301 1st Ave N
Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 342-9230
http://www.cafebrenda.com/
Category: American Upscale
Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 8
Service: 6
Ambience: 7
Recommendation: Very good. One of a few restaurants that specializes in innovative vegetarian cuisine, although it has expanded its menu to include non-vegetarian and seafood options.
For close to 30 years, Chef Brenda Langton has been delighting Twin Cities dining patrons with her inventive gourmet vegetarian cuisine. And although the menu has expanded to include some non-vegetarian options, the menu is a dream for vegetarians looking for an American meal with the focus being on using organic and natural ingredients, and supporting and sustaining local growers. Chef Langton is also responsible for creating the Mill City Farmers Market and also owns Spoonriver restaurant (both located next to the Guthrie).
This restaurant is located in the heart of the action on 1st Ave and the corner of 3rd St in downtown Minneapolis. Like her cuisine, the décor is simple, yet pleasing. Floor to ceiling windows along two sides of the restaurant are perfect to gaze onto the street. There is a small bar, along the front of which there is an alluring painting with an array of bright colors – striking, because this is the most use of color throughout this restaurant. The dark carpeted floor, the soothing jazz music in the background, and the soft lighting makes this a nice place for a date.
For appetizers, we loved the Avory Wild Mushroom Pistachio Pate (served with cranberry fruit chutney, mustard sauce, croutons and cornichons. The multitude of sweet and sour flavors work magic on your palate. The complimentary bread was disappointing to say the least – The demi baguette was definitely stale and the corn bread didn’t do much for us either. The entrée menu has a half dozen salads and the same number of non-salad entrees, pretty evenly split between vegetarian and non-vegetarian. On the recommendation of our server we ordered the Minnesota Lamb (meatballs served over fresh spaghetti pasta and a tomato herb sauce) and the Moroccan Chicken (in a white wine preserved lemon sauce with olives, raisins, tomatoes, yellow rice, and cauliflower). Both dishes were very good – the lamb was flavored beautifully and you could taste the Mediterranean/Middle Eastern spices in the meatballs which were seared on the outside but yet moist in the middle. The tomato sauce was light and did not overpower the dish. The Moroccan Chicken reminded us on Indian chicken curry – a mild tomato based tangy preparation that truly captures the ethnic flavors it represents. The home made pickled carrots were awesome. The dessert menu is definitely unique and is vegan friendly. It changes frequently and this day included a Molasses Cake – it was a nice alternative to chocolate as the cake was not too sweet and was complemented with a nice sweet raspberry pear puree. We have to compliment our server who recommended fine dishes and although the food took a while we were well cared for.
$$$. Dinner for two, with a glass of wine each, one dessert, tax and tip was $83. There is $5 validate parking available if you enter the pay lot 1st Ave and 4th St.
http://www.cafebrenda.com/
Category: American Upscale
Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 8
Service: 6
Ambience: 7
Recommendation: Very good. One of a few restaurants that specializes in innovative vegetarian cuisine, although it has expanded its menu to include non-vegetarian and seafood options.
For close to 30 years, Chef Brenda Langton has been delighting Twin Cities dining patrons with her inventive gourmet vegetarian cuisine. And although the menu has expanded to include some non-vegetarian options, the menu is a dream for vegetarians looking for an American meal with the focus being on using organic and natural ingredients, and supporting and sustaining local growers. Chef Langton is also responsible for creating the Mill City Farmers Market and also owns Spoonriver restaurant (both located next to the Guthrie).
This restaurant is located in the heart of the action on 1st Ave and the corner of 3rd St in downtown Minneapolis. Like her cuisine, the décor is simple, yet pleasing. Floor to ceiling windows along two sides of the restaurant are perfect to gaze onto the street. There is a small bar, along the front of which there is an alluring painting with an array of bright colors – striking, because this is the most use of color throughout this restaurant. The dark carpeted floor, the soothing jazz music in the background, and the soft lighting makes this a nice place for a date.
For appetizers, we loved the Avory Wild Mushroom Pistachio Pate (served with cranberry fruit chutney, mustard sauce, croutons and cornichons. The multitude of sweet and sour flavors work magic on your palate. The complimentary bread was disappointing to say the least – The demi baguette was definitely stale and the corn bread didn’t do much for us either. The entrée menu has a half dozen salads and the same number of non-salad entrees, pretty evenly split between vegetarian and non-vegetarian. On the recommendation of our server we ordered the Minnesota Lamb (meatballs served over fresh spaghetti pasta and a tomato herb sauce) and the Moroccan Chicken (in a white wine preserved lemon sauce with olives, raisins, tomatoes, yellow rice, and cauliflower). Both dishes were very good – the lamb was flavored beautifully and you could taste the Mediterranean/Middle Eastern spices in the meatballs which were seared on the outside but yet moist in the middle. The tomato sauce was light and did not overpower the dish. The Moroccan Chicken reminded us on Indian chicken curry – a mild tomato based tangy preparation that truly captures the ethnic flavors it represents. The home made pickled carrots were awesome. The dessert menu is definitely unique and is vegan friendly. It changes frequently and this day included a Molasses Cake – it was a nice alternative to chocolate as the cake was not too sweet and was complemented with a nice sweet raspberry pear puree. We have to compliment our server who recommended fine dishes and although the food took a while we were well cared for.
$$$. Dinner for two, with a glass of wine each, one dessert, tax and tip was $83. There is $5 validate parking available if you enter the pay lot 1st Ave and 4th St.
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