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Twin Cities 2019 Eater Award Winners – Minnesota

Twin Cities 2019 Eater Award Winners – Minnesota

by | Dec 14, 2019 | eat/drink

                                                                                
The best restaurant, chef, and design of the year.

Today, we’re excited to announce the winners of the 2019 Eater Awards, celebrating the chefs and new restaurants that made a major impact on the dining scene this year. In each of Eater’s cities, including here in the Twin Cities, the local editorial staff chose finalists and ultimately a winner in each of three categories, taking into account nominations submitted by readers over a monthlong period. Restaurants had to have opened in the past year (including the last few months of 2018) to be eligible and must be located in Eater Twin Cities. Please join us in celebrating this year’s incredible group of winners. Without further ado, here they are.

Restaurant of the Year

Travail’s Minneapolis Residency

A wide white dish with an indentation in the center holds mussels with tourneyed potatoes and a small herb salad
Always expect the unexpected from this constantly evolving chef collective
 Courtney Perry/Travail

When Travail took over the former Bradstreet Craftshouse location to host a few pop-ups while a new restaurant home was constructed in Robbinsdale, it seemed like a fun lark. Starting with the return of the momentously popular Umami, this restaurant became a sudden unmissable chameleon of tremendous dining experiences. Whether reliving the 90s greatest hits of Minneapolis fine dining, serving jamón from a chandelier or pressing whole poultry tableside, Travail’s residency on Hennepin Avenue became a consistently delightful happening. The bar is consistently busy, serving up small snack bites and an outstanding drink program that follows the kitchen’s lead to amp up every dining experience.

Travail’s James Winerg with Homage’s guest chef Doug Flicker, along with Travail’s Mike Brown and Bob Gerken
 Courtney Perry/Travail

In the past year Travail not only served up the most interesting of dining experiences, ticketed events that progress through eras, cuisines, and the dining room, but also managed to keep pace with service reflecting each new iteration as the chefs would parade dishes to diners with occasion and care.

Now, sadly, the party is coming to an end, with just a few more dinners in Minneapolis before the talented team of chefs return to Robbinsdale. It’s been a sweet ride that has been unlike any other the city has seen before, or will taste again.

 

Chef Justin Sutherland smiling at the camera, wearing a camouflaged sweatshirt and an In Diversity We Trust baseball hat.
You may recognize this man from tv or his burgeoning empire of local restaurants
 Lucy Hawthorne/Eater Twin Cities

Chef of the Year

Justin Sutherland

From a star-making turn on Bravo’s Top Chef to opening restaurant after restaurant, chef Justin Sutherland was everywhere this year. From the small screen to moving into the leadership of the Madison Restaurant group it has been an incredible year for the St. Paul-based chef.

First, he was the absolute best reason to turn on the TV Thursday nights this winter with quotable quips like, “My body is probably about 60 percent bourbon, 20 percent pot and 40 percent fried food.”

Then there were the pop-ups with his new crew of Top Chef pals, followed by revamps at just about every restaurant he works with the Fitz, Public, Gray Duck, Ox Cart Arcade, Pearl & the Thief, and more. He also launched two new fast-casual concepts including a ramen and Japanese fried chicken stand, O Bachan that was the single best bite of fried chicken we encountered this year, and a concept primed for duplication.

A large piece of fried walleye in a basket with skinny little French fries
The walleye from the menu refresh at Gray Duck
 Joy Summers/Eater Twin Cities

Although, it’s not just the usual kitchen and celebrity turn that makes his rise and rule of 2019 so impressive. Sutherland has traveled the country and worked here at home to promote diversity in the kitchen, and share his experiences. He’s begun difficult and important conversations while also opening the door and welcoming in others to follow him.

2019 was the year of Justin Sutherland, but the most interesting this will be seeing what this brilliant and energized chef does next.

 

The dining room with large dark red booths and gothic walls
The unbelievable makeover at PS Steak
 Kevin Kramer/Eater Twin Cities

Design of the Year

PS Steak

It cannot be easy to take a restaurant dining room, that was once home to an icon of the city’s restaurant world, inside a historic building and make it feel entirely new without sacrificing elegance, ease, or charm. Yet that is exactly what the restaurant team from Jester Concepts with the help of Shea Design managed to do with the back room of PS Steak. What was once white, and ornately formal, is a deep, dark, masculine den built for massive cuts of meat, attentive service, and just begging for a giant red wine, or an expertly mixed cocktail.

Hard to believe this bar hasn’t always been here
 Lucy Hawthorne/Eater Twin Cities

The front bar area received a refresh from the restaurant’s last tenant inside the 510 Groveland address, but the most impressive transformation is the dining room. In addition to giant blood-red booths dark floors, walls, and ceiling, they build an entirely new bar that manages to feel like it’s always been there.

by Joy Summers

 

Where to Eat at Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport (MSP)

by | Dec 6, 2019 | eat/drink

A person holding a burger with a bite out of it, cheese is oozing out of the center
Grab a cheese-stuffed burger famous around the Twin Cities
 Katie Cannon / Eater Twin Cities

Nobody wants to hang out at the airport, but long lines, crowded flights, and the possibility of weather delays are always made better with a cocktail and a snack. In addition to some well-loved chains, there are a plenty of restaurants that local chefs have added some Twin Cities flavor to give travelers a taste of Minneapolis and St. Paul. We’ve got everything from bowls of fresh ramen, lobster rolls, coal-fired pizza, cheese-stuffed burgers, buckets of local beer and more.

 

Terminal 1, Lindbergh Terminal

Best Bets

It’s also the prettiest stop inside the airport
 Joy Summers/Eater Twin Cities

Angel Food Bakery

A breakfast savior at the airport, opening at 4 a.m. daily and serving grab and go sweets and breakfast treats. You know what makes every flight better? Doughnuts. Plan accordingly. [Terminal 1, Concourse E]

Meatball and ricotta straight from the coal-fired oven
 Black Sheep/Facebook

Black Sheep

It wasn’t easy to get a coal-fired pizza oven put into a massive airport, but Black Sheep Pizza managed to make it happen. The charred, crispy crust is topped with bright tomato sauce and other classic flavor combinations that made this Twin Cities mini-chain a hit. Try the meatball and ricotta pizza. [Terminal 1, MSP Mall]

Hi-Lo Diner

An airport outpost built to mirror the classic diner car in Minneapolis’ Longfellow neighborhood. An excellent stop for decadent breakfast classics or a good ol’ burger. Even if the seats are all taken, there are a few places available to lean and order a pre-flight drink. [Terminal 1, Concourse F]

Great burgers and killer cocktails
 Lolo’s American Kitchen/Facebook

LoLo American Kitchen

Tacos, Korean fried chicken wings, and bacon wrapped hot dogs are just a few of the dishes that you can find – along with a full bar featuring plenty of fine brown booze and stellar cocktails. [Terminal 1, Concourse E]

A brightly colored stand with a pink cover of PinkU inside the airport
A brand new sushi and dumpling stop at the airport
 HMSHost [Official]

PinkU

A popular Minneapolis spot for crispy dumplings and Japanese street food just opened at the airport. [Terminal 1, Mall Food Court]

The Cook & The Ox

A new full-service restaurant put together by Jack Riebel, a locally loved chef who knows how to put together a great piece of charred meat. Grab some walleye cake supported eggs benedict for a taste of Minnesota. [Terminal 1, MSP Mall]

Shoyu

Decent ramen, quick service, and streamlined ordering via tablets. Always popular and not always easy to grab a seat. Look for a spot and plug in quickly. [Concourse G]

A white fast food stand with the green lit burger logo of Shake Shack
Started by people known for fine dining, this burger chain has landed a new Minneapolis outpost
 HMSHost [Official]

Shake Shack

Likely the best fast food burger at the airport. The chain was started in New York City, but is quickly expanding across the country. [Terminal 1, Mall Food Court]

By Location:

*Indicates Eater recommendation

Airport Mall

Caribou Coffee – Coffee, pre-security check

Stone Arch, MSP Mall – Local beer, bar food

*Black Sheep, MSP Mall – Coal fire pizza, full service, bar

Farmers Market, Baggage Claim, grab and go

*Smack Shack, MSP Mall – Lobster rolls and other dishes made all the better by lobster, full-service, bar

Starbucks, MSP Mall

Dunkin’ Donuts, MSP Mall

Auntie Anne’s, MSP Mall – pretzels known by mall goers everywhere

Moe’s Southwest Grill, MSP Mall – Mexican chain

Firehouse Subs, MSP Mall – Sub sandwiches

Chili’s, MSP Mall

*PinKU, MSP Mall – Based on a popular Minneapolis restaurant with crispy dumplings and Japanese street food.

*Shake Shack, MSP Mall – Beloved national burger chain

Lake Wine Kitchen + Bar, MSP Mall, Level 2 – Bruschetta and the like, wine

*Shoyu MSP Mall, Level 2 – Ramen, sushi, dumplings, full service and full bar

Leeann Chin MSP Mall, Fast food, Chinese

The Cook & the Ox, MSP Mall – Full service. A new full-service restaurant from a notable Minneapolis chef. [Terminal 1, MSP Mall]

Concourse A

*Blue Door Pub, Gate A1 – Local burger chain specializing in cheese-stuffed burgers

Concourse B

City Point Bar – A slim bar stand at the end of the concourse.

Concourse C

Chick-fil-A, Gate C13 – fast food, chicken in a biscuit from a controversial company

Smashburger, Gate C12 – Fast food burgers

Starbucks, Gate C12 – coffee

Twins Grill, Gate C11 – full service, sports bar

Vino Volo, Gate C6 – full service, wine bar

Concourse D

McDonald’s, Gate D1 – Fast food

*Republic, Gate D6 – full service, beer-centric, bar food with live music. There’s a small grab and go section, too.

Concourse E

Holy Land Deli, Gate E5 – Stand serving local Middle Eastern snacks, known for tasty hummus

*Angel Food Bakery, Gate E5 – Grab and go sweet treats, known for great doughnuts

Qdoba, Gate E7 – Fast food, Mexican

*LoLo American Kitchen, Gate E11 – Full service, American fare, craft cocktails

Concourse F

Panda Express, Gate F5 – Fast food, Chinese

Wendy’s, Gate F5 – Fast food, square burgers, frosties

People’s Organic, Gate F7 – Grab and go

Chick-fil-A, Gate F7 – Fast food, fried chicken

*Hi-Lo Diner, Gate F11 – Locally based diner with decadent breakfast options. Even when crowded, there are a few spots for leaning and sipping cocktails.

Concorse G

*Vero, Gate G15 – Pizza from James Beard Award winning chef Ann Kim.

Mimosa, Gate G3, Level 2 – French brasserie-styled full service restaurant and bar

Volante, Gate G12 – Full service Italian restaurant with pasta and paninis

Mill City Tavern, Gate G21 – Supposedly Minnesota fare, Swedish pancakes inexplicably have pumpkin seeds on them, but there’s a full bar and $27 meatloaf.

Cibo Express, Gate G12, Gate G18, Gate G9, Gate G22

FlyBar, Gate G9, Level 2 – Bar for drinking before flying

Twinburger, Gate G18 – Full service, Get a Minnesota-invented juicy lucy burger with the cheese stuffed on the inside.

Tagliare, Gate G18 – Quick service, pizza slices

World Bean, Gate G18 – Coffee

Minnibar, Gate G22 – Global sandwiches and a full bar

Terminal 2

Where to eat when flying out of the smaller, Humphrey terminal

Caribou – coffee

Cocina Del Barrio – full service, upscale Mexican, tequila

Minnesota Wild Bar and Restaurant – full service, sports bar

MSP MKT – grab and go sandwiches

Subway – fast food, sandwiches

Starbucks – Coffee

Surdyk’s Flights – grab and go and full service, quality sandwiches, cheese selection, wine

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by Joy Summers

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