Indígena by Owamni
Fine DiningAmerican+1
Indígena by Owamni is the evolved identity of the James Beard Award-winning restaurant from chef Sean Sherman, now occupying the riverfront restaurant space on the main floor of the Guthrie Theater. The name (pronounced in-DEE-heh-nah) reflects the restaurant's deepened commitment to Indigenous food sovereignty and North American culinary traditions.
The premise is what makes it exceptional for plant-based diners: no colonizer ingredients. No dairy. No wheat. No cane sugar. No pork. The entire pantry is Indigenous North American -- wild rice, corn, squash, tepary beans, sumac, cedar, berries, maple, sunflower, and foraged plants. Every vegetable dish on the menu is vegan by default. You are not asking the kitchen to modify anything. The food is already built that way.
The move to the Guthrie doubles the kitchen's footprint and adds a pre-theater menu for Guthrie patrons, plus post-show bar service. The riverfront setting along the Mississippi fits Sherman's vision -- the original Owamni name referenced the Dakota word for the falls at St. Anthony, just upstream. Indígena continues that connection to place and people.
For vegans looking for a fine dining experience in Minneapolis, this is the destination. The tasting menu format showcases dishes built entirely around Indigenous ingredients -- cedar-smoked squash, wild rice porridge, bison tallow flatbread (skip for full vegan), roasted corn preparations, and desserts made with maple and berries. Reservations recommended via OpenTable.