It’s Valentine’s Day, a unique time each year when I switch from beer to wine, burgers to entrées, and flannel to a sport coat. For our special date night, I took Elizabeth down to The Lynn on Bryant.  Liz likes to explore the city but I rarely leave Northeast.  Driving down to South was something different and memorable for us both.

I had no problem making a reservation for two online (right on their website – pretty slick).  We arrived at 8:05 and were seated at 8:10. Liz had been trying to convince me to go to The Lynn for a few weeks now. When we finally got there, we both knew it was worth the drive. We walked in were wowed by the decor. Bold red against all kinds of natural wood. It was a small space, intimate, not crowded. A little hidden gem open for 50 or so guests a night.

A narrow corridor separates the casual dining room from a smaller formal(ish) one, each with their respective menus.    We were seated in the latter.  The hostess generously offered to take our coats.  Liz handed hers over but I turned her down as I did not want to reveal the brand of my pea coat (Old Navy).

I briefly glanced at the menu  as we dug into the complementary artisan bread. I was pleased to see a limited selection of delicious options.  Sometimes choice is a curse, especially for my indecisive wife.

I ordered the Wisconsin Trout while Liz opted for the Winter Vegetable Celebration.  Our waitress helped us select a fairly dry chardonnay to pair with my entrée and we gladly ordered a half carafe ($15).

While we waited for our main course, we shared the House Pâté ($12).  Ordering Pâté at a place I’ve never been is sort of my way of testing the waters.  You can’t fake good pâté. The gamble paid off. I give their pâté a 9 out of 10, 10 being unattainable.

* Wisconsin Trout ($22) – Perfectly prepared to say the least.   I don’t normally enjoy wild rice.  Why?  Because if it’s not cooked long enough, it’s crunchy.  If it’s cooked too long, it’s crunchy.  Crunchy wild rice sucks.  But this wild rice caught me off guard.  Puffy and perfect.  A red wine reduction added some depth and there was something else in it that was good but I can’t remember.  Some may find this dish salt heavy.  Served with prunes.

* Winter Vegetable Celebration ($19) – Liz dug into her kaniwa tourte right away. The swiss chard was only a sturdy facade covering a crumbly veggie delight. The fricassee portion was underwhelming when compared to the vegetable purees. The parsnip, rutabaga, orange zest and cream stole the show. Liz wasn’t a big fan of the citrus puree, but luckily I was there to eat the rest.

* Warm Chocolate Cake w/ butterscotch ice cream ($8) –  Somehow Liz talked me into dessert. I’m not much of a sweet tooth, but I think the butterscotch ice cream won me over. The cake was straightforward and awesome.  The chocolate was on the darker/bitter side which I like. Liz ate 90% of it, which left me with one bite.

Liz rounded the meal off with an espresso ($2.25) and I finished up with a Nether-land’s style beer (Carlsberg Pilsner, $4).

In conclusion:  The Lynn on Bryant was excellent.  Our service was prompt and unassuming and the atmosphere was very intimate. I’ll spare you the details – but the rest of the night got very hot.

If you’re looking for a place to take your special someone this Valentine’s Day or somewhere to celebrate your independence, check out the Lynn on Bryant. $65 will get you a three-course tasting menu and add wine pairings for only $15 more.

Happy love-making,

Al (her husband)

The Lynn on Bryant

5003 Bryant Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55419
612-767-7797
www.thelynnonbryant.com
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