The Better Half is a welcoming restaurant in Lakeville, MN, where great food, friendly service, and a comfortable atmosphere come together to create a dining experience that feels both memorable and easy to enjoy.
Known for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, catering, dessert, seating, and table service, it offers something for every kind of guest, whether you are stopping in for a quick bite, settling in for a relaxed meal, or planning a special outing with family and friends.
With a strong 4.60-star rating from 653 reviews, The Better Half has earned a reputation for delivering the kind of quality and consistency that keeps customers coming back.
Guests appreciate the restaurant’s thoughtful range of options and amenities, including outdoor seating, delivery, on-site services, takeaway, and dine-in service. The menu brings together comfort food, healthy options, late-night food, and quick bites, along with alcohol, beer, cocktails, coffee, and a variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner selections.
It is especially recognized for fast service, a great beer selection, great cocktails, great coffee, great dessert, and its use of local specialties, making it an appealing choice for solo dining, casual meetups, and group gatherings alike.
Whether you are craving a hearty morning meal, a leisurely brunch, or a satisfying dinner, The Better Half offers the kind of variety and quality that makes every visit feel worth the trip.
The restaurant’s casual, cozy, and trendy setting adds to its charm, while practical features make it easy and comfortable for all guests to enjoy. Accessibility is a priority, with a wheelchair-accessible car park, entrance, seating, and toilet, helping ensure a welcoming experience for everyone.
Additional conveniences such as a bar on site, restroom, Wi-Fi, and free Wi-Fi make the space even more accommodating, and the option to accept reservations, including brunch reservations, helps guests plan ahead with confidence.
Located at 20851 Holyoke Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044, The Better Half combines quality food, attentive service, and inviting surroundings into a restaurant destination that feels dependable, enjoyable, and genuinely worth returning to.
Our Specialties
Every dish tells a story. Explore our carefully curated menu featuring seasonal favorites and signature creations.
Our chef's signature creations featuring locally-sourced ingredients and innovative culinary techniques.
We partner with local farmers and suppliers to bring you the freshest seasonal ingredients every day.
Every plate is prepared with attention to detail, combining traditional recipes with modern presentation.
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
two eggs | breakfast potatoes | choice of meat: bacon, pork sausage links or turkey bacon
scrambled egg / bacon / american cheese / better sauce / spring greens / croissant bun / breakfast potatoes
two poached eggs | canadian bacon | english muffin | hollandaise sauce | spanish paprika | breakfast potatoes
wheat toast | spring greens | sliced avocado | pico de gallo | queso fresco | garlic aioli ( *GF) - Sub gluten-free bread $2 | Add egg $2
two eggs | biscuits | sausage gravy | breakfast potatoes
(breakfast potatoes and choice of toast) ingredients: ham / bacon / sausage / mozzarella / colby jack/ fontina / american / peppers / onions / jalapeño / spinach / tomatoes / mushrooms
flour tortillas | scrambled eggs | chorizo | cheesy hashbrown | pico de gallo | queso fresco | better sauce | (*GF) - sub corn tortillas | add avocado $2
two eggs | chorizo | cheesy hash browns | cajun onions and red peppers | pico de gallo | queso fresco
peppered steak | eggs | mushroom | onion | bacon | demi glaze | breakfast potato | fontina | horsey sauce
chipotle chicken | grilled corn | garbanzo beans | avocado | pickled onion | bell pepper | jasmine rice | cilantro | chipotle aioli
two poached eggs | hollandaise | paprika | lobster meat | english muffin | breakfast potatoes
three pieces brioche | creme anglaise | powdered sugar | maple syrup | choice of meat
fresh baked cinnamon roll | cream cheese frosting | crushed walnuts
choose 3: 1 egg | breakfast potatoes | toast | turkey bacon | pork sausage link | bacon | fruit
two pieces of texas toast | powdered sugar | choice of meat: bacon • pork sausage • turkey bacon.
pico de gallo / corn / black beans / tortilla strip / red pepper / romaine / avocado ranch
heirloom tomato / fresh mozzarella / basil /olive oil / balsamic glaze / salt and pepper
roasted grape / brie / red onion / cashew /white balsamic vinaigrette
baby spinach / strawberries / goat cheese / candied walnuts / dried cranberries / white balsamic vinaigrette
crispy buffalo cauliflower / cajun shrimp / romaine / spring mix / carrots / celery
spring green / carrot / tomato / cucumber / red onion / parmesan / herb vinaigrette
crispy battered cauliflower / rosemary honey buffalo / avocado ranch
six crispy coconut shrimp / asian slaw / sweet chili sauce
fries / truffle oil / parsley / truffle aioli
crispy shrimp / spring green / roasted red pepper / green onion / cilantro / better sauce / corn tortilla
burrata / bruschetta mix / balsamic / basil / toasted focaccia
teriyaki / ahi tuna / avocado / jalapeño /orange supreme / greens / wonton chips
short rib / fontina cheese / pickled onion / garlic aioli / ciabatta
chickpea smash / avocado smash / umami mushrooms / vegan aioli / pickled red onions / arugula / cucumber / microgreens / toasted sourdough
crispy chicken breast / hot honey glaze / romaine lettuce / chipotle mayo / pickled jalapeños / brioche bun
fried bologna / american cheese / crispy onion / pickles / dijoinaise
house chicken salad / bacon / tomato / mixed greens / croissant
two smashed hamburger patties / sauteed onion / pickle / american cheese / fancy sauce
two smashed patties / jalapeño cream cheese / bacon / toasted sourdough
two smash patties / sauteed mushroom / swiss / mayo
smash patty / american / fried egg / bacon / hollandaise
scrambled eggs | chorizo | mozzarella | pico de gallo | queso fresco | garlic aioli | (*GF) - sub gluten free crust $4 add avocado $2
basil pesto | mozzarella | parmesan | garlic | roasted tomato | balsamic glaze
- earl grey - tuscan garden - green
Choose 3: 1 egg | breakfast potatoes | toast | turkey bacon | pork sausage link | bacon
two pieces of texas toast | powdered sugar| creme anglaise sauce | choice of meat: bacon • turkey bacon sausage links
cavatappi noodles | house macsauce | choice ofside
american cheese | white toast | choice ofside
pepperoni | marinara | mozzarella cheese | choice ofside
4oz hamburger patty | bun | choice ofside
4oz hamburger patty | american cheese | bun | choice ofside
chocolate lava cake | fudge | marshmallow | graham crackers | sugar powder
Hear from our valued guests
We came here after my best friend's pageant at the community center down the street, unfamiliar with the area and looking for a good place for a warm, cozy dinner. We were not disappointed! The Better Half was inviting, filled with a welcoming energy, just what we were looking for. The staff were extremely courteous and friendly, helping to make our visit that much better. We ordered a few appetizers to share, a few drinks, and entrees, all of which were superbly prepared and satisfying to the palette and the stomach. I would love to come here again and try some of the other menu items, there was so much to choose from! 🩷🩵
The food is really awesome. We ordered all vegetarian food and the food was good. The avocado ranch with cauliflower buffalo was awesome. The rosemary potatoes were too good. Kids enjoyed pizza. The ambience too was good.
Very busy on Father's Day. 30 minutes wait time to be seated. The service is the Best, friendly staff on top of everything you may need or want. Acknowledged every customer with a positive impression. The food was amazing! The atmosphere was family friendly. We drove 45 minutes just to try this restaurant. We we're not disappointed at all. We will return guaranteed! Definitely highly recommend.
We came for brunch at 11:30 on a Tuesday. There was no wait. The food was served quickly and hot and prepared to perfection. I ordered the lobster eggs Benedict. The hollindsise sauce was perfectly seasoned and just the right mix of sweet and savory. The eggs were poached absolutely perfectly which I've come to discover is a trick! The meal was served with fried potatoes, which were clearly sysco potatoes; they were tasty nonetheless.
I cute place that's great for brunch. All of the food was great except they need to give you more wonton strips with the tuna appetizer which was delicious and highly recommend you try, especially if you like sushi.
We loved this place the first time we came here for dinner. The food was really good, I highly recommend the shrimp risotto and the Brussel sprouts! I was a huge fan of the Aviation drink and recommend that for anyone who loves a tart and not overly sweet drink. We loved our waiter Trevor who encouraged us to return another day for breakfast, which we did and the menu did not disappoint. The eggs Benedict is yummy, so was the breakfast sandwich.
We were a table of 8 on the patio on 6|13|26 all former Fairview Home Care and Hospice employees and everything was wonderful!!! From Liv up front to our awesome server Todd as well as the food and atmosphere we all enjoyed every minute! THANK YOU Better Half! 😋
A cozy, classy atmosphere with the best dang French toast I've ever had. Seriously, get the French toast. I don't care if you think you don't like French toast, get it anyway. Don't even use syrup; it has a perfectly sweet glaze, a puff of powdered sugar, creamy custard-y center, delicately crisped edges with a delightful little crunch to them. It will ruin all other French toast for you, but it will be 100% worth it. We also got the lobster eggs bennie (yes it was very lobster-y, and definitely worth the few extra dollars), as well as the steak and potatoes, which was surprisingly reminiscent of poutine. All of which is fantastic, but I'm telling you, get the French toast.
Wonderful breakfast/brunch place. The cold brew coffee is great and many flavor options. We ordered the breakfast tacos and the steak and egg bowl. The steak was very tender and the horsey sauce that came with it was so good.
This little gem sits nestled near the end of downtown Lakeville. It started off good, and it just keeps getting better. Known for excellent brunches (a well-deserved reputation) they also serve delicious dinners as well in an upscale but unpretentious setting. While the setting, food, and service can make The Better Half feel like a “special event” dining experience, amazingly the pricing makes it accessible for more regular visits. After tax and (well-deserved) tip, you can expect to pay $20 - $30 per person, which always feels like a very fair value with each visit, especially if you consider you’ll pay similar prices for inferior food at many other area restaurants. (I’ll refrain from naming names.) My most recent visit had my party ordering the chorizo bowl, the steak bowl, and classic Eggs Benedict, all of which received rave reviews, as did the excellent decaffeinated coffee. Cheerful, helpful, and attentive service rounded out a lovely brunch. The Better Half is one of our local favorites.
Common questions about The Better Half
The Better Half is located at 20851 Holyoke Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044, United States, Lakeville, MN, United States.
You can reach The Better Half by calling +1 952-214-7402.
The Better Half has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 based on 653 customer reviews.
The Better Half features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
The Better Half features the following service options: Outdoor seating, Delivery, On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in.
The Better Half features the following highlights: Fast service, Great beer selection, Great cocktails, Great coffee, Great dessert, Serves local specialty.
The Better Half features the following popular for: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
The Better Half features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Healthy options, Late-night food, Quick bite, Small plates, Spirits, Vegetarian options, Wine.
The Better Half features the following dining options: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
The Better Half features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom, Wi-Fi, Free Wi-Fi.
The Better Half features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy, Trendy.
The Better Half features the following crowd: Family friendly, Groups, LGBTQ+ friendly, Tourists.
The Better Half features the following planning: Brunch reservations recommended, Accepts reservations.
The Better Half features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
The Better Half features the following children: Good for kids, High chairs, Kids' menu.
The Better Half features the following parking: Free parking lot, Free street parking, Plenty of parking.
The Better Half features the following pets: Dogs allowed outside.
Business Features
We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!
Request a table and we'll confirm your booking shortly.
