This restaurant was inside our hotel and we're so lucky that was it! It's a great place for brunch or to hang out after a night of debauchery! It's really a place for everyone! :-D The restaurant is very hipster chic, drinks were good and service was well "hipster service" (very laid back, i.e slow) lol but friendly non the less. They have FOUR different types of fries, the herbs were the most popular and my favorite. For girls (or guys) who likes sweeter drinks I'd recommend the Romeo or Juliet. I forgot what the husbands got (Whiskey, Rum?) but it was very strong.
(4)
Jessica H.
We were guests at The Commons so decided to treat ourselves to breakfast. My husband played it safe with eggs and bacon and I overhead a waitress mention some amazing French toast that wasn't on the menu. One order right here! I also added some of the Applewood bacon. The french toast was very good. At first. Maybe because I was starving and you know when you're starving the first bite is always amazing. But after a few bites (ok, probably after two pieces) I started to slow down and get to know the food. It's good, don't get me wrong, but a half order would have been better. Why? It's so rich! It's like eating cake for breakfast. The whole entree comes with figs or something or other but I opted for just the toast, which included some toasted onion. Hmmm. I'm not so sure the burnt onion and super sweet syrup and cakey toast all really mesh. Well, for me they didn't (although it didn't stop me from polishing off the entire dish). Next time I'll go ahead and get it all together, maybe ask for a half order and even see if they can leave the onions out altogether (although Id like to give the chef a chance and see if it's just because I omitted the garnish) or put them on the side. A half order, with eggs and bacon and nonstop coffee...perfection! The service was also very good, although the waiter said he had yet to try the french toast because he's a college student and can't afford to eat there. Poor kid! I'd suggest the restaurant encourage and support some tastings so the staff know how to respond to guests properly. I want my waiter to gush about everything and give me good recommendations, not make me feel guilty for porking out on expensive food while he works for pennies. We also had the option of adding our meal to our room bill, which is very handy. Overall, good place, nice decor, convenient for guests, great hours (I think 24 hours but don't quote me on that), great service and food.
(4)
Meng Y.
I wanted to like this place. Very nice ambiance. Slow service when not busy. Got my order wrong, my friends order wrong, and forgot my other friends meal. We finished eating and he finally got his Fish N Chips. Great beer selection though. Go to Applesbees next door for better food and service and waay cheaper too.
(2)
Rowena N.
Beacon represents what I expect at most hotel restaurants = nice ambience, okay service, mediocre/overpriced food. I came here for a "work breakfast" which consisted of meeting visiting professors. The hostess and waiters were very nice and patient answer our questions. The menu was a bit confusing. They have breakfast orders where you can choose your meat but apparently the list of meat they have are not all available for certain entrees. Their bowl of fruit looked like they were prepared couple days ago...However, the coffee was decent. The visiting faculty had a breakfast combination (eggs, toast, hash brown and supposedly a meat from that odd list). However, he substituted the meat with a fruit bowl. What came instead was 4 slices of tomatoes. We were very confused at first because technically tomatoes are fruit? But, the waitress said that was the veggie option. Hold on, so if i want to order veggie over sausages or a bowl of fruit, I get 5 slices of tomatoes instead? That seemed like a very odd substitution... Service was good. Generally they were attentive and helpful. However, one tiny fluke -- we originally ordered green tea for the professor, which took longer to come than our food. Really? The visiting faculty member also noted how a small/travel size box of cereal and milk was priced at $5...But again for hotel restaurants, I would say this place is average. But then again I clearly have a bias towards these digs. Anyways, overall the place was average. If we were not hosting others, I wouldn't come here on my own.
(3)
Roland L.
Good food, had the huevos. A tad on the pricier side, but not outrageous and expected for a hotel restaurant. Service was quick and courteous. I'd come back.
(4)
Lori R.
We really enjoyed this place in The Commons Hotel (loved the hotel as well). I can't imagine anyone going to Applebees (which is connected to the hotel) when you have this one-of-a-kind gem! Drinks in the bar...nice! Breakfast...awesome! We were seated in a very comfy booth and had an excellent Server. I can never eat a full order of eggs benedict, so I was thrilled when they told me I could get a half order, even happier when they said I could have spinach added, and extra happy with hashbrowns instead of country potatoes. Husband is not the biggest breakfast-lover, but he sure loved his perfectly cooked scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and hashbrowns. Nice coffee for him and nice tea for me, and we were happy folks!
(4)
John W.
Good food, good service. Has a pool table. Great cocktails. I like this place for sure.
(4)
Kurt M.
Recently, my daughter and I wanted dinner after a performance at newly remodeled Northrop (which BTW is fantastic!!). We wandered into Beacon House and were glad we did. It's a large, uncluttered, attractive space. I started with a well prepared wedge salad followed by an order of Mussels and Fries. The mussels were delicious, ample in number and swam in an aromatic, savory broth. Fries were crisp and thin, nicely (not overly) salted. My daughter had the pan roasted Salmon and pronounced it excellent. Prices for a hotel restaurant are quite reasonable. Service was very good. I'll definitely keep this place in mind for future U of M post-theater dining.
(4)
Marvin M.
I like this place--great, updated atmosphere. Breakfast is excellent (especially the inlets) and the service good. Never been too busy when I've been there--but that's only been during breakfast.
(4)
Erin M.
I've only been here for the happy hour, but they have a solid happy hour selection. They different sliders available during happy hour and they've always been delicious and a decent amount of food for a good price. The jalapeno poppers are really good, but you don't get very many for the price. If you're a U of MN student or employee, this place is worth checking out for happy hour.
(4)
Mimi B.
I had a really nice time eating at this restaurant during my stay at the Commons Hotel. The host was very pleasant. Seating was nice and not too close together or crowded. Prices reasonable for a hotel restaurant. We went to the bar one night too and they were great. Very attentive, professional. Fun place to sit and have a drink We had steak, sauteed kale, beet salad, smoked salmon, caesar salad with salmon and mussels. The mussels were the low point. Small, few, greasy.......all for 18$, not worth it. Everything else was great including the pre-meal bread and butter! Delicious! Service was extremely pleasant yet a bit painfully slow. Whe wines and beers were great- yet not particularly good pours but still good quality. Overall, I'd happily come back when staying at the hotel. Try it out! They do take reservations.
(4)
William G.
The food here is really pretty bad and overpriced at least for dinner, I had the bangers and mash which did not taste like any bangers and mash I have ever had in the UK. No one in our group finished their meal. The television sets were a distraction to conversation. Service was mediocre. Given the numerous inexpensive and good restaurants nearby I can't imagine why anyone would eat here more than once.
(1)
Jessica N.
My sister and I went here just for drinks and sat at the bar. The place was trendy, perhaps they label themselves a GastroPub?(Just a guess). Good location on campus, especially if staying at The Commons Hotel. I ordered "A Modern Mule" which is similar to a Moscow Mule. I am not one to get bent out of shape about the lack of a copper mug, but for $10 I was certainly underwhelmed. Tasted like ginger beer with a splash of vodka. It was nothing special and not worth the price. Additionally, my sister ordered a diet coke and had to take a double take at the bill when I noticed it was $3.50. I know this place is a nicer establishment, but should have walked next door to the hotel for a $2 diet coke.
(2)
Peter M.
The food is as good as any I've ever had. The service is more than adequate, the staff were all friendly and as quick as possible. Details can be examined at the "dine and drink" section of their web site, at commonshotel.com . The chicken has never been dry. They cook everything to perfection.
(5)
Rubal K.
Good place for dinner and drinks for a crowd. Food was good, drink list was ok.
(3)
Julie B.
Good food, good drinks but TERRIBLE service from the bartenders. Otherwise nice little hotel restaurant with restaurant prices not looking for repeat customers. I'll stick with giving my business to the Dinkeytown college bars.
(3)
Henrik C.
Went here for late night dinner and next day breakfast. The restaurant is inside the commons hotel. The food is very tasty and the kitchen is fast. This is typical bar food so set your expectations accordingly. They have a long wall of TV monitors and is ideal for sports and other major media event.s
(4)
Kim R.
Stopped by Beacon Public House for breakfast yesterday morning. I love the decor of this restaurant with the exposed wood and books. The breakfast menu isn't extensive, but I really like both things we ordered. I had the pancakes with vanilla whipped cream and my husband had the huevos rancheros. The pancakes were some of the best I have tasted. They were so light and fluffy and the vanilla whipped cream really put them over the top, they were almost like dessert. My husband's huevos were almost like a quesadilla. The portion wasn't huge and this was actually a rather light dish. We also ordered a side of the blueberry chicken sausage. This was my least favorite part of the meal, it was a little dry so I would probably pass on this next time. I also would not recommend their hot chocolate. It's $4 and a tiny cup, plus it was very milky and I could barely taste the chocolate. Our server was excellent and very friendly, and he was great with our two-year-old son! Since this restaurant is near the U, we had to park in a ramp nearby for $6. They also offer valet for $6.
(4)
Jeanne C.
Great atmosphere, unique drinks but the one dish we tried, buffalo chicken wings, were really expensive for 6 pieces. Not 6 wings but 6 segments of wings with only one being the drumstick part. Flavor was great but why can't they use fresh chicken rather than frozen. Hated eating them and seeing the black bones. Fresh chicken so much more appealing especially at that price point. Don't go there to get a bargain.
(3)
Matthew H.
Fairly underwhelming overall. The space itself is cool and you can tell they try to market themselves as a higher quality and classy establishment. In reality though, the service was pretty mediocre and the food was nothing special (and fairly pricey).
(2)
Sarah S.
Great happy hour choices! Although service is slightly on the slow side, the atmosphere and food/drink make up for it!
(4)
Kit B.
Wow, I really love this place. I remember the old bar at the University Radisson, and it was such a snoozefest. Uninspired drinks, slow and snotty staff, and way overpriced. My partner had gone to Beacon for a happy hour, and kept raving about it, so I figured I'd give it a shot, and am I ever glad that I did! The decor is nice - think reclaimed wood, high boothbacks in subdued but vibrant colors (yellow, aqua, teal, etc.), unique lighting that included dozens of candles and lights hanged at different lengths, and a nice mix of high top tables and booths. I also really loved the televisions. Whaaaat? Some of them had news, but others just had pretty things, like fields of swaying wheat, sunsets, beaches, etc. It was a really nice mix. The happy hour menu is great - we got a bucket of cheese curds for $3, and there were many other options on the menu that I look forward to exploring. HH drinks are pretty cheap, too - it's a 3,4,5 menu. $3 for most beers, $4 for a heavy poured glass of wine, and $5 for either a mule (vodka, ginger, and freaking awesomeness) or a dark and stormy. Service here was good, too. Our server seemed to be working quite a few tables, but she didn't leave our glasses dry at all. This place is really convenient to the U of M - it's right on the East Bank campus, and will be really nice when the light rail comes through. In fact, having a light rail stop right in front of this bar should make it a really desirable spot. This is also why I removed one star from what could be a five-star experience. Although it IS convenient to the U of M and will be great once the train stops nearby, if you're heading over in your own car, parking is going to suck, and you're going to have to pay for it. Beacon is great for HH, and I look forward to sampling more of their menu. PS - here's my tip! When they say that the cheese curds are "State Fair quality," which many places do, Beacon really does mean it. They're good quality curds, and taste like State Fair curds without the long lines!
I'm a bit surprised at all the three and four star reviews. My two experiences eating here were that the food was over-priced (that goes double for the drinks), the service slow (both times the place was empty and it still took forever to get the attention of a server) and the food nice, but not spectacular. At this price point, service should be perfect and food should be more memorable. I'm hoping that my initial impression was just down to the fact that they hadn't been open very long, because the neighborhood could really use another decent restaurant. Location is incredibly convenient since many of our visitors would be staying in the hotel, anyway. Sadly, at this time, I can't recommend The Beacon other than as a Happy Hour stop gap.
(2)
Breanne K.
There hasn't been a restaurant as part of the hotel in awhile, so Beacon is trying to fill some big shoes. I see what they are trying to do by offering something a little more upscale to a campus that is very lacking in that area. It seems that people aren't flocking yet. Happy hour prices are nice enough that it should keep them open for awhile at least. I came here after work one day and had no problem getting a table for happy hour. The menu was impressive. 3, 4, and 5 dollar items. Both for carnivores and vegetarians. I really loved the walleye bites with fries and the jalapeno poppers were to die for. Only complaint is that our server did not tell us before we ordered that chef's selection of sliders and tacos were portabella mushrooms. That information would have changed our selection. As in we would have not ordered. So instead, they got sent back... Irregardless, I would come back for another visit because of those poppers!
(3)
Renee S.
I am torn with the amount of stars I would give on this review. I'd probably give it 2.5-2.75 stars if I could. I attempted to go twice during a week long business trip. It's attached to the Commons Hotel so it's super convenient when you don't want to go out in the MN cold weather! The first time I ordered food to go from the bar and a glass of wine. GREAT! My salad rocked! Fresh. Tasty. Prepared how I wanted it (dressing on the side minus some items I don't like). It was convenient. I tasted my wine before ordering - super! The bartender was great! It was a great experience. Had it been the only time I visited this place, I would have given it 3-4 stars. BUT I attempted to go a second time that week (on a Wednesday evening @ 6:30 PM). I couldn't get seat -- I couldn't even get to the hostess to find out how long one person needed to wait. And she was a bit rude (observation) to other customers - my guess is she was overwhelmed by the crowd. I attempted to get a drink at the bar and order take-out again. I couldn't get to the bar to order from the ONE bartender that was servicing it. I waited 5+ minutes with no help and left. Meh.
(2)
An D.
Will add more later. Short and sweet: Attentive service, delicious tenderloin but microscopic portion for the price. Good tomato-based soup with a good serving, bangers and mash were good. Was eying the bolognese, but at $22 it had better make Broders' jealous and I passed. Absolutely beautiful establishment.
(3)
Jason S.
I've had dinner at Beacon House two nights in a row and breakfast in the morning. Because of the past reviews and overall rating, I was almost hesitant to eat here. Boy am I glad I decided to give it a shot. I only had the biscuits and soup the first night, but it was enough to break the ice. I had the steak and eggs the next morning which was nothing special by itself. The chimichuri (sp?) sauce was what really turned it up a notch. Dinner that night was amazing. Our table shared popcorn shrimp, cheese curds, and Mac and cheese. The popcorn shrimp had a fresh, light batter and the Mac and Cheese with Chorizo was rich in flavor. The Beacon Burger was also very good. I opted for the truffle fries instead of house chips. It was a great sub and the horseradish ketchup added a good kick to my meal. Shoutout to the great service staff. Alex and Lucy were great. I would call out the young lady the second night, but she didn't have a name on her blank tag. I pointed out her nameless tag, but she never gave up her true identity. I shall forever refer to her as Harriet. Not that she looks like a Harriet, but because I'm watching Family Matters right now in my hotel room.
(5)
Julie C.
Cocktails are delicious especially the modern mule- chicken wings with honey and blue cheese are very different and wonderful! Burgers delicious as well!! Great dinner!
(5)
William A.
Ate there for dinner and I was really hungry .. the fish was pretty good. it was pretty good. I had 3 nice beers .. local stuff. the specialty drinks were expensive ... The service was very good and attentive and knowledgeable.
(4)
Steven S.
Did not know what to expect but was staying at hotel and was too tired to fend for myself on the street so tried the hotel restaurant, Beacon Public House. What a nice surprise and what a great restaurant. Local food (a farm to table type cuisine), cool atmosphere and just a great server, Natalie. Natalie seemed to know everything about the food and wine, was very attentive and just had a great attitude! She is a keeper! If I had any criticism it would be regarding prices versus portion size; New York City prices for even smaller portions in a University setting in Minneapolis kind of does not make sense. However, I will say that every dish was perfectly prepared and executed. Would I go again, yes and I would ask for Natalie.
(4)
Henry T.
This is the only restaurant it's caliber in the area. For that they get an extra star alone! The staff is hit or miss so lower expectations will make your experience better. The first time I went my bar tender was and he is usually there on Monday's. He is very at tentative and gives 150% level of service.
(5)
Lariza C.
Once again, did Christmas dinner here, and again, awesome food and service. The MN craft beer choices could be improved (by adding more choices) as could the ham hock nachos, but that's it. Patrick, our server, was amazing; attentive, funny, personable but professional, and super accommodating since we're an admittedly high maintenance restaurant family. The server we had last year, (cant remember her name!) was with other patrons but remembered us! We were pleasantly surprised when she came to say hi and remembered how our then 4 yr. old fell out of her chair a year ago!! Last, the new GM, Frankie, came to talk to us for awhile. It really says alot about the company that servers stay and that both servers and managers are so personable. Thank you for that! I am a stickler for a nice combo of pleasantries as well as space to eat/drink. BPH creates an awesome menu for Christmas. I was dead set on the duck which was on the Christmas dinner menu, but was able to pick/choose from the regular menu as well since there were items I really wanted to try. The duck was amazing, but I wasnt too impressed with the ham hock nachos which seemed a little dry (but savory and delicious) to me. I guess I'm just used to more wet items (tomatoes, avocado, etc.) on my nachos. My husband and MIL also picked from the regular menu and loved their dishes. The kids loved their pizza and strawberries (another awesome accomodation). The dessert was better this time. I highly recommend the smores especially if you have kids. I think that was the highlight of the evening for our kids since they could roast their own marshmallows. Also, thank you Patrick and Frankie, for the much appreciated (and needed) complimentary champagne! Nice topping to a fabulous eating experience. If you've thought of eating out for Christmas, do yourself a favor and PLEASE consider going to BPH. The only reason I deducted a star this time was because one item didn't seem up to par with the rest of their food. The service, however, is equally 5 stars!
(4)
K M.
This place has really good food. ...vegetarian options as well. ... impressive and friendly staff. ...
(4)
Marna R.
The staff was so gracious, and the drinks generous. Everyone enjoyed their dinners, and Natalie,our server, worked plenty hard (we were a bigger group). We all agreed we'd go again. What a pleasant surprise!
(4)
Nikki A.
OMG, Beacon Public House is a wonderful place to eat. I had the Wisconsin cheese curds as an appetizer and they were "melt in your mouth" delicious. For my supper I had the Beacon burger which was also scrumptious. The burger came with house chips so I asked my waitress Natalie what else ther was and she recommended thick cut fries tossed in truffle oil with parmasean cheese on top, they were the worlds BEST fries. I will go back tomorrow and order them again. I ate every bite as slow as I could so that I could taste and remember every bite. My server Natalie was so very helpful explaining things I didn't know on the menu and she does have a great pallet to recommend those fries. This place is a must stop in Minneapolis for sure.
(5)
Vanessa T.
With just a few days in the Twin Cities, we tried are hardest to meet up with long time friends. After research, we chose the Beacon Public House. The plan was to have dinner with one friend and his mom, then stick around for drinks with our other friends. We ended up spending close seven hours here and stayed in the hotel when we were finished. The service is top notch. We never had to seek out our server and we never had to ask for water refills. We had the bacon with poached egg, asparagus and truffle oil, which was easily my favorite. The egg was so runny and perfect and the bacon they used was of a greater quality. We also had popcorn shrimp which had a fluffy batter, and not in an off putting way. The chorizo and queso fundido was rich but light. The sliders were enough to share amongst four people; small but large enough for all of us to savor. The only let down were the wings. They sounded so good by their description, but they were a bit dry. I'm confident enough to believe that this was just a fluke and not the norm. We stuck to mostly wines and was happy with the variety. The beer list also offers a wide variety. My only other gripe is the portions. There were four of us and the dishes were prepared for three. We asked if we could have four but were told by the kitchen that all dishes were proportional. Hm. Almost had a five, but I'd still go back.
(4)
Rose V.
Comfortable, attractive place right in The Commons Hotel. A really good selection of beers and the fish and chips was excellent. Chips in particular we're outstanding. Also outstanding was my waitress, Lucy, who was welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable without being intrusive. Knows her beers, too! Will definitely return.
(5)
Annie H.
High hopes...dashed! Strawberry fields cocktail was tasteless (like water with an old strawberry on top). Chicken dish was dry and about $30! The service was the worst part: waiter managed to be both oddly overbearing in this jokey way ("If you need me, just scream real loud!") and inattentive (he forgot the bread, mentioned that we should have bread, and forgot it again. It took 30 minutes to get bread and appetizers). When we asked what was going on, waiter explained, "the kitchen is just ..." (rolled eyes, waved hands, but didn't name the problem). I'll likely try Beacon again as it benefits from having zero competition in the area but, next time, I'll only order from the happy hour menu and I won't go with high hopes.
(1)
Craig W.
The place looks awesome. I'm so glad I stopped in and had a drink here. The bartender-Alex is very knowledgeable and accommodating....
(4)
Jake M.
While staying at the Hotel we decided to eat in the hotel rather than going out for dinner. The menu looked great, but the food just didn't turn out as I expected it would. Service is good and the interior is nice, despite the corny lighting. For an appetizer I had the homemade chorizo with Manchego cheese, which had good chorizo but was kind of a weird method of preparing it, served with warm corn tortillas. For my meal I had ale battered walleye which was very good: crispy and flaky, served with great shoestring fries and a deliciously tangy tartar sauce. The Beacon Public House is a nice and convenient place to have in a hotel, it just simply did not meet my expectations.
(3)
Kevin B.
Anymore, I am a big fan of the craft cocktail + small plates dining experience. Chefs and bartenders really get a chance to showcase their creativity in this format, and the diner comes out the winner, having come out the other end having tried something new. We met some friends out for dinner near the U, and this seemed like it was right up my alley. We wound up having quite a few drinks and wines here, as well as four or five small plates. We had the queso fundido (chorizo and melted manchego - could have stood for it to be a bit spicier), some popcorn shrimp with a spicy aioli, chicken wings with some kind of cream cheese dipping sauce (wings a touch underseasoned), an asparagus dish with slow-poached egg and bacon (a knockout), and some delicious pork sliders. The food was well-presented, tasty and generally very good. The wait staff was fantastic as we haunted a table for about seven hours that night. Only one gripe and that's that we had four diners and a lot of the dishes were set up for three people to share. I asked if we could adjust some of the dishes to ensure we could each get one of something without having to split and the answer from the kitchen was that everything had been portioned out already. It wasn't a terribly busy night, and I was willing to pay extra, but the answer was still 'no'. A bit surprised by that, given the level of service, but oh well. Only thing holding them back from a 5-star rating. All considered, I'd certainly go back if I found myself in the neighborhood. This is a new restaurant (only open a few months). Hope this is one of the kinks that gets worked out.
(4)
Mimi B.
I had a really nice time eating at this restaurant during my stay at the Commons Hotel. The host was very pleasant. Seating was nice and not too close together or crowded. Prices reasonable for a hotel restaurant. We went to the bar one night too and they were great. Very attentive, professional. Fun place to sit and have a drink We had steak, sauteed kale, beet salad, smoked salmon, caesar salad with salmon and mussels. The mussels were the low point. Small, few, greasy.......all for 18$, not worth it. Everything else was great including the pre-meal bread and butter! Delicious! Service was extremely pleasant yet a bit painfully slow. Whe wines and beers were great- yet not particularly good pours but still good quality. Overall, I'd happily come back when staying at the hotel. Try it out! They do take reservations.
(4)
William G.
The food here is really pretty bad and overpriced at least for dinner, I had the bangers and mash which did not taste like any bangers and mash I have ever had in the UK. No one in our group finished their meal. The television sets were a distraction to conversation. Service was mediocre. Given the numerous inexpensive and good restaurants nearby I can't imagine why anyone would eat here more than once.
(1)
Jessica N.
My sister and I went here just for drinks and sat at the bar. The place was trendy, perhaps they label themselves a GastroPub?(Just a guess). Good location on campus, especially if staying at The Commons Hotel. I ordered "A Modern Mule" which is similar to a Moscow Mule. I am not one to get bent out of shape about the lack of a copper mug, but for $10 I was certainly underwhelmed. Tasted like ginger beer with a splash of vodka. It was nothing special and not worth the price. Additionally, my sister ordered a diet coke and had to take a double take at the bill when I noticed it was $3.50. I know this place is a nicer establishment, but should have walked next door to the hotel for a $2 diet coke.
(2)
Peter M.
The food is as good as any I've ever had. The service is more than adequate, the staff were all friendly and as quick as possible. Details can be examined at the "dine and drink" section of their web site, at commonshotel.com . The chicken has never been dry. They cook everything to perfection.
(5)
Rubal K.
Good place for dinner and drinks for a crowd. Food was good, drink list was ok.
(3)
Julie B.
Good food, good drinks but TERRIBLE service from the bartenders. Otherwise nice little hotel restaurant with restaurant prices not looking for repeat customers. I'll stick with giving my business to the Dinkeytown college bars.
(3)
Henrik C.
Went here for late night dinner and next day breakfast. The restaurant is inside the commons hotel. The food is very tasty and the kitchen is fast. This is typical bar food so set your expectations accordingly. They have a long wall of TV monitors and is ideal for sports and other major media event.s
(4)
Kim R.
Stopped by Beacon Public House for breakfast yesterday morning. I love the decor of this restaurant with the exposed wood and books. The breakfast menu isn't extensive, but I really like both things we ordered. I had the pancakes with vanilla whipped cream and my husband had the huevos rancheros. The pancakes were some of the best I have tasted. They were so light and fluffy and the vanilla whipped cream really put them over the top, they were almost like dessert. My husband's huevos were almost like a quesadilla. The portion wasn't huge and this was actually a rather light dish. We also ordered a side of the blueberry chicken sausage. This was my least favorite part of the meal, it was a little dry so I would probably pass on this next time. I also would not recommend their hot chocolate. It's $4 and a tiny cup, plus it was very milky and I could barely taste the chocolate. Our server was excellent and very friendly, and he was great with our two-year-old son! Since this restaurant is near the U, we had to park in a ramp nearby for $6. They also offer valet for $6.
(4)
Kit B.
Wow, I really love this place. I remember the old bar at the University Radisson, and it was such a snoozefest. Uninspired drinks, slow and snotty staff, and way overpriced. My partner had gone to Beacon for a happy hour, and kept raving about it, so I figured I'd give it a shot, and am I ever glad that I did! The decor is nice - think reclaimed wood, high boothbacks in subdued but vibrant colors (yellow, aqua, teal, etc.), unique lighting that included dozens of candles and lights hanged at different lengths, and a nice mix of high top tables and booths. I also really loved the televisions. Whaaaat? Some of them had news, but others just had pretty things, like fields of swaying wheat, sunsets, beaches, etc. It was a really nice mix. The happy hour menu is great - we got a bucket of cheese curds for $3, and there were many other options on the menu that I look forward to exploring. HH drinks are pretty cheap, too - it's a 3,4,5 menu. $3 for most beers, $4 for a heavy poured glass of wine, and $5 for either a mule (vodka, ginger, and freaking awesomeness) or a dark and stormy. Service here was good, too. Our server seemed to be working quite a few tables, but she didn't leave our glasses dry at all. This place is really convenient to the U of M - it's right on the East Bank campus, and will be really nice when the light rail comes through. In fact, having a light rail stop right in front of this bar should make it a really desirable spot. This is also why I removed one star from what could be a five-star experience. Although it IS convenient to the U of M and will be great once the train stops nearby, if you're heading over in your own car, parking is going to suck, and you're going to have to pay for it. Beacon is great for HH, and I look forward to sampling more of their menu. PS - here's my tip! When they say that the cheese curds are "State Fair quality," which many places do, Beacon really does mean it. They're good quality curds, and taste like State Fair curds without the long lines!
I'm a bit surprised at all the three and four star reviews. My two experiences eating here were that the food was over-priced (that goes double for the drinks), the service slow (both times the place was empty and it still took forever to get the attention of a server) and the food nice, but not spectacular. At this price point, service should be perfect and food should be more memorable. I'm hoping that my initial impression was just down to the fact that they hadn't been open very long, because the neighborhood could really use another decent restaurant. Location is incredibly convenient since many of our visitors would be staying in the hotel, anyway. Sadly, at this time, I can't recommend The Beacon other than as a Happy Hour stop gap.
(2)
Breanne K.
There hasn't been a restaurant as part of the hotel in awhile, so Beacon is trying to fill some big shoes. I see what they are trying to do by offering something a little more upscale to a campus that is very lacking in that area. It seems that people aren't flocking yet. Happy hour prices are nice enough that it should keep them open for awhile at least. I came here after work one day and had no problem getting a table for happy hour. The menu was impressive. 3, 4, and 5 dollar items. Both for carnivores and vegetarians. I really loved the walleye bites with fries and the jalapeno poppers were to die for. Only complaint is that our server did not tell us before we ordered that chef's selection of sliders and tacos were portabella mushrooms. That information would have changed our selection. As in we would have not ordered. So instead, they got sent back... Irregardless, I would come back for another visit because of those poppers!
(3)
Renee S.
I am torn with the amount of stars I would give on this review. I'd probably give it 2.5-2.75 stars if I could. I attempted to go twice during a week long business trip. It's attached to the Commons Hotel so it's super convenient when you don't want to go out in the MN cold weather! The first time I ordered food to go from the bar and a glass of wine. GREAT! My salad rocked! Fresh. Tasty. Prepared how I wanted it (dressing on the side minus some items I don't like). It was convenient. I tasted my wine before ordering - super! The bartender was great! It was a great experience. Had it been the only time I visited this place, I would have given it 3-4 stars. BUT I attempted to go a second time that week (on a Wednesday evening @ 6:30 PM). I couldn't get seat -- I couldn't even get to the hostess to find out how long one person needed to wait. And she was a bit rude (observation) to other customers - my guess is she was overwhelmed by the crowd. I attempted to get a drink at the bar and order take-out again. I couldn't get to the bar to order from the ONE bartender that was servicing it. I waited 5+ minutes with no help and left. Meh.
(2)
An D.
Will add more later. Short and sweet: Attentive service, delicious tenderloin but microscopic portion for the price. Good tomato-based soup with a good serving, bangers and mash were good. Was eying the bolognese, but at $22 it had better make Broders' jealous and I passed. Absolutely beautiful establishment.
(3)
Jason S.
I've had dinner at Beacon House two nights in a row and breakfast in the morning. Because of the past reviews and overall rating, I was almost hesitant to eat here. Boy am I glad I decided to give it a shot. I only had the biscuits and soup the first night, but it was enough to break the ice. I had the steak and eggs the next morning which was nothing special by itself. The chimichuri (sp?) sauce was what really turned it up a notch. Dinner that night was amazing. Our table shared popcorn shrimp, cheese curds, and Mac and cheese. The popcorn shrimp had a fresh, light batter and the Mac and Cheese with Chorizo was rich in flavor. The Beacon Burger was also very good. I opted for the truffle fries instead of house chips. It was a great sub and the horseradish ketchup added a good kick to my meal. Shoutout to the great service staff. Alex and Lucy were great. I would call out the young lady the second night, but she didn't have a name on her blank tag. I pointed out her nameless tag, but she never gave up her true identity. I shall forever refer to her as Harriet. Not that she looks like a Harriet, but because I'm watching Family Matters right now in my hotel room.
(5)
Julie C.
Cocktails are delicious especially the modern mule- chicken wings with honey and blue cheese are very different and wonderful! Burgers delicious as well!! Great dinner!
(5)
William A.
Ate there for dinner and I was really hungry .. the fish was pretty good. it was pretty good. I had 3 nice beers .. local stuff. the specialty drinks were expensive ... The service was very good and attentive and knowledgeable.
(4)
Steven S.
Did not know what to expect but was staying at hotel and was too tired to fend for myself on the street so tried the hotel restaurant, Beacon Public House. What a nice surprise and what a great restaurant. Local food (a farm to table type cuisine), cool atmosphere and just a great server, Natalie. Natalie seemed to know everything about the food and wine, was very attentive and just had a great attitude! She is a keeper! If I had any criticism it would be regarding prices versus portion size; New York City prices for even smaller portions in a University setting in Minneapolis kind of does not make sense. However, I will say that every dish was perfectly prepared and executed. Would I go again, yes and I would ask for Natalie.
(4)
Henry T.
This is the only restaurant it's caliber in the area. For that they get an extra star alone! The staff is hit or miss so lower expectations will make your experience better. The first time I went my bar tender was and he is usually there on Monday's. He is very at tentative and gives 150% level of service.
(5)
Lariza C.
Once again, did Christmas dinner here, and again, awesome food and service. The MN craft beer choices could be improved (by adding more choices) as could the ham hock nachos, but that's it. Patrick, our server, was amazing; attentive, funny, personable but professional, and super accommodating since we're an admittedly high maintenance restaurant family. The server we had last year, (cant remember her name!) was with other patrons but remembered us! We were pleasantly surprised when she came to say hi and remembered how our then 4 yr. old fell out of her chair a year ago!! Last, the new GM, Frankie, came to talk to us for awhile. It really says alot about the company that servers stay and that both servers and managers are so personable. Thank you for that! I am a stickler for a nice combo of pleasantries as well as space to eat/drink. BPH creates an awesome menu for Christmas. I was dead set on the duck which was on the Christmas dinner menu, but was able to pick/choose from the regular menu as well since there were items I really wanted to try. The duck was amazing, but I wasnt too impressed with the ham hock nachos which seemed a little dry (but savory and delicious) to me. I guess I'm just used to more wet items (tomatoes, avocado, etc.) on my nachos. My husband and MIL also picked from the regular menu and loved their dishes. The kids loved their pizza and strawberries (another awesome accomodation). The dessert was better this time. I highly recommend the smores especially if you have kids. I think that was the highlight of the evening for our kids since they could roast their own marshmallows. Also, thank you Patrick and Frankie, for the much appreciated (and needed) complimentary champagne! Nice topping to a fabulous eating experience. If you've thought of eating out for Christmas, do yourself a favor and PLEASE consider going to BPH. The only reason I deducted a star this time was because one item didn't seem up to par with the rest of their food. The service, however, is equally 5 stars!
(4)
K M.
This place has really good food. ...vegetarian options as well. ... impressive and friendly staff. ...
(4)
Jeanne C.
Great atmosphere, unique drinks but the one dish we tried, buffalo chicken wings, were really expensive for 6 pieces. Not 6 wings but 6 segments of wings with only one being the drumstick part. Flavor was great but why can't they use fresh chicken rather than frozen. Hated eating them and seeing the black bones. Fresh chicken so much more appealing especially at that price point. Don't go there to get a bargain.
(3)
Matthew H.
Fairly underwhelming overall. The space itself is cool and you can tell they try to market themselves as a higher quality and classy establishment. In reality though, the service was pretty mediocre and the food was nothing special (and fairly pricey).
(2)
Sarah S.
Great happy hour choices! Although service is slightly on the slow side, the atmosphere and food/drink make up for it!
(4)
Vanessa T.
With just a few days in the Twin Cities, we tried are hardest to meet up with long time friends. After research, we chose the Beacon Public House. The plan was to have dinner with one friend and his mom, then stick around for drinks with our other friends. We ended up spending close seven hours here and stayed in the hotel when we were finished. The service is top notch. We never had to seek out our server and we never had to ask for water refills. We had the bacon with poached egg, asparagus and truffle oil, which was easily my favorite. The egg was so runny and perfect and the bacon they used was of a greater quality. We also had popcorn shrimp which had a fluffy batter, and not in an off putting way. The chorizo and queso fundido was rich but light. The sliders were enough to share amongst four people; small but large enough for all of us to savor. The only let down were the wings. They sounded so good by their description, but they were a bit dry. I'm confident enough to believe that this was just a fluke and not the norm. We stuck to mostly wines and was happy with the variety. The beer list also offers a wide variety. My only other gripe is the portions. There were four of us and the dishes were prepared for three. We asked if we could have four but were told by the kitchen that all dishes were proportional. Hm. Almost had a five, but I'd still go back.
(4)
Rose V.
Comfortable, attractive place right in The Commons Hotel. A really good selection of beers and the fish and chips was excellent. Chips in particular we're outstanding. Also outstanding was my waitress, Lucy, who was welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable without being intrusive. Knows her beers, too! Will definitely return.
(5)
Annie H.
High hopes...dashed! Strawberry fields cocktail was tasteless (like water with an old strawberry on top). Chicken dish was dry and about $30! The service was the worst part: waiter managed to be both oddly overbearing in this jokey way ("If you need me, just scream real loud!") and inattentive (he forgot the bread, mentioned that we should have bread, and forgot it again. It took 30 minutes to get bread and appetizers). When we asked what was going on, waiter explained, "the kitchen is just ..." (rolled eyes, waved hands, but didn't name the problem). I'll likely try Beacon again as it benefits from having zero competition in the area but, next time, I'll only order from the happy hour menu and I won't go with high hopes.
(1)
Craig W.
The place looks awesome. I'm so glad I stopped in and had a drink here. The bartender-Alex is very knowledgeable and accommodating....
(4)
Jake M.
While staying at the Hotel we decided to eat in the hotel rather than going out for dinner. The menu looked great, but the food just didn't turn out as I expected it would. Service is good and the interior is nice, despite the corny lighting. For an appetizer I had the homemade chorizo with Manchego cheese, which had good chorizo but was kind of a weird method of preparing it, served with warm corn tortillas. For my meal I had ale battered walleye which was very good: crispy and flaky, served with great shoestring fries and a deliciously tangy tartar sauce. The Beacon Public House is a nice and convenient place to have in a hotel, it just simply did not meet my expectations.
(3)
Kevin B.
Anymore, I am a big fan of the craft cocktail + small plates dining experience. Chefs and bartenders really get a chance to showcase their creativity in this format, and the diner comes out the winner, having come out the other end having tried something new. We met some friends out for dinner near the U, and this seemed like it was right up my alley. We wound up having quite a few drinks and wines here, as well as four or five small plates. We had the queso fundido (chorizo and melted manchego - could have stood for it to be a bit spicier), some popcorn shrimp with a spicy aioli, chicken wings with some kind of cream cheese dipping sauce (wings a touch underseasoned), an asparagus dish with slow-poached egg and bacon (a knockout), and some delicious pork sliders. The food was well-presented, tasty and generally very good. The wait staff was fantastic as we haunted a table for about seven hours that night. Only one gripe and that's that we had four diners and a lot of the dishes were set up for three people to share. I asked if we could adjust some of the dishes to ensure we could each get one of something without having to split and the answer from the kitchen was that everything had been portioned out already. It wasn't a terribly busy night, and I was willing to pay extra, but the answer was still 'no'. A bit surprised by that, given the level of service, but oh well. Only thing holding them back from a 5-star rating. All considered, I'd certainly go back if I found myself in the neighborhood. This is a new restaurant (only open a few months). Hope this is one of the kinks that gets worked out.
(4)
Rowena N.
Beacon represents what I expect at most hotel restaurants = nice ambience, okay service, mediocre/overpriced food. I came here for a "work breakfast" which consisted of meeting visiting professors. The hostess and waiters were very nice and patient answer our questions. The menu was a bit confusing. They have breakfast orders where you can choose your meat but apparently the list of meat they have are not all available for certain entrees. Their bowl of fruit looked like they were prepared couple days ago...However, the coffee was decent. The visiting faculty had a breakfast combination (eggs, toast, hash brown and supposedly a meat from that odd list). However, he substituted the meat with a fruit bowl. What came instead was 4 slices of tomatoes. We were very confused at first because technically tomatoes are fruit? But, the waitress said that was the veggie option. Hold on, so if i want to order veggie over sausages or a bowl of fruit, I get 5 slices of tomatoes instead? That seemed like a very odd substitution... Service was good. Generally they were attentive and helpful. However, one tiny fluke -- we originally ordered green tea for the professor, which took longer to come than our food. Really? The visiting faculty member also noted how a small/travel size box of cereal and milk was priced at $5...But again for hotel restaurants, I would say this place is average. But then again I clearly have a bias towards these digs. Anyways, overall the place was average. If we were not hosting others, I wouldn't come here on my own.
(3)
Roland L.
Good food, had the huevos. A tad on the pricier side, but not outrageous and expected for a hotel restaurant. Service was quick and courteous. I'd come back.
(4)
Kurt M.
Recently, my daughter and I wanted dinner after a performance at newly remodeled Northrop (which BTW is fantastic!!). We wandered into Beacon House and were glad we did. It's a large, uncluttered, attractive space. I started with a well prepared wedge salad followed by an order of Mussels and Fries. The mussels were delicious, ample in number and swam in an aromatic, savory broth. Fries were crisp and thin, nicely (not overly) salted. My daughter had the pan roasted Salmon and pronounced it excellent. Prices for a hotel restaurant are quite reasonable. Service was very good. I'll definitely keep this place in mind for future U of M post-theater dining.
(4)
Marvin M.
I like this place--great, updated atmosphere. Breakfast is excellent (especially the inlets) and the service good. Never been too busy when I've been there--but that's only been during breakfast.
(4)
Erin M.
I've only been here for the happy hour, but they have a solid happy hour selection. They different sliders available during happy hour and they've always been delicious and a decent amount of food for a good price. The jalapeno poppers are really good, but you don't get very many for the price. If you're a U of MN student or employee, this place is worth checking out for happy hour.
(4)
Marna R.
The staff was so gracious, and the drinks generous. Everyone enjoyed their dinners, and Natalie,our server, worked plenty hard (we were a bigger group). We all agreed we'd go again. What a pleasant surprise!
(4)
Nikki A.
OMG, Beacon Public House is a wonderful place to eat. I had the Wisconsin cheese curds as an appetizer and they were "melt in your mouth" delicious. For my supper I had the Beacon burger which was also scrumptious. The burger came with house chips so I asked my waitress Natalie what else ther was and she recommended thick cut fries tossed in truffle oil with parmasean cheese on top, they were the worlds BEST fries. I will go back tomorrow and order them again. I ate every bite as slow as I could so that I could taste and remember every bite. My server Natalie was so very helpful explaining things I didn't know on the menu and she does have a great pallet to recommend those fries. This place is a must stop in Minneapolis for sure.
(5)
Nancy N.
This restaurant was inside our hotel and we're so lucky that was it! It's a great place for brunch or to hang out after a night of debauchery! It's really a place for everyone! :-D The restaurant is very hipster chic, drinks were good and service was well "hipster service" (very laid back, i.e slow) lol but friendly non the less. They have FOUR different types of fries, the herbs were the most popular and my favorite. For girls (or guys) who likes sweeter drinks I'd recommend the Romeo or Juliet. I forgot what the husbands got (Whiskey, Rum?) but it was very strong.
(4)
Jessica H.
We were guests at The Commons so decided to treat ourselves to breakfast. My husband played it safe with eggs and bacon and I overhead a waitress mention some amazing French toast that wasn't on the menu. One order right here! I also added some of the Applewood bacon. The french toast was very good. At first. Maybe because I was starving and you know when you're starving the first bite is always amazing. But after a few bites (ok, probably after two pieces) I started to slow down and get to know the food. It's good, don't get me wrong, but a half order would have been better. Why? It's so rich! It's like eating cake for breakfast. The whole entree comes with figs or something or other but I opted for just the toast, which included some toasted onion. Hmmm. I'm not so sure the burnt onion and super sweet syrup and cakey toast all really mesh. Well, for me they didn't (although it didn't stop me from polishing off the entire dish). Next time I'll go ahead and get it all together, maybe ask for a half order and even see if they can leave the onions out altogether (although Id like to give the chef a chance and see if it's just because I omitted the garnish) or put them on the side. A half order, with eggs and bacon and nonstop coffee...perfection! The service was also very good, although the waiter said he had yet to try the french toast because he's a college student and can't afford to eat there. Poor kid! I'd suggest the restaurant encourage and support some tastings so the staff know how to respond to guests properly. I want my waiter to gush about everything and give me good recommendations, not make me feel guilty for porking out on expensive food while he works for pennies. We also had the option of adding our meal to our room bill, which is very handy. Overall, good place, nice decor, convenient for guests, great hours (I think 24 hours but don't quote me on that), great service and food.
(4)
Meng Y.
I wanted to like this place. Very nice ambiance. Slow service when not busy. Got my order wrong, my friends order wrong, and forgot my other friends meal. We finished eating and he finally got his Fish N Chips. Great beer selection though. Go to Applesbees next door for better food and service and waay cheaper too.
(2)
Lori R.
We really enjoyed this place in The Commons Hotel (loved the hotel as well). I can't imagine anyone going to Applebees (which is connected to the hotel) when you have this one-of-a-kind gem! Drinks in the bar...nice! Breakfast...awesome! We were seated in a very comfy booth and had an excellent Server. I can never eat a full order of eggs benedict, so I was thrilled when they told me I could get a half order, even happier when they said I could have spinach added, and extra happy with hashbrowns instead of country potatoes. Husband is not the biggest breakfast-lover, but he sure loved his perfectly cooked scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and hashbrowns. Nice coffee for him and nice tea for me, and we were happy folks!
(4)
John W.
Good food, good service. Has a pool table. Great cocktails. I like this place for sure.
(4)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :615 Washington Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN, 55414
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes
Nancy N.
This restaurant was inside our hotel and we're so lucky that was it! It's a great place for brunch or to hang out after a night of debauchery! It's really a place for everyone! :-D The restaurant is very hipster chic, drinks were good and service was well "hipster service" (very laid back, i.e slow) lol but friendly non the less. They have FOUR different types of fries, the herbs were the most popular and my favorite. For girls (or guys) who likes sweeter drinks I'd recommend the Romeo or Juliet. I forgot what the husbands got (Whiskey, Rum?) but it was very strong.
(4)Jessica H.
We were guests at The Commons so decided to treat ourselves to breakfast. My husband played it safe with eggs and bacon and I overhead a waitress mention some amazing French toast that wasn't on the menu. One order right here! I also added some of the Applewood bacon. The french toast was very good. At first. Maybe because I was starving and you know when you're starving the first bite is always amazing. But after a few bites (ok, probably after two pieces) I started to slow down and get to know the food. It's good, don't get me wrong, but a half order would have been better. Why? It's so rich! It's like eating cake for breakfast. The whole entree comes with figs or something or other but I opted for just the toast, which included some toasted onion. Hmmm. I'm not so sure the burnt onion and super sweet syrup and cakey toast all really mesh. Well, for me they didn't (although it didn't stop me from polishing off the entire dish). Next time I'll go ahead and get it all together, maybe ask for a half order and even see if they can leave the onions out altogether (although Id like to give the chef a chance and see if it's just because I omitted the garnish) or put them on the side. A half order, with eggs and bacon and nonstop coffee...perfection! The service was also very good, although the waiter said he had yet to try the french toast because he's a college student and can't afford to eat there. Poor kid! I'd suggest the restaurant encourage and support some tastings so the staff know how to respond to guests properly. I want my waiter to gush about everything and give me good recommendations, not make me feel guilty for porking out on expensive food while he works for pennies. We also had the option of adding our meal to our room bill, which is very handy. Overall, good place, nice decor, convenient for guests, great hours (I think 24 hours but don't quote me on that), great service and food.
(4)Meng Y.
I wanted to like this place. Very nice ambiance. Slow service when not busy. Got my order wrong, my friends order wrong, and forgot my other friends meal. We finished eating and he finally got his Fish N Chips. Great beer selection though. Go to Applesbees next door for better food and service and waay cheaper too.
(2)Rowena N.
Beacon represents what I expect at most hotel restaurants = nice ambience, okay service, mediocre/overpriced food. I came here for a "work breakfast" which consisted of meeting visiting professors. The hostess and waiters were very nice and patient answer our questions. The menu was a bit confusing. They have breakfast orders where you can choose your meat but apparently the list of meat they have are not all available for certain entrees. Their bowl of fruit looked like they were prepared couple days ago...However, the coffee was decent. The visiting faculty had a breakfast combination (eggs, toast, hash brown and supposedly a meat from that odd list). However, he substituted the meat with a fruit bowl. What came instead was 4 slices of tomatoes. We were very confused at first because technically tomatoes are fruit? But, the waitress said that was the veggie option. Hold on, so if i want to order veggie over sausages or a bowl of fruit, I get 5 slices of tomatoes instead? That seemed like a very odd substitution... Service was good. Generally they were attentive and helpful. However, one tiny fluke -- we originally ordered green tea for the professor, which took longer to come than our food. Really? The visiting faculty member also noted how a small/travel size box of cereal and milk was priced at $5...But again for hotel restaurants, I would say this place is average. But then again I clearly have a bias towards these digs. Anyways, overall the place was average. If we were not hosting others, I wouldn't come here on my own.
(3)Roland L.
Good food, had the huevos. A tad on the pricier side, but not outrageous and expected for a hotel restaurant. Service was quick and courteous. I'd come back.
(4)Lori R.
We really enjoyed this place in The Commons Hotel (loved the hotel as well). I can't imagine anyone going to Applebees (which is connected to the hotel) when you have this one-of-a-kind gem! Drinks in the bar...nice! Breakfast...awesome! We were seated in a very comfy booth and had an excellent Server. I can never eat a full order of eggs benedict, so I was thrilled when they told me I could get a half order, even happier when they said I could have spinach added, and extra happy with hashbrowns instead of country potatoes. Husband is not the biggest breakfast-lover, but he sure loved his perfectly cooked scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and hashbrowns. Nice coffee for him and nice tea for me, and we were happy folks!
(4)John W.
Good food, good service. Has a pool table. Great cocktails. I like this place for sure.
(4)Kurt M.
Recently, my daughter and I wanted dinner after a performance at newly remodeled Northrop (which BTW is fantastic!!). We wandered into Beacon House and were glad we did. It's a large, uncluttered, attractive space. I started with a well prepared wedge salad followed by an order of Mussels and Fries. The mussels were delicious, ample in number and swam in an aromatic, savory broth. Fries were crisp and thin, nicely (not overly) salted. My daughter had the pan roasted Salmon and pronounced it excellent. Prices for a hotel restaurant are quite reasonable. Service was very good. I'll definitely keep this place in mind for future U of M post-theater dining.
(4)Marvin M.
I like this place--great, updated atmosphere. Breakfast is excellent (especially the inlets) and the service good. Never been too busy when I've been there--but that's only been during breakfast.
(4)Erin M.
I've only been here for the happy hour, but they have a solid happy hour selection. They different sliders available during happy hour and they've always been delicious and a decent amount of food for a good price. The jalapeno poppers are really good, but you don't get very many for the price. If you're a U of MN student or employee, this place is worth checking out for happy hour.
(4)Mimi B.
I had a really nice time eating at this restaurant during my stay at the Commons Hotel. The host was very pleasant. Seating was nice and not too close together or crowded. Prices reasonable for a hotel restaurant. We went to the bar one night too and they were great. Very attentive, professional. Fun place to sit and have a drink We had steak, sauteed kale, beet salad, smoked salmon, caesar salad with salmon and mussels. The mussels were the low point. Small, few, greasy.......all for 18$, not worth it. Everything else was great including the pre-meal bread and butter! Delicious! Service was extremely pleasant yet a bit painfully slow. Whe wines and beers were great- yet not particularly good pours but still good quality. Overall, I'd happily come back when staying at the hotel. Try it out! They do take reservations.
(4)William G.
The food here is really pretty bad and overpriced at least for dinner, I had the bangers and mash which did not taste like any bangers and mash I have ever had in the UK. No one in our group finished their meal. The television sets were a distraction to conversation. Service was mediocre. Given the numerous inexpensive and good restaurants nearby I can't imagine why anyone would eat here more than once.
(1)Jessica N.
My sister and I went here just for drinks and sat at the bar. The place was trendy, perhaps they label themselves a GastroPub?(Just a guess). Good location on campus, especially if staying at The Commons Hotel. I ordered "A Modern Mule" which is similar to a Moscow Mule. I am not one to get bent out of shape about the lack of a copper mug, but for $10 I was certainly underwhelmed. Tasted like ginger beer with a splash of vodka. It was nothing special and not worth the price. Additionally, my sister ordered a diet coke and had to take a double take at the bill when I noticed it was $3.50. I know this place is a nicer establishment, but should have walked next door to the hotel for a $2 diet coke.
(2)Peter M.
The food is as good as any I've ever had. The service is more than adequate, the staff were all friendly and as quick as possible. Details can be examined at the "dine and drink" section of their web site, at commonshotel.com . The chicken has never been dry. They cook everything to perfection.
(5)Rubal K.
Good place for dinner and drinks for a crowd. Food was good, drink list was ok.
(3)Julie B.
Good food, good drinks but TERRIBLE service from the bartenders. Otherwise nice little hotel restaurant with restaurant prices not looking for repeat customers. I'll stick with giving my business to the Dinkeytown college bars.
(3)Henrik C.
Went here for late night dinner and next day breakfast. The restaurant is inside the commons hotel. The food is very tasty and the kitchen is fast. This is typical bar food so set your expectations accordingly. They have a long wall of TV monitors and is ideal for sports and other major media event.s
(4)Kim R.
Stopped by Beacon Public House for breakfast yesterday morning. I love the decor of this restaurant with the exposed wood and books. The breakfast menu isn't extensive, but I really like both things we ordered. I had the pancakes with vanilla whipped cream and my husband had the huevos rancheros. The pancakes were some of the best I have tasted. They were so light and fluffy and the vanilla whipped cream really put them over the top, they were almost like dessert. My husband's huevos were almost like a quesadilla. The portion wasn't huge and this was actually a rather light dish. We also ordered a side of the blueberry chicken sausage. This was my least favorite part of the meal, it was a little dry so I would probably pass on this next time. I also would not recommend their hot chocolate. It's $4 and a tiny cup, plus it was very milky and I could barely taste the chocolate. Our server was excellent and very friendly, and he was great with our two-year-old son! Since this restaurant is near the U, we had to park in a ramp nearby for $6. They also offer valet for $6.
(4)Jeanne C.
Great atmosphere, unique drinks but the one dish we tried, buffalo chicken wings, were really expensive for 6 pieces. Not 6 wings but 6 segments of wings with only one being the drumstick part. Flavor was great but why can't they use fresh chicken rather than frozen. Hated eating them and seeing the black bones. Fresh chicken so much more appealing especially at that price point. Don't go there to get a bargain.
(3)Matthew H.
Fairly underwhelming overall. The space itself is cool and you can tell they try to market themselves as a higher quality and classy establishment. In reality though, the service was pretty mediocre and the food was nothing special (and fairly pricey).
(2)Sarah S.
Great happy hour choices! Although service is slightly on the slow side, the atmosphere and food/drink make up for it!
(4)Kit B.
Wow, I really love this place. I remember the old bar at the University Radisson, and it was such a snoozefest. Uninspired drinks, slow and snotty staff, and way overpriced. My partner had gone to Beacon for a happy hour, and kept raving about it, so I figured I'd give it a shot, and am I ever glad that I did! The decor is nice - think reclaimed wood, high boothbacks in subdued but vibrant colors (yellow, aqua, teal, etc.), unique lighting that included dozens of candles and lights hanged at different lengths, and a nice mix of high top tables and booths. I also really loved the televisions. Whaaaat? Some of them had news, but others just had pretty things, like fields of swaying wheat, sunsets, beaches, etc. It was a really nice mix. The happy hour menu is great - we got a bucket of cheese curds for $3, and there were many other options on the menu that I look forward to exploring. HH drinks are pretty cheap, too - it's a 3,4,5 menu. $3 for most beers, $4 for a heavy poured glass of wine, and $5 for either a mule (vodka, ginger, and freaking awesomeness) or a dark and stormy. Service here was good, too. Our server seemed to be working quite a few tables, but she didn't leave our glasses dry at all. This place is really convenient to the U of M - it's right on the East Bank campus, and will be really nice when the light rail comes through. In fact, having a light rail stop right in front of this bar should make it a really desirable spot. This is also why I removed one star from what could be a five-star experience. Although it IS convenient to the U of M and will be great once the train stops nearby, if you're heading over in your own car, parking is going to suck, and you're going to have to pay for it. Beacon is great for HH, and I look forward to sampling more of their menu. PS - here's my tip! When they say that the cheese curds are "State Fair quality," which many places do, Beacon really does mean it. They're good quality curds, and taste like State Fair curds without the long lines!
(4)Suzanne P.
My experience at Beacon was really really nice. And really really unexpected. I probably have an unfounded typical dislike for hotel restaurants but Beacon exceeded my (probably biased) expectations! Initial thoughts upon walking in were that this restaurant is really well-designed. The reclaimed wood everywhere is a gorgeous trend that I love to see restaurants picking up. There is one wall where there are books and candles above the booths that I thought was breathtaking. The bathrooms are also very clean looking with the white subway tile everywhere. The décor is very current and welcoming. Almost home-y in a modern sort of way. I like it. A lot. We ordered drinks and everyone was pretty satisfied with their selection. There was one fruity/creamy drink that tasted and smelled awful and they were very accommodating in giving us another choice right away. The table ordered a bunch of appetizers to split. My favorites were: *The Mac & Cheese - the chorizo is a TASTY addition *The honey wings - the lime sauce is a really interesting flavor *Beef tenderloin - cooked yourself over an open flame The desserts were either awesome or well, not so much. Highlights: *Mixed berry cobbler thing *Sea Salt Apple Tart (OMG, this tasted like Cinnamon Toast Crunch in the best possible way) Forget about: *Flourless chocolate cake *Pineapple gelato. The texture wasn't right If this was in downtown, this place would be a hit. It's a little "off the beaten path" if you're not a student or someone staying in the hotel, which I think accounted for the rather empty dining room. A solid 3.5 stars, though.
(4)jenny A.
I'm a bit surprised at all the three and four star reviews. My two experiences eating here were that the food was over-priced (that goes double for the drinks), the service slow (both times the place was empty and it still took forever to get the attention of a server) and the food nice, but not spectacular. At this price point, service should be perfect and food should be more memorable. I'm hoping that my initial impression was just down to the fact that they hadn't been open very long, because the neighborhood could really use another decent restaurant. Location is incredibly convenient since many of our visitors would be staying in the hotel, anyway. Sadly, at this time, I can't recommend The Beacon other than as a Happy Hour stop gap.
(2)Breanne K.
There hasn't been a restaurant as part of the hotel in awhile, so Beacon is trying to fill some big shoes. I see what they are trying to do by offering something a little more upscale to a campus that is very lacking in that area. It seems that people aren't flocking yet. Happy hour prices are nice enough that it should keep them open for awhile at least. I came here after work one day and had no problem getting a table for happy hour. The menu was impressive. 3, 4, and 5 dollar items. Both for carnivores and vegetarians. I really loved the walleye bites with fries and the jalapeno poppers were to die for. Only complaint is that our server did not tell us before we ordered that chef's selection of sliders and tacos were portabella mushrooms. That information would have changed our selection. As in we would have not ordered. So instead, they got sent back... Irregardless, I would come back for another visit because of those poppers!
(3)Renee S.
I am torn with the amount of stars I would give on this review. I'd probably give it 2.5-2.75 stars if I could. I attempted to go twice during a week long business trip. It's attached to the Commons Hotel so it's super convenient when you don't want to go out in the MN cold weather! The first time I ordered food to go from the bar and a glass of wine. GREAT! My salad rocked! Fresh. Tasty. Prepared how I wanted it (dressing on the side minus some items I don't like). It was convenient. I tasted my wine before ordering - super! The bartender was great! It was a great experience. Had it been the only time I visited this place, I would have given it 3-4 stars. BUT I attempted to go a second time that week (on a Wednesday evening @ 6:30 PM). I couldn't get seat -- I couldn't even get to the hostess to find out how long one person needed to wait. And she was a bit rude (observation) to other customers - my guess is she was overwhelmed by the crowd. I attempted to get a drink at the bar and order take-out again. I couldn't get to the bar to order from the ONE bartender that was servicing it. I waited 5+ minutes with no help and left. Meh.
(2)An D.
Will add more later. Short and sweet: Attentive service, delicious tenderloin but microscopic portion for the price. Good tomato-based soup with a good serving, bangers and mash were good. Was eying the bolognese, but at $22 it had better make Broders' jealous and I passed. Absolutely beautiful establishment.
(3)Jason S.
I've had dinner at Beacon House two nights in a row and breakfast in the morning. Because of the past reviews and overall rating, I was almost hesitant to eat here. Boy am I glad I decided to give it a shot. I only had the biscuits and soup the first night, but it was enough to break the ice. I had the steak and eggs the next morning which was nothing special by itself. The chimichuri (sp?) sauce was what really turned it up a notch. Dinner that night was amazing. Our table shared popcorn shrimp, cheese curds, and Mac and cheese. The popcorn shrimp had a fresh, light batter and the Mac and Cheese with Chorizo was rich in flavor. The Beacon Burger was also very good. I opted for the truffle fries instead of house chips. It was a great sub and the horseradish ketchup added a good kick to my meal. Shoutout to the great service staff. Alex and Lucy were great. I would call out the young lady the second night, but she didn't have a name on her blank tag. I pointed out her nameless tag, but she never gave up her true identity. I shall forever refer to her as Harriet. Not that she looks like a Harriet, but because I'm watching Family Matters right now in my hotel room.
(5)Julie C.
Cocktails are delicious especially the modern mule- chicken wings with honey and blue cheese are very different and wonderful! Burgers delicious as well!! Great dinner!
(5)William A.
Ate there for dinner and I was really hungry .. the fish was pretty good. it was pretty good. I had 3 nice beers .. local stuff. the specialty drinks were expensive ... The service was very good and attentive and knowledgeable.
(4)Steven S.
Did not know what to expect but was staying at hotel and was too tired to fend for myself on the street so tried the hotel restaurant, Beacon Public House. What a nice surprise and what a great restaurant. Local food (a farm to table type cuisine), cool atmosphere and just a great server, Natalie. Natalie seemed to know everything about the food and wine, was very attentive and just had a great attitude! She is a keeper! If I had any criticism it would be regarding prices versus portion size; New York City prices for even smaller portions in a University setting in Minneapolis kind of does not make sense. However, I will say that every dish was perfectly prepared and executed. Would I go again, yes and I would ask for Natalie.
(4)Henry T.
This is the only restaurant it's caliber in the area. For that they get an extra star alone! The staff is hit or miss so lower expectations will make your experience better. The first time I went my bar tender was and he is usually there on Monday's. He is very at tentative and gives 150% level of service.
(5)Lariza C.
Once again, did Christmas dinner here, and again, awesome food and service. The MN craft beer choices could be improved (by adding more choices) as could the ham hock nachos, but that's it. Patrick, our server, was amazing; attentive, funny, personable but professional, and super accommodating since we're an admittedly high maintenance restaurant family. The server we had last year, (cant remember her name!) was with other patrons but remembered us! We were pleasantly surprised when she came to say hi and remembered how our then 4 yr. old fell out of her chair a year ago!! Last, the new GM, Frankie, came to talk to us for awhile. It really says alot about the company that servers stay and that both servers and managers are so personable. Thank you for that! I am a stickler for a nice combo of pleasantries as well as space to eat/drink. BPH creates an awesome menu for Christmas. I was dead set on the duck which was on the Christmas dinner menu, but was able to pick/choose from the regular menu as well since there were items I really wanted to try. The duck was amazing, but I wasnt too impressed with the ham hock nachos which seemed a little dry (but savory and delicious) to me. I guess I'm just used to more wet items (tomatoes, avocado, etc.) on my nachos. My husband and MIL also picked from the regular menu and loved their dishes. The kids loved their pizza and strawberries (another awesome accomodation). The dessert was better this time. I highly recommend the smores especially if you have kids. I think that was the highlight of the evening for our kids since they could roast their own marshmallows. Also, thank you Patrick and Frankie, for the much appreciated (and needed) complimentary champagne! Nice topping to a fabulous eating experience. If you've thought of eating out for Christmas, do yourself a favor and PLEASE consider going to BPH. The only reason I deducted a star this time was because one item didn't seem up to par with the rest of their food. The service, however, is equally 5 stars!
(4)K M.
This place has really good food. ...vegetarian options as well. ... impressive and friendly staff. ...
(4)Marna R.
The staff was so gracious, and the drinks generous. Everyone enjoyed their dinners, and Natalie,our server, worked plenty hard (we were a bigger group). We all agreed we'd go again. What a pleasant surprise!
(4)Nikki A.
OMG, Beacon Public House is a wonderful place to eat. I had the Wisconsin cheese curds as an appetizer and they were "melt in your mouth" delicious. For my supper I had the Beacon burger which was also scrumptious. The burger came with house chips so I asked my waitress Natalie what else ther was and she recommended thick cut fries tossed in truffle oil with parmasean cheese on top, they were the worlds BEST fries. I will go back tomorrow and order them again. I ate every bite as slow as I could so that I could taste and remember every bite. My server Natalie was so very helpful explaining things I didn't know on the menu and she does have a great pallet to recommend those fries. This place is a must stop in Minneapolis for sure.
(5)Vanessa T.
With just a few days in the Twin Cities, we tried are hardest to meet up with long time friends. After research, we chose the Beacon Public House. The plan was to have dinner with one friend and his mom, then stick around for drinks with our other friends. We ended up spending close seven hours here and stayed in the hotel when we were finished. The service is top notch. We never had to seek out our server and we never had to ask for water refills. We had the bacon with poached egg, asparagus and truffle oil, which was easily my favorite. The egg was so runny and perfect and the bacon they used was of a greater quality. We also had popcorn shrimp which had a fluffy batter, and not in an off putting way. The chorizo and queso fundido was rich but light. The sliders were enough to share amongst four people; small but large enough for all of us to savor. The only let down were the wings. They sounded so good by their description, but they were a bit dry. I'm confident enough to believe that this was just a fluke and not the norm. We stuck to mostly wines and was happy with the variety. The beer list also offers a wide variety. My only other gripe is the portions. There were four of us and the dishes were prepared for three. We asked if we could have four but were told by the kitchen that all dishes were proportional. Hm. Almost had a five, but I'd still go back.
(4)Rose V.
Comfortable, attractive place right in The Commons Hotel. A really good selection of beers and the fish and chips was excellent. Chips in particular we're outstanding. Also outstanding was my waitress, Lucy, who was welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable without being intrusive. Knows her beers, too! Will definitely return.
(5)Annie H.
High hopes...dashed! Strawberry fields cocktail was tasteless (like water with an old strawberry on top). Chicken dish was dry and about $30! The service was the worst part: waiter managed to be both oddly overbearing in this jokey way ("If you need me, just scream real loud!") and inattentive (he forgot the bread, mentioned that we should have bread, and forgot it again. It took 30 minutes to get bread and appetizers). When we asked what was going on, waiter explained, "the kitchen is just ..." (rolled eyes, waved hands, but didn't name the problem). I'll likely try Beacon again as it benefits from having zero competition in the area but, next time, I'll only order from the happy hour menu and I won't go with high hopes.
(1)Craig W.
The place looks awesome. I'm so glad I stopped in and had a drink here. The bartender-Alex is very knowledgeable and accommodating....
(4)Jake M.
While staying at the Hotel we decided to eat in the hotel rather than going out for dinner. The menu looked great, but the food just didn't turn out as I expected it would. Service is good and the interior is nice, despite the corny lighting. For an appetizer I had the homemade chorizo with Manchego cheese, which had good chorizo but was kind of a weird method of preparing it, served with warm corn tortillas. For my meal I had ale battered walleye which was very good: crispy and flaky, served with great shoestring fries and a deliciously tangy tartar sauce. The Beacon Public House is a nice and convenient place to have in a hotel, it just simply did not meet my expectations.
(3)Kevin B.
Anymore, I am a big fan of the craft cocktail + small plates dining experience. Chefs and bartenders really get a chance to showcase their creativity in this format, and the diner comes out the winner, having come out the other end having tried something new. We met some friends out for dinner near the U, and this seemed like it was right up my alley. We wound up having quite a few drinks and wines here, as well as four or five small plates. We had the queso fundido (chorizo and melted manchego - could have stood for it to be a bit spicier), some popcorn shrimp with a spicy aioli, chicken wings with some kind of cream cheese dipping sauce (wings a touch underseasoned), an asparagus dish with slow-poached egg and bacon (a knockout), and some delicious pork sliders. The food was well-presented, tasty and generally very good. The wait staff was fantastic as we haunted a table for about seven hours that night. Only one gripe and that's that we had four diners and a lot of the dishes were set up for three people to share. I asked if we could adjust some of the dishes to ensure we could each get one of something without having to split and the answer from the kitchen was that everything had been portioned out already. It wasn't a terribly busy night, and I was willing to pay extra, but the answer was still 'no'. A bit surprised by that, given the level of service, but oh well. Only thing holding them back from a 5-star rating. All considered, I'd certainly go back if I found myself in the neighborhood. This is a new restaurant (only open a few months). Hope this is one of the kinks that gets worked out.
(4)Mimi B.
I had a really nice time eating at this restaurant during my stay at the Commons Hotel. The host was very pleasant. Seating was nice and not too close together or crowded. Prices reasonable for a hotel restaurant. We went to the bar one night too and they were great. Very attentive, professional. Fun place to sit and have a drink We had steak, sauteed kale, beet salad, smoked salmon, caesar salad with salmon and mussels. The mussels were the low point. Small, few, greasy.......all for 18$, not worth it. Everything else was great including the pre-meal bread and butter! Delicious! Service was extremely pleasant yet a bit painfully slow. Whe wines and beers were great- yet not particularly good pours but still good quality. Overall, I'd happily come back when staying at the hotel. Try it out! They do take reservations.
(4)William G.
The food here is really pretty bad and overpriced at least for dinner, I had the bangers and mash which did not taste like any bangers and mash I have ever had in the UK. No one in our group finished their meal. The television sets were a distraction to conversation. Service was mediocre. Given the numerous inexpensive and good restaurants nearby I can't imagine why anyone would eat here more than once.
(1)Jessica N.
My sister and I went here just for drinks and sat at the bar. The place was trendy, perhaps they label themselves a GastroPub?(Just a guess). Good location on campus, especially if staying at The Commons Hotel. I ordered "A Modern Mule" which is similar to a Moscow Mule. I am not one to get bent out of shape about the lack of a copper mug, but for $10 I was certainly underwhelmed. Tasted like ginger beer with a splash of vodka. It was nothing special and not worth the price. Additionally, my sister ordered a diet coke and had to take a double take at the bill when I noticed it was $3.50. I know this place is a nicer establishment, but should have walked next door to the hotel for a $2 diet coke.
(2)Peter M.
The food is as good as any I've ever had. The service is more than adequate, the staff were all friendly and as quick as possible. Details can be examined at the "dine and drink" section of their web site, at commonshotel.com . The chicken has never been dry. They cook everything to perfection.
(5)Rubal K.
Good place for dinner and drinks for a crowd. Food was good, drink list was ok.
(3)Julie B.
Good food, good drinks but TERRIBLE service from the bartenders. Otherwise nice little hotel restaurant with restaurant prices not looking for repeat customers. I'll stick with giving my business to the Dinkeytown college bars.
(3)Henrik C.
Went here for late night dinner and next day breakfast. The restaurant is inside the commons hotel. The food is very tasty and the kitchen is fast. This is typical bar food so set your expectations accordingly. They have a long wall of TV monitors and is ideal for sports and other major media event.s
(4)Kim R.
Stopped by Beacon Public House for breakfast yesterday morning. I love the decor of this restaurant with the exposed wood and books. The breakfast menu isn't extensive, but I really like both things we ordered. I had the pancakes with vanilla whipped cream and my husband had the huevos rancheros. The pancakes were some of the best I have tasted. They were so light and fluffy and the vanilla whipped cream really put them over the top, they were almost like dessert. My husband's huevos were almost like a quesadilla. The portion wasn't huge and this was actually a rather light dish. We also ordered a side of the blueberry chicken sausage. This was my least favorite part of the meal, it was a little dry so I would probably pass on this next time. I also would not recommend their hot chocolate. It's $4 and a tiny cup, plus it was very milky and I could barely taste the chocolate. Our server was excellent and very friendly, and he was great with our two-year-old son! Since this restaurant is near the U, we had to park in a ramp nearby for $6. They also offer valet for $6.
(4)Kit B.
Wow, I really love this place. I remember the old bar at the University Radisson, and it was such a snoozefest. Uninspired drinks, slow and snotty staff, and way overpriced. My partner had gone to Beacon for a happy hour, and kept raving about it, so I figured I'd give it a shot, and am I ever glad that I did! The decor is nice - think reclaimed wood, high boothbacks in subdued but vibrant colors (yellow, aqua, teal, etc.), unique lighting that included dozens of candles and lights hanged at different lengths, and a nice mix of high top tables and booths. I also really loved the televisions. Whaaaat? Some of them had news, but others just had pretty things, like fields of swaying wheat, sunsets, beaches, etc. It was a really nice mix. The happy hour menu is great - we got a bucket of cheese curds for $3, and there were many other options on the menu that I look forward to exploring. HH drinks are pretty cheap, too - it's a 3,4,5 menu. $3 for most beers, $4 for a heavy poured glass of wine, and $5 for either a mule (vodka, ginger, and freaking awesomeness) or a dark and stormy. Service here was good, too. Our server seemed to be working quite a few tables, but she didn't leave our glasses dry at all. This place is really convenient to the U of M - it's right on the East Bank campus, and will be really nice when the light rail comes through. In fact, having a light rail stop right in front of this bar should make it a really desirable spot. This is also why I removed one star from what could be a five-star experience. Although it IS convenient to the U of M and will be great once the train stops nearby, if you're heading over in your own car, parking is going to suck, and you're going to have to pay for it. Beacon is great for HH, and I look forward to sampling more of their menu. PS - here's my tip! When they say that the cheese curds are "State Fair quality," which many places do, Beacon really does mean it. They're good quality curds, and taste like State Fair curds without the long lines!
(4)Suzanne P.
My experience at Beacon was really really nice. And really really unexpected. I probably have an unfounded typical dislike for hotel restaurants but Beacon exceeded my (probably biased) expectations! Initial thoughts upon walking in were that this restaurant is really well-designed. The reclaimed wood everywhere is a gorgeous trend that I love to see restaurants picking up. There is one wall where there are books and candles above the booths that I thought was breathtaking. The bathrooms are also very clean looking with the white subway tile everywhere. The décor is very current and welcoming. Almost home-y in a modern sort of way. I like it. A lot. We ordered drinks and everyone was pretty satisfied with their selection. There was one fruity/creamy drink that tasted and smelled awful and they were very accommodating in giving us another choice right away. The table ordered a bunch of appetizers to split. My favorites were: *The Mac & Cheese - the chorizo is a TASTY addition *The honey wings - the lime sauce is a really interesting flavor *Beef tenderloin - cooked yourself over an open flame The desserts were either awesome or well, not so much. Highlights: *Mixed berry cobbler thing *Sea Salt Apple Tart (OMG, this tasted like Cinnamon Toast Crunch in the best possible way) Forget about: *Flourless chocolate cake *Pineapple gelato. The texture wasn't right If this was in downtown, this place would be a hit. It's a little "off the beaten path" if you're not a student or someone staying in the hotel, which I think accounted for the rather empty dining room. A solid 3.5 stars, though.
(4)jenny A.
I'm a bit surprised at all the three and four star reviews. My two experiences eating here were that the food was over-priced (that goes double for the drinks), the service slow (both times the place was empty and it still took forever to get the attention of a server) and the food nice, but not spectacular. At this price point, service should be perfect and food should be more memorable. I'm hoping that my initial impression was just down to the fact that they hadn't been open very long, because the neighborhood could really use another decent restaurant. Location is incredibly convenient since many of our visitors would be staying in the hotel, anyway. Sadly, at this time, I can't recommend The Beacon other than as a Happy Hour stop gap.
(2)Breanne K.
There hasn't been a restaurant as part of the hotel in awhile, so Beacon is trying to fill some big shoes. I see what they are trying to do by offering something a little more upscale to a campus that is very lacking in that area. It seems that people aren't flocking yet. Happy hour prices are nice enough that it should keep them open for awhile at least. I came here after work one day and had no problem getting a table for happy hour. The menu was impressive. 3, 4, and 5 dollar items. Both for carnivores and vegetarians. I really loved the walleye bites with fries and the jalapeno poppers were to die for. Only complaint is that our server did not tell us before we ordered that chef's selection of sliders and tacos were portabella mushrooms. That information would have changed our selection. As in we would have not ordered. So instead, they got sent back... Irregardless, I would come back for another visit because of those poppers!
(3)Renee S.
I am torn with the amount of stars I would give on this review. I'd probably give it 2.5-2.75 stars if I could. I attempted to go twice during a week long business trip. It's attached to the Commons Hotel so it's super convenient when you don't want to go out in the MN cold weather! The first time I ordered food to go from the bar and a glass of wine. GREAT! My salad rocked! Fresh. Tasty. Prepared how I wanted it (dressing on the side minus some items I don't like). It was convenient. I tasted my wine before ordering - super! The bartender was great! It was a great experience. Had it been the only time I visited this place, I would have given it 3-4 stars. BUT I attempted to go a second time that week (on a Wednesday evening @ 6:30 PM). I couldn't get seat -- I couldn't even get to the hostess to find out how long one person needed to wait. And she was a bit rude (observation) to other customers - my guess is she was overwhelmed by the crowd. I attempted to get a drink at the bar and order take-out again. I couldn't get to the bar to order from the ONE bartender that was servicing it. I waited 5+ minutes with no help and left. Meh.
(2)An D.
Will add more later. Short and sweet: Attentive service, delicious tenderloin but microscopic portion for the price. Good tomato-based soup with a good serving, bangers and mash were good. Was eying the bolognese, but at $22 it had better make Broders' jealous and I passed. Absolutely beautiful establishment.
(3)Jason S.
I've had dinner at Beacon House two nights in a row and breakfast in the morning. Because of the past reviews and overall rating, I was almost hesitant to eat here. Boy am I glad I decided to give it a shot. I only had the biscuits and soup the first night, but it was enough to break the ice. I had the steak and eggs the next morning which was nothing special by itself. The chimichuri (sp?) sauce was what really turned it up a notch. Dinner that night was amazing. Our table shared popcorn shrimp, cheese curds, and Mac and cheese. The popcorn shrimp had a fresh, light batter and the Mac and Cheese with Chorizo was rich in flavor. The Beacon Burger was also very good. I opted for the truffle fries instead of house chips. It was a great sub and the horseradish ketchup added a good kick to my meal. Shoutout to the great service staff. Alex and Lucy were great. I would call out the young lady the second night, but she didn't have a name on her blank tag. I pointed out her nameless tag, but she never gave up her true identity. I shall forever refer to her as Harriet. Not that she looks like a Harriet, but because I'm watching Family Matters right now in my hotel room.
(5)Julie C.
Cocktails are delicious especially the modern mule- chicken wings with honey and blue cheese are very different and wonderful! Burgers delicious as well!! Great dinner!
(5)William A.
Ate there for dinner and I was really hungry .. the fish was pretty good. it was pretty good. I had 3 nice beers .. local stuff. the specialty drinks were expensive ... The service was very good and attentive and knowledgeable.
(4)Steven S.
Did not know what to expect but was staying at hotel and was too tired to fend for myself on the street so tried the hotel restaurant, Beacon Public House. What a nice surprise and what a great restaurant. Local food (a farm to table type cuisine), cool atmosphere and just a great server, Natalie. Natalie seemed to know everything about the food and wine, was very attentive and just had a great attitude! She is a keeper! If I had any criticism it would be regarding prices versus portion size; New York City prices for even smaller portions in a University setting in Minneapolis kind of does not make sense. However, I will say that every dish was perfectly prepared and executed. Would I go again, yes and I would ask for Natalie.
(4)Henry T.
This is the only restaurant it's caliber in the area. For that they get an extra star alone! The staff is hit or miss so lower expectations will make your experience better. The first time I went my bar tender was and he is usually there on Monday's. He is very at tentative and gives 150% level of service.
(5)Lariza C.
Once again, did Christmas dinner here, and again, awesome food and service. The MN craft beer choices could be improved (by adding more choices) as could the ham hock nachos, but that's it. Patrick, our server, was amazing; attentive, funny, personable but professional, and super accommodating since we're an admittedly high maintenance restaurant family. The server we had last year, (cant remember her name!) was with other patrons but remembered us! We were pleasantly surprised when she came to say hi and remembered how our then 4 yr. old fell out of her chair a year ago!! Last, the new GM, Frankie, came to talk to us for awhile. It really says alot about the company that servers stay and that both servers and managers are so personable. Thank you for that! I am a stickler for a nice combo of pleasantries as well as space to eat/drink. BPH creates an awesome menu for Christmas. I was dead set on the duck which was on the Christmas dinner menu, but was able to pick/choose from the regular menu as well since there were items I really wanted to try. The duck was amazing, but I wasnt too impressed with the ham hock nachos which seemed a little dry (but savory and delicious) to me. I guess I'm just used to more wet items (tomatoes, avocado, etc.) on my nachos. My husband and MIL also picked from the regular menu and loved their dishes. The kids loved their pizza and strawberries (another awesome accomodation). The dessert was better this time. I highly recommend the smores especially if you have kids. I think that was the highlight of the evening for our kids since they could roast their own marshmallows. Also, thank you Patrick and Frankie, for the much appreciated (and needed) complimentary champagne! Nice topping to a fabulous eating experience. If you've thought of eating out for Christmas, do yourself a favor and PLEASE consider going to BPH. The only reason I deducted a star this time was because one item didn't seem up to par with the rest of their food. The service, however, is equally 5 stars!
(4)K M.
This place has really good food. ...vegetarian options as well. ... impressive and friendly staff. ...
(4)Jeanne C.
Great atmosphere, unique drinks but the one dish we tried, buffalo chicken wings, were really expensive for 6 pieces. Not 6 wings but 6 segments of wings with only one being the drumstick part. Flavor was great but why can't they use fresh chicken rather than frozen. Hated eating them and seeing the black bones. Fresh chicken so much more appealing especially at that price point. Don't go there to get a bargain.
(3)Matthew H.
Fairly underwhelming overall. The space itself is cool and you can tell they try to market themselves as a higher quality and classy establishment. In reality though, the service was pretty mediocre and the food was nothing special (and fairly pricey).
(2)Sarah S.
Great happy hour choices! Although service is slightly on the slow side, the atmosphere and food/drink make up for it!
(4)Vanessa T.
With just a few days in the Twin Cities, we tried are hardest to meet up with long time friends. After research, we chose the Beacon Public House. The plan was to have dinner with one friend and his mom, then stick around for drinks with our other friends. We ended up spending close seven hours here and stayed in the hotel when we were finished. The service is top notch. We never had to seek out our server and we never had to ask for water refills. We had the bacon with poached egg, asparagus and truffle oil, which was easily my favorite. The egg was so runny and perfect and the bacon they used was of a greater quality. We also had popcorn shrimp which had a fluffy batter, and not in an off putting way. The chorizo and queso fundido was rich but light. The sliders were enough to share amongst four people; small but large enough for all of us to savor. The only let down were the wings. They sounded so good by their description, but they were a bit dry. I'm confident enough to believe that this was just a fluke and not the norm. We stuck to mostly wines and was happy with the variety. The beer list also offers a wide variety. My only other gripe is the portions. There were four of us and the dishes were prepared for three. We asked if we could have four but were told by the kitchen that all dishes were proportional. Hm. Almost had a five, but I'd still go back.
(4)Rose V.
Comfortable, attractive place right in The Commons Hotel. A really good selection of beers and the fish and chips was excellent. Chips in particular we're outstanding. Also outstanding was my waitress, Lucy, who was welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable without being intrusive. Knows her beers, too! Will definitely return.
(5)Annie H.
High hopes...dashed! Strawberry fields cocktail was tasteless (like water with an old strawberry on top). Chicken dish was dry and about $30! The service was the worst part: waiter managed to be both oddly overbearing in this jokey way ("If you need me, just scream real loud!") and inattentive (he forgot the bread, mentioned that we should have bread, and forgot it again. It took 30 minutes to get bread and appetizers). When we asked what was going on, waiter explained, "the kitchen is just ..." (rolled eyes, waved hands, but didn't name the problem). I'll likely try Beacon again as it benefits from having zero competition in the area but, next time, I'll only order from the happy hour menu and I won't go with high hopes.
(1)Craig W.
The place looks awesome. I'm so glad I stopped in and had a drink here. The bartender-Alex is very knowledgeable and accommodating....
(4)Jake M.
While staying at the Hotel we decided to eat in the hotel rather than going out for dinner. The menu looked great, but the food just didn't turn out as I expected it would. Service is good and the interior is nice, despite the corny lighting. For an appetizer I had the homemade chorizo with Manchego cheese, which had good chorizo but was kind of a weird method of preparing it, served with warm corn tortillas. For my meal I had ale battered walleye which was very good: crispy and flaky, served with great shoestring fries and a deliciously tangy tartar sauce. The Beacon Public House is a nice and convenient place to have in a hotel, it just simply did not meet my expectations.
(3)Kevin B.
Anymore, I am a big fan of the craft cocktail + small plates dining experience. Chefs and bartenders really get a chance to showcase their creativity in this format, and the diner comes out the winner, having come out the other end having tried something new. We met some friends out for dinner near the U, and this seemed like it was right up my alley. We wound up having quite a few drinks and wines here, as well as four or five small plates. We had the queso fundido (chorizo and melted manchego - could have stood for it to be a bit spicier), some popcorn shrimp with a spicy aioli, chicken wings with some kind of cream cheese dipping sauce (wings a touch underseasoned), an asparagus dish with slow-poached egg and bacon (a knockout), and some delicious pork sliders. The food was well-presented, tasty and generally very good. The wait staff was fantastic as we haunted a table for about seven hours that night. Only one gripe and that's that we had four diners and a lot of the dishes were set up for three people to share. I asked if we could adjust some of the dishes to ensure we could each get one of something without having to split and the answer from the kitchen was that everything had been portioned out already. It wasn't a terribly busy night, and I was willing to pay extra, but the answer was still 'no'. A bit surprised by that, given the level of service, but oh well. Only thing holding them back from a 5-star rating. All considered, I'd certainly go back if I found myself in the neighborhood. This is a new restaurant (only open a few months). Hope this is one of the kinks that gets worked out.
(4)Rowena N.
Beacon represents what I expect at most hotel restaurants = nice ambience, okay service, mediocre/overpriced food. I came here for a "work breakfast" which consisted of meeting visiting professors. The hostess and waiters were very nice and patient answer our questions. The menu was a bit confusing. They have breakfast orders where you can choose your meat but apparently the list of meat they have are not all available for certain entrees. Their bowl of fruit looked like they were prepared couple days ago...However, the coffee was decent. The visiting faculty had a breakfast combination (eggs, toast, hash brown and supposedly a meat from that odd list). However, he substituted the meat with a fruit bowl. What came instead was 4 slices of tomatoes. We were very confused at first because technically tomatoes are fruit? But, the waitress said that was the veggie option. Hold on, so if i want to order veggie over sausages or a bowl of fruit, I get 5 slices of tomatoes instead? That seemed like a very odd substitution... Service was good. Generally they were attentive and helpful. However, one tiny fluke -- we originally ordered green tea for the professor, which took longer to come than our food. Really? The visiting faculty member also noted how a small/travel size box of cereal and milk was priced at $5...But again for hotel restaurants, I would say this place is average. But then again I clearly have a bias towards these digs. Anyways, overall the place was average. If we were not hosting others, I wouldn't come here on my own.
(3)Roland L.
Good food, had the huevos. A tad on the pricier side, but not outrageous and expected for a hotel restaurant. Service was quick and courteous. I'd come back.
(4)Kurt M.
Recently, my daughter and I wanted dinner after a performance at newly remodeled Northrop (which BTW is fantastic!!). We wandered into Beacon House and were glad we did. It's a large, uncluttered, attractive space. I started with a well prepared wedge salad followed by an order of Mussels and Fries. The mussels were delicious, ample in number and swam in an aromatic, savory broth. Fries were crisp and thin, nicely (not overly) salted. My daughter had the pan roasted Salmon and pronounced it excellent. Prices for a hotel restaurant are quite reasonable. Service was very good. I'll definitely keep this place in mind for future U of M post-theater dining.
(4)Marvin M.
I like this place--great, updated atmosphere. Breakfast is excellent (especially the inlets) and the service good. Never been too busy when I've been there--but that's only been during breakfast.
(4)Erin M.
I've only been here for the happy hour, but they have a solid happy hour selection. They different sliders available during happy hour and they've always been delicious and a decent amount of food for a good price. The jalapeno poppers are really good, but you don't get very many for the price. If you're a U of MN student or employee, this place is worth checking out for happy hour.
(4)Marna R.
The staff was so gracious, and the drinks generous. Everyone enjoyed their dinners, and Natalie,our server, worked plenty hard (we were a bigger group). We all agreed we'd go again. What a pleasant surprise!
(4)Nikki A.
OMG, Beacon Public House is a wonderful place to eat. I had the Wisconsin cheese curds as an appetizer and they were "melt in your mouth" delicious. For my supper I had the Beacon burger which was also scrumptious. The burger came with house chips so I asked my waitress Natalie what else ther was and she recommended thick cut fries tossed in truffle oil with parmasean cheese on top, they were the worlds BEST fries. I will go back tomorrow and order them again. I ate every bite as slow as I could so that I could taste and remember every bite. My server Natalie was so very helpful explaining things I didn't know on the menu and she does have a great pallet to recommend those fries. This place is a must stop in Minneapolis for sure.
(5)Nancy N.
This restaurant was inside our hotel and we're so lucky that was it! It's a great place for brunch or to hang out after a night of debauchery! It's really a place for everyone! :-D The restaurant is very hipster chic, drinks were good and service was well "hipster service" (very laid back, i.e slow) lol but friendly non the less. They have FOUR different types of fries, the herbs were the most popular and my favorite. For girls (or guys) who likes sweeter drinks I'd recommend the Romeo or Juliet. I forgot what the husbands got (Whiskey, Rum?) but it was very strong.
(4)Jessica H.
We were guests at The Commons so decided to treat ourselves to breakfast. My husband played it safe with eggs and bacon and I overhead a waitress mention some amazing French toast that wasn't on the menu. One order right here! I also added some of the Applewood bacon. The french toast was very good. At first. Maybe because I was starving and you know when you're starving the first bite is always amazing. But after a few bites (ok, probably after two pieces) I started to slow down and get to know the food. It's good, don't get me wrong, but a half order would have been better. Why? It's so rich! It's like eating cake for breakfast. The whole entree comes with figs or something or other but I opted for just the toast, which included some toasted onion. Hmmm. I'm not so sure the burnt onion and super sweet syrup and cakey toast all really mesh. Well, for me they didn't (although it didn't stop me from polishing off the entire dish). Next time I'll go ahead and get it all together, maybe ask for a half order and even see if they can leave the onions out altogether (although Id like to give the chef a chance and see if it's just because I omitted the garnish) or put them on the side. A half order, with eggs and bacon and nonstop coffee...perfection! The service was also very good, although the waiter said he had yet to try the french toast because he's a college student and can't afford to eat there. Poor kid! I'd suggest the restaurant encourage and support some tastings so the staff know how to respond to guests properly. I want my waiter to gush about everything and give me good recommendations, not make me feel guilty for porking out on expensive food while he works for pennies. We also had the option of adding our meal to our room bill, which is very handy. Overall, good place, nice decor, convenient for guests, great hours (I think 24 hours but don't quote me on that), great service and food.
(4)Meng Y.
I wanted to like this place. Very nice ambiance. Slow service when not busy. Got my order wrong, my friends order wrong, and forgot my other friends meal. We finished eating and he finally got his Fish N Chips. Great beer selection though. Go to Applesbees next door for better food and service and waay cheaper too.
(2)Lori R.
We really enjoyed this place in The Commons Hotel (loved the hotel as well). I can't imagine anyone going to Applebees (which is connected to the hotel) when you have this one-of-a-kind gem! Drinks in the bar...nice! Breakfast...awesome! We were seated in a very comfy booth and had an excellent Server. I can never eat a full order of eggs benedict, so I was thrilled when they told me I could get a half order, even happier when they said I could have spinach added, and extra happy with hashbrowns instead of country potatoes. Husband is not the biggest breakfast-lover, but he sure loved his perfectly cooked scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and hashbrowns. Nice coffee for him and nice tea for me, and we were happy folks!
(4)John W.
Good food, good service. Has a pool table. Great cocktails. I like this place for sure.
(4)