The Bachelor FarmerExcellent location and restaurantExcellent location and restaurant design. Food is well-executed, but the nuts and bolts fare is not memorable enough to make it an A-list for me.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMLove this place...We seem to end up here on my husband's birthday...
Another nice meal and enjoyable experience. We loved our server... Good wine-food pairing recommendations.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AM5 Star Experience!Great spot to celebrate that special event! Great experience with food, service, and dining atmosphere.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMSimply Outstanding. The bestSimply Outstanding. The best "Scandinavian" food since the long gone Aquavit.
The Marvel Bar is one of the very best in the Twin Cities.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMStop now. go make your reservationi cannot say enough good things about: the food, the staff, the team in the kitchen, the choices made in creating the physical space, even the branding and appearance of the menu. This was a near flawless dining experience. Please go.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Food with a few shortcomingsWe were very pleased with appetizers, salads and entrees. The flatbread with turnips was bland.
They have a policy that you can order single glasses of wine off a chalkboard list which changes with availability, fine, but be sure to ask for the price. I assumed they were comparable with their other wines by the glass offerings but these offerings were much more expensive.
A tip, ask for a booth to the outside, they appear to be quieter. We were ushered to a table wedged between others, since we were a two, we assumed we did not qualify for a booth (they were set for four places). Shortly afterward we noticed two booths each occupied by one couple. Since this was our anniversary, we regret that we were not offered a booth option.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMThe whole packageFrom the service to the menu, the presentation, the atmosphere...it was all fantastic. Service-wise, our waitress was one of the most bubbly and engaging waitresses I've ever had. She was also super knowledgeable about the menu, and helped us to make more than a few decisions. I told her that it was my parents' anniversary and she brought us out a complimentary dessert, no questions asked! Food-wise, everything was great. My mom is an extremely picky eater but she enjoyed the toast appetizer we ordered, as well as the pan-seared walleye and vegetable sides. My dad and I, who are a little more adventurous, were satisfied with our options as well. All in all terrific dining experience!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMVery unique menu. Loved theVery unique menu. Loved the smoked sword fish and the walleye5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMFood and service was impeccable.Food and service was impeccable. The tables are a little to close together thou. Had to talk very softly to not be overheard. But that will not stop us from going back.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMEven Monday's are busy!It was surprisingly busy for a Monday night so I recommend a reservation even on tthat ypically slow restaurant day.
This is truly one of a kind place in our fair Twin Cities. The food was perfectly prepared and inventive from appetizer through dessert. However, one should be aware that a shared appetizer, 2 entrees, lower end wine (but good!!) and shared dessert came to almost $150. I'd consider returning for the excellent food and equally good service but would also consider sharing one of the larger entrees to reduce cost.5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMEvery dish was simply terrific,Every dish was simply terrific, combining a variety of tastes. Smoked swordfish, with garlic aioli, etc. was a particularly good appetizer, as was the red beet tartare. My wife's request to substitute chevre for the cow's milk cheese was graciously acknowledged by our excellent waiter, Joel, who also recommended a superb Burgundy, 2010 Michel Noellat Fixin -- simply outstanding, and the perfect accompaniment to my main course of hog (a special), a wonderfully ample chop, beautifully prepared (apparently this was the small chop!! - it was ginormous). She had the Market fish, a lovely preparation of walleye.
Another highlight was the delicious Cake for Sharing, a lovely layered chocolate cake. We had a great time!! Highly recommended ...5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMCelebration dinner with friendsExcellent experience all around. Had much fun from bar before dinner though leisurely dinner. Food -- everything from toast appetizers (beet and groaning boards) to entrees (walleye, duck and rabbit sausage) to dessert (flan and sharing cake) -- was superb. Cocktails at the Marvel Bar were a great way to start; champagne and wine (both Austrian) were perfect accompaniments to our meal and celebration. Perhaps best of all was stand-out service. Looking forward to going back, soon.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic food, excellent serviceWe had the Bibb lettuce salad, beet tartare toasts, and duck confit and pork weininlieke. All of it was delicious! The salad was vibrant and fresh. The toasts were very good, but the seasoning mixed into the beet tartare was overpowering at times. My pork was ridiculously good. Crisp, tender, buttery, delicious. I had one ite of my husband's duck and it was excellently cooked. It was just my husband and I, so we had a small intimate table, but saw several large groups while dining. Almost no children were there.
Exposed wood beams cover the ceiling with a very traditional looking Nordic wallpaper in the entry and dining room. But... It's the new Nordic so that's the point! Go see the Dayton brothers. You won't regret it!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMLove The Bachelor FarmerI travel a lot and get to try all manner of restaurants. I really love this place. The food is innovative but tasty. Rabbit sausage was paired with pureed lettuce! I expected it to be good but not a revelation. I highly recommend the Bachelor Farmer.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMJust what we were looking forA most enjoyable night in all respects. Great food, including appetizers, toast board, entrees and dessert, not to mention the wine. Unobtrusive and professional service by well-trained young servers.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMslice of SwedenMy wife and I cebrated our 30th Anniversary at the Bachelor Farmer. What a wonderful combination of delicious food and Scandinavian hospitality! This was a great way to prepare for our upcoming trip to Sweden.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMSpecial Night Out for AnniversaryIt was a fun way to spend our anniversary experiencing different foods. The Groaning Board with toasts was so unusally pleasing to the taste buds and we had freshly butchered pork chops that were to die for. The delicate dessert we had was awesome as well and everythign is made in the restaurant.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a wonderful evening.We had a wonderful evening. The food was delicious and the presentation was lovely. Highly recommend.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat service, great foodGreat service, great food presentation and innovative wine ordering system.
The entries were good...but I've been spoiled by some great restaurants in NYC. While the food here was good I wouldn't say they were the best I've had. In MN though, probably one of the best.
The only thing I would change is in the spinach side dish, the bacon chunks were way to salty which overshadowed the taste of the spinach. If the bacon chunks were less salty, it would have been great. Other than that, food tasted good.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing food and service.Amazing food and service. Would recommened getting a variety of the toasts. Creative food choices with a nod to Minnesota and it's Norwegian heritage!4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMAlthough it is expensive theAlthough it is expensive the food and experience was amazing. I knew ahead of time that I need a lot of money so I was not worried about price and was able to enjoy myself. I had a glass of wine, shared an appetizer and had my own entree and it cost $50.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was very fresh, tastedThe food was very fresh, tasted great, and had excellent presentation. Just not enough heat for myself or my spouse's taste in the various dishes we tried. Recommended for folks who don't like a lot of spice.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMTBF was everything we expectedTBF was everything we expected and a wonderful dining experience. The server was knowledgeable and made great recommendations. We shared a salad and an entree; both were
split before arriving at the table and still the presentation was great. Be sure to save room for dessert. We will definitely return.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMVery accommodating, tastyVery accommodating, tasty food, and lovely atmosphere!4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food is imaginative andThe food is imaginative and very well executed. Its reputation is well-earned. Our only disappointment was the wine list. It's very heavily French and German oriented. We prefer the bolder California reds. When we go back, we'll probably either do one of the few Napa reds that are offered or go with a French white.4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWe didn't even have to askWe didn't even have to ask to be compensated when our table wasn't ready at our appointed time. The manager kept us constantly abreast of what was going on and offered our party of 5 a free round of drinks while waiting. When we were seated, the restaurant provided our table with a free appetizer and dessert. The food was also spectacular. I would definitely dine here again when I'm here visiting Minneapolis.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMOverall experience was veryOverall experience was very positive, but the noise level was a bit too much for our preference. The wait staff was absolutely THE BEST - thank you to all of them, especially our server.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMI've dined twice at The BachelorI've dined twice at The Bachelor Farmer. I think the service is outstanding and the food is very good, but I do think it's a little over-hyped. Nothing has been bad, but not terribly memorable. Maybe I just don't "get" it but I would call it very good, not excellent.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, pretty loud though.Great food, pretty loud though. Would return in a heartbeat.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMVery good service; food aVery good service; food a bit bizarre but interesting. No one at my table had raves for the meal but it was pleasant, upbeat environment.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMWe couldn't have been moreWe couldn't have been more pleased with our experience at The Bachelor Farmer. The service was exceptional and the food was, we think, the best we'd ever eaten in a restaurant. Kudos to the kitchen staff!!4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat, friendly service, butGreat, friendly service, but ultimately the food isn't worth the premium price. For a restaurant that purports to grow its own produce, there's no mention of it when you're at the restaurant, so who knows what that applies to. And, if they're trying to go local, why not any Minnesota wines?
We ordered fish (too greasy) and the duck (too cold). Our dessert was the the highlight of the meal.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMOne word: DELICIOUS. I wouldOne word: DELICIOUS. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good meal. Very cool space and I love the idea of allowing customers to buy half bottles of wine and the rest of the bottle is allowed for purchase by the glass by the rest of the restaurant. Will definitely be coming back - next time hopefully after a good pay day since it is a little expensive for my budget ;)4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGood for something differentFood was good an interesting - good for conversation! Recommend for something different!4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMYes. It is unusual food. And,Yes. It is unusual food. And, yes! It is delicious.
We were very pleased and impressed with the service and the food.
Definitely would consider again but also not for the 'fussy' eater in a group.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGood backstory, (Dayton'sGood backstory, (Dayton's and Garrison Keillor)and local lore, great for out of town guests to intorduce them to the tundra. Our server was engaging and welcoming.
Wine list is not deep, but good selections and reasonably priced.
Wasn't wowed by the execution and presentation this time, Tuesday night is supposed to be the best night out for foodies, they seemed a little slammed.
Would recommend for foodies, out of town guests.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMThe restaurant's goal is toThe restaurant's goal is to make your visit a perfect dining experience. My friends and I would agree that the chef and servers reached their goal. We'd like to recommend sharing The Groaning Board as a great beginning to a wonderful meal.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMGood, but not for vegitariansTo be fair, I want to throw out that I am a Pescetarian so my options on food were quite limited. I ordered the poached eggs and lentils which were over salted, but when the runny egg mixed with the lentils this was tempered some. I expect this was the idea, however it was still a bit too salty, and I love salt. Others I was dining with had the rabit, venison and duck confit and there were smiles all around. Great place for people who love meat. I would be remise not to mention the fabulous service-did not rush us, were super friendly and accomodating.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMAll of the food met or exceededAll of the food met or exceeded my expectations. Our server was very helpful with his additional descriptions and wine pairing. We loved the Moleskin notebooks that came with the check. Glad to know some folks here have a great sense of humor. Also thought the peak at the kitchen was impressive.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMNot to miss in MinneapolisWe had a wonderful meal at the Bachelor Farmer. The duck meatballs were to die for. The "groaning board" lived up to its name. We couldn't stop eating it! The entrees were original and delicious. Only regret is that we didn't have room for dessert. Service was friendly and knowledgable.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMDecorated with a real farmDecorated with a real farm feel - but cool enough for the city. The food and service were excellent. The chef and waitress were highly accommodating to our table where half of the guests were vegetarian. Loved all of the food items ordered at the table. It's time to stop reading and "open table" a reservation at this restaurant!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMWe really enjoyed the birthdayWe really enjoyed the birthday dinner we celebrated at the Bachelor Farmer. Food was fabulous and I especially enjoyed my drink, the Aviation. The only negative (and it wasn't that bad, just distracting) was that our server forgot a few items and seemed a bit overwhelmed. Would definitely go back again. Thank you!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious food, fabulous service.Delicious food, fabulous service. Very interesting meals cooked and presented perfectly. The only negative was the noise - the restaurant needs drapes/carpet/lampshades or something to absorb the noise.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMMy sister and I went hereMy sister and I went here for dinner. It was the best dining experience I've had in quite some time. We had a salad, one of their toasts and split the duck breast entree. Everything was very well made and very flavorful. The waitress and staff are all very kind and attentive but not overly so. The restaurant is a bit noisy at times but the overall ambiance was relaxed so it didn't disrupt our meal. I would highly recommend this restuarant and cannot wait to go back!3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved the unique food combinationsLoved the unique food combinations and the presentation. The decor is simple and evocative of an old farm kitchen. For those of us with Scandinavian roots it brought back memories of our aunts and grandmothers who loved beets, radishes, and pure ingredients.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWe loved TBF! Definitely considerWe loved TBF! Definitely consider it a "special occasion" venue for new college grads as it is a little pricey. Sam (our waitress) was wonderful!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMDate night for husband andDate night for husband and I. We had been trying to get a reservation there for months..at a reasonable time, that never happened. Settled for 5:30 finally got there at 5:27 and was told to wait downstairs or outside...it as COLD,that was kind of tacky. But all in all the food was great and service good. We would go again for special night out, if we can get a res about 6:303/21/2013 12:00:00 AMBachelor Farmer never disappointsImpeccable, as always -- had a foodie couple visiting fron NYC and they raved about it. Were very impressed to have such a great restaurant experience in flyover country.Wish I could remember our waiter's name (he had a beard); he was perfect. Knowledgeable, efficient, attentive without smothering or interrupting what was a lively nearly nonstop conversation. The monkfish special was one of the most incredible dishes I've ever eaten, and of course the toasts were a delight as usual.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMMostly flawless diningWe thoroughly enjoyed our 'date night' for my husband's birthday last week. Appetizer, toast, side and dessert were flawless. The entrees? I'm more of a picky eater and I didn't totally enjoy my entree. The protein was excellent, but I didn't really enjoy the accompaniment. My husband's entree was flawless, however. The adult beverages were also excellent!3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Press On this Place is Right OnAll food preparations are outstanding and unique without being pretentious. Fantastic atmosphere. The bar downstairs is way too kool!3/20/2013 12:00:00 AM