Bar Brava

My wife and I were thrilled to stumble upon this hidden gem because of their James Beard nomination for their unique and extraordinary wine options. We had dinner plans at another restaurant downtown for Valentine's Day and were going to swing in here for a drink first but the weather prevented any of that from happening. But when I called over there, I spoke to the owner Dan and he was great. I also loved the story behind their natural wines and scratch kitchen, so I made a dinner reservation for a later date.That date was last night and we had the Cheese Board, Kroppkaor (potato dumpling), Swedish Meatballs, and Bread Pudding for dessert. Everything was delicious and I appreciated the Scandinavian twist on their cuisine. We sat at the bar and Nate, the bartender, was also great and really made it a memorable experience. Keep up the great work and we will be back!

Tried bar brava for the first time last night and wondering why we haven't been before! Such a great vibe inside and I love the idea of rotating chefs/menu. How fun! The service was fantastic. Everyone working there seems like they love their job and each other. We had multiple staff members give us recommendations and also insight into wine or sake. The menu was sushi by Baaska which was incredibly. Loved the TSY roll and the crispy rice with tuna. The quality of fish served was great and the portions were generous. Definitely will be back soon!

Such a nice dinner at Bar Brava! We went on a Saturday night. Service was so kind and helpful. We liked the relaxing intimate atmosphere. Swedish meatballs were tasty but I forgot to take a photo!

Cool atmosphere, tasty tapas and quick and friendly service on top of affordability. Their menu changes so a good reason to come back.

My husband & I came to Bar Brava for a little date night he planned for us, after some friends raved about how amazing it was. We walked in & the place is adorable; I love the decor & the style of literally everything. Everyone who helped us was great, very no-frills but without being rude in any way, which is honestly perfect (we were on a little date so it's nice when the folks are helpful but not hovering). Our service was a 10/10. We originally went in thinking we would be ordering from a Scandinavian-inspired menu, because that's what was online. Surprise! They had a pasta special the night we went. This wasn't a setback, just a change of course. While I do love to pregame the menu before going in, it didn't really bother us that we had different options. We got:--Gnocchi Frito: this was SO buttery & delicious, the chunky salt really added to the dish, too. A great start to our meal!--Summer Veg Cavatelli: I loved all the veggies included, & the pasta was cooked to perfection. I do wish there were a bit more salt/other seasonings, as veggies tend to wash out a lot of the flavor. --Short Rib Papardelle: "Marvelous", according to my husband. He did wish that it wasn't just 1 big long noodle, but we don't know if that's just 'the style' lol. --Tiramisu: The cake layers were SO dense & moist, wow. There definitely could've been more espresso flavor, but I respect the take (& honestly, I'm not mad about eating cake, ever). To drink, we each ordered a cocktail (very reasonably priced at $10, which was a nice surprise). They were both delicious & refreshing: my husband had an amaro spritz & I had something adjacent but lemony. Overall, we'll definitely be back to try another menu. This place was very tasty & still quite affordable for a night out that feels fancy!

Had an awesome time at Bar Brava for the Sushi by Baaska popup! The folks working at Bar Brava were all so nice, friendly, and helpful. The decor is super cute and the sushi and drinks were fantastic!

This was my second time at Bar Brava. The food this time was far better! The wine experience was a bit worse.I missed the concept where wines were explained to you based on preferences. But the wines here are still great! There is a good selection and the person behind the bar was knowledgeable. I liked being able to order a "wine shot" to try different types. I had a Croatian rosé that was fabulous.The food was the star here though - Khue's Kitchen, which unfortunately is leaving soon. I ordered the chicken sandwich and it was HUGE. Definitely enough for two meals.

We had such a great time at Bar Brava and eating the food at Khue's Kitchen!It's a welcoming place with bar seating, some tables, and quiet music in the background. Prices for both the wine and food were reasonable. The house red wine in a porrón was palatable and fun to drink out of. The food is delicious! Definitely get the crispy chicken sandwich. There is a perfect crunch on the outside with a piping hot and juicy interior. The sauce was savory and spicy. My favorite chicken sandwich in the Twin Cities! The bok Choy stir fry was also flavorful and had a plentiful amount of vegetables. Waitstaff is very polite and attentive. We are excited to return!

Interesting restaurant with rotating chefs and menus. We joined on a "Nordic" night and very much enjoyed plates such as smoked trout dip, potato pancakes, Swedish meatballs and a lovely cheese plate. Service was good. Ambiance is sparse and restaurant is located in an odd place with not much else around. May or may not return.

I took a group here this last week for a tasting and we had such a good time. Everything they served was delicious. I highly recommend the bacon potato pierogis! The owner, Dan, poured the glasses and you can tell he loves what he does. The service was top notch. We learned a lot about the phenomenal natural wines they serve and we will be back again with more people!!!