The Nook | Saint Paul, Minnesota

I’m almost embarrassed to say this was my first time eating at The Nook in Saint Paul considering for 3 years I lived a mere 5 blocks away. In my defense, I was a regular at Shamrocks on West 7th, which is owned by the same people and has most of the same menu items! My favorite coworker happy hours started at Shamrocks and proceeded up Randolph. Literally, the best happy hour route there is in Saint Paul.

I’m happy to have finally corrected this wrong and luckily, because we went on a Thursday night, the wait (which was my previous deterrent, since it has a reputation for being pretty long) was only 20 minutes!

Agave Kitchen | Hudson, Wisconsin

I get it. Hudson is a little far out there, but trust me on this one!

Full Disclosure: I’ve spent more time eating (and “drinking wisconsinbly”) at Agave Kitchen than any other restaurant in the Twin Cities. Yes, the food is good, but the real reason for me is because I love being able to go there to spend time with my sister who is Agave Kitchen’s General Manager. A few times a week you can also find Andrea behind the bar slinging mojitos and screaming “SEE YOU TOMORROW” at guests who are leaving haha… So yeah, full disclosure: I know many of the people who work there because they are my sister’s 2nd family, but I am not getting any kick backs for writing this Hipster Hack (not saying I didn’t try, just saying it didn’t happen…hahaha just kidding).

My sister has been working at Agave for somewhere around 9(?) years so it’s safe to say I’ve tried a LOT of their food. Originally I used to go there when I was in my mid 20s as a loophole, because if your sister is the bartender you’re not eating and drinking alone, right? RIGHT?! However, their keto menu is the star of this Hipster Hack.

It has been a strugglefest to find places to go out to eat that are actually affordable (aka not a steak house) and have keto food options other than a bunless burger and a side salad. Agave Kitchen has a whole keto friendly subset to their menu AND they have keto monthly features like the lobster mac & cheese you’ll see below (made with cauliflower rice). If you’re keto, this definitely makes it worth the 30 minute drive for a date night!

George and the Dragon | Minneapolis

This is my first George and the Dragon Hipster Hack, but it’s my third experience there. The first time was based off a suggestion a coworker gave me when my (now) boyfriend was forcing me to pick out where we were going to go to dinner on one of our first official dates. Unfortunately, the wait was over an hour so we went elsewhere. We did end up going a couple weeks later, but back then I was still trying a bit and didn’t want to whip out my camera and take pictures of all the food just yet haha, so I’m excited to say that not only did I take pictures of my food this time, but when the appetizer arrived, boyfriend pushed the plate over to me, “get your picture so we can eat.” hahahaha. Trained.

Twin Spirits Distillery Round 2 | Northeast Minneapolis

I shared my first Hipster Hack last August for Twin Spirits Distillery, but a couple weekends ago we went again and I 1. tried some new drinks and 2. was able to experience the adorable outdoor seating, which is worth it’s own hack! Continue reading

Fair State Brewing Cooperative | Northeast Minneapolis

The first time I was at Fair State Brewing Cooperative I was on a date in the winter so I’ve been meaning to get back there to try out the patio and also be able to take photos without it being awkward ha Continue reading

D-Spot Wings | Oakdale, MN

READ THE 2023 UPDATED REVIEW

It was time for date night and after a pretty hectic week for both of us, so even though I hate eating with my hands and hate eating wings off the bone, I took one for the team so that Tom could go to his food mecca: D-Spot Wings in Oakdale, Minnesota.

Ok ok, I know this isn’t keto. It started off with the greatest intentions, I figured it’s a wing spot: Meat + look up the sauces ahead of time = good to go, right? Well, my plans got derailed when I received this text and burst out laughing: “If we’re going to D spot then I need to be granted a temporary keto reprieve.” Apparently, it’s a sin to go to D-Spot and not get the fries. So cheat meal time it is!
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Don Oishi Food Truck | Northeast Minneapolis

We tried out the Don Oishi Kitchen Food Truck at Tattersall Distilling in Northeast Minneapolis.

The real hero is the person who initiated the first Brewery/Distillery and Food Truck partnership, because that person created the blueprint for socially acceptable drunk snacking.
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Bonfire Wood Fire Cooking | Woodbury

There’s nothing more obnoxious than when someone talks about a diet they’re on, so I apologize ahead of time for all the references to keto here, but that was the literal reason behind our choice of Bonfire Wood Fire Cooking in Woodbury as our date night destination.

When your diet consists of meat, cheese, select vegetables and sauces it makes a bun-less burger your go-to (and safest bet) when out to eat. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good burger, but this time we decided to choose a restaurant that would offer us a bunch of hearty, low carb options.
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Tattersall Distilling | Northeast Minneapolis

I am obsessed with Tattersall Distiling in NE Minneapolis and cannot believe I have never written a full on review of them considering it is probably the place I most frequently recommend to people when they ask me where they should check out in Northeast. It is time to right that wrong. Continue reading

Edwards Dessert Kitchen | Minneapolis

There is hanging out at a coffee shop and then there is Edwards Dessert Kitchen. I’ve been to some really stunning coffee shops, and while I know this probably doesn’t classify as a “coffee shop,” that vibe feels like it fits more than what you would expect at a traditional bakery. It’s not only adorable inside and home of some amazing coffee (and I’m assured amazing sweets), it is now my new favorite place to take a mid-day field trip. Continue reading

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Hipster Hack

Food & Drink spots throughout the Twin Cities (Minneapolis + St. Paul) and Minnesota.

Snacks