CrowBar Pop-Up Bar | Saint Paul, MN

CrowBar Saint Paul Minnesota Review Hipster Hack
Standard

I’ve had a couple friends tell me I needed to get to the CrowBar pop-up bar in the old Hamm’s Brewery and after looking into it I couldn’t agree more.

The CrowBar is a cocktail lounge by Voliere Spirits, the first all-women owned whiskey distillery in Minnesota. Read below for more.

Continue reading

Twin Cities Top 5 Espresso Martinis | 2026 List

Top 5 Espresso Martinis Twin Cities Minnesota Hipster Hack
Standard

Espresso martinis are my love language, my favorite little girl’s night treat, and usually the way husband can determine solely by looking at a menu if it’s a restaurant I will enjoy haha.

A couple years ago I shared some of my favorite martinis in the Twin Cities, and while a couple on the list are still accurate, I thought I’d do a 2026 update.

Continue reading

Inver Grove Brewing Co | Inver Grove Heights, MN

Inver Grove Brewing Co Inver Grove Heights Minnesota Hipster Hack Review
Standard

We had some friends staying in town who requested a brewery for drinks and dinner and I knew just the place: Inver Grove Brewing Co. Since moving to South St. Paul last fall I’ve only heard great things so I was excited to finally get over there to try it!

Full disclosure I totally forgot to take any photos other than my food and drinks, because we were too busy talking and laughing so the below will be a little short, but the vibe inside is really nice and they also have a patio!

Continue reading

Feast Buffet & Banquet | Woodbury, MN

Feast Buffet Woodbury Minnesota Hipster Hack Food Review
Standard

Husband has been wanting to try out Feast Buffet & Banquet in Woodbury ever since we saw signage that it was coming almost a year ago. While we moved to South St. Paul last fall before Feast officially opened, we used to live down the street and were excited to see something different coming to that space, a space that has seen quite a bit of restaurant turnover through the years.

Full disclosure, it took some convincing for me to go.

  1. I don’t particularly like buffets, because my eating style just isn’t exactly conducive. I get full pretty quick, but then can have a snack a few hours later, whereas at a buffet the goal is to eat as much as you can immediately.
  2. As a marketer who used to be a marketing manager for a restaurant group, I find it sketch that I have yet to find their official website and/or social media accounts. There are quite a few sites saying they carry their menu and many influencers/websites who have covered their opening on Google, but I want my information to be official.
  3. Last fall, some of the local foodies I followed posted some concerns and not the best experiences, so I wasn’t sure if it would be worth it.

With all that on the table (#dadjoke), we decided to go for dinner on a Tuesday night. Overall, while I did enjoy some aspects, it is probably not somewhere we’ll go back to. My full review is below.

Continue reading

Vinai | Northeast Minneapolis

Vinai Northeast Minneapolis Food Review Hipster Hack Blog
Standard

I love Union Hmong Kitchen so I had high hopes (and high expectations) for Chef Yia Vang’s new spot, Vinai. Not only has it been getting a lot of press confirming how good it is, on a personal level, it took over the former tap house space for my beloved Dangerous Man Brewing, so I just knew in my soul it was going to be good. Happy to report I’m always right…and so were the reviews by real food critics 😉.

Continue reading

Stockyards Tavern & Chophouse | South St. Paul, MN

Stockyard Tavern and Chophouse Review South St. Paul, MN Hipster Hack
Standard

It’s a rare occasion these days for husband and I to have a Friday evening off together so when husband suggested we go check out one the new to us restaurants in our neighborhood I jumped at the chance.

Keep reading for more of our visit to Stockyards Tavern & Chophouse.

Continue reading