Twin Cities Restaurant Blog

Moe's- Moundsview & Coon Rapids, MN

Cuisine: American, Steak, Ribs & Chops
Restaurant Features: Bar, On-Site Parking, Sunday Brunch

Location: Moundsview, Coon Rapids
Addresses & Maps:
Moundsview: 2400 Highway 10 Moundsview, MN 55112 (763)786-1800
Coon Rapids: 3420 129th Ave N.W. Coon Rapids, MN 55448 (763)422-9100
Links: Moe's Website 

Atmosphere: I thought Moe's (Moundsview) was nicer on the inside than the exterior of the building may indicate.  The main dining room was a decent size, with vaulted ceilings making it seem bigger than it really is.  There were a variety of booths and tables,  including one large round table in the middle of the room-perfect for a party of 8! I can only assume that the double-sided fireplace in the middle of the room probably gets the place nice and toasty during the winter.  Adjacent to the dining room is the bar area.

Menu: Appetizers include Buffalo Wings, Onion Rings, Jo-Jos, Bruschetta Pizza, Mini Burgers, Spinach Dip, Stuffed Mushrooms, Nachos, Chicken Caesar Quesadilla, Malibu Shrimp, Chicken Tenders and Drunken Beef Tips.

Salads offered are Moe's House, Buffalo Chicken, Club, Rising Sun (Asian-style), and Caesar.  There is one soup offered daily, starting with Beer Cheese on Monday, Tomato Basil (Tues), Vegetable Beef (Wed), Chicken Wild Rice(Th), Clam Chowder(Fri), Shrimp Jambalaya (Sat), and Broccoli Cheese on Sunday.

There are several sandwiches and burgers offered, all served with Shoestring Fries, including Grilled Turkey Supreme, Mayslack's Original Roast Beef, Beef and Cheddar, Cheesesteak, Pepper Stack (Buffalo Chicken with pepperjack),  Buffalo Wrap, Chicken Caesar Wrap, Mango Wrap, Mustang Chicken (with cheddar, bacon & bbq), Chicken Moe, Walleye, Tuna melt, Flaming Lips Burger, and the Pastramickle (pastrami, pickles and cream cheese).

Entrees include Porterhouse Chop, Flat Iron Steak, Shore Lunch Walleye, Kansas City Steak, Bourbon Steak and Shrimp, Cedar Plank Walleye (maple and brown sugar), Stuffed Chicken Breast, Saint Louis Pork Ribs, Chicken Stir-Fry, Grandma Moe's Meatloaf, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Crescent City Pasta, and Beef Stroganoff.

There is also a Sunday Brunch from 10am-2pm!

Price guide: Appetizers $7-10  Salads $4-11 Sandwiches $9-11  Entrees $10-22
What We ordered: I wasn't the hungriest on this visit and wasn't in the mood for meat so I decided to go with the Bruschetta Pizza.  The pizza itself was a decent size, with a flatbread crust and piled with flavorful bruschetta.  As you can see the pizza was also loaded with cheese- (enough for a couple of pizzas!).  I liked it, but it had way to much cheese for my taste and I was only able to eat a couple of pieces. 

One of my companions ordered the Mayslack's Original Roast Beef Sandwich, a "slow-roasted garlic infused beef" that is served on a rye bun and topped with banana peppers and onions, with a side of au-jus.  This beef had a ton of flavor- the garlic was especially strong and had a spicy twang to it.  I tried a bite of the sandwich and thought it was really good, but the garlic was too overwhelming for my companion and she wasn't able to eat much of it.  The sandwich came with a heaping serving of shoestring fries that were piping hot and crispy.

Another companion ordered the Cheesesteak Sandwich with Moe's Jo-Jo Potatoes instead of the shoestring fries.  The roast beef on this sandwich is also Mayslack's, but loaded with mushrooms and melted Swiss cheese and creamy horseradish and served on a hoagie roll.  The flavorful roast beef seemed to go much better when paired with the ingredients on this sandwich than on the "Original" sandwich (pictured above). 

Service: We visited at an odd time of day (around 3:30pm on a sunny Tuesday afternoon), so we were the only customers in the dining room.  Our service was great! Our server was very friendly and helpful with making suggestions, the food was delivered promptly.
Overall Impression: The service and food are both good enough to go back, although hopefully next time I will be hungry!

Dave & Buster's ~ Maple Grove, MN

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

Location: Maple Grove, MN
Address: 11780 Fountains Way Maple Grove, MN 55369   763-493-9815
Links: Dave & Buster's Website        Google Map

Atmosphere: The restaurant itself is a decent size, especially when combined with the bar area, which also serves food.  The bar had several flat-screen TV's mounted above it, showing popular sporting events.

Beyond the restaurant and bar area is a giant arcade with everything from old-school favorites like skeeball to recent hits like Deal or No Deal.  Get physical with games like Dance, Dance Evolution or try one of the Trivia Video Games.  Shown here is a horse racing game.

Menu: Appetizers include Philly Steak Rolls, Cheese Fries. Cheese Sticks, Fried Mushrooms, Spinach Dip, Buffalo Wings, Thai Chicken Dippers, Bar Burgers, Potato Skins, Nachos

Burgers and sandwiches include Grilled Chicken and Cheddar, Roasted Turkey Avocado, Philly or Chicken Cheesesteak, Buffalo Chicken Wrapper, Buffalo Bar Chicks,

California Bar Burgers, Garden Burger and several other burgers.

Entrees include Lacy's Chicken, Black Jack BBQ Chicken or Ribs, Chicken Fingers, a large selection of Ribeyes and Sirloins, Grilled Salmon, Fried Shrimp, Blackened Tilapia, Fried Catfish, Fish & Chips, Cajun Shrimp Alfredo, Parmesan Chicken Alfredo, Chicken Marinara, and Blackened Chicken Pasta.

There is also a large selection of salads and soups.

Price guide: Appetizers $6-10  Sandwiches & Burgers $ 8-10  Entrees $ 10-25
What We ordered: We started off with the tempura fried mushrooms.  Lightly breaded and crispy.

 I ordered the Buffalo Bar Chicks. I think maybe part of the purpose of the smaller sandwiches is to make these easier to eat and less messy.  The sauce was standard spicy buffalo sauce, with bleu cheese dressing, fresh lettuce & tomato served on a warm roll.  I thought it was pretty good. 

 One of my companions ordered the Sirloin, served with loaded mashed potatoes and crispy onions.  The steak had really good flavor and the onions and potatoes were a  nice compliment in flavor and texture.

 Another companion ordered the Atlantic Salmon fillet grilled and glazed with a Hawaiian ginger sesame sauce. Served with citrus rice and sautéed green beans.  I did not try, but it looked fabulous!

 Another companion ordered the Mushroom & Swiss Burger.  The burger was quite large, as was the bun it was served on.

Since our visit was in celebration of a birthday, Dave & Buster's gave us this complimentary brownie dessert.

Another companion ordered the Banana's Foster dessert 

Service: The restaurant was very busy and every table was packed with people, so the service was kind of slow.  After dinner we attempted to play a few games, but found it very difficult to get started.  First we had to go somewhere to get a plastic card and then we had to go somewhere else to put money on the plastic card.  It was pretty much impossible to share the card because you had to physically have it with you to swipe it in the card slot.  One of us attempted to play a bowling game, but discovered the $5 only covered 5 frames of bowling.  I thought that was absolutely ridiculous! The arcade was very busy since it was a Friday night and the fun, popular games that I would've liked to play had lines. 
Overall Impression: The restaurant had good food, but the arcade was overpriced.  Cool place if you're into video games (I am not.)

Fogo de Chão- Minneapolis, MN

Cuisine: Brazilian Steakhouse, Steaks, Chops, Ribs, Etc
Restaurant Features: Bar, All-You Can Eat, Lunch Buffet, Dinner Buffet

Location: Downtown Minneapolis
Address: 645 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403  612-338-1344
Links: Fogo de Chao website  Google Map

Atmosphere: One look at the authentically-dressed Gaochos serving the fabulous meats and you might think you are truly in Brazil! Fogo de Chao has a very large, open dining room with several tables surrounding a fabulous salad bar in the middle.  The lighting is dim and romantic perfect for a low-key dinner or a special occasion with a group of friends. There is also  a  bar/lounge area with additional bar-height tables .   

Menu: The concept of Fogo de Chao is one sure to satisfy any carnivore: both the lunch and dinner menus feature  15 different  cuts of fire-roasted meats (beef, chicken, pork, lamb).  Each person gets a token that is red on one side, green on the other.  When you are ready for the Gaochos to serve you meat, turn your card to green.  As they walk by with the skewers of meat, they will ask you if you want to try this, or that. Turn it to red when you'd like a break.  There are also unlimited trips to an amazing buffet serving fresh vegetables and fancy salads.  A variety of Brazilian side dishes are also served continuously throughout the meal.
Price guide: $45 per person, drinks excluded.
What I tried: The complimentary rolls that Fogo serves are unlike any I have tried anywhere else; they have a light texture, but with the cheese infused into the dough.  Served warm, these treats are heavenly and small enough to eat several!

Fogo has the most amazing salad bar!!! I especially loved the whole marinated artichoke hearts.

I tried just about everything (except lamb).  The evening I visited also happened to be in honor of my birthday.  Fogo was happy to give me a special complimentary dessert (I chose the 5 layer chocolate mousse cake)

Service: Amazing.  Can't ask for better!
Overall Impression: Not only is Fogo de Chao a carnivore's dream, they also have the best salad bar... Be prepared to be stuffed out of your mind.  Service was wonderful.  A very good value for all that you get.  Perfect place to celebrate a special occasion or to dine out-of-town guests.  I can't wait to go back.

Downtowner Woodfire Grill ~ St Paul, MN

Cuisine:  American, Breakfast, Pizza, Steak, Chops
Restaurant Features: Bar

Location: Downtown St Paul
Address: 253 West 7th Street  St Paul, MN 55102  651-228-9500
Links:  Downtowner Website  Google Map

Atmosphere: Very nice and comfortable! The entire building was renovated in 2001 and the restaurant now has an open floor plan with a gorgeous bar (with water falls!) and a large fireplace.  Booths and tables can accommodate larger groups.

Menu: Breakfast is very popular at the Downtowner, with a variety of egg options and omelets (Farmer's, Denver, Ham & Cheese, Everything, Southwestern, etc). Other items include Buttermilk Pancakes, French Toast, Stuffed French Toast, Belgian Waffles, Eggs Benedict, Steak & Eggs,  and the famous Cajun Breakfast.

Lunch options include a large variety of salads, Woodfired Pizzas, Hamburgers, and Fire-roasted meats.  Sandwiches include Ham & Cheese, Grilled Chicken, Reuben, Black Angus, Cajun Chicken, Club House, Chicken Salad, and Turkey.

Dinner menu includes all items on lunch menu with the addition of the following entrees: Downtowner Sirloin, T-Bone 22oz. Steak, Filet of Tenderloin, Wild King Salmon Filet, Bone-in Prime NY Strip Steak, Twin 8 oz. Pork Chop, New Zealand Lamb Chops (7), Semi-Boneless Free Range Chicken Breast, Fettuccini Primavera Alfredo, Seafood Puttanesca, Sicilian Sausage a la vino bianco, Thai Chicken Pasta.

Price guide: Breakfast  $6-11 Lunch $8-19  Dinner Entrees $ 18-36
What I ordered: By recommendation I ordered the stuffed French Toast. I love French Toast, and I wasn't sure what to expect when they said "stuffed".  Stuffed apparently means a thin layer of cream cheese between two pieces of bread.  The strawberries were actually served on top of the French Toast, not inside like I had envisioned.  The taste of the Stuffed French Toast was pretty good and had a light cripsy texture on the outside, but I found that the cream cheese layer inside made the bread  soggy in the middle. It was good, but I was disappointed that I only got three small pieces and it did not come with any meat for $8.95.  It was good, but next time I will probably stick with the standard French Toast.

One of my companions ordered the Farmer's Omelet (Ham, green peppers, onion and cheese).

Another companion ordered the Cajun Breakfast (Hashbrowns with green peppers, onions, mushrooms, Cajun sausage,            over easy eggs, cheese, Moe’s special hollandaise sauce and            toast).

Two of my companions were children, and they ordered the French Toast and Pancakes from the Children's Menu. The bacon is thick and crispy, excellent!!

Service: Very good, somewhat fast.  Might be slow on the weekends during the breakfast rush.
Overall Impression: Nice atmosphere and good food, but priced a little high.  Parking can be difficult to find; there is a Lot across the street but it is much too small.

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. 

Jake's City Grille ~ Eagan, Eden Prairie, Maplewood & Plymouth, MN

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

Restaurant Features: Bar, Patio Dining, Sunday Brunch, On-Site Parking

Location: Eagan, Eden Prairie, Maplewood, & Plymouth, MN

Addresses & Maps:

Eagan: 1288 Promenade Place Eagan, MN 55121 (651)287.8784

Eden Prairie: 12365 Singletree Lane Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (952)930.3742

Maplewood: 1745 Beam Ave E  Maplewood, MN 55109  (P) 651-366-6440  F) 651-366-6441

Plymouth: 3005 Harbor Lane North Plymouth, MN 55427 (763)559-1595

Links: Jake's City Grille Website 

Atmosphere: Contemporary with warm, rich colors;  very relaxing and inviting. Large dining room split into two sections, with additional seating on large patio.  I found it interesting that the wall between patio and restaurant is a clear-garage door; not sure if/when it is opened. There is also a nice view of the kitchen and wood-fire oven in the back of the restaurant, you can watch your pizza being baked!   

Menu: Jake's has a very large menu! Appetizers include Buffalo Wings, Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Dumplings, Lettuce Wraps, Seared Tuna, Bruschetta, Nachos, and Walleye Fingers. There are a variety of Burgers and Chicken Sandwiches and Specialty Sandwiches like the Prime Rib Dip, Walleye Sandwich, Lobster Clubhouse, or Smoked Turkey Melt.  In the mood for a good steak? Choose from Ribeye or Prime Rib (3 sizes to choose from), or Ribs and Beef Brisket.  Other entrees include Glazed Chicken, Pork Chops, Shrimp, Walleye, Salmon.  Tex-mex selections include Smoked Chicken Enchiladas, Fajitas and Tacos.  Pasta selections include Cajun Chicken Fettucine, Spicy Garlic Shrimp Linguini, and Baked Penne with Sausage.  There are also wood-fired pizzas with many choices of toppings.

Jakes also offers a Sunday brunch.  Items include Mesquite Beef Brisket, Peel-N-Eat Shrimp, Eggs Benedict, Huevos Rancheros, Scrambled Eggs, Jumbo Sausages, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Smoked Gouda, Au Gratins, Southern Fried Chicken, Made-to-Order Omelettes, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Pan Gravy, Ciabatta French Toast, House Smoked Salmon, Fresh Fruit, Bagels and Cream Cheese, Caramel Rolls, Cinnamon Roll

Price guide: Appetizers $7-12  Burgers/Sandwiches $8-12 Entrees $15-21 (More for large prime rib)Pasta $11-14 Pizzas $9-11 Sunday Brunch $14

What I ordered: Smoked Chicken Enchiladas (Herb seasoned shredded chicken, onions and pepperjack cheese wrapped in corn tortillas with ancho chili sauce, pico de gallo and sour cream).  I have to say I thought this meal was really good, better than I expected for a non-Mexican specialty restaurant.  The black beans must've been marinated in spices because they had really good flavor  The rice was also excellent.  The enchiladas themselves were very cheesy, but had chunks of white meat chicken.  The portion was modest, I was actually able to eat the entire thing.

One of my companions ordered the Fire Grilled Chicken Ciabatta
(Caramelized onions, cheddar, Jake Sauce and chipotle mayo). She liked it so much I ended up ordering the same sandwich on a  separate visit a few days later with a different companion.  I was blown away by the amount of french fries that were on my plate!  The sandwich was very good, it had a sweet sauce that was similar to BBQ, but more sweet and not as thick.  Loved it on the ciabatta bread. 

On my second visit to Jake's, my companion ordered the largest Prime Rib (22oz).  Huge steak for the money! It was very tender and cooked perfectly.  The au juis at Jake's was very good 

I was too full to consider dessert on either occasion, but they all looked really good, as you can see from their dessert tray.

Service: Excellent on both occasions.  The servers were very knowledgeable about the menu and made recommendations, or answered all questions.

Overall Impression: Great atmosphere, huge menu of excellent food, prices a little high but comparable to similar restaurants.

Market Bar-B-Que ~ Minneapolis & Minnetonka, MN

Cuisine: Bar-B-Que, Steak, Chops, Ribs etc,

Restaurant Features: Bar, On-Site Parking

Location: Minneapolis, just outside of downtown

Addresses & Maps:

Minneapolis- 1414 Nicollet Avenue Minneapolis 55403  (612) 872-1111

Minnetonka- 15320 Wayzata Blvd Wayzata 55391 (952) 475-1770

Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am-2:30am  Sun 12pm- 1am

Links: Market BBQ Site  

Atmosphere: Established in 1946, the Market BBQ has been one of the Twin Cities most popular BBQ venues for decades.  Autographed photos of past celebrities who have visited the restaurant line the walls.  There are several tables and booths throughout the restaurant; the U-shaped booths are especially nice for parties of 6 or so, all of which are covered in red/white checked cloths.

Menu: Appetizers include chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, fried calamari, homemade chili, rib tips and potato skins.  There are also a variety of sandwiches: sliced pork tenderloin, BBQ pork, BBQ chicken salad, buffalo chicken breast, hamburger, BBQ ham, fish 'n cheese, sliced or pulled beef brisket and a salmon burger.  BBQ entrees include spare ribs, baby back ribs, Texas beef ribs (all ribs can be ordered with 4,8 or 12 bones), beef brisket, sliced roast beef, sirloin steak, broiled pork chops and BBQ chicken.

Price guide: Appetizers $4-8 Sandwiches $8-10 Barbeque $13-25

What I ordered: Started with the calamari, thinking it was the same calamari that I ordered and enjoyed thoroughly a few months ago, but it was NOT the same.  This calamari had small, chewy pieces and was not well seasoned.  The cocktail/marinara sauce that came with was very good though.

I ordered the Texas beef brisket platter....excellent choice!  The meat was sliced thin and was very tender and moist.  I loved the giant sauteed onion strips that are just under the sauce.  The coleslaw and the thin, crispy french fries were excellent sides.

One of my companions ordered the Texas Beef Ribs (saucy) and had this to say, "The Texas Ribs were meatier than the standard spare rib and the bulk of the meat was on top of the bone and not on the other three sides. The sauce was thick but not overwhelming, just enough. A full rack, 7 (?), had too many for one person so I would suggest the 4. The coleslaw was good to. It's truly the only other coleslaw besides KFC that I have EVER liked! You either like the stuff or you DON'T!! I loved the Texas Toast and the fries were skinny, salty and DEEEEE LISH."

My other companion ordered the full rack of pork spare ribs. Lean and tender, more than enough meaty goodness for a couple of people!

Even though the three of us were absolutely stuffed when we finished, one of my companions insisted that we order dessert, the "Tower of Chocolate Cake, a la mode".  From the price on this baby ($7.95 + $1.50 for ice cream), I was expecting a LOT, and a LOT doesn't even come close to how much of this fabulous chocolate cake there actually was...it was the biggest piece of chocolate cake I have ever seen, served on a  regular dinner plate, complete with 3 scoops of ice cream!!! The frosting was so creamy, it melted in my mouth.  This cake could probably feed an entire family of 10!

Service: Very good, as usual.  Our server was happy to offer suggestions on which ribs to order and was very thoughtful about which types of leftover containers she brought us when the meal was finished.

Overall Impression: Great service and Best darn BBQ in the Twin Cities!

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.

NBA City ~ Minneapolis, MN

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

Restaurant Features: Bar, Games, Sports Bar, Target Center

Location: Minneapolis (Downtown)

Address:  Target Center 600 First Avenue North  Minneapolis, MN 55403    P: (612) 767-2960

Links: NBA City Website Google Map

Atmosphere: As one would expect, NBA City is a restaurant themed around Basketball. Have you ever wondered just how big the hands and feet are of some of the NBA Superstars like Kevin Garnett, Shaquille O'Neal, or Yao Ming? Check out their shoes and hand imprints on these bronze basketballs!

Or buy the jersey of your favorite Superstar in NBA City's Retail Store....

Or maybe you're more in the mood to have a seat at the Courtside Bar where you can watch a variety of NBA games on any of the many flat-panel plasma TVs that hang over the bar....

NBA City also has a private VIP seating area called the Wolves Den.

Menu: The Chef's at NBA City take great pride in their freshly-prepared dishes.  Appetizers include Chicken Wings (4 sauces), Pecan Chicken Fingers, Crab Rangoons, Mediterranean Flat Bread, Coconut Shrimp and Chicken Quesadillas. 

Pasta dishes include General Jin's Ginger Chicken, Chicken Bleu Cheese Pasta, Grilled Salmon and Bowtie Pasta, Lasagna and Angel Hair Pomodoro. 

Entrees include Grilled Mahi-Mahi, Sesame Crusted Grilled Walleye, Jambalaya, Baby Back Ribs, and Steak.

Price guide: Appetizers - $7-10, Salads- $7-11 Pastas-$10-16, Entrees- $15-22

What I ordered: Crab Rangoons.  Spring rolls filled with a mixture of snow crab, cream cheese, herb and spices lightly fried until crispy.  Served with a sweet Thai dipping sauce.  Love them!

General Jin's Ginger Chicken.  Chicken tenders sauteed in sesame oil, teriyaki, ginger and garlic, served with Asian noodles and vegetables in General Jin's mildly sweet and tangy sauce.  This was heaven! The flavor was wonderful and I especially loved all the fresh cilantro.  There were many more noodles than what it appears in the picture!

Service: My visit to NBA City happened to be on a night when there were no events happening at the Target Center, so the restaurant was almost empty.  We waited at the host stand for approx. 5 minutes, but no one was available to help us, so we sat ourselves at the bar.  The bartender was very friendly and was happy to answer any questions that I had about the menu and the restaurant.  The restaurant gets PACKED on game nights, so make sure you make your reservations early... even days ahead of time.

Overall Impression:  Fun atmosphere, excellent food.  Awesome Happy Hour specials!

Lakeside Club ~ Mahtomedi, MN

Cuisine: Steak

Restaurant Features: Bar, Banquet Room, On-Site Parking

Location: Mahtomedi

Address: 10 Old Wildwood Road Mahtomedi, MN 55115 651.777.4097

Links: Google Map

Atmosphere: The atmosphere at the Lakeside Club is one that is very laid-back.  The restaurant has been family-owned and operated since 1946 and the emphasis is definitely on the food.  There isn't anything fancy about the small, wood-paneled dining room, and eating at the Lakeside does not require anything but casual attire.  A small bar is a popular spot to have a beer and watch whatever game is playing on the TV behind the bar. 

Menu: Hungry? Start with an appetizer: breaded chicken wings or cheese curds. 

Most people come to the Lakeside for their tender, aged steaks.  Cuts include Prime Rib, Ribeye, New York Strip, Filet Mignon, and Sirloin.  Not in the mood for steak?  Try the porkchop, grilled chicken breast, shrimp or walleye.  All meals come with side salad and choice of potato or vegetable.

Price guide: Appetizers: $7, Steaks: $22-39  Other entrees: $16-22

What I ordered: Fresh, warm bread is always served complimentary.  On this occasion we were served baskets of warm popovers.

I have been to the Lakeside many times and wouldn't even think to stray from my usual 12 oz Ribeye, cooked medium with french fries.  This particular steak was cut thin and extremely tender.  I am not sure if the lakeside uses much more than salt & pepper to season the steaks, but they are always very flavorful.  I also love the crispy shoe-string fries.

The 16oz Prime Rib is always a big hit with my companion.

Service: You know you are a regular at a restaurant when the waitress knows exactly what you are going to order before you actually order it!  That is the type of place the Lakeside is.  Most wait-staff are members of the family who own the restaurant; I would not say that the servers are overly friendly, but they are laid-back and like to joke around. 

Overall Impression: If you are in the mood for an excellent steak but do not want to go to a fancy restaurant, Lakeside Club is the place to go!