It is a beautiful spot. Small food menu that was good. The sweet potato fries were great while the shrimp was okay. The cocktails were pretty good, and they did well making a unique cocktail to your taste preferences. I get what others meant about the rude staff though. We were directed to Neon Tiger while we waited for seats to open up and were told that we could bring those drinks back with us to our seats at PD. When we did, the bartenders were blatantly talking about us and rolling their eyes a couple feet away.
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 4
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 5
Conceptually, the promise that someone will provide you with a cocktail just to your taste is provocative. I have a very clear understanding of the type of cocktails I like and what I really don't like. Thus, I thought if Public Domain has no drink menu, then the "perfect" drink was in my future. However, the truth of that depends 100% on your bartender. This is long, so feel free to jump to the end for my summary.
We sat at the bar. We got there right at five, when they just opened. The bartender explained how the place works and asked us what we liked. I said I like gin and I like cocktails with a sour and bitter profile. I said I do NOT like a sweet cocktail. I was given a Fitzgerald, which is gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and angostura bitters. Very simple drink. It was okay, but too sweet. He could have easily halved the simple syrup. He did not. My husband got a whiskey drink that was also straight-forward. Nice but not particularly interesting.
We ordered some food. We got the fritters, which were delicious. We also got the albondigas, meatballs in a tomato based sauce. These were also good. Then, we ordered another round of cocktails. I reiterated that I didn't want a sweet cocktail. He asked if I liked campari. I said yes, I love it. He asked if I liked Cynar, and I said, not really. What did I get? Basically a Chin Up: Gin, Cynar!!!, vermouth, salt, cucumber, and again simple syrup. Too sweet!!! So he really didn't listen. I told him it was too sweet, but he just sort of looked at me. My husband was okay with his second cocktail.
So we are eating, my husband is drinking his cocktail, and mine is sitting there.
A man comes and cleans the bar to my right. He asks me how I liked the cocktail. I said, it is too sweet. He asked if I had told that to the bartender. I said I had. He asked, "what did the bartender do?". And I said, nothing. So, this man went back behind the bar, started juicing citrus, (I am thinking, is he the bar back?), made a drink, and brought it over to me. He said it was called a Bicycle Thief. It was fantastic! Perfect! Wonderful! So we asked the bartender who the man was. It turned out he was the owner, Stefan Van Vorst. He listened to what I said. So in a single drink he changed my entire experience at this bar. When we got the bill, I was surprised to see that my drink wasn't on the bill. They certainly didn't have to do that, because I would have paid for the drink that I wasn't going to drink. And of course I did get a drink that I did drink and liked a lot. However, it was a generous gesture.
It was clear that the bartender waiting on us knew hundreds and hundreds of cocktail recipes. It was impressive. However, he didn't seem either to want to or have the ability to alter the recipes just a bit to meet the taste profile that he was given. Maybe most people don't care that much. They'll drink just about anything. However, there are plenty of people who are paying the prices of a upscale cocktail bar who expect to get a really good, or at least super interesting, cocktail.
So, in summary: The food is delicious. For cocktails, you need to be specific if there's something you don't like. Maybe I should have told the bartender that I love a corpse reviver # two, and I would have gotten something more like what I had in mind. I thought what I told him - sour, bitter, and not sweet - was sufficient. It usually is, but it was not. I certainly will return. I would like to try some of the other food items. And now I know that to get the cocktail that I want, I need to try a different bartender. But also I need to give an example of a cocktail I really like, rather than describing its flavor profile.
As Public Domain in Minneapolis on Washington Avenue, you have to find a parking meter or use a parking lot.
I read a number of the other reviews, and their main complaint was wait time. I actually understand why it's so hard for the hostess or host to predict how long the wait will be. We sat for quite a while, others left after one drink.
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 3
Atmosphere: 5
I’m trying to give this place the benefit of the doubt because they’re a new bar. However my group and I did not have the most pleasant experience. We arrived and we were told we needed to wait, the condescending hostess told us they “do not quote times and that craft cocktails take about 5 minutes each to make.” She put our name and number down in the iPad and told us to wait. We were fine waiting, and we sat by the entrance in the corner of the restaurant. The hostess came back to us about 20 minutes later and told us we were going to sit at our same spot we waiting at. Right by the door, facing the window that has frosted glass so you cannot even see outside. When I asked if we could sit in the many other open tables or bar stools. The hostess said no because we would’ve had to “for another 5 groups to be sat first.” It didn’t make a whole lot of since because there were other parties of 3 sitting in booths or at the bar. They also were not seating parties larger than 6. When the server came, he asked what our preferred spirit is, I said vodka he told me that they do not have vodka. I got there version of espresso martini. It was fine. My friend asked for a “creamy fruity drink” and she got a very tart and sour strawberry drink. All drinks are $16. Our sever did not come back to check on us the entire time we were there. For a bar that is “predicated on the idea on conversation, connection, and precision.” We felt none of that. Maybe this place will get better with time, but I will not be going back.
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 3
Service: 2
Atmosphere: 3
Great spot for a late night drink! No menu so you give them your drink preferences and they’ll make something special for you. The idea is very creative and they know what they’re doing. We had a group of six and everyone got a different spirit and tasting notes. It’s a fun experience and I recommend trusting them to get creative. It’s a little pricey compared to other north loop spots but it’s worth a try!
Price per person
$10–20
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
I cannot recommend this place more. This is hands down the best cocktail bar in the Twin Cities and is comparable to the elite cocktail bars we’ve been to in NYC and SF. If you like actually good cocktails, you *must* come here. Plus, you can also get an amazing Puerto Rican meal. This was a much needed addition to the neighborhood and I look forward to going back again and again.
First, we have been to Public Domain several times and every drink we’ve gotten has been truly exceptional. The no menu concept works really well. All of their bartenders are friendly, knowledgeable, and incredibly talented. They take the time to talk with you and understand what you’re looking for.
Second, the vibe is amazing, the bar is stunning.
Third, the food is delicious. They have incredible Puerto Rican food, ranging from snacks to full meals.
Be prepared for a bit longer waiting times for your drink than at your average bar, but that is of course bc every drink they make is unique to your order. If you prefer speed over quality (as several negative reviewers seem to), go elsewhere. We can’t wait to go back and are so lucky to finally have a truly great cocktail bar in Minneapolis.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
We went on Oct 18, 1023 and it was fabulous! We sat at the bar each had two drinks and each of them were so tasty. Malcom, our drink specialist, was attentive and it was fun to watch him work. I will be thinking of the fritters for days- order them and ask them to pair a drink with them. The cheesecake with coconut was also delicious.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
This is a really nice place to relax and just hang out and talk. The entire team is helpful filling in and helping out where needed. Love that! Brin, our bartender was awesome! He made us 4 drinks based on what we liked. We don’t like em too sweet. 4 out of 4 we’re on point! 5 stars all the way. He was also friendly and knowledgable. He really made us feel welcome. Thank you Public Domain for giving our first visit there 5 Stars. Thanks to Brin. It won’t be our last. We’re bribing friends next time!
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
No menu, no problem. Drinks are an alchemy of your whims and the bartenders’ skill—a novel Twin Cities experience that I’m excited to return to.
3/3 drinks were a hit at the table, and the cod fritters: quite delicious.
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Okay so we were excited to hear that this type of bar opened up near us. Me and my fiancé love the idea of drinks made specific to order. We looked at reviews before coming and were surprised by all the bad reviews. Still, we decided to check this place out on a Friday evening.
We ended up coming with a group of 5 and grabbed a cocktail in the back room before getting seated. Those were pretty good but nothing spectacular. Anyways it only took about 20 minutes for us to get seated. Will say, absolutely love the space they have. We got seated in a cozy booth in the back.
As far as the service, our server was great. He listened to all of our tastes and provided two rounds of great drinks. Each in line with what we asked for but also super unique. All said, we had great service, great drinks, and loved the atmosphere. We will definitely be back.
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
As someone who goes to most craft cocktail bars in the Twin Cities, this is in the top five, hands-down. It’s unfortunate that it is in the North loop with 20-somethings looking for non-traditional cocktails and a bar vibe. This is not that kind of place. It’s more of a classic New York style cocktail bar.
To get a true sense of the quality of this establishment, look at the “helpful” votes on all the positive reviews. True cocktail connoisseurs love this place.
I was waited on by both the owner, Stefan, and one of his right hand bartenders. I had several drinks, and every one of them was excellent. Their creativity, knowledge, and attention to your specific taste is exceptional.
Not to mention the space itself (which used to be Café Havana back in the day) is warm and has a very speakeasy kind of vibe. I also appreciate the fact that they are open until 2 AM every night of the week. Just another example of their being true to traditional bar standards.
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
