Acadia Cafe

Bar, Eatery

329 Cedar Ave S
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55454-1030
United States

(612) 874-8702 | map
acadiacafe.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.11
Reviews:
36
Ratings:
48
pDev:
9.25%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Fluffheady:
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Reviewed by Fluffheady from Illinois

4.07/5  rDev -1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4
For me, this place has the *it* factor. They had many cool and one-off things on tap I hadn’t seen on our beer travels of Minneapolis. It feels a bit more "coasty" than other places in the city. If a helicopter picked this place up and dropped it in Portland or San Fran, they would thrive.
Nov 25, 2013
More User Ratings:
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Reviewed by cratez from Canada (ON)

4.11/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
Visited on a recent work trip to Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

Tried the following:
Ale Asylum Hopalicious APA (draft)
Boom Island Kriek 2018 (draft)

Both beers were drinking well. Also ordered the braised pork tacos with coleslaw, pickled onion & cilantro-lime mayo; they were quite tasty. Liked the music they were playing and the casual pub atmosphere. Service was friendly as I had nice chat with the bartender for a bit. My overall experience was solid, and I would probably come back.
Apr 10, 2020
 
Rated: 4.26 by REVZEB from Illinois

May 15, 2019
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Reviewed by Taybeh from Minnesota

3.96/5  rDev -3.6%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 3.75 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25 | food: 3.5
Kind of frayed at the edges place near the U. Cozy and it has a lot of character. Fun place to go hear some local music and always some good stuff on tap, though nothing too adventurous, and a lesser sibling to Republic, Nomad, and Town Hall. Friendly bartenders if you're there when it isn't busy, and happy to pour samples and talk beer. Food is only okay.
May 21, 2016
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Reviewed by garymuchow from Minnesota

4/5  rDev -2.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4
I haven't been there recently, but I like to go here when I'm in the area. Always a good tap list, often with a very hard to find beer or two. Servers that seem to know and appreciate beer. I like the food selection and pricing is good. Quite casual and mix of folks.
Dec 21, 2015
 
Rated: 4.46 by Josholson666 from Minnesota

Dec 09, 2015
 
Rated: 4.04 by Briancaldel from Minnesota

Mar 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by XmnwildX12 from Minnesota

Feb 26, 2015
 
Rated: 4.46 by lonewolfcry from Minnesota

Dec 21, 2014
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Reviewed by Jackofallbrews from Minnesota

3/5  rDev -27%
I liked the look of the outside, with colorful hops painted across the sign, indicating a potentially good beer destination. Inside, the place looks like a cross between an old English pub and a shady University dive bar. Tin tackers from local and distant craft breweries vie for attention with old British Isles bar decorations on the walls. A beautiful, stained glass and mirrored English style section of the bar hosts a dual beer engine for cask beers.

The stained and sticky beer list was impressive, featuring many local brews by Indeed, Schells, Surly, and many more. Plenty of craft beers from across the country were present as well, such as Tallgrass, Odell, Lagunitas, and Founders. They had a bunch of somewhat expensive Belgian ales, and my wife ordered a Liefman's Goudenband that I've never seen on tap anywhere! I ordered a cask Indeed Day Tripper to take advantage of that wonderful looking beer engine. I was less than impressed with my pour: too much head and a dirty glass. I expect cask beers to be cloudy potentially so I wasn't bothered by that part of it. The next beer I ordered also had streaking inside the glass indicating poor cleaning from the previous user.

We ordered food from the bar, taking a tap handle mounted on a heavy base as our order indicator back to the table. I went safe and got fish & chips, the wife got a quesadilla. The food was decent, but very typical of "bar food". The fish and fries were tasty, but an unhealthy portion of grease glistened everywhere, including all over the paper lining the basket it came in. Not haute cuisine, but it would do in a pinch.


The place hosts live music frequently on their small stage, as well as Nintendo Night, and some beer events like Beer & Beast. We were there in the early evening and didn't catch any special events so I can't speak to those.


Overall, I think this place was interesting, but not high on my list for food or beer. I was happy with the beer list, but felt that the unclean glassware and iffy pouring did not do it justice. I got the impression that this was just a college bar trying to differentiate itself from the other local bars by catering to the craft beer drinking crowd. This is only one man's opinion from one visit, so don't hunt me down with pitchforks and torches if Acadia is your favorite local! Given how close it is to Town Hall and Republic, I would much rather head to either of those locales for a pint and dinner.
Aug 25, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by KTMinnesota from Minnesota

Jul 11, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by mothman from Minnesota

Jun 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Powderhornphil from Minnesota

Jun 11, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by treznor from North Carolina

May 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by mmulebarn from Minnesota

May 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Philby11111 from New York

May 06, 2014
Photo of zeff80
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

4.09/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4
This is a cool looking place not far from Town Hall Brewing. It has a pretty extensive craft beer list, including offering flights.They have plenty Minnesota craft beer options, plus very good food.
Jan 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by TubbyDullard from Minnesota

Nov 12, 2013
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Reviewed by jera1350 from Minnesota

3.94/5  rDev -4.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Made the short walk down from Town Hall to finally check this place out. A bit small, but not tiny. Cool beer decor and lots of windows to make the place feel open. Could probably use a fresh coat of paint and certainly needs some dusting of the ceiling fans and the fabric above the duct work. Looks like they haven't been cleaned in years. Cool looking bar and tap tower. Wide selection of beers covering many styles. Locals as well as american and belgian craft beers. You're certain to find something of interest on the beer menu. We settled for the Black Butte XXIV. Friendly service and the prices were on par for the area. Wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to go here again unless something of interest was on tap, but wouldn't be disappointed to visit here again either. Solid place.
Sep 09, 2012
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Reviewed by John_M from Washington

4/5  rDev -2.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5
Stopped by the other day before heading out of town following a brief stay in the twin cities.

Acadia cafe is a smallish cafe that looks more like a cozy coffee shop and restaurant than a beer bar. The place has a very low key and relaxed atmosphere and vibe, and seems like a great place to hang and shoot the breeze with a beer or three.

On this particular day I think they had around 24 beers on tap (and one cider), broken down into 4 different price points. There was also something like 25 or 30 bottled beers listed on the back of the draft menu. Undertandably, prices for some of the barrel aged beers and imperial stouts were on the high side, though I confess I still thought a 12 ounce glass of backwords bastard and Leine RIS for $8 a bit excessive. Otherwise, the pint of knot stock and 100 yard dash fresh hop were both in the $5 or $6 a glass range. The selection was pretty good here I thought, and it seemed to me that there was a real committment to serving predominantly local/regional beers here (something I always like to see).

Service was OK. The young folks working here were pleasant enough, though this is yet another place were you go up to the bar for a glass of beer (no table service for beer). On the other hand, they were happy to pour a sample of bender and backwoods bastard for my friend without any charge.

Didn't try the food, though from what I could tell, it appeared the emphasis was on basic pub grub.

This was a solid enough place, though for some reason I never really warmed to it. Given the other excellent options around this area (close by to the U of M), not sure how often I'd return to Acadia cafe.
Nov 27, 2010
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Reviewed by drabmuh from Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -8.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 4
This a nice little cafe down town near the university. When we were there there was some live music, a couple of guys with a guitars. Don't really like folk music with my beer but they were unoffensive and finished quickly.

This place is a long and skinny bar with satellite tables. Its woodsy inside and pretty low key overall. You order your food at the bar and they give you a tap handle that signifies who you are in the order queue. The wood comes out to you. You order the beer at the bar, and get your own water at the bar. Its close to a self serve place but that's OK.

The beer was pretty good, featured a lot of regional stuff from MN and WI, mostly MN. Its always nice to get local beer at a local restaurant. Very fun.

My wife and I ordered cheese curds (of which I'm not a huge fan but she is) and a couple of burgers. My burger was GREAT! Her burger (black bean) was pretty good, and the cheese curds were horrible, even by my wife's account. They were burned, over fried and really chewy. We ate a total of maybe 5 of them before giving up. This is where the service suffers. We clearly had a problem with them but the only time someone came ot the table was to deliver the food initially. No follow up, no clear mechanism to complain about the sub-par food we were served.

I would definitely go back but steer clear of anything fried. Maybe our batch got burned...maybe if I had ordered them a few minutes earlier or later or on a different night things would have been different.

Bottom line, lots of beer (local and imports), pretty good food. Do not eat the curds.
Jun 25, 2010
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Reviewed by drpimento from Wisconsin

4.3/5  rDev +4.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4
Nice place. It has a stamped tin ceiling, friendly, knowledgable, helpful staff. Wood bar, terrazo floor, 24 taps with one root beer. Lots of Belgians, micros, and regional beers. Food and brewerian art. Spiral ceiling ductwork. No matched glassware. Food is available, but we didn't try it. Only there for a Surly draft. Has a full service bar with whiskey, wine, licquer, other liquors. Nice windows, a little stage with occassional live music.Located on the corner near another good beer bar, the Nomad.
Mar 25, 2010
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Reviewed by slander from New York

4.16/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
We had bi'ness at Town Hall, not really anything you need to be concerned with. And as that has been completed, we are now setting out. It always looks closer on the map from to to but it is an 8 x 12 piece of paper after all. This, even with the crossing over the highway, was just a bit of a walk, nothing severe though. Easy breezy even...

Corner place, angled triangular but not shitty and tight like the Brazenhead. An "order here" bar front and center where you don't really, unless you want food which I don't. Past there angled and angled again, an 8 seat bar where it counts (in front of the taps). Big windows with brewery neons down one side over some random street we didn't come in on, and red painted walls otherwise. Brewery signage and mirrors, some cool local art on the back wall for sale (some of it is of the not suck), and vertical tap & bottle boards to the rear. 4 small tables up front, a pair of hightops, 4 booths along the windows, 10 tables out over the floor, and a single booth in the back corner housing Witzel & I; all of them candlelit by which I scribe. Elementary school 4x4 tilings, crown moldings skirting the ceiling, duct work, drop lamps with spinnin' fans, some serious bell lampage tracing above the bar and some spots a-stagey. Old time clock theme action, just like the last place.

Was quiet and comfortable amongst the hipster folks before the band that's been dickin' around in the far back corner finally began to actually play. After that last song there, the singer told us that his favorite line in it was "Smoke a lot of hash and do a little cocaine", and I'm thinking "That's crap, when you smoke a lot of hash, you can't do cocaine", and now I'm sort of offended by his use of hash in attempting to make his song cool. I should write a letter to someone or something. And now the 3 piece on stage is down to a single guy playing. He's not bad. I have to admit that I wish I could perform for, you know, people.

So, here's something. The tap list is carved out by price & glass size. Really? Not by country and/or state but by price? Must be catering to the college kids who can only play the $4 pints unless they're flush on the heels of mom & dad visiting and can really treat themselves to something in the $5 or $6 pint categories (Oh hell, it's only once a year, you can live a little). If you can keep your GPA over a 3.0, we can talk about them $8 Belgian glasses, kid.

28 taps on a long long row. 1/4 of them Minnesota beers (Flat Earth Element 115 California Common & Belgian Pale Ale, Summit Horizon Red Ale, Brau Brothers Pale Ale, Surly Bender Brown Ale & Furious IPA, Lift Bridge Cross Cut Pale Ale), another 1/4 mid westerners (Rush River The Unforgiven Amber Ale, Tyranena Scurvy, New Belgium Mothership Wit, Goose Island Fleur, Boulevard Tank 7 Saison), another 1/4 micros from beyond (Sierra Nevada Anniversary, Eel River Organic Salient De Scotia Belgian Brune, Rogue Dead Guy, Chocolate Stout & Somer Orange Honey Ale), and not (lovely Shiner Bock and Hardcore Hard Apple Cider), and another 1/4 of them mostly blah blah imports (Young's Double Chocolate Stout, Beamish, Spaten Octoberfest, Boddingtons, Delirium Tremens, Petrus Old Brune, St B Wit, Maredsous 8).

I had the Flat Earth Element 115 California Common, quite tasty, and the Boulevard Tank 7 Saison, also very nice. Witzel had the Brau Bros Pale Ale, which was not very good, and Surly Furious IPA, hoppy, hoppy. I'd swear he was saying the thing was like a barleywine but I could be, am, crazy.

40+ bottles, too, 1/3 of them Midwesternish (New Belgian, Tyranena, Bells, BluCreek, Steamworks, Furthermore, Rush River, 2 Brothers, Lakefront, Brau Brothers, Point), another 1/3 a selection of imports (some of them good and some of them good and pricey), and the remainder a mix of micro, retro, N/A, Gluten Free and Organic.

Yes, they do food, salads, sandwiches, burgers, apps, soups, etc. if you're into that kind of thing, you know, eating. Vibewise, it's a comfortable crib, with a pretty decent crowd of inked dirty kid types in a good way. Roughly 3/4 of the taps are micros with an emphasis on the Midwest, definitely a nice selection, and the beer seemed fresh, no issues there. Coulda woulda done a 3rd beer here but there's more to see yet...
Dec 16, 2009
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Reviewed by Ragingbull from California

4.29/5  rDev +4.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
This was stop 3 of the Cedar Avenue pub excursion. This was definitely the highlight. The atmosphere was actually less noteworthy than both the Triple Rock and the Nomad. The Acadia is a little more sterile or lacking in character in my opinion. What it lacks in atmosphere it certainly makes up for in service, selection and overall quality.

The quality of the beers was very good. They had quite a few craft beers to choose from.

The service was excellent as there were two servers and they were able to tell us first hand about virtually every beer on tap. One was more well versed than the other, but you could tell that both loved beer. They didn't just know the beers but were also familiar with the brewers.

Selection was the best of the three bars on Cedar Avenue. They had a much more extensive tap lineup. I was very well pleased as there were many beers I hadn't tried and I was disappointed I had to move on to the next location which was going to be a wine bar. Great place and I will be going back.
Dec 10, 2009
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Reviewed by Ek0nomik from Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev -1.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I know it's been awhile, but I've been here twice in the last year so I think I'm still eligible to make a review.

I stopped here for the first time when Hop Slam was first being released. I showed up with some friends at around 8 or 9, but they had already run out. The bartender asked if I'd like to try a sample of something else. Sure, why not? I started browsing through the rest of their beer selection. I came across Southern Tier Unearthly IPA, which I hadn't had before. I had a sample of that. Damn. I need a glass of this.

I got my glass of Unearthy, and although it was outrageously priced ($9 for a glass), it was damn good. It was my first Southern Tier experience, but a good one. I saved myself some cash though and picked up the bombers at the liquor store instead of drinking it at a bar.

I went here a few months later and tried a different beer, I don't recall what, but I think it was good. I also grabbed a burger and fries there, both of which were pretty tasty.

Unfortunately both times I came here it was just loud as hell. There is unfortunately not a bad seat in the house for hearing the music. If Acadia Cafe had a lax version across the street, that's where I'd be.
Nov 03, 2009
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Reviewed by BuckeyeOne from Washington

2.68/5  rDev -34.8%
vibe: 1 | quality: 2 | service: 2 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3.5
I stopped in this place on my first visit to Minneapolis. Did a quick search of good bars before I arrived and picked this place from my search. I was not disappointed. The sign in the window read, "22 Beers on Tap, No Crap."

I was there on a Sunday night and it was low-key. They did have a band that started an hour or so after I arrived and they were pretty awful, but not so awful as to take away from my enjoyment of the beer.

The beer selection was great and the bartenders were very knowledgeable. I got my food right away and the service staff frequently checked in to see if my food was OK and whether I needed more beer.

I will frequent this place whenever I have the opportunity to do so.

NOTE: I'm reviewing my review. I've stopped here now three times since my original review and haven't had a beer in this place since my original review. Here's the problem: Each time I've looked to stop here there's been some awful 20-something garage band playing so loudly that I couldn't even think about drinking beer. I tried, though, to peruse the taplist and order on a couple of occasions. The bartenders seemed more interested in their own conversations (or belly buttons) than me, as the customer. I don't think I'll be returning.
Aug 04, 2009
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Reviewed by mymrnngjckt from Pennsylvania

3.59/5  rDev -12.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5
Another stop on my visit to Minneapolis. Look up hispter bar in the dictionary and there should be a picture of this place. A real college hang-out if ever one existed. The beer selection was very good with a nice variety of local and regional craft with a few imports thrown in for good measure. I didn't try the food but the ordering process to acquire food looked confusing. I thought the place was on average for pricing compared to the other places I stopped in Minneapolis. They offer live music and do not allow the acts playing to perfomr and cover songs. In fact, they display that prominantly across the television screens. A unique place to say the least.
May 17, 2009
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Reviewed by natasharai from Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev -1.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Went here for a mid-afternoon snack and beer with my boyfriend. They had about 20 different taps including a good amount of Surly. The ordering situation is a bit awkward since you just go up to the register to order your food and drinks. Once you get used to it, its fine. Had some good chips and salsa, which hit the spot. It looks like the sometimes have bands in there which looks like it would be a great time. This is a place to go for lunch or just to hang out during the day as expected since it is a cafe. I believe the beers are all served in the proper glassware which adds to the quality of this cafe.

Nice place to go with a few friends to grab a bit to eat and a beer or two.
Apr 07, 2009
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Reviewed by Greggy from Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev +4.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Groggy, with maybe a hint of hangover, we hit the streets from our hotel next to townhall. In search of breakfast, we walked the streets until I happened to look up and see "Acadia Cafe." A hell of a stumble, I'd say. We walked inside and the place was empty but a few guys were working. Our bartender was very polite and kind and took our beer orders (at 930am). I ordered a saison dupont which unfortunately cost $8/chalice. Glad I only grabbed one! The food on the other hand was pretty affordable. I had bacon, eggs and toast for something like 7 bucks. On the beer end of things, I counted 28 taps to the best of my memory. Of those taps, there was probably a good 5 that I haven't seen many other places in the cities. After a bit, some music kicked in and boosted up the ambiance a bit. I think I'll definitely head back here sometime but at night to see how it handles a crowd.
Jan 12, 2009
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Reviewed by opwog from Minnesota

4.86/5  rDev +18.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5
This was an exceptional stop for me, while visiting the Minneapolis area. Some friends initially stopped down the street and I made a solo trip down to check this out, as fellow BA'ers had listed this as a must stop. I was very glad that they did and my friends caught up later and wished that they had just come with me. The staff was really laid back and incredibly friendly and knowledgable. This is the type of place where I could twist away an bitterly cold afternoon. They just need to fix the lock on the restroom ;-)
Dec 12, 2008
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Reviewed by mynie from Maryland

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 5 | food: 3.5
EDIT:
Taking the "service" section down a tick. I came in recently with a state-issued temporary ID. It's printed on paper, but since I'm 29 and haggard most places accept it. If a place doesn't because they got strict ID policies, that's fine, I understand, you can't be too careful with Johnny Law always breathing down your neck.

But when I showed it at this place, the guy behind the counter got all aggressive and started asking if I was a cop. Fucking seriously. It's okay if you can't serve me, but it's really uncool to accuse me of being law enforcement.

--
Close your eyes. Imagine the Map Room if the Map Room wasn't always filled with assholes. Sounds nice, eh?

Never in a thousand years would I have stopped here if I hadn't seen a sign reading "28 Taps... No Crap on Tap." That's neat, right there. Shows commitment. Because, I mean how much does it suck when someone you know goes on and on about the large and awesome tap selection at such and such a shithole, and then when you get there all they got is like every Michelob variety and maybe Rolling Rock.

28 Taps. No crap, indeed. Nothing close to crap. Tons of One-Offs. It was too early to try and Big Eddys or Locker Stocks, however. Good thing it's never too early for Coffee Bender.

Aside from the massive and excellent tap selection, this place is like just about every other hippie cafe I've been to in Madison or Iowa City. Laid back employees, decent music, nice wooden smell. The menu was sparse but the food was pretty tasty. The prices were a little steep but nothing too outrageous. Nice little joint, overall.
Oct 27, 2008
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Reviewed by deliriumfest from Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
At a first glance, this is a just another cafe with live music on the weekends. But if you step inside, you find that beer is the real king here. With great hours, a magnificent tap and bottle selection, knowledgeable staff, and live music, this place is top 10 in my book.

My first experience here was before I had any knowledge of beer whatsoever. The bartender helped guide me through the lofty selection based on my description of a "good" beer. What resulted was a learning experience and five beers later a pretty good buzz. Now every time I come back, I never have to worry about what I'm going to have.

The food at Acadia is another plus. It can be best described as classic bar offerings with a few ethnic things here and there (along with vegetarian options as well). The house cut fries are exceptional and so is the hot turkey sandwich. The food is great anytime of the day from lunch to late night.

Finally the music on weekends and weeknights (during the winter) is a great option. From local singers/songwriters to random assortments of instruments and electronica, you are sure to find something to your taste. And be sure to get there before nine to avoid cover charges every time.

Overall one of the best places to find a great tap selection and knowledgeable staff in the twin cities area!
Oct 14, 2008
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Reviewed by morimech from Minnesota

4.22/5  rDev +2.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Stopped by for lunch and a couple of pints. Ordered the new Flat Earth Curly Tail and was served FE Belgian Pale Ale. I like that beer so I drank it anyway. There has to be something on tap to satisfy any beer lover. A large bottle selection is also available. The food menu is nothing spectacular but some interesting selections and the food was good but also nothing spectacular. Prices seem on par for the area if not a little cheaper.

The atmosphere is not as refined as the establishments a couple of blocks to the north but should not surprise anyone considering the neighborhood. Breakfast was recommended to me so if I find myself in the area in the morning I will be sure to stop back.
Aug 08, 2008
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Reviewed by beeeeeer from Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev -3.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
I stopped in to the Arcadia last night. First time visit to the new Arcadia, I did go to the old address a couple times in the past. Overall a descent place, nice selection of beer with local Surlys and Flat Earths. I had two beers Southern Tier UberSun and Tyranena "Devil Over A Barrel" Coffee Imperial Oatmeal Porter. I also stole some of my old lady's Rogue Black Brutal. All three were great served in a Duval glass. We also ordered a couple sandwiches which were pretty good as well. The atmosphere is very similar to the old Arcadia. This not a very clean place, lots of grease and grime on everything including the dirty hippies that fill the establishment. However, this is what one would expect for the west side neighborhood. The quality beer makes the café good. Next time I am seeing a show at the nearby Triple Rock or Cabooze, I will stop in again for some great beer.
Jun 13, 2008
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Reviewed by Deuane from Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +10.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
This is a review of the NEW Acadia Cafe.

Cool place with 28 taps....9 local taps with the rest of the stuff split between Mid-west and imported goodies. Plus, if the taps bore you...ha...they have 40+ bottles to entertain you

A very nice interior with a booth area along the windows and a handful of tables scattered about. A nice big performing stage graces the back wall. An adequate 12 seat bar is just to the right as you enter.

I had lunch there ordering a very nicely done Tuna Melt. Nothing crazy on the menu but it all seems to be done well.

My server, James, was a great young guy. He was not only interested in my travels but is an outdoors type so we had plenty to talk about concerning hiking, climbing, kayaking...etc. Plus, being a UofM Duluth alum, had great memories of Fitger's and Sir Ben's!

Best of all was my conversation with owners Jeff and Ted. What a pair of great guys! We chatted about beer...duh!...and the upcoming Surly tapping of Darkness. We really had a great chat...and best of all a special treat for me, did I have room in my check baggage for another bottle....SURE, I do! A bottle of 2007 Flat Earth Winter Warlock! WOW! Thanks guys!

So, if in Minneapolis do yourself a favor and go enjoy a few pints at Arcadia Cafe...I am sure you won't leave disappointed.
May 26, 2008
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Reviewed by LeonTrotsky from Minnesota

4.65/5  rDev +13.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Acadia Cafe is basically a coffee shop that happens to have 20 or so taps of excellent beer, a great place to go with friends or alone to read. The staff has always been very friendly and knowledgeable and they usually comment on whatever book I happen to be carrying. I have not tried a lot of their food, but their black bean burger is amazing, probably the best vegetarian burger I have had. Nothing beats a black bean burger and a pint of Furious

Acadia Cafe is one of my favorite places to get a beer, or should I say was...The old location was a couple blocks from my place but they have recently relocated to a distant part of the city, I will probably still go there on occasion but I'll need to find a new local drinkery.
Jan 05, 2008
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Reviewed by ianrca19 from Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +7.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I've driven by this place a thousand times, heard it was good, so I thought I'd stop in for a light dinner.

Acadia doesn't look like much from the outside; like a thousand other Minneapolis eateries you need to step inside to get a true feel for the place. It's got that funky Minneapolitan feel: asymmetric everything, properly pierced and tatooed staff, a mini concert venue through the door in the back, and enough vegan this and organic that to make you want to go green on the spot. It's a comfort for any Twin Cities guy or gal.

The gentleman behind the counter was incredibly friendly, helpfully and happily answering all our questions about the food even though there were 3 or 4 people in line behind us. He also seemed very knowledgable about the beers he was carrying. They had about 20 or so beers on tap, plus more by the bottle. My only beef is that they were out of my Bell's Two Hearted Ale! That's okay, though, because I was fortunate enough to experience a SurlyFest instead. The $5 tab for the beer was a bit steep for my liking, considering the rest of my wife's and my food cost about $14, but again, that SurlyFest was worth it.

We received our food after about a ten-minute wait, and it hit the spot. My Acadia club was perfect: fresh turkey, lettuce and tomato and lots of crispy, meaty bacon and the 9-grain bread it was served on could be a meal in itself. What wonderful, hearty, fresh-tasting bread! My wife's chicken bacon ranch appeared to be just as good- normally we'd be asking for a box, but she finished the whole thing. My sister-in-law had similar good things to say about her amazing-smelling veggie melt. The kettle chips served with the sandwiches were perfectly crispy and salty, and the crunchy fresh pickle was excellent as well.

I'd like to return for a cup of coffee sometime, and their breakfast menu looked great, too. I can't think of a better place to do lunch in Minneapolis. What a great find.
Oct 15, 2007
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Reviewed by Chaz from Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev -8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Back when this place opened I lived only a few blocks away, and their claim to fame was signature coffee drinks and a limited menu, but my how times have changed. In recent years the cafe's interior was given a significant facelift, and the exposed beams and brick more than compliment the contemporary look of the front counter, and the raised ceiling enhances the feeling of spaciousness in an otherwise cozy java joint. I’ve enjoyed their cold-press coffee on more than one occasion, and when it comes to for your java needs I’d heartily recommend them over the chains creeping into the neighborhood. The menu is hardly modest, seeing as how it offers both breakfast and lunch/dinner items, but neither is it too ambitious, with most items being well suited to the casual setting. The variety of soups, salads and sandwiches should more than accommodate both the neighborhood crowd and those from further a field (and on my next visit I visit I look forward to pairing a sandwich with a Rogue or two!) I’ve never attended a performance here but welcome the opportunity, as the room is roughly the size of the theater at the Bryant Lake Bowl thus ensuring an intimate event. And as with the BLB, there’s a great list of tap and bottled beer to choose from, and it’s this selection that makes Acadia far from ordinary in the sense of an “ordinary neighborhood coffee shop”. 24 taps here, and all but a couple of these pour some of the best craft and imported beers available in town*. Final verdict: with comfortably-cozy seating for several dozen patrons, a fairly full-featured menu, an extensive beer list, and a venue, the Acadia ranks at the top of the list of neighborhood cafe in the Twin Cities.

Note 1: when I heard they were putting in 24 tap lines I was worried they’d have a hard time selling-through them; I’m glad this proved not to be the case. Note 2: It’s great to see both of Rush River’s mainstays side by side with those of Surly Brewing.
May 03, 2007
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Reviewed by bucko from Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Even without the twenty-four taps of craft beer, Acadia Cafe is a great place. The coffee-fanatic in my family really loves their coffee and their breakfasts and sandwiches are top-notch. Everything seems to be very fresh and quite tasty. My favorite is probably the chipotle turkey. Fear not vegetarians... there are some options for you and at least one vegan sandwich. In addition to the food, coffee and beer, the place has a music hall attached. The acts seem to cover a wide gamut, from oddball to alt country. Lest we forget... Acadia Cafe has a great selection of beer, with 24 taps and no crap. Acadia is really good about having a variety of great Minnesota craft offerings on tap as well as other beers from around the US, England, Germany, Belgium, etc.
Feb 27, 2007
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I met FeloniousMonk here a couple of time during my visit, since it was only a short way from his apartment, plus there was a Laundromat along the way and it was becoming imperative in the heat that I did laundry.

It sat right on the corner of Franklin and Nicollet with the door at a slight angle to the corner. Upon entering, it became immediately apparent that this was an Internet café that understood beer. In the overhead, opposite the doorway, were three suspended blackboards. The first was “Breakfast, Appetizers, and Salads”; the second was “Hot and Cold Sandwiches”; and the third was “Beer on Tap” with this last one divided into three price categories.

Twenty-four (24) taps and NO crap! Instead, they offered all three Surlys (Bender, Furious, and Cynic); Victory Hop Devil and Prima Pils; a Summit seasonal; a Bell’s seasonal; and five Belgians. Nice! The eighteen (18) bottles ranged from Red Strip and PBR to Unibroue’s Trois Pistoles and Duvel.

Below the beer board was another board for “Drinks”, which listed coffees and teas. The counter was off to the right, lit from above by a plywood and industrial-style caged light contraption. The tiny kitchen was to the extreme right. They featured artwork for sale on the walls and the most striking was by Katrina K., who could be reached at 612.229.0760. I had a breakfast sandwich to go with my Surly Furious.
Jan 01, 2007
Acadia Cafe in Minneapolis, MN
Place rating: 4.11 out of 5 with 48 ratings