Black Duck Spirits & Hearth

I arrived for dinner at 8:15 and the restaurant closes at 9:00 so I was thankful Black Duck was able to seat our party of 5 (my wife and three kids) Overall, I enjoyed this restaurant. The food was fantastic, but I was a little disappointed with the level of service at a fairly expensive restaurant. I know restaurants make money on alcohol and my wife ordered a glass of wine, but I stuck with water. I think he may have given me a dirty and disappointed look for not ordering alcohol. Oh well. As I type this review, it’s 9:34 and our family is the only patrons left in this restaurant. Okay, our server totally forgot about us. Anyhow, great food, but don’t expect top notch service. Pretty disappointed with really crappy service. I would highly recommend the food, but unfortunately I will not be back here because of spending $175 with bad service. ••I am adding a followup to my review after going home. My wife and oldest son agree with my review of bad service. After receiving our meal, the server never came back to check on us to see if everything was okay- which it was, but it would have been kind to ask. At 9:35 pm, the bartender actually came to ask about boxes for leftovers. We coincidentally had dinner on Black Duck’s one year anniversary. Yay to them. I just hope your experience is different than mine because the food is fantastic, but the bad service ruined it for me.

I really enjoyed this spot, been here twice now and both times left happy and full! The server had a bunch of recommendations on the first visit so I felt comfortable guiding the second visit. The burger here is amazing... I opted for sauce on the side as I'm not huge on sauces on burgers. Glad I did, it wasn't my style, but the burger was great and held up on its own, didn't need the sauce. We also tried the eggs + chips, which was a super fun presentation. Beet aguachile was great, pork belly was perfectly cooked and not chewy at all, drinks were firing on all cylinders! Cannot wait to go back!

What great place to celebrate our son’s birthday! The cocktails and food were delicious! We enjoyed the Farmers salad , chicken, skirt steak and pork chops entrees along with cheesecake for dessert! It was so nice that they sent over a celebratory sparkling wine to toast his birthday!

Crazy! Minneapolis probably top 5 restaurants. Food was outstanding. I tried the oysters raw, and grilled. My favorite was the grilled one because I was not expecting the flavor and sauce. Both were delicious. I also got the smashed burger which was delicious. The beef patty was cooked perfect and the flavor was very good. I tried the pork belly as well and the sauce was very good. I tried the flat iron steak and it was cooked perfectly. I loved that it was very good quality. Service was lovely and the location is very pretty. No loud music, relaxing place. At the end we got the cheesecake and well you guys go and try it for yourself. I'm definitely coming back.

It's a warm and inviting neighborhood restaurant with friendly, intentful service. The cocktails are unique and tasty! The gnocchi and toasada were delicious, the market fish was perfectly cooked, and paired with the spicy salsa was unbelievable. My kids raved about their double-stacked duck burger for days! You absolutely HAVE to go – any foodie would love it, and it's great to support a local spot. You won't regret it. #mealoftheyear

A quiet super star! With all the new places popping up in Northeast, this one hasn't had the same press. We bellied up to the bar on a Thursday evening and dug into the surprisingly fun and exotic cocktail menu. The new Patogonia cocktail stole the show. The food we ordered all did a dance between decadent and delicate - thin wisps of house cut potato chips, tossed in truffle and a soft boiled egg, paper thin layers of mushroom terrine, smothered in a cream sauce with onion crisps, perfectly crafted potato periogi, sprinkled with chives, accompanied with a side of sour cream. Very yummy. The bartender knew his stuff and the staff was very warm and friendly.

Finally made it to this neighborhood gem, after driving past for years (even during the food truck days). Service was very good, wasn’t too busy but filled in around 7pm. Appetizer was a great beet tostada salad, the double Duck burger, and a radish and avocado salad. All were very tasty and unique. Cocktails were fun and well crafted. Onsite parking, clean and new restaurant - if you haven’t found it - now’s the time.

Update 2: Still great cocktails here, and great service. And that duck burger is really delicious!! We visited again today. Everything was amazing. We had the duck, which was sensational, and the steak, also perfect. I tried the polish donut dessert, and it is so fresh and yummy! The cocktail list was new, and all the ones we tried were great! Very original also! I really recommend this place. We decided to try Black Duck in North Minneapolis on Johnson Street. I opted to sit at the chef's counter. I love watching how restaurant chefs cook. We checked out the cocktail menu. Nothing in their specialty list caught our eye except the one cocktail with a fat washed whisky. It was great! I ordered bubbly and my husband ordered an old fashioned. Both were fine. He did end up ordering the sip of the moment, which they described as a mix of a mai tai and a lina colada. It was actually delicious, and not sweet. We went just for burgers, but we started with the duck liver pate. It was tasty but a bit salty and vinegary. They also do not give you enough toast. They offered us more, but they charged us $4 for it. That surprised us. The smash burger is delicious, and the bun is particularly fantastic. I recommend ordering the double, because a single patty was not really enough meat for that size bun. We also ordered the duck burger, which was house ground duck served on that same delicious bun and topped with dijonnaise and havarti. It also was delicious! Their waffle fries are an ample portion, and they were nice and crispy. I would not get the white BBQ sauce..not to my taste. We tried their Basque cheesecake also. It was a nice version of it. We saw many main dishes head out from the kitchen. The chicken sandwich looked awesome, but the pork chop looked fantastic. We will be back to give those a try. To sum, we had a lovely casual dinner. Our wait staff person was wonderful! The service was excellent.

We were lucky enough to dine at the chef's counter so we could watch them cooking over wood. Everything we had was outstanding. Highlights were the roast duck which was succulent and so flavor rich, and the duck burger, which I can't stop thinking about. Their lot is a little small, but there is plenty of street parking at the park just a block away.

3.5 Stars Good service, nice cozy atmosphere. We went for happy hour food so I can't comment on much of the menu. I had the fried bologna sandwich, mostly because you don't often see that (though I think it's gaining popularity!) and how can you pass up pimento cheese? The truth though is I don't have any bologna experience beyond Oscar Mayer, so I can't comment on if this house made variety was any good. It was fine? My only wish was that it was sliced a bit thicker. Overall pretty tasty though! A friend ordered the paczki and they were pretty dry and were lacking in filling. The glaze was tasty though. Table next to us has the wood fired chicken and it looked pretty good!

Stopped by Black Duck for a holiday staff dinner. Very nice ambiance and friendly staff. We each had a great drink then enjoyed an app, dinner and dessert. This is a super comfortable quirky space. Some nice art and cozy seating. Next time I would love to sit at the bar next to the kitchen! We started with an order of the pierogies. They were handmade and so nice and fluffy. I had the flat iron steak. If you read any of my reviews, you know I am a steak snob and almost always order a filet. I ventured out of my comfort zone and was not disappointed with the flat iron! It was a beautiful presentation with autumnal veggies and a charred herb sauce. Dessert was a nice old fashioned and a delish cheesecake. This is not an inexpensive place to go but it really is so worth the price! Def recommend

Finally made it to happy hour. The smash burger was absolutely smashing--perfectly satisfying. I paired it with a Negroni, which was a solid choice. The restaurant had its usual warm and cozy vibe, with attentive service and a hardworking team keeping everything running smoothly. There was a steady stream of customers throughout the evening. The only letdown was the paczki (Polish donut) my friend ordered. It fell flat--dry with barely any filling. I remembered it as a soft, brioche-like treat, bursting with raspberry jam in every bite. Unfortunately, this time, it was a disappointing dessert.

I want to give this place a 5 but the vegan option just didn't hit the spot, there was something left to be desired with the mushroom tartine and we think it might be because the mushrooms were so thinly sliced, taking away from some umami. The duck burger was so rich and flavorful! The fries with white BBQ sauce were great - love some waffle cut fries. The house old fashioned has been added to the list of my favorite drinks. Nothing bad to say about the service or atmosphere.

What's not to like about this place? Truly one of the best new restaurants in Minneapolis that we've been to in a while. First off, I think they've been very thoughtful about the restaurant given the location. It's on a busy neighborhood corner that could definitely get both walk-in and sit-down dinner traffic. So, the restaurant is made for both with more casual outdoor and indoor seating areas + standard sit-down dinner tables. Service was pretty solid given the place is new. The food was impeccable. Modern American with Mexican notes is how I would describe it. I had the old fashioned as I do anytime I go to a restaurant and one is on the cocktail menu. This was one of the better ones I've ever had with the duck fat wash notes coming through just enough to make it delicious and unique. Wife had the en tus suenos which was awesome too. I had the pork chop for dinner and absolutely loved it. The sides were fresh and bright and the sauce had just enough pepper heat. Even the burnt fat on the side was delicious and the cook was spot on. Wife had the duck and loved it. Maybe could have used a bit more meat for the price but otherwise spot on. Had the cheesecake was corn ice cream for dessert and it was fantastic and unique. Wy wife comes from a Mexican family and so really appreciated the fusion of cuisines. We'll definitely be back!

This space in NE has been empty for far too long. Loved the Fare Game food truck that was here awhile ago and was excited to try the elevated, sit-down space! Making a reservation online was easy! They asked for your birthday upon reserving which I thought was a little strange. Their parking lot is small. But this area of Johnson usually has plenty of street parking. Check in was easy! We were greeted by two hosts and brought to our table. The space is beautiful! I really appreciated the open kitchen. Our server was very lovely! Though she asked about a second drink once we had already finished our food. The drinks! They were out of two of the wines and one of the NA beverages. I opted for the house old fashioned. It had great flavors, but was a little syrupy for my liking. The food! Unfortunately they were out of the oysters, but we enjoyed everything we had! Though some of the portions were a bit small. We ordered the beet aguachile, pierogis, duck, and cheesecake. The aguachile and the duck were by far my favorites and would recommend them to anyone!

Wow wow wow! I so loved coming to this place. Looking through the menu I thought it pulled a lot of Mexican influence with the salsas, masa, cocktails and the ingredients as well. Service was a bit slow and wished we got a bit more detail and recommendation on dishes but overall was very happy with my choice. I had the duck wich came with these little masa dumplings almost that were DEVINE! I could totally see that as an appetizer with salsa, crema, sour cream on top. The duck was delicious and perfectly cooked. The dessert was amazing! I've always wanted to try a basque cheesecake and that corn ice cream where has it been all my life. I could order a bucket of that. They had an open kitchen and could look at how the cook on the Santa Maria grill which I thought was pretty amazing to see. The cocktails were perfect I could have had a pitcher but ended up sticking to 1 drink only. The place is very inviting and a nice place for a date night. They have a parking lot to the side but a small one. They also have a huge patio in the front area which is very nice. We are definitely coming back here again because when prices were reasonable and it wasn't that far for us.

First time at Black Duck- and we sat at the Chef's Counter. Really cool experience seeing the chefs in action and the hearth. Ordered the beef tartare to start and it was SO good- bone marrow aioli was amazing. My husband ordered the Duck entree and it was cooked perfectly and was really delicious. I ordered the Beef Double Smash Burger and it was insanely good- definitely top 5 burgers I have had here in the cities. We got a Pączki with raspberry filling and it was so good that I can't stop thinking about it- do not miss out on this if you go! Also very cool and cozy restaurant with lots of fun duck decor. Will DEFINITELY go back.

This is a neighborhood gem, and we don't live in the neighborhood. Server was great!! The food was creative and tasty. There is something for everyone. Very busy, make a reservation.

What a lovely experience! Went here to celebrate a family birthday and our waitress was so attentive, kind and helped answer all the questions. Loved the open kitchen and all the staff were on top of everything. Now the food was delicious! The only thing i felt didn't hit the mark was the prices seemed high for some of the apps, this wouldn't stop me from coming but was surprised $18 for 4 small pierogis. Most of our group got the burgers and they were such a hit! It wasn't over crowded but I do recommend getting reservations for a larger group. This is a great spot for a date night or a nice tasty dinner out.

We had the market fish and the pork chop. Both were tender and juicy, done to perfection and served with sauces that enhance the flavor even more. Loved sitting at the chef's counter near the hearth on this cold winter day. The vibe was happy and lively and the cocktails were complex and flavorful. The couple next to us ordered the duck burger with the duck egg and bacon. They said it was delicious! Next visit I will be ordering the duck and my husband is planning to order the half chicken with the chimichurri sauce. The staff was responsive, helpful and friendly.

Went for Valentine's Day, our second visit. Avoided the cocktails as they were disappointing previously. Looked forward to the excellent gnocchi but they were not on the menu. Overheard next patrons also disappointed they were not available. Ordered carrots, brussels sprout, two flank steaks and white wine. The wine was ok, notably small volume in a very large glass, like maybe 6 oz. At $14 a glass, it was irritatingly skimpy. The sprouts didn't have char or flavor to make them great, it was merely good, as long as the 'orange gel' dollops were avoided. The carrots were fairly bland, better with minimal covering of the curried yogurt sauce and mint. The flank steaks were VERY disappointing. The restaurant is cozy and interesting, with a grill prominently displayed. The flank steaks were barely warm, looked nice but had no steak flavor, as if made without salt and pepper. There were no grill marks or flavor, as if pan seared. At close to $40 it was underwhelming. The waiter did not ask us how it was, just buzzed by at the end, all smiles. It's a nice restaurant, near us and we hope to find what it's good at. So far, two visits and close to $400, we are not impressed. We'll probably come back and see if a burger is something they can do well for a less ambitious price.

Great food, service, ambience, sophisticated environment (even though we were with the kids it's definitely worth coming back for a date). Another pleasant surprise yelp took us to.

Well, what to say? On our first visit, which will be our only visit, the food was very acceptable, the menu was interesting, though some of the prices seemed a bit high. The restaurant web page tries to give an "Oh, shucks, we just want to be "a neighborhood sanctuary" in "an approachable neighborhood setting." Sorry, Mr. Duck, we like to have wine with dinner and bottles are priced beginning over $50 and there is no house wine. IOW, the bottles were at least twice the price of the average menu item. That is not "neighborhood" pricing. I opted for a Rhone, which turned out to be quite ordinary. So, Yelpers, if you are not wine drinkers or are comfortable getting ripped off, this may be a place to try. Otherwise, no.

Server, Jason, was amazing! So amenable to dietary restrictions at the table. Love a mocktail menu and I also enjoyed the ode to beat drink! The aesthetic is instagram worthy and don't even get me started on food. I had risotto and steak and ... no notes! Delish.

When I walked in it felt so warming and comfortable. The waiter was fantastic and really helped understand the drink and food menu. Chefs are fantastic at their craft. I got a simple house smash burger and it was the best burger I have ever had in my whole life. I could eat that everyday and be happy. Pierogis were fantastic as well as their waffle fries. Cocktails were amazingly crafted and delicious. The chocolate budino for dessert was amazing as well. Great place to go with beautiful ambiance and I loved the experience.

We decided to give this place a try because we were looking for a place to dine near our airbnb. So glad we decided to drop by. We had no idea that this was the new hot spot for great eats in the neighborhood and now I can see why. We decided to dine early and were able to get a parking spot in the small lot near the restaurant but there are plenty of street parking available. Our server was super knowledgeable about the various drinks and gave great suggestions for meals. We came there starving and left full and satisfied. Everything was so flavorful and delicious. We started off with the octopus for an appetizer and ended up having the double patty duck burgers. So filling and we even had left overs. We enjoyed our dining experience and even talked about coming back again during our short stay. Sadly, we did not have time but would have loved to go back again.

This is a great spot - it's way too hot and humid today to sit outside, but they have a large patio on a reasonably quiet steet, so I'm looking forward to going again and sitting out there. The interior has a good vibe, and the international staff did a great job. I had the duck mole and a couple of coctails, and everything was excellent. I'd ease up on the sweetness of the cocktails, but other than that they were all interesting and well put together.

Cocktails, apps and entries raising the bar for NE MPLS! Will definitely be going back.

Incredible! I had the pork chop and it was the BEST pork chop I have ever eaten. My husband had the duck burger and he absolutely loved it. The cocktails were great too! The decor was modern and tasteful. Nice clean lines. The only concern was the noise. There are a lot of hard surfaces so the noise was a bit much at times. We will be back!

Nice atmosphere, patio would be great on a nice day. Food was "good" but pork chop was terribly over brined (too salty for me to eat - sent it back). Too bad as it looked great. Service was fine, desert was good, but unlikely that we will be back. Nothing that memorable....

Absolutely love the renovation of this space! Used to pick up dry-cleaning and have my dogs groomed here back in the day. I can scarcely believe this is the same building! And it is so nice to have a place nearby that offers a flavorful, affordable bar menu with craft and n/a cocktails, draft beer - all alongside an elevated menu. We tried several dishes, and all were flavorful and expertly prepared. Parking lot was full, but we parked a few doors South at the Johnson Street Merchant's lot and there is plenty of on-street parking. We arrived early so walked to the Audubon Farmers market to buy some veggies while we were in the area. Can't wait for the opening of the patio! So happy they are here! We will definitely be back.

Great food and drinks! Very unique and new things to try. Slightly overpriced and too salty.