Silver Fern — Restaurant in Minneapolis

Unfortunately, not the best experience at Silver Fern today with food or service. Really had high hopes for this spot as I live nearby and have been watching them build out all summer. They are pretty green at the moment and struggling and not set up to accommodate the size of the restaurant.

First, they have no decaf espresso so buyer beware. A coffee shop with no decaf is an interesting choice and will definitely be leaving some people out. Myself included. Hopefully they will change that in the future.

Second, the oatmeal is not fresh, but in a little premade package/cup that they add boiling water to and you let it sit and hope it cooks everything through. Those never turn out the best and it ends up being soggy and lukewarm. Definitely not worth 6 dollars, would not recommend.

Third, my spouse ordered the breakfast sandwich and after waiting a very very long time, 35 - 40 minutes, I totally understand they were busy, we went up to check because I noticed food sitting for a while on the counter behind the bar, and sure enough that was our food, and it was ice cold because they don’t have a food runner or someone helping to get the food out. We asked for the food to get remade and they did but it still wasn’t very hot the second time around either so clearly they are still a bit new and struggling to keep up.

We were apologized to and given a small gift card which is very much appreciated and clearly they are trying but disappointing overall for our first time and maybe we will come back in a couple months to see if they have...

Sitting in this quiet plant-filled space, taking an early-afternoon breather on a hot Saturday in July: visiting Silver Fern feels like a taste of the Good Life. As I sipped the complexly layered & refreshing zing of a lemon ginger cold brew, I was overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude and appreciation for life’s little pleasures. The two family members who were with me agreed, as we shared a matcha white chocolate cookie (excellent chewy texture & plenty of matcha flavor!) and a savory scone loaded with caramelized onion (and which had an impressively buttery mouthfeel, especially for a gluten-less baked good).

The serene and comfy atmosphere of Silver Fern helps set it above your average cafe, and I love the creativity which they put into seasonal drink specials and the care with which their luscious pastries are prepared (including a good array of vegan and gluten-friendly options). Another plus is the menu of sandwiches, salads & other foodstuffs which are a bit more substantial than what’s available at most coffee shops. I hope Silver Fern will continue to grace NE with its unique and exemplary offerings...

I would probably give this 3.5 stars if I could.

I was a barista in Australia for a year of my life and the idea that a cafe trying to recreate that part of the world being in my own backyard sounded amazing.

It was a bit of a let down. I will point out that this place was busy and they have just opened. The baked goods were very good. Especially for vegan options. I did not order a full meal.

The space is very nice, but loud with a lot of people. Some soft surfaces in the ceilings would probably help.

My main gripe. The coffee. The volume of people may have been a factor. My craft coffee felt like an overpriced Starbucks in smaller volume. Watching the barista pour the drinks showed speed was the priority. No latte art.

I also had a black coffee. I think it was brewed incorrectly as it was a very weak cup of coffee.

I also expected maybe some pies from Jamos or Bub's who do Aussie and NZ pies in the area.

I can't quite say this felt like I was in a New Zealand cafe (spent time there too).

I hope to come back in the future and find the early kinks are worked out. For now I'd say there are quite a few...