I'm so glad we were in the area to try this gem of a BBQ joint! When I mentioned to a friend I was going to visit the bookstore across the street, they immediately recommended grabbing lunch at Northbound. I loved the cheese curds, mac and cheese and the hushpuppies were also standouts. I opted for the brisket bowl, which I enjoyed...the pickles were also delicious. All my friends opted for the pulled chicken sandwich, and they all said it was good. Quick service and great outdoor patio for a nice day! read more

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I wanted to like this place. Their ambiance was very cute, especially their patio. Their menu has lots that I love (big BBQ fan) and prices were very reasonable for BBQ especially noting how generous the portions were. However, we waited about an hour for our food and the appetizers we ordered came out at the same time as the food. No apologies for the delays. All of this could have been tolerated had the food been stellar, but unfortunately it was below average. The brisket and chicken were dry. The BBQ sauce was vinegar based (which many like but I don't) and there weren't KC sweet style alternatives offerred. The ribs were good but not great. The porketta was phenomenal as were the fries. read more

We came with a large group which included small children and were accommodated quite quickly. Mushroom Bliss Burger (sub wild rice patty): I upgraded to fries and they provide a very generous portion. I'm not a fan of their BBQ sauce. It's quite thin and vinegar heavy. They should have more options available. The burger patty was great but the mushrooms were the most smoked food I've ever had in my life. I think it was too overpowering and not enjoyable. BBQ Sampler: Porketta was good. It was the best dish followed by the ribs, brisket and chicken last. The brisket and chicken were dried out. None of the food was as hot as it should be. It was all lukewarm. Ambiance is great- very cute patio. Service was the slowest I've experienced in ages. We truly waited forever for our food. :/ We thought appetizers - cheese curds and fries would hold us over but they literally came out at the same time as our entrees. I honestly don't think we should have paid for it at that point but I was just so tired from everything being drawn out I was ready to pay and go. I was appreciative of them splitting the check though! read more

HOLY SMOKES... no pun intended. Really solid smoked meats and house brewed beers. The porketta was really good. Got sat quickly and served shortly after. Portions are generous as well. read more

Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub - BBQ Platter - Smokehouse Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Biked there from my house and had the poutine and the burnt ends. I've had the poutine many times and it is always good and reliable and a lot of food. But the burnt ends were amazing! Usually I avoid these when eating out because they can be fatty. But here they were pretty lean, and what fat there was was sufficiently rendered down. The bbq sauce with them was as unnecessary but tasty. They also have a killer Tuesday happy hour for their beer, which is excellent. Ans their cocktails are quite good too. read more

We came here for a Tuesday during happy hour, and were lucky enough to get a table on the patio. Our server, Megan, was super friendly and shared highlights from the menu options and HH drinks. We tried the poutine and a barbecue platter to share. Both were good and I loved the juicy BBQ chicken, but the poutine was notable because there was tons of beef as well as the gravy, cheese curds and all on top of really good fries. Our food came out super fast and hot, and my glass of House Cabernet for eight dollars was a generous poor and a nice wine. There's plenty of street parking in the blocks around this area, and there is a cute bookstore as well as a sustainable goods shop that you should definitely check out across the street. I would love to come back here again! read more

Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub - Poutine - lots of meat and so tasty! - Smokehouse Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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We had a fantastic Saturday lunch here! First of all, the parking: parallel parking must be done on the surrounding streets. We lucked out to find a parking spot very close, and the restaurant wasn't even busy when we were there. I can only imagine parking is quite a challenge at busier times of day. We had a cozy booth. I had a view of the streetside windows and the dining room. Music was at a pleasant low volume in the background--we had no trouble talking and listening to each other. Our server, Lali, took good care of us. We were never left wanting and empty dishes were cleared promptly. Everything came out at an ideal pace, too. My husband had a beer from on tap. I was very happy that they had a couple kinds of cider, so I had one from Minneapolis Cider. We ordered poutine as our appetizer. It was fantastic, and a massive serving! My husband had the brisket philly for his entree; brisket is one of those meat cuts that is tricky to get right, as it easily gets too dry, but the cook absolutely perfected it. I had the smoked trout and greens bowl, which was no only delicious, but was also a feast for the eyes. I have never had trout prepared like this before, only salmon, and this dish was quite special. Just a wonderful place. I can see why it is so highly reviewed. read more

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We've eaten here quite a bit but Friday during Lent brought us back. Fish and chips were delicious and cooked perfectly. Loved the tartar sauce. Also ordered the coleslaw and Mac & cheese. Although I thought the Mac & Cheese tasted more like creamy noodles, they were still good as was the coleslaw. Nice drink menu, ample beer choices and blackberry brandy on tap to. Service is always efficient and friendly. read more

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Sheesh! I've never reviewed this place even though I go here often? I find that hard to believe. Anyway, this place has a great Happy hour from 3-6. It's always busy and they get slammed. Tuesday, they even offer their own beers for less during HH. This is a place that will be busy everyday, not just on a Friday and Saturday. They even do winter time beer poking cause seriously, who wants to be stuck at home when it's zero out? So for me, this place is what I judge ALL other Reuben sandwiches against. They're amazing and I even rank it higher than Cecil's. The only place I have since found locally that is also amazing is the Sample Room. Anywho. The Reuben is great. Beers tasty and they make excellent cocktails. I am also a big fan of the smoked beet salad they offer. I was never a fan of beets until I had this salad. Wow! Last night, I tried their brisket bowl and it too was quite tasty. The brisket was fall apart tender, sauce not even needed. But the hush puppies that come with it are soooo friggin delicious. The ones I had were perfectly fried and amazing. They are above State Fair quality imho. That sauce drizzled on top was spot on. I wish these could be a side or appetizer option because two are just not enough. Anyway, great outdoor seating. The place is always busy but the people working there are always hustling. If you show up after HH, you may wait a bit longer as they recover from the onslaught and get reorganized. Patience is key with this neighborhood gem as you will be rewarded. read more

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-Brew beers in house! -Friendly and quick service! -Great patio and fun (but smaller) inside area -Decent BBQ! Great fries read more

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My salad was really good and I was super happy with it. Smoked Beet Salad, although I didn't taste the smokiness but I was still super happy with it. The dry jerk rub wings were flavorful. They come out piping hot, super fresh and very moist. Their blue cheese is a little interesting. Feels more like ranch to me, but it was confirmed to be blue cheese by our waiter. Our waiter was nice but seemed a little distant. We came on a really hot day and it still felt pretty warm and sticky inside so we didn't stay as long as we would have if the ac would have been stronger we might have. Also, I would have preferred a bit more in the beer selection but I was happy with what I tried and with my cocktail which was "I carried a watermelon". The beer I tried was chucks lager and it was super light. My boyfriend had the brisket bowl and he liked it but was unable to finish all of it because he felt too warm. It does seem like a nice neighborhood spot though, and there are some other items I'd give a shot if I went there again, or if I'm in the neighborhood. read more

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Saw a ad for their wings and had to try this place. No reservations, went on a whim and it was packed but the wait wasn't long. Street parking but wasn't that hard to find. Me and a friend tried the jerk rub wings with multiple house made sauces, fish platter and a few sides. I also had a delicious cocktail. Wings were really good, smoked flavor, delicious and juicy. Sauces were really good. Wasn't a huge fan of the sides or fish platter. Inside reminds me of a old school BBQ joint but a little nicer. Staff was very friendly, but the waitress didn't bring waters over till I asked after almost finishing my food. Also ran off after dropping them off and didn't get a chance to ask for a straw. Would go back just for the wings and would love to try the cheese curds. read more

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Northbound is a great little spot! I walked into a delicious smoky aroma. I had the Pale Aleto drink - it was crisp and perfectly hoppy. I ate the BBQ chicken bowl. Food came out quick and hot and the hush puppies were notably the most delicious. read more

Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub - BBQ Chicken Bowl - Smokehouse Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

We could smell this place from the bookstore across the street and just had to stop by! Unfortunately, my friend is currently soy free so we called ahead to see if they use soy in their oil and they told us no. However, once we were seated and informed our server, they double checked and they do use soy in their oil so my friend had to alter their order. I got the cheese fries and Mac n cheese and she got a bowl. The food was good but we wish we could've tried more! We will have to return once she is able to eat soy again! read more

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I go here fairly regularly but I've never reviewed. I usually get the smoked trout but decided to switch up for the ribs. Not disappointed at all! Also don't miss the fries or cheese curds. Everything they do is yummy and perfectly cooked. Beers are solid too. read more

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Very good food and drink! Prompt & professional service! Loved their specialty old fashioned! Look forward to going back!!

Beer is more a four The food makes it a five star Just a cozy place Northbound is pretty unique, at least in Minnesota. They are a full fledged brewery, but they also have an in-house kitchen and a full bar. Forager in Rochester is the only other one that comes to mind with this trifecta. The beers at Northbound are solid, but I don't put them in the very upper echelon. The Anniversary Ale 2024 that I am sipping on now is fantastic. Love the food here. The Porketta, the Wild Rice Burger, the wings, etc. All awesome. Northbound really knows how to smoke some meat. I'm here pretty regularly. If I lived within walking distance, it would probably be weekly. read more

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We sat on the patio on a Saturday night with a group of 7. We were able to get a table within 5 minutes, the host was extremely friendly. The food was great! The only complaint was we wished the fries were crispier. Our waiter Evan was awesome as well!! After looking at the menu they have great late night deals and happy hour which I want to come back for! read more

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We've travelled to almost every southern state and ate our way through their best BBQ along the way. This place most closely resembles the quality & technique of the southern states, with a northern twist. They are doing BBQ their way! We ordered the Alabama white sauce wings, and a platter. We also tried quite a few of their beers, including the award-winning Doppelbock. All of them were fantastic and no matter what your preferred style, I think you'll enjoy it! Everything was fall off the bone, extra saucy and tangy. Well developed flavors overall. When the meat is cooked right, it makes it easier to enjoy and experience their unique flavors. Although the wings are named "Alabama" white sauce, the flavor just makes sense in mayo and ranch loving MN! LOL. Creamy, unique, and delicious! Loved pairing everything with pickled things and bright slaw! Their house made pickles were nummy! Street parking, large tropical ambiance patio. Friendly service. I believe there was a single server holding down the whole place at one point and he was killing it! read more

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It's no wonder that this place has been voted best neighborhood bar. Good food & good beer. Plenty of seating and family friendly. We utilized a high chair & the server was genuinely friendly. The only downside is that there's no parking lot but we found some street parking. The walleye special was impressive & I enjoyed the variety of the bbq platter for our table to share. I saw the wings won some award so my expectations may have been too high. They were good but not wow. I really enjoyed my rice beer. I'll definitely be back! read more

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It was nice to sit on the patio and enjoy the Tuesday special beer price. We also shared an order of burnt ends. They were great. read more

Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub - Smokehouse Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Delicious burger. Good beer. Menu looked great. Awesome patio. What more could you ask for! read more

Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub - Smokehouse Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Eatery with a great vibe and a menu with plenty of interesting options to explore on multiple trips! This is a Beer & Sandwich place (imo). While they serve a lot of smoked meats, I am going to be honest here and say it's really made for sandwiches. When eaten alone the pulled pork while seasoned heavily (and very tastily I might add!!) it was dry. The brisket was sliced then seared(?) on the cut surfaces making it, odd.... The pork ribs while having a nice smoke ring and decent flavor I think spend too much time wrapped in foil because they have no bark and instead have a slippery, almost slimy surface texture. All this may sound like I am slamming the food but I really am not. Their vinegar/sweetish bbq sauce is tasty and goes well with their meats. The smoked chicken as it comes is great. All those smoked proteins above work really well in their sandwiches and this is where this place shines as they have a bunch of creative ways of putting things together. I will say I did not care for their cheese curds with the Belgan waffle batter. I am a State Fair style batter kinda guy and I need that salty crispy thing for my curds, not the breakfast batter taste. I will be back for the crazy good Ruben, Big Pastrami, and to try other things like the 18-Hour Porketta Sandwich or the 2-Hour smoked Chili Dog! I wish I had the opportunity to sample their beers but post-lunch responsibilities just did not allow--give it a try and fill in the blanks. I think you will enjoy the place! read more

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This is a great place to grab dinner and a beer with a friend, or by yourself with a book. They have a nice patio, too.

4.4* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4* Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $41 05/16/2024 My wife found this place while searching for places where "Guy had been" to meet her sister's family - and boy was it ever a gem! We had 10 in our group, so it was very difficult for them to arrange tables to accept our group inside - so we agreed to sit outside on the picnic tables. It was a bit chilly, but we made due given the circumstances. Beyond the historic brick building and great smokey smell as you walk up, their in-house craft beer and mocktail lists were impressive. We started with a round of their craft beers and since I always like to try multiple different beers, I went with a Flight (see picture). I was impressed with their craft beers as usually there are multiple that you wouldn't order again - but I found all except 1 to rate on the high end of my Untappd rating scale. My only disappointment was that the picnic table tops were extremely uneven - which caused all of the beers in the flight to tip over onto my son when I slid them across the table in their rack. A server came out to clean up and said that he usually warns people about that when they order...but no offer of even a discount on the refills. On to the best part of our visit - the food! We started with Smoked Wings (see picture) and were delighted with the flavor, tenderness and moistness of the chicken. For our main courses, we ordered the Reuben, 18 Hour Porketta and Smokestack sandwich - all with a side of fries (see pictures of each). My wife and I shared the Smokestack and as the cut-away picture shows, it is one large stack of different delicious smoked meats! As we usually do, we all shared samples from each dish and all of us really enjoyed all of them. Beyond the obvious and delicious smoked meats, I really enjoyed the home cut fries. As the pictures show, they had a good brown color on the outside, the seasoning was perfect and the ranch sauce was a great consistency for dipping! Exceptional smoked meats, scrumptious fries, and an extensive variety of quality in-house brewed beers make this a must-visit destination. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com read more

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We really like Northbound Smokehouse! This was our second visit and we loved being able to bring our pup with us to their dog-friendly outdoor patio. The patio is a little bit on the smaller side, so just keep that in mind. The service is friendly and quick. The real reason you come here, though, is the amazing food. We got the burnt ends, brisket philly and hand-cut fries--all were great. In the past, we've had their bowls which are also delicious. Most of their cocktails are great, too! My wife enjoyed the Bacon & Smoke Old Fashioned and the Spanish G&T. It was a hot day so I tried the mojito slush and it was so-so. read more

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Small establishment and it was jam packed thankfully we were able to be seated right away and snagged one of the last available tables. Staff was super cool and friendly. I didn't really know what to expect honestly, my mocktail was good but a little sweet for my liking, I think it was called the ginger pear. Our food came out in a timely manner. I had the house chilli which I will say tasted pretty darn close to my homemade chilli so A+ for that. I'm not sure what wings typically go for these days but about 7-8 wings (1lbs) is 17.50 (to be fair sometimes I pay attention to price sometimes I don't regardless IMMA EAT okay!? Ha!) but the description said jumbo and they were average size, the jerk dry rub was packing in the flavor department though! Hubs wasn't crazy about his fish and chips he felt it was a little too greasy. Our kids loved the burger. read more

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A hopping restaurant in a fairly gentrified area. It was very loud but it was also incredibly busy. We were craving BBQ but the one we wanted to go to nearby had closed early so we landed here. We had to sit by the door because we walked in without reservations and didn't want to be cramped at the bar. The service was great, our server was very friendly but the food was incredibly bland and actually made my husband almost throw up. He ordered the ribs and there must have been floating ribs or something because there was cartilage or something that looked like worms or like animal fingernails. My brisket and fries were so so dry so I didn't eat much of it either. For how much we paid... let's just say we won't be coming back for round two. read more

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Great beer, good food, nice atmosphere friendly service, and the foliage around the patio is superb!

The interior is pretty stark but the food is delicious. No GF bread options if you like sandwiches but the bowls (pre-set or design your own) are always an options. Love that the bathrooms are unisex. Server was attentive but not pushing the most expensive menu items. Full bar as well as beers they brew. The Bloody Mary was tasty! I like mine a little spicy & it fit the bill! read more

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Excellent beer, good pulled pork sandi, recommend for their work in making all parts of a good lunch

Saw that Northbound had restarted Sunday brunch recently. Decided to try it today. I got the corned beef hash, Doll got the egg sandwich. I always remeber they had pretty good food, both of these dishes were fantastic! Big tender chunks of corned beef with caramelized onions and potatoes and two over easy eggs over the top. Perfectly seasoned. Doll couldn't stop raving about her egg sandwich. Two thick slabs of brisket, eggs on toast with a swiss mornay sauce. Spoke to our waiter how delighted we were. He said that since they were just restarting their brunch service, they wanted to focus on a small menu and make it perfect. I would say they nailed the approach, can't wait to come back for their dinner menu. read more

I had the smoked wings with Alabama white sauce, very delicious and good size wings. The staff were very friendly and welcoming when I came in to pick up my order. The lay out gives me a good date spot to go to look. If this makes sense lol. I'll definitely will return. read more

Best place to spend 3-6pm on a Tuesday! $2.50 pints! Dog friendly patio area! Good service! Fun vibe/atmosphere! Don't forget to sample some of their smokehouse foods! read more

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Tasty. Fun atmosphere. Good drinks. Fast service. Chill dogs YUMMY AND you get your money's worth. I also liked the salad I chose to have rather than fries ( it was hard though fries yum). May come back one day. read more

Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub - Burnt deliciousness , fries also yummy! - Smokehouse Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I went in today and the bartender didn't greet or even acknowledge I was there (It was not busy). After 5 minutes I just left, so not sure how the food is but not going to find out. read more

Great beer, great food, great service. I am never disappointed at Northbound. Try the burnt ends with a smokey porter.

Most definitely my favorite wings in the city. My wife raves about the black bean burger and the beers are pretty good as well. I love that it's clearly a place with lots of regulars. It also has a great patio for the warmer months. I've never had a bad experience here. Just a hilarious one when a friend who had not been drinking made a lame joke to the waiter and was cut off after she thought he was too drunk :) we still give him crap for that several years later. But thats how long I have loved this place. read more

Really enjoyed dinner here on a Friday night! They were still pretty busy around 8pm on a Friday, just a short wait for a table. Enjoyed some cocktails and the bbq sampler platter, along with the fried fish and fries. All the meat is so smoky and delicious. Check them out. read more

Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub - Sampler - Smokehouse Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I visited Northbound Brewpub for some bomb BBQ and beer. I got a flight and split the marvelous 18 hour smoked Porketta and the award winning buffalo smoked chicken wings with my partner in crime. Everything was fine too perfection and recommend making a stop here. Barrel Aged Block Heater: A barrel aged Barleywine aged in 10yr Eagle Rare and 14yr Elijah Craig bourbon barrels. Molasses and dark caramel with oak/vanilla. Slight bitterness, but definitely sweet leaning. One of the better barleywines I've had in a while. Bridge Hanger: A Belgian Dark Strong brewed all Belgian from the year to the Belgian Pale Malt to the Dark Belgian Candi Sugar. Caramel sweetness, dark dried fruit, and spicy phenols. Lovely beer! Pracy Pilsner: A Czech Pilsner brewed true to style with light bread malt and spicy hop. Bold, yet crisp, clean, and balanced. Rye Fieri: A Rye IPA brewed in collaboration with La Dona Cerveceria. Medium light in body, medium bitterness, and pleasant spicy rye flavor. _______ read more

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