501 Club
Stacy Schwartz
The blaze-orange 331 Club is firmly established at the heart of the Northeast Minneapolis bar scene, and its owners now hope they have downtown’s number as well—that number being 501, the street number and namesake of their new, bigger 501 Club. The 331’s broad and diverse bar selection and better-than-average wine list belie its dive-bar veneer, and in much the same way, the 501 manages to transcend its sports-bar past (it was Matty B’s in a former life) by throwing a few curve balls alongside its pub-fare lineup and bringing along the 331’s good taste in drink.
In the kitchen: Items like the Big Melty (a grilled cheese featuring swiss, cheddar, and provolone) have made the jump straight from the 331’s unassuming but surprisingly solid bar menu, but owner Jarret Oulman brought on Rick Truax, former head chef at Nye’s Polonaise, to enhance the pub fare with more esoteric treats like a fried chicken-liver appetizer and grilled eggplant with tomato, roasted garlic, balsamic, and chevre.
Stacy SchwartzThe name: Why mess with success? The 331 Club was so named for being at 331 13th Ave. NE, and the 501 Club is at 501 Washington Ave. It worked for Studio 54, right?
Eat this: You can’t go wrong with a burger, which comes with your choice of regular fries, sweet potato fries, or tots for a cool $7, plus you can add bacon for $1.50 and cheese for 50 cents. Asking for medium actually results in a burger with pink in the middle, and the bacon is thick enough to satisfy but not too thick to bite through. More adventurous palates will want to peep the shrimp burger, a patty made from whole shrimp and breading that’s a delicious, fresh alternative to beef. Condiments include housemade Alabama barbecue sauce, which is pleasingly fiery with a peppery, vinegary taste.
Stacy SchwartzDrink up: Like the 331, the 501 has an almost shockingly well-stocked bar for such an unassuming place. On the high end, choose from Oban and Laphroaig scotch, plus unusual liquors such as Zwack (an herbal bitters that’s great as an aperitif or digestif) and Barenjager. But be sure to ask for the king of all cocktails, the McQueen. Named for Steve McQueen, it’s just as smooth and badass as its namesake with equal parts bourbon and B&B with a dash of bitters. The 501 has also inherited a better-than-average wine list from the 331.
Stacy SchwartzMom, date, or pal?: Its cavernous size—there’s a stage for bands on the lower level (think Triple Rock)—and spare decor mean ix-nay on the irst-fay ate-day. If you’re looking for good, solid food for a modest price downtown, the 501 is awfully hard to beat, so bring your friends or your folks—especially if you’re the one treating. It’s also (for the time being) mostly empty at lunch during the week, so take advantage. The jukebox music shuffling during midday is worth the visit alone: Sunny Day Real Estate’s “Seven,” Jimi Hendrix’s “Wind Cries Mary,” Pedro The Lion’s “Big Trucks,” and Wilco’s “Always In Love.”
Fellow gourmands: The crowd skews younger, especially when bands are playing, but for a meal, no one should feel out of place thanks to the 501’s emphasis on conviviality over attitude and atmosphere.
Economic impact: The burgers and sandwiches are all well under $10 before additions, and you’d have to get the shrimp burger with bacon and cheese to push into double digits. (Kosher diners need not apply for that one.) Pizzas start at $9.75 with a $2 charge for each meat item added and $1.50 per for other toppings. Bottle beers hover around $4.75 with drafts running from $3.50 for Bud or Miller Lite up to $6 for a Lion Stout. All in all, everything’s eminently reasonable, especially for a downtown joint.
Vital stats: Open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day, with rotating $3 drink specials all day. Hash House Brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. There’s also free wi-fi.
