When Plans Change (But That's Okay!)

So here's the thing; we had this whole elaborate plan to take Ernie on his very first patio adventure. But Friday night had other plans. Everywhere we wanted to go was absolutely packed and way too loud for our little guy's debut. Rather than stress out our two-pound buddy, we decided to save his grand patio entrance for another day and headed somewhere close to home: 8th Street Grill.

Not Quite Our First Visit to 8th Street Grill

We'd been to 8th Street Grill before for quick drinks and an appetizer, but this was our first time really diving into their dinner menu. And honestly? We should have done this sooner.

On our first visit here, we tried their Cedar Plank Salmon and were genuinely impressed. The quality was top-notch, and that brown sugar glaze brought out this amazing sweet flavor that had us yearning for more. So we were definitely excited to see what else they could do.

What We Ordered (And What You Should Skip)

The Appetizer Situation

We started with drinks and their nachos appetizer with chicken. Here's our honest take; if you're going the appetizer route, skip the nachos and go straight for that Cedar Plank Salmon we mentioned.

Nachos with Chicken

The nachos were... fine. The chicken was pretty good and came shredded, but we found ourselves with a pile of naked chips at the end because the cheese and toppings didn't quite make it to every corner. Not terrible, but definitely not memorable.

The Entrees (Where They Really Shine)

Max's Pick: Cajun Salmon

Cajun Salmon with Hollandaise Sauce

Once again, the salmon quality was incredible. The hollandaise sauce was the perfect touch – rich but not overwhelming. The Cajun seasoning brought great flavor without being too spicy, so if you can handle a little spice you'll be fine with this. The veggies and rice were solid sides, and the portion size felt just right for the price. Overall winner.

Cindy's Pick: Cobb Salad

Loaded Cobb Salad - A Winner

This is Cindy's go-to order pretty much everywhere, so she knows what she's talking about when it comes to Cobb salads. She loved how loaded this one was – plenty of toppings, flavorful chicken, and just the right amount of egg, avocado, and blue cheese dressing. No sad, sparse salad situation here.

Happy Hour Deals We Totally Missed (But You Shouldn't!)

Okay, so we have to mention this because we're kicking ourselves – we completely missed their happy hour! We rolled up at 7 pm on Friday, which meant we just missed the 3-7 pm weekday happy hour window. But here's what we found out about their deals that honestly make us want to go back ASAP:

Great Happy Hour Deals We Missed

Happy Hour Times:

• Monday-Friday: 3-7 pm
• All day Saturday and Sunday (yes, really!)

The Deals:

• $2 off all appetizers (hello, cheaper Cedar Plank Salmon!)
• $1 off all beers
• $6 wines
• $6.25 call drinks
• $5 rail drinks
• Pryes taps for $4
• Pryes pitchers for $14

That all-day weekend happy hour situation is pretty sweet, especially if you're planning a lazy Saturday or Sunday hangout. Just keep in mind these prices are from our May 2025 visit, so definitely check their website to confirm current deals before you go.

The Vibe and Service

We showed up on a Friday around 7 pm and snagged a bar-top table without any wait. They had the doors open right next to where we were sitting, so we got that fresh air feeling without actually being outside (perfect for our Ernie-less evening).

The service was impressively fast – nachos in about 5 minutes, entrees about 10 minutes after that. That timing was actually perfect because we're the type of people who want to actually finish our appetizer before the main course arrives.

Oh, and here's a bonus: they have free popcorn! It's one of those small touches that just makes you feel good about hanging out with a drink while you wait.

The Bottom Line

8th Street Grill is exactly what you want in a neighborhood spot – consistent, welcoming, and with enough menu variety that everyone in your group will find something they can get down with. The salmon dishes are definitely the standouts, the service is quick without feeling rushed, and the outdoor seating situation is perfect for when the weather cooperates.

The only thing holding it back from a perfect score? Those nachos could use some serious help in the topping distribution department.

Perfect For:

• Date nights when you want good food without the fuss
• Groups with a variety of preferences
• Anyone craving quality salmon in Minneapolis
• Outdoor dining
• Happy hour