An after-dinner drink is a nice way to wind down after a meal, but deciding on the right one to order can be a downright brain-teaser. That’s where the established bartender comes in. One might offer something simple to calm your stomach, others a creative shot or a highly-flavored, candy-infused dessert replacement. The best of them are able to recommend something to suit your mood and palate, be it classic or unconventional, energizing, refreshing or soothing. Luckily, Maple Grove has a handful of local bartenders who aren’t shy about their favorite after-dinner concoctions.
Name: Jason Steele
Bar: 3 Squares
When to Visit Him: Wednesday through Saturday evenings
Dessert Drink of Choice: Blue berry poblano margarita.
Why He Likes it: “Not many people think of a margarita as a dessert drink. It’s my favorite because it’s sweet, spicy and has a kick.”
About Steele: Jason has been in the hospitality business for 20 years. For the past year and a half he’s been at 3 Squares, following a hiatus from bartending while he managed nightclubs in downtown Minneapolis.
12690 Arbor Lakes Pkwy.; 763.425.3330
Name: Stacey Gundersen
Bar: Rush Creek Highlander Pub
When to Visit Her: Wednesday through Friday evenings
Dessert Drink of Choice: Key lime pie martini. The drink is made with Dr. McGillicuddy’s vanilla schnapps, cream, lime juice, and sweet and sour, shaken and strained into a martini glass with a graham-cracker rim and lime wedge.
Why She Likes it: “This drink has actually been a really big hit with the ladies. It tastes just like the pie. It’s a nice summer or after-dinner drink.”
About Gundersen: A career bartender with more than 15 years of experience under her belt, Stacey has worked at Highlander for nearly two years and spent 13 years bartending at Mama G’s earlier in her career. She’s been in and out of the service industry the past 28 years.
7801 Troy Ln. N., Maple Grove; 763.255.2939
Name: Sabrina Golden
Bar: Malone’s
When to Visit Her: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings
Dessert Drink of Choice: Iron butterfly. The after-dinner choice is made with Absolut vodka, Kahlua and Bailey’s, served on the rocks with filberts.
Why She Likes it: “The drink is a little sweet and rich. It’s a dessert replacement. I also like it with Stoli vanil.”
About Golden: Sabrina has been behind the bar at Malone’s since it opened nearly two years ago. Prior to that she spent nine years bartending at Maynard’s and other Twin Cities establishments. Her other after-dinner favorites include a Southern Comfort old fashioned and keoke coffee. She also has a few shot recommendations up her sleeve.
12635 Elm Creek Blvd N.; 763.447.6500
Name: Brendan Markert
Bar: Pittsburgh Blue
When to Visit Him: Tuesday and Saturday evenings, Wednesday and Friday for lunch and happy hour, and Sunday for brunch
Dessert Drink of Choice: Strawberry cheesecake martini. This custom cocktail is made with three parts vanilla vodka, one part amaretto, an ounce of strawberry puree and a half-ounce of cream, served in a martini glass with a graham cracker rim. Watch out, it can be dangerous if you “dive too deep,” since it is so flavorful and subtle.
Why He Likes it: “It’s just a rich cocktail. It has a great, soul food-y feel to it, with no alcohol taste.”
About Markert: Brendan worked his way through just about every career path in the restaurant business, starting with his first job at McDonald’s at the age of 14. Lately, he’s been obsessed with cocktail design. He thought up the strawberry cheesecake martini while he was driving into work one day and it received accolades at the opening of Pittsburgh Blue in Edina. Brendan designs about a quarter of the drinks on the menu at Pittsburgh Blue.
11900 Main St. N., Maple Grove; 763.416.2663
Name: Lori Radke
Bar: The Lookout Bar and Grill
When to Visit Her: Weekdays from lunch through happy hour
Dessert Drink of Choice: Orange cupcake. A dream for cake-lovers, this drink is made with Three Olives cake vodka, orange juice and triple sec. Birthday shots with the cake vodka and whipped cream are also popular.
Why She Likes it: “It tastes just like cake.”
About Radke: A veteran bartender, Lori has spent the last 17 years pouring drinks at The Lookout Bar and Grill. “It’s kind of a neighborhood spot where people know your name, because many of the staff have been here for 10-plus years. It’s a comfortable spot for people of all ages.” Lori likes classic dessert drinks like keoke coffee to warm you up in the wintertime and the classic Smith and Kearns, but lately she’s enjoyed selling some specialty drinks made with the cake-flavored vodka. “We like getting together and trying things that sound good to us,” she explains. “Sometimes ideas come from customer recommendations, and sometimes the liquor salespeople have good recipes to try. We’re always up for trying new things.”
8672 Pineview Lane N.; 763.424.4365
