These business owners have a winning combination of great hearts and savvy minds.
We’re giving a shout out to stellar businesses who are champions in the Minneapolis-St. Paul community. These local business owners are truly “owning it on Yelp,” and it shows through their rave reviews and how well they manage their Yelp for Business tools. From a stunning plant-based restaurant to a Veteran-owned lawn and home service provider, let’s hear it for these four beloved businesses.
Fig + Farro
Fig + Farro is a plant-based restaurant with a mission to fight climate change. This winter will mark their second year of offering vegan comfort food with gluten-free options, and even a Yelp Check-In offer for “$4 for your first tap beer or house wine.” We spoke with the owner, Michelle, on her vision behind Fig + Farro, plus some menu pro tips.
Yelp Twin Cities: Why is it important to you to eat plant based food?
Michelle: Eating plant-based reduces your impact on the planet. A pound of beef requires 1,800 gallons of water to produce, which is like leaving your shower on for 14 hours.
Y: What sets Fig + Farro apart from other plant-based restaurants?
M: We’re a chef driven restaurant so you can expect a high level of food quality, imagination and wonderful service. We think about flavors from around the world, but try to use as many local ingredients and fresh vegetables as possible. We also have a full bar with (almost) all local spirits!
Y: What do you think is the best “plant-based beginner” menu item?
M: Definitely the Patty Melt. Super delicious and tastes exactly like a burger.
Y: What is your favorite menu item?
M: Mushroom Stroganoff and Buffalo Cauliflower!
Urban Tails Pet Supply
Urban Tails Pet Supply is a locally-owned pet store that provides a large selection of competitively priced pet supplies in an environment that’s friendly and relaxed. They offer training, events, delivery, and support many of the great local animal rescue organizations. We spoke with owners Barry and Colleen, whom you can spot in-person at the store or replying publicly to reviews on their Yelp page.
Yelp Twin Cities: Can you please tell us a little history on Urban Tails Pet Supply?
Barry & Colleen: We started as a family run business in 2013. Since then we have grown and added some very talented, passionate staff to ensure that we provide a high level of service to our customers. We still feel like one big family, and our #1 customer service person is a cat!! Please check us out. We would love to earn your business and get to know you and your pets. If we don’t carry what you are looking for please let us know.
Y: Do you have pets, and what are their favorite products from Urban Tails?
B&C: We have two dogs and a cat at home and two cats Betty and Veronica that live in our store. Plush toys; our pitty named Hazel has about 30 of them.
Y: What is the most memorable pet you’ve met?
B&C: A beautiful 125-pound dog named Skinny and an employee’s Old English Bulldog named Eloise.
Y: Will you be offering any Small Business Saturday (November 30th) deals?
B&C: Small Business Saturday is our biggest day of the year. Deals will be announced very soon. We give away swag bags (valued at over $200.00) to the first 30 customers. Everyone that visits our store that day will leave with some giveaway.
Barley + Vine Kitchen & Bar
Barley + Vine Kitchen & Bar is located amidst the emerging vibrant suburb of Lakeville, and hopes to appeal to a wide range of diners by offering the comfort and familiarity of casual dining without sacrificing quality or originality. Destinie, General Manager at Barley + Vine with Trellis Hospitality, makes sure you can learn more about Barley + Vine before making a reservation on Yelp!
Yelp Twin Cities: Please tell us how Barley + Vine Kitchen & Bar came to be.
Destinie: The concept was led by Trellis Hospitality, a local restaurant group with five unique restaurants around the Twin Cities. It originated from wanting to have a wide variety of beer & wine that would appeal to everyone. Beer is made from barley and wine is made from grapes on a vine, together this created the name “Barley + Vine”.
Y: Describe your perfect meal at Barley + Vine.
D: My personal favorite appetizer is the must-try spicy cauliflower. I like to describe it as “Minnesota Nice Spice,” it is paired with our house-made avocado ranch. I would also enjoy one of our new fall cocktails, my personal favorites are the Apple Cider Mojito and Cinn-Gria. For an entrée, I can’t stop dreaming about the Amish Chicken – with butternut squash risotto, asparagus, chicken demi-glace, and finished with truffle powder. To complete my perfect meal, I would enjoy our Whiskey Caramel Bread Pudding with our Tiramisu Martini.
Y: Do you have a favorite Yelp review?
D: Misty A’s review.
Y: Any fun seasonal things we can look forward to to get us through the winter?
D: We start our holiday gift card promotion on Black Friday that runs through the 1st of the year. We have our annual Brunch with Santa on December 1st where Santa will be here from 11am-1pm and brunch runs from 10am-2pm. We are also doing “mini-pop up” events, make sure to like us on Facebook to get all the details for future events. We have a great space for events, parties, and private luncheons, if you are ever looking for a venue please email me at destinie@barleyandvinekitchen.com.
Village Lawn Service
Village Lawn Service is a family, Purple Heart veteran, and woman-owned company that provides landscaping, and leaf and snow removal services to the Twin Cities. The numbers don’t lie when it comes to Village Lawn’s success: They have been family-owned for 30 years, currently have a 5-star rating, and a 30 minute Request-a-Quote response time on Yelp. We spoke to one of the owners, Dan, to learn more about their background and business.
Yelp Twin Cities: Please tell us more about your background in the Marines.
Dan: I enlisted in the Marines in 2005, and was an infantry Marine with the 2nd Battalion 5th Marines in California. I was deployed two times. In Iraq, I was on a vehicle patrol and my Humvee hit an IED, destroying the truck and breaking my leg. My wife, Mindy, and I moved back to Minnesota in 2009 but had a hard time transitioning to civilian life. I asked my dad for a job, not knowing in a few years that Mindy, my brother, fellow Marine, Keith, and I would buy the company.
Y: What was one of your favorite projects that you’ve worked on with Village Lawn Service?
D: Installing the synthetic turf on the driving range at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine. It was fun to work at a high end golf course.
Y: What is your favorite Yelp feature?
D: The ability to track and see how many people have seen the company page and have clicked on the website.
Y: Do you have specials coming up?
D: We are full for this year’s snow removal season, but we are offering 15% off all services for next year, and an extra 10% to veterans.
Feeling inspired by these winning local businesses?
Yelpers: Show some love to your favorite local business(es)!
Business owners and managers: Learn more about Yelp for Business.
Written by Kara Doucette and Marie Campos of Yelp Twin Cities.
