8th Street Grill is a long-standing fixture in the downtown Minneapolis dining scene. Here is a comprehensive overview of the restaurant, its history, what makes it unique, and other essential details.
🏛️ History and Uniqueness
History
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Established: 8th Street Grill was established in 1992 by Kim Gruetzmacher.
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Family-Owned: It is a family-owned establishment, which is noted as a rare quality for a downtown Minneapolis restaurant, lending it a consistent, welcoming, and neighborhood feel.
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Longevity: Having been on the corner of 8th and Marquette for over 20 years, it is considered an institution on the streetscape of Minneapolis.
What Makes it Unique
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Downtown Respite: The original concept was to provide a respite for downtown workers, offering great food and a relaxed atmosphere.
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Indoor/Outdoor Feel: A distinct feature is its setup with tall French doors that open to the street and a heated patio, allowing diners to enjoy an outside or “near-outside” experience, which is perfect for the Minnesota seasons.
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Extensive Tap List: It features a full bar with a significant selection of 44 beers on tap, making it a haven for craft beer enthusiasts.
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Trivia Night: The restaurant hosts a popular Trivia Night, adding a fun, recurring community event to its offerings.
🍽️ Highlighted Menu Items
8th Street Grill serves contemporary American cuisine with some international touches, leaning into the sports bar/tavern feel.
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Cedar Plank Salmon: Frequently highlighted in customer reviews, this is a definite standout. It’s often praised for its top-notch quality, sometimes featuring a sweet flavor from a brown sugar glaze.
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The Reuben: A fan-favorite, noted for being made with pulled corned beef instead of the typical slices, making for a unique and excellent sandwich.
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Park Café Burger: Described as a signature favorite, it’s topped with Wisconsin cheddar, smoky bacon, and house-made barbecue sauce.
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Cajun Pasta: A menu item with an international flair, this is a blend of andouille sausage and chicken sautéed with various vegetables and Cajun spices, all tossed in a garlic cream sauce.
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Beignets: For dessert, they offer traditional Beignets, fried fresh to order and drizzled with raspberry, chocolate, and vanilla sauce.
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Burgers & Sandwiches: The menu is large, featuring many popular options like the California Turkey Bacon Melt, Walleye Sandwich, and the 8th Street Burger.
👍 Customer Feedback
Customer reviews generally praise the grill for its food quality, service, and atmosphere:
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Food Quality: Many reviewers describe the food as delicious, with specific praise for the burgers, crispy onion rings/fries, and the salmon dishes. They are viewed as offering high-quality food that is a step above typical bar fare.
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Service & Vibe: The staff is often described as friendly and the service is frequently noted as fast and attentive. The atmosphere is often appreciated, especially with the TVs on sporting events, making it a great casual spot.
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Happy Hour: The generous Happy Hour deals, which run Monday-Friday from 3-7 p.m. and All Day Saturday and Sunday, are a major draw.
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“Neighborhood Spot” Feel: Despite being in the heart of downtown, it is praised for being a consistent, welcoming, neighborhood-style spot.
📅 Significant Events
While a public list of major historical events is not readily available, the most significant recurring events that define the establishment are its regular programming and long-standing presence:
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Trivia Night: A major weekly event that brings a consistent crowd and community engagement.
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“Wheel of Madness”: A unique historical event/special mentioned in the past, where they would offer a different beer special every 30 minutes on certain days.
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Consistent Community Hub: Its 1992 founding and continued operation for over three decades in a competitive downtown market is a significant achievement in itself, establishing it as a long-term local institution.
📍 Contact and Location Information
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Address: 800 Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
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Phone: (612) 349-5717
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Email: [email protected]
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Website: https://www.8thstreetgrillmn.com/
