Francis Burger Joint is a fully plant-based (vegan) restaurant which also has plenty of gluten free…read moreoptions! It is a casual spot with ample seating. They have QR codes on each table so you can order on your phone, and they have WiFi available. Alternatively, someone can take your order if you'd prefer! For the burgers, you can choose between the impossible patty or the black bean patty. For the chicken sandwiches, you can choose grilled or fried vegan chicken. For beverages, they have cocktails, mocktails, wine, beer, THC drinks, milkshakes, pop, lemonade, and more! There are so many options which is great! The fries are crispy! One of my friends went with the ranch fries which were good, but in my opinion it was not worth the $2 upcharge for the amount of seasoning that comes on them. I would recommend sticking with the regular fries and ordering a side of ranch as a dipping sauce instead! This is the only place that I'm aware of where you can get a vegan juicy lucy! It is very cheesy, and it's fun that there's a meatless version of a MN classic! It was messy to eat though so make sure to have a napkin nearby! I really enjoyed the atmosphere, and would go back! I think it's be a great place for hanging out with friends, especially if there are any vegans or vegetarians in the group!

I have never actually eaten in person at Francis, but I love to get takeout from here!…read more They have a good variety of burger toppings to get. However, my go to is the Rodeo Burger. I love a burger with a little crunch and the fake bacon definitely fulfills that wish for me. The BBQ aioli and jalapeños go together so well! Their fries are good too. A nice little shoestring :) Orders are always ready quickly and food is still warm when you get it home, which is awesome!

I'd seen rave reviews about this place, so we decided to go here to celebrate a personal…read moreaccomplishment last weekend! It's a really cozy moody interior, with *no big lights* aka great low lighting and comfy seating options. When we went, there were just a few other parties there so pretty quiet. I liked that we had a whole corner to ourselves with a sectional couch of sorts and some chairs. They close at 10pm on a Friday night, which felt absurdly early for a cocktail bar. But, we were able to order and drink one drink during the ~45 minutes we had. They closed up shop promptly at 10pm. They had a classics and a "rumors" section of the menu. I didn't think the signature drinks were overly unique, with classics like Paper Plane making that menu side. I had a pomegranate mojito which was good! Consensus was that the cocktails were good not exceptional, especially for the $16-17 price point. We ordered churros for the table which were a table favorite! I wouldn't go out of my way to come here again, but we enjoyed our time and could see this being a good option if you lived in the neighborhood and don't mind the early close hours.

The interior of this place is incredible, such a cute spot with moody lighting, intimate seating,…read moreand vibey music. It's a great place for drinks and appetizers. The drinks were good, and they also have a solid selection of beer on tap. The food portion are a bit small imo but I will say the Mac and cheese was pretty darn tasty!

Fantastic venue! It's a nice, cozy and inviting spot. I was there for a private event, so I can't…read morespeak to the normal atmosphere. But I thought it was for sure a vibe! The servers and bartenders were so attentive and efficient with the food and drinks. The Nashville chicken bites were a big hit for appetizers. The staff noticed and eventually came out with a huge tray of chicken! I would highly recommend checking out this place! I will definitely be back for a standard night out.

Went here to grab drinks for my friend's birthday. She had been here before but it was my first…read morevisit. She made reservations but it was nice out so we decided to sit on the patio which was fairly empty. The drinks were definitely interesting and fun! We all got different drinks the first round. My friends shared a few apps. Overall it was a nice time. The server gave us some bday shots (my bday was right before my friends) so that was really nice. The space inside is smaller so I definitely recommend making reservations! Plenty of street parking.

Wonderful, intimate spot in Minneapolis. On our last night before returning home, Flora Room seemed…read moreas if it would fit the bill for our cocktail fix. Relatively easy to find, though you do have to hunt a little bit, Flora Room sits behind a nondescript metal door leading down a short hallway to the entrance. Take a long moment to allow your eyes to adjust if you're coming before sunset; this space is DARK. It's also perfect. Once your "night vision" kicks in you're surrounded by a nice bar, numerous bistro-style tables and booths. Candles adorn the tables creating a nice, cozy place to settle in for drinks. Once seated in comfortable chairs at a table, we were quickly greeted and provided with menus. The cocktail selection is relatively "small" but really nicely varied. Prices seemed a tad steep but frankly, given the quality of the drinks I'd say quite worth it. I started out with the Evita, a nice flavorful gin-base cocktail topped with a nice egg white foam. Very tasty. My wife opted for the Tapaculo, with gin, mezcal, pineapple, banana and bitters over ice. Also quite good. There are also bites available from the associated restaurant I can't recall the name of mine but I can say it was delicious. Bread-like bites with a really tasty dipping sauce. To close out the visit I selected Palo, a smoked aged rum cocktail that was really nice and rich. My wife chose the Nahualito with rum, walnut, amontillado and white chocolate. All should be on your radar. Flora Room really fit the bill for a nice, intimate speakeasy-style spot to spend time. Dark and cozy. Savory cocktails and friendly service will stand out and make you want to return. I know we'll seek it out if we return to Minneapolis again. I hope so.

Flora Room is a gorgeous cocktail bar located behind and beneath Chef Del Prado's steakhouse…read morePorzana. Fortunately, I arrived at 5:30 PM on a Saturday, which was early enough to avoid a line and a velvet rope. I don't wait in line for anything unless I'm at a pharmacy, bakery, post office, or airport. Lines at restaurants and bars strike me as pretentious or bad management, and I don't tolerate either. However, I'm old, and at my age, nothing is worth waiting for unless it's a necessity. I found a seat at the beautiful and expansive bar and looked around at the Del Prado design. The colors might be different, but Flora was reminiscent of Minari and Noma. All three add to the Twin Cities' cachet. However, I was taken aback by the attire I saw around me. People were dressed in shorts, T-shirts, and sneakers. It's friggen Saturday night Minneapolis. Have some class! Flora Room was a lovely cocktail lounge, perfect for wooing, but don't expect to strike up a conversation with any of the bartenders. At these Del Prado joints, the staff must be trained not to engage. I'm out alone and enjoy talking. Bartenders used to be part of a lounge's attraction when I grew up in NYC. They learned your name, knew what you did, and gave you a hearty welcome. That, I guess, is not part of the culture in Minneapolis. Well, at least not at the Del Prado restaurants and bars. Chef Del Prado is from Argentina, and certainly, Argentina is one of the warmest and friendliest countries in the world, so I don't get it. I now live up the block from the Flora Room. I'm a neighbor and would like to be treated like one. Neighborly and the Flora Room are distant concepts.

I came here with a friend a couple weeks ago and had a great time! The patio vibe is really chill…read moreand welcoming, as well as all the staff. We tried the jam and rum drinks and they were delicious. I ordered a lemon first and then the pear. The lemon was much more flavorful, but both were really good. We tried the elote dish, which was really unique flavors but I enjoyed it! The burgers had a mix up and we received the wrong one at first, but our server was quick to correct the problem and very kind about the whole interaction. Normally, it would be worth knocking a star, but her kindness went really far that night! And I didn't mind waiting. I don't make my way out to this area very often, but I wouldn't be opposed to trying again another time!

Checked out Luna and the Bear during restaurant week and the food was good and the vibes were cute!…read more The burrata and jam came out with a generous amount of fig jam that paired with the burrata well. The Luna Burger was standard, and the fries were crispy and salted well (also another generous portion). The fudgy brownie was awesome and I loved the broiled marshmallow fluff on top. For $9 you can get a pour of sparkling wine that has already been opened. Service was friendly, but it was a little odd because our plates were never cleared, so by the end of the meal space was a little tight since there were so many plates on our table. There is free parking in the lot behind the building, in addition to street parking.

Stopped by La Estancia for steak and drinks and I have to say, the staff here are some of the…read morefriendliest people I've ever encountered at a restaurant. Everyone was incredibly welcoming, kind, and attentive. The food was excellent and the steak was absolutely delicious. Honestly, you can go to a high-end restaurant and spend a lot more money and still not get a steak that tastes any better. Great flavor, cooked well, and very satisfying overall. There's also ample parking. Definitely recommend checking this place out.

Overall great experience. Service was great, parking lot in the front, and they take reservations…read more We came on a Sunday and not too busy. Table for 4 and we ordered the beef empanadas and tomahawk steak with some wine and beer. Empanadas were delicious. Flaky and nice amount of stuffing. Just wish they were bigger! Only one comes in an order. We ordered the tomahawk and were told that it can take up to 45 minutes. It wasn't a problem for us since we were ok with taking our time with the empanadas and conversations. Steak was huge with a large bone. Fragrance of rosemary. Also came with a side of 4 sauces/chimichurri. The steak comes with a choice of two sides. We ordered the sautéed veggies, mashed potatoes, and added garlic mushrooms. Sides were standard, nothing special but serving size was small in comparison to the size of the steak. Overall everything was good! Not mind blowing and our overall tab for the steak, 2 empanadas, 3 glasses of wine and 3 beers was around $230.

Great little local spot in Saint Paul…read more There's a lot to like about Estelle so I'll try to keep it to what stands out: 1. The menu is wonderful, and the food comforting. The peri peri chicken was surprisingly spicy. I like spicy foods and it was teetering on a bit too hot for me, but I enjoyed the flavors and the dishes as a whole that we sampled. 2. The cocktails are divine. I had two old fashioneds and they were amongst some of the best I've had. 3. The service is impeccable. Friendly, well paced, and professional. 4. The ambiance is really comfortable. I liked that we weren't rushed, and had a really well paced meal in a nice environment. Overall I'd love to return someday. If you go be sure to make a reservation!

Incredible experience at Estelle. We sat at the chef's counter, which was such a fun way to…read moreexperience the meal. Watching the kitchen in action added so much to the night. The service was impeccable from start to finish. Everything felt really intentional and well timed. The food was outstanding. The rigatoni was a standout with an incredible sausage that was honestly to die for. We also had the soles de pollo, a chicken ravioli with fresh vegetables in the sauce, and the flavors were amazing. For tapas, we ordered the patatas bravas and rissoles, both were delicious. Such a thoughtful touch when they brought out churro bites at the end as a thank you. Amazing food, top tier service, and a really fun but romantic atmosphere. Definitely a spot worth going out of your way for

Perhaps my new favorite bar in Mpls??? Amazing drinks and even better food. I LOVE a bar that can…read moredo both. Vibes are also great. Super LGBTQ friendly!! In love. Will be back.

A great little dive joint. The fried chicken sando was on point. There was sweetness, but not…read moreenough heat. Still really good. The fried chicken alone was worth it.