Restaurant in Minneapolis, United States
The Jucy Lucy benchmark. Come hungry.
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.
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, and 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.
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, and 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.
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.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt's Bar and Grill | Easy | — | |||
| Kincaid’s | Steakhouse | Unknown | — | ||
| 112 Eatery | Italian | Unknown | — | ||
| Brasa Rotisserie | American Creole | Unknown | — | ||
| Lobby Bar at the Peninsula | Modern American | Unknown | — | ||
| Punch Neapolitan Pizza | Pizzeria | Unknown | — |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
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.
The Jucy Lucy is the only reason most people make the trip to Cedar Ave, and 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.
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.
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.
Not in the traditional sense. Matt's is a no-frills bar, and 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.
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.
Yes, and arguably the best way to experience it. Counter and bar seating means solo visitors don't need to wait for a full table, and 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.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
