Rochester’s New Mill Valley Kitchen Brings Gourmet Delights and Chic Vibe to Downtown

In case you missed it, Rochester has a new restaurant and it's now open!. We got a little sneak peek during their soft opening last weekend and I'm here to share my honest opinion of the food, drinks, pricing, atmosphere, and more.

Fun fact, the owners (Abby and Mike Rakun) are the brilliant minds behind one of my favorite spots in town - Benedict's. I'm obsessed with their gluten-free pancakes. You can tell they put a lot of love and thought into every restaurant they open and Mill Valley is another prime example of this.

You can find Mill Valley Kitchen in the old Pescara building in downtown Rochester on Broadway. They completely remodeled the space and opened it up making it look more bright and airy with a gorgeous Boho/chic vibe. Mill Valley Rochester is the second location for the owners.

Related: Minnesota Seafood Restaurant Named One of the Best in America.

Food wise, Mill Valley did not disappoint. With a menu that utilizes sustainable and locally sourced meats, produce, and the finest seafoods (flown in from both coasts and sometimes Alaska), you'll be left impressed. I tried dang near everything on the menu. I'm gluten free, so this is a HUGE win for me.

Mussels, oysters, ceviche, and hummus (AKA YUMMus) are just a few of the fabulous apps you can grab. All of them were under $20 and out of this world tasty, fresh, and prepared perfectly.

We also tried the watermelon salad which was by far the most refreshing and fun summer salad I've ever had. Can't wait to sit on their patio on a nice summer day and devour another.

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For my main course, I had the Miso Glazed Sea Bass. My hubby had the Fellers Ranch Wagyu Sirloin which was definitely the biggest hit of our table. Another radio peep had the Seared Ahi Tuna. All of them were delicious, priced under $40 a plate, and the portions were spot on. The entrees range from $18 to $38.

They even have a grab-and-go cooler at the front of the restaurant, so if you work downtown and want a quick, fast, and delicious lunch, this is right up your alley.

Another thing I thought was really cool about their menu is the added nutrition facts. Not just calories, but also fat, carbs, protein, and fiber are all listed next to each item. Talk about a brilliant add-on for the Med City!

Now, last but definitely not least, the drinks. Oh-my-lanta, you guys. I've had some good drinks in my time, but man oh man were these fun. The presentation, the craft that went into making them, the unique ingredients. I had one drink with kombucha and another with egg whites. So many excellent options.

Mill Valley Kitchen is officially opened to the public Monday, August 5th. To learn more, click here to go to their website.

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