The Bradstreet Crafthouse

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The new first floor restaurant at the Graves 601 Hotel opened last Saturday, adding a twist to the 1^st Avenue scene with their small plates and cocktails approach for the early and late night crowd.

Decorated as you might expect for the hip, trendy hotel, The Bradstreet Crafthouse Restaurant, is a contemporary, chic space made up of a main dining room, a chef’s counter, and a lounge (Parlour Room). With ample use of backlighting and colored lanterns adding just enough light to leave a few dark corners, the overall effect is downright sultry.

I had been looking forward to trying the food more than the cocktails, but after tasting a few items my thoughts quickly changed. The food, while diverse in global influence (from ceviche to Thai chicken sates) and varied to accommodate any palate (vegetable plates and hummus to grass-fed beef sliders), was good but under-whelmed me. I tasted several items but only one dish stood out – the Niman Ranch Lamb Ribs. Sesame soy glazed and served with a soy-marinated daikon and house-made mustard; these ribs were spot on.

But the cocktails… oh the cocktails. This was another story. Under the direction of Toby Maloney, cocktails at the Bradstreet are created as tasty works of art. Maloney is a master bartender from New York who approaches cocktails not only as a profession but as a passion. His philosophy is, “drinks are only as good as the least quality and interesting of its ingredients”, drives the overall standard of the Bradstreet’s cocktails, which are made with daily fresh squeezed juices and house-made bitters.

With a cocktail list that’s both exquisite and extensive, the menu is designed to impress. Whether it’s a classic such as an Old Fashioned or their signature drink, The Bradstreet Cocktail which tastes of ginger and jasmine, you’re sure to find a drink to please your palate.

And at The Bradstreet Crafthouse Restaurant, they are all good cocktails. Believe me, I tried a few, and will attest to their tastiness. Almost too tasty, in fact. Thankfully my husband stopped me early (it was a Tuesday night after all.) Waking up on Wednesday morning was a lot more enjoyable than it would have been if I’d had my way!

As a special treat that night we were entertained by Toby, who whipped up cocktails with ease. Twirling martini shakers, lighting the glasses on fire and adding finishing touches with such flourish, we couldn’t help but stare with our mouths hanging open. Although Toby will be at the Bradstreet only intermittently, as he commutes from New York, he has trained The Bradstreet bartenders well. One bartender described the extensive training as long, but exciting days spent tasting and understanding each ingredient that goes into making top-notch cocktails. A sure recipe for success.

Whether it’s an after work drink or a late night stop, The Bradstreet Crafthouse Restaurant is worth checking out. For me, their loungy approach to nightlife, and dangerously delicious cocktails, will bring me back for more.

Katie Cannon is the blogger behind Camacho Watcho as well as an up-and-coming Twin Cities photographer. She both works and plays in the Mill District of downtown Minneapolis.

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