I absolutely love this place. They change the menu frequently so it's always exciting to come and see what new dishes are available. The charcuterie board is to die for... delicious cheeses, spreads and accompaniments. The prime rib sandwich was out of this world. Delicious prime rib and cheese served on two slices of Texas garlic toast as the bread (yum!) with a side of au juis. When I came in the spring I got the turkey sandwich which was also amazing. The side salad comes with a champagne vinaigrette which is so bright, acidic and great for cleansing your pallet. Also got the mezza board which was fantastic! So refreshing and many unique flavors which the fresh crisp veggies, and homemade spreads. Quaint atmosphere, they have live music on certain nights. Also has a great patio overlooking the river. Must try this place!!!! read more

Went to Aster Cafe for Valentines Day. We had a candle lit dinner , the atmosphere was cozy, romantic and all in all amazing with a great playlist. We had the watermelon and feta brisket tacos to start which were fantastic and I had the beef tenderloin as my main course . All in the food was amazing , my drink was amazing and I will definitely be back , great location, food and vibes. read more

Aster Cafe - Watermelon and feta brisket tacos - New American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Horrible experience. Waited over an hour for a table when there were at least 10 open tables outside. Hostess was extremely unhelpful and clearly did not want our business. If they are short staffed they should have communicated that with us. Very frustrating experience. We ended up leaving and will take our business elsewhere. read more

I came here yesterday for happy hour with a girlfriend. We sat outside & I think Aster's patio is my new favorite in Minneapolis! It's private, yet you can still people watch along the river. It's perfect. I ordered Bells Oberon on tap & since it was during happy hour, it was only $3. We also ordered two flatbreads: prosciutto, pear, chevre, roasted onion and spinach & apple, bacon, walnut and bleu cheese for $5 each. Both flatbreads were awesome. They were the perfect size & had perfect ingredients. I would order them again in a heartbeat! We wondered inside to check out the interior. It's cozy & would be the ultimate place to listen to live music, discuss a book or play trivia. I plan on coming back to do all three! read more

I woke up dreaming about the roast beef sandwich, chips and the Buckingham Bronco cocktail. Serious. I could have had it all again for breakfast. The location is amazing right along the river in Saint Anthony Main. Inside boasts a cozy, comfortable, hip little place complete with old brick walls and a bar as long as the eye can see. With comfortable stools - that have backs to them! I love the security they provide! Aside from the swell chairs, there are amazingly unique little concoctions they call "Loose Leaf Tea Infused Cocktails". And you should absolutely order one - they are light, refreshing and tasty. This was my first encounter with one, but I am already looking forward to a crisp Buchingham Bronco on a summer day - on the patio. With a roast beef sandwich. Which is the other part of my delicious trifecta formula for an amazing summer afternoon. Roast Beef with Roasted Red Pepper, gorgonzola aioli on ciabatta bread - which is one of my most favorite sandwich combinations ever. I was actually reminiscing about my favorite sandwich from AZ the other day. I am so happy I found this one! And forget the greens...which are good. But go all in for the chips because they are worth every calorie. We loved this place and will be back for sure in the near future but on the first warm sunny day I can, I'm heading down there on my bike to indulge and kick back. I can't hardly wait. read more

Such a magical place. The patio is darling. Great food, attentive server. Love Aster Cafe!

Aster Cafe is perfect all year round. In the winter, it's a cozy spot to escape the cold and drink away the winter blues. In the summer, the perfectly shaded patio with a view of the river is one of the best places to soak up our fleeting warm-weather months. Even if you can't get a spot on the patio, they leave the windows wide open in the summer so you can sit inside and still enjoy the summer breeze. The tea-infused cocktails are delish. The flat bread and cheese plates are divine. This is my go-to place to start off the night when I go out in St Anthony Main. You can order lots of small plates to share and the drink list has lots of tasty options. There is live music on the weekends, and good music playing in the background at all other times- (last week I was pleasantly surprised to hear some old favorites by Erykah and Bjork). read more

Had a nice date night with live music. Molly Maher and her crew did a great job The drinks are creative and very fresh. No strawberry flavored mixer with red food dye here, it's all fresh pressed strawberry puree, blackberry puree, fresh squeezed lemonade. We had a cheese tray with our drinks and the portions are good. We'll be back to have a meal - maybe to check out the Sunday brunch with jazz music! read more

The St. Anthony Main riverfront location is tough to beat. Park on the West Bank of the river and walk across the Stone Arch to get to and from and you've got yourself a nice little date. Huge patio, but the wait can be pretty long to get a table out there so show up early. If your a fan of Moscow Mules, do your self a favor and try the tea-infused Jalopy. The Charcuterie is a great small plate starter, and both the Turkey Brie and Slow-Cooked Pulled Pork sandwiches are amazing. The kettle chips that come with the sandwiches are delicious or upgrade for a buck and get a generous side of mixed fruit instead. I'll definitely be back for happy hour or brunch some time. Looking forward to trying the cheese plates and/or the Bacon Apple Flat Bread read more

Living in South Beach, which has a reputation for overpriced food and bad service, I was looking forward to visiting friends in Minneapolis and enjoying good midwestern service. This definitely is not the place to find it. With the exception of the host the staff was incredibly rude. More than twice we were told very rudely "I'm not your server". We ordered the charcuterie which included only two crackers and when we tried to get some more we were told "I'm not your server", again. We ordered two flatbread pizzas and only got one, when our server finally appeared we told her so and she brought another raw one. The only good thing we can say is that we did have a nice table and it is on a great location, so buyer beware. read more

My friend and I went here for brunch this morning. It took forever to get our food (I got the French toast bake, she got bacon, sausage, and eggs). My friend never got her bacon, and our food was cold, so it was probably just sitting for awhile. I told the waitress our food was cold and nothing was done. My French toast was dry, except for the soggy bottom from sitting in a sad pool of syrup that I really wish would have stretched further. The "fresh fruit" was a single small, not fresh looking, sad strawberry on top. Pricey for a very disappointing experience. read more

This is our first time in Minneapolis. We stopped at Jefe for some drinks yesterday afternoon and after walking by Aster, we made a note to come by for brunch today (Sunday), the menu and the atmosphere looked great. When we arrived the patio was about 3/4 full, we were seated quickly and the hostess was very friendly. Our waitress stopped by, asked for drink orders, promptly delivered them and then the entire waitstaff, our waitress included, completely ignored us for the next 30 minutes. We were clearly ready to order, menus on the corner, drinks finished, nothing. We were immediately adjacent to the hostess station and the bar, not exactly invisible. We couldn't even get our check and debated just leaving cash on the table and leaving. When our waitress finally came to the table she nonchalantly asked if we were ok, didn't apologize, didn't offer any explanation, and clearly had no idea how incredibly poor her service was. We gave up on ordering and left. So disappointed. read more

Location is incredible right on the Mississippi River directly across from Downtown. Service was a little slow but good. Menu is a little limited, but we were happy just to have a glass of wine and soup and enjoy the view and cool weather. we had both soups, potato leek and chicken soup and they were fantastic. Recommend this stop to just relax abd enjoy the scenery....in June at least ;) read more

Very mixed opinions about this place. I really like hanging out on the patio and have some good experiences in the past, but my most recent visit was terrible! I ordered the English Pea & Asparagus Salad (which I have had before and was good), but this time it was floating in a sea of vinaigrette dressing (no kidding the salad was saturated and there was like an inch of dressing in the bottom of the bowl). I could barely manage to take more than a few bites. When I mentioned this to the waitress, she sort of sneered at me and said that she "would let the kitchen know." Didn't offer to bring a new salad or anything!! I didn't want to make a big fuss in front of my dining partner so I was forced to smile and say "oh well" but I left feeling hungry, dissatisfied and somewhat angry about the experience. Another thing that was weird is the waitress did not give me a normal check at the end of the meal. She pushed an iPad in front of my face that showed a total amount. I paid her but there was no check or receipt like you would normally receive at a restaurant. In retrospect, I am little suspicious because it was over $100 for an appetizer, two salads and several drinks (during happy hour!) so I am wondering if I may have been overcharged. Overall, NOT a great experience!!!! read more

Great setting and excellent service but man oh man got very sick after eating the brisket tacos. STAY AWAY

Unique café with small plate type menu. Good cheese plates and flat breads. When I went in 2011 they even had popcorn with chili-lime butter available, not sure if they still do. Enjoyed the outdoor seating and drinks. read more

Aster Cafe is a nicely local cafe with fresh food selections. They have a beet salad which my coworker seemed to enjoy, and the rest of us really enjoyed our fresh sandwiches. I absolutely loved the turkey bacon avocado sandwich, it had thick slices of bacon, and big hunks of avocado..... oh so tasty. You can choose chips or small greens as your side. I went for the greens (healthy option) and it was a great choice. I definitely recommend this place for lunch. The staff were helpful and efficient with refills and splitting checks. read more

I really like the style and ambiance as well as location. The food and drinks are very good however prices can be high in my opinion. ($13 drink, $12 flatbread ETC) read more

This is a really cute outdoor cafe in a great area and I wish I could give it more stars but I just can't. While the service and atmosphere was great, the food was not. I mean it wasn't completely horrible but I guess I just expected a little better. My friend and I ordered the Turkey BLT and it was just so dry that nothing could save it. Not even dousing it with ketchup and I love Turkey BLT and order it everywhere I go that has it so I was quite disappointed. My other friends ordered the Ricotta Gnocci with spring vegetables and Spring Chicken Salad. We were all not impressed but that was just our opinions. I think you should still try this place simply because it just has a good feel to it. read more

Food was amazing. Live cello quartette was even more so!!! Server was over worked. 2 servers for 100 people. Sat down at 7:25, server comes with water and menus at 7:30. Comes back at 7:35 and asks if we any questions and if we want drinks. We ask questions about food and then he walks away with out taking drink order. 7:45 comes back and asks if we would like to order drinks. My water is empty. I order a coffee cake to come for my drink and my date orders a drink. 8:10 he comes back and ask if we wanted drinks and if I want more water. I tell him twice that I want the coffee cake and my date ordered a drink. 8:15 drink comes, no cake. No water. Food comes. Cake is placed not in front of me... asked 3 times for it first. 8:25 water comes. I had already drank all my dates and placed the 2nd empty cup in front of me. read more

The hostess snapped at me after I asked her a question about how to get a drink while we waited for our table. She was probably having a bad day, but it was unpleasant nevertheless. read more

This was a lovely end to my birthday. Our group of 4 ate on the spacious and charming outdoor, canopied patio. So sweet, overlooking cobbled Main Street on the river just blocks from the Stone Arch bridge. A perfect setting! The service was friendly, but actually needed some work. To start, they were a little too quick. The starters were DELICIOUS, and I really wanted to linger and enjoy a bit longer (the chefs cheese plate and the vegetable curry dumplings were tasty), but less than 5 minutes of being served, the entrees appeared. Novice move. Some might send them back, but they were fresh and I hated to risk cold food. Although we found a hair in our appetizer, the server did not seem to care. That can be a true turn-off by many diners! We weren't offered a replacement or a discount. Disappointing, I so wanted to just enjoy our meal, so didn't make any demands. My husband's soup was never served, again the server didn't apologize when reminded. He decided to just pass on it. I would love to give this place another chance. I'm assuming all staff just need some practice. The food really was tasty! Beet salad, gnocchi, bacon and blue flatbread and pulled pork sandwich. We enjoyed the evening minus the fairly large faux pas. read more

This is a place full of romance. It's a place you experience and enjoy, especially in the spring, summer, and fall on their patio with views of the river and down town Minneapolis. It'a place to stop while walking along the river or around St. Anthony Main for a drink and snack. The wait staff here is super hit or miss, but the managers are amazingly friendly and charming. The food is decent; nothing special, nothing bad. The drinks are light and refreshing. The food and drinks are very simple and straightforward, so it's difficult to rave about. This really isn't an ideal place to eat a standard meal, but it is a great place to snack and relax. Prices are just about what you'd expect considering the fantastic location. They do have a good happy hour though. I really do recommend trying this place out though. 'cause if you're looking for a Parisian cafe like atmospheric, this place will be your glass of wine. read more

We went for a light lunch on a weekend and we sat outside. The ambiance is really nice with the trees and the iron gates and the wicker chairs: it felt a bit like being in France. We got a salad and a flat bread pizza. both felt light and healthy, which given the weather is exactly what we wanted. The first time I was here it was raining cats and dogs, there was the stone arch festival and the place was uber-crowded. We had a hot tea and some of their cake desserts. Food is great for a light lunch or brunch on a lazy weekend. Place has a great relaxed vibe. I am sure we will be back again and again for quiet lunches! read more

I've been wanting to try Aster Cafe for a while, so when three of us decided to do brunch -- and it ended up being a beautiful day in MPLS -- we decided to try it. First of all, the atmosphere is AMAZING. We sat outside on the patio and were sheltered from the sun by several umbrellas. I could have sat there all day. The service was good as our waitress was attentive, but she let us chat the midday away with minimal interruption. Maybe I didn't order well, but I wasn't impressed with the food. My friend ordered a veggie quiche and I had food envy from the second our food arrived at the table. I had the italian sausage flatbread -- the crust was super thin (almost cracker-like) and the sausage was spread well across the flatbread along with red onions and mozzarella cheese. My main issue with the meal though was the egg on top of the flatbread. It was cooked first -- almost like the egg on top of sushi (?) -- and then cubed and put on the flatbread like a pizza topping. One word: strange. I would have definitely preferred a cracked egg on top or more generic scrambled eggs. Overall, it was just weird. On the other hand, I also tasted the granola, which was really good. I'm anxious to try Aster Cafe again for drinks and apps on the patio. Now we just need another perfect summer day... read more

There is something about Aster Cafe that is really special. The combination of location, atmosphere, drink selection and food make it a perfect choice for date night, happy hour with colleagues, larger groups and events, etc. The decor is very Minnesota. It's wood centric with fresh greenery, candle lighting, and unobstructed windows to show off the perfect Minneapolis skyline view. During my most recent visit, I picked up a dry but lightly sweet champagne cocktail and a Summit Winter Ale. For small plates, my friend and I shared the soy orange glazed wings, edamame hummus, and a chorizo and caramelized onion flatbread. I haven't eaten anything here I didn't really enjoy. They also have interesting house infused liquors that are worth checking out. read more

Aster Cafe - New American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Joined some friends from out of town at the Aster Cafe on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Not too long of a wait for an outside table, food was good as always, service was a little slow but we were in no hurry. Only problem we experienced were the 2 small dogs at a nearby table that yipped at each other for over a half an hour, making our conversation very difficult. The manager was located and we expressed our displeasure and was told that they were a dog friendly restaurant and there wasn't much they could do besides mention it to the dog owners (which they did). I understand the dog friendly concept but let's not forget the paying customers who also deserve a pleasant dining experience. read more

I love coming to Aster, sitting at the bar, ordering a Fulton, and chatting with a friend or the bartenders. I was more of a regular here when it was colder, cause it has a great atmosphere for cold, and snow for some reason. But, now i can enjoy their patio area with the view of downtown. I havent actually had a bunch of their food, but i didnt have the flatbread pizza once and i enjoyed it. Of course im not a picky eater so im easy to please. Ill need to come bacj and try some more food. I have had some sad service, even one bad experience cant keep me away. I chalk it up to a busy night. I also encourage you to maybe call or check their site to see if theres a show with a cover. Sometimes its a bit pricey, also there might be trivia which is super fun, and a great way to meet some other people! read more

There really is not anything to add to the reviews that hasn't already been said. I went on a Saturday afternoon and got my name on the list for the patio as I waited to meet a friend. They were pretty busy out there and the hostess said about 20 minutes, and she was right on with her timing. My friend and I both ordered the artichoke baguette (Thanks for the rec. Annie D!) and it was really tasty. I was nervous for the brie that comes on it because I'm not a huge fan of cold, thick cuts of brie, but it came out melty and lovely. I thought half the sandwich would be filling enough, but when I got home I gobbled it up still not feeling satisfied from the 1st half. I didn't order a drink with liquor, although it was tempting. I had a tea and that was lovely on a warm day on the patio. I would definitely come here again just to enjoy the bustle of St. Anthony main. When I chose this restaurant I was actually thinking of Pracna, and I like the patio layout over there compared to Aster. I did feel like I could be in the background of a movie though in the enclosed patio space, so that was cool. read more

As a frequenter of Saint Anthony Main, it was only a matter of time before I strolled into Aster Cafe. I'm hooked. As I've said in numerous other reviews, I am a sucker for patios and cozy interiors, and Aster Cafe wins serious brownie points for both. Beyond the atmosphere, they have great food and drinks. I had the roasted portabella sandwich complete with asparagus, butternut squash, and aioli on focaccia bread. Can you say delicious? Their entire menu is packed with fantastic concoctions - and I will definitely be making my way back to try some more soon. Bonus: they also have live music. Bravo, Aster! You've won me over. read more

Such a cute spot! Serving sizes are small, but that's alright. Like, a flatbread is the size of a standard plate, but man, they're good! Great for dates or just a chill night out with friends. They have live music on Fridays (possibly weeknights too?) read more

Great patio facing the river with lots of seating and shade. The food is simple but pretty good. Flatbread pizzas, sandwiches and salads. I would have liked more of a selection, especially since two of items people in my party ordered were out. My only gripe with the place is the way it's set up. I think they're having an identity crisis of sorts. I've gone before and it seemed like a normal cafe, and at other times it seemed like the kind of place that you'd rent out for a big group to see a lecture. I went during happy hour only to find that the entire patio was taken by a business group and the inside was taken by a science lecture. The host told us that we could sit in the corner during the science lecture, but that it might get loud. I'm all about a science discussion, but this isn't why I went there. I think this could be a really awesome place if they added a bit to their menu and decided what kind of place they want to be. read more

Cool, pardon me for saying "hipster" vibe. But it's true. Interesting selection of beers & very cool cocktails (tea infused, anyone?) The food is amazing! I had the pork taco's which are a "small plate" but there was nothing small about them! They were stuffed with pork and veggies. Definitely enough for a meal! The staff was attentive (I changed my mind on my beverage 3 times before settling on the Whippet) to the large group and made sure no one's classes sat around empty. Not typically my scene but I wouldn't hesitate to return! read more

This place is cute and I want to like it - heck I want to like every place on St Anthony Main, but they all seem to have the same problem - the service sucks! The wine and beer selection is great as well as some of their snacking plates, but the prices are a little high especially for the service that you get. I don't think anyone should have to wait 20 minutes after they order their drinks. If you do go - go on a Sunday - ALL DAY HAPPY HOUR!!! read more

I went here for the Books and Bars event, finally getting an opportunity to sit down and enjoy the ambiance (as I usually sprint in and grab a coffee to go if I'm at St. Anthony Main). I can see why they host this event. It's the perfect, lowkey spot for book lovers to unit. It's very cozy here, I love the lighting, and the service is great! I'll be back again, and Books and Bars won't be the only reason. read more

It would be difficult to write anything but a glowing review after spending a warm May afternoon on Aster Cafe's patio for lunch. Flawless weather and a killer view...the food could have been mediocre, but the setting would have made up for it. Fortunately, it was the best of both worlds! Stopped in for a business lunch after our plans were thwarted on the North Loop due to an afternoon Twins game. Serendipitous, because I had a shrimp ceviche salad that could not have been better, fresher or brighter-the perfect dish for al fresco dining. Lunch mate had the pork tacos that looked amazing and were reportedly scrumptious. Our server was a little too wordless for my liking, but I think the two of us were jaw jacking so much, she didn't dare interrupt. read more

Perfect meal in a perfect setting on their beautiful patio. We had the vegan shawarma, so delicious. This was an exceptional lunch! I won't go back though until the stop automatically putting black plastic straws in every iced drink. At least ask if a customer wants a straw. Thank you. read more

One of my favorite places to sit and eat outside in the cities. The patio is adorable, and the food and service is amazing. The wine is also great. Its the perfect place to come and watch the sun set over the Minneapolis skyline and the Mississippi. read more

Aster Cafe - New American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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We really enjoy the Sunday brunch. The music and dancing are fun to listen to and watch. The menu has gotten simple during the past few months. We hope that is to make the kitchen work easier during the patio season. Currently the menu and food are only OK. It was better in the past and I hope to rate it again at 4 but for now 3. Our friends keep us coming back. read more

My husband and I visited recently and the service was atrocious. Our female server was completely inattentive to us, but very attentive to all of her other tables. I'm not demanding but when I'm drinking coffee during brunch I expect my server to check in to see if I need a refill at least once. I got my own refills for our drinks at the bar. Now, in a functional restaurant the bar tender would give the server a heads up to be more attentive. I've been a waitress and the problem was not that the server was busy. But inefficient and unskilled as a server. There was a male server with a busier section who was far more attentive to all of his tables because he was being a proper server working in a smart efficient way. It's really not that hard of a job, when you're smart. read more