A native's informal guide to Minneapolis & St. Paul. Eighth of several.
In Prequel #6, we toured Nicollet Mall and a little of downtown Minneapolis. In Prequel #7, we noshed our way up Eat Street.
I'm going to wrap up restaurant suggestions starting at the far end of Eat Street, close enough to Netroots Nation for a quick drive or bus. Then wander far afield for a bit.
These restaurant listings are not intended to be comprehensive, and reflect my experiences, tastes and budget. Thanks for listening. Now... onward!
Eat Street Terminus: Lake and Nicollet, and more on Lake
Sign for Nicollet Baseball Park, now a Wells Fargo.
Before the city allowed KMart to block Nicollet Ave. just north of Lake Street, the intersection was home to a minor league baseball park. Hidden Minneapolis: Nicollet Park. Now, Lake and Nicollet is a thriving intersection.
Minneapolis designated Eat Street to end at Lake Street (30th). Ah, but Lake Street itself is also a commercial district, and has many eateries and watering holes. Plus, I live at Lake and Nicollet and have my favorites. In the interest of keeping these Prequels down to a manageable size, I'm only going to talk about restaurants with a RECOMMEND or DAVE'S FAVE rating.
The Hibachi Grill's sushi bar
The Hibachi Grill 111 E. Lake St. 612-825-3099 [A DAVE'S FAVE] has a wide selection of Chinese/Japanese foods, seafoods, an hibachi grill, sushi bar and large fruit selection. For $8.25 lunch/$10.90 dinner (which includes a beverage), you will leave satisfied. I was there on Hibachi's Grand Opening in September, and have returned ever since. Dinner has even more seafood, usually with crabs legs.
A few months later, Teppanyaki Buffet 2216 E. Lake (in the shopping mall to the WEST of the Light Rail stop) 612-728-3838 [A DAVE'S FAVE]. Larger and with a larger selection than Hibachi. Cheaper, too, but their prices don't include a beverage.
Both the Hibachi and Teppanyaki can accommodate large groups, generally without a reservation.
Sunray Restaurant 128 W. Lake St. (corner of Lake and Pillsbury) 612-823-1137 [A DAVE'S FAVE]. Most of the Somali restaurants in town are pretty similar: They will charge you some semi-random amount of money (loosely based on the menu price) w/o tax for a large plate of whatever you order, saffron rice, beans, banana, salad mango juice or some combination thereof. Generally $10, but maybe $11 if you have the steak (I usually get the fish or the goat meat). Informal but friendly service, with tvs going all the time, usually Al Jazeera. Sun Ray is one of the largest, and often has a buffet on Friday or Saturday (the Islamic sabbath). The place empties out during prayers (which are piped in as well from the Islamic prayer center in the building. One of three within a few blocks.) You won't see an Islamic woman; a separate closed-off area is for families. I asked: Women from "a different culture" are more than welcome, and Carole and I have eaten there. Beer is available, as well as soft drinks and bottled water, though I usually stick with the mango or watermelon juice. A large Somali center is across the street (which was involved in a local corruption scandal a few years ago). Many shops and other restaurants in Suuqa Karmel.
Los Andes Restaurant 317 W. Lake St. (corner of Lake and Grand, parking in back off Grand) 612-825-1700 [A DAVE'S FAVE]. Ecuadorian and Columbian food. Delicious and (usually) large portions most in the $10-15 range. I almost always get the #17 Plato Monteñero: Grilled Top Sirloin w/rice, pork crackling, fried egg, beans, avocado, corn cake and a plantain, which is almost too much for me to eat in one sitting. I've never had anything that wasn't at least good, and most things were great. Cocina Latina 3784 Nicollet 612-354-2971 [RECOMMENDED] has a similar menu though more Mexican oriented and a greater accent on beer. Both places are small, mainly with booths, but could handle a large crowd with some warning.
It's Greek To Me 626 W. Lake St. (corner of Lake and Lyndale) 612-825-9922 [A DAVE'S FAVE]. As mentioned earlier, one of my two favorite Greek restaurants (with Christos). Not open until 4:30 weekdays but at 11am on Sat and Sun. Great food in a nice atmosphere, with a large bar. The intersection of Lake and Lyndale has several interesting places to eat, including Falafel King Uptown 701 W. Lake St. 612-824-7887 or downtown 121 South 8th St. 612-339-5560 Dine in, Take out or Deliver [RECOMMEND] and Heidi's, which I'll get to in a minute.
Bryant-Lake Bowl 810 Bryant Ave. S (on Lake between Bryant and Aldrich, parking in the back) 612-825-3737 [RECOMMENDED]. Okay, so you've just finished a hard day of networking with fellow Progressives and desperately need to go bowling and have high-end beers, and maybe see Dykes Do Drag. Well! Breakfast starts at 8am, and yuppie foods continue all day, even to gluten-free meals.
Sort of across the street from BLB is Bill's Imported Foods 721 W. Lake St. 612-827-2892. A nifty Greek market with several varieties of feta cheese and olives to choose from. I usually get some apricots or faux caviar.
Midtown Global Market Lake St. & 10th Ave. (the old Sears Bldg; ask anyone) with parking in the ramp to the east. [Various recommendations]. A potpourri of restaurants, shops, farmer's market, and so on. Some of the places are better than others but all are interesting. I will leave you to explore on your own.
Next door to Midtown Global Market is Hamdi, another good Somali restaurant. Across the street is Chicago-Lake Liquors 612-825-4401, one of the best (and certainly the cheapest) liquor store in town, and a good Mexican restaurant .
The Swedish Institute is closed for renovation, so I feel a hometown urge to mention Ingebretson's Scandinavian Gifts 1601 E. Lake St. 612-729-9333. A small Scandahoovian deli and lots and lots of kitsch. Some good Mexican restaurants on that side of Lake.
Wandering farther afield -- will need transportation
Again, these are some of my favorites and are in no way a comprehensive listing of dining experiences or food-like objects.
Old Country Buffet; several, but mainly 9 E. 66th Street (just off Nicollet, across from The Hub and another strip mall) 612-869-1240 [A DAVE'S FAVE]. Good 'Merican food, and lots of it, with a taco bar and an excellent salad bar. Generally worth popping for the Beverage Bar. Breakfast (weekends 7:30-11am) $5.89; lunch 11-3:30 $6.99; 3:30-8:30 $10.29. Plus tax, and the Beverage Bar is $2.
Khan's Mongolian Barbeque 500 E. 78th St. Richfield 55423 (in the frontage road just north of I-494) 612-861-7991 [A DAV'S FAVE]. A good lunch special for $9.50 (one trip through) and dinner is all-you-can eat for $13.50. Go veggie or pile on the meat, spicy or Minnesota bland; then they cook it in front of you. An okay bar which offers divers combinations.
Chris Mezzolesta "pets" a shark in the foyer to Jun Bo, with Baron Dave watching, 3/4/10
Jun Bo, down from I-494's frontage road from Khan's at 7717 Nicollet in Richfield 55423 612=866-6888 [RECOMMENDED]. Go now, as they've lost their liquor license (though the appeals are still in the works) and the land has been bought out by the Menard's next door, presumably for the parking lot. While Jun Bo does have a menu and a sort of lunch buffet, the main reason to go is the dim sum and the sumptuous seating. The place is infinitely scalable, and can handle 30 people as easily as 4. Probably easier. Most of the tables are round with a lazy Susan in the middle. Each table can handle a dozen or so, and they can be pushed together.
Barbary Fig 720 Grand Ave St. Paul 55105 (parking in back) 651-290-2085 [RECOMMENDED]. Moroccan food, with a Sunday Brunch and drinks including Mimosa with Pomegranate. Mediterranean inspired entrees change every day to include a dish of: Lamb, Chicken, Rabbit and Seafood (picture). We were only there the once, way off in the wilds of St. Paul, but will drop by again if we're in the area.
Okay, a two-fer which will turn into a three-fer.
Travail Kitchen and Amusements 4154 West Broadway Ave. Robbinsdale 763-535-1131. [RECOMMENDED] They don't take reservations and fill up quickly, so if you don't want an extended stay at the bar go early (5-5:30pm) or try at lunch. "Molecular Gastronomy". Little dishes that, as the reviewer says, is more of a ride than a meal. Carole and I got the "10 Courses For Two People" ($60), and despite the small portions she was filled up after seven dishes and I was topping out near the end. Facebook public photo gallery of our visit, and a write up as part of A Busy Birthday Week.
Closer to home (and the Convention Center) is Heidi's 2903 Lyndale (just South of Lake and Lyndale) 612-354-3512. [RECOMMENDED] Best to reserve a table. A medium-sized place, it fills up fast despite the prices. While not quite "molecular gastronomy", the portions are small but deceptively filling. You're supposed to have several dishes. Indeed, they offer a Tasting Menu for $85 each (and only do it if the whole table is in on the deal). They offer Vegetarian and Pescatarian options. Carole and I escaped for $44 (plus tax and tip) encompassing four dishes including scallops with bacon (one small glass of custard-like consistency) and the Shefzilla of the day, which was Shad Roe. Dee-lish. And every dish came with it's own piece of silverware. The bread guy could serve either right-handed or left-handed (we reviewers note such detail).
I'll note in passing The Sample Room, which was recommended when we mentioned Heidi's.
Okay, are you full yet?
Next up: Places to go.