Central N.E. Eat & Drink Opens Wednesday With a Dizzying Array of American Eats

The industrial-styled newcomer brings burgers, flatbreads, and a seven-hour happy hour to northeast Minneapolis

Northeast Minneapolis’s burgeoning arts district gets a colorful new neighborhood destination for affordable American classics and cocktails made with Minnesota spirits with the arrival of Central N.E. Eat & Drink on Wednesday, July 21.

Morrissey Hospitality, the local group behind The Bad Waitress, St. Paul Grill, and more, debuts its latest project inside a historic warehouse (700 Central Avenue) with lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch out of the gate.

Executive chef John Henkels’s menu opens with sharable starters like pickle-brined fried chicken skewers, flatbreads, truffle fries, and grilled oysters, followed by French onion soup, salads, three burger options, wraps, a BLT, and fried chicken sandwich. Mains like a whole trout dressed with chimichurri, fettuccini, bourbon-glazed pork chop, and scallops are all $21 and under — even high-brow wagyu, served with a mushroom demi-glace.

Central N.E. Eat & Drink [official]

It’s easy to eat and drink for cheap during the week, with $10 lunch deals (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) on omelets, avocado toast, and sandwich combos. A seven-hour weekday “social hour” kicks off at 11 a.m. with $3 rails and drafts and $5 wines. A desserts section includes peanut butter pie, warm chocolate chip cookies, and after-dinner pours of cognac and brandy.

The cocktail list shows lots of love for local spirits, like an “On the Spot” house tonic with Du Nord L’etoile vodka or Tattersall organic gin. Those celebrating special occasions can get a personalized bottle of wine on the house, with an airy private events space available for bookings.

Opening hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and until 10 p.m. on Friday. Starting at 9 a.m. on weekends, brunch features lots of egg dishes, omelets, Benedicts, and waffles. Closing time is 10 p.m. on Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays.

A spacious dog-friendly patio out front plans to host to a jazz brunch Sundays starting in August. Along with high-top tables near the bar, diners can saddle up to soft pink booths overlooking the street or snag a front row seat of the open kitchen.

Central N.E. Eat & Drink [official]

Central N.E. Eat & Drink [official]