Some restaurants are built by strangers chasing a trend, and some are built by a family that’s been in the business since 1975. 👨👩👦
Northern Taphouse in Plymouth, Minnesota falls into the second camp, backed by a father-and-sons team who grew up literally washing dishes in their dad’s restaurants.
That kind of hands-on history shows up in a menu that mixes Minnesota comfort food with genuinely inventive twists.
Here’s how a family-run taphouse became one of Plymouth’s most talked-about places to eat.
How Northern Taphouse won Plymouth’s hearts
Northern Taphouse in Plymouth is part of Lincoln Hospitality Group, a family-owned restaurant company run by brothers Kent and Matt Letnes. 🍻
Their father, Curt Letnes, opened his first restaurant back in 1975, and both sons started their careers the same way, working as dishwashers, hosts, and bartenders before eventually stepping into ownership themselves.
That kind of generational, hands-on restaurant experience gives Northern Taphouse a sense of authenticity that’s hard to fake, and it shows in a menu built on scratch cooking rather than shortcuts.
What really sets the Plymouth location apart, though, is its reputation for creativity.
This is actually where the taphouse’s now-famous Bloody Mary of the Month started, a tradition dreamed up by the location’s own bar manager that eventually spread across the entire Northern Taphouse brand.
That same inventive energy carries into the food menu, where classic bar staples get playful, ingredient-driven upgrades, from smash burgers loaded with smoked cheddar and caramelized onions to rice bowls topped with seared ahi tuna and kimchi.
It’s the kind of place that keeps regulars guessing what’s new while still delivering the comfort-food basics they came in for in the first place. 💛
Food Highlights
- Jalapeno Smoked Cheddar Burger: A jalapeno, bacon, and cheddar jack cheese-infused patty topped with smoked cheddar cheese and spicy mayo.
-
Brown Sugar Burger: Candied applewood bacon with smoked cheddar cheese, house barbecue sauce, and caramelized onions. A sweet-and-smoky burger that leans hard into bacon flavor.
-
Bison Burger: Local Midwest bison topped with caramelized fig jam, sautéed onions, and bleu cheese. A leaner, more adventurous burger option with a distinctly Midwest identity.
-
Blackened Walleye Tacos: Blackened walleye with house sriracha tartar sauce, mozzarella cheese, onion, cilantro, and lime in flour tortillas.
-
Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich: Skin-on fried chicken tossed in Nashville hot sauce with spicy mayo and pickles.
-
Blackened Salmon Salad: Blackened salmon with mango salsa, avocado, and tomato over romaine and mixed greens with honey lime vinaigrette.
-
Spicy Salmon Bowl: Honey garlic soy-glazed salmon over white rice with avocado, kimchi, sriracha, and gochujang mayo.
-
Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl: Jasmine rice topped with teriyaki grilled chicken, sautéed mushrooms, shredded carrots, and a sunny-side-up egg.
Atmosphere
Northern Taphouse leans into a lively, casual sports-bar energy, with the brand’s own description embracing “anything goes” over anything stiff or formal. 🍺
The Plymouth location carries a community-driven feel that’s built around genuine hospitality rather than corporate polish.
Expect a buzzing bar area, plenty of TVs, and a crowd that ranges from families grabbing dinner to regulars settling in for happy hour.
It’s the kind of spot built for both a quick bite and a long night out with friends.
Bottom Line
A genuinely family-run history dating back to 1975, inventive burgers and bowls, Minnesota-inspired dishes like walleye tacos, a lively bar atmosphere, and creative drink specials make Northern Taphouse worth a visit. 🍔🍻
Address:
220 Carlson Parkway North, Plymouth, MN 55447
📞 (763) 476-1011
🕔 Open Mon-Wed 11 AM–10 PM, Thu-Fri 11 AM–11 PM, Sat 10 AM–11 PM, Sun 10 AM–10 PM