Protagonist Kitchen and Bar

We’ve had several great experiences here now and it has become one of our local favorites. Sammi was our waitress this latest time, and she was just lovely! Service was great, and she was helpful :) Pan Seared Salmon was delicious. Happy hour house wine (house red is currently an organic Tempranillo) is a good deal. Pleasant, clean atmosphere. Family-friendly. We will be back again and again!

Protagonist is a fantastic restaurant that fully deserves 5 stars. The contemporary, stylish dining room sets the stage for an excellent dining experience.

The cocktail menu features creative, handcrafted options like Gatsby and Lebowski. The food menu ranges from shareable small plates to hearty main courses, all focused on quality and seasonal ingredients. Standouts, in my humble opinion, include the Truffled Mac and Cheese, Poutine, and crispy Brussels sprouts topped with melted cheese. Their burgers, pizzas, pastas and other dishes are all excellent as well.

The service is friendly and attentive. While the prices are on the moderate to low side, the quality of the ingredients, skilled preparation and presentation, and enjoyable ambiance make it an absolute bargain!

How is this restaurant not more popular? One of my family members lives nearby so we walked to this restaurant on a Monday night. Service was quick and friendly. The food was delicious! All six of us said we would gladly return.

Two members of our group ordered the Smash Burger. We thought they were some of the best burgers we've had in the Twin Cities. Thin, flavorful patties with classic burger toppings. A little messy but worth it.

Two other members of our group ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich - one regular and one Nashville Hot. I tried a bite of one of them and thought the chicken was cooked perfectly. Both members enjoyed their meals.

Another member had the Philly Cheese Steak. Again, it was one of the best we've had in the Twin Cities. Sauteed vegetables and flavorful meat combine for a delicious sandwich.

The other member ordered the Dill Pickle Flatbread. We all shared some of this. It was okay.

The fries served with the burgers and sandwiches were hit or miss - some crispier and more flavorful than the others. Possibly separate batches.

Overall, we mostly loved the food and will likely return. If you're looking for classic American food, give this restaurant a shot!

Often times restaurants have a nice atmosphere with OK food, or great food but not a great vibe. Not so with Protagonist. Great restaurant design with books on shelves, nice lighting, perfect for a brunch or date night. I love how they designed it. We ordered the chiliquiles, strawberry French toast, and biscuits and gravy. All of it was fantastic. Added pork to the chiliquiles which really added flavor. Perfect level of spice. Large portions and everyone enjoyed their food. We’ll be back!

First time eating there...
My husband had the BLAT and just loved the depth of flavor offered by the pork belly on the sandwich! I had the truffle mac 'n cheese...wow...just wow! The creaminess of the sauce with the subtle truffle flavor was amazing. I am not one to order the same thing twice, but I would go back for this! I can't forget the beet salad. I really liked the combination of oranges with the beets. All in all a great experience. We will definitely go back!

I’m embarrassed to say that it took us this long to drive five minutes down the road to check this place out. The food was amazing and the staff was welcoming, kind, and attentive. I had the shrimp & grits (this is definitely going to be something I’m craving regularly this fall & winter) and my husband had the turkey burger. We don’t eat beef so have tried a LOT of turkey burgers in the Twin Cities. This one will def be a new favorite. The shrimp was cooked perfectly and the grits had awesome flavor. We also shared the beet salad. I would order all of these again! We’ll be back soon!!

First time at Protagonist, had a mid-week business lunch. Food was really great, we both had salads which were super fresh and with a nice selection of ingredients. Who puts thick cut bacon in a chef salad! Service was friendly and prompt. Just a heads-up, my phone took me to the garage, and there are no signs to the restaurant from that south side. Just go into the building and you'll see it.

I've had one meal here, but wow! What a meal! Stopped in for lunch and noted the menu says breakfast entrees served until 3:00 p.m. Some interesting items, including a frittata, but I ordered the Garden Hash Delicious! Potato hash with carrots and topped with 2 poached eggs and hollandaise. Added chorizo. $16 but the portion was huge. Took half home!

Nice bar, nice bartender, 3 kinds of rye whiskey! Classy local joint, go and enjoy!

Every time we've been here, our food has been well executed. Our servers have always been good and the overall vibe of the place is nice. We are always surprised that the place is so empty! Maybe we just come at weird times.

We'd really recommend the brunch. That banana waffle is perfection, and you never need to ask for hash browns to be well done: they always come out perfectly crispy, and never burnt!

Richfield is really sleeping on this place - it's an all around winner!

Came in last night for the Halloween dance party put on by my friend Gina! We had dinner beforehand, I had The pub burger and it did not disappoint! One of the best burgers I’ve had, hands down. And the cocktails are fun and great, the entire staff was friendly and attentive. I wish We had this place in the western burbs like excelsior or Chanhassen, such a fun place to spend time in. I’ll definitely be back!

Had a pleasant evening. The choice of food, cocktails, and beer were fantastic. I’m vegetarian and was glad to see the variety of dishes that suited my needs. The staff were really helpful and prompt to take orders, attend to my needs, and give me my bill!

Really enjoyed Protagonist! I highly recommend the smash burger. It was juicey, the cheese was melted perfectly and it just melted in my mouth. One of the best burgers around!

Their cocktail menu was decent as well. Their take on an old fashioned - the Eastwood - was good.

Also had the Buffalo wings as an app. They were smoked which brought out a unique flavor and the meat just fell off the bone. It was a delicious homemade Buffalo sauce too, had a great taste.

Service was friendly and priced right as well. I will definitely go back!

I would recommend you try it! It is in a shopping center, office building ... Very ...VERY cosy! The decor is nice, the people I interacted with were super nice... It's just a great experience! The chicken wild rice soup is amazing! The salad I was not so crazy about... But the dessert (the Phoenix) was phenomenal! This place is underrated! Definitely stop by !!!

Cocktails were good, I really liked my SpongeBob. Started with the brussel sprouts, they were very good, nice and crisp with a good texture. I ordered the chicken sandwich, it was fantastic! The breading was so good, crisp and flavorful. The bun was a bit sweet and held together wonderfully. The coleslaw had just a hint of sour which complemented everything perfectly. Honestly this was one of the best fried chicken sandwiches I've had.

Great things about Protagonist:
Their salmon was cooked perfectly, not overcooked.
Their muscles were super flavorful.
They have wonderful micro brew beers.
Their staff is wonderful friendly.
We are definitely coming back!

For those of you missing Lyn65 and their Chicago diner burger, the smash burger at Protagonist is as good if not better! I very rarely eat red meat and I stole half of my hubby’s burger! We also got the fried chicken sandwich (hot style) and the new cookie crumble raspberry dessert; both were delicious. Service was top notch and the beer/wine/cocktails selection was on point. Yes, the menu is smaller, but that is most definitely a good thing. Small menus typically equal outstanding execution. And the fact that it’s walking distance from our house is icing on the cake! We love having a delicious local spot to support. Well done, Protagonist!

So darn good! A hidden gem in Richfield! Great covered parking (for free!) and cozy ambiance! Reasonable price for a great food selection! Awesome staff! So come check this place out!

Contemporary restaurant with a unique menu, fresh ingredients and an atmosphere that is perfect for a lunch with a friend or an intimate dinner with a loved one. Don't let the location fool you, this has been completely renovated and it's a gem. You don't have to go into the cities now for a really special, high quality dining experience (without the urban prices too)

Excellent selection of vegetarian friendly dishes. The Brussels sprouts are a delicious appetizer, good for 2-4 people depending on how much other food is being ordered. Try one of the NA beverages too

We started off with some wonderful mussels. I had an excellent salmon with rice and she had some wonderful shrimp and grits. The atmosphere is great and the service was very good. I loved the drunk selection. I think this is a perfect spot to have a great dinner or lunch with a few friends or a spouse. I would recommend especially since the menu has so many good entrées to experience. I will definitely be coming back here!