Rock the Garden is back at the Sculpture Garden after its big renovation, so there's good reason to visit the Walker's new-ish restaurant, Esker Grove. One may think the name is a little strange — Minnesota Monthly editor Rachel Hutton joked that Esker is now going to be one of the most popular baby names of the year — but "esker" means a ridge of sand or gravel deposited by a glacial stream.
The restaurant is basically a modern glass box where the museum's north entrance used to be, next to the theater. Chef Doug Flicker, of the former Piccolo, created the menu so it has an arty, experimental feel, befitting the museum and sculpture garden that surround it. Flicker's dinner menu is perhaps little abstract for the Minnesota palate; for example, a dish that pairs the root vegetable salsify with grapefruit and gjetost — the sweet, fudgy Norwegian cheese.
Rachel thought the seafood was quite good — she had a fish entrée and a softshell crab sandwich — but considering the amount of turnover the Walker's restaurant has had in the past decade, it may not be an easy road for Esker Grove.
Hear more about Esker Grove by clicking the audio player above.
Resources
Esker Grove - restaurant website
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