There's a lineup of store-bought jams ladled into crystal glassware on the back bar of the new Luna & the Bear restaurant. Keep that in mind — they're going to feature heavily in this experience.
Luna & the Bear is the new restaurant inside the former Eat Street Social just off Nicollet Avenue S. in Minneapolis. The space has been given a light refresh, with an emphasis on light. What was once a den of cocktails is now a sun-dappled, all-day eatery with an upscale selection of drinks on the menu.
Light gray paint, vintage-styled new furniture and distinctive wallpaper have brightened the dining room that's still flanked by oxblood-colored booths.
Named for two beloved dogs, the restaurant has been erroneously described as dog-themed. That's not the case, but the two pooches do have a couple of majestic portraits hanging in the dining room, and the patio is dog-friendly. (Minneapolis doesn't allow dogs inside dining rooms.)
Luna & the Bear is the fifth restaurant from partners Eli Wollenzien and Deacon Eells, who also operate two Coalition restaurants (Excelsior and Minneapolis), the south Minneapolis bar Buster's and Red Sauce Rebellion in Excelsior. Here's what to know before you go — and what's with the jams.
Location: 18 W. 26th St., Mpls., 612-886-3081, lunaandthebearmn.com.
Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Mon.-Fri., and 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sat.-Sun., when brunch is available.
Cocktails: The bar is stocked with a beautiful selection of gins in addition to the usual liquor lineups. Guests have the option of building a cocktail ($13) with a specific gin along with a variety of savory-edged store-bought jams like a Spanish pepper jelly, a lavender-laced berry flavor and more. The varieties are displayed on the back bar for a visual show and tell before ordering.