Because we're both ladies, we've coined the term "Lady Date".
We try to do them as often as we can, but sometimes life gets in the way.
Recently, we have been able to do a couple to great local places.
First, Town Hall Tap.
Second, 612Brew.
They were both really good - and the best company I could ask for!
So, Town Hall Tap is down in South Minneapolis. Actually, it's located on the same block as Sovereign Grounds - a local coffee shop that I take my Little Bean.
It's about 3/4 miles off 35W. Super easy commute from all directions. Parking gets a little convoluted, because it's all street parking. It's actually tucked back in all the shops. Nothing flashy, no great big signs.
Once we parked, we were able to go right in and get a high top near the bar. The waitress was very prompt and friendly. I had previously looked at the food menu, but not their beer selection. Boy was I in for a decision. I can't remember which one I ended up getting - I changed my mind like 100 times, then the waitress recommended something and I went with it. Like most locally brewed beer, I enjoyed it!
Then came the food. At home, I had limited my selection to three options. But when Ryanne ordered a brat, I did too! I got the "The Works" - Sauerkraut, onion, sweet relish, shredded cheddar, and mustard. You would not have wanted to kiss me after, but it was so good. The brat had a good flavor, not too spicy, but just enough to give it a distinct flavor. It was juicy and filled the bun. The toppings were all marvelous. It was definitely an indulgence, but was completely worth it. The shoestring fries had a house seasoning on them and they were perfectly salty, just how I like.
The only thing I would change is giving me a bigger plate! The staff was punctual, the food was delicious, the beer was smooth, and it was overall a great price.
It's not really a convenient location, but well worth a night out for a date. It wasn't completely out of the way if you wanted to head back to Uptown or Southdale to catch a movie. It's about a 15 minute drive either way. I will definitely go back!
So then we went to 612Brew. Not a lot of people have heard about this. But, I used to work in the building next door and frequent Spyhouse Coffee - also for lady dates! It's a fun little building. There's a CorePower Yoga place in the building too. Totally hipster. Totally Minnesotan. It's right on the intersection of Broadway and Central. The parking lot is normally full because of everything there, but you can usually find a spot or two.
Walking in on a Saturday night was a bit overwhelming. There were lots of groups and all the tables were taken. So we snaked into the bar, where we found two seats in between a couple couples. No big deal. We talked to the bartender and he told us his favorites. He was super pleasant and knew about what he was supposed to know about. I ordered a Payback - an oatmeal porter. Really good! It was 7.2% and had a nice sweet flavor to complement the thickness. I also ordered a Rated R - a rye IPA (also their most popular beer) and it was great, too! I'm not super into hoppy beer, but I wanted to be popular (jkjk). It was really good and I'm a sucker for anything citrus, so that evened out the hops.
They don't have an open kitchen so we went to the food truck outside. It was a hibachi grill on wheels. How awesome is that? I had their chicken meal - served with fried rice and veggies, added yum yum sauce and scarfed it down like there was no tomorrow. Rave reviews for them, too! Go find them and order some food.
Overall, the night was a super success. Partly because we found am awesome group of girls and had great fellowship. The food was yummy, the beer was amazing and local, and we laughed all night!
I'm sure we'll check out more local places this winter - and hopefully meet some more great people! I'm so thankful I'm here in Minneapolis and the friendships I've created and the places it's lead me.
<3XOT
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