sftomn's Profile
MSP - Bin Wine Bar - Lowerton St. Paul
I had a chance to go to Bin this past week (Tuesday night) and had a truly outstanding experience. While some posters may be offended by misspellings and lack of vintages on the wine menu, I can assure you that Bin is a fantastic destination and an asset to a great neighborhood.
I'll comment largely on the food here, as I don't consider myself a wine expert. When we went on Tuesday, we were handed no paper menus, and our waiter explained that the food situation was a "soft roll-out." While somewhat annoyed, we ordered a chacuterie platter, which was beautiful. Several salamis, a delicious prosciutto, gouda, brie, and a stilton blue. There were also a few marinated/grilled veggies (WONDERFUL artichoke), along with a basket of warm bread.
To accompany this, we ordered two wine flights - one red, one white. As my date and I are both fairly new to wine, we told our waiter to pick us a nice variety. The presentation of the flights is also a lovely touch - three glasses come in a nice wooden crate of sorts. In front of each glass is pinned a business card-sized note with a description of the wine. Our waiter chose excellently, and took great care to explain his choices.
As the evening went on, we were treated to a number of wonderful surprises, compliments of the house. First, our waiter brought two appetizers for us to sample: A grilled tuna served on watermelon, with a dash of wasabi, and two kinds of "lollipops": one with mozzarella in cherry tomatoes, and one with roasted red pepper, anchovies, and olives. I preferred the second dish to the first, though I appreciated the kitchen's adventursome spirit. The pairing of wasabi with watermelon was surprisingly pleasant - my only issue was that the fish was just too bland. I might have preferred salmon over tuna.
Later in the evening, we also enjoyed a sample of the Greek Flatbread - topped with feta, kalmata olives, and sun-dried tomatoes, if I recall correctly. This was just fine - not something I would necessarily order again, but perfectly palatable.
Finally, we tasted the Medjool Dates stuffed with Gorgonzola drizzled with a balsamic reduction. These were perfect individual bites - just the right size, and a beautiful flavor combination.
Finally, I would like to observe that the service was outstanding. Our waiter was attentive, engaging, and eager to make suggestions. The Chef stopped by several times to ask for feedback on the food. Even though we came in the back door, the manager stopped by to welcome us, and chatted for a few minutes. The environment couldn't have been more welcoming.
Finally, as I walked by the exit, I noticed that the kitchen itself is TINY - maybe 10x10. I'm truly impressed with the variety and quality of the food that I enjoyed, and I can't wait to go back.
This may not be a wine bar for true connoisseurs, but I think it's a fantastic destination for anyone who wants to enjoy some good wine and food in a wonderful environment.
Cheeky Monkey [MSP] now open!
I apologize to all; I wrote a much longer and more detailed review last night, that I somehow managed to lose between completion and posting.
Here's what I remember -
I had a mixed experience with the food last night. I got a cold sandwich with turkey, herbed mayo, asiago, avocado, and bacon on flaxseed bread. I ordered it without bacon, which may have been a mistake. The resulting sandwich was somewhat disappointing, tasting overwhelmingly of turkey and little else. The herbed mayo added a touch of texture, and I tasted the avocado in two or three bites, but neither was present enough to add much to the sandwich's flavor.
I also had a cup of turkey lentil soup, one of the soups of the day, which I very much enjoyed. The soup was simple and hearty - a nice texture, with a very rich taste, balanced nicely with tasted like a dose of olive oil.
My fellow guest had a nutella and a banana sandwich (really!) which was grilled and appropriately rich.
On future trips, I think I'd very much like to explore the hot sandwiches, as they seem to include more flavorful components than the cold ones.
I very much like the concept of the menu and service structure - somewhere between Cafe Latte and Coffee News. Sandwiches are served as just that - sandwiches in a basket - unless you specifically choose to add a side (I didn't). This keeps the price point low (no sandwich is over $7, nothing on the menu over $10), and the number of potential meal combinations very high.
I was slightly taken aback the decor/ambiance of the place. For a restaurant featuring such traditionally comfort food, the feel of the seating area seems a touch too stark and modern. This was accented by the rather overwhelming techno that was playing last night, which must've sounded odd to the couple relaxing on leather couches in front of the fireplace.
I'll be curious to see what kind of clientele the Cheeky Monkey attracts in the future - whether it will be a destination for a full meal, or the kind of place where you might go with a book or a laptop to enjoy a cup of coffee and a snack. The menu suggests the latter, but the ambiance suggests the former.
I'll be returning for lunch today, and will post more thoughts then!
Cheeky Monkey [MSP] now open!
I'll be curious on future trips to see if customers are comfortable sitting and reading or bringing their computers (a la Coffee News), or if the feel of the place remains closer to a dining experience.
In all, I think this is an exciting addition to St. Paul. I'm eager to return and try some of the hot food choices and sides.
[MSP] - El Patio Closed, Vesco Vino to move
Both revelations from Nancy Ngo in the Pioneer Press this week - http://www.twincities.com/restaurants/ci_10906045. My questions:
-With Zander closing and Il Vesco Vino, could this be a lull in revival of the Cathedral Hill area?
-Will "event" fans (i.e. Wild, Ordway, etc.) be willing to pay Vesco Vino prices for their pre-game/pre-theatre meal?
-What happens to the old Vesco Vino space? What would you like to see go in the old mansion?
[MSP] - Cheeky Monkey?
I live around the corner and have walked by pretty regularly for the past few months. Aside from the gorgeous new mural on the east (Solo Vino) side of the building, I haven't seen any sign of activity either. Maybe the economic downturn discouraged the new owners?
[MSP] Blue Door Pub
Hurray! It wouldn't be a true pat and jeremy adventure without an HH. I can't wait to go by and check it out this weekend.
[MSP] Blue Door Pub
Boy oh boy, is this exciting. In my humble opinion, the quality of the food has really dropped off at the Tap in the last few years, as their prices have risen. Did you, by any chance, find out if Pat/Jeremy were hoping/intending to have a happy hour? I can't wait to try all the Jucy Lucy variations!
[MSP] - Cheeky Monkey?
Hi Chowhounds,
I'm a long-time lurker and first-time poster (talk-radio cliche, I know). I was just walking to Great Harvest and noticed the old Zander Cafe space is plastered with posters for the "Cheeky Monkey Deli." I think their poster plugged "local, sustainable" - eat-in or take-out. Does anyone know anything else about this? It's hard to find a good sandwich in the surrounding neighborhood, so I'm hoping this will change that!
