Bluestem Bar
2610 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55408
Bluestem Bar Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Minneapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Minneapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Minneapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2610 Lyndale Ave S
Minneapolis, MN, 55408 - Phone (612) 870-7855
- Website https://bluestembarminneapolis.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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April R.
Such good food! And with a large selection. You leave feeling full but not disgusting. Well worth the money for the quality of food. It gets busy, if you have a large group call ahead and make reservations. If its just two people, I've never had a problem finding a spot at the bar - without having to wait.
(5)Michael H.
There yesterday for the second time this week. Food is great. Staff great. Decor is outstanding. We ran into the owner who told us that she designed the interior herself. Many unique touches from the reclaimed school doors to the wall of windows from an old church. I will be a regular.
(5)P F.
Went to Bluestem for my birthday because I like French Meadow. Wish I had chosen a different restaurant. First, I mentioned on Open Table that it was my birthday and neither the hostess or the server even asked about it. I'm not going to tell them just to get a free dessert....but it would've been nice if they had taken note of my comments. The service was really slow and, being a server myself, it killed me to watch our server not multi-task. Water took forever to be refilled and drinks took about 10-15 min. to get to the table. I agree with a previous review that said the frites were cold on the steak frites, the waffle was so-so but trout entree was delicious. Dessert was good as well. Also, the server did not know the menu. Do they train their staff? If they do, they need to get someone new that will do a better job. I felt like my server had 10 minutes of training and was thrown on the floor. I also have to wonder if Bluestem even takes note of these reviews. Plenty of them complained about the service. It was slow the Sunday night we were in, hmmmm.....take note of these reviews and correct your mistakes. French Meadow has a great following and Bluestem could make that all go away....
(2)Nicole B.
Brand new Bar & Restaurant connected to The French Meadow but with a more upscale vibe. The turquoise circular bar is beautiful and the booths are very comfy; definitely a place I could sit and drink for hours. ;) The bartender was super friendly and recommended the perfect wine pairings for our meal (when you go in ask for Michael the bartender for wine/beer suggestions). The prices were very reasonable especially considering the high food quality (local, organic, fresh, etc.). Literally everything I had was delicious. I don't like salmon as a rule, but the bartender highly recommended the salmon special so I took a chance and it was amazing, I ate the whole plate! Even the vegan dessert (seasonal fruit crumble) was delicious (they have a LONG list of vegan and gluten-free dessert options as well as regular). For a brand new place they really have their stuff together. I'll definitely be back!
(5)Jessica L.
I really enjoy French Meadow and was really excited to try out their 'new' restaurant, but alas, I was so disappointed. Décor: It's very awkward because you enter Bluestem through the same main door of French Meadow. So instead of doing my normal stroll over to 'Ooh' and 'Aah' at the bakery shelves, I had to walk in, turn awkwardly to the left to enter a slightly set off restaurant. There is no door or any sort of physical separation, but you can see that the ambiance is clearly different from French Meadow's casual chattiness. Bluesteam is dim, with dark wooded bars and booths. It does have a nice polished look to it, so it makes you forget that you had ever entered French Meadow. They do have a patio (where we ended up sitting), but it's separate from French Meadow's outside seating. So instead of having a street view, you sit amidst a coral of potted plants and gates where you technically face their parking lot. They need to figure out this space a little better, because I could hear the patrons of French Meadow talking right around the corner and couldn't help but be jealous of their unobstructed people watching view. Service: Thumbs down. What should have been, at max, a one hour meal turned to almost 2.5 hours. No, we weren't milling around to chat- it was because our waitress would come every 20 minutes, be it for the menu, drinks, the food, the doggy box and bag (which she did in 2 trips..) and the check! What made me angrier was the fact that we could hear the patrons of French Meadow happily chatting and being on their merry way MUCH faster than we were able to. I literally felt just stuck there. Food: They have their own menu but you can also order off of French Meadow's (Okay, I feel like it's Business 101 that if you are to have 2 businesses, you need to DIFFERENTIATE. Set boundaries and borders so that each business is distinctive and that you are not cannibalizing the other business....). Now, on to the actual food: - Tartines: This appetizer comes in a set of 3 little tartines. None of them were all that spectacular, but they were a good appetizer size. - Duck & horseradish flatbread: This was okay. I don't think the horseradish sauce came through all that much. I would preferred some more bright flavors to balance out the heavier duck and bitter arugula, perhaps some citrus flavors? - Beet salad w/fried goat cheese: I love goat cheese and I love beets. While it was clear that the dish used fresh ingredients, besides the fact that they fried the goat cheese, it was not that special - Fish Taco: I actually didn't get to have any because of the bf gobbled it up and I was too full to try. But I think it was safe to say that this was a good dish. He said the fish was good. - Oh, and I didn't have dessert (was not going to waste another 40 minutes there..), but they have a HUGE dessert list. Overall: Good ingredients and average cooking, but nothing special. I would not come back here again until they get their business model figured out. French Meadow is MUCH better in the service, food and most importantly, prices. They should have expanded the space of French Meadow rather than create a new restaurant.
(2)James B.
Slow, slow, slow service. Bread basket and the beet salad was good but the fries with the steak frite were cold and the fried chicken and waffle was laughably bad. The whole dish was doused in hot sauce and a pink peppercorn syrup that was absolutely ghastly. I did, however, have a couple of nice beers that dulled the pain of an $90 dinner that really wasn't that good.
(2)Barb K.
We ordered happy hour drinks literally one minute before happy hour and were charged full price (even after confirming with the host that it was happy hour). Said something, they wouldn't change it, that sucks. Was charged $10 for a glass of wine that was listed as $8 on the menu, said something, they said it was $10 and wouldn't change it, that also sucks. They clearly have some kinks to work out. Everything else was good, food was delicious, nice atmosphere.
(2)Isaac A.
Scallops were great, perfectly cooked and nice size. Guacamole was good too. Fish tacos were good, but the steak was even better. Entrees were in the low 20's versus the low 30's you would see elsewhere. Beer and wine flights give you a good taste of a few different drinks.
(4)Joanne H.
Not much new to add to previous reviewers who were less-than-impressed with the service. It was incredibly slow, indifferent, and inattentive. My lunch companion asked the waitperson to recommend a local beer, but she didn't seem too conversant in their selection. I agree, too, with those who don't see much distinction between Bluestem and the French Meadow Cafe. The Bluestem decor is lovely and it's a nice intimate space, but it is odd to enter through the maze of tables in the FMC, especially since a sign on the door says the Bluestem entrance is on the side (which is locked). I had a reservation, but when someone finally acknowledged my presence after 5 minutes of looking at me and ignoring me, she just told me to sit anywhere. It seems we could just have ordered off the menu at FMC and sat in the Bluestem space if we had wanted to do so. All that said, I appreciate that they've retained the farm-to-table concept for Bluestem, and the food was very good and fresh.
(3)Caitlin T.
Went in to the Meadow for Brunch this morning, one of the staff asked us if we would like to have an immediate seat in the Bluestem area (avoiding the long line in front) we figured we'd give it a shot. We were one of two parties (of 2) seated at the bar. Our drink order was taken and the waiter said he would check back in a few minutes. Four other parties of 2 were seated, he came by to grab our order before greeting them. We read the entire issue of VitaMN, it's been about 35 minutes. Everyone else (seated and having ordered after us) has their food. My boyfriend calls the waiter over and asks him "How are we doing?" (aka "we're starving, where is our food??) Waiter says "Oh I'm hanging in there, how are you guys doing, do you need anything?" To which we said, "Yes, our food, everyone else has gotten theirs" - he said "You ordered food?" ARE YOU KIDDING? After "checking with the kitchen" he said the kitchen must have lost our ticket. He then said he'd try to take some thing off our bill, came back and said the manager had offered us a pastry each... Even though this seemed low (and in this instance I would expect a visit from the manager personally) we asked for chocolate croissants - they're out. We got a pancake taken off our bill in the end. What we'd hoped would be a quick yummy breakfast took about 1hr 45 min and was pretty lame for what I've come to expect from the meadow. (I even had to get my own cream and sugar for my coffee from the front) Next time, we'll stick to the front side where we know our order will get put in when we place it.
(2)Annie D.
This little establishment just opened Monday, so this is a first-look, sorta-too-early-to-review review. Here it goes. Bluestem is a new wine bar and bistro connected to French Meadow. The interior is very polished and my favorite part is the huge horseshoe bar covered in turquoise tile (Pinterest-worthy tile) and the modern woodwork around the outside walls. It's a very different style than the homey, casual French Meadow, even though it's very much a part of French Meadow too (you currently enter through the cafe, I assume until their own little side patio is finished being constructed). During the day (10-3), the menu is almost exactly the same as French Meadow, which actually surprised me. Especially because the cafe was packed to the gills, but the wine bar was virtually empty. Same menu, people! The dinner menu starts at 4 p.m. with a modern Midwestern bistro style of cuisine. Not sure how it compares to the cafe's dinner menu. It's a wine bar, so they have a few flights available and what looked to be a solid wine list. There's also local beer on tap if you prefer pints to Pinot. I bellied up to the bar and ordered the crab-black bean cakes Benedict ($12). I actually sent the dish back at first because the poached eggs were underdone (runny white). It came back slightly overdone, but ah well. Even without taking the eggs into account, the dish didn't really float my boat. The cakes had little structure and I'm just not convinced black beans and crab are meant to go together flavorwise. Also, I don't feel like bread is typically necessary with a crispy crab benedict but this was a mushy situation without any English muffin to sop it up. Even though I wasn't overjoyed with the actual food I ate today, the service was friendly as can be and I know from experience (many experiences, actually) that there are plenty of tasty things on the French Meadow daytime menu. The tomato basil soup and the huevos rancheros, for starters. Nomnomnom. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back for (different) brunch food, wine flights and dinner!
(4)Jim R.
Was surprised when I walked inside this place 'cause it doesn't look like much from the outside, but whoa! it's like when Dorothy steps out of the house into Oz! A wonderful, eclectic and lively interior that looks more like something you'd find downtown or even in NYC. Very stylish and hip feeling. While it's a pretty small place which usually means just one or two good menu items, surprisingly they have a really broad menu with almost too many good choices. Portions are under control and they feature lots of local products. Our group of 3 started with a wonderful cheese plate with several local choices and moved on to some tasty classics like fried chicken and waffles. We were there early (6:30) and the place was pretty quiet. It got really busy around 7:30 on a Saturday night. Service was decent and prices in line. Will have to go back to try some more of the options.
(4)Katie M.
We went to French Meadow intending on sitting outside, but when we saw that Bluestem Bar & Table was open and ready for business, we decided to give it a whirl. Good beers on tap, friendly bartenders, fun atmosphere! We were just there for drinks, but I'm excited to go back and try some of their menu items - they do differ a bit from French Meadow.
(4)Ann J.
Perfection at every turn! Had the Zen salad, the Green Curry... My son had the pasta (cooked to perfection~al dente), focus on ingredients A+
(5)Amy C.
I've been a French Meadow fan for years, but Bluestem Bar & Table takes my love to a new level entirely. Bluestem is connected to French Meadow, situated in a former storage room. Owner Lynn Gordon purchased a bank of windows from an old church, and used those as the divider between the two restaurants. The décor of Bluestem is simple, yet elegant. In particular, the handcrafted turquoise hued tile on the bar is luscious. We dined last week just a couple weeks post-opening. Service was flawless, menu knowledge was down pat and the perfect level of attentiveness. But you're here to learn about the food....ah, the amazing food. We started with the small plate of the Pan Seared Scallops. I'm still thinking about them a week later...cooked to perfection, lovely plating, seasoned just right. Hubby had the Miso Salmon, I had the Fish Tacos and one of our bonus kids ordered the Wild Acres Duck. I felt it was my responsibility to sample everything in order to deliver the most comprehensive review possible. Yeah, it was in the name of research! We all were vocal in our love of the entrees. They were excellent and portion sizes were just right, and each of us sent our plates back to the kitchen clean. It's that good. The tacos were fresh and bright, with just the right amount of earthiness from the radish. The side of salad topped with vinaigrette was perfect. I feared the duck would be a little heavy in the oppressive July heat, but it was sublime. The salmon was cooked medium and burst with flavor. My research continued with dessert, all were fabulous and available in the bakery case at French Meadow. Nothing groundbreaking, but all fantastic. It's hard not to gush about this place, because as I look at the menu I think, "If I was going to open a restaurant, this is what I would want to serve." You don't attain the level of success and longevity that Lynn Gordon has by accident. The reason for that success is use of the best ingredients, a skilled staff, good location and ambiance. Bluestem has it all in spades.
(5)Rhonda G.
A way to deal with FM without the madness, I'm in. My first response was, what's going on in there? It was like stepping into wonderland. I sat at the bar and got some reading in before I was served the signature quiche. The deep dish is not an exaggeration. It had goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and leeks. Served with a salad. I loved it. I was sitting on the end, right near the baristas, and kitchen door, my choice for privacy and light. Loud but buffered compared to next door. The decor does grab you. I'm amazed at all the room, then on the way to the bathroom is another room, where they tend to stick families. The bathroom, oh, the bathroom. Beautiful gray tiles. Gretchen was my server, as busy as she was, she never ignored me. Glad it was too cool to be outside, I almost missed this place.
(5)liz p.
Bluestem is seriously brimming with potential. Great food, beautiful atmosphere, horrible service - oh wait, that's the crappy part. I've been here multiple times on multiple occasions clinging to the naive hope that someone will figure out how to train the waitstaff. To no avail. Service takes forever, is rude, food comes out cold, I feel like a burden when I come here. Who are these people? Why is this a problem, still!!?! If you want someone to interact with you with "I hate my life and I hate you" eyes, this is the place for you. If not, perhaps seek elsewhere.
(2)Landon W.
I was surprised to learn that Bluestem is simply the name of the bar room attached to French Meadow. I had thought it was a separate project. Nevertheless, very cool atmosphere. We sat at the bar, great service from the bartender. We started with two beers and the warmed and fried olives. Nice small plate of olives with some toasted bread on side, fried olives were a unique item I hadn't had before. For entrees my fiancé went with the burger, always a good choice, great temperature. I went for the gluten free chicken and waffles, don't pass this up, a very nice take on the classic dish! Combination of hot sauce, syrup, waffle, and chicken is second to none when you're looking for sweet and savory. For dessert we had the Salted Caramel & Scotch Whisky Custard, very good. Great atmosphere, beer and drink selection, and food options. Perfect for a spur of the moment night out or something laid back. Check it out.
(4)Montessahall H.
Oh my! Oh my! It has been a while since I have enjoyed a memorable dining experience in the Twin Cities. The food, drinks, service and atmosphere all scored five stars in my book. The flatbreads on the menu are crazy good and a must have with the best craft Manhattan ever. Service is super attentive. Atmosphere; cozy. Can't say enough good things about this place.
(5)Karl A.
We go back to Blue Stem (and French Meadow) at least once per month. Yesterday I had the Black Bean Chicken Quesadilla and it was delicious and only $10. Ian did a great job with suggestions, service, and conversation.
(5)Peter C.
Was here today for lunch for the first time and first of all, the place is gorgeous. Beautiful bar with fantastic wood tables and just an all-around pretty place to be in. The service was fine - friendly service but a little slow. I had the city cobb salad, some bison sausage, and a small soup. Everything was very tasty and fresh. My friend had a burger. Lunch however cost over $40 which included one beer. Seemed a bit steep for lunch. All in all, a great experience and I would definitely try it again.
(4)Carolyn B.
I am really excited to try this place again. I didn't even know it existed until my friend invited me to try it last night. I've been wishing for years that Minneapolis would have some kind of upscale vegan/vegetarian place like Karen's in Chicago, Plant in Asheville and Candle 79 in NYC. This doesn't quite do it, but I was excited to see so many tempeh options and a couple of tofu and seitan dishes, not to mention some delicious-sounding salads. I wasn't hungry enough for an all-out dinner, so I just got the tempeh reuben, which was really good. I also was happy with the wine list and the overall feel and look of the place. I have to agree with some people that the service is not very attentive. It was pretty dead on Sunday night and we still waited around a while at different points. And the waitress never asked me if I wanted another glass of wine. I didn't, so I didn't speak up, but I expect to be asked. I do worry that this place could produce long waits if it fills up. It is somewhat small. But I will definitely try it again. I have been back a couple of times and had a great experience. The food was really good and the service was much better. My only reluctance about this place is that you can rack up a hefty bill pretty quickly. The vegetarian entrees are a little expensive for what's in them, but there aren't many other restaurants offering these kinds of options.
(4)Chris L.
This was a fine experience but nothing to set it apart from other TC restaurants of this type. Had poor front end service but the wait staff did fine. Dishes were average and prices were as well. Just nothing to draw me back when compared to other options.
(3)Troy M.
One of my favorite brunch spots. Service has been good, not great, but acceptable. Food has been great each time. Cocktails, wine and beer selection will please discerning tastes. Love the decor, awesome blue bar. Dinner has been great as well. Laid back, well designed environs make this place one of my frequent go to hangs.
(5)Cynthia B.
Food okay to good. Service beyond poor. We arrived, got seated and then the wait and bad service began. Water took 2 trips, 10 minutes and served by a less than enthusiastic staffer. About 15 we asked a waitress if we could see our waitress to order apps and get some drinks. 5 minutes later a young lady came to our table and truly said "you wanted to order?" sans any smile or greeting. I was actually shocked. We put in our order including 2 bottles vino and then waited again. The apps were okay. Just okay. When the husband's steak arrived it was thin and overcooked. My shrimp and grits were okay, but mom certainly does it better...the pasta and miso salmon was also okay, but certainly not amazing. It was the husband's birthday and we were all thinking....should have gone to Bar Lagrassa or really any place else. What a letdown. Boo!
(2)Bk S.
I've read the reviews and went in with an open mind. Pleasantly surpassed all expectations! Food was high quality, fresh, great tastes and loved everything we ordered. Would highly recommend the shrimp & grits for great flavor the price was beyond reasonable for a very generous portion. Service was also really good. Our server used her resources to find the best wines based on our requests and made great recommendations. Based on the reviews Blue stem they must have listened as service was really attentive and on top of our needs. I usually don't give anyone 5 out of 5 stars as there's always room for improvement however we had a GREAT experience and will be back soon.
(5)Townsend F.
Such a cute bar and restaurant! Went here for valentines day and the wine and food were amazing. The mussels were as good as any French restaurant in the twin cities. The wine flight menu is extensive and the pours are generous, it was such a great selection. The entrees were diverse and the specials were well worth ordering. The service was perfect. This is a new favorite place. I can't wait to go back here for a girls wine night!
(5)Zoey B.
My husband and I were in Minneapolis to celebrate our 1-year wedding anniversary the last weekend of July. I am Vegan, therefore spent a good amount of time doing my research prior to our trip of where to eat. We arrived Saturday at 10:10PM and were excited to the Vegan Reuben. Upon arrival, the Host told us dinner ended at 10PM (online says Dinner menu served until closing-12AM). Luckily she was awesome and let the kitchen know we came specifically for the Reuben and they accommodated me. We are from Seattle and a place there has an amazing Vegan Reuben. This was a close second, but not A+. The tempeh on the Reuben is a large patty and not thin slices. The bread is not your typical marble rye and the whole thing is very messy. My husband had the Bison burger and thought it was really good. He had the apple crisp and I had the cookie with vegan custard; both were really good. The service was really awesome and the atmosphere was great. We sat on the patio, as did everyone else. The dining room was completely empty as it was a beautiful night outside. The menu caters awesomely to a Vegan diet and overall it was a great experience. The reason for the 4 and not 5 stars, is the Vegan Reuben was just OK. Also the confusion of the online hours for dinner vs. the actual.
(4)Julie C.
I wish I had read the reviews before we went here. The service here is appalling. We reserved a table at Bluestem and then they tried to shove us in the cafe in front of the door in below zero temps. The manager was beyond rude and we only got seated when we absolutely refused to be seated in front of the door. The waited was much nicer but sooooooo incredibly slow. We didn't get our drink orders taken until we had been seated for 25 minutes. Too bad because the food was quite good.
(1)Lindsey H.
I just had the worst dining experience of my life and wanted to give some honest feedback. I'm sad to have to write this because French Meadow is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. At Bluestem today I was served a meat omelet after putting in my order for the vegetarian omelet ("zone omelet") twice. Ate a few bites before realizing I had the wrong order and immediately told the server. This was a big deal for me because I've been a vegetarian my whole life. Our server said she put in the order for the wrong thing and that she would take it off the bill. There was no offer to bring me the correct order, or something else on the menu, just essentially "I brought you the wrong thing and won't charge you for it." She cleared my plate (appropriately) which resulted in me sitting with no food while my friends finished up their meal. If the server had said "I didn't bring you what you ordered and won't charge you for it, so I'll also bring you what you DID order and won't charge you for it" would have been super appreciated (and appropriate, right?). Especially because of the meat/vegetarian issue. It's not like I ordered tomatoes and got carrots. That wouldn't have been a big deal. Even "do you want to order something else and pay for it so that you're not the only one at the table without food?" would have been better. We split the check and I got the $2.67 check for my americano that I waited 20 minutes to get and had to remind them about (after ordering it twice in the beginning of this adventure), with just a "here you go" as if there had been no problem. A second apology would have been nice, or maybe a comped coffee (too much to ask?). This is my 3rd time eating at Bluestem and I did like the first two times, despite the friendly servers but loooong wait for the food. After today I am not inspired to ever go back. SUMMARY French Meadow - YES! Bluestem - Hard no.
(1)Brandi S.
I agree with other Yelpers on the food is great, but service is terrible. I've been to Bluestem twice and on both occasions it's taken over 20 minutes just to get water and a beverage with no acknowledgment of wait time. Absolutely horrendous service. The atmosphere around the bar is cool and I want to like it more. And it is a bit confusing the difference between French meadow vs Bluestem.....my advice is to skip. Even with long lines the French Meadow side is so much faster and much better service.
(3)C M.
I am an avid Yelp user, I look at Yelp a lot but I don't often post. However, after a few experiences at Bluestem, my visit this weekend for brunch was the last straw and I decided to write something. The service here is consistently lousy. Servers have forgotten my table, while tables that were sat way after I was had their orders taken/served food. It takes forever to get someone to come and even bring a water much less take an order. They always appear to be really rushed and understaffed. It's even slow when I have sat at the bar! The last time I was here they forgot my order, served my boyfriend his meal, and then when he was nearly finished I asked where my food was. The server ran back and 5 minutes later a runner appeared with one of the worst looking, hastily assembled plates I have ever seen. I pointed out to my server that it looked like someone just threw it together and all I got was an apology, that the ticket was messed up, and they were "really rushed" that morning. I still don't think it's an excuse to put out a bad plate, I would have rather waited a little longer to get an edible meal instead of throwing out $12. The food is OK. For the price they ask you think they would know how to cook a burger medium-well instead of dried out, for example. I do love their quiche, eggs benedict, and breakfast burritos. If only it didn't take over 30 minutes to get it. In Uptown there are so many options, you think a place like this would have figured out how to staff it's restaurant adequately and compete with the 10+ other restaurants within walking distance. Needless to say I will not be coming back. My weekends seem short enough as it is, it's not worth the wait! It's a pity such a nice-looking place with potential can't get it together.
(2)Lizz P.
So, at first I couldn't find it because outside it says French Meadow bakery. I know they have gluten free stuff so I figured I had to be the place. Their food is delicious!! I ordered Cajun home fries with a side of scrambled eggs and it was AWESOME!!! Absolutely delicious, flavorful and so tasty. Lots of gluten free and vegan choices. I'd highly recommend it!!!!
(5)Hannah F.
My good friend is visiting from California and we decided to go here from breakfast during her stay... We ended up going back again the next day. Bluestem has an incredible menu- so many choices! Also, they have some healthier options which is hard to come by in these parts. Most bfast items come with mixed greens rather than some potato thing (I just ate two eggs, ham, and bread smothered in butter mayonnaise (hollandaise) I do not need to eat a whole potato). I could eat here everyday and not get sick of the menu. The food is go to here
(5)Michael A.
Organic food & wine w/ a more upscale atmosphere... still in progress. Bluestem Bar & Table is a welcome 'upscale' addition to the Wedge neighborhood. It's sister restaurant, French Meadow Bakery, serves as the inspiration for a bit more classier take on natural & organic wine, beer, food and dessert offerings. I'm loving the option to order flights of wine and beer to explore unexpected varieties and drafts through a tasting menu. And table service during French Meadow's hectic brunch hours is a nice addition for those entertaining family or business clients that don't want to deal with standing in the long order lines and feeling rushed to find a table. But Bluestem stills needs some fine tuning. Generally I'm confused at the difference between the concept of Bluestem and French Meadow. Both spaces flow into each other, especially in the evening with no real distinctions. The menus seems almost identical, but using a different layout. Bluestem's menu is a bit more limiting in its offerings which makes me wonder why chose to eat in this part of the restaurant when you get more choice in French Meadow? Staff at Bluestem feels less attentive and still quite unfamiliar with the food & wine offerings. The several times I've dined here, there has been confusion over what I've ordered and long waits for additional water and payment of the bill. I've given Bluestem a try for brunch, dinner and a glass of wine and I'm still left confused about the menu offerings. And the staff still is being educated on wine and wine pairings. Wine glass pours are relatively small compared to those at Spill the Wine & Barbette. If you're looking for table-service brunch, Bluestem is a great spot to skip the lines. But if you desire distinct lunch/dinner menu selection or attentive & knowledgable staff (about wine) skip Bluestem for now and head over to Barbette. There is room to grow here - owner Lynn Gordon just needs a few more months to sort things out.
(2)David T.
Usually when I am in a city away from home I will only eat at establishments boasting 4 stars or more... With many reviews... This rather large restaurant had few reviews and 3.5 stars - mostly due to complaints about service. I was in the neighborhood and noted the large "Organic" verbiage and was flexible with my rules - I gave it a try and am glad that I did! Service - completely fine, no complaints whatsoever. Attentive, knowledgable (about beer at least), very quick to refill water and on the spot to take my order when I was finally ready to advance from the beer and emails that consumed 2 hrs of my night. Food - Fantastic. Turkey burger, bacon, gf bun, greens, couldn't have asked for a better dinner. Don't disregard this place because they are not quite top notch by reviews or stars - this place will be 4 star and 200 reviews before long!!
(5)Heidi W.
This place rocks with a capital R!!! And for the short time we lived in the area, my children used to joke that it was "kinda like our other living room". Set behind and connecting to the French Meadow Bakery, an institution when it comes to organic food and coffee (and the first certified organic bakery in the US), Bluestem is a sit-down, full-service restaurant that owns its own farm. With so many farm-to-table places sprouting up everywhere, however, this one is different and special, in terms of it offering mostly organic ingredients in their dishes. The high ceilings, soothing colors on the walls, and birch-like tree branch deco, make a great backdrop, be it for lunch, dinner or weekend brunch, a get-together with friends, and family outing alike. But what really makes this place extraordinary, in my opinion, is the creativity that they put into their dishes, the amazing "specials", in particular. Having traveled to many places in the world and lived in many different places, too, I had one of the best meals ever at this place. So thank you for for that!!! But you don't have to hope for a great "special", because the menu staples offered are excellent options, too, especially considering the number of vegetarian and vegan dishes. Last but not least (for sure!), I want to mention the excellent offerings that come in a glass. They are an important part of a "complete" dining experience if you ask me. And Blustem has some capable bartenders. They make the best Bloody Mary's in the Twin Cities, whether traditional or with Sake. And the beer shot that accompanies it, complements the drink perfectly. It helps that they use just the perfect amount of veggies, horseradish, and spice, too. Not your random "bottled" helper stuff. So if you are lucky enough to be in the Twin Cities area, go eat, drink, and enjoy!!!
(5)Michele K.
Recently dined at Bluestem with another couple (at their suggestion). It was initially a bit confusing to find because it is literally in the back of the French Meadow Cafe but once they get their way-finding issues figured out (like maybe a bigger and more prominent sign on the side door you are supposed to enter into), that will improve. As for the food, it was fresh, tasty and organic but not killer, and a bit pricier than I felt it warranted. It was funny because the fish of the day was Local Perch and we were assured that it was not "from Lake Calhoun". I certainly hope not, LOL! The design and atmosphere of the place is nice. It's got a chill vibe with lots of pithy quotes painted on the walls and atmospheric lighting. Unlike others here who have complained about the service, I found our service to be friendly and super prompt. It was all in all a nice experience but I doubt I'll be back anytime soon. No real standouts for me gastronomically speaking.
(3)Joan B.
This is a great venue. How can you go wrong when you are associated with French Meadow? We had a last minute change in reservations and it was no problem for them. I hate doing that but they took it in stride and were very accommodating. Excellent wine and beer list. My spouse and niece had a heavy dark beer and I had the ugni blanc. Both good choices. Wait staff very friendly, seemed genuinely pleased to serve us and answered our questions. I'll be back. Nice area of town easy to get to from Western suburbs adequate parking close by.
(5)Emily P.
Wow, we were pleasantly surprised how wonderful and gourmet this place was considering it is attached to the bakery! I was worried this place would be serving items similar to a lunch cafe since it is a part of French Meadow, but it serves amazing and inventive dishes at dinner. I had the pasta special which was homemade gnocchi and chicken in a wonderful Gouda sauce. The gnocchi ended up being fried and it melted in your mouth, it was just wonderful. Everyone else enjoyed their dishes just as much as I did. Our server was very nice and knowledgeable about the food they were serving. The only reason I am not giving 5 stars is because it is kind of confusing when you walk into Blue Stem and the bakery staff in the other room was not the friendliest. There is a separate entrance for Blue Stem and an area that looks like a host stand and waiting area, but you have to walk to the front of the bakery in the other room to get seated. What is the point of the separate entrance then? Besides that, everything was wonderful about this place and we will definitely be going back and we definitely recommend it!
(4)Aaron F.
Friendly staff. Fantastic food. I had the blackened fish tacos and my wife had the Mac and cheese. Both dishes were awesome. I will be back
(5)David T.
Usually when I am in a city away from home I will only eat at establishments boasting 4 stars or more... With many reviews... This rather large restaurant had few reviews and 3.5 stars - mostly due to complaints about service. I was in the neighborhood and noted the large "Organic" verbiage and was flexible with my rules - I gave it a try and am glad that I did! Service - completely fine, no complaints whatsoever. Attentive, knowledgable (about beer at least), very quick to refill water and on the spot to take my order when I was finally ready to advance from the beer and emails that consumed 2 hrs of my night. Food - Fantastic. Turkey burger, bacon, gf bun, greens, couldn't have asked for a better dinner. Don't disregard this place because they are not quite top notch by reviews or stars - this place will be 4 star and 200 reviews before long!!
(5)Peter C.
Was here today for lunch for the first time and first of all, the place is gorgeous. Beautiful bar with fantastic wood tables and just an all-around pretty place to be in. The service was fine - friendly service but a little slow. I had the city cobb salad, some bison sausage, and a small soup. Everything was very tasty and fresh. My friend had a burger. Lunch however cost over $40 which included one beer. Seemed a bit steep for lunch. All in all, a great experience and I would definitely try it again.
(4)Heidi W.
This place rocks with a capital R!!! And for the short time we lived in the area, my children used to joke that it was "kinda like our other living room". Set behind and connecting to the French Meadow Bakery, an institution when it comes to organic food and coffee (and the first certified organic bakery in the US), Bluestem is a sit-down, full-service restaurant that owns its own farm. With so many farm-to-table places sprouting up everywhere, however, this one is different and special, in terms of it offering mostly organic ingredients in their dishes. The high ceilings, soothing colors on the walls, and birch-like tree branch deco, make a great backdrop, be it for lunch, dinner or weekend brunch, a get-together with friends, and family outing alike. But what really makes this place extraordinary, in my opinion, is the creativity that they put into their dishes, the amazing "specials", in particular. Having traveled to many places in the world and lived in many different places, too, I had one of the best meals ever at this place. So thank you for for that!!! But you don't have to hope for a great "special", because the menu staples offered are excellent options, too, especially considering the number of vegetarian and vegan dishes. Last but not least (for sure!), I want to mention the excellent offerings that come in a glass. They are an important part of a "complete" dining experience if you ask me. And Blustem has some capable bartenders. They make the best Bloody Mary's in the Twin Cities, whether traditional or with Sake. And the beer shot that accompanies it, complements the drink perfectly. It helps that they use just the perfect amount of veggies, horseradish, and spice, too. Not your random "bottled" helper stuff. So if you are lucky enough to be in the Twin Cities area, go eat, drink, and enjoy!!!
(5)Michele K.
Recently dined at Bluestem with another couple (at their suggestion). It was initially a bit confusing to find because it is literally in the back of the French Meadow Cafe but once they get their way-finding issues figured out (like maybe a bigger and more prominent sign on the side door you are supposed to enter into), that will improve. As for the food, it was fresh, tasty and organic but not killer, and a bit pricier than I felt it warranted. It was funny because the fish of the day was Local Perch and we were assured that it was not "from Lake Calhoun". I certainly hope not, LOL! The design and atmosphere of the place is nice. It's got a chill vibe with lots of pithy quotes painted on the walls and atmospheric lighting. Unlike others here who have complained about the service, I found our service to be friendly and super prompt. It was all in all a nice experience but I doubt I'll be back anytime soon. No real standouts for me gastronomically speaking.
(3)Joan B.
This is a great venue. How can you go wrong when you are associated with French Meadow? We had a last minute change in reservations and it was no problem for them. I hate doing that but they took it in stride and were very accommodating. Excellent wine and beer list. My spouse and niece had a heavy dark beer and I had the ugni blanc. Both good choices. Wait staff very friendly, seemed genuinely pleased to serve us and answered our questions. I'll be back. Nice area of town easy to get to from Western suburbs adequate parking close by.
(5)Montessahall H.
Oh my! Oh my! It has been a while since I have enjoyed a memorable dining experience in the Twin Cities. The food, drinks, service and atmosphere all scored five stars in my book. The flatbreads on the menu are crazy good and a must have with the best craft Manhattan ever. Service is super attentive. Atmosphere; cozy. Can't say enough good things about this place.
(5)Karl A.
We go back to Blue Stem (and French Meadow) at least once per month. Yesterday I had the Black Bean Chicken Quesadilla and it was delicious and only $10. Ian did a great job with suggestions, service, and conversation.
(5)Michael H.
There yesterday for the second time this week. Food is great. Staff great. Decor is outstanding. We ran into the owner who told us that she designed the interior herself. Many unique touches from the reclaimed school doors to the wall of windows from an old church. I will be a regular.
(5)Carolyn B.
I am really excited to try this place again. I didn't even know it existed until my friend invited me to try it last night. I've been wishing for years that Minneapolis would have some kind of upscale vegan/vegetarian place like Karen's in Chicago, Plant in Asheville and Candle 79 in NYC. This doesn't quite do it, but I was excited to see so many tempeh options and a couple of tofu and seitan dishes, not to mention some delicious-sounding salads. I wasn't hungry enough for an all-out dinner, so I just got the tempeh reuben, which was really good. I also was happy with the wine list and the overall feel and look of the place. I have to agree with some people that the service is not very attentive. It was pretty dead on Sunday night and we still waited around a while at different points. And the waitress never asked me if I wanted another glass of wine. I didn't, so I didn't speak up, but I expect to be asked. I do worry that this place could produce long waits if it fills up. It is somewhat small. But I will definitely try it again. I have been back a couple of times and had a great experience. The food was really good and the service was much better. My only reluctance about this place is that you can rack up a hefty bill pretty quickly. The vegetarian entrees are a little expensive for what's in them, but there aren't many other restaurants offering these kinds of options.
(4)Chris L.
This was a fine experience but nothing to set it apart from other TC restaurants of this type. Had poor front end service but the wait staff did fine. Dishes were average and prices were as well. Just nothing to draw me back when compared to other options.
(3)Rhonda G.
A way to deal with FM without the madness, I'm in. My first response was, what's going on in there? It was like stepping into wonderland. I sat at the bar and got some reading in before I was served the signature quiche. The deep dish is not an exaggeration. It had goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and leeks. Served with a salad. I loved it. I was sitting on the end, right near the baristas, and kitchen door, my choice for privacy and light. Loud but buffered compared to next door. The decor does grab you. I'm amazed at all the room, then on the way to the bathroom is another room, where they tend to stick families. The bathroom, oh, the bathroom. Beautiful gray tiles. Gretchen was my server, as busy as she was, she never ignored me. Glad it was too cool to be outside, I almost missed this place.
(5)Barb K.
We ordered happy hour drinks literally one minute before happy hour and were charged full price (even after confirming with the host that it was happy hour). Said something, they wouldn't change it, that sucks. Was charged $10 for a glass of wine that was listed as $8 on the menu, said something, they said it was $10 and wouldn't change it, that also sucks. They clearly have some kinks to work out. Everything else was good, food was delicious, nice atmosphere.
(2)April R.
Such good food! And with a large selection. You leave feeling full but not disgusting. Well worth the money for the quality of food. It gets busy, if you have a large group call ahead and make reservations. If its just two people, I've never had a problem finding a spot at the bar - without having to wait.
(5)Amy C.
I've been a French Meadow fan for years, but Bluestem Bar & Table takes my love to a new level entirely. Bluestem is connected to French Meadow, situated in a former storage room. Owner Lynn Gordon purchased a bank of windows from an old church, and used those as the divider between the two restaurants. The décor of Bluestem is simple, yet elegant. In particular, the handcrafted turquoise hued tile on the bar is luscious. We dined last week just a couple weeks post-opening. Service was flawless, menu knowledge was down pat and the perfect level of attentiveness. But you're here to learn about the food....ah, the amazing food. We started with the small plate of the Pan Seared Scallops. I'm still thinking about them a week later...cooked to perfection, lovely plating, seasoned just right. Hubby had the Miso Salmon, I had the Fish Tacos and one of our bonus kids ordered the Wild Acres Duck. I felt it was my responsibility to sample everything in order to deliver the most comprehensive review possible. Yeah, it was in the name of research! We all were vocal in our love of the entrees. They were excellent and portion sizes were just right, and each of us sent our plates back to the kitchen clean. It's that good. The tacos were fresh and bright, with just the right amount of earthiness from the radish. The side of salad topped with vinaigrette was perfect. I feared the duck would be a little heavy in the oppressive July heat, but it was sublime. The salmon was cooked medium and burst with flavor. My research continued with dessert, all were fabulous and available in the bakery case at French Meadow. Nothing groundbreaking, but all fantastic. It's hard not to gush about this place, because as I look at the menu I think, "If I was going to open a restaurant, this is what I would want to serve." You don't attain the level of success and longevity that Lynn Gordon has by accident. The reason for that success is use of the best ingredients, a skilled staff, good location and ambiance. Bluestem has it all in spades.
(5)liz p.
Bluestem is seriously brimming with potential. Great food, beautiful atmosphere, horrible service - oh wait, that's the crappy part. I've been here multiple times on multiple occasions clinging to the naive hope that someone will figure out how to train the waitstaff. To no avail. Service takes forever, is rude, food comes out cold, I feel like a burden when I come here. Who are these people? Why is this a problem, still!!?! If you want someone to interact with you with "I hate my life and I hate you" eyes, this is the place for you. If not, perhaps seek elsewhere.
(2)Landon W.
I was surprised to learn that Bluestem is simply the name of the bar room attached to French Meadow. I had thought it was a separate project. Nevertheless, very cool atmosphere. We sat at the bar, great service from the bartender. We started with two beers and the warmed and fried olives. Nice small plate of olives with some toasted bread on side, fried olives were a unique item I hadn't had before. For entrees my fiancé went with the burger, always a good choice, great temperature. I went for the gluten free chicken and waffles, don't pass this up, a very nice take on the classic dish! Combination of hot sauce, syrup, waffle, and chicken is second to none when you're looking for sweet and savory. For dessert we had the Salted Caramel & Scotch Whisky Custard, very good. Great atmosphere, beer and drink selection, and food options. Perfect for a spur of the moment night out or something laid back. Check it out.
(4)Annie D.
This little establishment just opened Monday, so this is a first-look, sorta-too-early-to-review review. Here it goes. Bluestem is a new wine bar and bistro connected to French Meadow. The interior is very polished and my favorite part is the huge horseshoe bar covered in turquoise tile (Pinterest-worthy tile) and the modern woodwork around the outside walls. It's a very different style than the homey, casual French Meadow, even though it's very much a part of French Meadow too (you currently enter through the cafe, I assume until their own little side patio is finished being constructed). During the day (10-3), the menu is almost exactly the same as French Meadow, which actually surprised me. Especially because the cafe was packed to the gills, but the wine bar was virtually empty. Same menu, people! The dinner menu starts at 4 p.m. with a modern Midwestern bistro style of cuisine. Not sure how it compares to the cafe's dinner menu. It's a wine bar, so they have a few flights available and what looked to be a solid wine list. There's also local beer on tap if you prefer pints to Pinot. I bellied up to the bar and ordered the crab-black bean cakes Benedict ($12). I actually sent the dish back at first because the poached eggs were underdone (runny white). It came back slightly overdone, but ah well. Even without taking the eggs into account, the dish didn't really float my boat. The cakes had little structure and I'm just not convinced black beans and crab are meant to go together flavorwise. Also, I don't feel like bread is typically necessary with a crispy crab benedict but this was a mushy situation without any English muffin to sop it up. Even though I wasn't overjoyed with the actual food I ate today, the service was friendly as can be and I know from experience (many experiences, actually) that there are plenty of tasty things on the French Meadow daytime menu. The tomato basil soup and the huevos rancheros, for starters. Nomnomnom. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back for (different) brunch food, wine flights and dinner!
(4)Jim R.
Was surprised when I walked inside this place 'cause it doesn't look like much from the outside, but whoa! it's like when Dorothy steps out of the house into Oz! A wonderful, eclectic and lively interior that looks more like something you'd find downtown or even in NYC. Very stylish and hip feeling. While it's a pretty small place which usually means just one or two good menu items, surprisingly they have a really broad menu with almost too many good choices. Portions are under control and they feature lots of local products. Our group of 3 started with a wonderful cheese plate with several local choices and moved on to some tasty classics like fried chicken and waffles. We were there early (6:30) and the place was pretty quiet. It got really busy around 7:30 on a Saturday night. Service was decent and prices in line. Will have to go back to try some more of the options.
(4)Katie M.
We went to French Meadow intending on sitting outside, but when we saw that Bluestem Bar & Table was open and ready for business, we decided to give it a whirl. Good beers on tap, friendly bartenders, fun atmosphere! We were just there for drinks, but I'm excited to go back and try some of their menu items - they do differ a bit from French Meadow.
(4)Ann J.
Perfection at every turn! Had the Zen salad, the Green Curry... My son had the pasta (cooked to perfection~al dente), focus on ingredients A+
(5)Cynthia B.
Food okay to good. Service beyond poor. We arrived, got seated and then the wait and bad service began. Water took 2 trips, 10 minutes and served by a less than enthusiastic staffer. About 15 we asked a waitress if we could see our waitress to order apps and get some drinks. 5 minutes later a young lady came to our table and truly said "you wanted to order?" sans any smile or greeting. I was actually shocked. We put in our order including 2 bottles vino and then waited again. The apps were okay. Just okay. When the husband's steak arrived it was thin and overcooked. My shrimp and grits were okay, but mom certainly does it better...the pasta and miso salmon was also okay, but certainly not amazing. It was the husband's birthday and we were all thinking....should have gone to Bar Lagrassa or really any place else. What a letdown. Boo!
(2)Lindsey H.
I just had the worst dining experience of my life and wanted to give some honest feedback. I'm sad to have to write this because French Meadow is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. At Bluestem today I was served a meat omelet after putting in my order for the vegetarian omelet ("zone omelet") twice. Ate a few bites before realizing I had the wrong order and immediately told the server. This was a big deal for me because I've been a vegetarian my whole life. Our server said she put in the order for the wrong thing and that she would take it off the bill. There was no offer to bring me the correct order, or something else on the menu, just essentially "I brought you the wrong thing and won't charge you for it." She cleared my plate (appropriately) which resulted in me sitting with no food while my friends finished up their meal. If the server had said "I didn't bring you what you ordered and won't charge you for it, so I'll also bring you what you DID order and won't charge you for it" would have been super appreciated (and appropriate, right?). Especially because of the meat/vegetarian issue. It's not like I ordered tomatoes and got carrots. That wouldn't have been a big deal. Even "do you want to order something else and pay for it so that you're not the only one at the table without food?" would have been better. We split the check and I got the $2.67 check for my americano that I waited 20 minutes to get and had to remind them about (after ordering it twice in the beginning of this adventure), with just a "here you go" as if there had been no problem. A second apology would have been nice, or maybe a comped coffee (too much to ask?). This is my 3rd time eating at Bluestem and I did like the first two times, despite the friendly servers but loooong wait for the food. After today I am not inspired to ever go back. SUMMARY French Meadow - YES! Bluestem - Hard no.
(1)Brandi S.
I agree with other Yelpers on the food is great, but service is terrible. I've been to Bluestem twice and on both occasions it's taken over 20 minutes just to get water and a beverage with no acknowledgment of wait time. Absolutely horrendous service. The atmosphere around the bar is cool and I want to like it more. And it is a bit confusing the difference between French meadow vs Bluestem.....my advice is to skip. Even with long lines the French Meadow side is so much faster and much better service.
(3)C M.
I am an avid Yelp user, I look at Yelp a lot but I don't often post. However, after a few experiences at Bluestem, my visit this weekend for brunch was the last straw and I decided to write something. The service here is consistently lousy. Servers have forgotten my table, while tables that were sat way after I was had their orders taken/served food. It takes forever to get someone to come and even bring a water much less take an order. They always appear to be really rushed and understaffed. It's even slow when I have sat at the bar! The last time I was here they forgot my order, served my boyfriend his meal, and then when he was nearly finished I asked where my food was. The server ran back and 5 minutes later a runner appeared with one of the worst looking, hastily assembled plates I have ever seen. I pointed out to my server that it looked like someone just threw it together and all I got was an apology, that the ticket was messed up, and they were "really rushed" that morning. I still don't think it's an excuse to put out a bad plate, I would have rather waited a little longer to get an edible meal instead of throwing out $12. The food is OK. For the price they ask you think they would know how to cook a burger medium-well instead of dried out, for example. I do love their quiche, eggs benedict, and breakfast burritos. If only it didn't take over 30 minutes to get it. In Uptown there are so many options, you think a place like this would have figured out how to staff it's restaurant adequately and compete with the 10+ other restaurants within walking distance. Needless to say I will not be coming back. My weekends seem short enough as it is, it's not worth the wait! It's a pity such a nice-looking place with potential can't get it together.
(2)Bk S.
I've read the reviews and went in with an open mind. Pleasantly surpassed all expectations! Food was high quality, fresh, great tastes and loved everything we ordered. Would highly recommend the shrimp & grits for great flavor the price was beyond reasonable for a very generous portion. Service was also really good. Our server used her resources to find the best wines based on our requests and made great recommendations. Based on the reviews Blue stem they must have listened as service was really attentive and on top of our needs. I usually don't give anyone 5 out of 5 stars as there's always room for improvement however we had a GREAT experience and will be back soon.
(5)Townsend F.
Such a cute bar and restaurant! Went here for valentines day and the wine and food were amazing. The mussels were as good as any French restaurant in the twin cities. The wine flight menu is extensive and the pours are generous, it was such a great selection. The entrees were diverse and the specials were well worth ordering. The service was perfect. This is a new favorite place. I can't wait to go back here for a girls wine night!
(5)Troy M.
One of my favorite brunch spots. Service has been good, not great, but acceptable. Food has been great each time. Cocktails, wine and beer selection will please discerning tastes. Love the decor, awesome blue bar. Dinner has been great as well. Laid back, well designed environs make this place one of my frequent go to hangs.
(5)Zoey B.
My husband and I were in Minneapolis to celebrate our 1-year wedding anniversary the last weekend of July. I am Vegan, therefore spent a good amount of time doing my research prior to our trip of where to eat. We arrived Saturday at 10:10PM and were excited to the Vegan Reuben. Upon arrival, the Host told us dinner ended at 10PM (online says Dinner menu served until closing-12AM). Luckily she was awesome and let the kitchen know we came specifically for the Reuben and they accommodated me. We are from Seattle and a place there has an amazing Vegan Reuben. This was a close second, but not A+. The tempeh on the Reuben is a large patty and not thin slices. The bread is not your typical marble rye and the whole thing is very messy. My husband had the Bison burger and thought it was really good. He had the apple crisp and I had the cookie with vegan custard; both were really good. The service was really awesome and the atmosphere was great. We sat on the patio, as did everyone else. The dining room was completely empty as it was a beautiful night outside. The menu caters awesomely to a Vegan diet and overall it was a great experience. The reason for the 4 and not 5 stars, is the Vegan Reuben was just OK. Also the confusion of the online hours for dinner vs. the actual.
(4)Julie C.
I wish I had read the reviews before we went here. The service here is appalling. We reserved a table at Bluestem and then they tried to shove us in the cafe in front of the door in below zero temps. The manager was beyond rude and we only got seated when we absolutely refused to be seated in front of the door. The waited was much nicer but sooooooo incredibly slow. We didn't get our drink orders taken until we had been seated for 25 minutes. Too bad because the food was quite good.
(1)Emily P.
Wow, we were pleasantly surprised how wonderful and gourmet this place was considering it is attached to the bakery! I was worried this place would be serving items similar to a lunch cafe since it is a part of French Meadow, but it serves amazing and inventive dishes at dinner. I had the pasta special which was homemade gnocchi and chicken in a wonderful Gouda sauce. The gnocchi ended up being fried and it melted in your mouth, it was just wonderful. Everyone else enjoyed their dishes just as much as I did. Our server was very nice and knowledgeable about the food they were serving. The only reason I am not giving 5 stars is because it is kind of confusing when you walk into Blue Stem and the bakery staff in the other room was not the friendliest. There is a separate entrance for Blue Stem and an area that looks like a host stand and waiting area, but you have to walk to the front of the bakery in the other room to get seated. What is the point of the separate entrance then? Besides that, everything was wonderful about this place and we will definitely be going back and we definitely recommend it!
(4)Aaron F.
Friendly staff. Fantastic food. I had the blackened fish tacos and my wife had the Mac and cheese. Both dishes were awesome. I will be back
(5)Jessica L.
I really enjoy French Meadow and was really excited to try out their 'new' restaurant, but alas, I was so disappointed. Décor: It's very awkward because you enter Bluestem through the same main door of French Meadow. So instead of doing my normal stroll over to 'Ooh' and 'Aah' at the bakery shelves, I had to walk in, turn awkwardly to the left to enter a slightly set off restaurant. There is no door or any sort of physical separation, but you can see that the ambiance is clearly different from French Meadow's casual chattiness. Bluesteam is dim, with dark wooded bars and booths. It does have a nice polished look to it, so it makes you forget that you had ever entered French Meadow. They do have a patio (where we ended up sitting), but it's separate from French Meadow's outside seating. So instead of having a street view, you sit amidst a coral of potted plants and gates where you technically face their parking lot. They need to figure out this space a little better, because I could hear the patrons of French Meadow talking right around the corner and couldn't help but be jealous of their unobstructed people watching view. Service: Thumbs down. What should have been, at max, a one hour meal turned to almost 2.5 hours. No, we weren't milling around to chat- it was because our waitress would come every 20 minutes, be it for the menu, drinks, the food, the doggy box and bag (which she did in 2 trips..) and the check! What made me angrier was the fact that we could hear the patrons of French Meadow happily chatting and being on their merry way MUCH faster than we were able to. I literally felt just stuck there. Food: They have their own menu but you can also order off of French Meadow's (Okay, I feel like it's Business 101 that if you are to have 2 businesses, you need to DIFFERENTIATE. Set boundaries and borders so that each business is distinctive and that you are not cannibalizing the other business....). Now, on to the actual food: - Tartines: This appetizer comes in a set of 3 little tartines. None of them were all that spectacular, but they were a good appetizer size. - Duck & horseradish flatbread: This was okay. I don't think the horseradish sauce came through all that much. I would preferred some more bright flavors to balance out the heavier duck and bitter arugula, perhaps some citrus flavors? - Beet salad w/fried goat cheese: I love goat cheese and I love beets. While it was clear that the dish used fresh ingredients, besides the fact that they fried the goat cheese, it was not that special - Fish Taco: I actually didn't get to have any because of the bf gobbled it up and I was too full to try. But I think it was safe to say that this was a good dish. He said the fish was good. - Oh, and I didn't have dessert (was not going to waste another 40 minutes there..), but they have a HUGE dessert list. Overall: Good ingredients and average cooking, but nothing special. I would not come back here again until they get their business model figured out. French Meadow is MUCH better in the service, food and most importantly, prices. They should have expanded the space of French Meadow rather than create a new restaurant.
(2)James B.
Slow, slow, slow service. Bread basket and the beet salad was good but the fries with the steak frite were cold and the fried chicken and waffle was laughably bad. The whole dish was doused in hot sauce and a pink peppercorn syrup that was absolutely ghastly. I did, however, have a couple of nice beers that dulled the pain of an $90 dinner that really wasn't that good.
(2)Caitlin T.
Went in to the Meadow for Brunch this morning, one of the staff asked us if we would like to have an immediate seat in the Bluestem area (avoiding the long line in front) we figured we'd give it a shot. We were one of two parties (of 2) seated at the bar. Our drink order was taken and the waiter said he would check back in a few minutes. Four other parties of 2 were seated, he came by to grab our order before greeting them. We read the entire issue of VitaMN, it's been about 35 minutes. Everyone else (seated and having ordered after us) has their food. My boyfriend calls the waiter over and asks him "How are we doing?" (aka "we're starving, where is our food??) Waiter says "Oh I'm hanging in there, how are you guys doing, do you need anything?" To which we said, "Yes, our food, everyone else has gotten theirs" - he said "You ordered food?" ARE YOU KIDDING? After "checking with the kitchen" he said the kitchen must have lost our ticket. He then said he'd try to take some thing off our bill, came back and said the manager had offered us a pastry each... Even though this seemed low (and in this instance I would expect a visit from the manager personally) we asked for chocolate croissants - they're out. We got a pancake taken off our bill in the end. What we'd hoped would be a quick yummy breakfast took about 1hr 45 min and was pretty lame for what I've come to expect from the meadow. (I even had to get my own cream and sugar for my coffee from the front) Next time, we'll stick to the front side where we know our order will get put in when we place it.
(2)Michael A.
Organic food & wine w/ a more upscale atmosphere... still in progress. Bluestem Bar & Table is a welcome 'upscale' addition to the Wedge neighborhood. It's sister restaurant, French Meadow Bakery, serves as the inspiration for a bit more classier take on natural & organic wine, beer, food and dessert offerings. I'm loving the option to order flights of wine and beer to explore unexpected varieties and drafts through a tasting menu. And table service during French Meadow's hectic brunch hours is a nice addition for those entertaining family or business clients that don't want to deal with standing in the long order lines and feeling rushed to find a table. But Bluestem stills needs some fine tuning. Generally I'm confused at the difference between the concept of Bluestem and French Meadow. Both spaces flow into each other, especially in the evening with no real distinctions. The menus seems almost identical, but using a different layout. Bluestem's menu is a bit more limiting in its offerings which makes me wonder why chose to eat in this part of the restaurant when you get more choice in French Meadow? Staff at Bluestem feels less attentive and still quite unfamiliar with the food & wine offerings. The several times I've dined here, there has been confusion over what I've ordered and long waits for additional water and payment of the bill. I've given Bluestem a try for brunch, dinner and a glass of wine and I'm still left confused about the menu offerings. And the staff still is being educated on wine and wine pairings. Wine glass pours are relatively small compared to those at Spill the Wine & Barbette. If you're looking for table-service brunch, Bluestem is a great spot to skip the lines. But if you desire distinct lunch/dinner menu selection or attentive & knowledgable staff (about wine) skip Bluestem for now and head over to Barbette. There is room to grow here - owner Lynn Gordon just needs a few more months to sort things out.
(2)Hannah F.
My good friend is visiting from California and we decided to go here from breakfast during her stay... We ended up going back again the next day. Bluestem has an incredible menu- so many choices! Also, they have some healthier options which is hard to come by in these parts. Most bfast items come with mixed greens rather than some potato thing (I just ate two eggs, ham, and bread smothered in butter mayonnaise (hollandaise) I do not need to eat a whole potato). I could eat here everyday and not get sick of the menu. The food is go to here
(5)Lizz P.
So, at first I couldn't find it because outside it says French Meadow bakery. I know they have gluten free stuff so I figured I had to be the place. Their food is delicious!! I ordered Cajun home fries with a side of scrambled eggs and it was AWESOME!!! Absolutely delicious, flavorful and so tasty. Lots of gluten free and vegan choices. I'd highly recommend it!!!!
(5)P F.
Went to Bluestem for my birthday because I like French Meadow. Wish I had chosen a different restaurant. First, I mentioned on Open Table that it was my birthday and neither the hostess or the server even asked about it. I'm not going to tell them just to get a free dessert....but it would've been nice if they had taken note of my comments. The service was really slow and, being a server myself, it killed me to watch our server not multi-task. Water took forever to be refilled and drinks took about 10-15 min. to get to the table. I agree with a previous review that said the frites were cold on the steak frites, the waffle was so-so but trout entree was delicious. Dessert was good as well. Also, the server did not know the menu. Do they train their staff? If they do, they need to get someone new that will do a better job. I felt like my server had 10 minutes of training and was thrown on the floor. I also have to wonder if Bluestem even takes note of these reviews. Plenty of them complained about the service. It was slow the Sunday night we were in, hmmmm.....take note of these reviews and correct your mistakes. French Meadow has a great following and Bluestem could make that all go away....
(2)Nicole B.
Brand new Bar & Restaurant connected to The French Meadow but with a more upscale vibe. The turquoise circular bar is beautiful and the booths are very comfy; definitely a place I could sit and drink for hours. ;) The bartender was super friendly and recommended the perfect wine pairings for our meal (when you go in ask for Michael the bartender for wine/beer suggestions). The prices were very reasonable especially considering the high food quality (local, organic, fresh, etc.). Literally everything I had was delicious. I don't like salmon as a rule, but the bartender highly recommended the salmon special so I took a chance and it was amazing, I ate the whole plate! Even the vegan dessert (seasonal fruit crumble) was delicious (they have a LONG list of vegan and gluten-free dessert options as well as regular). For a brand new place they really have their stuff together. I'll definitely be back!
(5)Isaac A.
Scallops were great, perfectly cooked and nice size. Guacamole was good too. Fish tacos were good, but the steak was even better. Entrees were in the low 20's versus the low 30's you would see elsewhere. Beer and wine flights give you a good taste of a few different drinks.
(4)Joanne H.
Not much new to add to previous reviewers who were less-than-impressed with the service. It was incredibly slow, indifferent, and inattentive. My lunch companion asked the waitperson to recommend a local beer, but she didn't seem too conversant in their selection. I agree, too, with those who don't see much distinction between Bluestem and the French Meadow Cafe. The Bluestem decor is lovely and it's a nice intimate space, but it is odd to enter through the maze of tables in the FMC, especially since a sign on the door says the Bluestem entrance is on the side (which is locked). I had a reservation, but when someone finally acknowledged my presence after 5 minutes of looking at me and ignoring me, she just told me to sit anywhere. It seems we could just have ordered off the menu at FMC and sat in the Bluestem space if we had wanted to do so. All that said, I appreciate that they've retained the farm-to-table concept for Bluestem, and the food was very good and fresh.
(3)