The 7 Best Oysters in Minnesota

If your passion is seafood, you may feel like you have to hop across the pond to Europe in order to find some truly delicious oysters. However, if you’re living in or visiting Minnesota, there are plenty of great spots around the city where you can find exceptional oyster dishes.

With so many options out there, how do you choose which ones will satisfy your cravings? Read on to discover our pick for the 7 best oyster bar in Minnesota!

The 7 Best Oyster Restaurant in Minnesota

Kincaid's Fish, Chop & Steakhouse in Minnesota — Kincaid’s Fish, Chop & Steakhouse in Minnesota

The Capital Grille

Address: 801 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55402, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.7 (1283)
Phone: +1 612-692-9000
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Friday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Saturday: 4:00 – 10:00 PM

Sunday: 4:00 – 9:00 PM
Reviews:

We came here on Thanksgiving and had an absolutely amazing Thanksgiving dinner (for lunch). While that specific meal may not be available year-round, I imagine the high quality of the food we had applies to anything one can eat here (and there were a lot of options on the menu that sounded terrific).
The turkey was extremely tender and juicy (and that meat is almost always dry, in my experience). The buttery mashed potatoes were mouthwatering, and I could have definitely eaten more. The cranberry sauce had some nice spices in it that made it some of the best I’ve ever had. The stuffing was made with brioche, so it had a slight sweetness to it that was unexpected but pleasant. The green beans were just the right amount of crunchy (but a few didn’t have the stems cut off).
We also had some coffee, which was great, and an absolutely divine pumpkin cheesecake. I doubt that it’s served often, but it should be.
We were given some warm bread before the main meal. There were several different kinds of bread and rolls; the best one was definitely the onion roll. The butter was cold, so it was hard to spread, but it helped that the bread was warm.
Overall, a great experience. The staff was extremely professional, friendly, and hard-working. I definitely recommend trying this place out!

*Note: be sure to check out the dress code on their website*

✭✭✭✭✭ By Peter Mathys (2 weeks ago)

We went to Capital Grille for the first time today and were seated promptly. Don’t know about you but that’s what forms my first impression of a restaurant.

Our server, Jake, was amazing. The service was top notch. The food even more so. Everything was on point and the experience was worth it. Jake took seriously good care of us and also warned us off the New England Clam Chowder because it had pork. He was super considerate and thoughtful and we really appreciated it. All the food was amazing.

Would 💯 recommend it for a massively special occasion. Last time I had some take out during restaurant week (husband and friends ate there and took take out for me) and the food was really very good. Eating in person confirmed it.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Uzma Ali (a year ago)

Capital Grille is by far one of my new favorite spots. To the food, the service and the drinks. – All amazing! Came here for my birthday celebration and definitely enjoyed everything this elegant restaurant had to offer. Thanks for the delicious birthday dish! Will definitely be returning in the future!

✭✭✭✭✭ By Bekah Linn (a month ago)

Ryan was an absolutely fantastic waiter! He’s the kind of guy that can relate to any type of person. If you have the luck of having him serve you then I highly recommend listening to his recommendations. They were all on point. The food was amazing as well. Lobster bisque was fire and the lamb – melted like butter! Thank you Ryan!!

✭✭✭✭✭ By Matt Skibicki (4 months ago)

Unmatched care and attention to detail.

The service here is always spot on, everyone is extremely knowledgeable about the menu and how the food is prepared. Very extensive wine list and the cocktails are fantastic (blackberry bourbon sidecar is one of my go-to’s). Every course has something to offer for everyone. I usually always get the seared tenderloin with butter poached lobster tails but I’ve tried a number of other things from seafood to beef to chicken and they’ve all been wonderful. Although the bill tends to add up pretty quick, you will not be disappointed with the food or service. Highly recommend coming here.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Ben R. (a month ago)

Bait & Hook

Address: 525 Cokato St W, Cokato, MN 55321, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.7 (481)
Phone: +1 320-286-4628
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: 4:00 – 9:00 PM

Friday: 4:00 – 9:00 PM

Saturday: 4:00 – 9:00 PM

Sunday: Closed
Reviews:

What a great first visit. Loved the ambiance and greatly appreciated the ability to make a reservation. Got a chance to sample a lot. The Mongolian rib appetizer and slaw stole the show, as did the steak and coconut shrimp. Attentive service and live music was a nice touch. We’ll be back!

✭✭✭✭✭ By Beth Gasser (7 months ago)

This is a fine seafood restaurant in Cokato. It’s a massive improvement upon the old Norseman restaurant that used to occupy the space. I’ve been here many times with my family on visits and it never fails to impress. My last visit was a quick stop but I enjoyed the clam chowder and the special. I think the waitress might not have been over 21 as she had to get a colleague to bring me the beer I ordered. All went well nevertheless. They have lots of space at the bar and outside seating as well. They often serve lobster mac and cheese, which is a dish made famous by Joe Beef in Montreal. It’s good to see that this decadent dish is popular in Minnesota as well.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Brian Cowan (5 months ago)

Delicious food and fast and friendly service. The chef and owner made rounds around the restaurant to ensure everyone was enjoying their meals. I would definitely an on visiting again. I tried the candied bacon, the duck wontons,(which were amazing) the walleye with parmesan grits, and the shrimp and lobster mac.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Kimberly Markwardt (a month ago)

Fun find! First time in Cokato and looking for a place to eat. Wow was this place a nice surprise! Food was great, service was fast and friendly. Outdoor patio was a nice option.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Heidi Steffens (5 months ago)

The decor, ambiance, and service were great. The fish tacos need some work. A tiny piece of walleye, that I couldn’t even taste, and the taco shells were something I’d never experienced. Strange flavor and texture is all I can say. Maybe gluten-free? Just not sure. The other 4 people at the table ordered something else and they were all happy with their choices. Don’t come here for the fish tacos.

✭✭✭✭ By cheryl Miller (5 months ago)

Red Rabbit Minneapolis

Address: 201 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.6 (2216)
Phone: +1 612-767-8855
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Friday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Saturday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Reviews:

We’re meeting friends for a birthday dinner and we got there before happy hour ends (5pm) and we tried the fried ravioli and the margarita pizza. Both were great by the true star was the ravioli. I could have eaten 10 of those. The sauce underneath… amazing. It’s only available on the happy hour menu. The service was great and very accommodating of our big party and us bringing in our own cake. Highly recommended checking them out!

✭✭✭✭✭ By Jerica George (7 months ago)

Red Rabbit was pretty awesome! The location is fun and the atmosphere is relaxing. Every item we ate was delicious…from appetizers to desserts. It was perfect for the chilly, rainy day outside. I will definitely go back and it is worth the trip if you’ve never been.

✭✭✭✭✭ By The Earth Stars (2 months ago)

Got the vegan pizza. Was very delicious. Good atmosphere. Great wine and beer selections. Giving it a 4 star due to the 3.9% mandate compliance surcharge. Maybe if it was 2020/2021 but CDC mandates have been lifted for a while and none of the other restaurants we went to while in town did this. Understandable but blind sided.

✭✭✭✭ By Caspar Norris (7 months ago)

We finally decided to give this place a go! Came in for a late lunch. I can describe the menu as somehow progressive Italian and having lived in Italy for a while I can say that it is one of the best I have had in Minneapolis. The service is very warm, friendly and efficient. The bar is very well stocked with tons of choices. They even have Genever which is very hard to find.

✭✭✭✭ By Pete P (7 months ago)

Had a fabulous brunch with my wife and 2 of our children. highly recommend. great food very attentive service, hard to find both these qualities in a restaurant these days post covid.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Michael Karegeannes (3 months ago)

Café and Bar Lurcat

Address: 1624 Harmon Pl, Minneapolis, MN 55403, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.6 (980)
Phone: +1 612-486-5500
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM

Thursday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM

Friday: 5:00 – 9:30 PM

Saturday: 5:00 – 9:30 PM

Sunday: 5:00 – 9:30 PM
Reviews:

MN2022: Last year, as hard as we tried, we couldn’t get a reservation for a party of five. Not unless we wanted to eat really late in the evening. Having said that, this trip our niece booked well in advance. We were not disappointed. The space, the service and the food were all excellent. We are definitely looking forward to dining here on our next visit.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Paul Harris (3 months ago)

Dined here with my BF for a special date night. Ambience was very romantic and cozy. Service was amazing, our waitress was super friendly and attentive. Food was delicious! Love that it’s right across Loring Park, makes for great views as you’re enjoying your meal. Will definitely come back for another special occasion!

✭✭✭✭✭ By L Jara (3 months ago)

Great vibe, nice service, friendly with good food and nice drinks. Lovely place for an upscale dining experience. Some vegetarian options and a nice locally sourced cheese platter I’d recommend. They were also friendly and accommodating to a very well behaved 4 year old!

✭✭✭✭✭ By Amanda Ruddle (7 months ago)

I went here with my fiancée after I proposed to her. We are both fine dining enthusiasts and she is a former professional pastry chef. My reservation had a brief note detailing the special circumstances, and they read it. They placed us by the window and the service was impeccable the whole time. The food was wonderful – we got a salad, bread course, entree, and 3 desserts and all the mocktails on the menu. It was well worth the bill, and was quite simply the finest dining experience of my life.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Sasha Waxman (10 months ago)

Amazing ambiance. This is a great restaurant for a date, with a very lounge-like feel. In the summer, they have a Parisian alley-esque outdoor eating area. The food is very good too, especially the cauliflower.

✭✭✭✭✭ By InfiniteGray (9 months ago)

Meritage

Address: 410 St Peter St, St Paul, MN 55102, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.6 (743)
Phone: +1 651-222-5670
Website: Link
Opening hours:

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: 4:00 – 10:00 PM

Friday: 4:00 – 11:00 PM

Saturday: 4:00 – 11:00 PM

Sunday: 4:00 – 10:00 PM
Reviews:

MN2022: Note: Service charge for using credit card🤔

Fantastic. A very stylish, classy restaurant. Great for date night with the Mrs, impressing your future in-laws or just the first date. It was nice to see young, middle-aged and seniors there with and without family. It looks like they have a few rooms for small parties.

The wait staff was attentive and the food was scrumptious. I particularly enjoyed the French onion soup which I haven’t had in a while. My wife was impressed with the salmon. There were no fails on any of the other dishes. The drinks were superb.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Paul Harris (2 months ago)

If you are looking for a place to go all out to celebrate, for a special date night, or simply just because, Meritage is the way to go. The service was impeccable – the servers were very attentive to our needs & even switching out the ice in our seafood platter – and the food is simply beyond. It was an excellent experience from beginning to end.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Rebeca Ho (4 months ago)

We absolutely adore this place. Great service (just tell them if you’re looking for a more intimate experience because people are at your table often). Always get the oysters! We got the beef tartare with home made chips and it was so good. In the winter sometimes they have a lobster bisque and it’s a MUST!

✭✭✭✭✭ By r k (3 months ago)

Excellent atmosphere! Food is easily the best in St. Paul or Minneapolis. As a long time resident you can’t find better pork chop than here in the twin cities area.

The pork chop was perfectly cooked. The fat was properly done as it had a crispness to it that was almost like bacon. And the sauce it was served with had a sweetness to it that perfectly paired with with the chop.

The staff is also fantastic. If youre not familiar with a more french inspired menu they know exactly what you’re gonna want.

Honestly can’t recommend this restaurant enough.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Jonathan Kuneli (3 months ago)

We had a lovely experience dining here for the first time. Alex, our server, was knowledgeable, friendly and had great recommendations. I had the best oysters I’ve ever had, the drinks were phenomenal, and the teeny tiny tuna tartare taco amuse-bouche was delectable. It was decorated beautifully for the holidays and the ambiance was charming. We look forward to going back soon and sharing the experience with friends.

✭✭✭✭✭ By Leah J (11 months ago)

Smack Shack

Address: 603 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.5 (3552)

6Smith

Address: 294 Grove Ln E, Wayzata, MN 55391, United States
Map: Click here
Rating: 4.5 (1851)

Thank you for reading! If you have any additional information on the best oyster resto in Minnesota, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you!