112 Eatery

Should You Book 112 Eatery?

If you've been to 112 Eatery once, you already know the answer. Come back. Chef Isaac Becker's North Loop restaurant has held its position as one of Minneapolis's most consistent dinner destinations long enough that the real question on a return visit isn't whether it delivers — it's how to use the room better. The short answer: sit at the bar or counter if you can. The longer answer follows.

112 Eatery earned a spot on Opinionated About Dining's North America Gourmet Casual list at #177 (2023) and a separate OAD Casual recommendation the same year — two distinct recognitions that tell you something useful. This isn't a tasting-menu temple or a special-occasion room requiring weeks of planning. It's a serious kitchen operating in a format built for regulars: mid-week dinners, solo meals, and the kind of second-visit confidence that comes from knowing what you're ordering before you sit down. Google reviewers back this up with a 4.7 rating across 1,432 reviews , a sample size that rules out outlier luck.

The Counter Is the Point

The bar and counter seating at 112 Eatery changes the experience in a way worth planning around. Chef Paul Stearman , who serves as both wine director and culinary lead , oversees a room where proximity to the kitchen translates into a more direct version of the meal. Counter seats are better for solo diners and pairs who want to eat with intention rather than perform occasion dining. If you came last time with a group and sat at a table, consider coming back as a two-leading and requesting counter or bar placement. The rhythm of the meal changes; so does your relationship with the food.

The wine program, directed by Paul Stearman, is worth using seriously. The list skews French with a pricing structure that keeps most bottles under $50, with corkage at $25 if you bring your own. Around 200 selections across 450 bottles of inventory gives you genuine range without requiring sommelier-level navigation. For a restaurant operating at the $$ price tier (roughly $40–$65 for a typical two-course meal before drinks and tip), that wine depth is notably good value.

When to Go

112 Eatery is closed Sundays and Mondays. Tuesday through Thursday service runs until 9 pm; Friday and Saturday extend to 10 pm. Booking is generally easy , this is not a room requiring three weeks of lead time. That said, Friday and Saturday counter seats fill faster than tables, so if bar seating is your target, book those evenings a week ahead. Weeknights are more flexible. The kitchen serves lunch as well as dinner, which opens up a lower-commitment entry point for first-timers hesitant about the dinner price tier.

Who This Is For

112 Eatery works well for a specific set of diner profiles: solo diners who want a proper meal without the awkwardness of a formal room; pairs looking for a genuinely good mid-price dinner on a Tuesday or Wednesday; and regulars who've already done the table experience and want the counter version. It's less suited to large groups expecting a splashy celebratory format, though small parties of three or four will find the food-to-price ratio hard to argue with.

For broader context on where 112 Eatery sits in Minneapolis's dining picture, compare it against Owamni for a more destination-driven experience, or Spoon & Stable if you want New American at a higher spend. For Italian cooking in a global context, the gap between what 112 offers and what you'd encounter at something like 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana in Hong Kong or cenci in Kyoto is large , but so is the price difference. Within the Minneapolis market and the $$ tier, 112 Eatery performs well above its price point. See our full Minneapolis restaurants guide for more options across the city.

Ratings at a Glance

• Google Rating: 4.7 (1,432 reviews)
• OAD Gourmet Casual North America: #177 (2023)
• OAD Casual North America: Recommended (2023)
• Price Tier (food): $$ (~$40–$65, two courses)
• Wine: $ (many bottles under $50; 200 selections, 450 inventory)
• Corkage: $25

Booking & Practical

Reservations are easy to secure, particularly on weeknights. For counter or bar seats on a Friday or Saturday, book five to seven days ahead. Service runs Tuesday through Saturday; the kitchen is dark Sunday and Monday. Address: 112 N 3rd St, Minneapolis, MN 55401. For hotels nearby, see our Minneapolis hotels guide. For bars to continue the evening, our Minneapolis bars guide covers the North Loop and beyond.

How It Compares

FAQ

• Is 112 Eatery good for solo dining? Yes , it's one of the better solo dining options in Minneapolis. The counter and bar seats are well-suited to single diners, and at the $$ price tier (~$40–$65 for two courses), it's an accessible spend for a proper sit-down meal. Compare this to a solo dinner at Spoon & Stable, which trends pricier and has a more formal room feel.
• Is lunch or dinner better at 112 Eatery? Dinner is the core experience, particularly Tuesday through Saturday when the full kitchen is in motion. Lunch works if you want a lower-cost entry point , the $$ tier applies at dinner, so lunch typically runs lighter on the wallet. If a first visit, dinner gives you the full measure of what the kitchen does.
• Does 112 Eatery handle dietary restrictions? Specific dietary accommodation details aren't confirmed in our data. Contact the restaurant directly before booking if you have specific requirements. The cuisine is listed as Italian with French wine strengths , a kitchen rooted in these traditions typically offers flexibility, but verify rather than assume.
• What should a first-timer know about 112 Eatery? Two OAD recognitions in 2023 and a 4.7 Google score across 1,400+ reviews signal genuine consistency. Budget $40–$65 per person for food before drinks. The wine list is French-leaning with many bottles under $50 , worth using rather than ignoring. Booking is easy; no need for weeks of planning. If Italian cooking in a casual-but-serious format is your thing, this delivers. For broader Minneapolis context, see our full restaurants guide.
• What are alternatives to 112 Eatery in Minneapolis? For a higher-end New American experience, Spoon & Stable is the clearest step up in formality and price. For something more casual and neighbourhood-driven, Hai Hai offers a James Beard-nominated creative menu at a comparable price point. Owamni is worth booking if you want an experience specific to the Twin Cities. For a quick, lower-spend dinner, Punch Neapolitan Pizza is a reliable fallback.
• Is 112 Eatery good for a special occasion? It works for a low-key special occasion , an anniversary dinner or birthday where the priority is good food over ceremony. The OAD recognitions give it genuine credibility, and the $$ price tier keeps it accessible. If you need a room that reads as a formal celebration, Spoon & Stable or Manny's Steakhouse will land that note more reliably. For something between the two, Lobby Bar at the Peninsula is worth considering.

Pearl Picks Nearby

• Owamni , Indigenous American, destination-level
• Spoon & Stable , New American, step up in formality
• Hai Hai , James Beard-nominated, creative Southeast Asian
• 5-8 Club , Minneapolis casual classic
• 4801 S Minnehaha Dr , south Minneapolis option
• Minneapolis experiences guide , what else to do while you're in the city