Recently named by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, this retro-future pizza spot captures the joyful, irreverent shift in Twin Cities dining.
If there’s one restaurant that perfectly captures the vibe of the Twin Cities right now, it’s Mothership Pizza Paradise.
Recently named one of Mpls.St.Paul Magazine’s Best New Restaurants of 2025, Mothership isn’t just a great place to eat — it’s a snapshot of where our local food scene has landed: fun, irreverent, and refreshingly free of pretension.
Walk through the doors at 50th & France and you immediately feel it. Glossy red barstools. An Elvis poster hovering over the corner booth. Retro pendant lights that feel pulled from another era. And then — Aperol pink lemonade slushies, mozzarella sticks, and a menu that very clearly wants you to relax and enjoy yourself.
It feels like being time-warped backward and forward at the same time. Half nostalgic. Half futuristic. Fully intentional.
Food That Doesn’t Try Too Hard — and Wins Because of It
Mothership’s menu is built for unapologetic pleasure. Hot honey garlic knots. Arancini swimming in creamy fontina fondue. Funky cocktails with real oomph. Pizzas and pastas that hit every comfort note without trying to be clever or precious.
And that’s exactly the point.
In a year when the Twin Cities saw an explosion of new restaurants, pop-ups, food halls, and family-run concepts, one clear throughline emerged: diners are craving joy. Not fussiness. Not formality. Just really good food served in places that don’t take themselves too seriously.
Mothership understands that instinct perfectly.
The Most Human Touch on the Menu
One of the most charming details at Mothership is also one of the simplest: every pizza is named after the owners’ and staff’s moms.
So instead of ordering by toppings, you end up debating personalities. Are you a Karen? A Patsy? A Brenda? The conversation becomes part of the experience — and suddenly the table is laughing before the food even arrives.
That sense of warmth and humanity runs through the entire restaurant. It’s not performative. It’s not ironic. It’s just genuinely welcoming.
A Reflection of a Bigger Moment
Mothership Pizza Paradise didn’t rise in isolation. It arrived in a year when Twin Cities dining shifted toward accessibility, community, and comfort — from noodle counters and food halls to bakeries, coffee shops, and neighborhood favorites.
What makes Mothership stand out is how clearly it reflects that moment.
It’s proof that when food stops trying so hard to impress, it often becomes more memorable. When restaurants trust that people want to have fun, linger longer, and come back again, something clicks.
This is what a confident food city looks like.
And if Mothership is any indication, the Twin Cities are eating very, very well.
📍 Mothership Pizza Paradise
50th & France, Minneapolis
Named one of Mpls.St.Paul Magazine’s Best New Restaurants of 2025