The Sample Room

Sample room was an excellent spot when I first visited it 20 years ago, and their quality has only maintained or improved. This quaint and cute little spot right on the river is almost hidden, but it is an oasis of delicious food and one of the few charcuterie places that you can find in Minnesota. Still, all that history doesn't mean they aren't rebels. Their flagship image of Frank Sinatra being arrested is a perfect icon for how they approach their food: it's delicious but also rule- breaking, fun, intimate and friendly. 10/5 stars, one of my favorite spots in town.

All in all a great place to stop in, grab a drink and a bite to eat. Had their last word and it was delicious as was the burger. If anything, I'd say the only major downside is that seating can be pretty variable. There are some days you can just stop in and other days where the place is booked out so it may not always be a great place to drop in on a whim. Parking is also fairly limited but the restaurant itself is kinda small so if parking is full the restaurant probably is as well.

This neighborhood restaurant is a great place for cocktails and very fine food. The waitstaff were helpful, friendly and attentive. Each appetizer we tried was kicked up a notch with unique flavors. Throughly enjoyed this charming stop!

This place is so lovely from start to finish. The team was so accommodating and kind to our group, and worked to get us in with just a day or so to spare. We ordered drinks and almost every appetizer and dessert and everyone loved it! They had a nice cadence, attentive service, and excellent food. The vibe is so cozy. Highly recommend!

Kinda disappointing. Kinda pricy. Kinda meh with small portions. Hated the chairs in the patio, very uncomfortable and seat sunk. Wouldn’t come back.

Have been meaning to come here for a long time and showed up without a reservation before 6pm on a Friday but we were promptly seated. Didn't want to risk getting bug bites outside so we opted for 2 bar seats. Brussel sprouts were called out as one of their most popular starters. They were a little burned for me because they're deep fried but the glaze was really good. We both enjoyed our entrees and the portions were huge. I definitely recommend the burger as it was not a messy experience and the beef was super flavorful because it's ground on site. We will definitely be back!

COZY! I’ve been driving by The Sample Room for years and have always wanted to try it. Was so happy to have the opportunity to meet a friend here for dinner. A glass of wine, shared app and entree only cost me $40! Well worth it. I ordered the shrimp and grits and we split the brussels sprouts. I even had enough leftover for lunch the next day! Parking was easy to find and the service was quick and friendly.

So, we came, and we sampled. This place looks more like a dive bar than a restaurant, both outside and inside. But the drinks are way above dive-bar standard. In fact, for me the drinks were the highlight of the meal. Not that the food was bad, but the drinks were top-notch. Our table shared brussel-sprouts (delicious), miso chicken wings (tasty and a generous portion), camembert (good, but non-descript) and oven-roasted olives (they're just olives). We also had the nummy Bottineau burger and the bucatini (which I have to quit ordering, because it always disappoints me, not just here, everywhere, it seems to be the "in" dish, but not for me). Our server was affable and efficient but not engaging. Overall, I would go again but get drinks and burgers.

Great relaxing pub with some good food. Pretty creative menu. The food was great. I had the cioppino. Perfect flavors and a fair amount of scallops, shrimp, mussels, etc served with some grilled bread. A little short on the broth which was great but not enough of it. It made the dish look under plated. But I have to SAY the seafood was cooked perfectly. It wasn't overcooked. Thank you! Other people had flank steak, shrimp & grits and a really nice looking burger with hand cut fries. All enjoyed their food and had a very nice time. Cocktails are top notch. Nice variety of beers and great wine flights. Coming back one day.

Excellent service and delicious food! The staff was friendly and attentive, and everything we ordered was well-prepared and flavorful. I'll definitely be returning!"

Really like the ambiance of the building and have always enjoyed my food and service here. Tonights waiter was not as good as past but got our food ordered correctly and delivered hot which is always a plus. Wish they had some of their past menu things on the menu but I understand changes. Didn't get a picture of the fries but they are home made and delicious. Hate having to ask for salt and pepper, is it because of covid that they are no longer on tables at places? Food was good and I will be back many more times.

So, we came, and we sampled. This place looks more like a dive bar than a restaurant, both outside and inside. But the drinks are way above dive-bar standard. In fact, for me the drinks were the highlight of the meal. Not that the food was bad, but the drinks were top-notch. Our table shared brussel-sprouts (delicious), miso chicken wings (tasty and a generous portion), camembert (good, but non-descript) and oven-roasted olives (they're just olives). We also had the nummy Bottineau burger and the bucatini (which I have to quit ordering, because it always disappoints me, not just here, everywhere, it seems to be the "in" dish, but not for me). Our server was affable and efficient but not engaging. Overall, I would go again but get drinks and burgers.

This place is so adorable and has a wonderful ambiance, perfect for a date night! It's a lot bigger inside than it looks from the outside, but it's still not a huge place. I recommend making a reservation, especially on a weekend evening! Our server was very nice and helpful, giving genuine and thoughtful recommendations and providing thorough descriptions of menu items we asked about. They were also very amiable and fun. For drinks I tried three different flights (I mean, how can you not at a place called The Sample Room?): 1. Amari flight--This one was really bitter and I did not like it. Most of the samples tasted like black licorice. 2. Red wine flight--This is exactly what you expect it to be. Nothing outstanding. 3. Cello flight--This was my favorite! Sweet, but not too sweet. It makes a really good "dessert flight" if you don't want to get actual dessert! For food, I got the Cuban sandwich, which was AMAZING. It was so greasy, but I loved every bite and ate it all up. I cannot stress more clearly how much I recommend this sandwich. SO GOOD. For dessert, we got the amaretto crepe cake which was fine. A little less sweet than I normally like my cake to be, but some may find a less sweet cake more tasty!

The ambience was nice and on a sunny day, I would be on the patio. We had a delightful girls' day with the Amusement Board. The food was enjoyable and unique. Pâté - yes! We enjoyed multiple drinks and were greeted with kind hospitality and were not feeling forced to leave even with limited seating. Amazing ambience, good service, would definitely come again.

First time at The Sample Room and we went for a cute date. I didn't make the connection until we got there that perhaps the name comes from all the flights they offer?? Lots of options on the menu! this time around, however, I went with a classic cocktail instead of the flight. I got an old fashioned, which was a little on the sweet side. For my entree, I decided to be adventurous and ordered the meatloaf! It came with a turnip purée. A little small for portions but very delicious and would get again. Not on the menu, but we also ordered a side of fries as an appetizer. It came with Parmesan cheese and because of the size of my entree, I was glad to have the extra food. Finally, for dessert, we ordered the Amaretto crepe cake with cherry mascarpone. Beautiful layers and has a slight coffee taste, like a tiramisu. So good! Overall, we had lovely service and the aesthetics of the restaurant were very cute and cozy. Truly felt like a neighborhood staple, and I look forward to returning.

Food is 10/10. Very original and homemade flavor. My boyfriend also had the carbonara - wasn't his favorite carbonara but the walleye and trout were FAB. Great drinks. Great service. Coming back this week to try the shrimp + grits!

I feel like the name "Sample Room" is a little misleading. It is related to the history of the building itself and maybe the drink menu? Surly, not the food menu which I sorta thought that's what it meant. The inside is small and historic feeling with the old brick and tin ceiling. It's gives off a vintage/speakeasy feel. Going off the speakeasy feel, the food offered didn't really match that. The food choices were upscale, a little oddball combos, and didn't really match the vibe I got from the ambience inside. The chicken wings were the only dish that tasted good. The flank steak was overly salted and the chimichurri was off and needed more punch. The flat bread had sweet potato and goat cheese and extra arugula on it. The goat cheese overpowered any other taste and needed something sweet, like a balsamic to balance it out. I was hoping the sweet potatoes would help that but I didn't taste them at all. They offer various liquor and wine flights - that come with three different samples and amount to one drink. They have a nice cocktail/drink menu we enjoyed. Service was wonderful. Overall, we enjoyed a nice dinner here but felt the food was trying too hard.

A friendly neighborhood haunt, offering elevated cocktails and food options, plus a great atmosphere, The Sample Room offers intimate dining and excellent, attentive service.

How have I not been here before?! This place was great! I am already wanting to go back. Great mocktail options. We split three appetizers as our "meal" and were not disappointed. The Brussels sprouts with the miso glaze were delicious. The beef tartare was so good, frankly I'm mad about it. We had great service. Cute, relaxed vibe in there. Small onsite lot tucked behind. Would be fairly accessible if you have mobility challenges.

I visited The Sample Room on a Friday evening after work. They had a small but decent selection of wine, a list of cocktails, and a great selection of NA drinks. I ordered one glass of their Nebbiolo and one glass of their Cabernet Sauvignon and both wines were good. The pours were generous, too. The glassware was one of those thicker glasses, but that's just a preference thing for me. My friend and I split two appetizers, the cheese curds and the Brussels sprouts. The cheese curds were good, but needed a nice hit of salt. The ham that is served alongside was ok, but I would have loved to get some spice in the jam. It would have added some good flavor. The Brussels spirits were great. They were big and crispy and the pickled red onion gave a great vinegar flavor and nice crunch. The pickled onions were on the sweet side on their own, but went well in the dish. My friend ordered the kale soup that was the daily special and she really liked it. I ordered their pasta with poblanos, sweet corn cream, and oaxcan cheese. I thought this dish wasn't well put together. It was sort of buried in cream and cheese and had a weird flavor profile. I've overall, our food here was good, our server was friendly and very fast, and the wine served was good. I would recommend this for a casual dinner

I've gone past this bar/restaurant for a few years and haven't ever stopped. A friend arranged a lunch gathering for a small group of us. It's a classic bar revisited... the interior still has most of the old bar, which is cool. We ordered a round of drinks and they were refreshing. We then ordered lunch, several of us had the shrimp and grits, we shared the roasted Brussels sprouts. A couple of people in our party had the soup of the day and a sandwich half/half. Everyone that had the soup commented on how good it was. I had the shrimp and grits and thought it was top notch. The shared Brussel sprouts were also delicious. The wait person was fantastic, helped with some questions and kept our table serviced well. I thought the prices were reasonable especially given the quality and taste of the food. Parking is either behind the building or on the street. When I returned home I let my spouse know, we should go here someday for lunch.

The burger was super good, the half sandwich and salad goes well and healthier together. The burger was juicy and the hashbrown was crisp. The pickle was not my favorite. Overall a good local neighborhood place to enjoy some river view or outdoor dining. The services was good!

The Sample Room is a small restaurant located in Northeast Minneapolis. There is no parking lot - but street parking is available. It was a quiet Holiday weekend, so finding street parking was easy. I am sure it can be harder when it's dinner hours. They do have a side patio and it looked like a back tent set up as well for outside seating. The inside reminds me of many older bars in Milwaukee/Chicago. They have various booths, a bar, and some tables as well. I definitely like the vibe. I had a Sangria to drink which was nice. I saw they had wings and I had to have them. They are full wings that come in two flavors. I went with the Garlic + Dill Pickle which comes with a side of dill aioli. The wings were nice and crispy, tender, and seasoned well. I definitely liked the flavor but would not mind if they were a bit juicier on the inside. The menu has a lot of things I want to try again. I was to enjoy a Whiskey Flight, and many other food items. Their desserts even sounded good. I will absolutely be returning.

Solid 4.5 stars! Date and I decided to sit at the bar (good decision), although I'm guessing the wonderful servers would have answered all of our questions. Date gave me the reigns, as he didn't know what some things were. The steak tartare... FABULOUS! Soo good, but the squished bread didn't help get the deliciousness into my mouth! Lion's mane mushroom cakes. So good. THAT could have been my meal. Definitely an interesting texture, but delicious! The sauce it comes with was definitely spicy... so let that be known! But my fav... was the smoked trout cake with ritz crackers. C'mon now. Get this in your mouth and enjoy! We both had the Old Fashioned. Damn. I mean damn it tasted good!!

Always a good place to drop in for a bite or libations. I've found the service dependable, the food always tasty: full meal or a light bite, satisfied every time.

Great food, the service was wonderful. I have been going here for years and the menu has always been wonderful and the staff has always been kind. Great spots to grab drinks and yummy food

The Sample Room has the allure of being a dive, kind of what I was thinking it would be, but the atmosphere is definitely a step above it and the place is really clean! (Not saying dives aren't clean, but you know what I mean lol) I went with friends and split the Bottineau Burger topped with pork belly, cheddar cheese, brandied onion, and smoked tomato aioli. The burger was seasoned well, I ordered it medium but it was much more medium well which was still fine for me, but something to be aware of for others. Also the pork belly was almost negligible? The burger was a bit small compared to other places and the pork belly matched but again, seasoned well, overall good burger. Just felt a bit off portion wise. It came with some killer fries that were also really well seasoned. Also tried the Miso Black Garlic wings and Garlic Dill Pickle wings which were both killer. Loved the miso black (didn't take a picture :'( ) Overall solid experience, service was top notch, and will check them out again!

The sample room is such a cozy spot a little spot, ample parking right in front and outdoor seating for when the weather is nicer. I went on Friday even with reservations and sat immediately. The servers were so sweet and attentive. Booth along the walls, high tops in the center and a mix of tables, nicely spaced out for some privacy even for a busy Friday evening. I ordered the Bottineau Burger, came with a side of fries and homemade ketchup. The burger was amazing something I would definitely write home about, it was juicy and flavorful the pork belly topping added even more flavor, it was a great combination of flavors- definitely would go back for the burger. The hand cut fries were delicious. A great low key date night spot with good food.

Super friendly service and a fun spot for dinner or drinks. We found the menu to be a bit pricey, but the food was also more than a bit tasty. We did a wine flight as well which was fun. Will definitely come back!

I've been here multiple times but this was my first getting the Reuben and I must say, it may have been the best Reuben I have had! The service was a little slow but we weren't in any rush so it was fine. The server was very nice nonetheless!

I really wanted this restaurant to be a NE gem but it missed the mark for me, the apps were decent (the best was the fried Brussels sprouts) but nothing spectacular. I had the 420 burger and the fries were overdone and cold, the burger was pretty good with the bacon. Service was also ok, our server was friendly but really quiet so it was hard to hear him in the loud dining room and service was slow to get drinks and the check at the end. Overall it was fine but I probably wouldn't need to go back.

Sample room reminds me of some bars in Krakow, Poland where I grew up. It is a perfect place to grab a bite in the summer on their patio or have something warm to eat inside on a snowy, winter night. Great food and really yummy drinks. We are regulars here.

Service and cocktails would be 5 stars - if you're just grabbing a drink, this is a great place! Food was 1 star - beef tartare tasted too much like the ketchup that you couldn't taste the beef, muscles were fishy (sauce and sausage were good!), and the wings were cooked well but entirely too salty that you couldn't taste the dill or garlic. Go for the curds is you must eat! For a crew that normally licks mediocre plates clean we left food on every plate.

Delicious "small plates" (in quotations because these would be full plates in the Bay Area) restaurant in NW district with amazing flights of various liquors, whiskeys and aperitifs. I got the amaro flight and got the chance to try three amaros I had never tried before. There's a fun ambiance and all the staff was very friendly. I replaced the fries on my Reuben sandwhich with a side salad and this was an actually decent Cesar. I also got the steak tartare and it was accompanied by a Dijon-adjacent mustard with both bread and water crackers. The Reuben was the highlight - which featured grass-fed corned beef and was warm, and the perfect blend of soft and crispy. I appreciate that they let me sit on a booth despite being a solo diner. This would be good for a date night - if you're so romantically inclined/attached. The playlist was also amazing - which seems to be a trend in Minneapolis. Should I move here? Someday by the strokes was playing when I entered at an enjoyable and reasonable volume, followed by deerhunter, the raveonettes, still corners, radiohead and no vacation! I would definitely be a regular here if I lived in town.

I met a friend here for lunch today. Never heard of the place before now. Cute interior and patio, but it was a little windy so we ended up inside. Had a delicious Aviation cocktail that rivals others I've had at bars. BUT....let me say, the ONLY reason I am taking the time to post a review is that the French Dip is THE BEST sandwich I have EVER had!!!! It was so good, I ordered another one to bring home to eat some more!!! Often French dips are rather bland.. just bread and beef and broth. This one has: grass-fed shaved sirloin, crimini mushrooms, onions, swiss, dill aioli, garlic buttered ciabatta, au jus. The perfect combination of flavors that are to die for. I will be back for more!!!

My friends and I had a delightful Saturday morning brunch at The Sample Room! Interesting and well made food, easy location to get to, helpful staff...it could not have been better. The portions were hefty and the quality and quantity seemed really good for the price. One person in our party has a spinal issue and they were able to accommodate us with a high top table so that 5 of us could sit and she could stand without causing any traffic flow issues--very helpful. The kitchen and the bar are somewhat close quarters but it was easy to hear each other and you could see right into the kitchen which was fun. They were able to accommodate a Virgin Bloody Mary for me, a sober, and it was scrumptious. I will definitely be back and recommend to friends, it was a cozy spot! They also kept the coffee FLOWING which is so important for brunch vibes.

Read to the end - it's insane. I met a friend I had not seen in years at The Sample Room on 11/16/24. We decided to meet at 5 pm, which was early enough that we could snag a table in hopes that we could spend the evening eating, drinking and catching up. We ordered a bottle of wine and a charcuterie board, and around 7 pm, our server asked if we wanted more bread/crackers for what we had left on our board and when she came back with that, she told us that we had about 20 minutes to finish up before the reservation arrived for that table. My friend and I were so confused! I asked the server how is it that we had to get up and leave to table we were at. She explained that this was a thing since the pandemic. I told her I didn't see anything like that listed on the website, nor was anything said about it when we were sat. She said she would talk to her manager. I saw them speaking and made eye contact with the white haired, black-framed glasses manager, who shortly after started circling our table. The second time he came round, I asked to speak to him. I asked if this rule is listed on their website, to which he answered that it has been a thing since the pandemic. I understood that but I was trying to say that this type of thing should be listed on the site or at the very least, they should have mentioned that when we were sat. As I was trying to plead my case, he kept interrupting me. I stopped him and said, "I am trying to speak" and his face stiffened, he walked behind my friend to the other side of the table, and grabbed our plates and started piling them on the food we still had left on our board, and while bent over our table, he said, "You know what, f*ck you. You can go ahead and write your little review, you two are done here." Then blew out our candle! We were so SHOCKED and I responded by telling him he can f*ck all the way off, and he grabbed our food but before walking away, he looked at me and said, "Kiss my ass." He took our food, that was paid for by this point because we were getting kicked out for dining there, and still had wine to drink! I was appalled. So, here is my "little review" and I will never be back.

This is the place I go for my birthday because it is just that damn good! We started off with the cheese curds, Jalapeños stuffed with peanut butter cream cheese and topped with cherries, and fried Brussels. The cheese curds were wonderful not too deep-fried and very light. The jalapeños were super interesting and I would 100% recommend and would get again. For dinner we had the burger and shrimp and grits. That blue cheese grits combo is outstanding and the best I've ever had, and I am a blue cheese snob. We also had wine flights I personally liked the red flight more but the mixed flight was fun too! If you haven't been here definitely go, it is so cute and quaint at night. They have a wonderful patio that is heated (when needed) and is on the river. Perfect for date night or girls night. Awesome place to share plates with others and try so many things!

We have been coming to the Sample Room over the last few years. I'm so glad that they have survived the Covid shutdowns and are here to stay! We've tried a few things on the menu over the years. They do like to change up the menu so follow them on Instagram for specials! The Cubano is one of my favorite go to items if I'm not wanting a heavy meal. The mussels is also a good option if you're not wanting a heavy entree. I love the coconut sauce! They change up their pastas but they are worth a look at! My friends have also enjoyed their burger. My husband has enjoyed exploring their drink menu as he is a cocktail guy. I'm more of a wine girl (when I'm not pregnant!) so I enjoy their selection. They have patio seating for the warmer months. They do reservations online for indoor and outdoor seating. If you're thinking about going during peak times, I would recommend booking online! Street parking is usually pretty easy to find.

Was pleased there was no sports tvs playing . Got the Cuban sandwitch it was dripping with grease fries were kinda stale but they make their own dips and stuff that are really good.

Outstanding and I can't believe I've never been before. The service was great. Super friendly and attentive staff. The burger was to die for. The mushroom cakes were tasty. Pretty solid beer list. While we sat in the patio area (which was perfect for a spring day), the inside looked super cozy. Perfect for a winter meal.

I love The Sample Room! I could eat their bacon fries and drink White Russians there all day. The staff are friendly, yet professional. The decor is kinda dark and moody, which I really dig. They have a seasonable menu that is always changing, but keep the staples year round. I'm not exactly an adventurous eater, but even I couldn't resist branching out from my usual order to try some seasonal risotto...which was delicious. They use a lot of the same ingredients across several dishes, which is smart because it keeps food cost down and you can trust they are fresh and in season if a specific item, like mushrooms are being featured a lot in the current menu.

I really, wish that yelp would take into account 4.5 stars... Because this is beyond and above four stars and yet not quite five stars. Recently, I stopped by to try out some of the appetizers, cocktails, and meats - charcuterie e fromage. I really was not disappointed! I found all of the food was very good the service was great and yum food and cocktails! This visit was post-Covid and they were sensitive to each customer's opinions, and delivered great service!

We came at 6:30 on a Saturday evening and were seated right away. We had a great experience! Cocktails were good, my husband had "The Last Word" which is a hard to find cocktail, I had an "Old Fashioned", both were delicious and just what we wanted. For dinner we shared "The Bottineau Burger" and "Classic Reuben". Wonderful! The burger we ordered rare and it was more medium, but it was amazing! The meat on the Reuben was really good, could have used a bit more kraut and a bit more dressing, but overall really good! Fries with both, which were really good, lots of seasoning and cheese. Wait staff was attentive and helpful. Overall a great experience, would come again!

A great neighborhood place for a drink and food. Do not skip the Brussels Sprouts! The maple soy on them is divine.

The Sample Room has been one of my favorite places for the past 15 years, cute quaint little place in NE Mpls. Their menu is always changing, their plating is always 5 star. Don't currently have a happy hour menu but maybe it will come back one day. We had a delicious mexican honey light tap beer and the pork tenderloin, and it was in no way your average pork tenderloin and it was melt in your mouth, with a side of brussel sprouts (which I forgot to snap a photo of) I think they were roasted. Cool stamped tin ceiling and candles at every table. Not much street parking right now as they have construction going on nearby and no lot because they have a huge tent set up. The food is worth the hassle of parking though. Great service every time we have been here.

big on ambiance.audio soundtrack needs to tone down a bit. great service. Walleye croquet needs more fish less cheese please.

I was really excited to go here, but this wasn't an amazing experience. Apparently we must have ordered the wrong items. Happy hour items: Cheese Curds- a handful of nuggets with some Cajun seasoning and blue cheese dip. These were good but you didn't get much for the price and somewhat salty. 3/5 Red curry chicken wings- love the full wing style wings and curry, but they got soggy fast. The curry flavor didn't quite hold up to a wing. We should have got the dry rub wings. 2/5 Happy hour fries- we asked the server if we could have the bacon on the side and she gave a blank stare... she then claimed they were already mixed in, which they were not. I was able to pick around some of the fries and they were good and a tad salty. 4/5 Entrees: Shrimp and grits- I was really excited for this, but sadly let down. Blackened shrimp were good quality, but so much Cajun powder and sauce that you couldn't taste the grits. The grits were a bleu cheese grits with a bourbon butter. Someone used some heavy hands when putting the shrimp on and it overpowered the dish. I didn't want to complain about the shrimp and grits as our waitress didn't seem that courteous in the first place. We should have looked at Yelp (phone at 5% battery) and ordered the scallops and the caulilini tacos. Our friend ordered the Cuban and that looked great! He scarfed it down and enjoyed. I also tried a taste of the Fair State Roselle (Hibiscus sour) and that was great. Maybe I will venture back another time to try something else....

This place had me at... TCM yup that's right they had Turner Classic Movies playing... #bestillmyheart ! Attending a conference over at the Convention Center and it was a day where lunch wasn't provided. I was in the mood for scallops so urgh I search 'scallops' on Yelp and this place was one that came up. Ubered over from the Convention Center and the driver mentions to me that this was a favorite spot of Anthony Bourdain... WHO KNEW! not moi. Outside reminds me of a Saloon back in the day, with a quaint patio bursting with flowerbeds. Went in for the scallops but decided to have what he loved most, their Bottineau Burger. He was to big for me but BOY was it good! Music playing was 80's (yet another boon for me) I wish I had more time in Minneapolis to return and try some of their other dishes everything read like poetry to your stomach LOL BTW The Corn puree soup was hands-down the best I have ever tasted. Service was TERRIFIC too! Respectfully Reviewed

What do you do at The Sample Room? Sample a bunch of stuff- duh! For drinks it's always hard to choose between a specialty cocktail or one of their flights- why set artificial limits- do a little of both. We tried the whiskey flight of the moment which was Kentucky themed, and a scotch flight. Both had a nice variety/range of flavors. Cocktails we tried were the Haute Diggety Dog, and the Ginger Lemonhead which were great refreshing drinks on a hot summer evening. For food we started with the amusement board. It is a good size and variety for nibbling through as a starter. We then ordered the chislic and morels- I would not call this dish a hit. It's the reason for the 4 star rating rather than 5. The meat was just way too salty. Finally though, the standout of the evening- the mussels! That broth! It's so good we asked for more bread to soak up every last drop. I love the patio space! Obviously a great outdoor space on a warm MN summer night is something that can't be passed up, but they have the patio set up to enjoy almost year round.

First visit here tonight. Did not disappoint. We sat at the bar and Ryan (the bartender) was efficient, friendly and knowledgeable. The house Old Fashioned was delightful. Had the shrimp ceviche as a warmup and it was fresh and light and well seasoned. Hubby had the Bottineau burger and said it was in his top three for burgers. I had the Rueben and the corn beef was mouth watering tender. The fries with the sandwich and burger were great. Highly recommend!

As the name itself says, the plates are sample size even though the price is like most decent restaurants. 1. Reservation/wait time Well, we decided to try out this restaurant for some time and stopped by. There were enough seats at 7 pm and was no need to reserve ahead. 2. Service was pleasant and fast. Our server checked on us just enough to make it comfortable without being too intrusive. 3. Food Hand cut fries: was good 3 meat meatloaf: was not at all impressed, I can do better Seared scallops: I also had better scallops elsewhere, it was just okay Mixed drinks were also okay. Nothing bad, but just not exceptional and/or interesting. 4. Ambience It is quite dark inside with wooden furniture, looks more like bar/brewery feel than a restaurant with long tables and booths. I won't come here for a special dinner. It was worth trying, but really not my kinda place. 5. Parking Free street parking everywhere as they are located in not very busy neighborhood. In short, it is a solid okay place. Small portions, decent food, but not great, dark and intimate looking interior, but not so intimate you wanna it your date night and/or romantic anniversary dinner spot.

Bacon. Truffle. Popcorn. It's a must. The Sample Room has a great happy hour offering along with a super chill atmosphere. We ordered some curds, popcorn, and got some Cubans and fries (not on the HH menu) to celebrate the end of the week. Again, the popcorn is just a done deal. Flavorful and you won't want to stop eating it. The curds were not my favorite. Something with that spice that's on there, just didn't hit me right. The Cubans were tasty and fries crisp. The only off-putting thing was our server. He was plenty friendly, but as we were eating he came by and picked up our plates and wiped down the table and then...set the plates back down. So confused about that interaction. It wasn't super busy so I don't think we were being rushed out, but just kindly leave the plate on the table and then clean away after we've paid and bid you adieu.

This was our first real date night out (with a babysitter for the baby!) and this was a winning choice for sure. The drink menu was incredible, full of classics as well as some fun craft cocktails. My fiancé got The Last Word and it was perfect for sitting out on the patio. The lime and gin were so light and perfectly mixed, though after he squeezed the lime he felt it was too bright for his taste (still perfect for mine). I had the ginger lemonhead and it was so amazing, I ended up ordering a second. Our server helped me decide between this drink and another gin cocktail. The sugar rim was a nice touch to this fresh lemon drink. I had worried the vodka may have a bite but was thrilled to find it didn't. I would say this is a must try for anyone looking for a delicious, refreshing summer cocktail. On to our food choices...we loved the fried green tomatoes. They were breaded with corn meal--a nice touch for texture and a good break from wheat breadcrumbs. The hot sauce wasn't too spicy but was just enough to make these unique. I also loved adding a bit of the fresh greens to each bite. For dinner, I chose the curry pork lettuce wraps. The star of that meal was definitely the dipping sauce. I could see it had crushed red peppers but the overall taste was smoky and savory. I had forgotten to use it for my first wrap and 100% regretted not having more opportunities to dip in this sauce once I tried it. The jicama was a fun surprise. My fiancé tried it and enjoyed the freshness of the food but felt the pork was salty. I'm not sure I agree, but wanted to put that out there. He chose the elk burger and loved the meat and bun. I thought it seemed pretty rare, so if you want it more medium-well, definitely mention it when ordering. The fries were a show stopper in this meal. They are so flavorful, melt in your mouth with the creamy center, and aren't greasy at all. No need to wipe your fingers off after snacking on these! Overall, we had a delightful experience. Everything we ordered was incredible. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive. The ambience was great out on the patio near the park and the river. Highly recommend a date night here!

Pretty unassuming spot off of Marshal in NE Minneapolis but definitely worth stopping by. They always have a diverse menu and I've not had a bad dish. Some favorites have been their mussels, pappardelle, and chickpea tacos. Although, I think they change up their menu frequently. The building is neat, very old school NE. Great spot for a date night.

Cheese curds are amazing and I recommend the Cuban sandwich. The drinks are pretty strong though

I liked the menu when it was all small plates to share. Now it's more individual meals.