Esker Grove

Wonderful fine dining restaurant at the Walker Art Center. I had the 3 course prix fixe menu for the British Arrow awards and all three courses were delightful- pork pie appetizer, Sunday roast entree and a deconstructed tiramisu. My family had assorted a la carte items, and the french fries! Like McDonald's, in a fine dining setting. Julia Child would approve.

It's not particularly kid friendly but I think I'll be back soon with my husband because the Walker has some great exhibits currently that we had to rush through. An amazing venue for a date. Fabulous food with art as an aperitif or digestif, as you prefer.

The staff was so good, so helpful. Our table was great. The croque madame was okay, kind of bland. The coffee was too heavy on the Colombian for my taste. Still, I would go again for the ambiance.

Great patio outside the sculpture garden. Located right inside the Walker Art Museum. Esker Grove was not busy at all when my group was there, so we were seated right away. Good happy hour menu. Loved the wine list. I would recommend this place.

WAY WAY too trendy and high brow for me. Beers that I can not pronounce. And all over 5 bucks.... But hey this is the big city I'm not complaining I sort of expected it.

Awesome, awesome joint. Food and drinks are superb. The staff is great and very friendly. They’ve got a really talented and knowledgeable bar staff, who are fun to talk shop with (particularly re: mixology) if that’s your jam.

It’s easy to run up a big bill if you’re not careful, but everything I’ve had here is superb, so it’s hard to say the prices aren’t fair. (But I usually try to limit myself to one or two small delights per visit.)

It’s a great place for drinks or a light dinner before a Walker event, but plan to show up a little early in that case because everyone else attending the event wants to do the same thing, and the small space fills up quickly.

Also, I love that you can take a drink “to go” to any event on site.

What’s even more fun, though, is to just come hang out and eat here on a random non-event day when it’s not busy. Then you get the full attention of the great staff, and it’s a fantastic environment to loaf in for a bit. I love bringing out of town friends to Esker Grove on an afternoon, and then wandering the sculpture garden after. (Also, Walker members get a discount. So you should be a Walker member! It’s a great deal if you come to the center more than twice a year.)

In short: a superb joint, absolutely worthy of the Walker, and worth visiting entirely on its own merits.