Northern Minnesota is under a new alert until Friday at 7 p.m.

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Like other foodie metropolises around the country, the ever-expanding Twin Cities dining scene is producing its fair share of hot neighborhoods filled with new bars and restaurants. 

 is here to tell us about one of his favorite corridors, suddenly busy with new restaurants and bars.

 Where is the latest foodie district in the metro?

 When I travel to a city like San Francisco or Chicago, one of my favorite things to do is to find a neighborhood packed with restaurants and just hop around for the evening. I'm thinking of a place like Randolph Street on the Near West Side of Chicago. That street has turned into a restaurant row, packed with some of the city's most adventurous and busy dining destinations. 

There are plenty of great little neighborhood pockets in the Twin Cities (13th Avenue in Northeast, Linden Hills, 48th Street and Chicago Avenue S, Grand Avenue in St. Paul). My new favorite is this short stretch of North Washington Avenue near Target Field where a few of the best restaurants in the city are now clustered.

Click for more photos of new downtown Mpls. restaurants

 Why has this corridor suddenly become a hot location?

 Washington has always has its share of bars like 

 But in the past few years, we've seen the openings of 

 (still one of the hardest reservations in the city), 

But things have really picked up with the openings of 

 as well as Borough's downstairs cocktail bar, Parlour. These new spots, between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue on North Washington Avenue, have really helped to bring this strip to life. When you drive down Washington on the weekend, people are walking up and down the sidewalks. It's such a cool area too, with the old warehouse spaces towering above the streets.

 What kind of crowds are we seeing at these restaurants? Young, old?

 That's the interesting part. You'll really see a young clientele at these restaurants. And it's not just because it's downtown. The restaurant scene has spawned a younger, more sophisticated consumer. It's a crowd that's less interested in clubs and party bars, and really into chef-driven restaurants and craft cocktail dens. They want to spend their money on great food and drinks at places like Borough and Smack Shack.

 Smack Shack is the new brick and mortar restaurant that started from the popular and critically acclaimed food truck, right?

 Yes, most people know the name from its ultra-busy seafood-serving food truck. In my mind, Smack Shack has been the most anticipated opening since 

 The restaurant is huge, very industrial and warehouse-y. When you walk inside you're greeted by the massive 100-gallon boiler. It has two bars, one of which is centered around the enormous lobster tanks. The food is top notch, but the vibe can be very casual. They even have pull-tabs.

 Borough has a great pedigree. A couple alums from 

 kitchen are running the first level restaurant. It's also a bit industrial, but very sleek at the same time. The bar operation is overseen by one of the best guys in the business, Jesse Held. Beyond the great bar upstairs, there's another, almost separate entity downstairs called Parlour. It's not hard to find, but it still has a speakeasy feel with its own entrance below the street. The drinks are great — start with a Spicy N' Stormy, their version of a rum-ginger Dark and Stormy.

 What would be your ideal night on this Washington?

 I'd start with drinks at Borough, then head over to Smack Shack for some of some seafood small plates. Maybe dinner at Bar La Grassa. Quick dessert at Sapor. Then back to Parlour for more drinks. That's an amazing night.

Gallery

Appetites: 5 things you should know about the James Beard Awards

Appetites: Couples and romance in the restaurant

Appetites: Predicting food trends for 2013

Appetites: Pass the creamy, fresh, seasonal butter

Appetites: New batch of taprooms serving up in NE Minneapolis 'brew district'

Appetites: Hidden ethnic gems

Appetites: A 'golden decade' for the Twin Cities' dining scene

Appetites: Local, artisan chocolates make for great gifts

Appetites: Foodie gifts for the holidays

Appetites: Rooftop restaurant 'Union' opens in time for winter

Tom Crann

Author

The Star Tribune's Tom Horgen told MPR's Tom Crann about one of his favorite food corridors downtown Minneapolis, suddenly busy with new restaurants and bars: North Washington Avenue.

Appetites: North Washington Avenue, the Twin Cities' newest foodie hot spot

Go Deeper.

Like this?