Crema Cafe

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Tony Nelson

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Crema is one of the most creative and original bits of Minnesota food life. So why do you think it's merely an ice-cream shop that closes in the winter? It doesn't, in fact. Nowadays it's open year-round, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with the coffee drinks and ice cream. That food is excellent, too: simple, chef-made bistro fare that doesn't betray the little spot's significant roots. They've been operating in the same location since the 1940s, most of that time as an ice-cream maker, Sonny's, but for the last decade as a beautiful cafe as well, with a romantic, flower-filled outdoor piazza. Of course, the ice cream is still as wonderful as it was. It's all organic, all made by hand in tiny five-gallon batches, all made with five-star ingredients. During the summer, look for Crema?s mobile cart stationed at Nicollet Mall.

Cuisine(s): Breakfast, Brunch, Cafe, Wine Bar

Hours: Sun 9am-10pm, Mon 9am-5pm, Tue-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri 10am-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm

Price: $, $$
Payment Types: MasterCard, Visa

Features: Patio/Sidewalk Dining, Takeout, Catering

Serving: Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner, Lunch
Alcohol: Beer/Wine

Reservations: Not Accepted

Parking: Street

2008 | BEST ICE CREAM PARLOR

Crema Café is a sweet spot in south Minneapolis. Sitting pretty at the corner of 34th Street and Lyndale Avenue, it looks like a Tuscan oasis, even when the blackened snow is still piled up on the corner. Once inside, fortified with a pasta dish... More >
2006 | BEST ICE CREAM PARLOR

Crema Café is a little oasis on busy Lyndale Avenue. The tidy building features leafy plants, wrought iron tables, elegant murals, stone floors, tawny-colored walls, a secluded patio—and a literal gallery of awards, all honoring the marvelous ice... More >
2005 | BEST ICE CREAM PARLOR

There are so, so many reasons to name this Lyndale neighborhood sweetheart Best Ice Cream Parlor. There's the ice cream, of course, and the sorbet, the sherbet, and the ice cream-based desserts, all blended on the premises in small batches from... More >
2003 | BEST RESTAURANT FOR DESSERT

May 15 is a magical day for Minnesotans, not just because it marks the day when we're encouraged to start planting annual plants out-of-doors, but because it's the day beloved Crema Café switches to summer hours. Yes! We made it through the... More >

City Pages Reviews and News

Sonny's ice cream cart takes a turn downtown

By Michelle Bruch | Tue, September 14, 2010

Summer ain't over till it's over in Minnesota, and we have plenty of warm days left to take advantage of the Sonny's Ice Cream stand on Nicollet Mall. Sonny's is one of the new street carts th More >
Best ice cream shops in the Twin Cities

By Rachel Hutton | Tue, July 13, 2010

This Sunday, July 18, marks National Ice Cream Day, during which we plan to give thanks for the breadth and depth of our outstanding independent ice cream shops with a few local licks. All the Twin Ci More >
Why the Twin Cities is the best place to eat ice cream in the universe

By Rachel Hutton | Wed, August 06, 2008

Sitting on a bench outside Pumphouse Creamery with a scoop of strawberry sorbet, I watched a class of fencing students spill out from the neighboring Chicago Avenue storefront, a gaggle of awkward teens who might one day fill our ranks of theater ... More >
Great Humor

By Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl | Wed, June 30, 2004

Izzy's Ice Cream Café 2034 Marshall Ave., St. Paul 651.603.1458 Medical Arts Building 825 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 612.338.0022 Marshall Fields Minneapolis, First Floor www.izzysicecream.com Adele's Frozen Custard 800 Excelsior Blvd.,... More >
The Crema Crop

By Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl | Wed, June 12, 2002

Crema Café 3403 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis 612.824.3868 Myself and everyone I know are pretty much idiots, because a straw poll revealed that each and every dim, ding-a-ling one of us thought that the Sonny's Ice Cream and Crema Café empir... More >

User Reviews

3 User reviews

Write a Review

jawilliams529

| Tue, March 23, 2010

Cute. Quaint. Really good organic & local food!!

What do you think of this review? 0 0
Uptown thomas

| Sat, July 04, 2009

I've been there a few times and thought the ice cream appeared to be sitting too long, not fresh.

What do you think of this review? 0 0
citypagesbestof

| Wed, May 06, 2009

Crema Caf� is a sweet spot in south Minneapolis. Sitting pretty at the corner of 34th Street and Lyndale Avenue, it looks like a Tuscan oasis, even when the blackened snow is still piled up on the corner. Once inside, fortified with a pasta dish and glass of wine, your attentions will surely turn to the case filled with Sonny's ice cream. What to select? The glistening berry sorbets, the exotic green tea, the charming tiramisu, the old-school spumoni, or the perfect vanilla bean? Handmade with fresh and organic ingredients, this ice cream is borne out of love and artistry developed over decades, following traditions developed by the much-beloved Martin "Sonny" Siron, who recently passed away. Although some of the flavors are experimental (green tea, cantaloupe lime, blood orange sorbet) there is nothing but good old-fashioned ingredients at their base. Whether enjoyed outdoors on a hot and humid summer day or directly (and decadently) from a pint container in front of the television, this is ice cream to savor, to appreciate, and, if you're so inclined, to share.

What do you think of this review? 0 0

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Main Menu

Salads & Soups
Add Grilled Chicken, Grilled Portobello Or A Scoop Of Tuna For $1.50

$6.50

Mixed Greens & Butternut Squash
with red onion, goat cheese, walnuts & caramelized shallot vinaigrette.

$4.75

Greek
romaine with tomato, cucumbers, red onion, bell peppers, kalamata olives, & feta, with creamy oregano dressing.

$6.25

Spinach & Spiced Carrots
with red onion, garbanzo beans, sprouts, sunflower seeds, raisins & sherry vinaigrette.

$3.50
$5.00

Soups
all of our soups are homemade with tender loving care, selections vary daily. please see the chalkboard on the homepage for daily selections.

On The Sweeter Side
Add A Side Of Homemade Sweet Potato Chips For $1.00

$4.95

Rosemary-goat Cheese
with walnuts and honey on sliced french.

$3.50

Peanut Butter, Banana & Honey
pressed on sliced french.

$4.25

Nutella & Banana
pressed on sliced french.

Prepared Sandwiches
For Quick Pick Up In The Cold Case.

$6.95

Tuna Salad
mediterranean tuna salad with sprouts, cucumber & mixed greens on whole wheat.

$6.95

Tarragon Chicken Salad
with pears and brie served on sliced french.

$6.75

Vegetarian Wrap

Sandwiches
Add A Side Of Homemade Sweet Potato Chips For $1.00

$6.95

Sweet Potato
with avocado, green apple, sprouts, hummus & caramelized shallot vinaigrette on toasted wheat

$6.50

Thai Peanut
spicy napa slaw, thai peanut sauce, cucumber, fresh basil & crushed peanuts on a toasted baguette.

$6.95

Spinach Artichoke Chicken
grilled chicken breast with creamy artichoke spread & wilted spinach pressed on homemade focaccia.

$7.50

Turkey & Jicama Slaw
house roasted turkey with jicama slaw, avocado, bacon, ancho chili vinaigrette & mayo on a toasted homemade baguette.

$6.95

Crema Grilled Chicken
grilled chicken breast with sliced avocado & zesty cotija cheese-corn spread, pressed on light sourdough.

$7.95

Turkey & Jarlsberg Spread
house roasted turkey with jarlsberg spread, homemade pickles & onions, pressed on light rye.

$8.95

Herb Roasted Lamb
house roasted lamb with walnut aioli, roasted tomatoes & arugula, pressed on focaccia.

$5.00

Grilled Cheese
monterey jack & gruyere pressed on light rye. add ham, bacon, avocado or caramelized onion for $0.75.

Breakfast
Be Sure To Check Out Our Selection Of Baked Goods, Priced From $1.50 To $3.35 Including Tax. Everything Is Made Fresh And In House Daily!

$3.35

Egg Sandwich
scrambled eggs & cheese on toast, bagel, homemade english muffin or croissant (please ask for available add-ons!).

$4.75

Maximillion
scrambled eggs with sweet potato, caramelized onion & rosemary goat cheese on a homemade english muffin.

$6.00

Salmon Scrambler
scrambled eggs with cream cheese, lox and avocado on a homemade english muffin.

$2.25

Toasted Bagel & Cream Cheese
add lox, tomato & red onion for $2.25

$4.95

Yogurt Granola Parfait
homemade granola w/ organic low-fat yogurt & fruit.

$3.75

Fresh Fruit Salad

$3.70

Quiche
quiche flavors vary daily depending on the season and whim of the bakers!

Looking for another city?

3403 Lyndale Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55408

612-824-3868 | Website

More Uptown/ Eat Street Breakfast Restaurants >

2008 | BEST ICE CREAM PARLOR

2006 | BEST ICE CREAM PARLOR

2005 | BEST ICE CREAM PARLOR