Our monthly happy hour hang out brought us to Volstead House this month to check out the snacks and…read moresips! Plenty of parking available in the shared lot out front! Enter through the Burger spot and look for the Coca Cola machine! Once you enter Volstead House, you can't help but be transported into what feels like a Spirit Library. A huge accent wall lined from floor to ceiling with spirit bottles is the perfect back drop to this cozy hang out. Perfect for a date night, friend catch-up, or solo Whiskey adventure, Volstead House is a vibe! Pair the atmosphere with top notch, educated bartenders and mixologists...you know you'll be taken care of! We started with the A La Louisiane, a spirit-forward, whiskey cocktail with some funk from Peychauds and Absinthe. It was delicious and well balanced. We also shared the Glazed Carrots and the Parm Fries. The carrots didn't hit for me, as the glaze and sauce lacked a punch of flavor but the fries were crispy and delicious. If you have a spirit enthusiast or someone that likes to explore the world of cocktails, I think this is the perfect vibe!

Finally crossed off Volstead House from my A-Z restaurant list, and honestly this one was more…read moreabout the experience than the food for me. First off, going through the hidden Coke machine entrance is actually really fun and makes the whole place feel like a little adventure. The decor and speakeasy atmosphere are definitely the standout. Very cool space. VERY loud though. Like "lean across the table and say WHAT?" loud at times. The waitress was super nice and recommended a mocktail for me that called Ass in the Sand. It ended up being really good. It tasted like an elevated lemonade and was probably one of my favorite parts of the meal. Started with the rolls and whipped honey butter which were delicious. Very soft, warm, and honestly dangerous because I could've just kept eating bread all night. For the main meal, I did the Wagyu Burger with Parmesan fries. The burger itself was okay but surprisingly didn't have a ton of flavor outside of the grilled/charred taste. The Parmesan fries were actually the standout for me -- hand cut fries and parmesan fries are just hard to mess up. My partner tried the Mushroom Soup en Croute and wasn't a fan because the mushrooms were blended and he said it lacked flavor. He also had a Steak Taco special using their medallion steak and said even with lime it still needed more flavor. Finished with Crème Brûlée which is always a classic favorite for me and this one was good. Overall: fun experience, cool hidden entrance, great decor, good mocktail and bread, but the actual food menu is pretty limited and the flavors didn't totally wow me for the price. Glad I went and finally crossed it off my list, but probably a one-and-done visit for me.

Came to Omni to get an Xmas themed cocktail at Blitzens but there was an 1.5 hour wait so we went…read moreto Ember & Ice to waste time They were full as well but they said they would double check to see if they could squeeze us in and they did Such a cool vibe! Good for groups or a date night! Food: Cheese fondue for 2 - you could definitely share with more people *lots of different food options to pair with the cheese* Drinks: Duluth Cider and wine Fireplace, patio during patio season, bar, couches/lounge by fireplace Service was slow but they were busy. Staff was nice!

Since we were at the pop up bar downstairs, we decided to go check out the restaurant on level 2…read more We were told to take the elevator behind the bar, once upstairs the restaurant will be on the right. It was a big restaurant, gave Viking vibes. Large tables, big lounge area by the fireplace and antler for chandelier. We decided to try couple of entrees, ceasar salad and beef shirt ribs. Since we had a far drive, we decided to go with mocktail instead.

Met a friend for Happy Hour at this spot to catch up and enjoy some small bites…read more Plenty of parking in the strip mall lot where this restaurant is located. The interior is modern and inviting, with some fun wallpaper making a statement. We cozied up to the bar during this visit. I will say that bar was a bit sloppy during our visit...bartenders' water bottles cluttering the visible space, bartenders spilling our drinks a bit during delivery, and weird transitions of staff that were a bit distracting. The Espresso Martini was the best item I ordered! Well balanced and the addition of the cold foam really made for an enjoyable sip. Would absolutely return for that one! The bites we ordered had great flavor, but some fell a bit flat when trying to live up to their creative ideas. The Fried Pickles were the best food item: perfectly crispy medallions with two delicious dipping sauces. The "burnt ends" cauliflower are really just roasted cauliflower with BBQ sauce on top, missing out on the umami juiciness of their namesake. The Chips that came with the Dip were just ruffled potato chips, not housemade or interesting. Solid spot for happy hour if you're looking in the area!

Starting my Happy Hour series and Kitchen and Rail in Eagan did not disappoint…read more The menu is curated, not overwhelming, but still has solid variety -- and the pricing? Very reasonable for the quality and vibe. We ordered the cauliflower burnt ends, fried pickles, and chips & dip. Everything came out flavorful and fresh. The cauliflower especially was a standout -- seasoned well with that perfect texture. The staff was helpful and very informative, which I always appreciate when trying a spot for the first time. The atmosphere gives after-work energy -- a place where you can unwind with coworkers or commune with family and friends. And the background tunes were on point. Happy Hour is getting a 4.5/5 from me. I'll definitely be back to keep this series going.

I came around noon on April 25, and the service was incredible. All the employees were busy…read morecleaning up and helping each other during the down time. I haven't worked in the service industry in forever but seeing the comradery within the staff made me long for that team environment. Aside from the service, the place itself is super cute and plays cool music. I got an iced rose latte and the burger, and wow!!!! Latte was perfect. Burger was exactly what I needed in that moment. Next time I'm visiting I will for sure come here.

Wow! Complete opposite of the Burgers&Brews next door/connected…read more Pleasant service. Great coffee. The Old Fashioned was even better than next door. Super chill vibe, quiet enough to study. I won't go back to Burgers&Brews but will definitely go back to Curiouser. Hard to believe these two places have the same ownership

Love this place! Wonderful people and a terrific staff. Players of all levels are welcome, and the…read moreatmosphere is clean, friendly, and inviting. It's exactly what I was looking for in a club. The Chips team truly listens to feedback, takes great care of their guests, and is always working to improve the overall experience. I recently used the party room--it was clean, convenient, and well set up, and everyone had a great time. I'm a member and definitely a regular visitor. Highly recommend!

Chips is awesome! Brought a buddy and we had a blast definitely can't wait to go back and have fun…read more:)

Nice bar in the suburbs! I loved the self service beer wall. You have to get a card from the…read morebartender and pay how many ounces you get when you are done. I liked the choice of doing the flight since I'm always trying to taste everything. They had a wide variety and I usually like the fruit beers and I found the pineapple one to be delicious! The old fashion was quite strong! The bar is pretty big and open, good for mingling. The food looked delicious too but we were only here for late night drinks. They have popcorn and pull tabs available too. They also do trivia and happy hour. We loved the vibes here. The bartender was friendly, servers got us water once but don't come back to check on us but we were ok with being left alone that night.

A Self-Service Sisyphus: The Taps and Trials of Union 32 In…read morethe shadow of the Vikings' headquarters in Eagan, Union 32 Craft House offers a uniquely Minnesotan proposition. Named for the state's status as the 32nd to join the Union, the establishment is built around a "Beer Wall"--a self-pour monument to local brewing that promises the drinker ultimate autonomy. It is a large, inviting space, designed for the expansive social ritual of a modern taproom.  The culinary offerings here are a pleasant surprise, rising significantly above the standard "hole-in-the-wall" bar fare. The menu feels intentional rather than an afterthought, providing a solid foundation for the liquid education happening at the taps. One cannot fault the quality of the sustenance or the hospitality of the staff, who remain remarkably friendly despite a recurring operational shadow: the house always seems to be exactly one person short. Each shift carries the palpable energy of a team perpetually running a man down, a testament to their grit but a strain on the overall rhythm of the room. However, the centerpiece of the experience--the self-serve technology--is where the friction lies. While the concept of filling one's own glass is liberating, the digital interface lacks a certain clairvoyance. There is nothing quite so deflating as committing to a pour only to have the keg go "bust" mid-stream, or finding that the tap you've selected is already dry. The system requires a more robust marriage of software and cellar management; the guest should not have to be the one to discover a vacancy in the line. "A fine beer may be judged with only one sip, but it's better to be thoroughly sure." -- Czech Proverb Union 32 is a noble experiment in craft beer culture, providing a vast playground for the adventurous palate. But until the technology catches up with the inventory, and the roster is filled by that one missing player, it remains a work in progress--even if the beer itself is already a finished masterpiece. If this dispatch from the Eagan beer scene helped clarify your happy hour plans, please leave a like or comment below to support the continued education and enjoyment of our community.

Came for the first time, during the Christmas pop up, Blitzens. One section was well decorated, the…read moreother was barely done. No audible Christmas music. Waited cuz the sign said wait, while 3 staff talked, and one table of 2 was seated. No one else in sight. Drinks were $18-25. Of the 3 ordered between our group. 2 weren't good. Of those 2, one was gross. They replaced it per my request. I was not impressed. Parking is a ways from the door to the bar, which isn't labeled outside at all. The hotel likely, had more to do with the 1/3 a block away parking than the bar, but it's MN. It's COLD for 1/3 the year. The apps weren't good enough for their price tag either. I won't recommend this pop up to others.

My first visit to The Mudd Room last night for an acoustic gig. After some googling to confirm,…read moreMudd Room is below the Lucky's 13. When you arrive there Mudd Room is painted on the east side of the building above a small four space parking lot. Fear not; you can park on the west side of the building, also an overflow lot right there as well, a few spaces on the street in the front or across the street from there is designated parking. I entered through the west side of the building that noted Lucky's, fear not, when I entered and told the host I was looking for the Mudd Room she gave me precise directions to get downstairs! Once downstairs I came upon the nice single toilet ladies room. I proceeded in to the bar, asked the blonde bartender where the music would be? She pointed to the stage @ the end of the bar and said it could be loud right by the speaker so she'd recommend sitting a few tables away. She said the parties near the stage were tabbing out if I wanted to sit there? I said I would take a seat @ the end until they were through. Shortly after I sat down the very friendly brunette server brought me a glass of ice water... thanks! She remained attentive all night, filling my water three times. Despite not looking over the menu she was very thoughtful when she popped by just to say it was last call for the kitchen, did I want anything? I meant to get the gals names, I did not, sorry. Music wasn't too loud; the acoustics and lighting were great since the speakeasy is already dimly lit. I don't anticipate this was my last visit; very much looking forward to catching another gig here or meeting friends for drinks! The friendly and attentive service are my number one fast and hard rule for a venue... no matter how good or bad the drinks or food are.... they 90% determine if I will return. These two knocked it out of the park... thank you for such a welcoming and attentive inaugural visit, cheers!

I love that I discovered this place. I have been going to Lucky's for years and did not realize…read morethis existed. I came around the holiday period and they offer fun festive holiday drinks. By the time we arrived, they were no longer selling small bites. The entertainment for the night was a live band. I enjoyed a few songs and then ended up night upstairs at lucky 13.

Happy Hour Hidden Gem!! Fun drinks & mocktails on the menu…read more Great happy hour deals on drinks & apps! I really enjoyed the crispy cauliflower, chicken nachos & the potstickers. They also have a great seasonal menu. Amanda was our server & she was excellent. I had the bitter end martini and definitely plan to return to try some martini flights in the near future.

Came in a party of 6 on a Thursday in the late afternoon. Seated us quickly. Clean space. Fairly…read morequiet. Service was good though our waitress forgot to submit one persons order, it was quickly caught and remedied. Most at the table had burgers and they said they were good. I got the baked potato soup and a side of mac and cheese. The later was bland. The former, not particularly notable. I'd come again to try a burger and some of the cocktails.

A friend and I stopped in to experience Blizten's Bar - a holiday pop up in Kera's. Very…read moredisappointing. The decorations are only in about 1/4 of the bat, so it just looks weirdly cut off. Service was very slow and inattentive. We had quite a wait before we could order drinks. We had to ask for the special holiday menu, and then found out they are only offering 3 of the holiday drinks because they ran out of the ingredients for the others. Ended up ordering expensive wine that was just ok. Food wise -- My friend ordered the burger with no bun because she has a gluten allergy. It came with the bun. I ordered the turkey panini with roasted pear and brie. Not good. I would have expected actual turkey breast but instead it was pressed, processed turkey resembling ham or spam. The pear was just tasteless mush and the brie was the size of dental floss. On the plus side - the fries were good. But I expected so much more for the prices and the way this place lifts itself up as something special.

Was hungry and decided to order a burger at the bar after I checked in. Very nice burger and fries…read morewere fresh. Small area but a nice view in the lobby area. Service was quick and pleasant. Would definitely come back for that burger