Alright, here is a selection of places from the Food Critic of
City Pages with some comments of my own:
112 Eatery - Great food, great vibe, see if you can get seated upstairs as it's a bit quieter.
Barbette - another cool place located in Uptown Minneapolis which is sort of the hip, cool place - like downtown NYC but obviously much smaller
Cafe Levain - I've never been but I've heard great things and read strong reviews.
Cafe Maude - This place has gotten rave reviews but it is sort of a community joint that is well out of downtown so there is really nothing around it.
Broders Pasta Bar - great vibe and food but again, well out of the downtown area so if you were planning on walking to a bar or something afterward there isn't much there.
And here are some ideas from me:
Heidi's - Fantastic food made in a tiny kitchen by a guy who really loves food. It can get loud but it is a lot of fun.
Cafe Lurcat is in a really cool space and has great food as well.
I'd get yelled at if I didn't offer up
Nye's Polonaise, a Minneapolis Institution. (I added the website just for their info.) It is a 50's Tiki-style bar with supper club type food, a piano bar, and Polka dancing downstairs. Words cannot do it justice - it must be experienced. It isn't on par foodwise with the rest here (not that it's terrible or anything) but the overall experience more than balances that out. If you're both up for some serious kitsch, go for it.
And finally,
Manny's This is a traditional steak joint with massive portions (and bills). I've been to steak joints from coast to coast and north to south and this is, IMNSHO, one of the very best. I've eaten in the main room in a business suit and in the bar in a jeans , a t-shirt, and a motorcyle jacket. As a long-time waiter there told me years ago - "We don't care how your dressed as long as you come with an appetite and money!" Gotta love it. Having said all of this, a massive meal of beef may not be your ideal for a first date but I thought I'd add it in anyway.
You can check out reviews of most of these joints on
City Pages and see if anything in that list grabs you. We can shoot for a cigar on Saturday afternoon or evening at
The Golden Leaf in Uptown Minneapolis.
Good luck,
- Tim