Where can I get breakfast near 54th and Nicollet? Does Sunstreet have anything good?

Are they open for lunch?

Thanks all for the great suggestions - please keep them coming. Naha does indeed look perfect. Boka also looks intriguing. Fancy or not isn't really an issue, but $200/person might be a little steep. Several of the suggested restaurants don't have prices listed on their menus. (Is it the old adage, if you have to ask, you can't afford it?) We did try Les Nomades several years ago and thought it was indeed quiet. In fact it was so quiet, it almost seemed austere.

There are six of us all together, several of whom are coming in from out of town to celebrate my mom’s 90th birthday on a Saturday night. We would like to do this at a great Chicago restaurant. We are based in Hyde Park so a trip to the Near North Side is fine, but anything further out would be a bit of a trek. Criteria should include high-quality food, cocktails and wine; a comfortable and tasteful atmosphere that is conducive to great conversation; and a professional and attentive staff. (My mom has advanced Alzheimer’s, and would probably use a walker or wheelchair. My dad who is 88 and in better health is also part of the group. The others are offspring/in-laws.) We’re not looking for a super trendy place that is loud and crowded. An example of the type of place my parents like is Shaw’s Crab House, but we go there frequently and are looking for something a bit more special. (Other restaurants they like include Kiki’s Bistro, MK, West Town Tavern, and Mon Ami Gabi.) Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I live near the River and my associate lives in Uptown so the the whole stretch is up for play.

I need to meet with someone to discuss some business so the food isn't as important as the the environment. Maybe this isn't possible on a busy street, especially on a Saturday. Any ideas? Thanks.

Too bad. That was also one on my favorite menu items. I guess the people who go there all of time don't order it.

The Cities is light years ahead of where it was just a couple of years ago in terms on high-quality espresso and espresso drinks, with Peace Coffee/Wonderland, Koplin's, Quixotic, Dogwood, and others all making top-notch spro. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for brewed coffee. In Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco even their chains have pretty good coffee. Our chains churn out poor excuses for brewed coffee and even the aforementioned elite spots turn out weak versions of this classic beverage with cups that are a watery mess of acrid off notes. Is it our heritage of producing the infamous 'warm dishwater with a brown crayon dipped in' that keeps high quality brewed coffee out of the Twin Cities? Where in town are those cups of rich, robust, smooth coffee goodness?

Great list, MSPD!

Anyone tried Arnellia's recently?

May have seen these at Cecil's recently.

Also, just down Nicollet is C&G's Smoking Barbecue. Same basic foodstuffs - BBQ, wings, fish, etc.

Finally made it over to Little Szechuan for some Beef Lo Mein. While it was better than Evergreen, it certainly wasn't great. What is with all the the greasy spaghetti noodles? The best Lo Mein I've had the the Twin Cities was at Singapore in Maplewood, but that was about 8 years ago and I know they've since closed. I think that place is related to the Singapore on S. 34th Ave near Lake Nokomis. I might give them a try and see.

Smoke in the Pit is getting good reviews. They have BBQ ribs, fried chicken, wings, and catfish. And, at 37th and Chicago, it's very close to the old S&Ws location.

Heavy Table has a good writeup: http://heavytable.com/smoke-in-the-pi...

I'd give Coastal another shot. When I was there last week (Seward location,) their case was glistening with freshness.

I looked at both of those today. The cod looked dry and tired. I've tried it before and was not impressed. And, at $17 per pound, that flat Steehead is no bargain. Conversely the 2" thick Scottish farmed salmon from Coastal glistens with fatty goodness. They also had some Opa this week that looked like it was just pulled out of the ocean

I am becoming increasingly disappointed with the seafood from Lunds/Byerely's and have returned going to Coastal Seafoods.

Didn't someone post something about having lived in China for a number of years and having eaten Peking Duck numerous times and never having it served the way mentioned here - first course with skin only, etc.?

Amark, have a wonderful trip and be sure to update us on your findings when you have a spare moment. Also, please tell us where you are traveling from and where you like to eat there. Thanks.

While it is a very good bakery, Salty Tart isn't really a breakfast place per sé. So if you're looking for coffee and pastry, it would be great. But if you want something more substaintial, you might want to look elsewhere. Also, the Global Market is kind of dead during the morning hours.

Papaya Salad

Thanks!

This biggest problem with Al's is that due to their limited seating capacity its not really the best place to socialize while eating.

I started drinking espresso a few years ago. I was content with spro from the usual contenders - Starbucks, Caribou, Dunn Bros. At that time I had no idea there was an entirely different echelon of espresso out there. Now Peace Coffee/Wonderland Park is my go-to joint. Kopplin's, Dogwood, Parka are also great. Quixotic recently made possibly the finest cup of espresso I've ever tried. The difference between these places and the chains is like night and day. While I'm still not a cognoscenti - I still have to add sugar to my spro - I am delighted I've found the real thing. (Note: I've noticed by having a coffee drink (latté, etc.) the unique coffee flavor vanishes so it really doesn't make a difference where you go. It's like using top-shelf gin in a gin and tonic - It's a waste of good gin.) What are some of your espresso faves?

Yes, please post your recipe. Thanks.

Where can I buy it and which brands are the best? Also, what would be some good ways to use this in vegetarian cooking? Thanks.

This thread will likely be deleted. That said, I'm a big fan of Nom Nom Foodie. Also, of course there is Urbanspoon, who are a lot more lenient. The Facebook group - I can't remember the name - is not so useful.

Now that there is good food at the airport, I routinely go there an hour early to eat. My go-to spot used to be Surdyk's Flights, which I still believe has some of the best sandwiches in The Cities (Prosciutto and pecorino sandwich with any of the sides - beets, carrots or potatoes. I love the olives and cornichons.) But, now that the OTG group is fully ensconced in Terminal G, I've begun to diversify. I've tried the Tokyo Ramen at Taste of Shoyu and thought it was fine. Now I'm curious about Taste of Mill City Tavern, Tagilare, Mimosa, and Volante. Also curious to know if the Ike's burgers compare with the ones downtown. Other airport experiences welcome to chime in.

I like the kind with cauliflower but I've been having a hard time finding it recently. Sure you can get Mezzetta at Rainbow, but I used to be able to find other brands. Bill's Foods used to have a nice selection but now they have almost nothing. There is nothing at Holy Land and nothing in the market in Cosetta's. Any ideas?

Iconic Sandwiches