The Imperial Room

Meh. The food was pretty average, the atmosphere wasn’t great, and I just wasn’t impressed. We only went here because we had one of those
vouchers. I guess that’s usually a sign that a place is struggling a little for business.

I used to love this place — never a line to get in the door, and never a cover charge at the door. Last night (Halloween) was atrocious. There was a line of around 10 people at the door, and looking in the window we could see there were exactly two people on the dance floor. But — they weren’t letting anyone in the door! (Except for some top secret VIP people? A private party upstairs?) I was in line with a bunch of friends ready to buy some drinks, and this place obviously didn’t want our business. I gave up and left, and then there was a line of about 50 people, still not moving. I don’t get this place anymore! Won’t be back anytime soon.

This is probably my favorite spot to go to downtown.
The security is top notch, the music is always hoppin’, and they have multiple bars to get drinks. I personally enjoy the upstairs more than the downstairs. Usually less crowded and the music is perfect. I like the ambiance. There is the dance floor vibe on one side, and the couches and chairs to lounge on the other. The people there are (usually) better dressed because of the standards they keep at the doors. Yes, if you look shady you will probably not be let in, or you’ll get a pat down. Sorry not sorry, but there were issues in the past so this is actually a good thing.

Best business trip I’ve had! Matt makes martini magic. Awesome bartender with a great attitude! See you next trip!
SIFC

Disappointed. … again! Kitchen closed! This is our 3^rd time with the same situation. Very sad. Group of 7 going somewhere else, too bad. Business that doesn’t want money.

Martini flights!!! As a martini girl, this was like a gift from God. They were delicious and pretty and I felt like a lady drinking them until I got a little drunk.
No prices were listed on the menu though-​a red flag for those of us that venture to Downtown Minneapolis once a month. The three mini martinis were $ 20. Lesson learned I guess.
Will go back but only during happy hour. Cheers!

Cheap drinks, fantastic food on the not so expensive side as well! A great place to grab a happy hour drink with friends with their relaxed seating in the back. One of my favorite bars to go to downtown!

I had been to this place once before and had a fabulous time out with friends. The place was super busy and the music was great. So, of course i’d want to go back for my bachelorette party. Well, this time it wasn’t so great.
We arrived after 10:00, by when you’d think there would be something going on. There was hardly anyone in the place. There was a female bartender who was great to us. We stayed for a little bit and then decided to go down the street, to somewhere a little more lively.
Here’s why i’ll never go back — on the way out a member of my party had the unfortunate event of walking out and her dress flying up from the wind, exposing her underwear a little. As she was trying to push her skirt back down one of the bouncers egged her in a skeevy manner while the other simply said «That’s disgusting.» I felt it was rude and uncalled for. Neither of them had any right to say those things. So they’ve lost a customer (and probably a few more) for good. I don’t think i’ve ever been so angry in my life.

Cheap drinks, bartenders can be dicks but with some of the clientle they need to be.
I enjoy the ambiance and people that frequent the place. It is great for people watching either inside or out in the street.
Some of their happy hour features are great deals especially the service industry tuesdays!

Une petite bière en after work. La spécialité de la maison semble être les Martinis, mais attention, n’attendez pas le célèbre apéritif Rosso ou Blanco. Il semblerait plutôt qu’il s’agisse de coktails, dont l’un se rapproche furieusement du Bailey’s.
Rien d’extraordinaire en soit, mais au milieu d’une tournée de bars, ça passé inaperçu!

The bouncer, «Matt», is rude as hell. I left my sweater at the bar and when I returned to retrieve it, 2 foot tall Matt proceeded to berate me as if I were a child. Otherwise, it’s a good bar. But if «Matt» tries me again I won’t be so nice.

Two buddies and I had a $ 40 Groupon that was expiring today. We entered the small horseshoe shaped establishment and sat down at a bar table. We found out later that there is seating upstairs and downstairs though.
The music was pumping, but at least it was good music. A plus in the Cities lately, basically classic rock. Lots of Skynard, Petty, and Zeppelin.
We ordered some buffalo chicken tenders to start us off and some large Surly Furious. Mmmmmm! Surly Furious. If you travel to Minnesota, you have to try this stuff. The chicken strips came out within ten minutes and they were scrumptious. Just the right amount of spicy, and I LOVE spicy. The blue cheese was perfect to mellow out the hippity hot sauce. Very nice start to a dinner and apps are ½ off during happy hour!
Two of us ordered the grilled chicken buffalo sandwich, I got the side salad and my buddy the fries. My other friend got the chicken cordon bleu. The salad was full and the dressing was again awesome on the side. I loved how the lettuce leaves were fresh and everything was top quality!
The sandwiches were great size for a bar food sandwich and my other friend loved his chicken cordon bleu. We were three happy campers drinking beer and chomping on a great dinner.
Lots of laughs and enjoying good times.
The service was awesome! The bartender was fantastic and our server was top notch. Furious was always ready when we wanted it. Heaven.
Lots of laughs, great food, awesome beer = 4 Stars!

I have been and always will be a fan of Imperial Rooms. I believe they have the best happy hour around. In addition they have week night specials that area also great. We went for dinner on a Thursday night and were able to get 2 for 1 martinis and $ 3 taps. Not to shabby. During happy hours they also have many $ 5 plates which are delish — the the potato croquettes are yummy.
Service was great as usual. Whether its busy or slow they quality is the same. The waitress did mess up my husbands flatbread but he ended up loving the one he got instead.
With new places coming and going in this area, Imperial Room seems to be a solid staple on 1^st Ave.

Went here to meet up with friends and we were starving, so we decided to grab dinner as well. I had the strawberry champagne cocktail, which was good, but it wasn’t near cold enough. I switched to beer, something local which was good.
For dinner I had their fish tacos which were excellent. Soft, flour tortillas and a creamy, spicy sauce with lots of cilantro. The only damper to the evening was that I had just one bite of these delicious tacos left and our waitress sloshed beer into my plate as she was setting the beer down, straight onto my last bite! :(
We did not visit the upstairs for dancing or the DJ.

I have been to the Twin Cities four times and I have been to the Imperial 3 out of those 4 times. It’s probably my favorite spot in downtown Minneapolis.
DJs are solid. No cover. It’s perfect if you want to dance your socks off and don’t take people too seriously. Ladies, go with male friends if you don’t have the guts to tell guys to leave you alone.

Really, who goes to a dance club to eat? Well, apparently, this guy… mistake #1. There really wasn’t anything to prove me wrong as to why I should ever come back to this place when the Loon is right u the block. For Happy Hour prices, it was about the same as I ever expected.
As for the creepiness, I’d give it 5 stars. Just an overall weird vibe that made me wonder how many showers I’d have to take when I got home.

I find the mashed potato bar concept fascinating.
The drinks are well-​priced. There’s no cover. The songs are good, if not ear-​blastingly loud. The walk upstairs to the second dancefloor can be rather tricky for the judgment-​impaired, but hey, that’s the risk you take. There’s a decent amount of sitting area, but why would you want to do that when what you’ve come to do is dance. Dance I say!

Great for happy hour before Twins games. Decent food at good prices and cheap beers. Not the best service but it’s average most of the time. A pretty chill spot; it does get busy closer to 7pm and maybe it gets wacky late at night, I dunno. But it’s among the better places to go before a Twins game or to just hang out in the Warehouse District. There are a lot of dives nearby that are much worse.

Oh Imperial Room, I love dancing on your tiny dance floor to hot jamz. I sort of love that the bar is in a separate room from the dancing, so the bartender and I can actually hear each other. Your drink prices are okay, and your choice of rail booze is a step above gag-​inducing (which is all one can ask for when ordering from the bottom, really).
I do not like your overcrowded and weed-​smoke-​filled «VIP» lounge, and I do not like that someone in your bar stole my friend’s phone. I’m also sketched out by the guy laying face down in a pool of blood outside your bar, but that probably had very little to do with you.
The Imperial Room: a ridiculous time every time.

Two words. Mad Mardigan.
Best DJ in Minneapolis for 90s/​Hip Hop. Unfortunately, due to this very reason, Imperial Room draws a sketch crowd.
But you can’t beat the music. So roll fifteen deep and party all night long.

Imperial Room has great happy hour specials. Stopped in here yesterday around 8 pm before heading out to take advantage of the $ 2 dollar domestic taps. Not many places where you can get a summit EPA for that cheap. Unfortunately my Michigan Bell’s Two-​Hearted Ale is not included on the list (I think it is on special during earlier happy hours).
They have half off appetizers during their after work happy hour which I find to be quite delicious, try the calamari.
No cover is a plus and I had a great night dancing here in the past when a DJ was spinning on the second floor. Give it a try after work and early evening before the crowds arrive and I think you will be pleasantly surprised.