Best Restaurants for People Watching in Northeast Minneapolis

Great service, food, and ambience. Had a pre-Orpheum reservation and our server had us in and out without feeling rushed. A great meal and exceptional experience.

Pros:The rooftop canopy adds an interesting ambiance to this space. The restaurant was quiet enough to comfortably have a conversation. The staff were friendly and we were greeted promptly and seated/ served quickly. There is a nice variety of choices on the menu. The salmon and short ribs were delicious. Cons:The space was a bit dark if seated on the outer edges of the available seating space. Several people were using their phone flashlights to read the menu. There was a row of TVs tuned to a basketball game above the bar area. I know many people appreciate this, I find it distracting to a nice dinner experience particularly at this price point.

We had a great time, the food was great. Our waitress was very nice and sweet. However I am taking a star off service because she removed the plates on our table before we were done with the appetizers. One of the items we had ordered to share was smoked salmon fried dumplings, which came with a dipping sauce. She came over to take the appetizers plates away when we were still eating the dumplings, without asking. She had the plates in her hands before we knew it. At that price point, we do not expect to feel rushed. May have been a rookie mistake from our waitress, who was otherwise lovely and professional. It didn't ruin our experience, we had a great time and loved the food and would go back and would recommend this restaurant. But pointing it out as an opportunity for improvement from wait staff.

Such a cute concept! The food was really excellent. Small bites that reminded me of a “high tea” vibe but with yummy cocktails instead. Though it’s not in an actual old train car, it is impressive how they create the ambiance of one. My only criticism would be that though there was Christmas music playing, it was very quiet and we could hear every word of conversations next to us. My wife and I said we would do this again though next year if there’s another menu to experience.

It was a nice place, service was pretty good for a Friday night. I'll admit there is no great parking in this area. So many spaces are blocked off for valet for another restaurant. This made it more of a hassle for folks who don't typically come to this area.