MINNEAPOLIS - Here we go! Super Bowl 52 is finally here -- and ready to kick off a week of events before the big game on Sunday.
As we welcome thousands of visitors into our fine city, Eater Twin Cities is hoping to give people a taste (literally) of what Minneapolis is all about.
Joy Summers is the editor of Eater Twin Cities, a food critic for Minnesota Monthly's Taste section and an all-around food lover. She stopped by KARE 11 to give her list of the must-hit spots to grab a bite to eat, drink a fancy cocktail or party it up while in Minneapolis.
Here's a recap of her picks:
From Al's Breakfast (a staple hole-in-the-wall breakfast spot) to the Dayton brothers' Bachelor Farmer, Corner Table, the award-winning Restaurant Alma, Revival, Gavin Kaysen's Bellecour in Wayzata or Spoon and Stable in North Loop, the Twin Cities are blessed with plenty of options when it comes to a good place to dine. Summers narrows it down to 38 "essential" restaurants -- ones that are simply musts -- around both Minneapolis and St. Paul (complete with a map!). You'll notice Summers gives the Jucy Lucy nod to Matt's Bar (one of a few establishments that argue they originated the MN-famous sandwich) due to the fact it's where President Obama chose to sink his teeth into the cheese-stuffed burger.
When it comes to the restaurants it seems everyone is talking about, the list is ever-changing. That's why Summers keeps tabs on them with an updated post each month in the form of a heatmap, which highlights where the Twin Cities' food lovers are flocking. For January, that list includes Hai Hai (northeast's new restaurant from the owners of Hola Arepa), Chef Daniel Del Prado's Martina, Michelle Gayer's Salty Tart in Lowertown, Kyatchi's second sushi spot, Tim McKee's OCTO fishbar, the brand new Hasty Tasty and Bull's Horn Food and Drink, a neighborhood dive bar from Doug Flicker and his wife Amy Greeley.
Ask any Minnesotan who has the best burger and you'll soon discover, we're passionate about our beef. This hotly debated topic is broken down into a list where Summers maps out the cheap stand-bys and the elevated works of patty perfection. You'll find these restaurants listed in geographical order from East to West: Lion's Tap's burger mecca, Parlour's insane and mega popular gooey burger, Lyn 65 Kitchen & Bar's bigger, better Mickey D's knockoff, Lowry Hill Meats one day a week special, chicken king Revival's take on a classic, greasy burger, your Juicy (or Jucy) Lucy staples, Mall of America's tasty offerings at Shake Shack, Blue Door Pub's expanded offerings of Blucys (blue cheese Juicy Lucy's), St. Paul's classic burger institution The Nook, Tin Cup's fiery Juicy Lucys and Gray Duck Tavern's offering of an In and Out classic (or the closest that MN can get).
With a lot of Super Bowl events starting early, you'll want to make sure you're ready to go. No better way to do that than with a fabulous Minneapolis breakfast or brunch. Summers gives you a choice for any mood -- whether it's a fancy, instagram-able work of art at The Kenwood, incredible Cuban cuisine at Victor's 1959 Cafe, a super tasty and fun grab-and-go donut at Glam Doll or a classic scratch made neighborhood joint like Hazel's Northeast.
Best Bars
When it comes to throwing one back, there's almost too many choices so Summers has listed them out according to the vibe you're feelin'. Check out her lists for best sports bars, craft cocktails, hot new bars, rock'n roll dive bars or test your MN-weather strength with an all-year-round patio bar.
Neighborhoods to check out
You may hear locals give you recommendations by neighborhood, because let's face it, we just have THAT many awesome places to check out. So Summers has given you a taste of each, plus a primer of what to check out: Eat Street, North Loop, Lowertown and West 7th.
Late night destinations
If you came here to party, Summers has you set. You don't want to drink on an empty stomach so here's a bunch of places where you can fill up after 8 p.m. before you hit the bar.
