Eat Street Social in Minneapolis

Crystal Liepa / Heavy Table

If there’s one thing Eat Street Social has in spades, it’s vibe. The second child of Northeast Social owners Joe Wagner and Sam Bonin, Eat Street Social (in the old Tacos Morelos spot near Nicollet) is all darkness and opulence: shadowy brocade walls, high maroon booths, and glowing castle-like light fixtures provide the setting for a huge and fantastic square bar that thrusts into the center of the room, commanding attention in a Guthrie-like manner.

It’s this stage of mixology that really inspires a visit to Social. All the eating and dining and chatter ebb from this center, where head bartenders (and founders of Bittercube bitters) Nick Kosevich and Ira Koplowitz grin and sling some really inspired drinks.

Crystal Liepa / Heavy Table

From a long list of unique creations, the Copper Dagger ($9) seems to be a favorite among the staff. Averna Amaro, Lemon Hart 151, St. Germain, and cap of foamy egg white make up a tart and delicate suede-colored cocktail masquerading as a thick cappuccino. The Queen Charlotte ($10) is like a floral lemon bar, fashioned with Grey Goose and liqueur violette, but the 21st Century Cocktail ($9) was our favorite on the list. Gin, Lillet Rouge, and house-made cocao nib liqueur result in a drink that’s 80s-prom-dress mauve. At first whiff it’s chocolately, but when the drink goes down it’s all mellow, floral citrus, with none of the piney edge that makes the gin-haters hate.

Unlike its list of bright, enthusiastic cocktails, Social’s lunch and dinner menus are governed by an earthier, iron-rich agenda. From the healthy list of appetizers (including steak tar tar and calamari), we tried the scallops ($10) and mussels and fries ($10). While both proteins were tender and treated well, they would benefit from a splash of brightness. The mussels absorb a dark edge from their hot but slightly bitter garlic and white wine broth, and the scallops come with a competing trio of apple butter, fried sweet breads, and an acerbic kumquat marmalade. A forkful of all four components loses the mildness of the apple and scallop almost entirely, making a harsh and confusing bite.

On the entrée side of things, the gnocchi ($17) is similar. Though soft and heady with truffle, the dish is almost overwhelmed by a pool of earthy brown butter. But the menu’s dark and stormy bent is perhaps best embodied by the smoked jalapeno and tomato soup ($6). It’s a creamy barbecue in a bowl, and while other dishes would welcome a squeeze of lemon here and there, this soup is practically perfect just the way it is.

Crystal Liepa / Heavy Table

For lunch, Social offers lots of salads and some pretty good sandwiches, including a big old reuben ($8) that is pleasantly light and served on a sturdy and shyly flavored rye. And even though it arrived lukewarm, the Croque Madame ($10) is good and decadent, like a gravy-soaked ham sandwich with wispy, crunchy onions, and a creamy egg on top. The big anomaly was the Seared Tuna sandwich ($12). Though sweet and refreshing, it lacked the funk of kimchi that the menu promised. It was nowhere to be found.

In lieu of dessert, which includes a dry and unimpressive olive oil chocolate cake, opt for one of the bartenders’ nostalgic soda fountain drinks ($5 each), which include egg creams, phosphates, and rickeys. Both the Bronx Egg Cream (garnished with a salty pretzel stalk) and Maple Egg Cream (with Bittercube blackstrap bitters) are light, genuinely flavored, and zapped with soda water.

Crystal Liepa / Heavy Table

Dinner service at Social is currently on the slow side (we waited around 10 minutes for drinks on a Tuesday night, and almost 20 for our check on a Saturday), but it’s also warm and unharried, and they keep the water coming.

As Northeast Social’s next-of-kin, the Eat Street version is bound to see a stream of loyal patrons cross the river to offer their enthusiasm. The two restaurants even share some of their servers. But here and there, even the most ardent fan of Northeast (the typically positive Southwest Journal, for instance) has noted the contrast of excellent drinks and atmosphere with a weaker menu and service at the new spot. However, much like the controversial Rye Deli, there’s been a lot of hype to color the first month of Social’s life. In time, it may become the bar and snack spot that this stretch of Nicollet has been longing for, but for the moment, Social is a place for craft drinks of all sorts, an after-work cheer, and for clinking your glass against your server’s or your neighbor’s.

BEST BET: Go for one of the bartenders’ unique creations. The Copper Dagger and 21st Century Cocktail are both impressive-looking and delicious.

Eat Street Social

Rating: ★★☆☆ (Good)

Craft cocktails and American food in Whittier
18 W 26th St
Minneapolis, MN 55404
CHEF / OWNERS: Geoff Little / Sam Bonin and Joe Wagner
HOURS:
Mon-Sat 11am-1am
Sun 9am-1am
BAR
: Full
RESERVATIONS / RECOMMENDED?: Yes / Yes for Weekends
VEGETARIAN / VEGAN: Yes / Limited
ENTREE RANGE: $8-20 (includes sandwiches)

13 Comments

  1. Violet

    The chocolate dessert was moist and delicious, and I really enjoyed my Market Fish which was the Red Snapper, I found the Gnocchi to be very rewarding. Doing the craft cocktails for every table, does slow down the drink orders, that has nothing to do with the servers. I love the place, I think it’s the new Hot Spot.

  2. JL

    For someone like me who doesn’t drink alcohol, I very much appreciated the fun non-alcoholic cremes and bitters! I had the gnocchi and thought it was the best gnocchi I’ve ever had. All-around great place.

  3. eb

    probably the most vegetarian un-friendly weekend brunch i’ve encountered anywhere in minneapolis. even the biscuits apparently had bacon in them, and the waiter explained that the chef had strong feelings about meat and would i like the french toast?

  4. Crystal

    Great write up. I’d agree on the gnocchi – my plate was delicious once I got past the pool of brown butter. My favorite item on the menu (besides the cocktails) would have to be the bacon shortbread dessert. Such a nice combo of breakfast flavors: bacon, butter, cream and berries. Mmm.

  5. lisa

    Love the place, the decor, the location, the friendly staff.
    I have had good and bad dining experiences. The gnocchi was delicious as was the arugula salad. The poussin entree however, was absolutely terrible. Awful presentation, bland and flavorless. I was so disappointed could barely eat it. I would have complained but did not want to embarrass my friends who were enjoying their meals. Please, Eat Street, take this off your menu or find a way to make it palatable. I would actually like to be reimbursed for the meal!!

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