The Sample Room

We looked up best lunch spots near downtown Minneapolis and boom! We found this fantastic little place! We both had half sandwich and soup combo, finished off by sharing warm apple crisp with maple ice cream. Not anything wrong with that!! Highly recommend!

Sample room was an excellent spot when I first visited it 20 years ago, and their quality has only maintained or improved. This quaint and cute little spot right on the river is almost hidden, but it is an oasis of delicious food and one of the few charcuterie places that you can find in Minnesota. Still, all that history doesn't mean they aren't rebels. Their flagship image of Frank Sinatra being arrested is a perfect icon for how they approach their food: it's delicious but also rule- breaking, fun, intimate and friendly. 10/5 stars, one of my favorite spots in town.

Our Server was a breath of fresh air! 🧚🏻Her suggestions were greatly appreciated. The ravioli and apple crisp kept one of us quiet the entire meal. He loved it! The steak was melt in your mouth delicious.. with the cab. The flatbread tasted great but the bottom was over done. I’ll get it again but ask for it to be less burned🤭. The mash drinks were good!!

Have been meaning to come here for a long time and showed up without a reservation before 6pm on a Friday but we were promptly seated. Didn't want to risk getting bug bites outside so we opted for 2 bar seats. Brussel sprouts were called out as one of their most popular starters. They were a little burned for me because they're deep fried but the glaze was really good. We both enjoyed our entrees and the portions were huge. I definitely recommend the burger as it was not a messy experience and the beef was super flavorful because it's ground on site. We will definitely be back!

All in all a great place to stop in, grab a drink and a bite to eat. Had their last word and it was delicious as was the burger. If anything, I'd say the only major downside is that seating can be pretty variable. There are some days you can just stop in and other days where the place is booked out so it may not always be a great place to drop in on a whim. Parking is also fairly limited but the restaurant itself is kinda small so if parking is full the restaurant probably is as well.

I love everything about The Sample Room! It is the place I go for every occasion - for a night with friends, a date, brunch with family, the list goes on! The staff are absolutely amazing! Every single employee is kind, caring, and fun! Such great storytellers too. I love the creativity of the menu and all of the flavor possibilities you can experience from brunch to dinner. Thanks Richard, Rachel, Chef, and everyone else! Best slooooow cooked Reuben ever!! 😁

We've (not the royal "we" - my wife and myself) been coming here every now and again for years. The room is always so warm, vibrant, and the food is absolutely great. Great house cocktails, I've tried a few, and a good beer selection and wine. We've brought friend couples here too, and out-of-town visitors. Not saying we're Norm from Cheers-level regulars but we do know this place pretty well. Anyway, last night, the bartender was such a nice person and we really appreciated the experience and so I wanted to leave a nice review. Oh, they always have awesome vintage TV shows on too (last night was The Twilight Zone, one of our favorites). The Sample Room is perfect for date night - even if the "date" is with the person to whom you've been married for a decade-plus. Or just to stop by at! I hope maybe somebody might read this and think to stop in that otherwise might not have.