Three and a half years ago, Steven Brown, renowned Minneapolis chef and owner of award-winning Linden Hills favorite Tilia, opened his second restaurant, this time in Lynnhurst. Brown, who lives in Minneapolis with his wife Stacey and daughter Sonia, is one of the influencers responsible for propelling Minneapolis into the national food scene. Brown has been a James Beard finalist and was named Thrillist Minneapolis/St. Paul Best Chef in 2016, among other honors. Aside from running his own restaurants, he has trained and mentored other chefs who continue to raise Minneapolis’ culinary reputation.
St. Genevieve is a French restaurant, inspired by the Parisian buvette, or refreshment room. While St. Genevieve certainly fits the bill for a special occasion dinner, Brown wants the neighborhood to think of Genevieve as just that – a refreshment room, a small, intimate, everyday café where people like to gather. With its elegant tin ceiling and beautiful sprawling bar, St. Genevieve is certainly a place people like to gather.
To achieve that “everyday” feel, Brown has many offerings in addition to the distinctly French entrees such as bouillabaisse and the popular Madame Tartine. The small plates are tasty and shareable, amazing omelettes are available any time of day, and happy hour features one of the best cheeseburgers in town, as well as delicious frites and fresh oysters. In addition to the food specials during happy hour, St. Genevieve offers excellent quality wines by the glass at happy-hour prices. The best part is that happy hour is six days a week – Monday through Friday 3-6 p.m. and 9-10 p.m., and Saturday 9-11 p.m. Brown said he keeps half of the restaurant open for walk-ins, to encourage people to stop by for a drink and appetizer in the afternoon, or after a show on the weekend, not just the fancy special occasion dinner. Genevieve also offers a Sunday supper special and a weekend brunch. Brown switches up the menu often, adding popular specials to the menu after testing them out, and focusing on seasonal ingredients.
In addition to the food of course, St. Genevieve is known for its French wines, particularly the Champagne, as well as cremants, which are sparkling wines that are not made in the Champagne region of France. While the wine list is predominantly French, the restaurant has many great values, including a delicious patio-worthy rosé on tap. St. Genevieve recently obtained its full liquor license and has added classic cocktails, such as the Vesper and the Death in the Afternoon (rumored to have been invented by Ernest Hemingway).
Brown and his talented team love their location on the bustling 50th and Bryant corner and are glad to be part of the Lynnhurst community where they support many charitable organizations and community initiatives. It’s safe to say St. Genevieve has become a staple of our vibrant neighborhood.