Unearth The Voyage
There is a restaurant on the shores of Lake Minnetonka that people keep coming back to, and once you hear what they are serving, you will understand why. The views alone are worth the drive, but the food is what really gets people talking.
From a filet mignon with a perfect crust to a lobster roll that rivals anything you would find on the East Coast, this place has built a reputation that stretches well beyond the Twin Cities. The outdoor patio fills up fast on warm evenings, and the inside is just as inviting when the weather turns.
Whether you are planning a special anniversary dinner or just want a seriously good meal with a great backdrop, this lakefront spot in Wayzata, Minnesota, has become one of the most talked-about dining destinations in the entire state.
A Restaurant With a Story Worth Knowing
Not every restaurant earns its reputation the hard way, but 6Smith in Wayzata, Minnesota, has done exactly that. At 294 Grove Ln E, Wayzata, MN 55391, this lakefront New American restaurant sits right on the edge of Lake Minnetonka, one of the most iconic bodies of water in the entire state.
The name itself carries weight in the local dining scene, and the address tells you everything about the setting before you even arrive. Wayzata is a small but vibrant lakeside city about 15 miles west of Minneapolis, and it draws visitors year-round for its charm and natural beauty.
6Smith fits right into that picture, offering an upscale yet relaxed atmosphere that feels equally appropriate for a casual lunch or a milestone celebration. The restaurant is open seven days a week, with extended hours on Friday and Saturday evenings until 11 PM.
The View That Keeps People Coming Back
The water view at this restaurant is genuinely hard to describe without sounding like you are overselling it. Lake Minnetonka stretches out in front of the patio in a way that makes even a simple lunch feel like a mini getaway.
The outdoor seating area fills up quickly on warm days, and it is easy to see why. There is something about eating good food with a lake breeze and open water in front of you that makes the whole experience feel a little more special than your average dinner out.
On busy summer evenings, the patio has a vacation-like energy that is hard to replicate indoors. That said, the interior has large windows that frame the lake beautifully, so even guests seated inside get to enjoy the scenery.
The view from this restaurant has become a signature part of what makes 6Smith so memorable.
Bread Is Life, and This Appetizer Proves It
Before you even get to the main course, the appetizer menu at 6Smith has already won people over. The most talked-about starter on the menu is a bread board called Bread Is Life, and the name is not an exaggeration.
Priced at around eleven dollars, it arrives with beautifully baked bread and three different dips that rotate based on what the kitchen is working with seasonally. The bread itself is the kind of thing you keep reaching for even when you know the entree is coming.
Guests frequently mention this dish as a highlight of their entire visit, which is saying a lot given the quality of everything else on the menu. If you are heading to 6Smith for the first time and want a guaranteed crowd-pleaser to start the meal, this is the one to order without hesitation.
Your table will thank you later.
Steaks That Have People Talking Across Minnesota
Minnesota is not the first place most people think of when it comes to serious steakhouse dining, but 6Smith is quietly changing that conversation. The 8-ounce filet mignon here is the kind of cut that arrives exactly as ordered, with a beautifully developed crust on the outside and a tender, rosy interior.
The ribeye and hanger steak have also earned serious praise from diners who know their beef. Each cut is treated with care, and the kitchen clearly understands that a great steak does not need to be overcomplicated to be outstanding.
What sets these dishes apart is the consistency. Whether you visit on a busy Friday night or a quieter Tuesday, the steaks come out the way they should every time.
For anyone who has been searching for a truly memorable steak experience in the Twin Cities area, this restaurant delivers in a way that is hard to forget.
Seafood That Rivals the Coasts
Fresh oysters on the half shell sourced from Massachusetts, a lobster roll that holds its own against anything served on the New England coast, and a spicy lobster mac and cheese that has become one of the most ordered dishes in the entire restaurant. The seafood program at 6Smith is genuinely impressive for a landlocked state.
The blackened red snapper sandwich is another standout, arriving on perfectly toasted bread with seasoning that hits every note it is supposed to. The sea bass is so tender that it practically falls apart at the touch of a fork.
What makes the seafood menu here so compelling is that the kitchen treats each dish with the same attention it gives the steaks. Nothing feels like an afterthought.
For seafood lovers who assume they have to travel to enjoy truly great fish and shellfish, 6Smith is a very welcome surprise right here in Minnesota.
The Short Rib Nachos Are a Whole Experience
Some appetizers play it safe, and then there are the short rib nachos at 6Smith. This dish has developed a devoted following among regular visitors, and one bite makes it obvious why.
Braised short rib piled onto a base of crispy chips, topped with melted cheese and fresh garnishes, is the kind of starter that makes you reconsider whether you even need an entree.
The portion is generous, the flavors are bold without being overwhelming, and the short rib itself is fall-apart tender in the best possible way. It is the kind of dish that gets shared at the table but that everyone secretly wishes they had ordered for themselves.
First-time visitors who are not sure where to start on the menu often get pointed toward this appetizer by regulars, and it rarely disappoints. Consider it your introduction to what the kitchen at 6Smith is actually capable of producing.
Desserts That Earn Their Own Spotlight
A meal at 6Smith does not truly end until dessert arrives, and the kitchen makes sure that final chapter is worth sticking around for. The key lime pie is bright and balanced, with just the right amount of tartness to cut through the richness of whatever came before it.
The chocolate cake is indulgent without being too heavy.
The giant ice cream dessert has become something of a legend among visitors, with its impressive presentation and crowd-pleasing flavor earning enthusiastic reactions at tables across the dining room. It is the kind of dessert that gets photographed before it gets eaten.
Perhaps the most remarkable dessert story to come out of 6Smith involves a Bananas Foster that was not even on the menu. The kitchen went out of their way to source the ingredients and prepare it for a couple celebrating a special occasion, and by all accounts, it was unforgettable.
The Atmosphere Inside Is Just as Impressive as the View
The interior of 6Smith strikes a balance that is genuinely difficult to pull off. It feels upscale and polished without being stiff or intimidating, which means you can show up for a birthday dinner in your best outfit or come in after a Saturday afternoon on the lake and feel equally at home.
The bar area has its own energy, with a lively scene that picks up as the evening progresses. The main dining room is warmer and more relaxed, designed for conversation rather than spectacle.
Large windows frame the lake view beautifully, so the outdoors is always part of the experience even when you are seated inside.
The noise level is reasonable for a popular restaurant, making it easy to actually hear the person sitting across from you. That kind of thoughtful design detail is something guests notice and appreciate, especially when they are there to celebrate something meaningful.
A Brunch Worth Setting an Alarm For
Most restaurants that do dinner well tend to phone in their brunch menus, but 6Smith takes the morning meal just as seriously as the evening service. The brunch offerings draw a crowd on weekends, and the lakeside setting makes the whole experience feel like the best possible way to spend a Sunday morning.
The restaurant opens at 10 AM on Sundays, giving early risers a chance to grab a table before the midday rush arrives. The menu features creative dishes that pair well with the relaxed pace of a weekend morning, and the kitchen brings the same quality standards to brunch that it applies to every other service.
Happy hour pricing on Sundays adds extra value to an already appealing experience. For visitors who want to see what 6Smith is all about without committing to a full dinner reservation, a weekend brunch is a perfect and lower-stakes way to discover the restaurant.
A Venue That Goes Beyond Just Dinner
Beyond its reputation as a dining destination, 6Smith has quietly become one of the most sought-after event venues in the greater Minneapolis area. The rooftop space in particular has hosted weddings that guests are still talking about long after the celebration ends.
The combination of the lake backdrop, the carefully maintained rooftop setting, and the attentive event coordination makes it a genuinely compelling choice for milestone occasions. Couples who have hosted their receptions here frequently describe the space as breathtaking and the planning process as stress-free.
Private dining options make the restaurant equally suitable for corporate events, anniversary parties, and other gatherings where the setting matters as much as the food. The fact that 6Smith can shift seamlessly between being a relaxed lunch spot and a fully realized special-event venue says a lot about the range and flexibility of what this place has to offer visitors and locals alike.
Practical Details Every Visitor Should Know Before Going
Before heading out to 6Smith, a few practical details are worth knowing so you can make the most of your visit. The restaurant is located at 294 Grove Ln E, Wayzata, MN 55391, right on the shores of Lake Minnetonka, about a 20-minute drive from downtown Minneapolis.
Hours run from 11 AM to 10 PM Monday through Thursday, with extended service until 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. Sunday hours start at 10 AM and run through 9 PM, making it one of the few upscale lakeside restaurants in the area that serves brunch.
Pricing falls in the upper-mid range, so it is worth thinking of this as a special occasion spot rather than a casual weeknight stop. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekend evenings and patio seating during the warmer months.
The website at 6smith.com is the easiest place to book a table in advance.
Why 6Smith Has Earned Its Place on Minnesota’s Dining Map
There are plenty of restaurants in Minnesota that claim to offer a great dining experience, but very few can back that claim up the way 6Smith does. The combination of a genuinely stunning lakeside setting, a menu that takes New American cuisine seriously, and a kitchen that consistently delivers across multiple courses puts this restaurant in a category of its own.
The fact that people drive from across the Twin Cities metro and beyond just to eat here says something meaningful about the reputation it has built. From the first bite of that famous bread board to the last spoonful of a beautifully crafted dessert, a meal at 6Smith tends to stick with you.
For anyone who loves great food paired with an equally great setting, this restaurant on the shores of Lake Minnetonka is one of those places that earns a permanent spot on your list of places to return to again and again.
