Was staying at the W. Had already dropped enough dough on the hotel room -- continue continue the trend at the really pricey hotel restaurant (although I'm sure it's wonderful). Keys is technically "in" the hotel, too! (you don't have to go outside to get to it). This is the kind of place you'd expect to see on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (and one where all the people are like "this place rocks" etc etc) - Solid menu - Quality ingredients - The desserts -- the cakes and pies - OMG - Turkey burger was done really well (moist and such) - GREAT salads - ANd breakfast omelettes are HUGE Excellent service to match.
(3)
Thomas S.
Very good upscale diner. Highlights include their cinnamon roll and eggs Benedict, as well as the fresh juice. The cinnamon French toast and hash were pretty good too.
(4)
Michael N.
We stopped in for breakfast on a Saturday morning. This place is always seems packed during the brunch hours on the weekend. We just beat the rush around 10:45 and were seated right away. Service was quick. We took a few minutes to look over the menu. After we put our order in, our food was out in 5 minutes. I had the eggs benedict and she had eggs, toast and Italian turkey links. The eggs benedict was pretty solid, hollandaise and poached egg were just right. We were pretty satisfied with our meal but not blown away. For breakfast, I'd say prices were a dollar or two more that most places. The noise level was pretty high too. One thing I don't like about this place is the entrance. They don't really have much of a waiting area so people are awkwardly standing over people eating or they have to wait outside. I will say the bakery items looked awesome and I might have to make it back just to try some of them. The cookies and brownies were huge. Overall, I don't know if I'd come back just for the breakfast/brunch. Parking is not convenient, it's crowded and nothing wowed me enough to make it worthwhile. If I was nearby, I might swing in to get something from the bakery though.
(3)
Edward P.
I've been eating breakfasts around the Twin Cities for decades, and Keys has always been one of my standards. Great atmosphere, decent food, etc. But after the last couple of times I'm writing them off. Surly service is one thing. But now Keys is just insulting its customers with bad food. My eggs over medium were totally undercooked (runny whites...gross), my steak was some sort of dried inedible meat (I suspect horse...possibly unearthed, eviscerated Quarter Horse...A1 didn't help). My toast was warm bread. The potatoes were...I don't really know how to describe them...just bad (made with a light motor oil?). I just asked the waitress to take it away and ate some of my son's caramel roll (which was pretty good). This joint is resting on its laurels. Save yourself. Don't go. There are plenty of breakfast restaurants in the Twin Cities who really want your business.
(1)
Tim G.
Came here for breakfast while traveling. Food was excellent, and I also did try the cinnamon roll, which was very good. Be careful of where they seat you though. Table I sat at had someone else sitting perpendicular to my table. If he moved it would hit my table. Also when he extended his hands while reading the paper, his hand would basically be over my table. Gross.
(3)
Joshua W.
Came in for breakfast. There must have been some confusion as to who was in charge of the bar area, because it took me at least 10 minutes to get a drink, and about 15-20 just to order food. After I ordered, the food came in less than 5 minutes. Bacon, eggs, hash browns and toast. The 5 grain bread was awesome. And they have homemade jam. The food was super, the service was not. If it wasn't for the good food, I would not have even left a tip. That's how horrible it was.
(3)
Megan S.
Chose this place because they serve breakfast 24/7; went at noon on a Friday. Great location and atmosphere, seated immediately, and fast waitstaff (they won't be accused of being overly-friendly any time soon, but they were not rude). The food was good too, though nothing amazing. I had the BLT, which comes with potato chips as the default; I should have substituted fries. My husband got the eggs, hash browns and toast, which were an average diner breakfast.
(3)
Jacqui R.
Great peppered Bloody Mary. We had a really good side of wedge fries. The service was great; attentive but not overbearing. Would go back for sure! Went at night for drinks.
(3)
Jay W.
Went to visit Minneapolis with my boyfriend and we were thrilled to stumble upon Keys!!! Actually went there twice on our weekend there. Leaps and bounds better than the highly reviewed Hell's Kitchen nearby. Awesome diner breakfast in a non-pretentious setting. Service was good, and prices were a bit high but I'm from Chicago so I'm used to it. Definitely going back someday to try the bloody mary...saw one from across the room and it looks worthy of the trip!
(5)
Mark L.
This is my guilty-pleasure "breakfast for dinner" spot. I came here with a few co-workers and we all ordered a mix of breakfast and dinner items on a dead Tuesday night. A few of us had a farmer's omelette or Western omelette. The portions are so huge that you could easily split an omelette between two people. Plus you get hashbrowns and toast, so really there is just an excessive pile of food in front of you. I hate wasting food and I was hungry, so I went at it, but every bite was delicious and I regret nothing. Two cool aspects of our meal was the home-made strawberry jam that came with the toast. You can definitely tell the difference in quality from your Sunday morning Smuckers at the diner. Also, we ordered the fresh-squeezed orange juice (I highly recommend getting this, no matter what food you order). Our waitress was pretty fast getting our orders and delivering food so no issue there. Overall, I like this spot and will come here very once in a while. They just need to tone down those portions. I mean, I know we're Americans but come on.
(4)
Terese G.
Good to great food. Unfortunately, the service is really inconsistent and my last experience in March while eating there with family was rather awful. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros and asked for fried eggs instead of "Mexican style eggs" (scrambled eggs). I often see this dish served with fried eggs, and it didn't seem like too demanding a request, so I was taken aback by the surly response I received from our server. But apparently, it was doable. Unfortunately, the small group at our table all felt the cold shoulder of our server throughout the meal. Perhaps she was having a bad day? In any case, I don't plan on coming back.
(2)
Nathaniel K.
Pro's: OJ Cons: Eggs bene were sloppy w/ sauce. General: Midwestern size is something I liked, but eggs were just too much. Wait of 20min didn't bother me really, but I could see some people getting frustrated. OJ really is fresh - rare for a regular bfast place to carry such good juices (price? ~$4/big glass)
(3)
Amy C.
This place is ok. The coffee is $3 a cup and not worth it. The breakfast was rather pricey ($5 for 2 eggs). The service was swift, but not at all concerned the with lip stick left on the coffee cup I was served. The famous caramel roll tasted like yesterdays bread.
(2)
Mere W.
Keys is a Minneapolis staple. The food comes in large portions diner style. The only gripe with the menu is that they seem to charge you for every little adjustment. For example, you have to pay to get hash browns with an omelet. Compared to other breakfast / brunch spots in the Twin cities this seems a little steep. I have also really enjoyed their turkey burgers for lunch / dinner. They are one of the few places downtown that has a turkey burger and delivers. Overall the food is standard, nothing really to write home about. The service is pretty standard too. I have no complaints with Keys. However, I wouldn't go here for a special meal, just a normal everyday meal.
(3)
Tony U.
Key's is a decent breakfast choice in another American city that just doesn't have enough American Breakfast houses. Given that there aren't enough breakfast houses, I'm going to give this 3.5 star place an extra half a star. The service is excellent and the wait reasonable. The omelettes are very unique here in that embedded with the cheese and "surprises" inside of the egg is also hash browns. A bit filling but something I've never had before in the SF Bay Area. The coffee's good and on the 2nd day, I had a very good buckwheat pancake. All in all, it's a little too expensive but the quality isn't necessarily lacking either. I'd definitely come here again.
(4)
Alexa C.
I've had both good and bad experiences here. The baked goods at the front counter, A++ the turkey burger, a greasy slab of bleh. I enjoy their breakfast dishes, but with wanting to substitute for egg whites, the prices can add up fast. It's a great place to go before Vikings games for sure because it's far enough away from the metrodome that it's not TOO packed, but don't think you can get there an hour before the game and make kick off either. I've heard they have a great happy hour, but I've never experienced.
(3)
Megan E.
Great comfort food. The portions are huge and the decor is amazing.
(3)
Sam H.
I hate lines. I can't stand waiting in the entrance of a restaurant. But, I would do it again at this place. We came on a Sunday morning at 11 and had to wait 30 minutes for a table of 5. I got an everything omelette. Holy shit was it good. There were lots of fresh veggies and different types of meat. My wife got juevos rancheros, which was great. She subbed her side of potatoes for sweet potato tots, I kept stealing them when she wasn't looking. Pro tip: if you're sitting near the back, exit through the hallway by the bathrooms. That way you can exit through the lobby of the W hotel and feel like a baller for a minute.
(4)
Sandy M.
Brought my mom here for breakfast on a Saturday morning around 10:30. We were seated within about five minutes, had our drinks within 10, and our food within 20. What a great meal and loved the energy of the busy restaurant. Looking forward to going again!
(4)
Andrew E.
The names of dishes vary a bit from other Key's locations, but they are consistently good with items such as the Potato's Etc (includes vegetables and cheese) and the Robert Street salad (grilled vegetables over lettuce). Always very good service at this and other locations. An enjoyable stop for individuals, families, and office groups.
(4)
Dave O.
We started off with the chips and salsa appetizer. The salsa was excellent but the multi-colored tortilla were a bit salty and not a lot of chips. We also ordered the patty melt and the keys burger with the wedge fries. The burgers were nicely done medium rare as we requested. Decent assortment of local beer.We finshed off with a huge chocolate chip cookie. Would recommend for any casual night out.
(4)
Kim R.
I met my hubby for lunch at Key's a few days ago. I love the vibe at this Key's location. It's not quite as divey as the Roseville Key's, but it still feels like a diner. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros, and it was excellent. Tons of food, so order this if you are hungry. I had the breakfast potatoes an they were excellent, they had a really nice golden crust. I thought it was a little strange that sour cream is an extra $0.50, but the dish doesn't really need sour cream anyway. My hubby ordered the turkey burger with a cup of white chicken chili. I thought the burger was excellent. It was very moist and had great flavor. You can't go to Key's without ordering one of their fantastic desserts. They have tons of options including cakes, pies, cheesecake, bars and enormous cookies. I first ordered a slice of the rhubarb cake. I love rhubarb so I was really excited for this cake. But when I tried a bite, something tasted off. The rhubarb was very bitter, it almost tasted like it had been soaked in alcohol. It was not at all what I expected and neither of us really liked it. Our waitress was very understanding and offered to let us order another dessert to take home, so we decided on the lemon bar. I love lemon flavored desserts, especially in the spring and summer. This lemon bar was excellent. It was perfectlly tart with a delicious shortbread crust and a crumble topping with coconut. I would definitely recommend this dessert.
(4)
Julie T.
This place is super busy on the weekends so try to get there before 10am. I always like this place gor breakfast. Their food is not as greasy as other breakfast diner place. Their orange juice was the best I've ever had. Will definitely go back there again! After brunch we head upstairs to the Foshay museum and the observation deck! What a treat for a lovely sunny and beautiful Sunday!!!
(4)
Jake M.
Had a big and tasty cinnamon roll. Everyone I was with got other misc breakfast dishes that looked really good also. Have also tried a delicious omelette another time i went there. Look forward to going back to try more.
(4)
Brian B.
We recently hosted a sales force breakfast meeting here at 7 AM on a Thursday for about 20 people. I have to say everything went very well. They did not have a private room for us but they did put us in the back area which seemed fine. The staff was spot on with having our buckets of eggs, hash browns, bacon and sausage and everything else right on time and it was hot and tasted very good. Great service, great food is all I can say. I would like to go back here on my own and sample their dinner menu and draft beers.
(4)
Firas E.
Horrible service, not great food, this is a place I won't be going to again!! The service got us the wrong order, didn't even apologize rather gave us attitude, appetizer and food came at the same time after waiting for 30 mins!! The sweets looked good at the front of the restaurant but they brought us the bill without even asking if we wanted desserts!!!
(1)
Kimberly T.
Most of my breakfast hot spots are in NE so I was excited to go downtown today to get my fix. We were seated right away & started going through the massive menu. Since we were both still really full from dinner the night before, I opted for the #6 (two eggs & toast) and a single banana pecan pancake. Ryan ordered the #9 (hash browns mixed with veggies). Since you can't really mess up eggs & toast, mine was just fine. Ryan liked his plate; it was loaded with mushrooms, broccoli, green onion & loaded with cheese. The real standout was the pancake - it was absolutely delicious. One was definitely enough since it's pretty sweet. Food & service were excellent!
(4)
Camille L.
We walked in a little before 11 AM on Sat. and got seated right away. I always get their omelete's. You can create your own cheese omelet with many different veggies and meats to choose from. I recommend getting sausage in your omelet! I also like how they put the jam in a separate open container with your breakfast. The atmosphere is nice and urban with a good location. The service was pretty fast and prompt and the wait staff was friendly. This is one of my favorite breakfast places in downtown!
(4)
Nick M.
I'm not going to talk about the ridiculous apostrophe on the menu, anyone at any of the other old Keys knows that it doesn't belong there. I grew up with Keys -- the old one in New Brighton on 5th Ave, with the occasional stop over at Raymond. Good, hearty breakfasts, mickey mouse pancakes, endless coffee, and kind waitresses. Some of that is still here at this downtown location. The location itself is gorgeous. Great outdoor seating, wonderfully classic interior, a bar that somehow suits the restaurant, even if you wouldn't imagine it. But, does everyone who work here hate working here? Is that part of the charm? I moved back to Minneapolis a few years ago, and for some reason, keep finding myself back here. Every single time, either the bartender or server who had to 'deal with us' has either been mentally absent the entire time, or just full of apathy. I think just once, a genuine smile would be fantastic. So, naturally, things that go wrong that would normally be forgiven instantly stick out in our minds, due to the complete lack of give-a-crap that the staff provides. This, from the host who doesn't acknowledge you, the server who is annoyed that you want to swap something out, the silverware that doesn't arrive until a few minutes after the meal is in front of you, and the counter that is always staffed but never making sales. It's too bad, because across town, Keys is the place to be.
(3)
Amy R.
First time at this location. I came in through the back and finally got to see the interior of the W. How minimal chic. Eggs Benedict was really good and the consistency of the hollandaise sauce was exactly to my liking. The ham was plentiful underneath the sauce. Hashbrowns were just right. Not too greasy and not burnt. Service was great!
(4)
Leslee Y.
They let me sit and talk...and talk, while ordering nothing more than coffee and tea. Thank you! It was the best potential job meeting/interview I have been on in quite some time. I will be sure to repay the kindness and patience on a weekend when my tab will be much larger!
(4)
Jimmy V.
In a recent visit to Minneapolis, I ate two delicious lunches here. They offer a delicious plate of food for a nice price. Everything looked and tasted homemade. The best part of the meal is dessert -- homemade pie. It was very busy on Sunday, but the wait was only 10 minutes. This place can really pack in the customers.
(5)
Molly S.
No complaints on the food, I ordered basic eggs, toast, and hashbrowns.. so there was little room for error. Hashbrowns were fantastic. Service was a bit slow, which was to be expected as they were pretty busy. Pama Mimosa was great as well. Not my favorite, but above average!
(4)
Kathy M.
Excellent food, service and a good atmosphere! Fresh squeezed orange juice for breakfast and all homemade foods!!
(5)
William S.
I love that Keys is downtown in a great location which I suspect accounts for their ability to charge $10.50 for Quaker oatmeal with fruit and nuts. To their credit the fruit and limited pecans were fresh. I would have expected exceptional oatmeal for this price though. The city's best oatmeal continues to be found at The Boiler Room. On the very positive side I was quite pleased with the Caramel Roll which was a hearty heaping of heated happiness. Wow! Highly recommended and at a comparative bargain of only $4.30.
(3)
Christopher S.
Disgusting I just left Keys after getting two pieces of cake to go. I saw the hostess drop a silverware set up on the floor and then pick it up and put it back in the bin with the (ostensibly) clean silverware. When I called her on this she and the cashier gave me the stink eye and she left the dropped silverware right where it was. I will never eat here again.
(1)
Sarah U.
typical breakfast food, the only thing worth getting at the hashbrowns that have everything but the kitchen sink not a bad place if you're downtown and need breakfast, but would not make a special trip. this place used to be a lot better
(2)
Jason T.
Great spot for breakfast if you're staying at the W or nearby. I had the veggie omelette, which was gigantic - it basically looked like a yellow brick - see pic. The wild innovation here is putting the shredded potatoes INSIDE the omelette - ingenious! The toast comes with their famous (I assume?) strawberry jam - pretty delicious. I would totally come back here.
(4)
Bart F.
$16 dollar buffalo chicken caeser salad is a pathetic portion. It used to be $13 adn they raised prices and reduced portion sizes. Breakfast is generally good though.
(2)
Karen T.
I've been eating burgers and crap in MN for days and wanted a healthier breakfast. We all got a vegetable omelet. The vegetables were fresh tasting and what amazed me was they added hash browns inside the omelet, well there goes healthy! But it was so good!
(4)
Annie S.
Okay... WOW I hope that I don't have to visit MN again in the cold but as long as I get to breakfast at Keys I will be just fine. The desserts are so big its silly, everything smells good and everyone is nice. My Breakfast was INCREDIBLE - Roast Beef Hash with HOMEMADE Sour Dough (I posted a pic) I WILL BE BACK... The next time I am in Minneapolis!
(5)
Dawn G.
Breakfast offered all day long! If you enjoy buttermilk pancakes the size of a large plate, this is your place. Those pancakes are delicious, especially when they come with fruit on top. I really appreciate that Keys lets me get my pancake and egg fix at any time of day. In addition to the yummy breakfast options, they have drool-inducing desserts, tasty sandwiches, and other types of fare. Keys has a very laid back, diner environment. And along with that comes laid back service. Expect to wait a bit to order, request an additional item, or receive the check. You may receive some attitude from the waitresses on occasion as well. But once you have your comfort food, you'll be too content to care. If you are a fan of happy hour, Keys is a good location to visit. Good happy hour wine and food specials and there are a few tables outside to enjoy them on sunny days. You can even get into Keys via the skyway, which is great during inclement weather.
(3)
Jay S.
Had a fantastic lunch! We had a group of 4, and all ordered different sandwiches. Everyone loved what they got, but I still think my 1/2 lb burger was the best. Highly recommended!
(5)
Tiffani L.
This place didn't live up to the hype for me. Mostly because I think their menu has some misleading claims. The 'fresh squeezed' juice is definitely not really fresh squeezed. Or maybe they mix part fresh with part Tropicana, but it was not at all worth the $5 price. Also their 'famous' cinnamon roll was microwaved to be warm and tough to chew. Not worth the calories. Their side of berries was good but very small portion for $8. The only thing I can't complain about was the eggs - those were good. Service was decent but a little slow. I think there are better breakfast places in Minneapolis.
Had a solid breakfast here. Got some buttermilk pancakes that were super dank, along with the crispy bacon that restored my faith in humanity. Atmosphere is relaxing and easy going, but was bummed that I didn't get toast and jam with my meal like it said on the menu. Would definitely eat here again.
(4)
Brenda W.
When I lived downtown this was my favorite place for sandwiches, Walleye when in season, and my fav breakfast - Buckwheat pancakes and lots of thick sliced cured bacon. The staff is friendly and helpful.
(5)
Gary M.
great breakfast spot and great customer service. The portions are pretty big so don't get to excited Pancakes was my fav
(4)
Matt H.
Classic breakfast food done right. Can't beat the historic atmosphere!
(4)
Jeb B.
Loved it. We were there at 10:30 a.m. on a Friday. And it was packed. They clearly know what they're doing. I was with a big party of about 14 and we were well-managed. Service was spectacular. The back of the menu endears a person to the place with the story of its founding. It's clear that the owners care about their staff and guests. I ordered the breakfast sandwich and was a bit surprised at the spice in the sausage. If I had a do-over, I'd order it with bacon. The coffee was great! Although, that's coming from the biased lens of having been up late the night before. In short, Keys was a great place that earned four stars because of the staff.
(4)
Aeliza R.
I could forgive the 1000 times I've ordered from them and had been delivered undercooked hashbrowns and burnt bacon, but the last interaction with their manager Danielle who has the snarkiest attitude I've ever encountered left me so enraged I will discourage anyone I know from giving them money. Let me tell you what happened: I placed an order with them about 3 months ago that showed up not only late, but it was the completely wrong thing. Every item was incorrect. We called in and the manager was, at that time, very courteous and offered to send out the correct order. We were late to meet friends and starving because it had already taken over an hour so I told him not to worry about it and to just refund us and we would eat what was delivered. He did and then offered a credit of $20 or so for the inconvenience. Fast forward a month and the credit was not there the next time we requested it. A different manager still replaced the food. No problem, right? Wrong. Tonight I called in again and was told that they don't deliver to this address. I asked why and was put in hold with no explanation. A minute later Danielle answered and in so many words told me they wouldn't deliver because they'd had "problems" with this address. She wouldn't elaborate further. Essentially she told me there was nothing she could do. I advised they would be losing the business of several people that live here as well as myself. She responded, "Im sorry that's your choice." Which is Minnesota-nice for "I could care less now get off the phone." Aside from the poor customer service, do yourself a favor and don't eat here. Very overrated and over priced. The only caveat is that I'll miss the free delivery since I live downtown.
(1)
Michael H.
This restaurant is probably more like a four, but I wanted to try and I increase it's average rating as much as I could. It's a pretty typical all day diner in terms of food. That said, their drinks are actually incredible and the breakfast special was probably the best breakfast I've ever had. I really recommend this place.
(5)
Nick S.
I go to Minneapolis once a year and make sure to eat here at least once during my stay. Solid meals, friendly bartenders and enormous portions. They get an extra star for once making me an omelette that was too big for me to finish.
(4)
Chris D.
Grabbed breakfast here before some friends and I caught a Twins game. Although it was busy we were seated promptly. Our waitress was very quick and helpful with us, helping us to decide the best items to order. I opted for the classic breakfast route, getting eggs, hash browns and toast. The homemade jam that came with the toast was awesome! My friends both ordered sandwiches and enjoyed them. Overall a great place to stop by and grab a late breakfast or lunch.
(5)
Meghann F.
I like this place. Very well done diner type, comfort food. It's not going to be fine dining, but that not's what you are coming here for. Portions are large - most likely need a doggie bag! Happy hour is pretty good. Baked goods are excellent, pies, cookies, etc. Recently we were here for dinner - 7 adults, 2 kids - It was perfect as there weren't too many other diners here on a saturday night for the kids to bother - it's crazy for breakfast though!! I got a turkey dinner and took about half of it home - veggie was green beans and they were prepared perfectly - everything was really tasty! It all depends on what you are looking for, but Keys will never disappoint.
(5)
Dave K.
Solid diner in downtown. Not sure why it says "bar and grill" on the outside, because it's much more of a diner with a bar than what I think of as a bar and grill. I've been here twice: once for breakfast and once for lunch. The food was good both times -- the meatloaf sandwich was amazing. Their homemade bread is good, if a little thickly sliced. My only beef was the service. One thing a diner should do is fill your coffee cup quickly and often and they were a #fail in the department. Overall, nice downtown diner. Not epic, but pretty good.
(4)
Cindy C.
Keys is well known as a Breakfast and dessert place in downtown Minneapolis. I decided to try them out for lunch this time. I had the BLT. I wish I could say my experience was as good as it has been in the past. Service and sandwich were just OK this time. Read my full #CinnersGuide review here: cinfullysimple.com/cinne…
(3)
Jonathan M.
Service is a long way from being OK, but the breakfast is amazing, portions are huge too.
(3)
Andrea W.
I would never have come here if I had to pay for the food myself (I was here for a conference that a company paid for). I came here for breakfast twice, and the bill came out to more than $10 both times. The first time, I ordered a cup of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, a piece of French toast, and a pancake. Everything was pretty standard, and the French toast was a bit saltier than I would have liked it to be. They gave me the wrong check when I asked for it. The second time, I ordered grapefruit juice again, their omelette (with everything but meat in it). It was really good! It was humungous, and I really liked how they put hash browns into the omelette. It was so big though. I could barely finish it. Good food, but expensive. The lighting is somewhat dark too. The waiters are pretty attentive (the waiter remembered me when I went the second time, although it was two days after my first visit), and they clean your dishes and take your order at appropriate times.
(4)
Kejian W.
Second time here the food was good as I posted some good pictures, but the services were so so. I would give 4 stars for food but since the services were not that great, the overall is 3 star. Regardless, a place you must stop by for breakfast if you stay in downtown twin city.
(3)
Hillary K.
Loved the breakfast here!! Walking in, the place has kind of a glamorous/casual look to it, if that makes any sense.. Comfortable is a good word. Our waiter, Chad, was terrific. He was very friendly and talked to us quite a bit once we showed that we were open to conversation. He gave us a caramel roll on the house, and packed us up a couple cups of coffee and a glass of chocolate milk to go! Now the caramel roll was like nothing I have ever had before. They are made in house, and I think the caramel is too. It has that 'just out of the pot' texture. There was a bit too much caramel to my liking, but once I let it set and thicken up it was perfect. I had ordered the cinnamon roll for breakfast, which is also made in house. Again, perfect. Now, I have NEVER been given butter with a cinnamon roll before but I definitely got some here. There were two huge pieces of butter next to my roll and a lot had already melted and started to soak into the cinnamon roll. (If I needed more, all I had to do was ask) I pushed away the butter, took my first bite, and found myself in love. I also found myself not minding the butter at all and wondered why I've never been served butter with my cinnamon roll before now. Overall, I loved it. If I lived in Minneapolis I would eat there all the time!
(5)
Andrea D.
This is a cozy little restaurant located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. It is set up diner style, and reminds you of the 1950s. I had the grilled cheese sandwich with chips which cost about 6.99, which wasn't bad for a big city. The food was nothing special, but it wasn't bad. If you want a place to eat with a small group of friends that's not crowded, this is the place to go.
During a recent visit to Mpls, we had two meals here. The breakfast was outstanding - great bacon, really good corned beef hash, nice pastries. Lunch was a little less good - the steak in the steak sandwich was on the tough side - but overall, this very crowded, noisy restaurant was pretty darned good.
(4)
Jason B.
Quite the wait on a Sunday morning, and not much area to wait in, so that was a bit annoying...but the food was good, and the service was great, so it made up for it. With not a lot of great places for breakfast in downtown Minneapolis, I expected it to be busy, but not this busy. As I said though, the food made up for it.
(4)
Katie S.
We typically order lunch for delivery to the office once a week. Key's had become a go-to place for us, but after a couple bad experiences, we will bring our business elsewhere. First bad experience - lunch took about an hour and half to deliver, and it was delivered cold. Had to call to ask where it was. Second bad experience - called to place a delivery order, was put on hold for about 8 minutes. Called back because I thought we had been forgotten about. Said I had been on hold and thought I had maybe been forgotten, and would like to place delivery order. Guy working was VERY rude to me (practically yelled at me), and put me back on hold. Rather than waiting again, we hung out and decided not to order from them again. Called up Pizza Luce and received awesome customer service - as always. Good riddance, Key's.
(2)
William H.
Normally Keys has good service and good food. Today I guess they were off their game. Our waiter at the beginning was ignoring us and not hearing what we wanted. He didn't seem like he even wanted to be there. At the end he got better and explained he was not feeling well and had a hard time hearing anyone. So I understand anyone can have a bad day and they were packed. But the food thing was something I've never experienced there. My daughter had burnt Italian sausage and my grandson had freezer burnt chicken. I've never experienced this with Keys since their food is usually fresh. My fish sandwich was great as always.
(2)
Peter Y.
Service wasn't too great, as they forgot my friend's order. At least they were kind enough to provide him with free juice and dessert. The prices are also pretty standard, and maybe even slightly more expensive than other diner-esque places. So why the 4-stars then? Because their food is freaking amazing. Everything they have comes in huge portions, and they have some of the best toast around. I got their everything omelet, which was like 1 lb of pure cheesy goodness, with sausages, ham, bacon, green peppers, mushroom, etc... wrapped in a thin layer of eggs. It was one of the best omelets I've had, especially with the fresh hash browns and amazing toast. Just make sure you get here early, because there's usually a crowd of people waiting.
(4)
Luis B.
Love that they serve breakfast all day! Coming from out of town it was a blessing! Food was avg! Large portions! Not too pricy! Came in around 2pm and not busy at all!! Service was decent! Would go again if I ever return to Minneapolis!!
(4)
Abdullah B.
Really enjoyed the breakfast here. They also have a nice business or family atmosphere.
Best breakfast in downtown Minneapolis for sure! The Farmer's Omelet is a must. Their coffee is some of the best as well.
(4)
Katie S.
Came here twice during our weekend getaway. Food always came out fast and piping hot.
(5)
Patrick D.
Great veggie stir fry. Very nice staff, excellent dessert, and comfortable atmosphere. Impressive
(5)
Melanie K.
No ordinary diner! We have visited Keys multiple times while staying next door at the W. They have a huge menu that has all your comfort food favorites, including fresh made pies! We have almost always been sat immediately and always had energetic servers. We have heard multiple times from the staff that they love working at Keys. I was in MN during my UofL final four game in 2013 and they were kind enough to change the television and even root for my team! During the game we ordered a slice of cheesecake and chocolate pie and sat in non-sports bar heaven. There is nothing that beats consistent service, delicious diner food, convince, and affordable pricing. Keys has become a MN tradition when we are in town for lunch!
(5)
William C.
I can't tell you how many times I've been to Keys in downtown Minneapolis for HH and breakfast; but I'm finally writing a review :-) Breakfast is simply amazing here! Anything you order off the breakfast menu won't disappoint. My usuals are the caramel rolls (floating in their own pool of surgary awesomeness) and the breakfast sandwich; I'm also a fan of their hash browns. The food is flavorful, not over done and made with care. For HH, they have some of the best prices in downtown Minneapolis and they start at 3PM. They've changed the HH specials over the years, but no matter what, I love the atmosphere and what they have on tap. The tater tots are a staple for me along with a cold brew on tap. It's just a great place to chat with co-workers after a long day in the office. The wait staff is fantastic and there usually isn't a major wait for HH.
(4)
Michelle W.
I think their food is pretty average and their service is not up to even average standards. I called ahead to order because I had limited time for breakfast. They not only didn't put it in at the time requested, they COMPLETELY forgot to put it in then screwed it up. No apologies, no fixing the bill, nothing. Come on...I've been in customer service for over 20 years and don't require much to make it right. Don't expect much and you might be ok. Prices are also outrageous - $15 for 2 eggs and a cup of coffee.
(1)
Chris T.
I came here on a weekend early afternoon with four other people and although we had a 25 minute wait due to the no-reservations policy and the huge pack of people who also thought the Keys was the best place for brunch in downtown Minneapolis, I'd still give it 4 stars. Our server was very friendly and was very keen to our needs to GIT. FOOD. FAST. because we were starving after the Color Run. Also to her credit: while everyone else in the place was dressed for a quaint Sunday brunch, she was very good humoured about the fact that we were all coated with a blue-green tinge from the color powder. For the whole table, we shared a cinnamon roll and a side order of the sweet potato tater tots. The cinnamon roll was really good but I would've rather saved some space for some of the other pretty desserts in their huge bakery cases that I didn't get to try. The sweet potato tater tots were delicious, although they needed a ton of salt -- oh well, it's hard to completely mess up the goodness of sweet potatoes cut and fried in any form. I split the Eggs Benedict and the Mexican Omelette with my friend and they split the entrees on separate plates without any hassle or added charge at all. Each savory breakfast entree was certainly large enough for two small meals and most of us went home with to-go boxes. The pancakes also looked delicious: a single pancake, perfectly cooked, spread out over the entire diameter of a larger-than-average dinner plate, to be soaked in butter and syrup as you wish. Why not 5 stars? It's super inconvenient to not be able to make reservations for breakfast/brunch -- who wants to wake up hungry and then wait in line for half an hour? Also, the interior feels very crammed, with people swarming everywhere and tables packed pretty closed together. If we're just talking about the food, though, Keys beats Hell's Kitchen for brunch hands down.
(4)
A A.
Strawberry jam made them go from 3 to 4 star. Hash browns are bad. Had to salt an paper them myself. Everything omelette is delicious. Great atmosphere good service.
(4)
Joe D.
Went for lunch without looking at reviews. Ordered Breakfast, hash with corned beef. Was really good and services was great.
(4)
Cameron H.
This is my FAVORITE places to get brunch when visiting Minneapolis. The food is amzeballs, service is hit or miss, and the baked items are enough to make you slap a senior citizen. I've eaten brunch here every time I've been to Minneapolis since 2009 and have never been disappointed. Their house made corn beef hash knocks it out of the park, add a side of their buckwheat pancakes with bananas, pecans or walnuts, and you'll die. Just die from how delicious it all is. They also do great lunches, i've had a few of their burgers and while they look simple they taste amazing. The buns are house made (of course) and are soft and just slightly sweet, and really hug the burger and toppings so that you're not eating a hot mess 2-3 bites in. All in all, if you like good food, great prices, that whole divvy dinner old-world someones grandmother is cooking in the kitchen feel when eating out, The Key's is the place to visit. If you don't like it, you have crappy taste in food.
(5)
Nikki M.
Great burgers at great prices. Great bakery.
(4)
Daren S.
What a great little diner. Quality fresh food at a decent price. Your standard diner fare. Nothing fancy or pretentious. Patty melt and tots with a cheap beer during happy hour. Can't beat it. Give it a shot.
(4)
Angela M.
Pretty much the only good thing that the staff at our hotel did the whole weekend was to recommend this place, but I'll save that for another review...Sure it was crowded at 10am on Sunday, but there's a reason why. And they kept things moving here, getting us seated in 10 minutes, getting us served in no time. We started with the famous cinnamon roll. One is definitely enough for at least 2 people. The icing was so sweet that it made my teeth hurt. The flavor was good, though the dough was a little chewier and denser than I'd prefer. As soon as we looked at the menu and saw Italian hash, I knew what Jimmy would be having. I debated a lot of things but ended up with the two eggs, hashbrowns, and meat plate, selecting the bacon. Honestly, we should have split the Italian hash and added a side of bacon because the portions were HUGE! I had to cover my plate because everything was tasty and even though I was fun, I couldn't stop eating it. The homemade strawberry jam was delicious and a pleasant surprise. The bacon was nice and thick but still crispy. The Italian hash was so good! Great ratio of toppings to hash, delicious sausage, fresh veggies. No wonder this is the most popular family restaurant in Minnesota!
(4)
A J.
Top shelf breakfast. Try the from-scratch corned beef hash. It is excellent. Great service. Good food.
(4)
Kelley T.
This place is fantastic! We stayed down the street at the crowne plaza and happened upon this place because we were looking for an afternoon snack n drink. It was so good we came back for breakfast! LOVE THIS PLACE!
(5)
Zuhal S.
Even it is little expensive, it is still nice place for a breakfast.
(3)
William S.
You will not be disappointed here. I first ate at the Keys Cafe just off University av. Sometimes things are lost when you open another restaurant but in this case the same great tasting foods are prepared for your pleasure. Breakfast is by far my favorite meal and cinnamon French toast is to die for. You will not go away hungry or disappointed here. The cafe has plenty of room inside but if you get a chance dine outside. Sidewalk dining has its own appeal. Staff is very friendly and service is swift. A perfect place to go before a Twins day game.
(5)
Sarah T.
Really underrated breakfast spot. I think people who live in the suburbs or outside downtown forget what a great place it is or don't want to make the drive into downtown. Went with a large group Saturday morning and were seated right away, had an awesome waiter and it was a really great atmosphere. Order a cinnamon roll and caramel roll to split between the group and everyone thought they were both to die for. We all ordered the Key's bloody which is delicious. I love when restaurants appropriately garnish bloodies because it's rare. It had pickles, olives ,celery, spicy salt on the rim and even a green bean. I ordered the eggs benny which you really can't go wrong with but everyone else at the table loved their food (huevos rancheros, everything omelet) and there was plenty to take home, the portions are huge. Overall, great experience and I'll definitely be going back for more.
(4)
Ryan J.
Great spot for classic breakfast food. We went around 10 am on Sunday and did have about a 15 minute wait. However, judging by how busy it looked, that wasn't too bad of a wait. While waiting I did go to the bar for a coffee. $2.80 for a cup a coffee was a little off putting. Should have just stopped by Caribou on the way. If your looking for a quiet spot for breakfast, this isn't it. We went with my grandmother-in-law who did have some trouble hearing, given the noise level. The service was great. Our server was very attentive and quick. The food was great! I tried the roast beef hash with poached eggs. The roast beef was very tender, but a little on the fatty side. My wife had the southwest omelet. Be warned it does have a lot of jalapeños in. All in all, food was great, cool atmosphere, good service... Definitely a good breakfast spot to try in the Twin Cities.
(4)
Lisa G.
Only eaten here once on my way cross country and it was ok, nothing I would send people out of there way for. We needed something to eat in the area and this was one of the closest options for breakfast on a weekday. I got the bacon egg and cheese bagel which was not the best I've ever had, wouldn't recommend it. My boyfriend however got the corned beef hash which was really good IMO. Sometimes hash is pretty bland or the potatoes are water logged.. this one was well seasoned and had great texture.
(3)
Jon S.
This is one of my favorite places for breakfast in Minneapolis! There is usually a bit of a wait, but tables turn over quickly. The food is fantastic! Perfectly cooked eggs, hash browns, sides and other omelets, waffles and pancakes. If you are looking for a burger, they have a great selection and quality. One expects good service at all restaurants, but Keys is exceptional. They seem to have a "team" approach, so you always have someone nearby and the food comes out quickly thanks to the unseen kitchen staff. Tip: it is also very "kid friendly" with a children's menu that is very well priced.
(4)
Catherine C.
My fiance and I had a stay-cation in Minneapolis and we stayed at the W Foshay hotel. We had breakfast at the Keys on Sunday morning at 9am. The place was pretty busy aleady! It was very cozy and nice inside. I had the 2 eggs, choice of meat (bacon) and toast. I also got 2 pancakes not realizing how huge they would be! Best buttermilk pancakes ever! The homemade strawberry jam is delicious on the whole grain toast. My fiance had the Farmer's omelette, and they tuck the hash browns inside. It was also very good. And the coffee - just delicious and it kept coming! We left very happy.
(4)
Ashley J.
These portions are GIGANTIC! The rice crispie treat was the size of a brick and my omlet was the size of an infant!!! The food was good old fashion diner food. I did sit in the back and it was really cramped, and I was nearly run over by a server coming out of the kitchen. All in all a really fantastic standard diner!
(3)
Lauren H.
Classic Hangover Breakfast. Truly. We stumbled in here on a Sunday morning after a long night. And man, was it busy. Don't come here if you aren't willing to wait. That being said, there were only 2 of us, so we were seating well ahead of the 25-30 minute wait that they told us there would be. It seemed like they were breezing through the wait list as quickly as possible and turning over tables at a brisk pace. I don't come to Keys to peruse the menu, in fact, I don't think I have ever, in my entire life, been here for lunch. I have almost always gotten the same thing. Two pieces of cinnamon french toast with a side of bacon, and coffee. If I'm feeling extra frisky I'll get an orange juice - fresh squeezed is totally the way to go. I've gotten the basic breakfast a few times, eggs, toast, bacon, nothing special, but delicious and expertly prepared. Now back to that cinnamon french toast. If you are a sweet breakfast person like I am, you will LOVE these. It's a cinnamon swirl bread, thick cut, battered, and pan-fried. They serve it with big chunks of butter on top and maple syrup. The bread is great, chewy crust, soft interior, great cinnamon flavor. Their bacon is always nice and crispy, not that weird soggy stuff you sometimes get for breakfast. Bleck. The man got a breakfast sandwich with hashbrowns. I lovvveeee their hashbrowns, they are exactly what I think of when I think of hashbrowns in fact. Every portion of the exterior is crispy and brown, while the interior is still soft and buttery. The breakfast sandwich could be built with a variety of options, and the man said it was delicious, as he is in the savory breakfast group of people. Last tips: If you don't want to wait, don't come here, and especially not with a group of more than four people. Come here for breakfast, oh, and they serve breakfast all day - yay! And lastly, if you can find it, most of the parking meters don't run on weekends, so try and find some free parking - that might make up for having to wait!
(4)
GlutenFree M.
This Keys location has been a favorite breakfast spot of mine since they were in their old location on Nicollet. Amazing (HUGE) omelets! Personal favorites include the Chili Omelet and Farmer's Omelet - that omelet has hash browns inside, which is a brilliant idea. They have always been great at accomodating food allergies at my table. Most of the breakfast staff are old pros & are quite good. Mimosas are huge & delicious, I recommend the Pomegranate Mimosa. Last time I visited they said they now had gluten-free bread/toast and gluten-free pancakes and waffles - making a great thing even better. Before having to be gluten-free, I devoured their huge cookies when I needed an indulgent treat. Their monster cookies are legendary. Sometimes you'll encounter a wait for breakfast, but it's totally worth it. Call ahead for big groups.
(5)
Emma H.
I come here 3 times a month and always get the Turkey Wild Rice soup. It is the best I've ever had. We usually sit at the bar and Gables (the bartender) knows us by name. He's pretty awesome. I usually get the veggie omelet in the morning. It's big and reasonably priced. Happy hour is long with 2 for 1s. The beer frequently changes with the seasons.
(5)
Andrew R.
I love keys, it reminds me of moms cooking at home. Great comfort food. And the portions are large for the price. You need to try some of their amazing pies! I will keep coming back for more. Breakfast served all day too which is a nice feature.
(5)
Mike F.
Keys is perhaps the updated version of a downtown diner, very much the kind of place I was looking for to have a hearty breakfast in a casual, conversational atmosphere. I had the Three-Egg Beef Chili Omelet and coffee. It was very tasty. Keys is a little more pricey than a traditional, old-school diner, but it also has a tinge of upscale. For instance, the jam for the toast was a home-made strawberry jam served in a small cup, instead of one of those little foil covered plastic packs of a factory-produced jam. Overall it was a great choice for breakfast and I will plan to return the next time I am through Minnie.
(5)
Alison Q.
Friendly Midwestern service, big menu, good prices. I did the half sandwich/soup lunch deal with grilled cheese. Was satisfied.
(4)
Yang Y.
They have the best French silk in twin city! Pies are all good. But maybe do not try their cakes...
(5)
Patrick A.
Service so-so....depends on how the stars are lining up. The servers mean business and aren't very chatty which is okay, but give up the attitude (minus 1 star). Only been here for breakfast/breakfast-for-lunch. What keeps me going back a couple times/year (after working downtown for 5 years) is the huevos rancheros! Best I've ever had and would give the dish 5 stars. Hope your hungry, cause to clean your plate you gonna need an appetite!
(4)
Corey M.
A perfect example of a 3.5. c'mon yelp! All breakfast was good, and the french toast was very good as advertised, but maybe a bit expensive. service was fine.
(3)
Rick L.
Staying at the Hotel Minneapolis we inquired where we as a family of four could have breakfast, they immediately recommended Foshay and raved about the cinnamon buns. We didn't mind walking a few blocks to get there but in the end we wished we had just hit up a bagel joint. Pros: Friendly hostess, seated right away, no one looked down at us for bringing young kids in. Affordable. Cons: Food was average diner fare at best, service was slow and extremely inattentive. I couldn't flag the waitress down for a second cup of coffee until she brought the check and they were not at all busy. And as far as those cinnamon rolls. If you put a roll of theirs, Perkins and Holiday Gas Station in front of me, I could probably figure out which one was the Keys but it would take me a couple of bites. Not impressed.
(2)
Sweet Johnny P.
The highs and lows of Key's at Foshay.... The food is fantastic The service blows. They must be paying these servers in Rupees. The portions are ridiculously huge. The pancakes are like manhole covers. The prices are ridiculously high. $5 for a medium orange juice? What is this, a strip club? The restaurant has charm and character. There are two hour waits on the weekends for Breakfast. This is a diner, not Nobu. All that being said, I still have to highly recommend this place. Best breakfast in town. Get the cinnamon french toast with strawberries - you'll leave your family for it.
(4)
Corey F.
Excellent food! Probably the best food I have had in the Twin Cities and certainly the best coconut cream pie I have ever had! Only complaint is that the music was turned up way too loud, which was a minor thing since I was dining alone, but would have been hard to deal with if I were dining with others.
(5)
Lindsay M.
A decent enough restaurant, with your standard diner classics--the scramble, the hash browns, sausages, and so on. One stand out is the homemade toast with homemade preserves, which were really very good. Plus the space is HUGE, so its easy to get a table. I wasn't super impressed with the service. I had to ask for a few standard items (water, butter) more than once. The second time, the waitress looked at me like a crazy person, as if these requests were somehow out of the ordinary. No real complaints though. Downtown Minneapolis is a bit of a desert at breakfast time, so this makes a good stop, especially for the business traveler.
(3)
Anna H.
OK, so clearly one of the best parts about the place is the awesome, historic decor. I mean, its hard to have a bad meal with such beautiful surroundings. There was a bit of a wait to be sat and our server was busy which meant that we didn't get killer service but it was understandable. Coffee was great and everyone's breakfast was great. Mine was OK, a bit pricey and I wasn't terribly impressed with my eggs, spinach, cream cheese and garlic but it wasn't bad. I would come back again but probably would choose something else. If anything else, come for the awesome decor.
(4)
Jessica D.
My favorite Key's location! We went on a very busy Sunday morning, but were still seated quickly. Our server was upbeat and friendly despite the chaotic morning. You really cannot beat the historic charm of this location. I highly recommend the Mexican Omelet!
(4)
Fernanda B.
The breakfast food was good. Huge servings. For the food i would have given 4 stars, but our waiter Doug was rude and a bit incompetent. Rushing, innatentive, got our order wrong for 2 different things, and kept dropping very obvious hints that he wanted us to leave as soon as possible. He took my kids's food without asking if we needed a box (there was a lot of food leftover and I was distracted with converstion when he took it away). He brought our bills while someone in our party was still eating and told us multiple times he'd take our payments when we're ready. Finally when my friend asked for more water, he asked if she'd be taking that to go... Needless to say, we didnt feel too keen on tipping him very well..
(3)
Chris C.
I'm writing a bad review based on today's amazingly poor service experience. I essentially got the wrong food and was not dealt with well on the matter. This morning, my wife and I had actually planned on heading to the nearby Newsroom and then thought to return to Keys. We'd been there once before. It was good then. We got there early; it was still quite empty. We asked to seated in a booth, gesturing to the three or four open booths along the wall; the host hemmed and hawed a bit then led us past the those booths to seat us in the back at a "half booth" with the offer of the far back corner half booth as an alternative. Well, OK; we figured he was spreading people around the restaurant. However, the next couple to come in got seated where we'd requested to be seated. Grumble. We ordered our food. Prompt service, prompt food. My wife's blueberry pancakes: good. She enjoyed them. My #13 vegetable omelette looked great. As I got into it, past some broccoli and cauliflower and mushrooms, I realized there was some meat in there. Bacon and sausage. It turns out, a lot of bacon and sausage, which I did not want to eat. By the time our server returned again, I'd eaten most of what I wanted to eat, and had quite a big pile of uneaten meat on the plate, which I'd been having to separate out as I ate. The result is that a good portion of what I'd been served was uneaten, and I'd not had the opportunity to eat more of what I'd actually ordered. I clarified with the server that I'd ordered a vegetable omelette. She agreed, and took my plate back to the kitchen for whatever purpose. We were ready for our check. I was curious what would happen. Our check was for the full amount of both meals. The server gave us a cinnamon roll to go as a concession. We did not want a cinnamon roll. So, after getting seated where we did not prefer to be seated, I was served something I did not order, nor want to eat (half of it, anyway), and was apologized to by giving me more food I did not want. How about simply offering to take off half the cost of the omelette, even? Bad customer service calls all around. Back to the Newsroom.
(1)
Pip C.
Ate at the Keys for Sunday morning breakfast. Food was OK. Maybe I didn't order their signature items but the food seemed on par, maybe slightly better than your average diner. It seems overrated to me though. Service was fine. The place was packed and there was a 15 minute wait. It's in the heart of downtown. Unless you're working or staying at a nearby hotel downtown, it doesn't seem worth the work to get downtown to eat at the Keys. I normally don't leave moderate reviews but this place just seems way overrated to me. It feels like one of those places that people that don't live near downtown go, simply to visit downtown and say they're in the big city. If you're from out of town, this is the kind of place I imagine you'd go to just to say you went, rather than for it's great food, great service, and reasonable prices because it doesn't have that. The Keys appears to have a good reputation but it seems like they're taking advantage of that with overpriced, average food and average service. There are better options out there. It has a small bar area but this would rank near last on my list of places to drink downtown for a drunken night. But maybe it's got a better atmosphere and better service at night?
(2)
Jennifer L.
I can not comment on the service or restaurant itself as I used BiteSquad to deliver. I will say that the custom omelette was one of the most delicious things that has crossed my taste buds. If breakfast is what you are looking for no matter the time of day...this is a must try.
(5)
Rd N.
Awesome atmosphere, a bit noisy but expected for a breakfast diner. Server was attentive and helpful. Food was good but not amazing. Amazing Bloody Mary, all other drink are questionable. The downside- dirty silverware and glasses. Had lip stains and food from previous users. Very disgusting. Most likely won't be back for a long time.
(3)
Candace R.
When you Yelp breakfast in MPLS, the Keys is one of the top places to come up. Since it was a few blocks from our hotel, the bf and I decided to meet up with his family for breakfast one morning here. A reservation was made and we were seated quickly on a Sunday morning. Wanting to be a little health conscious, I had the eggs scrambled with garlic, spinach, and cream cheese, that came with hash browns and toast. Maybe this is how all eggs cooked with cream cheese are, but the egg & cream cheese combo was SO RICH, like difficult to get down rich. Luckily I had toast and potatoes to help with that. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals, so I think next time I just need to try something else. It's a cute, established place so I'll definitely give them another shot.
(3)
Alex C.
A little expensive but everything is fresh. The fresh squeezed orange juice is amazing and they have homemade bread, jam, and fresh fruit. Service was very good and accommodating. On the Eggs Benedict we exchanges the ham for turkey sausage, also amazing. The waffle my aunt order was dry but they quickly changed her to French toast which she loved.
(4)
Erik D.
I was in Minneapolis for work and had a noon-time flight home. I didn't want to settle for the bland hotel breakfast or your normal coffee shop eats...so looked up breakfast in Yelp and came up with the Keys at The Foshay Tower, it's in the center of downtown and about a 10 minute walk from my hotel. Being a weekday, it was rather dead but a few people hanging out. It's not a breakfast-only place...you can tell they serve all meals and have a large bar area. I walked in and the hostess let me sit wherever I liked -- I chose the bar as it's my go-to as a solo. The bartender served me wonderful coffee and kept it full and flowing from the time I sat down until I paid the check. I saw this Roast Beef Hash (#2) with eggs and other veggies...SOLD. It was HUGE...I can eat a lot, and this was questionable for me. The Roast Beef was moist, and mixed so beautifully with eggs and mushrooms, peppers, onions, etc. I made it about 2/3 of the way through before I had to throw in the towel. Had I not been going right to the airport, it would have made an incredible mid day snack...but alas, it had to go to waste. While there I saw people coming in for breakfast take out orders (local employees in the downtown area). Would definitely go back!
(4)
Roy W.
Best breakfast of the decade! These guys can really cook, the service is excellent, the space is beautiful. Be sure to check out the museum and observation deck of the Foshay Tower while you're there, your restaurant receipt entitles you to a discount and they are well worth a visit.
(5)
Joann S.
Get there early! It's a perfect Saturday morning breakfast joint with really great pancakes. Very fluffy, substantial, buttery, and tasty. The place reminds you of a vintage diner, and it just makes you feel good. They also seem to have a great selection of baked goodies. Tip: Get there early on Saturdays! A line/waiting list forms at about 9:30...
(4)
Richard P.
Nice restaurant. ?.average food.. they have espresso and a varied selection... cinnomon roll was chewier than bubble gum
(3)
Krissy W.
The bf & I were looking to break out of our Sunday brunch rotation and try something new today. It was gorgeous out so we decided to walk into Downtown and try Keys! I've been to other Keys locations, but this one is defiantly the best. First of all, it has alcohol. Plus the interior has great decor and mood. I had the pancakes with a side of bacon. The pancakes weren't the best I've ever had (Al's & Legends' are better), but they were still delicious. The bf had the cinnamon french toast. I'm not a huge french toast fanatic, but these were incredible. The service was fantastic & the vibe was welcoming & warm. It's one of those unique places that can accommodate families, mimosa-infused girls' brunches, & the hung-over crowd all in one place. I'm excited to try their bloody mary & mimosa next time I come. Also, they have a Foursquare special where you get half-off your entree on your 3rd check in. I dig places that are smart enough to take advantage of Foursquare. I can't wait to go back! P.S. Their house chocolate cake is out of this world. I had it for my '08 high school graduation & I think I ate at least half of it. Unbelievably amazing.
(4)
Nicole W.
I trotted around MSP more than 2 years ago, but I still had the great memories (and sense about me) to hit up Key's again this past weekend. And why? Because it's delicious. Deeeeeeelicious. Conveniently located in the midst of downtown Minneapolis, Key's is a haven from the multitude of chain coffee shops. You want an omelette, or a breakfast that's going to stay with you for more than an hour or two? Go to Key's. While you may end up waiting a while (depending on the day), it's fully worth it. The menu reads diner with a touch of upscale-goodness. Just a touch. This go around I went with the number right - scrambled eggs with spinach, garlic and cream cheese served with hash browns, toast and, of course, Key's homemade strawberry jam. Which is my jam, natch. The eggies were cooked perfectly - nice and fluffy - and the other components blended perfectly. Hashbrowns were slightly crispy with a bit of grease. It was a party in my mouth, that's for sure. To accompany my delightful eggs and toast I had a Bloody Mary. These big ole Marys are made just right - spicy, flavorful and an assortment of veggies to round out your meal. Service was pretty on point which was impressive considering how busy they were. Our food came out fairly quickly and within an hour we were in and out the door. If you're in MSP and jonesin' for a great b-fast or brunch, you must hit up Key's.
(4)
Allison L.
Key's is a delicious downtown breakfast cafe. We stumbled upon this place needing something quick but that also served plentiful coffee and scrumptious food. When we first walked inside the line wasn't too bad, but for some reason it took forever to get seated. Once sat the waitress was fast and brought coffees ASAP. The menu is huge, tons and tons to choose from. I wanted something simple, so I ordered the Classic Breakfast. Eggs, hashbrowns, toast and one thing I loved...TURKEY SAUSAGE. Since I'm not into Babe or his friends I love it when breakfast places have pig substitutes. MP ordered the same thing (with oinkers...he loved it) and the parentals ordered benedicts. The food was taking forever to come out, so the waitress brought out a COMPLIMENTARY CARMEL CINNAMON ROLL!!!!! GAH!!!! She apologized profusely for the wait...and knew we were starving. Lovely touch. The place was packed and it looked to me like Key's doesn't get like that very often. The waitress seemed a little flustered and certain things took a while to get. I may have asked for a cup of water 3 times. Anyway, I really did enjoy this place. Awesome decor (old diner feel, but somewhat nicer) and the food was just perfect! I mean, whats better than a perfectly cooked egg?!? Not a whole lot. Yay!
(4)
Stevie C.
I know previous reviews talked about the service issues here so I was kind of worried about how our breakfast would go. The service must really be based on who your server is. We had an awesome waitress who really made it a great meal. I could however hear rumblings about the service from nearby tables who had a different person. So cross your fingers for a good person! We came here in search of a comfort food meal and we weren't disappointed! We had the everything omelet and the open faced turkey sandwich. It was comfort personified and we had to take a nice long nap before the Timberwolves game later that night. The highlight for me was the hashbrowns...they were so good! The freshly squeezed orange juice is a close second. I enjoyed every bite here and I was glad we took the risk here!
(4)
Kathy P.
Filthy bathroom, Nuff said Tried to contact restaurant by email or online but I think they make that impossible for obvious reasons
(1)
Jeannine D.
Get homemade cinnamon toast wasted! This spot is one of my go-to's for homestyle breakfast. It's super casual and inexpensive, but gets a little crazy on the weekends, so roll on out of bed, brush your teeth, wash your face, and head on over... Must try: Cinnamon toast Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice Huevos rancheros Crabcake benedict (hollandaise on the side)
(4)
Tadd T.
BF and I ate here twice during our stay in the city and ordered the same thing both times: scrambled eggs with a vegetable-rich Italian hash, and eggs scrambled with spinach, garlic and cream cheese. After a lot of salt and ketchup, it was all fine. The house-made toasts -- sourdough and pumpernickel -- were worth the extra 79 cents and came with fantastic fresh strawberry jam. BF complained about weak coffee, but I was happy with my thermos of hot water and selection of Tazo teas. In three words, good, quick and simple. It's like the quintessential Midwestern restaurant, with probably the most reasonable prices for a sit-down brekkie downtown.
(3)
Kathy C.
Nice atmosphere, good service. We had a very good breakfast.
(4)
Anastacia B.
In a recent 10 day stay downtown, we ate here seven times, AND ordered a cake for a party we were hosting. Faves? Over-medium eggs they never got wrong, amazing bacon, sourdough toast, tots (omg, TOTS!!!!!!), raspberry cheesecake, and ho-ho cake. We never had to wait for a table, had friendly servers (ask for Luz at night--she's beyond awesome!), and always left happy. Just wish they'd come to Baltimore!!!
(5)
Marisa R.
Three of us were there for a late lunch and had breakfast. First - it was late so there was no lunch crowd; second - we waited ten minutes before the waiter took our order and another 20 before we were served - best of all he forgot to bring our appetizer until after we ate! And, they were cold when they were finally brought to our table.The server appeared scattered and didn't seem like he really wanted to be there. Now to the breakfast - that was great! The serving size is enough for two. The pancakes were light and fluffy and the omelet big enough for two people....basically, breakfast portions serve two.
(3)
Barbara K.
Good variety, poor service (forgotten drinks, had to hunt down our own straws for drinks, charge card ran on wrong bill), mediocre food (burnt toast, but accommodated with a replacement).
(2)
Becky S.
My boyfriend and I wandered here for Saturday brunch. After waiting 10ish minutes, we were seated and served by a friendly waiter. Cinnamon French Toast - delish! The bread is fresh made every day. Vegetarian Omelet - Sooo good! The veggies were fresh and crisp, the egg cooked perfectly and the cheese melty. Coffee - a bit too strong for my liking. That's the only reason this is only 4 stars. I'd definitely recommend it!
(4)
Ali F.
The hubbs & I were in Minneapolis for vacation and on the last night of our very busy visit to MN, we were lucky enough to have this place recommended to us. We were originally seated at a posh South American steak house, but we weren't feelin' it. Our server told us.."you guys are worn out & need comfort food! Go to Keys." Some of the best advice, ever. It was getting quite late when we arrived, but the staff was very welcoming. I had a Reuben (I got a pickle at this establishment!) and the hubbs picked the BBQ beef sandwich. I don't know what it is about the bread in MN, but these people know how to bake bread! Yummm....Our sandwiches were delicious & big. I can't stress how kind & funny the waitstaff were, especially at that hour of the night. Our server was sooo sweet, she gave us 4 huge house-made cookies to take back to the hotel for a snack.
(4)
Nora L.
Was going to go there today- walked in and was greeted by a very rude girl behind the front counter- I would wait for keys food no problem but with that kind of service I took my five friends down to Hells Kitchen instead...I work in the industry so I know that it gets busy and stressful but that's no excuse to be rude to your customers.
(1)
Kat C.
Bustling, straight up no nonsense brunch place. We were seated immediately and given a hurried, helpful waitress. She efficiently took our orders, got our orders perfectly right, and never made us wait. yea!
(4)
Jerod H.
I dig Keys at Foshay. Nice Bloody Mary's, really decent eggs benedict and omelets, bacon, corned beef hash. Good place for Sunday breakfast and brunch. I need to try their lunch next. Their servers aren't the most smiley bunch, but when I'm hungover on a Sunday morning, I don't really want to see a smiling IHOP type.
(4)
Rob G.
YES! Went for breakfast. Enjoyed breakfast. Will be back for more breakfast another time. That is all.
(5)
Lori G.
I went there on a Saturday morning for breakfast. The place is kind of huge compared to other breakfast places I usually go to. It looks like a small places from outside, but it actually has a lot of spaces inside. Meanwhile, you do find more young people here. Maybe because it is at downtown.The food is tasty and the service is nice. I defenitly prefer Keys over Hell's Kitchen!
(3)
Minners N.
Torn... food was pretty good but the service sucked! Came here to eat for a Sunday brunch after our reservation at Hells Kitchen got lost. It also helped that we were staying at the W in the same building. The day before I stopped in after seeing huge crowds dining here and pies/cakes/cupcakes/goodies on display. grabbed a carrot cake cupcake and it was SO good. even the hubby liked it though he's not so fond of carrot cake. cake was very flavorful and moist and not too dense. cream cheese frosting was perfect. all for $2 something. definitely worth it. they also had a chocolate cupcake and a bunch of cakes and krispie bars (rice and bunch of other different cereals that looked very tempting) The worker helping me was so rude and snooty. Can't point out anything particular, but she was just very impatient and condescending. Brunch the next day- was greeted by the same snooty girl with the same attitude. The 10 of us were pretty satisfied with our food. we had combinations of breakfast and lunch foods- omlettes, waffles, sandwiches, etc. Taste-wise it was great- price-wise- not so much. There was a few of us that wanted to make substitutes and we were charged full price for sides. so one of my friends got the meatloaf dinner and just wanted to substitute her mashed potatoes for a small side salad. They said they would charge her for the full meatloaf meal + for the side salad. We were also charged when a friend wanted to sub. her fries for a side of fruit. that's ridiculous especially for a small, non-fancy restaurant like that. Irritation #2. Irritation #3- our waitress was so flustered while serving us. she took our orders and totally panic-ed like it was her first day or something. I understand we're a big group, but it's only 10 of us and you're writing everything down- what's the big deal? She was also very impatient with us and made us feel like a burden to her and we did not have any complicated orders. Prices were ok despite the whole charging us for substitutes. i think we averaged $9-12 a person. Parking may be difficult but not impossible. I probably would not come here again except to get my cupcake.
(3)
Matt M.
Holy. Crap. Checked out Keys after my sister's wedding. Sunday morning, hung over, about 8am at the Foshay. The house was packed... and we had got there at the right time. Waited about 10 minutes for a table. Not a fan of how crammed together the joint is, but they definitely use every inch of space. I feel bad for the servers who have to maneuver through it for entire shifts at a time. Our order took forever to get to us - some sort of mix up in the kitchen - but my gal and I were having great post-party chat over some freshly squeezed orange juice (which IS worth the extra money, BTW). Our server could not have apologized more and brought us a gigantic cinnamon roll while we waited, on the house. Great service. The food is AMAZING. The atmosphere may not feel like a family-run cafe, but the food certainly tastes like it's nurtured lovingly by a chef who, upon sending it out into the world to be devoured, likely sheds a tear or two. Thought long and hard about giving this a 5-star review, but packed-in restaurants just really rub me the wrong way. Atmospherically speaking. On the basis of food, price, portions, and service - could not be better. Highly recommend.
(4)
Seq G.
Came here for lunch while on vacation in Minneapolis and ended up having one of my favorite meals while on vaca here! I had a tuna melt - perfect! and a Bloody Mary which turned out to be TWO Bloody Marys because they ran out of their normal-sized Bloody Mary glass? I was stoked and each cocktail came with a pickle! Everything was delicious especially the homemade chips and I even got a homemade rice krispy treat to-go which made a delicious drunk munchie after hitting up Nye's later on that night. Can't wait to go back to Minneapolis!
(4)
Nancy L.
The place was jam packed when we arrived for breakfast. But fear not! We were seated within 10-15 minutes, which was pretty impressive considering there were about 10 parties ahead of us on the waiting list. The food was served exceptionally fast. He ordered the #1 with Italian sausage. We thought it was just going to be the ordinary sausage links, however it was the size of a large burger patty. I had the cinnamon French toast and it was scrumptious! It was light and fluffy and not too heavy like most French toast. We also ordered a cinnamon roll to share and that was also amazing! The fresh squeezed orange juice was a winner. We will definitely be returning to Keys for breakfast. By far the best breakfast we've had in the twin cities so far!!
(5)
Jacqueline Q.
Delivery waffles for dinner? YES! We'd been craving waffles for a while now, but never during standard breakfast/brunch hours. Dinner rolled around and the craving struck AGAIN! It was already past 8pm and one of us was sick. Thinking it was a lost cause to find a place near enough to walk or that delivered that was still serving waffles, we consulted google. Lo and behold! Keys serves breakfast all day. AND THEY DELIVER UNTIL 10PM! It was on. We ordered waffles with strawberries and peaches along with a dinner salad with parmesan peppercorn dressing. The waffles did arrive slightly steamed in the container (downside of delivery), but still tasty. Strawberries were fresh and delightful. The peaches were in a lightly spiced sauce and made an amazing compliment to the waffles. The salad was enjoyable -great vegetable variety, croutons were crispy, dressing was creamy. It made for a great meal. Brought right to my doorstep.
(4)
Rick M.
I checked the specials and was pleasantly surprised to see they had biscuits and gravy which is one of my all time favor breakfasts. It isn't exactly the same as you'd get in the south but was more substantial. I guess the weather dictates the "lightness" and MSP being way north it was a very fulfilling meal. My wife had one banana nut buckwheat pancake and a fruit cup which she really loved. The next time we visit Minneapolis we know where to go.
(4)
Tom B.
The Mexican scramble with tortillas was perfect after a late night.
(4)
Kennis W.
Nothing to write home about. Decent service and OK food. wouldn't go back but not a total waste of time and money.
(2)
Katie L.
This is probably one of the best breakfasts I've had. I ordered the special, the chilques with carnitas. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but when my order came out I was PUMPED. The dish-- fresh tortilla chips covered with a yummy green tomatillo sauce. On top of that was two over-easy eggs, queso fresco, cilantro, carnitas, and crema. Heavenly. Since it was a special though, it won't be guaranteed that it will be there on the day you decide to visit. Which is sad, because this was really awesome. The down-side was our service! Our waitress wasn't very attentive, and toward the end of our meal you could tell she was rushing to get out of there. I wasn't even done with my meal and she asked me if i needed a box. She brough the check again before I was finished-- and never asked my boyfriend and I for refills towards the end. It couldn't have been more clear that she wanted us to leave. But the food is tops!
(4)
Justine L.
The Keys at the Foshay has great breakfast - the epitome of an all-American breakfast. Two of us shared an everything omelet, which turned out to be the perfect amount. The shining star ingredients were the sausage and hashbrowns. nom nom nom. We also got the "famous" cinnamon roll. I'd say next time I can do without and swing by Ikea for a whole tray instead. It was pretty good in terms of flavor, but the dough was rather tough. I would also say, the service was great especially given it was a full house. The waiter knew we were splitting a dish, so he prepared it split before serving it. He also gave us extra slices of toast and their house jam without an extra charge. Hunn family, good job with the Keys!
Fun atmosphere, yummy and quick. Grilled cheese was really good. Tomato soup was ok--a little strange on the texture. Service was pretty good, but we were on the latter half of the lunch hour and the place was nearly empty when we left at 2:00. Prices were REALLY high. $21 with tip for cup of soup, sandwich, chips, and a pop.
(4)
Abby F.
Perfect comfort hangover helper brunch! I loved the mini Miller High Life sidecar with the bloody mary. It was exactly what I needed, nothing too special. Just breakfast/brunch done properly with huge portions!! Excellent service too, it's GOT to be stressful to weave between the tables there, very tightly packed in. They accommodated our group of 8 easily on a Sunday morning at 10am. I think we just beat the rush because there were a lot of people waiting for tables when we finished.
(5)
Danny H.
I'm one of those baseball fans that travels to other ballparks over the summer, and my travels took me to Minneapolis to see off the Metrodome for the hometown Twins. Naturally, I take these travels as a golden opportunity to try to local fare, and with suggestions from the nice girl at the Budget rent-a-car, I found my way over to Key's. From the moment I got there, I got the vibe right away that Key's seemed like one of the more hip places to grab breakfast; the patronage was young and old, and the hipster-ish wait was the dead giveaway. But unlike most hipster joints, the staff was friendly, and attentive, I did not have a long wait despite the place being really full, and best of all, was the food. I had this daily special omelette of chorizo and salsa as well as some hash browns, and all were acceptable. Maybe I'm used to overpaying for meals in cities, but I found Key's prices to be acceptable and not at all expensive. Would I go again when my travels bring me back to see Target Field? Absolutely.
(4)
Rachelle T.
Keys is a solid place to get a quality meal at a decent price. Nothing is too fancy, its comfort food all the way. The omelets are massive, the baked goods are legendary, I'm a big fan of the fruit plate myself, and all of these things can be made better with Bloody Marys. I suggest stopping in for happy hour, 2 for 1! It can be terribly difficult to get a table during weekend brunch or after work. I've always had good service at keys. The servers are very friendly and gave my friend a huge birthday cupcake.
(4)
Brian N.
Excellent breakfast food, it's Mom&Pop style in downtown. You still get the downtown prices, but the food's good enough you don't mind so much. Omelette for carryout? Hell yeah.
(4)
Jeremy C.
I just can't think of anything that would make a place better than this. The food is awesome, they have a full bar, the staff is friendly and they made very quick work at our last trip there, when the place was packed full of pre-game vikings fans and post church goers. Overall awesome place... sure to please.
(5)
Aubrey L.
FOOD=4 stars, SERVICE=2 stars. I was craving an Eggs Benedict on a Sunday at around 1pm and decided to check out Keys. I was seated at a small table along the back of the restaurant. It was at least 15 minutes before I was asked if I wanted anything to drink, including water. I frequently dine alone and haven't experienced this at really any other restaurant that I've eaten at in Minneapolis and it was off putting. Several times waiters walked by and made no attempt to take my order. However, a waitress eventually swooped in to take my order and she saved the day! She was extremely polite, funny and brought my drinks almost instantly. She kept my coffee refilled and it was always hot, which I appreciated. The Eggs Benedict itself completely rocked my world!! If you want one done right, head to Keys. The Hollandaise Sauce was velvety, thick, rich and spot on spiced. Ham was nice and smoky and english muffin perfectly mopped up all the eggs. Served with a huge slab of crunchy hashbrowns, it was the perfect amount of food for a hungry person. Overall, I would only go back if I had a craving that could only be satisfied there. The lack of service, initially, was really disappointing.
(3)
Evan G.
This place is fine. Was here recently for a business lunch. The group of us had a decent experience. The buffalo burger got the thumbs up, and so did the chicken caesar salad. I had a blackened chicken sandwich, which was served on a soggy bun that was slathered in mayonnaise (no mention of said mayo was made on the menu); the sandwich also featured a mountain of potato chips. Unfortunately, the chicken was a bit overcooked, but the blackened seasoning was really good! Service was perfunctory and quick. No warm fuzzies, but no iciness, either. Other lunch spots in downtown Minneapolis (e.g. Peter's Grill) are more worth the trip in my opinion.
(3)
Neha P.
"We had brunch at Keys and same turned out to be a good surprise! The portions are huge and sufficient while taste wise its just good ! Ambiance is lively and full of energy, a must GO at least once."
(4)
Summer L.
Ahhh, Keys. Sometimes I'm up early enough on the weekend that I can get in the door. Nothing like a huge wait that pushes people outside to immediately cause you to start walking elsewhere. There's not anything particularly spectacular about Keys' food. It's average, it's Minnesotan, it is what it is. Even the special cajun scramble I had this morning was only truly made memorable with a liberal dousing of Tabasco. It's certainly better than a chain brunch joint, but not exponentially so. It utterly fails in the realm of healthy eating unless you want oatmeal and fruit, but eh, I guess you offer what people demand and the Keys crowd isn't clamoring for Egg Beaters. That is, unless you're going for pastries and desserts. Holy crap, their cookies are the size of your head and probably contain a stick of butter each. The cakes and pies stand tall and don't mess around. Keys is a great source of treat gluttony. Now if only that was what I desired.
(3)
Nadia K.
This place gets better with time...and I say this only having been here once, because as the meal went on, the food and service kept getting better! Amusing and a good experience overall. I ducked into this place to escape from the crazy Minneapolis winds thanks to Yelp...it's easy to find--just look for the giant AT&T building and it's across the street clearly marked. Was seated quickly albeit kind of rudely by a girl who was taking phone orders and then waited what felt like forever to get some waitress' attention (well I was cold and cranky--I'd never been so cold!). Once she showed up, she took my order super quickly--I was a little taken aback by how quick and efficient she was in getting my order. I guess I felt a little hurried, but I suppose I'm used to the conversation and slow nature of order taking in the South? I soon appreciated the hurried nature of these people. I ordered a soy hot chocolate and soon plopped in front of me without ceremony was an average looking mug. However, the smooth creamy deliciousness in it was so amazing I checked with the waitress to make sure it was soy. I LOVED IT. They are even quick with the food--maybe 10 minutes after I had ordered, the food showed up. They gave me some homemade jam with my toast which was GREAT. Once the food arrived, the waitress was so conscientious; filling my juice glass, asking me if I needed anything, awesome basically. They have several options for protein; turkey sausage, turkey links, plus sausage, bacon, et cetera--this is always BIG in my breakfast rating, because I think breakfast should also offer some variety and options! I thought the Turkey Italian links were delicious! I had to slow myself down when eating. Now their hash browns were sort of burned and just okay, but I'll forgive a northener for bad hash browns, especially because they had ketchup. The rest of the meal was fantastic and I ate it all happily. Their homemade bread is DELICIOUS. By the end of my meal, I had forgotten how strange I felt this place was and was happy with my meal. I'd go back for breakfast anytime!
(4)
MoMo A.
Service and the food was really great. I had a Mexican veggie chili omelette, yum! I thought it would be lacking since it's such a busy place. We went because it's attached to our hotel, The W. It was a nice surprise all around!
(5)
Nucky T.
Tried Key's instead of Hell's Kitchen because some of the natives thought Hell's was over-rated, but I haven't tried them out yet. Key's was another excellent dining experience with all the other great restaurants in this truly under-rated city. I got up late and went to Key's at about 10:30a on a Sunday morning. I was anticipating a huge wait and there were a lot of people in there, but ... I was seated very quickly. I ordered the french toast, with 2 eggs and a glass of orange juice. Juice arrived fresh squeezed and absolutely delicious. Eggs arrived hot and delicious. French toast arrived with huge slices of cinnamon dipped bread. Wow, was this place good. Waitress was friendly and attentive. Didn't have any room for desert or baked goods ... I certainly wish i did! I don't know what it is about Minneapolis restaurants, but the cityy has the best food and the best quality tasting food in the nation.
(5)
Molly F.
I love pancakes and every now and again I CRAVE them over the lunch hour. Keys has always been my spot to fix my craving over the lunch hour and I've always had a pleasant experience. That was until today. I ordered my usual #1 (eggs, hash browns and toast) swap the toast for pancakes, my server's response "NO. We can't do that." It was said with so much force that initial my friend and I thought he was kidding. It wasn't until he said it again and then proceeded to lecture me that "bread could only be swapped with bread," that we realized he wasn't kidding. Now I know Keys likes to nickel and dime its customers, its $0.75 to upgrade to wheat bread, so I even offered to pay a surcharge to sub for the pancakes. Nope not allowed to do that either. When I mentioned I have ordered this several times with the pancakes and never had an issue before, my server got confrontational and lectured us that other servers should never have fulfilled my request and it was completely against the rules. OK, then I tried to order the #3 (eggs, pancakes and meat) and swap the meat for hash browns since potatoes are dirt cheap and meat is not. Again, nope that's not acceptable either and this time I got a lecture on how the only substitutions that could be made were "meat for meat or bread for bread." By now my friend (who had never been to Keys before) felt so put out on my behalf that she suggested we leave and go somewhere else but I really wanted my pancakes! I finally told the guy all I wanted was 2 eggs, hash browns and 2 pancakes but I wasn't comfortable paying more than $10 to get them when we all know if I bought the ingredients and made the food myself I could feed a small village the same meal for half that price! Nope, again I was rudely told that was not an option it was $12 or more or they couldn't help me. Yup he actually told me they couldn't help after receiving another lecture about "meat for meat, bread for bread." Yeah buddy, I get it. I mean come on, it's a freakin pancake! They are NOT going to make or break the restaurant. However this guys combative attitude and inflexibility did lose the restaurant two customers today. I may not have gotten a fix for my pancake craving, but I will say the burrito I ordered and was pleasantly served at Baja Sol was way more gratifying.
(1)
Sarah S.
We went here for breakfast. We took the train ride downtown and found this place. It was busy for a week day and the service was a bit slow but most of that was because of how busy they were. We had eggs, pancakes, sausage meal. The waitress was helpful and gave great service. The place seemed to have history but still looked classy.
(4)
David S.
The desserts are incredible as well as the happy hour. Regular fare is great as well. Definitely give their breakfast a try, you will not be disappointed. The staff is also very friendly, and while the atmosphere is great, it is deafeningly loud in this place. Make sure you sit in Karen's section, she's the best!
(4)
Cole S.
You're gonna spend about $40 with tip between two people for casual brunch. Never had anything bad there, especially fond of the buckwheat pancakes. Great brunch atmosphere, we discovered it after seeing a 3 hour wait at hells kitchen.
(4)
Kim L.
I was in MN on a business trip and decided to take an adventure alone and have breakfast before starting my day. The walk was only 3 blocks from where I was staying. I got seated right away, I had pancakes, eggs and hash browns. Was a normal breakfast but the pancakes were soo moist! I saved them for last so I could savor every bit!
(4)
Jada M.
I've been going to Key's since I was little, it's my dad's favorite place in the world! Obviously their breakfast food is the draw but their lunches are also fantastic so go for lunch or casual dinner as well! Omelets and sandwiches are to die for and huge so share with a friend or go hungry, if your hungover you'll be in heaven! Now eat up!
(4)
Parker O.
Eggs Benedict and everything omelet hit the spot
(5)
Carol J.
I was staying in downtown Minnie and wanted to go to somewhere low key for dinner. The hotel suggested the Keys which was nearby. I walked in and the place has more of a nicer diner feeling to it. I sat myself in the bar and the waitress was very attentive. She served and refilled my lemonade plenty of times. The food however was just alright. I had the turkey/meatloaf dinner plate with mash potato. The meatloaf was really salty and the turkey came in inconsistent shredded pieces and dry. I can't help to think the turkey was assembled together (from left over?) Now that I think back and read that Keys' a good bakery - the toast that came with the dinner was delicious and very fresh/fluffy.
(3)
Amy S.
I wish I'd had one of those 'great' experiences at Keys that I've heard so much about. But unfortunately mine was ho-hum. As ordinary as it is, I am a sucker for a good sandwich (why do the best of restaurants struggle with making a good sandwich? THAT is the question...), so I ended up getting the Keys Club. Honestly... it was dry. Very very dry. Even the turkey was dry. I have very little respect for a place that can't take care of it's meats. I felt fairly disappointed in spending even $10 on this and that's just sad. On the flip side, the tater tots were absolutely delicious and my husbands "thin" french fries were a hit. But the entire time I couldn't take my eyes off of the deserts beckoning me from the bakery case. They looked astonishingly delicious and they were massive! If i hadn't already had two cupcakes that day I would have gotten something. I did have a sample of a peanut butter cookie on the way out and I kept thinking, "Why couldn't I have just gotten 3 of these instead of my Club??" Btw, my husband got the cheeseburger and his assessment ended up being... "Eh, it was alright..' We can't exactly call ourselves fans. But, I think we might have to make another run here, simply for the desserts. Not to mention if they have desserts that look like THAT... I might be willing to give it another go.
(3)
Martha V.
In town for vacation, we ate a late breakfast at Keys at the Foshay Tower on a Friday morning and were extremely happy with our meal. I had the number 9 which was hash browns scrambled with fresh veggies. It came with toast and fresh strawberry jam. Total Yum! Coffee was good and we did get a refill. My husband got the Eggs Benedict and was very pleased as well. Very, very good food and because of that this is a very busy restaurant. I'm glad we went at an off-time. When we left, the line for lunch was out the door. I would definitely go back if I'm in downtown Minneapolis again.
(4)
Kurt K.
This place is always hopping for a reason! Delicious baked goods, awesome diner food and veggie friendly. Had the cinnamon roll as a appetizer today and moved on to the eggs Benedict for myself and pancakes for my wife. They are usually pretty good on the service side, and Lucus was on his A-game today. My only complaint would be the grits were cold and instant, and there was no less than 10 things (menus, ketchup, containers, ads) on a very small two top table. Three times I had to pick things up that kept falling off the small table. Minor issue, but made the meal a little less enjoyable.
(4)
Shawn S.
Keys always delivers. I have been here often for their generous portions at breakfast at a great price. Using a groupon - checked out lunch last week. The BLT delivered, the Rachel was one of the best in town, the servers were their typically friendly selves. Expect to wait a bit, even on weekends, but well worth it for a fun atmosphere and great, consistent food.
(4)
Baramee C.
I love Keys...and it was so close to the office. Well, it's still there...it's just me that moved. They have a great happy hour (2 for 1s). They have great comfort foods. I like to get grilled cheese or a farmers omelet - so delicious. Their appetizers are also pretty great. I like the green bean fries!
(5)
Kyle P.
Good brunch lunch place. Great steak sandwich and fries. Try it you will like it
(4)
Carolyn A.
I give Keys four stars because it is most definitely consistent. Luckily, it's also consistently good. I've had lunch at Keys before, but the key to Keys (sorry -- had to) is the breakfast. You can order it at any time, so it doesn't matter if you're there at 8AM or noon or later. I love that they have lots of combos, so you can get tastes of everything. I highly recommend the 2 eggs, 2 pancakes and sausage combo -- the eggs keep you full longer, the pancakes are just enough sweetness, and the sausage is a deliciously greasy sausage patty. They have turkey sausage too, which is nice when I'm trying to be a bit healthier. I've never tried them, but the desserts at the front counter always look AMAZING. Huge cookies, slices of pie, giant Rice Krispies treats -- one of these days, I won't be able to fight it.
(4)
Lindsay K.
I've heard over and over again that Key's has the best and biggest cookies ever, so I was happy to see a sample set out as we walked in the door. Indeed, this chocolate cookie was so good! It had a sort of spritz-like flavor, kinda almondy, and a texture that was rather different from any other chocolate chip cookie I've ever had before. My friend and I each get a blueberry buckwheat pancake and split a turkey burger. The pancake was fine, as big as the plate, and came served with a large dollop of fresh butter. As for the turkey burger, I can't say that I loved it. Edible, yes, but kinda as edible as frozen turkey burgers are. I buy them, I eat them often, but it's not the kind of thing I order at restaurants. Whether or not their turkey burger is in fact of the frozen variety I can't say, but it was definitely reminiscent of one, so may as well have been. Our server was good, very friendly. The atmosphere was a little blah, definitely not too cozy and without anything much to look at. I think I'd be more apt to stop in and pick up bakery items; all of the cakes, pies, cupcakes, cookies, etc. looked pretty unreal.
(3)
Wayne S.
Big gooey cookies. Great!
(4)
Cynthia L.
The food was great. Got the Kays Famous Everything Omelette. It was delicious. The warm peppermint chocolate drink was the best, highly recommend!!! The bloody Mary are good too. It is kinda crowded but it is worth it in my opinion. The reason I gave it four stars is the waitress, she was so out in outer space, had to ask for my water 3 times, and had to keep waving her to get her attention. Then there was this kid screaming out his lungs, kinda annoying. But overall definitely a good place for brunch!!!!
(4)
Kiki M.
Came here for brunch on a weekday . Huge portions, friendly service. Will be back!
(5)
Jen B.
Avoid the chicken wings at all cost. Instant gut rot = way too greasy. Also, we found a piece of plastic in a water glass, and the server treated it as no big deal. That being said, breakfasts are still great.
(3)
Joe P.
After eschewing the hour-long wait at Hell's Kitchen, my companions decided on Keys Cafe a couple of blocks away. While not my first choice, the wait was short and the service preemptive. We were all quite satisfied with our breakfasts (eggs benedict, Italian hash, eggs, oatmeal were all given thumbs up) and the orange juice was FRESH SQUEEZED! One grating nuisance: cheap, flimsy flatware of sub-college cafeteria quality. It's a running theme in breakfast places I frequent, apparently...
(4)
Nathan L.
I've been here for breakfast many times and it is quite delicious. I typically get the veggie omelet and it is really good and a very good portion. This was the place that introduced my palette to broccoli in an omelet and I haven't looked back since. Sometimes people say there is a wait for brunch here but I've never had to wait anytime I've gone. If you are around and don't feel like waiting for a table at Hell's Kitchen stop in, and in my opinion this place is better than Hell's Kitchen anyways.
(5)
Steve W.
Went there for brunch the day after Christmas and there wasn't a wait. The food was great and the service was prompt and above average. The huevos rancheros was than I could finish in one sitting, but they didn't sacrifice quality for quantity. Also, as someone else mentioned, great, freshly squeezed orange juice. I would go back again!
(4)
Susan B.
OMG this is the best homecooked food in the world. Not only that the staff is awsome and I even got to meet Barbara. She was wonderful and this had to count as the highlight of my trip to MN. Thank you all so much!
(5)
Thom C.
Fun place, food OK, we went for dinner and this is more of a breakfast place to me!
(3)
Tiffiny C.
Key's downtown is one of my favorite places to have a late lunch (go 2pm for a relaxing, less-busy nomfest). Their eggs benedict and grilled cheese sandwiches are what I usually order. Other standouts: - Banana cream pie - Their day-old bread and pastries (buy them before an old lady comes in and snags them all!) - Daily lunch specials. ALWAYS great. I ordered a Coney Dog and an Orange Crush float once. I still fantasize about that meal.
(5)
Adam S.
Good but not great food, reliable service that was not overly friendly but was prompt enough. Kind of the average restaurant surprisingly in a W Hotel building. Not much more to say unfortunately, but I would recommend it if you are staying nearby, Easy and fast.
(3)
Rachel G.
great place for brunch! When I went, I got the almond French Toast and eggs Benedict, and it was all delicious!! Only thing was that I felt rushed out after we were done eating. I love to sit around and hang out for a while when i go get brunch. If there isn't anyone waiting, there is no need to rush the costumer. And service wasn't the best. Waiter needs to be much more interested having a conversation with the customer and getting to know them. Food was good, service needs improvement.
(4)
Chris H.
I live downtown Minneapolis and order Keys, via Bite Squad or Restuarant Connection, delivered at a $4 charge. For some reason the menus are slightly different and Bite Squad includes appetizers making me prefer this service. Bite Squad is slightly quicker at delivery also. Keys is definitely known for breakfast foods but there's so, SO much more. Sure, the cinnamon roll, hash, bread/jam are all good but I often order the buffalo wings, hot beef sandwich and carrot cake. The wings/ranch dressing are great and some of the better wings downtown Mpls. The hot beef is salty/delicious with gravy/dressing/potatoes. The carrot cake is homemade and only second to the Luce version.
(4)
Jennifer H.
Overpriced, overpriced, overpriced. We've given this place three tries. We've tried to like it. We've tried to find the silver lining. There are a hundred better breakfast/lunch joints around town with better food and better prices. This is the sort of food that you can make at home for half the cost and half the time. Keys' saving grace that earned its second star from me is the warm caramel rolls, but that's it.
(2)
K T.
It's just not that great and it's SOOO expensive. Plus, the service is very slow. The bakery is very good though! Too bad they don't just do that!
(2)
Lauren M.
The pancakes with raisins and walnuts in them are AWESOME and HUUUUGE! I ordered two (twice) and could never finish. One is a meal, trust me. I like the art deco decor and the waitstaff is friendly.
(4)
Pierre T.
Key's downtown is a pretty nice place and this was my first visit. I went there late in the day around 3pm and was looking for a place that still served breakfast at that time. I had the pumpkin spiced pancakes, italian patty sausage and eggs. The pancakes are pretty good and really enjoyed the sausage patty. I hung out at keys from 3pm till 8pm, the service was ok nothing spectacular, but I did have an issue when the Holidazzle crowd came in before and after the event, Key's never increased the staff at the bar. The poor bartender had to server the bar and about 10 tables, which made get service a chore. I rated this place three stars, I would definitely go back, but definitely before there's any potential crowd.
(3)
Ben P.
3 words: breakfast for lunch. Sweet, sweet, heavenly breakfast for lunch. Pancakes, sausage patties, scrabled eggs with Tobasco, waffles (as Mitch Hedberg would say, a waffle is a pancake with a syrup trap), bacon, omeletts. Need I say more? Keys is the supreme purveyor of all that is good and right and decent about that most decadent indulgence: breakfast for lunch. Plus, with the restaurant's bar, you can finally try out such combinations as pancakes and scotch, eggs and tequila, sausage and bourbon, and omeletts and Jaeger. Mmmmmm!
(4)
Mariel L.
I ate here back in 2008, during my first visit to Minneapolis, due to some Yelp! reviews that I read. I was comped for around $30, so I definitely ordered as much as I could to take with me to the airport, and I remember thinking the food was good, traditional American food, but there's really nothing special about it. To a certain extent (of the menu), Keys really doesn't stand out from any other diner. However, they do have certain gems in their selection, and their portions justify the crowds that come here every morning. Before getting to the food, though, service-wise, it's OK; I've been several times already and often with huge groups, and we were seated fast, even on the day after Thanksgiving when everyone who worked that day seemed to be there. I've gone for the Italian Hash twice already, and it was really delicious; the sausage was spiced just right, and the bell peppers provided the crunch, while the potatoes were brown and crispy. Heck, anything with home fries just makes me happy. I've also tried their (FREE!) delivery once and ordered the Key's Clubhouse. Unlike the other clubhouse sandwich on their menu, this one is gargantuan with a ton of fries and some slaw on the side. The sandwich, besides being impossible to eat with one hand, was great; the thick-sliced bacon was just how I like my bacon, and the bread was merely an edible plate. Decent food in huge portions at good prices makes Keys economically and gastronomically sensible to me.
(4)
Rhea S.
Had a great time here. Went at night to have breakfast. Very loud on the Saturday night I went. Service is a little slow, but not terrible. Great eggs with hollandaise sauce. Lots of yummy hashbrowns. Hearty amount of food for a good price. I couldn't eat it all. Can't wait to go back and get some more breakfast. Looks like they also had great pies, cookies, and cakes.
(4)
Kelly C.
YUM! I had to come here after seeing the reviews on their great Eggs Benedict (EB). I have to agree that it was phenomenal and is now the best EB I've ever had. The ham was excellent quality and sliced thin (like pancetta). Egg was perfectly cooked and the Bernaise sauce was thick (but not too thick) and flavorful without being overly spiced. It comes with hash browns (very good), but next time I would ask for toast and HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY JAM instead. I had to try my boyfriend's after the server said it was homemade. Seriously, the best jam I've had in the U.S. (The jam is perfection in Europe.) My man really enjoyed his build your own omelette and had the hash browns mixed in, which was quite tasty. Normally I take a pic of my plate, but I was just so excited to dive in that I forgot! Really warm weather in Minneapolis right now, so we sat on the outdoor patio. It's cool that breakfast is served all day & EB included. Most restaurants (in San Diego) only serve EB on the weekends! If I lived in MN, I would be here at least once a week, probably twice!
(5)
Randy K.
Food and service was excellent. Had tasty roast beef hash with delicious home made bread. Only draw back is the noise in this crowded restaurant. Prices are reasonable and menu is varied. We're going to give it a try for dinner.
(4)
Randall S.
This is a good place for a bit of plain old diner food and a cup of coffee. The service can be hit or miss. They do not do a very good job of keeping track of their wait list and should probably train their servers a little better.
(3)
Jillian C.
I'm almost as conflicted as Stephanie before me. The service was really slow, which at lunchtime downtown is surprising. But the vegetarian chili was quite good, and it came with a kick a** corn muffin. I would definitely order a cup and not a bowl if I go back again! Portions were large all around, so don't eat here before any afternoon meetings because you'll be comatose when you're through. I've worked half a block away for two years and this was my first time in, and I'll probably be back at some point...maybe for happy hour. They have a full bar! (I didn't notice one at all when I was there) Also, word to the wise: free delivery until 10pm.
(3)
Jason D.
Awesome breakfast, I recommend the farmer omelet and pancakes!
(5)
Steve B.
Went for lunch yesterday and order the jerk chicken sandwich which I enjoyed. My lunch partners both ordered salads that were very large for lunch portions. Other times when i've eaten at Keys i've ordered breakfast which is also enormous. Didn't have any room for dessert but they looked mighty delicious waiting for eaters in their display case.
(4)
Ellen M.
This place is so great. Parking is always a PITA, but their monster pancakes and baked goods are worth the trip downtown.
(5)
Chad R.
This was a great place to have a Sunday brunch after a long night out! The food was good, the service fast, and the prices resonable! :)
(4)
Gerhart T.
Keys Cafe - Located in The Foshay Tower in Downtown Minneapolis. Given that I work right across the street from Keys, I eat breakfast and enjoy happy hours there at least a couple times a month. It is difficult to screw up a breakfast. Eggs, bacon, and toast . . . is what it is; and that is typically good. Happy hour at Keys is good for a small group. You can always find a seat and the beer is cold and good.
(4)
T C.
Chocolate (HOUSE) cake. Any breakfast item. Mimosas. I love the atmosphere and the service and the food at Key's at the Foshay. Food = Diner. Decor/Interior = Fancy restaurant.
(5)
Kathryn H.
Farmers Omelette was phenomenal! In MN for the weekend for a wedding and meandered over to Keys because it was an easy walk from the hotel. Oh we'll be coming back tomorrow and having Texas-size dreams about it in the future.
(5)
Ericka B.
My all-time favorite spot for breakfast any time of the day. The wait can be a tad long during breakfast on the weekend, but I usually eat my breakfast late anyhow, so I only run into the line when I take out-of-town guests here. I will admit that once I find something I like I tend to stick with it forever. That means I eat the same thing here every single time & only once have I tried something else (a turkey sandwich that was just fine). My usual? Cheese omelet with hash browns (inside the omelet, thank you!), mushrooms & ham. Yep, I'm really that easy to please. The omelets are huge & filling & last me well into the next meal, whatever & whenever that may be. Plus fresh strawberry jam for your toast that is just right, not too sweet & with good texture. I have never had bad service here, but it is occasionally slow, even when they don't appear to be all that busy. I enjoy the larger space & full bar at this location, but I really miss the Nicollet Mall location.
(5)
Kevin M.
It took me a while to warm up to this location. During my senior year of high school I spent first hour most days sitting at the now defunct New Brighton location, with it's lovely small-town feel. Then, when I was on campus at the University the original Raymond Ave. location became my breakfast standby. When this one opened up in the Foshay Tower, I was skeptical. I stand before you today saying, I was wrong to doubt them. This Key's embraces all that is good about breakfast, with their spectacular bacon and giant mound of hash browns, but also is a great comfy bar to spend a happy-hour afternoon. It's like that old New Brighton location was for me when I was in high school, but all grown up and cosmopolitan in its new W Hotel digs. Given the preponderance of eclectic breakfasts available downtown, I can't quite give it the full five stars since it wouldn't necessarily be my first choice based solely on that (and I agree with Joe about the flatware), but it's always nice to find a place that - any time of day - will be a pleasant spot to while away some time in and really enjoy the act of eating or drinking passively with some great service and a big wall of windows through which you can watch the world go by.
(4)
Ray Ray K.
A nice local restaurant/bar. Very friendly and quick service. I sat at the bar, full bar. I had a turkey burger and it was actually better than I thought it was going to be, nice flavoring. I would definitely stop by here again. And they serve breakfast all day! Can't beat that!
(4)
Maureen F.
I have been to both this location and the one in St Paul on Raymond for breakfast. This location is much larger and cleaner. There was a bit of a wait but, not more than 20 minutes. I had a farmer's omelet the size of my head. It was great, except next time I might just pass on the eggs and have the hash-browns with cheddar and veggies. Who needs eggs anyways?
(4)
Alison Z.
We were there on a Sunday morning, and we were quickly seated. The cinnamon rolls are spectacular but the rest of the food was just so so. Husband thought the food was great and would go again, but I am not in love.
(3)
Terry W.
This is what a diner should be. Fast service, good solid food, nothing fancy, but what they did serve was right on. We sampled the cake on the way out, definitely worth a trip back. Crowd was a mix of families and a few hipsters. Nice thing about taking kids in the food comes within minutes of ordering.
(4)
Ninja S.
A decent downtown lunch spot when you would like a coffee drink, a sandwich, or the like. You could also stop in for morning breakfast things, but I made every effort to get to work at the last possible moment in the morning and never came in for breakfast.
(4)
Vanessa G.
WHY didn't I try this place sooner? I was in Minneapolis for 5 days and I didn't even go here until my last day. LAME. This place was great. In all my research I had forgotten which places had gluten free options and which didn't and had convinced myself that this place did not. I was wrong. They have a GREAT assortment of gluten free goodies that you can't get anywhere else. It's crying shame I didn't get pancakes for cripes sake but, after reading other yelpers, I couldn't pass up the eggs benny..with GF toast no less! And yes I saved room for dessert. Was bummed there was only one GF cake that day but I can't really complain. there WAS cake after all. I had the GF banana cake and it was made from scratch, not out of a box. WIN. My friend had the chocolate cake which he talked about for the rest of the day. Service was great. I had little bit of bad creamer in my coffee which they replaced and comped (which totally was not necessary). Our waiter, Derek, was delightlful.
(5)
Callie W.
Ordered lunch to be delivered from Keys Cafe. Grilled cheese was hard as a rock and inedible, not to mention cold. Called back and management offered to replace it with anything on the menu. Thankfully the food came hot and was decent. Generally I would say it's pricey for the mediocre quality.
(1)
Johan B.
A great little cafe, open early, for an All-American breakfast. The menu is classic, the service is prompt, and the food is dependably good on every visit. A frequent customer of Keys when I'm visiting home, I find their rolls to be excellent, and I've never had a bad omelet here. The ambience is a bit harsh, but overall a decent dining experience.
(4)
Stephanie K.
This is a really great diner/cafe in downtown Minneapolis. It's not pretentious but serves really great standard breakfast dishes. I had eggs, toast, bacon and OJ. The eggs were cooked to order, the toast was thick, fluffy and served with house strawberry jam. The bacon was thick and also served extra crispy as requested. The OJ serving was large and it's fresh squeezed. The only thing I didn't like was the hard chairs and that it was really loud even though we were seated privately in the back of the restaurant. If I could eat a breakfast that good every morning I'd be one happy girl! I definitely recommend Keys!
(4)
Unemployed A.
Actually I'm giving it a 2 1/2. I was in town and had lunch on Saturday 9/4. Had the turkey soup/grilled cheese combo. Turkey soup was ok but the grilled cheese, nothing to write home about. The sandwich came with chips or more like crumbs of chips. I have to say the waiter did know how to make a arnold palmer, not many people know what that is. What I don't understand is one peson takes your order, another person delivers it, and then another person will by (if you are lucky) and ask "how is it" Keys is a diner not a 5 star place. When I got the bill the waiter charged me separtely for a bowl of soup and a sandwich, that added $3.00 to the bill. Total bill was $15.00. Too pricey for just fair food. Had breakfast also on 9/5 as it being Labor Day nothing was open. Again, food was just ok. But the whole grain toast is a winner. Coffee weak, and again service so-so. Will I return again I doubt it. If you want a no nonsense breakfast at a good price go to Peter's Grill.
(3)
luna r.
Really good breakfast food. Enough said.
(5)
emily o.
bad bad breakfast! just terrible.. god why whyyyyy do peolple in minnesota love bad flavorless food! ??????
(1)
Jackie R.
My BFF and I had plans for breakfast on morning and I knew this was her favorite place so I asked if she'd like to go. Of course! I had been craving Eggs Benedict for like a year, so I ordered that. It was delicious. I can't wait to go back. I can't remember what my friend ordered but either in her order or on the side there was a pancake involved. Loved that too. There are too many tempting things on the menu at Keys, I will be doing myself a disservice if I do not return and try more food... if I can make it without ordering that eggs benny again. We went in on a Sunday morning and as expected it was busy. We did get a table very quickly though. I don't know if we even waited 5 minutes. All good, 5 stars all the way. I recommend everyone try this place at least once and I hope you have as good of an experience as my friend and I did.
(5)
Rick B.
I am from Southern CA, run a volleyball club local to orange county. I have been coming to Minnesota for now 5yrs for a national tournament... Keys has become a staple for us! Just this morning they were completely full and couldn't take anymore large groups. That however still managed to get us in quickly and seat us! There service is wonderful even offering to refill our outside coffee cups! Now onto the food... Simply put amazing!
(5)
Bill C.
I was struggling with this rating until I got the check. The food is a 3.5 but not equivalent in quality to the price. $29.53 for French toast, fruit, an egg and coffee. French toast on the cinnamon toast was excellent. Skimpy with the extras however. Fruit cup was way better than most breakfast places. Fried egg straight up sucked. Service was excellent. Atmosphere had an old Chicago feel. I travel here frequently in business and will have a hard time deciding whether to return.
(3)
Tatyana V.
Great service, very fast and efficient. Convenient for hotel guests. They have a full bar service and breakfast, lunch and dinner menu. Great ambiance with a hint of Art Deco decor. Fun spot for people watching.
(5)
Kelsey S.
Good food
(4)
Koshya W.
Found this gem walking around downtown. Craving some breakfast, we decided to try before starting our day. Hostess was very nice and we got say within 5/10 minutes of putting our name down. Our server was super friendly and really patient with us! Having such a large menu and seeing everyone eating something different, it was hard to decide what we wanted. I got the pancakes with chocolate chips with bacon and eggs. The pancake was very good, very rich and goldened to perfection. The pancake was literally the size of my face x2! They were very generous with the amount of chocolate chips and the food came out very quickly. Bacon was okay (lacking a little bit of crispiness) but the pancakes were definitely the best part. Will definitely return when I'm back in MPLS!
(4)
Riccardo S.
Nice little lunch spot with a little something extra for those with a sweet tooth. I've been through here on a few occasions for lunch, and I'm kinda torn between the burger, Reuben, and meat loaf platters. Staff are exceedingly friendly and very attentive to guests, and I can't recall ever having an empty glass without being asked if I wanted a refill. As to the sweets - well, if you really want to make someone's day stop in here for one of their brick-sized rice krispie treat bars or chocolate-chip/marshmallow/graham cracker bars. Yes - they are the size of actual construction bricks, and probably contain enough sugar to send a little kid into orbit, and they're delightful. About the only thing I find disagreeable about Keys is their pricing for a multi-shot espresso. I generally have a few 6-shot espressos throughout the day, and I stopped in here for one and ended up being charged for 3 doppio espressos instead of a more reasonable (at least at any coffee shop) upcharge per additional shot of espresso. I unfortunately discovered that their espresso is also not really all that great, compounded by the fact it cost me over $10. Still - I'll be back for a beer and burger sometime in the near future.
(4)
Joline E.
This week I stopped into Keys for a late breakfast with coworkers while at the Mpls Convention Center and tried the corned beef hash with two eggs over medium. I've had a great luck with Key's breakfast in the past and this trip was no different. The corned beef was tender and lean, in small but plentiful chunks. The potato bites were crispy without being greasy and I liked the flavor. The homemade strawberry jam that comes with the toast is delicious and more like a fresh fruit spread. My toast was slightly burned but with the jam was still soft and yummy. My eggs were perfectly done with soft yolk and firm white. Plus the portion was hefty enough that I'd have leftovers on a normal day. I added some tabasco and it was PERFECT! I highly recommend this restaurant for any meal but especially breakfast and particularly for their hash!
(5)
Julia T.
It's all about the pancakes here. They are my second favorite in the country. The best pancakes I've had are in San Francisco. They rest of the meal was decent, although my eggs were a little undercooked, but it wasn't a huge issue. I ate them anyway. Just come for the pancakes & think of everything else as fluff.
(4)
Crystal N.
Rise and shine! We had a spectacular breakfast this morning. Being from the area originally, I had to get a Carmel roll because they just don't make them right in Colorado where I live. I was not disappointed and they even added bananas for me. My friend had a build your own omelette with egg whites and other yummy stuff. To my surprise, they even had green chiles for her and she was delighted. Finally, my other friend had a gluten free waffle. Immediately after her first bite, I heard audible approval and witnessed pure joy and happiness about the fluffy, light, sweet waffle morsel. Three cheers!
(5)
Phil W.
Got a salad catered and they put a TON of dressing on it. Was extremely soggy and had way too much dressing on it. Seriously, I've never had salad to go that came with the dressing already on it. It's not rocket science, c'mon. I think the salad would have been good if it wouldn't have been completely submerged in a pool of dressing...
(2)
James R.
Exemplar art service. Was very quick and tended to regularly. We had a large group and had two waiters. Our food was prepared speedily and there was little to no wasted time. Only complaint is that this restaurant is a little bit pricier than comparable options.
(5)
John H.
My kids enjoyed their pancakes, and the bacon looked good. But that's where the positive comments end. I ordered eggs Benedict, and it was not good. The Hollandaise sauce was not homemade, it was obviously out if a can, with that goulish yellow color. Next, the English muffin had not been toasted, so it soaked up all that yellow mess. I also ordered hash browns extra crispy, but they came out undercooked, a big soggy pile. This place is popular, but for the high prices I would expect higher quality.
(2)
Tim B.
Our last meal in Minneapolis took place on a Sunday morning. One would think that it would be easy to find a decent breakfast in the midst of a major American city regardless of the day of the week, but I realize I can be naïve. The hotel where we stayed had a mini-mall at its base, with a variety of restaurants, plus a Starbucks, yet all would be closed this day. We were worried we'd be scrambling for a McDonalds on the interstate out of town, but fortunately this restaurant was open for us, as well as many other people. And Foshay took full advantage of the opportunity, serving up the most delicious buckwheat pancakes I've ever had. Combined with smooth java, a knowledgeable and efficient waitress, and plenty of activity around us, this restaurant accounted for 100% of the energy within about a three block radius. My only regret was that we didn't have the opportunity to partake in additional meals here - they certainly deserved to be tried for dinner.
(4)
Emily S.
Keys at Foshay is one of the best places to grab breakfast in the greater metro area. The physical environment is super cool with many original art deco features. The menu is all American comfort food, well prepared and in generous proportion. #3 comes highly recommended and includes pancakes, eggs, and choice f meat. The pork sausage option is in league all its own. The service is professional but sometimes they are stretched a little thin. If you want to get in on the weekend you better come early or be prepared to wait. Another excellent option is to have food delivered, if you live close enough. While lunch and dinner offerings are classic diner fare, excellently prepared.....Breakfast is really where it is at.
(5)
Keith S.
When I think Key's, I think of two things: Breakfast Bakery And they do those two things here very, very well. But you probably know that. So let's talk about the other stuff. Key's @ The Foshay is one of my favorite HH places downtown. You can almost always get a bar stool or table at the bar without much hassle. It's not elbow to elbow with a 5pm rush. They have good, not great, but good HH specials and some good beer options (Lucid Air, yes please). There is seating outside - but no alcohol allowed. Key's has a very solid lunch/dinner menu as well, don't sleep on it if it's not bfast you're looking for. Service is usually old diner grouchy. That's not a bad thing, I kind of like it that way. Just to the point and you might wait a couple minutes if it's busy. No frills, no problem, that has been my experience. Service around the bar is a little more traditional. Don't forget to take home a piece of pie. The French Silk is among the best out there.
(4)
Gene W.
Cinnamon French toast was great, but service was notably bad. Server was late to start, few water refills and inaccurate orders. The food is the saving grace. It wasn't packed; I simply think that the server wasn't engaged with the job that day. I bought a peach pie at the front desk, which was also delicious. I'm willing to chalk it up to a bad series of events, but at nearly every touchpoint, the service wasn't up to par.
(3)
Vanessa P.
This place is always packed on Sunday mornings but we always get seated pretty quickly. The service has always been solid and the food comes out in a reasonable amount of time. This location is the only Key's I have found that serves grits, which seems odd that the other locations wouldn't, and I love them so much! Pretty much everything is amazing at Key's and this location is always a good time.
(4)
Logan A.
I should probably just stick to the basic breakfasts or simple lunch sandwiches at Keys. I had the grilled cheese sandwich with turkey, and while the turkey was fresh from the bone, the sandwich was a mess. I ordered a cup of the tomato bisque to go with it, but the soup was so chock full of chunks of tomato and pieces of onion that it was more of a creamy stew. I'd prefer something a bit more pureed. The strawberry rhubarb pie was decent enough, but it's not worth a second slice. I will give the place some credit for being open pretty late on a Sunday when that part of downtown is deserted. People seem to like the eggs and such at Keys. That's good, because stay away from anything else on the grill.
(2)
chaz t.
Hi my little yelps! I went here on a trip to the twin cities. I got a yummy in my tummy Mexican omelet with veggie chilli that was chillin. It was pretty good. And I'm a fan. Repeat after me.... Yum...yum...yummy. Go to the keys! Yay. ( I should never be a cheerleader) Thanks for reading.
(4)
Jason K.
I've been to Key's a few times for breakfast and they are awesome and I had their Rueben for lunch and it was fantastic, but the real reason it is 5 star is their happy hour! They have 2 for 1 20 ouncers of Summit for $5.75 and they have fantastic chips and homemade salsa. Just hot enough for a salsa lover. The wait staff is always fantastic and attentive. If they only had Guiness on their 2 for 1 menu.
(5)
Nadine Y.
I think I should start a Yelp List, "Eggs Benedict Arnold." I've been on an eggs benedict mission and my love for and alliance with certain restaurants changes with each bite, swipe, and dip of english muffin in egg yolk. And as of now, my allegiance is with Keys! Plan on having your weekend breakfast at Keys. Yes, that's right. Breakfast. Not brunch. Show up after ten and good luck getting a table right away. The servers keep the coffee pouring, but ALWAYS make sure that they are pouring from the green one (that's the decaf). I think the Keys army is so busy running around that they might make a slight slip of regular. It's great for people watching, and you're bound to run in to someone you know... well, only if you're popular... or maybe because this is the place to be. If you're not sure where this is, look for the small black awning. It's right next to Manny's and across (and down) the street from Hell's. There's pre-paid parking available down ninth (it's a one way), one the corner, on your left. And don't think you can outsmart me and Opentable this place. Been there, done that. They don't take reservations on the weekends, especially on Sundays.
(4)
Melanie C.
My boss and I were hungry for a solid breakfast after flying into MN the night before. Checked Yelp! for nearby suggestions and was happy to find out about Keys! Loved the art deco interior - so much so that we were prompted to Google the history of Foshay Tower. Service was friendly - but seemed puzzled by us somehow. I have no idea why. I ordered up poached eggs, toast and hash browns - they did a pretty pretty standard job, although I felt the eggs were a little underdone. The coffee was good.
(4)
Geoffrey R.
I've done brunch at Keys a couple of times over the past few years and I've always been quite contented upon departure (I've mostly been to the Foshay Tower location though I once went to a Keys in "dread" Anoka County). Their Blood Mary is a bit too spicy for my taste - I prefer the Hells Kitchen version - and I think Hells overall atmosphere is slightly more interesting. But the service was quick and efficient....and at my most recent brunch, my bisquits and sausage gravy and eggs (a special I believe) were among the best I've ever tasted. Really sensational. Granted, I had a bit of a tummy ache for over-eating but it was certainly worth it. A great choice for Sunday brunch in the Twin Cities.
(4)
Nazgul W.
Mostly I've had Keys for lunch and it's OK. Nothing fantastic but pretty good. This one is much bigger than the Raymond location but still kinda small. At times it can seem like the staff would rather sit around and chat, but the service has been at least OK when I've been there. It seems like their bakery items would be really good, and I need to revisit their breakfast one of these days. It would be nice if it were slightly less expensive.
(3)
Nate S.
Keys at the Foshay Tower in Minneapolis is a staple of downtown Minneapolis. While I don't think you'll be "wowed" by anything in particular I will say that they have never let me down whether I'm meeting co-workers for a drink after work or enjoying breakfast on Saturday morning. The food is served in ample portions and the daily specials are worth considering. I highly recommend the baked goods as they are wonderful and always fresh!
(3)
Amy S.
We usually don't go out for breakfast but we enjoyed the omelets and cinnamon rolls very much. The orange juice was fresh squeezed and quite a treat. The one thing to note is that this place is packed on a Sunday for brunch. The earlier you get there the better. We had to wait 20 minutes but it was worth it.
(4)
Teresa D.
I love Keys. It is my happy hour hangout after work, and I have been a loyal customer for several years now. First off, you can't beat the prices. Half off taps and rails during a long happy hour? Goes till 7! Second, its in the Foshay Tower, so its historic. They do a really nice job keeping with the theme of the building. Third, the waitstaff is amazing!!! And a little known fact- best malts you can find downtown, yum.
(4)
Jeff A.
While I've never eaten breakfast at this location, I have eaten at another one in St. Paul, so I'm guessing the food here is as good (and well-proportioned) as other locations. What I especially like about the downtown Mpls one though is its happy hour: 2 for 1s on select beer/liquor, $2 off apps, and a somewhat extended 3-7pm. While it's become a bit fuller since The W at the Foshay opened, it's still not as intense or overwhelming as The Local or Brit's. Thank you, Keys, for always making my bus ride home much more enjoyable...
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Mark M.
Was staying at the W. Had already dropped enough dough on the hotel room -- continue continue the trend at the really pricey hotel restaurant (although I'm sure it's wonderful). Keys is technically "in" the hotel, too! (you don't have to go outside to get to it). This is the kind of place you'd expect to see on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (and one where all the people are like "this place rocks" etc etc) - Solid menu - Quality ingredients - The desserts -- the cakes and pies - OMG - Turkey burger was done really well (moist and such) - GREAT salads - ANd breakfast omelettes are HUGE Excellent service to match.
(3)Thomas S.
Very good upscale diner. Highlights include their cinnamon roll and eggs Benedict, as well as the fresh juice. The cinnamon French toast and hash were pretty good too.
(4)Michael N.
We stopped in for breakfast on a Saturday morning. This place is always seems packed during the brunch hours on the weekend. We just beat the rush around 10:45 and were seated right away. Service was quick. We took a few minutes to look over the menu. After we put our order in, our food was out in 5 minutes. I had the eggs benedict and she had eggs, toast and Italian turkey links. The eggs benedict was pretty solid, hollandaise and poached egg were just right. We were pretty satisfied with our meal but not blown away. For breakfast, I'd say prices were a dollar or two more that most places. The noise level was pretty high too. One thing I don't like about this place is the entrance. They don't really have much of a waiting area so people are awkwardly standing over people eating or they have to wait outside. I will say the bakery items looked awesome and I might have to make it back just to try some of them. The cookies and brownies were huge. Overall, I don't know if I'd come back just for the breakfast/brunch. Parking is not convenient, it's crowded and nothing wowed me enough to make it worthwhile. If I was nearby, I might swing in to get something from the bakery though.
(3)Edward P.
I've been eating breakfasts around the Twin Cities for decades, and Keys has always been one of my standards. Great atmosphere, decent food, etc. But after the last couple of times I'm writing them off. Surly service is one thing. But now Keys is just insulting its customers with bad food. My eggs over medium were totally undercooked (runny whites...gross), my steak was some sort of dried inedible meat (I suspect horse...possibly unearthed, eviscerated Quarter Horse...A1 didn't help). My toast was warm bread. The potatoes were...I don't really know how to describe them...just bad (made with a light motor oil?). I just asked the waitress to take it away and ate some of my son's caramel roll (which was pretty good). This joint is resting on its laurels. Save yourself. Don't go. There are plenty of breakfast restaurants in the Twin Cities who really want your business.
(1)Tim G.
Came here for breakfast while traveling. Food was excellent, and I also did try the cinnamon roll, which was very good. Be careful of where they seat you though. Table I sat at had someone else sitting perpendicular to my table. If he moved it would hit my table. Also when he extended his hands while reading the paper, his hand would basically be over my table. Gross.
(3)Joshua W.
Came in for breakfast. There must have been some confusion as to who was in charge of the bar area, because it took me at least 10 minutes to get a drink, and about 15-20 just to order food. After I ordered, the food came in less than 5 minutes. Bacon, eggs, hash browns and toast. The 5 grain bread was awesome. And they have homemade jam. The food was super, the service was not. If it wasn't for the good food, I would not have even left a tip. That's how horrible it was.
(3)Megan S.
Chose this place because they serve breakfast 24/7; went at noon on a Friday. Great location and atmosphere, seated immediately, and fast waitstaff (they won't be accused of being overly-friendly any time soon, but they were not rude). The food was good too, though nothing amazing. I had the BLT, which comes with potato chips as the default; I should have substituted fries. My husband got the eggs, hash browns and toast, which were an average diner breakfast.
(3)Jacqui R.
Great peppered Bloody Mary. We had a really good side of wedge fries. The service was great; attentive but not overbearing. Would go back for sure! Went at night for drinks.
(3)Jay W.
Went to visit Minneapolis with my boyfriend and we were thrilled to stumble upon Keys!!! Actually went there twice on our weekend there. Leaps and bounds better than the highly reviewed Hell's Kitchen nearby. Awesome diner breakfast in a non-pretentious setting. Service was good, and prices were a bit high but I'm from Chicago so I'm used to it. Definitely going back someday to try the bloody mary...saw one from across the room and it looks worthy of the trip!
(5)Mark L.
This is my guilty-pleasure "breakfast for dinner" spot. I came here with a few co-workers and we all ordered a mix of breakfast and dinner items on a dead Tuesday night. A few of us had a farmer's omelette or Western omelette. The portions are so huge that you could easily split an omelette between two people. Plus you get hashbrowns and toast, so really there is just an excessive pile of food in front of you. I hate wasting food and I was hungry, so I went at it, but every bite was delicious and I regret nothing. Two cool aspects of our meal was the home-made strawberry jam that came with the toast. You can definitely tell the difference in quality from your Sunday morning Smuckers at the diner. Also, we ordered the fresh-squeezed orange juice (I highly recommend getting this, no matter what food you order). Our waitress was pretty fast getting our orders and delivering food so no issue there. Overall, I like this spot and will come here very once in a while. They just need to tone down those portions. I mean, I know we're Americans but come on.
(4)Terese G.
Good to great food. Unfortunately, the service is really inconsistent and my last experience in March while eating there with family was rather awful. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros and asked for fried eggs instead of "Mexican style eggs" (scrambled eggs). I often see this dish served with fried eggs, and it didn't seem like too demanding a request, so I was taken aback by the surly response I received from our server. But apparently, it was doable. Unfortunately, the small group at our table all felt the cold shoulder of our server throughout the meal. Perhaps she was having a bad day? In any case, I don't plan on coming back.
(2)Nathaniel K.
Pro's: OJ Cons: Eggs bene were sloppy w/ sauce. General: Midwestern size is something I liked, but eggs were just too much. Wait of 20min didn't bother me really, but I could see some people getting frustrated. OJ really is fresh - rare for a regular bfast place to carry such good juices (price? ~$4/big glass)
(3)Amy C.
This place is ok. The coffee is $3 a cup and not worth it. The breakfast was rather pricey ($5 for 2 eggs). The service was swift, but not at all concerned the with lip stick left on the coffee cup I was served. The famous caramel roll tasted like yesterdays bread.
(2)Mere W.
Keys is a Minneapolis staple. The food comes in large portions diner style. The only gripe with the menu is that they seem to charge you for every little adjustment. For example, you have to pay to get hash browns with an omelet. Compared to other breakfast / brunch spots in the Twin cities this seems a little steep. I have also really enjoyed their turkey burgers for lunch / dinner. They are one of the few places downtown that has a turkey burger and delivers. Overall the food is standard, nothing really to write home about. The service is pretty standard too. I have no complaints with Keys. However, I wouldn't go here for a special meal, just a normal everyday meal.
(3)Tony U.
Key's is a decent breakfast choice in another American city that just doesn't have enough American Breakfast houses. Given that there aren't enough breakfast houses, I'm going to give this 3.5 star place an extra half a star. The service is excellent and the wait reasonable. The omelettes are very unique here in that embedded with the cheese and "surprises" inside of the egg is also hash browns. A bit filling but something I've never had before in the SF Bay Area. The coffee's good and on the 2nd day, I had a very good buckwheat pancake. All in all, it's a little too expensive but the quality isn't necessarily lacking either. I'd definitely come here again.
(4)Alexa C.
I've had both good and bad experiences here. The baked goods at the front counter, A++ the turkey burger, a greasy slab of bleh. I enjoy their breakfast dishes, but with wanting to substitute for egg whites, the prices can add up fast. It's a great place to go before Vikings games for sure because it's far enough away from the metrodome that it's not TOO packed, but don't think you can get there an hour before the game and make kick off either. I've heard they have a great happy hour, but I've never experienced.
(3)Megan E.
Great comfort food. The portions are huge and the decor is amazing.
(3)Sam H.
I hate lines. I can't stand waiting in the entrance of a restaurant. But, I would do it again at this place. We came on a Sunday morning at 11 and had to wait 30 minutes for a table of 5. I got an everything omelette. Holy shit was it good. There were lots of fresh veggies and different types of meat. My wife got juevos rancheros, which was great. She subbed her side of potatoes for sweet potato tots, I kept stealing them when she wasn't looking. Pro tip: if you're sitting near the back, exit through the hallway by the bathrooms. That way you can exit through the lobby of the W hotel and feel like a baller for a minute.
(4)Sandy M.
Brought my mom here for breakfast on a Saturday morning around 10:30. We were seated within about five minutes, had our drinks within 10, and our food within 20. What a great meal and loved the energy of the busy restaurant. Looking forward to going again!
(4)Andrew E.
The names of dishes vary a bit from other Key's locations, but they are consistently good with items such as the Potato's Etc (includes vegetables and cheese) and the Robert Street salad (grilled vegetables over lettuce). Always very good service at this and other locations. An enjoyable stop for individuals, families, and office groups.
(4)Dave O.
We started off with the chips and salsa appetizer. The salsa was excellent but the multi-colored tortilla were a bit salty and not a lot of chips. We also ordered the patty melt and the keys burger with the wedge fries. The burgers were nicely done medium rare as we requested. Decent assortment of local beer.We finshed off with a huge chocolate chip cookie. Would recommend for any casual night out.
(4)Kim R.
I met my hubby for lunch at Key's a few days ago. I love the vibe at this Key's location. It's not quite as divey as the Roseville Key's, but it still feels like a diner. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros, and it was excellent. Tons of food, so order this if you are hungry. I had the breakfast potatoes an they were excellent, they had a really nice golden crust. I thought it was a little strange that sour cream is an extra $0.50, but the dish doesn't really need sour cream anyway. My hubby ordered the turkey burger with a cup of white chicken chili. I thought the burger was excellent. It was very moist and had great flavor. You can't go to Key's without ordering one of their fantastic desserts. They have tons of options including cakes, pies, cheesecake, bars and enormous cookies. I first ordered a slice of the rhubarb cake. I love rhubarb so I was really excited for this cake. But when I tried a bite, something tasted off. The rhubarb was very bitter, it almost tasted like it had been soaked in alcohol. It was not at all what I expected and neither of us really liked it. Our waitress was very understanding and offered to let us order another dessert to take home, so we decided on the lemon bar. I love lemon flavored desserts, especially in the spring and summer. This lemon bar was excellent. It was perfectlly tart with a delicious shortbread crust and a crumble topping with coconut. I would definitely recommend this dessert.
(4)Julie T.
This place is super busy on the weekends so try to get there before 10am. I always like this place gor breakfast. Their food is not as greasy as other breakfast diner place. Their orange juice was the best I've ever had. Will definitely go back there again! After brunch we head upstairs to the Foshay museum and the observation deck! What a treat for a lovely sunny and beautiful Sunday!!!
(4)Jake M.
Had a big and tasty cinnamon roll. Everyone I was with got other misc breakfast dishes that looked really good also. Have also tried a delicious omelette another time i went there. Look forward to going back to try more.
(4)Brian B.
We recently hosted a sales force breakfast meeting here at 7 AM on a Thursday for about 20 people. I have to say everything went very well. They did not have a private room for us but they did put us in the back area which seemed fine. The staff was spot on with having our buckets of eggs, hash browns, bacon and sausage and everything else right on time and it was hot and tasted very good. Great service, great food is all I can say. I would like to go back here on my own and sample their dinner menu and draft beers.
(4)Firas E.
Horrible service, not great food, this is a place I won't be going to again!! The service got us the wrong order, didn't even apologize rather gave us attitude, appetizer and food came at the same time after waiting for 30 mins!! The sweets looked good at the front of the restaurant but they brought us the bill without even asking if we wanted desserts!!!
(1)Kimberly T.
Most of my breakfast hot spots are in NE so I was excited to go downtown today to get my fix. We were seated right away & started going through the massive menu. Since we were both still really full from dinner the night before, I opted for the #6 (two eggs & toast) and a single banana pecan pancake. Ryan ordered the #9 (hash browns mixed with veggies). Since you can't really mess up eggs & toast, mine was just fine. Ryan liked his plate; it was loaded with mushrooms, broccoli, green onion & loaded with cheese. The real standout was the pancake - it was absolutely delicious. One was definitely enough since it's pretty sweet. Food & service were excellent!
(4)Camille L.
We walked in a little before 11 AM on Sat. and got seated right away. I always get their omelete's. You can create your own cheese omelet with many different veggies and meats to choose from. I recommend getting sausage in your omelet! I also like how they put the jam in a separate open container with your breakfast. The atmosphere is nice and urban with a good location. The service was pretty fast and prompt and the wait staff was friendly. This is one of my favorite breakfast places in downtown!
(4)Nick M.
I'm not going to talk about the ridiculous apostrophe on the menu, anyone at any of the other old Keys knows that it doesn't belong there. I grew up with Keys -- the old one in New Brighton on 5th Ave, with the occasional stop over at Raymond. Good, hearty breakfasts, mickey mouse pancakes, endless coffee, and kind waitresses. Some of that is still here at this downtown location. The location itself is gorgeous. Great outdoor seating, wonderfully classic interior, a bar that somehow suits the restaurant, even if you wouldn't imagine it. But, does everyone who work here hate working here? Is that part of the charm? I moved back to Minneapolis a few years ago, and for some reason, keep finding myself back here. Every single time, either the bartender or server who had to 'deal with us' has either been mentally absent the entire time, or just full of apathy. I think just once, a genuine smile would be fantastic. So, naturally, things that go wrong that would normally be forgiven instantly stick out in our minds, due to the complete lack of give-a-crap that the staff provides. This, from the host who doesn't acknowledge you, the server who is annoyed that you want to swap something out, the silverware that doesn't arrive until a few minutes after the meal is in front of you, and the counter that is always staffed but never making sales. It's too bad, because across town, Keys is the place to be.
(3)Amy R.
First time at this location. I came in through the back and finally got to see the interior of the W. How minimal chic. Eggs Benedict was really good and the consistency of the hollandaise sauce was exactly to my liking. The ham was plentiful underneath the sauce. Hashbrowns were just right. Not too greasy and not burnt. Service was great!
(4)Leslee Y.
They let me sit and talk...and talk, while ordering nothing more than coffee and tea. Thank you! It was the best potential job meeting/interview I have been on in quite some time. I will be sure to repay the kindness and patience on a weekend when my tab will be much larger!
(4)Jimmy V.
In a recent visit to Minneapolis, I ate two delicious lunches here. They offer a delicious plate of food for a nice price. Everything looked and tasted homemade. The best part of the meal is dessert -- homemade pie. It was very busy on Sunday, but the wait was only 10 minutes. This place can really pack in the customers.
(5)Molly S.
No complaints on the food, I ordered basic eggs, toast, and hashbrowns.. so there was little room for error. Hashbrowns were fantastic. Service was a bit slow, which was to be expected as they were pretty busy. Pama Mimosa was great as well. Not my favorite, but above average!
(4)Kathy M.
Excellent food, service and a good atmosphere! Fresh squeezed orange juice for breakfast and all homemade foods!!
(5)William S.
I love that Keys is downtown in a great location which I suspect accounts for their ability to charge $10.50 for Quaker oatmeal with fruit and nuts. To their credit the fruit and limited pecans were fresh. I would have expected exceptional oatmeal for this price though. The city's best oatmeal continues to be found at The Boiler Room. On the very positive side I was quite pleased with the Caramel Roll which was a hearty heaping of heated happiness. Wow! Highly recommended and at a comparative bargain of only $4.30.
(3)Christopher S.
Disgusting I just left Keys after getting two pieces of cake to go. I saw the hostess drop a silverware set up on the floor and then pick it up and put it back in the bin with the (ostensibly) clean silverware. When I called her on this she and the cashier gave me the stink eye and she left the dropped silverware right where it was. I will never eat here again.
(1)Sarah U.
typical breakfast food, the only thing worth getting at the hashbrowns that have everything but the kitchen sink not a bad place if you're downtown and need breakfast, but would not make a special trip. this place used to be a lot better
(2)Jason T.
Great spot for breakfast if you're staying at the W or nearby. I had the veggie omelette, which was gigantic - it basically looked like a yellow brick - see pic. The wild innovation here is putting the shredded potatoes INSIDE the omelette - ingenious! The toast comes with their famous (I assume?) strawberry jam - pretty delicious. I would totally come back here.
(4)Bart F.
$16 dollar buffalo chicken caeser salad is a pathetic portion. It used to be $13 adn they raised prices and reduced portion sizes. Breakfast is generally good though.
(2)Karen T.
I've been eating burgers and crap in MN for days and wanted a healthier breakfast. We all got a vegetable omelet. The vegetables were fresh tasting and what amazed me was they added hash browns inside the omelet, well there goes healthy! But it was so good!
(4)Annie S.
Okay... WOW I hope that I don't have to visit MN again in the cold but as long as I get to breakfast at Keys I will be just fine. The desserts are so big its silly, everything smells good and everyone is nice. My Breakfast was INCREDIBLE - Roast Beef Hash with HOMEMADE Sour Dough (I posted a pic) I WILL BE BACK... The next time I am in Minneapolis!
(5)Dawn G.
Breakfast offered all day long! If you enjoy buttermilk pancakes the size of a large plate, this is your place. Those pancakes are delicious, especially when they come with fruit on top. I really appreciate that Keys lets me get my pancake and egg fix at any time of day. In addition to the yummy breakfast options, they have drool-inducing desserts, tasty sandwiches, and other types of fare. Keys has a very laid back, diner environment. And along with that comes laid back service. Expect to wait a bit to order, request an additional item, or receive the check. You may receive some attitude from the waitresses on occasion as well. But once you have your comfort food, you'll be too content to care. If you are a fan of happy hour, Keys is a good location to visit. Good happy hour wine and food specials and there are a few tables outside to enjoy them on sunny days. You can even get into Keys via the skyway, which is great during inclement weather.
(3)Jay S.
Had a fantastic lunch! We had a group of 4, and all ordered different sandwiches. Everyone loved what they got, but I still think my 1/2 lb burger was the best. Highly recommended!
(5)Tiffani L.
This place didn't live up to the hype for me. Mostly because I think their menu has some misleading claims. The 'fresh squeezed' juice is definitely not really fresh squeezed. Or maybe they mix part fresh with part Tropicana, but it was not at all worth the $5 price. Also their 'famous' cinnamon roll was microwaved to be warm and tough to chew. Not worth the calories. Their side of berries was good but very small portion for $8. The only thing I can't complain about was the eggs - those were good. Service was decent but a little slow. I think there are better breakfast places in Minneapolis.
(2)Luan T.
Key's Café and Bakery is located near the Foshay's tower downtown Minneapolis...It is not that hard to find. If you are too young to even care what the Foshay's tower is, Key's is right next to Manny's Steak house. I have eaten at Key's quite a few times, but never got around write a review. Why? Ummm, it is located right next door to Manny's! What? I haven't written a review for Manny's either? Alright, alright, alright! I have been too busy(stuffing my face) and give you guys a review....Trust me when I say this, Manny will be doing just fine without a review on my part. Back to Key's Café and Bakery, what I love about this place: It is centrally located downtown and easy to find. Hence after a night of drinking among friends and you want a place to hang-out to 'sober' up - this is the place. They say hangovers are cause lack of liquids and nutrition(in other words your brain needs FOOD). The food is very big here. The pancakes are 2x the size of people's heads and the sausage patty is equivalent to 1/3# burger. Hence this place is a major upgrade over Perkins. The cakes/bakery stuff is the main attraction here. My personal favorite desert is the carrot cake because of its amazing cream cheese icing. Overall, the food is very good and plenty at any time, especially people who loves breakfast 24/7. Just remember 2 wrongs(binge drinking and head to McDonald's) doesn't makes it a right. Go to Key's instead. Your brain will thank me later.
(5)Michael S.
Had a solid breakfast here. Got some buttermilk pancakes that were super dank, along with the crispy bacon that restored my faith in humanity. Atmosphere is relaxing and easy going, but was bummed that I didn't get toast and jam with my meal like it said on the menu. Would definitely eat here again.
(4)Brenda W.
When I lived downtown this was my favorite place for sandwiches, Walleye when in season, and my fav breakfast - Buckwheat pancakes and lots of thick sliced cured bacon. The staff is friendly and helpful.
(5)Gary M.
great breakfast spot and great customer service. The portions are pretty big so don't get to excited Pancakes was my fav
(4)Matt H.
Classic breakfast food done right. Can't beat the historic atmosphere!
(4)Jeb B.
Loved it. We were there at 10:30 a.m. on a Friday. And it was packed. They clearly know what they're doing. I was with a big party of about 14 and we were well-managed. Service was spectacular. The back of the menu endears a person to the place with the story of its founding. It's clear that the owners care about their staff and guests. I ordered the breakfast sandwich and was a bit surprised at the spice in the sausage. If I had a do-over, I'd order it with bacon. The coffee was great! Although, that's coming from the biased lens of having been up late the night before. In short, Keys was a great place that earned four stars because of the staff.
(4)Aeliza R.
I could forgive the 1000 times I've ordered from them and had been delivered undercooked hashbrowns and burnt bacon, but the last interaction with their manager Danielle who has the snarkiest attitude I've ever encountered left me so enraged I will discourage anyone I know from giving them money. Let me tell you what happened: I placed an order with them about 3 months ago that showed up not only late, but it was the completely wrong thing. Every item was incorrect. We called in and the manager was, at that time, very courteous and offered to send out the correct order. We were late to meet friends and starving because it had already taken over an hour so I told him not to worry about it and to just refund us and we would eat what was delivered. He did and then offered a credit of $20 or so for the inconvenience. Fast forward a month and the credit was not there the next time we requested it. A different manager still replaced the food. No problem, right? Wrong. Tonight I called in again and was told that they don't deliver to this address. I asked why and was put in hold with no explanation. A minute later Danielle answered and in so many words told me they wouldn't deliver because they'd had "problems" with this address. She wouldn't elaborate further. Essentially she told me there was nothing she could do. I advised they would be losing the business of several people that live here as well as myself. She responded, "Im sorry that's your choice." Which is Minnesota-nice for "I could care less now get off the phone." Aside from the poor customer service, do yourself a favor and don't eat here. Very overrated and over priced. The only caveat is that I'll miss the free delivery since I live downtown.
(1)Michael H.
This restaurant is probably more like a four, but I wanted to try and I increase it's average rating as much as I could. It's a pretty typical all day diner in terms of food. That said, their drinks are actually incredible and the breakfast special was probably the best breakfast I've ever had. I really recommend this place.
(5)Nick S.
I go to Minneapolis once a year and make sure to eat here at least once during my stay. Solid meals, friendly bartenders and enormous portions. They get an extra star for once making me an omelette that was too big for me to finish.
(4)Chris D.
Grabbed breakfast here before some friends and I caught a Twins game. Although it was busy we were seated promptly. Our waitress was very quick and helpful with us, helping us to decide the best items to order. I opted for the classic breakfast route, getting eggs, hash browns and toast. The homemade jam that came with the toast was awesome! My friends both ordered sandwiches and enjoyed them. Overall a great place to stop by and grab a late breakfast or lunch.
(5)Meghann F.
I like this place. Very well done diner type, comfort food. It's not going to be fine dining, but that not's what you are coming here for. Portions are large - most likely need a doggie bag! Happy hour is pretty good. Baked goods are excellent, pies, cookies, etc. Recently we were here for dinner - 7 adults, 2 kids - It was perfect as there weren't too many other diners here on a saturday night for the kids to bother - it's crazy for breakfast though!! I got a turkey dinner and took about half of it home - veggie was green beans and they were prepared perfectly - everything was really tasty! It all depends on what you are looking for, but Keys will never disappoint.
(5)Dave K.
Solid diner in downtown. Not sure why it says "bar and grill" on the outside, because it's much more of a diner with a bar than what I think of as a bar and grill. I've been here twice: once for breakfast and once for lunch. The food was good both times -- the meatloaf sandwich was amazing. Their homemade bread is good, if a little thickly sliced. My only beef was the service. One thing a diner should do is fill your coffee cup quickly and often and they were a #fail in the department. Overall, nice downtown diner. Not epic, but pretty good.
(4)Cindy C.
Keys is well known as a Breakfast and dessert place in downtown Minneapolis. I decided to try them out for lunch this time. I had the BLT. I wish I could say my experience was as good as it has been in the past. Service and sandwich were just OK this time. Read my full #CinnersGuide review here: cinfullysimple.com/cinne…
(3)Jonathan M.
Service is a long way from being OK, but the breakfast is amazing, portions are huge too.
(3)Andrea W.
I would never have come here if I had to pay for the food myself (I was here for a conference that a company paid for). I came here for breakfast twice, and the bill came out to more than $10 both times. The first time, I ordered a cup of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, a piece of French toast, and a pancake. Everything was pretty standard, and the French toast was a bit saltier than I would have liked it to be. They gave me the wrong check when I asked for it. The second time, I ordered grapefruit juice again, their omelette (with everything but meat in it). It was really good! It was humungous, and I really liked how they put hash browns into the omelette. It was so big though. I could barely finish it. Good food, but expensive. The lighting is somewhat dark too. The waiters are pretty attentive (the waiter remembered me when I went the second time, although it was two days after my first visit), and they clean your dishes and take your order at appropriate times.
(4)Kejian W.
Second time here the food was good as I posted some good pictures, but the services were so so. I would give 4 stars for food but since the services were not that great, the overall is 3 star. Regardless, a place you must stop by for breakfast if you stay in downtown twin city.
(3)Hillary K.
Loved the breakfast here!! Walking in, the place has kind of a glamorous/casual look to it, if that makes any sense.. Comfortable is a good word. Our waiter, Chad, was terrific. He was very friendly and talked to us quite a bit once we showed that we were open to conversation. He gave us a caramel roll on the house, and packed us up a couple cups of coffee and a glass of chocolate milk to go! Now the caramel roll was like nothing I have ever had before. They are made in house, and I think the caramel is too. It has that 'just out of the pot' texture. There was a bit too much caramel to my liking, but once I let it set and thicken up it was perfect. I had ordered the cinnamon roll for breakfast, which is also made in house. Again, perfect. Now, I have NEVER been given butter with a cinnamon roll before but I definitely got some here. There were two huge pieces of butter next to my roll and a lot had already melted and started to soak into the cinnamon roll. (If I needed more, all I had to do was ask) I pushed away the butter, took my first bite, and found myself in love. I also found myself not minding the butter at all and wondered why I've never been served butter with my cinnamon roll before now. Overall, I loved it. If I lived in Minneapolis I would eat there all the time!
(5)Andrea D.
This is a cozy little restaurant located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. It is set up diner style, and reminds you of the 1950s. I had the grilled cheese sandwich with chips which cost about 6.99, which wasn't bad for a big city. The food was nothing special, but it wasn't bad. If you want a place to eat with a small group of friends that's not crowded, this is the place to go.
(3)Taylor S.
Wanted a good brunch place and this is apparently a popular choice - every table was full & the wait line was overflowing outside! The food was pretty good: had the #9, a mix of sautéed veggies and hash browns - took about 1/3 home as it was very filling; my boyfriend had the cinnamon French toast & loved it. Service wasn't great though - it was busy but it still took much too long to get refills on drinks and the check. Also thought the pricing on some sides and extras was a little overboard. Overall good food though!
(3)james b.
During a recent visit to Mpls, we had two meals here. The breakfast was outstanding - great bacon, really good corned beef hash, nice pastries. Lunch was a little less good - the steak in the steak sandwich was on the tough side - but overall, this very crowded, noisy restaurant was pretty darned good.
(4)Jason B.
Quite the wait on a Sunday morning, and not much area to wait in, so that was a bit annoying...but the food was good, and the service was great, so it made up for it. With not a lot of great places for breakfast in downtown Minneapolis, I expected it to be busy, but not this busy. As I said though, the food made up for it.
(4)Katie S.
We typically order lunch for delivery to the office once a week. Key's had become a go-to place for us, but after a couple bad experiences, we will bring our business elsewhere. First bad experience - lunch took about an hour and half to deliver, and it was delivered cold. Had to call to ask where it was. Second bad experience - called to place a delivery order, was put on hold for about 8 minutes. Called back because I thought we had been forgotten about. Said I had been on hold and thought I had maybe been forgotten, and would like to place delivery order. Guy working was VERY rude to me (practically yelled at me), and put me back on hold. Rather than waiting again, we hung out and decided not to order from them again. Called up Pizza Luce and received awesome customer service - as always. Good riddance, Key's.
(2)William H.
Normally Keys has good service and good food. Today I guess they were off their game. Our waiter at the beginning was ignoring us and not hearing what we wanted. He didn't seem like he even wanted to be there. At the end he got better and explained he was not feeling well and had a hard time hearing anyone. So I understand anyone can have a bad day and they were packed. But the food thing was something I've never experienced there. My daughter had burnt Italian sausage and my grandson had freezer burnt chicken. I've never experienced this with Keys since their food is usually fresh. My fish sandwich was great as always.
(2)Peter Y.
Service wasn't too great, as they forgot my friend's order. At least they were kind enough to provide him with free juice and dessert. The prices are also pretty standard, and maybe even slightly more expensive than other diner-esque places. So why the 4-stars then? Because their food is freaking amazing. Everything they have comes in huge portions, and they have some of the best toast around. I got their everything omelet, which was like 1 lb of pure cheesy goodness, with sausages, ham, bacon, green peppers, mushroom, etc... wrapped in a thin layer of eggs. It was one of the best omelets I've had, especially with the fresh hash browns and amazing toast. Just make sure you get here early, because there's usually a crowd of people waiting.
(4)Luis B.
Love that they serve breakfast all day! Coming from out of town it was a blessing! Food was avg! Large portions! Not too pricy! Came in around 2pm and not busy at all!! Service was decent! Would go again if I ever return to Minneapolis!!
(4)Abdullah B.
Really enjoyed the breakfast here. They also have a nice business or family atmosphere.
(4)Diana S.
Found out this was a local favorite so I had to try it out and glad I did. This mom and pop family owned restaurant is quite popular. A beautiful display of sweets and treats ready to be purchased along with a menu of delightful breakfast items. Fresh squeeze orange juice, homemade English muffins and huge pancakes galore! I was torn between the hash, the Benedict and the hash brown scramble. I went for the hash brown scramble and failed half way because I got so full. Sautéed veggies mixed into crispy hash browns smothered in cheeses gooeyness. Also two toasted slices of wheat bread with homemade strawberry jelly! It was the best jelly ever and I should of asked if I could buy a jar.
(4)J.J. M.
Best breakfast in downtown Minneapolis for sure! The Farmer's Omelet is a must. Their coffee is some of the best as well.
(4)Katie S.
Came here twice during our weekend getaway. Food always came out fast and piping hot.
(5)Patrick D.
Great veggie stir fry. Very nice staff, excellent dessert, and comfortable atmosphere. Impressive
(5)Melanie K.
No ordinary diner! We have visited Keys multiple times while staying next door at the W. They have a huge menu that has all your comfort food favorites, including fresh made pies! We have almost always been sat immediately and always had energetic servers. We have heard multiple times from the staff that they love working at Keys. I was in MN during my UofL final four game in 2013 and they were kind enough to change the television and even root for my team! During the game we ordered a slice of cheesecake and chocolate pie and sat in non-sports bar heaven. There is nothing that beats consistent service, delicious diner food, convince, and affordable pricing. Keys has become a MN tradition when we are in town for lunch!
(5)William C.
I can't tell you how many times I've been to Keys in downtown Minneapolis for HH and breakfast; but I'm finally writing a review :-) Breakfast is simply amazing here! Anything you order off the breakfast menu won't disappoint. My usuals are the caramel rolls (floating in their own pool of surgary awesomeness) and the breakfast sandwich; I'm also a fan of their hash browns. The food is flavorful, not over done and made with care. For HH, they have some of the best prices in downtown Minneapolis and they start at 3PM. They've changed the HH specials over the years, but no matter what, I love the atmosphere and what they have on tap. The tater tots are a staple for me along with a cold brew on tap. It's just a great place to chat with co-workers after a long day in the office. The wait staff is fantastic and there usually isn't a major wait for HH.
(4)Michelle W.
I think their food is pretty average and their service is not up to even average standards. I called ahead to order because I had limited time for breakfast. They not only didn't put it in at the time requested, they COMPLETELY forgot to put it in then screwed it up. No apologies, no fixing the bill, nothing. Come on...I've been in customer service for over 20 years and don't require much to make it right. Don't expect much and you might be ok. Prices are also outrageous - $15 for 2 eggs and a cup of coffee.
(1)Chris T.
I came here on a weekend early afternoon with four other people and although we had a 25 minute wait due to the no-reservations policy and the huge pack of people who also thought the Keys was the best place for brunch in downtown Minneapolis, I'd still give it 4 stars. Our server was very friendly and was very keen to our needs to GIT. FOOD. FAST. because we were starving after the Color Run. Also to her credit: while everyone else in the place was dressed for a quaint Sunday brunch, she was very good humoured about the fact that we were all coated with a blue-green tinge from the color powder. For the whole table, we shared a cinnamon roll and a side order of the sweet potato tater tots. The cinnamon roll was really good but I would've rather saved some space for some of the other pretty desserts in their huge bakery cases that I didn't get to try. The sweet potato tater tots were delicious, although they needed a ton of salt -- oh well, it's hard to completely mess up the goodness of sweet potatoes cut and fried in any form. I split the Eggs Benedict and the Mexican Omelette with my friend and they split the entrees on separate plates without any hassle or added charge at all. Each savory breakfast entree was certainly large enough for two small meals and most of us went home with to-go boxes. The pancakes also looked delicious: a single pancake, perfectly cooked, spread out over the entire diameter of a larger-than-average dinner plate, to be soaked in butter and syrup as you wish. Why not 5 stars? It's super inconvenient to not be able to make reservations for breakfast/brunch -- who wants to wake up hungry and then wait in line for half an hour? Also, the interior feels very crammed, with people swarming everywhere and tables packed pretty closed together. If we're just talking about the food, though, Keys beats Hell's Kitchen for brunch hands down.
(4)A A.
Strawberry jam made them go from 3 to 4 star. Hash browns are bad. Had to salt an paper them myself. Everything omelette is delicious. Great atmosphere good service.
(4)Joe D.
Went for lunch without looking at reviews. Ordered Breakfast, hash with corned beef. Was really good and services was great.
(4)Cameron H.
This is my FAVORITE places to get brunch when visiting Minneapolis. The food is amzeballs, service is hit or miss, and the baked items are enough to make you slap a senior citizen. I've eaten brunch here every time I've been to Minneapolis since 2009 and have never been disappointed. Their house made corn beef hash knocks it out of the park, add a side of their buckwheat pancakes with bananas, pecans or walnuts, and you'll die. Just die from how delicious it all is. They also do great lunches, i've had a few of their burgers and while they look simple they taste amazing. The buns are house made (of course) and are soft and just slightly sweet, and really hug the burger and toppings so that you're not eating a hot mess 2-3 bites in. All in all, if you like good food, great prices, that whole divvy dinner old-world someones grandmother is cooking in the kitchen feel when eating out, The Key's is the place to visit. If you don't like it, you have crappy taste in food.
(5)Nikki M.
Great burgers at great prices. Great bakery.
(4)Daren S.
What a great little diner. Quality fresh food at a decent price. Your standard diner fare. Nothing fancy or pretentious. Patty melt and tots with a cheap beer during happy hour. Can't beat it. Give it a shot.
(4)Angela M.
Pretty much the only good thing that the staff at our hotel did the whole weekend was to recommend this place, but I'll save that for another review...Sure it was crowded at 10am on Sunday, but there's a reason why. And they kept things moving here, getting us seated in 10 minutes, getting us served in no time. We started with the famous cinnamon roll. One is definitely enough for at least 2 people. The icing was so sweet that it made my teeth hurt. The flavor was good, though the dough was a little chewier and denser than I'd prefer. As soon as we looked at the menu and saw Italian hash, I knew what Jimmy would be having. I debated a lot of things but ended up with the two eggs, hashbrowns, and meat plate, selecting the bacon. Honestly, we should have split the Italian hash and added a side of bacon because the portions were HUGE! I had to cover my plate because everything was tasty and even though I was fun, I couldn't stop eating it. The homemade strawberry jam was delicious and a pleasant surprise. The bacon was nice and thick but still crispy. The Italian hash was so good! Great ratio of toppings to hash, delicious sausage, fresh veggies. No wonder this is the most popular family restaurant in Minnesota!
(4)A J.
Top shelf breakfast. Try the from-scratch corned beef hash. It is excellent. Great service. Good food.
(4)Kelley T.
This place is fantastic! We stayed down the street at the crowne plaza and happened upon this place because we were looking for an afternoon snack n drink. It was so good we came back for breakfast! LOVE THIS PLACE!
(5)Zuhal S.
Even it is little expensive, it is still nice place for a breakfast.
(3)William S.
You will not be disappointed here. I first ate at the Keys Cafe just off University av. Sometimes things are lost when you open another restaurant but in this case the same great tasting foods are prepared for your pleasure. Breakfast is by far my favorite meal and cinnamon French toast is to die for. You will not go away hungry or disappointed here. The cafe has plenty of room inside but if you get a chance dine outside. Sidewalk dining has its own appeal. Staff is very friendly and service is swift. A perfect place to go before a Twins day game.
(5)Sarah T.
Really underrated breakfast spot. I think people who live in the suburbs or outside downtown forget what a great place it is or don't want to make the drive into downtown. Went with a large group Saturday morning and were seated right away, had an awesome waiter and it was a really great atmosphere. Order a cinnamon roll and caramel roll to split between the group and everyone thought they were both to die for. We all ordered the Key's bloody which is delicious. I love when restaurants appropriately garnish bloodies because it's rare. It had pickles, olives ,celery, spicy salt on the rim and even a green bean. I ordered the eggs benny which you really can't go wrong with but everyone else at the table loved their food (huevos rancheros, everything omelet) and there was plenty to take home, the portions are huge. Overall, great experience and I'll definitely be going back for more.
(4)Ryan J.
Great spot for classic breakfast food. We went around 10 am on Sunday and did have about a 15 minute wait. However, judging by how busy it looked, that wasn't too bad of a wait. While waiting I did go to the bar for a coffee. $2.80 for a cup a coffee was a little off putting. Should have just stopped by Caribou on the way. If your looking for a quiet spot for breakfast, this isn't it. We went with my grandmother-in-law who did have some trouble hearing, given the noise level. The service was great. Our server was very attentive and quick. The food was great! I tried the roast beef hash with poached eggs. The roast beef was very tender, but a little on the fatty side. My wife had the southwest omelet. Be warned it does have a lot of jalapeños in. All in all, food was great, cool atmosphere, good service... Definitely a good breakfast spot to try in the Twin Cities.
(4)Lisa G.
Only eaten here once on my way cross country and it was ok, nothing I would send people out of there way for. We needed something to eat in the area and this was one of the closest options for breakfast on a weekday. I got the bacon egg and cheese bagel which was not the best I've ever had, wouldn't recommend it. My boyfriend however got the corned beef hash which was really good IMO. Sometimes hash is pretty bland or the potatoes are water logged.. this one was well seasoned and had great texture.
(3)Jon S.
This is one of my favorite places for breakfast in Minneapolis! There is usually a bit of a wait, but tables turn over quickly. The food is fantastic! Perfectly cooked eggs, hash browns, sides and other omelets, waffles and pancakes. If you are looking for a burger, they have a great selection and quality. One expects good service at all restaurants, but Keys is exceptional. They seem to have a "team" approach, so you always have someone nearby and the food comes out quickly thanks to the unseen kitchen staff. Tip: it is also very "kid friendly" with a children's menu that is very well priced.
(4)Catherine C.
My fiance and I had a stay-cation in Minneapolis and we stayed at the W Foshay hotel. We had breakfast at the Keys on Sunday morning at 9am. The place was pretty busy aleady! It was very cozy and nice inside. I had the 2 eggs, choice of meat (bacon) and toast. I also got 2 pancakes not realizing how huge they would be! Best buttermilk pancakes ever! The homemade strawberry jam is delicious on the whole grain toast. My fiance had the Farmer's omelette, and they tuck the hash browns inside. It was also very good. And the coffee - just delicious and it kept coming! We left very happy.
(4)Ashley J.
These portions are GIGANTIC! The rice crispie treat was the size of a brick and my omlet was the size of an infant!!! The food was good old fashion diner food. I did sit in the back and it was really cramped, and I was nearly run over by a server coming out of the kitchen. All in all a really fantastic standard diner!
(3)Lauren H.
Classic Hangover Breakfast. Truly. We stumbled in here on a Sunday morning after a long night. And man, was it busy. Don't come here if you aren't willing to wait. That being said, there were only 2 of us, so we were seating well ahead of the 25-30 minute wait that they told us there would be. It seemed like they were breezing through the wait list as quickly as possible and turning over tables at a brisk pace. I don't come to Keys to peruse the menu, in fact, I don't think I have ever, in my entire life, been here for lunch. I have almost always gotten the same thing. Two pieces of cinnamon french toast with a side of bacon, and coffee. If I'm feeling extra frisky I'll get an orange juice - fresh squeezed is totally the way to go. I've gotten the basic breakfast a few times, eggs, toast, bacon, nothing special, but delicious and expertly prepared. Now back to that cinnamon french toast. If you are a sweet breakfast person like I am, you will LOVE these. It's a cinnamon swirl bread, thick cut, battered, and pan-fried. They serve it with big chunks of butter on top and maple syrup. The bread is great, chewy crust, soft interior, great cinnamon flavor. Their bacon is always nice and crispy, not that weird soggy stuff you sometimes get for breakfast. Bleck. The man got a breakfast sandwich with hashbrowns. I lovvveeee their hashbrowns, they are exactly what I think of when I think of hashbrowns in fact. Every portion of the exterior is crispy and brown, while the interior is still soft and buttery. The breakfast sandwich could be built with a variety of options, and the man said it was delicious, as he is in the savory breakfast group of people. Last tips: If you don't want to wait, don't come here, and especially not with a group of more than four people. Come here for breakfast, oh, and they serve breakfast all day - yay! And lastly, if you can find it, most of the parking meters don't run on weekends, so try and find some free parking - that might make up for having to wait!
(4)GlutenFree M.
This Keys location has been a favorite breakfast spot of mine since they were in their old location on Nicollet. Amazing (HUGE) omelets! Personal favorites include the Chili Omelet and Farmer's Omelet - that omelet has hash browns inside, which is a brilliant idea. They have always been great at accomodating food allergies at my table. Most of the breakfast staff are old pros & are quite good. Mimosas are huge & delicious, I recommend the Pomegranate Mimosa. Last time I visited they said they now had gluten-free bread/toast and gluten-free pancakes and waffles - making a great thing even better. Before having to be gluten-free, I devoured their huge cookies when I needed an indulgent treat. Their monster cookies are legendary. Sometimes you'll encounter a wait for breakfast, but it's totally worth it. Call ahead for big groups.
(5)Emma H.
I come here 3 times a month and always get the Turkey Wild Rice soup. It is the best I've ever had. We usually sit at the bar and Gables (the bartender) knows us by name. He's pretty awesome. I usually get the veggie omelet in the morning. It's big and reasonably priced. Happy hour is long with 2 for 1s. The beer frequently changes with the seasons.
(5)Andrew R.
I love keys, it reminds me of moms cooking at home. Great comfort food. And the portions are large for the price. You need to try some of their amazing pies! I will keep coming back for more. Breakfast served all day too which is a nice feature.
(5)Mike F.
Keys is perhaps the updated version of a downtown diner, very much the kind of place I was looking for to have a hearty breakfast in a casual, conversational atmosphere. I had the Three-Egg Beef Chili Omelet and coffee. It was very tasty. Keys is a little more pricey than a traditional, old-school diner, but it also has a tinge of upscale. For instance, the jam for the toast was a home-made strawberry jam served in a small cup, instead of one of those little foil covered plastic packs of a factory-produced jam. Overall it was a great choice for breakfast and I will plan to return the next time I am through Minnie.
(5)Alison Q.
Friendly Midwestern service, big menu, good prices. I did the half sandwich/soup lunch deal with grilled cheese. Was satisfied.
(4)Yang Y.
They have the best French silk in twin city! Pies are all good. But maybe do not try their cakes...
(5)Patrick A.
Service so-so....depends on how the stars are lining up. The servers mean business and aren't very chatty which is okay, but give up the attitude (minus 1 star). Only been here for breakfast/breakfast-for-lunch. What keeps me going back a couple times/year (after working downtown for 5 years) is the huevos rancheros! Best I've ever had and would give the dish 5 stars. Hope your hungry, cause to clean your plate you gonna need an appetite!
(4)Corey M.
A perfect example of a 3.5. c'mon yelp! All breakfast was good, and the french toast was very good as advertised, but maybe a bit expensive. service was fine.
(3)Rick L.
Staying at the Hotel Minneapolis we inquired where we as a family of four could have breakfast, they immediately recommended Foshay and raved about the cinnamon buns. We didn't mind walking a few blocks to get there but in the end we wished we had just hit up a bagel joint. Pros: Friendly hostess, seated right away, no one looked down at us for bringing young kids in. Affordable. Cons: Food was average diner fare at best, service was slow and extremely inattentive. I couldn't flag the waitress down for a second cup of coffee until she brought the check and they were not at all busy. And as far as those cinnamon rolls. If you put a roll of theirs, Perkins and Holiday Gas Station in front of me, I could probably figure out which one was the Keys but it would take me a couple of bites. Not impressed.
(2)Sweet Johnny P.
The highs and lows of Key's at Foshay.... The food is fantastic The service blows. They must be paying these servers in Rupees. The portions are ridiculously huge. The pancakes are like manhole covers. The prices are ridiculously high. $5 for a medium orange juice? What is this, a strip club? The restaurant has charm and character. There are two hour waits on the weekends for Breakfast. This is a diner, not Nobu. All that being said, I still have to highly recommend this place. Best breakfast in town. Get the cinnamon french toast with strawberries - you'll leave your family for it.
(4)Corey F.
Excellent food! Probably the best food I have had in the Twin Cities and certainly the best coconut cream pie I have ever had! Only complaint is that the music was turned up way too loud, which was a minor thing since I was dining alone, but would have been hard to deal with if I were dining with others.
(5)Lindsay M.
A decent enough restaurant, with your standard diner classics--the scramble, the hash browns, sausages, and so on. One stand out is the homemade toast with homemade preserves, which were really very good. Plus the space is HUGE, so its easy to get a table. I wasn't super impressed with the service. I had to ask for a few standard items (water, butter) more than once. The second time, the waitress looked at me like a crazy person, as if these requests were somehow out of the ordinary. No real complaints though. Downtown Minneapolis is a bit of a desert at breakfast time, so this makes a good stop, especially for the business traveler.
(3)Anna H.
OK, so clearly one of the best parts about the place is the awesome, historic decor. I mean, its hard to have a bad meal with such beautiful surroundings. There was a bit of a wait to be sat and our server was busy which meant that we didn't get killer service but it was understandable. Coffee was great and everyone's breakfast was great. Mine was OK, a bit pricey and I wasn't terribly impressed with my eggs, spinach, cream cheese and garlic but it wasn't bad. I would come back again but probably would choose something else. If anything else, come for the awesome decor.
(4)Jessica D.
My favorite Key's location! We went on a very busy Sunday morning, but were still seated quickly. Our server was upbeat and friendly despite the chaotic morning. You really cannot beat the historic charm of this location. I highly recommend the Mexican Omelet!
(4)Fernanda B.
The breakfast food was good. Huge servings. For the food i would have given 4 stars, but our waiter Doug was rude and a bit incompetent. Rushing, innatentive, got our order wrong for 2 different things, and kept dropping very obvious hints that he wanted us to leave as soon as possible. He took my kids's food without asking if we needed a box (there was a lot of food leftover and I was distracted with converstion when he took it away). He brought our bills while someone in our party was still eating and told us multiple times he'd take our payments when we're ready. Finally when my friend asked for more water, he asked if she'd be taking that to go... Needless to say, we didnt feel too keen on tipping him very well..
(3)Chris C.
I'm writing a bad review based on today's amazingly poor service experience. I essentially got the wrong food and was not dealt with well on the matter. This morning, my wife and I had actually planned on heading to the nearby Newsroom and then thought to return to Keys. We'd been there once before. It was good then. We got there early; it was still quite empty. We asked to seated in a booth, gesturing to the three or four open booths along the wall; the host hemmed and hawed a bit then led us past the those booths to seat us in the back at a "half booth" with the offer of the far back corner half booth as an alternative. Well, OK; we figured he was spreading people around the restaurant. However, the next couple to come in got seated where we'd requested to be seated. Grumble. We ordered our food. Prompt service, prompt food. My wife's blueberry pancakes: good. She enjoyed them. My #13 vegetable omelette looked great. As I got into it, past some broccoli and cauliflower and mushrooms, I realized there was some meat in there. Bacon and sausage. It turns out, a lot of bacon and sausage, which I did not want to eat. By the time our server returned again, I'd eaten most of what I wanted to eat, and had quite a big pile of uneaten meat on the plate, which I'd been having to separate out as I ate. The result is that a good portion of what I'd been served was uneaten, and I'd not had the opportunity to eat more of what I'd actually ordered. I clarified with the server that I'd ordered a vegetable omelette. She agreed, and took my plate back to the kitchen for whatever purpose. We were ready for our check. I was curious what would happen. Our check was for the full amount of both meals. The server gave us a cinnamon roll to go as a concession. We did not want a cinnamon roll. So, after getting seated where we did not prefer to be seated, I was served something I did not order, nor want to eat (half of it, anyway), and was apologized to by giving me more food I did not want. How about simply offering to take off half the cost of the omelette, even? Bad customer service calls all around. Back to the Newsroom.
(1)Pip C.
Ate at the Keys for Sunday morning breakfast. Food was OK. Maybe I didn't order their signature items but the food seemed on par, maybe slightly better than your average diner. It seems overrated to me though. Service was fine. The place was packed and there was a 15 minute wait. It's in the heart of downtown. Unless you're working or staying at a nearby hotel downtown, it doesn't seem worth the work to get downtown to eat at the Keys. I normally don't leave moderate reviews but this place just seems way overrated to me. It feels like one of those places that people that don't live near downtown go, simply to visit downtown and say they're in the big city. If you're from out of town, this is the kind of place I imagine you'd go to just to say you went, rather than for it's great food, great service, and reasonable prices because it doesn't have that. The Keys appears to have a good reputation but it seems like they're taking advantage of that with overpriced, average food and average service. There are better options out there. It has a small bar area but this would rank near last on my list of places to drink downtown for a drunken night. But maybe it's got a better atmosphere and better service at night?
(2)Jennifer L.
I can not comment on the service or restaurant itself as I used BiteSquad to deliver. I will say that the custom omelette was one of the most delicious things that has crossed my taste buds. If breakfast is what you are looking for no matter the time of day...this is a must try.
(5)Rd N.
Awesome atmosphere, a bit noisy but expected for a breakfast diner. Server was attentive and helpful. Food was good but not amazing. Amazing Bloody Mary, all other drink are questionable. The downside- dirty silverware and glasses. Had lip stains and food from previous users. Very disgusting. Most likely won't be back for a long time.
(3)Candace R.
When you Yelp breakfast in MPLS, the Keys is one of the top places to come up. Since it was a few blocks from our hotel, the bf and I decided to meet up with his family for breakfast one morning here. A reservation was made and we were seated quickly on a Sunday morning. Wanting to be a little health conscious, I had the eggs scrambled with garlic, spinach, and cream cheese, that came with hash browns and toast. Maybe this is how all eggs cooked with cream cheese are, but the egg & cream cheese combo was SO RICH, like difficult to get down rich. Luckily I had toast and potatoes to help with that. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals, so I think next time I just need to try something else. It's a cute, established place so I'll definitely give them another shot.
(3)Alex C.
A little expensive but everything is fresh. The fresh squeezed orange juice is amazing and they have homemade bread, jam, and fresh fruit. Service was very good and accommodating. On the Eggs Benedict we exchanges the ham for turkey sausage, also amazing. The waffle my aunt order was dry but they quickly changed her to French toast which she loved.
(4)Erik D.
I was in Minneapolis for work and had a noon-time flight home. I didn't want to settle for the bland hotel breakfast or your normal coffee shop eats...so looked up breakfast in Yelp and came up with the Keys at The Foshay Tower, it's in the center of downtown and about a 10 minute walk from my hotel. Being a weekday, it was rather dead but a few people hanging out. It's not a breakfast-only place...you can tell they serve all meals and have a large bar area. I walked in and the hostess let me sit wherever I liked -- I chose the bar as it's my go-to as a solo. The bartender served me wonderful coffee and kept it full and flowing from the time I sat down until I paid the check. I saw this Roast Beef Hash (#2) with eggs and other veggies...SOLD. It was HUGE...I can eat a lot, and this was questionable for me. The Roast Beef was moist, and mixed so beautifully with eggs and mushrooms, peppers, onions, etc. I made it about 2/3 of the way through before I had to throw in the towel. Had I not been going right to the airport, it would have made an incredible mid day snack...but alas, it had to go to waste. While there I saw people coming in for breakfast take out orders (local employees in the downtown area). Would definitely go back!
(4)Roy W.
Best breakfast of the decade! These guys can really cook, the service is excellent, the space is beautiful. Be sure to check out the museum and observation deck of the Foshay Tower while you're there, your restaurant receipt entitles you to a discount and they are well worth a visit.
(5)Joann S.
Get there early! It's a perfect Saturday morning breakfast joint with really great pancakes. Very fluffy, substantial, buttery, and tasty. The place reminds you of a vintage diner, and it just makes you feel good. They also seem to have a great selection of baked goodies. Tip: Get there early on Saturdays! A line/waiting list forms at about 9:30...
(4)Richard P.
Nice restaurant. ?.average food.. they have espresso and a varied selection... cinnomon roll was chewier than bubble gum
(3)Krissy W.
The bf & I were looking to break out of our Sunday brunch rotation and try something new today. It was gorgeous out so we decided to walk into Downtown and try Keys! I've been to other Keys locations, but this one is defiantly the best. First of all, it has alcohol. Plus the interior has great decor and mood. I had the pancakes with a side of bacon. The pancakes weren't the best I've ever had (Al's & Legends' are better), but they were still delicious. The bf had the cinnamon french toast. I'm not a huge french toast fanatic, but these were incredible. The service was fantastic & the vibe was welcoming & warm. It's one of those unique places that can accommodate families, mimosa-infused girls' brunches, & the hung-over crowd all in one place. I'm excited to try their bloody mary & mimosa next time I come. Also, they have a Foursquare special where you get half-off your entree on your 3rd check in. I dig places that are smart enough to take advantage of Foursquare. I can't wait to go back! P.S. Their house chocolate cake is out of this world. I had it for my '08 high school graduation & I think I ate at least half of it. Unbelievably amazing.
(4)Nicole W.
I trotted around MSP more than 2 years ago, but I still had the great memories (and sense about me) to hit up Key's again this past weekend. And why? Because it's delicious. Deeeeeeelicious. Conveniently located in the midst of downtown Minneapolis, Key's is a haven from the multitude of chain coffee shops. You want an omelette, or a breakfast that's going to stay with you for more than an hour or two? Go to Key's. While you may end up waiting a while (depending on the day), it's fully worth it. The menu reads diner with a touch of upscale-goodness. Just a touch. This go around I went with the number right - scrambled eggs with spinach, garlic and cream cheese served with hash browns, toast and, of course, Key's homemade strawberry jam. Which is my jam, natch. The eggies were cooked perfectly - nice and fluffy - and the other components blended perfectly. Hashbrowns were slightly crispy with a bit of grease. It was a party in my mouth, that's for sure. To accompany my delightful eggs and toast I had a Bloody Mary. These big ole Marys are made just right - spicy, flavorful and an assortment of veggies to round out your meal. Service was pretty on point which was impressive considering how busy they were. Our food came out fairly quickly and within an hour we were in and out the door. If you're in MSP and jonesin' for a great b-fast or brunch, you must hit up Key's.
(4)Allison L.
Key's is a delicious downtown breakfast cafe. We stumbled upon this place needing something quick but that also served plentiful coffee and scrumptious food. When we first walked inside the line wasn't too bad, but for some reason it took forever to get seated. Once sat the waitress was fast and brought coffees ASAP. The menu is huge, tons and tons to choose from. I wanted something simple, so I ordered the Classic Breakfast. Eggs, hashbrowns, toast and one thing I loved...TURKEY SAUSAGE. Since I'm not into Babe or his friends I love it when breakfast places have pig substitutes. MP ordered the same thing (with oinkers...he loved it) and the parentals ordered benedicts. The food was taking forever to come out, so the waitress brought out a COMPLIMENTARY CARMEL CINNAMON ROLL!!!!! GAH!!!! She apologized profusely for the wait...and knew we were starving. Lovely touch. The place was packed and it looked to me like Key's doesn't get like that very often. The waitress seemed a little flustered and certain things took a while to get. I may have asked for a cup of water 3 times. Anyway, I really did enjoy this place. Awesome decor (old diner feel, but somewhat nicer) and the food was just perfect! I mean, whats better than a perfectly cooked egg?!? Not a whole lot. Yay!
(4)Stevie C.
I know previous reviews talked about the service issues here so I was kind of worried about how our breakfast would go. The service must really be based on who your server is. We had an awesome waitress who really made it a great meal. I could however hear rumblings about the service from nearby tables who had a different person. So cross your fingers for a good person! We came here in search of a comfort food meal and we weren't disappointed! We had the everything omelet and the open faced turkey sandwich. It was comfort personified and we had to take a nice long nap before the Timberwolves game later that night. The highlight for me was the hashbrowns...they were so good! The freshly squeezed orange juice is a close second. I enjoyed every bite here and I was glad we took the risk here!
(4)Kathy P.
Filthy bathroom, Nuff said Tried to contact restaurant by email or online but I think they make that impossible for obvious reasons
(1)Jeannine D.
Get homemade cinnamon toast wasted! This spot is one of my go-to's for homestyle breakfast. It's super casual and inexpensive, but gets a little crazy on the weekends, so roll on out of bed, brush your teeth, wash your face, and head on over... Must try: Cinnamon toast Fresh squeezed grapefruit juice Huevos rancheros Crabcake benedict (hollandaise on the side)
(4)Tadd T.
BF and I ate here twice during our stay in the city and ordered the same thing both times: scrambled eggs with a vegetable-rich Italian hash, and eggs scrambled with spinach, garlic and cream cheese. After a lot of salt and ketchup, it was all fine. The house-made toasts -- sourdough and pumpernickel -- were worth the extra 79 cents and came with fantastic fresh strawberry jam. BF complained about weak coffee, but I was happy with my thermos of hot water and selection of Tazo teas. In three words, good, quick and simple. It's like the quintessential Midwestern restaurant, with probably the most reasonable prices for a sit-down brekkie downtown.
(3)Kathy C.
Nice atmosphere, good service. We had a very good breakfast.
(4)Anastacia B.
In a recent 10 day stay downtown, we ate here seven times, AND ordered a cake for a party we were hosting. Faves? Over-medium eggs they never got wrong, amazing bacon, sourdough toast, tots (omg, TOTS!!!!!!), raspberry cheesecake, and ho-ho cake. We never had to wait for a table, had friendly servers (ask for Luz at night--she's beyond awesome!), and always left happy. Just wish they'd come to Baltimore!!!
(5)Marisa R.
Three of us were there for a late lunch and had breakfast. First - it was late so there was no lunch crowd; second - we waited ten minutes before the waiter took our order and another 20 before we were served - best of all he forgot to bring our appetizer until after we ate! And, they were cold when they were finally brought to our table.The server appeared scattered and didn't seem like he really wanted to be there. Now to the breakfast - that was great! The serving size is enough for two. The pancakes were light and fluffy and the omelet big enough for two people....basically, breakfast portions serve two.
(3)Barbara K.
Good variety, poor service (forgotten drinks, had to hunt down our own straws for drinks, charge card ran on wrong bill), mediocre food (burnt toast, but accommodated with a replacement).
(2)Becky S.
My boyfriend and I wandered here for Saturday brunch. After waiting 10ish minutes, we were seated and served by a friendly waiter. Cinnamon French Toast - delish! The bread is fresh made every day. Vegetarian Omelet - Sooo good! The veggies were fresh and crisp, the egg cooked perfectly and the cheese melty. Coffee - a bit too strong for my liking. That's the only reason this is only 4 stars. I'd definitely recommend it!
(4)Ali F.
The hubbs & I were in Minneapolis for vacation and on the last night of our very busy visit to MN, we were lucky enough to have this place recommended to us. We were originally seated at a posh South American steak house, but we weren't feelin' it. Our server told us.."you guys are worn out & need comfort food! Go to Keys." Some of the best advice, ever. It was getting quite late when we arrived, but the staff was very welcoming. I had a Reuben (I got a pickle at this establishment!) and the hubbs picked the BBQ beef sandwich. I don't know what it is about the bread in MN, but these people know how to bake bread! Yummm....Our sandwiches were delicious & big. I can't stress how kind & funny the waitstaff were, especially at that hour of the night. Our server was sooo sweet, she gave us 4 huge house-made cookies to take back to the hotel for a snack.
(4)Nora L.
Was going to go there today- walked in and was greeted by a very rude girl behind the front counter- I would wait for keys food no problem but with that kind of service I took my five friends down to Hells Kitchen instead...I work in the industry so I know that it gets busy and stressful but that's no excuse to be rude to your customers.
(1)Kat C.
Bustling, straight up no nonsense brunch place. We were seated immediately and given a hurried, helpful waitress. She efficiently took our orders, got our orders perfectly right, and never made us wait. yea!
(4)Jerod H.
I dig Keys at Foshay. Nice Bloody Mary's, really decent eggs benedict and omelets, bacon, corned beef hash. Good place for Sunday breakfast and brunch. I need to try their lunch next. Their servers aren't the most smiley bunch, but when I'm hungover on a Sunday morning, I don't really want to see a smiling IHOP type.
(4)Rob G.
YES! Went for breakfast. Enjoyed breakfast. Will be back for more breakfast another time. That is all.
(5)Lori G.
I went there on a Saturday morning for breakfast. The place is kind of huge compared to other breakfast places I usually go to. It looks like a small places from outside, but it actually has a lot of spaces inside. Meanwhile, you do find more young people here. Maybe because it is at downtown.The food is tasty and the service is nice. I defenitly prefer Keys over Hell's Kitchen!
(3)Minners N.
Torn... food was pretty good but the service sucked! Came here to eat for a Sunday brunch after our reservation at Hells Kitchen got lost. It also helped that we were staying at the W in the same building. The day before I stopped in after seeing huge crowds dining here and pies/cakes/cupcakes/goodies on display. grabbed a carrot cake cupcake and it was SO good. even the hubby liked it though he's not so fond of carrot cake. cake was very flavorful and moist and not too dense. cream cheese frosting was perfect. all for $2 something. definitely worth it. they also had a chocolate cupcake and a bunch of cakes and krispie bars (rice and bunch of other different cereals that looked very tempting) The worker helping me was so rude and snooty. Can't point out anything particular, but she was just very impatient and condescending. Brunch the next day- was greeted by the same snooty girl with the same attitude. The 10 of us were pretty satisfied with our food. we had combinations of breakfast and lunch foods- omlettes, waffles, sandwiches, etc. Taste-wise it was great- price-wise- not so much. There was a few of us that wanted to make substitutes and we were charged full price for sides. so one of my friends got the meatloaf dinner and just wanted to substitute her mashed potatoes for a small side salad. They said they would charge her for the full meatloaf meal + for the side salad. We were also charged when a friend wanted to sub. her fries for a side of fruit. that's ridiculous especially for a small, non-fancy restaurant like that. Irritation #2. Irritation #3- our waitress was so flustered while serving us. she took our orders and totally panic-ed like it was her first day or something. I understand we're a big group, but it's only 10 of us and you're writing everything down- what's the big deal? She was also very impatient with us and made us feel like a burden to her and we did not have any complicated orders. Prices were ok despite the whole charging us for substitutes. i think we averaged $9-12 a person. Parking may be difficult but not impossible. I probably would not come here again except to get my cupcake.
(3)Matt M.
Holy. Crap. Checked out Keys after my sister's wedding. Sunday morning, hung over, about 8am at the Foshay. The house was packed... and we had got there at the right time. Waited about 10 minutes for a table. Not a fan of how crammed together the joint is, but they definitely use every inch of space. I feel bad for the servers who have to maneuver through it for entire shifts at a time. Our order took forever to get to us - some sort of mix up in the kitchen - but my gal and I were having great post-party chat over some freshly squeezed orange juice (which IS worth the extra money, BTW). Our server could not have apologized more and brought us a gigantic cinnamon roll while we waited, on the house. Great service. The food is AMAZING. The atmosphere may not feel like a family-run cafe, but the food certainly tastes like it's nurtured lovingly by a chef who, upon sending it out into the world to be devoured, likely sheds a tear or two. Thought long and hard about giving this a 5-star review, but packed-in restaurants just really rub me the wrong way. Atmospherically speaking. On the basis of food, price, portions, and service - could not be better. Highly recommend.
(4)Seq G.
Came here for lunch while on vacation in Minneapolis and ended up having one of my favorite meals while on vaca here! I had a tuna melt - perfect! and a Bloody Mary which turned out to be TWO Bloody Marys because they ran out of their normal-sized Bloody Mary glass? I was stoked and each cocktail came with a pickle! Everything was delicious especially the homemade chips and I even got a homemade rice krispy treat to-go which made a delicious drunk munchie after hitting up Nye's later on that night. Can't wait to go back to Minneapolis!
(4)Nancy L.
The place was jam packed when we arrived for breakfast. But fear not! We were seated within 10-15 minutes, which was pretty impressive considering there were about 10 parties ahead of us on the waiting list. The food was served exceptionally fast. He ordered the #1 with Italian sausage. We thought it was just going to be the ordinary sausage links, however it was the size of a large burger patty. I had the cinnamon French toast and it was scrumptious! It was light and fluffy and not too heavy like most French toast. We also ordered a cinnamon roll to share and that was also amazing! The fresh squeezed orange juice was a winner. We will definitely be returning to Keys for breakfast. By far the best breakfast we've had in the twin cities so far!!
(5)Jacqueline Q.
Delivery waffles for dinner? YES! We'd been craving waffles for a while now, but never during standard breakfast/brunch hours. Dinner rolled around and the craving struck AGAIN! It was already past 8pm and one of us was sick. Thinking it was a lost cause to find a place near enough to walk or that delivered that was still serving waffles, we consulted google. Lo and behold! Keys serves breakfast all day. AND THEY DELIVER UNTIL 10PM! It was on. We ordered waffles with strawberries and peaches along with a dinner salad with parmesan peppercorn dressing. The waffles did arrive slightly steamed in the container (downside of delivery), but still tasty. Strawberries were fresh and delightful. The peaches were in a lightly spiced sauce and made an amazing compliment to the waffles. The salad was enjoyable -great vegetable variety, croutons were crispy, dressing was creamy. It made for a great meal. Brought right to my doorstep.
(4)Rick M.
I checked the specials and was pleasantly surprised to see they had biscuits and gravy which is one of my all time favor breakfasts. It isn't exactly the same as you'd get in the south but was more substantial. I guess the weather dictates the "lightness" and MSP being way north it was a very fulfilling meal. My wife had one banana nut buckwheat pancake and a fruit cup which she really loved. The next time we visit Minneapolis we know where to go.
(4)Tom B.
The Mexican scramble with tortillas was perfect after a late night.
(4)Kennis W.
Nothing to write home about. Decent service and OK food. wouldn't go back but not a total waste of time and money.
(2)Katie L.
This is probably one of the best breakfasts I've had. I ordered the special, the chilques with carnitas. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but when my order came out I was PUMPED. The dish-- fresh tortilla chips covered with a yummy green tomatillo sauce. On top of that was two over-easy eggs, queso fresco, cilantro, carnitas, and crema. Heavenly. Since it was a special though, it won't be guaranteed that it will be there on the day you decide to visit. Which is sad, because this was really awesome. The down-side was our service! Our waitress wasn't very attentive, and toward the end of our meal you could tell she was rushing to get out of there. I wasn't even done with my meal and she asked me if i needed a box. She brough the check again before I was finished-- and never asked my boyfriend and I for refills towards the end. It couldn't have been more clear that she wanted us to leave. But the food is tops!
(4)Justine L.
The Keys at the Foshay has great breakfast - the epitome of an all-American breakfast. Two of us shared an everything omelet, which turned out to be the perfect amount. The shining star ingredients were the sausage and hashbrowns. nom nom nom. We also got the "famous" cinnamon roll. I'd say next time I can do without and swing by Ikea for a whole tray instead. It was pretty good in terms of flavor, but the dough was rather tough. I would also say, the service was great especially given it was a full house. The waiter knew we were splitting a dish, so he prepared it split before serving it. He also gave us extra slices of toast and their house jam without an extra charge. Hunn family, good job with the Keys!
(4)Jennifer H.
I would give it one star because our service was horrendous, but she may have been having an off day and it wouldn't be fair....the food is great here (breakfast is what we had). I sat 20 minutes waiting for my fiancé and the server looked at me, but never offered coffee or anything. It WAS extremely busy, but still...I should have been offered a drink. Once he arrived, we got drinks right away but it took 10 minutes before she took our order. When we finally got our food, we had been there an hour. We were on vacation and time wasn't an issue, thankfully. She just did not have the sense of urgency one needs to be a successful server. Everything else was great.
(4)Tina W.
Fun atmosphere, yummy and quick. Grilled cheese was really good. Tomato soup was ok--a little strange on the texture. Service was pretty good, but we were on the latter half of the lunch hour and the place was nearly empty when we left at 2:00. Prices were REALLY high. $21 with tip for cup of soup, sandwich, chips, and a pop.
(4)Abby F.
Perfect comfort hangover helper brunch! I loved the mini Miller High Life sidecar with the bloody mary. It was exactly what I needed, nothing too special. Just breakfast/brunch done properly with huge portions!! Excellent service too, it's GOT to be stressful to weave between the tables there, very tightly packed in. They accommodated our group of 8 easily on a Sunday morning at 10am. I think we just beat the rush because there were a lot of people waiting for tables when we finished.
(5)Danny H.
I'm one of those baseball fans that travels to other ballparks over the summer, and my travels took me to Minneapolis to see off the Metrodome for the hometown Twins. Naturally, I take these travels as a golden opportunity to try to local fare, and with suggestions from the nice girl at the Budget rent-a-car, I found my way over to Key's. From the moment I got there, I got the vibe right away that Key's seemed like one of the more hip places to grab breakfast; the patronage was young and old, and the hipster-ish wait was the dead giveaway. But unlike most hipster joints, the staff was friendly, and attentive, I did not have a long wait despite the place being really full, and best of all, was the food. I had this daily special omelette of chorizo and salsa as well as some hash browns, and all were acceptable. Maybe I'm used to overpaying for meals in cities, but I found Key's prices to be acceptable and not at all expensive. Would I go again when my travels bring me back to see Target Field? Absolutely.
(4)Rachelle T.
Keys is a solid place to get a quality meal at a decent price. Nothing is too fancy, its comfort food all the way. The omelets are massive, the baked goods are legendary, I'm a big fan of the fruit plate myself, and all of these things can be made better with Bloody Marys. I suggest stopping in for happy hour, 2 for 1! It can be terribly difficult to get a table during weekend brunch or after work. I've always had good service at keys. The servers are very friendly and gave my friend a huge birthday cupcake.
(4)Brian N.
Excellent breakfast food, it's Mom&Pop style in downtown. You still get the downtown prices, but the food's good enough you don't mind so much. Omelette for carryout? Hell yeah.
(4)Jeremy C.
I just can't think of anything that would make a place better than this. The food is awesome, they have a full bar, the staff is friendly and they made very quick work at our last trip there, when the place was packed full of pre-game vikings fans and post church goers. Overall awesome place... sure to please.
(5)Aubrey L.
FOOD=4 stars, SERVICE=2 stars. I was craving an Eggs Benedict on a Sunday at around 1pm and decided to check out Keys. I was seated at a small table along the back of the restaurant. It was at least 15 minutes before I was asked if I wanted anything to drink, including water. I frequently dine alone and haven't experienced this at really any other restaurant that I've eaten at in Minneapolis and it was off putting. Several times waiters walked by and made no attempt to take my order. However, a waitress eventually swooped in to take my order and she saved the day! She was extremely polite, funny and brought my drinks almost instantly. She kept my coffee refilled and it was always hot, which I appreciated. The Eggs Benedict itself completely rocked my world!! If you want one done right, head to Keys. The Hollandaise Sauce was velvety, thick, rich and spot on spiced. Ham was nice and smoky and english muffin perfectly mopped up all the eggs. Served with a huge slab of crunchy hashbrowns, it was the perfect amount of food for a hungry person. Overall, I would only go back if I had a craving that could only be satisfied there. The lack of service, initially, was really disappointing.
(3)Evan G.
This place is fine. Was here recently for a business lunch. The group of us had a decent experience. The buffalo burger got the thumbs up, and so did the chicken caesar salad. I had a blackened chicken sandwich, which was served on a soggy bun that was slathered in mayonnaise (no mention of said mayo was made on the menu); the sandwich also featured a mountain of potato chips. Unfortunately, the chicken was a bit overcooked, but the blackened seasoning was really good! Service was perfunctory and quick. No warm fuzzies, but no iciness, either. Other lunch spots in downtown Minneapolis (e.g. Peter's Grill) are more worth the trip in my opinion.
(3)Neha P.
"We had brunch at Keys and same turned out to be a good surprise! The portions are huge and sufficient while taste wise its just good ! Ambiance is lively and full of energy, a must GO at least once."
(4)Summer L.
Ahhh, Keys. Sometimes I'm up early enough on the weekend that I can get in the door. Nothing like a huge wait that pushes people outside to immediately cause you to start walking elsewhere. There's not anything particularly spectacular about Keys' food. It's average, it's Minnesotan, it is what it is. Even the special cajun scramble I had this morning was only truly made memorable with a liberal dousing of Tabasco. It's certainly better than a chain brunch joint, but not exponentially so. It utterly fails in the realm of healthy eating unless you want oatmeal and fruit, but eh, I guess you offer what people demand and the Keys crowd isn't clamoring for Egg Beaters. That is, unless you're going for pastries and desserts. Holy crap, their cookies are the size of your head and probably contain a stick of butter each. The cakes and pies stand tall and don't mess around. Keys is a great source of treat gluttony. Now if only that was what I desired.
(3)Nadia K.
This place gets better with time...and I say this only having been here once, because as the meal went on, the food and service kept getting better! Amusing and a good experience overall. I ducked into this place to escape from the crazy Minneapolis winds thanks to Yelp...it's easy to find--just look for the giant AT&T building and it's across the street clearly marked. Was seated quickly albeit kind of rudely by a girl who was taking phone orders and then waited what felt like forever to get some waitress' attention (well I was cold and cranky--I'd never been so cold!). Once she showed up, she took my order super quickly--I was a little taken aback by how quick and efficient she was in getting my order. I guess I felt a little hurried, but I suppose I'm used to the conversation and slow nature of order taking in the South? I soon appreciated the hurried nature of these people. I ordered a soy hot chocolate and soon plopped in front of me without ceremony was an average looking mug. However, the smooth creamy deliciousness in it was so amazing I checked with the waitress to make sure it was soy. I LOVED IT. They are even quick with the food--maybe 10 minutes after I had ordered, the food showed up. They gave me some homemade jam with my toast which was GREAT. Once the food arrived, the waitress was so conscientious; filling my juice glass, asking me if I needed anything, awesome basically. They have several options for protein; turkey sausage, turkey links, plus sausage, bacon, et cetera--this is always BIG in my breakfast rating, because I think breakfast should also offer some variety and options! I thought the Turkey Italian links were delicious! I had to slow myself down when eating. Now their hash browns were sort of burned and just okay, but I'll forgive a northener for bad hash browns, especially because they had ketchup. The rest of the meal was fantastic and I ate it all happily. Their homemade bread is DELICIOUS. By the end of my meal, I had forgotten how strange I felt this place was and was happy with my meal. I'd go back for breakfast anytime!
(4)MoMo A.
Service and the food was really great. I had a Mexican veggie chili omelette, yum! I thought it would be lacking since it's such a busy place. We went because it's attached to our hotel, The W. It was a nice surprise all around!
(5)Nucky T.
Tried Key's instead of Hell's Kitchen because some of the natives thought Hell's was over-rated, but I haven't tried them out yet. Key's was another excellent dining experience with all the other great restaurants in this truly under-rated city. I got up late and went to Key's at about 10:30a on a Sunday morning. I was anticipating a huge wait and there were a lot of people in there, but ... I was seated very quickly. I ordered the french toast, with 2 eggs and a glass of orange juice. Juice arrived fresh squeezed and absolutely delicious. Eggs arrived hot and delicious. French toast arrived with huge slices of cinnamon dipped bread. Wow, was this place good. Waitress was friendly and attentive. Didn't have any room for desert or baked goods ... I certainly wish i did! I don't know what it is about Minneapolis restaurants, but the cityy has the best food and the best quality tasting food in the nation.
(5)Molly F.
I love pancakes and every now and again I CRAVE them over the lunch hour. Keys has always been my spot to fix my craving over the lunch hour and I've always had a pleasant experience. That was until today. I ordered my usual #1 (eggs, hash browns and toast) swap the toast for pancakes, my server's response "NO. We can't do that." It was said with so much force that initial my friend and I thought he was kidding. It wasn't until he said it again and then proceeded to lecture me that "bread could only be swapped with bread," that we realized he wasn't kidding. Now I know Keys likes to nickel and dime its customers, its $0.75 to upgrade to wheat bread, so I even offered to pay a surcharge to sub for the pancakes. Nope not allowed to do that either. When I mentioned I have ordered this several times with the pancakes and never had an issue before, my server got confrontational and lectured us that other servers should never have fulfilled my request and it was completely against the rules. OK, then I tried to order the #3 (eggs, pancakes and meat) and swap the meat for hash browns since potatoes are dirt cheap and meat is not. Again, nope that's not acceptable either and this time I got a lecture on how the only substitutions that could be made were "meat for meat or bread for bread." By now my friend (who had never been to Keys before) felt so put out on my behalf that she suggested we leave and go somewhere else but I really wanted my pancakes! I finally told the guy all I wanted was 2 eggs, hash browns and 2 pancakes but I wasn't comfortable paying more than $10 to get them when we all know if I bought the ingredients and made the food myself I could feed a small village the same meal for half that price! Nope, again I was rudely told that was not an option it was $12 or more or they couldn't help me. Yup he actually told me they couldn't help after receiving another lecture about "meat for meat, bread for bread." Yeah buddy, I get it. I mean come on, it's a freakin pancake! They are NOT going to make or break the restaurant. However this guys combative attitude and inflexibility did lose the restaurant two customers today. I may not have gotten a fix for my pancake craving, but I will say the burrito I ordered and was pleasantly served at Baja Sol was way more gratifying.
(1)Sarah S.
We went here for breakfast. We took the train ride downtown and found this place. It was busy for a week day and the service was a bit slow but most of that was because of how busy they were. We had eggs, pancakes, sausage meal. The waitress was helpful and gave great service. The place seemed to have history but still looked classy.
(4)David S.
The desserts are incredible as well as the happy hour. Regular fare is great as well. Definitely give their breakfast a try, you will not be disappointed. The staff is also very friendly, and while the atmosphere is great, it is deafeningly loud in this place. Make sure you sit in Karen's section, she's the best!
(4)Cole S.
You're gonna spend about $40 with tip between two people for casual brunch. Never had anything bad there, especially fond of the buckwheat pancakes. Great brunch atmosphere, we discovered it after seeing a 3 hour wait at hells kitchen.
(4)Kim L.
I was in MN on a business trip and decided to take an adventure alone and have breakfast before starting my day. The walk was only 3 blocks from where I was staying. I got seated right away, I had pancakes, eggs and hash browns. Was a normal breakfast but the pancakes were soo moist! I saved them for last so I could savor every bit!
(4)Jada M.
I've been going to Key's since I was little, it's my dad's favorite place in the world! Obviously their breakfast food is the draw but their lunches are also fantastic so go for lunch or casual dinner as well! Omelets and sandwiches are to die for and huge so share with a friend or go hungry, if your hungover you'll be in heaven! Now eat up!
(4)Parker O.
Eggs Benedict and everything omelet hit the spot
(5)Carol J.
I was staying in downtown Minnie and wanted to go to somewhere low key for dinner. The hotel suggested the Keys which was nearby. I walked in and the place has more of a nicer diner feeling to it. I sat myself in the bar and the waitress was very attentive. She served and refilled my lemonade plenty of times. The food however was just alright. I had the turkey/meatloaf dinner plate with mash potato. The meatloaf was really salty and the turkey came in inconsistent shredded pieces and dry. I can't help to think the turkey was assembled together (from left over?) Now that I think back and read that Keys' a good bakery - the toast that came with the dinner was delicious and very fresh/fluffy.
(3)Amy S.
I wish I'd had one of those 'great' experiences at Keys that I've heard so much about. But unfortunately mine was ho-hum. As ordinary as it is, I am a sucker for a good sandwich (why do the best of restaurants struggle with making a good sandwich? THAT is the question...), so I ended up getting the Keys Club. Honestly... it was dry. Very very dry. Even the turkey was dry. I have very little respect for a place that can't take care of it's meats. I felt fairly disappointed in spending even $10 on this and that's just sad. On the flip side, the tater tots were absolutely delicious and my husbands "thin" french fries were a hit. But the entire time I couldn't take my eyes off of the deserts beckoning me from the bakery case. They looked astonishingly delicious and they were massive! If i hadn't already had two cupcakes that day I would have gotten something. I did have a sample of a peanut butter cookie on the way out and I kept thinking, "Why couldn't I have just gotten 3 of these instead of my Club??" Btw, my husband got the cheeseburger and his assessment ended up being... "Eh, it was alright..' We can't exactly call ourselves fans. But, I think we might have to make another run here, simply for the desserts. Not to mention if they have desserts that look like THAT... I might be willing to give it another go.
(3)Martha V.
In town for vacation, we ate a late breakfast at Keys at the Foshay Tower on a Friday morning and were extremely happy with our meal. I had the number 9 which was hash browns scrambled with fresh veggies. It came with toast and fresh strawberry jam. Total Yum! Coffee was good and we did get a refill. My husband got the Eggs Benedict and was very pleased as well. Very, very good food and because of that this is a very busy restaurant. I'm glad we went at an off-time. When we left, the line for lunch was out the door. I would definitely go back if I'm in downtown Minneapolis again.
(4)Kurt K.
This place is always hopping for a reason! Delicious baked goods, awesome diner food and veggie friendly. Had the cinnamon roll as a appetizer today and moved on to the eggs Benedict for myself and pancakes for my wife. They are usually pretty good on the service side, and Lucus was on his A-game today. My only complaint would be the grits were cold and instant, and there was no less than 10 things (menus, ketchup, containers, ads) on a very small two top table. Three times I had to pick things up that kept falling off the small table. Minor issue, but made the meal a little less enjoyable.
(4)Shawn S.
Keys always delivers. I have been here often for their generous portions at breakfast at a great price. Using a groupon - checked out lunch last week. The BLT delivered, the Rachel was one of the best in town, the servers were their typically friendly selves. Expect to wait a bit, even on weekends, but well worth it for a fun atmosphere and great, consistent food.
(4)Baramee C.
I love Keys...and it was so close to the office. Well, it's still there...it's just me that moved. They have a great happy hour (2 for 1s). They have great comfort foods. I like to get grilled cheese or a farmers omelet - so delicious. Their appetizers are also pretty great. I like the green bean fries!
(5)Kyle P.
Good brunch lunch place. Great steak sandwich and fries. Try it you will like it
(4)Carolyn A.
I give Keys four stars because it is most definitely consistent. Luckily, it's also consistently good. I've had lunch at Keys before, but the key to Keys (sorry -- had to) is the breakfast. You can order it at any time, so it doesn't matter if you're there at 8AM or noon or later. I love that they have lots of combos, so you can get tastes of everything. I highly recommend the 2 eggs, 2 pancakes and sausage combo -- the eggs keep you full longer, the pancakes are just enough sweetness, and the sausage is a deliciously greasy sausage patty. They have turkey sausage too, which is nice when I'm trying to be a bit healthier. I've never tried them, but the desserts at the front counter always look AMAZING. Huge cookies, slices of pie, giant Rice Krispies treats -- one of these days, I won't be able to fight it.
(4)Lindsay K.
I've heard over and over again that Key's has the best and biggest cookies ever, so I was happy to see a sample set out as we walked in the door. Indeed, this chocolate cookie was so good! It had a sort of spritz-like flavor, kinda almondy, and a texture that was rather different from any other chocolate chip cookie I've ever had before. My friend and I each get a blueberry buckwheat pancake and split a turkey burger. The pancake was fine, as big as the plate, and came served with a large dollop of fresh butter. As for the turkey burger, I can't say that I loved it. Edible, yes, but kinda as edible as frozen turkey burgers are. I buy them, I eat them often, but it's not the kind of thing I order at restaurants. Whether or not their turkey burger is in fact of the frozen variety I can't say, but it was definitely reminiscent of one, so may as well have been. Our server was good, very friendly. The atmosphere was a little blah, definitely not too cozy and without anything much to look at. I think I'd be more apt to stop in and pick up bakery items; all of the cakes, pies, cupcakes, cookies, etc. looked pretty unreal.
(3)Wayne S.
Big gooey cookies. Great!
(4)Cynthia L.
The food was great. Got the Kays Famous Everything Omelette. It was delicious. The warm peppermint chocolate drink was the best, highly recommend!!! The bloody Mary are good too. It is kinda crowded but it is worth it in my opinion. The reason I gave it four stars is the waitress, she was so out in outer space, had to ask for my water 3 times, and had to keep waving her to get her attention. Then there was this kid screaming out his lungs, kinda annoying. But overall definitely a good place for brunch!!!!
(4)Kiki M.
Came here for brunch on a weekday . Huge portions, friendly service. Will be back!
(5)Jen B.
Avoid the chicken wings at all cost. Instant gut rot = way too greasy. Also, we found a piece of plastic in a water glass, and the server treated it as no big deal. That being said, breakfasts are still great.
(3)Joe P.
After eschewing the hour-long wait at Hell's Kitchen, my companions decided on Keys Cafe a couple of blocks away. While not my first choice, the wait was short and the service preemptive. We were all quite satisfied with our breakfasts (eggs benedict, Italian hash, eggs, oatmeal were all given thumbs up) and the orange juice was FRESH SQUEEZED! One grating nuisance: cheap, flimsy flatware of sub-college cafeteria quality. It's a running theme in breakfast places I frequent, apparently...
(4)Nathan L.
I've been here for breakfast many times and it is quite delicious. I typically get the veggie omelet and it is really good and a very good portion. This was the place that introduced my palette to broccoli in an omelet and I haven't looked back since. Sometimes people say there is a wait for brunch here but I've never had to wait anytime I've gone. If you are around and don't feel like waiting for a table at Hell's Kitchen stop in, and in my opinion this place is better than Hell's Kitchen anyways.
(5)Steve W.
Went there for brunch the day after Christmas and there wasn't a wait. The food was great and the service was prompt and above average. The huevos rancheros was than I could finish in one sitting, but they didn't sacrifice quality for quantity. Also, as someone else mentioned, great, freshly squeezed orange juice. I would go back again!
(4)Susan B.
OMG this is the best homecooked food in the world. Not only that the staff is awsome and I even got to meet Barbara. She was wonderful and this had to count as the highlight of my trip to MN. Thank you all so much!
(5)Thom C.
Fun place, food OK, we went for dinner and this is more of a breakfast place to me!
(3)Tiffiny C.
Key's downtown is one of my favorite places to have a late lunch (go 2pm for a relaxing, less-busy nomfest). Their eggs benedict and grilled cheese sandwiches are what I usually order. Other standouts: - Banana cream pie - Their day-old bread and pastries (buy them before an old lady comes in and snags them all!) - Daily lunch specials. ALWAYS great. I ordered a Coney Dog and an Orange Crush float once. I still fantasize about that meal.
(5)Adam S.
Good but not great food, reliable service that was not overly friendly but was prompt enough. Kind of the average restaurant surprisingly in a W Hotel building. Not much more to say unfortunately, but I would recommend it if you are staying nearby, Easy and fast.
(3)Rachel G.
great place for brunch! When I went, I got the almond French Toast and eggs Benedict, and it was all delicious!! Only thing was that I felt rushed out after we were done eating. I love to sit around and hang out for a while when i go get brunch. If there isn't anyone waiting, there is no need to rush the costumer. And service wasn't the best. Waiter needs to be much more interested having a conversation with the customer and getting to know them. Food was good, service needs improvement.
(4)Chris H.
I live downtown Minneapolis and order Keys, via Bite Squad or Restuarant Connection, delivered at a $4 charge. For some reason the menus are slightly different and Bite Squad includes appetizers making me prefer this service. Bite Squad is slightly quicker at delivery also. Keys is definitely known for breakfast foods but there's so, SO much more. Sure, the cinnamon roll, hash, bread/jam are all good but I often order the buffalo wings, hot beef sandwich and carrot cake. The wings/ranch dressing are great and some of the better wings downtown Mpls. The hot beef is salty/delicious with gravy/dressing/potatoes. The carrot cake is homemade and only second to the Luce version.
(4)Jennifer H.
Overpriced, overpriced, overpriced. We've given this place three tries. We've tried to like it. We've tried to find the silver lining. There are a hundred better breakfast/lunch joints around town with better food and better prices. This is the sort of food that you can make at home for half the cost and half the time. Keys' saving grace that earned its second star from me is the warm caramel rolls, but that's it.
(2)K T.
It's just not that great and it's SOOO expensive. Plus, the service is very slow. The bakery is very good though! Too bad they don't just do that!
(2)Lauren M.
The pancakes with raisins and walnuts in them are AWESOME and HUUUUGE! I ordered two (twice) and could never finish. One is a meal, trust me. I like the art deco decor and the waitstaff is friendly.
(4)Pierre T.
Key's downtown is a pretty nice place and this was my first visit. I went there late in the day around 3pm and was looking for a place that still served breakfast at that time. I had the pumpkin spiced pancakes, italian patty sausage and eggs. The pancakes are pretty good and really enjoyed the sausage patty. I hung out at keys from 3pm till 8pm, the service was ok nothing spectacular, but I did have an issue when the Holidazzle crowd came in before and after the event, Key's never increased the staff at the bar. The poor bartender had to server the bar and about 10 tables, which made get service a chore. I rated this place three stars, I would definitely go back, but definitely before there's any potential crowd.
(3)Ben P.
3 words: breakfast for lunch. Sweet, sweet, heavenly breakfast for lunch. Pancakes, sausage patties, scrabled eggs with Tobasco, waffles (as Mitch Hedberg would say, a waffle is a pancake with a syrup trap), bacon, omeletts. Need I say more? Keys is the supreme purveyor of all that is good and right and decent about that most decadent indulgence: breakfast for lunch. Plus, with the restaurant's bar, you can finally try out such combinations as pancakes and scotch, eggs and tequila, sausage and bourbon, and omeletts and Jaeger. Mmmmmm!
(4)Mariel L.
I ate here back in 2008, during my first visit to Minneapolis, due to some Yelp! reviews that I read. I was comped for around $30, so I definitely ordered as much as I could to take with me to the airport, and I remember thinking the food was good, traditional American food, but there's really nothing special about it. To a certain extent (of the menu), Keys really doesn't stand out from any other diner. However, they do have certain gems in their selection, and their portions justify the crowds that come here every morning. Before getting to the food, though, service-wise, it's OK; I've been several times already and often with huge groups, and we were seated fast, even on the day after Thanksgiving when everyone who worked that day seemed to be there. I've gone for the Italian Hash twice already, and it was really delicious; the sausage was spiced just right, and the bell peppers provided the crunch, while the potatoes were brown and crispy. Heck, anything with home fries just makes me happy. I've also tried their (FREE!) delivery once and ordered the Key's Clubhouse. Unlike the other clubhouse sandwich on their menu, this one is gargantuan with a ton of fries and some slaw on the side. The sandwich, besides being impossible to eat with one hand, was great; the thick-sliced bacon was just how I like my bacon, and the bread was merely an edible plate. Decent food in huge portions at good prices makes Keys economically and gastronomically sensible to me.
(4)Rhea S.
Had a great time here. Went at night to have breakfast. Very loud on the Saturday night I went. Service is a little slow, but not terrible. Great eggs with hollandaise sauce. Lots of yummy hashbrowns. Hearty amount of food for a good price. I couldn't eat it all. Can't wait to go back and get some more breakfast. Looks like they also had great pies, cookies, and cakes.
(4)Kelly C.
YUM! I had to come here after seeing the reviews on their great Eggs Benedict (EB). I have to agree that it was phenomenal and is now the best EB I've ever had. The ham was excellent quality and sliced thin (like pancetta). Egg was perfectly cooked and the Bernaise sauce was thick (but not too thick) and flavorful without being overly spiced. It comes with hash browns (very good), but next time I would ask for toast and HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY JAM instead. I had to try my boyfriend's after the server said it was homemade. Seriously, the best jam I've had in the U.S. (The jam is perfection in Europe.) My man really enjoyed his build your own omelette and had the hash browns mixed in, which was quite tasty. Normally I take a pic of my plate, but I was just so excited to dive in that I forgot! Really warm weather in Minneapolis right now, so we sat on the outdoor patio. It's cool that breakfast is served all day & EB included. Most restaurants (in San Diego) only serve EB on the weekends! If I lived in MN, I would be here at least once a week, probably twice!
(5)Randy K.
Food and service was excellent. Had tasty roast beef hash with delicious home made bread. Only draw back is the noise in this crowded restaurant. Prices are reasonable and menu is varied. We're going to give it a try for dinner.
(4)Randall S.
This is a good place for a bit of plain old diner food and a cup of coffee. The service can be hit or miss. They do not do a very good job of keeping track of their wait list and should probably train their servers a little better.
(3)Jillian C.
I'm almost as conflicted as Stephanie before me. The service was really slow, which at lunchtime downtown is surprising. But the vegetarian chili was quite good, and it came with a kick a** corn muffin. I would definitely order a cup and not a bowl if I go back again! Portions were large all around, so don't eat here before any afternoon meetings because you'll be comatose when you're through. I've worked half a block away for two years and this was my first time in, and I'll probably be back at some point...maybe for happy hour. They have a full bar! (I didn't notice one at all when I was there) Also, word to the wise: free delivery until 10pm.
(3)Jason D.
Awesome breakfast, I recommend the farmer omelet and pancakes!
(5)Steve B.
Went for lunch yesterday and order the jerk chicken sandwich which I enjoyed. My lunch partners both ordered salads that were very large for lunch portions. Other times when i've eaten at Keys i've ordered breakfast which is also enormous. Didn't have any room for dessert but they looked mighty delicious waiting for eaters in their display case.
(4)Ellen M.
This place is so great. Parking is always a PITA, but their monster pancakes and baked goods are worth the trip downtown.
(5)Chad R.
This was a great place to have a Sunday brunch after a long night out! The food was good, the service fast, and the prices resonable! :)
(4)Gerhart T.
Keys Cafe - Located in The Foshay Tower in Downtown Minneapolis. Given that I work right across the street from Keys, I eat breakfast and enjoy happy hours there at least a couple times a month. It is difficult to screw up a breakfast. Eggs, bacon, and toast . . . is what it is; and that is typically good. Happy hour at Keys is good for a small group. You can always find a seat and the beer is cold and good.
(4)T C.
Chocolate (HOUSE) cake. Any breakfast item. Mimosas. I love the atmosphere and the service and the food at Key's at the Foshay. Food = Diner. Decor/Interior = Fancy restaurant.
(5)Kathryn H.
Farmers Omelette was phenomenal! In MN for the weekend for a wedding and meandered over to Keys because it was an easy walk from the hotel. Oh we'll be coming back tomorrow and having Texas-size dreams about it in the future.
(5)Ericka B.
My all-time favorite spot for breakfast any time of the day. The wait can be a tad long during breakfast on the weekend, but I usually eat my breakfast late anyhow, so I only run into the line when I take out-of-town guests here. I will admit that once I find something I like I tend to stick with it forever. That means I eat the same thing here every single time & only once have I tried something else (a turkey sandwich that was just fine). My usual? Cheese omelet with hash browns (inside the omelet, thank you!), mushrooms & ham. Yep, I'm really that easy to please. The omelets are huge & filling & last me well into the next meal, whatever & whenever that may be. Plus fresh strawberry jam for your toast that is just right, not too sweet & with good texture. I have never had bad service here, but it is occasionally slow, even when they don't appear to be all that busy. I enjoy the larger space & full bar at this location, but I really miss the Nicollet Mall location.
(5)Kevin M.
It took me a while to warm up to this location. During my senior year of high school I spent first hour most days sitting at the now defunct New Brighton location, with it's lovely small-town feel. Then, when I was on campus at the University the original Raymond Ave. location became my breakfast standby. When this one opened up in the Foshay Tower, I was skeptical. I stand before you today saying, I was wrong to doubt them. This Key's embraces all that is good about breakfast, with their spectacular bacon and giant mound of hash browns, but also is a great comfy bar to spend a happy-hour afternoon. It's like that old New Brighton location was for me when I was in high school, but all grown up and cosmopolitan in its new W Hotel digs. Given the preponderance of eclectic breakfasts available downtown, I can't quite give it the full five stars since it wouldn't necessarily be my first choice based solely on that (and I agree with Joe about the flatware), but it's always nice to find a place that - any time of day - will be a pleasant spot to while away some time in and really enjoy the act of eating or drinking passively with some great service and a big wall of windows through which you can watch the world go by.
(4)Ray Ray K.
A nice local restaurant/bar. Very friendly and quick service. I sat at the bar, full bar. I had a turkey burger and it was actually better than I thought it was going to be, nice flavoring. I would definitely stop by here again. And they serve breakfast all day! Can't beat that!
(4)Maureen F.
I have been to both this location and the one in St Paul on Raymond for breakfast. This location is much larger and cleaner. There was a bit of a wait but, not more than 20 minutes. I had a farmer's omelet the size of my head. It was great, except next time I might just pass on the eggs and have the hash-browns with cheddar and veggies. Who needs eggs anyways?
(4)Alison Z.
We were there on a Sunday morning, and we were quickly seated. The cinnamon rolls are spectacular but the rest of the food was just so so. Husband thought the food was great and would go again, but I am not in love.
(3)Terry W.
This is what a diner should be. Fast service, good solid food, nothing fancy, but what they did serve was right on. We sampled the cake on the way out, definitely worth a trip back. Crowd was a mix of families and a few hipsters. Nice thing about taking kids in the food comes within minutes of ordering.
(4)Ninja S.
A decent downtown lunch spot when you would like a coffee drink, a sandwich, or the like. You could also stop in for morning breakfast things, but I made every effort to get to work at the last possible moment in the morning and never came in for breakfast.
(4)Vanessa G.
WHY didn't I try this place sooner? I was in Minneapolis for 5 days and I didn't even go here until my last day. LAME. This place was great. In all my research I had forgotten which places had gluten free options and which didn't and had convinced myself that this place did not. I was wrong. They have a GREAT assortment of gluten free goodies that you can't get anywhere else. It's crying shame I didn't get pancakes for cripes sake but, after reading other yelpers, I couldn't pass up the eggs benny..with GF toast no less! And yes I saved room for dessert. Was bummed there was only one GF cake that day but I can't really complain. there WAS cake after all. I had the GF banana cake and it was made from scratch, not out of a box. WIN. My friend had the chocolate cake which he talked about for the rest of the day. Service was great. I had little bit of bad creamer in my coffee which they replaced and comped (which totally was not necessary). Our waiter, Derek, was delightlful.
(5)Callie W.
Ordered lunch to be delivered from Keys Cafe. Grilled cheese was hard as a rock and inedible, not to mention cold. Called back and management offered to replace it with anything on the menu. Thankfully the food came hot and was decent. Generally I would say it's pricey for the mediocre quality.
(1)Johan B.
A great little cafe, open early, for an All-American breakfast. The menu is classic, the service is prompt, and the food is dependably good on every visit. A frequent customer of Keys when I'm visiting home, I find their rolls to be excellent, and I've never had a bad omelet here. The ambience is a bit harsh, but overall a decent dining experience.
(4)Stephanie K.
This is a really great diner/cafe in downtown Minneapolis. It's not pretentious but serves really great standard breakfast dishes. I had eggs, toast, bacon and OJ. The eggs were cooked to order, the toast was thick, fluffy and served with house strawberry jam. The bacon was thick and also served extra crispy as requested. The OJ serving was large and it's fresh squeezed. The only thing I didn't like was the hard chairs and that it was really loud even though we were seated privately in the back of the restaurant. If I could eat a breakfast that good every morning I'd be one happy girl! I definitely recommend Keys!
(4)Unemployed A.
Actually I'm giving it a 2 1/2. I was in town and had lunch on Saturday 9/4. Had the turkey soup/grilled cheese combo. Turkey soup was ok but the grilled cheese, nothing to write home about. The sandwich came with chips or more like crumbs of chips. I have to say the waiter did know how to make a arnold palmer, not many people know what that is. What I don't understand is one peson takes your order, another person delivers it, and then another person will by (if you are lucky) and ask "how is it" Keys is a diner not a 5 star place. When I got the bill the waiter charged me separtely for a bowl of soup and a sandwich, that added $3.00 to the bill. Total bill was $15.00. Too pricey for just fair food. Had breakfast also on 9/5 as it being Labor Day nothing was open. Again, food was just ok. But the whole grain toast is a winner. Coffee weak, and again service so-so. Will I return again I doubt it. If you want a no nonsense breakfast at a good price go to Peter's Grill.
(3)luna r.
Really good breakfast food. Enough said.
(5)emily o.
bad bad breakfast! just terrible.. god why whyyyyy do peolple in minnesota love bad flavorless food! ??????
(1)Jackie R.
My BFF and I had plans for breakfast on morning and I knew this was her favorite place so I asked if she'd like to go. Of course! I had been craving Eggs Benedict for like a year, so I ordered that. It was delicious. I can't wait to go back. I can't remember what my friend ordered but either in her order or on the side there was a pancake involved. Loved that too. There are too many tempting things on the menu at Keys, I will be doing myself a disservice if I do not return and try more food... if I can make it without ordering that eggs benny again. We went in on a Sunday morning and as expected it was busy. We did get a table very quickly though. I don't know if we even waited 5 minutes. All good, 5 stars all the way. I recommend everyone try this place at least once and I hope you have as good of an experience as my friend and I did.
(5)Rick B.
I am from Southern CA, run a volleyball club local to orange county. I have been coming to Minnesota for now 5yrs for a national tournament... Keys has become a staple for us! Just this morning they were completely full and couldn't take anymore large groups. That however still managed to get us in quickly and seat us! There service is wonderful even offering to refill our outside coffee cups! Now onto the food... Simply put amazing!
(5)Bill C.
I was struggling with this rating until I got the check. The food is a 3.5 but not equivalent in quality to the price. $29.53 for French toast, fruit, an egg and coffee. French toast on the cinnamon toast was excellent. Skimpy with the extras however. Fruit cup was way better than most breakfast places. Fried egg straight up sucked. Service was excellent. Atmosphere had an old Chicago feel. I travel here frequently in business and will have a hard time deciding whether to return.
(3)Tatyana V.
Great service, very fast and efficient. Convenient for hotel guests. They have a full bar service and breakfast, lunch and dinner menu. Great ambiance with a hint of Art Deco decor. Fun spot for people watching.
(5)Kelsey S.
Good food
(4)Koshya W.
Found this gem walking around downtown. Craving some breakfast, we decided to try before starting our day. Hostess was very nice and we got say within 5/10 minutes of putting our name down. Our server was super friendly and really patient with us! Having such a large menu and seeing everyone eating something different, it was hard to decide what we wanted. I got the pancakes with chocolate chips with bacon and eggs. The pancake was very good, very rich and goldened to perfection. The pancake was literally the size of my face x2! They were very generous with the amount of chocolate chips and the food came out very quickly. Bacon was okay (lacking a little bit of crispiness) but the pancakes were definitely the best part. Will definitely return when I'm back in MPLS!
(4)Riccardo S.
Nice little lunch spot with a little something extra for those with a sweet tooth. I've been through here on a few occasions for lunch, and I'm kinda torn between the burger, Reuben, and meat loaf platters. Staff are exceedingly friendly and very attentive to guests, and I can't recall ever having an empty glass without being asked if I wanted a refill. As to the sweets - well, if you really want to make someone's day stop in here for one of their brick-sized rice krispie treat bars or chocolate-chip/marshmallow/graham cracker bars. Yes - they are the size of actual construction bricks, and probably contain enough sugar to send a little kid into orbit, and they're delightful. About the only thing I find disagreeable about Keys is their pricing for a multi-shot espresso. I generally have a few 6-shot espressos throughout the day, and I stopped in here for one and ended up being charged for 3 doppio espressos instead of a more reasonable (at least at any coffee shop) upcharge per additional shot of espresso. I unfortunately discovered that their espresso is also not really all that great, compounded by the fact it cost me over $10. Still - I'll be back for a beer and burger sometime in the near future.
(4)Joline E.
This week I stopped into Keys for a late breakfast with coworkers while at the Mpls Convention Center and tried the corned beef hash with two eggs over medium. I've had a great luck with Key's breakfast in the past and this trip was no different. The corned beef was tender and lean, in small but plentiful chunks. The potato bites were crispy without being greasy and I liked the flavor. The homemade strawberry jam that comes with the toast is delicious and more like a fresh fruit spread. My toast was slightly burned but with the jam was still soft and yummy. My eggs were perfectly done with soft yolk and firm white. Plus the portion was hefty enough that I'd have leftovers on a normal day. I added some tabasco and it was PERFECT! I highly recommend this restaurant for any meal but especially breakfast and particularly for their hash!
(5)Julia T.
It's all about the pancakes here. They are my second favorite in the country. The best pancakes I've had are in San Francisco. They rest of the meal was decent, although my eggs were a little undercooked, but it wasn't a huge issue. I ate them anyway. Just come for the pancakes & think of everything else as fluff.
(4)Crystal N.
Rise and shine! We had a spectacular breakfast this morning. Being from the area originally, I had to get a Carmel roll because they just don't make them right in Colorado where I live. I was not disappointed and they even added bananas for me. My friend had a build your own omelette with egg whites and other yummy stuff. To my surprise, they even had green chiles for her and she was delighted. Finally, my other friend had a gluten free waffle. Immediately after her first bite, I heard audible approval and witnessed pure joy and happiness about the fluffy, light, sweet waffle morsel. Three cheers!
(5)Phil W.
Got a salad catered and they put a TON of dressing on it. Was extremely soggy and had way too much dressing on it. Seriously, I've never had salad to go that came with the dressing already on it. It's not rocket science, c'mon. I think the salad would have been good if it wouldn't have been completely submerged in a pool of dressing...
(2)James R.
Exemplar art service. Was very quick and tended to regularly. We had a large group and had two waiters. Our food was prepared speedily and there was little to no wasted time. Only complaint is that this restaurant is a little bit pricier than comparable options.
(5)John H.
My kids enjoyed their pancakes, and the bacon looked good. But that's where the positive comments end. I ordered eggs Benedict, and it was not good. The Hollandaise sauce was not homemade, it was obviously out if a can, with that goulish yellow color. Next, the English muffin had not been toasted, so it soaked up all that yellow mess. I also ordered hash browns extra crispy, but they came out undercooked, a big soggy pile. This place is popular, but for the high prices I would expect higher quality.
(2)Tim B.
Our last meal in Minneapolis took place on a Sunday morning. One would think that it would be easy to find a decent breakfast in the midst of a major American city regardless of the day of the week, but I realize I can be naïve. The hotel where we stayed had a mini-mall at its base, with a variety of restaurants, plus a Starbucks, yet all would be closed this day. We were worried we'd be scrambling for a McDonalds on the interstate out of town, but fortunately this restaurant was open for us, as well as many other people. And Foshay took full advantage of the opportunity, serving up the most delicious buckwheat pancakes I've ever had. Combined with smooth java, a knowledgeable and efficient waitress, and plenty of activity around us, this restaurant accounted for 100% of the energy within about a three block radius. My only regret was that we didn't have the opportunity to partake in additional meals here - they certainly deserved to be tried for dinner.
(4)Emily S.
Keys at Foshay is one of the best places to grab breakfast in the greater metro area. The physical environment is super cool with many original art deco features. The menu is all American comfort food, well prepared and in generous proportion. #3 comes highly recommended and includes pancakes, eggs, and choice f meat. The pork sausage option is in league all its own. The service is professional but sometimes they are stretched a little thin. If you want to get in on the weekend you better come early or be prepared to wait. Another excellent option is to have food delivered, if you live close enough. While lunch and dinner offerings are classic diner fare, excellently prepared.....Breakfast is really where it is at.
(5)Keith S.
When I think Key's, I think of two things: Breakfast Bakery And they do those two things here very, very well. But you probably know that. So let's talk about the other stuff. Key's @ The Foshay is one of my favorite HH places downtown. You can almost always get a bar stool or table at the bar without much hassle. It's not elbow to elbow with a 5pm rush. They have good, not great, but good HH specials and some good beer options (Lucid Air, yes please). There is seating outside - but no alcohol allowed. Key's has a very solid lunch/dinner menu as well, don't sleep on it if it's not bfast you're looking for. Service is usually old diner grouchy. That's not a bad thing, I kind of like it that way. Just to the point and you might wait a couple minutes if it's busy. No frills, no problem, that has been my experience. Service around the bar is a little more traditional. Don't forget to take home a piece of pie. The French Silk is among the best out there.
(4)Gene W.
Cinnamon French toast was great, but service was notably bad. Server was late to start, few water refills and inaccurate orders. The food is the saving grace. It wasn't packed; I simply think that the server wasn't engaged with the job that day. I bought a peach pie at the front desk, which was also delicious. I'm willing to chalk it up to a bad series of events, but at nearly every touchpoint, the service wasn't up to par.
(3)Vanessa P.
This place is always packed on Sunday mornings but we always get seated pretty quickly. The service has always been solid and the food comes out in a reasonable amount of time. This location is the only Key's I have found that serves grits, which seems odd that the other locations wouldn't, and I love them so much! Pretty much everything is amazing at Key's and this location is always a good time.
(4)Logan A.
I should probably just stick to the basic breakfasts or simple lunch sandwiches at Keys. I had the grilled cheese sandwich with turkey, and while the turkey was fresh from the bone, the sandwich was a mess. I ordered a cup of the tomato bisque to go with it, but the soup was so chock full of chunks of tomato and pieces of onion that it was more of a creamy stew. I'd prefer something a bit more pureed. The strawberry rhubarb pie was decent enough, but it's not worth a second slice. I will give the place some credit for being open pretty late on a Sunday when that part of downtown is deserted. People seem to like the eggs and such at Keys. That's good, because stay away from anything else on the grill.
(2)chaz t.
Hi my little yelps! I went here on a trip to the twin cities. I got a yummy in my tummy Mexican omelet with veggie chilli that was chillin. It was pretty good. And I'm a fan. Repeat after me.... Yum...yum...yummy. Go to the keys! Yay. ( I should never be a cheerleader) Thanks for reading.
(4)Jason K.
I've been to Key's a few times for breakfast and they are awesome and I had their Rueben for lunch and it was fantastic, but the real reason it is 5 star is their happy hour! They have 2 for 1 20 ouncers of Summit for $5.75 and they have fantastic chips and homemade salsa. Just hot enough for a salsa lover. The wait staff is always fantastic and attentive. If they only had Guiness on their 2 for 1 menu.
(5)Nadine Y.
I think I should start a Yelp List, "Eggs Benedict Arnold." I've been on an eggs benedict mission and my love for and alliance with certain restaurants changes with each bite, swipe, and dip of english muffin in egg yolk. And as of now, my allegiance is with Keys! Plan on having your weekend breakfast at Keys. Yes, that's right. Breakfast. Not brunch. Show up after ten and good luck getting a table right away. The servers keep the coffee pouring, but ALWAYS make sure that they are pouring from the green one (that's the decaf). I think the Keys army is so busy running around that they might make a slight slip of regular. It's great for people watching, and you're bound to run in to someone you know... well, only if you're popular... or maybe because this is the place to be. If you're not sure where this is, look for the small black awning. It's right next to Manny's and across (and down) the street from Hell's. There's pre-paid parking available down ninth (it's a one way), one the corner, on your left. And don't think you can outsmart me and Opentable this place. Been there, done that. They don't take reservations on the weekends, especially on Sundays.
(4)Melanie C.
My boss and I were hungry for a solid breakfast after flying into MN the night before. Checked Yelp! for nearby suggestions and was happy to find out about Keys! Loved the art deco interior - so much so that we were prompted to Google the history of Foshay Tower. Service was friendly - but seemed puzzled by us somehow. I have no idea why. I ordered up poached eggs, toast and hash browns - they did a pretty pretty standard job, although I felt the eggs were a little underdone. The coffee was good.
(4)Geoffrey R.
I've done brunch at Keys a couple of times over the past few years and I've always been quite contented upon departure (I've mostly been to the Foshay Tower location though I once went to a Keys in "dread" Anoka County). Their Blood Mary is a bit too spicy for my taste - I prefer the Hells Kitchen version - and I think Hells overall atmosphere is slightly more interesting. But the service was quick and efficient....and at my most recent brunch, my bisquits and sausage gravy and eggs (a special I believe) were among the best I've ever tasted. Really sensational. Granted, I had a bit of a tummy ache for over-eating but it was certainly worth it. A great choice for Sunday brunch in the Twin Cities.
(4)Nazgul W.
Mostly I've had Keys for lunch and it's OK. Nothing fantastic but pretty good. This one is much bigger than the Raymond location but still kinda small. At times it can seem like the staff would rather sit around and chat, but the service has been at least OK when I've been there. It seems like their bakery items would be really good, and I need to revisit their breakfast one of these days. It would be nice if it were slightly less expensive.
(3)Nate S.
Keys at the Foshay Tower in Minneapolis is a staple of downtown Minneapolis. While I don't think you'll be "wowed" by anything in particular I will say that they have never let me down whether I'm meeting co-workers for a drink after work or enjoying breakfast on Saturday morning. The food is served in ample portions and the daily specials are worth considering. I highly recommend the baked goods as they are wonderful and always fresh!
(3)Amy S.
We usually don't go out for breakfast but we enjoyed the omelets and cinnamon rolls very much. The orange juice was fresh squeezed and quite a treat. The one thing to note is that this place is packed on a Sunday for brunch. The earlier you get there the better. We had to wait 20 minutes but it was worth it.
(4)Teresa D.
I love Keys. It is my happy hour hangout after work, and I have been a loyal customer for several years now. First off, you can't beat the prices. Half off taps and rails during a long happy hour? Goes till 7! Second, its in the Foshay Tower, so its historic. They do a really nice job keeping with the theme of the building. Third, the waitstaff is amazing!!! And a little known fact- best malts you can find downtown, yum.
(4)Jeff A.
While I've never eaten breakfast at this location, I have eaten at another one in St. Paul, so I'm guessing the food here is as good (and well-proportioned) as other locations. What I especially like about the downtown Mpls one though is its happy hour: 2 for 1s on select beer/liquor, $2 off apps, and a somewhat extended 3-7pm. While it's become a bit fuller since The W at the Foshay opened, it's still not as intense or overwhelming as The Local or Brit's. Thank you, Keys, for always making my bus ride home much more enjoyable...
(4)