Unearth The Voyage
There is a spot in the southwest suburbs of Minneapolis where the parking lot fills up fast on a Wednesday night, and that alone tells you something. The patio stretches wide enough to seat a crowd, the kitchen turns out walleye and burgers that people genuinely talk about, and the cinnamon rolls are reportedly the size of a small hubcap.
This is not your average suburban American restaurant. NorthStar Tavern in Bloomington has quietly built a loyal following by doing comfort food right, keeping the atmosphere lively, and offering a patio that makes warm Minnesota evenings feel like a reward.
Whether you are a first-timer or a regular who always orders the Cajun chicken and shrimp pasta, this place has a way of pulling you back.
What Makes NorthStar Tavern Stand Out in Bloomington
Some restaurants earn their reputation quietly, one table at a time. NorthStar Tavern, located at 5101 W 98th St, Bloomington, Minnesota, is exactly that kind of place.
It sits in a suburban stretch of the Twin Cities metro, but it draws crowds that most downtown spots would envy.
The building itself is roomy and contemporary, with a layout that feels open without being cold. There are plenty of screens for game-day crowds, and the energy on a busy Thursday evening is genuinely contagious.
You can feel the buzz the moment you walk in.
What separates NorthStar from similar spots nearby is the range of the menu. This is not a place that does one thing well and coasts on it.
From walleye to pizza to cinnamon rolls the size of a dinner plate, the kitchen covers serious ground without losing focus.
Walleye on the Menu and Why It Matters Here
Walleye is Minnesota’s state fish, and any restaurant that takes it seriously earns automatic credibility with locals. NorthStar Tavern puts walleye on the menu as a nod to regional identity, and it fits naturally alongside the rest of the comfort-focused lineup.
This is not a gimmick. In Minnesota, walleye on the menu signals that a kitchen understands its audience.
The fish has a mild, slightly sweet flavor that holds up well whether it is pan-fried, battered, or simply seasoned and cooked clean. At NorthStar, the preparation leans into that natural quality without overcomplicating it.
For visitors who are not from the region, ordering walleye here is a genuine taste of Minnesota food culture. Locals grew up eating it at lakeside supper clubs and backyard fish fries.
Finding it at a lively suburban tavern with a great patio makes the experience feel current without losing that familiar, grounding quality.
The Burger Program and the Monthly Rotating Feature
Burgers are central to what NorthStar Tavern does, and the kitchen does not treat them as an afterthought. The NorthStar Burger has earned consistent praise for being properly cooked and well-balanced, which sounds basic but is harder to pull off consistently than most people realize.
A burger cooked right, every time, is a genuine achievement in a busy kitchen.
The rotating burger of the month keeps things interesting for regulars who come back often enough to notice. Not every monthly feature lands equally well, but the concept keeps the menu feeling alive rather than static.
It gives frequent visitors a reason to try something new instead of defaulting to their usual order.
The pretzel bun wagyu option has appeared on the rotation and reflects the kitchen’s willingness to work with quality ingredients. When the seasoning hits right, these burgers hold their own against anything else on the menu.
The Patio Experience That Keeps People Coming Back
Minnesota summers are short and fiercely appreciated. When the weather cooperates, NorthStar Tavern’s patio becomes one of the better places to spend a warm evening in Bloomington.
The space is large enough to accommodate groups without feeling cramped, and the open-air setting adds a relaxed quality that the indoor dining room, as comfortable as it is, simply cannot replicate.
One guest described eating outside on a particularly nice night as the highlight of the visit, even above the food itself. That says a lot about how well the patio is set up.
Good lighting, enough space between tables, and the general energy of a busy restaurant spilling outdoors create an atmosphere that feels genuinely social.
Weekend brunch on the patio, starting at 10 AM on Saturdays and Sundays, is worth planning around if you are visiting between late spring and early fall. The combination of morning light and good food is hard to beat.
Ellsworth Cheese Curds and the Appetizer Lineup
Cheese curds are a Midwest staple, and NorthStar Tavern sources theirs from Ellsworth, a Wisconsin creamery with a strong regional reputation. That detail matters.
Ellsworth cheese curds have a specific freshness and squeaky texture that sets them apart from generic fried cheese, and serving them here signals that the kitchen pays attention to sourcing.
The curds arrive golden and hot, with a light crisp exterior that gives way to soft, melted cheese inside. They disappear fast at the table, which is either a warning or an endorsement depending on how you look at it.
The appetizer menu extends well beyond the curds. The Cry Baby Cauliflower has become a crowd favorite, drawing repeat orders from people who came in planning to order something else entirely.
The spinach dip and shrimp egg rolls also show up in conversations about what to order first. Starting with appetizers at NorthStar is rarely a mistake.
Pizza at NorthStar and Why It Earns Its Own Conversation
Pizza might not be the first thing that comes to mind at a tavern known for burgers and walleye, but NorthStar Tavern’s pizza program deserves serious attention. The margarita pizza has drawn genuine enthusiasm from guests who came in expecting to order something else entirely.
The Thai chicken pizza, available for delivery through platforms like UberEats, has earned praise for its creative flavor profile.
What makes the pizza here work is that it does not try to be something it is not. These are tavern pizzas built for a casual, social setting, and they deliver on that promise with consistency.
The crust, toppings, and overall balance hold up whether you are eating at the bar or sharing a pie at a corner table.
For guests who have visited and focused on burgers, coming back specifically to try the pizza is a recommendation that shows up repeatedly. The menu rewards exploration.
The Atmosphere Inside and What Makes the Space Work
NorthStar Tavern is described as roomy and contemporary, and that combination is harder to get right than it sounds. Roomy without feeling empty requires thoughtful layout.
Contemporary without feeling cold requires warm lighting, natural materials, and the right energy from a busy crowd. NorthStar manages both.
The multiple screens placed around the room make it a natural gathering spot for sports, but the layout does not sacrifice conversation for visibility. Tables are spaced well enough that a group can actually talk without shouting, even on a packed Thursday evening.
Pull tabs are available for guests who enjoy that Minnesota tradition, and a small game console adds a casual, unpretentious touch. The overall vibe is social and relaxed, the kind of place where a group of thirty can show up with an hour’s notice and be accommodated without drama.
That flexibility is part of what keeps NorthStar relevant for everything from casual lunches to graduation celebrations.
Visiting NorthStar Tavern and What to Know Before You Go
NorthStar Tavern opens at 11 AM Monday through Friday and at 10 AM on weekends, which makes it a solid option for brunch, lunch, or a long, leisurely dinner. The kitchen stays open until midnight every day of the week, so late arrivals are welcome without the usual suburban restaurant time pressure.
The place gets genuinely busy, especially on weekday evenings. Showing up with a large group is doable, as the staff has handled parties of thirty or more, but calling ahead is the smart move.
Tables turn relatively quickly, and getting seated usually happens faster than the crowd suggests.
The patio is the best seat in the house during Minnesota’s warmer months, so arriving a little earlier on a Friday or Saturday evening improves your chances of grabbing outdoor space. For first-timers, starting with the Ellsworth cheese curds and Cry Baby Cauliflower before moving to a main course is a reliable way to experience what NorthStar does best.
