Minneapolis Indigenous restaurant Owamni is a can't-miss experience

I managed to snag a reservation at Owamni, Minneapolis' first full-service Indigenous restaurant, to see if the rave reviews were well-deserved.

Behind the scenes: Created by Sean Sherman, aka the Sioux Chef, Owamni — which opened last month — promises a "decolonized dining experience."

• The restaurant showcases native ingredients such as wild plants and game, while omitting foods brought here by white European settlers, such as wheat flour, cane sugar and dairy products.
• The drink menu includes zero-proof cocktails that use Indigenous plants such as sumac and corn, along with beer and wine from women and Black, Indigenous and people of color-owned businesses.

What I tried: Everything.

• I started with the light and slightly sweet Amikomin mocktail, made with black currant, juniper, sumac and birch.
• Next: The Red Cliff lake trout with white bean spread and cornbread, which came wrapped in corn husks. (Of note: The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is a band of Ojibwe people in Wisconsin.)
• I also ordered the butcher's cut bison entree, accompanied by sunchoke puree and a mustard green sauce.
• For dessert: The colorful garden squash tart — both aesthetically pleasing and unique.

Thought bubble: Worth the hype. It was one of the best meals I've had in recent memory. (Check out the Axios Twin Cities Instagram for all the pics.)

Tip: Dinner reservations are booked solid through early October, but there's some lunch availability next month — or, you can try for their walk-in patio.