Review: 501 Club

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If you like the 331 Club in Northeast—which we know many of you do, since we can hardly squeeze in there on the weekends or even get a table for Baller A$$ Trivia—you're also going to like the new 501 Club in downtown Minneapolis.

Approaching the new spot from Washington Avenue, it's very easy to miss the 501's entrance in-between the doors to the Caribou Coffee and fitness center on the mini-mallish store front. Yes, it's kind of a weird setting. But when you walk through the door, the optical illusion is revealed—the 501 is, in fact, huge.

On the lower level, a stage sits opposite of a large bar; the upper level has its own bar, with booths and pool tables. Just from a quick look, you could fit maybe three of the 331's inside the new 501, that's how big the space is. But irregardless of the size difference, the bars share the same relaxed vibe—the daily drink specials are written on a chalk board, PBR Tall Boys are available and there's a good selection of qualilty tap beers on hand. (If you're a regular at the 331, you'll notice that the bar shares some of the staff, too.)

Another advancement made by Jarrett Oulman at the 501 is the menu. The short list at the 331 is charming, with its hush puppies and chips and sandwiches, but with the full sized kitchen in the back, the 501 has more selections with the same food creativity. You can choose from several sandwiches (to which we recommend adding avacado), to pizzas and quick snacks.

And here's maybe the best part: despite the downtown tradition of cover charges on the weekends, the 501 also features the 331's policy of "never a cover". That means seeing any of the live music that's usually reserved for the small stages in St. Paul, and also some of the cool attitude from Northeast, is now also available downtown in Minneapolis. 

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