Terrible service, mediocre food and they don't serve alcohol until 10:00 am. If you are considering this place for breakfast on a Sunday, I'd rethink your decision. We had a Crowd Cut coupon and decided to check this place out for breakfast on Sunday. They only serve a buffet breakfast and the buffet is not too impressive. Basically, you get some sausage, bacon, breakfast pototoes and eggs. Oh, and how could I forgot the frozen french toast sticks they reheated and served as part of the buffet. French toast sticks?!? I couldn't believe I paid $9 for that buffet. Quite disappointing. To make matters worse, I wanted to order a mimosa but was told they don't serve booze until 10:00 am. What restaurant that serves breakfast doesn't serve booze?? The service was pretty terrible. A hostess showed us to our table, the very last table in the back of the restaurant. We asked for water and finally got it about 20 minutes later after mutliple other servers came to our table asking what we wanted to drink. I never really knew who our waiter was since different people would bring us things. Overall, quite a disappointing experience and I won't be back.
(2)
Jennifer H.
We just kind of stumbled onto this place, although I remember hearing good things about it. The appetizers were $2.00 off @ happy hour, so we decided to create a meal. We split a large salad which was fine, but the oriental sesame dressing was pure vinegar. For "dinner", we had bruschetta and a pizza. Well, the bruchetta was identical to our pizza for the most part. I've never had bruchetta served hot with melted mozzarella before. I just wish our server would have let us know the two are similar...we would have ordered something else...or two orders of bruschetta as it was very good! Nice variety on the menu and the food IS good. We just made the wrong combination of choices.
(3)
Laura W.
We went looking for a sports bar after a Vikings game to watch the Broncos game and had a great time. Place was clean, food was delicious and the beer was cold. Our server was very busy and did a great job. Would and will definitely go back again. Oh and the free popcorn was salty :)
(5)
Ben D.
8th Street Grill has a great after work happy hour! I love to stop down after work with coworkers and get an appetizer and a beer! It is definitely not a place I would expect to get A-Class service, but I can't help but love this little downtown bar! The onion rings are amazing, the queso dip is amazing, pretty much any food you can find on the happy hour appetizer menu is awesome! They have a really decent selection of beer on tap, and really nice drink specials too! This is more of what I would think to find out in the suburbs, not in a downtown setting! Generally even happy hour is pricey when you go out down here, so I am loving the fact that reasonable prices are within walking distance of my office! ((The bathrooms here are disgusting though, so I knocked off a star for that)).
(3)
Jeff A.
I like this place as a convenient happy hour option (couple blocks from my office), but aside from that, I don't think I'd drive downtown to eat/drink here. Maybe as a pregame spot for a game or show. Re: their happy hours, they do have a fantastic beer selection if you like local, craft beers. $3.75-$4.00 for some decent brews. The place gets pretty full on Thurs/Fri happy hours, but service definitely suffers when it starts to fill up. One highlight for me is that they're a big Surly bar and usually have all the seasonal, rare Surly beers on tap. Also, they used to (maybe they still do) have Surly brunch, where they pair a Surly beer with a brunch item. Nice...
(3)
Tiffany V.
Went there just for happy hour after walking around downtown Minneapolis. Had one glass of red wine. It was fine, nothing special, except it was a dollar off. Didn't really look at the food menu except for apps. We almost got cheese curds.
(3)
Cynthia B.
Packer fans beware. You will be dissappointed if you expect to watch your Sunday game. We are sitting here well into the 1st quarter and 2 of the 3 tvs in the main room are tuned to the Bengals. After a room full of complaints, we were met with a "sorry charlie" attitude by the management. The service was average, the bare fare...fair. We'll not be back unless we are desperate.
(1)
Nate K.
I came here with some colleagues on a Thursday night. It wasn't crowded or too noisy. We parked it here for most of the night and just drank. The service from both our server and the bartender was good. The juke box was $1 per song which I thought was a little steep. Oh well. It was a great time overall.
(4)
Nico G.
I went here last week since I was in town for business. A co worker suggested it since we were tired of walking around looking for another restaurant. The service was okay, it could have been better, but it seemed that our waitress had a lot of tables or a really bad memory. I had the pasta tortellini, that wasn't bad, but nothing to get excited about.
(3)
Jillian C.
Had a very nice lunch here today! Prompt service, hot coffee, pretty good food (not great, but good). Our server was a sweetheart, she's probably one of the warmest and most genuinely kind servers I've ever had. Next time I'll be in for happy hour, which I recently attempted but had to go elsewhere because there was nowhere for me to sit! (They must have good specials if it's that packed...) They do take out as well so I grabbed a to go lunch menu, nice to know that this is right downstairs from my office if I ever need a quick lunch!
(4)
G. S.
Was in Minneapolis for business and a friend drove in with her 3 and 5 year olds to join me for dinner. Weren't sure which place would be kid-friendly, but ventured into 8th St. Grill, hoping. We lucked out. The food was delicious (I had the Au Jus...MMMM!) and the service was outstanding. Our waitress was great and made sure we were all taken care of.
(4)
Cullen H.
I have a very difficult time giving out single-star reviews for the most part, but I couldn't justify anything more for 8th Street Grill. Below are my reasons... Variety... Decent. They have an incredible amount of beers on tap which is great. Not too much creativity regarding their food choices though. Ambiance... Almost Okay. My group sat outside, which perhaps was a mistake. I couldn't hear most of the conversation over the roar of the street or loud pedestrians. Patio seating is sandwiched between and underneath a parking garage, so there isn't much to look at except concrete. . Service... Poor. Our service seemed stellar upon arrival, but I quickly realized that our waiter perhaps wasn't playing with a full deck. They seemed confused upon every request, didn't bring out orders in any sort of a timely manner (or until we asked), and rarely came around our table. We found ourselves having to consolidate requests for each rare table visit. Value... Bad. Food is expensive, which is to be expected with a downtown restaurant, but portions are small, and food is of poor quality. The happy hour menu is bad, with beers hardly on sale ($0.75 off most choices), and discounts on food not enough when appetizers are so expensive for what you get. Food... Dreadful. Our walleye sandwich was awful, with stale, low-quality bread, Kraft cheese singles, too much tarter sauce, and too little sandwich. The side order of steamed vegetables was soggy, obviously from the freezer. Although I wouldn't try them, other people's food didn't look appetizing either. The kicker was the stomach ache that I had for an hour after getting home.
(1)
Greg P.
Good food. Good service. Up to date beer tap. No sports packages like NBA or NHL however. And for someone that is a sports bar on most nights they loose a star.
(4)
Kat W.
Stellar HH for downtown. $8 pitchers, discounted apps, and other drink specials. Plus, it runs from 3-7, M-F. They also have free popcorn, which I always regret eating later, but at the time, lord knows it is the best. The rest of the menu seems to be pretty classic Amercican "grill" food and is reasonably priced. Plus, hey - it's not a chain! Kind of a cozier bar space, but their dining area is more expansive. Its places like these that make me wish I work downtown because even though they're nothing special, you know you'll be able to relax. Be warned, currently it is on a corner that is 100% street construction.
(3)
weston w.
I LOVE the Phoenix burger, it was outstanding. Everything Else ordered In a party of 4 was amazing as well. 2x ph 1 turkey 1x god father. i liked the chips you get with it, i liked the chips with it, didn't love them but hey if I'm writing a review on chips i just as well should slap myself. So, why no 5 stars. well the HH drinks 241's were just as expected, one drink was sent back and well it should be but they were out of 2 of the calls i asked for, no biggy but no 5 stars.
(3)
Malden S.
I want to really like this place because they have Peroni on tap but the last two visits have convinced me otherwise. A few weeks ago about 12 of us went there after work on a Friday. The service was bad and we often sat for 15 minutes or more with empty glasses. As some of us left, we put cash on the table to cover our tabs. At some point the waiter took the cash from the table (about $50) and when the last of the folks were leaving the waiter gave them the final tab but didn't deduct the money he took. He made her pay the whole tab, so she had to front the $50. I would have argued with the mgr. but she was a little intoxicated, tired and pissed, so she didn't bother. Last night, I went for a quick drink after work and they charged me $1.45 to have my drink on the rocks. - Bastards!
(2)
Kay T.
First: Don't get the crabcakes. Very bland. They tasted like someone formed doughy wheat bread into a patty and fried it. They give you three and I struggled through the second one just because I was starving. The waitress wasn't super friendly or attentive (even though they weren't busy) but after the meal she did pull out her iPad to give us directions. Nice beer list and decent drink prices, especially during happy hour. Overall: The atmosphere makes you think you're in for a really nice meal, but the food is blah. Come here for a beer but skip the food.
(2)
Nicole P.
Three stars for the good service and nice beer selection. I recommend the 21st amendment, it is a clean finish dark beer with a lot of flavor. The food is good - to - above average. The do's are the Build your own mac & cheese and the Granola Crusted cinnamon french toast. the french toast was truly surprising and tastes like a nice hot cinnamon bun. Good bloody mary's but bad breakfast meats, the sausage is funky.
(3)
Felicia C.
It's Tuesday and you know what that means? $3.50 beers and $0.35 buffalo wings at 8th Street Grill, apparently. You really can't go wrong with cheap food and beer. They have 32 beers on tap and have the usual fare of burgers, pasta, salads and sandwiches. The burgers aren't fantastic but good enough for me...plus, they had waffle fries (and waffle fries make everything better!). Service was slow when we were there, but we didn't really care - the game was on so we ended up watching that instead.
(3)
Kurt K.
Tried to give them a pre-order of $300 in food for a group of 20 people (pre-paid) and the manager said they are too busy to accept that kind of business. What GM or owner in their right mind would turn down guaranteed money? One that is way too full of themselves and should be avoided like the plague. He actually said that they have been in business 20 years and can choose what type of sales to accept. DO NOT go here!
(1)
Mauricio V.
Pretty good. I was on a business trip and stopped here for food and drinks. It was a monday so cocktails were 2 for 1. Awesome! The pizza I got was on the appetizer menu and was huge! For an appetizer of course.
(4)
Drew P.
A nice little surprise for business travelers in Minneapolis. I was lucky enough to go there on a summer evening, so we ate on the patio. Being a downtown location, I would have to guess that it's a popular lunch and happy hour destination, but it was kind of dead later in the evening. PROS: - 32 beers on tap - Nice menu with a good happy hour - Great place on a warm summer evening CONS: - Didn't seem like a great location for late-night festivities (because it's in downtown)
(3)
anthony C.
I neither love nor hate the 8th Street grill. I admit upfront it's just not my kind of place...whatever that means. But I find myself at 8th Street because coworkers often congregate here for happy hour. I'm not clear on the "why" behind it? Particularly when there are so many choices in the city. I guess proximity to the office is the big draw. The basket of popcorn brought to the table serves as an initial bribe. But I can't seem to shake the feeling I've not actually left the office. The decor is office like, the lighting is a dimmer version of office like, and the people...erm...they are...well...office like. It's as if the cubicles morphed into booths, tables and bar stools and the mail person is serving drinks. While the office as bar may be a latent fantasy (how I wish someone would deliver beer to my desk), I think my imagination yearns for something a tad more creative. -The service is good in my experience (in fact we had a very friendly, sweet and unobtrusive waitress this evening). -I'll admit I'm not a drink special expert so I don't know if they have especially good deals. -Food is OK. -Drinks are OK. -They have Guinness on tap! -Multiple TVs tuned to Fox News and ESPN. -Plenty of room for groups. -Outdoor seating in the summer. -And hey it's convenient?
(2)
Sarah B.
The place itself might be ok, but when we told our waitress that we were getting ready to leave and could we please have our bill we didn't see her for about a half hour!!!! We were even starting to think that maybe she had forgotten about us and gone home!! On a positive note, I came here to celebrate a friend's graduation, and they could accommodate for a large group of people no problem. We got a huge table for all of us.
(2)
Josh H.
8th Street is a great place to go if your looking for a burger and a drink. Having the popcorn available makes waiting for your food seem like nothing. If you want something other than a burger it might get a little pricey but if you come in for Happy Hour you can get cheap appetizers which is great.
(4)
Dan K.
This was one of my more enjoyable places to go while I was in Minneapolis for business recently. Their beer selection to me was one of the best around - lots of local beers - and they had one of the longest (until 7pm) happy hours around the downtown. Their food was pretty good for pub-fare and I usually got the chicken sandwich or hamburger which were both good. Their brownie sundae is large and decadent - Just what one would hope for! The service however, can be hit or miss. There are two waiters primarily that are incredibly slow and seem to forget you are there. However the last two times I went I did not see either of these two waiters so maybe they have moved on... Their replacements are decent enough not to have an effect on the evening. Overall - great beer selection, good happy hour (long and exciting specials - they have a happy hour wheel of fortune some nights), lots of tvs, decent to poor service.
(4)
Heidi S.
This place is the best! They always have daily specials and their happy hour is stellar! Great service and fun outdoor seating. If you want a burger and fries and not pay an arm and leg downtown, go there!
(5)
Libby B.
Absolutely wonderful place to catch a Packers game on a Sunday afternoon. Pretty tasty food (I especially like the portobello sandwich), 32 (!) taps from across the country with specials on beers from Wisconsin on game day, a fantastic pro-Packers crowd, and plenty of TVs and seating space. I'd take this over Herkimer any day of the week for a great Packers bar.
(4)
dan h.
2.5 stars??? what do these minnesotan's expect from a bar and grill anyway? this place has loads of beer, sports on the TV. very nice local white-fish with rice and vegetables. micro-brews, local beers and chicken wings. friendly waitresses. there are loads of patrons here that will attest to the good service, food and good value. they pretty much deliver what you expect and want them to deliver and they don't over-promise with a pretentious facade. perhaps the waiters could be hit and miss with the quality and if you get a bad waiter then that could ruin the experience but we didn't find ourselves in that situation so this place pretty much fit the bill for a quick bite and beer when we rolled into town.
(4)
Kevin M.
I freely admit I've never eaten here (though some of the breakfast specials they have posted do sound enticing), but I've spent many an afternoon happy hour wiling away the time with a crossword or a good friend. They have a daytime bartender (I'm not sure if I'm allowed to name names, but you'll recognize her) who treats me and my girlfriend well, and knew by the third time we were in there what we wanted. The thirty-two taps from around the country are nice, and on a cold winter afternoon the heat lamps above the outdoor tables are a really considerate plus. Still, I don't know that I would frequent this place if I didn't work across the street. It's a bar. No more, no less. The people who work here know my usual (Walker red and soda), and if I'm in the mood to bullshit, the other clientele provide a sounding board for my political or philosophical ramblings, but all told, it's just a bar. It is nice however, being a Vikings fan yet having Donald Driver on my fantasy football team this year, to have a convenient Packers bar to go to and lick my wounds.
(3)
Lisa B.
This is the place to go if you love trying new beers and are downtown. The tap selection is ever changing and amazing. Tuesdays are the day to be here, "The Wheel of Madness" means that every half hour a different beer is on special for 2.75. This is a fantastic opportunity to try beers you have never heard of for a great price. I fully credit 8th Street for making me aware of most of the micro-brews that I can't live without. The servers are great people and have always been friendly and helpful. If the place is full to capacity, yes, it takes longer than I would prefer but it makes sense. This is the kind of place where I can settle in with some friends and some beers and just relax. I usually don't eat here but when I do, I am expecting bar food and happy hour means cheap appetizers. It doesn't have to cost a lot if you order what is on special. I love going here because I love their beer, if I wanted something else, I would go somewhere else.
(4)
Brian K.
Pretty standard fare with several vegetarian options. I was with a large group and service was OK. I'd go there if you are seeking standard pub grub without much flare. Decent selection of beer and liquor with decent pours.
(3)
Kimlinh B.
For a bar and grill this place isn't bad. Their happy hour appetizer specials are standard fare (nachos, wings, calamari) and of decent quality, but not a great deal at only $2 off. The drinks menu boasts "32 beers on tap," but when I was there they were out of two - that I knew of. I had a pretty watered down Long Island Iced Tea, but it was a $5 happy hour special, and unfortunately that's par for the course. Cajun pasta was done well (silky cream sauce, spicy andouille sausage), the portabella mushroom sandwich made me happy, caesar salad was forgettable, and the service and bathrooms were fine. The sidewalk patio is too close to the street for my taste, though. The constant bus fumes and noise were overwhelming. On balance, although I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, it is a decent place. There was a good sized happy hour crowd, it's in a convenient location, and they didn't mess up my food.
(3)
Iris S.
I went to this place to explore another NTN trivia carrier option. It had always been pretty "eh" in terms of both atmosphere and drink specials. Red flag: The service is appalling. I cannot figure out why the servers seem to ignore me when I ask for NO MAYO. I've been 3 times and the first two irritated me, but for some reason my bf feels empty if we don't go there once a year. The third time after ordering the club sandwich I not only got mayo slathered all over it, but had 2 extra cups on the side. "No" is not a synonym of "Extra". Of course, it was the "cooks fault". *rolls eyes* I was offered a replacement, which I accepted only because I was ravenous. The absolute gall of these people is outstanding as I was not only not comp-ed for my meal, but charged the 50 cent fee for an extra side of mayo. Wild horses could not drag me back.
(1)
Scott M.
Good food, good drinks and reasonable prices. I just had chicken tenders and fries. The chicken was ok, but the fries were excellent. They have a good variety of items on the menu and a lot of beers on tap. Will return again.
(4)
Mark L.
Great food, excellent beer selection. Just come prepared to have to ask for EVERYTHING. (a beer, a menu, someone to pay attention to you when you'd like to order from the menu, another beer, etc.) Also, don't sit at the corner of the bar near the entrance unless you want to hear all of the on-duty and off-duty employees congregate and discuss all the goings on of their inner-circle.
(3)
Angela P.
Great downtown gem! Impressive beer selection, friendly staff, wonderful buffalo sauce on their wings (or on the chicken sandwiches, if you order it buffalo style!) Only downside (which I can't take away stars for) is that they are a Packers bar... so I'll never be here on a Sunday ;) Seriously though, great spot, and affordable. Special shout to bartender, Jason (friendly and knowledgeable on beer)
(5)
Sara T.
My dish was cooked perfectly! I ordered the Italian pork sandwich which came with a French dip sauce and chips. Ooey gooey hot pork shouldery goodness. Something happened and someone accidentally brought one of our dishes to another table. They tossed it and put in another order which meant one party received their food about 5 min after we did. The waiter was apologetic so I suppose that makes up for it. Even though we went to 8th Street because they're open late night when other restaurants are closed, and because they are conveniently located 1 block from the Marquette Hotel where we stayed, I would still dine here during normal dinner hours. So good.
(4)
melanie l.
I stayed at the W and the front desk guy recommended that if we wanted to watch the game to go here. In the middle of the city, but felt like a local hang out due to the two friendly awesome waiters we had. They have a good beer list (says my dinner companion) and serve a good root beer too (says me). Great place to catch a hockey game downtown. TVs are plentiful but could be a bit bigger for a sports bar.
(4)
Kittie F.
Consistent typical bar food but great for lunch and one of the only places downtown that serves food after 11pm
(3)
Jessica W.
Nice place to go after a Twins game. Nice late night menu and drink specials. Big bonus.....the bartender looks like Derek Jeter!!!
(3)
Adam S.
A co-worker and I went to 8th Street Grill for lunch today. We both ordered the same exact daily special...turkey/mushroom melt and side salad instead of the chips. It tasted pretty good at the time but as we walked back to the office, we couldn't get over how filling it was....a little TOO filling for a side salad and what was basically a doctored up grilled cheese. Long story short, I ended up leaving work with some "stomach issues". I then texted my co-worker and asked if he felt the same. His response?! "first and last time I ever go there". Who knows what it was....the salad greens (on the sandwich as well)? The turkey? The mushrooms? The mayo?? Either way, we both got sick. My co-worker said it best....first and last time I will ever eat here.
(1)
Mason M.
A nice neighborhood bar in the middle of the city. Eighth street offers a wonderful selection of beers (over 40 tap beers with the majority locally sourced.). Most of the food is a step up, I like the pizza's and they have an especially lovely cedar plank salmon, why its on the app menu I don't know. The bartenders have been uniformly efficient and friendly. The table service can be pretty sketchy more often than I'd like to see (it was so atrocious one time we felt obligated to boycott for a year). Eighth street has pleasant surroundings and a "patio" under the parking ramps ramp for summer use (though the heat lamps are friends of smokers year round). All in all a good place to go for a tasty brew some decent food and some local color.
(4)
Emily N.
8th Street Grill is the kind of place that is great for a quick happy hour in central downtown. There is a good selection of beer on tap, and you name the commonplace bar food appetizer and there's a very good chance it's on the menu...think nachos, wings, fried cheese of some sort. I personally think the majority of sit-down restaurants in the near vicinity offer better quality food for lunch/dinner for either the same price, or even possibly less. I would not choose to eat here, but I dined here for a group lunch, and the restaurant set up two tables for us - it wasn't a problem during the busy lunch hour, which we appreciated since we did not have reservations. Our food came out within 15 minutes of ordering, and everyone at the table seemed satisfied with their meals. I ordered the Greek chicken salad - it was a standard salad. I would ask for the dressing on the side if you like yours applied lightly. For some reason mine arrived without feta, so I had to ask for some to be delivered. In general the menu is a large selection of sandwiches, burgers and salads. The sandwiches with a healthy portion of fries seem like the best bang for your buck. Just a tip: I don't know that this spot is very diet-restriction friendly. If you are hoping for several GF options, you really only have salads to choose from.
(3)
Dave H.
I really like this place, it's laid back and the food is pretty good. The service I get is 2nd to none! I've never had poor service. I stop in weekly Must stop!
(5)
K T.
They've gotten a little too big for their britches. Rude staff (especially the manager) and the prices just keep going up. Too bad, because I was a regular for nearly a decade.
(1)
Stephanie K.
I enjoyed my meal here. They have a relatively large patio off the street. It's kind of loud but there aren't many alternatives nearby for eating outside. My club sandwich and fries were very tasty and priced around $12. This is definitely expensive for what it is but that's kind of what you have to expect when dining downtown. My waitress was friendly and refilled drinks without being pesky. My guest ordered the taco salad and it looked really good. It looked much better than what you'd expect from a sports bar. I think I'll try that next time.
(4)
Tian Q.
Tuscan shrimp pasta was a big plate of over-vinegared shit thrown together with a barely edible bread roll on the side. My leftover was about 80% of the whole entree because my taste-buds were too offended. Cannot believe that the waitress had the audacity to recommend this plate of nasty fuckery to me as one of her favorites.
(1)
Bill T.
An unassuming place downtown, this is a decent pub-type joint with tasty bar food and a good selection of local and regional beers on tap. I came here after a Twins game and it wasn't too crowded. Got to sit outside on their patio (which is oddly under a ramp for a parking garage) and sample some beers and some waffle fries. The waffle fries were very good. For beers, I had Furthermore Fatty Boombalatty and Grain Belt Nordeast and both were decent. Service was good, the chairs were comfortable and it wasn't too pricey. I would go back here.
(4)
Dawn G.
Hurray for free popcorn that's so salty you'll be forced to order beers to stay hydrated! Clever strategy, no? Thankfully there is a large selection from which to choose, including a unique watermelon infused beer. Don't judge, it was good! 8th St Grill is one of the few dive bars in downtown Minneapolis. Not the icky, uncomfortable type of dive bar, the kind that's relaxing and welcoming. Inside it's dark and the decor hasn't been updated for a great many years. All part of the charm. The space is large enough to accommodate big groups and is a common stomping ground for corporate worker bee happy hours. To add to the fun, they have an interactive trivia system displayed on TVs throughout. Combine all of that with your favorite bar food appetizers and beer and you have yourself a good ol' time! The service can be hit or miss but I've had mostly positive experiences. If happy hour with onion rings, burgers, pizzas, and cheese curds (CHEESE!!!) are not your thing, they also serve salads. But really, that's not why you're here. Indulge in your salty, carbohydrate-loving desires and just enjoy. One side note. Their outdoor patio is located in the covered cement walkway that I like to refer to as "smoker's alley" and therefore you should avoid the patio if you want to retain lung function.
(3)
Kirsten H.
Chris was my server. He was right on with his recommended addition of broccoli to the Mac & cheese. The draft root beer was good but sweet enough that I wouldn't have gotten a refill even if they were included in the price. Location is very convenient to my hotel, which was good for me. Do be aware that this place is mainly a bar which means noisy and often lots of smoking on the patio & nearby. Also, watch your stuff - have seen some creepy types walking through the sidewalk patio area.
(4)
Richard S.
I've been a big fan of the 8th Street Grill for years but have been disappointed with my last two dinners there. The menu has been shortened. Daily specials have disappeared. Prices have edged up. They've even taken away the small roll that used to accompany the entree salads. The last time I was there I ordered the Oriental salad which was very bland with a watery tasteless dressing -- certainly not worth the $13 price. Service is still good and I really appreciate the popcorn; but I'm afraid I won't be returning very often.
(2)
Rebekah E.
Mediocre is the word that comes to mind here. I went to watch the packer game, so the fact that they had it playing was a plus for me. There was plenty of room in the place, which meant I got a good view of the tv from the bar, but had me questioning how good the food/service would be if there was such little business on a Sunday afternoon. The bartender was a man of little words, but was attentive, so can't complain there. I had a couple beers and a burger. They cook the burgers to your specifications, which I like, but it was very average in taste. I have waffle fries on the side and was very disappointed in those. Dry and "reheated-like". They weren't browned or crispy. The energy in the bar was very low, party due to the lack of customers I'm sure. I probably won't go back unless I really can't find somewhere else to watch the game.
(3)
Elaine H.
Great Packer bar! The service, atmosphere and food were all terrific! I highly recommend the calamari. Light, tender and full of flavor! Best ever!
(5)
Divya V.
We sat in the dining area to watch a couple of the college basketball games. The service was pretty slow and our server was easily overwhelmed. I do not care for their cocktails. Probably stick to beer or wine or something simple like rum and coke. We got two appetizers: Cheese Quesadilla and Bruschetta. They were both very good.
(3)
Klaas V.
Great bartender, I have had 4 beer samples already without ordering! Awesome.
(4)
Steven S.
I have been going to 8th St. Grill a couple times a week for years. Usually for happy hour with co-workers or during the weekend when working. It's only 2 blocks from my employer which makes it very convenient. Love the beer selection. One of the best craft draft beer selections in the downtown area. Of course if you go a couple times a week the selection can get a bit old but they do rotate a few often. Also there's nothing like the "Wheel of Madness" landing on one of your favorites during happy hour. Food is average bar food in my opinion. Nothing special. Have always had good service though and bartenders are very helpful if you have beer questions. Free popcorn is a plus.
(4)
Nazgul W.
Good food at reasonable prices, free popcorn, great location and they show Packers games! Enough said, really. This is an oasis in downtown Minneapolis. An institution. It can get really busy in there but it's a fun spot and reliable for those who want to watch Green Bay instead of the Vikings.
(4)
David C.
8th Street Grill is a bit misleading since its not really a grill. The place itself is a bit rundown and divey. The food is mediocre at best, and they serve pretty traditional fingerfoods and bar bites. Great place to grab a pint since they have a wide variety of pours. It'll suffice if you're not looking for anything gourmet. For the value, there are better options in the immediate area.
(2)
Jason K.
My friends and I have been here many times. We haven't been here for a few years, because their happy hour kind of sucks compared to Devil's Advocate and The Mission in the cities. They have a good beer selection, but if you are over $4 in Minneapolis during Happy Hour, you are overpriced. Hello - Bad Economy!?!?! The food is pretty good every time I try it and the service is very 3 star. It is like the most average of average bars in the cities. Average food, average service, high prices for beer. In my book, that equals a three star. Restaurants are going to need to step up their happy hours as competition is heating up quickly. I do like that they carry Surly Furious and Surly Darkness when it is available. They do have free popcorn, which is a plus.
(3)
Angie S.
This place has a pretty cool location for before or after Twins games or any other event downtown. The patio is outdoor, but under the upstairs overhang and pedestrians just walk right though on the sidewalk. Happy hour is the best time to stop by here. If I remember right, Saturday all day is happy hour pricing with cheap appetizers and drinks! I tend to lean towards the chicken nachos here. The use actual cheese rather than cheeze whiz!
(3)
Luke C.
It's a Green Bay Packers bar in downtown Minneapolis! We had lunch here before a Packers/Vikings game and it was great. All the staff was wearing Packer gear, there's a Packers sign in the front window, and they had football on all of the TVs. The food was pretty good too. I had a BLT for lunch and when we came back after the game for a late night dinner, I ordered the chicken fingers from their late night menu. They serve food until 1AM.
I was in town for a company meeting and decided to stop at this place because the wait at other restaurants was at least an hour for a group of 4. The food was really good. I ordered the Mac and cheese with bacon and broccoli and was really taken back by how "home cooked" it really tasted. Service was great, but the restaurant wasn't all that busy for a Saturday night.
(4)
William S.
I'm giving them a 3 star rating simply because it was a bar after all and the food was a step above bar food. Nothing really to say about the restaurant. The wait staff was friendly and responsive. The grilled cheese was simple slices of cheddar cheese and bacon in between a couple slices of white bread and grilled. Could have and would have made better at home.
(3)
Nicole W.
I, like others, also kinda stumbled into this place. And no, I don't mean that literally. My family and I were walking around, ravenous, looking for a close and quick place to grab a bite and a few beers. Overall, 8th Street Grill sufficed just fine. With a nice patio and large bar inside, this place is prime to grab a pint and a few cheese curds. Service was pretty solid, especially considering I was in a party of eight folks. And may I say, the beer list is pretty sweet and the curds outshone just about everything else I ate. Here's the rundown... Quesadillas: 3/5: Just fine. Nothing special. A standard chicken quesadilla with toppings. Cheese curds: 4/5: As mentioned, I love curds, so really these could have come at me in any way and I would have still loved them. Extra kudos for the tasty ranch on the side. Chicken Tenders: 3/5: Again, nothing remarkable but these crispy strips filled the void in my belly. Fries: 2/5: Tasted like the frozen kind...*yawn* Important note: Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday from 3pm to 7pm and all day Saturday. Schweet!
(3)
Joshua W.
This used to be one of my favorite places to go eat and have a couple craft beers downtown. Keyword...used to. Maybe beers are fine, but my last experience with the food and service left me running for the hills. Cajun pasta: Should have been chicken, peppers, and sausage pieces over al dente penne with a spicy white sauce. What I got: Mostly white meat chicken, huge slices of bell peppers, penny sized sausages that tasted wonderful but were very few and far between and super small, grossly overcooked pasta, and a deluge of pasta sauce drowning the entire dish. It took me almost an hour to eat my food because i had to not only stab the penne repeatedly to get it on the fork without sliding off or just falling apart into multiple pieces. After which I had to let excess sauce drip off it so I could taste the penne only a little bit. The sausage tasted great but there wasn't hardly any at all, and the spice and bite was superb in the whole dish, just not plated and cooked properly. Service was sub-par at best, took me a good 10 minutes to get a beer from the bartender, although she did keep me filled up later on, till kind of irked me some since the place was dead, she just wasn't paying attention.
(3)
Robert R.
A good selection of craft brews (on tap) from local and nearby states. I recommend the Gluek Red Ale. I ordered the chicken sandwich 'buffalo style' and it was fantastic! You get the option for fries, veggies, or soup. I had the veggies as I am trying for healthier options these days; I wish more places offered this. Service was great. They have indoor and outdoor seating, TVs in the bar area and a (pay for) juke box. Overall, a great experience.
(4)
Caitlin S.
I've never really been impressed by anything I've had here. Been a few times just due to the fact that its one of the only centrally located resturants downtown that isn't too classy/expensive. The casual feel is one of the only reasons I come here. But don't think I'll be rushing back. I've had the veggie burger, the chicken wild rice soup, the queso dip and their tacos special. All have just been meh, nothing special, nothing terrible.
(2)
Bill D.
Great place to watch a game. They have the largest collection of beer taps I have seen. Lots of local and regional beers on tap. Food was awesome!
(5)
Stacey L.
Nothing overtly wrong with the 8th Street Grill, but everything was lacking. We randomly ended up there while wandering around downtown trying to find a place to watch the Badger game. They have a lot of TVs, but they're all on the smallish side and high up. During the game they had $2 off their appetizers, which was a decent deal. The queso was alright but needed spice, the beef & vegetable soup was tasty but not worth $4 for the cup, and the waffle fries were pretty good (and definitely enhanced by the sour cream for dipping). Our server seemed disinterested in serving us, but the guy who showed us to our table was friendly and funny. I wish he'd been our server instead.
(2)
Stuart S.
We went here for a nightcap beer and appetizers the cheese curds were outstanding!!! The beer was beer. The service was horrible, the waitress belittled out entire group and was hanging out with other guests, drinking beers rather than doing her job. She was simply a classless waitress that was rude and couldn't do her job. We asked for a manager and while we talked to him she walked around our table rolling her eyes with a smirk on her face. Food was great but I wouldn't set foot in here again. The management should be embarrassed because our table and the one behind us felt the same way. Management could use a little work as well but he apologized as much as he could. We never received the check then because our waitress wouldn't answer us or stop to give us the check so we had to ask for a manager yet again to even get our bills. Good food, bad service!
(1)
Sarah G.
They have a great Tuesday Happy Hour with $0.35 buffalo wings and $3.50 beers & $1.00 off a glass of wine wine. I have to admit that I was floored when I ordered the "house" martini using their choice of vodka, on the rocks with 2 olives ($6.00 if you follow all the rules on the drink menu). When the receipt came - they added on $1.45 for ICE! When I asked the waiter replied " well, we are downtown". After I stated that it was ridiculous they took it off the bill. (I'm guessing they get this complaint often!!!) Stick with the beer at least they won't charge you for the lemon to go in your honey weiss.
(2)
Ava D.
The 3 stars are for the service. We went there around 9pm. First our order was messed up. We ordered 2 dishes but only received 1. Then the waiter never even bothered coming back to check on us. We had to track him down and tell him. He did apologize, but at this point we didn't want to get any more food. The drinks we did get were good and the atmosphere is relaxing. We ended up staying there for a few hours talking and didn't feel rushed. I would go back if my coworkers wanted to go, but it wouldn't be my first choice.
(3)
Gigi B.
I've stopped here a few times for some after work cocktails and I've never been disappointed! Great place for friends to meet up and wind down after a long day and pregame before heading down to your more 'desirable' downtown spots. I love the cheap drinks and the waffle fries are good. They also have popcorn sometimes and when it's FRESH it's great....not so much after 1am. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars especially for the service and late night specials that go beyond happy hour.
(4)
Mariel L.
8th Street Grill is your average casual, reliable bar you can go to for a cheap happy hour and free popcorn. I've been here mostly for happy hours and once for dinner. The dinner doesn't stand out in my mind, which means I had neither a great nor bad experience. The happy hour prices are plenty reasonable, and I like the specials they have every day, like the $5 jumbo Long Islands on Fridays. Quick buzz much? The appetizers are decent, your typical fried fare which are $2 off for HH. Then there's also the free popcorn, which you can munch on mindlessly as you spend a good few hours hanging back with co-workers. I like how they can pull tables for large groups much easier than in other places.
(3)
Sandy W.
We went to the 8th street grill for the Rose Bowl, knowing it was kind of a Wisconsin bar, and we were very disappointed. It was incredibly empty and it wasn't hard to figure out why. Our main issue was the service. All of the servers were standing around...about 3 feet from us, and were constantly complaining about how bored they were. Then, some other customers came in and asked about what TV the game would be on, and the waitress turned to her trainee and said "I HATE when people ask what TV sports will be on" .....then went back to standing around bored. She also advised her trainee " I try not to fill their waters because then they will purchase more drinks and spend more money" So when it DID come time to order a water, my sister asked for one..mentioning that she knew it was against their water philosophy ---and the waiter simply said, "it isn't really a philosphy, more of a strategy" We just thought it was incredibly tacky to be strategizing right in front of the few customers they did have. I will absolutely NOT go back to this place. On top of everything else, they do have happy hour, but it is still $4.50 for a tap beer. Don't waste your time or money here! Spend $5 for a fancy martini and go to the top of prohibition. Much better experience there!
(1)
Holly Ann W.
I had the Cajun Salmon and it was delicious. It was seasoned just right, the veggie side dish was steamed just right, and it came with a fresh dinner roll. My son had the pizza and it was very good. He's about as picky as they come, and he loved it. The best part was the dinner salad- fresh greens, bacon, cheese, egg, and tomato. Since moving to Minnesota I have had a hard time finding restaurants that make their dressing in-house. Their ranch dressing is obviously not bottled. The price was about what you would expect. Our waiter was a little slow, and every time we needed a drink refill we had to flag someone down. The service could definitely improve, but the food was good enough to make us go back again.
(4)
Marty L.
Typical bar food which was good. Great selection of craft brews on tap. The service was very slow even sitting at the bar. The place was steady with customers but not busy.
(3)
Michael M.
Great selection of beers. Many local brews. Staff had locals at the bar so service could have been better. My hostess knew here beers and recommended a couple of unique ones that I loved. The reason I went in was because it was one of the busier places in the middle of the afternoon. Not bad overall.
(3)
Lynn R.
The scene: 10pm. Two weary travelers in search of sustenance. Willing to eat anything. Enter: 8th Street Grill and it's supporting lady, "Day" (that may or may not be how she spells her name) There's nothing remarkable about 8th Street Grill, but on the flip side, there's nothing remarkably bad about it either. My bf and I went grilled cheese & cheeseburger, so it's not like we were living dangerously. Day was our exuberant/talkative waitress who told us that we must get the waffle fries with our meal. The food was meh. Honestly, we were both so hungry that I would've eaten my own cheese covered foot if it were brought to me. Day was the star of the show. After we devoured our food in 4.5 minutes, she brought us a little basket of popcorn from the bar just in case we were still hungry. Enter with lowered expectations and you won't be disappointed by this spot.
(3)
Terry Scott N.
I have been to the 8th Street Grill numerous times. The atmosphere is standard and relatively relaxing for downtown. I find it does lack things (not sure what exactly); however, it does make up for it with a pretty solid beer selection, and satisfactory meals. I feel like every time I go here it is for some solemn and uninteresting or uneventful reason; to meet an ex, to hang out with close family members after a weekend of hanging out with family members, or just to get some beers. The happy hour is decent if you catch it at the right time, but you will still pay Minneapolis prices for your swill. So 4-6 bucks for a glass. I recommend Happy Hour with a friend or someone who can take a joke. They do have daily specials, but I was too entrenched in conversation to read the chalk board across the way. The appetizers are decent, I enjoyed the waffle fries and the cajun sour cream they give you to dunk them in. I had the chicken sandwich the last time I was there, which was last night, and I still felt pretty good this morning. The sandwich was well proportioned, and I had a few more beers to drown out the conversation. The veggie sides may have been overcooked, but I wasn't too down about it. I did not have to pay because my lady friend told me it was her treat, so I didn't get the price, but I am assuming it wasn't too bad. She threw down a hundred and she got 40 something back in bills. For two meals and an appetizer pretty average deal. I would go here if you have been pre-gaming and are toasted (hammered) and hungry. Get a sandwich with a side and some waffle fries and keep going.
(3)
David P.
Very friendly staff, great beer selection. Go with the chef specials. The Chimichanga was full of beef and delicious. Beer and wing specials Tuesday. Outdoor seating. Easy going, to do.
(4)
Carolyn A.
I've only been to 8th Street Grill for happy hour. My friends from work especially love the free popcorn from the popcorn machine in the back. It's extra salty (which I'm sure translates to "extra beers" for 8th Street Grill), but I don't mind. Most of the happy hour appetizers are the standard fried things you'd find at most other bars. They taste pretty standard too. The drink specials are pretty good and it's nice to head to a happy hour location that's a little off the beaten path. Service is spotty -- a few times, I've felt forgotten.
(2)
Kohleen L.
I like 8th Street for an after work happy hour with friends/collegues. I've never had anything other than appetizers, $1 tacos or drinks here, but everything's been good. I love their $1 pulled pork tacos that they serve from 3pm til close on Thursdays. You can get hard/soft shelled tacos, it comes with a really delicious taco sauce, and it's a buck including tax! I usually order 2, even though I could eat 10 at that price! I would also recommend the Nachos and Waffle Fries They have quite an extensive beer list. I really like the Widmer Hefeweizen and Surly Furious the best. They usually offer a few seasonals as well. They also have pretty good margaritas...even if they are a little spendy. I usually get them when they're on special, which just so happens to be on Taco day! :) Perfect combination. Service has always been good. A few times it's taken a little while for the bill to come, but that's usually because we're there during the busiest time--so it's understandable. A few of the waitresses are over-the-top good about refilling soft drinks. Last time I ate there, I don't think I ever had a half-empty glass. Another time I was waiting for my boyfriend after work, when he got unexpectedly detained--for an hour! He didn't have his phone on him, so I was waiting downstairs at 8th street with his food and drink already brought to the table. My server was really great and stopped by occasionally to check on me, but after a while, I decided I should leave and make sure everything was ok with my BF. So, she boxed up his food and when I got the bill, she didn't even charge me for our drinks! I thought even if she did it just because she felt bad for me...it was really sweet of her. I ended up giving her a hefty tip instead.
(5)
T. Z.
This place sucks. We called days in advance, told them we had a party of 20 coming in for drinks about 6 pm, but they refused to take a reservation, saying they'd try to find space for us. So we show up and get nothing but WITHERING SCORN. The temerity of us showing up to buy drinks and leave tips! The host greeted us with total contempt upon arrival. The bussers openly resented us for trying to sit at a table. Our servers (we split into 2 tables, with ZERO help from an employee) were aloof. Honestly, our group has visited at least 20 different bars in the past 18 months (okay, we like to party) and we have never had service this bad. DO NOT GO TO THE 8th STREET GRILL. You are not going to win us over with free popcorn - how about simple decency? Ever try that? My friend, Rebecca, aptly compared the place to Ed Debevic's or Dick's Last Resort, where the servers mockingly hate on the customers, only the folks at the 8th Street are not kidding. It's the "Plan 9 from Outer Space" of bars. The worst bar ever. Shun them. Zero stars. I've only awarded one star here because that's the lowest rating allowed. If you work at or manage this place, you should understand just how far below the curve your Grill is - we had better service at bottom-end dive bars in NE Mpls.
(1)
Alexa C.
This is a little gem in downtown that not many people notice since it's on Marquette. They have a lively bar scene with good specials, plus all the free popcorn and peanuts you want. They have a "patio," I use the term loosely since part of it's located on the sidewalk underneath a parking ramp exit, but it still does the trick. The food is fair priced, and the service is quick for lunch. I like their burgers of all the menu items, but have heard great things of the Cajun pasta as well.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Mon, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Drive-Thru : No Caters : No
Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.
Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.
McDonalds is the most popular fast food burger restaurant serving different types of burgers in the United States. On the other hand, there are several restaurants such as Burger King are famous for serving the best hamburgers in the United States. Most burger restaurants in the United States often serve hamburgers with French fries and other condiments. If you have a liking for burgers in the United States, then you won't be disappointed. You can easily find the best burger restaurants in your city on our Restaurants Listings directory. Check the reviews and ratings of the top burger restaurants and savor yourself with the best hamburger in the city.
Kim R.
Terrible service, mediocre food and they don't serve alcohol until 10:00 am. If you are considering this place for breakfast on a Sunday, I'd rethink your decision. We had a Crowd Cut coupon and decided to check this place out for breakfast on Sunday. They only serve a buffet breakfast and the buffet is not too impressive. Basically, you get some sausage, bacon, breakfast pototoes and eggs. Oh, and how could I forgot the frozen french toast sticks they reheated and served as part of the buffet. French toast sticks?!? I couldn't believe I paid $9 for that buffet. Quite disappointing. To make matters worse, I wanted to order a mimosa but was told they don't serve booze until 10:00 am. What restaurant that serves breakfast doesn't serve booze?? The service was pretty terrible. A hostess showed us to our table, the very last table in the back of the restaurant. We asked for water and finally got it about 20 minutes later after mutliple other servers came to our table asking what we wanted to drink. I never really knew who our waiter was since different people would bring us things. Overall, quite a disappointing experience and I won't be back.
(2)Jennifer H.
We just kind of stumbled onto this place, although I remember hearing good things about it. The appetizers were $2.00 off @ happy hour, so we decided to create a meal. We split a large salad which was fine, but the oriental sesame dressing was pure vinegar. For "dinner", we had bruschetta and a pizza. Well, the bruchetta was identical to our pizza for the most part. I've never had bruchetta served hot with melted mozzarella before. I just wish our server would have let us know the two are similar...we would have ordered something else...or two orders of bruschetta as it was very good! Nice variety on the menu and the food IS good. We just made the wrong combination of choices.
(3)Laura W.
We went looking for a sports bar after a Vikings game to watch the Broncos game and had a great time. Place was clean, food was delicious and the beer was cold. Our server was very busy and did a great job. Would and will definitely go back again. Oh and the free popcorn was salty :)
(5)Ben D.
8th Street Grill has a great after work happy hour! I love to stop down after work with coworkers and get an appetizer and a beer! It is definitely not a place I would expect to get A-Class service, but I can't help but love this little downtown bar! The onion rings are amazing, the queso dip is amazing, pretty much any food you can find on the happy hour appetizer menu is awesome! They have a really decent selection of beer on tap, and really nice drink specials too! This is more of what I would think to find out in the suburbs, not in a downtown setting! Generally even happy hour is pricey when you go out down here, so I am loving the fact that reasonable prices are within walking distance of my office! ((The bathrooms here are disgusting though, so I knocked off a star for that)).
(3)Jeff A.
I like this place as a convenient happy hour option (couple blocks from my office), but aside from that, I don't think I'd drive downtown to eat/drink here. Maybe as a pregame spot for a game or show. Re: their happy hours, they do have a fantastic beer selection if you like local, craft beers. $3.75-$4.00 for some decent brews. The place gets pretty full on Thurs/Fri happy hours, but service definitely suffers when it starts to fill up. One highlight for me is that they're a big Surly bar and usually have all the seasonal, rare Surly beers on tap. Also, they used to (maybe they still do) have Surly brunch, where they pair a Surly beer with a brunch item. Nice...
(3)Tiffany V.
Went there just for happy hour after walking around downtown Minneapolis. Had one glass of red wine. It was fine, nothing special, except it was a dollar off. Didn't really look at the food menu except for apps. We almost got cheese curds.
(3)Cynthia B.
Packer fans beware. You will be dissappointed if you expect to watch your Sunday game. We are sitting here well into the 1st quarter and 2 of the 3 tvs in the main room are tuned to the Bengals. After a room full of complaints, we were met with a "sorry charlie" attitude by the management. The service was average, the bare fare...fair. We'll not be back unless we are desperate.
(1)Nate K.
I came here with some colleagues on a Thursday night. It wasn't crowded or too noisy. We parked it here for most of the night and just drank. The service from both our server and the bartender was good. The juke box was $1 per song which I thought was a little steep. Oh well. It was a great time overall.
(4)Nico G.
I went here last week since I was in town for business. A co worker suggested it since we were tired of walking around looking for another restaurant. The service was okay, it could have been better, but it seemed that our waitress had a lot of tables or a really bad memory. I had the pasta tortellini, that wasn't bad, but nothing to get excited about.
(3)Jillian C.
Had a very nice lunch here today! Prompt service, hot coffee, pretty good food (not great, but good). Our server was a sweetheart, she's probably one of the warmest and most genuinely kind servers I've ever had. Next time I'll be in for happy hour, which I recently attempted but had to go elsewhere because there was nowhere for me to sit! (They must have good specials if it's that packed...) They do take out as well so I grabbed a to go lunch menu, nice to know that this is right downstairs from my office if I ever need a quick lunch!
(4)G. S.
Was in Minneapolis for business and a friend drove in with her 3 and 5 year olds to join me for dinner. Weren't sure which place would be kid-friendly, but ventured into 8th St. Grill, hoping. We lucked out. The food was delicious (I had the Au Jus...MMMM!) and the service was outstanding. Our waitress was great and made sure we were all taken care of.
(4)Cullen H.
I have a very difficult time giving out single-star reviews for the most part, but I couldn't justify anything more for 8th Street Grill. Below are my reasons... Variety... Decent. They have an incredible amount of beers on tap which is great. Not too much creativity regarding their food choices though. Ambiance... Almost Okay. My group sat outside, which perhaps was a mistake. I couldn't hear most of the conversation over the roar of the street or loud pedestrians. Patio seating is sandwiched between and underneath a parking garage, so there isn't much to look at except concrete. . Service... Poor. Our service seemed stellar upon arrival, but I quickly realized that our waiter perhaps wasn't playing with a full deck. They seemed confused upon every request, didn't bring out orders in any sort of a timely manner (or until we asked), and rarely came around our table. We found ourselves having to consolidate requests for each rare table visit. Value... Bad. Food is expensive, which is to be expected with a downtown restaurant, but portions are small, and food is of poor quality. The happy hour menu is bad, with beers hardly on sale ($0.75 off most choices), and discounts on food not enough when appetizers are so expensive for what you get. Food... Dreadful. Our walleye sandwich was awful, with stale, low-quality bread, Kraft cheese singles, too much tarter sauce, and too little sandwich. The side order of steamed vegetables was soggy, obviously from the freezer. Although I wouldn't try them, other people's food didn't look appetizing either. The kicker was the stomach ache that I had for an hour after getting home.
(1)Greg P.
Good food. Good service. Up to date beer tap. No sports packages like NBA or NHL however. And for someone that is a sports bar on most nights they loose a star.
(4)Kat W.
Stellar HH for downtown. $8 pitchers, discounted apps, and other drink specials. Plus, it runs from 3-7, M-F. They also have free popcorn, which I always regret eating later, but at the time, lord knows it is the best. The rest of the menu seems to be pretty classic Amercican "grill" food and is reasonably priced. Plus, hey - it's not a chain! Kind of a cozier bar space, but their dining area is more expansive. Its places like these that make me wish I work downtown because even though they're nothing special, you know you'll be able to relax. Be warned, currently it is on a corner that is 100% street construction.
(3)weston w.
I LOVE the Phoenix burger, it was outstanding. Everything Else ordered In a party of 4 was amazing as well. 2x ph 1 turkey 1x god father. i liked the chips you get with it, i liked the chips with it, didn't love them but hey if I'm writing a review on chips i just as well should slap myself. So, why no 5 stars. well the HH drinks 241's were just as expected, one drink was sent back and well it should be but they were out of 2 of the calls i asked for, no biggy but no 5 stars.
(3)Malden S.
I want to really like this place because they have Peroni on tap but the last two visits have convinced me otherwise. A few weeks ago about 12 of us went there after work on a Friday. The service was bad and we often sat for 15 minutes or more with empty glasses. As some of us left, we put cash on the table to cover our tabs. At some point the waiter took the cash from the table (about $50) and when the last of the folks were leaving the waiter gave them the final tab but didn't deduct the money he took. He made her pay the whole tab, so she had to front the $50. I would have argued with the mgr. but she was a little intoxicated, tired and pissed, so she didn't bother. Last night, I went for a quick drink after work and they charged me $1.45 to have my drink on the rocks. - Bastards!
(2)Kay T.
First: Don't get the crabcakes. Very bland. They tasted like someone formed doughy wheat bread into a patty and fried it. They give you three and I struggled through the second one just because I was starving. The waitress wasn't super friendly or attentive (even though they weren't busy) but after the meal she did pull out her iPad to give us directions. Nice beer list and decent drink prices, especially during happy hour. Overall: The atmosphere makes you think you're in for a really nice meal, but the food is blah. Come here for a beer but skip the food.
(2)Nicole P.
Three stars for the good service and nice beer selection. I recommend the 21st amendment, it is a clean finish dark beer with a lot of flavor. The food is good - to - above average. The do's are the Build your own mac & cheese and the Granola Crusted cinnamon french toast. the french toast was truly surprising and tastes like a nice hot cinnamon bun. Good bloody mary's but bad breakfast meats, the sausage is funky.
(3)Felicia C.
It's Tuesday and you know what that means? $3.50 beers and $0.35 buffalo wings at 8th Street Grill, apparently. You really can't go wrong with cheap food and beer. They have 32 beers on tap and have the usual fare of burgers, pasta, salads and sandwiches. The burgers aren't fantastic but good enough for me...plus, they had waffle fries (and waffle fries make everything better!). Service was slow when we were there, but we didn't really care - the game was on so we ended up watching that instead.
(3)Kurt K.
Tried to give them a pre-order of $300 in food for a group of 20 people (pre-paid) and the manager said they are too busy to accept that kind of business. What GM or owner in their right mind would turn down guaranteed money? One that is way too full of themselves and should be avoided like the plague. He actually said that they have been in business 20 years and can choose what type of sales to accept. DO NOT go here!
(1)Mauricio V.
Pretty good. I was on a business trip and stopped here for food and drinks. It was a monday so cocktails were 2 for 1. Awesome! The pizza I got was on the appetizer menu and was huge! For an appetizer of course.
(4)Drew P.
A nice little surprise for business travelers in Minneapolis. I was lucky enough to go there on a summer evening, so we ate on the patio. Being a downtown location, I would have to guess that it's a popular lunch and happy hour destination, but it was kind of dead later in the evening. PROS: - 32 beers on tap - Nice menu with a good happy hour - Great place on a warm summer evening CONS: - Didn't seem like a great location for late-night festivities (because it's in downtown)
(3)anthony C.
I neither love nor hate the 8th Street grill. I admit upfront it's just not my kind of place...whatever that means. But I find myself at 8th Street because coworkers often congregate here for happy hour. I'm not clear on the "why" behind it? Particularly when there are so many choices in the city. I guess proximity to the office is the big draw. The basket of popcorn brought to the table serves as an initial bribe. But I can't seem to shake the feeling I've not actually left the office. The decor is office like, the lighting is a dimmer version of office like, and the people...erm...they are...well...office like. It's as if the cubicles morphed into booths, tables and bar stools and the mail person is serving drinks. While the office as bar may be a latent fantasy (how I wish someone would deliver beer to my desk), I think my imagination yearns for something a tad more creative. -The service is good in my experience (in fact we had a very friendly, sweet and unobtrusive waitress this evening). -I'll admit I'm not a drink special expert so I don't know if they have especially good deals. -Food is OK. -Drinks are OK. -They have Guinness on tap! -Multiple TVs tuned to Fox News and ESPN. -Plenty of room for groups. -Outdoor seating in the summer. -And hey it's convenient?
(2)Sarah B.
The place itself might be ok, but when we told our waitress that we were getting ready to leave and could we please have our bill we didn't see her for about a half hour!!!! We were even starting to think that maybe she had forgotten about us and gone home!! On a positive note, I came here to celebrate a friend's graduation, and they could accommodate for a large group of people no problem. We got a huge table for all of us.
(2)Josh H.
8th Street is a great place to go if your looking for a burger and a drink. Having the popcorn available makes waiting for your food seem like nothing. If you want something other than a burger it might get a little pricey but if you come in for Happy Hour you can get cheap appetizers which is great.
(4)Dan K.
This was one of my more enjoyable places to go while I was in Minneapolis for business recently. Their beer selection to me was one of the best around - lots of local beers - and they had one of the longest (until 7pm) happy hours around the downtown. Their food was pretty good for pub-fare and I usually got the chicken sandwich or hamburger which were both good. Their brownie sundae is large and decadent - Just what one would hope for! The service however, can be hit or miss. There are two waiters primarily that are incredibly slow and seem to forget you are there. However the last two times I went I did not see either of these two waiters so maybe they have moved on... Their replacements are decent enough not to have an effect on the evening. Overall - great beer selection, good happy hour (long and exciting specials - they have a happy hour wheel of fortune some nights), lots of tvs, decent to poor service.
(4)Heidi S.
This place is the best! They always have daily specials and their happy hour is stellar! Great service and fun outdoor seating. If you want a burger and fries and not pay an arm and leg downtown, go there!
(5)Libby B.
Absolutely wonderful place to catch a Packers game on a Sunday afternoon. Pretty tasty food (I especially like the portobello sandwich), 32 (!) taps from across the country with specials on beers from Wisconsin on game day, a fantastic pro-Packers crowd, and plenty of TVs and seating space. I'd take this over Herkimer any day of the week for a great Packers bar.
(4)dan h.
2.5 stars??? what do these minnesotan's expect from a bar and grill anyway? this place has loads of beer, sports on the TV. very nice local white-fish with rice and vegetables. micro-brews, local beers and chicken wings. friendly waitresses. there are loads of patrons here that will attest to the good service, food and good value. they pretty much deliver what you expect and want them to deliver and they don't over-promise with a pretentious facade. perhaps the waiters could be hit and miss with the quality and if you get a bad waiter then that could ruin the experience but we didn't find ourselves in that situation so this place pretty much fit the bill for a quick bite and beer when we rolled into town.
(4)Kevin M.
I freely admit I've never eaten here (though some of the breakfast specials they have posted do sound enticing), but I've spent many an afternoon happy hour wiling away the time with a crossword or a good friend. They have a daytime bartender (I'm not sure if I'm allowed to name names, but you'll recognize her) who treats me and my girlfriend well, and knew by the third time we were in there what we wanted. The thirty-two taps from around the country are nice, and on a cold winter afternoon the heat lamps above the outdoor tables are a really considerate plus. Still, I don't know that I would frequent this place if I didn't work across the street. It's a bar. No more, no less. The people who work here know my usual (Walker red and soda), and if I'm in the mood to bullshit, the other clientele provide a sounding board for my political or philosophical ramblings, but all told, it's just a bar. It is nice however, being a Vikings fan yet having Donald Driver on my fantasy football team this year, to have a convenient Packers bar to go to and lick my wounds.
(3)Lisa B.
This is the place to go if you love trying new beers and are downtown. The tap selection is ever changing and amazing. Tuesdays are the day to be here, "The Wheel of Madness" means that every half hour a different beer is on special for 2.75. This is a fantastic opportunity to try beers you have never heard of for a great price. I fully credit 8th Street for making me aware of most of the micro-brews that I can't live without. The servers are great people and have always been friendly and helpful. If the place is full to capacity, yes, it takes longer than I would prefer but it makes sense. This is the kind of place where I can settle in with some friends and some beers and just relax. I usually don't eat here but when I do, I am expecting bar food and happy hour means cheap appetizers. It doesn't have to cost a lot if you order what is on special. I love going here because I love their beer, if I wanted something else, I would go somewhere else.
(4)Brian K.
Pretty standard fare with several vegetarian options. I was with a large group and service was OK. I'd go there if you are seeking standard pub grub without much flare. Decent selection of beer and liquor with decent pours.
(3)Kimlinh B.
For a bar and grill this place isn't bad. Their happy hour appetizer specials are standard fare (nachos, wings, calamari) and of decent quality, but not a great deal at only $2 off. The drinks menu boasts "32 beers on tap," but when I was there they were out of two - that I knew of. I had a pretty watered down Long Island Iced Tea, but it was a $5 happy hour special, and unfortunately that's par for the course. Cajun pasta was done well (silky cream sauce, spicy andouille sausage), the portabella mushroom sandwich made me happy, caesar salad was forgettable, and the service and bathrooms were fine. The sidewalk patio is too close to the street for my taste, though. The constant bus fumes and noise were overwhelming. On balance, although I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, it is a decent place. There was a good sized happy hour crowd, it's in a convenient location, and they didn't mess up my food.
(3)Iris S.
I went to this place to explore another NTN trivia carrier option. It had always been pretty "eh" in terms of both atmosphere and drink specials. Red flag: The service is appalling. I cannot figure out why the servers seem to ignore me when I ask for NO MAYO. I've been 3 times and the first two irritated me, but for some reason my bf feels empty if we don't go there once a year. The third time after ordering the club sandwich I not only got mayo slathered all over it, but had 2 extra cups on the side. "No" is not a synonym of "Extra". Of course, it was the "cooks fault". *rolls eyes* I was offered a replacement, which I accepted only because I was ravenous. The absolute gall of these people is outstanding as I was not only not comp-ed for my meal, but charged the 50 cent fee for an extra side of mayo. Wild horses could not drag me back.
(1)Scott M.
Good food, good drinks and reasonable prices. I just had chicken tenders and fries. The chicken was ok, but the fries were excellent. They have a good variety of items on the menu and a lot of beers on tap. Will return again.
(4)Mark L.
Great food, excellent beer selection. Just come prepared to have to ask for EVERYTHING. (a beer, a menu, someone to pay attention to you when you'd like to order from the menu, another beer, etc.) Also, don't sit at the corner of the bar near the entrance unless you want to hear all of the on-duty and off-duty employees congregate and discuss all the goings on of their inner-circle.
(3)Angela P.
Great downtown gem! Impressive beer selection, friendly staff, wonderful buffalo sauce on their wings (or on the chicken sandwiches, if you order it buffalo style!) Only downside (which I can't take away stars for) is that they are a Packers bar... so I'll never be here on a Sunday ;) Seriously though, great spot, and affordable. Special shout to bartender, Jason (friendly and knowledgeable on beer)
(5)Sara T.
My dish was cooked perfectly! I ordered the Italian pork sandwich which came with a French dip sauce and chips. Ooey gooey hot pork shouldery goodness. Something happened and someone accidentally brought one of our dishes to another table. They tossed it and put in another order which meant one party received their food about 5 min after we did. The waiter was apologetic so I suppose that makes up for it. Even though we went to 8th Street because they're open late night when other restaurants are closed, and because they are conveniently located 1 block from the Marquette Hotel where we stayed, I would still dine here during normal dinner hours. So good.
(4)melanie l.
I stayed at the W and the front desk guy recommended that if we wanted to watch the game to go here. In the middle of the city, but felt like a local hang out due to the two friendly awesome waiters we had. They have a good beer list (says my dinner companion) and serve a good root beer too (says me). Great place to catch a hockey game downtown. TVs are plentiful but could be a bit bigger for a sports bar.
(4)Kittie F.
Consistent typical bar food but great for lunch and one of the only places downtown that serves food after 11pm
(3)Jessica W.
Nice place to go after a Twins game. Nice late night menu and drink specials. Big bonus.....the bartender looks like Derek Jeter!!!
(3)Adam S.
A co-worker and I went to 8th Street Grill for lunch today. We both ordered the same exact daily special...turkey/mushroom melt and side salad instead of the chips. It tasted pretty good at the time but as we walked back to the office, we couldn't get over how filling it was....a little TOO filling for a side salad and what was basically a doctored up grilled cheese. Long story short, I ended up leaving work with some "stomach issues". I then texted my co-worker and asked if he felt the same. His response?! "first and last time I ever go there". Who knows what it was....the salad greens (on the sandwich as well)? The turkey? The mushrooms? The mayo?? Either way, we both got sick. My co-worker said it best....first and last time I will ever eat here.
(1)Mason M.
A nice neighborhood bar in the middle of the city. Eighth street offers a wonderful selection of beers (over 40 tap beers with the majority locally sourced.). Most of the food is a step up, I like the pizza's and they have an especially lovely cedar plank salmon, why its on the app menu I don't know. The bartenders have been uniformly efficient and friendly. The table service can be pretty sketchy more often than I'd like to see (it was so atrocious one time we felt obligated to boycott for a year). Eighth street has pleasant surroundings and a "patio" under the parking ramps ramp for summer use (though the heat lamps are friends of smokers year round). All in all a good place to go for a tasty brew some decent food and some local color.
(4)Emily N.
8th Street Grill is the kind of place that is great for a quick happy hour in central downtown. There is a good selection of beer on tap, and you name the commonplace bar food appetizer and there's a very good chance it's on the menu...think nachos, wings, fried cheese of some sort. I personally think the majority of sit-down restaurants in the near vicinity offer better quality food for lunch/dinner for either the same price, or even possibly less. I would not choose to eat here, but I dined here for a group lunch, and the restaurant set up two tables for us - it wasn't a problem during the busy lunch hour, which we appreciated since we did not have reservations. Our food came out within 15 minutes of ordering, and everyone at the table seemed satisfied with their meals. I ordered the Greek chicken salad - it was a standard salad. I would ask for the dressing on the side if you like yours applied lightly. For some reason mine arrived without feta, so I had to ask for some to be delivered. In general the menu is a large selection of sandwiches, burgers and salads. The sandwiches with a healthy portion of fries seem like the best bang for your buck. Just a tip: I don't know that this spot is very diet-restriction friendly. If you are hoping for several GF options, you really only have salads to choose from.
(3)Dave H.
I really like this place, it's laid back and the food is pretty good. The service I get is 2nd to none! I've never had poor service. I stop in weekly Must stop!
(5)K T.
They've gotten a little too big for their britches. Rude staff (especially the manager) and the prices just keep going up. Too bad, because I was a regular for nearly a decade.
(1)Stephanie K.
I enjoyed my meal here. They have a relatively large patio off the street. It's kind of loud but there aren't many alternatives nearby for eating outside. My club sandwich and fries were very tasty and priced around $12. This is definitely expensive for what it is but that's kind of what you have to expect when dining downtown. My waitress was friendly and refilled drinks without being pesky. My guest ordered the taco salad and it looked really good. It looked much better than what you'd expect from a sports bar. I think I'll try that next time.
(4)Tian Q.
Tuscan shrimp pasta was a big plate of over-vinegared shit thrown together with a barely edible bread roll on the side. My leftover was about 80% of the whole entree because my taste-buds were too offended. Cannot believe that the waitress had the audacity to recommend this plate of nasty fuckery to me as one of her favorites.
(1)Bill T.
An unassuming place downtown, this is a decent pub-type joint with tasty bar food and a good selection of local and regional beers on tap. I came here after a Twins game and it wasn't too crowded. Got to sit outside on their patio (which is oddly under a ramp for a parking garage) and sample some beers and some waffle fries. The waffle fries were very good. For beers, I had Furthermore Fatty Boombalatty and Grain Belt Nordeast and both were decent. Service was good, the chairs were comfortable and it wasn't too pricey. I would go back here.
(4)Dawn G.
Hurray for free popcorn that's so salty you'll be forced to order beers to stay hydrated! Clever strategy, no? Thankfully there is a large selection from which to choose, including a unique watermelon infused beer. Don't judge, it was good! 8th St Grill is one of the few dive bars in downtown Minneapolis. Not the icky, uncomfortable type of dive bar, the kind that's relaxing and welcoming. Inside it's dark and the decor hasn't been updated for a great many years. All part of the charm. The space is large enough to accommodate big groups and is a common stomping ground for corporate worker bee happy hours. To add to the fun, they have an interactive trivia system displayed on TVs throughout. Combine all of that with your favorite bar food appetizers and beer and you have yourself a good ol' time! The service can be hit or miss but I've had mostly positive experiences. If happy hour with onion rings, burgers, pizzas, and cheese curds (CHEESE!!!) are not your thing, they also serve salads. But really, that's not why you're here. Indulge in your salty, carbohydrate-loving desires and just enjoy. One side note. Their outdoor patio is located in the covered cement walkway that I like to refer to as "smoker's alley" and therefore you should avoid the patio if you want to retain lung function.
(3)Kirsten H.
Chris was my server. He was right on with his recommended addition of broccoli to the Mac & cheese. The draft root beer was good but sweet enough that I wouldn't have gotten a refill even if they were included in the price. Location is very convenient to my hotel, which was good for me. Do be aware that this place is mainly a bar which means noisy and often lots of smoking on the patio & nearby. Also, watch your stuff - have seen some creepy types walking through the sidewalk patio area.
(4)Richard S.
I've been a big fan of the 8th Street Grill for years but have been disappointed with my last two dinners there. The menu has been shortened. Daily specials have disappeared. Prices have edged up. They've even taken away the small roll that used to accompany the entree salads. The last time I was there I ordered the Oriental salad which was very bland with a watery tasteless dressing -- certainly not worth the $13 price. Service is still good and I really appreciate the popcorn; but I'm afraid I won't be returning very often.
(2)Rebekah E.
Mediocre is the word that comes to mind here. I went to watch the packer game, so the fact that they had it playing was a plus for me. There was plenty of room in the place, which meant I got a good view of the tv from the bar, but had me questioning how good the food/service would be if there was such little business on a Sunday afternoon. The bartender was a man of little words, but was attentive, so can't complain there. I had a couple beers and a burger. They cook the burgers to your specifications, which I like, but it was very average in taste. I have waffle fries on the side and was very disappointed in those. Dry and "reheated-like". They weren't browned or crispy. The energy in the bar was very low, party due to the lack of customers I'm sure. I probably won't go back unless I really can't find somewhere else to watch the game.
(3)Elaine H.
Great Packer bar! The service, atmosphere and food were all terrific! I highly recommend the calamari. Light, tender and full of flavor! Best ever!
(5)Divya V.
We sat in the dining area to watch a couple of the college basketball games. The service was pretty slow and our server was easily overwhelmed. I do not care for their cocktails. Probably stick to beer or wine or something simple like rum and coke. We got two appetizers: Cheese Quesadilla and Bruschetta. They were both very good.
(3)Klaas V.
Great bartender, I have had 4 beer samples already without ordering! Awesome.
(4)Steven S.
I have been going to 8th St. Grill a couple times a week for years. Usually for happy hour with co-workers or during the weekend when working. It's only 2 blocks from my employer which makes it very convenient. Love the beer selection. One of the best craft draft beer selections in the downtown area. Of course if you go a couple times a week the selection can get a bit old but they do rotate a few often. Also there's nothing like the "Wheel of Madness" landing on one of your favorites during happy hour. Food is average bar food in my opinion. Nothing special. Have always had good service though and bartenders are very helpful if you have beer questions. Free popcorn is a plus.
(4)Nazgul W.
Good food at reasonable prices, free popcorn, great location and they show Packers games! Enough said, really. This is an oasis in downtown Minneapolis. An institution. It can get really busy in there but it's a fun spot and reliable for those who want to watch Green Bay instead of the Vikings.
(4)David C.
8th Street Grill is a bit misleading since its not really a grill. The place itself is a bit rundown and divey. The food is mediocre at best, and they serve pretty traditional fingerfoods and bar bites. Great place to grab a pint since they have a wide variety of pours. It'll suffice if you're not looking for anything gourmet. For the value, there are better options in the immediate area.
(2)Jason K.
My friends and I have been here many times. We haven't been here for a few years, because their happy hour kind of sucks compared to Devil's Advocate and The Mission in the cities. They have a good beer selection, but if you are over $4 in Minneapolis during Happy Hour, you are overpriced. Hello - Bad Economy!?!?! The food is pretty good every time I try it and the service is very 3 star. It is like the most average of average bars in the cities. Average food, average service, high prices for beer. In my book, that equals a three star. Restaurants are going to need to step up their happy hours as competition is heating up quickly. I do like that they carry Surly Furious and Surly Darkness when it is available. They do have free popcorn, which is a plus.
(3)Angie S.
This place has a pretty cool location for before or after Twins games or any other event downtown. The patio is outdoor, but under the upstairs overhang and pedestrians just walk right though on the sidewalk. Happy hour is the best time to stop by here. If I remember right, Saturday all day is happy hour pricing with cheap appetizers and drinks! I tend to lean towards the chicken nachos here. The use actual cheese rather than cheeze whiz!
(3)Luke C.
It's a Green Bay Packers bar in downtown Minneapolis! We had lunch here before a Packers/Vikings game and it was great. All the staff was wearing Packer gear, there's a Packers sign in the front window, and they had football on all of the TVs. The food was pretty good too. I had a BLT for lunch and when we came back after the game for a late night dinner, I ordered the chicken fingers from their late night menu. They serve food until 1AM.
(4)Lucas G.
Have no idea what the service is like. Their management passively used a server to refuse serving a woman who happened to be the fiancé of my friend, a guy who just paid a ridiculous amount of money for an engagement party. Turned away a huge amount of decent business because the "people in charge" didn't bother to interact with a table of generous patrons. Poor management is worse than bad food or lackluster service, because it demonstrates an absolute disconnect between the business and the people it serves.
(1)Josh H.
I was in town for a company meeting and decided to stop at this place because the wait at other restaurants was at least an hour for a group of 4. The food was really good. I ordered the Mac and cheese with bacon and broccoli and was really taken back by how "home cooked" it really tasted. Service was great, but the restaurant wasn't all that busy for a Saturday night.
(4)William S.
I'm giving them a 3 star rating simply because it was a bar after all and the food was a step above bar food. Nothing really to say about the restaurant. The wait staff was friendly and responsive. The grilled cheese was simple slices of cheddar cheese and bacon in between a couple slices of white bread and grilled. Could have and would have made better at home.
(3)Nicole W.
I, like others, also kinda stumbled into this place. And no, I don't mean that literally. My family and I were walking around, ravenous, looking for a close and quick place to grab a bite and a few beers. Overall, 8th Street Grill sufficed just fine. With a nice patio and large bar inside, this place is prime to grab a pint and a few cheese curds. Service was pretty solid, especially considering I was in a party of eight folks. And may I say, the beer list is pretty sweet and the curds outshone just about everything else I ate. Here's the rundown... Quesadillas: 3/5: Just fine. Nothing special. A standard chicken quesadilla with toppings. Cheese curds: 4/5: As mentioned, I love curds, so really these could have come at me in any way and I would have still loved them. Extra kudos for the tasty ranch on the side. Chicken Tenders: 3/5: Again, nothing remarkable but these crispy strips filled the void in my belly. Fries: 2/5: Tasted like the frozen kind...*yawn* Important note: Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday from 3pm to 7pm and all day Saturday. Schweet!
(3)Joshua W.
This used to be one of my favorite places to go eat and have a couple craft beers downtown. Keyword...used to. Maybe beers are fine, but my last experience with the food and service left me running for the hills. Cajun pasta: Should have been chicken, peppers, and sausage pieces over al dente penne with a spicy white sauce. What I got: Mostly white meat chicken, huge slices of bell peppers, penny sized sausages that tasted wonderful but were very few and far between and super small, grossly overcooked pasta, and a deluge of pasta sauce drowning the entire dish. It took me almost an hour to eat my food because i had to not only stab the penne repeatedly to get it on the fork without sliding off or just falling apart into multiple pieces. After which I had to let excess sauce drip off it so I could taste the penne only a little bit. The sausage tasted great but there wasn't hardly any at all, and the spice and bite was superb in the whole dish, just not plated and cooked properly. Service was sub-par at best, took me a good 10 minutes to get a beer from the bartender, although she did keep me filled up later on, till kind of irked me some since the place was dead, she just wasn't paying attention.
(3)Robert R.
A good selection of craft brews (on tap) from local and nearby states. I recommend the Gluek Red Ale. I ordered the chicken sandwich 'buffalo style' and it was fantastic! You get the option for fries, veggies, or soup. I had the veggies as I am trying for healthier options these days; I wish more places offered this. Service was great. They have indoor and outdoor seating, TVs in the bar area and a (pay for) juke box. Overall, a great experience.
(4)Caitlin S.
I've never really been impressed by anything I've had here. Been a few times just due to the fact that its one of the only centrally located resturants downtown that isn't too classy/expensive. The casual feel is one of the only reasons I come here. But don't think I'll be rushing back. I've had the veggie burger, the chicken wild rice soup, the queso dip and their tacos special. All have just been meh, nothing special, nothing terrible.
(2)Bill D.
Great place to watch a game. They have the largest collection of beer taps I have seen. Lots of local and regional beers on tap. Food was awesome!
(5)Stacey L.
Nothing overtly wrong with the 8th Street Grill, but everything was lacking. We randomly ended up there while wandering around downtown trying to find a place to watch the Badger game. They have a lot of TVs, but they're all on the smallish side and high up. During the game they had $2 off their appetizers, which was a decent deal. The queso was alright but needed spice, the beef & vegetable soup was tasty but not worth $4 for the cup, and the waffle fries were pretty good (and definitely enhanced by the sour cream for dipping). Our server seemed disinterested in serving us, but the guy who showed us to our table was friendly and funny. I wish he'd been our server instead.
(2)Stuart S.
We went here for a nightcap beer and appetizers the cheese curds were outstanding!!! The beer was beer. The service was horrible, the waitress belittled out entire group and was hanging out with other guests, drinking beers rather than doing her job. She was simply a classless waitress that was rude and couldn't do her job. We asked for a manager and while we talked to him she walked around our table rolling her eyes with a smirk on her face. Food was great but I wouldn't set foot in here again. The management should be embarrassed because our table and the one behind us felt the same way. Management could use a little work as well but he apologized as much as he could. We never received the check then because our waitress wouldn't answer us or stop to give us the check so we had to ask for a manager yet again to even get our bills. Good food, bad service!
(1)Sarah G.
They have a great Tuesday Happy Hour with $0.35 buffalo wings and $3.50 beers & $1.00 off a glass of wine wine. I have to admit that I was floored when I ordered the "house" martini using their choice of vodka, on the rocks with 2 olives ($6.00 if you follow all the rules on the drink menu). When the receipt came - they added on $1.45 for ICE! When I asked the waiter replied " well, we are downtown". After I stated that it was ridiculous they took it off the bill. (I'm guessing they get this complaint often!!!) Stick with the beer at least they won't charge you for the lemon to go in your honey weiss.
(2)Ava D.
The 3 stars are for the service. We went there around 9pm. First our order was messed up. We ordered 2 dishes but only received 1. Then the waiter never even bothered coming back to check on us. We had to track him down and tell him. He did apologize, but at this point we didn't want to get any more food. The drinks we did get were good and the atmosphere is relaxing. We ended up staying there for a few hours talking and didn't feel rushed. I would go back if my coworkers wanted to go, but it wouldn't be my first choice.
(3)Gigi B.
I've stopped here a few times for some after work cocktails and I've never been disappointed! Great place for friends to meet up and wind down after a long day and pregame before heading down to your more 'desirable' downtown spots. I love the cheap drinks and the waffle fries are good. They also have popcorn sometimes and when it's FRESH it's great....not so much after 1am. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars especially for the service and late night specials that go beyond happy hour.
(4)Mariel L.
8th Street Grill is your average casual, reliable bar you can go to for a cheap happy hour and free popcorn. I've been here mostly for happy hours and once for dinner. The dinner doesn't stand out in my mind, which means I had neither a great nor bad experience. The happy hour prices are plenty reasonable, and I like the specials they have every day, like the $5 jumbo Long Islands on Fridays. Quick buzz much? The appetizers are decent, your typical fried fare which are $2 off for HH. Then there's also the free popcorn, which you can munch on mindlessly as you spend a good few hours hanging back with co-workers. I like how they can pull tables for large groups much easier than in other places.
(3)Sandy W.
We went to the 8th street grill for the Rose Bowl, knowing it was kind of a Wisconsin bar, and we were very disappointed. It was incredibly empty and it wasn't hard to figure out why. Our main issue was the service. All of the servers were standing around...about 3 feet from us, and were constantly complaining about how bored they were. Then, some other customers came in and asked about what TV the game would be on, and the waitress turned to her trainee and said "I HATE when people ask what TV sports will be on" .....then went back to standing around bored. She also advised her trainee " I try not to fill their waters because then they will purchase more drinks and spend more money" So when it DID come time to order a water, my sister asked for one..mentioning that she knew it was against their water philosophy ---and the waiter simply said, "it isn't really a philosphy, more of a strategy" We just thought it was incredibly tacky to be strategizing right in front of the few customers they did have. I will absolutely NOT go back to this place. On top of everything else, they do have happy hour, but it is still $4.50 for a tap beer. Don't waste your time or money here! Spend $5 for a fancy martini and go to the top of prohibition. Much better experience there!
(1)Holly Ann W.
I had the Cajun Salmon and it was delicious. It was seasoned just right, the veggie side dish was steamed just right, and it came with a fresh dinner roll. My son had the pizza and it was very good. He's about as picky as they come, and he loved it. The best part was the dinner salad- fresh greens, bacon, cheese, egg, and tomato. Since moving to Minnesota I have had a hard time finding restaurants that make their dressing in-house. Their ranch dressing is obviously not bottled. The price was about what you would expect. Our waiter was a little slow, and every time we needed a drink refill we had to flag someone down. The service could definitely improve, but the food was good enough to make us go back again.
(4)Marty L.
Typical bar food which was good. Great selection of craft brews on tap. The service was very slow even sitting at the bar. The place was steady with customers but not busy.
(3)Michael M.
Great selection of beers. Many local brews. Staff had locals at the bar so service could have been better. My hostess knew here beers and recommended a couple of unique ones that I loved. The reason I went in was because it was one of the busier places in the middle of the afternoon. Not bad overall.
(3)Lynn R.
The scene: 10pm. Two weary travelers in search of sustenance. Willing to eat anything. Enter: 8th Street Grill and it's supporting lady, "Day" (that may or may not be how she spells her name) There's nothing remarkable about 8th Street Grill, but on the flip side, there's nothing remarkably bad about it either. My bf and I went grilled cheese & cheeseburger, so it's not like we were living dangerously. Day was our exuberant/talkative waitress who told us that we must get the waffle fries with our meal. The food was meh. Honestly, we were both so hungry that I would've eaten my own cheese covered foot if it were brought to me. Day was the star of the show. After we devoured our food in 4.5 minutes, she brought us a little basket of popcorn from the bar just in case we were still hungry. Enter with lowered expectations and you won't be disappointed by this spot.
(3)Terry Scott N.
I have been to the 8th Street Grill numerous times. The atmosphere is standard and relatively relaxing for downtown. I find it does lack things (not sure what exactly); however, it does make up for it with a pretty solid beer selection, and satisfactory meals. I feel like every time I go here it is for some solemn and uninteresting or uneventful reason; to meet an ex, to hang out with close family members after a weekend of hanging out with family members, or just to get some beers. The happy hour is decent if you catch it at the right time, but you will still pay Minneapolis prices for your swill. So 4-6 bucks for a glass. I recommend Happy Hour with a friend or someone who can take a joke. They do have daily specials, but I was too entrenched in conversation to read the chalk board across the way. The appetizers are decent, I enjoyed the waffle fries and the cajun sour cream they give you to dunk them in. I had the chicken sandwich the last time I was there, which was last night, and I still felt pretty good this morning. The sandwich was well proportioned, and I had a few more beers to drown out the conversation. The veggie sides may have been overcooked, but I wasn't too down about it. I did not have to pay because my lady friend told me it was her treat, so I didn't get the price, but I am assuming it wasn't too bad. She threw down a hundred and she got 40 something back in bills. For two meals and an appetizer pretty average deal. I would go here if you have been pre-gaming and are toasted (hammered) and hungry. Get a sandwich with a side and some waffle fries and keep going.
(3)David P.
Very friendly staff, great beer selection. Go with the chef specials. The Chimichanga was full of beef and delicious. Beer and wing specials Tuesday. Outdoor seating. Easy going, to do.
(4)Carolyn A.
I've only been to 8th Street Grill for happy hour. My friends from work especially love the free popcorn from the popcorn machine in the back. It's extra salty (which I'm sure translates to "extra beers" for 8th Street Grill), but I don't mind. Most of the happy hour appetizers are the standard fried things you'd find at most other bars. They taste pretty standard too. The drink specials are pretty good and it's nice to head to a happy hour location that's a little off the beaten path. Service is spotty -- a few times, I've felt forgotten.
(2)Kohleen L.
I like 8th Street for an after work happy hour with friends/collegues. I've never had anything other than appetizers, $1 tacos or drinks here, but everything's been good. I love their $1 pulled pork tacos that they serve from 3pm til close on Thursdays. You can get hard/soft shelled tacos, it comes with a really delicious taco sauce, and it's a buck including tax! I usually order 2, even though I could eat 10 at that price! I would also recommend the Nachos and Waffle Fries They have quite an extensive beer list. I really like the Widmer Hefeweizen and Surly Furious the best. They usually offer a few seasonals as well. They also have pretty good margaritas...even if they are a little spendy. I usually get them when they're on special, which just so happens to be on Taco day! :) Perfect combination. Service has always been good. A few times it's taken a little while for the bill to come, but that's usually because we're there during the busiest time--so it's understandable. A few of the waitresses are over-the-top good about refilling soft drinks. Last time I ate there, I don't think I ever had a half-empty glass. Another time I was waiting for my boyfriend after work, when he got unexpectedly detained--for an hour! He didn't have his phone on him, so I was waiting downstairs at 8th street with his food and drink already brought to the table. My server was really great and stopped by occasionally to check on me, but after a while, I decided I should leave and make sure everything was ok with my BF. So, she boxed up his food and when I got the bill, she didn't even charge me for our drinks! I thought even if she did it just because she felt bad for me...it was really sweet of her. I ended up giving her a hefty tip instead.
(5)T. Z.
This place sucks. We called days in advance, told them we had a party of 20 coming in for drinks about 6 pm, but they refused to take a reservation, saying they'd try to find space for us. So we show up and get nothing but WITHERING SCORN. The temerity of us showing up to buy drinks and leave tips! The host greeted us with total contempt upon arrival. The bussers openly resented us for trying to sit at a table. Our servers (we split into 2 tables, with ZERO help from an employee) were aloof. Honestly, our group has visited at least 20 different bars in the past 18 months (okay, we like to party) and we have never had service this bad. DO NOT GO TO THE 8th STREET GRILL. You are not going to win us over with free popcorn - how about simple decency? Ever try that? My friend, Rebecca, aptly compared the place to Ed Debevic's or Dick's Last Resort, where the servers mockingly hate on the customers, only the folks at the 8th Street are not kidding. It's the "Plan 9 from Outer Space" of bars. The worst bar ever. Shun them. Zero stars. I've only awarded one star here because that's the lowest rating allowed. If you work at or manage this place, you should understand just how far below the curve your Grill is - we had better service at bottom-end dive bars in NE Mpls.
(1)Alexa C.
This is a little gem in downtown that not many people notice since it's on Marquette. They have a lively bar scene with good specials, plus all the free popcorn and peanuts you want. They have a "patio," I use the term loosely since part of it's located on the sidewalk underneath a parking ramp exit, but it still does the trick. The food is fair priced, and the service is quick for lunch. I like their burgers of all the menu items, but have heard great things of the Cajun pasta as well.
(3)