Honestly, we thought it would be better, given the high ratings. Our omelette and sandwich were middle-of-the-road at best. We were the only two people in there at the time. Maybe its better when theres a crowd.

Decent little greasey spoon. Wish they cooked burgers medium. Good flavors. Fries are OK. Better if eaten there and not take out. Cant go wrong with breakfast food either.

A wonderful old school diner with subtle updates yet retains its charm of years gone by. Simple, unpretentious food well prepared. If you want a hearty breakfast, this is your spot.

I love this place! The burgers are tasty, actually my favorites in the Twin Cities and the service is great.

First time here. Friendly staff and great food - its all locally sourced and cooked on a grill right in front of you. The menu is average American meals (mainly burgers) and breakfast is served all day. Prices are average and parking can be a bit limited as it is street parking.I couldnt give 5 stars because this place does need a bit of a face lift/update in terms of physical appearance and the menu could use some variety.

Patiently waiting for you to open. Hungry lol

If you’re brave enough to enter this truly “hole in the wall” restaurant, you will be rewarded with a classic meal for a low, low price. For the price, it’s hard to find a place with this level of tastiness! $11 for the burger shown in my photo.

Delicious burger and fries.A la carte toppings (lettuce, tomato & mayo are bundled for 50 cents, cheese was $1 if I remember correctly)+ French fries ($2), but this doesnt break the bank. Total only came out to just under $13.Very friendly staff, would definitely come back again!

Excellend food, excellent service and an excellent experience!

A great diner with simple food done right for good prices. The Bro by Brad was incredible. English muffins are filled with butter ☕️🥞👌🏿

We had the most awesome experience here! The food was outstanding with handcut shoestring fries, best burgers ever and the coffee was superb..a bottomless cup! Enjoyed this quaint diner with super friendly staff..very clean and excellent menu choices that makes the decision hard to choose. Bandbox t-shirts and their own specialty coffee are for sale and we loaded up on that to take home.

Fast, Friendly... This is honestly one of my absolute favorite places to eat in the Twin Cities. I have been coming to the Band Box for about seven years. It is everything you could want from a diner, from their excellent coffee to their fresh, quick, delicious, inexpensive food; their attentive and professional staff (with a universally warm attitude to customers), to the charming yet functional (extremely clean) layout and eclectic (without being overwhelming) decor. Opened in 1939, it is definitely the oldest extant diner in Minneapolis if not the oldest restaurant, still in its original location with the same storefront and corrugated metal roof... But while the history is certainly cool, it is not the reason people come - they and I come for the food. The burgers, of which there are over ten on the menu, are all excellent quality, the breakfast (for which there is no limitation on the time of day wherein you may order it) likewise satisfies on a deep, fundamental level; the french fries are quite simply the absolute BEST that I have ever had, always fresh cut shoestring potatoes made right when you order them (and always cut the same day that they are ordered, meaning that they could not be ANY more fresh unless they had been picked right from the ground by an artisinal tuber farmer the moment you order). The fries alone are reason to return to Band Box again and again but there are, as I have mentioned, a multitude of other reasons to come in as well. The value of the food, drink, and coffee is VERY good bang for your buck and they are not skimpy with portions.If you are deciding where to eat and want something quick, affordable, and delicious, this is your place. It can get very crowded at peak meal times, with an emphasis on the lunch hour (likely due to business traffic from Downtown), so plan accordingly.Band Box does not serve alcohol; there are vegetarian options on the menu, but there is very little in terms of vegan accommodations; likewise, there are some gluten free options on the menu but Band Box does not carry gluten free bread, limiting the options for those with Coeliac. The menu is large enough to provide options without an overwhelming or unnecessary number of variations (food can be cooked to order anyway, one does not need to stick strictly with that which is listed when choosing ones order).Highly recommend from the bottom of heart. Very few restaurants of any price level match Band Box in quality, and absolutely no other diners in the Twin Cities (or, indeed, ANY that I have been to, in the nation) come even remotely close. If were able, I would give a score of 140%, seven stars out of five. If you can think of higher praise than I put here, just imagine that I said any or all of that here at the end. Thank you for your time in reading this review... Time for me to finish my fries, and my girlfriends fries. I think the guy next to me would notice if I went for his...

I would come here for the fries alone. Service was great. Got the lunch box burger which has shoestring fries and slaw. Yumm. It really is a greasy spoon type restaurant. Not very crowded at 7 pm on a Friday.

Really good place to eat in downtown Minneapolis. Good selection of breakfast and their burgers are decent.

Really good old fashioned diner food!

Fast service, good prices! Pancake was fab!!! Its a little small but I didnt mind food was good!

It was closed; but I believe I wouldve enjoyed it, I talked about going there for 6 months, for my 50th birthday and they were closed... Even though Google said they were open.

Great service and the food was delicious!

My man and I have many fond memories of the band box diner. They always have muscle bound men in a sleeveless shirt super sweaty working away on the grill, but they make the best burgers in town! Many great times with my boo eating here for lunch when he picked me up from my work. Sometimes we would even toot toot in on the bird scooters!

As expected turning grease into feasts, for over 70 years. I really enjoyed experience here, with nice service, and great food. Chur from New Zealand.

Minneapolis favorite, an icon and an era to say the least. Great food, cheap prices and somewhat friendly staff - I mean youre there to get some food not make relationships 😉

Oldest diner in Mpls. An itty-bitty greasy spoon, and I love it to death

Incredible. Exactly the breakfast or burger you were hoping for.

The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. Staff are friendly ways with a smile. They remember the customers. Food portions are right on no skimping on anything. I recommend this establishment to anyone looking for a neighborhood feel in their dining experience. Kudos to The Band Box

Hopefully they open back up.

Great food with fantastic staff. I come to the Band Box regularly and am met positively every time. One of my go-tos is the Little Buddy, which is a fried egg & a choice of meat sandwiched between two pancakes. I like to make it a little sweet, a little spicy(enter Tabasco😋), and finally a little eggy. Every meal has been exquisite and you get to see it cooked right in front of you. Cant beat that. I highly recommend experiencing any of the stupendous menu items. You will be planning your next visit before finishing the meal.

Visiting Minneapolis for the first time. Looked for a close breakfast place online and the Bandbox diner popped up. Not much to look at from the outside, but that’ll teach you to judge a book by its cover. Classic diner food done to the highest standard. Cooked right in front of you by the owner. Friendly conversation and clean, warm atmosphere. Top marks! If you like American classic food, this is your spot. The American fries are insanely good.

My daughter had a basketball game at North Central University and I looked up for places to eat around the college and saw this little burger joint with great reviews so I checked it out. And the reviews were right! I met up with a friend before the game and had a plain double burger and onion rings. The burger was excellent like a burger should be, both juicy and very tasty. Was a great surprise to find the onions rings the way theyre supposed to be, big and flavorful. After the game I took my daughter and I had a mushroom Swiss burger and again the meat was both juicy and tasty and the mushroom and Swiss on top was excellent! You cant go wrong checking out this little gem.

I like the place. The staff is very friendly, and respectful, helpful. They serve good food, Breakfast & Burgers. Its been there quite a long time. Ive been going there since the early 70s. Its a little on the small side. You have a choice of sitting at the counter or at a table. Try it I think you will like it! I dont have a photo of the building at this time. That is a photo of me!

Very very good food. Best pancakes Ive ever had to be honest. The toast was nicely buttered and the seating area was really nice. The people were very kind and helped me out with my order, even though i was kind of making it a little difficult on accident. Only suggestion I have is to clean a little more. It was a little dirty, but I still very much enjoyed it. Very good place to eat :)

Best burger in town. Food comes out right off the grill steaming hot. Delicious! I recommended this place highly!

Very tasty! I had breakfast and a burger. Everything was made from scratch right in front of me.I am very pleased. Band Box is a must for the local or any traveler!

My father first brought me here when I was 7. 50 years later I bring my son and it is as good now as it has ever been! Best burger and fries value proposition hands down!

Great little breakfast spot!Nice friendly people, and really decent fare!Every one should go there!But not all at once. We wouldnt want to change the atmosphere.

Good comfort food in the neighborhood. We went for morning omelettes after a night out and were pleased with the prompt and friendly service. Its greasy, and I could smell it in my shirt after, but hey it was just what we needed!

Tiny neighborhood greasy spoon in the city’s Bermuda Triangle. I like this kind of place and for what it is the food is pretty good. To me it’s not great, and not bad. Every year I go back to remember why I don’t go there more often. (Turns out I might not like greasy-spoon-type places anymore.)Bonus: I just saw this place in The Mighty Ducks.

I had the Lunch Box burger and it was amazing! The fries were fresh and flavorful and the bun was perfectly toasted! I paid around 11.00 for a burger and fries which I feel is an excellent price. Service was quick. I also noticed that I didnt get that diner smell that usually sticks to my clothes in other diners.

Great place to go eat. Good food. Friendly staff. I go there all the time with friends and we get burgers + french toast. 10/10

Burgers are good but its definitely a dive. If you like a no nonsense burger and old time hole in the wall, this is the place for you. Good place to dine alone

I love this place! My girl friend and I have brunch here frequently. She likes the French toast. I like bacon and eggs. Its friendly and unpretentious service and food cooked the way you like it. I wish they had hash browns, but the American fries are just fine.

Great atmosphere. American Fries are fantastic. Bandbox has its own coffee roaster. Delicious. Im always thankful how on top they are to be sure my mug is topped off.

Great diner breakfast! Leave your diet at the door, but enjoy the tastes of this greasy spoon restaurant. Service is timely, smart, and entertaining. It was a little hard to find from downtown, but it was well worth the trip. We liked it so much, we came back a second time. They take credit cards.

This diner is tucked away in a little odd corner in an intersection, but you wont want to miss it. Having the bragging rights of having been there for over 70 years, they dont let you down. Everything from the burgers to the omelets are delicious, and you especially have to try their french fries, which are thin and crunchy and indescribably addictive. There is not too much room inside, as its a small diner, but there are also plenty of bar stools at the counter. The menu has just the perfect amount of offerings that everything is made to perfection; nothing is that odd dish that they never make. I recommended stopping by- especially if youre in the area. Youll definitely want to make it once of the places you visit on a regular basis. Ever since the first time my fiance and I ate there over a year ago weve been hitting it up regularly. They definitely have earned our business.

Great historic little diner. Good coffee. Great service. Fair prices.

When biting into my burger, I heard the faint sound of a heavenly chorus singing. Was it the bro sauce? Maybe. I truly truly I believe this hand crafted burger was made with great care. A myth? Maybe. Legend? Perhaps. One of the most thought provoking burgers I’ve had in awhile. Make sure and order American style frys, your stomach with thank you.

Have been coming here for over 20 years. Great customer service and the food is always great. The pancakes are one of the best in town. Those grill tops home potatoes will have you coming back again and again. 15 bucks for what I always get and always enough to take home as afterward. I love THE BAND BOX.

Service was friendly, came during a busy time and waited ~20 minutes for burgers and fries. Outdoor seating is available, as well as tables and the high chairs.Burger was ok, bun was great but took over in terms of flavor. American fries are great, think roast potatoes but delicious.

Its a fantastic little place in the fitting area of Minneapoliss Bermuda Triangle, as no one seems to really know what the Bandbox is. To put it simply, its a restaurant that has survived the test of time without losing any of its old school charms. The seating and decor are right out of the golden era of diners, and the food is even better. The Dude Ranch is a personal favorite, but all the burgers and breakfast food is fantastic. The price is completely affordable as well. So whether youre looking for an easy lunch or a fun date night, Id recommend the Bandbox through and through for its classical atmosphere and food.

Great mom n pop diner.food was great. More like home cooked than other places. We will be back again!

Easily one of the best burgers in the twin cities, and one of my favorite bites ever. Get the Dude Ranch with fries, youre gonna have a good time.

I give it a 3.5. First time visit to Band Box for late morning breakfast on Sunday. Its a neighborhoody diner thats been around for decades, and I appreciate the history and the old photos. Basic simple breakfast options-eggs, meats, breads, potatoes, pancakes. Dont look for fruit or oatmeal. The food was good, and I commend the young mother-to-be who gave great service and handled the whole place herself. There might be 10 tables inside, and 5ish seats at the counter. The English muffin disappointed, they toast it on the grill, so it has that horrible grill smell and taste, which killed it completely. Tables in front of the grill get the smell and feel of the grease, Id recommend getting a table past the grill. The pancake is awesome and came out bigger than the plate, and the bacon was good.

So tasty! Cant wait to go back! Only like a 25 seat place. Service was a bit slow, but with one cook and one waitress you could tell they were busy.I had the Lunch Box burger and I would recommend it.

Absolutely the best kind of diner. The close, small-town feel is very prevalent and even the menu is full of friendly Minnesotan informality. Usually clean tables and floors, and despite the large open grill the temperature has been comfortable for me.The price is fine. Sure, it might be about $0.90 more per plate than some other restaurants, but by no means unreasonable.I highly recommend this diner as a lunch or late breakfast option if you just need a comfortable morning spot. The experience itself is unique and cheerful.If you come in on a Thursday, expect to see my girlfriend and I sharing a couple plates stacked high with pancakes. If there is one thing the Band Box does well, its their home-grown cakes.

Great food. Cheap prices. Old diner atmosphere which I loved. Service was also great.

Great place for breakfast

Good food. It appears to be a little dirty but that adds to its rustic feel. Fun place to eat.

BRO?! you gotta get the BRO-Omelette it is 🔥 🔥 🔥 💯. Seriously so good, my other goto favorite is the pancakes. They are yummy, fluffy and huge. Flat pancakes are gross, these are not flat. The staff is wonderful, great service and fresh hot food will keep me coming back.

Awesome greasy spoon type restaurant. Amazing breakfast and lunch. It doesnt seem like the best area but it is safe during the day. The staff is great and good times are quick!

Great place for breakfast!! Eggs and sausage were on point! Burgers look delicious too! Staff is awesome!

Once again thank you for some of the best burgers and fries weve had delivered from bite squad!!! They were delicious and hot when they arrived! Well be ordering again in the future!

I have been going to the Band Box Diner off and on for about a decade now. The reasons that I keep going back are numerous, but the top ones are the great food and the great conversations. There is something about seeing your food cook in front of you that add to the atmosphere of the place.From omelettes to burgers, the quality is great. The pancakes are big and the coffee is hot! What more can you ask?

Exactly what youre looking for when you think Diner breakfast! Service was great, food was good & exactly what I think of when I want diner food. My only regret is not coming here sooner! Wait staff was wonderful.

This place rocks.Amazing diner atmosphere with service and food to match. Honest menus describe exactly what you get, and Ive never been disappointed. Hand cut french fries, for real.Just go and enjoy.

Delightful diner offering classic Americana breakfast and burgers. Historical note last of a classic chain modeled after womens hat boxes with a band of ribbon on them.

Came here for a team lunch. Delicious food but lost my appetite when I saw the floor behind the counter. Id say clean up the floor and youd get 5 stars from me

Burgers and fries were amazing as usual. So glad this gem is still around, its truly one of a kind.

This restaurant is something that is very rare in Minneapolis, that being an old fashioned diner. The food is great, and the staff is very friendly.

Hands Down.... They have the best Patty Melts Ever!

They say theyve been Turning grease into a feast for 70 years! Loved this place! The lunch box burger was delicious. Onion rings were very good.

Cute small restaurant in a nice area (gamut gallery is right next to it!) the food was relatively good. They didn’t have malts 😭 also, there aren’t free refills. The pancakes are huge.

Great greasy spoon dinner! T(thats just what I call small dinners like that) Really good breakfast options and always fresh food, made to order.

Came into town last week with my husband for a friends wedding and drove past Band Box, after realizing the rave reviews online I had to give them a try. It was the afternoon today, the food was very reasonably priced and it was delicious! We had ordered a mushroom and Swiss with fries on the side, for only about $10. Juicy okay service the downside was the location with so many smokers and the outside seating area I wasnt too found of it. But if I have a craving I know where to go for burgers again.

The burger and fries were both excellent: cooked fresh in front of you. The prices are a little high, but comparable to other burger restaurants. Seating is somewhat limited, but there were seats open. Definitely try it

Love to go here when I happen to be passing through the Twin Cities. Itll always be a staple of trips to and from my hometown in Brainerd. The staff is kind and welcoming, and it has a nice hole-in-the call diner vibe. They make amazing burgers and their omelettes are to die for. Ill be returning every chance I get!

The food was amazing. It was like you stepped back in time. We would definitely go back!

I would post a zero if I could. Food was way overpriced. The cook handled raw meat then the buns for the burger, then wiped his hands on his pants before getting the mushrooms. The fryer oil was stale and the baskets were caked in old oil. I had a couple of bites to eat just because I was very hungry. I wont be back at all

Great for lunch with friends! Its in a cool area, but the service is lacking a bit. They also dont plan best with their food so sometimes you will come in and they will tell you they ran out of food. Good food though!

Very interesting tuna melt, not the typical ones you get. It was pretty good. Nice cosy place, kinda like Mickeys diner

Right down the street from me! Within my budget and delicious. Ha the mushroom & swiss burger...Great customer service definitely coming back for breakfast 😉

Well it is wonderful and I always love to go there its on the medium price scale as pretty decent and for the amount of food you get in the quality and taste absolutely wonderful like an old mugshot back and what Ive heard well the 60s you know so they said Slow service. Not true the time that that person Carlson person was there might have been one waitress and one cook but not always theyve got it under control believe me. Great place to eat great place to be best one of the best places in Minneapolis to go to have a bite to eat

Sometimes this place is great... Other times the food tastes like the grill

Great spot. They pump a lot of food out of a small kitchen. Excellent burger, fries, grilled cheese. A treasure of a diner.

It has a history to it (1939), great food, and prices are very reasonable.

Bandbox is one of Minneapolis hidden gems. The food is next to home cooked, prices are spot on. Staff always great. The owner and his wife are amazing. Lots of regulars.

Tiny old school diner. Great service, geneous portions, moderate prices. They make a decent cup of coffee and know how to cook eggs. Great French fries!

Great place to be in if you wanna grab a quick bite. Their food is great!

Quick-service and unabashedly greasy food at a fair price

The Band Box Diner should be a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The atmosphere is straight out of a Tom Waits song, except the the food isnt greasy. Its high quality, locally produced!!!!! Its rarely crowded, as it has ZERO parking. Plan on parking blocks away and hiking in; you need the exercise. I live in Wyoming, but when visiting Mpls. family I always stop by.

Really unimpressed with both the menu and the quality of food. Not a lot of variety and everything tasted the same. Coffee was apparently good, though.

Great food and great staff! This is a cute little diner and the food is made right over the counter. Loved it and will definitely be going again

A great little diner with a great classic diner atmosphere. You dont see many of these any more. It is truly a greasy spoon of a restaurant, and they take a funny sort of pride in it. A had a very good burger and pile of super-thinly sliced homemade fries.Update: upped to five stars after taking the wife and kids here. Everybody loved it. Pancakes were bigger than the plate!

Awesome place! Laid back atmosphere! Very friendly service topped off with a great taste of food like its coming from your mothers kitchen!

I just found this place, did a lap around the block, found a place to park right outside. The server was great, she recommended the Lunch Box. It was an amazing burger with coleslaw on the burger. The fresh made slaw Is so good I ordered more on the side. I will be back many more times.

Bro Omelet was amazing. My only gripe, no hash browns? But definitely kept it carb friendly.

Great prices, friendly waitress & cook. The food was really good, awesome Burgers! Would recommend to others.

My absolute favorite place in Minneapolis 💯💙💙 Best staff Unbelievable atmosphere and history 💪 My FAV ❣️

A minneapolis treasure. Great food, great people, great prices. Awesome vibe. Do yourself a favor and grab breakfast or lunch here. I cant recommend this place enough.

Really old fashioned food and its wonderful, I reccomend the burgers and tuna melts, but there is all day breakfast!! The chef does an amazing job and on the few occasions that they get something wrong they fix it right away.

The food was great the service was great love that its been there since 1939 will be a great place to grab a bite and study

Classic diner with limited menu. Fast service, usually not crowded. Love the shoestring French fries! Off the beaten path so not subject to the downtown crowds.