We planned a double date here and had a great time! I will say, this is a great place for people who love sauce, there was lots of it! My husband doesn't like sauce, especially ones based on mayo or sour cream and there was a lot he could eat here. I think my favorite dish was the potatoes, perfectly cooked, and on a bed of yummy sauce. The carrots were also good. I got the octopus as my main and really enjoyed how charred and flavorful it was. We got beer and wine but the cocktails looked cute and were served in very interesting mugs. We got here at 5:30, but by the time we left around 7 the place was completely packed! I will be back. read more

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If you've ever had dinner anywhere in the Northloop, then this place will surely meet your expectations. Very upbeat and lively. Their service is really refined and prompt. Never had to wait to long nor beckon to anyone for help. The shareables are the way to go if you're in a group and not too hungry. We had the beef empanadas, steak skewers and the paella. You've got to try their tres leches - very rich and decadent. Great drink menu. Would definitely return!! read more

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My friend and I tried this place out for the first time and snagged a reservation for Friday night. The ambiance was great in there I loved all of the decorations. It was absurdly warm inside though. We both stripped layers and still felt too warm. I would recommend wearing a short sleeve. As for the food! We got the jerk chicken obviously. It was delicious. I was the biggest fan of the risotto as it was savory, creamy, and rich. The chicken itself was a good portion (good because it was $35 or something") and was well cooked. I expected the jerk chicken sauce to be a bit of a more interesting flavor but it was just similar to barbecue. Nothing spicy. We also tried the salmon. The fruit purée was unlike anything I've tried before and it paired well with the coconut sauce. We both agreed that the salmon was a little over salted for our liking. I came home and chugged water. But it was well cooked. The parts that didn't have the crust on them were good. If I were to go back I probably wouldn't get the salmon again, but I would repeat the jerk chicken!! read more

Guacaya Bistreaux - Salmon - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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GPS directs you away from the place. I didn't wait to see where as I saw the place as I was driving. It's off of 3rd and Washington next to Deja Vu. Parking street, but also two lots close. Great patio. Pretty big. Likely just as many seats outside than in when it's the season. Nice decor. Cute place. Nice vibes. Great service. I was greeted warmly before being seated. The server was friendly and offered suggestions when we asked. I opted for the carne asada. It was served with yucca fries and sweet plantains. Absolutely delicious!! This is only available during brunch. I got a flan to go for my husband who loves flan. It was ok. Though the presentation was cool. Wouldn't mind going back and trying more items. read more

Guacaya Bistreaux - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I absolutely loved everything that I ate here. The menu had a good range of smaller plates to bigger items, but we did it all Tapas style to try more of everything. We also enjoyed that there were extensive options of both mocktails and cocktails. The servers were very kind, and even if things got mixed up or were a little slow they always fixed it. The space is also very bright and colorful, with a nice view. Parking can be a bit tricky, if you're lucky you'll get a street spot nearby, but plan to pay to park regardless. read more

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Every bite gorgeous and AMAZING! Cool tropical decor! Sweet wait staff! Had the Maiz & Arepa starters. So pretty and delish! Had the salmon with squash and carrots. Lovely. Husband had the jerk chicken on a bed of risotto. His eyes rolled back into his head... The flan was the perfect ending! Nummers! Can't wait to go back and try more menu items and eat on the patio! read more

Overall great atmosphere! Great spot for warmers days, the patio is a nice spot to sit. Favorite shareable was the maiz, so delicious! We also shared the grilled octopus. Wasn't my favorite but had some good flavor. For an entree we shared the jerk chicken, it was phenomenal! It sits on top of a roasted corn and poblano risotto that was to die for. For drinks we had the tutti frutti spritz, red sangria, and tropical g&t. All were delicious! read more

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Overall solid food, with some items very good while others leaning towards mediocre. The best item in my opinion was the jerk chicken, with the chicken very tender, juicy, and flavorful. Even with the jerk BBQ sauce, I was able to taste the softness. Having braise kale on the top, along with corn risotto at the bottom, made the dining experience that much better, because if one perceived the chicken to have too much sauce, then using either two could neutralize the taste a bit. The risotto tasted like grits, which may be a negative to some, but I personally love grits, so I didn't mind at all. The pineapple rum cake was solid as well, having a bit of the rum taste, along with piña colada ice cream that elevated the overall flavorful. As for the mariscada, the best tasting part was the purple heirloom grits, because it contained the taste of all the seafood in there. The scallops, shrimps, and clams themselves tasted relatively mediocre. There was a bit of a fishy taste that wasn't completely gone. I didn't enjoy the miss river beet salad because of several reasons: 1) the beet pieces were tiny and there wasn't enough, but instead way too much green lettuce and other veggies 2) not sure if the sauce was balsamic vinegar, but it was very strong, too strong to the point of making the beets taste nothing like beets themselves 3) there wasn't enough feta crumble or candied pecans, and if there were more, the sauce taste wouldn't be as strong. Normally I love beet salad, but unfortunately this one fell short. With all said above, this is a solid place located in a lively neighborhood and I would still recommend it for those looking for a relatively upscale dining experience. read more

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Vibes: Really fun and chic decor. Semi upscale happy hour vibes. Large patio with a fire pit. Great for happy hour or a landing spot to meet friends before heading out in the north loop. Food: The truffle yuca fries were good. But the crispy red snapper taco was AMAZING. Cost: A little on the expensive side $$$ if you're not there for happy hour. Happy hour menu is limited. Happy hour is only Tuesday-Thursday 5-6:30pm. Experience: Staff was nice. Had a nice happy hour chat with friends. read more

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Guacaya hit the mark with the helpful and efficient service, delicious food, and cozy space. Our group of 4 shared some dishes: ceviche, octopus, and pollo a la brasa. I enjoyed it all and would definitely recommend sharing to try different options here. read more

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This place had been on my list for a while and I'm glad I could finally get around to trying it. It did not disappoint! The restaurant has a nice, vibrant, and inviting atmosphere with excellent service. Ordered a couple of tapas to share: arepitas con lechon, and patacones rellenos. Both came with roasted pork. The arepitas were nicely fried, but not dry -- they also came with black beans, cotija, and crema. The patacones had a creamy avocado salsa that complimented the pork. For the main dish, I ordered the churrasco. Nice medium-rare cook, with aji sauce, a sort of chimichurri, broccolini, and fried yuca. This dish packed a punch with bold flavors and contrasting textures. Overall a fantastic meal in a welcoming restaurant with bold flavors. We'll definitely come back. read more

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I've been here a few times now and the last time visiting I was a bit disappointed. They ran out of a dish that I was excited about trying. The food the first few times was pretty good but the last time I wasn't satisfied. The service is nice but the food flavor is inconsistent. We had the pitcher margarita and I felt for the price it could've had more alcohol. Overall the vibes inside are cute. The bar is also not too bad. The sitting area inside is pretty small. They have outside seating with lights for nighttime. Parking can be a little tight as they don't have designated parking but what you can find on street parking. read more

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We spent our anniversary at Guacaya after eyeing it up every time we drove through the area. The flavors were powerful and unique. We appreciated this elevated Latin flare as it's something we've been searching for in the twin cities. We shared patacones, arepitas, fried yuca, and a churrasco. I will say it felt like a mistake when I realized how much fried food was on my plate, but the complimenting flavors lifted the heaviness from my palate. My only disappointment was the churrasco. The flavors were fresh and bright, but the steak itself was undercooked. read more

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Love the location and stylish look of the establishment. Beautiful decor and how the food is presented. Delicious dish, drinks, and manager/owner was very friendly. - Anthony read more

Guacaya Bistreaux - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

This is the spot! I am loving their new La Bodega Bar menu! It's only available at the bar, so I pulled up a seat and went on a flavor journey! The food & the cocktails/mocktails pair so well together. read more

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This place is awesome! I regret not making it here sooner. I went with 5 people so we got to sample a lot of things. We ordered the pork belly arepa, empanadas, pollo asado, jerk chicken, esquites, truffle yuccas, grilled carrots, and octopussy. Everything was good but my top dish was the jerk chicken-- super tasty and I loved the risotto it came with. Another favorite of mine was the empanadas. We got the tres leches for dessert too which was tasty! I'm pregnant so I tried a couple of mocktails which were just okay, but the cocktail menu definitely looks great. Service was very kind and helpful. They helped us get settled when we had to relocate inside due to rain. Definitely want to come back here! Highly recommended. read more

Love the atmosphere and the food. One of the best meals I've ever had. Jerk chicken with the corn and halibut with the risotto was fantastic. Pedro, chef and owner, came to our table for a visit. Great guy and found out that the restaurant is family run. So excited to see on DDD. *********** Just watched DDD and my mouth was watering the whole time. read more

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Wow, have the people who left anything but a superlative review eaten at a different restaurant? I loved my meal at Guacaya Bistreaux and pigged out beyond common belief. We sat at the comfortable bar and were taken care of by the hard working G, who is more complex than his name. He was very caring and a true mixologist. Our choices from the intriguing menu included Patagonia Red Shrimp, Empanadas, Pollo Asado, and Ceviche. The shrimp was amazing, messy to peel, but with a scrumptious piquant flavor. My pollo was moist, done perfectly and delicious. The empanadas had a corn meal breading with a unique maze flavor. I loved them, but my spouse found the breading too thick. Ceviche was fresh, but the plantain chips didn't add a crispy accompaniment. However, taken as a whole, our meal was fab. The chef, Pedro, by way of Panama, New Orleans, and Brooklyn, stopped over to welcome us. His passion and love of cooking was obvious. Pedro's personality is an integral part of the kitchen and ambience of Guacaya Bistreaux. Thus, the bar was friendly and strangers smile, conversing with each other. The restaurant explodes with alma. We had a wonderful time. read more

Absolutely fantastic! The scene had a very carribean Latin decor with beautiful neon lights + plants. Felt very Miami but in the heart of Minneapolis. The flavors were bold, well balanced, but most importantly seasoned. Service was steady paced however it did take time - the place was super packed so I chalk it up to being busy. The only downside I would say is it's very loud inside so hard to have a conversation with the group at the table but flip side, just means everyone's having fun! read more

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This latin-Caribbean concept has a lot going for it - particularly it's inspired menu. Overall, I'd give it a 3.5 vs 4 star rating but rounded up based on the quality of the food and friendliness of the servers and bartender. A few favorites of mine include the Fritay 14 (yummy pork belly), NOLA BBQ shrimp (rosemary biscuit was just right), and yuca fries. Pro tip: ask for a sample of the beer if it's from the tap. My beer was warmer than room temperature recently ... something about the indoor temperatures during the summer months where the kegs are kept. It was a downer for an otherwise great meal. read more

Panamanian born, Louisiana raised, Chef Pedro Wolcott did his thang! Dinner at Guacaya Bistreaux was great. We enjoyed the charbroiled oysters (*unpictured), I had 2 orders , BBQ'd shrimp w/rosemary biscuit & for dessert we had the rum cake with pink pineapple. I accompanied mine with a red Sangria. I'll definitely return! It's hard to find charbroiled oysters, Nola style, in MN. Parking: There's a lot located between Guacaya & the strip club with maybe 10 spots. $3 p/h. Server also informed us that after 5pm (the time they open) there's parking across the street, but down the stairs. The ambiance was warm & the decor adds to it. My server was not only gorgeous, but friendly & new his stuff. Another lady there was extremely warm & personable as well. read more

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This is one of the best and most unique restaurants in Minnesota. The food from Chef Pedro is combination of New Orleans and Panamanian specialities. No detail is spared from the drinks, appetizers, dinner and desserts. Two of my favorites are the ceviche and the beef. So delicious and the presentation will make you want to take 50 photos lol. But the food is more than pretty, it is delicious. Also in the summer they have one of the best patios in Minneapolis right on Washington. Bring a date or bring friends this restaurant will impress with the food and service! read more

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Latin-Creole Bistro in North Loop with tasty and unique menu options! This was my second visit here! First time for Sunday brunch...however I was disappointed this visit....went with a group of longtime friends and the only must have from the group was oysters and they were on the menu but sadly when we got there found out they weren't available that day?! No reason or even an excuse given so that was frustrating at the start. Something I hadn't noticed when visiting before but our chairs were all not the same height which felt odd so we snuck and changed seats with the other empty tables. We were a group of 8 and the place was not full by any means! Our server was friendly, but unfortunately limited English made it somewhat difficult and she couldn't give any additional feedback or details about the dishes which was disappointing. We did enjoy the beef skewers, the New Orleans style BBQ shrimp dish, but were somewhat disappointed by the ceviche and empanadas, which we had hoped would be favorites. The chef/owner came out to check-in and gave a brief conversation with our table as we were finishing and that was a nice touch we appreciated! The drinks were all amazing! Pretty to look at and had kick! If they do an AfroBeats Brunch with a DJ as the owner mentioned on Sundays I would definitely give them another opportunity to get it all right! read more

Amazing service, delicious food, and fantastic drinks! I shared the beef empanadas & ceviche with a couple girl friends, and enjoyed "Night Fever" cocktail! I highly recommend!! read more

The service was great, the food was excellent. Every dish we ordered was delicious. The empanadas are so good, the crust was perfect and not too thick, the filling fabulous. The pork on the arepitas was very flavorful. The steak on the skewers was super yummy and tender. The cocktail I ordered, la alchemista, was made with Trakal, a spirit from Patagonia, Chile. I had never heard of it before, but it made a delicious, understated cocktail. I can't wait to go back and try even more of the dishes! read more

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Overall, decent experience here. Very hard to find parking and some of the food was just a little off for me. We had a catch up girls night and the waiter was really wonderful with recommendations. Would like to see a little more diversity in menu. Another little issue is the location used to be two different retail stores so you're sometimes sitting next to a glass door... can be cold but overall not too big of deal! read more

Guacaya Bistreaux - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I took my partner here for a birthday dinner. I had read good reviews and hoped we had a good experience. Happy to report we did! The restaurant has a tropical theme. You can taste it in the food, too. Service was great. Angela was able to tell us of customer favorites and was attentive to our table. We went during a week night and it wasn't busy inside the restaurant. What We Ordered We did one entree and three shareables. * Empanadas - Great flavor! Amazing with the sauce on the side. * Jalapeño Hummus - Good! My partner really enjoyed this. Hummus tasted good with everything we got. * Red Shrimp - Good size. A lot of the flavor is on the outside. We recommend dipping the shrimp in its oil. * Churrurasa - Good. It was a tad bit too citrusy for me. We wished we could give our steak preference. It came out well done, and we prefer medium. We weren't a fan of the pink sauce, but yuka is always good. Overall, the food was amazing!! It is pricey but quality food. Depending on your spice level, some foods might be spicy for you. I can take medium spice and the food was not spicy to me. I just know some people are more sensitive to spice. Parking So hard to find parking in this area. Make sure to give yourself extra time to find parking. We had a hard time knowing where the building was because of GPS directions. The restaurant is near the bridge. read more

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Visited 11/20/22 Decent place with decent enough food but overpriced for what you're getting. I really wanted to like it, but overall not sure if we'd come back for a full meal. I guess I'm more on the 3.5-4 stars fence for this spot. Our party of 4 came here on a Sunday for brunch and we got: RECALENTA'O (x2): the flavors of the overall dish was pretty good and we were served with a good amount of meat. This was $22. COCHON DE LAIT: again, the flavors were good, but for the small portion, $23 is a little much. STEAK AND EGGS: my friend got this and was disappointed. The eggs were overcooked, the steak was maybe 4 or 5 oz and a small portion of plantains for $25+ (? my friend got this one and the price isn't on the website). They did remedy it with giving him 2 nicely cooked eggs but he was not close to being satisfied, hunger wise. We also got cocktails. I got the hot toddy ($13), friend got the boquete martini ($14), la mula ($14), and amber lager ($7). My hot toddy was fine, the espresso martini was pretty good, and the la mula was decent. Overall, we liked the flavors that our dishes came with but unfortunately, we all felt the price wasn't worth what we got. For my husband and I, we got the 2 beers, 1 cocktail, the recalenta'o and the cochon de lait + tip and taxes= $90+. read more

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Delish. We truly enjoyed our meal and the ambiance of the restaurant. Parking was a bit challenging but we found a primo on street location across the street. Welcomed upon entry, seat yourself. QR codes on table for ordering. Service was impeccable. Our food was hot and fresh and hit all the high notes. We would absolutely return and recommend this location to anyone! read more

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I cant lie I was a little skeptical about trying this place out but I was not let down. Just an fyi the menu does change also. The food was good the gumbo yaya full of flavor it did have a kick to it but it was not over powering. The empanadas could have been better they use corn when making them it had more of a doughy taste. I like empanadas made out of that flaky dough whatever it is called. The atmosphere is great nice place for a group or date. The margarita I had was awesome also it wasnt overpowered by liquor you would want to order another one. The service was amazing my waitress omg cant remember her name she was ver attentive. I shall return! read more

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Visited on 9/16/22. Ate outside at Guacaya with a few friends and all of us agreed that it was such a fun experience. Splitting tapas was the way to go and the ordering system using our phones and QR codes worked well for us. No one really came up unless they were running us food so for those who like to ask questions (I identify with this you lol), you would likely have to seek someone out if using the QR system. I didn't have a problem with it though. I got the Leche de Tigre as a drink with tequila which reminded me a bit of a spicy marg. Would definitely order again. My personal favorite tapas of the night were the patacones (I loved the texture of the plantains), and the carne en palitos (super flavorful and great to eat with the little arepitas which were included with the tapa). However, I feel like everyone likes something different, as one of my friends liked the empanadas and the other one said the arepitas were her favorite. Honestly you can't go wrong with any of these. Also, GET THE YUCA FRIES. Amazing and we loved ending our night with these. They were super flavorful and the best yuca I've had. Check this place out for sure excited to go back read more

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WOW FLAVOR! The Twin Cities are known to be one of the top tier cities for diversity of cultural cuisine & among the highest of diverse ingredients used in the restaurants here, in total. What I want to know is how much share of these diverse flavors is Guacaya Bistreaux responsible for? I've never had such perfection of unexpected delight in the flavor of the oysters, cauliflower, shrimp & grits & tres leches. Each so stand out unique & absolutely delicious. I would say the shrimp & grits had too much salt in the shrimp itself but the dish was popping with flavors in the sauce atop the creaminess of the grits, I forgave the salt. The Caribbean / Cajun oysters were uniquely poignantly scrumptious. The cauliflower!!! Wins the distinction of the best textured & flavored cauliflower I've ever imbibed. The tres leches so maximally moist & the layers of smooth flavors melting into the moistness & then marrying the delight of my tongue. The atmosphere is hip & handsome. The wait staff on point! This place is a new favorite. Everything on the menu looked so good, so I must come many more times. Their virgin mojito was such a good match to the entrees. read more

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Came for the first time with a few coworkers for happy hour, and was very lucky to find parking nearby. There is an alley lot and if you go down the hill, what looks like an apartment complex also has many spaces available for three hours max. We made a reservation, highly recommend, making sure you call ahead to reserve a table as it is not a very large restaurant in the inside, but they do have a really great patio with plenty of seating outside. We came on an incredibly hot day, and it didn't seem like the AC was working very well, you could see many guests fanning themselves with the menus. The wait staff and host were incredibly patient and kind, offering really great recommendations and assisting with the drink menu. Our group ordered a lot of different tapas, I think we may have ordered one of everything on the menu and I can promise you that everything we had was absolutely incredible! The most memorable, and what I would recommend for tapas is the barbecue, shrimp, ceviche, and the sweet fried plantains. We couldn't leave without trying the churro dessert, it comes with six bite-size, churros, and a delicious chocolate sauce and berries, that was the perfect ending to our fabulous meal. read more

With strong cocktails (i really only needed one or two), a delicious array of tapas to share (the crab cakes and ceviche are must gets) and entrees, this is already a strong contender for being one of the best spots in North Loop but it's perfect in the summer with it's open patio and live Latin music! The premise of this spot is Caribbean Latin flair, and although tapas are their main staple, they also host weekend brunches as well. The servers are super friendly, and the food and drinks come out in a pretty good paced. I need to try their fall menu , but definitely can't wait to come back in the summer read more

The best part of this place is the ambiance. The decor, lighting, and vibe makes you very cozy during the cold winters. Food was well presented and came out quickly. I personally am not a fan of Latin cuisine, so I'm not the best judge of taste. The fall salad was good as were the patacones. The squash soup seemed unbalanced in its flavor, a little too pungent. The burger lacked any special flavor. They have a few parking spots on the north side of their building. Nice place for an evening out. read more

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A fantastic new neighbourhood bar! I have been here twice in the past ten days and cannot wait to be back again soon! The first time in Guacaya was really for their cocktails because I was told the bartender in Meteor created the cocktail menu. I had three cocktails. Leche de Tigre is probably the most popular as it's closest to margarita but it's not! The chili salt gave a nice kick, highly recommended. Guarapo both in cocktail or mock tail style is awesome. Although I am not a huge fan of bar food, the second time here was fully dedicated to try their tapas. Delightfully concluded that if I ever crave food with cocktails, Guacaya Bisteaux is the place to go! I have a hard time to name favorite ones as they are all very good. Default order list are yuca fries, Ceviche and patacones. For vegetarian, Puerto bello is my favorite! We met Pedro, the chef and owner and enjoyed the conversation with him. Loved the open kitchen and spacious/ bright dining area both indoor and outdoor. Staff are super nice. There are plenty of choices in the North Loop, this place stands out because of the human touch in addition to their food and drinks. All the best to Guacaya Bisteaux. It will soon become a hot spot. See you again soon! read more

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I love this new place! Came here to catchup with old friends. All the dishes are great! I highly recommend their ceviche. Superb drinks and awesome service. Sorry would elaborate more, next time. Will be back! read more

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We absolutely love Guacaya Bistreaux! Every menu item is amazing. I would certainly recommend the Jerk chicken risotto and the steak skewers. They also offer a very nice selection of tequila's and tequila cocktails. read more

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Trendy spot with vibrantly flavored small plates and a good cocktail list. We tried the ceviche, patacones, and arepitas. Everything came out incredibly fast, and beautifully plated. The flavors were great - each bite had many components of varying textures and tastes that came together well. And the small plates were surprisingly filling too. And the patio was beautiful, albeit a little noisy with passing traffic on Washington. It was a little pricey, so I won't go that often, but a nice place for drinks and apps. read more

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Empanadas (Stuffed yellow cornmeal emapandas, stuffed with black beans, chihuahua cheese, green onions served with cilantro aioli) were perfectly filling and flavorful. The cilantro sauce was insane with the pickled onions ! Easily downed these Maiz (Corn a la plancha, tomato aioli, cilantro aioli, crema hondurena, cotija, shoestring potatoes) was so so flavorful and came with a lot more than expected! Paired well with the empanadas Vibes were great, such a cute place with a good outdoor setting/service. Will be back asap! read more

Guacaya Bistreaux - Maiz and empanadas caleñas - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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