door Longfellow

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Blucys have finally made it across the river to Minneapolis. The second location of St. Paul's beloved Blue Door Pub has some new takes on the juicy lucy on offer, plus 16 beers on tap (14 of which are local brews).
3448 42nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406

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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
(612) 824-4052

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
(612) 339-3388

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
(612) 223-8666
(612) 223-8666

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
(612) 843-1515

One Two Three Sushi

80 South Eighth Street #228, Minneapolis, MN 55402
One Two Three Sushi - from the same folks in charge of critically-acclaimed Masu Sushi & Robata - brings freshmade rolls to the downtown skyway. But don't stop at the rolls; there's also three kinds of ramen and four kinds of steamed buns on the menu.
80 South Eighth Street #228, Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 354-3040
(612) 354-3040

Smack Shack

N. Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
The beloved truck has gone brick n' mortar, and the restaurant is a real beauty. Find all your Smack Shack favorites (lobster roll, lobster mac, lobster corn dog), plus a selection of po' boys, raw bar, and full-on lobster boil. Bonus: the restaurants is ideally situated for a pre- or post-game meal once baseball season gets underway.
N. Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 259-7288
(612) 259-7288

Borough

730 Washington Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55401
This much-anticipated restaurant from two former Travail chefs just opened on Wednesday the 2nd. The menu is divided into small, medium, and large plates, and includes dishes like potato soup with champagne and black truffles and oxtail ravioli. Make a night of it and head to Parlour - the just-opened cocktail bar in the basement of Borough - for a digestif after dinner.
730 Washington Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 354-3135
(612) 354-3135

Parlour

730 Washington Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Located in the basement of the same building as just-opened Borough, Parlour is the latest entry into the Minneapolis cocktail scene. The bar brings the mixologist experience to your table, with bartenders making cocktails table-side, served from a bar cart. The drink menu - designed by Jesse Held, formerly of Eat Street Social - may soon include options for cocktail flights. A menu of small plates is also available.
730 Washington Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 354-3135
(612) 354-3135

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
(612) 789-0333

Parka

4023 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
This new Longfellow spot, which shares space with Forage Modern Workshop, has got you covered for all three meals of the day. Come for Rustica pastries and Dogwood coffee at breakfast (and for that afternoon pick-me-up); for lunch and dinner, Erick Harcey's menu serves up inventive takes on meatloaf, pork chops, green bean casserole, and other classics. Plus: duck fat fries.
4023 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406

The Blue Door Longfellow

3448 42nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Blucys have finally made it across the river to Minneapolis. The second location of St. Paul's beloved Blue Door Pub has some new takes on the juicy lucy on offer, plus 16 beers on tap (14 of which are local brews).
3448 42nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406

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