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Summer Dining in the Twin Cities

Compiled By Ellie M. Bayrd, Amanda Fretheim Gates & Amanda MacDonald Minnesota Monthly

From rooftops and food trucks to patios and water views, the Twin Cities is ready to serve up summer under the sun or stars.

Patios

Salut Bar Americain
Salut Bar Americain, a charming restaurant in Edina, impresses with luscious cocktails and French-favorite menu items with an American flare. Sit on Salut’s patio and enjoy superbly cooked hanger steaks or Ze Basic Burger. Salut Bar Americain, 5034 France Avenue S., Edina, 952-929-3764, www.salutbaramericain.com (second location on St. Paul’s Grand Avenue); Edina Grill, 5028 France Avenue S., Edina, 952-927-7833, www.edinagrill.com

WA Frost & Company
For the best in upscale Twin Cities dining, look no further than WA Frost & Company. Featuring the finest in American cuisine, an award-winning wine cellar, and one of the best outdoor patios in the region, WA Frost is a favorite of many. WA Frost emphasizes the use of locally grown foods to produce the highest quality dishes, which means the menu changes seasonally. Take a seat under the trees and enjoy WA Frost’s lush patio, set away from the hustle and bustle. 374 Selby Avenue, St. Paul, 651-224-5715, www.wafrost.com

The Local and Kieran’s Irish Pubs
Two of the Twin Cities’ best Irish pubs offer great patio seating on summer days in downtown Minneapolis. On Nicollet Mall, The Local’s street-side seating is perfect for people watching while enjoying an appetizer of wee burgers or chicken shots. Kieran’s in Block E boasts an ever-expanding patio (bigger on game days). Here, baseball fans and happy hour enthusiasts spill out onto the street to celebrate summer. The Local, 931 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, 612-904-1000, www.the-local.com; Kieran’s, 601 First Avenue N., Minneapolis, 612-339-4499, www.kierans.com

Rooftops

Uptown Cafeteria and Support Group
Uptown Cafeteria and Support Group fits the bill as another fun and funky restaurant that calls Uptown home. Guests flock to its rooftop Sky Bar, but its delicious menu and unique atmosphere are designed to draw diners year round. Even ordering is fun here, with entrée names like Everything’s Going to be All Right meatloaf or Night Train chicken and waffles. 3001 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, 612-877-7263, uptowncafeteria.com

Crave
The latest addition to Minneapolis’s rooftop patio scene is Crave’s downtown location, featuring a menu distinct from the restaurant’s interior dining options. With three other locations within the Twin Cities metro area, Crave has earned acclaim as a restaurant sure to satisfy the taste buds, offering several options to make your mouth water. 825 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, 612-332-1133, www.mn.craveamerica.com

Moto-I
This stylish Lyn-Lake restaurant is also the first sake brewery and restaurant outside of Japan. This funky spot features savory ramen soups and an assortment of sweet-bread dumplings. Taste the different variations of sake with a sake flight while relaxing on the rooftop patio. 2940 Lyndale Avenue S., Minneapolis, 612-821-6262, www.moto-i.com

Stella’s Fish Café 
From the roof of Stella’s Fish Café, guests can celebrate summer while surveying the Uptown scene, viewing the stunning Minneapolis skyline, and catching sight of the beautiful nearby lakes. It doesn’t get much better than snacking on tasty seafood under the clouds. This trendy restaurant specializes in fresh fish, oysters, spicy jambalaya, stuffed tilapia, and other Gulf Coast staples. 1400 W. Lake Street, Minneapolis, 612-824-8862,
www.stellasfishcafe.com

Seven Sushi Ultralounge Skybar
Seven serves up luxury with its surf and turf dishes in downtown Minneapolis. The steakhouse at street level offers some of the city’s finest cuts of aged Angus beef, along with an extensive wine list to complement any meal. The penthouse’s Sushi Ultralounge and Skybar features jewel-colored martinis and skyline views to go with oodles of traditional and imaginative sushi creations. 700 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, 612-238-7777, www.7mpls.com

Brit’s Pub
Located on the south end of Nicollet Mall, Brit’s Pub serves up the quintessential pub atmosphere with pints and bar food galore. Dishes like Shepherd’s Pie and bread pudding give the menu an English flair, as does the impressive selection of English stouts, ales, and lagers on tap. This unique rooftop flaunts a 10,500-square-foot manicured English lawn bowling green in addition to downtown views, making Brit’s a popular summer hotspot. 1110 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, 612-332-3908, www.britspub.com

Waterfront

Maynard’s
Whether you prefer to nurse your martini in the sun or devour your fries in the shade, you’ll have no trouble finding an outdoor table at Maynard’s. On the southeast corner of Lake Minnetonka’s Excelsior Bay, Maynard’s huge patio and wharf area provide up-close views of the sparkling water and vibrant sailboats. 685 Excelsior Boulevard, Excelsior, 952-470-1800,
maynardsonline.com

Pracna on Main
Dating back to 1890, Pracna on Main is the oldest restaurant on the oldest street (Main Street in St. Anthony Main) in Minneapolis. This intimate restaurant features a variety of tasty dishes, including pasta primavera, broiled walleye and New York strip steak. Pracna is steps from live music, the Stone Arch Bridge, Segway tours, movies, and more. Grab a table on the sidewalk and discover why there is nothing better than summertime in Minnesota. 117 Main S.E., Minneapolis, 612-379-3200, www.stanthonymain.com

Sunset’s
On the opposite side of the lake in Wayzata, set aside a small lakeside shopping district, lies Sunset’s, a Lake Minnetonka gem. Get in the spirit of a Minnesota summer with some pan-fried walleye on the classy patios. But don’t let the name fool you; this is the place to be after sunrise—at least on Sundays for its popular and scrumptious brunch (reservations recommended). 700 E. Lake Street, Wayzata, 952-473-5253, www.sunsetsrestaurant.com

Vic’s
Located in St. Anthony Main, and featuring floor to ceiling windows and an open-air terrace, Vic’s provides sweeping views of the downtown Minneapolis skyline and the flowing Mississippi River. The menu here offers a variety of salads, sandwiches, and burgers. Signature dishes include lump crab cakes, flatbread bleu, and the “V” burger. Vic’s also offers a long wine list, featuring more than 100 wines. 201 Main Street S.E., Minneapolis, 612-312-2000, www.vicsdining.com w

Food Trucks

Smack Shack
This upscale food cart (and yes, a food cart can be upscale) serves up mouth-watering, freshest-of-the-fresh lobster rolls to the masses. Try the King Roll, a sliced piece of Texas Toast filled with a half pound of lobster chunks. For locations, visit www.smack-shack.com or follow on Twitter at @Smack_Shack

Turkey To Go
This truck serves up one thing and one thing only: “The best darn bird in town.” The super-tender, extra-juicy pulled turkey sandwiches (or turkey legs, if you so prefer) are seasoned just right that condiments are only an added bonus. Look for it at Eighth Street and Nicollet Mall and follow @TurkeyToGo for additional locations and news.

128 Mobile Cafe
A staple of downtown St. Paul, 128 Café took to the streets last year, offering lunches of baby-back ribs, corn fritters, chicken skewers, and salmon sandwiches in Mears Park and Rice Park, outside Wild games (in the fall), and more. Because it moves around downtown St. Paul, the truck always tweets its location: follow @128cafe

World Street Kitchen
The brainchild of Iron Chef contender and Saffron Restaurant chef Sameh Wadi and his brother Saed, this food cart provides a menu inspired by the street carts from Morocco to Vietnam. Taste items like “yum yum rice bowls,” filled with fresh herbs, egg, meat, and rice; curried chicken bahn mi; and the Bangkok burrito, all reasonably priced. Located at Nicollet Mall and Fifth Street, Minneapolis,
www.eatwsk.com and follow @eatwsk1