The Sample Room — Restaurant in Minneapolis

I love the food and drinks at the Sample room, but every time I visit, there is something off about the service. I can't put my finger on it; its almost like the staff feels like the patrons are a burden.

On my last visit, I walked in and was greeted by the host. All the tables were full, but I was told that a booth had just paid their check. Most people would assume that means that booth is yours right? WRONG. It was getting close to the end of happy hour, so we went up to the bar ordered a drink, but waited on our happy hour food order. Since the couple was wrapping up we thought we would be seated and could put in our food order with plenty of time left. The couple left and to our surprise another group that came in after us(same size) was seated in our both. We did notice that someone in this group had been behind the bar. Maybe we didn't know the right people? We were a little upset but decided to stay. We were getting hungry and decided to put our food order in. By this time it was a few minutes after happy hour. We really like one of the small plates on the happy hour menu. I asked the bartender if we could still get the item and I even offered to pay more for it and I was told no. A table finally opened up. Our waitress seemed inpatient and abrasive with us. We had some questions about the wine flights and she was short and seemed annoyed. When it came time to order, I ordered the risotto(it comes in 2 sizes and is denoted by two prices like this $/$). I told her I want the small size. She snapped back - so you want the 6 oz? I said is that smaller size? She said It comes in a 3 oz or the 6 oz?....I'm sorry, I'm not a chef, I'm not sure how big 3 oz of risotto is. Give me break, I said I wanted the small size. Just say thank you and move on. It was like she was purposeful giving me a hard time.

The time before this visit, I was there around 2:00PM on a Thursday. The place was dead and I had to flag down the server every time I wanted to order a new drink and to order food. They never checked on us. I was planning on hanging out for a few hours with a friend, instead we moved on(with our money) to another bar

Like I said before, I love the food and drinks at the Sample Room, but you know what? I love the food and drinks at plenty of other places in Minneapolis. I will be spending my...

in Northeast Minneapolis, it’s a neighborhood staple with historic charm and a cozy, unpretentious atmosphere that feels instantly welcoming.

The menu is updated frequently to reflect seasonal ingredients and new ideas, but I find myself sticking to the staples. The Bottineau Burger is a consistent standout being well-balanced, flavorful, and reliably satisfying. While some rotating dishes are solid, the core favorites are what make the experience memorable.

Brunch and breakfast are perfectly pleasant. The food is simple, well-prepared, and a great fit for a low-key weekend morning. It may not blow you away, but it delivers exactly what you’d expect from a neighborhood spot that values comfort and consistency.

One of the Sample Room’s biggest assets is its patio. During the warmer months, it’s a lovely place to sit back and enjoy a meal or catch up with friends. It never feels too crowded, and the riverside setting adds to its charm.

The drink list, however, could use a bit more spark. Cocktails are basic and the beer and wine options are reliable but not particularly exciting. This isn’t necessarily the place for a standout drink, but it does the job if your focus is on the food and the setting.

The Sample Room is a place that thrives on familiarity. It’s not trying to be trendy, but it knows what it does well. If you know what to order, it remains a trusted go-to with character, warmth, and a sense of place that’s hard to find.

@foodiemsp...

Great cozy, local spot with outdoor seating, conveniently situated smack dab between Psycho Suzi's and Betty Danger's. Friendly, knowledgeable service and frequently changing menu.

On this most recent visit, the menu was a little odd -- it was full of pine honey and mushrooms. Like, everywhere. The clam strips were great, we actually ordered them twice. The mushroom cakes tasted strongly of red pepper, overshadowing any mushroom flavor. The trout was cooked beautifully, but sat atop a mushroom risotto that was laced with honey, giving it an almost Teriyaki kind of flavor. It wasn't the most successful dish in my opinion, and if you order this you'd do best to stick to it rather than nibble between it and something else, it would have been jarring, flavor wise. The mushroom pull aparts, while very tasty (although slightly underdone in the centers) also suffered from strong flavors -- this time garlic and goat cheese -- overshadowing the mushrooms. The creme brulee (drizzled with pine honey) was flavorful, but the custard was slightly broken.

Overall, the dishes were inventive and tasty, just lacking in either balance or execution. Also, note that if you haven't been here recently, the entrance is now on the south side of the building, about halfway down the tent, through an unmarked black curtain. It's awkward to find in the dark so...