Firelake Grill House & Cocktail Bar

The first stop on my journey throughout the Cities was last week Wednesday, January 4th, when Julie and I decided to check out the Firelake Grill House and Cocktail Bar for some happy hour apps and drinks before going to the movies. I have been wanting to go to the Firelake for awhile now, and it seemed as good a place as any to start the year off.

Here’s a little background on the place:
The Firelake Grill House and Cocktail Bar is located in the Radisson Hotel in downtown Minneapolis on South Seventh Street, just a half block or so from Nicollet Mall. Two private dining rooms and an exhibition kitchen make up the layout of the restaurant. Chef Paul Lynch combines classic Midwest cooking with a flare of Mediterranean spice to offer a unique blend of tastes. The décor is warm and attractive, with soft lighting and neutral colors to invite conversation and relaxation. Visit the Firelake web site here.

Although we didn’t have an entire meal at Firelake, we did have an opportunity to taste what the restaurant had to offer by sampling some appetizers. After taking quite a while to decide, we ordered the Ciabatta Bruscetta and the Five Layer Artichoke Fondue. We paired that with a glass (or two!) of Monkey Bay Pinot Grigio.

The food was very good. I wouldn’t say amazing, but very good, especially for happy hour specials. The Ciabatta Bruscetta was, as the name implies, toasted ciabatta bread served with three spreads: traditional tomato, olive paste, and parmesan pesto. The bruscetta was good, but let’s be honest here. It’s not that difficult to make a good bruscetta. The fondue, however, was magnificent. It was a wonderful blend of cheeses and artichoke served with asiago flatbread. I couldn’t get enough of it! It was like a little cheese explosion with every bit. I loved it. I would highly recommend it. The wine was very good for an inexpensive white – very crisp and flavorful. It was a nice, refreshing taste that actually complimented the food very well.

Overall, I would say that the experience at Firelake Grill House and Cocktail Bar was a good one. The food was very good, and I really enjoyed the ambiance the restaurant provided. It was a relaxing happy hour place to chat with a friend or co-worker. I’d still like to try an entire meal there, but happy hour apps are always a good way to sample what a place has to offer.

One adventure down, 51 to go!

Coming Up: Babalu