A few weeks ago, I took my five-year-old son to Victory 44 Coffee Shop and Provisions to try the new breakfast menu. I love the creative, delicious things the north Minneapolis gastropub does at lunch and dinner, like their house-made sodas, and bacon fries. How would breakfast be?
The new breakfast menu includes eggs and waffles, as well as some of their lunch favorites, like the reuben and Perfect Burger. I went with the Benedict and a treat from the pasty case for my son. He generously agreed to share his orange-cardamom cake with citrus glaze. It was a perfect complement to their signature latte, made with housemade Gianduja (chocolate/hazelnut, like Nutella) and neroli (bitter orange) syrups.
The Benedict is clever, and delicious. Cured ham from a special breed of Hungarian pigs sits atop grilled baguette. Two plump poached eggs—firm whites on the outside, oozing yolks on the inside—are topped with Hollandaise studded with whole grains of mustard. I wasn’t surprised that I loved the mix of flavors and textures in this version of one of my favorite breakfasts. I was floored, however, when my son requested bite after bite of the the poached eggs and ham; he insists on only scrambled eggs at home and refuses sliced meat of any kind. I had to stop him from licking the plate, though I didn’t blame him for trying.
Last week, I met some mom friends there for a grown-up coffee date. The space is open, light, and quiet enough to easily have a conversation over the excellent food and Dogwood coffee. This time I tried a pastry called The Victory: brioche dough topped with a little bit of brown-butter frosting and crumbles of maple-smoked bacon. It was a great mix of soft, crunchy, salty, and sweet.
If you’re looking for someplace new for breakfast, coffee, or both, Victory 44 has upscale food that appeals to both kids and moms, without wallet-busting prices. What are some of your favorite coffee shops with benefits around the cities?
Victory 44 Coffee Bar & Provisions
2201 44th Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55412
612-588-2228
victory-44.com
