The Best New Restaurants of 2024

Last year’s dining scene was a variety of revivals and new concepts—here are some of our favorites

Creativity is back! Quality is back! The 2024 list of best new restaurants was challenging. We’ve all been waiting to see what Diane Moua, Yia Vang, and Joe Rolle would come up with—the anticipation has been festering for years. And then the surprises—who would have guessed Forepaugh’s would rise from the dead? Normally we try to geographically balance this list, but almost all of the energy has been in Minneapolis. However, that’s changing, as many new projects have been recently announced for Excelsior, among others. I look forward to more action in our southern and eastern suburbs, as well as greater Minnesota, with huge opportunities yet to come.

Best Overall: Diane’s Place

There’s so much that warms my heart and soul when I visit Diane’s Place, our Minnesota Monthly Best New Restaurant of 2024. You feel the love—Hmong grandmothers and teenagers jockeying to take a selfie with Diane Moua; Twin Citians capturing the perfect photo of their Spam and nori croissant. Launching a daily brunch restaurant in The Food Building in Northeast Minneapolis was crazy enough. Launching it with full service, instead of counter service, was even wilder, especially in this economy. But the fine-dining touch, along with the casual, homey vibes, works. Moua wanted more than being known as Minnesota’s finest pastry chef, and yet her mango, passionfruit, and lychee croissant is already a legend. Even before Moua added dinner service, her restaurant was worthy of not just regional but national acclaim.

Photo by Gemma Weston, courtesy of Meet Minneapolis

117 14th Ave. NE, Minneapolis; 612-489-8012; dianesplacemn.com

Best Aesthetic: Vinai

Chef Yia Vang is our premier culinary storyteller, and his Vinai is a true inspiration. We’ve been eating Vang’s food for years—at Union Hmong Kitchen, Target Field, and the Minnesota State Fair—and were waiting to see what his version of sit-down dining would be. It is incredibly soulful. The double-cut pork chop is one of the best things I’ve eaten all year: Glazed in a tamarind-lemongrass sauce, the combination of open-fire cooking and slow baking creates an impossibly juicy and flavorful bite. The crabby fried rice combines richness and sweetness, creating something truly new and interesting, and the brothy braised beef rib (nqaij hau) is so soothing. The menu intentionally uses the Hmong language, and the room is designed with reminders of the Ban Vinai refugee camp, where Vang’s family lived previously. Great food is about the connecting tissues and stories that anchor us—and also, it should taste good. Vinai excels at both.

Photo by Kevin Kramer

1300 NE Second St., Minneapolis; 612-749-6051; vinaimn.com

Best Service: Bûcheron

How do you describe a neighborhood restaurant with culinary chops that rivals many Michelin-starred restaurants around the world? The team is humble, the ambition is not. Bûcheron is confiting shallots for their stunning Feller’s Ranch Wagyu steak, making a potato mousse, using a French technique to create espelette beurre blancs, and yes, you’ll see a foam on the agnolotti. Too precious? Not in the talented hands of the husband-and-wife powerhouses who run this place: Adam Ritter is an incredible chef who opened Gavin Kaysen’s Demi, and Jeanie Janas Ritter, responsible for Bûcheron’s impeccable service, opened Bellecour in Wayzata. Friendly, warm, and professional, the service is what makes this incredibly technique-driven menu feel like a neighborhood restaurant. It’s difficult to accomplish, but Bûcheron feels like home.

Photo by Kevin Kramer

4257 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis; 612-255-5632; bucheronrestaurant.com

Best Innovation: Dario

Joe Rolle and Stephen Rowe kicked off 2024 with a turquoise and pink, punk-metal bang. Dario is the most exciting innovation in dough we’ve had since Bar La Grassa. The pastas are beautifully formed, perfectly textured (thanks to Rachel Cornelius McLeod’s incredible artistic talent) and then Rolle’s inventive palate takes over. A doppio pasta stuffed with sunchoke on one side and ricotta on the other, topped with sweetness and texture of honey and hazelnuts. The heartiness of a spicy rigatoni in vodka sauce with fennel sausage. But don’t let the spotlight on noodles keep you away from the excellence in vegetables and proteins. You could make a great meal of the grilled cabbage, cucumbers artistically arranged in gazpacho, and the addictive crispy and creamy potatoes.

Photo by Isable Subtil, courtesy of Meet Minneapolis

323 N. Washington Ave., Suite 100, Minneapolis; 612-614-2560; dariorestaurant.com

Best Revival: Lynette

When Lyn 65 in Richfield closed in 2021, there was an immediate outcry. “Those duck fat fries! That burger! No!” Lynette is a grownup, more sophisticated version of that restaurant in a new neighborhood. It’s open all day, starting with surprisingly fabulous pastries and coffee and finishing with an incredibly satisfying dinner. Ben Siers-Rients and Travis Serbus-White along with their wives, Melissa and Billie, have created magic in what used to be the Riverview Wine Bar. A room built for lingering, cocktails that delight, and an excellent menu. Get the harissa braised lamb hummus, the mushroom pizza, and yes, that burger and those duck fat fries.

Photo by Erik Westra

3753 42nd Ave. S., Minneapolis; lynettemn.com

Best Menu: Forepaugh’s

I didn’t think it was a good idea to bring back an old-school, French-style restaurant in a 150-year-old mansion in St. Paul, and I was wrong. Owner Bruce Taher refurbished the building as a total labor of love, brought in culinary legend Tim McKee to create a beautiful menu, and the ol’ girl is humming again. Yes, the beef wellington is as tender and flavorful as always, but new dishes like the glorious sweet pea tortelloni and miso-glazed sea bass are delights. Forepaugh’s offers excellent cocktails and a casual menu, with a top 10 burger and the best chicken sandwich I’ve ever had.

Courtesy of Forepaugh's

276 Exchange St. S., St. Paul; 651-666-3636; forepaughs.com

Best in the ‘Burbs: Pink Ivy Kitchen and Bar

Crispy lamb belly with red beet hummus; grilled mushrooms with a leek and tofu soubise; and chicken-bacon meatballs in west-suburban Hopkins? Absolutely, at the talented hands of Chef Michael Shaughnessy and his wife, Viorica. Pink Ivy has carved out a space in a quickly growing restaurant scene using fresh ingredients, interesting (but not too interesting) flavor combinations, and a friendly vibe. Shaughnessy brings influences from his time at Young Joni and Mill Valley Kitchen—plenty of lighter dishes that still satisfy. Pink Ivy also has found a steady lunch audience as more suburbanites are working partially from home.

Photo by Megan Stezka

712 Mainstreet, Hopkins; 952-600-7290; pinkivymn.com

Best New Pizza: Mothership Pizza Paradise

Part Neapolitan, part New York slice, all flavor. Chef Tommy Begnaud and the team at Mothership Pizza Paradise have created a craveable, unique style of pizza at 50th & France. The charm here is undeniable, with every pie named after an owner’s or employee’s mother. A surprise hit is the Connie, with creamed spinach, garlic, and crispy shallot on a white sauce base. There’s the Kathy with pepperoni and the Also Kathy with bacon, ranch, and chicken—order carefully. Homemade pasta, wood-fired veggies, and a heck of a chicken wing rounds out a restaurant I wish I had in my neighborhood.

Courtesy of Mothership Pizza Paradise

5057 France Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-489-7032; mothershippizza.com

Best Wine Bar: Small Hours

Ignore the headlines obsessing about a dip in wine consumption—we are entering an absolute high point of quality places for unique wines. Small Hours is just so dang cool. Audio nerds: You’ll find Klipsch La Scala loudspeakers, a Cary Audio integrated tube amp, a pair of vintage Luxman turntables, and a Varia Instruments rotary mixer. Wine nerds: You’ll find Sarina Garibović, who has worked as a sommelier for almost a decade and curated a long list of bottles that she enjoys drinking. Open, sit down with friends, listen, and enjoy.

Photo by Zoe Prinds-Flash

2201 NE Second St., Minneapolis; smallhoursmpls.com

Best Worth-the-Drive Restaurant: BEBAP

BEBAP brings bold, vibrant Korean flavors to Rochester, thanks to owner Sammi Loo’s passion for K-dramas and authentic street food. The menu features a mix of traditional dishes like dolsot-bibimbap (sizzling stone pot rice) and heart-warming kimchi-jjigae (kimchi stew with pork belly), all crafted with premium South Korean ingredients. The cozy, modern space is the perfect backdrop to explore the versatility of Korean cuisine, from galbitang (beef short rib soup) to the ever-popular bo-ssam (build-your-own pork belly wraps). The umami alone makes it a must-try spot.

Courtesy of BEBAP

216 First Ave. SW, Rochester; 507-206-3009; bebapmn.com

Best Open Fire: Black Duck Spirits & Hearth

The hearth is the literal and emotional centerpiece of Chef Jason Sawicki’s exciting Northeast Minneapolis restaurant. Duck with mole amarillo, double-cut pork chop with a peach sauce, smoked cauliflower. The menu boasts Mexican and Polish influences, from sandwiches to mains, with something for all.

Photo by Kevin Kramer

2900 Johnson St. NE, Minneapolis; 612-331-1421; blackduckmpls.com

Best Mid-Year Pivot: Chilango

If you tried Chef Jorge Guzmán’s Bde Maka Ska restaurant when it first opened, try it again. Tex-Mex is out, and rich, beautiful, Guzmán-Mex is in. Think deep, richly developed flavors in a glorious half-chicken and a perfectly prepared steak dish. I’m looking forward to Chilango growing into what Guzmán wants it to be.

Courtesy of Chilango

2730 W. Lake St., Minneapolis; 612-920-5000; chilangomn.com

Best Use of Space: Aster House

What was once the offices of Phillips Distilling, and originally the Brown-Ryan Livery Stable (1880), is now an incredibly cool supper club from Aster Cafe’s Jeff Arundel. With delicious food developed in tandem with Myriel’s Karyn Tomlinson, Aster House is a great addition to the prettiest street in Minneapolis.

Photo by Kevin Kramer

25 SE Main St., Minneapolis; 952-479-7832; asterhousempls.com

Best Live Music: Berlin

True to its namesake, Berlin combines cutting-edge sound and exceptional hospitality with the cozy, intimate vibe of a European-inspired jazz club. And what a joy it is to have a local jazz venue with (mostly!) free live music, incredible acoustics, and lovely cocktails. Berlin is a vibe—an intimate, big-city, sexy lounge.

Courtesy of Berlin

204 N. First St., Minneapolis; berlinmpls.com

Best Leader: Picnic

If a restaurant person needs a lifeline, Picnic has been there to give it. A lovely neighborhood restaurant with a fabulous wine-by-the-glass program, owner
Elizabeth “E” Kitzenberg has opened her restaurant to help chefs who have experienced fires, losses, and challenges—its incredible generosity is what hospitality is all about.

Courtesy of Picnic

4307 Upton Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-505-0785; picniclindenhills.com