Unearth The Voyage
Minnesota winter doesn’t just show up, it swings a frozen fist. When the wind chill has you rethinking every decision you’ve ever made, the only smart move is hot soup and a sandwich that actually means business.
The Twin Cities has turned this combo into a cold-weather survival skill, from matzo ball bowls that taste like a reset button to minestrone that warms you up before your hands even work again. Whether you’re escaping into a skyway for a quick lunch or driving across town for the real deal, these 13 spots prove one thing: Minnesota knows how to feed you through the worst of it.
1. Cecil’s Delicatessen & Bakery (St. Paul)
Snowflakes the size of quarters are falling outside, your fingers are numb even through your gloves, and all you can think about is something warm and substantial – Cecil’s delivers exactly that fantasy. This St. Paul institution has been slinging classic Jewish deli fare that feels like a hug from your bubbe, even if you never had one.
The matzo ball soup here isn’t messing around. Fluffy, tender dumplings float in golden broth that tastes like someone’s grandmother spent all morning perfecting it.
Pair that with one of their overstuffed sandwiches, where the meat is piled so high you’ll need an engineering degree to figure out how to bite it, and you’ve got yourself a legitimate winter survival strategy.
What makes Cecil’s special is the combination of old-school authenticity and Minnesota practicality. Their website lists daily hours for both the deli counter and restaurant seating, so you can plan your warm-up mission without showing up to locked doors.
The bakery side means you can also grab some rugelach or a black-and-white cookie for dessert, because if you’re already committed to comfort, you might as well go all in. On days when the temperature doesn’t crack double digits, Cecil’s becomes less of a restaurant choice and more of a public service.
2. Crossroads Delicatessen (Minnetonka)
Ever notice how some places say “homemade” but you can tell it came from a giant industrial vat somewhere in New Jersey? Crossroads isn’t playing that game.
When they say homemade soup, they mean someone in that kitchen actually made it, probably that morning, with real ingredients you could identify in a lineup.
The soup rotation reads like a Minnesota greatest-hits album: matzo ball for the traditionalists, tomato basil for the comfort seekers, wild rice chicken that nods to local ingredients, and whatever else the kitchen dreams up. Each one tastes like the kind of thing you’d make if you had time, talent, and weren’t completely exhausted from scraping ice off your windshield at six in the morning.
The Grilled Reuben deserves its own standing ovation. Corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing get pressed between rye bread until everything melds into one glorious, messy, impossible-to-eat-gracefully masterpiece.
It’s the kind of sandwich that requires extra napkins and zero shame.
Located in Minnetonka, Crossroads serves the western suburbs with the kind of dependable excellence that makes it a regular stop for anyone who works nearby. When the forecast shows nothing but gray skies and single-digit temps, this is where you point your car and trust everything will be okay.
3. The Brothers Deli (Minneapolis, Downtown)
Downtown Minneapolis moves at a particular pace—fast, efficient, no time for nonsense. The Brothers Deli gets it.
They’ve built their entire operation around the idea that you can have authentic, soul-warming deli food without sacrificing your entire lunch hour or your afternoon meeting.
The fact that matzo ball soup ranks among their most-ordered items on DoorDash tells you everything. In a city where people could order literally anything, they’re choosing traditional Jewish comfort food from The Brothers.
That’s not accident; that’s reputation earned one bowl at a time.
The grab-and-go setup works perfectly for the downtown crowd. You can duck in, order quickly, and either eat at one of their tables or take your soup and sandwich back to the office without missing a beat.
But here’s the thing: even though it’s fast, it doesn’t taste fast. The sandwiches are properly constructed, the soup tastes like care went into it, and you leave feeling like you actually had a meal instead of just refueling.
On those brutal January days when the skyway is packed with people trying to avoid the arctic air outside, The Brothers becomes a refuge. You can warm up, eat something that reminds you why winter is tolerable, and get back to your day.
It’s cozy efficiency at its finest, which is basically the Minneapolis downtown dining philosophy in sandwich form.
4. Cossetta Alimentari (St. Paul)
Cossetta isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a St. Paul landmark that’s been feeding people since 1911. Walking in feels like stepping into an Italian market where the smells alone could make you weep with happiness.
The combination of market and eatery means you can grab groceries and lunch in one stop, which on a freezing day is the kind of efficiency that deserves a medal.
Their “Zuppa di Giorno” (soup of the day) rotates through classics like minestrone and pasta fagioli, both of which deliver that thick, hearty, stick-to-your-ribs quality you need when it’s negative fifteen outside. These aren’t delicate, brothy soups; these are meals that happen to be in liquid form.
Pair one with an Italian sandwich from their deli counter, and you’ve got carbs, protein, and enough warmth to make it through the afternoon.
The location near downtown St. Paul makes it perfect for a lunch escape or a post-work stop. You can eat in their bustling dining area, surrounded by the energy of a busy market, or grab everything to go.
Either way, you’re leaving with food that tastes like someone’s nonna wouldn’t let you leave the table until you’d eaten three helpings.
Cossetta proves that Minnesota’s cold-weather food scene isn’t just Scandinavian hot dishes and walleye. Sometimes what you need is Italian comfort food, and this place delivers it with decades of practice and zero shortcuts.
5. The Simple Sandwich (Minneapolis, Downtown Skyway)
The Minneapolis skyway system is basically an indoor city built to survive winter, and The Simple Sandwich is one of its MVPs. Tucked into the climate-controlled maze that lets you walk from building to building without ever facing the elements, this spot has perfected the art of the fast, warming lunch.
Their name undersells what they do. Sure, the sandwiches are straightforward—no fancy fusion experiments or deconstructed nonsense—but that simplicity is exactly the point.
A properly made Reuben doesn’t need to be reimagined; it needs to be executed well, and The Simple Sandwich nails it every time. Hot, melty, tangy, and substantial enough to power you through an afternoon of meetings.
The soups change daily, which keeps regulars interested and ensures you’re getting whatever’s fresh and seasonal. Some days it’s a classic chicken noodle, other days it might be a creamy tomato or a chunky vegetable.
The variety means you could eat here weekly and not get bored, which for skyway warriors is basically a requirement.
What makes this place essential is its understanding of the downtown lunch-hour rhythm. You need food fast, you need it warm, and you need it good enough that you’re not resentful about having to eat at your desk.
The Simple Sandwich checks every box, which is why it’s packed every weekday with people who’ve figured out that simple done right beats complicated done wrong every single time.
6. C. McGee’s Deli (Minneapolis, Near Target Field)
Located near Target Field, C. McGee’s sits in the heart of Minneapolis sports and entertainment district, which means they’ve seen their share of hungry crowds.
But they’re not just capitalizing on foot traffic; they’re actually committed to the soup-and-sandwich mission in a way that shows in every menu item.
The box lunches are genius. They literally include a sandwich plus a cup of soup, which is exactly what you want when it’s cold but you also need to keep moving.
It’s the perfect combination for a quick lunch before a game, a meal to take back to the office, or sustenance before braving the cold walk to your car. Everything’s designed for convenience without sacrificing quality.
Fresh sandwiches aren’t just a menu category here; they’re part of the core identity. The deli takes pride in building each one properly, with good bread, quality ingredients, and enough substance that you’re not hungry again in an hour.
Pair that with their rotating soup selection, and you’ve got a reliable formula for cold-day satisfaction.
The location makes it especially valuable during baseball season when the weather can still be unpredictable. April Twins games can feel like January, and C.
McGee’s has warmed up many a frozen fan before first pitch. But even in the dead of winter, when there’s no game to attend, this spot serves the downtown crowd with the same dedication, proving they’re not just a seasonal convenience but a year-round necessity.
7. Be Graceful Bakery & Catering (Twin Cities area)
Sometimes the best soup-and-sandwich spots aren’t trying to be destination restaurants; they’re just quietly doing excellent work for people who need good food. Be Graceful fits that description perfectly.
They’ve built their reputation on fresh ingredients, reliable quality, and the kind of sandwiches and hoagies that make office lunch orders actually exciting instead of depressing.
The emphasis on fresh ingredients isn’t just marketing talk. You can taste the difference between vegetables that were cut this morning and ones that have been sitting around for three days.
The sandwiches come loaded with crisp lettuce, ripe tomatoes, and proteins that taste like they were handled with care. It’s the kind of attention to detail that turns a regular lunch into something you actually look forward to.
Their soup selection rounds out the menu nicely, giving you that warm component that makes cold days bearable. Whether you’re ordering for yourself or coordinating an office lunch, the combination of soups, salads, and sandwiches covers every base without overwhelming you with too many choices.
The catering focus means they’re set up to handle larger orders efficiently, which is clutch when you need to feed a meeting or event. But even if you’re just one person looking for a good lunch, they treat your order with the same care.
In the Twin Cities catering scene, Be Graceful has carved out a niche by being consistently good, reliably fresh, and understanding that sometimes people just want a great sandwich and hot soup without any fuss.
8. Pickerman’s Soup & Sandwich (Golden Valley)
When a place puts “Soup & Sandwich” right in the name, they’re making a promise. Pickerman’s in Golden Valley keeps that promise with the kind of menu that makes decision-making both easy and difficult—easy because you know everything will be good, difficult because there are so many options you actually want to try.
The soup lineup alone is impressive: broccoli cheddar, chicken noodle, clam chowder, chili, and more rotate through depending on the day and season. Each one delivers that thick, rich, satisfying quality that makes you want to order a bowl instead of a cup, consequences be damned.
These aren’t afterthought soups; they’re co-stars alongside the sandwiches, getting equal attention and care.
Speaking of sandwiches, the Numero Uno and Meatball are signatures for good reason. The Numero Uno piles on the ingredients with confidence, while the Meatball delivers exactly what you hope for: tender meat, tangy sauce, melted cheese, and bread that holds up to the challenge.
Both pair beautifully with soup, creating combinations that feel like they were designed by someone who genuinely understands cold-weather cravings.
The Golden Valley location serves the western suburbs with consistent hours and reliable quality. It’s the kind of place that becomes part of your regular rotation because you know exactly what you’re getting, and what you’re getting is exactly what you need when Minnesota winter is doing its worst.
No surprises, no disappointments, just solid soup-and-sandwich execution every single time.
9. The Winkin’ Rooster (Shoreview)
Small, independent, and proudly homemade—The Winkin’ Rooster represents everything great about neighborhood spots that prioritize quality over scale. Located in Shoreview, this isn’t a chain trying to optimize efficiency; it’s a local shop where people actually make the food with their own hands, using recipes that work because they’ve been tested on real customers who come back and say what they think.
The specialization in homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches might sound simple, but simple is exactly what you want when it’s snowing sideways and you need something warm and real. There’s a comfort in knowing your soup was made in the kitchen you can see, by people who’ll be there tomorrow if you want to tell them it was great or suggest they add more garlic.
This is the kind of place where regulars know the staff by name and have favorite menu items they order every week. The atmosphere is unpretentious and welcoming, the kind of spot where you can sit alone with a book or meet a friend without feeling rushed.
Everything moves at a human pace, which on stressful, freezing days is its own form of therapy.
The Winkin’ Rooster proves that you don’t need multiple locations or a massive menu to be essential. You just need to do a few things really well, care about your customers, and show up consistently.
When the weather turns brutal, this Shoreview gem is exactly the kind of place you want in your neighborhood.
10. Kramarczuk’s (Minneapolis, Northeast)
Kramarczuk’s has been a Northeast Minneapolis icon since 1954, which means they’ve been feeding people through Minnesota winters for seventy years. That kind of longevity doesn’t happen by accident; it happens because you’re giving people food that matters, food that connects to tradition and delivers satisfaction in equal measure.
The Eastern European focus means the menu skews toward hearty, substantial fare that was basically designed for cold climates. Sausages, pierogies, and sandwiches built with house-made meats provide the kind of stick-to-your-ribs fuel you need when the temperature drops below zero.
This isn’t light, delicate food; this is food that helps you survive, and it tastes like generations of knowledge about what works when winter gets serious.
The market component means you’re not just getting a meal; you’re getting access to ingredients and products you might not find elsewhere. You can eat lunch and then grab some sausages to take home, or pick up rye bread that actually tastes like rye bread should.
The combination of restaurant and market creates a destination vibe that makes the trip feel special.
Their website lists hours and holiday schedules, which is helpful for planning your visit to this Northeast landmark. Whether you’re a longtime regular or a first-timer curious about what all the fuss is about, Kramarczuk’s delivers an experience that’s both authentically cultural and perfectly suited to Minnesota’s climate.
When you need food with backbone, this is where you go.
11. Kowalski’s Markets (Multiple Minnesota locations)
Kowalski’s might be known primarily as a grocery store, but their deli departments are legitimate lunch destinations that happen to be surrounded by aisles of food you can also buy. The soup bar alone makes them worthy of this list—signature fresh soups available daily mean you can grab something hot and homemade while you’re already there picking up milk and eggs.
The convenience factor is huge. You’re already at the store, the weather is terrible, and the idea of making another stop anywhere is exhausting.
Being able to pick up a bowl of soup and a sandwich from the deli, along with your regular groceries, feels like winning a small but meaningful victory against winter’s inconveniences. It’s efficient, it’s warm, and it’s better than you might expect from a grocery store deli.
But here’s the thing: Kowalski’s deli isn’t your average grocery store operation. They put actual effort into their prepared foods, using quality ingredients and treating the deli like a real food service operation instead of an afterthought.
The sandwiches are properly constructed, the soup bar offers variety and freshness, and everything is designed for people who want good food without a lot of fuss.
With multiple Minnesota locations, you’re likely near a Kowalski’s no matter where you are in the Twin Cities metro. That accessibility, combined with consistent quality across locations, makes them a reliable cold-day option.
Sometimes the best soup and sandwich isn’t at a dedicated restaurant; it’s at the place you’re already going, done well enough that it becomes your regular move.
12. Eddington’s (Multiple Minnesota locations)
Eddington’s understands the work lunch better than most places because that’s exactly who they’re built to serve. With multiple Minnesota locations, they’ve become the reliable choice for people who need something good, fast, and substantial enough to power through an afternoon of deadlines and meetings.
The trio of sandwiches, salads, and homemade soups covers every lunch preference without making you wade through pages of options.
The “work lunch staple” designation might not sound glamorous, but there’s real value in being the place people trust when they’re busy and hungry. Consistency across locations means you know what you’re getting whether you’re near the office or running errands across town.
That predictability becomes comfort in itself when you’re stressed and just need food to work out without thinking too hard about it.
The homemade soups are the anchor of the cold-weather menu. They rotate seasonally and daily, giving you variety if you’re a regular while maintaining quality standards that keep people coming back.
Pair soup with one of their sandwiches, and you’ve got a lunch that feels complete without being heavy enough to require a nap.
What Eddington’s does really well is balancing speed with quality. You’re not waiting forever, but you’re also not eating something that tastes like it was made three days ago.
For the working crowd trying to maximize their lunch hour while staying warm and fed, that balance is everything. Multiple locations mean you’re never far from a reliable option when winter is making everything harder.
13. Erbert & Gerbert’s (St. Paul + other MN locations)
Chain restaurants often get dismissed by food snobs, but Erbert & Gerbert’s proves that regional chains can deliver exactly what you need when you need it. With locations throughout Minnesota including St. Paul, they’ve built a reliable operation around an extensive soup and sandwich menu that doesn’t try to be fancy—it just tries to be good and consistent, which for a cold lunch run is often more important than culinary innovation.
Their St. Paul location specifically invites you to explore their menu, which is code for “we have a lot of options and we’re confident you’ll find something you like.” That confidence is earned through combinations that work: classic subs, hot sandwiches, wraps, and soups that rotate but maintain quality standards. You’re not getting groundbreaking food, but you’re getting food that works, delivered by people who’ve done it thousands of times.
The advantage of a chain is knowing exactly what you’re getting before you walk in. If you’ve been to one Erbert & Gerbert’s, you know what to expect at another.
That predictability is valuable when you’re cold, hungry, and don’t want to gamble on whether a place will be good. You just want warm soup, a decent sandwich, and to get on with your day.
For people who work or live near any of their Minnesota locations, Erbert & Gerbert’s becomes part of the rotation—not every day, but often enough that the staff might recognize you. In winter, when variety matters less than warmth and reliability, that’s exactly the kind of place you need in your life.
