From breakfast to night caps, The Better Half in Lakeville is open all day. Photos: Chris Emeott
Whether it’s a date night, brunch with besties or Sunday supper, The Better Half caters to friends and families.
A perfect pairing is all about balance, and The Better Half restaurant in Lakeville has this concept baked into its name—an idiom referring to one’s partner or friend. Since its opening in 2022, the restaurant has become known for being polished, yet approachable, from its service to its menu. “I love the small-town feel to it all,” says general manager Heather Liss, who lives close to the restaurant in downtown Lakeville.
Owned and operated by the same four-person partnership group responsible for B-52 Burgers and Brew in Lakeville and Inver Grove Heights, as well as Mac’s Diner in North St. Paul, The Better Half was heavily influenced by the partners’ wives. “All of our wives wanted input on the food and styling,” says co-owner Jason Saji. It’s that influence that inspired the restaurant’s name and the photos of famous couples that grace the dining room walls.
Breakfast Tacos are among general manager Heather Liss’s favorite dishes on the menu.
Open from morning until late night, The Better Half seeks to appease every appetite, from morning eggs and coffee to late night drinks and desserts. The menu, which changes seasonally, always offers elevated diner food, like the Asparagus Benedict and Avocado Toast in the morning or the Better Smash Burger (two smash patties topped with Merlot-glazed mushrooms, whipped Hidden Falls cheese from Shepherd’s Way Farms, bacon, garlic and wild onion aioli) and BLTA (bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado, served with garlic aioli) in the afternoon or evening.
Its lunch menu features a selection of sandwiches, salads, flatbreads and burgers, and the dinner menu stretches well beyond typical diner fare with heartier entrees, including both meat and fish dishes, as well as pastas, in addition to its mid-day offerings.
BBQ Chicken flatbread features Cry Baby Craig’s aioli and chipotle BBQ chicken.
Across all the menus, Liss says her top three items are the Wedge Salad, Rosemary Honey Buffalo Smoked Wings and Breakfast Tacos.
The restaurant prides itself on offering menu items for everyone, with several options that can be made gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan or vegetarian, and takes special care when it comes to diners with food allergies. “We take allergies very seriously,” says Saji, noting that there’s a careful review of ingredients from food providers, and most of the menu items are made in-house.
That same careful intention extends to the bar menu, which features a thoughtfully curated offering of craft beers, as well as prosecco, cold press coffee and several house specialty drinks (Old Fashioned and Better Half Mule) on tap. Serving the cocktails on tap provides consistent flavor, Saji explains. But it’s the details—like the housemade ginger beer and sour that make the cocktails and mocktails really shine.
Heather Liss
Its strong menu is balanced with its equally strong ambiance and hospitality. Liss, who started her new role as general manager in February, has been with The Better Half since it opened and was honored with the 2024 Excellence in Customer Service Award from Visit Lakeville. What stands out to Liss is Lakeville’s atmosphere and The Better Half’s unique menu—but she also appreciates the feeling of a place where anyone could become a regular.
“The team really cares for each other, and you can feel it in the store,” Saji says. “Hospitality comes naturally when leadership takes care of staff. Passion and creativity show through.”
The Better Half
20851 Holyoke Ave., Lakeville; 952.214.7402
Facebook: The Better Half
Instagram: @thebetterhalfmn
