Featured, Local Makers, Pets, Restaurants

Dexter’s Fresh Take On Neighborhood Dining

by Jennifer Pitterle | Mar 2025

Spencer and Carla Jones co-own Dexter’s with Daniel del Prado. The sports bar’s namesake is the Joneses’ bulldog, Dexter, who is lovingly held in Carla’s arms. Photos: Chris Emeott

Restaurateur Daniel del Prado and team open an elevated sports bar at 50th & France.

Situated in the bustling 50th & France retail district, a new restaurant concept from Twin Cities chef Daniel del Prado offers a fresh take on neighborhood dining. Co-owned by Del Prado and his business partners, husband-and-wife team Spencer and Carla Jones, Dexter’s balances casual comfort with refined touches, creating a space where anyone—from couples on dates to sports fans wanting to catch a game—feels at home.

From the outset, the trio behind Dexter’s wanted to create something unique for the neighborhood—an accessible, yet elevated dining experience. “The way I describe the concept of Dexter’s is well-executed food, drink and atmosphere but with more of a neighborhood feel,” Spencer says. Dexter’s opened last August and has been well received by both foodies and walk-in shoppers in need of a bite; around 70 percent of patrons make reservations, while the remaining 30 percent are folks who stroll in from the neighborhood and employees of nearby businesses. Del Prado says it’s an ideal balance.

A popular snack is the Potato Waffle with dill sour cream, served with trout roe.

Filling a niche in the restaurant scene—in this case, the welcoming vibe and familiar food of a sports bar, with refined aesthetics and an elevated menu—is nothing new for Del Prado, whose Twin Cities concepts have earned him a reputation as a local tastemaker. Dexter’s is part of his evolving journey. “I open a lot of places, so my next page is kind of to partner with people,” Del Prado says. He wants to use his resources and kitchen expertise to help young restauranteurs, like Spencer and Carla, bring their ideas to life.

Del Prado met Carla when she worked at one of his other establishments, Minneapolis’s Martina, several years ago. “Spencer and I also loved going to Daniel’s other restaurants, so we would always see him and say, ‘Hi,’” Carla says. “They approached me and said, ‘We should open a burger place,’” Del Prado says. “I thought they were joking at first.”

Christian Dean Architecture created the interior design of Dexter’s, which features warm wood and subtle fixtures, accented greenery.

But the offhand suggestion quickly came to seem like a great business idea, since a sports bar was something Del Prado had always been interested in. “I’m from Argentina,” he says. “We don’t have sports bars.” The trio started to brainstorm specifics, and they bonded over their shared love of dogs, including the Joneses’ beloved bulldog, Dexter.

Dexter, the namesake of this elevated sports bar, eyes the Elote Burger.

“I’m very shy and reserved, but when I see a dog, they brighten my face,” Del Prado says. He, Carla and Spencer would text back and forth, often sharing photos of their pets, so it was a no-brainer that Dexter himself would be an integral part of the concept of their new restaurant. The logo features an image of Dexter, and the space is adorned with photos of dogs of all kinds. The outdoor patio space at Dexter’s is dog-friendly and even features a special menu for pups, which will debut this spring.

Dexter's Entryway with photos of Dexter.

Finding the space for Dexter’s at 50th & France was serendipitous, too. Del Prado knew the owners of Agra Culture, the previous restaurant tenant at the location, and they contacted him to ask if he’d like to take over their lease. “We all live close by, and we … thought that it was a good fit for what we were discussing,” Spencer says.

Although the original concept was intended to be more casual—a true sports bar—the team couldn’t help but get excited about the space and the possibilities it offered. “We wanted to make it look not like a sports bar,” Del Prado says, noting the softer, “more feminine” design touches that distinguish Dexter’s from typical burger joints. They worked with Christian Dean Architecture on the aesthetics, which feature warm wood, understated finishes and soothing pops of greenery.

The Elote is a burger made with wagyu beef, charred corn, white American cheese, chipotle mayonnaise, jalapeño and cilantro.

Culinarily, Dexter’s is Del Prado’s interpretation of what a burger place can be. The menu features traditional fine dining hallmarks, such as oysters and wedge salads, alongside comforting sports-bar fare, like cheese curds and burgers. The Elote burger, highlighting charred corn and chipotle mayonnaise, has proved especially popular during Dexter’s initial run. There are sandwiches—fried chicken and tuna melts, among others—and even a kids’ menu with classics like chicken strips. The dessert menu is as thoughtful as everything else and includes Minnesota-made Little Bird gelato, cakes, shakes and floats.

Cinnamon Dry Rub Wings.

As Dexter’s continues to earn a following at 50th & France, the owners have big plans for the future. Del Prado is already thinking about expanding the concept. “Eventually, we would like to create more locations like this,” he says. “This is a brand, and we are thinking about expanding.”

Beyond their plans for growth, Del Prado and the Joneses are passionate about contributing to the neighborhood’s growth and vitality. “I love the interaction of different restaurants,” Del Prado says. He points to the North Loop’s transformation from industrial district to food mecca as an example of how restaurants can drive community progress. “I feel like the more, the merrier … Restaurants can change a neighborhood.”