Twin Cities Restaurant Blog

Glaciers Cafe ~ Minneapolis, MN

Cuisine: American, Breakfast, Delicatessan, Ice Cream
Restaurant Features: Bar (beer & wine only), Catering, Counter Service (in addition to table service), Free Wi-Fi, Patio Dining
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Address: 3019 Minnehaha Ave So. Minneapolis, MN 55406 (Mosaic Building) 612-746-1504
Hours: Mon-Thurs 8am-9pm Fri-Sat  8am-10pm  Sun 8am-7pm
Links: Glaciers Cafe Website   Google Map

Atmosphere: Glaciers Cafe is conveniently located on Minnehaha Ave at East Lake St in the beautiful Mosaic Building, just a couple of blocks from the Light-Rail Line.  The inside of the cafe is somewhat small but modern and trendy with a variety of seating arrangements including wooden tables, an over-sized booth, and bar-height seating that looks outward along the wall of windows.  There is also small counter where guests can order or pick up coffee, food or frozen custard to-go.  The lighting at night is just right, not too dim and not too bright.

One thing that I think is really cool about Glaciers Cafe is that it is an eco-friendly restaurant.  All fruits and vegetables are organic, they serve fair trade organic coffee, meats are vegetarian fed and antibiotic free, and all to-go items are served in biodegradable disposables.  Save the Glaciers!

Menu: Breakfast is served all day and includes Fresh Fruit, Granola, Breakfast Burrito (eggs, meat, peppers, cheddar, salsa, and sour cream served with cumin dusted potatoes), Three Egg Omelet, Muffins and Scones.

Appetizers at Glaciers Cafe include Mini Burger Sliders, Buffalo or Sesame Teriyaki Wings, Bruschetta, Mozzarella Sticks, House Salsa & Chips, and French Fries.  There is also Homemade Chili and a Soup du Jour served every day.

Salads are served with breadsticks and include Greek, Buffalo Chicken, Albacore Tuna, or Classic Caesar.  Side green salad also available.  Add chicken to any salad for $1.75.

Glaciers Cafe also makes Flat Bread Pizzas.  Build your own starting with either the House Marinara or Roasted Garlic Olive Oil and then top with ingredients such as the standard pepperoni, sausage, or go with chicken, bacon, pepper mix, roasted veggies or kalamata olives.  The "Glacier Goodie" Flatbread is the house specialty with BBQ Chicken, Caramelized Red Onions, Cheese Blend, Chiffonade Basil, and Applewood Smoked Bacon.

There are a handful of really delicious sandwiches and burgers at Glaciers Cafe, all made with lean, hormone-free meats.  Sandwiches are served with pickle, and choice of kettle chips, roasted veggies or upgrade to french fries (trans fat free!) for just $.75 more.  Options include Marinated Char Broiled Chicken on Ciabatta served either: California Style (cheddar avocado, lettuce, tomato, roasted garlic mayo), Buffalo Style (buffalo sauce, lettuce, tomato, caramelized red onions and bleu cheese dressing), or the Glacier House Chicken (melted cheddar, smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, caramelized red onions and roasted garlic mayo).  Burgers are char grilled and served on a multigrain bun, either Buffalo style or the Glaciers House Burger (melted cheddar, smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, caramelized red onions and roasted garlic mayo).

Other sandwich options include All Beef Vienna Hot Dog (plain, Chicago-style, or chili-cheese), Turkey/BLT/Swiss, Roasted Vegetarian Wrap, Toasty Cheese (grilled cheese with cheddar, swiss and tomato), or the Mexi-Cali Burrito (jalapeno cheddar tortilla stuffed with beans, rice, cheeses, lettuce, tomato and avocado.  Chicken additional.  Served with choice of cumin dusted potatoes, roasted veggies or chips and salsa). 

New to the menu are Oven Roasted Turkey and Coleslaw.

Glaciers Cafe also has Weekly Specials: Soup, Salad and Entree that changes each week

One of the best reasons to visit Glaciers Cafe is for the Frozen Custard.  You will always find chocolate, vanilla, and a Flavor of the Week or you can create a custom flavor by adding "mix ins".  Frozen custard can be served in a cake cone or cup, or buy a quart or pint to-go.  Other options include Malts, Shakes, Floats, Smoothies and Sundaes. 
Mix in and topping options include Gummy Worms, Heath Bar, Marshmallow, M&Ms, Oreos, Reeses, Snickers, Sprinkles, Butterfinger, Chocolate Chips, Whoppers, Butterscotch, Caramel, Chocolate Sauce, Hot Fudge, Hard-Shell, Marshmallow Sauce, Peanut Butter, Blueberries, Bananas, Pineapple, Strawberries, Raspberries, Pineapple, Almonds, Chopped Peanuts, Coconut, Pecans and Spanish Peanuts.

Glaciers Cafe is also a great stop for coffee and espresso.  Drinks include Dark & Light Roast Coffee, Latte, Cappuchino, Chai Tea, Iced Latte, Mocha or Caramel, and Coffee Coolers.

Price guide: Appetizers $2-6 Flatbread $9  Sandwiches/Burgers $6-8  Salads $7-8   Frozen Custard $2.75-4.75   Coffee Drinks $1.50-$3.50

What We Ordered: My companion and I started with an order of Buffalo Wings.  The order came with eight very large chicken wings and a generous coating of Buffalo sauce.  The sauce was thin and mildly spicy with just a hint of sweetness.  The portion size is just right for two people if you plan to have a meal as well.

For my dinner I ordered the Glaciers House Chicken sandwich served on a ciabatta roll. Great choice! The main star of this huge layered sandwich was a large breast of chicken marinated in a blend of fresh herbs and spices, then char broiled. The meat was wonderful- very tender and flavorful.  I enjoyed it even more knowing it was hormone and antibiotic free! The chicken sat atop lettuce and tomato and was then topped with melted cheddar, thick applewood smoked bacon, and caramelized red onions.  The sweet, soft caramelized onions provided a sweetness that perfectly complimented the smokey flavor of the applewood bacon and the zesty herbs of the chicken.  The roasted garlic mayo was delicious as well and added to the party of flavors.  I upgraded to the trans-fat free fries for $.75 more (what a deal!).  The golden fries were hot and crispy. 

My companion ordered the Glaciers House Burger, the ground beef version of the chicken sandwich I had with melted cheddar, thick applewood smoked bacon, and caramelized red onions.  The burger was served on a multi-grain bun.  The patty was 1/3- 1/2 lb of lean, vegetarian-fed beef, that was still slightly juicy but not at all greasy.  The toppings on the burger were enjoyed every bit as much as on the chicken, as were the fries.

Frozen Custard is a specialty of Glaciers Cafe, so I made sure to save room for a Turtle Sundae.  This sundae was bigger than I expected, served parfait-style in a large glass.  The sweet, creamy vanilla custard was layered with caramel, hot fudge and pecans then topped with whipped cream and a cherry.  So heavenly!  Have I mentioned that ice cream/frozen custard is probably my favorite dessert?!

My companion ordered the Banana Supreme Sundae, a parfait of frozen vanilla custard, chocolate sauce, slices of banana, and Spanish peanuts, then topped with whipped cream and a cherry.  The custard is so creamy and smooth! Yummy.

Service: I had no problem whatsoever in finding a place to park during my dinner-time visit, but please note the only nearby parking is metered so bring your quarters!  A sign greeted us at the door to " Please Seat Yourself" and since the restaurant had only a few other diners at that time of the night, my companion and I chose the large, over-sized booth.  Our server was very nice and admitted right away that she was a new employee, but she did great! Our drinks were filled in a timely manner and we were given plenty of time to look over the menu before ordering.  

Overall Impression: Glaciers Cafe is a great place to stop at any time of the day, whether you want a  coffee, an appetizer, salad, sandwich or the delicious frozen custard.  The prices are extremely affordable for the portion sizes you get and the food is prepared with only quality ingredients.  Quick and friendly service.

Davanni's Pizza ~ Arden Hills, Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Burnsville, Coon Rapids, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Rogers, Roseville, Savage, St Paul, Woodbury

Cuisine: Pizza, Delicatessen (hoagies)

Restaurant Features: Catering, Counter-Service, Delivery, Kids Menu, On-Site Parking (at many locations)

Locations: Arden Hills, Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Burnsville, Coon Rapids, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Rogers, Roseville, Savage, St Paul, Woodbury
Addresses: (Click here for Maps of Davanni's Locations)

Arden Hills: 3673 Lexington Ave N Arden Hills, MN 55126 651-481-7100

Bloomington: 8605 Lyndale Ave S  Bloomington, MN 55420  952-888-6232

Brooklyn Center:  5937 Summit Dr  Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 763-566-8220

Burnsville: 14639 CR 11  Burnsville, MN 55337  952-431-1500

Coon Rapids: 3430 129th Ave NW Coon Rapids, MN 55448 763-712-1000

Eagan:  1960 Cliff Lake Rd Eagan, MN 55123  651-688-6111

Eden Prairie: 8061 Flying Cloud Dr Eden Prairie, MN 55344   952-941-4444

Edina: 5124 Gus Young Ln Edina, MN 55436 952-920-9090

Golden Valley:  663 Winnetka Ave N  Golden Valley, Mn 55427 763-398-0303

Minneapolis: 1242 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN 55403  612-338-0000

Minnetonka: 15200 Highway 7 Minnetonka, MN 55345 952-938-4243

Plymouth:  3015 Harbor Ln N  Plymouth, MN 55447 763-550-0003

Richfield: 2312 W 66th St Richfield, MN 55423    612-866-3324

Rogers:  14165 James Road Rogers, Mn 55374 763-428-2990

Roseville, 1905 W Perimeter Dr Roseville, MN 55113 651-636-3411

Savage: 14125 Highway 13 Savage, MN 55378 952-440-1200

St Paul:  310 White Bear AveSt. Paul, MN 55106 651-738-6992

St Paul:  41 Cleveland Ave S St. Paul, MN 55105 651-690-4848

Uptown Mpls: 1414 W Lake St Minneapolis, MN 55408 612-822-3111

Woodbury: 1905 Donegal Dr Woodbury, MN 55125 651-739-1010

Links: Davanni's Website 

Atmosphere: The East St Paul Davanni's location is just off I-94 and White Bear Ave.  Like all other Davanni's location, customers order at a counter and then wait for their name to be called when order is ready.

There are several different seating areas, each with booths that can accommodate up to four people.  There are also a  couple of tables in the very back section of the dining room.  There are many windows throughout the restaurant, leaving it very well lit during the day.

Menu:  Appetizers include Potato Chips, Breadsticks and Garlic Cheese Bread.

Salads at Davanni's are the Garden Salad, Side Garden, Chicken Cobb, Italian Chef, Oriental Chicken, Southwestern Chicken, Spinach Chicken, Chicken Caesar, and Side Caesar.

Hoagie sandwiches are served on either white, whole grain, or ciabatta roll with lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo.   Options include Southwestern Chicken, Chicken Bacon Honey Mustard, Chicken Breast, Turkey/Bacon/Cheddar, Turkey, BLT w/ Cheddar, Club, Roast Beef, Pastrami, Ham, Salami, Tuna Melt, Veggie, and Three Cheese. Hot subs made with meat, marinara and cheese only include Chicken Parmigiano, Meatball, Sausage, and Pizza.

Davanni's Pizza can be ordered with a choice of three different crusts (thin, traditional and deep dish) and two sauces (red and white).  Sizes pizzas come in are Solo, Medium and Laqrge.  Toppings choices are Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, Sliced Chicken Breast, Canadian Bacon, Hamburger, Red Onion, Green Pepper, Garlic, Mushrooms, Hot Peppers, Green Olive, Black Olive, Pineapple, Bacon, Gorgonzola Cheese, Anchovies, Roma Tomatoes, Cheddar Cheese, and Jalapeños.

Davanni's also has Penne Pasta (with chicken, meatballs or sausage), Lasagna and Stuffed Calzones.

Kids menu items include Hlaf Pasta, Solo Cheese Pizza, or Half Ham Hoagy.

Desserts include Brownies, Rice Crispy Treats, and Chocolate Chunk Cookies.

Price guide: Hoagies $3.25-7  Salads $4-7   Pizzas $5-20  Calzones $5.50+

What We ordered: My companions and I ordered a variety of pizzas, including this large Chicago-style deep dish pizza with pepperoni and sausage.  Davanni's deep dish is a treat for those who like real Chicago-style pizza and has been my one of family's favorites for many years.  The buttery brown crust is at least 1" deep yet it is light.  The lightness of the crust is deceiving because the pizza is actually very filling.   The cheese and meats were baked directly on top of the crust with pizza sauce spread out on the very top to prevent the crust from getting soggy.  The large pizza had 10-12 wedges.

 

Our party also ordered a Large Thin Crust Pepperoni Pizza.  The crust on the thin crust pizza was also pretty good, crispy but slightly chewy.  It was loaded with melted mozzarella and a fair amount of pepperoni (although I personally like more).

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This is a solo deep dish pizza with pepperoni, mushrooms and "pink" sauce.  Pink sauce simply means that it has both white sauce (garlic and olive oil) and red sauce.  If you like garlic, you would love either the white or the pink sauce.  This pizza was also very good, the mushrooms were fresh and there was a lot of pepperoni.  The light and buttery deep dish crust practically melts in your mouth.

 

One of my companions ordered a half pizza hoagy on whole grain with a special request for the sauce to be served on side.  This is a good sandwich but it doesn't have much substance, just a thin layer of pepperoni and a thin layer of melted cheese on one half of the bread.  You better order the whole sandwich if you're hungry!

 

Another companion ordered a pepperoni and veggie calzone to-go.  Safe to say that this thing was loaded with melted cheese, meat and veggies.

Service: You can call ahead for pick up or delicery, otherwise Davanni's offers standard counter-service.  There are typically 2-3 cashiers taking orders during the lunch and dinner rush but you can still expect to wait a few minutes before placing your order. It was fairly busy during my visit and it took about 30-40 minutes for our pizzas, which seems a reasonable amount of time for the deep dish pizzas to bake.
Overall Impression: Davanni's has excellent deep dish pizza and is conveniently located in several places around the Twin Cities.  Service is reasonably fast and menu prices aren't going to break the bank.

Red's Savoy Pizza ~ St Paul, MN (Coon Rapids, Hugo, and Uptown Minneapolis)

Cuisine: Pizza
Restaurant Features: Bar, Flatscreen TVs, On-Site Parking,
Location: St Paul, MN

Address: 421 East 7th Street  St Paul, MN 55101 651-227-1437
Hours: Mon-Sat 11a-11p  Sun 11a-10:30p
Links:  Google Map

 *Red's Savoy Pizza in Coon Rapids, Hugo, St Paul, and Uptown are all Delivery/Take-out Only

Atmosphere: Red's Savoy Inn is the original Savoy location, found just on the edge of downtown St Paul at the corner of 7th St. and Lafayette.  There are two entrances into Savoy's on the west side of the building, one near the parking lot in back and one one the side near the front.   The restaurant is divided into two sides, with the Bar Area being what you see when you first enter.  The bar stretches the length of the room, which has tables and booths as well.

The main dining room is adjacent to the bar area with an open walkway in between.  Also between the two rooms is a giant aquarium with live tropical fish.  It is quite dim inside Savoy, there are no windows and the only lighting comes from the soft yellow glass orbs overhead. 

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 Menu:  Appetizers at Savoy Inn include Buffalo Wings, Deep Fried Cheese Ravioli, Mozzarella Sticks, Jalapeño Poppers, French Fries, Onions Wings, Garlic Cheese Bread.

Sandwich options are the Meatball Dip and Hot dago with Cheese.

Pizzas come in two sizes, 10" or 14", Hand Tossed Thin Crust. Topping options include Sausage, Pepperoni, Hamburger, Mushrooms, Onion, Green Pepper, Green Olive, Black Olive, Sauerkraut, Pickles, Canadian Bacon, Banana Peppers, Jalapeños, Pineapple, Bacon, Shrimp and Anchovies.

Price guide: Appetizers $5-7  10" Cheese Pizza $8.45  Toppings $1-2/ea 14" Cheese $11.40  Toppings $1.50/2 ea (premium toppings more)
What We ordered: My companions and I started with an order of mozzarella sticks.  They were just as mozzi-sticks should be, crispy golden brown on the outside and hot melted mozzarella inside.  It came with a side of sauce.

 

Our group ordered a variety of pizzas.   The pizza has a very thin crust at the base of each creation, then covered with spicy pizza sauce, toppings and mozzarella cheese.  This was a 10" Pepperoni, Mushroom and Shrimp.  I have really come to enjoy shrimp on pizza over the past couple of years and this was the first time I had tried it at Savoy.  The shrimps were very little and there were plenty of them covering the pizza.   The not-too-thick-not-too-thin pepperoni had great flavor while not being too greasy.  We ordered our pizzas "well-done" so the cheese on all the edge pieces was browned and crispy.

 

Another pizza was a 10" Pepperoni, Banana Pepper and Onion.  Great combo of toppings! The banana peppers spiced it up a notch and the onion added a touch of sweetness, perfectly complimented by the zesty pepperoni.  The crust is very thin and crispy, but not at all chewy.  Overall the Savoy pizzas were a success and a few of my companions even declared Savoy pizza to be their favorite or "the best".

 

We also had a 14" Special Pizza with Sausage, Pepperoni, Mushroom, Onion, Green Pepper and Green Olive.  This pizza was loaded with ingredients and cheese.

 

One of my companions also ordered a side of Rigatoni with sauce.  I thought the portion size was just right for a side order.

Service:  It wasn't very busy on the late Wednesday evening of my visit, so we had no problem getting a parking place in the small lot in the back of Savoy's and easily found a table inside the restaurant.  Our server was nice but took her time checking on us even though there were very few other customers.  Food was prepared in a reasonable amount of time.
Overall Impression: Savoy pizza is one of the better thin-crust pizzerias around St Paul, especially if you like a spicier sauce and pizza loaded with toppings and cheese.  The prices are comparable to many other local pizzerias but you get a hefty amount of toppings for the money.

Pizza Luce ~ Minneapolis, St Paul & Duluth, MN

Cuisine: Pizza, American
Restaurant Features: Bar, Counter Service and Table Service
Locations:  Downtown Minneapolis, Uptown Minneapolis, Seward & University, St Paul & Duluth, MN
Addresses & Maps:

Downtown Minneapolis- 119 North 4th Street Mpls, MN 55401 (612) 333-7359

Uptown Minneapolis- 3200 Lyndale Ave So. Mpls, MN 55408 (612) 827-5978

Minneapolis- 2200 E. Franklin Avenue Mpls, MN 55404 (612) 332-2535

St Paul- 1183 Selby Avenue St. Paul, MN 55104 (651) 288-0186

Duluth- 11 East Superior Street Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 727-7400

Hours: M-Th 11a-2:30a  Fri 11a-3:30a Sat 10a-3:30a  Sun 10a-2:30a
Links: Pizza Luce Website

Atmosphere:  The downtown Mpls Pizza Luce location has two sides to the restaurant, on the right is the quick-serve line where guests can order pizza-by-the-slice.  On the left is the dining room where guests sit down and order off the menu.  The restaurant is decorated with a collection of hand-made art, including canvas paintings and glass pendant lamps.  There is also a large full-service bar on the left side.

Menu: Appetizers at Pizza Luce include Artichoke Dip, Luce Chicken Wings, Veggie Nuggets, Focaccia Katerina, Garlic Cheese Toast, and Focaccia.

Salads offered are the Caesar, Greek, Garden, Spinach, Tuna Caliente, and the Lucky Luciano.

Hoagie sandwiches include Chicken Parmiagana, Mock Chicken Parmigiana, Meatball Parmigiana, Italian Sausage Parmiagana, and Mock Sausage Parmiagana.  Other hoagies sandwiches include Pesto Turkey, Muffeleta, Mock Muffeleta, Italian Combo, Chicken Dijon, Mock Chicken Dijon, Ultimate Veggie, Beef Italiano, and Tuna Melt.

Pizzas come in 10", 12" or 16".  You can build your own or order any of the Specialty Pizzas which include The Classic, The Luce, Baked Potato Pizza, Maximus, Shrimp al Pesto, The Bear, Spanish Chicken, Ruby Rae and Pizza Lupe.

Pasta dishes include Spaghetti, Mostaccioli, Lasagna Abruzzi, and Roasted Vegetable Lasagna.

Pizza Luce also has a nice selection of desserts including Tiramisu, Carrot Cake, Cheese Cake, Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar, Rice Krispie Bar, Big Ole Brownie, and Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream.

Price guide:  Salads $3-8   Hoagies $7 Pizzas $12-22   Pastas  $6-9  Desserts $2-5

What We ordered: My companions and I started with the Garlic Cheese Toast and Artichoke Dip for  appetizers.  The cheese bread was really flavorful and baked to a golden brown, just the way I like it.  The sauce was very garlicy, which I thought was great.

 

We also tried the Artichoke Dip, which came in a large ramekin with three loaves of warm focaccia on the side.  The dip was primarily cream-cheese based with roasted garlic and some parmesan.  The cream cheese flavor was quite strong.  I could taste the artichoke but only mildly, as they were very finely chopped into the dip.  The bread was thick and really flavorful on its own.

 

For our main entree we shared a medium sausage and shrimp pizza.  Delicious! The crust was New York-style but slightly light and fluffy instead of chewy.  The sauce was zesty and garlicy and paired wonderfully with the Italian sausage and shrimp.   The pizza also had a ton of cheese on top and was overall very filling.

Service:  Our server was really good and gave us some good suggestions about drinks and appetizers, and was very patient as we took our time looking over the menu.
Overall Impression: Sitting down and ordering off the menu is where it is at when it comes to Pizza Luce!  Great late-night spot or place to catch happy hour too.  Pizza Luce also has a brunch menu on the wekends.

Pineda Tacos ~ Minneapolis, Plymouth, West St Paul, MN

Cuisine: Mexican
Restaurant Features: Counter-Service, On-Site Parking (West St Paul location)
Locations: Minneapolis, Plymouth, West St Paul ( MN)
Addresses & Maps:

Minneapolis- 2150 E Lake St Minneapolis, MN 55407 (612) 729-5320

Minneapolis- 311 E Lake St Minneapolis, MN 55408 (612) 825-7466

Plymouth- 60 Nathan Ln N Plymouth, MN 55441 (763) 545-1977

West St Paul- 1304 Robert Street So.  West St Paul, MN 55118 (651) 455-6833

Hours: 7 days 10am-10pm

Atmosphere: The West St Paul location is located right on Robert Street and is very easy to spot from the road, with its unique slanted roof.  The counter is just to the right of the main doors when you walk in, and there is a large menu board overhead. There are a bunch of booths set up around the space, with glass privacy separators around each.  The bright stained-glass windows give the West St Paul location a somewhat festive-feel.

Menu:  Mexican sandwiches include choice of Ham, Cheese, Breaded Steak, or any of the combination sandwiches including the Chilanga, Mexicana, Hawaiiana, Cubana and Three Meat.  All come with your choice of fixings: mayonnaise, avocado, lettuce, tomato, onion, jalapeno, cream and beans.  

All tacos, burritos, tortas, and chimichangas come with choice of meats: Chopped Steak, Barbacoa, Mexican-Style Steak, Steak with Onions, Lengua, Tripas, Chicken in Tomato Sauce, Chicken in Green Sauce with Potatoes, Chicken in Chipotle Sauce, Roasted Pork, Mexican Sausage in Chipotle Sauce, Pastor, and Spicy Pork.

Taco options include soft Corn or Flour Tortillas, Hard Shell, Tostada, Nachos and Quesadilla.

Burrito options include Bean/Rice/Cheese, Regular (one meat), Burrito Gordo (two meats and avocado), Veggy (cheese and avocado) and the Birrote (two tortillas, two meats).  Any burrito can be made into a chimichanga, served enchilada-style.

Meat Plates come with rice and beans and include Meat Plate, Beef Fajita, Chicken Fajita. Alambre,  Quesadilla (choice of meat), Carne Asada, Green Sauce Enchilada, Red Sauce Enchilada, Chimichanga, Stuffed Poblano Pepper, Garlic Shrimp, Devil's Shrimp, Breaded Shrimp, Shrimp Fajitas, and Flautas (chicken or potato).

Price guide:  Sandwiches $6-8  Tacos $2-5  Burritos $4-9  Meat Plates $9-10
What I ordered: I had previously tried a burrito at Pineda one other time and really enjoyed it.  This time I wanted to try the burrito chimichanga-style.  I ordered it with spicy pork, Mexican rice, pinto beans, cilantro, and hot salsa.  The outside was slightly crisp and flaky from being fried, and topped with a light amount of enchilada sauce and melted Mexican cheese.  Lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole were served on the side.  I enjoyed the chimichanga quite a bit.  Despite the fact that both the chimi and the burrito I had tried before were filled with nearly the same ingredients, it was a completely different experience to be able to add the cold condiments to the hot ingredients instead of having them all mixed in.

One of my companions ordered four tacos: one chicken in tomato sauce, one spicy pork, and two steak.  Each taco was served on two white corn tortillas and topped with the customary cilantro and chopped onion, with wedges of lime on the side.  They were all very good, especially the spicy pork.  The chicken was tender white-meat marinated in a light tomato broth, mild but flavorful.

 

Another companion also ordered four tacos: two chicken and two spicy pork.

Service:  Pineda has counter service that seems to go pretty fast, as they make the tacos and burritos directly as you order them.  Free soda refills
Overall Impression: Pineda offers a wide range of delicious meats for tacos and burritos, with generous portions for the money.  They have some of the best burritos I have had.  The spicy pork is my favorite. 

Grumpy's Bar & Grill ~ Roseville & Minneapolis, MN

Cuisine: American
Restaurant Features: Bar, Banquet Room, Pull-Tabs, On-Site Parking, Patio
Locations:  Roseville, Northeast Mpls, Downtown Mpls, MN
Addresses & Maps:
Northeast Mpls- 220 4th St NE Mpls, MN 55413 (612)789-7429

Downtown Mpls- 1111 Washington Ave Sp. Mpls, MN 55415  (612) 340-9738

Roseville- 2801 Snelling Ave No. Roseville, MN 55113 (651)379-1180

Link: Grumpy's Website

Atmosphere: The Roseville location of Grumpy's Bar & Grill is in a very large building that was first  the home of K-Fan Restaurant and then served as Majors Sports Cafe until Grumpy's took over the location early in 2008.  Within the large space there is a large bar area with several bar-height tables placed around the centrally-located bar, an upstairs seating area, and an enclosed space for playing darts.

 

The Dining Room contains both booths and wooden tables, contemporary decor.

 

There is also a large Patio Area that can be accessed through the bar area.

Menu: Appetizers at Grumpy's include Chicken Drummies, Chicken Tenders, Popcorn Chicken, Quesadilla Gordo, Potato Skins, Mozarella Sticks, Tepanyaki Beef Tidbits, Mac n Cheese, Mac N Cheese Bites, Beer Battered Onion Rings, Nachos El Grumpy, Lil' Grumpy Burgers, Mini Corndogs, Tex Mex Queso Rolls, Sausage Pizza Dip, Gazillion Cheese Dip, Walleye Fingers, and Pepper Jack Spinach Dip.

Grumpy offers the following salads: Grumpy's Chop, Ty Cobb, Aztec Chicken, Bleu Bayou, Greek, Caesar, and Chicken Spinach Flatbread.  Soup choices include Chicken Wild Rice, Chili and a Soup du Jour.

Grumpy's has the largest selection of potato choices I have seen including Grumpy Fries, Tater Tots, Wedge-Style, Shoe String, Criss-Cut Fries, Mashed, Baked and Hash Browns.

Sandwiches include Chicken Cordon Bleu, Buffalo Chicken, BBQ Chicken, Cajun Chicken, Hawaiian Chicken, Build Your Own Chicken Sandwich, BBQ Chicken Wrap, Honey Mustard Chicken Wrap, Chicken Salad, Southwestern Turkey, Walleye, Tuna Melt El Paso, Mock Duck BBQ, Grilled Cheese, Ham N Cheese, Hell on Whells, Grilled Reuben, Grumpy's Rachel, Roast Beef or Chicken Philly, Hot Beef, B.L.T., French Dip, Clubhouse, Pork Tenderloin, BBQ Pork, The Cuban, and St Paul Style Coney Dogs. All sanwiches come with choice of potato.

All Burger Choices are a 1/2 lb of lean Black Angus and come with a choice of potato.  Options include Southern Style "The Elvis" (beef patty topped with peanut butter and bacon), American Burger, Pepper Burger, Burgermeister, Chili Burger, Veggie Burger, Cream Cheese Burger, Patty Melt, The Wyoming, Juicy Lucy, and Build your Own Burger.

Pizzas are made with homemade dough and include choices such as the Straught Up Sausage, Attsa Cheeseburger, BBQ Chicken, Pepperoni, Northern Italian, Aloha This! and Build Your Own Pizza.

Entrees include Ribs, T-Bone Steak, Top Sirloin, Country Fried Chicken or Pork, Homemade Meatloaf, Pork Chops, Fish & Chips, Penne Diablo, Gnocchi, Manicotti, Chicken Penne Carbonara, Shrimp or Chicken Fettuccine, and Tater Tot Hotdish.

Desserts include S'Mores, Home Baked Apple Pie, Chocolate Cake, Carrot Cake, New York Cheesecake, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae.

Price guide: Appetizers $7-10  Sandwiches/Burgers $7-12 Entrees $10-16

What I ordered: I really couldn't decide what I was in the mood for- I just knew I didn't want to get a  burger or sandwich which is usually what I get at a bar & grill.  The server said the manicotti was good so I tried that.  I would say it was decent, but nothing to write home about. The portion was HUGE, with several large tubes of pasta filled with a ricotta cheese mixture.  It was very mild and I could only detect maybe a slight hint of garlic and oregano in the mixture, otherwise it was just plain old ricotta.  The red sauce was tasty but there just wasn't much of it, so I asked for a large side of it so I could adjust it to my liking.  There was a lot of mozzarella baked on top.  It was supposed to come with bread of some kind, but they forgot to bring it to me.

 

One of my companions had the Country Fried Chicken.  The chicken was good, covered with gravy and served with a side of mashed potatoes, variety vegetables, and toast.

 

Another companion had the Quesadilla which comes stuffed with cheese and tomatoes and onions.  My companion ordered it with black beans and peppers added (which was charged an additional $3).  It was an excellent quesadilla but very expensive at $11.

Another Companion (who happened to be the Guest of Honor) originally ordered the Fish & Chips but it had been fried so long that it was hard as a rock.  Since it was inedible it was sent back to the kitchen.

 

Instead of Fish & Chips my companion had the Tepanyaki Beef Teedbits at the suggestion of the server.  These looked and smelled delicious

 

Two of the people in our group shared the Grumpy's Nachos, which was a HUGE order of tri-colored chips piled with melted cheese, tomatoes, jalapenos, black olives, green onions and served with sour cream and salsa on the side.

Service: My party had a reservation (made 3 days in advance) for 15 people at 6pm on a Saturday night.  At 6:10 when the entire party had been assembled, we were told that they could only accommodate us in the dining room for one hour and then we would have to leave so they could set up for another big party who had a reservation at 7:30pm.  Say what?! My companion who had arranged the dinner in honor of a birthday celebration was very upset, as we all were.  Apparently they had overlooked our reservation but could accommodate us all in the bar area with taller tables pushed together.  We were fine with that, as we weren't given much choice.  Our server was nice but not overly friendly and was not very helpful with suggestions on the menu- she told us she only ever eats appetizers. It also took a considerable amount of time to bring little things when asked, although we did have a large party.
Overall Impression: I was not at all impressed with the food at Grumpy's Roseville and the service was pretty bad.  It is very unlikely I'd ever go back

Chris & Rob's Chicago Taste Authority ~ Fridley, Minneapolis & St Paul, MN

Cuisine: American, Chicago-Style, Hot Dogs, Pizza
Restaurant Features: Catering, Counter-Service
Locations: Fridley, St Paul, and Minneapolis, MN
Addresses & Maps:

Fridley- 7429 East River Rd Fridley, MN 55432 (763) 571-0288
Minneapolis- 3101 E 42nd St  (612) 729-5507
St Paul- 603 W. 7th St. (651)228-9347
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-9pm     Sun 12pm-7pm

Links: Chris & Rob's Website

Atmosphere: The St Paul location of Chris & Rob's can be found in this cute old dining car on West 7th Street.  The entrance to the restaurant is tucked around the side of the building, leading you to the ordering counter, with the kitchen just behind that.  The dining area is one long, narrow space with wooden floors and wood paneling on the walls.  There are several four-person wooden tables running the length of the space along the left side, and two-person tables along the right, with a walkway between them.  The many windows facing W. 7th offer plenty of light but there are also several pretty stained-glass chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

Menu: Appetizers include French Fries, Tater Tots, Cheese Curds, Chili Cheese Fries, Bowl of Chili, Onion Rings, Jalapeno Poppers, Mozzarella Sticks, Breaded Mushrooms, Ravioli Dippers, Garlic Toast, Supreme Tamale, Pizza Puff, Cheese Bread, Gravy Bread, Chicken Tenders, Spicy Wings, Shrimp, Rib Tips, and Fish.

All Hot Dogs and Sausage Sandwiches at Chris & Rob's are made with meat that comes directly from Chicago.  Hot dogs are all Vienna Brand and  include the Chicago Dog (with everything!), Cheese Dog, Chili Dog, Chili Cheese Dog, Polish Sausage, and Maxwell Street Polish.  Sausage sandwiches include the Italian Sausage, Meatball and Brat.

Specialty sandwiches include the Hot Italian Beef, Cheesy Beef, BBQ Beef, Beef and Sausage Combo, Gyro Classic and Prime Rib sandwich.

Chris & Rob's also has 12" 14" and 16" Pizzas, made on either Traditional Thin Crust or the Famous Sicilian which has a thicker rolled crust.  Pick your own ingredients or try one of the Specialty Pizzas such as the Monster of the Midway or Jordan's Garden.

Chris & Rob's also makes Party Platters! Italian Beef, Hot Dogs, and Pasta can all be ordered as a Platters.  Call to arrange specifics. 

Chris & Rob's also has an extensive catering menu.

Price guide: Appetizers $1-6 Hot Dogs $3-4   Sandwiches $6-9  Pizza $10-20

What I ordered: I was in the mood for a chili cheese dog, so a search around St Paul brought  brought me to Chris & Rob's.  I had never been there before but heard they had Vienna hot dogs and wanted to see what the big deal was about.  I assume the hot dog was cooked by either boiling or steaming it.  The casing on it was thin and the hot dog itself was good but not as flavorful as I had expected.  It was the same size as any other ordinary hot dog and I could probably have eaten two if I hadn't gotten fries instead.  Served on a fresh poppy seed bun, the hot dog was topped with chili, cheese sauce and onions.  The chili had ground meat and a lot of beans, but was kind of bland and did not seem to be homemade (I could be wrong!) The thick-cut fries were also pretty basic, cut slightly thick so they are soft on the inside, crispy on the outside and just slightly salted.

Service: Incredibly fast! I ordered at the counter and my order was ready literally two minutes later.
Overall Impression: Great selection of Chicago-Style Foods.  The hot dog was decent but I would like to go back for a Beef sandwich next time.  Prices seem to be relatively inexpensive, no guilt at spending money at Chris & Rob's. Very fast service.

Elsie's Restaurant, Bar & Bowling Center ~ Northeast Minneapolis, MN

Cuisine: American, Breakfast,
Restaurant Features: Bar, On-Site Parking, Bowling, Banquet Rooms

Location: Northeast Minneapolis, MN
Address: 729 Marshall St NE Minneapolis, MN 55413-1815

Restaurant Hours:  Monday - Thursday from 6am - 11pm, Friday from 6am - 12am, Saturday from 8am - 12am, and Sunday from 8am - 11pm.

Links: Elsie's Website Google Map

Atmosphere:  Elsie's is a large building that has three distinct areas: the dining room, the bar, and the bowling alley.  The dining room has a mix of booths and tables, nothing fancy in the way of decor.

The bar area is long and narrow, with seating along the bar and bar-height tables along the wall to accommodate additional diners.  Flat screen TVs hang above the bar for the sports fans.

Here is the Bowling Alley, with several lanes and computerized scoring.

Menu: Breakfast items include the Sausage Wrap, Potato Wrap, Bacon Skillet, Country Hash, Hamburger Patty & Eggs, Country Fried Steak, Sirloin Steak & Eggs, Mr T Sandwich, Denver Sandwich, Country Skillet, Cajun Style Skillet, Biscuits & Gravy, Eggs Benedict, eight Specialty Omelettes, Buttermilk Pancakes, and Waffles.

Appetizers offered at Elsies are the Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Nachos Supreme, Quesadilla, Breaded Mushrooms, Mozzarella Sticks, Cheese Curds, Chicken Fingers, Breaded Shrimp Basket, Walleye Strips, Onion Rings, Mini Corn Dogs,  Mac & Cheese Wedges, Breaded Cauliflower, Buffalo Wings, Chicken Drummies, Tator Tots, French Fries and Waffle Fries.

Salads include Grilled Chicken, Chef, Grilled Chicken Caesar, Cajun Chicken, Cobb, Garden, Taco Bueno, Buffalo Chicken, and Oriental Chicken. Soups include Chili, French Onion, and a Soup of the Day.

Elsie's Sandwiches are the Pork Tenderloin, Grilled Cheese, Grilled Ham & Cheese, Nord East Classic, Grilled Chicken Breast, Cajun Chicken, Italian Beef Hoagie, Tuna Melt, Turkey Club Wrap, Southwestern Chicken Wrap, Chicken Caesar Wrap, Chicken Ranch Melt, Turkey Hoagie, Broadway Clubhouse, Low Carb Meal, French Dip, Classic BLT, Buffalo Chicken, Pot Roast Melt, Reuben or Rachel, Canadian Walleye, Hot Sandwich with Mashed Potatoes, Steak Sandwich, and Prime Rib Sandwich.  There are also ten Specialty Burgers, or you can build-your-own burger.

Entrees include Stone Arch Chicken, Chicken Mushroom Monterey, Chicken Parmesan, Fried Chicken, Twin Pork Chops, Liver & Onions, Meatloaf, Sirloin Steak,  New York Strip, and Prime Rib.  Seafood entrees include Canadian Walleye, Bourbon Salmon, Orange Roughy, Jumbo Shrimp, and Lemon Pepper Walleye.  There are some entree combinations available.

Pastas offered are Beef Tips over Fettuccine, Fettuccine Alfredo, Spaghetti with Meatballs, and Chicken Pesto Alfredo.

Price guide: Breakfast $6-10 Appetizers $4-9 Sandwiches & Burgers $8-9 Entrees $11-19 Seafood  $14-18 Pasta $11-14
What I ordered: I love breakfast and I love spice, so the Cajun Skillet seemed to be calling my name.  The dish advertised pepperjack cheese, but I was not expecting the thick layer of barely-melted cheese that topped the entire skillet (I wasn't too fond of all that cheese).  The peppers and onions were sauteed nicely, but the potatoes were still a little on the hard side and could have been cooked quite a bit longer.  There was a decent amount of cut-up breakfast sausage and the Cajun spice had a nice kick to it.  It came with salsa and sour cream which I asked to be put on the side.  The scrambled eggs were typical scrambled eggs, as was the wheat toast. 

One of my companions ordered the Bacon Skillet with scrambled eggs.  Good flavor, lots of bacon, mushrooms and cheddar cheese but the potatoes were still slightly hard.

Another companion ordered the Northwoods Omelet, which came with wild rice, bacon, mushrooms, and Swiss cheese.  My companion ordered it with tomatoes also and thought it was good, but kind of boring since all the flavors were so mild.

Another companion ordered the Veggie Omelet with a side of fruit instead of hashbrowns (which Elsie's charged extra for instead of just substituting.

Service:  The service at Elsie's was okay.  Despite the fact that Elsie's does not take reservations, our party of four adults, one child and three infants was able to get a table in the dining room late on a snowy Sunday morning.  The wait staff was nice and accommodating, but almost a little too friendly toward all the babies.   At one point one of the older servers helped herself to the newborn baby in our group without asking for permission, which completely caught the baby's mother off guard.  Also, our food did not all come out at once, but was a process that took almost 10 minutes because of missing items (such as toast!)
Overall Impression: The breakfast at Elsie's was okay, but nothing to write home about. The overall menu is large and I would like to try a meal other than breakfast sometime.  Prices are reasonable, but the restaurant itself is in need of some redecorating.  Servers were nice but could use some lessons in etiquette.

The Bulldog- Northeast & Uptown Minneapolis, MN

Cuisine: American,
Restaurant Features: Bar

Location: Northeast & Uptown Minneapolis, MN
Addresses & Maps:

Northeast- 401 East Hennepin Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55414

Uptown- 2549 Lyndale Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55405

Hours: Open 11am-2am daily- Food served Mon-Wed : 11am to 12am Thu-Sat : 11am to 1am Sun : 11am to 11pm

Link: The Bulldog Website

Atmosphere: Located on East Hennepin just across the river from Downtown, The Bulldog is in an older brick building in a busy part of NE Mpls.  The inside is a long space with a massive bar taking up at least half of it, the rest with tall tables for regular dining.  The lights were very dim and candles lit at every table, but there was no mistaking that you were in a bar.  Crowd seemed to be early 30's.

Here is a partial view of the bar area, with seating around the bar and additional tall tables to the left along the wall.

Menu: Appetizers include Sesame Chicken Wings, Steak Tartare, Nachos, Bavarian Pretzels, Tator Tots, French Fries, Cold Cuts & Cheese, Pickle Plate and Spicy Texas Chili.

Cobb, Green Goddess and Caesar Salads are available but the Burgers are where its at!  Gourmet burgers are made with 100% Kobe beef that is double-ground twice daily.  Offered are the House Burger, The Stilton (with cheese, garlic and horseradish), Junk (cheese, bacon, mushrooms, onions), Good Morning (fried egg and ham on English muffin), Truffle (with truffle oil and Brie cheese), Black Bean (veggie burger, avocado and sprouts), Smokey Cheddar, Ninja (jalapenos and pepper jack), The Togarashi ( Japanese coleslaw and wasabi mayo), Rooster ( Sriracha glaze,  sweet pickles, roasted garlic aioli, pepperjack cheese), Green Marvel (avocado, Swiss, fried onions) and the Bella (portabella, prosciutto, red onion, goat cheese).

Hot dogs are also a hot item on the menu with a selection such as Chicago style, Chili (Texas-style), Maxwell Street Polish, the Beer Brat (smoked bacon apple kraut and horseradish mustard), and the Venezuelan.

Sandwiches at The Bulldog include Chicago-Style Italian Beef, Club, Cubano, BLT, Portabella, Philly Cheese Steak, and the Californian.

Bulldog Entrees include Chicken and Waffles, Polpettone (Italian style meatloaf), Fish & Chips, and Braised Beef (aka Tatortot Hotdish?)

Three varieties of cupcakes daily!

Price guide: Appetizers $4-11  Burgers $8-11 Hot Dogs $4-6  Sandwiches $8-9 Entrees $10-12 Cupcakes $3
What I ordered: I was starving but opted not to have an appetizer, so I got the Chili Dog with French Fries.  The hot dog was not as big as I had envisioned, but it was firm, skinless and tasted like it was all-beef.  The chili on top was unlike most chili I have had; it was beanless and the meat was shredded beef rather than traditional ground beef (more like pulled beef sandwich than chili).  It was great! I asked for mine with cheese but it wasn't very noticeable. My only complaint is that I was still hungry after eating my hot dog and all my fries, I should have ordered two!

My companion ordered the Green Marvel Burger, which was a fresh ground Kobe Beef patty with melted Swiss and then topped with guacamole and fried onions.  My companion thinks the flavor of this burger may be the best they ever had!  From the one bite that I had, it ranks near the top for me too.  The size of the burger was probably 1/3, as it could easily be consumed in one meal.

The host of Bulldog offered us a free cupcake for having been sat at the "worst table" in the place, which was right next to the front door.  There were three kinds of cupcakes and I chose the Peanut Butter Cup (the other variety that I remember was Almond Joy).  One bite of this cupcake and I forgot all about where I was sitting (which wasn't a big deal anyway).   I think I even declared that I must find the recipe for this peanut butter frosting ASAP because it was just heavenly! 

Service:  Our server was nice, but it was the host that went out of his way to be friendly and offered the yummy cupcake.  He asked us how everything was as we were leaving and we came to find out he was one of the owners, Chris, and his wife is the one who makes the amazing cupcakes!  Sidenote: Bulldog has a parking lot on 4th St, otherwise it is on-street metered parking
Overall Impression:  Good place to grab a gourmet burger or a beer or two!  Food was good and reasonably priced.

The Sample Room- Northeast Minneapolis, MN

Cuisine: American,
Restaurant Features: Bar, On-Site Parking, Patio Dining

Location: Northeast Minneapolis
Address: 2124 Marshall Street NE  Minneapolis, MN 55418 (612)789-0333
Links: The Sample Room Website  Google Map

Atmosphere: The Sample Room is not a very large restaurant, but has both tables, padded booths and a bar in the space. The neutral colors, wooden furniture and floors give it a comfy-casual feel.

 

The Sample Room also has this cute but small patio attached to the building.

Menu: All plates are appetizer sized "for nibbling".

Cheese plates include Chef's Selection with Grapes, Warm Camembert with Carmelized Onions, Buffalo Mozzarella with Avocado and Roasted Red Pepper, Wisconsin Bleu with Red Onion, Cheddar with Chipotle Mustard, and Baked Goat Cheese with Oven Roasted Tomatoes in Basil Oil.

Meat plates include Turkey Chorizo Sausage with Chipotle Mustard, Baked Ham, Pork Ribs with Bourbon Barbeque Sauce, Steamed Bratwurst, Corned Beef with Cabbage, and Herb Roasted Beef with Carmalized Shallots.

Seafood Plates include Pan-Fried Walleye Strips, Seared Salmon with fennel, Sauteed Shrimp, Seared Scallops with Sun-dried Tomato Pesto, Seared Rare Tuna with Miso Glaze and Radishes, and Smoked Prairie Trout with Creamy Chive Sauce and Pickles.

Vegetable Plates include Warm Marinated Olives, Fire-Roasted Artichoke Gratin, Roasted Summer Vegetables, Roasted Asparagus, Sauteed Green Beans and Mushrooms, Roasted Fresh Veggie Torte, and Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic.

Soups and Salads offered are Mixed Greens, Caesar (with Chicken or Tuna), Grilled Chicken breast and Sliced Pear with Candied Walnuts and Bleu Cheese, Seared Scallops over Spinach, Warm Roasted Vegetables over Spinach.  Soup of the Day also available.

Sandwiches include Deluxe Cheeseburger, Reuben, BLT, Grilled Ham and Camembert Cheese, Grilled Chicken, Warm Meatloaf, Chopped Roast beef, Steamed Bratwurst, Fried Walleye, and Roasted Portabello Mushroom.

Dinner Entrees include Spaetzle Primavera, Roast Duck Hash, Three Meatloaf (beef, pork, and veal), Steamed Sausage Platter, Ribs, Sauteed Garlic Shrimp, and Seared Salmon.

Desserts include Summer Berry Crisp, Cannoli, Bailey's Irish Cream Cheesecake, Creme Brulee, Cheese Plate, and Chocolate Decadence.

Price guide: Cheese plates $4-7  Meat Plates $4-7 Seafood Plates $7-9 Vegetable Plates $4-7 Sandwiches  $9-11 Entrees $15-19 Desserts $6-7
What we ordered:To start with we tried the complimentary Bread Basket that had crusty French bread, Rye Bread, and Flatbread.

My companion had been told by a friend to try the Goat Cheese with Roasted Tomatoes, so we did! I thought it was pretty good, but the taste and texture was distinctly goat cheese.  The mild roasted tomatoes that accompanied the plate helped to curb the strong taste of the goat cheese.  I ate mine with some of the bread and liked it better.

We also tried the Artichoke Gratin, served with Flatbread.  The marinated artichokes were served whole in a boat of Gratin, which was a flavorful creamy cheesy mix.  Delicious on both flatbread and crusty white bread. I thought this was a unique alternate to the the cheesy artichoke dips that are served at other restaurants.

 

When I saw that they served real corned beef, I ordered the Reuben Sandwich.  It was great! The corned beef was hot and flavorful, sliced straight from the brisket and piled onto the fresh rye bread.  There was a decent amount of sauerkraut which seemed to have been mixed with the 1000 Island dressing.  Additional dressing was served on the side and had nice flavor, but the consistency seemed runny rather than thick like I prefer.  It was a nice change to have a Reuben on rye rather than pumpernickel, and the bread was still somewhat soft (I prefer it slightly toasted or grilled).  The kettle chips that were served with the sandwich were seasoned and very crispy.

 

My companion ordered the Three-Meat Loaf which was made with beef, pork and veal, a blend of peppers and caramelized onions, and then topped with Bourbon barbeque sauce.  It was served with seasoned mashed potatoes and roasted summer vegetables.

Service: Our server was friendly and attentive and helped us with suggestions.  We ordered our appetizers before we ordered our main dishes and had just started eating the artichoke and goat cheese plates when our sandwich and entree came out.  It was only slightly disappointing to have to rush through the appetizer so that we could start on our meals before they got cold.  We did not complain about this at all, however the server felt very bad that that had happened to us and she ended up taking 25% off our total bill.  Can't complain too much after that!
Overall Impression: I thought The Sample Room had an interesting variety of sample plates and entrees, and the prices seemed reasonable for both smaller plates and the full entrees.