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Waterfront dining, turns out, is a tricky affair in the Land of 10,000 lakes — much of the Twin Cities’ lakeside property isn’t commercially developed and is instead dedicated to parks. (On that note, some of the best waterfront dining can be found at the parks board’s official restaurants: the Painted Turtle, Bread & Pickle, Pimento on the Lake, and of course, Sea Salt.) Here, though, we’re highlighting a trail of waterfront dining destinations around the state, from the glittering shores of Lake Superior, to the St. Croix River, to Gunflint Lake and other uniquely Minnesotan spots, listed geographically (not ranked) as always.
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Snag a seat on Lord Fletcher’s expansive Lake Minnetonka deck for a sunset. This spot is really more of a complex than a restaurant, offering a rustic-but-still-formal dining room, a sports bar, and even private options — but the best way to spend a relaxing evening on the water is on the massive lakeside deck. Go for calamari curly fries, a walleye sandwich, or a black bean burger, and save room for the fudgy mud pie.
(952) 471-8513
(952) 471-8513
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73420795/wharf_1_600x400.0.jpg "8 Waterfront Dining Destinations in Minnesota (3)")
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6Smith, another gem on the shores of Lake Minnetonka, offers a modern American menu with a subtle surf-and-turf bend: chimichurri hanger steak, tamarind-braised shortrib, and tenderloin tip salad are served alongside delicate seafood dishes like miso-marinated seabass and seared scallops. Broad umbrellas shade this deck (and the rooftop) from the summer sun.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73420796/6smith_fish.0.jpg "8 Waterfront Dining Destinations in Minnesota (5)")
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Indigenous restaurant Owamni is stationed in a white stone building on the banks of the Mississippi River, not far from St. Anthony Falls — or, in the Dakota language, Owámniyomni, a sacred site of peace and well-being, for which the restaurant is named. The decolonized menu is built on foods that are indigenous to North America, meaning no flour, dairy, beef, pork, or refined sugar is used in the kitchen. In their place are dishes like game tartare with duck fat squash, smoked lake trout tostadas, and Labrador tea custard.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73420797/210713_OwamniSoftOpen_Interior_Cam2_163.0.jpg "8 Waterfront Dining Destinations in Minnesota (8)")
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True, Osceola’s Watershed Cafe is in Wisconsin, not Minnesota —but just barely. This snug cafe, perched on the bluffs above the scenic St. Croix River, serves an exceptional menu of bison and wild rice burgers, breezy cobb salads, and chicken pesto sandwiches for lunch; for dinner, highlights include Superior red trout, pozole, and risotto. If you’re visiting Taylor’s Falls, make this a stop on the way back home.
(715) 294-2638
(715) 294-2638
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73420798/bed18e86_efc2_442a_8920_a7e86ba9d9cf.0.jpg "8 Waterfront Dining Destinations in Minnesota (10)")
It’s hard to beat Va Bene’s lake views, whether from the grotto — a protected but open-air dining space outside — or the glittering solarium, which offers unimpeded views of Lake Superior rain or shine. A menu of thoughtful antipasti, fresh pasta, risotto, and, of course, Italian wine make a meal here feel special without being overly formal. Make a reservation ahead of time.
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New Scenic Cafe, on Duluth’s north end up Highway 61, channels Scandinavian traditions in both its menu and design. When it’s chilly, you can catch shimmering lake views through the dining room windows —but when the weather allows, grab a seat around the fire pit in the the open breeze. Highlights on this menu include the “Nordic plate” of arctic shrimp, beet gravlax, and accoutrements; seared sea scallops with compressed cucumber; and lingonberry creme brulee.
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Grand Marais’ Angry Trout Cafe leans into classic Northwoods flavors — think salads topped with blueberries; tart cranberry horseradish compote spread on smoked whitefish; hand-harvested wild rice; and maple cream sodas made with pure syrup and soda water. The fish, of course, is fresh-caught from Superior, and the patio is a lovely place to watch the moon rise over the harbor. Pack a sweater for the chilly evening breeze off the lake.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73420800/IMG_7131.0.jpg "8 Waterfront Dining Destinations in Minnesota (14)")
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Justine’s, a lakeside restaurant at the end of the Gunflint Trail, is named for Justine Kerfoot, a writer and outdoors-woman who lived in the Boundary Waters for more than 70 years. It offers diners a rare opportunity to feast on walleye cakes, cranberry wild rice BLTs, and more on the shores of pristine Gunflint Lake, which straddles the border of Minnesota and Canada. A reservation ahead of time can’t hurt, but you’re likely to find a table without one.
(800) 328-3325
(800) 328-3325
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Snag a seat on Lord Fletcher’s expansive Lake Minnetonka deck for a sunset. This spot is really more of a complex than a restaurant, offering a rustic-but-still-formal dining room, a sports bar, and even private options — but the best way to spend a relaxing evening on the water is on the massive lakeside deck. Go for calamari curly fries, a walleye sandwich, or a black bean burger, and save room for the fudgy mud pie.
(952) 471-8513
(952) 471-8513
6Smith, another gem on the shores of Lake Minnetonka, offers a modern American menu with a subtle surf-and-turf bend: chimichurri hanger steak, tamarind-braised shortrib, and tenderloin tip salad are served alongside delicate seafood dishes like miso-marinated seabass and seared scallops. Broad umbrellas shade this deck (and the rooftop) from the summer sun.
Indigenous restaurant Owamni is stationed in a white stone building on the banks of the Mississippi River, not far from St. Anthony Falls — or, in the Dakota language, Owámniyomni, a sacred site of peace and well-being, for which the restaurant is named. The decolonized menu is built on foods that are indigenous to North America, meaning no flour, dairy, beef, pork, or refined sugar is used in the kitchen. In their place are dishes like game tartare with duck fat squash, smoked lake trout tostadas, and Labrador tea custard.
True, Osceola’s Watershed Cafe is in Wisconsin, not Minnesota —but just barely. This snug cafe, perched on the bluffs above the scenic St. Croix River, serves an exceptional menu of bison and wild rice burgers, breezy cobb salads, and chicken pesto sandwiches for lunch; for dinner, highlights include Superior red trout, pozole, and risotto. If you’re visiting Taylor’s Falls, make this a stop on the way back home.
It’s hard to beat Va Bene’s lake views, whether from the grotto — a protected but open-air dining space outside — or the glittering solarium, which offers unimpeded views of Lake Superior rain or shine. A menu of thoughtful antipasti, fresh pasta, risotto, and, of course, Italian wine make a meal here feel special without being overly formal. Make a reservation ahead of time.
New Scenic Cafe, on Duluth’s north end up Highway 61, channels Scandinavian traditions in both its menu and design. When it’s chilly, you can catch shimmering lake views through the dining room windows —but when the weather allows, grab a seat around the fire pit in the the open breeze. Highlights on this menu include the “Nordic plate” of arctic shrimp, beet gravlax, and accoutrements; seared sea scallops with compressed cucumber; and lingonberry creme brulee.
Grand Marais’ Angry Trout Cafe leans into classic Northwoods flavors — think salads topped with blueberries; tart cranberry horseradish compote spread on smoked whitefish; hand-harvested wild rice; and maple cream sodas made with pure syrup and soda water. The fish, of course, is fresh-caught from Superior, and the patio is a lovely place to watch the moon rise over the harbor. Pack a sweater for the chilly evening breeze off the lake.
Justine’s, a lakeside restaurant at the end of the Gunflint Trail, is named for Justine Kerfoot, a writer and outdoors-woman who lived in the Boundary Waters for more than 70 years. It offers diners a rare opportunity to feast on walleye cakes, cranberry wild rice BLTs, and more on the shores of pristine Gunflint Lake, which straddles the border of Minnesota and Canada. A reservation ahead of time can’t hurt, but you’re likely to find a table without one.
(800) 328-3325
(800) 328-3325
- 13 Irresistible Dessert Spots in the Twin Cities
- 13 Great Barbecue Restaurants in the Twin Cities
- 14 Essential Ethiopian Restaurants in the Twin Cities
