Burgers, bourbon and beer—three ingredients that can make any Father’s Day complete. Whether dad loves to catch the big game, enjoy a good burger and drink or just hang out with family, these restaurants, The Tavern Grill, 3rd Act Brewery, Lakes Tavern and Grill and Tamarack Tap Room will surely be a treat. So, whoever you’re celebrating with, whether it be your dad, grandpa, brother or husband, treat them with a day of good grub and even better drinks.
Tamarack Tap Room
The slogan at Tamarack Tap Room is a perfect fit for Father’s Day—“Beer. Burgers. Bourbon.” The local restaurant features a wide menu chock-full of interesting eats, tasty desserts and on-tap beers.
Featured favorites include the smoked turkey sandwich (texas toast, cheddar cheese, bacon and cranberry basil aioli), Ellsworth cheese curds fried in Summit EPA batter (and served with blueberry ketchup!) and the bacon marmalade burger (beef patty, blue cheese, bacon marmalade and pickled red onion).
Rounding out the menu is the fan-favorite whiskey caramel bread pudding (housemade bread pudding drizzled with caramel and served with ice cream and whipped cream).
The brick-walled pub also features 70 local craft and imported beers on tap—from Minneapolis-based Surly “Mapping the Multiverse” IPA and Stillwater-based Lift Bridge “Mango Blonde” blonde ale to St. Joseph, Minn.-based Milk & Honey “Cider of the Woods” cider and Duluth, Minn.-based Bent Paddle “Wt: Raspberry Lemonade” sour.
And the 200-seat patio offers plenty of space for a socially-distanced lunch or dinner.
Tamarack Tap Room
8418 Tamarack Village
tamaracktaproom.com
The Tavern Grill
Known for being the home of the build your own, The Tavern Grill is a beloved restaurant spanning across the Twin Cities—with locations in Woodbury, Arden Hills, Blaine, Edina and as far north as Fargo, N.D.
To celebrate dad, The Tavern Grill will host a Father’s Day brunch, complete with typical brunch favorites. Diners can also expect all the usual favorites, from build-your-own pizzas and salads to chef-built burgers and sandwiches.
If you are not ready to hit the town yet, there are plenty of ways to enjoy The Tavern Grill. Marketing manager Cara Wallskog says, “We continue to offer curbside takeout and home delivery (through DoorDash) … Take-out continues to be very strong and we have been very thankful for the community support.”
The Tavern Grill has also implemented an array of COVID-safe protocols, including ActivePure Technology—Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certified to eliminate DNA/RNA viruses in the air and on surfaces—as well as the enhanced cleaning procedures.
“We wanted our staff and guests to have confidence when returning to work and/or dining with us,” Wallskog says. “We have pivoted, changed and learned a lot of the last year. We’re excited for what the next year has to come!”
The Tavern Grill
772 Bielenberg Drive
thetaverngrill.com
3rd Act Craft Brewery
Calling all beer fanatics! 3rd Act Craft Brewery opened three years ago and business has been booming since. “We had a large crowd [in 2019] for Father’s Day,” says owner Deb Long. This year, brewery-goers can ditch the crowd and enjoy the same delicious brews and snacks for takeout.
“For Father’s Day we will have our summer lineup, which includes a Belgium
Wit, Hefeweizen, blueberry and southwest lager and seltzers,” Long says. “We will be offering treats for dad and have drawings for beer and merchandise.”
The 3rd Act menu has been perfected over the past few years, offering made-from-scratch pizzas (from veggie to classic pepperoni to margherita) as well as cream and butter pretzels, plus newer additions including hot dogs and brats, chips, salsa and queso. As for brews, Long recommends crowd-favorite East Coast Hazy IPA, a signature hoppy brew, or gluten-free hard seltzers, including flavors like tangerine, peach, cranberry and mojito.
If you would rather takeout than dine-in, you’re in luck. 3rd Act offers takeout and curbside to-go for their delicious beers and food items.
“COVID-19 has been a challenge for everyone as well as businesses,” Long says. “It’s always nice to hear that people have worked together during this pandemic. At 3rd Act Brewery, our customers have been very loyal and continued to support our takeout/curbside services.”
3rd Act Brewery
4120 Radio Drive
3rdactbrew.com
Lakes Tavern and Grill
After shopping around Woodbury Lakes with dad, head over to Lakes Tavern and Grill for tasty burgers and drinks. Known for their delicious salads, flatbreads and burgers, Lakes Tavern and Grill is serving up meals and deals that dad won’t want to miss—including buy one, get one on all burgers.
Stick to the classics, like a California burger or a basic burger, or try some of the more creative options, like the cranberry turkey burger served with a cranberry sauce and blue cheese slaw; the portabella juicy Lucy with roasted portabella, brie, balsamic onion jam and mayo; or the chicken and waffle with waffles, crispy chicken and maple sautéed greens.
Plus, head to the bar for drinks or grab a tasty dessert to celebrate dad—carrot cake, doughnut bread pudding, New York style cheesecake and more.
Lakes Tavern and Grill
9240 Hudson Road
lakestavernandgrill.com
Grill Out Gifts
Summer is the perfect time for a grill out, so why not spoil dad with a few new tools to step up the barbecue game? These tools from Frattallone’s Ace Hardware are sure to put on a show.
Get a bit more creative with your side with veggies and seafood, but do not let them fall through the grates of the grill—dad will love the Traeger grill basket ($31.99), featuring a smoother roasting surface and an easier way to grill the little things.
However often dad grills, he will always need the tools. Snag the three-piece Weber stainless steel grill tool set ($36.99) to ensure that he always has the gadgets he needs.
Look the part of grill master and protect your hands while doing so. The Weber premium grilling gloves ($39.99) protects from the hottest grill, lid and tools.
Add that delicious smoky flavor to your burgers with the Weber flavorizer bar ($49.99). The set of five bars catch drippings that add the tasty flavors, and they are easy to install.
Frattallone’s Ace Hardware
1750 Weir Drive
acehardware.com
