Voice Places

Spoonriver Restaurant

2 people have posted a review, snapped a photo, checked in, or tipped this place. Use your voice!

00000 - 00000 of 00000

00,000 of 00,000

advertisement

  • Brunch, Health, Seafood, Vegetarian
    Sun 10am-10pm, Tue-Thu 11:30am-10:30pm, Fri 11:30am-11:30pm, Sat 10am-11:30pm
    $$, $$$
  • Casual
    Business Dining, Catering, Patio/Sidewalk Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Accessible
    Breakfast, Dinner
  • Full bar
    Accepted
    Garage, Street
Description

People who take their diet seriously have a friend in Spoonriver owner Brenda Langton: Vegetables, and specifically locally grown, organic vegetables, are the root of most of her dishes, and cream, butter, sweeteners and oil are only garnishes. Even without the prop of fat, many of the dishes are not merely artful and creative, but downright sensuous. For example, a summer heirloom tomato and watermelon salad looks like a sculpture, with pillars of carefully cut watermelon, tomato, and herbs all placed in a line, but as you use a fork to knock down your tiny candy-colored skyscraper city you find summer sweetness in its most lilting form. No wonder so many diners at Spoonriver pause at some point, wondering, What's the name of that spa that all the rich people go to in California? Never mind, Spoonriver's biodynamic and organic-heavy wine list; playful cocktails, including a prickly pear Margarita made with house-infused pineapple tequila; and the vibrant sunset-colored room prove that you don't have to leave Minneapolis to eat with enlightenment.







  • 2008 | BEST VEGETARIAN-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

    Quick: When you think of vegetarian food, what's the first thing that comes to mind Beans and rice Pasta Tofu à la king Not so at Brenda Langton's Spoonriver, which proves that vegetarian cuisine doesn't have to wear Birkenstocks or smell like patchouli. Spoonriver is the gourmet-natural evolution of her Café Brenda: a long, sleek eatery with big glass windows, a narrow bar, and a specialty cocktail list. The food is still pure and healthy, it just feels more refined: The... More »

  • 2007 | BEST SALAD

    Salads are the new fast food. Belly up to your local Au Bon Pain and they'll toss up the greens with a manic speed, coating the mixing bowl with dressing and layering on the now omnipresent Asiago cheese. This is a good development for the lunchtime crowd, but a successful salad is really more than the sum of its ingredients. There's a craft when it comes to pairing flavors, and Brenda Langton, the local queen of organic cuisine, has mastered it. Witness her divine creations at Spoonriver:... More »

  • 2007 | BEST VEGETARIAN-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

    What carnivores fail to understand is that vegetarians are vegetarian for a number of very good reasons: They don't want to hurt animals, and they don't want to end up in the cardiac care unit, the oncology unit, or frankly any hospital unit whatsoever. Brenda Langton really gets that, gets it deep down in her soul, and so she serves vegetarian food that is clean, healthful, true, and visionary. Also, it's delicious. A savory wild mushroom and pistachio terrine served with fruit chutney is... More »

Back to TopCritic News & Reviews | Write a Review
  • Spoonriver's Brenda Langton: Chef Chat, Part 3

    Spoonriver's Brenda Langton: Chef Chat, Part 3

    | Fri, September 3, 2010

    Today we conclude our chef chat with Brenda Langton, owner of Spoonriver restaurant in downtown Minneapolis. (Here are parts 1 and 2.) Langton talks about the need to revitalize American food culture ... More »

  • Spoonriver's Brenda Langton: Chef Chat, Part 2

    Spoonriver's Brenda Langton: Chef Chat, Part 2

    | Thu, September 2, 2010

    Today we bring you the second part of our chat with longtime Twin Cities restaurateur and chef Brenda Langton. (Here's part 1 if you missed it.) Langton talks more about her upcoming Spoonriver cookbo... More »

  • Spoonriver's Brenda Langton: Chef Chat, Part 1

    Spoonriver's Brenda Langton: Chef Chat, Part 1

    | Wed, September 1, 2010

    Brenda Langton, owner of Spoonriver restaurant and founder of the five-year-old Mill City Farmers Market, has been running restaurants in the Twin Cities for more than 30 years. She is a vocal support... More »

  • Meritage vs. Spoonriver in Bastille Day battle of crepes

    Meritage vs. Spoonriver in Bastille Day battle of crepes

    | Wed, July 14, 2010

    In honor of Bastille Day, we thought it timely to add a little French flavor to this week's food fight. We gave both Minneapolis and St. Paul a shot at sidewalk crepe dominance, pitting Meritage's cre... More »

  • Spring Salads: Top 5

    Spring Salads: Top 5

    | Wed, May 12, 2010

    May is National Salad Month, timed to correspond with the start of the growing season here in Minnesota. And we love salads of every order--beet salad, potato salad, papaya salad, and pasta salad...ev... More »

Back to TopUser Reviews & Comments | Write a Review
  • citypagesbestof
       (0)    (0)

    citypagesbestof | Minneapolis, MN | 145 Reviews

    | Wed, May 6, 2009

    Quick: When you think of vegetarian food, what's the first thing that comes to mind? Beans and rice? Pasta? Tofu ŕ la king? Not so at Brenda Langton's Spoonriver, which proves that vegetarian cuisine doesn't have to wear Birkenstocks or smell like patchouli. Spoonriver is the gourmet-natural evolution of her Café Brenda: a long, sleek eatery with big glass windows, a narrow bar, and a specialty cocktail list. The food is still pure and healthy, it just feels more refined: The pairings are more daring, flavors more delicate, and the presentation more elegant. We've delighted in such dishes as tangy, Asian mock duck; house-made beet ravioli; and mushroom-pistachio terrine, perked up with mustard, fruit chutney, and cornichons. But what we're really hoping will return this summer is a sculptural salad of heirloom tomatoes and watermelon, accented with hints of basil, celery, and vanilla. With a menu also boasting several naturally raised meats (Fischer Farms pork tenderloin, Wild Acres duck and chicken liver pâté), one of the best aspects of Spoonriver may be that vegetarians can bring their meat-eating companions without any kicking and fussing.

Dinner Menu
Appetizer
$9.00
Vietnamese Shrimp Cakes
ginger dipping sauce
$8.50
Spoon Dips
hummus & roasted red pepper-walnut paté, vegetables, olives, foccacia
$8.00
Herb Goat Cheese & Orange Blossom Salad
sauce of the day
$8.50
Grilled Grass Fed Beef Skewer
sauce of the day
$8.50
Savory Wild Mushroom, Pistachio Terrine
fruit chutney, mustard sauce, croutons, cornichons
$9.00
Callister Farm Chicken Liver Pate
cracker, house pickled vegetables
$10.50
Veg. Option $9.50
Quesadilla
shrimp, cheddar, roasted poblano pepper & tomatillo filling. coconut salsa verde
$6.50
Mixed Greens Salad
sunflower sprouts, pumpkin seeds, sherry vinaigrette
Burgers & Salads
Burgers Come With Lettuce, Tomato, Pickle, Wheat Bun With Chips, Substitute Salad + $2.00. Add Cheese $1.00
$13.50
Mahi Mahi Burger
sauteed corn meal crusted mahi mahi filet, house tarter sauce
$13.00
Mn Grass Fed Beef Hamburger
sunshine farm beef, ketchup, dijon mustard / optional guacamole + $2.5
$12.50
Cafe Brenda Burger
vegetable, rice & nut burger, ketchup, dijon mustard / optional guacamole + $2.5
$13.50
Spoon Burger
minnesota farmed lamb, moroccan spices, house herb ketchup
$16.00
Chicken Udon Salad
sliced free range chicken, udon noodles, vegetables, peanut-lemongrass dressing
$9.00
$13.00
Caesar Salad
greek or caesar available with free range chicken breast + $5.00
$9.00
$13.50
Greek Salad
greens, cucumber, olives, tomatoes, pepperoncini, french sheep feta, red onion available with free range chicken breast + $5.00
$14.50
Nicoise Salad
tuna, tomato, olives, green beans, egg, red onion, crouton, greens, vinaigrette, herb mayo
$5.50
$7.00
Chicken Soup Or Soup Of The Day
$2.00
Bread Basket
$5.50
Braised Greens & Leeks
$4.50
Grain Of The Day
Entrees
 
Fresh Seafood Special
vegetarian special. (open)
 
Sunshine Harvest Grass-fed Beef Special
(open)
$16.50
Rigatoni Pasta
chicken sausage, tomato rosemary garlic sauce, vegetables, olives
$23.00
Veg. Option $15.00
Broiled Fresh Salmon Okisuki
savory japanese ginger broth, vegetables, noodles
$15.50
Thai Curry
seasonal vegetables, plant protein grain / steak ke-bob option + $5.00
$16.50
Warm Duck Confit Cassoulet
savory white bean & duck stew, green salad in pomegranate vinaigrette
$15.00
Charcuterie Plate
bison sausage, fischer farms ham, wild acres duck & chicken liver pate, beef tongue, pastureland cheddar, pickled vegetables
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places

    Voice Places

    Discover restaurants, nightlife, travel, shopping...

  • VOICE Daily Deals

    VOICE Daily Deals

    Get 50 to 90% off every day on restaurants, movies, massages...

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    More than 10,000 of the BEST things to eat, drink, and experience

  • My Voice Nation

    My Voice Nation

    Join the Village Voice community and get exclusive deals and info

  • Happy Hour

    Happy Hour

    Your local Happy Hour guide at your fingertips

or

Log in or Sign up

Social Connect:

Use your favorite account to access My Voice Nation.


Use your My Voice Nation account to log in:





Forgot password?
or

Sign Up or Log in

Social Connect:

Sign up for My Voice Nation with your preferred network.


Sign up for a My Voice Nation account:



Privacy policy