Downtown Wayzata runs on Lake Minnetonka views and a boat dock out back, but the food underneath the patios varies more than the price tags suggest. This list sorts the rooms worth the drive from the ones coasting on the water.
700 E Lake St, Wayzata, MN 55391 · +19524735253
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The bar seats face open water, and lake views over Lake Minnetonka are the draw as much as the appetizers and cocktails coming out of the kitchen. It works as a full sit-down stop or a quick snack for boaters docking nearby. Outdoor seating fills fast in warm weather, and the room reads as one of the better looking spaces on the water in Wayzata.
What to ordercocktails, appetizers, lake views snacks
№ 02
6Smith
Wayzata $$$
294 E Grove Ln, Wayzata, MN 55391 · +19526987900
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Grilled fish, oysters, and lobster anchor a seafood menu built for the patio, where big umbrellas and fans keep the outdoor tables comfortable even in summer heat. The ribeye is a solid backup for non-seafood orders, though sides do not always match the kitchen's work on the mains. Reservations for the patio are worth locking in during peak season.
What to ordergrilled fish, oysters, lobster
№ 03
Gianni's Steakhouse
Wayzata $$$
635 Lake St E, Wayzata, MN 55391 · +19524041100
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Sea bass and sea scallops share the menu with steak at this Wayzata steakhouse, and the outdoor seating gives it an edge for date night or a special occasion. Service runs attentive without being stiff, and walk-ins have landed outside seating even without a reservation on a Friday evening. The room plays it straight as a classic steakhouse rather than chasing trends.
What to ordersea bass, sea scallops, steak
№ 04
Wayzata Bar & Grill
Wayzata $$
747 Mill St E, Wayzata, MN 55391 · +19524735286
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Omelets and burgers and fries make this the move for a casual meal after a day on the lake, and the kitchen turns out consistently well cooked plates for the price. Vegetable options run thin, so the salads are the workaround. Service moves quickly on a weeknight, though a gyro wrap has been a weak link on an otherwise reliable menu.
What to orderomelets, burgers and fries, salads
№ 05
Maggie's Restaurant
Wayzata $$
844 Lake St E, Wayzata, MN 55391 · +19524760840
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Pizza and diner standards cover breakfast, lunch, and dinner at this long running lakeside spot, with a menu big enough to cover a table of mixed appetites. The location by the water is the strongest asset, and the food lands as reliably fine rather than exceptional. Service has been inconsistent, warm on some visits and curt on others.
What to orderPizza, Breakfast, Diner Entrees
№ 06
Benedict's
Wayzata $$
845 Lake St E, Wayzata, MN 55391 · +19529231903
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Eggs Benedict, pancakes, and hash browns make this a straightforward brunch stop, and the free street parking a block off downtown Wayzata is a real advantage over the busier waterfront blocks. Weekend waits build fast, but the turnover is quick enough that a name on the list does not mean a long stand. The room stays busy without losing its footing on service.
What to ordereggs Benedict, pancakes, hash browns
№ 07
Red Cow Wayzata
Wayzata
881 Lake St N, Wayzata, MN 55391 · +19524601220
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The patty melt and burger define the order here, backed by a $15 lunch menu that undercuts most of downtown Wayzata's other rooms. The garage door seating opens the room up for indoor outdoor dining when the weather cooperates, and the format works equally well for a quick lunch, happy hour, or a weekend brunch crowd. Staff moves fast without rushing the table.
What to orderpatty melt, burger, fries
№ 08
Baja Haus
Wayzata $$
830 Lake St E, Wayzata, MN 55391 · +19524760816
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Enchiladas, tacos, and margaritas run through a happy hour menu that covers wings, tacos, and taquitos at a lower price point than the rest of downtown Wayzata. The kitchen leans Cali Mex rather than a traditional Mexican menu, and the ingredients hold up across repeat visits. It works best as a sit down happy hour stop rather than a formal dinner destination.
What to orderEnchiladas, Tacos, Margaritas
№ 09
Josefina
Wayzata
739 Lake St E, Wayzata, MN 55391 · +19522089568
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Pasta, risotto, and osso buco anchor an Italian menu built for a date night, with mood lighting and greenery that set it apart from the more traditional rooms nearby. Reservations fill quickly, so booking ahead matters more here than at other downtown Wayzata spots. Two public parking lots flank the building, which helps on a busy event night in town.
What to orderpasta, risotto, osso buco
Frequently asked
What is the best restaurant near me in downtown Wayzata for lake views?
COV Wayzata and 6Smith both put outdoor seating directly on Lake Minnetonka, and Gianni's Steakhouse pairs those views with a full steakhouse menu. All three rank among the highest Insider Scores in this guide, a score built from the review record rather than any payment; no restaurant pays to be listed here.
Where can I get brunch in downtown Wayzata?
Benedict's and Wayzata Bar & Grill both run weekend brunch, with Benedict's leaning into eggs Benedict and pancakes and Wayzata Bar & Grill covering omelets and burgers. Red Cow Wayzata also runs a brunch service. Each carries its own Insider Score based on the review record, and none of the three paid for placement.
What is the most affordable option in downtown Wayzata?
Wayzata Bar & Grill, Maggie's Restaurant, Benedict's, and Baja Haus all sit at the lower end of the price scale in this guide, priced for a casual meal rather than a special occasion. Their Insider Scores reflect the review record only, with no paid placement involved.
Which downtown Wayzata restaurant is best for a date night?
Josefina and Gianni's Steakhouse are built for that occasion, with Josefina running an Italian menu in a room set for two and Gianni's offering steak and seafood with outdoor seating. Both carry strong Insider Scores drawn from the review record, and no restaurant pays for its ranking.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Hodan Abdi
Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis
Hodan Abdi is a Staff Writer at Top of Minneapolis. Raised in Cedar-Riverside two floors above the Somali mall her aunt worked in, she now lives in Eagan and covers the whole metro ring. She writes the guides, sweeps the suburbs, and covers the Somali and East African tables as the beat she knows best.
