Corner Table

I do alot of dining out....ususally I stick to a rotation of core places that I know never disappoint....but last night I decided to try a new place that I have heard lots about over the past 2 years, but have never had the opportunity to try out. Corner Table is located on 43rd and Nicollet, and is known for a rotating seasonally inspired menu that is made from locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.

The dining room is very cozy, with not more than 8 or so tables. I started with the pumpkin soup which was hands down the best tasting soup I've had in just about my entire life! It was incredibly savory, and drizzled with I believe a truffle oil on top. It also had some toasted pumpkin seeds for a little texture. I could have just eaten the soup for my entire meal and have been utterly satisfied--it was that good!

For my entree I selected the pan-roasted chicken with whipped potatoes and roasted beets.  I usually don't order chicken at restaurants because it is usually a pretty boring meal....but when I got my plate, I was first surprised by how elegantly it was presented. After my first bite, I fell in love and will now hold every other chicken up to this standard....There was the perfect amount of skin left on the two pieces of chicken breast, which was deliciously and perfectly crispy and chewy. The chicken itself was tender and flavorful, yet was not drowning in any sort of overpowering sauce. The whipped potatoes were the perfect accompaniment...as was the large piece of roasted beet. I could not get over how delicious the entire was--needless to say, I cleaned my plate!  I also tried a bite of my friend's pan roasted rib-eye, and it was out of this world as well.   Both entrees were perfectly seasoned, flawlessly executed and worth every single penny!

For dessert we ordered the apple crisp with vanilla ice cream and the carrot cake.  Both were incredibly fresh and full of flavor. Again, both plates were licked clean.

I will certainly be going back to this place, and will recommend it to everyone I know....a wonderful neighborhood restaurant that truly takes pride in making every dish memorable.

http://www.cornertablerestaurant.com/index.php

Location:  43rd Street and Nicollet

Price:  $$$

The Library

I don't normally patron places on the U of M campus, but I went to The Library (corner of 13th and 4th Street) on Saturday night to watch the Texas/CU game with a bunch of others.

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of food here.  I ordered the Cobb Salad with grilled chicken and ate every single bite. My friend ordered their "Gullet Pounder" hamburger and it was enormous! (Two half pound patties!) It came with some tasty seasoned waffle fries that I gladly helped myself to :)

I don't think I'd ever go back just for the food since it is predominantly an undergraduate bar, but the food was very good for bar food. If you are ever on that side of town and are looking for an inexpensive place to watch a football game and grab some food, this might be a good option.

Mission American Kitchen

http://www.missionamericankitchen.com/

Friday night I had dinner at Mission American Kitchen.  I wouldn't typically have picked this place, but because the dinner was hosted by out-of-towners who were staying at the Marquette Hotel, the location was the deciding factor.

For starters we had the housemade potato chips with chive sour cream, seafood ceviche with housemade tortilla chips, and the truffle cream cheese won tons with malt vinegar dipping sauce.  My favorite appetizer was the cream cheese wonton. The others were just okay.

For my main course, I chose the grilled center cut beef tenderloin with garlic roasted potato puree and bacon braised broccolini.  I also had the vine ripened tomato salad with fresh mozzarella and aged balsamic glaze (essentially a caprese salad). I thought my entree was good, but the reduction on the meat and potato puree was way too salty. For $32, I would have found a much better meal at half the price somewhere else. But since I wasn't paying, who was I to complain?

For dessert we ordered the red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting and the apple strudel torte with vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle.  I thought the red velvet cake was a bit dry, but I loved the housemade vanilla ice cream. Would I spend $5 for a teeny tiny scoop--no....

This is a decent place to go for a business dinner, but not worth the money or the hassle of downtown parking if you are just looking for a good meal.

Buster's on 28th

Buster's on 28th was the perfect destination on a chilly & rainy fall evening. We started our meal by sharing the buffalo chicken wings with a "cooling blue cheese sauce".  Although the wings were very meaty, they definitely pale in comparison to the wings at The Nook in St. Paul.

Buster's is known for its extensive beer selection. With over 116 bottled beers and almost 30 different beers on tap, you are sure to find something to wet your whistle. I selected the Omegang Hennepin...according to the beer list, it promised a "champagne like effervesence". It was crisp and light and very smooth. I especially love that all their draft beers come in unique namesake glasses.

For my entree, I chose the braised short ribs with mushroom and goat cheese risotto with French onion jus. My risotto was amazing and cooked to perfection. The short ribs were flavorful, but not as fork tender as the braised short ribs at Kings in South Minneapolis (see previous post on Kings).

Some of the other selections at the table included the Elian Gonzalez, a sandwich with shredded pork, sliced ham, spicy mustard, gruyere, and pickles on ciabatta bread. I took a bite of this sandwich and it was very tasty, although it would have been better with a richer sauce. Another friend chose the cedar plank trout with duchess sweet potatoes and sauteed red cabbage. Luckily this friend sat next to me, because I picked off her tasty entree quite frequently....the trout was perfectly cooked and very mild. The cedar plank it was served on gave it a wonderfully subtle cedar smoked flavor...but not too overpowering.

My next beer selection was the Magic Hat #9...which was described as an ale beer "cloaked in secrecy". I'm not a huge beer person, but this was delicious! The menu also called it "dry, crisp, fruity and refreshing" and I agreed on all counts.

As our table was finishing up our entrees, our server came over to tell us that the Manager wanted to buy our table some dessert since we had all ordered off their new fall menu. Our entire table lit up like kids on Christmas morning--FREEBIE!!!  We chose the pumpkin bread pudding with creme fraiche and the apple crumble cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream.  Both were to die for, and our table was equally divided on which one was better.

I would highly recommend Buster's if you are in the mood for good food, great beer, and a cozy welcoming setting perfectly suited for those cold winter nights we have coming our way.

Location:  4204 28th Avenue
Website:  http://www.busterson28th.com/
Price:  $-$$











http://www.busterson28th.com/

East Meets Northeast

Friday night I went to check out the new "Thai-Fusion" place in Northeast called Ginger Snap. It is located where the former "Times" restaurant stood, across the street from Nye's Polonaise Bar.

We started off with some of their signature cocktails. I ordered the "Dirty Kimono", which was essentially a dirty martini with a shot of sake. One of my friends ordered the Ginger Snap version of a bloody mary...except it came with a quail egg. My drink was decent, but not necessarily worth the $7.

(That large white thing is the quail egg. Eeew)

We shared several appetizers including: chicken lettuce wraps, duck pot stickers, shrimp spring rolls, and cream cheese and carmelized onion fried won tons. I don't think any of them blew me away, but they were all tasty and satisfying.

Now for the main entrees--I ordered the green curry with chicken. The green curry was pretty thin, and had pieces of eggplant, peas and onion. The chicken was not pure white meat, but a mix of white and dark in assorted sized pieces. Because of the mix of white and dark meat, I was not a fan of the dish. I think Tom Rup Thai has a much better Green Curry dish, with far superior flavor and heat.

(Fried Tofu with Green Curry)

I actually enjoyed the fried tofu pieces in my friend's vegetarian green curry more than I enjoyed my chicken.

Another friend ordered the beef pho soup, and it came with lots of accompanying garnish and greens to mix into the soup.

And adventurous friend ordered the grilled rueben with kimchi. "Kimchi Kulakofsky".  He said he really enjoyed it, so i'll have to take his word for it since the thought of corned beef and kimchi did not sound too appetizing to this native Korean. I did have one of his sweet potato fries, and it was very good.

My final verdict is that this place is just okay....certainly not a place I'd purposely seek out again, but if I lived in the neighborhood, it wouldn't be a bad place to grab a drink and some appetizers on occasion.  If you are looking for true Thai food, you will not be happy with this place....head to Tom Rup or Amazing Thai in Uptown instead.

Sushi in the Skyway

If you are in the mood for fresh, quick and tasty sushi at lunch,  head to the mom & pop counter service place right next to Andrea's Pizza. Head towards the Men's Shoe section in Macy's, and continue through the Skyway ....the sushi place is on your right, immediately before Andrea's.

Today I had a very delicious California Roll (yes, I'm one of those novice sushi eaters) and some seaweed salad. The California Roll had 8 pieces and cost $4. If you eat there, you get free miso soup.

Your order will take about 5-7 minutes depending on how many other people are waiting, but at their prices, it is worth it!

La Belle Vie & Spoonriver

A trusted, fellow food aficionado (and Target TM) recently dined at two very different restaurants and agreed to let me post his reviews on Fast, Fun & Foodies.

First, my own introduction, of what I know of this place without ever having eaten there:
La Belle Vie is a swanky, French restaurant deemed by many to be one of the best restaurants in the Twin Cities. It is located just on the perimeter of Loring Park in the historic building at 510 Groveland. I love that they employ young, fresh-faced high school boys to valet park your car. The lounge is very sumptuous with lots of cozy, but decadent seating to enjoy pre-dinner cocktails. They even employ their own expert drink mixologist.

Now on to the dining room review:

La Belle Vie: http://www.labellevie.us/index.html
"La Belle Vie" translates to "The Beautiful Life" and indeed, eating there makes life beautiful. Many people have talked about this restaurant, calling it the best in Minneapolis, and we may agree with them!


Walking into the restaurant is a little intimidating, because you feel you are in an art deco hotel. There is a very plush lounge, but we were taken back to a smaller dining room in back. There weren’t too many tables, but we were seated on the same side of a 4 person table. In many dinners that my wife and I have had, this was the first time we sat next to each other when it was just the two of us!

Before I get to the meal, I must say, the service was absolutely fantastic! Everyone from the waitress to the busboy were extremely attentive. We particularly liked our waitress, who did a great job explaining the menu, drinks, and wines.

We had a wonderful five course meal from the chef's tasting menu. Each course was a small portion, but together, it was a wonderful combination of flavors and a very satisfying meal. We began with a Tasting of Tomatoes with Compressed Watermelon, Burrata, Basil, and Radish. When the plate arrived, we were presented with essentially three cherry size tomatoes cooked in different styles. One of the most unique was a poached tomato that was both delicate yet flavorful. We followed that with a Roasted Poisson (chicken), which was my favorite dish of the night. But the main course was also amazing….grilled lamb ribeye, which did not taste like lamb at all, and was fantastically cooked!

Obviously, La Belle Vie isn’t a weekly destination unless you happen to make as much money as Brett Favre…but it is a fabulous restaurant, and we highly recommend it! It’s a great spot for a big night out. We enjoyed it so much that we have already put it on the list for my birthday!

Spoonriver:  http://www.spoonriverrestaurant.com/
Located next to the Guthrie Theater, this is the perfect place to have dinner before enjoying a show.  I actually had read about it in the Delta magazine when I came back from NY. It is known for only using local produce and meats, and only serving sustainably raised food.


One of our favorite parts about it was a beautiful night, and we sat outside right across from the Guthrie.
We began our meal with the Spoon Dips - Preserved Lemon Hummus - Roasted Red Pepper - Walnut Paté, Vegetables, Olives, Foccacia. All the vegetables were very fresh, and the walnut paté was particularly tasty.

For our meals, we both had the specials – the vegetable stack (fresh, grilled and sautéed vegetables with pesto and other goodies in between, with a side bean salad) and the grilled char (a very fresh, and delightfully seasoned fish, with nice vegetable sides).
We obviously saved room for dessert…the wife had chocolate mousse with fresh raspberries, flourless chocolate cake with mango sorbet for me. Both were delicious, but the kicker for me was the mango sorbet, which was fantastic, and really lightened a otherwise heavy cake.

Overall, we’d give it 4 stars if you are particularly fond of organic and sustainable foods. It’s a good spot for vegetarians also. But for most people, we’d say it’s 3 stars. Some reviews state that it is overpriced, and the service can lack. Our opinion is that you have to expect higher prices due to the organic food, plus location (it’s literally right next to the Guthrie). And regarding service, we were pleased. Coming an hour and a half before the show was very smart, and it’s clear they get busy before shows. But our waitress was very aware of the time, and prompt in allowing us to make it to the show in time.

It's been too long........

since I've blogged.....I don't have any exciting new restaurant reviews to share, so I thought I'd share some miscellaneous tidbits:

• I love the chicken tenders at Popeye's....dip them in their cajun mashed potatoes for extra deliciousness...I believe the only location is the one on Lake Street in Uptown, near the White Castle. Reminder: they only take cash!
• AsiaMaxx in the skyway may look tempting in presentation...but taste-wise it seems to always disappoint.
• The mom&pop sushi place next to Andrea's Pizza in the skyway is great...fresh made-to-order sushi for very friendly prices. Free miso soup with every eat-in order!
• Noodles Etc--anything with parmesean crusted chicken breast on top is tasty....I love their penne rosa.
• If you haven't tried a butter burger at Culver's yet, you are missing out.
• Have you ever tried fried spam? It is delicious.
• Spyhouse Coffee on 25th and Nicollet has a very delicous and economically priced Cafe Au Lait.
• Some days the hashbrowns at the Target Cafe are perfectly brown and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside....other times they are just greasy and mushy.  Take a good look before making your decision.
• Prima Pasta on 54th and Lyndale is offering dinner for 2 for $28. Includes wine, pasta, salad, and dessert!
• The Build-Your-Own Salad at Tavern on France (on France Ave across from Southdale Mall) is a great deal. Don't forget to try their waffle fries!
• The meatball sub at Potbellies is amazing....add peppers and onions for the ultimate flavor and heat.

Bombay Bistro

Today one of my coworkers convinced me to go to the lunch buffet at Bombay Bistro, located in downtown Minneapolis in the Medical Arts Building. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. Their nan (grilled flat bread) was delicious and served piping hot. There were so many dishes to choose from, I had to go back to the buffet line twice. They also feature different dishes each day, so the buffet menu is always different. I typically don't like Indian food, but I had a very good experience here. I still may never have a deliberate Indian food craving, but now I won't be quite so reluctant if other people want me to go here. The buffet costs $12 and includes a soda.

Location: 8th and Nicollet Mall
Price: $12 for lunch buffet

C&G's Smoking Barbecue

I have been hearing alot about a tiny little barbecue dive that just opened in SW Minneapolis...since it was on my way home from work, I thought I would do some investigative reporting. There are literally only 3 tables in the entire place, so it is meant primarily as a counter-service type of establishment. I ordered the half rack of ribs, which came with potato wedges, coleslaw and 2 slices of plain bread. ($10.95) I really wanted to try their wings too, so I asked the woman behind the counter if I could order just a few wings instead of the wing basket. She went to the back kitchen and came back with two wing samples on the house. Bonus! I love free food! There was no sauce on the wings, so not sure if they normally come with sauce on the side--I would expect so. They were just ok, but I did hear her telling someone else that all their wings are made to order so they take 10-15 minutes. (Mine must've just been leftover from a previous batch since they came right out)

So about the ribs....they are of the smoked variety, which is different that Scott Jamama's basted and grilled variety. You can definitely taste the smokiness in the C&G ribs. The sauce comes on the side, which I didn't really like, but definitely allows one to customize how "saucy" they like their ribs. Since I am a dipper, it suited me just fine. There is definitely a ton of meat on each rib...almost the thickness of the bone itself...a half rack was 6 very generous sized ribs. I only ate 2 for my dinner, because the two wings took up precious stomach capacity. The coleslaw was ok, but nothing to write home about. I've read other blogs that say the bbq beans are the best they've ever had...next time I will order a side for sure.

Since Scott Jamama's is closer to my house, I think in the future when I get a rib hankering, I will just stick to Scott Jamama's. But if you prefer the taste of smoked ribs, you may really enjoy C&Gs.

Location: 4723 Nicollet Ave
Price: $

Kings Wine Bar and Restaurant

Tonight I went to a new place that just opened 2 weeks ago with a few of my fellow Foodie friends. Kings is located on 45th and Grand, directly across the street from Cafe Ena. They have patio seating, which would have been great had it not been so unseasonably chilly this particular evening. (Stay away winter, we are not ready for you!) Even though we arrived at 7:30 on a Saturday night, we only had to wait less than 10 minutes for a table. (woo-hoo!) The ambience inside has a very cozy wine bar feel to it, with some tasteful splashes of glamour (cool crystal art-deco looking chandelier, textured wallpaper, etc.)

Our server was very friendly, but not disingenuous. We started with a bottle of Malbec and split 3 appetizers: house-made tator tots with bacon and gruyere cheese sauce, goat cheese fritters with a shallot relish, and imported Italian artisan salami with stone ground mustard and cornichons. I wasn't blown away with any of the appetizers, but they were each unique and satisfying....I did however, really enjoy the gruyere cheese sauce that came with the tator tots--it was almost as good as the cheese fondue sauce served with the fries at Cafe Maude. The goat cheese fritters were good, but I thought the layer of "fritter" batter was too thick in relation to the amount of goat cheese nestled inside.

Now for the main entrees....the menu here isn't extensive....the number of wines on the menu outnumber the food items by about 5 to 1....but since this is a wine bar, this is to be expected.

I had the salmon fillet with grilled asparagus, orzo, and shallot relish. It was good, but nothing I couldn't have made at home. Nice generous portion of salmon, perfect seared with a slightly crisp crust.

Two of my dining companions had the braised short ribs with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Friend 3 had the spaghetti with chicken meatballs, while Friend 4 had the baked macaroni and cheese.

The unanimous decision at the table was that the braised short ribs was the best dish. In fact, after having the first bite of the short ribs, my one friend could not resist letting out an audible sigh of pure culinary bliss. When I asked my friends for some verbal commentary on the short ribs I heard: "fork-tender....perfect red wine reduction....amazing....I don't even need my knife...." I must admit, I stole several bites of the dish, and it was indeed delicious.

As the rest of us were chatting away, one of my friends who had ordered the short ribs was unusually quiet...turns out he was busy cleaning his plate! Well, I guess there's no better proof he was a fan of the dish! Plus, at only $14.95, the price was not bad for the quality and quantity of food you got. (I could easily see this type of dish going for $20+ at other places.) For dessert, we ordered 3 items to share: a) the blueberry cobbler made with local blueberries, baked with cinnamon and vanilla b) house made chocolate chip cookie with expresso whipped cream and a light chocolate sauce and c) bananas foster. Most everyone loved the blueberry cobbler the best, but I loved the combo of all 3 items. All in all, the group really enjoyed the place and we will definitely be back. It has a great relaxed atmosphere perfect for a leisurely night of dinner and drinks.

Location: 45th and Grand Ave

www.kingsmpls.com/

Price: $$

Galaxy Diner

This place is always packed everytime I drive by, so I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. It is located on Highway 7, just west of Highway 100.


The novel aspect of this place is the exterior set-up. Not only do they have drive-up stations for those who prefer to eat in their car, they also have lots of outdoor seating with several gas fire pits for those who want to make their own s'mores or just warm up. They sell a s'mores kit in a tube that holds everything you need to make s'mores for 4-6 people. The place is also very dog friendly--they have a grassy "pooch playground" area that includes a poop bag dispenser post. They even have a doggie treats section of their menu, including Doggie Burgers (same as human burger, minus the onions and pickles), Doggie Dogs (Vienna beef hot dog), and dog bone treats. Their menu says they offer free soft serve vanilla ice cream cones for four-legged patrons. What about us 2-legged ones?? I saw several content looking dogs hanging out by their owners near the fire pits.

Now on to the food. I got the Earthling Cheeseburger. It was served on a very soft, buttery toasted bun with diced sauteed onions and two slices of dill pickles. The ground beef was very tasty and had that "loose-packed" consistency....very flavorful. I also ordered a side of fries. Nothing to write home about, but they were thick-cut and sprinkled with a healthy shake of paprika or something similar. The cheeseburger was $4.35 and the fries were $1.25.

Would I go back? Possibly....it isn't a bad burger for less than $5, but I wouldn't say it was the best burger I've ever had. It's a little tricky to get to since you can't turn straight in from Hwy 7. The people I saw there seemed to be enjoying the overall kid and dog-friendly atmosphere though....so even if the food isn't the star attraction, it certainly isn't keeping anyone away.

Location: 3712 Quebec Ave S (off Hwy 7, just west of Hwy 100 in St. Louis Park)
Website: http://www.galaxy-drivein.com/
Price: $

TGIF

I thought I'd start a tradition and offer up suggestions for weekend dining every Friday.

Town Talk Diner- www.towntalkdiner.com This is not your ordinary diner. Be sure to try their distinctly Minnesotan appetizers: fried cheese curds and frickles (fried pickle slices). They also offer tasty "grown-up milkshakes" (spiked with extra goodness). ($-$$)

Brasa- www.brasa.us/ This is one of my favorite places in the Northeast neighborhood of Minneapolis. They call themselves a premium rotisserie, but I like to think it is more of a Southern Creole meets Soul Food. Some of my favorite dishes: rustic style cheese grits, creamed spinich with jalepeno, fried sweet plantains, slow-cooked collard greens with smoked turkey, roasted yams with andouille sausage. I love their open air seating when the weather is nice...they open up two huge steel & glass garage doors to accommodate patio seating ($ to $$)

Busters on 28th- http://www.busterson28th.com/ Not only do they have a HUGE beer list (116 different bottled beers alone!), they also have very reasonably priced food that is a notch above your typical bar menu. Great neighborhood feel...you can tell the place attracts a lot of locals (always a good sign). ($-$$)

Nick & Eddie- www.nickandeddie.com Overlooking Loring Park, this is a nice bar / restaurant....has a slightly upscale feel to it. Wedged right in between Cafe Lurcat and Joe's Garage so you can always do a bit of bar hopping if so compelled. One note of warning: the potato gnocchis are not good! ($-$$)

SW Neighborhood Gem: Cave Vin

I haven't been to Cave Vin yet, but it comes highly recommended by several close friends. I convinced one of them to write a guest review:

Don't let it's location fool you, Cafe Vin is a fantastic little French restaurant tucked away in the southwest Armatage neighborhood. If anything, the adjacent Xerxes market only adds to the mystique of this gem. When you enter, be sure to give your eyes a few good minutes to adjust to the dimly lit room. Soon you will be greeted with friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff, eager to answer all of your "which would you recommend" questions. I'll save you the time with one, absolutely get the Garlic Frites with aioli but proceed immediately home as your breath will certainly offend anyone not dining there that evening. It's not uncommon for the owner to pass by for a quick hello, top off your wine glass (on the house), and recount a recent European adventure. Needless to say, I shall return.

Location: Corner of 56th and Xerxes
Price: $$$ ($6-12 appetizers; $17-25 entrees)
Specials: 1/2 Price bottles of wine on Mondays and Tuesdays

Downtown Lunching

Since I work downtown, I have been to my fair share of downtown restaurants for lunch. Here is a run down of what you can expect in downtown Minneapolis, whether you are being wined & dined on a corporate tab, or if you just need a quick place to grab a bite on the run:

$ (Cheap Eats):

Taco Johns- In the skyway. If you go on a Tuesday, beware of "Taco Tuesday" chaos when their $.69 tacos bring in droves of hungry taco lovers.

Andreas Pizza- Best pizza I've had in the skyway. Tons of different varieties....and Andreas is a big teddy bear.

Sawatdee- This tiny little take-out only place is located in the skyway near the IDS Center. I love the Tom Yum soup.....at only $4 for the small bowl, it also comes with a very generous portion of rice on the side, which you can put into the soup for a tasty and hearty meal. That's right, for only $4 you can stuff your gullet on a very authentic tasting Thai soup!

Potbellies- I have to plug their meatball subs. If you can handle the heat, add onions and peppers. Welcome to heartburn city! (But you will be so satisfied)

$$: (Moderate- expect to pay between $10-$15 for lunch):

Barrio- How could I forget this fun tequileria and restaurant? They have also jumped on the lunch special bandwagon....$10 gets you a different taco each day accompanied by homemade guacamole served in one of those heavy stone mortar & pestles. You don't get as much food here for $10 as you do at Masa, but it is still good and worth a trip.

The Local- I could literally eat an entire bucket of their Chicken Shots. Their Shepherd's Pie is very rich. Guaranteed to give you that gut bomb feel, so don't plan on being too productive after you eat it. They also have a great "Wee Lunch" plate that is just $10.

Masa- They have a great lunch combo special. Pick any 3 mix & match items off their special menu for only $10. I always pick the same 3 items: guacamole, chicken tortilla soup, and their pork carnitas sandwich.

Vincent- Don't let the fancy French exterior scare you away from this place. They have 2 course lunch specials for $12 every day. If you haven't tried their famous Vincent burger, you have not lived....it is stuffed with braised short ribs and smoked gouda. Heaven!

ZakeMN- Used to be called Musashi. They offer 30% off your lunch tab if you are a Target team member. Yes, you read that right--30 percent!!! They have tons of lunch items including hibachi, bento boxes, teriyaki, etc. for between $8-$12.....then you deduct the 30%!! Most of their lunch specials come with miso soup and a salad. What a deal!!

More to come as I think of them....right now I need to go get some LUNCH!!

Jeanie's Top 10 List

So I've only lived in Minneapolis since May 2007, but I can honestly say I have eaten out at more places than alot of the locals around here! I love exploring a new city through its restaurant scene. Here is my top 10 list of places you must try (in no particular order):

1. Broder's Pasta Bar- Located on the corner of 50th and Penn Ave. Family owned and operated for decades. You will not find a more scrumptious plate of fresh, handmade pasta anywhere this side of Italy! I could literally eat here every week, if I knew I would not blow up like a house. Two of my favorite dishes are the Fettuccini Bolognese and the Pasta Stringozzi with house-made spicy Italian sausage. As an extra bonus, in the summer they have a $28 special before 6 pm: Olive appetizer, 2 salads, 2 pastas, and a 1/2 carafe of wine for just $28! This special begins at 8 pm during the winters. (Sun-Thurs only for this special)


2. Blackbird Cafe- Located on 50th and Bryant. Owned by a married couple (he's the head chef, she's the gracious hostess). This place is a neighborhood gem. Very cozy and ecclectic with amazing, unique dishes. You can get everything from a Vietnamese Bahn Mi sandwich to a perfectly cooked pork tenderloin with yukon gold mashed potatoes and collard greens. Breakfast here is fantastic as well--the huevos rancheros are amazing!112 Eatery- I'm sure you've all heard about this place, tucked away in the Warehouse District. I have just two words: cauliflower fritters


3. Blacksheep Pizza- Located in the N. Loop area directly north of downtown. Best pizza I've eaten outside of NYC!!


4. Quang Restaurant- Located on Eat Street (Nicollet Ave) just a few blocks south of Azia. This is the real deal people....huge, steaming bowls of pho...fresh summer rolls stuffed with shrimp, pork, vermicelli noodles, basil, mint, and sprouts. I love their beef & springroll salad...slices of grilled beef on top of a pile of vermicelli noodles, with all kinds of fresh Vietnamese greens and sprouts....then then throw on some chopped slices of fried spring rolls for good measure! Be sure to also try their many varieties of "bubble tea".


5. Tum Rup Thai- Located in Uptown, on Lake Street. Arguably one of the best Thai places in town. Their green curry will make your head spin.


6. Cafe Lurcat- Must try items: Apple, Cheese, & Chive Salad; Sea Bass marinated in Miso; Homemade mini-donuts dusted in cinnamon sugar (served warm!)


7. Cafe Maude- Located at 54th and Penn Ave. Live jazz on Fri and Sat nights. Great atmosphere and inventive dishes that are made for sharing. You cannot pass up the house-cut fries with truffled fontina fondue dipping sauce. You will be licking the sauce dish clean!


8. La Chaya Bistro- 46th and Nicollet. Mediterranean & Mexican fusion.


9. The Nook- legendary St. Paul dive specializing in their own version of the Juicy Lucy, the "Juicy Nookie". Their chicken wings are also killer!!


10. It's All Greek To Me- Corner of Lake and Lyndale. I adore their Avgolemono soup!

Victor's 1959 Cafe

Welcome fellow Foodies!

The inaugural blog entry in Fast, Fun & Foodies is affectionately dedicated to one of my favorite new discoveries in SW Minneapolis--Victor's 1959 Cafe. (www.victors1959cafe.com)

Nestled on an unassuming corner of 37th and Grand, you might actually drive right by this delicious little Cuban dive if you aren't paying attention.

The owner of this slice of heaven on earth is actually Greek, but she learned all about Cuban cuisine from her ex-husband. My very first experience at this restaurant was actually on my 34th birthday, so I will never forget it. With so many tantalizing options on the menu, I decided to go for one of the house specialities, "Ropa Vieja", which literally means "old clothes". Luckily, it tasted nothing like its literal translation!

This dish is shredded flank steak simmered in the house made, sherry-spiked Spanish red sauce. Served with sweet plantains and your choice of a rice side, it is pure happiness on a plate. Here is a picture to whet your appetite!

Two of my other favorite dishes are include the Masas de Puerco and the Cuban Picadillo. You can even order the picadillo at brunch when it is called "Cuban Hash" and served with eggs!

I love going to brunch here as well as dinner....it is super affordable and tasty, so you'll never feel ripped off after a meal here! One note of warning, this place is literally a tiny little dive, so be prepared to wait, especially for patio seating on a nice day! Also, be sure to check out the episode on Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" featuring Victor's Cafe!

Hope you all get a chance to experience this little slice of Havana right here Minneapolis.