This small South Minneapolis restaurant serves up a super seasonal six-course tasting menu from a team that’s packed with talent but zero pretension (which is exactly why it’s so lovable). In the attached bar, Next Door, you’ll find small, snack-sized offerings as well as TenantWurst sausages to enjoy with the beer, wine, and cocktails the bar serves up. The restaurant itself includes a few tables and a sit-down counter that revolves around Tenant’s open kitchen. The tasting menu is the only thing on the menu in the restaurant, going for $80 per person with an optional $40 wine pairing. The music comes from vinyl (get your Shazam ready, they spin great tunes) and the restroom is stocked with comic books. The thing about Tenant is that it’s just super cool—the kind of cool that comes from knowing what you’re doing and why so that you can be completely unbothered by expectations or what everyone else in the restaurant scene is up to.
The vibe: Cool, casual, and creative.
The food: Expect the form of a tasting menu with none of the over-the-top explanations of the food—just a lot of delicious dishes from friendly folks.
The drinks: The bar Next Door is a hidden gem in the city for well-done yet reasonably priced cocktails.
Time Out tip: Get a drink at the bar Next Door, either before or after dinner, or anytime—it’s open for walk-ins!