Minnesota Spot Now Ranks Among The Best Family-Run Restaurants In America

There are many great restaurants in Minnesota and throughout the United States. So, when you decide to go out to eat, what has the biggest influence on where you decide to go?

What type of food you're craving is obviously important, but what other factors do you consider? With all due respect to restaurant chains, some of which serve great food, one thing I look for is restaurants that are local and family-run.

Experts confirm that eating at a family-run business is often better because it supports the local economy, provides a more unique and flavorful dining experience with potentially fresher ingredients, offers personalized service, and fosters stronger community ties, with money staying local instead of going to corporate headquarters.

Chains indeed offer consistency, but family spots often have a passion for tradition, less rigid rules, and a greater sense of responsibility to their neighbors, creating a more rewarding experience for both diners and the community. But, where are the best of these places in Minnesota and beyond?

Finding The Best Family-Run Restaurants In America

Recently, the foodies at LoveFood went on a mission to find the best family-run restaurants in every state. Together, they constitute the best family spots in America.

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To find these places, genuine user reviews, awards, and accolades were counted and analyzed. Then, the first-hand experience of its team, who have years of food industry experience, came into play to finalize the list.

The Best Family-Run Restaurant In Minnesota

When it comes to Minnesota, they determined that the best family-run restaurant is a self-proclaimed "love letter to giant pancakes, cheesy cheeseburgers, and huge bowls of pasta."

The winner is Hazel's Northeast, located at 2859 Johnson Street NE, in Minneapolis. Hazel's is a tribute to the owner's "feisty, faithful, and virtuoso grandmother, Helen 'Hazel' Sieve", who started working in restaurants in Central Minnesota in the 1950’s and eventually opened her own alongside husband Ben and their children.

Hazel's Northeast opened in 2010 to carry out the family legacy of providing a warm, inviting restaurant that serves modern, midwestern comfort food with creative twists.

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The team at LoveFood notes that one of its favorites is the Swedish meatballs with white gravy and garlic mashed potatoes, and meatloaf served in a creamy sauce with pappardelle pasta.

Hazel's vast menu includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with a fun drink menu that includes 'Hazel's Old Fashioned'. Regardless of when you go or what you're craving, you'll find something terrific to try, and you'll likely go back time and again to try more.

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