Citysearch Editorial Review

by Molly Priesmeyer

This charming restaurant has become a Northeast landmark. Thirteenth Avenue in Northeast Minneapolis is busting at the seams with new and cool coffee shops, restaurants, art galleries and wine bars. But one thing about it remains constant and true: The charming Modern Café--with its diamond tiles on the wall, big, bulbous booths, cozy, dark-wood tables and the constant rich scent of the restaurant’s famous pot roast in the air. Indeed, the Modern offers the humble, down-to-earth spirit of old-school Northeast as everything around it blooms anew. And while the Modern’s décor is 1940s-diner inspired, the food is anything but. Instead, the Modern Caf3 is a cozy spot where locals gather for hearty, epicurean meals, fine wine and friendly, neighborhood service.

06/10/09

Great place for great better than great home made food!

by anshub

Loved the experience!! Quaint little shop but has amazing food!

I tried the beans (appetizer) and got an extra packed before I left. The server was absolutely wonderful (unfortunately I forgot her name) and helpful! She even gave me some bread that I loved. Great recommendation for wine too.

My friends tried the roast and the veggie ravioli. I tried the asparagus risotto. All food was wonderful.

Must go.

• Pros: Best bread I've ever eaten, great server!!!
• Cons: None

06/11/08

I Wish They All Are This Good

by Hezz

This is a small and at times can be a rather crowded place. If you are particular about the food you eat, you have come to the right place. You will quickly realize that the food is well thought out and well prepared. The quality to price ratio is outstanding.

Now a few words about the wait staff. I have never found them lacking. They demonstrate excellent knowledge about the food and are very helpful about selections. Face it, when people are busy you may not be the center of the universe. My wife and I have been going to this restraunt for more than ten years. As she will attest, I am not a man that tolerates inconsiderate, rude or plan uncaring service. I am well pleased with the service at the Modern Cafe.

04/28/08

Very good, unique food in a great location.

by MplsStPDiner

After a long weekend in Minneapolis, we wanted to stop at Eva's Europol cafe on 13th. Called ahead of time, and it opened at 11 (on Sunday) arrived at the shop, sign said open at 11, however it was closed and no one in sight. We were going to go to erte, but the line out the door at the Modern peaked our interest, we waited a little bit and made our way inside. The place was packed, and smelled of delicious Midwestern breakfast. And to our surprise there was room at the bar. Snuggled into our seats, were immediately given water and our beverage order was taken. We had to ask for menus which wasn't a big deal, but I can imagine stuffy republicans wouldn't like that (as they like to be waited on hand and foot). We ordered our breakfast, my husband ordered two eggs, bacon and pancakes, and I had the sausage and biscuits. While we waited for our food, we chatted with the wait staff, were offered the Sunday paper to read, my husbands coffee was constantly refilled. Everyone was polite and friendly. And seemed to enjoy their job, but also enjoyed the slow times so they could just relax and chat with locals. Our food was up in about 30 minutes...First off, the eggs were the BEST I've ever had. They were fresh, and probably from free range birds. They were bright yellow and delicious. The bacon, again, was the best I'd ever had. The pancakes were good, definitly in the top 5. I was all excited for my sausage gravy and biscuits. However when it arrived, and the gravy was a brownish color (and not gray, like traditional sausage gravy) and I was excited. It was cutting edge breakfast. ANd it was delcious. It had bit of veggies, sausage, and bacon, and bacon fat (not my favorite, but gave it flavor) and the sauce was more of a chili taste, it had parmesan cheese in it also, and it was poured over two delicious hand made cheesey chive biscuits. SO GOOD. I couldn't even finish it. We made sure the waitstaff knew we were happy, full, and cafinated. In return we were treated well.

• Pros: Innovative food, and favorites, cute and kitschy. Easy to find, ample parking
• Cons: Potential for long waits.

03/08/08

Breakfast All Day Long on the Weekends??

by tsell

I'd love to say that I loved this place but....well, we never got the chance: We Came. We Sat. We Left. Notice what's missing? Yeah, the 'We Ate' part...That's because, as we rudely learned this past Saturday, Modern Cafe serves ONLY breakfast *all day long* on Saturday and Sunday. Could we get lunch (it _was_ 1:30 pm afterall)? Nope. A plate of panckaes? Heck yes! But no lunch...very disappointing since no where on their pathetic website, or in their front window, or anywhere that I or my wife could see does it say "We only server breakfast all day long on the weekends". We drove from waaaay out in the 'burbs to try this place too. Would I go back? Well, yes I guess...but ony if I happen to be in the area.

• Pros: The place looked nice
• Cons: breakfast all day long and that's it??

02/10/08

They are right about the potroast.

by jl501

Everything that people say about the potroast being the best in the Twin Cities is right. I even went in slightly cynical because the press is so good and has been for so long, surely this dish can't be THAT good. Simply put, it is.

Overall we had a pleasant night but be prepared for service that feels more like a greasy spoon breakfast joint versus a neighborhood bistro. Also, the hours are strange in that they were closing the doors on a Saturday night at 9:30 and we were the last ones out the door a little before ten. For a funky Minneapolis diner, these hours seem out of line with similar restaurants in this category.

(Amusing City Search issue: it won't let you us the word that rhymes with tot in a review so the space in potroast is eliminated to get through their filter.)

• Pros: Potroast is that good.
• Cons: Service?

01/05/08

Hearty food, cozy atmosphere

by lauhan1

This is one of my favorite restaurants. It's a nice place when you want to have a cozy meal, a glass of wine and good conversation. Sometimes you have to wait for a table, but it's worth the wait. The food is hearty and the atmosphere comfortable.

• Pros: Ambience, food
• Cons: Wait for table

11/07/07

Modern Hash!

by scooter_pi

Had this twice for breakfast in the last couple weeks, so tasty, it has the pot-roast mixed in. Cool server also. Check it out!

• Pros: Good food and service

11/05/07

Great experience, except...

by pwpekelo

After reading and hearing about the Modern Cafe, my wife and I decided to head over from south Minneapolis to check it out. We didn't feel like waiting for a table so we sat at the beautiful bar. The service was great. I think that's an advantage of sitting at the bar at any restaurant, you're not forgotten. The bread was delicious and our meals, awesome. I had the pot-roast that just melted in my mouth and my wife had the ravioli which had the best cream sauce we have ever tasted. She also had a wonderful glass of Pinot Grigio.

Our only disappointment came at the end. One reason we chose the Modern Cafe was because it was on our Minnesota Public Radio Member card. Since I'm in the process of looking for a job, we figured we could use it and save a few bucks. Well, the Modern Cafe stopped taking the MPR card. Its no big deal, the meal was well worth the cost. Its just that it would've been nice to know that ahead of time. We checked MPR's website for updates and it said nothing about the Modern Cafe. The Modern doesn't really have a website to check. I guess we should have called.

06/05/07

The Chef is a genius!

by marcymmc

Best food in town!!!! Fresh, local ingredients. They are in a class all their own! We have always had great service. Good wine/beer list.

• Pros: Everything
• Cons: Restrooms not handicap accessible (in basement).