Murray’s

26 S. 6th St
Minneapolis, MN
612-339-0909
www.murraysrestaurant.com

Category: Steak

Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 6
Service: 8
Ambience: 8

Recommendation: Good. The Steak was good, but other parts of the meal failed to impress.

We don’t visit steak houses often – eating big slabs of meat with the classic potato sides is something that usually appeals to us once a year. We only ended up at Murray’s because we had a gift card that we wanted to use. It’s a landmark most people in the Twin Cities are familiar with – it’s been in existence for over 50 years and its famous for its Silver Butterknife Steak for two. The interior is classic steakhouse but not ostentatious – the mirrors all around the room add to the airy feel and although the tables are close together, it doesn’t feel cramped. We went on a Saturday night and the place was hopping – it was mostly couples with a few large celebratory groups. There was live music emanating from the Piano at one end of the room and you really felt that you’re in for a special evening.

The menu is classic steakhouse with the usual beef and potato suspects. We were disappointed in the “wines by the glass” list – we were looking for some good steak wines but the list was pretty short and had basic daily drinking wines. Luckily their half-bottle list was quite good (the two of us can’t usually finish a full bottle) and we found a Chianti with good body and full flavor. The bread basket was filled with warm dinner rolls, which we liked, and over-salted garlic bread, which were barely edible. For starters we decided on the Tuna Tartar that was really fresh and well flavored except for the heavy-handed finishing of sea salt. The server highly recommended the Chateaubriand (a 24oz hunk of center cut beef tenderloin) and given that we’re big fans of this tender cut of meat, we decided to go with that. Along with the steak, we each received a Caesar Salad and a choice of side. The Salad was excellent and we especially liked the crispy parmesan wafer that adorned it. Not long after we were done with the salad, the star of the show arrived and was carved tableside. The steak was tender and perfectly cooked to medium-rare/medium like we asked for. Unfortunately both the potato accompaniments were terrible and pretty much went waste. The mashed potatoes were dry and uninteresting and the diced potatoes in the au gratin were undercooked; the meal felt incomplete without great sides. By the end, we were pretty full (even though we hadn’t completed our steak) and decided to skip dessert.

Service was prompt and friendly and we felt well taken care of. Overall we left a disappointed – there isn’t much room for error at high-end restaurants especially when it comes to basic potatoes.

$$$$. Our bill came to $210 with tax and tip (for two plus a toddler). Valet parking is $8.

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Crescent Moon Bakery

2339 Central Ave NE
Minneapolis, MN
612-782-0169
www.crescentmoonfoods.net

Category: Afghani, Middle-Eastern

Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 9
Service: 7
Ambience: 5

Recommendation: Excellent. One of our favorite places for take-out, Crescent Moon serves succulent kabobs and unique pizzas.

Central Ave, just North of downtown Minneapolis, is bustling with good ethnic restaurants and since we discovered Crescent Moon over a year back, it’s been our go-to place for take-out. We’ve done dine-in a couple of times and even though the interior isn’t much to look at, its hard to beat fresh hot food served with care by the friendly proprietor, Meerwais. This is also a great place for catering – it was our place of choice for our son’s 2nd birthday celebration and from the content faces of our guests (and their bulging bellies), we could tell we’d made a good choice.

We didn’t know what to expect the first time we visited, but were happy to see a variety of kebabs on the menu but surprised to
see pizza. On that first visit we noticed that the pizza was one of the most popular items on the menu and now we realize why - it’s hard to pass on pizza that has Afghani Beef and Gyro meat! These football pizzas have a thin and chewy crust and are accompanied by a tangy and spicy mint chutney which adds great character to the pizza. We’ve tried both the Meat Lovers and the House Special and highly recommend them. This is just another example of an ethnic restaurant you should eat family style with a large group – the pizzas are quite large and you don’t want to miss the kabobs! The Paulwan Kabob Plate consists of two long slender ground meat kabobs (one chicken and one beef) that are succulent and full of flavor – the accompaniments include fragrant rice with raisins, some Uzbeki bread, a simple lettuce salad with a herbed yogurt dressing and the killer green chutney. The other main type of kabob at Crescent Moon is the tikka – a nice-sized grilled chunk of lamb or chicken delicately marinated in a variety of spices. You can mix and match the tikka with the ground kabobs and that’s a good way to get some variety in textures and flavor. Both the Eggplant and Spinach sides were good but not memorable. We would recommend the Afghani Pies – think calzones stuffed with Gyro, Cheese or Spinach – that make for a satisfying lunch. We usually heat them in the oven till the time the crust is nice and crispy (my mouth is watering just thinking of the chunks of sizzling gyro meat waiting to burst out of the crust.) The last time we visited, we tried the Gyro Plate which was very satisfying but we kept sneaking peeks at the couple sitting next to us who had ordered the Combo plate for two which was piled high with a variety of delicacies. Oh well, next time I guess.

This restaurant only has counter service and the staff is friendly. Crescent Moon does get pretty busy so call ahead if you’re doing take-out.

$$. Most individual dishes are under $10, but the larger plates run from $10-$15. You can cater a large event for about $12-$15 per person. Street parking is available.

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Grand Szechuan

10602 France Ave S
Bloomington, MN 55431
952-888-6507
http://grandszechuan.net/

Category: Chinese

Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 10
Service: 8
Ambience: 6

Recommendation: Excellent. The list of spectacular (and authentic) Sichuan restaurants in the Twin Cities keeps getting longer, and this relative newcomer has cemented its position right at the top.

The Twin Cities is a hot spot for some great authentic Sichuan food, and many would argue that it all started with Little Szechuan in St. Paul. With many of the old Little Szechuan chefs having migrated to Grand Szechuan, the balance of “spice” is shifting to the Southern suburb. Although not fancy by any stretch of the imagination, the ambience here is a step above most Chinese eateries. This place is quite popular…the dining room bustles with activity from eager patrons and the under-manned service staff darting around the room doing their best to keep up with the orders. During our most recent visit, on the eve of the Chinese New Year, the restaurant was especially busy but the service was up to the mark and very friendly.

The menu is extensive and loaded with authentic dishes many with strong, spicy flavors. There are two cold starters that we highly recommend. The sweet, spicy noodle is a great play on textures and flavors. It’s a thick, slightly chewy noodle that starts sweet but ends with jabs of heat. The Dan Dan Noodles are yummy as well. You’ll best enjoy this restaurant with a group, ordering a variety and sharing family style. The two of us never go there alone because we’d over-order and end up with too many leftovers. Usually we order one of each of the following:
Chicken, Pork, Fish and Vegetable. We’re big fans of the Pork in Chili Broth – the scalding hot (and spicy) broth has tender and flavorful slivers of pork. Or if you want fish simmering in a cauldron, go with the Piao Xian Chili Fish Filet where tender white chunks are float in a spicy broth (don’t be alarmed that hot and spicy is the theme here – this is the whole essence of Sichuan food). The Chung King Chili Chicken is crispy but not dry and
loaded with lots of dry red chilies, and Nick devours every last one of them. You’ll find soft and succulent tofu in the Mapo Tofu and crispy beans in the Szechuan Green Beans. Just a word of caution – the spice levels are pretty unpredictable so make sure you specify what type of heat you’re aiming for.

The staff is quite attentive but don’t be surprised if your order comes out in singles – it doesn’t take long to prepare some of these dishes and they bring it out as and when its done. Grand Szechuan is a great value too – you can eat like a king for $15.

$$.

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Haute Dish

119 Washington Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612-338-8484
http://www.haute-dish.com/

Category: American-Upscale

Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 8
Service: 8
Ambience: 8

Recommendation: Very Good. Haute Dish with its creative play on classic meat and potatoes American fare is a welcome addition to the downtown Minneapolis dining scene.

We’ve been waiting a while for the old Café Havana space to become occupied and couldn’t have asked for a more intriguing restaurant to take up that space. The space itself still retains its lovely character and wonderful charm – it’s a pleasure just to step in here and take in the décor, from the dark leather seating, to the long vintage bar. The dim lighting and warm colors add to the romantic setting, its upscale yet inviting.

Chef Landon Schoenefeld, a stalwart in the Minneapolis dining scene, has his genius all over the menu. Taking some traditional (and sometimes basic) dishes and putting his twist on it is what he does so well. The Chat-Cuts (Yar!) charcuterie plate might be the single most impressive thing on the menu. Our favorites on the plate were the strongly flavored head cheese terrine, the subtle chicken liver with brandied cherries, and the Mortadella with cornichons and Dijon. This starter sets the stage for what’s to come. The Steak and Eggs, a rendition of the classic tartare, presented in a fun “egg in the hole style”, was quite good but played second fiddle to the charcuterie. We were quite excited about the Mac and Cheese with King Crab, but it just lacked something, and a little too mild for us. There were a couple of great beers that went well with the first course – a Blanche de Bruxelles, mild wheat beer and the Lagunitas Something Something Ale, a hoppy beer with hints of fruit.

For the main course, you can’t do wrong with the Tater Tot HauteDish, which went down nearly as quickly as the charcuterie. It’s hard to pass up on short-ribs when done right – tender, flavorful, and fatty and Haute Dish will have you coming back for more. They’re served with the crispy croquettes that have a melty mashed potato center. The hearty Ribeye Steak and Potatoes was done very well, with the accompanying marrow a real pleaser. On the other hand, the Duck in a Can failed to
leave its mark. Ostentatious in its display, the can is actually opened tableside and turned onto the plate, but the presentation just felt like a hodge-podge of items dumped onto a plate although the flavors had the making of something quite spectacular.

We were in a rush and didn’t have a chance to sample the desserts but I’m sure we’ll revisit soon. The servers at Haute Dish took great care of us and their food and drink recommendations were spot on – our server even recognized us from our visit to Sea Change about six months earlier, where he was working at that time.

$$$. Street parking is readily available, but they also have valet service.

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Hoban

1989 Silver Bell Rd
Eagan, MN 55121
651-688-3447

Category: Korean

Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 8
Service: 8
Ambience: 7

Recommendation: Very Good. We’ve had two memorable dining experiences at Hoban, and in our opinion, this is the place of choice for good Korean food. You’ll have more fun if we go with a bunch of friends and order family style.

(Update Feb 13 2010) – Hoban is still going strong. We stopped by for lunch this weekend and this place has definitely been upgraded since the last time we were there two years ago. Nicer atmosphere, with some good background music. The servers are very knowledgeable and friendly too.

We ended up ordering three dishes, which we knew was too much food, but we definitely wanted the variety. The Kimchee Bokum was amazing – great textural combination with the kimchee, caramelized pork, and chewy rice cakes. This one went down fast. Natasha is a bigger fan of the Soon Du Bu Chigae than Nick is – if you like soft and succulent tofu in a flavorful broth, then this one is for you. Nick was looking for a stronger flavor (he’s more of a Mapo Tofu kind of guy). The Beef Bulgogi is quite nice too – very tender and goof flavor. Our two-year-old son was chowing this down – we would have preferred to have a little more color on the beef, but it’s a nit. The Banchan had a spicy cabbage slaw in addition to the usual daikon, cabbage, kimchee and potato dishes. I think the kimchee should have been more spicy, but once again, this is a small picky issue.

(Original Post Feb 2008) - Don’t let Hoban’s strip mall location in Eagan scare you. Granted, the outlying suburbs aren’t the neighborhoods you would generally associate with good ethnic restaurants, we’ve been pleasantly surprised with places like Satay 2 Go, La Mixteca and Mandarin Kitchen, all of which have a profile similar to Hoban. We’ve long believed (and we’ve had it reinforced several times) that the best way to enjoy ethnic food is with a large group of close friends. We’ve enjoyed some of our finest ethnic meals with this group of 10, a mini United Nations of sorts representing over half a dozen countries, and Hoban was no different. There’s a Korean in the mix (he grew up in Chicago and has never been to Korea, so he’s technically a pseudo-Korean) and we relied on him to order. While we waited for our food, we indulged in a bottle of OB, a Korean pale lager.

It wasn’t long before the food started piling up. Traditional Korean food is accompanied by Banchan, small side dishes that accompany the meal. The Banchan included Kimchi (cabbage seasoned with chilies and salt) and various other dishes including pickled vegetables, radish, and sprouts – they were all really good and are replenished free of charge on request. We ordered a diverse set of entrees, with one of our favorites being the Kimchee Jungol, a hot pot with Kimchee, beef, tofu, vegetables and noodles. Although we were hoping the dish would be mind-numbing spicy (it’s always fun to see the diners sweat and have their eyes water), it really wasn’t. Nevertheless, it had great flavor and consistency, and we would go back just for that one dish. Its comfort food at its finest, and although it may not bring back old memories for us, like it did for our Korean friend, it will for us going forward. The Kalbi, beef short ribs with chef’s special sauce, was also amazing – although the ribs weren’t very meaty, the flavors were complex. And don’t forget to order the Bulgoki, mildly marinated strips of beef. Meat is at the center of much of Korean food and these dishes certainly didn’t disappoint. The Dolsot Bibimbop, a rice dish with vegetables and egg, is served in very hot stone bowl which causes the rice to sizzle and stick to the sides of the bowl. You’ll have to scrape the sides for the scraps, but if you ask us, the texture of the crispy rice that adheres to the sides is one of the highlights of this dish. There were a couple of dishes though that we didn’t care for – the Sulung Tang, a beef bone soup, just tasted like salty broth and the Cha Jang Myun, noodles with black bean sauce, didn’t leave a lasting impression. The service was friendly and up to the mark, and overall we left the restaurant feeling satisfied and having got our money’s worth.

$$. Most dishes are $10-$15.

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Restaurant Alma

528 University Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-379-4909
http://www.restaurantalma.com/

Category: New American

Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 9
Service: 9
Ambience: 7

Recommendation: Excellent. Our most recent experience was memorable and more than makes up for the first time we ate here.

(September 2007) Restaurant Alma presents an ever changing menu focusing on fresh, seasonal, and organic ingredients. Chef Alex Roberts and his team bring “New American” cuisine in an apt bistro-style setting. The restaurant itself has a very “loft” feel with exposed brick and high ceilings. Large windows bring in a nice amount of light and give this place an airy feel. The décor is minimalist and is complemented by modern, comfortable seating. The moment you walk in, the scents from the open kitchen awaken your senses.

The restaurant served two types of complimentary breads…a rosemary, olive oil with Asiago cheese (which was very good) and a fennel bread. The menu is small but very interesting. They have a selection of 4 options for each of the starter, middle, and entrée courses. The tasting menu allows you to pick a single selection from each of the courses for a fixed price of $42. We highly recommend getting the tasting menu for the best value..you essentially get the appetizer free. While the first two courses had vegetarian options, the third course didn’t. We had gone with some friends and got to try all 12 dishes on the menu.

Starter course: The Smoked Chicken & Watercress Salad as well as the Local Mixed Lettuce Salad was very good. The saltiness from the manchego and crunch from the pine nuts added great flavor to the latter salad. The Marinated Yellowtail Tuna was very good, but a little on the fishy side. The Wild Nettle Souffle was also interesting.

Middle course: The Braised Lamb and Sticky Rice was moist and tender, with just the right amount of rendang curry flavoring. Both the Farro (barley), Calamari, and Lobster Salad and the Heirloom Yellow Corn Grits were memorable. The Saffron Orechiette Pasta is not something we recommend because the saffron overpowered the rest of the ingredients.

Entrée: The experience started to go downhill with the entrees. The Local Grass Fed Beef Striploin was the best dish. The Wild King Salmon entrée was served lukewarm. Even after the kitchen re-heated it for us, we felt the dish lacked flavor. The Grilled Hawaiian Blue Marlin was very tough and rubbery on the top but the bottom was translucent (hadn’t been cooked). The orange flavor was too overpowering. We asked for the fish to be replaced with the Pork Loin, which was good but nothing special.

Dessert: To make it up to us for the entrees, the kitchen served us Strawberry Sorbet and for dessert we had the Chocolate Ganache Cake and the Buckwheat Crepes, all of which left us satisfied.

The service was attentive at times but the time between courses led us to believe that the kitchen was unprepared to handle the crowd on the Sunday evening. This restaurant has the making to be one of the best in the Twin Cities, but at the prices they charge, they have a way to go before they can play in that league.

$$$$. Our bill for 2 people, including one glass of wine each was $145 (incl. tax and tip.)

Update (January 19, 2011) – it’s been over three years since we were last at Alma. Our first and only meal there wasn’t memorable and we just couldn’t get ourselves to go back and give it another shot, especially given that it’s a pricey place and there are a whole slew of new restaurants we haven't made it to. A lot has changed in three years; we’ve seen a constant stream of rave reviews from diners and Alex Roberts is fresh off winning the James Beard Award as Best Chef Midwest for 2010. In the back of our mind we knew the first meal was an aberration and I (Nick) especially was really looking forward to seeing first hand what the hubbub was all about.

Well, after a stupendous meal tonight, I can attest to the fact that Alma really has its groove on and the kitchen is producing some of the most creative and tasty food I have ever had (judging from the oohs and aahs emanating from the rest of the party of seven that I was dining with, I’m not the only one who was impressed).

We started the evening off with a bottle (actually two) of the 2007 Vietti Nebbiolo Perbacco. A fabulous red with a refined finish, yet displays strong intensity. For the first course I was really leaning towards the Roasted Cauliflower, but decided to go with the Parmesan Flan once I realized that most of the table had opted for the former and I was pretty sure I could sneak a taste of someone else’s. Both dishes were fantastic – the flan with its salty and buttery notes cut only by the sweet and fresh celery and fennel salad. The cauliflower and lentils had warm spice flavors that reminded me of Indian cooking. My second course was a Ricotta Gnocchi with Lobster, Orange and Truffle Butter. Tremendous…actually Decadent is more like it. Mine finished too soon – I’d go back just for this course and order three portions of it. I was mopping my plate clean with the bread! For the third course, we had an array of dishes and my favorite was the Pan Roasted Pork Loin – cooked to succulent perfection, accompanied by sous-vide fingerlings, caramelized pearl onions, and the rich jus….wait, I need more bread! You can’t go wrong with the Short Rib or Gently Cooked Salmon either, the latter was an incredible preparation that brought out the richness in the fish. The kitchen was 3 for 3 and having a great night. For dessert, I was craving chocolate and the Dark Chocolate Brownie didn’t disappoint. It was dense and I loved the pairing of mini potato crisps with the ice cream and brownie – what a great twist on sweet and salty. Its a little rich and I recommend that two people share it.

While walking out of the restaurant, I peeked into the open kitchen and realized that this crew had barely broken a sweat. Every dish was executed to perfection and I’m already drooling thinking of what I would order the next time I visit…which will be real soon.

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Ted Cooks 19th Hole BBQ

2814 E 38th St
Minneapolis, MN
612-721-2023
http://www.tedcooks19thholebbq.com/

Category: BBQ

Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 9
Service: N/A (pick-up only)
Ambience: N/A (pick-up only)

Recommendation: Excellent. This take-out only place is special, and one of our favorite restaurants in the Cities – you get serious BBQ at very reasonable prices.

To be honest, the idea of take-out BBQ didn’t appeal to us at first. We were worried about the food being cold by the time it reaches home and we’ve always enjoyed eating BBQ in a small family-run establishment that doesn’t offer much in terms of ambience, but just great food. Ironically, there’s no restaurant we’ve frequented more in the last six months than Ted Cook’s (we also catered our son’s first birthday party from here.) It all started when a group of ten friends were coming over to hang out – we didn’t want to go out so a little bit of research led us to Ted Cook’s. It’s located just off the light rail stop on 38th St. A non-descript building that you’d easily walk past if it weren’t for the smoky goodness of the BBQ (or the large crowd with growling stomachs.) Poke you head in and you see a limited menu, a few chairs to sit on while you wait, and a porthole that connects the front of the house to the kitchen. Don’t be surprised if one of the guys from the kitchen pokes his head out of the porthole to take your order. These guys are cool, relaxed and don’t have a sense of urgency or panic, regardless of how many patrons are waiting. Good BBQ takes time…and love.

The menu is standard BBQ fare with one omission – the brisket. We’ve tried everything on the menu and have been thoroughly impressed. The place to start is the Rib Tips ($12.50 for a dinner). Smoky, fatty, piled high, and full of flavor – at this price it might be the best value in town. Following closely on the heels of the tips is the BBQ Pork ($12.30) and the BBQ Beef ($12.30). The mouthwatering pork (with a dollop of coleslaw) makes for an amazing sandwich while the tender, thinly sliced beef, lathered with their spicy sauce does wonders to a piece of white bread. Needless to say, they also serve Ribs ($19.90 for a full slab), which are good but not as juicy as the tips. If you want BBQ Chicken ($9.60 for half), they have that too, but chicken just can’t stand up to pork when it comes to BBQ. You have a nice selection of sides to pick from. We can’t say a bad thing about any of them but we prefer the classic Coleslaw, Beans, and Collard Greens. If you order a “dinner,” a side of JoJo’s (fried sliced potatoes) comes with – these hot potatoes are the only thing that don’t transport well; they tend to get soggy pretty quick. We forgot to mention that you get to pick a sauce for your BBQ. The hot has a nice amount of heat and won’t work for everyone, so we’d recommend sticking with the medium that provides good heat along with the sweetness and smokiness (we usually get a side of the hot sauce to make it more interesting.)

This place can get busy at dinner so be prepared to wait or you can call in an order (with a minimum of four dinners). Lots of street parking is available.

$$. Great value for food. We catered a large dinner for around $12 per person.

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Five Guys Burger and Fries

3871 Gallagher Dr
Edina, MN
952-893-5490
http://www.fiveguys.com/

Category: American-Casual

Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 8
Service: N/A (its pick-up, but they serve it up quickly)
Ambience: 6

Recommendation: Very Good. Five Guys consistently serves juicy burgers and crispy fries. Don’t let anyone tell you, “its just a burger.”

We can’t tell you how many times we’ve heard people say “its just a burger,” and it usually leads to a heated discussion. Just like we don’t settle for less than average breakfast or smelly seafood, we need to hold the burger to the same high standards. And having had our fair share of amazing burgers in the Twin Cities, we feel there’s no reason to settle for average. Enough with the rant though…on to Five Guys. Tucked in a newly developed strip mall (with scant parking) in Edina, Five Guys is a small place that sees its fair share of patrons at lunch. The décor is the classic red and white diner look with a dozen tables packed closely together, an open kitchen packed with staff, and lots of action. You order first and then grab a table (we recommend having someone in your party grab a table while you order.)

The menu is simple – a hamburger or cheeseburger (single or double, with or without bacon), a couple of sandwiches/dogs, and fries. You get to load your burger with selections from over a dozen toppings ranging from the basic mayo and ketchup to grilled onions and hot sauce. You don’t have to wait long for the food, thanks to the small battalion of staff working the kitchen in a frenzy. While you’re waiting for the food, you can snack on the complimentary peanuts. The burgers at Five Guys are cooked well done, but don’t let that fool you – there’s nothing dry and tasteless about them. Seasoned to perfection to bring out the beefy flavor of the meat, these guys are as juicy as they come. A double provides a nice hunk of meat with a couple slices of American cheese and really hits the spot. It doesn’t require many toppings but we’ve done tried both the classic but also loaded it up with Jalapenos and Hot Sauce to make it nice and spicy. An order of large fries feeds three so go for the smaller one if it’s just you and a partner. The fries are also classic – crispy and substantial. You can usually get in and out of this place in a hurry (as long as you’re not in the middle of lunch hour and can find parking).

$. Burger, fries and a drink are less than $10. There’s not much parking in front of the restaurant so you’ll have to park a little further away.

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The Wienery

414 Cedar Ave S
Minneapolis, MN
612-333-5798
http://www.wienery.com/

Category: American-Casual

Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 7
Service: 9
Ambience: 9

Recommendation: Very Good. This classic neighborhood diner serves a nice selection of hot dogs at prices that will make you freak.

At the Wienery, what you see is what you get; a small entrance that we’ve driven by a hundred times and never blinked an eye, and a space that’s the size of a two car garage. When we stepped in the doors, with a group of 9 (including a baby in a stroller), we wondered if we’d stick around for the meal. A narrow passage way separates the tables from the long breakfast bar and there’s no table that would even fit a party half our size. But this place had charm (be it from the memorabilia on the wall, the torn leather chairs, or the homely atmosphere) and we were greeted with a smile and a willingness to accommodate so there was no way we were turning around. We did have to wait while the packed interior cleared up.

The kitchen is in the back, but within plain sight – a large sink, a stove and some prep space is all there is. That particular day there were two staff members managing the show and serving up fresh, hot food. We managed to find a table and some seats and the bar and waited – it did take a while, but watching the staff at work was a whole lot of fun.

Although the menu has a whole page of breakfast foods, we decided to stick with burgers and hot dogs. The selection is impressive (and too long to recite) – we guarantee you’ll have trouble deciding. We indulged in a few types of dogs and they were all really good. The Chicago Style Dog was good and made with Vienna beef, although missing the poppy seed bun. We also liked the Manhattan (with Chili and Cheese) and adored the Drive-In Dog (with slaw, chili and cheese). It’s a killer combination you can also get as a burger. The Chili was fresh and chunky and was great in the Chili Burger as well. And if you like Italian Roast Beef, you should give theirs a try – juicy and flavorful. The fries were good, but we would have preferred melted cheese on the Chili Cheese Fries. We didn’t much care for the Upsetter Dog (bacon and egg) mostly because the eggs were overcooked and dry – it would have been much better with warm, moist scrambled.

Service was great, but be prepared to wait because a meal here could take a couple of hours. Time flew by for us because of the company and the atmosphere. The kicker is that the average tab for our group worked out to about $7 – this place is a steal.

$. Street parking is available.

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The Tea Garden

2601 Hennepin Ave S
Minneapolis, MN
612-377-1700
Other locations in Grand Ave, Downtown St. Paul, MOA, and U of M
http://www.teagardeninc.com/

Category: Tea/Cafe

Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 8
Service: 7
Ambience: 5

Recommendation: Very Good. They offer a great selection of teas (we’ve only tried their bubble teas, and we’re big fans).

If you’ve never tried bubble tea, you must. You’ve probably seen people walking down the street in Uptown with a clear plastic glass filled with tea and some obscure black stuff at the bottom. The black “stuff” is tapioca pearls – they don’t really have much of a flavor, but their chewy texture makes for a fun drink. We’ve only visited the Tea Garden in Uptown and its usually packed with the young, hip and artsy. The space itself isn’t much to write about – it occupies a corner of Hennepin Ave and isn’t really an ideal spot for lounging around for extended periods.

The drink menu is extreme and it’s hard to tell the difference between the Tea, Tea Latte, Shake, and Cooler options. The most basic is the Fruit Tea – available in a whole host of flavors, its served hot or cold as black tea or jasmine green tea. You can add pearls of jellies to the cold tea. The Coolers are like fruit slushies – no tea, but with a choice of fruit flavors and can include pearls or jellies. Shakes are coolers that have a creamer added to it. Similarly, the Tea Lattes, only available in a few flavors consist of black or green tea with a creamer. Needless to say, we haven’t had a chance to try all of the options on the menu, but we certainly have favorites. The Green Fruit Teas have a distinct flavor that pairs well with fruits such as Passion Fruit, Kumquats, and Mango and we’d recommend adding the tapioca to the drink. You can get the same fruit flavors as Coolers and you can’t go wrong – it’s just a different texture, with the crushed ice. The Pina Colada is amazing as is the Pineapple, but if you’re in for something more unusual, try the Coconut Red Bean, a very nice texture and flavor combination. If you’re going to get the Pina Colada or the Coconut Red Bean, we’d recommend trying them as shakes as well – a creamier texture is a little more decadent. If you get the pearls or jellies, the drink does become quite heavy so it will fill you up.

$. Drinks range from $3-$6. Street parking is available but hard to find.

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The Blue Door Pub

1811 Selby Ave
St Paul, MN
651-493-1865
http://www.thebdp.com/

Category: American-Casual

Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 9
Service: 8
Ambience: 7

Recommendation: Excellent. The BDP offers some serious competition to other burger joints in the TCs. Other than the Vincent burger, they might serve the best burgers in the Cities.

If you want to get into a heated discussion with a local, ask them “Who invented the Juicy Lucy?” or better yet, get a couple of locals going on what lucy is better – Matt’s Bar or the 5-8 Club. The origin of this stuffed burger is disputed, but regardless, if you haven’t had one, you’re missing out. Welcome, BDP – this burger joint has taken the concept of the Juicy Lucy one step further and for our money they serve the best Lucy’s in the cities. On our first visit, we had to wait 30 minutes for a seat because this tiny space was jam-packed in the middle of the afternoon. This homely pub houses a dozen booths and tables that are packed closely. The rugged dark wood furniture adds an element of “dive” to this joint.

The menu consists sandwiches and apps, but the draw here is the Blucy – the BDP’s take on the stuffed burger. In addition to “The Blucy” that’s stuffed with blue cheese, there are another dozen or so attractive burger options. We started our meal with the Beer Battered Green Beans ($6.50) – awesome; a light batter coats the flash fried crunchy beans. We ended up trying four different Blucys – the least interesting of which was the “Classic”, a tribute to the creator(s) of the Juicy Lucy. Don’t get us wrong, it was a good burger, but there are far more interesting options on the menu. The Blucy, had a generous helping of a creamy, pungent blue cheese – if you’re a fan of blue, don’t miss this one. However, the two winners in our book were the Frenchy and the Bangkok Blucy; the former consisting of swiss cheese, caramelized onions and an au jus, while the latter had a myriad of interesting flavors with the pickled carrots and cucumber and a spicy curry dipping sauce. What really makes these burgers pop is the hunk of quality beef that has been seasoned just right and cooked to perfection – sounds simple, but it’s hard to do. The accompanying crispy fries are also a winner – it’s hard to stop eating them. We thought the Tater-Tots were good, but we’d stick with the fries. And in the event you’re thirsty, there’s a nice selection of beers on tap. We tried the Copperhook Ale, which had a nice malty flavor to accent the burgers.

Service was great – although you may have to wait for a table, the food comes out quickly and there’s always people watching in this crowded bar. The burgers are a great value – at $7 or less, you’d be hard pressed to find better burger value.

$. Lots of street parking – there’s also a lot on the side/back.

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Barrio

925 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN
612-333-9953
http://www.barriotequila.com/

Category: Mexican

Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 7
Service: 5
Ambience: 8

Recommendation: Very Good. A mixed bag on the food – many stellar dishes but a few that were ho-hum, but this place sure knows how to mix up Tequila.

Barrio is a Tequila bar brought to us by the same people that are behind La Belle Vie and Solera, and that itself sets a high standard and expectation. Located on Nicollet Mall in a rather narrow space, you would surely walk by without noticing if it weren’t for the large crowd that fills this place nightly. The long bar and high tops fill the street level space, while the upstairs is a little more secluded but gives you a birds-eye view of the whole space and the bar patrons below. Chocolate and red are the primary palette and the dimly lit space gives it a romantic yet vibrant feel. Check out the impressive selection of Tequilas behind the bar and don’t forget to look to the sides to see the dancing puppets.

The menu is Mexican Tapas but it’s the drinks that will first catch your eye. We highly recommend the Enter the Dragon, a Passion fruit margarita with muddled pepper and cava…the flavor combination is exquisite, starting with sweet and fragrant and ending with a nice kick. If you want something a little less sweet, try the Macho Camacho, a blood orange Ancho 1800 Black Margarita with a stronger Tequila bite. If you’re in the mood for a beer cocktail, the El Toro hits you with sweet, salty and sour flavors. Overall, the drinks were A+; complex flavors that any cocktail lover would appreciate.

The Tapas menu allows you to sample all that the kitchen has to offer. The Sugarcane Skewered Tequila Shrimp is served with a lemon-ginger mojo that really shines. We also thought highly of the Potato Sopes that were topped with tangy goat cheese and a spicy red-chili salsa. You can’t go wrong with the Black Bean and Chicken Tostada either. We thought the Barbeque Pork Sopes were good but nothing special, but really didn’t care for the Diver Scallop Ceviche. We had to send the Ceviche back because the seafood just wasn’t fresh and didn’t smell appetizing, and that’s too bad because the combination looked stellar. Barrio also has a nice taco selection. After we were done with our small plates, we ordered four different kinds. Twenty minutes later we were surprised when the server asked us if we wanted anything else…”huh, what about our tacos.” Our server had forgotten about our order and by the time he put it in, we were feeling stuffed and asked him to cut the order in half. The Grilled Skirt Steak taco was nice, tender meat served in a deep fried shell. On the other hand, the Mahi Mahi taco was fishy, but had all the makings of being amazing if served with fresher fish (the batter was light and the accoutrements subtle enough to not take away from the fish.) Dessert didn’t impress us, although the Tres Leches with Scorched Bananas showed glimpses of awesomeness. The problem with that dessert was that the Chocolate Tres Leches was hard, not soft and spongy like we’ve come to expect from this quintessential Mexican dessert. We thought the banana flavor was amazing, the cinnamon flavored milk and malt balls floating in it an exceptional choice…if only the cake were different. We’d recommend skipping the Churros with Hot Chocolate – having been to Spain not too long ago we expected thick Spanish-style Hot Chocolate, not the watery concoction set before us. Let’s face it - it’s a lot more fun dipping fried dough in thick hot chocolate.

Service was average. Even though the upper level wasn’t packed it was hard to find our server at times, and the mix-up with the tacos, without a sincere apology afterward left us unsatisfied.

$$$. Entrees are $16-22, small plates $7.50 and tacos around $4 each.

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