NordeastB's Profile
Roasted Pear in BP?
True but there aren't a million of those places in or near Brooklyn Park. The Nectar in dt Osseo and 3 Squares over in Maple Grove are the only ones I can think of in that NW corner off of 694.
Best Italian in the Twin Cites is in White Bear Lake!
I was there last fall. Yes, it was packed on a Saturday night. No, it's not as good as BLG. But for that part of town with its limited options....we'd go again.
Friday Fish Fry - where is the best one?
The school is closing at the end of the term. Not sure if the parish is being consolidated as well.
Friday Fish Fry - where is the best one?
Went to St. Matthew's fish fry last night on the West Side of St. Paul. Fish was wonderful: cornmeal batter, not greasy at all and plenty hot. Plate is served with baked potato and corn with cole slaw (tasted like some shredded apple was included) at the condiment bar for potato fixings and tartar sauce.
St. Matthew's does serve beer as well. Saw large, non-descript wine bottles too but did not inquire about price per glass.
Everyone gets tickets for desert which last night were ice cream sandwiches. All of us were very pleased.
Where can I get ground veal near Champlin?
Ditto on Brother's Meat Market in the Grove. Very nice guys.
What's missing from MSP's culinary landscape?
I agree that it's the technique, the ovens and the dough. For by the slice they par-bake the pie, then put it in the over for 2-3 minutes to finish baking after you pick out your slice. Something I've never seen here.
Il Gatto closed
Closing like this is SOP for corporate restaurants. If staff knows they are being let go, bottles of wines and frozen meats/seafood tend to disappear. This was not the case with M&S Grill as the staff were being transferred down the street to McCormick's.
the Smack Shack Downtown Minny Food Truck
Jim, they server in their 1029 digs every week. Free to park on Marshall.
Ingebretsons Scandanavian Foods/Minneapolis/ Lake St near Nicollet
Cash or check only. No plastic on the meat market side.
Bluefin sushi
It's almost fished to extinction. I doubt you'll find it in the East Metro.
Searching the Skyway...
All the previous recs are spot on. I'll throw in Dagwoods in The Crossings building for when you want to get a walk in. I love their Roast Beef Dagwood; toasted bun and nice vinaigrette.
The decline of Porky's !
Do the Truelson's (Tryg's and Porky's) still own the University Ave spot? Never saw anyone at the Central Ave location. And they put up quite a fight to put it in there.
TC: Ice Cream Parlor?
Grandpa's Ice Cream on East Moore Lake Drive in Fridley. Family owned, just ice cream, sundae's, malts. Make a point to stop there every week.
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Grandpa's Ice Cream
1258 East Moore Lake Drive, Fridley, MN
Uptown Cafeteria
Been there twice for HH. Saw Phil Roberts patrolling the floor both nights. Never went up to the roof so cannot comment on that. For happy hour, it's okay; nothing's going to blow your socks off.
Disco Fries: crinkle cut fries with gravy and cheese sauce. Not poutine but for $3 I wasn't expecting it either.
HH Burger basket: actually a pretty good burger again with crinkle cut fries. Pink in center, came hot to the table.
Wed. nite special of beef stroganoff: split it with BF. Good; thought the chunks of beef were kinda big. My grandma always cut it in strips so I'm biased that way.
They ran out of HH wine the 2nd time (first Thurs they were open). All that was left at 6:30 was white zin. We stuck to the beer though. Heard they are trimming happy hour back to end at 6 instead of 7.
It was certainly overstaffed so didn't have a problem with getting water, clearing plates, etc.
any good bars/eateries in the fridley area?
Agree with Kevin on King's. Good but too high priced for us.
Nala Pak. Great buffet.
In addition, we'll go the bar at the newly renovated Shorewood Grill. The Niklows took it back over, cleaned it up and the food is good for bar fare. We usually get the kabobs, pita with 3 different spreads plus they have other small plates that are healthier than the usual chicken wings and cheese sticks. They have a different special every day.
We also frequent Cru up Central Ave in Blaine. I hope this place makes it; they have to compete with a sports bar at the other end of the strip mall. (Are there any foodies up in the northern burbs!?) They have 2 happy hours a day and a dinner special with a wine pairing a couple times a week.
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Restaurant Cru
10340 Baltimore St NE, Blaine, MN 55449
Shorewood Grill & Bar
NE Hwy 65 Service Rd, Fridley, MN 55432
Jfood hits Seven Steak House (MSP) - Fabulous Steaks, mediocre rest, totally intrusive service (Warning - long service rant)
Alright, I'll take the bait on your generalization. There are plenty of wait staff in this town that have made it a career. They are at places where the per plate charge is big enough that they can live off the tips. For example, Manny's, Oceanaire, Cap Grille and when it was open, Morton's. Many of the servers at Manny's have been there well over a decade. I would hazard to guess that many of the servers up at a place like Jax have been there many, many years.
Now a place like Seven is not where a veteran server is going to work. Outside of the summer, a server is not going to make enough in tips there so if I were to go there, I'm not expecting the A Team anyway.
Yes, there are plenty of short-timers in the business but pros too. Fewer can make it a career in a town this size for various reasons over the years: tax law changes, the end of the go-go 90's and the most recent recession. This comes from first-hand knowledge.
Grand Marais, MN
I gotta agree. We were there last week and grabbed a pizza to bring back to the hotel to watch the game. Bland is the best way to describe it. While the thin crust was not bad, the sauce had no zing to it at all. We both agreed that both Chanticlear and the Pizza Factory had better pies than here. And that's saying something. But it's a captive audience up there so...meh.
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Sven & Ole's
7 W Wisconsin St, Grand Marais, MN 55604
MSP - Ramos Gin Fizz?
Had one at the Buena Vista in SF a few years ago (it's their signature drink). Would love to find one in the Twin Cities.
Porter & Frye (MSP)
We went in March right after Joan Ida was hired for a birthday dinner. The meal, we thought, was on par with Alma, our server was great, plus the surroundings are more upscale the Alma's dining room. (it was a b-day, we wanted a more glamorous atomosphere.) Has anyone out there been lately and can comment?
Another One Bites The Dust - MSP
Bella has had different owners for quite a while now.
Restaurant Cru - Minneapolis
109th & Central in Blaine. Trying to link to a place.
We are going to try it this week. I just hope there is enough demand for this kind of place in the area.
112 Eatery (MSP) Maybe it was an off night, maybe expectations were too high or maybe its just coasting?
Agree on the noise level and bad music which added up to a not-so-pleasant meal for my mother-in-law and ourselves. I don't want to have to yell in order to carry on a conversation.
Good downtown Minneapolis lunch spot for tomorrow?
Bob is correct. The one inside the Medical Arts building is Southern Indian and will usually have one chicken dish prepared as well.
Jfood's first (and second) Juicy Lucy - Matts Bar (MSP)
As for the Blue Door, I agree on the dry/well-done part. Went there a couple of Sundays ago at 4 and it was packed. Ordered the Blucy and it was just meh. Most of the bleu cheese had melted away. Also had the spam bites and once was enough on that end.
Much prefer the Nook in that part of town.
All you can eat crab legs-MSP
The Crab House has been closed since last fall. The owner was charged with non-payment of taxes in federal court.
http://www.twincities.com/north/ci_10473736
The food was pretty bad and the dining room was empty but the bar was full.
All you can eat crab legs-MSP
Not an endorsement but Jake's Sports Bar in New Brighton has them Monday nights 5-9 per their outdoor sign.
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Jake's Sports Cafe
790 County Road D W, Saint Paul, MN 55112
Bradstreet Craftshouse (MSP)
It is a steal with all the labor that goes into making these cocktails. Go over to the W and order the same thing and it will be at least $14, $15. We were there about 10 days ago and tried a manhattan, some sort of sidecar and a mint julep, all made by Toby.
For small plates we had the lamb ribs, shrimp with some sort of hot pepper and pomegranate sauce, and the grass-fed sliders. All were very good for the price point; under $10.
A special place for drinks after work.
Surprizingly good dinner at Salut [MSP]
A friend and I were at the St. Paul location a few Saturdays ago and were pretty unimpressed. Thought the French Onion soup was bland. My friend had the gnocchi with squash and lardons and only took two bites. The gnocchi were heavy lumps (nothing like 112's), the lardons were quite large and undercooked and the dish just had this chemically after-taste to it. We regretted not heading over to University Ave and have SE Asian.
But the place was almost full in the afternoon so I'm sure they're doing well.
