Punch Bowl Social opens Saturday at West End

Take a seat at that bar and you'll be offered everything from local brew on tap, all natural sodas and fizzes, floats and shakes (both boozy and kid-friendly), fresh pressed juices and a wide array of hand-crafted cocktails.

Of course, as the name suggests, you can also opt for a punch bowl to share -- all served in eclectic glass bowls collected at various vintage shops around town.

This marks the eighth Punch Bowl location for the company -- the brand started in Denver, Colorado and is quickly making its way across the country. Next year, they'll welcome five more locations.

So why the Twin Cities?

"We sort of grow into markets that we believe are Millennial driven and also, culturally relevant and so we find a lot of affinities with our brand and Minneapolis," said Punch Bowl Social founder and CEO Robert Thompson. "So it made a lot of sense for us."

Specifically, the West End spot was on Thompson's radar for several years before he was able to make it a reality. He said in bringing this concept to the Twin Cities, he's hoping to fill a void, offering a new level of entertainment while dipping into the area's already stellar culinary scene.

"Our offering is a scratch kitchen environment, craft beverage, both cocktail and beer, combined with old school entertainment, put together in a very design-forward environment," he said. "Not a lot of folks in the entertainment space have the same dynamic where they bring emphasis to all those different components."

For Thompson, the food was especially important -- he didn't want to sacrifice the menu for the entertainment. So how do you successfully do both? Cue Hugh.

Hugh Acheson, that is. The critically acclaimed, multi-award winning chef, best known for his multiple appearances on "Top Chef," was brought in about six months ago to completely overhaul Punch Bowl Social's menu, bringing his southern flair as the culinary partner.

"It's just food that I would want to eat in an environment like this," Acheson said Wednesday. "But also food that some of it's going to surprise you a little bit and be a little bit different."

Acheson, who admits he's had some of his favorite meals in Minneapolis, said the menu pairs well with what's already happening in the area.

"I think Minnesota and Minneapolis has grown up so much in the food scene in the last 10 years, it's just amazing to see," he said. "So I dunno, it's just a good fit."

As far as his favorite dish, Acheson has to give a nod to the appropriately titled, "Knockoff Burger." You know, the one that took its inspiration from a joint marked by golden arches -- two grass-fed hormone-free patties, pickled onion, shredded lettuce and of course, "the sauce."

"The burger's really good," he said. "It's basically a play off a burger that a really big chain does, but it's done better and it's really good and tasty. You can't go wrong."

Other highlights off the menu include confit, fall-off-the-bone St. Louis ribs, grass-fed meatloaf and a fried chicken breakfast biscuit sandwich topped with house-made bread and butter pickles. There's also plenty of gluten-free and vegetarian options.

Punch Bowl Social will serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, late-night snacks and a weekend brunch (featuring a bloody mary bar with housemade jerky). They'll kick off their new Minnesota location with a grand opening party from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, complete with a special tasting menu, open gaming and live music. Tickets are $10, with all proceeds benefitting Share Our Strength, a nonprofit committed to ending childhood hunger.

For more information about the space or to buy tickets to the grand opening, click here.

Punch Bowl Social is located at 1691 Park Place Blvd. in St. Louis Park.