Photos: BethCath Photography
“We’re uniquely positioned to hit on all cylinders.”
“The Grocer’s Table is exactly what Wayzata needed,” says Erica A. on a Facebook review. Talk about a ringing endorsement. “We’ve had a really nice, warm welcome from the community here,” says Lindsay Pohlad, owner of The Grocer’s Table.
Opening in June 2020, the Wayzata establishment provides versatility by offering customers food market, wine and coffee bar and café experiences. “We’re uniquely positioned to hit on all cylinders,” Pohlad says. “Each component enhances the other.” Guests often find themselves exploring the market, visiting the bar and, finally, ordering a meal at the café.
Creating the restaurant has been years in the making for Pohlad. After leaving the world of investment banking, she took a role at Talenti, an American brand of gelato and sorbet produced by Unilever. The career change and the birth of her son inspired her to follow a love of cooking, so she studied at the Art Institute of Minnesota’s culinary arts program in the Twin Cities.
Since then, Pohlad pursued her vision for an East Coast-inspired eatery, founded on a multi-faceted business model. She worked with designer David Shea to create a new, inviting space with a farmhouse feel and couldn’t resist the corner location on Broadway Street. The culmination of her efforts was five years in the making.
Pohlad and executive chef Craig Johnson culled an interesting and inviting menu for The Grocer’s Table. A native of the Wayzata area, Johnson and Pohlad share a vision for the young establishment. “We connected really well … He very quickly got behind the concept,” Pohlad says.
Their collaboration brings a curated selection of wines, ciders and specialty cocktails at the bar. Pair your favorite red with The Grocer’s Table specialty charcuterie boards, or opt for craft beers or ciders. Curious about shrub cocktails? The bar features Girl Meets Dirt shrub from Washington alongside seasonally-inspired drinks. Like what you sip?—some items are available for purchase in the market.
Coffee comes by way of Chicago’s Intelligentsia Coffee and Espresso and features the company’s El Diablo dark roast and Black Cat Analog Espresso.
The café offers counter service-style meals with both indoor and outdoor seating. Think brunch options; meat, cheese and fish boards; picnic goods; and farmhouse suppers. Some of the most popular dishes are the all-day breakfast wood fire pizza, crispy chicken green goddess salad and bucatini and the meatball. Pohlad’s personal favorite is the hot smoked salmon, which comes in salads, breakfast sandwiches and Reubens. Customers are particularly fond of the chip cookies, topped with sea salt.
A significant part of the business model is focused on quality, small-batch goods. Many items found in the market are made in-house, while others are sourced from small vendors around the country, including many in Minnesota, such as beloved Honey & Mackie’s ice cream in Plymouth, sustainably-made Well Rooted Teas from local farms across Minnesota and Wisconsin, and honey from the University of Minnesota’s bees, collected by Madame Honey Bee.
The market plays host to a plethora of pantry provisions, including meat, cheese, artisan crackers, mixed nuts, tapenades, olive oils, handmade pasta and more. For the sweet side of your cupboards, how about specialty chocolates, jams, nut butters, candies and more? Curated crates (à la savory, sweet or chef inspired) are teeming with market goods that make a perfect gift.
Tucked amongst the food items in the market, The Grocer’s Table offers a few home goods, including kitchen accessories, cookbooks and signature market bags.
Whether you are looking for a seasonal, rustic meal, an inspired beverage or need to curate your own cooking endeavor, take a seat at The Grocer’s Table.
*Please support local restaurants by ordering takeout whenever dine in options are unavailable.
