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

Oak City ~ Brooklyn Center & Bloomington, MN

Cuisine: American, Bar & Grill, Fish & Seafood, Pasta, Steaks
Restaurant Features: Bar, Flat Screen TVs, Happy Hour, Kids Menu, Live Music, On Site Parking, Sunday Brunch
Locations: Brooklyn Center & Bloomington, MN
Addresses and Maps:
Bloomington- 5001 American Blvd Bloomington, MN 55437 (952) 746-8887
Brooklyn Center- 2590 Freeway Blvd Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 (763) 503-3561
Links:  Oak City Website

Atmosphere: The Brooklyn Center location of Oak City is located next to Country Inn & Suites Hotel, on the frontage road that runs along the north side of 694.  The building is a decent size (formerly TGIFriday's), with the dining room arranged into several distinct eating areas to allow for more privacy.  The section my companion and I sat in had several two-person booths, other sections had bigger booths and also some tables. The decor of Oak City is sophisticated contemporary, with gold accents and fun quotes throughout the restaurant (hanging on walls and also embedded into the backs of the booths).

 

Above the booths in the middle of the restaurant are these cool metal sculptures made to resemble Trees.

 

There is also a large bar area when you first walk into the Brooklyn Center location, with seating at the bar and also several high-topped tables.

Menu: Appetizers at Oak City include Walleye Fingers, Captain Crunch Chicken Strips, Mini Black Angus Burgers, Salmon Dip with Pita, Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Mile High Nachos, Pot Stickers, Chicken Wings & Boneless Wings (6 sauces).

Oak City also serves Flatbread Pizzas including Margherita, Signature Sausage, Spinach & Artichoke Heart, BBQ Chicken and Traditional (sausage or pepperoni).

Appetizer Salads include House, Caesar, Candied Walnut and Spinach and Applewood Bacon.  Entree Salads include Chicken Caesar, Portabella, Peppercorn Tenderloin, Candied Walnut, Spinach & Applewood Bacon, and Cashew Chicken.

Specialty Sandwiches at Oak City include Chicken Ciabatta, Oak City Philly, Walleye, French Dip, Chicken Chipotle, Oak City Club, BBQ Chicken, and Smoked Turkey. 

Burgers include Portabella and Gorgonzola, Oak City Classic (roasted onion and tomato with provolone),Bourbon Teriyaki Bacon Cheeseburger, Hickory Burger (smoked gouda and chipotle bbq sauce), Cheeseburger and Basic Burger.

Entrees include Fajitas, Fish 'n Chips, Chicken Tenderloins, Baby Back Ribs, Herb Roasted Chicken, Choice Top Sirloin, Burgundy Peppercorn Steak, Tenderloin Medallions, Sirloin & Walleye Combo, Ribs & Chicken Combo, Shrimp Scampi, Tempura Shrimp, Canadian Walleye, and Sesame Crusted Salmon.

Pastas include Cajun Chicken Alfredo, Chicken and Pesto, Pasta Fresco, and Tortellini Baronessa.

Oak City's Desserts include Chocolate Lava Cake, Caramel Apple Pie Sundae, Turtle Cheesecake, Upside Down Sundae, White Chocolate Raspberry Cream Cake, and Cheesecake.

There is also a lunch menu served M-F 11am-3pm

Kids Menu includes Walleye Fingers, Fettuccine Alfredo, Grilled Cheese, Chicken Fingers, Macaroni & Cheese, and Mini Burgers.

Sunday Brunch:

• $10.95/ Adults   $5.95 Kids 5-12   Free/ Kids 4 and Under
• 10am-2pm
• Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, French Toast, Bacon, Sausage, Cheesy Hashbrowns, Mashed Potatoes, Pecan-Crusted Walleye, Tilapia, Shrimp Alfredo, BBQ ribs, Swedish Meatballs, Steamed Broccoli, Pork Tenderloin, Clam Chowder, Pasta Salad, Lettuce Salad, Cakes, Pies, Cheesecake, Chocolate Mousse

Price guide: Appetizers $ 7-11   Salads $ 4-13    Sandwiches/Burgers $8-11  Entrees $10-25  Desserts $5-7

Happy Hour:

• Daily 3-6:30p & 10p-12a
• $2 Appetizers (Buffalo Wings, Rock Shrimp, Walleye Fingers, Mini Burgers w/ Fries, Fresh Tortilla Chips & Salsa
• $4 Flatbread Pizzas )margherita, BBQ Chicken, Oak City Signature, Spinacc & Artichoke, Traditional)
• $2 Rail drinks & 16 oz Domestic Taps  $3 Vodka Redbull  $4 Long Islands
• $1 off all other drinks

Weekly Specials served 4-9pm:
Monday- Any Burger on Menu $5.95 
Tuesday- Any Pasta on Menu $9.95 and 1/2 price bottles of wine  
Wednesday- All You Can Eat Snow Crab $19.95 (includes bread, soup or salad, veggie and choice of potato 
Thursday- All You Can Eat baby Back Ribs $12.95  
Friday- All you can eat Walleye Fingers $11.95 
Saturday- 12 oz NY Strip $10.95  
Sunday- Roasted Chicken $8.95 and Kids 12 and under eat free off Kid's Menu (one per paid adult)
What I ordered: I was really in the mood for a sandwich and the Chipotle Chicken looked perfect for me (and it was!).  The chicken breast had been marinated in chipotle spices so the juicy tender meat was very flavorful and also had somewhat of a smoky flavor to it.  The breast was grilled and topped with melted Manchengo cheese, which was creamy and also slightly smoky.  Large slices of fresh avocado and a spicy chipotle sauce complete this sandwich which is served on a fresh toasted bun.  The combination of flavors and textures in this sandwich were a big hit, my only complaint is that the bun seemd too small and the ingredients wanted to slide right out.  The shoe string fries were cooked a little too long (from frozen) and were on the hard side, with many small pieces of too-crispy-to-eat potatoes.

 

My companion asked for a suggestion on the Burger Menu and was told to try the Portabella Gorgonzolla Burger.  Fabulous creation of flavors and textures! The large freshly-made burger patty was made with 1/1 lb of fresh ground Angus beef and then grilled to order, with a giant sauteed protabella mushroom cap and a hearty portion of gorgonzola layered on top of the beef .  This burger was so big that it deserves a bigger bun.  Awesome choice!

Service: We were greeted by the hostess within a few minutes of arriving and were shown to our table.  The restaurant wasn't too busy after the dinner rush on a Tuesday, but it was at least five minutes before we were greeted by our server.  Our server was friendly and gave us great suggestions about the menu but wasn't always there when needed (refills, box, bill, etc).  Our food was served reasonably fast and overall the service was decent.
Overall Impression: Great sandwiches and burgers at Oak City! Prices seemed slightly high but comparable to other restaurants of the same caliber.  Would love to try Oak City's Sunday Brunch and the weekly specials look great too

Twin Cities Sunday Brunch Buffet ~ A Comprehensive Guide

This guide is a reference to Restaurants around the Twin Cities that offer a regular weekly, all-you-can-eat Sunday Brunch. Please contact individual restaurants about Holiday Brunches, as they may differ from the regular weekly Sunday Brunches listed below.

20.21- 1750 Hennepin Ave  Minneapolis, MN 55403 (612) 253-3410

• $29/Adult includes complimentary champagne
• 10am-2pm
• Chinese Chicken Salad with Sweet Mustard Ginger Dressing and Candied Cashews, Fluffy Scrambled Eggs with Crème Fraiche and Chives, Omelets Made to Order, Cinnamon-Raisin French Toast with Banana Foster Filling and Pure Maple Syrup, Belgian Waffles with Strawberries and Whipped Cream, Pastrami Hash Cake with Poached Egg and Béarnaise Sauce, Green Thai Seafood Curry  with  Shrimp, Scallops, Fish and Thai Basil, Lemongrass Steamed Jasmine Rice, Wild Acres Organic Hen with Garlic Caramel Soy and Sautéed Vegetables, Crispy Finnish Potatoes with Fresh Herbs and Parmesan, Smoked Salmon Pizza with Dill Crème Fraiche and Caviar, Fischer Farms Applewood Smoked Bacon, Fischer Farms Pork Sausage, Fresh Fruit Display, Chef’s Selection of Desserts, Yogurt and Fresh Fruit Smoothies, Bagels, Muffins, and Cinnamon Rolls
• Walker Art Center

Afton House Inn- 3291 St Croix Trail S. Afton, MN 55001 (651) 436-8883

• $17.95/Adults      $11.95/Kids 6-11      $6.50/ Kids 5 and under
• 10am-1pm
• Coffee, Orange Juice or All you can drink Champagne Mimosa's Included!
  Fresh Popovers brought to your table, Classic Eggs Benedict, Made to Order Omelettes, Scrambled Eggs, Apple Stuffed Pancakes, Potatoes O'Brien, Seasonal Vegetables, Sausage Links, Ham, Kielbasa Sausage, Prime Rib of Beef, Chicken Entrée, 3 Chef's Featured Entrees, Peel and Eat Shrimp, 4 Pasta Salads and 2 Green Salads, Fresh Fruits, Assorted Cheeses, Vegetable Tray, Olives & Relish Tray, Elegant Dessert Station, Assorted Mini bars and desserts
  Chocolate Fountain with fruit
  

Axels Char House- Locations in Chanhassen, Loretto, Mendotta, Roseville, Woodbury

• $15.95/Adults      $8.95/Kids 10 and Under
• Roseville(11am-2pm), Woodbury (10am-2pm), Mendota (10am-2pm), Loretto (10am-3pm) and Chanhassen (10am-3pm)
• Spread of Fresh Seasonal Fruit, Jumbo Caramel Rolls drizzled with Caramel Sauce,  Yogurt Parfait,  Made to Order Scrambled Eggs (regular, cheesy or “Denver Style”), an array of breakfast meats including Canadian Bacon, Smoked Ham and Sausage along with piping hot Cheesy Hash Browns.

Billy's Bar & Grill-214 Jackson St Anoka, MN 55303 (763) 421-3570

• $8.99/ Adults    $4.99/Kids 10 and Under
• 9am-2pm
• Eggs, Bacon, Ham, Hashbrowns, Au Gratin Potatoes, Waffles, Broasted Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Biscuits and Gravy, Caramel Rolls, Pudding, Muffins, Fresh Fruit

Boca Chica- 11 Cesar Chavez St St Paul, MN 55107 (651) 222-8499 

• $11.50/ Adults        $5.50/Kids 11 and Under
• 10am-2pm
• Eggs, Sausage or Bacon, Pancakes or French Toast, Enchiladas, Mexican Entrees, Rice, Fruit in Summer

Chatterbox Pub- 800 Cleveland Ave S St Paul, MN 55116 (651)699-1154

• $9.95
• 8am-2pm
• All you can eat Back Ribs, Buttermilk Biscuits and Gravy, Spinach and Artichoke Frittatas, Mile High Frittatas, Au Gratin Hash Browns, Cinnamon French Toast, Bacon, Sausage, Granola and Yogurt, Fresh Fruit, Pasta Salad, Salad Greens, Banana Bread, Coffee Cake, Corn Muffins, Carrot Cake, Rum Cake, Raspberry White Chocolate Cheesecake.
• Highland Park Location
  

Cherokee Sirloin Room- 4625 Nichols Rd. Eagan, MN (651) 454-6744

• $11.95/Adults  $5.95/Kids 4-11  Free/Kids Under 4
• 10am-2pm
• Carved Roast Beef, Eggs Benedict,Scrambled Eggs,sausage Links and Kielbasa, Pancake Rollups,Barbecued Pork Ribs, Baked Fish,Chicken Pot Pie, Potatoes O'Brien. Fresh Fruit, Assorted Cheeses and Crackers, Our Famous Steak Vegetable, Soup, Bagels, Muffins and Danish
  Dessert Table

Cianti Grill- Roseville 2050 North Snelling Ave Roseville, MN (651) 644-2808
Burnsville- 12496 Plymouth Ave Burnsville, MN 55337 (952) 892-7555

• $12.95/Adults $6.95/ Kids 4-11  Free/ Kids 3 and under
• 10am-2pm
• a variety of homemade pastas, fresh fruit, pastries, salads, an omelet bar, traditional breakfast items and delicious desserts.

Dangerfield's- 1583 East First Avenue (Highway 101) Shakopee, MN 55379 952-445-2245

• $15.99
• 10am-2pm
• Eggs, Meats, Eggs Benedict, Made-to-Order Omelets, Lasagna, Waffle Station, Fruits, Desserts
  

Dixie's On Grand - 695 Grand Ave. St. Paul, MN 55105 651-222-7345

• $/ Adults     $/ Kids 12 and Under
• 10am-1:30pm
• Bottomless Champagne Flute, Made-to-Order Omelets and Egg Benedict, Fresh Fruits, Salads, Hot Biscuits, Brunch Potatoes, Red Beans & Rice, Country Scrambled Eggs, Specialty Entrees and Homemade Desserts.
• Live Jazz Music (check calendar)
  

Fabulous Ferns- 400 Selby Ave.  St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 225.9414

• $13.95/Adults     $11.95/Seniors     $6.95/Kids 12 and Under
• 10am-2pm
•  Waffle Bar, French Toast, Scrambled Eggs, Sausage, Bacon, Biscuits and Gravy, Assorted Salads, Bars & Cakes.  The following items are always on the Buffet but vary weekly: Pasta, Quiche, Rice Dish, and Soup.

Famous Daves BBQ & Blues- 3001 Hennepin Ave S. Minneapolis, MN 55408 (612) 822-9900

• 10am
• Lip smackin' Rib Tips, Double-Smoked Ham, Made-to-Order Omelets, and award-winning Pancakes, all while listening to Famous Live Blues.
• Calhoun Square

Fatboys Bar & Grill- 21383 Ulysses St East Bethel, MN 55011 (763) 434-8181

• $14/ Adults      $12/ Seniors     $6/ Kids 12 and Under
• 10am-1pm
•  Prime Rib, Omelet Station, Waffles, Eggs Benedict, Eggs, Sausage, Bacon, Hashbrowns, Pasta Salad, Fruit Salad, Desserts

Girvan Grille- 8700 Edinbrook Crossing - Brooklyn Park - 763.315.8535

• $11.95/Adults      $4.95/ Kids 10 and Under
• 10am-2pm
• French Belgian Waffle Station, Thick Cut Bacon, Specialty Egg Dishes, Biscuits with Gravy, Two Potato Hash, Carved Ham, Stuffed French Toast, Soup du Jour, Specialty Salad, Fresh Baked Patries, Caramel Rolls, Fresh Fruit,  Eggs Benedict. Made-to-Order Omelets and Bloody Mary Bar also available at additional charge.

Granite City

• Eagan, Maple Grove, Roseville, St Cloud, Saint Louis Park
• 10am-2pm
• Fresh Carved Roast Beef, Eggs Benedict, Weekly Chef's Entree Special, Baked Reggiano Hash Browns, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Fresh Caramel Rolls, Thick Hickory Smoked Bacon, Biscuits and Sausage Gravy, French Toast, Scrambled Eggs, Sausage Links, Special Scrambled Eggs, Assorted Fresh Fruit, Assorted Muffins.

Green Mill- 1000 Gramise Road · Shoreview, MN 55126 (651) 482-1600

• $13.95/ Adults     $11.95/ Seniors   $5.95/ Kids 12 and Under
• 10am-2pm
• Sliced Roast Beef, Made-to-Order Omelets, Cheesy Scrambled Eggs, Parmesan Hashbrowns, French Toast, Desert Fire Pasta, Biscuits & Gravy, Sausage, Smoked Bacon, Pizza Slices, Fresh Fruit and Veggies, House and Caesar Salad, Pasta Salad, Spinach Dip, Desserts, Hot Popovers with Honey Butter, Mini Muffins, Caramel Rolls.  Includes Coffee and Juice.  Bloody Mary available for $3.99

Gulden's Restaurant- 2999 Highway 61 North  Maplewood, MN 55109 (651)482.0384

• $12.95/ Adults   $9.95/Seniors  $6.95/ Kids 5-12    Free/ Kids 4 and Under
• 10am-2pm
• 2 kinds of Scrambled Eggs , Homemade Bread Pudding, Eggs Benedict, Roast Turkey,
  Sausage, Baked Ham, Bacon, Chefs Choice Entrée, Smoked Sausage , Au Gratin Potatoes, French Toast, Mashed Potatoes, Hashbrowns, Stuffing, Homemade Carmel Rolls , Hot Vegetable, Fresh Fruit, 20 Item Salad Bar, Pies/Bars/and all the other goodies    

Jake's City Grill (Eagan, Eden Prairie, Maplewood, Plymouth) 

• $14/ Adults
  
• 10am-2pm
• 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 Omelets, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Pan Gravy, Ciabatta French Toast, House Smoked Salmon, Fresh Fruit, Bagels and Cream Cheese, Caramel Rolls, Cinnamon Roll

Jax Cafe- 1928 University Ave NE  Minneapolis, MN 55418 (612) 789 – 7297

• $19.95/Adults   $9.95/ Kids 4-10  Free/ Kids 3 and under
• 10am-3pm (last seating at 1:30pm)
• Fresh Fruits, Caesar Salad, Chicken Salad, Pasta Salad, Potato Salad, Spinach Salad, Assorted Cheeses, Marinated Vegetables & Antipasta, Assorted Muffins and Danish, Croissants, Fresh Baked Caramel Rolls, Made-to Order Omelets, Italian Sausage & Asparagus Strata, Eggs Benedict, Breakfast Sausage, Bacon, French Toast, Pancakes, Waffles & Toppings, Potato of the Day, Fresh Fish of the Day, Entree of the Day, Fresh Vegetable of the Day, Two Craved Meats, Homemade Desserts.    *Items Vary Weekly

Kozlak's Royal Oaks- 4785 Hodgson Road Shoreview, MN 55126 (651)-484-8484

• $18.95/Adults     $10.95/ Kids 6-12   $6.95/ Kids 5 and Under
• 10:30am-1:30pm
• Live New Orleans Jazz
• Full Salad Bar, Scrambled Eggs Carbonara , Fresh Baked Biscuits with Sausage Gravy, Featured Chicken item, Cajun Ribs, Pecan-Breaded Catfish Fingers, Jambalaya with sausage & chicken, Classic Eggs Benedict, Kozlak’s home made French Toast with Pecan Maple Syrup, Breakfast Bacon, Sausage, Chef’s Fresh Vegetable, Gumbo Soup, Potatoes Pontalba with Béarnaise Sauce, Made-to-order Omelettes, Dessert & Sundae Bar

Kozy's Steaks and Seafood-3220 Galleria - Edina, MN 55435 - (952)224-5866

• $15.95
• Caramel Roll, Cheesy Eggs, Baked Hash Browns, Bacon, Sausage, and Toast all served family style right at your table.  Also includes made-to-order Waffle and Omelet station, and complimentary Mimosa.
• SE corner of the Galleria

Lake Elmo Inn- 3442 Lake Elmo Avenue N  Lake Elmo, MN  55042 (651) 777.8495

• $21/Adults   $10.50/ Kids ages 3-11
• 10am-2pm
• Eggs Benedict, Waffles, Sausage, Carved Ham, Carved Beef, Special Feature Entree, Special Feature Starch, Special Feature Vegetable, Six Salads, Fresh Fruits, Peel and Eat Shrimp, Smoked Salmon, Domestic and Imported Cheeses, Bagels and Cream Cheese, Famous Mini Desserts, Non-Alcoholic Champagne, Fresh Caramel Rolls, Made-to-order Omelettes

Lowell Inn- 102 North 2nd Street Stillwater, MN  55082 (651) 439-1100

• $13.95/ Adults         $8.95/ Kids aged 4-10       Free/ Kids 3 and Under
• 10am-2pm
• Assortment of Salads, Breads, Eggs Benedict, Bacon, Sausage, Cheese Blintz with Cranberry Sauce, Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables, Fresh Fruit Tray, a variety of other items every week, and Assortment of Desserts

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

• $12/ Adults     $7 Kids 5-12     Free Kids 5 and Under
• 10am-2pm
• Family-Style-Breakfast offers all-you-can-eat breakfast favorites

Oak City- Bloomington- 5001 American  Blvd (952) 746-8887                                                       Brooklyn Center- 2590 Freeway Blvd (763) 503-3561 

• $10.95/ Adults   $5.95 Kids 5-12   Free/ Kids 4 and Under
• 10am-2pm
• Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, French Toast, Bacon, Sausage, Cheesy Hashbrowns, Mashed Potatoes, Pecan-Crusted Walleye, Tilapia, Shrimp Alfredo, BBQ ribs, Swedish Meatballs, Steamed Broccoli, Pork Tenderloin, Clam Chowder, Pasta Salad, Lettuce Salad, Cakes, Pies, Cheesecake, Chocolate Mousse

Pepitos- 4820 Chicago Ave S. Minneapolis, MN 55 612-822-2104

• $13.95/ Adults        $6.95/ Kids
• 10am-3pm
• Full Taco Bar, Eggs, Fruit, Desserts

Running Aces Harness Park- 15201 Zurich St NE  Columbus, MN  55025 (Forest Lake) (651) 925-4600

• $16.95/ Adults        $8.95/ Kids 4-12    Free/ Kids 3 and Under
• 9:30am-2pm
• All Your Favorite Breakfast Items, Made to order Omelets and Waffles, Prime Rib, Shrimp, and a Full Dessert table

Sarna's Classic Grill- 3939 University Ave NE Columbia Heights, MN 55421 (763) 788-3939

• $13.99/ Adults     $7.99/ Kids
• 10am-2pm
• Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Cheesy Hashbrowns, French Toast, Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs, Adouille Sausage and Chicken Jambalaya, Quiche Florentine, Eggs Benedict, Roast beef in Gravy, Bacon, Cinnamon and Caramel Rolls, Fresh Fruit, Pasta Salad, Huevos Rancheros Quesadillas, Bluberry Muffins, Chocolate Banana Bread, Banana Cream Pie

Sunsets-  700 East Lake Wayzata, MN 55391  (952) 473-5253     

• $15.95/ Adults   $7.95/ Kids 5-11   Free/ Kids 4 and Under
• 9:30-2pm
• Eggs Benedict,  Sausage, Bacon, Hashbrowns, Au Gratin Potatoes, Beef Burgundy, Shrimp Creole, Fried Chicken, Sweet n Sour Chicken, Corn, Tortellini, Fresh Salmon, Blackened Pork Loin, Belgian Waffles, Chicken & Wild Rice Soup, Assorted Desserts, Fresh Fruits, Fresh Vegetables, Pastries, Dinner Rolls, Specialty Salads, Garden Salad             

Sunsets- 700 Commons Drive  Woodbury, MN 55125 (651) 735-1997

• $14.95/ Adults   $6.95/ Kids 5-12   Free/ Kids 4 and Under
• 10am-2pm  
• Eggs Benedict,  Sausage, Bacon, Hashbrowns, Au Gratin Potatoes, Beef Burgundy, Shrimp Creole, Fried Chicken, Sweet n Sour Chicken, Corn, Tortellini, Fresh Salmon, Blackened Pork Loin, Belgian Waffles, Chicken & Wild Rice Soup, Assorted Desserts, Fresh Fruits, Fresh Vegetables, Pastries, Dinner Rolls, Specialty Salads, Garden Salad

The Independent (at Calhoun Square)- 3001 Hennepin Ave #A201  Minneapolis, MN 55408 (612)378-1905

• $11.99/ Adults   $8/ Kids Under 12
• 10am-3pm
• Omelets, Eggs, Prime Rib, Ham, Sausage, Bacon, Biscuits and Gravy, Weekly Entree Special, Chicken Wings, Waffle Station, Salads, Pasta Salad, Desserts

The Liffey Irish Pub- 175 West 7th Street  St Paul, MN 55102 (651) 556-1420

• $8.95/ Adults      $4.95/ Kids 12 and Under
• 11am-2pm
• Served Family Style
• Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Hashbrowns, Fruit and Toast

The Local Irish Pub- 931 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55402 (612) 904-1000

• $11.99/ Adults     
• 9am-2pm
• Included in Buffet are Scrambled Eggs, Creamy Hashbrowns, Sausage, Bacon, Seasonal Fruit, Pastries, and choice of either Bloody Mary, Mimosa, Coffee or Juice.  Other Brunch items that can be ordered off menu include Rashers & bangers, Pancakes, Breakfast Shepherd's Pie, Button Mushrooms, Corned Beef Hash, Local Salad etc.

The Seasons at Bunker Hills- 12800 Bunker Prairie Rd NW, Coon Rapids, MN‎ 55448 763-755-4444

• 10am-1pm
• Made-to-order Omeletes, Waffle Station, 2-3 Chef's Choice Entrees, Bacon, Sausage, Eggs, Soups, Salads, Breads, Desserts.  Includes Juice or Champagne.

Tipi Restaurant- 2354 Sioux Trail NW (Old Little Six Casino)Prior Lake, MN 55372 952-445-6000(#6440)

• $9.95/ Adults     $5.95/ Children
• 9am-1pm
• Scrambled Eggs, Cheesy Hashbrowns, Sausage Patties, Bacon, French Toast or Waffles, Assorted Fruits, Assorted Desserts & Pastries.  There are additional buffet items that change weekly and may include Corned Beef Hash, Italian Hash, etc.
  

Tria- 5959 Centerville Road North Oaks, MN 55127 (651)426-9222

• $15.95/Adults       $ 7.95/ Kids Under 13
• 10am-2pm
• Family Style Breakfast Served at the Table
• Sweets Table, Family Style Platters of Three Cheese Scrambled Eggs, Home Fried Potatoes, Maple Glazed Ham, Fruits

Casper's Cherokee Sirloin Room ~ West St Paul & Eagan, MN

Cuisine: American, Steaks, Fish & Seafood, Sunday Brunch (Eagan only)
Restaurant Features: Banquet Room, Bar

Location: Eagan & West St Paul, MN
Addresses & Maps:

Eagan- 4625 Nichols Road, Eagan, MN 55122  (651)454-6744

West St Paul- 886 Smith Ave. S  West St Paul, MN 55118 (651)457-2729  8
Link: Cherokee Sirloin Room Website

Atmosphere:  The West St Paul location is a pretty large restaurant, with a couple of dining areas and a separate banquet room.  There are several tables to accommodate large parties and also booths set up along the perimeter of the dining room, all of which are covered with white table cloths.  Nothing about the decor stood out at the Cherokee Sirloin Room, just a collection of random paintings and wall sconces throughout the restaurant.

Menu: Appetizers include Onion Rings, Shrimp Cocktail, Blackened Tips, Ribs & Rings, Crab Rangoon, and Artichoke Dip.

Salads include Grilled Chicken Caesar, Cobb, Seafood Louie (shrimp, crab and scallops), Seven-Spice Prime Rib, and Garden Salad.

Sandwiches include Steak, Philly French Dip, Walleye, Charbroiled Chicken, and three 1/2 lb burgers.

Meat Entrees include Steak of the Millenium (sirloin), Porterhouse, New York Strip, Tenderloin Meddalions, Bacon Tenderloin, Filet Mignon, Chopped Sirloin, Prime Rib, Ribeye, Chicken Breast, Chocken Cordon Bleu, Roasted Chicken, and Barbeque Pork Loin Ribs.

Seafood and Vegetarian Entrees include Mushroom Ravioli, Walleye, Crab-Stuffed Salmon, Buffalo Shrimp, Walleye Almondine, Broiled Salmon, Jumbo Shrimp, Seafood Linguine, Bacon-Wrapped Scallops, Seafood Platter, and Lobster.

There are also a  number of Combo plates that include 8 oz. sirloin and either shrimp, walleye, lobster, crab or ribs.

Desserts offered at Cherokee Sirloin Room are seasonal but current offerings include the Birthday Cake, Chocolate Molten Lava Cake, Turtle Cheesecake, Pumpkin Cheesecake, and Chocolate Pecan Torte.

Price guide: Appetizers $9-11 Sandwiches $9-15 Meat Entrees $15-35 Seafood Entrees $ 20-35 Combos $20-42 Desserts $5-6
What I ordered: To start, we were given these warm loaves of crusty French Bread.

 

I ordered the Steak of the Millenium, (which happens to be the complimentary birthday sirloin), a 16 oz strip of sirloin.  It was thick-cut, but still juicy (cooked medium) and lean.  Steak seemed to be cooked with the barest of seasonings so I had to salt it to my own liking, but many people might prefer it that way. There was a hefty portion of fries that were pretty good, but also lightly salted.  The dinner salad that came with my meal was on the small side but the veggies were crisp and fresh and the homemade croutons were crunchy and flavorful.  I loved the ranch dressing.

 

One of my companions ordered the Bacon Beef Tenderloin with baked potato.  The tenderloin was thick and extremely tender, the bacon cooked but only slightly crispy.  Sauteed whole mushrooms were served alongside.

There was a large amount of people in my group and I chose not to take pictures of all of the entrees, but the Porterhouse looked and tasted amazing, and was a big hit for at least two of my companions. 

We got a complimentary slice of birthday cake for the birthday that was in our party.  Very tasty, like any standard white birthday cake.

 

We also ordered the Chocolate Lava Cake to share.  The dark chocolate was quite rich and had a warm, gooey center which was complimented perfectly with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream a la mode.

Service:  The day of our visit was Thursday Night Birthday Night and it was packed to the gills with people celebrating!  We had a dinner reservation but arrived slightly late and had to wait about 5-10 minutes for our table.  Our server was very nice and accommodating and although it was a very busy night, food was prepared in less than 45 minutes.  Drinks took some time from bar also.
Overall Impression: A FREE sirloin steak dinner on the Thursday night of your birthday week? You can hardly go wrong.  Price of entrees was reasonable for the amount of food you get, and the food was pretty good.  Not much in the way of ambiance but service is pretty good.

Yarusso Bros. Italian - St. Paul, MN

Cuisine: Italian,
Restaurant Features: Bar, Lunch Buffet, Sunday Brunch, On-Site Parking

Location: St Paul, MN
Address: 635 Payne Avenue  St Paul, MN 55130 (651)776-4848
Links: Yarusos Website Google Map

Atmosphere: Located just a couple of miles from Downtown St Paul, Yarussos is the oldest family-owned Italian restaurant in St Paul, in operation since April 1933! The restaurant has two dining areas, the larger of which has both wooden tables and booths, with dark walls lined with decades of photographs.  The smaller dining area is paired with the bar, with a handful of booth/table combos.

Menu: Appetizers include fried ravioli, Italian Chicken Fingers, Garlic Toast, Garlic Cheese Toast, Sausage with Peppers and Onions, and Mozzarella Sticks.
Sandwiches include Dago (sauce and cheese a la carte), Dago Supreme (smothered in sauce, cheese, peppers and onions), Italian Hamburger, Chicken Parmesan, Meatball Hoagie, Meatball Supreme, Sausage Hoagie, and Sausage Supreme.
Yarussos Pastas are Spaghetti, Mostaccioli, Rigatoni, Fettuccini, Meat or Cheese Ravioli, Baked Mostaccioli, Baked Mostaccioli Alfredo, Meat lasagna, and Manicotti.
Entrees include Fried Chicken, Meatball Dinner, Italian Hamurger Steak, Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Parmesan Alfredo, Eggplant Parmesan, Deep-Fried Catfish or Shrimp.
Desserts include Homemade Tiramisu, Chocolate Meatballs, Italian Spumoni and Double Chocolate Cake.

**Ten Daily Lunch Specials
**Pizza, Pasta, Soup & Salad Bar Mon-Fri 11-1:30 $8.50
**There is also a Italian Sunday Buffet every week 10am-2pm
**Family Take-Out and Catering also available

Price guide: Appetizers $3-7 Sandwiches $5-8 Pastas $8-11 Entrees $8-10 Desserts $3-5
What we ordered: We were given this complimentary loaf of bread.  It looked good, but I did not try any of it.

I ordered the Dago Supreme.  WOW.  This is by-far my favorite dish at Yarussos.  Standing about 5 inches tall and loaded with sauteed peppers, onions and fresh mushrooms, the Dago patty is layered between thick slices of Italian bread and smothered in sauce with melted mozzarella on top.  The portion was big enough for me to have two meals!

Two of my companions each ordered the Large Beef Ravioli, which came with at least 20 large beef-filled raviolis and two giant meatballs.  The sauce has a unique flavor, mild yet tangy, and completely meatless.

One of my companions ordered the Large Mostaccoli with a meatball. 

When the food was served, one of my companions ordered Garlic Toast, which was soft and buttery on top yet crispy on the outside.

Service: We had a party of five and ended up seating ourselves in a booth in the bar area.  Service was decent, but it seemed to take awhile for our food and drink refills. 
Overall Impression: Nothing extravagant or gourmet, but Yarussos serves good Italian food that is reasonably priced for the large portions you get.  Dago Supreme is a must-try and don't forget to save room for the spumoni ice cream!

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!

20.21 Wolfgang Puck - Minneapolis, MN

Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Restaurant Features: Bar, Sunday Brunch

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Tipi Restaurant (Little Six Casino) ~ Prior Lake, MN

Cuisine: American  (some Native American), Sunday Brunch

Restaurant Features: On-Site Parking, Sunday Brunch

Location: Prior Lake

Address: 2354 Sioux Trail Northwest   Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372 952-445-6000(#6440)

**Located within the Little Six Casino on the Mystic Lake Casino Complex and is owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux (Dakota) Community
Links: Little Six Casino  Google Map

Atmosphere: The Tipi is a pretty small restaurant, with all tables set around this smaller tipi that sits in the middle.  The non-smoking section is adjacent to the main room and has approximately five circular tables.  I loved all the art/signage that proudly displayed the name of the local tribal community, The Mdewakanton.

Menu: Appetizers include Indian fry-bread, chicken quesadilla.  Soups are chili or wild rice.  Sandwiches include a Reuben, chicken club, hamburger, grilled chicken breast, and Indian taco.

The dinner menu begins at 3pm and offers a variety of pasta, steaks, fish and seafood.

The Tipi also offers a Sunday brunch with french toast, waffles, bacon, sausage, omelet bar, scrambled eggs, cheesy hashbrowns, breakfast breads and fresh fruit.

Price guide: Sandwiches with fries range from $7-10.  Sunday brunch is $11.  Tribal community members receive a 50% discount off their order.

What I ordered: We started off with an order of Indian Fry-bread, served with blueberry pudding for dipping.  Fresh, warm, and slightly sweet, this fry-bread is a MUST to try!!

The homemade chili was also excellent! Loaded with cheese and onions, served with a side of sour cream.  Light on the beans, not too spicy but with great flavor :)

There were many options on the menu that I would've liked to try, but I had to order the authentic Indian fry-bread taco!  This is one taco that is definitely meant to be eaten with silverware, as it is too big and messy to even pick up.  It is served on a bed of lettuce which I thought was great because the lettuce never gets soggy that way :)  I asked for mine without the black olives, but it came with them anyway....no worries, I easily picked them off.  I thought the taco was wonderful, very filling! The portion is pretty big.

One of my companions ordered the Reuben with chili instead of french fries.  It looked delicious...my companion loved it but complained there was too much meat! I know I'd rather have too much than too little :)

Another companion ordered the grilled chicken salad with wild rice soup instead of fries.

Service: The food seemed pretty fast to make, but our server was very slow getting us refills on our drinks...we actually had to ask for refills rather than the other way around.  For some reason we also got a new waitress in the middle of our meal? We sat in the non-smoking section and toward the end of our meal a group with children sat next to us.  This would never be a problem, however the family asked if the restaurant would change the channel to the young kids' show, Blues Clues, on the nice flat-panel TV.  It took 5 minutes for the manager to fumble around in the closet with all the media controls that was only inches behind where I sat.  I have to say it was really annoying that he didn't even say excuse me or even ask if the rest of us customers if we minded watching Blue Clues in Surround Sound!!!!!!  I guess we can sum it up and say they are kid-friendly!

Overall Impression:  Very good food, service could be a better. 

Boca Chica Restaurante Mexicano- St. Paul, MN

Cuisine: Authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex, Sunday Brunch,

Restaurant Features: Bar, Patio Dining, Lunch Buffet, Happy Hour

Location: St Paul, MN

Address: 11 Cesar Chavez St. St Paul, MN 55107 (651) 222-8499

Hours: Mon 11am to 9pm, Tues-Thurs 11am - 10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 10am-9pm

Links: Google Map  Boca Chica

Atmosphere: Boca Chica is one of the original restaurants to boast authentic Mexican dining in the Twin Cities. It is located on St Paul's west side, in the District Del Sol.  It was a busy Saturday night when my party and I visited, but we had no problem getting reservations for a large group with just a few days advance notice. There are three dining rooms, with plenty of table space. Several fireplaces around the restaurant kept the room on the warm side. On thing that I enjoy about Boca Chica is that they have house musicians that perform for each table if you would like to be serenaded.  There is also a 6-piece mariachi band who performs from 8-11pm on the fourth Saturday of every month.

There is also a nice patio area available during the warmer months.

Menu: Chips and salsa are complimentary. Salsa is on the spicy side!! Infused with a variety of chili peppers, I'd rate it a 6 on a spiciness scale of 1-10.  Make sure you have a cold drink available before trying it, seriously! In additon to chips and salsa, I recommend the guacamole at Boca Chica, it is excellent! Made with very fresh avocados, the guacamole is mildy seasoned with fresh tomato and onion.  Comes in a big bowl and is a great way to cool down from the spicy salsa!

Authentic dishes range from a variety of seafood dishes to huevos, flautas, enchiladas, chile rellenos, and tamales. Many of them topped with traditonal Mexican spices or sauces. Carne, pollo, barbacoa, pescados and carnitas authentically prepared. Tex-Mex dishes include tacos, chimichangas, enchiladas, etc. Boca Chica also boasts a variety of combination dinners and a long ala carte menu. See full menu here.

Lunch Buffet served M-F 11am-1:30pm

Sunday Brunch served 10am-1:30pm

Price Guide: Entrees range from $8-14.

What I ordered:  Plato Plazero....make your own tacos! I had both steak and chicken, which came with peppers and onions. Corn and flour tortillas came on the side, along with black beans, fresh pico de gallo and fresh guacamole. I also couldn't help but order a cheese enchilada ala carte. Everything was delicious! The portion was so big, I was able to make approximately 5 tacos.

Service: Our group had a reservation and we were promptly seated 10 minutes before the set time. Our waiter, Michael, was very nice and made sure everyone had what they wanted. It was a little slow getting our drinks, but the restaurant was very busy that night.

Overall Impresion: Boca Chica has a large menu offering with excellent authentic Mexican food, as well as Tex-Mex dishes.