1894 — Restaurant in Perham

I "pray" you go check this place out!

Rolled into Perham on the evening of 2022-Oct-21, looking for a nice pub/grill for good beer and food. When I didn't see anything obvious on Main St., I pulled into the Arco gas station for fuel and asked the woman behind the counter for recommendations. "1894" was her tip. ?? "Oh yeah, just drive northwest on Main here to the police station and hang a left, it's a remodeled former church. It can be a bit loud if they have a live music event, otherwise you'll love it."

Boy, was she RIGHT! The sign on the door indicated there was no live band on this night, which suited us better anyway. The place is so unique. We ventured straight upstairs to the balcony level, and discovered where the royalty eat, in the "bell tower". Really, that one table featured awesome high-backed chairs that royalty might use in a throne room. The special nook really needs some arms and armor handing from the walls to complete the vibe it gave us.

We chose to sit at a table nearer the edge so we could enjoy the cavernous atmosphere and look down on the bar area, with great sightlines to also enjoy the NLCS baseball game playing.

The food was terrific, as was our beer on tap that night. I had a great IPA; my wife enjoyed a great red ale and an oktoberfest. She had the "bell tower" burger, and I tried the pricier "1894" burger. Let me tell you, that thing was a MONSTER! Three patties, with cheese, bacon, an onion ring, and a fried egg separating each. Price was $18.94 for that, but the value was just right! Fair warning: the menu says it's "construction varies" as it's up to the cook that night how it comes off. But mine was fantastic.

Do also get the "church chips", they're like a kettle chip, but cooked to come out half-way between a chip and a french fry in texture. Very unique, very tasty, and made right there.

The renovation took care to preserve the history and solemnity of the place too, by way of some little exhibits near the bathroom area and before the bar in the sanctuary. Do check these items out too!

If you're not local to Perham, you'd never know this place was #1) there; #2) not a church holding a service, but a restaurant and bar! "1894" it's so eclectic and wonderful an experience, you owe it to yourself to give it a try!

They opened in 2019, just prior to the pandemic lockdowns in MN. As such, they don't have much love for Gov. Walz. Well, that's okay 'cause neither do I! So I bought a t-shirt on the way out saying as much while promoting the place. Good for you guys; glad you survived; I hope now you can thrive!

It's too bad I'm in Fargo, or I'd probably be there every...

Seriously amazing burgers. And we are not easy to impress when it comes to burgers. My mom especially pretty much never orders a burger and she was surprised at how good hers was. I had a double cheeseburger, and it was one of the best burgers I can remember eating, period. This is a burger that will remind you why griddlegrill, because the crust was outstanding. They were juicy while still being fully cooked, and whatever they season the patties with is noticeable but not overpowering. I'd buy it by itself. I think there was a bun, which held things together but wasn't too intrusive.

I had cheese curds with mine, which were very good. I don't know if they bread them on site, but I wouldn't be surprised. My mom wasn't super excited about her fries, but it's always difficult to keep fries fresh when you're doing takeout. Obviously I can't comment on the inside atmosphere or service, but hopefully one of these days...

Honestly, though. The burgers. Eat one or seventeen or six-tenths or whatever. Just eat it and feel happy and repeat whenever you can. Seriously, y'all, we walked around the house the rest of the night in kind of a daze saying, "That was a REALLY GOOD burger," whenever we passed...

While I was in the area I pulled out my phone looking for food. I scrolled through a bunch of options, but I was looking for something spectacular. I picked 1894 in Perham, MN after seeing a burger picture. I was a little confused as I pulled up because it is a remodeled church, so I thought for sure I was at the wrong place. I stood my ground though and walked through the door, and I'm incredibly happy I did. It is a beautiful location with places to sit outside, inside and upstairs. The staff is super friendly and look time to explain the menu to me. They serve locally grown beef, pork, produce and dairy. I personally had the bell tower burger and it was phenomenal 😋. The mushrooms were thick and perfectly cooked. The bell tower sauce, I literally used my burger to make sure I didn't miss a drop of sauce. The waitress said it was like a stroganoff sauce. Omg! The fries were nice and thick with a perfect crunchy texture. I am so glad I took a chance and stopped. Definitely top 3 burgers...