The Great Debate: Minnesota’s Best BBQ / Pizza / Seafood Spots Ranked
In the Twin Cities area, Minneapolis offers a standout BBQ experience at Matt’s Bar, located near the University of Minnesota campus. About a 10-minute drive from downtown Minneapolis, this unpretentious spot is famous for its Juicy Lucy burgers, but it also serves up hearty, smoky ribs that compete with dedicated BBQ joints. The ribs come dry-rubbed and slow smoked, with a balance of tender meat and crispy edges that reflect the Midwest’s embrace of straightforward, unpretentious flavors. Visiting in the evening, especially on a weekend, brings a lively local crowd and a chance to soak in the city’s casual, collegiate vibe that enhances the meal’s hearty comfort.
Just a short drive west of Duluth, in the charming town of Superior, Wisconsin, the waterfront district offers some of the best lakeside seafood dining near Minnesota’s North Shore. Here, overlooking Lake Superior’s vast expanse, places like Barker’s Island Inn feature fresh local fish such as walleye and whitefish caught in the cool waters just offshore. The setting is key: outdoor seating along the Superior Bay allows diners to enjoy the crisp lake breeze and panoramic views of the shipping channels and rugged bluffs, especially dramatic in the golden light of late summer evenings. The fusion of fresh, local ingredients with stunning natural scenery creates a seafood experience that feels authentically northern and distinctly regional.
In St. Paul, located just across the river from Minneapolis, Pizza Lucé in the Lowertown Arts District has earned a devoted following for its inventive, artisanal pizzas. A short stroll from the historic Union Depot, this spot champions locally sourced, organic ingredients and creative combinations. The wood-fired ovens give the crust a smoky char and crackle, setting it apart from typical Midwestern pizza joints. Whether indulging in a classic Margherita or sampling more experimental toppings like Minnesota wild rice or smoked salmon, visitors get a taste of the state’s agricultural richness and culinary innovation. Early evening during the summer months brings the added pleasure of dining on Lowertown’s lively patios, where live music often accompanies the meal.
Head north to Winona, perched on the Mississippi River about two hours southeast of the Twin Cities, and you find a distinctive BBQ scene at the Red Raven, a historic restaurant housed in a 19th-century building downtown. The Red Raven’s approach to BBQ melds Midwestern tradition with southern smokehouse technique, focusing on slow-cooked pork shoulder and beef brisket with house-made sauces. The atmosphere is cozy and steeped in local history, just steps from the Mississippi River Trail, where visitors often work up an appetite biking or hiking along the riverbanks. Fall is an especially atmospheric time to visit, as the bluffs blaze with color and the crisp air enhances the warmth of a smoked meat meal.
Farther north in Duluth, the Canal Park area offers a seafood experience that is inseparable from its dramatic setting on the shores of Lake Superior. The Duluth Grill, known for its commitment to sustainable, locally sourced ingredients, turns out dishes featuring Superior’s iconic fish like lake trout and perch. Diners can gaze out over the lake’s crashing waves through large windows, or venture to nearby Park Point to walk the long sandy beach before or after the meal. The winter months here, though colder, provide a striking contrast—storm watching on Lake Superior from a warm booth makes the seafood feel even more satisfying and connected to the region’s rugged natural character.
In the heart of Minneapolis’s North Loop, Punch Neapolitan Pizza offers a distinct take on pizza inspired by authentic Italian methods. Just minutes from downtown, this neighborhood, known for its renovated warehouses and trendy boutiques, is the perfect backdrop for savoring thin-crust pies baked at blistering temperatures. The dough’s airy, blistered crust and simple but flavorful toppings like San Marzano tomatoes and imported mozzarella transport visitors from the Upper Midwest to Naples itself. Calm weekday afternoons or early weekend evenings are ideal for enjoying the wood-fired oven’s warmth and the buzz of a neighborhood that embraces artisanal craft and urban renewal.
For a more rustic BBQ adventure, head to the town of Red Wing, approximately an hour southeast of the Twin Cities along the Mississippi River. At the Buckboard BBQ, smoked meats embrace a down-home style, where open pits and hickory wood create rich, smoky flavors that pair perfectly with the town’s old-world charm. Nearby, the Mississippi River bluff trails invite visitors to hike or bike before settling in to savor ribs or pulled pork sandwiches. Spring and early summer, with the river running high and bluffs lush with green, offer the perfect natural complement to a meal that feels rooted both in place and tradition.
Each of these stops—whether on the shores of Great Lakes, along the mighty Mississippi, or nestled in vibrant urban districts—showcases Minnesota’s diverse and passionate embrace of BBQ, pizza, and seafood. They invite travelers to explore the state through its flavors, each dish a reflection of the local landscape, culture, and spirit. Whether you are drawn by the smoky smokehouses of small river towns, the artisanal ovens of the Twin Cities, or the fresh catches of pristine northern lakes, Minnesota serves up a culinary journey as varied and inviting as its vast geography.