Destination: Twin Cities Crawl

Published on Friday, August 8, 2008, by James Norton / Edit Post

Eating at the RNC

DRINKING WHILE EATING

Crack Ho Mojito anyone? If you’re not up for that, try a hard cider, a local brew, or “Miller Low Life” at one of these Twin Cities bars.

  • Casper’s & Runyon’s Nook
  • 492 Hamline Avenue S., St. Paul
  • 651-698-4347
  • Open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (bar open until 2 a.m.)

THE PLACE: Though known primarily as a bar, this local institution routinely tests the patience of those who line up out the door to sample its signature Juicy Nookie burger.

THE PLATES AND POURS: The Nookie is the Nook’s version of a South Minneapolis classic, the Jucy Lucy, a moist, flavorful patty of beef stuffed with molten cheese ($7.50 for a single, or $7.95 for the double version). Your Nookie will eject hot, melted cheese onto your plate of fries, which works out just fine, assuming you enjoy cheese fries. The fries themselves are worth the trip—they’re thick, perfectly salted, and taste distinctly of real, unpeeled potatoes. As for drinks, the Nook is all about the American domestic brew: PBR tall boys and what’s affectionately termed “Miller Low Life” are the house tipples of choice.

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  • Buster’s on 28th
  • 4204 28th Avenue S., Minneapolis
  • 612-729-0911
  • Open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.

THE PLACE: This unassuming South Minneapolis neighborhood restaurant is so far ahead of the curve on beer that it’s essentially off the charts. Nearly 30 draft beers, hard ciders, and even root beers, many of them local, make Buster’s an unparalleled place to down a cold one. It feels a little like a TGI Friday’s with a soul: big booths, tall tables, good lighting, and clean floors. Much of the clientele is from nearby, and you can feel the emotional warmth as soon as you step through the door.

THE PLATES AND POURS: Try a Surly draft ($5). This local microbrewer has made its name with hard-to-classify beers such as the Bender, a crisp, slightly hoppy and oaty ale with flavors of coffee and caramel. If you want to go for something imported, the Kwak from Belgium ($8 on draft) packs a hearty punch, both in alcoholic content (8 percent ABV, or alcohol by volume) and sweet malty flavor. The food is reliably good, too—try the pesto chicken pizza ($9).

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  • Chino Latino
  • 2916 Hennepin Avenue S., Minneapolis
  • 612-824-7878
  • Open Sunday through Thursday 4:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday 4:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.

THE PLACE: Located in the heart of Uptown, this trendy spot recalls the hedonistic pan-cultural ambition of New York City’s Buddakan. Drinks served with dry ice bubble over their brims; a whole roasted piglet, knife stuck in its back, is toted through the crowded multilevel dining room. A wall of votive candles flickers above a room of high-energy chaos and Twin Citizens making the scene.

THE PLATES AND POURS: In addition to offering an insanely lengthy menu of tropical-themed food from the hot zones of Asia and Central America (plus sushi), Chino Latino has what is probably the best happy hour in Minneapolis, running daily from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Three bucks gets you a savory chorizo or ham torta served with guacamole and chips, and beer and sushi are on special as well. For dinner, try the salt and pepper shrimp ($14)—wok-tossed, shell-on, and served with plum sauce for dipping. The late-night happy hour features French Toast of the Dead: batter-dipped Mexican pan de muerto with sliced banana and rum-caramel syrup ($3). And don’t miss the Crack Ho Mojito ($13), featuring three glass vials filled with passion fruit, blackberry, and raspberry purées that you add to your drink.

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  • Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery
  • 1430 Washington Avenue S., Minneapolis
  • 612-339-8696
  • Open Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday noon to 2 a.m., Sunday 4 p.m. to midnight

THE PLACE: It would be a shame to come all the way to the Midwest and not sample the fresh, local version of its most beloved beverage: rich, heady, life-giving beer. The Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery is an award-winning brewpub known for its creative spins on beer (everything from blueberry wheat to milk stout to Midwestern malted wheat ale). The food’s not bad, either.

THE PLATES AND POURS: Try the Seven Corners Burger ($7.95) if you’re ready to go all out—it’s a half-pound burger topped with melted provolone, smoked bacon, and Black H2O Oatmeal Stout barbecue sauce. Speaking of the oatmeal stout, it’s a regular offering, and worth the effort if you’re a dedicated beer fan: dark black, rich with roasted malt flavor, and carbonated with nitrogen gas, which gives it a preternaturally smooth pour and a creamy head. Its inverse and natural counterpart, Bright Spot Golden Ale, is light enough for even the most casual of beer drinkers to enjoy.

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ALLTravel
POST A COMMENT |17 Comments

COMMENT

  • I have the convention on right now, and upon careful consideration of the contents of the speeches, may I suggest something crisped in oil, then throughly nuked?

  • Scandalous!

  • I would add 3 places to this list, all of which are in St. Paul.
    For Breakfast...The Copper Dome on Randolph and Hamline Ave.
    (kitty corner from where the Twin's Joe Mauer played high school baseball)
    Two Restaurants just down the street a block or two from the Xcel on West Seventh St.
    Cossetta's Pizza (Great casual classic Italian food) Highly rated
    Downtowner Woodfire Grill (Upscale...+READ

    I would add 3 places to this list, all of which are in St. Paul.
    For Breakfast...The Copper Dome on Randolph and Hamline Ave.
    (kitty corner from where the Twin's Joe Mauer played high school baseball)
    Two Restaurants just down the street a block or two from the Xcel on West Seventh St.
    Cossetta's Pizza (Great casual classic Italian food) Highly rated
    Downtowner Woodfire Grill (Upscale restaurant), a very popular place where you will find a cross section of politicians, businessmen, doctors and just everyday folks who have breakfast, lunch or dinner there. May be difficult to get reservations this coming week, but worth trying.
    These three restaurants all should have been included in the original story. Inexcusable they would get left off the list.-COLLAPSE

  • I think the attendees will dine heavily on fricassee of crow, followed by a nice helping shoe fly pie, bye bye.
    McCain.

  • Well if there are any meatheads among them and of course there will be they can head over to the gastropub grassfed steak house known as the "strip club" in st paul; or in Minneapolis they can try to sleep with someone to get into the "becoming more fascist by the day Brit's Pub" which has been mysteriously co-opted (sell-out?) for that week for a private party.
    Local hipster meateaters like the...+READ

    Well if there are any meatheads among them and of course there will be they can head over to the gastropub grassfed steak house known as the "strip club" in st paul; or in Minneapolis they can try to sleep with someone to get into the "becoming more fascist by the day Brit's Pub" which has been mysteriously co-opted (sell-out?) for that week for a private party.
    Local hipster meateaters like the Modern Cafe or the Local for easygoing erudite down home favorites.-COLLAPSE

  • We don't call it "right-wing talk radio". We call it "talk radio" or "conservative radio". Heh.

    Being a Twin CITIAN * (not Citizen, heh), I appreciated the commentary on the local eats here, though I thought that the last page's recommendations were slightly more useful.

    ITA with the previous poster on Chino Latino, they're not worth a name drop.

    * Otherwise we say "Minnesotans",...+READ

    We don't call it "right-wing talk radio". We call it "talk radio" or "conservative radio". Heh.

    Being a Twin CITIAN * (not Citizen, heh), I appreciated the commentary on the local eats here, though I thought that the last page's recommendations were slightly more useful.

    ITA with the previous poster on Chino Latino, they're not worth a name drop.

    * Otherwise we say "Minnesotans", although there ARE folks around here who will say it's, "Twin Citizens"... but those who agree with that are mostly of some newfangled lot of young, hardcore types.-COLLAPSE

  • There's nothing I love more than people who try to prove the ignorance of one group with completely ignorant comments of their own.

    I'm really excited to see our cities showcased during the convention, and for the wonderful restaurants to get an infusion of convention cash. The diversity and inventiveness of cuisine here is amazing.

  • There is a lot of great in many different areas of culture in Minneapolis.

    Al's Breakfast is indeed fantastic, but I almost don't even want to give Chino Latino the attention it takes to suggest that they suck horribly. I guess if you are into overpriced, overdressed and forgettable, then it's all right.

    For a good bar/restaurant I would suggest Matt's Bar on Cedar for the Jucy Lucy, or the...+READ

    There is a lot of great in many different areas of culture in Minneapolis.

    Al's Breakfast is indeed fantastic, but I almost don't even want to give Chino Latino the attention it takes to suggest that they suck horribly. I guess if you are into overpriced, overdressed and forgettable, then it's all right.

    For a good bar/restaurant I would suggest Matt's Bar on Cedar for the Jucy Lucy, or the Chatterbox Pub on E 35th St for the video/board games and variety of furniture including things like a couch or two. As I recall the food was well, and I think they also have a unique sake they only make there, but I can't remember details at the moment..

    One of my favorite sandwiches in the entire universe is the #7 aka Hot Shot Italian at Caffrey's deli right near Lake and Lyndale.

    http://www.mattsbar.com/
    http://www.chatterboxpub.net/
    http://www.twincitiesfun.com/Caffreys-deli-and-subs-ID002551.html-COLLAPSE

  • What, no Mayslack's?
    http://www.mayslacksbar.com

    OK, probably better for the convention protesters than the convention attendees, but still the Original Beef (with extra garlic and peppers) is memory inducing (and it's been a while since I've been in Minnesota). And don't kid yourself about ordering other dishes, that sucker is HUGE!

  • If you want some solid food that is somewhat fancy yet affordable, I suggest Cafe Levain. The food is French but pretty homey. Order the hanger steak and a side of the braised wild mushrooms and you won't be sorry.

  • Anyway...

    I hope people (protestors, conventions goers and media types) get to enjoy the many wonderful food options in Minneapolis and St. Paul. We have some great meat and potato type places, as well as all the ethnic and hip places mentioned above.

    I'd suggest, if staying in Minneapolis, you make your way to Eat Street and make your way down the street, choosing a place at random. I'd...+READ

    Anyway...

    I hope people (protestors, conventions goers and media types) get to enjoy the many wonderful food options in Minneapolis and St. Paul. We have some great meat and potato type places, as well as all the ethnic and hip places mentioned above.

    I'd suggest, if staying in Minneapolis, you make your way to Eat Street and make your way down the street, choosing a place at random. I'd also suggest Babani's Kurdish Restaurant for those staying in St. Paul.-COLLAPSE

  • It does appear to be a valid use, but the potential confusion is there (especially with the word "well" at the beginning having the potential to modify both "fed" and "hung"). That's how I read it, but I could just have a dirty mind. Thanks for considering it though.

  • s8ist, on the "hungover" comment: two words is our house style, see here for validation, if you want: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=hung. We have done no research into downstairs gifting or lack thereof.

  • So you would let your political party restrict your culinary choices if they deemed it a component of their identity? It sounds like you are the one who doesn't grasp the concept of 'freedom.' Before you position the GOPs as champions of freedom, what exactly has the party offered in terms of 'freeing' the people as a part of its current platform? Mismanage a military operation whose 'official'...+READ

    So you would let your political party restrict your culinary choices if they deemed it a component of their identity? It sounds like you are the one who doesn't grasp the concept of 'freedom.' Before you position the GOPs as champions of freedom, what exactly has the party offered in terms of 'freeing' the people as a part of its current platform? Mismanage a military operation whose 'official' purpose changes like the weather? Withhold the rights of consenting adults by using widely held prejudices to their advantage? Suspending habeas corpus? Instituting government spying on private citizens as permissible without due process?
    It's clear that members of the GOP are instructed on what to eat, and that appears to be a byproduct of the bull.

    To editors: By the way, "hungover" is the appropriate way to indicate that there was plenty to drink the night before, unless you intended to say the GOP is biologically gifted downstairs. I'd expect the LC Repub's and the ladies might know more about that.-COLLAPSE

  • MsDiPesto, After pondering your cheap shot for a few minutes I realized that despite my love of many foods from many cultures, I would gladly stick to meat, potatoes, and cheap beer if that were the conditions of membership to the GOP. Thank goodness that would never happen. Unlike the opposition, who would gladly take away another aspect of our freedom.

  • Hmm.. this is a little off the mark. Mexican food is fine because it's been co-opted through "Tex-Mex." Anything else projects an idea that there is virtue in the culture of 'furners', which could be misconstrued as unAmerican. I suggest this bunch stick with the fast food joints and convenience stores so they can eat a Big Texas Whopper and hork back a few pounds of Toby Keith's Great American...+READ

    Hmm.. this is a little off the mark. Mexican food is fine because it's been co-opted through "Tex-Mex." Anything else projects an idea that there is virtue in the culture of 'furners', which could be misconstrued as unAmerican. I suggest this bunch stick with the fast food joints and convenience stores so they can eat a Big Texas Whopper and hork back a few pounds of Toby Keith's Great American Meaty Manly Beef Nuggets on the road.-COLLAPSE

  • I'm sure they'll sell lots of Bud Lite, meat, and potatoes. I doubt the attendees to this particular soiree will be seeking either "ethnic diversity" or "cosmopolitan flair".