Hello out there!!!
I thought it would be great for those of you who stumble across this blog to give me some suggestions of your favorite restaurants around the Cities.
Feel free to leave a comment below (can be anonymous) and let me know which restaurants (and type of cuisine) you love that I must try!!! I am open to hearing about specific dishes as well.
I love trying anything new or traveling to different areas in the Cities, so don't be shy.....
Lets get a good list going!
Please pass this link on to your friends and have them bombard me with suggestions also!
Try the Pink Flower in Moundsview. I recommend curry chicken and hot & spicy beef.
Posted by: Thahn | February 04, 2008 at 03:50 PM
The Teahouse Chinese Restaurant in Plymouth or St. Paul is awesome! I live right across the street from the on in Plymouth and my friends and I go there all the time. You know it's good Chinese food cause the place is filled up with 70% or more Chinese people!
http://ourteahouse.com/
Posted by: Cara | February 04, 2008 at 03:56 PM
Chatterbox Pub. Two locations. St.Paul & Minneapolis. Check it out!!
Posted by: Jimmy James | February 04, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Axel's in Roseville because Jessie work their :)
I second Chatterbox, they have amazing Mac and Cheese
Redstone in Eden Prairie and Minnetonka
Oceanaire
M&S Grill
Keys Cafe
Two Guys From Italy now open in Apple Valley
Jax Cafe in Mpls
Kozy's In Edina
Murray's
Biaggi's
Maggianos
Mortons
Kincaid's
Al Vento
Pazzaluna
The Melting Pot
Spill The Wine
WA Frost
Stella's
Ok, sorry that got really long. Have Fun!!!
Posted by: Andrea Haenke | February 04, 2008 at 08:09 PM
Pad Thai on Grand in St. Paul!
Posted by: Becky | February 05, 2008 at 09:12 AM
Great overall restaurants:
Oceanaire--everything is exceptional, go on a birthday and they'll customize the days menu with your name on it (we brought Ryan's mom there a couple weeks ago and they had the menu's made up with "Happy Birthday Beverly" on the top. She almost fell over, I think she's having it framed!
Gianni's steakhouse in downtown Wayzata. Absolutely phenomenal steak and custom tossed Caesar salads.
Jimmy's in Hopkins (not related to Jimmy's in WBL). Excellent food. I've had the BBQ ribs for appetizer and a shrimp/avocado salad. Everyone that goes there loves it.
Macy's Restaurant in Ridgedale Mall(not sure of the name): Chx stir fry and pop over's
Town Talk Diner in SMpls: Mickeys 40 chilled in a wine holder (seriously), pulled BBQ sandwich phenomenal, everything is really good...even the hotdogs!
What we crave:
The King and I Tai in Mpls---very good! recommend Wontons and the red curry dish.
Peppitos (the restaurant) in South Mpls: the BBQ Ch tacos...exceptional
The Uptown Diner (not grill) in Uptown: Very best Tex Mex in town...unbelievable, especially on hang over mornings. We'll order it for take out and drive into the city to get it. You can split the 1/2 order between two people.
Than Do in Hopkins: Cranberry Chx Curry is exceptional
Others that are good-- if you are in the area:
Maggies (in Wayzata)-pizza is exceptional
5-8 Club in SMpls: Juicy Lucy (cheap!)
Posted by: Mandy | February 05, 2008 at 09:13 AM
Punches pizza rocks, I have been to both the Highland and the northeast Mpls locations. We prefer the Northeast location. The Nook burger joint in highland sucks, (they have good fries). Food network diners drive ins and dives did a thing on them, I thought it was not worth the drive, but you might want to check it out. And Bleechers bar and grill has the most awesome burgers for a buck, yes a buck...cheese you add 50 cents... french fries are a buck as well... its a deal and it is very very good. New restaurant in Oakdale called Que Pasta just opened. The people that owned the Venetian inn are part of this restaurant. Haven't been there, but give it a try.
Posted by: Carol | February 05, 2008 at 09:17 AM
Spendy but worth it -- The Bayport Cookery in Bayport near Stillwater. Fantastic 5 course meal with wine pairing. Love it Love it there!
Also one of my favs Cobblestone Cafe in WBL love the pancakes!
Posted by: Amy Schulte | February 05, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Hands down my favorite spot is the Caspian Bistro.
Great little family owned Persian restaurant. I moved here from L.A. and thought my days of feasting on Persian delights were over... I recommend Chelo Kabab Soltani for newbies.
They have a little market connected to the Bistro, which has fantastic imports.
The Caspian Bistro
2418 University Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414-3033
Chow!
Posted by: Hanson | February 05, 2008 at 03:42 PM
bombay bistro
caspian
kebabi
black sea
Posted by: Cindy | February 05, 2008 at 08:50 PM
You should try Wild Ginger it's so yummy, i recommend the pad see yu and the fried rice what ever meat you prefer it's all good not a bad thing on the menu!
Posted by: Tam | February 07, 2008 at 06:00 PM
My favorite restaurant is Kincaid's. Some others Michael and I enjoy are Pepitos, M&S Grill, Yarusso Bros., Acapulco, (only for their tacos and their cheese dip) Cossetta's, and Dowtowner Woodfire Grill (have had breakfast there numerous times). I know there are some duplicates from other's posts but I hope that helps.
Posted by: Dana Sterner | February 12, 2008 at 07:29 PM
Try:
Al Vento in Minneapolis. Order the Ceasar Salad. It is great. So is their wine list.
Posted by: Julie A | February 15, 2008 at 02:24 PM
Canyon Grille in Coon Rapids...
Posted by: Brian | February 18, 2008 at 02:36 PM
The Melting Pot in Mpls. is amazing. It is spendy, but so worth it. Great for a special evening
Posted by: Kara M | February 20, 2008 at 05:29 AM
only have a sec to type here. if you have time to edit feel free. will suggest some real good restaraunts below. they are all wonderful. there prices vary and what I have written are far from exact prices.
-caspian bistro restaraunt univ. ave. mpls persian food 20-25 for beverage, meal and dessert.
-black sea restaraunt and deli hamline ave. st paul turkish food $5 gyros to $12-20 entrees
-kebabi restaraunt and deli eden prairie persian food
-shiraz mpls persian food better prices than caspian.
Posted by: cynthia s | February 27, 2008 at 06:47 PM
only have a sec to type here. if you have time to edit feel free. will suggest some real good restaraunts below. they are all wonderful. their prices vary and what I have written are far from exact prices.
-caspian bistro restaraunt univ. ave. mpls persian food 20-25 for beverage, meal and dessert.
-black sea restaraunt and deli hamline ave. st paul turkish food $5 gyros to $12-20 entrees
-kebabi restaraunt and deli eden prairie persian food
-shiraz mpls persian food better prices than caspian.
Posted by: | February 27, 2008 at 06:49 PM
Hello - love the blog! My husband and I just started a similar one - http://wegotserved.blogspot.com and we have a HUGE list of places we want to try that is on the right hand side of our blog - there might be a few places you haven't tried yet!
Erin
Posted by: Erin | March 02, 2008 at 06:57 PM
You should check out Liberty Frozen Custard on 54th and Nicollet.
Best ice cream I've had in the Twin Cites.
Posted by: Mike | March 03, 2008 at 03:42 PM
The Nook in St Paul has the BEST burgers!!
Posted by: Sally | October 04, 2008 at 04:48 PM
- Los Andes on Lake or La Gran Colombia on 26th & Central in NE Mpls. Both are very similar. Colombian/Ecuadorian food.
- Pop! in NE Mpls (I think they just put a new one in St. Paul, but I have never been there). Local, good, and not expensive!
- Snap! in NE Mpls (owned by same owners as Pop), local pizza place.
Posted by: Kristina D. | October 05, 2008 at 05:27 PM
Fasika: Ethiopian place on Snelling and University. Try the veggie platter, beef/lamb tibs, key wot, or the 'ultimate combination platter'. Awesome place.
West Indies Soul: Dale and University. Authentic Jamaican food. Jerk chicken is the ultimate (and very spicy), and curried chicken, jamaican patties are good.
Spice: Hwy 42, west of 35E/W in Burnsville. Very good red, brown, yellow, etc, curries.
Posted by: Ben | October 05, 2008 at 09:43 PM
One more.
Aesop's Table on Dale in St. Paul. Close to Dale and Front. Nice little deli counter. Get the 'Porker' for lunch, it's a 1 lb pulled pork sandwich that is wonderful.
Posted by: Ben | October 05, 2008 at 09:45 PM
This place is by far the most representative of traditional Italian cuisine around. Be sure to arrive hungry!
http://www.ristoranteluci.com/
Posted by: Bridget Fragale | October 06, 2008 at 01:11 AM
Sen Yai Sen Lek -great new Thai place in NE
Posted by: JL | October 11, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Park'a BBQ Grill & Buffet in Saint Paul, 1626 White Bear Ave at the Hillcrest Shopping Center. Great Asian Buffet with made to order Korean BBQ (steaks, kabobs, and dishes), KimChi Bar, full chinese buffet. Also can order off menu.
Posted by: dewd | October 18, 2008 at 10:24 PM
What a great idea for a blog! Here are some places I think you should try:
Shantytown Bar and Grill in Bloomington- Try one of their awesome burgers and their tater tots! They also have a great dip for the tots. Yum! :)
Akita Sushi and Hibachi in Woodbury - Delicious sushi and tempura!
The Buffet at Mystic Lake Casino - Try their seafood buffet on Wednesday nights - yummy!
Carbone's Pizza on Randolph in St. Paul specifically - The pizza is delicious and the service is great!
Izzy's Ice Cream in St. Paul - Great concept for an ice cream place and the flavors are rich!
The Nook in St. Paul - Great burgers and fries!
Posted by: Teresa | November 29, 2008 at 01:23 PM
I would love to see what you think of Ingredients in White Bear Lake - they are a little pricey, but it's a nice little place.
Also, could you review Ursula's Wine Bar and Cafe in WBL? I've never been there and don't know many people who have been, so I would like to see what you think of it first!
Also, thank you in general for the great blog! I have bookmarked it and have given the link to numerous friends and family! We all really appreciate your reviews and your dedication to the blog! You do a wonderful job!
Posted by: Angela | November 29, 2008 at 08:24 PM
Try the Walleye at Wintergreens in Isanti. A hidden gem!
Posted by: Janet M | December 01, 2008 at 04:17 PM
Hey, my wife, son, and I just moved here in March and have used your guide for several of our restaurant ventures.
Curious as to why you haven't reviewed three of our newfound favorites: Little Szechuan on University (close to the Capitol), any of the D'Amico and Sons locations, and Brasa, a rotisserie restaurant on Hennepin (going east past Surdyk's).
Thanks for the blog, and keep up the good work! Our taste buds [and expanding bellies] appreciate it!
Posted by: John | December 03, 2008 at 07:32 PM
Los Angeles Restaurants
Posted by: Los Angeles Restaurants | December 21, 2008 at 12:12 AM
Went here last night, great place to review - Biaggi's in Maple Grove. Italian food, it's tasty!
Posted by: Ang | January 12, 2009 at 10:36 AM
How about Hudson WI-18 minutes from downtown St Paul
the San Pedro Cafe serves carribean food, with fresh grouper and a wood fire oven for all their wood smoke flavors
Posted by: Rob | January 14, 2009 at 07:26 PM
Gandhi Mahal - 3009 27th Ave - Longefellow, Mpls. Love, love, love it.
Town Talk Diner - East Lake Street
Posted by: StuccoHouse | January 25, 2009 at 12:33 PM
K-Wok (Vietnamese/Chinese) Cedar & Riverside
Lily's Cafe (Central Ave)
Tam-Tam's (African)
Chai (Thai)
Posted by: Anne | February 06, 2009 at 01:07 PM
I recommend Saks Sports bar off County Road E and Hwy 61 in Vadnais Heights/White Bear.
This used to be Bentleys and is far better. Half price apps and drinks for happy hour, and the food is to die for.
Best wings I have ever had, side salad is much more than just lettuce and dressing and the sliders are juicy, thick served with hand cut fries.
Cant wait to go back and eat my way through the menu.
Love your site too!
Posted by: Andrea | February 09, 2009 at 11:44 AM
Jen says.... Sgt. Peppers in Oakdale!!!!!!! Try a burger, they are awesome!
Posted by: jen | February 17, 2009 at 10:05 AM
I didn't even realize that restaurant was still open as Sgt. Peppers??!!
Haven't they changed ownership/names a few times??
Thanks for the recommendation!
Posted by: Twin Cities Restaurant Blog | February 17, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Jensen's Supper Club in Eagan. Surf and turf with other American specialties, and the wine list is incredible. It is a bit on the pricey side but the food is solid.
Also, one martini will set you right, they don't mess around.
Posted by: kyle | February 20, 2009 at 06:30 PM
Please Check out Q fanatic in Champlin. Family own BBQ joint. Freshy prepared BBQ and a dozen homemade sides, and 7 sauces to choose from. Great prices with counter service. Best veggies in the Twin Cities, grilled and smoked with fresh garlic.
Posted by: Charlie | February 23, 2009 at 09:29 AM
I saw it on here but I'll suggest it again.
The Nook, St. Paul.
It was on Diners Driv-Ins and Dives
I was looking on here, expecting to find it, and was like "how is it not on here?!"
Go there! Review it! Please?!
Posted by: Lizzy | March 03, 2009 at 02:24 PM
I'd like to recommend Korean restaurants which offer buffet.
Parka Cuisine Asian Restaurant/ World Taste Buffet
1626 White Bear ave. St. Paul
(Hillcrest Shopping Center)
651-776-8888
They have awesome Korean BBQ buffet for dinner including kalbi, bulgogi, seafood, as well as various kinds of kimchi, small dishes, and traditional rice drink!
King's restaurant
1051 East Moore Lake Rd.
http://www.kingsrestaurant.com/
They have lunch buffet from Tuesday through Sunday.
Other Korean restaurants can be found at Dongyang Oriental market in Fridley, and Korean Restaurant by the University of Minnesota campus.
Posted by: j | March 13, 2009 at 10:29 AM
This isn't a restaurant recommendation, but a site recommendation. I think it would be great to have a "Back to Top" button/link at the bottom of the pages so I can get back to the search boxes with just a click instead of scrolling. Another thing I was thinking would be nice is when the search results come up, have a listing of which restaurants will be seen - with links to jump straight to the restaurant. Since there are a lot of chains with multiple locations, I could skip scrolling through those if there was a link to jump to a particular restaurant. Don't know if you can do either of these things but just thought I'd let you know things that I think would make the site a little more user friendly. Otherwise, I love it - thank you for this listing. It's very helpful.
Posted by: Katey | March 14, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Thank you for your suggestion, Katey. You have a valid point about wanting
the links to the sites instead of having every post to sort through. I can
do what you have asked but it will take some time to reformat it and to add
new page links for each category. The way I have it set up now is out of
convenience for myself, as I just need to add tags to each post and it
categorizes itself ;)
Up to this point I have not made a dime on this blog, just putting the info
out there for the convenience of others so I only work when I can get around
to it. Hopefully I can add the features you suggested, especially to the
drop-down menus, in a few weeks.
Posted by: Twin Cities Restaurant Blog | March 16, 2009 at 01:02 PM
Would you review the Town Talk Diner for me? I have always wanted to try it, and I heard that their drink are phenomenal. My husband and I have really enjoyed and agreed with your reviews thus far.
Thanks!!
Posted by: Jenny Arhart | March 20, 2009 at 10:19 PM
For a fabulous dessert, try Grandma Ruby's Sweet Shoppe in Maple Grove. Amazing fudge -- cheesecake fudge is awesome! You can order on-line for shipping or pick up at the store.
Posted by: Kari | April 05, 2009 at 11:32 AM
For wonderful vietnamese food, you should try Tay Ho
on University Ave. across from Burger King. It sounds
a little cheesy... But, trust me it's the BEST
vietnamese cuisene you will probably ever eat!
Posted by: Jeanelle | April 26, 2009 at 06:24 PM
For Excellent Homemade Italian cuisine, visit D’Avita Ristorante - exciting dishes and a unique ambiance. Order fresh off the menu or make your very own dish by visiting the Pasta Bar (selecting your favorites from over 40-some ingredients). www.davitaristorante.com
Featured Specials:
- All you Can Eat Buffet for $7.95 (Mon–Sat, 11am–2pm)
- Sunday Breakfasts (9am–2pm) including Build Your Own Omelet or Frittata and much more…..
- Mother’s Day Brunch (10am–5pm) including build your own omelet and over 18 different items to choose from (Adults-$16.95, Seniors 65+ -$13.95, Children-$6.95, Children 4yrs and under eat free)
D'Avita Ristorante
(One block North of 36 & McKnight)
2112 11th Avenue East
North St. Paul, Mn 55109
(651) 770-8074
[email protected]
Posted by: McGuire | April 26, 2009 at 07:00 PM
Stephano's in Burnsville -- corner of Cliff Road and Hwy 13. Great Italian cuisine, service has been fabulous every time we've gone, regardless of group size. Menu is small but every bite is worth it!
Posted by: kim | May 23, 2009 at 12:58 PM
I know this is a little ways out of the city but it is way worth the drive.
Tangled Up in Blue in Taylors Falls, MN is my absolute favorite resaurant to travel to. The menu changes often so I won't get specific but everything is awesome.
Chef Ross' special is a 4 course dinner that is paired with wine and it is always amazing.
You should check it out if you can.
Posted by: anonymous | May 26, 2009 at 11:18 AM