Ben and I rarely need an excuse to go out to eat...but Valentine’s Day is a good one. We decided to grab a drink at the newly opened Eat Street Social before heading to Piccolo for, what would soon become, one of my favorite meals.

Eat Street Social opened a few weeks ago in the Tacos Morelos' space on 26th and Nicollet. The restaurant is beautiful with a tin ceiling, exposed brick, an eclectic mix of art, and a nice bar. They serve traditional drinks which have been updated with new flavors + a handful of old school soda fountain concoctions (phosphates, egg creams...yes, they make a Green River). The drinks are not only delicious but also incredibly fun which is not a surprise once you learn that the head bartenders came from Town Talk and Chicago's The Violet Hour. Oh, and they also own Bittercube, a well-known bitters maker...

To summarize, they know what they're doing...

...the only thing missing was a plate of Town Talk's garlic, parsley fries.

Next came Piccolo. I think that most people in Minneapolis who follow some type of food blog, magazine, or [wait for it] Bourdain or Zimmern have heard of the tiny (36-seater) restaurant on 43rd and Bryant. It has been praised by nearly everyone who has stepped foot within its doors...which means one thing: the bar has been set high...which is totally acceptable as the meal was amazing.

Here is a rundown of what we ate:

1. King crab and lardo pave with celery, avocado purée and cocktail sauce

2. Chicken liver and porcini agnolotti with juniper, sage and smoked brown butter

3. Charcoal grilled octopus "shawarma" with yogurt, pickled green tomatoes, white asparagus and garlic purée

4. Alina duck with bresaola, prunes, lentils du puy and cabbage

5. Short rib with morcilla, puffed rice, cauliflower and compressed celery

6. Chocolate pound cake with blood orange, medjool date and cocoa nibs

Charcoal grilled octopus "shawarma" with yogurt, pickled green tomatoes, white asparagus and garlic puree.

Short rib with morcilla, puffed rice, cauliflower and compressed celery.