Eli's Food & Cocktails

Wow! Wow! Wow! I can’t say enough about how perfect my experience was at Eli’s. The atmosphere was classy yet relaxed. The booths were comfortable, the lighting was esthetically pleasing, the decorative touches were obviously well thought out, and the food was seasoned to perfection. The shrimp scampi, pork tenderloin, and crab cake were so delicious. Our server, Stacy, was attentive and friendly. This is a new date spot without a doubt. Eli’s is literally doing everything right. Oh…. can’t forget…Eli’s New Fashioned…yes, yes, and yes….

We ended up at Eli's looking for something close and quick to the Orpheum and the reviews were positive. I ordered the grilled cheese and my husband ordered the pastrami, we both had the tomato basil soup. We both enjoyed our meals and we made it to the show on time.

We went here for lunch last week and watch the nfl playoffs. We had several drinks as they have a large tap beer selection. There is a good appetizer menu and the wing sauces are decent . We did the chipotle one. We also did the mac and cheese and the truffle burger. We did the hot chicken sandwich also. Not a bad price for 3 people it was about 60 bucks and 4 drinks. There is no lot parking but street parking around the corner is free on weekends. Our server was sully...she was very knowledgeable and friendly. We recommend it if you are downtown.

This little spot is one of the best kept secrets in the cities. It doesn't look like much from the outside. Even when you go in, it just looks like a regular neighbor bar that probably serves regular neighborhood bar food. Nothing could be more wrong. The food is surprisingly excellent and they have quite a range of different selections on the menu. All the food is good including such mundane items as hotdogs or the fried egg sandwich. The hotdog has a nice hardwood smoked flavor and the fried egg sandwich has a just a hint of subtle horseradish. Their Penne and Cheese is as good as any Mac and Cheese you'll find in the cities. For appetizers, you won't find any better than the sesame seed encrusted Tuna Tataki or the Fillet Mignon with gorgonzola. For dessert we always get the pistachio cheese cake with raspberry coullee. You can't go wrong here.

Great atmosphere and drinks. Great food? Not so much. We stopped in with another couple for a bite to eat on very busy Saturday night. We were seated within 20 minutes—they don’t take reservations. There’s a long bar that lines the side of one wall with smallish tables lined up on the other and in front. Service was pretty good considering how busy the place was. We all tried the very tasty crab cakes as a starter. The main dishes were just so-so and too salty. I tried the sloppy-joe and it tasted like it had been sitting on the stove too long (savvy readers will agree that I did not choose wisely and should have expected it). The fries were good. My friend could only take 2 bites of her tomato soup—she said it was terrible. I recommend coming to Eli’s for a drink and crab cakes and going elsewhere for a real meal.

What a great place to get some great food and friendly service. Everything on the menu is delicious. If you don't want to eat you can simply go there for a drink and sit at the bar. It's not the cheapest place to eat but it's worth it!

Stopped in for a drink and a quick bite and I’m so happy I did. The staff was lovely, food and drink were great, love the cozy quaint vibe of the place. I will definitely be back!

This is my favorite pre-theater hole -in-the-wall. Nothing fancy, just a nice, inexpensive neighborhood joint. If your hearty, you can even park on the street for free (or next to nothing), and walk the free blocks to the theatre district. But shhhh! Don't tell everyone! 😉

Sad to see this location close as it was right across the street from me. They had great food, a fun weekly specials menu, and a cute atmosphere. I will need to try the northeast location as I have heard good things about that place and I know they have brunch.

Went here on a Friday night for after dinner cocktails and something sweet as in the area Fun friendly staff and drinks were good. Parking on street ,only negative was they close around 10pm on a Friday in downtown was crazy

We found ourselves belly-up at the bar on a night when our original dinner plans worked against us. The 'blackboard specials' were especially enticing and we pored over the choices while our Beer Hero poured us a few pints (War Pigs Foggy Geezer for me, Castle Danger Cream Ale for the Hubster). The Hubster selected the 1/2 order of penne and cheese and a crab cake. As you can see in my photos, the crab cake is no small affair, easily shareable (as if I was going to get a bite in edgewise). The crab itself is well-prepared and very yummy. The penne portion is still huge at half, also easily shareable and has the creaminess to die for. Remember those 'blackboard special' that I mentioned? Once the Hubster revealed that he was mixing and matching, my choice became easy! I was torn between the salad and the pasta, deciding to order halfsies of each. The salad: Tri-colored quinoa (I love me some quinoa!), red beets, walnuts, red onions, blue cheese crumbles, cucumber, arugula, sunflower seeds, croutons and orange tarragon vinaigrette. I know, right?! It's definitely a meal in itself, but... The pasta: Grilled chicken breast, onions, capers (aka My Little Briny Kryptonite), shallots, garlic, parsley, lemon cream sauce and aged Parmesan. It's like healthy met homey and both lived happily ever after. Those half orders were huge and I ended up taking home a big lunch for the next day. The service is top-notch where ever you sit. Both the bartender and the table-side server hustled the whole time we were there. We chatted with both of them over the duration of dinner. They were friendly and funny, sharing laughs with us. Getting to Eli's is an easy decision. The menu involves some higher reasoning, given all of the terrific choices. Order a drink and know that you really cannot go wrong from there.

Dirty martini and a cheeseburger? Sign me up! I am so full and so satisfied. Be prepared because this is a dive but it's worth it. My tummy and heart are warm at Eli's.

Eli's is a classic pub with surprisingly great food! The serve classic bar fare better than your average pub. The place looks a little old school. Great for a casual dinner that would please anyone, or some drinks before or after a show or game!

Good and service are good. Got the special sandwich which was a hot Turkey with fries. Beer is cold.

This place isn't what you'd expect. Walking in I was expecting pub food and beer. I was impressed at the variety in their menu. The atmosphere reminds me of a Cheers episode with the bar as the main attraction, dim lighting and antique decor. The food was impressive and surprisingly exceeded my expectations. The smoked salmon bruschetta, first of all not what I would expect to find on this menu, was interestingly good. Presentation could use some work but it all turns into mush once it's in your mouth right? And once it's in your mouth the flavors take over. I don't know what the spread was on the bread but keep making that please!! And that egg sandwich...bomb.com! The ingredients are perfectly chosen and I can honestly say I've never appreciated a tomato on a sandwich until now! And that aioli makes my mouth water as I type! Sort of pricey for the general feel of the place, but I'd say it's close to you getting what you pay for. I went in the middle of the day so I couldn't try any of their whiskey or hard liquors but it might be something to try next time!

Went here a ways back...maybe 3 months ago, but the meal was pretty memorable. !! It's a very intimate place, not too big, with a evening dinner mood and lighting. It's a long narrow venue with a long bar surrounded by a dozen or so small tables. I came here with a cousin to try it out since it's literally across the street from where we live. I ordered the Steak Sandwich with sliced steak Sautéed Onions, Mushrooms and Blue Cheese on French Hoagie with their Sriracha Aioli. It was very good and very reasonably price. Yum!! Tender, juicy, tasty goodness! My cousin got the Surf and Turf (filet mignon + grilled shrimp) served with a side of buttered mashed potatoes. I tried the filet mignon and it was on point. The mashed potatoes were excellent.! We also did order one cocktail apiece; I didn't like mine much, but the staff definitely put time in making them. Overall a good place; I'd definitely back come here to have a good American style meal. The service was also good and knowledgable about their drinks as well as their food.

Ahh, fantastic. Puts on no airs: it's a joint, oozing continuity and authenticity, not for foodies. Great drinks. Pub grub to a very high standard. Fairly priced for downtown. Will return, many a time, inshallah.

Stopped by Eli's towards the end of the lunch hour. The great reviews brought me here, but can't say I was entirely impressed. The food - crab cake - although I can't say this was an authentic Maryland style crab cake, the dish as a whole absolutely works with the warm spinach and spicy mayo(great extra kick). - sweet corn soup - not a fan to be honest. The soup had more of a thick chowder consistency. Too much sweet. Although the avocado crema was a pleasant addition, it didn't do enough to make this a winner - truffle dog - probably what I was most looking forward to. I wanted to love this so bad but the truffle flavor didn't really come out. If I didn't know, I would have thought it was a normal dog. Also, some sort of sauce/aioli was desperately needed to bring this together. My experience can be best described as hit or miss. On the bright side, the quick service and friendly staff should be commended

Table was sticky, service was ok, bruschetta was great, steak was dry and hard (almost broke a tooth on it - not sure what happened there...). I asked for medium and it was well done. Drinks were okay. Overall average place.

TLDR; good food, awful service. A group of 5 went to Elis on a Friday before the lunch rush. The sign said "seat yourself" but a blonde waitress shooed us rudely to a table. The food was great! We collectively ordered a Chipotle chicken sandwich, the cheesy penne pasta ("best Mac ever"), steak salad, and a sloppy joe. It was obvious that we were inconveniencing the waitress because we were there -- it took forever and I'm not sure if she ever made eye contact or had a hint of kindness in her voice. I've been back once or twice since then just because it's close. I don't recommend this place only because they've always been so rude to me and the groups I've gone with -- 2 stars instead of 1 because of the food. Go to Eli's if you have time to spare and can put up with an attitude!

Walked into a comfortable atmosphere and a friendly hostess! Sat at a nice booth & started to peruse the drink menu. I chose a lovely glass of red wine that was a great recommendation from our waitress. The waitress also knew the menu very well and was able to expand on the details, answer questions & give recommendations. I enjoyed a soup/sandwich combo - their BLT and Tomato soup, both were very good! My companions enjoyed their food as well - a pasta dish & a big salad. Finally, we shared a chocolatey dessert of the day - mmmm!! I will definitely be back!

Eli's is such a cute little homey feel bar with a great menu! 5 stars because I had a blast with my friends and loved the quaint atmosphere. We came here for lunch and it was not overly busy. Will try to Come back next time I'm in Minneapolis!

Eli's is really one of those rare local digs that just has damn good food. No wait, seat yourself, grab a drink, take it easy for a while, and enjoy a great meal with your date/friends/whomever. I've been here a handful of times now since moving to Minneapolis and tried something new each time, yet to be disappointed. Also, they're open later than most places in the area which is a huge bonus. The menu is extensive and there are always new specials on the board (they're website doesn't do justice so I would advise you just stop by and see for yourself). Honestly, there really isn't anything not to love about this place and it's quickly becoming my neighborhood go to spot! PS - try the seared ahi tuna (rare or medium rare, duh). The mashed potatoes and wasabi glaze with the sashimi grade tuna is a flavor explosion you don't want to miss out on!!

I've been searching. Searching for the elusive club sandwich. Not just any club. Anyone can do mediocre. This was anything but mediocre. It was the perfect club sandwich. Fresh and hot bacon, the right amount of mayo on perfectly toasted thick-sliced bread. The turkey was really good too. The fries were hot and perfectly salted. It was so good, the person next to me offered $29 for 1/2 of my sammie! I obliged. (I didn't take the $20, just shared my sandwich love). Great neighborhood spot that we will definitely visit often.

My fiance and I had a late dinner here on a Friday evening-- it wasn't too crowded, and the atmosphere was nice. Great date place! Food: I had the Gau Gau (sp.?) hot dog and a truffle dog. Very, very flavorful and juicy dogs, but it was a bit on the salty side. Fries were delicious, hot, and crunchy. My fiance had the steak burger. He says the meat patty was very flavorful and good, but the mushrooms and other things on the burger made it too salty. Service: Very promot and friendly. No complaints. Atmosphere: Hip and jazzy, could be romantic. There were candles at every table and jazzy music in the background. Two TVs are on, and the bartender seemed pretty engaged in conversation with everyone at the bar. Has a very neighborhood-y feel to it. In summary, the food is a bit on the salty side, but the location is excellent, and the service and atmosphere were pretty good. Not the best bar/restaurant I've been to, but it's definitely not the worst. I'll probably be back!

Both my girlfriend and I love this place It's always great service and never too crowded Highly recommend!

The quality of the high AC beer offering was once again sobering. Incredibly abnormal beers that are local and fit any palette. Smell of anything out of the kitchen will make you add-on. Can't NOT accessorize here. Incredible!

This is not my usual Eli's but it's the next best thing. They have the same rule on the specials menu changing on a weekly basis. I do highly recomend you check that out. The rest of the menu is almost the same between the two locations. we had a seafood fritter that was cold on the inside. which is why it's missing a star. My food was good and my partner seemed to enjoy his food even if it was a bit greasy. All in all I still prefer my NE location unless the DT one has a better item on the specials menu.

I had friends visiting from out of town and suggested we go to Eli's. I was disappointed with the service. Server was rude and condescending. Too much attitude for no reason. We ordered our burgers medium and well-done. They all came rare and one person sent it back. A new one was made to replace it and it was brought out after everyone else had finished eating. No discount or apology. That will be my last visit and recommendation for Eli's. It has declined too much since my last visit.

I love this place! If you are looking for a hole in the wall bar with great food and customer service this is the spot to be at! From the bartenders to the wait staff, everyone that works here treats you like the important customer you are. Additionally, this low key spot has 2 small screen tvs where you can ask to watch sports or anything else to your liking if you are sitting at the bar. Layout: This place is pretty small so I would not recommend coming here if you have a bigger party than 6 or so people. Though they can probably host a bigger party, it would be tough since they do not take reservations. Another tidbit for the ladies is that there is only one bath room. Usually that is not an issue unless there are festivals or major events going on in downtown Minneapolis. Food: The food is so awesome here! I love the fact that they have weekly specials that are based off of ingredients the can get that week. Frankly, I think the weekly specials are what makes this place an awesome choice for a foodie who likes to frequent the same place. The bar is also really well stocked here so the bartenders can make mostly any drink for you. Overall: Just an awesome place to try if you looking for a low key affordable place in down town Minneapolis. It is also good for those who are interested in take out. They are open to taking orders and having them ready when you get there for those that live close by.

Eli's is a swaggy place with soulful food, music, and staff. The appeal of the establishment lies in its efficient occupancy, dim lighting, and well made drinks. Sitting kitty corner of the MPLS downtown, the establishment is a quick walk to venues like the Orpheum, and Target Center. Eli's is one of those places where you can't order a bad cocktail. Eli's carries beer, but the name calls out food and cocktails for a reason. So grab a well poured cocktail!! Drawbacks of Eli's: max seating per group is 4-5, the places only holds 40-45 persons. And service can be "leisurely," but I think it adds to the charm. My fav dish: Al's Sloppy Joe with fried onions, Gouda, and American.I also order a side of fries with cheese.

BEST COOK IN MPLS IS HERE. This place has a huge vast menu and absolutely everything has been so good. But it's the rotating WEEKLY specials that show the cooks talent. Whether it's a classic slider dish, fettuccini, ravioli, steaks, etc we have been blown away every time. This place serves all sorts of classics but they have no business making everything as amazingly good as it is. Plus they have absolutely awesome staff to take care of everything else while you're there.

My boyfriend and I drove up to Minnesota for a little getaway recently. We wanted to go to dinner at Zelo, but when we got there they were finished serving food. We had a long day shopping at Mall of America, so we wanted a late dinner. We settled on a drink to come up with the next option and our bartender pointed us in the direction of Eli's. I am so glad he did, because it was one of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time. Our waiter was hilarious and the food was absolutely delicious. There's something beautiful that happens when you have a great service, great food, and you feel like you become friends with the waiter and it makes going out for a meal really special. I would come here once a week if I lived in Minneapolis, couldn't recommend this restaurant more. Wonderful experience!

Came on a Saturday afternoon to grab some food - I've gone to the one in the Northeast and was pleasantly surprised by the choice and quality of food. I wasn't so much at this one. I ordered the beef brisket sandwich ($10) and upgraded to the tots (additional $2). This lunch menu starts @ 2pm on weekends. Although the brisket was flavorful and the tots were really well fried, the brisket was shredded and tasted like old meat that they were trying to get rid of. The sourdough it came on didn't really do much to add to the dish, and the little greenery they added to the plate was sad and limp, void of any dressing or moisture. It was easy parking though since this area doesn't get that busy on the weekends (daytime) but would probably walk a little further to go to the other Eli's next time.

From a Celiac: The food here was absolutely fantastic!! They had a normal menu and a specials of the day menu. There was an option to substitute gluten free pasta for the pasta dishes. Many of the rest of the dishes could be easily modified to be gluten free as well. I had the salad with cranberries, apples and feta. It was so delicious I almost ordered another one for dessert. For dinner I had swordfish with asparagus and saffron tomato rice. The wine list was great, I had the Sean Minor Cabernet, one of my favorites. My mom had the penne and cheese with bread crumbles. She loved it and is still talking about it! Jacob our server was wonderful. He was Minnesota nice, and very professional. For a bar/restaurant he could've gotten away with less personality and service, so that's why it was extra appreciated that he was so great! We only had one night to go out in Minneapolis after being at the Ryder Cup all day and this turned out to be a really awesome experience. I would definitely return!

One of the best goto Surf & Turf in Minnesota. Great food with great flavor and composition! Well done from burger to steak.....

First look of the place says that Eli's has a lot of character. The interior is cozy and the lighting is intimately dim, which is perfect for that pub-like environment. The worn wood tables and wooden bar says that Eli's is casual with a bit of class. My waitress was very friendly and warm. I ordered their crab cake appetizer and Basic Burger, cooked medium with all the toppings. The crab cake was spiced perfectly, giving it a wonderful heat with each bite. The burger was very tender, almost butter-like. I can say quite confidently that I greatly enjoyed my experience at Eli's.

My roommate and I used to come here a lot during college. Think once a week, if not more. So we got to know the staff and food at Eli's reaaaaaally well. How did we not get sick of it? They change their specials menu every week so even if you're a regular, there's always something new and amazing to try! I'm still dreaming of the special's menu kimchi burger I had once and "patiently" waiting the day it comes back. If anyone has strings to pull with the chef, let a girl know! Some of my favorite bites: Eli's pasta, the tomato soup, California burger, guau guau hot dog, tuna steak sandwich, their Bloody Mary (there's celery, totally qualifies as food) and the balsamic chicken sandwich. The staff here are another huge reason why I love this place so much. I knew I found an amazing place when my server had two Harry Potter tattoos and had Christina Yang's picture from Grey's Anatomy on his notepad. If you have Jake as a server, be prepared for some sass and never say anything against the Malfoys. Tip: don't ignore the multitude of signs and try to park i the Lunds parking lot. They will find you. And they will kill, I mean ticket you.

If you're looking for a non-pretentious neighborhood pub staffed with friendly people, look no further than Eli's. Oh yeah, and it's also where all the cool kids hang. Like so cool that each time I've visited, I've had the huge urge to smoke a couple of Marlboro lights (100s) and sip on a nice bourbon. (Too bad indoor smoking is illegal in Minnesota. Not that I smoke or anything, though.) Looking to eat some grub after hosting a six hour hip-hop competition, I visited Eli's hoping to fill my belly with delicious food with local b-boy crew, Break Cops. Our server was awesome and she was more than happy to answer any questions we had about the menu. I ended up ordering the sausage sandwich, but I admit, I really can't remember any specifics, because I unwound with a couple of beers. (Which generally affects my memory.) But I promise you, if you get a burger or sandwich from Eli's, it'll be delicious. Also, if you are ambitious to eat even more, get the crispy, perfectly salted tater-tots. They make them just right. While eating, some friends that we knew visited and added to the Saturday night buzz. One of them was Cole, who is a tall and friendly brotha. At that time, I had no idea that he worked there as a bartender. I didn't learn this fact until my second visit with the fabulous Milwaukee CM Rachel F, where we sipped on some tasty mixed drinks. (Again, don't remember what I had.) Here's my convo with the coolest bartender in Minneapolis: Me: Are you Cara's boyfriend? Cole: Yeah. Me: Were you in here the other night? Cole: Yeah. I was here, just chillin'. If employees are willing to hangout at Eli's during their off time, I think that's a good indicator that you should visit. This is THEeeee neighborhood joint and a must for all Minneapolites. *Forgive me for any spelling or grammar mistakes in this review. I wrote it while drinking a beer.

Rad little spot: not pretentious, pretty home-y, no frills, nice folks... clearly a neighborhood spot. That said, surprisingly solid cocktails populate their drink list (read: a killer rye manhattan!) The tater tots are supposed to be business, but I didn't partake. The food menu looked like good, solid bar fare. Our bartender was super nice. Were this spot in my 'hood, it'd be a go to, easily.

I walked a few blocks away from Target HQ to Hennepin and 12th on a recommendation from a trusted friend to go eat at Eli's Bar and Grill. I entered the small establishment (About 10 tables with a long bar) and at about 12:15 they had one table left. We snatched it up and both ordered a Diet Coke which came out fast. They had a lot of healthy options along with additional bar food, but they had turkey burgers and veggie burgers and veggie dogs if that does it for you. Plus, they had a house salad with chicken that looked awesome. I ordered the black and blue turkey burger with coleslaw. You can order fries too, which looked awesome, for an extra buck. The service is the only thing I can complain about, and not even that, our server was awesome, it just took too long for the food to come out. That being said, the burger was amazing. With caramelized onion on top and lots of crumbled blue cheese on top. The crispiness of the crust of the turkey burger was perfect. The perfect toastiness of the roll was beautiful. The coleslaw wasn't to full of mayo, more of a vinegar based, which was just fine with me. After about 6 Diet Cokes (I said the server was awesome) we got our bill and I only had half my burger, as I was already full. Great atmosphere, about 6 taps, full bar, and awesome food equals five stars.

Came here after HH to grab some food and I had wanted to try this place since I live right across from it! It is a pretty small bar and it was decently crowded despite it not being HH anymore. We seated ourselves and our waiter was amazing! I got their St. Rita and we went on to order food. I ordered the Ambassador Hot Dogs which was a Turrfle Dog and the Big Ben with chips. The truffle dog was covered in provolone, mushroom leek confit and truffle salt and was my favorite! The chips were great too and when I asked for a box, they gave me an entire box of chips! So nice! The prices are reasonable but the service is outstanding. I am going to be making many more trips here!

Well this was a first. Who knew we needed to read the fine print when ordering cheese curds? We ordered the Ellsworth Cheese Curds thinking we'd get the usual deep fried curds...., but no. These came as a bowl of ice cold white hunks of cheese. Not fried. Just dumped in a bowl straight from the big bag in the kitchen. Yuck!! My rare burger was medium and a preformed patty. No hand- formed patties here and the chips that came along were poured out of another big bag in the kitchen. Don't ever bother going here!!

Eli's does not disappoint. I've been countless times and have been repeatedly impressed by the service (friendly and fast) and food quality (stellar) each and every time, whether it is for Sunday brunch, weekday dinner, or Saturday late night cap. The menu is full, with appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers + hot dogs, pastas, full entree's and desserts, but not too overwhelming (they also have weekly chef's specialties they whip up all nicely every Thursday too); though if you're indecisive like me, making choices is always a challenge. However, I've learned that you can't go wrong here. I've had the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, the Turkey Bacon Melt, the one dog and cup of soup, the mushroom swiss burger, and dabbles of other selections as well. And all delectable. But let me rave about my new favorite dish... The Tuna Tataki, which you can get as appetizer or as entree (pictured is the appetizer). If you like ahi/sushi, this is the dish for you. Perfectly seared rare, the pieces melt in your mouth. The sesame seeds tops it off with its texture and flavor. And best of all? It's healthy and low in fat! ;)

I was visiting Minneapolis for work and this place was close to downtown where I stayed. They were open regular hours even during the blizzard. Their selection of beers were great. The food menu had variety of options to choose. From pastas, salads, sandwiches to burritos. The ambience was very good too. They didn't have any loud music playing which was a great. The waitress was very courteous and checked on me often to make sure I got what I wanted. The service was excellent. I am going back there again tonight.

We came here hungry for food, which was the wrong thing to come for. I ordered a small Greek salad, which came with a big chunk of lettuce whose rim already turned pink. My husband ordered angel hair pasta with vegetable. The pasta came swimming in broth. Our kids ordered a bacon dog and a burger. Those seemed ok. The bacon dog came with some duck, water cress, onion, mushroom and sriracha soup. This was probably the best food we had at the table. We had tap Belgian beer that was just so so. The worse part was that it was hotter inside than outside. My kids got too hot that they asked to go outside to take fresh air, every 5 min or so.

Mac and cheese... To say this is the best I've had is an understatement. This is some next level shit. . Absolutely incredible. Even better, I came for Sunday brunch and they didn't have Mac and cheese on the menu, ordered anyway and the kitchen made an exception. Great food. Cool atmosphere. Can't go wrong at eli's.

This is a very cozy place to have a cocktail and casual meal. The bar is not necessarily conducive to a big group to gather but great to meet up with a couple of friends. Lots of creative cocktails. For dinner, they have a large printed menu but put new creations up on the wall. The turkey burger was outstanding, as was the greek salad. My half size pasta was a value (plenty of food for $9) but was so so as the pasta was a little overcooked. The service was fine...I can see where the greeting process needs work as others have noted. The staff has the city edge to it but was as I said fine. They have been busy every time I've been there. There is a parking lot to the left of it...as it is an open city lot use caution and don't leave anything visible. One final shout out to the olives in the martinis!

Fun little neighborhood type of place. Relaxing music, dim lights, couple small TVs to keep up to date on the sports happenings. Drink prices were a little high but in the ball park. The food was really good. I had the pasta special and my colleague had a sandwich. Overall bill was a bit steep since salads were extra. Probably prevented the 5th star to be honest because everything else, including the service, was right on. Would return upon my next visit to the area.

I thought long and hard about whether or not I should sign up and write this review, but here it is... I just moved to town from out East, and I've had my fair share of bad service... I went into Eli's as I was exploring my new neighborhood, and was promptly greeted by Jake. He seemed friendly and things started off well enough. As the evening went on, however, I began to feel more and more patronized, and as though I was bother. Listen, I understand people have bad nights, but I'm not sure what I did to receive the tone and 'tude. I will not return to Eli's. The food and cozy atmosphere are worth the two stars, but the service ruined it for me. I wish you all the best of luck.

For me, Eli's is a late night downtown Minneapolis go-to. The food at Eli's is really good, the atmosphere is low key, and from my experience, the waitstaff is really fun and friendly. The last time I was at Eli's, my server (I wish I could remember his name) hooked my friend and I up with free drinks because apparently we weren't already smashed enough. We probably didn't need even more to drink, but this waiter made certain we had a great night. He was so much fun. I can't guarantee you'll have the same really fun experience, but if you go into it with the right mindset, I bet you will. I love the cheese, meat, and crackers you can get late at night to snack on while you enjoy a good nightcap with your friends.

This is SUCH a great little place. Delicious and affordable drinks (not like cheap, but not super high priced). I had the Side Car and the Gimlet that were on the menu, and both had generous portions of alcohol. The wait staff was friendly and great to converse with, and very helpful. It's a great place to sit and chill and chat with your friends any night of the week and there's no "bump and grind" downtown bar crowd. Loved this place for drinks, although their kitchen is always open, there was literally nothing they could do Gluten Free (no wonder I was so buzzed when I left, I was on an empty stomach!)

Been going there for four years; it's my downtown Mpls bar "where everybody knows my name." I cannot say enough good things about Eli's. I still remember walking in the door the first time (on a date) and thinking the bar was going to be a let down. Boy was I wrong (the let down ended up being the date, not the bar). I now come here for dates, catch-ups with friends, meetings for work, Sunday brunch... Everything. Atmosphere: cozy, naturally cool, and comfortable neighborhood bar. Very relaxed, dim lighting. Somehow strikes the perfect mix of classy and hole in the wall. Think of the vibe as non pretentious (but having every reason to be...). It's simply perfect. Seats about 60 at capacity (Seat yourself, except on busy weekend nights). Lots of regulars. Two small TVs. Is noticeably heavy on service industry crowd during late week nights, but is otherwise a COMPLETE mix of people. Small sidewalk seating during the summers. Staff: Every person who works there has a unique personality (you'll notice the staff picks the music too)--a whole range of personality types... and each one is totally worth getting to know! They're real, sincere people who are excellent at their jobs, and they don't take shit from the kind of people who would otherwise ruin the neighborhood feel of the bar. I appreciate the staff immensely. The owners opened another location and clearly trust the employees to run the place, which is a spot on assessment. Food: Think American bar with a foodie infusion, serving classic cocktails and perfect desserts. Love the foodie variety on the weekly specials; the creativity of the staff shines through, as they all design the specials (both food and drink). I highly recommend the burgers, any of the wing specials, and the tomato basil soup is incredible! Amazing non-diner food until 1AM. Make sure you look at the specials sheet (separate from the menu and also on the chalkboards) or you'll be missing a central element of this place's offerings. Drink: Not a huge tap selection, but in fairness, there's not a whole lot of space for that. The tap selection not enough? They have a lot more bottles than you'd think! In any event, you have to try the cocktails! The bartenders aren't pulled from the nearest TGI Fridays; they know their stuff. My only complaints would be that the bathroom and air conditioning could use some upgrades.

Food was OK. Had Caesar salad with salmon and calamari. Salad and salmon was good. Calamari was small pieces not the nice size I'm used to seeing. No major flavor.

When everyplace else downtown seemed to be closed due to the lousy weather, Eli's (Downtown) was ready to go. I started with an order of Shredded Brussels Sprouts which, though a bit heavy on the garlic for my taste, was perfect for my friends. My Truffle Burger was easily among the best I've had around the Twin Cities without question. The burger was exactly medium-rare, the bun was perfectly warmed and the sides were fresh. Good server, nice menu that appears to be updated/revised regularly and a popular bar all combine to make Eli' s Downtown a great spot that I'll return to soon.

Great local spot with good drinks and a great burger. Three of us had burgers and all three were delicious. Thumbs up for the truffle burger! It's not a five star spot, nor is it a boring chain. If you need the boring vanilla of Applebees, you'll need to drink elsewhere. Support the local guy!

We were looking for a place to spend some time before a premiere at the State Theatre. Three of us plus a 2 month baby. Friendly, easy service. Excellent choices and really great food. Our waitress was very nice and accommodating since we splitting 3 ways. I'd come here again!