Unearth The Voyage
There is a restaurant near the Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport where the rotisserie chicken arrives so tender and juicy that a young diner once said it tasted like the chicken had turned into a fish. That kind of reaction pretty much says everything you need to know about what is happening in the kitchen here.
The menu stretches from brunch classics to refined New American plates, and the open, airy dining room fills up fast enough that reservations are strongly recommended. Once you eat here, you start planning your next visit before you even finish the meal.
The Restaurant That Started It All
Some restaurants coast on location alone, especially near major airports and shopping districts. Hazelwood Food and Drink in Bloomington, Minnesota, has chosen a different path entirely.
Found at 8150 26th Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55425, this New American restaurant has built a reputation that goes well beyond its convenient address. The space feels polished without being stuffy, with a contemporary interior that manages to feel both upscale and genuinely welcoming at the same time.
The dining room fills quickly, especially on weekends, which tells you something important about how the community feels about this place. Walk-ins are possible, but a reservation is the smarter move.
The hours run from 10:30 AM on weekdays and 8:30 AM on weekends, staying open late into the evening most nights of the week.
The Rotisserie That Earns Every Compliment
The rotisserie chicken at Hazelwood is the dish that keeps showing up in conversations, and for good reason. Seasoned carefully and cooked until the skin turns golden and the meat stays deeply moist, it arrives paired with mashed potatoes and asparagus in a combination that feels both comforting and refined.
What makes it stand out is the balance. The seasoning never overwhelms the natural flavor of the chicken, and the sides feel genuinely chosen rather than just thrown onto the plate.
The rotisserie chicken sandwich takes that same concept and tucks it between bread, creating something that diners describe as even better than the full plate. When a kitchen can make the same ingredient shine in two completely different presentations, that is a sign of real confidence and skill.
This dish alone makes the trip worthwhile.
A Brunch Menu Worth Waking Up Early For
Weekend brunch at Hazelwood operates on a different level than most spots in the area. The short rib benedict is a standout, combining tender braised short rib with perfectly poached eggs and hollandaise in a way that feels indulgent without tipping into excess.
The buttermilk pancakes have developed a quiet reputation of their own. Light and fluffy with a slight crisp at the edges, they land somewhere between a diner classic and something a skilled pastry chef would be proud of.
The Strawberries and Cream Ciabatta French Toast is another brunch highlight, arriving on a generously sized plate with fresh berries and bold sweetness. Saturday and Sunday brunch service begins at 8:30 AM, making it a genuinely appealing option for early risers and those arriving on morning flights into Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport.
Soups and Starters That Set the Tone
A meal at Hazelwood often begins long before the main course arrives, and the starters here do serious work. The French onion soup is a particular draw during colder months, arriving with a properly bubbling, cheesy top covering a rich and deeply savory broth underneath.
The burrata appetizer brings a creamier, more delicate opener to the table, working well as a contrast to the heartier dishes that follow. Deviled eggs have also made an appearance on the menu, leaning into a classic format with enough care to feel fresh.
Brussels sprouts round out the appetizer lineup with a preparation that has potential, though some diners have noted the sauce could be more generous. Starting a meal with one of these dishes sets a comfortable rhythm for everything that follows, giving the kitchen a chance to show range before the entrees even arrive.
Pasta and Seafood Done With Real Care
The butternut squash ravioli has drawn some of the most enthusiastic responses from diners who did not expect a pasta dish to be the highlight of their evening. The filling is smooth and subtly sweet, balanced by the sauce in a way that makes each bite feel considered rather than accidental.
On the seafood side, the shrimp and scallop scampi uses sea scallops rather than bay scallops, a detail that matters to anyone who has experienced the difference. The parmesan crusted walleye paired with gouda cheese hashbrown potatoes is a Minnesota-forward dish that celebrates local fish with a preparation that elevates it significantly.
These dishes reflect a kitchen that understands how to handle delicate proteins without overcomplicating them. The walleye in particular has left lasting impressions on visitors who were trying it for the first time in the state.
Sandwiches and Comfort Food With an Upgrade
Comfort food gets a thoughtful upgrade at Hazelwood, and the sandwich section of the menu reflects that approach clearly. The prime rib French dip sandwich arrives with the beef sliced generously, served alongside tater tots that bring a familiar crunch to the plate.
The chicken pot pie has become a quiet favorite among regulars, described by more than one diner as genuinely outstanding. It carries all the warmth and density of a classic pot pie while feeling like it was made with better ingredients and more attention than most versions you encounter.
The sweet and salty combination has also earned its fans, particularly among younger diners who appreciate a dish that delivers on exactly what its name promises. These are not flashy plates, but they are executed with enough consistency and care that they keep people ordering them again on repeat visits.
The Pizza With a Twist
The pizza at Hazelwood comes with one of the more visually distinctive presentations on the menu. A circular cutout in the center of the pie holds a fresh salad, creating a combination that surprises first-time diners and tends to generate a few photos before anyone takes a bite.
It is a playful concept that also happens to be practical, giving the table a built-in salad course without requiring an extra plate. The crust quality has drawn mixed reactions from some diners, with at least one reporting an overcooked result, though this appears to be an occasional inconsistency rather than the norm.
When the pizza arrives correctly, it works well as a shared plate, particularly for groups that include diners who want something lighter alongside those going for heartier options. The visual appeal alone makes it worth ordering at least once to see the presentation in person.
A Poke Bowl With a Minnesota Perspective
The poke bowl at Hazelwood leans into local interpretation rather than strict Hawaiian tradition, a choice that reflects the restaurant’s broader New American approach. It arrives closer to a composed salad with rice than a classic poke preparation, which has surprised some diners expecting a more traditional build.
The flavor profile is solid, with fresh ingredients and clean seasoning, even if a few components familiar to poke enthusiasts are absent. Thinking of it as a Minnesota take on the dish makes it easier to appreciate on its own terms rather than as a direct comparison.
This kind of regional reinterpretation runs throughout the Hazelwood menu, where familiar formats get adjusted to reflect local tastes and available ingredients. It does not always land perfectly for every diner, but it consistently shows a kitchen willing to adapt rather than simply replicate what is already being done elsewhere.
Non-Alcoholic Drinks That Actually Impress
The non-alcoholic drink menu at Hazelwood deserves more attention than it typically gets. The blueberry lavender mocktail has become a quiet standout, combining two flavors that complement each other with enough subtlety to avoid feeling like a dessert in a glass.
The blueberry ginger refresher takes a brighter approach, delivering a crisp citrus-forward taste with a gentle warmth from the ginger that lingers pleasantly after each sip. A pear-based house drink has also drawn strong reactions from brunch diners who ordered it on a whim and ended up recommending it to everyone at the table.
The Prickly Pear no-jito rounds out the mocktail selection with a fruity, refreshing character that holds up well alongside the richer food on the menu. These drinks reflect genuine creativity rather than an afterthought, making them worth exploring even for diners who typically skip the beverage menu.
The Atmosphere That Makes Meals Feel Special
The interior at Hazelwood manages something that many restaurants attempt and few achieve: it feels upscale without making anyone feel out of place. The space is open and airy, with a contemporary design that uses light effectively to keep the room feeling energetic during peak hours.
On busy weekend evenings, the noise level rises considerably as the dining room fills, which adds to the lively atmosphere but can make conversation slightly challenging by the time a full house settles in. The patio area offers a welcome alternative during warmer months, providing a more relaxed setting with better acoustics for groups who want to talk through a longer meal.
The overall feel sits somewhere between a polished bistro and a neighborhood gathering spot, appealing to both business travelers grabbing a quick dinner and local families marking a special occasion. That combination is genuinely difficult to pull off consistently.
Why Location Works in Its Favor
The address on 26th Ave S places Hazelwood in a genuinely practical spot for a wide range of diners. Business travelers flying into Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport have noted how easy it is to stop here for a proper meal rather than settling for airport food or a chain restaurant near the terminal.
The proximity to the Mall of America adds another layer of convenience for visitors spending a day shopping or attending events in the area. Being close to major hotels in Bloomington means the restaurant draws a steady stream of guests who discover it through recommendations or a quick search and end up returning on future trips.
Local regulars clearly claim the space as their own as well, filling tables during weekend brunch and weeknight dinners with equal enthusiasm. The location supports the restaurant without defining it, which is exactly how it should work.
Handling Large Groups and Special Occasions
Large parties can be a real test for any kitchen, and Hazelwood has shown it can handle the pressure. Groups have reported smooth service even when the dining room is running at full capacity, with refills arriving promptly and food coming out at a reasonable pace for multiple orders placed simultaneously.
The menu’s breadth helps considerably here. With options ranging from light salads and vegetable bowls to hearty rotisserie plates and pasta dishes, groups with varied preferences can typically find something that works for everyone without anyone feeling like they are settling.
The children’s menu adds another layer of accessibility for family gatherings and celebrations involving younger diners. Easter brunch has proven popular enough that reservations fill quickly for holiday services, suggesting the restaurant has become a go-to destination for milestone meals in the Bloomington area.
Planning ahead is strongly recommended for any group larger than four.
Menu Range That Rewards Repeat Visits
One of the most consistent observations from diners who visit Hazelwood more than once is how much of the menu they still have not tried. The range across breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner means that a regular visitor can eat here multiple times without repeating a single dish.
The menu moves between delicate seafood preparations and sturdy comfort food, between creative mocktails and composed salads, without feeling scattered or unfocused. Each section has enough standout options to anchor an entire visit on its own terms.
That kind of depth is unusual for a restaurant at this price point, which sits comfortably in the moderate range without sacrificing ingredient quality or preparation standards. Diners who start with the rotisserie chicken on one visit often return specifically to work through the pasta section or explore the brunch menu, creating a natural rhythm of discovery that keeps the restaurant feeling fresh each time.
Practical Tips Before Your Visit
A few practical details can make the difference between a smooth visit and a frustrating one at Hazelwood. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for weekend brunch starting at 8:30 AM and for dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings when the dining room reaches capacity quickly.
Walk-in guests are accommodated when space allows, but the restaurant may place a time limit on tables during peak hours to manage demand. Arriving early on weekdays gives you the best chance of securing a table without a wait, and the kitchen is open until midnight most nights, making it a solid option for late arrivals from the airport.
Parking is generally accessible given the suburban setting, and the restaurant’s location makes it easy to reach from the major hotel corridors in Bloomington. Checking the website at hazelwoodfoodanddrink.com before visiting is the simplest way to confirm current hours and reservation availability.
What Keeps Diners Coming Back
The clearest sign that a restaurant is doing something right is when travelers who are unlikely to return to the area say they would make a special trip just to eat there again. That sentiment comes up regularly in conversations about Hazelwood, and it points to something more than just good food.
The combination of a menu that rewards curiosity, a space that feels comfortable across different occasions, and a kitchen that executes both simple and ambitious dishes with real consistency creates a dining experience that sticks with people. The rotisserie chicken may be the anchor dish that draws the most attention, but it is rarely the only thing anyone remembers.
Whether you are passing through Bloomington for a single evening or looking for a reliable spot to return to on every visit, Hazelwood Food and Drink earns its reputation one plate at a time. The Twin Cities dining scene has plenty to explore, and this restaurant fits naturally into any serious itinerary.
