1070 Nicollet Ave
Minneapolis, MN
612-338-6272
http://www.masa-restaurant.com/
Category: Mexican (Contemporary)
Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 8
Service: 8
Ambience: 9
Recommendation: Very Good. The idea of a contemporary Mexican restaurant may not appeal to all, but Masa takes this concept to the next level – be prepared to have your taste buds dance at the hands of fine ingredients and clever preparations.
In the heart of Nicollet Mall lies this chic, contemporary space. It’s modern and gives off a vibe you would expect to find in the trendy neighborhoods in New York City. Rows of large windows fill the space, only to be disturbed by the lone accent wall decorated with murals of dancers and mosaics of vibrant colored glass tiles. We love the décor – you know you’ve stepped into a place that takes ambience seriously. Some might call it pretentious…regardless of whether you believe it or not, dress to impress. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a table outside, especially great for people watching.
The drinks menu has a nice selection of non-alcoholic drinks as well as some 
pretty whimsical concoctions. We liked the La Vampira, essentially a non-alcoholic Bloody Mary. The La Paloma is a good alcoholic option with a Tequila base and tangy grapefruit juice. You’re served complimentary Chips and Salsa (a duo consisting of Tomatillo Salsa and Chiptole Salsa, which can also be supplemented by a third, more spicy, Habanero Salsa, which we liked). For appetizers we got the Queso Frito and the Coctel de Cam
aron con Salsa Guajilo. The first is fried cheese served with tomatillo salsa – the preparation is very similar to Paneer (an Indian cheese curd, minus the salsa). The latter is a cold shrimp cocktail where the accompaniments add a nice fresh flavor; although we thought that the small shrimp were more of an afterthought on this dish. There were some great selections for the main course and the two we ordered were super. The Puerco Veracruzana (Pork shoulder marinated in lime, garlic, and ancho chili, cooked in a banana leaf and served with broiled pineapple) was 
tender and juicy, and although it lacked a sauce, that problem was remedied by the salsa trio sitting in front of us (oh, and we adore the broiled pineapple idea). We would highly recommend the Costillas de Carne de Res en Barbacoa (Beef Shortribs served with Black Bean Tamales) – the tender ribs were presented with sautéed chunky onions and the flavors were dark, deep, and complex. For dessert, the Tres Leches was good, although non-traditional in keeping with the theme of the restaurant. It had a lime crème on top and was served with mango and grapefruit reductions. Service was quick, attentive, and friendly, even after taking into account the packed restaurant, late on a Friday night.
$$$. Most entrees range from $15-$25. Our dinner for two was $100.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Masa
Everest on Grand
1278 Grand Ave
St. Paul, MN
651-696-1666
http://www.everestongrand.com/
Category: Nepali, Indian, Tibetan
Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 7
Service: 2
Ambience: 7
Recommendation: Good. It’s a unique restaurant that offers you a chance to try the cuisine from the land of the Himalayas, but be warned, service is slow and nonchalant.
When we first heard about a Nepali restaurant, the first thing that came to mind was “Momos”. These dumplings are something that Nick grew up with (and adores) and we had a chance to sample them recently when we visited Paris and stayed with Nick’s Nepalese uncle. Everest serves cuisine that is hard to find and therefore we would label this restaurant a “find”. When we stepped into the restaurant, our eyes were drawn to the ambience that is so representative of the hills. Brightly colored fabrics adorn the walls, the picturesque scenery is presented in the form of photographs and the rustic woody interior captures the essence of a family-run homely restaurant that you find in small towns in the Himalayas (albeit Everest is a little more upscale).
The menu presents a combination of flavors from Nepal, Tibet, and India. The appetizers and curries are representative of what you will find on an Indian 
menu, with the names (and flavors) accentuated on by the locals. We started with a plate of the Chicken Momos (steamed dumplings with chicken, onion, and spices). When the dish came out, we couldn’t wait to dig in only to find that we had been served Vegetable Momos. They weren’t very good – a skimpy filling of flavorless cabbage, spinach and onion with a chewy dense
dumpling wrapper. We informed our server about the mix-up and she said she would inquire. About 15 minutes later, when we hadn’t received an update, we asked the server to cancel them. A few minutes later we find a plate of Chicken Momos dumped on our table with no explanation (no less an apology). We were hungry by now and were pleasantly surprised when we took the first bite – the filling had much better flavor and we actually enjoyed the appetizer (although we would still argue that the wrapper was a little dense and the accompanying sauce unimpressive). For the main course we ordered Palak Paneer and Bhedako Maasu (Lamb Curry). The former is a vegetarian dish made with Paneer (cheese) and 
spinach – we enjoyed it tremendously. The Lamb Curry was similar to Indian curry, except the flavors were more subtle. We wished the lamb were a little more tender, but enjoyed the dish. The Naan was surprisingly sweet, unlike traditional Indian Naan and had a soft yet crisply texture we enjoyed very much. If we had a larger group, we would have definitely tried Daal-Bhaat (Lentils and Rice), a traditional Nepali dish. Service was disappointing – the mix-up with the Momos is one thing; but no apology or follow-up is inexcusable. Food took a while to arrive and when we asked for doggy-bags, the server just plunked the boxes at our table and walked off. Indifferent service was a real put-off.
$$. Most dishes are under $15, but the combo meals get expensive. This wasn’t a cheap meal - $52 for two (with a glass of beer) and no dessert.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Ruam Mit Thai
475 St Peter St
St. Paul, MN
651-222-7871
http://www.ruam-mit-thai.com/
Category: Thai
Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 8
Service: 6
Ambience: 3
Recommendation: Very Good. Our positive streak with finding great Thai restaurants in the Twin Cities continues after our visit to Ruam Mit in St. Paul.
We had tickets to Stomp at the Ordway recently and instead of the popular pre-theatre restaurants like Pazzaluna or Meritage, we were looki
ng for something low key, casual, and ethnic. Ruam Mit Thai fit that bill perfectly. Located just 4 blocks from the Ordway on St Peter Street, Ruam Mit makes a great pre-theatre or pre-Excel Energy Center casual dinner option. The restaurant recently re-opened but the exterior looks so dilapidated, you’d think the place was still closed. The ambience has nothing noteworthy about it either. Thankfully, the food is so delicious that you soon forget about the surroundings you’re in. They also have a lunch buffet on weekdays which makes it a popular place for the St. Paul office crowd.
The Spring Rolls #3 (lettuce, cilantro, shrimp, rice noodles wrapped in fresh rice paper) came with a delicious sweet dipping sauce that was topped with crushed peanuts. The Toam Kha Khai (#17), a rich coconut lime flavored soup with straw mushrooms and lemongrass was satisfying on so many different levels…simple, comforting, and downright flavorful. We asked for the Phra Nua (#22 Beef Salad) to be prepared “Thai Hot” and it was really spicy. “Thai Hot” is not for the weak! The salad itself was sweet and tangy and the beef was brimming with flavor. For the entrees, our top two favorites were the Roast Duck Curry (#26), and the Pha Ram Long Song (#30), a sweet red curry with coconut milk, spinach, and peanuts. The Duck was so tender it literally melted in your mouth. The curry base in both dishes was on the sweet side but the sweetness wasn’t overpowering. We were disappointed in the Tod Gratiam Prig Thai (#38) which promised to be a delight for garlic lovers but didn’t even come close to satisfying us. The pork was supposed to be stir-fried in a garlic and black pepper sauce but we 
couldn’t taste either. The deep fried Tilapia (#39) was topped with small pieces of lemongrass, ginger, onions, green mango, and lime. While the fish was good, we felt that the toppings didn’t really go well with it…the ingredients simply didn’t complement each other and did little to enhance the flavor of the fish. The Pad Thai (#52) which is probably the most popular dish in most Thai restaurants was excellent. For dessert, we tried the Thai Custard with Sweet Sticky Purple Rice and the Sweet Sticky Rice with Fresh Mango. The purple rice had a unique flavor we didn’t care for and we couldn’t taste the custard. The Sticky Rice with Mango was good. Our friends tried the Thai Iced Tea with Sweet condensed milk, which we’d never tried before. The drink was peach in color and was very sweet.
$-$$. Most dishes cost around $10. Meter parking on St Peter Street (free after 4:30pm and on Sundays). There are several ramps in the area as well. 
Little Sushi on the Prairie
8353 Crystal View Rd, #103 Update (June 10, 2008) – A return lunch trip to Little Sushi was as memorable as the first. In addition to the regular menu, they did have a couple of special rolls. We went with the Taiger Roll, which we had enjoyed on our first visit, and relished as much this time around. Our server recommended the Spaghetti Roll, with salmon and chili oil, topped with thin spaghetti-like strands of cooked Pollock. Now that’s beautiful and incredibly yum. An order of Steamed Broccoli (served with a soy dipping sauce) served as a nice clean palate cleanser between the sushi parade. We liked the Nuclear Roll, but the defining spicy characteristic was severely lacking. Service was painfully slow, but being a lunch meeting we did get quite a bit of work accomplished while waiting anxiously for our food. I’d hate to imagine how long we would have to wait when the restaurant is packed. Nevertheless, service is attentive and the staff is friendly.
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
952-944-0962
http://www.littlesushiontheprairie.com/
Category: Japanese
Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 8
Service: 8
Ambience: 6
Recommendation: Very Good. Stumbling upon this restaurant was a pleasant surprise – this is a great place for Sushi in the South-West Metro.
I (Nick) and my coworkers were craving Sushi one afternoon. We usually go to the local Byerlys because it’s cheap and quick, but today had to be different. We had to think hard for a Sushi restaurant in the South-West metro (there aren’t many in this area) until I recalled that I had seen Little Sushi on my many trips to Cam Rahn Bay and Punch Pizza, all of which are within walking distance of each other. The restaurant, which is owned by three Sushi chefs, is located in the retail space adjacent to an office building. When you enter, your eyes immediately fixate on the Sushi chefs hard at work behind their counter, and the Sushi specials menu hanging from the wall. The décor is simple, clean, but not extravagant. The large windows paired with light colors give the restaurant an airy and open feel.
The menu is heavily weighted towards Sushi, but there are other options such as tempura and teriyaki. We opted for a combination of Maki Sushi (Rolls) and Sashimi (fresh cuts of raw fish). The 14 Piece Sashimi Platter was loaded with choices made by the chef himself – Tuna, White Tuna, Yellow Tail Tuna, Salmon, Surf Clam, and Mackerel. The cuts were a little thicker than we had imagined, but both the quality of the fish and the presentation were spot on. For Sushi, we opted for the Crunchy Roll, Dynamite Roll, and the Taiger Roll (from the specials menu). The Taiger Roll was awesome – a delectable combination of red snapper, spicy mayo, fish eggs, salmon, eel, and sweet eel sauce – great flavors and what creativity. I loved the Dynamite Roll which was “clear your sinuses” spicy mostly from the Thai pepper, but also from the copious amounts of wasabi I added to the Soy. For dessert, we were treated to two types of Mochi (Japanese rice cake made of glutinous rice) – passion fruit and green tea, and both had ice cream in the center. What a fabulous ending to the meal – you bite through the sticky, chewy exterior and end with the cold and creamy ice cream. The service was good – we were well attended to and the recommendations were great. Overall, we are glad to have found a good Sushi restaurant close to work, but at $35 per person for the food, drinks, tax, and tip, this was an expensive lunch.
$$$. The Sushi special was around $15 and the Sashimi platter was $20. Other Sushi options are between $5 and $15. 
Monday, June 9, 2008
Zelo
831 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN
612-333-7000
http://www.zelomn.com/
Category: Italian, American-Upscale
Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 8
Service: 8
Ambience: 8
Recommendation: Very Good. They have one of the more stunning interiors of the restaurants in Minneapolis – pair that with a diverse menu that’s executed well, and you have a winner.
With its ideal location on Nicollet Mall, it’s not surprising that Zelo is so popular. You’ll find a great mix of people – the after-work crowd grabbing a drink, business folks entertaining their clients, or people celebrating special occasions (we had a group of women celebrating a bachelorette 
event sitting across from our table – it’s the sexy lingerie gifts that gave it away). It was a beautiful summer evening and we wanted to grab one of the sidewalk tables (very popular on summer weekends and weeknights) outside but the wait was too long. However, sitting inside wasn’t a compromise by any means. We loved the restaurant interior – you walk in through this grand gateway draped in black cloth. The first thing that hits you is the cozy, dimly lit dining area in dark wood but accented by silver highlights. With modern paintings and sculptures, the pseudo contemporary coupled with old-world charm makes this part of the restaurant special and ideal for a romantic getaway. The main dining room is a little different however – it’s larger, brighter, and not as ornate. Off to one side of the restaurant is a lounge with full bar, decorated with ample use of dark wood and leather. An added highlight is that it looks outside onto 9th Street and Nicollet Mall. The owners of Zelo also own Bacio and Ciao Bella.
The menu confused us a little – we thought we were dining at an Italian-inspired restaurant but many of the items on the menu strayed from this course. It’s more diverse than we had expected with pizzas, pastas, salads, flatbreads, seafood and meats. Many of the dishes, especially the specials were Asian inspired. We 
started with the Ahi Spring Rolls, which we highly recommend. A simple preparation where the Tuna is cooked to rare perfection, the exterior of the roll is crispy and served with accompanying soy and wasabi sauces. The server pointed out their new seafood menu and recommended us a couple of options – it was interesting to see that most of the seafood options actually had an Asian twist. We were a little reticent but proceeded to order the Grilled Shrimp and Scallops in a Ginger Thai Broth. It was stunning…the scallops were soft, the broth fragrant, and the wild mushroom medley had subtle rustic flavors. Our only gripe was that the shrimp were a touch overcooked. The Tagliolini with Shrimp was also very good – cooked in a simple tomato sauce that we had asked to be spiced up. Well they did spice it up (a touch too spicy) but the flavors were outstanding. The classic Spaghetti with Meatballs was outstanding, proving that this restaurant can execute well on a wide variety of dishes. The thick meatballs were made with veal and sausage and were really flavorful. The only thing we wouldn’t recommend on the menu is the Heirloom Grain Chopped Salad with farro, quinoa and vegetables in a lemon vinaigrette. It was bland and under-dressed. Both desserts we had were good. Being chocoholics, the Budin
o (Molten chocolate cake with Vanilla gelato and Fudge sauce) was our preferred choice – the chocolate was dark and rich and the gelato was rich and creamy. The Lemon Tasting Plate with mousse cake, shortbread cookies, and strawberry lemonade sorbet was a hit as well. We enjoyed a bottle of the Ferrari Carano Siena but thought that the wines are priced on the high side (location, location, location). Our service was wonderful – our bubbly server made some good recommendations and was more than willing to do separate checks for our large table.
$$$-$$$$. Pastas are under $15 while the meats and seafood range from $20-$40. Dinner for 4 with a bottle of wine, tax, and tip was $206. They also offer valet parking.
True Thai
2627 E Franklin Ave
Minneapolis, MN
612-375-9942
http://www.truethairestaurant.com/
Category: Thai
Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 7
Service: N/A (takeout)
Ambience: N/A (takeout)
Recommendation: Very Good. True Thai is another great Thai restaurant part of an already long list of distinguished Thai options in the Twin Cities (Chiang Mai Thai, King & I, Gangchen, Amazing Thailand to name a few).
Our Take-out food theme over Memorial Day weekend continued with True Thai (we had friends visiting and with their 2 young boys, doing takeout was more practical). Located on Franklin Avenue close to the Cedar-Riverside area, True Thai is close to Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the U of M campus.
The menu is pretty large and has many varieties of Appetizers (including Sweet Purple Yam), Soups, Salads (including Crispy Catfish Salad and Laab), Curries, Wok Fried dishes, Noodles, and Fried Rice. The Green Papaya Salad ($6.50) was very refreshing and crunchy with the crisp green papayas, tomatoes, cilantro, lime, and spices. However, the flavors were too mild and didn’t capture the confluence of sweetness and spiciness that normally accompany this salad. The Sweet Green Curry with Chicken ($9.95), a traditional commonly available Thai dish was spiced to order, fragrant, and had good flavors. We tried both the Tofu Pad Thai ($8.95) and the Chicken Pad Thai ($9.95), classic noodle dishes and found both to our liking.
The place gets really packed on weekends so call ahead and reserve a table.
$$. Most dishes are under $15. Parking on side streets. Closed on Sundays.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Salsa a La Salsa
1420 Nicollet Ave
Minneapolis, MN
612-813-1970
http://www.salsaalasalsa.com/
A second location is in the Midtown Global Market
Category: Mexican
Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 8
Service: N/A (takeout)
Ambience: 7
Recommendation: Very Good. Reasonably priced authentic Mexican food on Eat Street within minutes of downtown Minneapolis.
Take-out food was the theme over Memorial Day weekend (we had friends visiting and with their 2 young boys, doing takeout was more practical). We were all craving Mexican and had to rack our brains for take-out options around downtown Minneapolis. A quick web search turned up Salsa a La Salsa and a quick glance at their menu made it our destination of choice for dinner. Some of the menu options were foreign to us…a true sign of an authentic restaurant. My friend and I (Nick) went to the restaurant which is located on the North end of Eat Street. It’s not very big but has a nice vibe to it, especially because of the live music that was playing on the Sunday night. We ordered our food and sat down to nibble on some chips and salsa. With the bar in plain sight, we couldn’t pass up on the Tequila selection and ordered a round of sipping Tequilas (Don Julio Reposado). Waiting for take-out was never this much fun – live music, good tequila, fresh chips and salsa (the pico was ok, but the Salsa Verde was awesome). By the time we were done with the first round of drinks, our food was ready.
Overall, we were quite impressed with the meal. The Plato de Carnitas ($10.95) was a favorite – the pulled pork was juicy and flavorful and the accompanying rice, beans, and corn tortillas were the right portion and stayed warm till we got home. We ordered a couple of different Popular Burritos ($8.95) and although they were good, we were a little concerned about the lack of consistency in the ingredients. The Vegetable Burrito had no sour cream while the Beef Burrito was loaded with sour cream and had no onions or cilantro! We would also recommend the Chicken Fajitas ($11.99) which were mildly spiced but didn’t dry out, even though they were sitting in the car for 10 minutes. Our only gripe with takeout was that we had asked for extra Salsa Verde – when we got home, we realized that we hadn’t been emphatic enough (we ended up with one small portion, definitely not enough for 4 people)! We’ll be heading back to Salsa a La Salsa soon – good authentic food at an incredible value.
$$. All entrees are less than $13. Metered parking on the side streets. 
Tea House
88 Nathan Ln N
Plymouth, MN
763-544-3422
http://www.ourteahouse.com/
Other locations in St. Paul and Downtown Minneapolis (T-Express)
Category: Chinese, Szechuan
Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 9
Service: 8
Ambience: 8
Recommendation: Excellent! One of the best Chinese restaurants in town, serving authentic Szechuan (Sichuan) cuisine…on par with Little Szechuan, our other favorite.
Tea House is located in Plymouth, right off of 169 between 55 and 394. Its location, right next to Willow Creek Theatres makes it a popular place for a pre-movie meal. Located in an old strip mall, this place doesn’t look like much from the outside but the inside is very charming. Rustic chairs, bamboo blinds, beautiful murals lining red walls, and lanterns are part of the charm. Tea House has 2 menus…a traditional Sichuan menu and a standardized American one. For the true Sichuan experience, we recommend asking for the Sichuan menu and ditching the standard Americanized dishes such as Sweet and Sour chicken or 
Kung Pao Beef. Sichuan cuisine has a reputation of being hot and numbing due to the commonly used ingredient, the Sichuan peppercorn and Tea House lives up to this. It is truly authentic. Some of the dishes such as Tongue slices and Pork Belly might scare aware the average diner, but the menu also has plenty of other dishes such as Twice cooked Pork, Dan Dan Noodles, Cumin Lamb, Spicy Beef Short Ribs that will satisfy almost any palate. The Plymouth location has a lunch buffet but the items are standard Chinese fare so we’d recommend skipping it. A newer location in St. Paul has a bigger menu, more specials, and dim sum on weekends.
The Chong King Spicy Chicken (#704, $11.95) was delicious. It was extremely spicy from the chili oil and red peppers but the heat was worth
it. The chicken had a crispy texture on the outside but the interior was soft and tender. This dish can also be ordered with bones to preserve the flavors, although bones do end up being a pain. We hesitated ordering the Black Pepper Beef Tenderloin (#502, $18.95) mainly due to the steep price but were really impressed. The beef was so tender and flavorful, we’d go back just for this dish. Large chunks of steamed broccoli lined the sides of the plate to make a beautiful presentation.
Service was surprisingly pleasant, the restaurant was well staffed (we’ve been jaded by our terrible service experiences in ethnic restaurants overall) and our server had good recommendations. A couple of tables are set up outside but you have to remember you are sitting in a strip mall.
$-$$
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
A Baker’s Wife
4200 28th Ave S
Minneapolis, MN
612-729-6898
Category: Bakery, Cafe
Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 8
Service: N/A (counter service)
Ambience: 8
Recommendation: Very Good. A gem of a bakery and a great place for a continental breakfast.
The smell from this bakery is intoxicating and draws you to it just as you approach the corner of 42nd street and 28th Ave in SE Minneapolis. You can stop by for a quick “grab and go” to pick up all you need for a breakfast picnic at Lake Nokomis and Hiawatha Lake, which are minutes away. The interior isn’t fancy…in 
fact it’s cluttered with trinkets and antiques, but the stuff is quirky and you could spend hours looking through all the things hanging on the wall and scattered throughout the room. Tea cups and pots, clocks, bread baskets, coffee shop wall art, curios, handmade signs….the list goes on and on. The stuff is as eccentric as the owner who was hard at work in the back and brought out fresh batches of treats every once in a while. We’re glad that this place does so much more than breads…breakfast pastries, cakes, donuts, and coffee. It recently received the accolade of Best Bakery 2008 by CityPages.
We were there recently for a light breakfast and managed to get one of the few tables outside in the sun. The choice of breakfast treats is tremendous; to the point that the glass display couldn’t hold all the options…some were lying on the back counter. We pointed to the Chocolate Donuts, which had just been brought out. To add to the variety, we picked a Tea Cake and a slic
e of Banana Bread. The Donuts were outstanding…perfectly iced with sweet chocolate frosting yet light. Don’t miss out on the Tea Cake; think of this as a chewy croissant with a gooey caramel topping. We really liked the combination of the sticky texture of the topping with the light airy base. The Latte was a perfect complement to this sweet pastry. We didn’t actually get to the Banana Bread until later but when we did, we liked it. We’ll be back real soon to A Baker’s Wife…there’s too much left to explore.
$. Pastries are very affordable $2-$3.
Bombay 2 Deli
1840 Central Ave NE
Minneapolis, MN
612-788-4571
http://www.bombay2deli.com/
Category: Indian
Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 6
Service: N/A (counter service)
Ambience: N/A
Recommendation: Average. This Indian deli serves Indian street food such as Chaats, Bhel Puri, and Vadas. While the concept is unique, we found most of the dishes we tried to be average at best.
Awarded “Best Cheap Eats 2007” by City Pages, this unique Indian café is located on Central Avenue in Minneapolis, which is Minneapolis’ so called “Little India.” Bombay 2 Deli is attached to Asia Imports, an Indian grocery store - you can do your weeks groceries while the women in the back of the restaurant make your meal. The vegetarian menu consists of many curries such as Daals, Paneer, Chhole with a rotation of 3 curries per day. They also have daily mini meals where you can get your choice of 2 curries, rice, and chappatis (bread) for $6.99. We visited recently when we heard that they serve many snacks that are reminiscent of Indian street food. Having grown up in India, we were delighted to try this place for a taste of home most restaurants find hard to replicate. We found the food to be average at best but given that it is the only place serving Indian street food, we will most likely visit again, when the street food craving kicks in. Although the menu contains 15-20 different snacks, they were only serving 7-8 of those dishes when we visited.
The Bhel Puri ($3.49), found on every street corner in Bombay, has a base of puffed rice, sev (a fried snack), and other mixed snacks. The bas
e is then mixed with a variety of dry spices, tomatoes, onions, tamarind chutney, cilantro chutney, lime juice, and boiled potatoes to form a delicious savory delight. Bombay 2 Deli actually made a good Bhel Puri. Most other dishes at the deli were also topped with similar ingredients…the tamarind and cilantro chutneys, garbanzo beans, potatoes, etc. The Papri Chaat ($3.99) which used fried chips as it base and topped with yogurt was ok. We thought it lacked depth of flavor…it wasn’t seasoned well. The Samosa Chaat ($3.99) was our favorite…the popular Samosas are crushed and topped with - you guessed it - chickpeas, chutneys, onions, and yogurt. The Chole Puri ($4.99), which is Chickpea curry served with a deep fried puffed Puri (bread) was good. The curry was very flavorful. We didn’t like the Pav Bhaji ($4.49) or the Dhokla ($3.99). Pav Bhaji is a delicious and spicy combination of mashed vegetables cooked in spices and served with a warm buttery bread called Pav. The dish was totally bland and we had to add salt and lemon juice in large quantities to make it taste edible. The worst part that the deli did not have fresh limes, they used lemon juice concentrate! (Note: they have a grocery store selling fresh produce attached to it!). The Dhokla, which is a very popular dish eaten by Gujaratis is a steamed square made with chickpea flour and topped with fried mustard seeds, cilantro, and chilies. Unfortunately, it tasted worse than what you would get from a boxed mix and it didn’t have any mustard seeds or fresh cilantro on it. The Masala Tea ($1.50), milky Indian sweet tea made with spices such as cinnamon and cardamom was ok.
$. Street Parking. 
Monday, May 19, 2008
Broders’ Pasta Bar
5000 Penn Ave S
Minneapolis, MN
612-925-9202
www.broders.com
Category: Italian
Broders is located in a quiet neighborhood in south Minneapolis. On the corner of 50th St and Penn Ave though, you’ll notice a crowd either enjoying a glass of wine on a charming patio or patiently waiting for a table in one of the more p
opular eateries in town. You’re almost guaranteed a wait at Broders; its indicative of the popularity but also because the space isn’t very large. The walls are a stucco-style faux and the pendant lights are made from inverted colanders. There is a u-shaped pasta bar that sits in the center of this restaurant and gives you a first hand look at the kitchen hard at work. We recommend that you grab a glass of wine and check out the outdoor patio during summer months (they don’t serve the full menu outside.) Just a word of caution for larger parties – the restaurant isn’t very large and it might be a little cramped (we were 5, sitting at a table for 4 and certainly felt so.) Oh, if you’re looking for takeout or want to shop for Italian ingredients check out the Broders Cucina Italiana across the street.
Broders philosophy is quite simple – fresh made pasta cooked to perfection with simple ingredients. We started our meal with a couple of appetizers - Salsicce Con Finocchio E Cipolla (mild Italian sausage with fennel and onions) and Roasted Garlic (served with flat bread and tomatoes.) The sausage was mild and sweet. The other app was like a bruschetta, accompanied by roasted garlic – not bad overall, bu
t we felt that the garlic could have used a few more minutes roasting and could have been sweeter. Most of the entrees were good but the two that stood out were the Gnocchi Con Manzo E Tartufo (Gnocchi with Beef and Mushrooms in a Cream Sauce) and the Fettuccine Con Aragosta (Pasta with Lobster, Lemon, and Herbs.) We’re picky about our Gnocchi (thank you Arrezzo) and have been disappointed too often by mediocre preparations. But not at Broders. This Gnocchi was appetizing and the accompanying beef very tender. The cream sauce was a little heavy, but we’re not complaining. The Lobster dish (technically Langostines) was also cream based, but lightly sauced and not heavy. The Spaghetti Con Polpette di Calabrese (Spaghetti with Meatballs) is also a good choice, but we felt that the meatballs could have used more seasoning. What really resonated with us was the consistency of the pasta preparations – don’t discount what perfectly cooked “al dente” pasta can do for an Italian dish.$$. Entrees under $15. Parking is available at the lot in front of the restaurant. There is also ample street parking. We recommend you call ahead and put your name on the list because Broders doesn’t take reservations on the weekend. The kitchen closes at 9.30 on weekdays and 10pm on weekends.
Mairin’s Table
23 NE Fourth St
Minneapolis, MN
612-746-4272
http://www.mairinstable.com/
Category: Moroccan, American-Casual
Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 8
Service: 7
Ambience: 8
Recommendation: Very Good. Mairin’s Table is an unusual neighborhood bistro that combines a Moroccan menu with a classic American one and executes both perfectly. Lovely place for a romantic night out or a casual meal with friends.
Mairin’s Table, located in Northeast Minneapolis blends Morocco with Minneapolis from the moment you step in….dark wood and rich colors are complemented with a cozy fireplace and piano…classic American dishes such are Meatloaf and Stroganoff sit alongside Moroccan favorites such as various Tagines and Bastilla. Mairin’s Table was a lot more satisfying to us than our recent trip to another Moroccan restaurant, Barbary Fig in St. Paul. Mairin’s has outdoor seating but the views are nothing spectacular…the patio faces a parking lot. The inside of the restaurant is very beautiful and perfect for a romantic night out. The first Saturday of every month, they have two belly dance performances (7pm and 9pm) and a $30 pre-fixe 4-course Moroccan dinner.
The menu consists of a handful of appetizers, salads, and small plates – Moroccan dishes such as Hummus and Olives and American ones such as Artichoke Dip and Stuffed Mushrooms satisfy a variety of different palates. They have an eclectic wine list and all bottles are half price on Monday and Tuesday nights. All entrees are served with a choice of soup or salad. Their French Onion soup is delicious. For entrees, the Meatloaf which is the co-owner’s grandma, Mairin’s recipe is simply delicious. Served with garlic mashed potatoes, French bread, the meatloaf is tender, juicy, and flavorful. The Tagine of Lamb with Figs and Almonds, served on a bed of couscous and a side of pita bread is excellent. Tagines are slow-cooked stews braised at low temperatures, resulting in tender meat with aromatic vegetables and sauce. This one was perfectly done. The Minnesota naturally grown lamb was tender and flavorful, having been braised with spices and figs. The chunks of fig were delicious and added a nice crunch to the dish. The buttermilk harissa sauce was bland and watery.
$$$. Most entrees are between $15 and $20. Free Parking.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
The Great Wall Restaurant
4515 France Ave S
Minneapolis, MN
952-927-4439
http://www.greatwallrestaurant.us/
Category: Chinese
Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 6 (Buffet Only)
Service: 8
Ambience: 9
Recommendation: Good. Great Wall serves a nice buffet during lunch and is a reasonable option if you want a reasonably priced lunch option.
Although it’s located in a strip mall, you get a different vibe when you walk into Great Wall. We wouldn’t call it upscale, but the décor is quite pleasing and in that way this place differentiates itself from the competition. The wallpaper and wood blind accents are in natural colors and we like the “zen” like approach.
A large group of us went there for lunch recently. The lunch buffet has limited options, some of which are staples on most Chinese menus. We skipped the Sweet and Sour Pork/Chicken dishes as the thought of drowning battered meat in a sweet sauce isn’t really appealing. The Chicken with Cashew Nuts was really nice – we like the crunch from the nuts especially. As was the Pork with Vegetables in Brown Sauce – a quick stir fry of fresh vegetables is really what makes this dish. The Eggs Rolls are delicious – the accompanying mustard was a little watery and not as hot as we are used to. We’d skip the Wontons though – too brittle and not enough filling. We did order one dish off the menu – Pork with Scallions and Chilies. It was a little on the salty side, but overall it had good flavor and was appreciated all around. Service was excellent – friendly and prompt. Our one serious gripe is the placement of the buffet table – it becomes a parking lot because one end is placed against a wall, and the entrance and exit is on one side only.
$.
Spoonriver
750 S. 2nd St.
Minneapolis, MN
612-436-2236
http://spoonriverrestaurant.com/
Category: American, International, Vegetarian
Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 6
Service: 7
Ambience: 6
Recommendation: Good. Located in the newly revitalized Riverfront district and located right next door to the new Guthrie, Spoonriver serves a primarily organic and natural selection of food.
Spoonriver is the creation of Minneapolis chef Brenda Langton who is well known for her commitment to the organic and locally produced food movement. It is located right next door to the new Guthrie making it a great option for a pre-show meal. It is also very close to the Metrodome, the Mill City Museum, and the Stone Arch bridge. Chef Langton also owns Café Brenda in the Warehouse district, which has been a Twin Cities institution on locally grown and vegetarian food for over 20 years. In addition to the locally grown ingredients featured on Spoonriver’s and Café Brenda’s menus, chef Langton has also created the Mill City Farmers’ Market located on the plaza by the Guthrie and continuing into the Mill City Museum’s train shed. The market, that started as a Saturday morning only market last year has now expanded to Thursday evenings also. It features different local farmers selling various food items, arts and crafts and flowers.
The restaurant itself is in a very narrow space inside, although the floor to ceiling windows and the bright orange walls make it look more open and spacious. Outdoor seating is a much better option.
We’ve only been to Spoonriver for lunch and found our meal to be average, at best. This was a huge surprise to us given the accolades this restaurant has received. It was listed as one of top restaurants in Minneapolis’ foodie scene in a recent New York Times article. We started out with their Grapes of Wrath Sangria that had frozen grapes at the bottom. The drink was awful. It tasted bitter and was essentially flavorless. Our server replaced it without any issues and also mentioned that several other customers had made a similar comment. We’re not sure why they continue to serve a drink several customers have complained about. The next drink which was a Prickly Pear Margarita was great. It contained pineapple infused vodka and Prickly Pear liqueur. The drink was a very pretty fuchsia pink. The taste of the drink was sweet and earthy and it grew on us after a few sips.
For appetizers, we tried their Wild Mushroom and Pistachio Terrine, which we really liked. It was served with Cranberry coulis and ultra thin 
Crostinis on the side. The cranberries were delicious…they tasted very fresh. Although the mushrooms completely overpowered any pistachio flavor there might have been we found the dish to be innovative and tasty. The Thai Noodle Salad with Pan Seared Jumbo Shrimp was a huge disappointment. Note that they serve 4 jumbo Shrimp with the salad with their heads on. The shrimp was very delicious by itself. The salad was supposed to be flavored with hoisin sauce but didn’t taste like it. It was flavorless and very watery. When we asked for extra hoisin sauce, the kitchen couldn’t provide that for us and gave us soy sauce instead, which didn’t do much to revive the flavor. The other dish which was a Sea Bass with Pesto, Spinach Risotto, and a beautiful display of yellow and red heirloom tomatoes was much better. The pesto was delicious.
$$$. They give you a 10% off coupon for Café Brenda.
Update (May 15, 2008) – This is a tough review to write. Our last experience wasn’t spectacular and we were hoping this time around, the dinner would wow us. The outside patio was open and it was a pleasure sitting outside and watch 
the theatergoers go by. We tried the Moroccan Mojitos and loved them. The cardamom and rose water accented the drink and gave it a nice fragrance and zing (very creative.) The Duck and Chicken Liver Pate appetizer had a very strong flavor but grew on us – it’s a simple and classic preparation. On the other hand, the Spoon Dips (White Bean Dip and Carrot, Red Pepper Dip) served with veggies was average. We don’t doubt the ingredients are fresh and local, but the preparation was nothing spectacular. For entrees, the Halibut Special with Lemon Caper Beurre Blanc and Lentil Stew was nice – mild in flavor but a great preparation none the less. The New York Strip Steak with Bulgar Rice Pilaf and Steamed Broccoli that Nick ordered was a major disappointment.
Nick rarely orders steak when he goes to a restaurant but the server really recommended the grass-fed beef. The steak wasn’t overcooked but was tough and chewy. A saving grace was the home made steak sauce which had a sweet, spicy flavor. Both desserts were good – the custard in the Lemon Tart was light and the Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse had nice flavor tones. In our view the quality of ingredients is at the heart of the restaurant; however, the preparations are very simple (some too simple for us) so keep that in mind when you visit Spoonriver.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Bayport Cookery
328 5th Ave N
Bayport, MN
651-430-1066
http://www.bayportcookery.com/
Category: American-Upscale
Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 9
Service: 6
Ambience: 6
Recommendation: Excellent. A gem…the New American fare, with meticulously conceived dishes and skillful preparation, embodies the art of cooking.
Let’s be honest – when you hear the name Bayport Cookery the first reaction is always “where’s that?” For the record, Bayport Cookery is located in the town of Bayport, just south of Stillwater. This restaurant’s been there for 10 years and it was the Top Zagat-rated restaurant in the Twin Cities from 2005 to 2007. It’s thriving and credit goes to chef and owner, Jim Kyndberg. The restaurant is located in a non-descript building and even the interior doesn’t have a “wow” factor. Don’t get us wrong, it’s charming, but when you think of a New American Upscale restaurant, you think glitz and glamour, chic and modern. Maybe that’s what makes Bayport even more remarkable. A large stone wall with fireplace forms the backdrop to the dining area. And there’s a delightful patio at the back of the restaurant.
The menu changes per the seasons and availability of ingredients
. There are nine courses and you can choose a prie fixed 3, 5, or 9 course meal. We…Ok, a group of 10 of us visited there recently to celebrate Nick’s birthday and were delighted to see that the theme of the menu was Pacific Rim inspired Seafood. We all opted for the Chef’s 5-course tasting menu. While we waited for the first course, we nibbled on fresh-baked bread (yes, it was warm). The first course was a Miso Marinated Halibut with Pad Thai Noodles and Ginger Chive Broth. The flavors in the fish were subtle, 
yet the broth was fragrant albeit a little salty. The presence of the noodles and peanuts added great textural balance. Our second course was a carpaccio of Pacific King Salmon with Shaved Daikon, Asparagus, and Jumbo Lump Crab. A winner all around – the daikon and asparagus were nearly as thinly shaved as the Salmon! Our next course was the Pork Tenderloin with Eda Mame (puree), Tempura Scallops, and Soy Sake Glaze. This preparation had a lot going on but noth
ing really seemed out of place – the ingredients of pork, bacon, and mushroom are familiar and just when you think you know what this dish presents, you’re in for a surprise with the Asian inspiration of the glaze, eda mame, and tempura scallops. Bravo, Chef. Before our next course we were presented a Pineapple and Lime Sorbet to cleanse our palates. With the crisp and clean flavors of the sorbet, we were ready for our next course…a surf and turf. The most complex 
preparation yet – Beef and Tuna with Ying & Yang Risotto, Port Wine Reduction, Foie Gras, and Morel Mushrooms. On one side of the plate we had a sous-vide beef preparation - tender and juicy meat, creamy risotto, a hunk of morel and a sweeter port reduction…a not too unfamiliar preparation of a meat course. On the other side of the plate was the antithesis – Tuna instead of beef, a wild rice preparation to differ from the risotto (in both texture and color) and a savory foie reduction instead of the port wine sauce. We savored every last morsel of this dish. Finally, we’re on to our last course, dessert. By this time (3+ hours into the meal) we were the only ones left in the restaurant and were 
frankly getting a little impatient. We were surprised to see the chef send out a few plates of each of the two dessert options on the menu. The Kona Coffee Cake with Coconut Ice Cream and Banana Spring Roll was a creative preparation and had nice flavor combinations. Although, it was the Citrus Mango Tart with Pineapple Sabayon that blew us away – crisp and sour flavors were the perfect finish to this meal.
Service was a mixed bag. Our servers were attentive and cordial but the whole experience took close to 4 hours. We did have a group of 10 and can appreciate the challenge when serving a multi-course meal to such a large group, but there were times between courses, where the wait seemed too long. And there were instances where we felt the food just wasn’t hot enough (temperature wise). Nevertheless, these things are little annoyances and of little consequence when the food is of this caliber.
$$$$. 3-course meal is $35, 5-course is $55, and 9-course is $85. Our total with wine, tax and tip was about $90 per person.
Meritage
410 St. Peter St.
St. Paul, MN
651-222-5670
http://www.meritage-stpaul.com/
Category: French, American-Upscale
Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 9
Service: 8
Ambience: 7
Recommendation: Excellent. A great addition to the St. Paul dining scene serving classic Brasserie items interspersed with New American dishes.
We’ve been eating at a lot of French inspired restaurants lately and that trend continues with Meritage, a trip way overdue. Located in the old A Rebours space in the historic Hamm building in the heart of St. Paul, Meritage recreates the look and feel of a French brasserie. Chef Russell Klein (formerly of WA Frost) is at the helm of this establishment, which was named for the wine of th
e same name. It symbolizes both the rich traditions of French cuisine along with influences from America. The space is elegant and romantic. Cozy tables occupy the small space and dim lighting adds to the charm. Rich wood panels, large mirrors, a wrought iron clock and a beautiful wine bar round out the decorative accents. There’s summer patio coming sometime soon.
We managed to get a table by the large windows overlooking St. Peter. The menu selection varied and has a nice selection of both American and French foods. There’s a daily special, usually a traditional French preparation like Pot Au Feu or Bouillabaisse. We started our meal with Scallops with Meyer Lemon, 
Wasabi, and Green Apple; and Pork Rillette with Fig Spread, Grilled Bread and Grain Mustard. The Rillette (pork pate) was amazing – complex flavors result from lathering the salty pork and sweet fig spread onto the smoky bread. The ceviche preparation of the scallops was underwhelming; the scallops were sweet and fresh, but we couldn’t taste much of the accompanying ingredients. For the main course we would highly recommend the Halibut (with Pea Puree, Fingerling Potatoes, Cippolini Onions, and Truffle Emulsion) as well as the Saturday special Beef Short Ribs (with Potato Puree and Seasonal Vegetables). The Halibut had subtle, yet refined flavors and the preparation did justice to our favorite fish, while the Short Ribs were “melt in your mouth” tender. Both the 
Steak Frites and the Meritage House Hamburger were very good as well; simple preparations executed well. We weren’t too impressed with the Frites, which were on the soggy side. An after-dinner cheese course looked appetizing but we decided to go directly to dessert. We liked the rich Dark Chocolate Mousse which was paired well with citrus. On the other hand the Izzy Salty Caramel ice cream was just ok. And lest we forget, the complimentary bread was wonderful – dense and chewy, just the way we like it. We had great service all night and our server did a great job recommending dishes.
$$$-$$$$. Entrees are around $25 and appetizers are about $10. Valet parking is available Tue-Sat (evenings).
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Fugaise
208 E Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55414
612-436-0777
http://www.fugaise.com/
Category: French
Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 10
Service: 9
Ambience: 9
Recommendation: Excellent. Fugaise was recently ranked by Zagat as one of the Top 10 restaurants in the Twin Cities (we agree wholeheartedly and understand why) – the result of meticulous preparation and exacting execution is a meal we won’t soon forget.
Fugaise is the brainchild of chef and owner Don Saunders (formerly of Vincent, La Belle Vie, and A Rebours). It’s located on a stretch of 
Hennepin Ave north of the river and even frequent visitors to the area probably don’t know it exists (the entrance is tiny and easy to miss). We’ve heard incredible things about Fugaise and were looking forward to the meal…although with a bit of trepidation because high expectations have sometimes lead to let-downs. The restaurant is located at the end of the building’s entrance corridor. As soon as you enter the restaurant, your eye is drawn to the mosaic tile that forms the backdrop to the small bar. The dining room itself has the feel of a modern, romantic loft with flashy, colorful, contemporary art adorning the dull gray and brick walls. There are no windows in this restaurant, but frankly it doesn’t matter – the décor is splendid and you don’t feel like you’re in a confined space.
The menu is small and is more readily appreciated by those with a more refined palate (luckily for us, our group of friends fall into this category). We were
