This spot was a little unexpected. When I am traveling, I love to scope out great liquor stores to find unique or more rare bottles of bourbon, and when I was talking to my friend from the cities, she said we had to go to Surdyk’s. She also said that she heard they have a pretty exceptional bar/restaurant connected to it. I was sold. The liquor store itself did not disappoint with floor to ceiling options, but Sidebar was equally impressive. It had a great ambience, this house old-fashioned might be one of the best I have ever had, and their food was unexpectedly elevated for being a restaurant connected to a liquor store. For example, they don’t have onion rings, they have onion bhaji which is like an onion fritter that was exploding with flavor and texture. Even these roasted brussels sprouts had additional elements that set them apart. There is an obvious reason that the liquor store was celebrating its 90th anniversary. When you’re doing things that well, people recognize it.Wheelchair accessibility: **one caveat I will give to this experience is that if you use a wheelchair or can’t manage stairs, you will need to enter the restaurant through the liquor store. The liquor store clerk that I asked about getting to the restaurant told me I had to go outside and get in the side door, but there were stairs, so I had to find a manager that could let me in through the liquor store.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Steven Miles MD
Excellent salad. Entree walleye was perfect. I am always surprised at the the speed and quality of food from the tiny kitchen. Rose is a terrific serverA quibble. This bistro is literally part of the best liquor store in the Twin Cities The wine selection is modest. As to spirits, on another visit, they “ran out” of one of the most common brands of bourbon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kezia Germ
Fantastic cocktails and food! Very upscale vibe and the service was great. It would make a good date night spot. The cheese curds and honey were to die for.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Cheese Curds & Hot Honey
Maxwell Kayser
Overall fun place for people who like food, though a bit hit and miss. We ate at the bar/restaurant and got a charcuterie board. The cheese was quite good, as was the honey and the pear jam. However, much of the rest of the food was good but less so, whether cooked/charred longer than I think it should've been or more bland than is typically expected of the dish.Our server was great. Very amiable, and made the best possible food recommendations.The environment had a relaxed fine dining feel. A tight space with lots of conversation happening and friendly staff.Kid-friendliness: The environment would be amenable to children but the menu probably isn't.Wheelchair accessibility: Getting into the space is perfectly fine, but the seating area is tight.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Raven Childers
The cocktails were absolutely wonderful along with the food, and the person who waited on us was very, very helpful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kim Wolfe
Best drinks in NE Minneapolis! I love this fancy, little, upscale space to meet for drinks. The bartenders are some of the best. Love the atmosphere. Reservations are a must!
Janneta T
I ordered a flat white and it was made incorrectly, so I asked the server to remake it (see photo of what we got, we drank some of it but when it arrived it looked just like in the photo - just milk and coffee with no microfoam). Instead, the barista himself came all the way from the coffee shop to our table, his phone in hand, hands shaking in frustration, showing me a cartoon image of a flat white and insisting that it was made correctly and how he had "been a barista for 11 years". Eventually he agreed to just make me a latte, but it was a very uncomfortable back-and-forth. I was really taken aback by how rude and condescending the barista was. I will absolutely be going back because I love Surdyk’s, but the barista needs some soft skills training (and frankly some barista training).
Atmosphere: 2
James Khuong
I literally had no idea it was connected to Surdyk's, but it was a very pleasant surprise. The bartenders greeted me as soon as I sat down and we were helped right away. The house Old Fashioned was made amazing, and the Mac and Cheese and Squash Ravioli were some of the best pasta dishes I've had. The ambience was very warm and lively here, and all around a great experience. Will definitely be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rachael S.
Whether you are stopping in for post-work drinks, meeting for apps and cocktails at the bar, or planning to enjoy their dinner menu, Sidebar will not disappoint. I've even dropped in with friends for late night espresso martinis. With an expansive patio in the summer and great bar seating during any month, I'd recommend Sidebar for many occasions. The staff is friendly and bar tenders are more than happy to walk you through their extensive cocktail menu. I most recently ordered their burger and fries along with my two dining partners. Two smash patties are snugly held together with American cheese, house made pickles, and creamy dijonnaise. Their fries are addictive and I could toss back the aioli by the spoonful. I've also enjoyed their fried cheese curds with hot honey and veggie + hummus board. Their espresso martini is well balanced with cocoa and vanilla notes but not overly creamy or filling, a delightful cocktail! Great spot for food and drink in the Northeast neighborhood!
Jay Bolser
I rarely post bad reviews but I feel I need to here. Walked in at 11:00 am today. Promptly ordered, and waited, and waited, and waited. We were the only customers in the place. We could see into the kitchen area and no body seemed to be cooking anything. We sat there for 20 minutes, and no food. I don't think their fryers were up to temp. No one ever stopped by to tell us there was some sort of delay. Doll and I got up and headed to the door, they asked if we wanted our food to go and I said no. I told them that 20 minutes was unacceptable amount of time to wait for a sandwich and a slice of quiche. I was promptly told that 'this was a from scratch restaurant'. Doll and I dine out ALOT, at fine dining locations all around town. We have never had to wait 20 minutes for two simple dishes.
Great place for a quick drink and some bites before heading to a downtown show! The deviled eggs, charcuterie and brussel sprouts are each unique to classic favorites. This spot may see us back very soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Arancini, Cheeseburger and Fries, Fried Cheese Curds & Hot Honey, Caramelized Brussels Sprouts, Deviled Eggs
Jay B.
I rarely post bad reviews but I feel I need to here. Walked in at 11:00 am today. Promptly ordered, and waited, and waited, and waited. We were the only customers in the place. We could see into the kitchen area and no body seemed to be cooking anything. We sat there for 20 minutes, and no food. I don't think their fryers were up to temp. No one ever stopped by to tell us there was some sort of delay. Doll and I got up and headed to the door, they asked if we wanted our food to go and I said no. I told them that 20 minutes was unacceptable amount of time to wait for a sandwich and a slice of quiche. I was promptly told that 'this was a from scratch restaurant'. Doll and I dine out ALOT, at fine dining locations all around town. We have never had to wait 20 minutes for two simple dishes.
Alice M.
Sidebar is a great addition to the neighborhood and the Surydk's complex! The space is nice and intimate but it can accomodate groups of 6-8 as well. Because it's small you might want to make reservations ahead of time, though I can almost always grab a spot at the bar if I'm solo. The patio area can get windy but I bet indoors with the garage door windows open on a nice summer day would be perfect.The curds with hot honey and the burger with dijonnaise are among the highlights of the menu items I have tried. The cocktails, pastas and soups are pretty good but I have had a miss here and there. I'm sure they crush on the wine list.Surdyk's continues to get lots of my money between this place, the cheese shop, and the liquor store. Long live Surdyk's!
Samantha Zanon
Food was pretty awful - way too salty, greasy, and/or drowning in sauces that were also too salty, greasy, and rich. Service was good, though he never actually asked how the food was …
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 4
Bob A.
I am always excited to come here! This place has ambiance coming out of its eyeball sockets. I've been coming to the deli section of Surdyk's for years and I've been impressed with their cheeses and salamis, so it's not surprising that they have a bistro with such high-quality dishes. My favorite is the Grilled Sirloin Steak, which is a little pricey but ever so tasty. It comes with a pepper sauce that is fun to dip bread in once the meat has been devoured. They also have a great mac & cheese and a nice Apaghetti alla Vodka with sausage, and of course the charcuterie board is outstanding. There isn't much seating, although you can resort to a seat at the bar as I often have. They have outdoor seating during the appropriate months. The atmosphere is really fun and you can park in the Surdyk's lot for free!
This spot was a little unexpected. When I am traveling, I love to scope out great liquor stores to find unique or more rare bottles of bourbon, and when I was talking to my friend from the cities, she said we had to go to Surdyk’s. She also said that she heard they have a pretty exceptional bar/restaurant connected to it. I was sold. The liquor store itself did not disappoint with floor to ceiling options, but Sidebar was equally impressive. It had a great ambience, this house old-fashioned might be one of the best I have ever had, and their food was unexpectedly elevated for being a restaurant connected to a liquor store. For example, they don’t have onion rings, they have onion bhaji which is like an onion fritter that was exploding with flavor and texture. Even these roasted brussels sprouts had additional elements that set them apart. There is an obvious reason that the liquor store was celebrating its 90th anniversary. When you’re doing things that well, people recognize it.Wheelchair accessibility: **one caveat I will give to this experience is that if you use a wheelchair or can’t manage stairs, you will need to enter the restaurant through the liquor store. The liquor store clerk that I asked about getting to the restaurant told me I had to go outside and get in the side door, but there were stairs, so I had to find a manager that could let me in through the liquor store.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent salad. Entree walleye was perfect. I am always surprised at the the speed and quality of food from the tiny kitchen. Rose is a terrific serverA quibble. This bistro is literally part of the best liquor store in the Twin Cities The wine selection is modest. As to spirits, on another visit, they “ran out” of one of the most common brands of bourbon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fantastic cocktails and food! Very upscale vibe and the service was great. It would make a good date night spot. The cheese curds and honey were to die for.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Cheese Curds & Hot Honey
Overall fun place for people who like food, though a bit hit and miss. We ate at the bar/restaurant and got a charcuterie board. The cheese was quite good, as was the honey and the pear jam. However, much of the rest of the food was good but less so, whether cooked/charred longer than I think it should've been or more bland than is typically expected of the dish.Our server was great. Very amiable, and made the best possible food recommendations.The environment had a relaxed fine dining feel. A tight space with lots of conversation happening and friendly staff.Kid-friendliness: The environment would be amenable to children but the menu probably isn't.Wheelchair accessibility: Getting into the space is perfectly fine, but the seating area is tight.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
The cocktails were absolutely wonderful along with the food, and the person who waited on us was very, very helpful.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best drinks in NE Minneapolis! I love this fancy, little, upscale space to meet for drinks. The bartenders are some of the best. Love the atmosphere. Reservations are a must!
I ordered a flat white and it was made incorrectly, so I asked the server to remake it (see photo of what we got, we drank some of it but when it arrived it looked just like in the photo - just milk and coffee with no microfoam). Instead, the barista himself came all the way from the coffee shop to our table, his phone in hand, hands shaking in frustration, showing me a cartoon image of a flat white and insisting that it was made correctly and how he had "been a barista for 11 years". Eventually he agreed to just make me a latte, but it was a very uncomfortable back-and-forth. I was really taken aback by how rude and condescending the barista was. I will absolutely be going back because I love Surdyk’s, but the barista needs some soft skills training (and frankly some barista training).
Atmosphere: 2
I literally had no idea it was connected to Surdyk's, but it was a very pleasant surprise. The bartenders greeted me as soon as I sat down and we were helped right away. The house Old Fashioned was made amazing, and the Mac and Cheese and Squash Ravioli were some of the best pasta dishes I've had. The ambience was very warm and lively here, and all around a great experience. Will definitely be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Whether you are stopping in for post-work drinks, meeting for apps and cocktails at the bar, or planning to enjoy their dinner menu, Sidebar will not disappoint. I've even dropped in with friends for late night espresso martinis. With an expansive patio in the summer and great bar seating during any month, I'd recommend Sidebar for many occasions. The staff is friendly and bar tenders are more than happy to walk you through their extensive cocktail menu. I most recently ordered their burger and fries along with my two dining partners. Two smash patties are snugly held together with American cheese, house made pickles, and creamy dijonnaise. Their fries are addictive and I could toss back the aioli by the spoonful. I've also enjoyed their fried cheese curds with hot honey and veggie + hummus board. Their espresso martini is well balanced with cocoa and vanilla notes but not overly creamy or filling, a delightful cocktail! Great spot for food and drink in the Northeast neighborhood!
I rarely post bad reviews but I feel I need to here. Walked in at 11:00 am today. Promptly ordered, and waited, and waited, and waited. We were the only customers in the place. We could see into the kitchen area and no body seemed to be cooking anything. We sat there for 20 minutes, and no food. I don't think their fryers were up to temp. No one ever stopped by to tell us there was some sort of delay. Doll and I got up and headed to the door, they asked if we wanted our food to go and I said no. I told them that 20 minutes was unacceptable amount of time to wait for a sandwich and a slice of quiche. I was promptly told that 'this was a from scratch restaurant'. Doll and I dine out ALOT, at fine dining locations all around town. We have never had to wait 20 minutes for two simple dishes.
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Great place for a quick drink and some bites before heading to a downtown show! The deviled eggs, charcuterie and brussel sprouts are each unique to classic favorites. This spot may see us back very soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Arancini, Cheeseburger and Fries, Fried Cheese Curds & Hot Honey, Caramelized Brussels Sprouts, Deviled Eggs
I rarely post bad reviews but I feel I need to here. Walked in at 11:00 am today. Promptly ordered, and waited, and waited, and waited. We were the only customers in the place. We could see into the kitchen area and no body seemed to be cooking anything. We sat there for 20 minutes, and no food. I don't think their fryers were up to temp. No one ever stopped by to tell us there was some sort of delay. Doll and I got up and headed to the door, they asked if we wanted our food to go and I said no. I told them that 20 minutes was unacceptable amount of time to wait for a sandwich and a slice of quiche. I was promptly told that 'this was a from scratch restaurant'. Doll and I dine out ALOT, at fine dining locations all around town. We have never had to wait 20 minutes for two simple dishes.
Sidebar is a great addition to the neighborhood and the Surydk's complex! The space is nice and intimate but it can accomodate groups of 6-8 as well. Because it's small you might want to make reservations ahead of time, though I can almost always grab a spot at the bar if I'm solo. The patio area can get windy but I bet indoors with the garage door windows open on a nice summer day would be perfect.The curds with hot honey and the burger with dijonnaise are among the highlights of the menu items I have tried. The cocktails, pastas and soups are pretty good but I have had a miss here and there. I'm sure they crush on the wine list.Surdyk's continues to get lots of my money between this place, the cheese shop, and the liquor store. Long live Surdyk's!
Food was pretty awful - way too salty, greasy, and/or drowning in sauces that were also too salty, greasy, and rich. Service was good, though he never actually asked how the food was …
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 4
I am always excited to come here! This place has ambiance coming out of its eyeball sockets. I've been coming to the deli section of Surdyk's for years and I've been impressed with their cheeses and salamis, so it's not surprising that they have a bistro with such high-quality dishes. My favorite is the Grilled Sirloin Steak, which is a little pricey but ever so tasty. It comes with a pepper sauce that is fun to dip bread in once the meat has been devoured. They also have a great mac & cheese and a nice Apaghetti alla Vodka with sausage, and of course the charcuterie board is outstanding. There isn't much seating, although you can resort to a seat at the bar as I often have. They have outdoor seating during the appropriate months. The atmosphere is really fun and you can park in the Surdyk's lot for free!