“Eat” listings
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112 Eatery
Chef Isaac Becker can sling it high (tagliatelle with foie gras meatballs) or low (cheeseburger), but the reason he was named Best Chef in the Midwest is that the team at this warm and intimate restaurant focuses their considerable talents on making real, good food. Period. $$$ (09/2011)
112 N Third St, Minneapolis
612-343- 7696
112eatery.com -
Barbette
Prix-fixe Mondays—four local and sustainable courses for $32—are an excellent value, but the food is more memorable than the price. Steamed mussels, parsnip agnolotti and steak helene with braised kale and horseradish make for a mouthwatering French meal. $$$ (08/2011)
1600 W Lake St, Minneapolis
612-827-5710
barbette.com -
BLVD Kitchen & Bar
From the calamari and salted caramel sundae and everything in between, BLVD does American cuisine right. Try the wood-fired pork tenderloin coddled in bermuda onions, figs and port wine, paired with one of the delicious cocktails. $$$ (06/2011)
11544 Wayzata Blvd, Minnetonka
763-398-3200
blvdkitchen.com -
Scusi
The menu here has it all: antipasto, pizza, cured meats, cheeses and olives. More than half of Scusi’s 50 wines are available on tap, and everything from eggplant roulade to shrimp oreganata is made in-house from fresh, authentic ingredients. $$ (04/2011)
1806 St. Clair Ave, St. Paul
651-789- 7007
scusistpaul.com -
Tin Cup
This is the place to come for local specialties. Get a Minnesota wrap (that’s walleye in a potato lefse blanket), a heartstoppingly creative Juicy Lucy (that’s a burger with cheese inside of the patty) or, if you show up on a Friday during Lent, a beer-battered fish fry. Park your boots at this St. Paul institution to meet your daily minimum neighborhood- joint requirement. $ (03/2011)
1220 Rice St, St. Paul
651-487-7967
tincupmn.com -
Restaurant Alma
The menu at this dinner-only restaurant features inventive American food made from top-quality ingredients, many of them local and organic. The offerings change every six to eight weeks. In addition to an a la carte menu, a three-course tasting menu and four-course vegetarian meal are available. Everything from bread to ice cream are made daily on-site. $$$$ (03/2011)
528 University Ave SE, Minneapolis
612-379-4909
restaurantalma.com -
MANGO THAI
The diverse, creative menu here offers a fresh alternative to the typical heaping mound of saucy noodles or rice. Expect bold fl avors and smaller yet fi lling, portions in the curries and pad thai dishes. The pleasant dining room is tiny, so be sure to call ahead. $$ (01/2011)
610 Selby Ave, St. Paul
651-291-1414
mangothaimn.com -
CARIBE CARIBBEAN BISTRO
As one of the few spots where you can taste true Caribbean fl avor in the Twin Cities, this new restaurant is both distinctive and delicious. Grab an adventurous breakfast of caribe eggs Benedict: poached eggs atop roti (unleavened fl atbread) served with curried chickpeas, spinach, sweet potatoes and Creole hollandaise sauce. $$ (01/2011)
791 Raymond Ave, St. Paul
651-641-1446
caribemn.com -
MANNY’S STEAKHOUSE
Dry-aged beef that is hand-trimmed by the seasoned staff is the name of the game here. (The wine list, with more than 300 bottles, is also impressive.) The dining room often hosts visiting movie stars, who come for the food, which is among the city’s best. $$$$ (01/2011)
At the W Minneapolis - The Foshay 825 Marquette Ave S, Minneapolis
612-339-9900 -
THE WIENERY
The hot dogs, polish sausages and all-day breakfast here are legendary. Local favorites include the picnic dog (baked beans, cheese and cole slaw), the hairy brain (mayo, cheese and sauerkraut) and the wienie MacMuffin (with egg and cheese). Vegetarian and vegan tofu dogs are also available. $ (11/2010)
414 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis
612-333-5798
wienery.com -
SAFFRON
Owners Saed and Sameh Wadi incorporate unique Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors into their ever-changing, inventive list of dishes. Recent tasting menus have included beef hangar steak with eggplant lovash and soft shell crab with avocado, curry and basil. Don’t miss the goat milk cheesecake. $$$ (11/2010)
123 N Third St, Minneapolis
612-746-5533
saffronmpls.com -
HEARTLAND
With a new space and a recent James Beard nomination for Chef Lenny Russo, this local foods hotspot continues to wow diners with fine Midwest regional cuisine. The daily menu recently featured rainbow trout with a cornmeal crust, goat chops with white bean purée and a spiced chocolate truffle tart. $$$$ (11/2010)
289 E Fifth St, St. Paul
651-699-3536
heartlandrestaurant.com
