Where to Eat in September: Bar Rufus, All Saints, Gia at the Lake, and More

From the man who never seems to sleep comes this new bar and restaurant located in Minneapolis’ Rand Tower Hotel. Chef Daniel del Prado is the guy behind the vision, a small-ish ground-floor space that seduces with its art deco vibe. The dining room is anchored by a prominent bar right at the entrance; other seating includes green velvet banquettes and sleek leather chairs (inspired, says the design team, by bomber jackets, a nod to the aviation interest of the hotel’s namesake, Rufus Rand). The menus — food, cocktails, and wine — are full-on French: Start with a kir royale, Bonne Nuit, or a sparkling chardonnay before moving on to a salade Lyonnaise, French onion soup, escargot, or duck à l’orange.

If the words “vegetable-forward menu” make you think “boring,” get ready to reset your expectations. The team at All Saints works magic with harvest ingredients. Green tomatoes are the star of a salad, getting support from plums, goat cheese, and pistachio butter. Mushrooms are lightly battered, seasoned with salt and pepper, and served with a scallion dip that adds just the right amount of zing. Grilled broccolini pairs with avocado tahini and a sprinkle of candied peanuts. That’s not to say proteins aren’t well represented, though; you’ll find creative takes on swordfish, duck confit, steak, and pork chops, among others. Wines lean European, but the beer-on-tap list is all local, featuring favorites like Bauhaus, Falling Knife, and Lake Monster.

When Revival Smoked Meats launched, it focused on Carolina-style barbecue, leaving another Southern favorite, fried chicken, to its older sibling down the street. With last month’s closure of the poultry-focused spot, though, the famed fried bird has found a place on the menu here, joining favorites like brisket, pork shoulder, ribs, and pork belly. Not to be missed are the appetizers, like the drop biscuits and Texas Twinkies, jalapeños stuffed with brisket and cream cheese and wrapped in bacon. Pastrami lovers will want to mark their calendars for Mondays, when a limited amount of the brined, spiced beef is available — get there early or you might miss out.

No reservations.

Walk through this daytime café’s inviting yellow storefront and you land in a space where good things happen. Things like Nutella- or ham-and-cheese-stuffed crepes. Like cacio and pepe eggs. Like an apple cobbler oatmeal bowl. Like a harissa, potato, and egg wrap. It’s exactly the type of place you’ll want to spend a lazy Saturday morning with friends or warm up over a coffee drink. The coffee drinks, BTW, are Insta famous thanks to decorations like edible gold leaf, rainbow-colored latte foam, and giant toasted marshmallows. Crunched for time? Grab something from the pastry case, which always has something new to tempt.

No reservations. Find more info here.

It’s last call for this pop-up at Sovereign Estate winery. Through the end of the month, sit down to an alfresco dinner Thursday through Saturday and enjoy the killer combo of seasonal Italian cooking and views of Lake Waconia. The menu changes regularly, but you can expect chef Jo Seddon to whip up summer-fresh dishes like a panzanella salad, figs and mozzarella, pasta with peas and prosciutto, steak with a side skewer of grilled vegetables, or grilled peaches and ice cream. It’s no surprise that the wine list includes many picks from the estate, which highlight Minnesota grapes, but you’ll also find a few pours from wineries across the country.

Call 952-207-9715 for reservations.

Arepas — sandwiches where the fillings are stuffed in a griddled cornmeal cake — are front and center at this stop for Latin street food. The shredded beef and plantain version, with black beans, pickled onion, cotija cheese, and the house sauce, is a popular pick, while vegetarians will want to think seriously about the jackfruit option. The meaty fruit, which has been described by some as tasting like pulled pork, is cooked in chiles and spices and topped with onions, radish, lettuce, and a citrus crema — unique and delicious. Don’t snub the cocktails, many of which are boosted with fruits like prickly pear, passion fruit, banana, guava, and watermelon.

A restaurant celebrating meat and seafood has opened near Mears Park in St. Paul, taking over the space that once housed Public Kitchen + Bar. The industrial loft-style space has old-school steakhouse touches, like tufted black leather booths, but the brick walls, wood flooring, and dazzling starburst light fixtures definitely scream “modern.” They’re open for dinner, plus brunch and midday hours on Saturdays and Sundays. As one would expect, a variety of steaks make up the heart of what comes out of the kitchen; go big by jazzing up the cut of your choice with a crabcake, a lobster tail, or the Oscar: lump crab and béarnaise sauce. Look for items like pork chops, duck breast, a wagyu burger, and prosciutto-wrapped trout among the other entrees.

Call 651-968-1050 for reservations. Find more info here.

While this long-lived sushi bar is popular for many reasons — a giant menu (there are more than 50 specialty rolls alone), creative ingredient combos, friendly chefs — the siren song is happy hour. From open to 6:30 p.m. every day, you can score deals on a significant number of regular-menu items, including some of their signature rolls, sushi, sashimi, appetizers, and entrees. A few drink specials round out the mix. Arriving early also means you’re more likely to be able to nab a spot in the parking lot off the back alley — another win.

Thursday night is live music night in the Rebel Room, the low-key cocktail bar downstairs from the main dining room. Local acts perform while you dig into dishes like the noshy burrata board, one of the pastas, chicken Parmesan, and other Italian classics, perhaps paired with one of the many wines from around the world or a drink like the RSR Old Fashioned: bourbon, two types of bitters — blackstrap and orange — and a touch of sugar. Another night not to miss? Tuesday, when the restaurant rolls out its Rebel Pies, deep-dish pizzas embellished with a changing assortment of toppings.

When you need choices, choices, and more choices — including kid-friendly fare — head to this lively restaurant in the southern suburbs. The lunch and dinner menus are massive, running the spectrum from simple starters (cheese curds, spinach-artichoke dip) to sandwiches and hand-tossed pizzas, to full-on mains like walleye, shrimp scampi, and a New York strip steak. They’ve got you covered at breakfast and weekend brunch, too, slinging classics like omelets, pancakes, French toast, and tater tot hotdish. For dessert, step into the attached bakery, where you can pick up a cupcake, jumbo cinnamon rolls, or macarons to enjoy at home.