Where to Eat in December: Blondette, Barrio, Mr. Paul’s Supper Club, and More

Two cultures combine at this recently opened dining room on the fifth floor of the Rand Tower Hotel. While the techniques and dishes take inspiration from France, the muse for the menu items at Blondette is the cornucopia of ingredients from the Pacific Northwest. (Daniel del Prado, the chef behind this concept, spent time working in Oregon.) The offerings include small plates, sides, and main dishes — including a fricassee of sweetbreads enhanced with chanterelles, poached lobster, and a 32-ounce côte de boeuf meant for two people. The art deco hotel is an elegant setting and the level reserved for this restaurant especially festive, with strings of lights mimicking the stars that twinkle through the retractable glass rooftop.

Travail offers an interactive experience you won’t forget. The staff may lead you into the kitchen for shots, have you bobbing for charcuterie, or ask you to eat dirt (kidding — it’s chocolate cookie crumbles … probably), but you’ll always be in good hands. Dinner is all about the Signature Chef’s Tasting Menu, a collection of 13 to 18 courses that show off the mad scientist creativity of the kitchen crew. There are two seatings nightly, and purchasing a ticket in advance is a must. Additions to the main experience include beverage pairings (wine, cocktails, or alcohol-free options) and, if you’re feeling especially splurgy, a dozen oysters, caviar, wagyu, or a tomahawk steak.

Call 763-535-1131 for reservations.

If you haven’t been to the much-lauded cocktail lounge yet, give yourself a gift by making a reservation. All office park on the outside, inside the doors lies a dark and moody escape — one where the drinks are phenomenal, the staff even more so, and there’s also occasionally live music. How can that not be a win? “Craft” doesn’t even begin to describe the beverage magic here, which starts with spirits produced in the neighboring distillery — vodka, rum (including a habanero one), and aquavit — with one exception: a bourbon from Indiana. A lot of thought goes into everything the team touches, from the cocktails to the drinkware to the fun garnishes, like the tiny cob of lightly charred corn on the Kornstock ’99, which unites butter bourbon, corn orgeat, orange liqueur, citrus, and queso fresco.

Murray’s is a Minneapolis institution. Opened in 1946 (!), the steakhouse has made a name for itself with cuts of beef that are butchered in-house daily, but especially a 28-ounce strip sirloin for two, carved at the table. Its tenderness is alluded to in the restaurant’s tagline: Home of the Silver Butter Knife Steak — meaning it’s as tender as they come. (Want even more meat? Phone ahead and reserve the off-menu, four-pound Gold Butter Knife Steak.) Of course, other classic items are available as well: shrimp cocktail, a wedge salad, roast chicken, pork chops, and additional steak varieties. Dress up any entrée with toppings and add-ons like a peppercorn crust, crab cake, and/or béarnaise sauce. And no matter how full you are, you won’t regret being tempted by the signature dessert, a mammoth slice of what’s essentially a pint of raspberries cradled in a flaky pastry crust brushed with raspberry preserves.

Call 612-339-0909 for reservations.

The Mad Hatter delivers holiday atmosphere in spades. Not only do they deck the halls of this house dating back to the mid-19^th century, they deck the fireplaces, multiple trees, and dining room tables. Throughout the month of December, brunch service is put on hold in favor of a Christmas Tea. Each reservation (and reservations are a must, as tables tend to sell out every year) comes with unlimited tea and four courses: Chicken Wild Rice Hotdish, scones and toppings, a mix of savory nibbles, and seasonal desserts. There’s a “gluten friendly” option as well as a special menu for kids. You might even be able to make a dent in your gift list by stopping in the boutique, where you’ll find loose-leaf tea and accessories, scone mixes, and mugs.

Close out your workday with happy hour at this Nicollet Mall mainstay. From 3-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, you can revel in special prices on two items that have made the place so popular: the Barrio margarita ($7) and the tacos ($1 off). The latter come stuffed with a wide range of fillings, like pork belly, mahi mahi, grilled vegetables, or beef spiced up with chile de arbol. Or pop in for dinner — after all, there’s more to life here than just tacos, including chicken enchiladas, snapper ceviche, burritos, and the made-at-your-table guacamole. If you’re feeling generous, add someone’s name to the “buy your friend a shot” board and pay for their drink, to be enjoyed at a time TBD.

Walking into this giant new supper club is like entering a time warp, one that puts you smack in the middle of Southern California in the 1960s. The vibe is so TV perfect that it’s not unreasonable to expect a martini to suddenly materialize in your hand. There’s shag carpeting, low-slung lounge chairs circling a fire pit in the sunken living room, tiki bar offerings, and plenty of flamingos and palm trees. While the menu includes dishes that would have been foreign to diners 60 years ago — burrata toast, the made-famous-by-TikTok butter board, creamy mushroom orzo — there are plenty of throwbacks, like cheese fondue and a Manhattan strip steak, to keep the theme alive. Cocktails are a fun mix of old (a grasshopper) and new (a corn daiquiri). As for that previously mentioned martini, opt for the build-your-own, and a mixing cart will be brought to your table.

For reservations, call 651-340-8987.

One of the biggest draws of this low-key sushi restaurant — in addition to high-quality fish and friendly service — is the combination platters. There are several to choose from, including a spicy maki trio (tuna, salmon, snow crab), an 18-piece sashimi assortment, a sushi and roll mix (choose from salmon or tuna), and the 28-piece sushi and sashimi selection for two. Those who prefer to choose their own adventure won’t be disappointed, either, especially with the special rolls, 25 or so choices that really show off the chefs’ creativity. (The nori-averse will love the cucumber-wrapped Naruto Roll, with tuna, salmon, yellowtail, crab, avocado, and asparagus.) You’ll also find plenty of other appetizers and entrees, like dumplings, satay, soup, and noodle dishes.

Supper clubs have definitely made a comeback recently (enough so that there are two featured in this Hit List alone!). But unlike the California feel of the Apostle (see above), Mr. Paul’s pulls inspiration from the flair and flavors of New Orleans. That means a let-the-good-times-roll atmosphere and a menu that features staples like boudin balls, red beans and rice, Creole crab cakes, crawfish étouffée and more, including beignets and a bananas Foster crème brûlée for dessert. Dinner here is always a celebration, thanks to the warm hospitality and snazzy setting. If you’re not in the mood for Big Easy eating, wander over to the restaurant’s offshoot, Po’ Boys, which serves its eponymous sandwich by day but offers chef-inspired burgers on Friday and Saturday nights.

For its first 15 months of existence, this “it’s not pizza” spot from Ann Kim (known for her dough-centric endeavors like Pizzeria Lola, Young Joni, and Hello Pizza) was prix fixe-only. Earlier this year, though, Kim jettisoned that concept in favor of à la carte, playing up the casual vibe she had always wanted to cultivate. The menu brings together flavors from Mexico and Korea, spread across small plates, mains, and tacos (made using tortillas crafted in-house). Though some people may think that birria tacos have jumped the shark, Sooki & Mimi’s mushroom version, featuring a maitake confit and shiitake crema, is a game-changer. Before or after dinner, stop in at the cozy Basement Bar to try the “good, better, or best” cocktails.

Call 612-540-2554 for reservations.