You wanted to be the first to know...and we aim to please. Last night, we swung by the opening of Bradstreet, the new restaurant/lounge/bar concept at the Graves 601 Hotel.
Finally, a cocktail-centric spot with small plates and swanky atmosphere, where everything is under $10. Yes, $10.
John Scott Bradstreet was declared the most famous Minnesotan back in his day, right around 1900 and was the local tastemaker of his time. He traveled to Asia and brought Japanese aesthetic influences to America. (Owner Ben Graves gave us a history lesson, as you can see.)
The venue with the Bradstreet moniker reflects its namesake's diverse interests and era. The bar is stocked with rye, which was the alcohol back in Bradstreet's day. Vodka is not the mixer of choice here.
You won't miss it. The signature cocktail was concocted by renowned bartender/mixologist Toby Maloney of The Violet Hour in Chicago and Milk & Honey in York. The Bradstreet is a delightfully balanced combination of Jim Bean rye, an egg white, lemon, house-made jasmine and ginger syrups (Japanese influenced!) and Bradstreet bitters. The preparation is a show that brings new meaning to concept of shaken. The manual labor pays off in the frothy and perfectly subtle tangy drink.
We also recommend the gin-based Juliet & Romeo (ladies, first). Your cocktail comes with a "sidecar," which means the extra in a mini-carafe.
Even the water served at Bradstreet is better. It's triple distilled.
You can get the full menu of shareables from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. from Tuesday through Saturday, so late nighters can stay downtown and enjoy sliders (salmon, grass-fed beef or spicy lamb for $6) and pasta nachos (delicious, we promise) in the middle of downtown.
However, don't look for rowdy crowds at this bar. Once the seats are filled, you'll just have to wait. Art and awesome cocktails take time.

The Bradstreet, $10, available at Bradstreet Restaurant, first floor of Graves 601 Hotel, 601 1st Av. N Mpls., 612-677-1100.

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