Twin Cities Bar Review

The Independent map - Tagzania

Despite being only a few years old, The Independent has become a mainstay of Uptown drinking and dining life. Good beer, great bistro food, plenty of people watching, occasional live DJs, and extended happy hours all contribute to this great Uptown venue.

• Beer - An excellent, but small selection of good beer. My recent favorite, Bell's Two-Hearted, is always on and relatively affordable at around $4 a pint. A special note on liquor: The Independent is one of the few places in Uptown that serves Hendrick's gin, for those of you who have developed a taste for it.


• Food - Here's where "The Indy" shines. Great food at reasonable prices. $5 appetizers such as chicken quesadillas, duck dim sum, massive onion rings, and colossal plates of loaded nachos are available during happy hour and after 10pm.


• Atmosphere - The atmosphere varies depending on what time of day and what day of the week you visit. Weekends are always busy with mostly a younger crowd, but weeknights can bring in a good mix of people. The waitstaff and bartenders are always friendly and skilled at service.

Final analysis - Great for parties, hanging out with friends, or just people watching.