Demi

“Absolutely impeccable on every way. I went alone on a Saturday night to read my book and enjoy good food… my expectations were not only met, but blown away! Deserving of a Michelin star once they come to MPLS!”

“Demi is my favorite restaurant in MN! This was my third time dining here but my first since 2023. Demi is one of those rare spots where every course is delicious and has such depth of flavor. My favorites this time were the squash campanelle, sablefish, and foie gras terrine. It’s worth noting that their cocktails are absolutely wonderful and my favorite i’ve had in MN. Don’t leave without trying their espresso martini with amaro (if you’re an espresso martini lover like me) it was top 3 for me and i order them everywhere. Minnesota is so lucky to have a place as amazing and special as Demi.”

“Dining at Demi feels less like a meal and more like being invited into a carefully choreographed performance. The setting is strikingly beautiful and intimate: roughly twenty seats, all facing the open kitchen, creating a sense of shared anticipation and almost reverence. You’re not tucked away in a corner—you’re fully present, watching precision, artistry, and calm confidence unfold in real time. There’s something almost meditative about it. The service was impeccable in the truest sense—attentive without being intrusive, deeply knowledgeable, and genuinely warm. Every interaction felt intentional, as though the staff understood they were guiding an experience, not just delivering courses. I opted for the tasting menu with the wine pairing, and it was nothing short of transformative. Each course built on the last, weaving together technique, creativity, and restraint. The pairings were thoughtful and seamless, elevating the food without ever overpowering it, and adding an extra layer of narrative to the evening. The food itself was extraordinary—bold yet balanced, refined but never precious. Every bite deliberate, was placed on the plate without purpose. You could taste the discipline, the imagination, and the respect for ingredients in every course. As if the evening weren’t already memorable enough, they send you off with a small to-go box of delicate sweets—an unassuming but deeply charming gesture. Tiny, beautifully crafted confections meant to be enjoyed later, extending the experience beyond the dining room and into the walk home. It felt generous, personal, and very on-brand for Demi: nothing flashy, just quietly exceptional. Demi is one of the best meals I’ve ever had – it’s a destination. If you appreciate thoughtful, intimate dining and want an experience that lingers long after the final course, this is an absolute must.”

“This place was great. Very high attention to detail in the food and by all the staff members. We were greated at the door with a free coat check and a bartender to order a cocktail before we were seated. The entire experience lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes, which I found to be a bit long. Nonetheless, the meal is more of an experience where you sit around the kitchen area and see the chefs prepare your food. There seemed to be two waves of seating throughout the night so most people in the restaurant ate the same courses together. In total there were about 12 plates. Each dish was small and elevated, but we were more than full by the end of the evening. I recommend dining here if you're looking to celebrate a special occasion or are a foodie who appreciates quality.”

“This restaurant, a Relais & Châteaux property, aspires to, and achieves a standard few kitchens in America can match. It is, in many ways, the closest I have encountered to the perfection of Chef Thomas Keller owner of the famed The French Laundry. At Demi, Chef Gavin Kaysen leads a rigorous kitchen with the generosity of a great host. His staff contacted me the morning of our reservation to confirm my wife’s semi vegetarian eating preferences. The name Gavin Kaysen was familiar to me, as we have eaten at Mara at the four seasons many times after staying there for a concert or baseball game. What was amazing was it was only days before our reservation that I happened upon his triumph on Chopped All-Stars, where he cooked for the sake of his Charity and gave his winnings to the Children’s Cancer Research Fund. His televised victory, impressive though it was, did little to foreshadow the rarefied discipline and generosity with his time that I would observe in person. From the arc of the horseshoe counter, we watched a kitchen in synchronized motion: cooks moving with unspoken coordination, sauces placed with precision, garnishes set artistically on each plate. The food was a narrative of flavor, texture, and restraint; It was not heavily influenced by seasoning. It was rich and unique. The small, almost secret surprises between courses and the wine pairings, each deepened the quality of the evening. What lingers, though, is not just the cuisine, but the generous spirit behind it. At the peak of first service, with every seat in the room filled and the kitchen at full tilt, Kaysen and I caught eyes and he paused to step over and join us for a few moments. It was not a gesture of obligation but of genuine curiosity and warmth, a reminder that great dining is not solely about what is on the plate but who stands behind it. This is a restaurant I would choose without hesitation to host clients, friends, or any special guest I wished to see experience a level of elegance, not often seen in Minneapolis. Mr. Kaysen told me about his next project on the horizon in Naples, I suspect my future travel plans may soon be shaped not by destination, but by his kitchen.”