On the street level of the Hotel Ivy, this tasteful tribute to Italian cuisine (in particular the coastal fare of Campania) translates Mediterranean serenity to a Midwestern tongue.

Website: monellompls.com
Number of seats: 80
Average per-person check: $75
Popular dishes: Torchio with braised rabbit, crème fraîche and artichokes; sea bass with caviar and crème fraîche; grilled octopus with pine nuts, paprika and grilled cucumber.
What people come for: Progressive cocktail and wine list, meals for all dayparts
Address: 1115 2nd Ave S.
Phone Number: 612-353-6207

An interior view

Torchio pasta with braised rabbit, crème fraîche and artichokes

This all-American diner takes its name from an Edward Hopper painting but trades that famous artwork’s solitude and despair for a decidedly refined feel, giving an update to a timeless concept.

Website: nighthawksmpls.com
Number of seats: 70, plus 20 outside
Average per-person check: $25
Popular dishes: Nighthawks double smash burger with two 4-ounce hand-pressed patties, house-made potato bun, grilled onions, house-fermented pickles, American cheese and special sauce; French dip with 6-ounces of medium rare rib eye, beef fat mayonnaise and shallot jam on ciabatta; raw vegetable salad with cabbage, carrots, pea pods, radishes, daikon, mint, cilantro, basil, avocado, sesame, candied peanuts and spicy fish sauce vinaigrette.
What people come for: Birdy, a three-night-a-week pop-up restaurant in the test kitchen with a 13-course tasting menu
Address: 3753 Nicollet Ave. S.
Phone Number: 612-248-8111

Burger platter

Minnesoter dog

In the St. Paul neighborhood of Lowertown, this charming and homey eatery pays tribute to a French-eyed celebration of North American fare with a special interest in Montreal, New Orleans and the Gulf Coast of Mexico.

Website: saintdinette.com
Number of seats: 72
Average per-person check: $40
Popular dishes: Cheeseburger with Cheddar and house pickle; ricotta dumplings with summer squash, Calabrian chile and rosemary; duck tartare with celery, Ritz crackers and hot sauce; smoked trout with beets, potato, gribiche and rye.
What people come for: Bar program, grocery valet storage from nearby farmer’s market during brunch hours
Address: 261 E. 5th St.
Phone Number: 651-800-1415

Bagel plate

The sprawling new brewery for this craft beer enterprise features more than 20 taps and hearty fare that embraces more than just the basics.

Website: surlybrewing.com/destination-brewery/beer-hall-and-restaurant/
Number of seats: 250 indoors and 150 outdoors
Average per-person check: $24
Popular dishes: Farro salad with smoked salmon, avocado, soft-boiled egg, pepitas and lime vinaigrette; Surly Burger with American cheese, lettuce, onions, pickles and fancy sauce; Hog Frites with smoked pork, pepper Jack fondue and giardiniera.
What people come for: Brewery tours, outdoor patios, company store
Address: 520 Malcolm Ave. SE
Phone Number: 763-999-4040

An exterior view

Burger plate