Bleu Duck Kitchen

I absolutely love supporting local, and this spot is definitely worth checking out! The menu changes often, which keeps things exciting, and the flavors are always on point. They have a great selection of wines to pair with your meal, and the staff is super friendly and welcoming. Definitely a place I’ll keep coming back to!

This place is a must try if you want to splurge. I was up here with my daughter at Mayo Clinic and she's a foodie. I saved this for our last night so she had something to look forward to through all of her appointments. Darren, or server, was top notch. He knew all about the menu and was right there when needed while giving you space to enjoy. The bone marrow was good, as we've never had it before. The carrot salad was a flavor combination that had you wanting more and us talking about how to re-create it at home. Her steak with lobster fried rice was outstanding as was the pork shank. And we loved the desserts of the Ube Tres leches and the 16 layer crepe with orange mascarpone, that brought you back to your childhood of eating dreamsicles. I highly recommend this if you want a special treat for the week.

Very nice place to go! They have a Tuesday date night menu which was very pleasant. The service was nice and the food was delicious!

Definitely one of the best places to eat in Rochester! The food, drinks, and atmosphere are fantastic!! Everything is as good as it gets! Great place for a date night or just any night. The pork tenderloin was excellent, as were the curated cocktails. Corbin, the bar manager, has created these cocktails and is a bonefide mixologist and overall excellent human- Corbin’s cocktails, knowledge, recommendations, and personable nature is second to none. This is a must do in Rochester. Easy walking distance from downtown Mayo Clinic, and a 2-minute, $2 bus ride from the St Mary’s campus, or a 22-25-minute easy walk.

Great restaurant! I popped in here a little after 7pm on a Friday night and managed to find a single available seat at the bar. I ordered a mixed drink while I scanned the menu. First, the drink was great - I met the bartender who created the current cocktail menu and he explained his inspiration for the drink and was very friendly. I enjoyed talking with him. Second, I was overwhelmed with the menu, there were so many things I wanted to try, but I decided on the Greens Salad, and took a recommendation from the other bartender and ordered the duck as my entreé. Both the salad and the duck were delicious and I finished every bite of both dishes. The restaurant didn't feel crowded even though it was full and it wasn't loud inside, you could easily talk with the person next to you. If you're in the area, this is a great place to try for dinner.

This place knocked my socks off. I sat at the bar and was lucky to have the bar manager, Corbin, as my server. He knew the bar and food menus inside and out and I was served the best meal I’ve had in recent memory. Started with some oysters, then the escargot, the Brussels sprouts, and the duck breast, finishing with the 16-layer cake, which Corbin paired with the perfect dessert wine after I described the flavor I was looking for. The food was divine, the ambience was both cozy and fun, and the conversation with Corbin and his regulars was a great time. Can’t say enough about this place. It’s incredible.

Bleu Duck Kitchen in Rochester, MN, is an absolute gem. My experience there was nothing short of exceptional. I started with the skillet frittata, which was outstanding—perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor. The deviled eggs were another highlight, simply outstanding in taste and presentation. The freshest oyster selection was a delightful surprise, and it truly set the bar high. To top it all off, the monkey bread was exquisite, a perfect sweet finish to an incredible meal. The ambiance was very homely, made even more charming by the live country music, which created a cozy and comforting atmosphere. The service was top-notch, with attentive and friendly staff who made the experience even more enjoyable. Bleu Duck Kitchen is a must-visit for anyone in Rochester. Highly recommended!

This was a great little find as we were leaving the cities. The atmosphere is so cool. Classy and down home. The bathrooms are also very cute. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. It's a short menu, with amazing sounding options. Our food arrived very fast and it was fantastic! We will definitely be coming back.

Absolutely delicious. I came here while in town, and I was hungry after a long day of traveling. When searching for a place to eat, honestly, their artwork of Anthony Bourdain really tipped the scale in favor of giving them a try. We walked in around 6:30 on a Monday, they were already full, with only hightops or bar seats left. The service was attentive, and they seemed to all work well with each other, with several different people checking in on us. Their take on poutine was wonderful. For dinner, I ordered the pork shank carnitas, expecting some shredded pork tacos. Nope, a full pork shank is on my plate. The meat was so tender and juicy! The beans and rice were cooked to perfection, with a little bite left in them. I enjoyed the presentation, the atmosphere, the service and the food. It's definitely worth checking out.

As a foodie and home mixologist, I enjoy great food and a good cocktail. I was really impressed by the pictures and reviews based on what I read and the pleasing presentation of foods I saw online. Sadly, we left the restaurant disappointed and hungry and ended up picking up takeout from Thai Pop a block away. The drinks were excellent and the ambiance was decent but sadly, we were disappointed by the foods. Except for the bahn-mi hot dog and oysters, we couldn't bring ourselves to finish the duck, the market fish special, nor the salads. The duck was gamey and tough. The kale salad was too fishy, dry and salty while the cucumber salad felt slimy and salty. Service was great but the food could use some work.

Fantastic experience. The food was so good! We really enjoyed the lamb tartar, beet salad, scallops, and crepe cake! We loved being able to sit in the window and people watch. Our waitress and both of the hosts were so friendly and welcoming. We will definitely be back when in the area!

Came here for an event and was blown away by the food! Every dish was delicately prepared especially the sauce and the dressings. The filet mignon was tender and juicy and the the side mash potatoes were so rich along with the gravy. I savored every bite. The salad was also amazing. The dressing was very unique and really highlighted the freshness of the apples and greens. For dessert, I recommend the crème brûlée. It was absolutely amazing and melted in your mouth. Service was fantastic. Highly recommend for anyone in the area.

I've eaten at Bleu Duck twice now and it has been fantastic both times. SERVICE - each time I've been lucky to have Nikki as our server. She is fantastic. Friendly, enthusiastic, very familiar with the menu. She provides great descriptions on what each dish tastes like. OYSTERS - the oysters are fresh and briny. Obviously very high quality and delicious. They have a nice selection from across North America. The Katchemak Bay oysters from Alaska were delish! FOOD - most recently I brought my mom to Bleu Duck and we shared a three course meal Starter - Crème Brûlée - this fresh take on the classic crème brûlée was comforting and delicious. Our server referred to it as including everything that touches on your plate during thanksgiving dinner and she was right! The sweet acorn puree balanced deliciously with the savory bacon pieces. And the crunchy Brussels sprouts complemented the creamy puree. It still comes with a caramelized top that gives a satisfying crunch when you break through it with a spoon. Second - Greens Salad - this was disappointing if I'm being honest. It's a very small delicate salad and ours seemed to come without dressing and too many red onions. I won't be ordering this again. Main - pork belly - oh man, this dish is delicious! The pork belly is tender and well seasoned and complemented by the house made baked beans that are very mustard forward, which I loved. The coleslaw provided some nice crunch and the fried onions straws provide a nice sweetness to the dish. Things I wouldn't order again - Lobster Risotto - this one's on me. I'm not a huge fan of risotto. I find it uninteresting from a texture perspective. My aunt and I shared this dish a few weeks ago and if you like risotto, it's a fantastic risotto, which is hard to pull off in a restaurant. The texture was just too smooth for me.

4.75* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4* Service: 5* 03/02/2023 We came across this place somewhat by accident while staying at the Hilton Garden Inn a block up the street. The Thai Pop across the street from the hotel caught my eye, but my wife was interested in American food for the evening so I did a quick search and talked her into the Blue Duck Kitchen based on their reviews and menu items. We were impressed from the moment we walked into the place - unique, modern, clean, friendly and welcoming - with the owner floating around and making sure things were just right throughout the evening. Since we were there before official dinner hours and the dining room was still closed, we took a seat in the bar and decided to enjoy a few Happy Hour items from the sign (see picture). That brings me to the first call-out for great service - Leo was a fantastic bartender, was knowledgeable about the various drink selections and made wonderful Happy Hour food suggestions. I started with an Old Fashioned (Happy Hour special - see picture) and wanted some food since we hadn't eaten lunch, so Leo suggested the Kimchi Dog (see picture) - talking about how great it was. We were a little unsure about ordering a hot dog in a nicer restaurant, but went with his suggestion - and boy were we happy that we did. The hot dog was split in half the long way, had a nice 'snap' skin and was made with high quality meat. That, combined with the quality bread used for the bun and the great seasonings made it a dish that both my wife and I loved so much that we ordered another - the Chili Dog (see picture), which was also delicious! We were then called to our table in the dining room...bringing about the 2nd call-out for great service - Alisha was quite the treat as our server. She was knowledgeable and friendly - and had great information about the menu items as well as some great recommendations! I usually don't mention that I do reviews until after the meal is complete, but decided to flip the script tonight as there were so many things that looked great on the menu, so wanted Alisha to pick for me. For our dinner, my wife ordered the Chef's Catch (see picture) and I Alisha surprised me with the Nashville Hot Frog Legs (see picture). Both of us loved our meals and as I told Alisha - while I never would have ordered the Frog Legs, I thought they were delicious. The Nashville Hot sauce was great (loved the burn) and the macaroni and cheese that they were served on was rich, creamy and tasty. I highly recommend both dishes. As good as everything was, we just had to try some dessert. While Alisha suggested the Strawberry Crepe Cake (as did others we met later in the evening), we were afraid that would be too much - so went with the Chocolate Chip Cookies with sea salt (see picture) and coffee. They were bite-sized, warm (fresh out of the oven) - firm on the outside and yet so soft and wonderful on the inside. The next time we come back, we will have to try the Strawberry Crepe Cake - but that doesn't take anything away from these cookies, as they were delicious! If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

Last visit was for Saturday brunch. The ramen was delicious and beautifully presented. Rye/Bourbon old fashioned was strong, bitter and very tasty. Enjoyed the live music and the attentive service. E

My wife and I ate at the Bleu Duck Kitchen for the first time tonight. Our server, Alisha, may be the best server we have ever had wait on us. She knew the menu, provided wonderful recommendations and was incredibly pleasant. She made our dinner a terrific experience. We shared the cauliflower (street corn style) and found it full of flavors not normally associated with cauliflower! Very creative. We left with the recipe. My wife had the duck with the bread pudding stuffing. I had the andouille meatball spaghetti. Both were outstanding. We will definitely return on our next visit to Rochester.

A great spot for a date night! The food was excellent and the waitstaff was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable about the menu. They were able to recommend us the best dishes and drinks to get. Would recommend!

I have never been disappointed in this restaurant, friendly staff make you feel so welcome. The food is top notch and so fresh, I love the atmosphere and have never had a single problem with my food! Definitely recommend the Blue Duck Kitchen.

Had a great experience at bleu duck! Darren gave us amazing service, was very knowledgeable and presented the menu fluidly and also gave us great wine pairings to go with our apps and dinner! Oysters were fresh and delicious with a ton of umami. The duck and the frog legs were also top notch dishes. However, the crepe cake stole the show and I'll be thinking about that cake for a long while! Great place!

Very nice atmosphere with a friendly staff. Very unique menu. The meats are all not your traditional choices, such as pheasant, quail, etc. Started with a delicious bisque, then ordered the steak that was simply a sirloin cut. Cooked properly but not a good cut. Tough. Might consider adding wagyu since your other choices are unique? Fantastic dessert. Definitely worth the try!

Incredible absolutely incredible! Made our trip! Duck check! Raw Maine Small Farm Oysters check! Full Bar and Open Kitchen check! Blue Cheese Creme Brûle ... WHAT !?!? Okay call see if we can get a reservation. No tables Uhhh! Okay 7:30 Tommorrow is that available CHECK! I highly reccomend a reservation! Started w/3 1/2 Dozen Oysters 2 from Maine and 1 from Massachusetts all briney and unique from small farm beds! Next we saw a appetizer that caught my attention Blue Cheese Creme Brûle with crisp chicken skins you serve the Blue Cheese Creme Brûle on OH YES GOT TO TRY THAT PLEASE! You would go that's got to be crazy good or wierd, right? It was Sssssooooo GOOD! Richard and I were like where has this been all our lives as our tastebuds danced! Then we ordred main courses. I had the braised lamb pappardelle ans Richard got the roasted duck. Both were excellent but the duck we favored if we had to pick. It was a full house and service was timely as we ejoyed the happening electric atmosphere with the entire clientel buzzing, folks chatting, laughing, and dining on great food! This is the spot to try out!

My husband and I walked into the restaurant impressed with the ambiance. We arrived over 30 minutes early, and they were able to seat us in 10 minutes which was nice of them. We were celebrating an anniversary, but they didn't do anything special for it which was kind of a bummer. We got the French onion meatballs, Hawaiian rolls, carne asada, duck, cookies, and 4 of their cocktails. Everything was super tasty, and we felt satisfied after our meal. We didn't get a "super full" feeling. It was just the right amount of food to feel content. The service was great; I do wish our waitress checked on us more. She did seem super busy. Overall, we highly recommend, especially for the drinks!

Love their date night! great deal a bottle of wine with dinner for two, perfect anniversary night.

There was great music, a live band that was killing it. Loved the ambiance that created. That was pretty much the only great thing I have to say about this brunch experience unfortunately. We had breakfast fried rice and the Benedict. It was 11am on a Sunday and I had tried to order a drink and an entree and they had ran out of both. My sister ordered an aperol spritz which was fine. There were only two servers for the dining room, so service was awfully slow. Portion size wise I was unimpressed, the flavors were there. I just wish there was maybe a little more. Overall I think if it weren't for the band I would've done 2 stars. Not great.

Great dinner at this bistro. Fish with bean stew was lovely. Pork belly tacos were well prepared and tasty.

I had the Mahi Mahi and my husband had the pork carnitas. The food was absolutely amazing and the service and ambiance were both exceptional.

Amazing service Great food selection Oysters and recommendations on other food choices on point

Best place in a town full of mediocre restaurants. Service is exceptional & menus is creative and well executed .

Our third or 4th visit to blue duck. An excellent Rochester spot. We did the oyster and wine special on a Wednesday evening. Having had great oysters Northweat and northeast, and at shaws in chicago, the oysters , while tasty, were small and a bit ripped up but the shucker. I even had some debris in one. What a bummer. We had the mussels. Tasty broth but for some reason they provided one slice of bread. One. For a large pot of muscles. I had to buy 4 more slices. That's just weak restauranting. Very surprised. We skipped green this time and had the fish. The steak head trout was very tasty and perfectly cooked. An unsusal paring with a brea like cheese with carmelized onions on top. Tasty. And radishes. They were a non event. Do something better with radishes. I had the catch of the day. It was mahi mahi. The bean mixture it sat on was flavorable. The fish was tender and cook correctly but needed some flavor enhancer. We did not have desert this time because of the next days blood tests but I was dying to have one or two. Service was spot on. Very attentive. Buss staff was spot on. Clearing plates and water fill up. It was a bit warm in the restaurant and that should be adjusted. Drinks are always solid and well prepared, but could use a bit more of a country club pour for value. I would go again. I think the mgt at bleu duck needs to read these reviews and address small cracks appearing in quality.

Its a very good resurturant, kind of pricey but the staff is very friendly. I really enjoyed their date night special. Fun place to dine downtown. Probably not good for large groups.

Awesome food, service and atmosphere! Every bite is always a delight! We just love it!

Our server Nikki was an absolute delight! They were so upbeat, attentive, and had great recommendations. This was one of my favorite date nights! Between spectacular service and absolutely incredible food, this gem of a place is now on our must go list.

Fantastic service, easy parking in the evenings downtown, cocktails are a good price ($10). Great Tuesday date night deal. Wednesday is $2 oysters if you buy a bottle of wine. Relatively quick to get food out.

Great service, superb cocktails and the food was excellent across the board. A great space, very trendy and busy.

It's a very nice date night place to be sure. But your dollar will usually be well spent. Menu is limited and changing but skews towards seafood plus they offer cool summer classes and meals and drinks. Very fun! Their bar makes some great specialty drinks too.

I found myself in Rochester for a visit to The Mayo Clinic. You already know that's a magical place, but so is the rest of Rochester. My favorite dining spot was the Bleu Duck Kitchen. I enjoyed it so much my first night that I went back the next night too. Being alone, I sat at the Bar. The barkeep Mike knows his food and his drink. Great local beers and the Stir Fried Rice with bone marrow was beyond delicious. Great food, great service and awesome energy. I highly recommend this spot!

I have eaten here once for a birthday dinner and had the pork belly dish and wow,,was it ever good the place was a little bit fancy but not really pretentious and we all left happy ,Brad Hoag

My favorite date night spot in Rochester. Frequently something fun and new on the menu. Great cocktails. Great atmosphere!

Went for weekend brunch with a large group of people (called in ahead of time for a table), had the Oxtail Benedict which was very good. The meat, eggs, and tangy sauce worked well together, very rich. Potatoes and Brussel sprouts on the side were also nice. Would skip the Vietnamese coffee, it was a watery spiced coffee concoction. Service was attentive and friendly.

Really loved this place! Sat at the bar and had an amazing trout entree with a fantastic cocktail (The Scottish Opera - def recommend!). Bartender was super nice and fun. Prices are surprisingly reasonable. I wish I had discovered this place the last time I was in town but I plan to return next week at least once while I'm here on business. Oh and the key lime cheesecake was also fantastic! I think these guys are now at the top of my list for "Rochester, MN"

Very good Wednesday nights are the best due to the oysters and wine and food is great

Best oysters I've ever had! Attentive but not overbearing service. Converted factory funk environment is clean and orderly.

We couldn't get a reservation and sat at the bar. They offered both a bar menu and a dinner menu. These are not your average entrees. Each one is more creative than the other, it was hard to choose. My husband started with the oysters, which he loved the selection and the oysters. For dinner he had the Jambalaya and I had the Seafood Stew. We were not disappointed. Given the dinner menu I was hoping for a more 'out of the box' dessert menu. They seemed very basic. We had the old standby of Crème Brûlée and it was very good. We will definitely be back.

Food was excellent!' Love that menu changes. Staff was great and love the atmospherePerfect place for date night . Looking forward to dining again

We ate our way through Rochester over 2 weeks, checking out everything from the greasy spoons to the fancy shmancy. Bleu Duck was the best meal and overall experience we had. By a long shot. Delicious (as in super delicious) food. Wonderful owner. Friendly staff. Great atmosphere. It's a winner.

We went here for my birthday, the oysters were astounding, so delicious and fresh. The appetizer we had which had figs and bacon and cheese fondue was also delicious. The main meal was lacking something for both my husband and myself. My duck was a little tough, and my husbands fish was good but not great. They also had run out of several of their dishes early.

The steak was just ok. It wasn't the best steak I have had in Rochester. My husband really loved the fried rice and couldn't stop talking about how great it was. The desserts were pretty good as well.

Great food and good service. Basic food in a comfortable environment. Prices are reasonable

This was our second visit to Blue Duck . First time we just enjoyed desserts . We celebrated our wedding anniversary this evening. My old fashion I ordered was well made to start . My first starter was the Mussels . They were very basic with sausage and a light broth . Finished with tomato and one piece of bread . Which thankfully the server offered more upon delivering the course . My wife order the Calamari. It was cooked well just don't understand why you fry something and put it onto a sauce to only create sogginess by the time you get to the bottom of the dish . Next we order the shaved Brussels . Ok but way too much horseradish. Our main course was Californian White Bass and my wife ordered Steak . My fish was prepared well . Nicely seared . The potato hash was disappointing. Over cooked peppers and undercooked potatoes which doesn't leave much else on the plate for $28 . On a lighter note my wife enjoyed her steak she did say that some of the broccoli was almost burnt and unappetizing. Lastly we finished with the Salted Chocolate chip cookies . They took about 15 minutes to arrive . They said made fresh to order but that's slightly excessive. These were comped by the server for the wait. She was very attentive, bubbly and made up for other areas in the evening.

We got takeout from the food truck. The poutine and the hot dogs were good. We also tried the cold phad thai. It was inedible. We got it for our granddaughter but had to cook her food from home. She and the rest of us could not eat it. The noodles were like they hadn't been cooked and the sesame oil was overwhelming. Totally not edible.

Bleu Duck Truck review, not Kitchen Such a disappointment. The service was fast and friendly. The food was cooked to the appropriate temperature. But.. The avocado tacos were overpriced at 2 for $10. Corn tortillas and lightly battered avocado were drowned out by bleu cheese. I asked for light bleu cheese and still found it completely overpowering. After picking it off, the rest was enjoyable. And the spice from the sambal was good. The classic poutine was a large portion for $10. Fries were like frozen crinkle cut fries. The gravy had some good flavor. Big chunks of cheese. And scallions on top. The salted chocolate chip cookies (dozen for $10) i loved. My group though thought they were much too salty. I feel like that's my biggest advice is to just dial it back on the bold flavors so they don't overpower.

Fantastic! Great date night spot. Love the unique menu. The service here is excellent. Very classy place. The salad greens were great- crisp greens and just the right amount of dressing. Loved the pork loin. The papardelle pasta is also amazing.

What a great dinner with personable, fantastic service! We started off with a round of cocktails: the Old Fashion and myself the standard Vodka Soda with lime (I'm so basic). They were delicious and came to the table quickly. We ordered 6 oysters and they explained which were what varietal and left the menus for us, nice touch. The mussels were flavorful and in a both with a hint of spice (lovely) with a thick pieces of hearty grilled bread. We ate them so quickly, we didn't get a picture. Next up we had the carrots and burrata. Both great! The Burratta on a bed of risotto was a stand out. The creaminess of the cheese, perfectly cooked rice and the crunch of the slivered almonds was sublime. We shared the main of the Cornish Game Hen & Waffle was a large enough portion to share. It came over form the brunch menu and it's a great addition. I'm lieu of dessert we split a "dessert" cocktail. So delicious, it was the last one in the list, presented in Coup glass and tasted like a spiked coffee without the bite, a hint of nut and spice. Our sever throughout was super friendly and overall just a great guy. I visit my sister each year during Christmas in Rochester as she works for the Mayo Clinic and this is a restaurant to look forward to coming back to!

Very knowledgeable servers. Particularly know the beer and wines. Service superb on a truly eclectic menu. A Saint Paul vibe in Rochester

I've been to Blue Duck multiple times and love it! Love their happy hour with super flavorful appetizers and special drinks. Their dishes are always changing according to seasonal items. This is what makes Blue Duck the most interesting to me. I love changing menus! They also have this amazing space that you can rent for parties that I love. Highly recommend it for happy hour, dinners and private parties.

I was recently in the area for work and wanted to give Bleu Duck Kitchen a try. The atmosphere is super hip and yet elegant. I ordered the oysters and the were divine. I also order the ramen bowel and it was okay. The pork belly was delicious, noodles were a little not soft to my liking and the egg was perfectly done. I was hoping they had the pork broth ramen. Every time I go to a ramen place I tend to compare the original Japanese ramen "tonkotsu". I was ordered a drink because the drinks looked amazing. Next time I want to try to order dessert! Over all I gave a 3 because of the ramen. I'm pretty picky with my ramen. The soup looked good as well as the tacos. Hopefully I'll get another chance to be in Rochester to try the restaurant again and update my review.

My mother is law was coming to town, so I needed to impress. One or Rochester's finest Blue Duck Kitchen came to mind. I have been here before but never tried their brunch. We came at 10:45AM on a Saturday and there was no wait. Friendly staff. Interior: pretty spacious, but there isn't too much flexibility for large groups (10+) but I'm sure it can be done. There is a separate cute bar area. They have large windows facing the street but the view isn't the greatest. I would not bring a baby here. Food: We got the French toast, the Benedict, and the Smoked Salmon. I was delighted by the non-overpriced brunch prices. However, the portion is slightly less than average. It would not be enough for an average sized dude. Maybe go with 2 dishes as the prices allow for that. The quality of the food was great as expected. The toast was fluffy with hint of cinnamon. It almost felt like eating a cake. The smoked salmon came with a slightly bitter salad that complimented it well. Again, small portion for the salmon. The Benedict came with fried crabs? I'm not a fan of neithet egg benedict nor crabs, so I didn't try it but my wife seemed to like it. I would come here again for brunch. Bathroom: For men's room..very clean, one stall and one urinal. Scented. You can dry using cotton towels or air drier. No baby changing station.

The Bleu Duck is a wonderful addition to the Rochester dining scene and its blend of high/low brow eats and style is top notch. As a sucker for urban rustic decor the venue itself drew me in. The hot dogs (yes, gourmet hot dogs) from Rochester's own Ye Old Butcher Shop kept me and will keep me coming back. Add in a fantabulous Old Fashioned (or three) and this was a delightful experience. And the owner is quite cute too!