Diners' Choice: Neighbourhood gem restaurants in Twin Cities / Southern Suburbs

OpenTable

Updated 05 October 2026

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighbourhood gems in Twin Cities / Southern Suburbs? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Jensen's Food & Cocktails

4.8

4.8 (2238)

$31 to $50

American

Eagan

About the restaurant

Jensen's Food & Cocktails is an American eatery in Eagan, Minnesota that specializes in serving classic steak & seafood dishes for the past 29 years. Our motto is "not merely a place to dine, but a place to celebrate"! The restaurant features an upscale casual atmosphere and offers Happy Hour daily 3pm-6pm. Located next to the Twin Cities premium outlets, we are easy to find.

Jensen's Food & Cocktails serves lunch and dinner daily, and a brunch service on Saturday and Sunday. Brunch at the restaurant features such fare as Crab Cake Benedict, Eggs Benedict, Petite Filet Mignon and Eggs, French Toast and more.
Lunch offerings include burgers, salads, sandwiches, and wraps.
Dinner fare at Jensen's food & cocktails includes Prime Rib, Filet Mignon, Lobster tails, Snow Crab Legs, Sauteed Walleye and much, much more!

Top review

Barb

Dined 6 days ago

Never disappoints in great tasting food, service and atmosphere!

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Chianti Grill - Burnsville

4.8

4.8 (7213)

$30 and under

Italian

Burnsville

About the restaurant

Chianti Grill features authentic and contemporary Italian cuisine along with aged angus steaks and fresh seafood. The award winning food is complimented by an extensive wine list featuring selections from California, Italy and around the world. Chianti Grill’s friendly, professional service...

Top review

MarilynGold

Dined 7 days ago

FANTASTIC dinner at Chianti Grill! This restaurant. without fail, has the best lasagna in the Twin Cities. Add the gorgonzola walnut salad, and the warm Italian bread to the lasagna entree and it is this is a very scrumptious and satisfying dinner! Our server, Darcy, was very cheerful and efficient. All in all, this was another fine experience at Chiang Grill!

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4.8

4.8 (442)

$30 and under

Grill

Lakeville

About the restaurant

High above the course, with fabulous views of the Legends Club’s fairways, greens, lakes, wetlands, ponds, trees and nature is an ideal place to enjoy distinctive cuisine! Enjoy the warm and inviting elegant Minnesota lodge atmosphere of The Legends Grill year round. The 4-sided natural stone center fireplace provides the charm and ambiance for lunch, dinner or for just a beverage at the bar.

Legends Club dining staff prepares the elements of the UPSCALE CASUAL dining experience that Legends Grill is quickly gaining a reputation for. The upscale casual dining at Legends is often talked about as much as the premier golf course!
Legends Grill is a full service restaurant and bar.

Top review

MeganGold

Dined 7 days ago

Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to experience new menu items and Legend’s did not disappoint! The cranberry Aperol Spritz was so fun and seasonal! Our server, Megan, is exceptional- a true professional! She makes you feel like a ‘regular’ even if not the case.

Porter Creek Hardwood Grilll

4.7

4.7 (1248)

$30 and under

American

Burnsville

About the restaurant

In the spirit of wine country, Porter Creek features a fresh contemporary American menu with California-Mediterranean influences. Signature to the brand are fire roasted meats and rustic vegetables from the rotisserie and woodfired oven where temperatures approach 600 degrees.

As a complement to the menu, Porter Creek offers 80+ bottles of wine – 60 of which are featured by the glass, and over 100 premium brands of spirits including scotch, tequila, bourbon & rye sippers!

Rejoice during the warmer months on this outdoor patio! Whether you’re dining al fresco or enjoying a cocktail at the outdoor bar, a fireplace or water feature is never far away…your oasis in the city!

Top review

Mary

Dined on 13 Oct 2026

We ate in the bar, service was outstanding, food was wonderful.

Doolittles Woodfire Grill - Eagan

4.6

4.6 (1115)

$30 and under

American

Eagan

About the restaurant

Featuring woodfired rotisserie cooking, Doolittles Woodfire Grill is an experience that ignites your senses! Grilling meat over an open flame for a savory wood roasted flavor. The rotation of the rotisserie creates self basting and slow roasting skewers resulting in juicy and succulent meats. Presenting a wine list that would please any connoisseur, Doolittles boasts over 60 wines by the bottle and 30 selections by the glass. The hugely popular ½ price wine by the bottle attracts wine lovers every Monday, all day! The outdoor firepit creates a relaxing setting to wine and dine for any occasion.

Top review

Gloria

Dined on 16 Oct 2026

Always a pleasure, one of our favorite places to go in Eagan

Gary's Supper Club - Lakeville

4.6

4.6 (1314)

$31 to $50

Steak

Lakeville

About the restaurant

Gary's Supper Club is a modern day twist on your grandparent's supper club. We are delighted to provide the south metro with an energetic, fun-filled restaurant, providing a new twist on some of the old school supper club favorites. Cozy up in one of our booths, peruse our menu of salads, steaks, and seafood. Enjoy traditional supper club dishes, such as prime rib and the finest Friday night Fish Fry around! Our bartenders will be happy to satisfy your libation needs with a handcrafted cocktail or pour from an extensive wine menu. No meal would be complete without Gary's famous Key Lime Pie.

We source locally and support our regional farmers. We are careful to use sustainable seafood selections to provide you with the freshest and finest seafood flown in daily. We are active in the community and strive to support local with "Gary's Give Backs".

Come as you are! We're FUN, not fancy. Stop in, grab a barstool, and tell us you know Gary. We'll take it from there! #EatDrink&BeGary"

Top review

Scott

Dined 2 days ago

First and foremost, the service was outstanding as always! The French onion soup was great as were the entrees. The special was a seafood risotto that was excellent. Another great night for the wife and I.

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Popular dish

Filet

Mallards - Inver Grove Heights

4.6

4.6 (554)

$30 and under

Seafood

Inver Grove Heights

About the restaurant

Mallards is serving up award winning seafood & Cajun fare with southern hospitality. Born and raised in Kansas City Missouri, southern hospitality is on the top of our list. It’s more than tradition. It’s ice cold beer, key lime pie, and a party in our backyard. Our family wanted to turn passion into a reality in 2013, so we came together and opened Mallards. With Dad in charge of the menu all of our favorites started showing up! From Jambalaya to Tennessee Hot Chicken, our story finds itself on each and every plate!

Top review

Matt

Dined on 10 Oct 2026

Svetlana was amazing. First time there and everything was perfect. New favorite restaurant in the South metro!!

Granite City Food & Brewery - Eagan

4.4

4.4 (1148)

$30 and under

American

Eagan

About the restaurant

With its warm, inviting and modern design, Granite City Food & Brewery’s expansive interior features a spacious and comfortable dining room, four-sided modern, full-service bar and three private dining areas, as well as an outdoor patio. The on-site brewery, with award-winning hand crafted micro-brews, is visible from the main dining and bar areas. The restaurant also showcases an open kitchen featuring chef developed, handcrafted made-from-scratch cuisine, including innovative signature entrees, flatbreads and more.

Granite City Food & Brewery’s signature brews, which are made on-site, include The Duke (Pale Ale), The Bennie (Bock), The Batch (Double IPA), The Northern (American Style Light Lager) and The Stout. Seasonal brews are featured throughout the year.

Top review

JudyGold

Dined on 14 Oct 2026

We both had the Mix and Match for lunch. Cheesy Chicken Tortilla Soup was delicious! Very creamy and just the right amount of spice. Asian Chicken Salad was a generous serving ad also delicious!

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Experience

Lawless Brunch Buffet

Experience

Halloween Brunch Buffet | A Buffet to Die For

Experience

Thanksgiving Day Buffet

Mallards - Shakopee

4.4

4.4 (408)

$30 and under

Cajun

Shakopee

About the restaurant

Top review

Nancy

Dined 6 days ago

The food, atmosphere and the service were all excellent. We thoroughly enjoyed our night out to dinner.

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Popular dish

Lobster Roll

Whiskey Inferno Meat House & Craft Bar

4.1

4.1 (32)

$30 and under

American

Savage

About the restaurant

Whiskey Inferno brings together the soul of a modern steakhouse and the warmth of a neighborhood BBQ joint in a way that feels both elevated and welcoming.
Our menu is built around bold, fire-driven cooking, from hand-cut steaks and slow-smoked meats to chef-driven comfort dishes designed to be shared or savored solo. The bar is a destination of its own, featuring an extensive whiskey and bourbon selection, thoughtfully crafted cocktails, and a deep respect for classic techniques with a modern edge.
Set in a relaxed, unpretentious space, Whiskey Inferno is the kind of place where a special night out feels effortless and a casual dinner turns into a memorable experience. Whether you are here for a perfectly cooked steak, a plate of smoky barbecue, or a well-balanced cocktail by the fire, Whiskey Inferno delivers big flavor, genuine hospitality, and a welcoming energy that keeps guests coming back.

Top review

Shannon

Dined on 20 Sept 2026

The Manhattan in the wooden box was absolutely amazing to behold and drink!

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