The Bachelor FarmerService, Service, ServiceHaving worked in the restaurant business for many years, it's a rare dining experience when all of the pieces come together. We love the wine service idea that almost all wines can be ordered by the 1/2 bottle, and the other 1/2 bottle goes up for sale on a chalkboard for other guests to buy; brilliant! Great ambiance and food; so many flavors perfectly balance. But what made our experience over the top was our server Jill. She took the driver seat and didn't miss a beat, from food selections to wine selections. You have to go for a drink at the bar below . . . a fun vibrant scene to say the least.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMMinneapolis GemWe were in town for only one night and received a recommendation from some local "foodies" . ..we absolutely loved our dinner there! The food, service and ambiance were fantastic! Definitely recommend trying it out when your'e in Minneapolis.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMLived up to the hypeI went in with some high expectations and The Bachelor Farmer exceeded them. The food was amazing and the service was terrific! You really feel like something special is happening when you're there.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything was superb exceptEverything was superb except for one thing. We came for a fine dining and wining experience, and got that. However, as senior citizens, the ambient noise prevented us from any meaningful communication.6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother perfect meal at TBCWe celebrated my up vest son's 17th birthday at TBF. Our so s had not been and thoroughly enjoy this dinner. Fantastic food. Outstanding service -at tentative but not obtrusive. With excellent recommendations. Highly recommend you experience this fantastic restaurant.6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent dining experienceFood is creative , tasty, light, arranged tastefully. Staff is knowledgable and cordial. Very accommodating. A talented team is working behind the scene!6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWell balancedPerfectly balanced best describes our experience at the Bachelor Farmer. The food was fresh, creative, wonderfully prepared, and delicious with the flavors well balanced.
The service was attentive without being intrusive, we never felt rushed or pushed to turn the table. We were very pleased and will definitely go again.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMSurprising, friendly, fun, freshCame to celebrate a milestone family birthday—service was cheerful, unobtrusive and laid back. Food was imaginative, delectable, and fresh. Toasts with toppings nicely presented, a variety of textures and flavors. We had the ham and walleye toppings, will return to taste more. The wines were too pricey for us, more by-the-glass would be nice.6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMDouble birthday doEvery year my friend and I celebrate our birthdays with dinner at a new restaurant. Bachelor Farmer isn't really new, but it was our first time to plan far enough in advance to get a reservation at this busy place. I'm so glad we did! The ambience reminded me of an old barn I visited decades ago in Sweden, but scrubbed spotless and decorated with tender restraint by an artist. The meal was spectacular, start to finish: a unique and tasty warm cabbage salad, popovers fresh out of the oven, a perfect piece of sturgeon over a bed of white beans, accompanied by a refreshing pinot gris (the half bottle option ideal for light drinkers). Desserts were too compelling to share, so we each indulged to our hearts' content. (Mmm, salty caramel tart.)6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMFABULOUS!What a great place to celebrate a birthday!
The sturgeon was super!
The hasenpfeffer snitchengrubber vas vunderbar!
And the speak-easy was styling!
We will be back! ! !6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMNatural highStarting with cocktails at The Marvel Bar downstairs, then moving upstairs to TBF, my husband, my two best friends and I had a memorable evening. Our server was interesting, friendly, informative and let us take our time. It was my friends birthday and the server helped make it a special evening. At first I didn't think there were many things on the menu that I would like, but I LOVED the smoked bluefish on toast and the Morel mushroom appetizer. Then we had desserts and coffee. I was so happy I had natural high from experiencing a unique lounge, restaurant, truly fantastic food and spending relaxing time with the people I love so much. We talked about it the whole way home and then again the next day. I have to say thank you!6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMThis Restaurant is a hot ticketThis Restaurant is a hot ticket in our area. But well worth the long wait to get a reservation. you can also walk in and eat at the upstairs bar if there are open chairs. Parking is a problem though. They don't make it easy or cheap to park in Downtown Minneapolis. I had the Walleye topped with some sauteed fiddleheads. It was delicious. I did not get to taste the Rabbit Sausage my son had, because he would not give me one taste of it, he wanted it all to himself. He's a young man, so he requires lots of food. He loved the food at The Bachelor Farmer, but said there was not enough of it. I thought the portions were perfect for me.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMI saw God......at the Bachelor Farmer. Favorite restaurant EVER. My new purpose in life is to save all my money so that I can get back there asap. Loved the food, loved the service, loved everything about it. Way to nail it, Dayton boys!6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMExceptional food & great service!Went to TBF with my girlfriend for her birthday. This was a special occasion and TBF delivered beyond my expectations! What made this restaurant stick out from others was the wait staff. Our waitress was attentive and provided meaningful suggestions throughout the meal. This was our first time dining here and she made thorough recommendations after we had a chance to look at the menu.
We ordered two apps, one main dish to split, and a side order. The arrival of each item was perfectly timed, this allowed us to appreciate each bite. At the end of the meal, our waitress arrived with a small chocolate torte filled with caramel. The was delicious and my gf definitely appreciated the birthday candle on top!
Best dining experience in MPLS yet!6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMThe right amount to eat...We started out with punch In Marvel Bar made by Peter. It was delicious.
Between five girlfriends, we ordered two appetizers, two toasts, two sides, one entree, and two desserts, all to share, and we had just the right amount of food. We didn't want to come out with that stuffed full-feeling. We loved every bite!6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMSuper anniversary dinner!Great food and service for our anniversary dinner. Felt very well treated. The first of the season nettle soup was silky and tasty!6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMWish there were six stars to giveExcellent, excellent, excellent. The food, service and ambiance were all outstanding. Visited the Bachelor Farmer for a special occasion -- our wedding anniversary -- but will be sure to be back and this time with a group of friends. The food was superb, portions perfect and we were guided to excellent wine selections by our waiter, Miles. He went the extra step to make our time there special. Not a single complaint, only praise. I wish there were more stars in the ratings here as five are not enough.6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent dinner- the foodExcellent dinner- the food exceeded our expectations. It was chilly in the restaurant with vents blowing on our table. Also, very difficult to find since there isn't any sign. Hard to find.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMVery nice, but little underwhelmedFirst time to TBF (as apparently those in the know refer to this restaurant). Hardest reservation I have ever tried to get for a Saturday. Overall, a wonderful dinner with friends, but with the hype, a little hard to match. Service was great- reservation ready, attentive but not smothering staff, etc. However, the dining options were rather limited, and the server did not do a great job explaining appetizer choices versus toasts, sides, etc. The toasts were quite good, fun, and different- though portions small for 4 people to share. The main meals were good, my wife had duck and I had rabbit sausage. The sausage was hard to distinguish from any other sausage I could get- fatty and a little bland. The sides were very small for 4 to share.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMThe menu scared me a bit.The menu scared me a bit. I may have not chosen some of the items, but decided to take a risk. Is was a smart choice. The foods were very tasty. We enjoyed the experience.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMNot the run-of- the-mill menuWe like dining out to be an experience, not just a time to avoid cooking for yourself. The menu had many new adventures in fun eating.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMUnique and tastyI really enjoyed everything about the Bachelor Farmer. From the creative menu, pleasant atmosphere, and excellent service, it impressed me in every aspect. Definitely recommend!5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMAbsolutley fabulous!!Dining at the Bachelor Farmer was an outstanding experience!! The food and service were great and the waitstaff was very knowledgeable. I highly recommend this restaurant!! The Marvel bar downstairs is equally great!!5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMTasty but noisy..Nice room, wonderful food, excellent service--the only drawback was the very high noise level, which made it almost impossible to have a conversation. Not exactly what we wanted for a special occasion. And with tables 12" apart, it wasn't easy to get away from noisy neighbors..5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMAn Exceptional ExperienceThe Batchelor Farmer came well recommended and was even better than we expected. The food was exceptional. We found ourselves savoring everything we ordered from start to finish. We were impressed with the wine list and particularly liked the option of ordering half bottles or single glasses of a wide variety of options. The service was also outstanding. Our server clearly was a foodie who understood and enjoyed what the restaurant has to offer. We will definitely return when we want to make a great meal our evening out.5/24/2013 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 AM