Butcher & the Boar
Minneapolis, Minnesota
No matter where you look on the menu, you’ll find thoughtful and tempting offerings. Parings are celebrated but not forced, and it’s a restaurant that is just right for that next special occasion.
What it is: Butcher & the Boar is a celebration of meat, great beer, and comradery. With a menu that is designed for table sharing as well as a personal dining experience, this well-known and well-loved restaurant in downtown Minneapolis is near the top of every local beer lover’s list for out-of-towners. The beer list is broken down with broad strokes and is a mix of local, national, and international offerings. The wine list is worth a look, and if you’re taking the next day off from work, don’t pass up the cocktails.
Why it’s great: A lot of restaurants call themselves a steak house. It doesn’t always mean that you get the full experience. Here, you do—from the choice cuts, hand selected from local farms, to the decadent sides built for sharing and the attentive service that knows every angle of the menu and can offer expert pairing suggestions. It can certainly ding the wallet, depending on how deep you go, but knowing that going in should lead to satisfaction at the end of the night. Oh, and did you like that sausage on the sampler platter? You can buy some to take home. —John Holl