Twin Cities Restaurant Blog

20.21 Wolfgang Puck - Minneapolis, MN

Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Restaurant Features: Bar, Sunday Brunch

Location: Minneapolis
Address: Walker Art Center - 1750 Hennepin Ave  Minneapolis, MN 55403 P: 612-253-3410
Links: Wolfgang Puck Website  Google Map

Atmosphere: 20.21 can be accessed directly from the parking ramp below the Walker Art Center.  Located on the 2nd floor, 20.21 has a very contemporary feel, inspired by the 20th and 21st Century Art of the Walker.  The space is quite long, but angles into a wide V-shape with open-window views of the City.  Opposite the windows is the open kitchen (as seen in this photo) where the Chef and culinary experts work their magic.  There is also a long bar on the same side as the kitchen, close to the entrance (not visible from this photo).  Tables were the only seating option throughout the restaurant and were placed very close together, making privacy hard to come by.

Menu: All Menus and prices are subject to change! The tasting menus posted online are slightly different than what was offered on my visit. There are suggested optional wine-pairings to go with most dishes/menus.
View Lunch Menu
View Dinner Menu
View Tasting Menu
Sunday Brunch Menu
Dessert Menu

Price guide: Tasting Menus $ 66-81/person 
What We Ordered: It was highly suggested that our party of seven collectively decide on one of the four Tasting Menu options, as it is much easier for the chefs to prepare one dish in quantity. After looking over each of the gourmet options, our group decided to go with the 20.21 Menu. 

Each dish was presented to the table and then each individuals was served their portion.  It all happened so fast that I was not able to take photos of the first dish at all, which was the Tandoori Salmon with Marinated Cucumbers, Mint Raita and Scallions.  Wow! I loved the combination of the salmon with the Thai cucumbers, the textures worked well together.

The next thing that was served was the Pan-Toasted Pork Pot Stickers.  Pictured here is my individual serving.  It was fried to a nice crispy texture and then served with Scallions and Sizzling Chili Oil and then topped with Tangy Black Vinegar Dipping Sauce.

Next was the Chicken & Pine Nuts in Lettuce Cups.  The chicken was Stir-Fried with Orange, Thai Basil, Chili and Rice Noodles.  The chicken was slightly spicy yet with a touch of sweetness from the orange.  I love the concept of a lettuce wrap because the lettuce stays so crisp (there is nothing I hate more than soggy lettuce).  These were very good.

Then we had the Tempura Fried Shrimp  garnished with a Bell Pepper and Cabbage Salad and served with a Pickled Ginger Vinaigrette and Black Beans.  Another hit! I enjoy shrimp tempura but to serve it with a spicy sauce and the pepper/cabbage salad, they caught my attention!

The main course included this thinly-sliced beef called Steak “Au Poivre” served in a Shallot Sauce and then served atop rice.  The beef was extremely tender and had nice flavor.  I had never had beef served over rice before, but the tenderness and texture of the beef paired with the rice was not too different than sashimi.

Our next feature of the main course was the Pan Roasted Organic Chicken.  It was served atop Vegetables, Budding Chives and with a Black Bean-Thai Basil Sauce.  The chicken was incredibly tender and moist and served with the skin.  The flavor on this one seemed a little salty and didn't do it for me as much as the other dishes had, although it was very good.

The last dish of our main course was hands-down my favorite.  It is the Green Thai Seafood Curry with Scallops, Prawns, Lobster, Shiitake Mushroom, with Thai Basil and Ginger.  I am always a big fan of a good green curry and this was one of the best yet! I loved the spicy-sweet creaminess of the coconut/curry sauce and the tender pieces of lobster and scallops could almost melt in my mouth.  

The dessert on the 20.21 Tasting Menu included the Chocolate Cube with Spoon and Cherry-  The cube structure was made of dark chocolate and filled with Dark Chocolate Cream, German Chocolate Cake Crumbles and Sour Cherry Sauce.  It was extremely rich as you would imagine, but the filling was very creamy and had the texture of mousse.  If you are familiar with the Walker Sculpture Garden, you will recognize this dessert as a miniature of the Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture.

In addition to the dessert above, we were also served two trays of these gourmet cookies.  Everything I tried was very good!

Service: I thought the service was top-notch.  Our server, was knowledgable about the menu and helped us make our selection without being too pushy.   Besides our server there were several others who were constantly bringing us each new dish and removing dishes from previous course, etc.
Overall Impression: I thought that 20.21 was pretty cool.  The food was outstanding and I highly suggest ordering off one of the Tasting Menus so that you can try several of the signature dishes.  The prices were on the high-end, but worth every penny for everything you get to try.  My only complaint about 20.21 was the bathrooms.  Each stall was completely closed-in from floor to ceiling with a boring white plastic, including the door, and made me feel like I was in an upscale-porta-potty :(

Ali Baba's King of Gyros- West St Paul, MN

Cuisine: Greek, Lebanese, Middle Eastern
Restaurant Features: Counter-Service, On-Site Parking

Location: West St Paul
Address: 1264 So. Robert Street, West St Paul MN 55118 (651) 552-9660
Links:  Google Map

Atmosphere: The building itself is very small, so besides the kitchen, there is just a very small dining room with a handful of standard fast-food-restaurant-style booths.  The walls are decorated with colorful travel posters.  You order your food at a counter, above which is the pictoral menu of food items. 

Menu: Appetizers include Baked Eggplant, Fried Vegetable, Spinach Pie, Hummus Bil-Tahini, 5-Feta Cheese, Falafel and Grape Leaves.

Sandwiches are served in fresh Pita Bread with cucumber sauce, lettuce, tomato and onion.  Specialties include the famous Gyro, Greek Chicken, BBQ Gyro, Chicken Gyro, Falafel Patty, Vegetarian Gyro, Philly Steak, and Philly Chicken.
Entrees include Chicken Gyro, Chicken Kabob, Beef/lamb Gyro, Lamb Kabob, Kufta Kabob, Greek Chicken Plate, and Sauteed Chicken with Vegetables.  There are also a couple fo vegetarian entrees, including the  Stuffed Grape Leaves, Spinach Pie, and Fried or Sauteed Vegetables.
Can't decide what to order? No fear! There are also several combination dinners including the Ali Baba Feast that lets you try a little bit of everything for $29.99
Ali Baba also has fresh Tabouleh Salad, Greek Salad and Greek Chicken Salad.

Price guide: Appetizers $ 4-6 Sandwiches $5-7 Entrees $8-12
What I ordered: I ordered what I thought was the Chicken Gyro, but I think I received the Ali Baba Chicken.  It was very good, but I had not been expecting chicken that had been marinated in curry spices (good thing I like curry!).  It was a really interesting combination of flavors, especially the curry chicken and the cucumber sauce.  The portion was huge (two meals for me!) and instead of making a giant mess, I ate most of it with a fork.

 

My companion ordered the Gyro Sandwich, which was loaded with tender slices of beef and lamb that had been marinating in spices.  The meat on this sandwich was delicious! Probably the best Gyro meat I have ever had.  The vegetables were also very fresh and the sauce was decent (although we both agreed we like Dino's sauce better).

Service: Compete counter-service, from order to pick-up.  After that, you're pretty much on your own. 
Overall Impression:  Excellent Gyros, cheap prices.

J.J's Bierstube Steakhouse & Grill- Hastings, Inver Grove Heights, Oakdale, Red Wing, and White Bear Lake, MN

Cuisine: American, German, Steaks
Restaurant Features: Bar, On-Site Parking

Locations: White Bear Lake, Oakdale, Inver Grove Heights, Hastings, Red Wing
Addresses & Maps:
White Bear Lake- 2670 E. County Road E,  White Bear Lake, MN 55110 651-773-5854
Oakdale-  7121 10th Street N. Oakdale, MN 55128 (651) 731-8381
Inver Grove Heights-  6434 Cahill Ave. Inver Grove Heights, MN (651) 451-8073
Hastings-  109 W. 11th St. Hastings, MN 55033 (651) 437-8259
Red Wing-  233 Withers Harbor Dr. Red Wing, MN 55066 (651) 385-8852

Link:  JJ Bierstube's Website

Atmosphere: The White Bear Lake restaurant is located at the far end of a large strip mall on the south side of the city of White Bear Lake.  The restaurant itself is one large open room, with wooden tables throughout and a bar along one side of the room.  I believe there are also a handful of booths along the wall opposite the bar which provide a little more privacy than the other tables.

Menu:  Appetizers include Wisconsin Cheese Curds, Ber Battered Onion Rings, Garlic Toast, Breaded Mushrooms or Cauliflower, Jalapeno Poppers, Breaded Cod Strips, Colossal Buffalo Shrimp, Chicken Drummies, Mozzarella Sticks, Reuben Bites, Brat Medallions, Mini Burgers, and Chicken Cordon Bleu Bites.
Sandwiches offered at the Bierstube include Filet Mignon, French Dip, Ham & Cheese, Pork Loin, Chicken Breast, Buffalo Chicken, Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Turkey Club, Weiner Schnitzel, Cof Filet, Crispy Chicken, BLT , Deluxe Grilled Cheese, Bratwurst with Sauerkraut and the Reuben or Rachel.  There is also a selection of specialty burgers.

Authentic German Dishes include the Sauerbraten, Weiner Schnitzel, Schweine Haxen, German Meatballs, Bratwurst Platter, Gebratene Leber (Liver Steak), Jaeger Schnitzel or the Taste of Deutschland sampler platter.

Steaks include quality Sirloin, Angus Porterhouse, New York Strip, Rib Eye, Filet Mignon, as well as a small Hamburger Steak.  Baby Back Ribs are also a popular dinner feature.

Specials include: Half-priced Burgers on Monday, Surf & Turf on Saturday and Sunday is Family Day (Free soda to kids under 16 with purchase of burger or hot dog)

If you're still hungry after your meal, try the Hot Fudge Choclate Volcano Cake  or the Bavarian Rhubarb Pie (both served with Raspberry Sauce), Vanilla Ice Cream served a la carte.

Price guide: Appetizers $ 6-8 Sandwiches and Burgers $6-8.50 (does not include fries) German Dishes $10-18 Steaks $10-22
What I ordered: I am a big fan of Reuben Sandwiches so I decided to start with the Reuben Bites.  I thought they were interesting and tasty with the inside a cheesy mixture of Swiss, Corned Beef and Sauerkraut while the outside was breaded and crispy.  The inside actually reminded me of the Reuben Dip that you often encounter at Potlucks, but much warmer.  The crispy outside was a nice compliment to the inside and I liked that the Thousand Island was served on the side for dipping. I would get these again! Although they aren't exactly gourmet, I think it was a pretty tasty invention....I think I might need to try the Chicken Cordon Bleu Bites next!

 

My visit was on a Monday night, which happened to be half-price burger night! You can order any of the specialty burgers or build your own 50% off whatever you get.  I went with a 1/2 pounder with Swiss, bacon and fried onions.  Burgers and sandwiches do not come with fries, so I got a half-order of onion rings as well.  I was very pleased with the burger.  It had nice texture and rich flavor, without being too charred.  The bun was lightly buttered and grilled, which is always a thumb's up in my book.  I thought the onion rings were also good but at an extra $3.50 for the half-order, I could have done without them.

 

My companion ordered the Wiener Schnitzel, which are breaded pork cutlets.  It was served with German Potato Salad, Fresh Asparagus and Garlic Toast. 

Service: There weren't many guests dining in the restaurant on the evening my companions and I visited, so we had our choice of tables, etc.  The service was good considering we were practically the only ones there, but the server tended to leave us alone.
Overall Impression: I was actually pleasantly surprised at how large the menu was.  I had driven by this restaurant many times without stopping because I was under the false impression that the Bierstube was just a bar serving basic bar food.  It was much more than I expected.  The prices were good and the food was good too, especially the half-priced burgers!