Dakota was founded as the Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant in St. Paul in 1985. It moved to Downtown Minneapolis in 2003 and updated its name to Dakota. It can hold 250 - 350 people, and the mezzanine can hold an additional 60 (seated) to 90 (standing) people. In addition to the live performances seven nights a week, they also have a main dining room and two private dining rooms. The menu includes Pan Roasted Gnocchi, Tonnarelli Amatriciana, Gumbo, and Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle. The musical groups they host fall in a diversity of genres such as bluegrass, showtunes, jazz, and global. They also host private events, most notably, weddings.