Where to Dine Alone in the Twin Cities

Note that these restaurants are listed geographically.

Dutch Bar

Northeast’s new Dutch Bar feels like a hybrid wine bar and cafe — it’s almost tailor-made for spending an evening alone with a glass of merlot and a book. A simple menu of cold cuts, cheese, small plates (think mushroom lentil duxelles with grilled toast) and entrees (jambon and beurre sandwiches; Spanish tortillas with eggs and potatoes) complements the cocktails and wines.

The Anchor Fish & Chips

Belly up to Anchor’s kitchen-side bar for a basket of the eponymous fish and chips — flaky Alaskan cod and thick-cut potato wedges, fried golden — and a pint of Guiness or Smithwick’s. Anchor is all you could ask of a neighborhood restaurant: It’s warm, inviting, and perfectly low-key. Snack on the poutine as you leaf through a book.

Broders' Pasta Bar

If there’s a plate of pasta on the table, are you really alone? Broders’ hits the classics, like spaghetti carbonara, bolognese, and gnocchi pomodoro, all made fresh. (A simple eggless pasta with tomatoes and olive oil is available for vegans.) Terzo, a wine bar by the Broder family, sits kitty corner across 50th and Penn.

Ramen Kazama

Settle in to Ramen Kazama for a bowl of tonkotsu ramen crowned with tender bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and a cut of fatty pork belly. Chef Matthew Kazama’s space has a small bar and a number of booths designed for uninterrupted slurping.

Merlins Rest Pub

Merlins Rest, an Irish pub in Minneapolis’s Longfellow neighborhood is beloved for its bangers and mash, its extensive whiskey and single malt scotch menu, and its total lack of pretense. Pull up the bar to enjoy the live Irish music (Fridays only), and save room for English toffee pudding.

Myriel

Myriel’s tasting menu may not be best suited for solo dining — but the a la carte experience certainly is. This rustic St. Paul gem holds its bar open for walk-ins, and it’s hard to imagine a better happy hour feast than the charcuterie board, which is laden with cheeses, pates, fruit, and quenelles of creamy chicken liver mousse. Or come for a dessert of Scandinavian egg coffee and a slice of chef Karyn Tomlinson’s famous apple pie.

Chip's Clubhouse

Grab a barstool at Chip’s, which serves stellar British pub fare. There are a number of cozy booths, too, for a little extra comfort and privacy as you tuck into a pork tenderloin sandwich. Beyond the pub classics — fish and chips, wedge salad, a great burger — Chip’s always has a few surprises on the menu, like chicken flautas or fried giardinera.

Hyacinth

Intimacy, comfort, and Italian romance are the themes of Hyacinth on Grand Avenue. This is a good date night spot, but there’s also a kitchen-side bar that’s ideal for solo dining. The menu changes often, but expect dishes like chicken liver mousse crostini (served with sunflower seed butter and quince jam), fusilli with beef cheek ragu, and sweet potato risotto.

Moscow on the Hill

Moscow on the Hill’s dining room, draped in rich red and gold fabrics, has plenty of nooks and crannies for tucking into a plate of chicken kiev. This restaurant is a St. Paul staple for Eastern European fare, like pillowy deruny (Ukranian-style potato pancakes), borscht, and neatly wrapped pelmeni. The house infused vodkas — particularly the horseradish — are one of this restaurant’s specialties.