Bar La Grassa, Hai Hai, Barrio Edina, and More: Introducing the Minneapolis Hit List

While travel to Paris may not be in the cards quite yet, a night out at this spot-on French bistro near Rice Park should tide you over at least for a bit. Chef Russell Klein has filled the menu with classics: French onion soup, escargot, foie gras (from Minnesota-raised ducks), steak with perfectly crispy frites (Béarnaise comes on the side for dipping) plus an array of oysters that changes regularly. Reservations are a must, and you can opt for the oyster bar, main room or the flower-bedecked terrace.

Dining status: Indoor and patio seating.

Pasta fiends have reason to celebrate — one of Minneapolis’ best Italian restaurants is back. Right now, it’s takeout only, but you’ll still find many of the dishes you’ve been craving for the past year, including crispy, crunchy, lemony arancini; housemade pappardelle ribbons topped with a San Marzano tomato and veal ragu; and the perpetual fan fave: potato gnocchi with roasted cauliflower and orange. Add dessert (currently tiramisu or salted caramel crespelle) and/or a bottle of wine to your order to enjoy the BLG experience at home.

Dining status: Online ordering for takeout.

Christina Nguyen pays homage to the childhood flavors that influenced her palate at this colorful, always bustling destination in Northeast Minneapolis. Street foods from across Southeast Asia are the draw, from the must-order salt-and-pepper fried tofu; to the Balinese cauliflower kicked up with a Thai chile-rich sambal; to the Vietnamese crepes wrapped around your choice of pork belly and shrimp, or shiitake mushrooms and an English pea puree..

Just drinking? Snag a stool at the outdoor end of the bar and order a boozy slushie made with fresh fruit juices, herbs and spices. Echoes of the restaurant’s bright hues and whimsical design touches spill over into the restrooms — take a peek before heading out.

Dining status: Indoor and patio seating; online ordering for takeout.

It’s hard to beat the location of this seafood joint, which threw open its doors for the season last month. Minnehaha Falls provides the backdrop for a lunch or dinner al fresco featuring perpetual winners — like fried catfish or shrimp po’boys,, oysters on the half shell, crab cakes, and fish tacos — plus, as of last summer, a much-requested basket of fries. Yeah, the line can be long, especially at peak times, but there’s occasionally live music and always plenty of good people-watching to entertain you while you wait.

Dining status: Patio seating. More info here.

Classic, casual Italian fare has found a home at this wood-and-brick-accented space on a primo corner in Excelsior. Reservations are accepted for the dining room and bar, but if you’re hoping for dinner on the cozy patio, plan to arrive early; tables are first come, first served. Stop in on Tuesday nights for the popular Rebel Pies — deep-dish, biscuit-crusted pizzas packed with toppings (also available for take-out). And on Thursdays, head downstairs for live music in the Rebel Room.

Dining status: Indoor and patio seating; online ordering for takeout.

There’s no bad time to hit up this contemporary Southern charmer from chef Justin Sutherland (he of Top Chef fame). While dinner is the star of the day — with the Combo No. 5, you won’t have to make an impossible choice between the smoked beef brisket and fried chicken — lunch holds its own, with sandwiches, soups, salads, and sides. (The Side Show lets you pick three to turn into a meal, with Texas Toast tacked on.)

Mid-day and late-night happy hours fill the in-between times with munchies and drink specials, while a weekend brunch keeps things hopping from 10-3. The expansive patio (and its multiple firepits) has already become a coveted spot.

Dining status: Indoor and patio seating; online ordering for takeout.

Sometimes after a long pandemic, you just really want a drink. Preferably one served on a patio overlooking the Mississippi River. Bonus points if it comes in a tiki mug and bears a cheeky name like the Paralyzed Polynesian — a quartet of rums with hibiscus and citrus—or Leilani’s Firebowl, a fruity giant of a cocktail that serves 2 to 3 (or you on a bad day). Psycho Suzi’s has all that covered and more — including poutine tater tots, a pu-pu appetizer platter, burgers, sandwiches, and plenty of pizzas. Throw in another round of drinks and make a night of it.

Dining status: Indoor and patio seating; call 612-788-9069 for reservations. More info here.

No one in the Twin Cities does the irresistible trio of tapas, tacos and Tequila better than the multiple Barrio restaurants spread across the Twin Cities. At this suburban location, more than 100 bottles of the Mexican spirit are available for sipping, or to fuel cocktails like the made-from-scratch margaritas. Start things off with a generous bowl of guacamole or the gooey queso fundido, add on a few tacos (the beer-battered mahi mahi and carnitas versions are rightfully popular), and don’t forget a side of fried yucca — do yourself a favor and ask for extra chimichurri.

Dining status: Indoor and patio dining; online ordering for takeout.

When you’re craving Indian food, one of the best meal deals to be had is the vegetarian Dinner for Two ($35.99) from this gem tucked away in a shopping plaza off Hennepin Avenue. Choose your spice level (yes, “very very hot” is an option), appetizer (pakoras or samosas), two mains and two naans from an extensive list, plus dessert (syrup-soaked gulab jamun or pistachio and saffron kulfi). Chances are you’ll have enough left over for the next day or a late-night snack. If you want something a bit meatier, the restaurant also offers tandoori and biryani variations.

Dining status: Indoor seating; call 612-377-5000 for reservations; online ordering for takeout.

The cheeseburger has become such a calling card at Saint Dinette that it graces the menus at dinner and brunch — which is back starting this month. That means you can kick off your Saturday or Sunday at the nearby Saint Paul Farmers Market, then pop into the restaurant for a single- or double-patty (now available Impossible-style, too) dripping with American cheese. Take advantage of the grocery valet, which will stow your market finds in the cooler while you eat.

Dining status: Indoor seating. Call 651-800-1415 for reservations.