Twin Cities Restaurant Blog

Winner's Circle Lounge at Running Aces Harness Park ~ Columbus, MN

Cuisine: American, Italian, Seafood, Steaks, Chops, Ribs
Restaurant Features: Card Room, Horse Racing, On-Site Parking, Sunday Brunch
Location: Columbus, MN (near Lino Lakes & Forest Lake)
Address: 15201 Zurich Street NE Columbus MN 55025-7908 (651) 925-4600 877-RUN-ACES (I-35 and Hwy 97)

Winner's Circle Hours: Lunch Mon-Sat 11a-3p

Dinner Mon-Wed 5p-9p Thur 4-9p Fri 4-10p  Sat 5-10p

Sunday Brunch 9:30-1pm  Sunday Dinner 5-9p

Links: Running Aces Harness Park Website    Google Map

 

Atmosphere: Located within Running Aces Harness Park, the Winner's Circle Dining & Lounge is a large, open space with giant floor-to-ceiling windows that allow a good view of the horse track outside.

 

The Buffets are set up in another large room just off to the left of the main room.  This back room also serves as seating space for large groups.

Menu:  The new Fall Lunch Menu includes Walleye Fingers, BBQ Chicken Quesadilla, Onion Rings, Cobb Salad, Thai Chicken Salad, Caesar Salad, Aces House Salad, BBQ Blue Burger, Southwest Burger, Reuben, BBQ Brisket Sandwich, Club, Cajun Walleye, French Dip, Hot Italian Wrap and Chicken Wrap.  All sandwiches and burgers come with fries.

Fall Dinner Menu is served Sun-Wed.  Appetizers include Beer-Battered Onion Rings, Buffalo Chicken Wings, Walleye Fingers, Fried Calamari, Beef Tender Tips, BBQ Chicken Quesadilla, and Sampler Platter.

Salad choices include Cobb Salad, Thai Chicken Salad, Caesar Salad, and Aces House Salad (with caramelized pecans, goat cheese and raspberries).

Sandwiches at Winner's Circle are the BBQ Blue Burger, Southwest Burger, Reuben, BBQ Brisket Sandwich, Club, Cajun Walleye, French Dip, Hot Italian Wrap and Chicken Wrap.  All sandwiches and burgers come with fries.

Italian Entrees include Chicken Parmesan, Cajun Chicken Alfredo, Shrimp Pomodoro, Rotelle Vegetable Pasta with olives and artichokes. 

House Specialties are Ber Battered Colossal Shrimp, Herbed Pork Tenderloin, Stuffed Chicken Breast, Almond Crusted Walleye, Rainbow Trout, Grilled Pork Chop, King Crab and Smokehouse Ribs.

Steaks offered are the Filet, New York Strip, Flat Iron Steak and Surf & Turf (Filet & choice of either King Crab or Lobster Tail)

Price guide: Lunch Menu $8-11 Appetizers $8-10  Entrees $15-19  Steaks $18-26
Weekly Specials:

Thursday Night Seafood Buffet $21.95 includes oysters in the half-shell, peel-and-eat shrimp, King Crab Legs, Fried Shrimp, Made-to-order Shrimp Scampi, Prime Rib, Weekly Chef Specials and Dessert Table.

Friday Night Italian Feast Buffet $19.95 includes Italian Antipasto Bar, Gourmet cooked-to-order Pasta Bar, Carved Beef Tenderloin, 7 Specialty Entrees, and Italian Dessert Station.

Saturday Lobster Extravaganza $25.95 includes Lobster Bisque, Twin Lobster Tail, Vegetables, Potato and Dessert.

Sunday Brunch Buffet $16.95 Adults $8.95 Kids includes Champagne, Prime Rib, Made-to-order Omelets and Waffles, Peel and Eat Shrimp, Salad Bar, 7 Breakfast and Lunch Entrees, and Dessert Table.

What I ate:   My visit was during Sunday Brunch.  My first plate included prime rib, Salmon Pasta, Green Beans, Potates O'Brien, Bacon, and Cheesy Scrambled Eggs.  Everything I tried was decent, typical buffet quality, but nothing outstanding.  My cut of prime rib was cooked more than I prefer and therefore not as tender as I like it.  I ate a couple of bites of each item before deciding I needed to try something else.

 

My second plate was a much bigger hit after a visit to the made-to-order Omelet and Waffle Stand.  They had a variety of toppings for the waffles which were hot and golden brown.  I ordered my omelet with everything (tomato, onion, peppers,mushrooms, ham, bacon and cheddar) and it was so good! My favorite way to eat eggs.

 

Yes, I did get another small plate (for the sake of this review of course!).  The salad was basic but good and I also tried the spare ribs in gravy.  The meat was so good! It was very tender and flavorful.  I would have loved to try more of that but I was very full at this point.

 

I got a small dessert plate (also for the sake of this review!) I love cheesecake so I had to try a bite of the Winner's Circle cheesecake.  What a disappointment! The taste and texture both seemed off and I didn't make it past a 2nd bite.  I also tried the blueberry cobbler and the creme-filled chocolate cake.  I was too full to get excited about any of it.

 

Here is the dessert plate of one of my companions

Service: My party of 8 adults and 3 small kids had a reservation and were able to be seated at our table immediately.  They had set up a special table for us in the large banquet space.    Our server was friendly and accommodating with drinks and other small requests.

Overall Impression: The food served on the Sunday Brunch was decent, I recommend the omelets and waffles!  Our service was really good.  I would like to go back for dinner to order off the menu

Old Log Cabin ~ Forest Lake, MN

Cuisine: American, Fish & Seafood, Steaks, Chops,
Restaurant Features: Bar, On-Site Parking

Location: Forest Lake, MN
Address:  9726 Scandia Trail N. Forest Lake, MN 55025 (On Hwy 97 four miles east of Hwy 61) (651)433-5646

Hours: Mon 4-9pm Tues-Sat 11am-10pm Sun 11am-9pm
Links: Old Log Cabin Website  Google Map

Atmosphere: There are two dining areas in the Old Log Cabin, the main dining room with a variety of booths and tables (not pictured) and then the bar area which has a handful of high tables with additional seating at the bar.  Like it's name suggests, the Old Log Cabin has a rustic feel and the building itself is made from several large logs.  Nearly every square inch of the bar area is covered with business cards of every variety!

Menu: Appetizers include Fungus Humongous, Mozzarella Sticks, Buffalo Wings, Onion Rings, Artichoke Dip, Chicken Strips, Potato Skins, Cheese Curds, and Nachos Grande.

Salads include Chicken Chef, Taco, Crispy Chicken, and Chicken Caesar.

There is a large selection of 1/2 lb burgers with names such as Musher, Alaskan, Prospector, Kodiak and Yukon.  Sandwiches include the Trapper (prime rib), Ptarmigan, Cottage Chicken, Log Jammer (Prime rib with onions and peppers), Fish, Hot Prime, Grilled Chicken, Grizzly Chicken (BBq & Bacon), Steak and the French Dip.

Dinner entrees include Ribeye Steak, Cabin Steak (10oz sirloin), Black Angus Sirloin, Chopped Sirloin, Sirloin Tips, Ork Chops, Broasted Chicken, Marinated Chicken Breast, Broiled Walleye or Shrimp, Fried Cod, Seafood Platter, Fish & Chips, and Fried Shrimp.  

Desserts offered are Carrot Cake, Strawberry Shortcake, Bread Pudding, and Root Beer Float.

Daily dinner specials begin at 4pm and include:

• MON& Tues- Mexican Food 
• Wed- All you can eat Fish Fry 
• Thurs- Steak Night 
• Fri- BBQ Ribs $11.99
• Sat& Sun- Prime Rib $15.99

Price guide:  Appetizers $ 5-8 Salads $7-9 Burgers & Sandwiches $7-9 Dinner Entrees $10-18  Desserts $3-4
What we ordered:  We started with the Fungus Humongous and like the name suggests, these fried mushrooms were HUGE!  The extra-large fresh mushrooms were halved, lightly battered and then fried to a crispy brown and served with a honey-mustard dipping sauce.  Delish!

 

For my meal I ordered the Ptarmigan Chicken Sandwich (the server affirmed that this was a great choice!).  This was a grilled chicken breast topped with creamy spinach artichoke dip and melted cheese on a toasted bun.  The chicken was tender and juicy and the artichoke dip was flavorful and had a decent amount of artichoke.  The french fries were mediocre, with a slightly crispy textured outside and very little seasonings (reminded me of Burger King fries).

 

One of my companions ordered the Hot Prime Sandwich which consisted of thick slices of prime rib served between slices of fresh white bread, a large scoop of mashed potatoes and then smothered with gravy.  This is obviously the type of sandwich that is meant to be eaten with silverware! I tried a few bites and thought the prime rib was good, but the gravy wasn't my favorite.  My companion enjoyed this meal.

 

Another companion ordered the steak sandwich, which was literally a steak thrown between a couple of slices of toast and then served with a side of au jus.

 

Another companion ordered the Sirloin Tips, which came with a cup of soup, dinner roll, and baked potato.  The sirloin tips were tender and juicy, smothered with sauteed onions and mushrooms.

Service:  Our visit was on a Saturday afternoon between lunch and dinner, so there were only a few other customers dining at the time.  Our server doubled as bartender, but was prompt and friendly for the most part.  My only complaint is that the fried mushroom appetizer was served with the meal instead of coming out first but it wasn't that big of a deal.
Overall Impression:  The Old Log Cabin was more laid back than I had expected and the food was priced very reasonably for the amount that came with each order.  The service was good too!

'Za Italian Minnesota ~ Forest Lake, MN

Cuisine: Italian, Pizza,
Restaurant Features: On-Site Parking

Location: Forest Lake, MN
Address: 25 North Lake Street, Suite 105 Forest Lake, MN 55025  651-464-0111
Links: Google Map

 
Atmosphere:    This was my first visit to 'Za, although I have driven by many times.  The restaurant is in the lower-level of a large business complex at the Intersection of Broadway and Lake St, right on Forest Lake.  The restaurant was classier than I expected, with several wall-sized windows facing Forest Lake.  The restaurant sits above street level, so there was a decent view of the lake (beyond the parking lot).  'Za has several tables and a few bar-height tables as well.  Mostly casual, but the dim lights as it grew dark gave it a more romantic feel.

Menu: Appetizers include Calamari with Marinara, Artichoke Dip, Chicken Tenders and Garlic Cheese Bread.

The salads at 'Za include Antipasto, Caesar and Spinach.

Za also has a variety of delicious pastas including Lobster Ravioli, Cheese Tortellini, Chicken Parmesan, Alfredo with Chicken or Shrimp, Cheese Ravioli, Pesto Cream Fettuccine with Chicken or Shrimp, Spaghetti, Garlic Herb Penne, and Za's Own Famous Bread Boule Lasagna.

Like its name suggests, 'Za also specializes in Pizzas and Calzones.  Specialties include the Bellisima, Full House, Garlic Cream Sauce with Chicken and Spinach, Hawaiian Hawg, Italian Rose, Meat Me at 'Za, Pesto Pollo, Primo, Ragin' Cajun, St. Louis Luau, Veggie Villa, and The Mother Lode.

If anyone is tempted to go for a burger instead of Italian or pizza, 'Za also has a handful of specialty burgers served with Steak-cut Fries.

Desserts are Cheesecake, Big Baby Bundt, and Tiramisu.

Price guide:  Appetizers $6-7  Salads $3-7 Pasta $9-15 Calzones $ 9-14 Pizza $9-23 Burgers $10
What I ordered: To start, my companions and I shared an order of Garlic Cheese Bread.  It was nice and buttery and the cheese was bubbly and light brown on top.  The garlic wasn't over the top, but it had a pleasant amount of oregano.  The marinara was also pretty good, more on the sweet than spicy side.

I was still starving by the time my meal came, and I was kind of disappointed to discover there were only five raviolis on my plate (with one BIG meatball).  The sauce was what 'Za calls "Basil-Pinenut Pesto Butter Marinara Sauce", which was basically a creamy red sauce.  The raviolis were stuffed full of cheeses and more filling than I had thought.  True to my word, I ate the entire plate (which is very rare!) and I was stuffed beyond belief for the rest of the night!

One of my companions had the spinach salad.  This salad has red peppers, black olives, red onions, walnuts, pineapple, and a raspberry-walnut vinaigrette with chicken (gorgonzola is optional).  Looked delicious!


Two of my companions both ordered the chicken parmesan.  This is a baked dish and the sauce had been absorbed into the pasta and was on the dry side.  Both girls thought more sauce or a side of sauce would've made it better.  Very large portion.

And last but definitely not least, one of my companions had the  famous Lasagna cooked in a bread boule.  The best way to describe this creation is a hybrid between lasagna and deep-dish pizza.  The crust was buttery and crispy, baked to perfection!

Service: It was a Saturday night and Za' was pretty filled up, we were lucky to get a table for five almost immediately.  We had a young server who was nice but not overly friendly.  Food took awhile, but it was mostly worth the wait.
Overall Impression: I liked it! I thought the prices were reasonable and the food and atmosphere were also very nice.  The lasagna in the bread boule was a unique find! Glad I finally stopped in, would not hesitate to go back.

Cornerstone Pub & Prime- Wyoming, MN

Cuisine: American, Fish & Seafood, Steak, Chops & Ribs
Restaurant Features: Bar, On-Site Parking

Location: Wyoming, MN
Address:  26753 Forest Blvd, Wyoming, MN 55092 (651) 462-1211

Hours:  Mon& Tues- Closed Wed & Thurs 2:30pm-9pm • Fri & Sat 2:30pm -10pm • Sun 1pm -9pm
Links: Cornerstone Website  Google Map

Atmosphere: Dark, cherry-stained pine lines the walls and gives the Cornerstone a very comfortable yet masculine atmosphere.  A variety of tables as well as booths.  There is a separate large bar area in the building, with plenty of seating and gaming options (Bingo, video games, pull-tabs, darts, etc)

Menu: Sandwiches include steak sandwich, dutch steak sandwich, Reuben, Patty melt, chicken supreme, prime rib, walleye sandwich, and  veggie burger.  The cornerstone also offers a build-your-own-burger with a variety of toppings to choose from.

Dinner entrees include the famous "Queen" or "King" cut Prime Rib, T-bone steaks, ribeye, New Yorl strip, sirloin, hamburger steak, extra thick boneless pork loin, pork chops with a variety of seasonings to choose from, BBQ ribs, liver and onions, deep fried chicken, walleye dinner, shrimp scampi, breaded jumbo shrimp, stuffed shrimp.

There are a few children's menu items, salads and soups as well.

Price guide: Sandwiches $7-9  Entrees $10-20
What I ordered: The Reuben.  I practically consider myself a Reuben connoisseur, and this Reuben is one of the best I have EVER had!!  The corned beef was sliced very thin, but was tender as could be, with awesome flavor.  The bread was grilled to a nice, toasty texture, without any of the sogginess you might experience from grilled sandwiches elsewhere.  The 1000 island dressing came served on the side.  They also gave me a ton of fries, which were thin and crispy.  A big hit overall!

Two of my companions ordered the Prime Rib.  Featured here is the "King Cut", 20-24 oz.  This steak is MASSIVE!! The taste was very good, and for $20, I don't know if you can find a prime rib steak that is any bigger or better for the price.

Another companion ordered the stuffed shrimp.  This was simply, "alright". The breading of the shrimp was nice and crispy, but the inside was lightly filled with a cheesy/crab mixture that had a very blended texture.

Service: Could be much better! This is the second time I had eaten at the Cornerstone and the serving staff does not seem to be very friendly or helpful.  There were four of us dining on this occasion, and when the server brought out complimentary soup/salads for the entrees that my companions ordered, she only brought us three rolls! I cannot recall whether the menu included a dinner roll with the Reuben, but come on! In my opinion, enough dinner rolls should be brought to the table for everyone who is seated, regardless of what they ordered. 
Overall Impression: Nice atmosphere for both dining and entertainment. Great Prime Rib for the money and excellent Reubens.  Service needs improvement. 

Dummy's Bar & Grill- Forest Lake, MN

Update as of 2/09 ***** This restaurant has changed ownership and now goes by a different name*****

Cuisine: American, Bar & Grill

Location: Forest Lake

Address: 7050 Scandia Trail  Forest Lake, Minnesota 55025  Phone: 651-464-8435

Links: Dummy's Website Google Map

Atmosphere:  Dummy's is a very large restaurant, with an even bigger banquet hall attached to the back half of the building. Adjacent to the dining area you see pictured below, there is a large bar in the center of the back room, with bar-height tables surrounding it.  Very nice area, but smoking is allowed and my impression was that there had been a LOT of cigarettes smoked in the bar recently.  There is a also a screened in porch overlooking the public golf course next door, with patio tables. This was the perfect place to sit for lunch on a beautiful sunny day.  Here is the picture of the main dining room.

Menu: Appetizers include the Dummy's Drummys, walleye cheeks, chicken nachos or quesadillas, onions rings, mozzarella sticks, potato cheese poppers and chicken fingers. Besides five hamburger variations, Dummy's has chicken wraps and many other sandwiches including the Prime Time, Cajun chicken, chicken Parmesan, Reuben and Buffalo Chicken.  Dinner entrees include the Super Bowl Sirloin, fettuccine Alfredo with chicken and asparagus, spaghetti and meatballs, meat balls and gravy, pan seared walleye, tequila lime chicken, steak or chicken stir-fry, fajitas and gourmet pizzas.  Salad eaters- Never fear, they do have a few premium salads.

Price guide: Appetizers- $5-9   Sandwiches and Burgers $7-8  Dinners $9-14

What I ordered: Chicken quesadillas (flour tortillas filled with spicy chicken, jack cheddar cheese, chipotle pepper sauce, tomatoes, onions and jalapenos.  Served with sour cream and salsa.  I was very impressed with the size of these quesadillas- eight whole slices!  They were loaded with cheese and a mix of chopped chicken, jalapenos and onions.  I liked the flavor the jalapenos and onions gave the quesadillas, but there was something about the chicken that I didn't like...not sure how it was cooked, but it was kind of rubbery and didn't have much flavor.  I was also disappointed that they didn't have any guacamole; apparently they don't sell enough of it to keep making fresh batches. Boo Hoo! Quesadillas just aren't the same to me without guacamole :( I did, however, really enjoy the buttery, crispy texture of the tortilla.

One of my companions ordered the Prime Time sandwich.  Thought the beef and toppings were pretty good, but the chintzy hot-dog bun they served it on was way too weak to hold all the toppings and was very messy to eat after it fell apart.  It is highly recommended to find a new, thicker style of bread to serve this on!

Another of my companions ordered the grilled buffalo chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries.  he thought the sandwich was pretty good also, as long as you like char-broiled chicken.  There didn't seem to be enough buffalo sauce on the sandwich either.

Service: Our visit was mid-afternoon on a Monday, so the only person who appeared to work in the dining room/bar area was the bartender.  We chose to sit in the screened in porch outside, so it was only every so often that the server/bartender would come check on us.  The owner of Dummy's also happened to be at the restaurant at the time of our visit and came out to check on us and chatted with us for awhile about the golf course next door.

Overall Impression:  The food was decent, but far from impressive.  Might try it again, but not a place I will be rushing back to anytime soon.

Max's Groove House ~ Forest Lake, MN

Cuisine: American,

Restaurant Features: Bar (limited to beer and wine), Counter-Service, Live Music, On-Site Parking

Location: Forest Lake

Address: 21450 Forest Blvd. North (Intersection of Hwys 61 & 97) 651.982.1802  | Fax 651.982.1803 

Hours: M-F 6am-9pm Sat 7am-9pm  Sun 7am-3pm

Links: Max's Groove House Google Map

Atmosphere: Brightly colored walls with lighted pendants hanging from the high ceilings, Max's is brightly lit during the day, and seems like it is romantic and laid-back at night.  Counter service is offered for breakfast and lunch, with digital screens displaying the current menu.  Dinner menu/table service is the standard for dinner.  I was pleased to see that Max's is smoke-free and they also offer Wi-Fi :)

Menu: Breakfast items include a variety of omelets, breakfast burritos, fruit and classic breakfast sandwiches (build-your-own with choices of a variety of meat, eggs and cheeses).  Several varieties of coffee and energy drinks are also very popular.  Lunch items include a variety of fresh salads, soups (chicken dumpling and SOTD), and specialty sandwiches including the baked Reuben, Philly cheese steak, grilled chicken, clubhouse, and a variety of deli sandwiches as well.  Hot dogs and hot carved beef (referred to as "burgers") sandwiches are also very popular.

Dinner selections include all of the specialty and hot sandwiches, plus pulled pork, beef brisket, ribs, rotisserie chicken, and coconut crusted tilapia.

There is a large dessert menu and also a huge variety of specialty drinks offered, including a selection of wine, beer, teas, coffees and old-fashioned sodas.

Price guide: Breakfast $3-6, Salads $4-7, Sandwiches $5-8  Dinners $8-11

What I ordered: Baked Reuben (Hand carved corned-beef topped with swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and 1000 island dressing on rye bread, served with seasoned kettle chips.  I thought the sandwich was very good, the corned beef was lean and had great flavor.  My personal preference is that Reubens have better flavor when grilled with butter, but this baked Reuben is a better choice for keeping it "light".

My companion ordered the Memphis Bleu Burger, slow-cooked shredded beef topped with peppered bacon and bleu cheese, served on  ciabatta bread.  This sandwich was amazing! I tried only a  few bites and have never had anything like it before.  The combination of flavors from the beef, bacon and bleu cheese was really wonderful and I loved that it was served on the ciabatta.

Service: Very friendly! No matter what time of day you visit, you are sure to be catered to.  Although you must order at the counter for breakfast or lunch, food is prepared reasonably fast and brought to your table.  The only thing I think that could be improved is having a refill station that customers can access.

Overall Impression:  Excellent food, fast service, great prices!

Norman Quack's Chophouse ~ Forest Lake, MN

Cuisine: American, Steak, Ribs, Fish & Chops,

Restaurant Features: Bar, On-Site Parking

Location: Forest Lake, MN

Address: 843 West Broadway Avenue   Forest Lake, MN 55025    651-982-6777

Links: Google Map

Atmosphere: Located within a relatively new strip mall, Norman Quack's is one of the nicest casual restaurants in the Forest Lake area.  The walls are painted warm colors, and you will see a collection of old books, metal posters and other various odds & ends throughout.  The restaurant has a main dining area with several booths as well as tables to accommodate larger groups, and a bar area with taller tables.

Menu: Appetizers include beer-battered cheese curds, quesadillas, buffalo chicken bites, potato skins and jalapeno poppers.   On the lighter side, Quack's offers a variety of salads, including a fajita chicken salad and many others.  Sandwiches include the Monte Cristo, french dip, buffalo chicken sandwich, walleye, and specialty burgers.

Main entrees at Quack's are steak, ribs, pork chops, shrimp, surf & turf,  and daily fish specials (usually talapia, red snapper, mahi-mahi, walleye or cod).

There is a different daily special every day of the week

Price guide: Appetizers $5-8  Sandwiches $7-9 Entrees $10-18

What I ordered:  Started off with Norm's beer-battered cheese curds, served with a side of ranch dressing.  Love the saltiness and texture of these greasy treats! The ranch dressing is a nice combination too.

I have tried several of the sandwiches at Quack's, but this huge buffalo-coated chicken sandwich is the best!  The buffalo sauce they use is tangy and has a nice kick without being too spicy.  The cheddar cheese and crispy bacon give it the extra "oomph" that is lacking on most other buffalo chicken sandwiches served elsewhere!  My only complaint is that it is very big and messy..... 

My companion ordered the Sunday Prime Rib Special.... 10oz Prime Rib served with onion rings for $10.  The steak was pretty good and a very good deal for the money.  The large beer-battered onion rings are very crispy and taste wonderful, but tend to fall apart easily .

Service: Slower than it should be.  My visit was around lunchtime on a Sunday, and it took a good 5 minutes before the waitress came to take our drink order.  I was also disappointed that Norman's did not bring us any of their usual freshly-baked bread with seasoned whipped butter.  The service on previous visits was more prompt and much friendlier.

Overall Impression: One of the best options in Forest Lake for decent food at a decent price, but could take the service up a notch.