Need more seafood in your life? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top high-end seafood restaurants in Minneapolis, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to satisfy your cravings.
1. The Capital Grille
Topping the list is nationwide chain The Capital Grille. Located at 801 Hennepin Ave. in Downtown West, the steakhouse and wine bar, which offers seafood and more, is the highest-rated restaurant of its kind in Minneapolis, boasting 4.5 stars out of 284 reviews on Yelp.
For lunch, look for New England clam chowder, pan-fried calamari with peppers and a lobster/crab burger served with housemade tartar sauce. In the evening, dinner choices include roasted swordfish with lump crab gratin and mustard vinaigrette and lobster mac and cheese.
2. Jax Café
Next up is Bottineau's Jax Café, situated at 1928 University Ave. NE. With four stars out of 249 reviews on Yelp, the cafe has proven to be a local favorite for those looking to indulge in seafood. Jax opened in 1933 after Prohibition and currently hosts large events and special dining options such as Sunday brunch and Sunday lobster dinner.
Look for notable lunch options like tempura fried shrimp with seasonal vegetables and Ritz cracker-crusted walleye. For dinner, expect New England lobster rolls served with homemade chips and dip and the Ocean Platter complete with a shrimp cocktail, raw oysters, crab cakes, smoked trout and a lobster cocktail. Here's the full menu.
3. 4 Bells
Loring Park's 4 Bells, located at 1610 Harmon Place, is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the fancy bar and seafood restaurant four stars out of 236 reviews. The name of this establishment is an ode to the four bells that once signaled to sailors it was break time. The website states the spot uses Minnesota's 10,000 lakes to its advantage, offering fresh catch daily.
Lake and sea menu options are on offer, such as cod, salmon, oysters, octopus, mussels and more. Pair your fare with a glass of wine, pint of beer or a signature cocktail. Happy hour goes down weekdays from 4-6 p.m. and there is a rooftop bar with views, weather permitting.
4. J.D. Hoyt's
J.D. Hoyt's, a steakhouse that offers beef, seafood and more in North Loop, is another pricey go-to, with four stars out of 173 Yelp reviews. Head over to 301 Washington Ave. North to see for yourself.
Featuring a new patio with views of the surrounding Minneapolis skyline, this place boasts that it is "a friendly, shining, non-corporate place that showcases all that is good about the city that it calls home," per its website.
Seafood dinner options include grilled Cajun catfish, charcoal-grilled shrimp, grilled swordfish and shrimp scampi. Sandwiches, pasta, steak and chicken dishes round out this spot's menu.
