Best Neighborhood Gem Restaurants in Dinkytown

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodMexicanJapanese

Regions

Twin Cities / MinneapolisTwin Cities / Northern SuburbsTwin Cities / St. PaulTwin Cities / Western Suburbs

Neighborhoods

BloomingtonCalhoun IslesDowntown / North LoopEdinaLittle CanadaLongfellow

Top Rated

CharmingFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for brunch

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Accessibility

Gender-neutral restroomWheelchair access

36 restaurants available nearby

1. Young Joni

4.8

Exceptional(871)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Pizzeria • Northeast Minneapolis

Booked 62 times today

Young Joni is James Beard award-winning chef Ann Kim's restaurant located in the Arts District of Northeast Minneapolis. The menu is inspired by wood fire cooking and features an array of globally influenced dishes and signature pizzas. Dining Room reservations are offered for dinner and weekend brunch; walk-ins are available at our bar and community table.Young Joni is the recipient of 2019's James Beard Award for "Best Chef Midwest"; it has been featured in the New York Times and Vogue, and on Netflix's "Chef's Table: Pizza." Tucked discreetly behind Young Joni is the back bar, serving full and no-proof craft cocktails and pizzas in a warm, analog setting. Esquire named it one of 2019's Best Bars in America and Eater called it an "Essential Minneapolis Bar." Walk down the alley alongside Young Joni and look for the red light; when the light is on, the back bar is open!

A photo of Manny's Steakhouse restaurant

2. Manny's Steakhouse

4.8

Exceptional(8474)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Steak • Downtown / North Loop

Booked 86 times today

Masculine, bright, accented with wood & leather, Manny's evokes the great steakhouses of New York & Chicago - & eclipses them in critical & popular acclaim. Rated Top Five in the U.S. by the Zagat Guide, named one of America's top Steakhouses by the Knife & Fork Club, Men's Journal & the Independent Cattleman's Association, & a perennial winner of newspaper & magazine reader polls, Manny's commands a fanatical local following & a national reputation. Wrote the New York Times: "There's good news in Minneapolis for those who still share the secret pleasures of red meat, well-cut & seriously served." In addition to USDA-certified, dry- aged, center-cut beef, Manny's offers chops, chicken, fresh seafood & a Wine Spectator Award-winning wine list.

3. Zelo

4.9

Exceptional(4100)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Italian • Downtown / North Loop

Booked 51 times today

Zelo is a beloved neighborhood gem in Minneapolis's downtown area. Its handcrafted Italian cuisine made from local ingredients, along with a thoughtful wine selection, consistently earns high praise from diners. The restaurant's commitment to quality food and service, coupled with a unique atmosphere and an extensive wine list, sets it apart. As one reviewer put it, 'From the complimentary valet parking to the fabulous food and atmosphere, this is a gem of a restaurant.'

A photo of Milly's Wine Bar & Bistro restaurant

4. Milly's Wine Bar & Bistro

4.9

Exceptional(100)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Wine Bar • Northeast Minneapolis

Booked 16 times today

Just on the edge of downtown, we’re located in the stunning Mill District! Milly’s is a gathering place whether you are a wine enthusiast or novice, we hope to find the perfect pairing for you. Our goal is to make wine accessible, affordable, & fun, with food to delight your taste buds.Pull up a chair, grab a book, try something new, meet a neighbor or make a new friend. Like we always say- ‘Come for a glass, stay for a bottle!’

5. Tullibee

4.6

Exceptional(1442)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Farm-to-table • Downtown / North Loop

Booked 12 times today

Tullibee celebrates the lakes and woods cuisine that is so deeply woven into the fabric of Minnesota. Named for a fish native to our Minnesota waters, Tullibee is a tribute to our beautiful state and brings its fresh and authentic flavors to each dish we serve. Under Chef Marque Collins lead, Tullibee's new menu is curated with intention to allow guests to try multiple items on the menu. We will be serving more smaller portions of the menu items meant to be ordered many at a time on a rolling basis throughout the meal allowing guests to experience different options. Come and experience the flavors of the North! Tullibee is a taste of Minnesota. *Reservations are for Tullibee only. Our lounge and rooftop bar are seated on a first come, first served basis.

A photo of Murray's Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge restaurant

6. Murray's Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge

4.8

Exceptional(6224)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• American • Downtown / North Loop

Booked 36 times today

Welcome to Murray's Restaurant. Minneapolis' original restaurant for steak since 1946 & home of the award winning Silver Butterknife Steak dinner for two. Also known for mouth watering garlic toast, Hickory Smoked shrimp appetizer, and home baked pies. Well into its third generation of family ownership, Murray's stands out among local and out of town diners alike as a true Twin Cities landmark & continues to provide the best in food and service as it did in 1946.

A photo of Nolo's Kitchen & Bar restaurant

7. Nolo's Kitchen & Bar

4.7

Exceptional(1127)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Contemporary American • Downtown / North Loop

Booked 51 times today

**Please note all reservations are for Nolo's Kitchen, the rooftop is first come, first serve. For cabana rentals please visit https://www.rooftopbarmpls.com/cabanas**Located at the historic Gardner Hardware Building at 515 Washington Ave N in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis. The NOLO's team consists of Marty Collins, Brett Johnson and Peter Hoff, each native Minnesotans with extensive industry experience. Marty has owned over 10 restaurant concepts in Minneapolis, MN, Kansas City and Columbia, MO, and Iowa City, IA. Brett and his family have owned and operated The Hilltop Restaurant for the past 40 years. Pete, the head chef, brings his most recent culinary experience and creativity from California to NOLO’s, The Rooftop Bar and The Basement Bar. His culinary vision and passion for local ingredients create new modern comfort food dishes. The team shares a passion for the restaurant and bar industry and sees an opportunity to fill gaps in the market in the North Loop.

A photo of Cafe Lurcat - Minneapolis restaurant

8. Cafe Lurcat - Minneapolis

4.7

Exceptional(5278)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• American • Downtown / North Loop

Booked 13 times today

Café and Bar Lurcat, located next to Loring Park, is a hip, urban venue that boasts serious food and voguish design. Café Lurcat is a perfect blend of classic old world style with a Noveau twist. The expansive bar and lounge is ideal for casual cocktails and a la carte bites, while the romantic dining room creates the perfect ambiance for an exceptional foodie experience featuring sophisticated comfort food. We offer the perfect event venue for family celebrations, trendy parties, marriages, Bar Mitzvahs, showers, charity events, galas, graduations and black tie events. This iconic Minneapolis restaurant continues to age like a fine wine as it approaches its 20th year.

A photo of Nicollet Island Inn restaurant

9. Nicollet Island Inn

4.7

Exceptional(3419)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• American • Downtown / North Loop

Booked 10 times today

The Nicollet Island Inn has stood witness to over a century of change on the shores of the Mississippi River. The Inn is consistently named the most romantic restaurant in the area and its river views have been voted some of the best in the city. An immediately recognizable Minneapolis landmark, the Inn offers world-class cuisine created by Executive Chef Michael Rain , whose innovative and constantly updated menu includes a variety of seafood, steaks and gourmet specialty dishes. Our wine menu has been chosen specifically to compliment the food and highlight producers from the world's leading wine regions.Nic's bar, just off the main dining room, is a casual, old-world tavern and the patio offers stunning views of the Minneapolis skyline. The Inn is a convenient, comfortable destination for breakfast or lunch meetings while the 3 or 5-course Sunday Brunch is the perfect weekend indulgence.

10. The Smack Shack

4.7

Exceptional(1759)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Downtown / North Loop

Booked 22 times today

Casual, coastal restaurant in the North Loop. Reservations taken for dining room only, patio seating is available on a first come, first serve basis. Please check in with hosts upon arrival for patio seating.Although named for the boats used to catch lobster, Smack Shack was launched as a food truck in 2010 serving lobster rolls from a land-locked downtown Minneapolis parking lot. Owner Josh Thoma had a great recipe and a belief that appetite for fresh lobster in the Twin Cities was as strong as any coastal city.Smack Shack is committed to serving sustainable seafood and is a current partner in the Minnesota Zoo’s Fish Smart program. Sustainable seafood is wild caught or farm raised seafood that has established practices to ensure the long term growth and thriving populations of seafood with limited harm to the environment.

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

OT
OpenTable Diner
Minneapolis - St. Paul •1 review
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Justin and Tanner were so kind and wonderful!! the shareables we ordered were so tasty, albeit small, and the wine pairings were excellent. we’ll definitely be back!
More info
Milly's Wine Bar & BistroPrice: Moderate• Wine Bar• Northeast Minneapolis
•
4.9
A
Amy
Minneapolis - St. Paul •6 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
The butternut squash ravioli was amazing! Excellent wine list.
More info
ZeloPrice: Moderate• Italian• Downtown / North Loop
•
4.9
T
Todd
Minneapolis - St. Paul •6 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
Delicious food and cocktails. Had the Roasted Brussels Sprouts and the Bison Steak Frites.The Brussels were very roasted and still moist and delicious. The Bison Steak was perfectly done and the accompanying fries tasty all alone or with the optional dill aioli. Only not was the food took a bit to arrive, but was well worth the wait.
More info
TullibeePrice: Expensive• Farm-to-table• Downtown / North Loop
•
4.6
K
Kathryn
Minneapolis - St. Paul •1 review
5.0
Dined on Mar 4, 2025
Great place to celebrate a birthday with family! Salads and apps were terrific, followed by an excellent assortment of pizza. Tess, our server, was friendly, attentive and made our evening one to remember!
More info
Young JoniPrice: Expensive• Pizzeria• Northeast Minneapolis
•
4.8
OT
OpenTable Diner
Minneapolis - St. Paul •1 review
5.0
Dined on Mar 4, 2025
Manny's is an incredible experience. Fantastic service, phenomenal food and all around great time.
More info
Manny's SteakhousePrice: Very Expensive• Steak• Downtown / North Loop
•
4.8

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