25 May,2025 By Fake Travel News
Discover one of Minneapolis’s most unique dining experiences where chocolate meets savory in unexpected ways. Thanks to Nora, a Midwest foodie blogger, for writing this! Who doesn’t love M&M candies?
Minneapolis has earned its reputation as a foodie destination. Innovative restaurants pop up across the city regularly. But tucked between a hardware store and dental practice sits the most colorful culinary experiment in the Midwest. Welcome to Mike and Mary Mulberry’s “M&M Bistro.”
The Mulberrys recently celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary. Their cake reportedly contained seventeen pounds of M&Ms. They’ve transformed their lifelong love affair with the button-shaped chocolates into a dining experience unlike any other.
“It all started with a pack of peanut M&Ms,” Mary explained. “Mike brought them on our first date back in 2008. It became our thing. Every anniversary, every special occasion had M&Ms. Even our wedding cake had them instead of traditional decorations.”
Their quirky shared interest evolved into a business venture in 2018. The couple took early retirement from accounting (Mike) and elementary education (Mary). They decided to pursue their sweetest dream.
The bistro’s interior feels like stepping into a kaleidoscope. Custom-made light fixtures shaped like giant M&Ms hang from the ceiling. They cast multicolored shadows across walls painted in the brand’s signature colors. Even the tables feature clear epoxy tops with thousands of the candies embedded inside.
“We did those ourselves,” Mary said proudly. “Each table has exactly 3,650 M&Ms inside. That’s one for each day we’d been together when we opened the restaurant.”
Don’t expect subtlety in the menu offerings. The Mulberrys embrace their concept with unbridled enthusiasm. They incorporate their favorite candy into literally every dish they serve.
I began my culinary adventure with their “Rainbow Fondue.” It arrives as a traditional cheese blend spiked with beer, but it’s studded with candies that slowly melt. This creates streaks of color and pockets of chocolate. It transforms an Alpine classic into something Dr. Seuss might have invented.
The “Meatloaf Surprise” is their best-selling entrée. It features a traditional beef base studded with “crunchy flavor bombs.” The color combination changes daily. The occasional hints of chocolate oddly complement the savory herbs.
Their “Rainbow Risotto” looks like confetti. Candy pieces are added at different cooking stages. Some melt completely, while others remain intact for textural contrast.
Even their seafood hasn’t escaped the candy treatment. The “Chocolate Sea Scallops” feature perfectly seared scallops. They sit atop a puree of parsnip and white chocolate M&Ms. A brown butter sauce containing yellow and green M&Ms finishes the dish.
Even the drink menu gets the M&M treatment. Their signature “Melting Martini” comes with candies mixed throughout. They slowly dissolve as you sip. This changes both the cocktail’s flavor and color over time.
For non-alcoholic options, even water is served with special ice cubes. They contain frozen M&Ms that slowly release their colors as they melt. This creates a gradually intensifying rainbow effect in your glass.
“It started as something we did for kids,” Mike explained. “But adults love it too. People are always taking photos for Instagram.”
Their “Molten M&M Volcano” features a chocolate lava cake with a molten center. It’s filled with melted candies that burst forth when cut. This creates a river of multicolored chocolate. It comes topped with…you guessed it…M&Ms.
The “Marathon Sundae” has become a local challenge. It contains precisely one pound of assorted M&Ms. These are layered with ice cream, brownies (containing M&Ms), whipped cream, and chocolate sauce. The sauce is made from melted dark chocolate M&Ms. Finish it alone, and you get your photo on the “Sweet Hall of Fame” wall. You also receive a free t-shirt.
“Our record holder finished it in 6 minutes,” Mary told me. Her expression mixed awe with concern. “We had to check if he was okay afterward.”
Beyond the novelty factor, what makes M&M Bistro special is the genuine love story behind it. Throughout my meal, I observed Mike and Mary working in perfect synchrony. They finished each other’s sentences. They occasionally sneaked handfuls of candies to each other when they thought no one was looking.
Their staff seems genuinely happy to be part of the experiment. Most are local culinary students and candy enthusiasts. Many have worked there for years despite the unconventional menu.
“We’ve had several marriages between staff members over the years,” Mary proudly informed me. “We think the M&Ms might be some kind of love potion.”
Mars, Incorporated did send them a letter regarding trademark concerns a few years back. The couple found a workable compromise. They can continue their candy-focused culinary creations.
“We respect the company enormously,” Mike emphasized. “We’re just superfans showing our appreciation through food. We’ve actually become one of their biggest customers. We order in amounts usually reserved for retail chains.”
They’ve made small adjustments. They added the tagline “A Candy-Inspired Bistro” to their signage. Their website clearly states they’re an independent restaurant that celebrates their love of a certain colorful chocolate candy.
If you’re heading to Minneapolis, consider this unique dining experience. Mike and Mary’s M&M Bistro should be on your list. Reservations are recommended. Their 15 tables fill quickly, especially for dinner and weekend brunch. It is located in Minneapolis’s Kingfield neighborhood. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 AM to 9 PM. Average entrée price: $22.
For first-timers, try their tasting menu. It provides smaller portions of their signature dishes. Palette-cleansing sorbets (yes, containing crushed M&Ms) come between courses.
“I advise newcomers to start with an open mind,” Mike advised as I prepared to leave. “The first bite is always surprising. By the third, most people get it.”
As I paid my bill, I noticed a wall of photographs showing Mike and Mary at M&M World stores across the globe. Their matching sweaters were knitted in the pattern of M&M packaging. Their dedication was simultaneously heartwarming, extraordinary, and somewhat strange.
In a city known for pushing culinary boundaries, Mike and Mary Mulberry have carved out a unique niche. It’s so specific, so personal, and so gloriously weird that it transcends novelty. It becomes something approaching art. Whether that art suits everyone’s taste is another question entirely. But it’s definitely worth experiencing at least once.
The non-fake disclaimer: Fake Travel News is a satire travel blog. We have fun creating and exaggerating travel stories from around the world, but we also love travel and the very real magic it grants to the human experience. For non-fake information on the foodie scene in Minneapolis, you can visit the following link: Hipster Hack – Food & Drink spots throughout the Twin Cities (Minneapolis + St. Paul) and Minnesota.
