Kyndred Hearth — Restaurant in Eagan

What a pleasant surprise to learn that this Eagan, MN restaurant is part of the Omni Viking Lakes Hotel. I like that it is open to the public; you do not have to book a room at the hotel to dine there. Since we live locally, this is awesome; plans are already made to return with a friend. Ann Kim's reputation as a James Beard award-winning chef attracted me to try out the restaurant. We’ve enjoyed previous dining experiences where we tasted her recipes/cooking.

While many were ordering their specialty burgers, woodfired pizza, and freshly made pasta, I had the Korean Braised Short Ribs. The ribs were tasty, not too heavy, and very tender, with Bok Choy adding flavor. For my vegetable, I had the Sugar Snap Peas. My waitress recommended them, and they surprised me with how delicious they were. The yogurt sesame sauce had fun bursts of cashew chili oil. I think anyone would like them.

Being very thirsty, I ordered the Apple Spiced Sour Cocktail with my meal. It proves that you don’t need alcohol in your drink to enjoy it. For dessert, I ordered what I thought might be most refreshing on a super-hot summer day – the Grapefruit Blossom. It may be the best cocktail that I’ve ever had!

Every menu item that I tasted consisted of super-quality ingredients that were artfully combined, and the execution was stunning.

The service is exceptional. All staff are knowledgeable about the menu and willing to accommodate my substitution requests. Several are from Columbia, and it was fun to hear them conversing; they quickly sent someone who is fluent in English to my bar seating to assist me.

It has an ample open interior space with modern décor. Parking is no problem. Guests have easy access from anywhere in the Twin Cities as it is near 494 and quite central. You can do take out. It had ground-level access – no steps, so it is...

The server made it a point to inform us that this is a restaurant who's chef is a James Beard award winner. I expected something of a certain standard. This was not the case. Started with the antipasti. Two very small slices of cheese was all that was offered for the cheese selections. Advertised as local.... I asked about one of them. The brand was Beecher. Not local. Its actually pretty cheap stuff that you can find about anywhere. I liked it, but not for the price or false advertisement. Everything seemed to be doctored up with parmesan as well. I ordered the pork belly. It was bland and dry. I have never had pork belly that wasnt rich and full in flavor. Product quality is definately cheap, but they give you the impression to the contrary. The absolute worst part is, my date, who is vegetarian, ordered a pasta that did not have meat in it. It came with no meat, so no special requests. We even asked the server after reading the menu that it had no meat, to ensure this wouldn not be an issue. However, they served her a completely seperate pasta dish with meat in it, which was discovered in the sauce after consuming some. There is self promotion based on this chef and award that does not hold to a standard of a good restaurant. Being in a hotel with a lot of people in town for business and conferences seems to be their bread and butter, not concerning themselves with the need for repeat customers or local customers. Their large pizza section on the menu had me wondering when I sat down and read the menu, but opted to go for a decent meal, which you will not find here. Reservations are required. To be honest, Door Dash will bring you something better. This is just a place to grab a pizza after a plane ride that you...

Listen. Ann Kim RULES. If her name is attached to a restaurant, it will be amazing. The service, the beverages, the food-everything will be amazing. There is no such thing as too much hype when it comes to her, she is a queen. I keep pinching myself that we have a James Beard award winning chef right here in Eagan, and truly, the most beautiful restaurant South of the River hands down.

Your best bet is to go with friends and sample a little bit of everything. The beverage menu has specialty cocktails and mocktails. The summer of 2023 is featuring a strawberry rhubarb margarita that is divine.

Pizzas are just as good as they are at Pizzeria Lola and Young Joni-delicious. I'm a sucker for the Tavern Pie, a simple pizza topped with pepperoni, jalapeño and honey. The honey elevates this pie to something completely different. Every time I order it, I think...it won't be as good as I remembered. WRONG. It's always better. That salty/sweet/spicy combination is irresistible.

The chopped salad is out of this world. As at her other restaurants, Ann Kim takes a simple vegetable to next level territory. At Young Joni, the cauliflower is the star of the show. At Kyndred? It's the broccolini. Once again, simple ingredients-olive oil, lemon and Calabrian chili elevate a humble vegetable into something wonderful.

I love the hanger steak-served sliced to be eaten as wraps. The pastas are all delicious. Short rib? GOOD. Pork Belly? GOOD.

Even if you're so full you could burst, do save room for the vanilla soft serve topped with olive oil and sea salt. It's...