Pioneer Press 2024 patio guide: New kids on the block

Jess Fleming, Jared Kaufman, Pioneer Press
·7 min read

These 15 spots are new or new to our patio guide this year.

THE APOSTLE SUPPER CLUB, 253 W. Kellogg Blvd., apostlesupperclub.com: Chef Brian Ingram’s 1960s Palm Springs-inspired restaurant has given its patio a major upgrade. With thatched cabana-like umbrellas, a bar made with barrels and plenty of tiki heads — in both statue and cocktail glass form — the large patio is basically begging you to sit back on a sticky summer day and sip a Mai Tai (only $6 during the 4–7 p.m. happy hour, a steal compared to the rest of the menu).

THE BUNGALOW CLUB, 4300 E. Lake St., Minneapolis; 612-866-3334; thebungalowclubmpls.com: We’re not sure what took us so long to check out this charming spot, which has been open since 2018 in the former Craftsman spot, but we’ll definitely be frequenting Bungalow club for chef Andrew Kraft’s tasty prix fixe menus, delicious craft cocktails and the pretty patio, which has plenty of shade from an expansive pergola with a rooftop.

CITY HOUSE, 258 Mill St., St. Paul; cityhousemn.com: Casual riverfront drinking and dining (an adjacent food truck offers sandwiches, tacos and more) in a restored grain elevator offers killer views of Harriet Island and the riverboats docked there. Full bar, excellent craft beer selection. Credit or debit card only.

CRASQUI, 84 Wabasha St., Suite No. 3, St. Paul; 952-600-5578; crasquirestaurant.com: Urban terrace with bright blue umbrellas for a tropical vibe. The arepas and seafood here are spectacular, and they serve what is probably our favorite pork chop in town. Bonus: the craft cocktails here, with a special emphasis on rum, are phenomenal and the wine list is excellent.

DIVE BAR AT COASTAL SEAFOODS, 286 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul; 651-698-4888; coastalseafoods.com: The new Coastal Seafoods location, just down the street from the old one, has an adorable diner counter with indoor seating and a patio to the side of the building. The menu is full of casual seafood favorites such as lobster rolls, fish and chips, fish sandwiches, calamari, and fresh oysters. There will eventually be canned beer, wine and cocktails, but the city of St. Paul is behind on licensing new establishments, so if you’re counting on alcohol, I’d call first.

EAT STREET CROSSING, 2819 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis; 612-345-4136; eatstreetcrossing.com: The patio at the new Minneapolis food hall is spacious yet cozy, with plenty of tables, a firepit and a walk-up bar. Pick from sushi, burgers, Brazilian pizza, ice cream, or pan-Asian fare at the new Staff Meeting restaurant — a new concept from chef Louross Edralin that replaces a ramen shop. Cocktails from the central bar are well-made, too.

GAI NOI, 1610 Harmon Place, Minneapolis; gainoimpls.com: Look, I’m a simple guy: Ann Ahmed makes it, I eat it. After opening Minneapolis stunner Khaluna a few years back, the Laotian chef launched Gai Noi in Loring Park in spring 2023 to immediate national acclaim. The restaurant is quite large and walk-in only; the patio, with comfortable seats and cute flower boxes, is well-arranged to provide guests with a choice of sunnier or shadier table. And the food, obviously, is great: The uber-flavorful wok-fried beef and the basil wings, succulent with a dry rub that feels like a Southeast Asian Old Bay, are both particular standouts.

GUACAYA BISTREAUX, 337 Washington Ave. N, Minneapolis; 612-345-4981; guacayabistreaux.com: The patio at this Latin Caribbean-Louisiana fusion tapas restaurant is set up in front of the building, along busy Washington Avenue — the sidewalk re-routes around it — so it still has an impromptu, Covid-era feel. If you’re already in the North Loop on a nice day, it’s a worthwhile snack-and-drink stop.

HERBST EATERY & FARM STAND, 779 Raymond Ave., St. Paul; 651-340-0254; herbstsaintpaul.com: True farm-to-table eating, in a pretty, shaded, private patio? Sign us up! This newbie has patio dining dialed in, from the ample shade to the comfy chairs and tables. The menu changes frequently, but is always heavy on vegetables, freshly made pastas and beautifully composed meat dishes. The cocktails are innovative, the wine list spectacular and the service next-level.

KING COIL SPIRITS, 550 Vandalia St., Suite 140, St Paul; kingcoilspirits.com: This 80-seat patio is a nice complement to neighboring brewery Lake Monster, which has the same owners. There’s a nice mix of sunny and shady areas, and there are large tables to accommodate your group of friends. Nosh on a thick-crust pizza and sip on one of the distillery’s fantastic cocktails while you’re there. Happy hour runs 3-5 p.m. daily and includes $8 highballs and draft cocktails. There will also be free live music — viewable from either patio — on Saturdays from 3 to 5:30 p.m. through Oct. 26.

PORZANA, 200 N. First St., Minneapolis; 612-489-6174; porzanampls.com: Daniel del Prado’s new North Loop steakhouse, which swapped out the upscale Midwestern quirk of the Bachelor Farmer for the Argentinian chef’s trademark creative elegance, makes excellent use of a slim alleyway for a charming European-style patio. It’s a splurge, to be sure — a single 6-oz entrana (like skirt steak; juicy, beefy, perfectly seared) with chimichurri, a side of crispy oven-roasted potatoes with smoky red pepper sauce and a pair of cocktails topped $100 — but the top-notch service and overhead twinkle lights make for a transporting patio experience.

SMORGIE’S, 127 W. Seventh St.; 651-204-5096; smorgiesbar.com: The affordable spot across from the Xcel Energy Center has adopted a new motto: “It’s not too terrible.” The very Minnesotan compliment-ish also applies to the patio, I think, which is nothing fancy. If the restaurant is busy, you might have to order food (via QR code) inside and carry it out yourself to some of the metal tables or lounge chairs alongside the building, or to the walk-up bar. Not a destination patio, exactly, but if you’re looking to grab a bite to eat outside before heading to the X, Smorgie’s will do the trick.

WRESTAURANT AT THE PALACE, 33 W. Seventh Place, St. Paul; 952-600-5611; wrestaurantatthepalace.com: The cobblestone pedestrian-only West Seventh Place makes for a naturally pretty patio, and Wrestaurant, the new eatery from the folks behind First Avenue, the neighboring Palace Theatre and Wrecktangle Pizza, takes full advantage with pretty mint-colored patio furniture and flowers. Craft cocktails and Detroit-style pizza make it the perfect place to meet friends before a show.

YUM! KITCHEN AND BAKERY, 164 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul, 651-615-1230; or 8340 City Centre Drive, Woodbury, 651-603-4444; yumkitchen.com: One of our favorite lunch spots in St. Paul has an indoor-outdoor space that features a screen to keep out the rain if the weather is bad but you still really want some fresh air. And new this year, in Woodbury, brightly colored flowers and whimsical pinwheels surround a lovely 60-seat space with giant red umbrellas for shade. Counter-service model serves homey but delicious sandwiches, salads and plated dishes, including the best tuna melt in town, served on a house-made English muffin. Save room for dessert — all the baked goods here are delicious.

ZAMBONI’S ON 7TH, 174 W. Seventh St., 651-225-2999; zambonison7th.com: Familiar name, new location: With Eagle Street Grille gone, pizza joint Zamboni’s joined forces with The Loon Cafe to move into the large corner spot across from the Xcel Energy Center and expand their Italian-influenced menu. Sports bar vibes reign supreme inside, but the semi-secluded back patio captures a quaint, weathered charm that feels like old St. Paul. It took us a couple tries to actually sit on the patio — evidently, they make the call daily on whether to open it and at what time, a host said — so you might need to call ahead.

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