First Course

I’ll keep this short and sweet:
This restaurant does it right!
The service was extraordinary. Our server knew everything there was to know about the wine and food he was serving. All of which was excellent.
I had the fried olives and lamb sandwich. They were absolutely perfect.
I rarely rave about a restaurant, but this is as close as you’ll get to a perfect dining experience.

We love this place! Delicious food and wonderful environment. We had a delightful time. Special thanks to Tim our server!

I’m rooting for First Course as it’s walking distance from my house but some items need some love. First, the positives: great service, wines that punch above their weight class cost wise and great fish specials, meat dishes and crab cakes. However, the house salad has too many ultra bitter greens and is drenched in dressing and the Calamari is microscopic with batter that is heavy, greasy and overbearing. There are also two asparagus apps which is way too redundant for an already small menu. A few changes could make First Course great!

Very disappointing. For a place at this price point, with the menu they have and the way the restaurant is billed, I expected the food to be at a really high level, but it wasn’t even close.
We should’ve known something was up when the place had 2 people eating at 7pm on a Friday evening.
We ordered the mussels in a red curry sauce and the fried calamari over roasted bell peppers and arugula with a saffron aioli for apps. Honestly, the flavors we’re there, but the execution was not. Both dishes were over cooked, the curry sauce was thick and a bit grainy making it rather hard to eat. The calamari, also overcooked, was hard to eat as well, with the bell peppers being in giant pieces and the arugula being smashed into the cast iron skillet the dish was served in making it hard to dip in the tiny aioli container.
The real travesty was the main course. We ordered the hanger steak special with roasted asparagus and potatoes in a red wine sauce. Our server said it was great, so we gave it a shot. Oops.
The steak was served in 3 pieces, it was nearly raw. So much so that it was actually cold in the middle. So we sent it back, expecting better from a $ 25 dollar dish. The chef apparently didn’t like it being returned. Generally at a good restaurant you don’t get the same pieces of meat and the same sauce back, but we did! The 3 steak pieces were charred all around the outside sapping the flavor, but the sauce was the real issue. I’m pretty sure this is a first for me, the chef that re-​fired the dish used the same sauce to re-​cook the meat and the put it back on the plate, meaning he poured it off the plate, into the pan and then back on our dish to serve us. This made the «red wine sauce» brown, broken and chunky with bits from the pan in it.
Needless to say, we wont be back, this was one of the weirdest and more disappointing dining experiences I’ve ever had.

Had an amazing last night! Their patio is pleasant with a little urban gardening enclosing it. We had two wondering waiters, very laid back guys.
The food very inventive, but don’t go with the menu online. I think their menu changes too often for it. I have the most amazing scallops and saffron risotto.
I’ll be back.

Stopped there a few Saturdays ago, at the tail end of brunch. No customers there, and the staff was shutting down. They re-​opened for my party of 3. Nice outside, so we dined out on the sidewalk-​patio tables. Ambiance outdoors is ok, but bus traffic on Chicago, and MSP flight path are drawbacks. Indoors looked nice, and might be the better option unless you don’t mind the street & plane noise. Park across the road softened the urban feel a bit.
We ordered a simple lunch – burger & fries; a salad; and some kind of steak thing… can’t recall the specifics. We all shared, and we all thought everything was exceptionally well prepared and delicious. Will go back & sample more when I’m in that part of town again.

The place isn’t much to look at on the outside but the inside is amazing! The food was delicious! My omelette was cooked and seasoned perfectly, the potatoes had truffle oil on them which gave them a delightful earthy flavor, and the coffee which is brewed fresh had subtle citric notes. Everything was delicious and fresh, can’t wait to try dinner there one night. Oh, i almost forgot to mention the bottomless mimosas at brunch! About the only things i can say that aren’t amazing is that the parking might be hard to find and the staff could have been a but more engaging.

Excellent spot to have quiet dinner. This is a quaint neighborhood locale with amazing food. I was pleasantly surprised and will be going back. I like others had a gift certificate from
and do happy I did. I had potato soup amped up with truffle oil, calamari was done to perfection-​very light, and the chicken artichoke Flatbread with white sauce was outstanding! I also had a beer flight. Excellent place. Excellent food!

We had a gift certificate that brought us in… and glad it did. Quiet (cold) Monday night… a few people enjoying the food. where to start? I had a mixed green salad dressed with sherry vinegairette and topped with crisp bacon, sun-​dried tomato and a perfectly cooked soft-​boiled egg. They knew I was coming… this was the perfect salad. If I could improve it I’d suggest they offer a cracking of pepper. I followed that with a bowl. of delicious mussels. Husband had a bowl of potato soup with a drizzle of truffle oil — he described it as «beautiful!» He followed that with the oddest — but really wonderful pizza; pickled okra, red pepper and candied bacon served on a very thin crisp crust — it was mouthwatering delicious and huge — a two-​pronged delight. Waiter was friendly and attentive. a perfect Monday evening!

no gangsters here!
Solid menu and decent selection of wine and beer.
Building front is a bit deceiving — so make sure to ignore and come in to give it a try!
Been there a few times so don’t expect a greeting at the door — don’t hold it against them though, as the bread and cheese will make up for it. ;v)

I have to admit that I would have never heard of First Course had it not been for a
coupon that I purchased. That being said, I did some research and found out there was a tasting menu available Thursday and Friday nights. I LOVE TASTING MENUS. And this particular tasting menu with a wine pairing was only $ 45. Day made. So you can imagine my disappointment when I arrived on Thursday night and was informed by the very monotone, yet extremely knowledgable and unintrusive server that the tasting menu «just didn’t happen tonight.» This disappointment likely affected the remainder of my experience and my overall rating of the evening — you have been warned.
With that disclaimer out of the way, the atmosphere for a Thursday night was quite nice. Relaxing, available tables, a cozy fire place, and trendy bar area. We selected a small table near the fire and the server immediately brought menus and lit the table top votive candle while discussing beverages. We ordered from the drink menu which included some great local brew selections as well as a wide array of wine.
Next came the bread which was delicious and a nice compliment to the cheese plate we ordered. The cheese plate included 4 unique cheeses, honey, raisins and a dehydrated tropical fruit. Note that I have no idea how much I paid for this cheese plate as the menu indicated ‘market value’ and I was never given an itemized reciept… fantastic nonetheless! The cheese plate was followed by calamari. I ordered the calamari as I was intrigued by the saffron aioli and the roasted pistachios. The presentation of the dish was beautiful, but really limited the aioli that I had been so interested in trying. Overall, the calamari was a little too salty for my liking, however, the calamari pieces were plump and meaty and any issue I had with the dish could have been easily resolved by simply requesting additional condiments. We polished off the both of our appetizers before the main course: the scallops. These were perfectly cooked and the rest of the dish was something I wouldn’t have necessarily expected with scallops but good.
Overall, good experience. If I lived nearby I would likely return to this restaurant… probably for the tasting menu ;)

Cons: No greeting at door even though we had reservations. Service was slow and uneventful while the restaurant wasn’t busy. The floor and table legs seemed to be dirty.
Pros: Small menu (I hate too many choices). Very tasty shrimp, carpaccio, calamari, and walleye. Drink selection very good for non-​alcoholic drinks. They had a ginger beer. Ambience was delightful except for cleanliness, very bistro feel.
Overall:
I didn’t feel connected to the place. That is the job of the service providers. They don’t need to be overbearing but try to make it a little special for everyone.

The recent revamp is a big step backward — fewer selections, higher prices, yuck. There used to be some affordable choices for a nice dinner out. Now it’s even more trendy, expensive… and easy to stay away from.

What happened to you First Course?
I want to begin by saying I used to be a fan of First Course and there is an earlier review where I supported this neighborhood business. However; my wife and I dined at First Course this past Friday. We haven’t been there for a little while and things have changed.
First, the menu has been reduced and they took off some of their tasty selections. This is completely fine. However; if you are going to reduce the menu, I expect increased execution. Unfortunately, execution has gone the other way.
I ordered the steak frites for $ 32. The steak was good and cooked to medium as requested. However’ the fries were a disaster. They were undercooked, soggy, & limp. If I’m going to pay $ 32 for steak and fries, I need the fries to be cooked right. Also, the website currently states the price as $ 28, which is not correct.
My wife got the special, which was a crab macaroni & cheese. It was OK. Nothing spectacular.
I also got a glass of wine. I would say it was more like ¾ of a glass of wine. I didn’t measure it out, but it seemed a little short of a normal wine pour.
Overall, it has changed and not for the better. Food execution has declined and is now overpriced for what you get. I’m sad to see this neighborhood spot struggling like this.

Excellent service (5 stars) and quite good food (4 stars) but the ambiance of this place is very tacky (1 star).
Walking up to the restaurant, one is greeted by clumsily strung chaser lights, a flashing «OPEN» sign, and a light up Pabst Blue Ribbon sign (?!). Inside feels like a cross between an Edina Grandma’s house (kitsch elegance), a dive bar, and a construction zone.
All this while serving new american style plates in the $ 20s and $ 30s price range. This place needs to decide what it is, and think about a more tasteful interior revamp.

The butter was good. I can cheerfully say that.
Poor service:
My guest and I waited to be greeted and were eventually told «pick any 2-​top.» We did and got 4 glasses of water. Lucky us? or just sloppy service?
Cheese plate was great — Manchego is one of my favorite, and the butter and bread was delish.
Poor Food:
My burger arrived with warm (not hot fries) and they were pretty dried out. My burger bun was so soggy it fell apart from the moisture. But why was my burger sitting out when my guest’s fish arrived at the table burnt? What was going on? I like blackened fish, but not burnt swordfish. We asked the waiter for a new bun and new fish. The new fish arrived fresh from the microwave in less than 8 minutes (despite taking over 40 minutes to arrive the first time, but with a surprise unmentioned shrimp sauce that gave me an allergic reaction. The server really did try hard, and offered to comp us dessert, but at that point, with my tongue swelling up, I just wanted to get out of there.
I really want to support local businesses and it kills me that Parka couldn’t survive and this place is still around.
We arrived at 6:20 on a Friday night with no reservation. By 7:15 and by the time our food had arrived, the place was disturbingly noisy.

My husband and I decided to check out their brunch on a Saturday morning. The exterior is misleading as the inside is a cozy and classy bistro. My husband ordered the biscuits & gravy and dogwood coffee. He said it was the «best coffee he has ever had» and continued to talk about it for the next week. I had the puffy pancake and tried three of the four mimosa flavors by utilizing the bottomless mimosa special. Overall very good. It was a quite pleasant experience with friendly staff and upscale food presentation. We will be back.

First off, like many of the Minneapolis neighborhood restaurants, figuring out where to park is a challenge. We just parked on the street behind the restaurant and walked a block.
First Course has a nice inside space that is good for an intimate dinner or a small group. They also have some nice outdoor seating.
The beer and wine selection was very nice and because the general theme is «First Courses» they have a great selection of Tapas and Appetizers. So the first decision is whether or not to have an appetizer or just sample everything.
We went the the Entrée route and were not disappointed. Both entrees were tasty.
It was on the high side price wise but not so much so that I was shocked. We spent about $ 35 per person for drinks, appetizer, dinner and dessert.

They say you can usually tell the quality of food by the bread that they serve. 4 stars for bread! Everything I had was great and fresh. Two downfalls, the dessert is just ok (I tried the flourless tart), and the main entrée took a very long time to come out. They were very busy and it looked like only one chef was on staff. Overall not bad, I may give them a second try!

I was visiting my son for a couple of days in Minneapolis. First Course was just a mile or so from his house and was recommended by his friend. It was cold, dark and rainy when we arrived at the little restaurant. It would be easy to miss from the road. The restaurant is comfortably small (intimate), warm and inviting. The décor and lighting was just right. The waitstaff was helpful and we were neither rushed nor ignored.
Everything on the menu sounded delicious including the daily specials. We started off with the Mediterranean Mussels in Red Curry. The mussels were plump and juicy and the broth divine. The heat level was perfect for us both. It was spicy but you could sill enjoy the delicate flavor of the mussels. We asked for more bread to sop up the yummy broth. We then had the Senorio de Montelarreina (Spanish sheep’s milk cheese) with banana-​date-​raisin-​ginger-​curry chutney. This little tapa packed loads of flavor and was a fine complement to the mussels.
When we first arrived we found that it was half-​price wine night, glasses and bottles. Nice surprise indeed. I had a Zinfandel and my son had a Riesling. Both were excellent and paired well with the meal.
For the entrée, we shared a Chicken Roulade with gorganzola and parmesan risotto, julienne vegetables and shallot pan jus. I wasn’t too excited about having chicken but the aforementioned friend had recommended it. It was a great choice, full of flavor, juicy, with plenty of sauce to enhance the perfect risotto and veggies.
The entire meal cost us $ 50. We were adequately full but that didn’t stop us from heading to pick up some gelato on the way home. We enjoyed the gelato and each other’s company while curled up on his couch. A lovely dinner indeed. We shall return.