Matt's Bar and Grill
Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis
Restaurant in Minneapolis, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
Matt's Bar and Grill on Cedar Ave is Minneapolis's credited home of the Jucy Lucy, the cheese-stuffed burger that defines the visit. Walk-ins are easy and lunch beats dinner for shorter waits and a cleaner food experience. Come once for the burger; return only if you're bringing someone new.
About Matt's Bar and Grill
What Matt's Bar and Grill Actually Is
Most people arrive at Matt's Bar and Grill at 3500 Cedar Ave expecting a generic neighborhood dive. That's the wrong frame. Matt's is one of Minneapolis's most specific dining destinations: the credited birthplace of the Jucy Lucy, the cheese-stuffed burger that has become a genuine point of civic pride in this city. If you're coming for anything else on the menu, recalibrate your expectations before you sit down.
Matt's has changed hands and evolved over the years, but the core offer remains the same: a no-frills bar environment where the burger is the entire point. The room is functional rather than designed, the service is casual, the experience is built around a single item done a specific way. If that sounds limiting, it is; and that's the value of it. You know exactly what you're getting.
Lunch vs. Dinner at Matt's
This is where the practical advice matters most. Lunch at Matt's is a meaningfully different experience from dinner. Midday visits are typically faster, less crowded, give you a cleaner read on the food itself. The Jucy Lucy is the same burger at noon as it is at 8 PM, but the wait times and ambient noise levels are not. If you're coming specifically to eat and assess whether the burger lives up to the reputation, lunch is the call. Dinner skews more toward regulars drinking and the room fills up, which makes it better for atmosphere but harder for a focused first or second visit.
If you've already been once and want to go deeper, evening visits are fine; the bar energy is genuine and not manufactured. But for anyone treating this as a purposeful food stop rather than a night out, the midday window is better value for time.
How to Approach a Return Visit
If you've had the Jucy Lucy already, the question is whether the rest of the bar program earns a second trip. For Minneapolis bar food in this price tier, Matt's competes directly with places like Brasa Rotisserie and Punch Neapolitan Pizza for casual, specific, single-focus eating. The honest answer is that Matt's is worth returning to if you bring someone who hasn't been, the burger remains the draw. For broader Minneapolis eating, see our full Minneapolis restaurants guide, which covers everything from Owamni to Spoon & Stable. If bars are your focus, our Minneapolis bars guide has the fuller picture. Booking at Matt's is easy, walk-ins are the norm and reservations are not typically required, which makes it one of the lowest-friction stops in the city.
Quick reference: Walk-in friendly, lunch preferred for food focus, burger is the only reason to come.
Planning details
- Location
- 3500 Cedar Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407
- Website
- mattsbar.com
- Phone
- +1 612 722 7072
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Matt's Bar and Grill sits unpretentiously on Cedar Avenue, with a working‑class, matter‑of‑fact vibe anchored by regulars rather than spectacle. The exterior makes no announcement; inside, the place operates with a steady, no‑frills logic that privileges a perfected burger format over seasonal reinvention. That emphasis on consistency and routine gives the room a lived‑in, familiar quality — the kind of place where neighbourhood rhythms dictate the experience and the Jucy Lucy itself functions as the cultural and culinary anchor.
Best For
This is a spot for people who want an unvarnished, classic burger experience: solo patrons at the bar, couples looking for an informal date night, or small groups drawn to a regional institution. The focus is on the signature Jucy Lucy and reliable bar food rather than a curated, changing menu, so it suits after‑work stops, late‑night cravings and anyone seeking the definitive Minneapolis take on a cheese‑stuffed burger. Regulars and repeat visits are part of the appeal.
Ordering Tips
The Jucy Lucy’s defining trait is the molten cheese sealed inside the patty, which the description highlights as a format with its own ‘physics’ and a ‘temperature differential’ that ‘demands a specific eating approach.’ Order with that in mind: expect a very hot, cheese‑filled center and take measured bites to manage the molten interior. Treat the burger as a crafted regional item — its consistency is the point, so order what the house does well rather than hunting for novelty.
Venue details
Ambiance
Homey dive bar atmosphere with iridescent 1950s wallpaper, simple and unpretentious with a neighborhood burger eatery feel established since 1954.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Counter Service
- Meal Pacing
- Quick Bite
- Capacity
- Small
Signature Dishes
- Jucy Lucy
- Double Cheeseburger
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Kincaid’s; Steakhouse, Steakhouse
- 112 Eatery; Italian, Italian
- Brasa Rotisserie; American Creole, American Creole
- Lobby Bar at the Peninsula; Modern American, Modern American
- Punch Neapolitan Pizza; Pizzeria, Pizzeria
Restaurant context
How Matt's Bar and Grill Compares in Minneapolis
Matt's operates in a completely different register from most of its Minneapolis peers. Kincaid's and Lobby Bar at the Peninsula are the obvious price-tier contrasts: both deliver polished, multi-course experiences where service and ambiance are part of the spend. Matt's offers none of that, charges accordingly. If your group is split between wanting a meal and wanting an experience, send half to Kincaid's and meet after.
For casual, single-focus eating, the more honest comparison is Brasa Rotisserie and Punch Neapolitan Pizza. Brasa wins on variety and is better for groups with different appetites. Punch wins on consistency and is easier to recommend to first-time visitors who want something reliably good. Matt's wins on specificity: no other stop in Minneapolis gives you the same single-item story. 112 Eatery is worth mentioning as the alternative if you want a late-night casual option with more range on the menu.
The bottom line: Matt's is the right call if the Jucy Lucy is the point of the visit. It is not the right call if you want flexibility, dietary options, or a memorable room. For a broader night out in Minneapolis, our full Minneapolis restaurants guide covers the full spectrum from Hai Hai to 112 Eatery.
Explore Minneapolis
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Matt's Bar and Grill guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Matt's Bar and Grill
| Venue | Cuisine | Booking Difficulty | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt's Bar and Grill | ; | Easy | No published awards |
| Kincaid’s | Steakhouse | Unknown | 2024 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #822 |
| 112 Eatery | Italian | Unknown | 2026 OAD Casual in North America Recommended2025 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence2023 OAD Gourmet Casual Dining in North America Ranked · #1772023 OAD Casual in North America Recommended |
| Brasa Rotisserie | American Creole | Unknown | 2025 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #6392024 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #6082023 OAD Cheap Eats in North America in Recommended |
| Lobby Bar at the Peninsula | Modern American | Unknown | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended2025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #5282025 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence2024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #5192023 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended |
| Punch Neapolitan Pizza | Pizzeria | Unknown | 2025 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #5582024 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #5622023 OAD Cheap Eats in North America in Recommended |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I book Matt's Bar and Grill?
Matt's Bar doesn't take reservations; it's a walk-in-only bar at 3500 Cedar Ave. Weekday lunches are your best bet for a short wait. Weekend evenings draw lines, especially for first-timers tracking down the original Jucy Lucy, so plan to arrive early or be ready to wait outside.
What should I order at Matt's Bar and Grill?
The Jucy Lucy is the only reason most people make the trip to Cedar Ave, it's the right call. It's a cheese-stuffed burger where the filling stays molten well past the first bite; let it rest before you eat it or you will regret it. If you're past your first visit, the bar program and sides are worth exploring, but the burger is the anchor.
What are alternatives to Matt's Bar and Grill in Minneapolis?
The Blue Door Pub is the main rival for the Jucy Lucy format and worth the comparison. For a broader Minneapolis bar-food experience, Brasa Rotisserie offers more menu range at a similar price point. If you're willing to step up in format and spend, 112 Eatery delivers serious cooking in an equally unfussy room.
Can Matt's Bar and Grill accommodate groups?
It's a small neighborhood bar on Cedar Ave, so large groups will struggle. Groups of four or fewer will find it manageable; anything larger should expect to split up or wait for tables to clear. This is not a venue to book out for a party.
Is Matt's Bar and Grill good for a special occasion?
Not in the traditional sense. Matt's is a no-frills bar, that's the point. If the occasion is someone's first Jucy Lucy, or a Minneapolis food landmark worth ticking off, it fits. For a birthday dinner or anniversary, Kincaid's or 112 Eatery will serve you better.
Does Matt's Bar and Grill handle dietary restrictions?
Matt's is a classic American bar built around a beef burger; it's not set up to accommodate much variation. Vegetarians, gluten-free diners, or anyone with complex restrictions should look elsewhere. This is a single-format spot and it doesn't pretend otherwise.
Is Matt's Bar and Grill good for solo dining?
Yes, arguably the best way to experience it. Counter and bar seating means solo visitors don't need to wait for a full table, the no-frills atmosphere means there's no awkwardness eating alone. Show up at lunch on a weekday and you'll be in and out efficiently.
