12 Best Restaurants in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota

This ever-popular Grand Avenue haunt is three restaurants in one: a cafeteria-style deli, a pizza and wine bar, and a delectable patisserie—quite possibly the best desserts in town. Don't miss the turtle cake or one of 30 cheesecakes.

Street food from hot zones around the equator is how this restaurant describes its unique cuisine, served family-style. There's also a sushi bar and imaginative drink list, including the Chinopolitan, a cosmo garnished with dry ice. Don't forget your hearing aid, because this place is a scene all week long, especially during happy hour.

This off-the-beaten-path contemporary eatery is firmly nestled at the top of the list for best dining in the Twin Cities. Exposed ceilings still manage to feel cozy in this multilevel space. Order the three-course tasting menu that changes seasonally, or select from à la carte options.

This small, urban bistro, which serves upscale comfort food, is one of the restaurants in Minneapolis. The tres leches (three milks) cake is splendid, and the joint's open late.

This sexy restaurant in the Graves 601 Hotel has received national attention over the years, and serves contemporary fare worthy of a stopover. You may end up lingering in the trendy lounge when you're done eating.

Lucia's is a quaint neighborhood haunt praised for its locally grown and organic menu that changes weekly. There's also a stellar wine bar and bakery; takeout is available next door.

Tunes by Tony Bennett play over the speakers in this Chicago-theme restaurant whose walls are covered in brick and bright red paint. From your booth you have a clear view of the open pit broiler, where the juicy steaks are seared. There's live entertainment Wednesday through Saturday.

On the National Register of Historic Places, this quintessential 1930s diner is accented with lots of chrome and vinyl. Sit at the lunch counter or in one of the few tiny booths to enjoy stick-to-your-ribs fare; breakfast is the most popular meal of the day.

Leatherette booths lend a clubby air to this restaurant, which has an oyster bar and individual relish trays. Crab cakes and fish stew are popular.

In-the-know locals head to this Warehouse-District destination for fresh sushi. The interior shimmers with lilac lights and flickering candles, and a sidewalk patio is open in summer.

A floor-to-ceiling mural of the face of Botticelli's Venus overlooks this artfully designed trattoria, which manages to be busy and tranquil at once. Pazzaluna stakes its reputation on innovative dishes such as the fritto misto (fried calamari and vegetable strips) but brings panache to standards like handmade fettuccine in a Bolognese meat sauce.

In this romantic Victorian house, each dining room has a fireplace, Oriental rugs, and marble-topped tables. Country French and Mediterranean flavors predominate the cuisine. The menu changes seasonally.