The Farm & The Odd Fellows — Restaurant in Minneapolis

From Minneapolis, the city that was originally called Markley’s Mills, and had the local baseball team called the Minnies, comes an event center based on the idea to provide unique environments that plant and cultivate relationships and it's awesome. Their vision is Where art meets function, Where study meets sport, Where diversity meets harmony, Where science meets spirit, Where history meets vision. This is exactly how I lie about myself, too.

The FARM and The Odd Fellows.

Back in the 80's, Arnold and Sly had the guns, Seagal had the chops, but only The FARM and The Odd Fellows had the cakes. Journey to Minneapolis, home of the top-secret underground Pickle tournament known as the Picklete. Sure, the real Odd Fellows record shows them as one of the earliest and oldest fraternal societies, they claim traditions tracing the fraternity's origins back to Roman emperors Nero and Titus, and the evolution of the society from medieval guilds can be found, but they happen to have the Wyatt Earp as a member.

But that's just their CIA cover story, as we explore this great business in an three story beautifully renovated building, we see that The FARM and The Odd Fellows wasn't always a coffee cafe that supports employing local youth to become aspiring entrepreneurs and who secretly won the Medal of Honor; they were once an entertainment space full of arcade like activities that customers may rent out by the hour. Go sports!

However, under the highly erotic tutelage of the passionate owners, The FARM and The Odd Fellows will transform this building into a winning industry that wins over the hearts and minds of visitors to honor their master.. or an average dude that just walked in. Whatever; The FARM and The Odd Fellows is just here to kick some ribs and bust some nuts. Enjoy 90 action-packed minutes that let the pickle ball styles define the sport, lets the delicious treats do the acting, and lets the sweet, sweet beer wall set the moooood. Because the last thing you want out of this event center is when they let the Google Reviews tell the story.

So slip into a comfortable pair of stretchy pants, and drink the most delicious beer ever made, that's responsible for those early years of UFC before you realized drunk fighting don't work, inspired the entire Hells Kitchen franchise when the rights to Gordon Ramsay’s likeness fell through, and fueled an American tourists over written review. U.S.A.! The Farm-e! U.S.A.! The...

Not the best experience really, weak food offerings, poor service, standoffish staff, high prices. The food was not good, thin/small portions on a split croissant that was hard, dry and tasted very old. I like flaky croissant sandwiches but this one was crusty/old and two slices of ham does not a sandwich make. Looked hard for ANYTHING else inside: nope. Likewise the mac'n'cheese was bland, thin, microwaved disappointment. Being the first time I'd ever been there I wasn't sure of the process. I greeted the woman at the end of the counter (standing between me and the visible dining area) and said I would be dining alone (anticipating instruction, assistance or at least moving from the narrow passage) and she replied, "Good for you" then turned her back to me to have a conversation with a customer seated alone directly in front of me. Now, usually I would have simply left, I had a wait there in town however & couldn't move on until well after lunch soooo, give it a try. The other women behind the serving counter were no better. Acted put out to answer questions (no one behind me waiting, simple questions about what came standard on items with no visible description, etc.) Finally, I was on my way, food was eventually brought out to me in little paper, TV dinner microwave dishes...and it tasted like someone had gotten these from a gas station a couple days before, microwaved the leftovers and brought them to my table. No wonder the place was completely empty other than me and the woman being talked at by "front-of-house talker". Nice looking building, lots of space, many beers available apparently, don't go if you're hungry or expect any level of...

The Farm has become the jewel of Minneapolis. It is beloved by every segment of the local population, and for good reason. I have been a frequent customer of the Coffee Cafe, a not-as-frequently-as-I'd-like customer of the Brew Pub, an attendee at several community meetings and receptions held in the Brew Pub area as well as in the downstairs recreation area, and a participant in one of the special art classes held in the downstairs "Makers' Space." The one thing I haven't done yet -- but am eager to! -- is play pickleball!

The ONLY reasons I don't give a 5-star overall rating are: 1) the charcuterie boards are tasty but quite overpriced; 2) the high, antique, embossed-tin ceiling in the Brew Pub, however pretty it is to look at, makes for a disastrous acoustic situation when the place is crowded. You have to shout to carry on a conversation. After an hour of this, you find yourself taking a bathroom break just to get a reprieve from the head-rattling noise level.

It's a shame, because I love the Brew Pub otherwise. Being able to sample a few ounces of so many different beers -- and all of them excellent! -- thanks to the serve-yourself, electronically-keyed taps, is a treat that cannot be found anywhere else, at least not for such a low price. If the acoustic problem could be solved, I'd be a much more frequent customer. Maybe I just need to start going early, before the crowds arrive. Ah, but that's the thing -- the whole reason we all love the place is because the community gathers there; you will always...