Cuisine: American, Italian, Ice Cream
Restaurant Features: Counter-Service, Drive-In
Location: St Paul
Address: 1440 Minnehaha Ave E St Paul, MN 55106 (651) 776-3470
Hours Sun-Thurs 11am-10pm Friday 11am-11pm Saturday 11am-10pm
**Seasonal April-October
Links: Google Map
Atmosphere: Located on the east side of St Paul, Dari-ette is the local drive-in hot spot. There are about 30 parking spots, each with its very own menu/ordering speaker. Once you decide your order, place it with the waitress and he/she will bring it right to your car when ready. Too messy to eat in the car? There is also a walk-up window and patio seating or a small selection of booths inside.
Menu: Appetizers include pasta salad, jalapeno poppers, chicken wings, garlic cheese toast, mozzarella sticks, french fries and onion rings.
Italian Specialties include Spaghetti or Rigatoni topped with Dari-ette's Famous Sauce, the "Italiano" aka Hot Dago, Meatball sandwich, Italian Chicken Sandwich and Italian club.
American sandwiches/entrees include Deep-fried Chicken, Shrimp dinner, Fish and Chips, Hamburgers, Chicken Fillet, Steak Sandwich, and Pork Chop.
Ice Cream treats range from cones, sundaes, banana split, floats, slushies, malts and shakes.
Price guide: Appetizers $3-6, Sandwiches $4-6 Fried Chicken $11-22 Ice Cream $1-4
What I ordered: The Dari-ette Meatball sub. Three large meatballs on fresh, thick-sliced Italian bread, topped with homemade sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. I thought the sandwich was good, but not the best I have ever eaten. I liked the sauce very much, wish there was more of it than just the amount that spilled over. The meatballs themselves were decent, but there was something about the flavor and texture that didn't win me over...too many breadcrumbs, perhaps? I was also disappointed that for $6 it didn't come with a side of chips or anything. I highly recommend eating this messy sandwich with silverware :)
Service: Very friendly. I can imagine that on a busy night it might be slow placing orders and having food brought out.
Overall Impression: Great place to take the kids for dinner and an ice cream!
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