El Meson

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El Meson
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El Meson

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Address:
3450 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55408

Neighborhood:
Downtown Minneapolis

Getting there ›
Cuisine:
Latin / Spanish

Price: $30 and under

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El Meson Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://www.elmesonbistro.net
Email: macha17@msn.com
Phone: (612) 822-8062
Hours of Operation: Lunch: Monday - Friday: 11:00am - 3:00pm; Saturday: 12:00pm - 3:00pm; Dinner: Monday - Friday: 3:00pm - 9:00pm, Friday & Saturday: 3:00pm - 10:00pm, Sunday: 4:00pm - 8:30pm
Payment Options: AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Latin / Spanish
Executive Chef: Hector Ruiz
Dress Code: Business Casual
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Beer, Entertainment, Non-Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Wheelchair Access, Wine
Catering: Catering services offered for private parties, special occasions, etc. Contact Erin or Hector for more information @612-822-8062.
Entertainment: Live Cuban Music on Friday & Saturday nights 7:00pm-9:30pm - Occasionally Live Flamenco Music & Dancing on Saturday nights

Getting there

Parking: Street Parking
Parking Details: All parking is street parking. Park anywhere on Lyndale Avenue or on 35th Street.

A word from El Meson

El Meson Spanish Caribbean Bistro, serving a Blend of Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Spanish cuisine. Try the tasty tapas and a carafe of homemade sangria, or try the famous paella with a bottle of Spanish Rioja. Whatever the occasion, visit El Meson, A vibrant locally owned restaurant that proudly… provides high quality cuisine & service.Continued

El Meson

4.2

184 $30 and under restaurant

Featured Reviews

More Reviews ›

Reviews from OpenTable Diners Learn More

190 Current Reviews

Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews

Overall

(Outstanding) 4.3 / 5

Food

(Outstanding) 4.4 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 3.9 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

190 Current Reviews

Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews

Overall

(Outstanding) 4.3 / 5

Food

(Outstanding) 4.4 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 3.9 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

Filter Reviews By:

Diners classify this restaurant as:

neighborhood gem(136)
fit for foodies(99)
special occasion(67)

romantic(64)
good for groups(20)
great for lunch(14)

Current OpenTable.com Diner Reviews (190)

Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

This restaurant always delivers

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 04/15/2012

2006

Dined on 04/15/2012

2006

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"This restaurant always delivers solid value, great service and a fun dining experience."

Dined on 04/15/2012

2006

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem

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Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Flamenco dancing and a fun

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 04/07/2012

2005

Dined on 04/07/2012

2005

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

"Flamenco dancing and a fun menu made this a nice Saturday night find."

Dined on 04/07/2012

2005

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic

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Overall rating

(Good) 3 / 5

definitely a great tapas happy

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 04/11/2012

2011

Dined on 04/11/2012

2011

Food

(Good) 3 / 5

Service

(Good) 3 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"definitely a great tapas happy hour."

Dined on 04/11/2012

2011

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Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Second time at El Meson in

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 04/06/2012

2009

Dined on 04/06/2012

2009

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Good) 3 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

"Second time at El Meson in past month. Couldn't wait to have the scallops again - and they were absolutely marvelous again - probably the best I've ever had. Will definitely be going back. This is my new favorite restaurant!"

Dined on 04/06/2012

2009

Special Features: late-night find, neighborhood gem, special occasion, hot spot

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Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Very energetic place! Had

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 04/07/2012

2006

Dined on 04/07/2012

2006

Food

(Good) 3 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

"Very energetic place! Had a wonderful time!"

Dined on 04/07/2012

2006

Special Features: neighborhood gem, notable wine list, special occasion

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Overall rating

(Good) 3 / 5

Fading Ex-Fave

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 04/07/2012

2010

Dined on 04/07/2012

2010

Food

(Fair) 2 / 5

Service

(Good) 3 / 5

Ambiance

(Good) 3 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

"It's been a year - maybe more - since we'd gone to El Meson. It's still crowded and fun, but I won't be back anytime soon. The quality of the food has definitely slipped while the prices have climbed. Avoid the Asado - seriously overcooked and utterly bland. It's sad to see a former favorite go downhill but at least the owners are doing a great business. It just OK - which is not ok for $23 entrees. Maybe next time we'll try a weeknight and see if the busyness was a factor."

Dined on 04/07/2012

2010

Special Features: neighborhood gem

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Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Visited on a Thursday night.

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 04/05/2012

2012

Dined on 04/05/2012

2012

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Good) 3 / 5

Ambiance

(Good) 3 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"Visited on a Thursday night. Not many diners, but the place still seemed a little understaffed, and it took a good ten minutes for the server to notice me waiting for a table, engrossed as she was in conversation with two particularly chatty diners. The food made up for it, though -- excellent pork loin and a rice dish, plus a few appetizers and a good coconut flan. Would definitely return."

Dined on 04/05/2012

2012

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem

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Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Warm and friendly neighborhood spot

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 04/03/2012

2009

Dined on 04/03/2012

2009

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"El Meson is a both a great special occasion destination and a long time friendly neighborhood dining spot. We used to live in the neighborhood years ago and were pleased to know El Meson is still going strong. Our daughter picked it to go to for her 17th birthday. We shared wonderful appetisers, the fried plantains and sauces were delicious, the calamari, as well as the toasted breads and spanish olive tapas. Our entrees were quite good, too, and all very different. The seafood casserole and the carna a la brava beef medallions over saffron rice were both outstanding. Spices were delicious and not over powering. We all shared the flan with caramel and coconut meringue. Wonderful. Great wine selections and half price on Tuesdays. Wow!"

Dined on 04/03/2012

2009

Special Features: fit for foodies, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch

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Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

My husband and I went their

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/30/2012

2008

Dined on 03/30/2012

2008

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

"My husband and I went their for our anniversary dinner. We did ask to wait for a booth, as the tables in the center are a bit too close for a romantic dinner. The booth was perfect. Service was great and so was the food. The Paella was well worth the 45 minute wait."

Dined on 03/30/2012

2008

Special Features: special occasion

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Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

We've visited El Meson every

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/24/2012

2010

Dined on 03/24/2012

2010

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

"We've visited El Meson every year for the passed 4 years to celebrate my husband's birthday and we love it there. The food is great and the service is amazing. Great atmosphere, nice entertainment(bonus)!"