Red Rabbit
The newest member of the Red Cow family—owner Luke Shimp’s insanely popular burger-centric restaurant with several Twin Cities locations—Red Rabbit strays from the elevated bar food vibe to offer Italian classics, pizzas and wood-fired plates. Located on Washington Avenue with an easily recognizable red tufted exterior, it’s a welcome addition to the North Loop’s ever-expanding restaurant scene. The interior lacks the flamboyant touches of most Red Cow locations, instead showcasing a beautiful zinc bar, plenty of exposed brick and minimalist lighting. Chef Todd Macdonald’s proficiency in Italian cuisine shines throughout the menu. I always start with an order of oysters, the daily selection served with traditional accouterments like horseradish, lemon and a champagne mignonette that never disappoints. The pizzas are great, I’m particularly fond of the pie topped with shaved fennel, house sausage (honestly, anything on the menu with the fennel sausage is a winner), mozzarella and pecorino. Moving on to the mains, the chicken parmesan is exactly what you want it to be, a humble and delicious ode to Italian-American red sauce classics everyone loves. In the pasta category, the cavatelli is my choice, as it comes with a healthy dose of that aforementioned sausage. Finish it all off with an order of sticky toffee cake with dates, salted caramel sauce and candied orange garnish—or take it to go if you downed the whole plate of chicken parmesan… it’s really an entrée for two. This is the place to take your picky younger sibling, friends and family from out of town, a large group with varying tastes and budgets. It works for a romantic date, a trendy late night cocktail or a casual after work meal with coworkers. That’s the genius of Red Rabbit, it appeals to the masses with uncomplicated satisfying food, but doesn’t compromise quality or authenticity.
Contact
788 Grand Ave
St Paul, MN 55105
651.444.5995
201 N Washington Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612.767.8855
redrabbitmn.com
Photograph from Red Rabbit on Facebook.