Earlier this year as winter was dragging on and Minneapolis was trapped under the weight of a certain sports ball event, a new vegetarian restaurant opened its doors and brightened the grey days. We lost a lot of good veg places last year to retirements and lost rental contracts so getting something new was a great thing for us vegan types.

Fig and Farro took over an old space that was home to one of the more successful places in town. For reasons I do not know it changed names and then didn't really seem to do too well. Oh well. Their loss, our gain.

Fig & Farro has a sustainable, low-carbon footprint sort of mission as well as a delicious menu.

I have eaten here a handful of times now and it is delightful. They really seem to shine with their pasta dishes. That said they have now changed to a summer menu I am dying to go try.

Rich, luscious, and rounded out with local bits and pieces such as the vegan cheese platter from makers Punk Rawk Labs(divine).

They have quite an imaginative cocktail list and even though the one I liked the most (The Copenhagen Hotel) has since gone away, there's plenty of new ones I look forward to tasting.

They have Minnesota brews on tap and Aquavit from Tattersall distillery.

The only slight critical thing I have to say is the service is unsteady. Always friendly to be sure, but things come out of order or not at all and you have to ask. We've gotten things we didn't order and on the All You Can Eat $12 soup night (which I did enjoy a great deal) we were a bit early. So we waited for them to set up but even by the time they were supposed to be going (5 pm) they still aren't ready at a quarter after.

These are the issues of a new staff and a relatively new space. I think it'll work itself out and it's definitely not a reason to not visit. And anyway they have multiple vegan desserts to pick from so that fixes a lot.

See some of my pics! Vegan Cheese platter, Cocktails, Cashew Pesto Pasta, Blueberry Cinnamon Roll, Strawberry Shortcake and more.....