Minneapolis/St. Paul
Dining And Drinking

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There are endless places to enjoy lunch or dinner in the Twin Cities. Anyway you slice it, you are bound to come up with a place that serves good food. The vast mix of ethnic influences in this northern city surprises many people. If you thought the "Frozen North" was comprised of Scandinavians munching on lutefisk and lefse, think again (though you can get those items, too!). Over the years, as the population grew, different groups have added their specialties to the mix. Though the restaurants and bars are spread out all over the place, some areas have a noticeably larger concentration than others.

Known as "Eat Street", Nicollet Avenue, in Minneapolis offers a variety of delicious fare. Taco Morelos is hot, hot, hot, but you can cool off in the German beer garden at The Black Forest Inn. The area south of downtown across the river in St. Paul is known as the West side (cardinal directions notwithstanding) and is home to a large concentration of Mexican-Americans. Me Gusta on Robert Street is cozy and bright; it's a small place but the food is great! Boca Chica is like walking into a Mexican hacienda, with a buffet on Sundays. Enjoy one of the best margaritas in town in their Cielito Lindo Lounge.

For another great selection of dining options, wander over to Grand Avenue in St. Paul, where many ethnic flavors are represented, from North African at the Barbary Fig to regional specialties at The Tavern on Grand (that would be walleye). Southern fare is the treat at Dixie's, Saji-Ya, in the same building, offers sushi. Local pub favorites are on the menu at Sweeney's Saloon & Café, and it's American, cafeteria-style with a view at Café Latte. For Vietnamese, The Lotus is a gem, and Greek eats can be had at the Acropol Inn. The pubs here are fun and often crowded, especially during the school year, but the crowds are generally well-behaved. Try Billy's for games and some loud fun; your best bet for a quiet drink is the Wild Onion or The Tavern on Grand. For more opulence, try The Lexington.

In the area of Snelling and Selby, you will find Taste of Thailand in an old storefront. The ambience is sparse, but the food is right on the money. Alternately, head up Snelling to the St. Clair Broiler, where the fish-fry during Lent always draws crowds.

Cathedral Hill always gathers the young professional crowd on the weekends, whether it's for a good bottle of wine or a good game of pool. Fun spots like Fabulous Fern's, Costello's, and Chang O'Hara's will be standing room only on most nights. For a more sedate dining experience, try WA Frost or a romantic dinner at Tulips. Want something a little different? It's Russian at Moscow on the Hill or Puerto Rican at Puerta Azul.

On the other side of St. Paul you have your pick of many Asian restaurants. Along University Avenue you will find many regions represented, including Vietnam, Cambodia, and Korea.
Try Shuang Cheng in Dinkytown for the best Chinese, or Leann Chin's in downtown St. Paul's Union Depot.

Further down Snelling there is another Famous Dave's BBQ plus Greek, Mediterranean, and Korean choices. Many of the basic chain restaurants are clustered around Rosedale Mall. For the health-conscious diner, try The Good Earth, near Rosedale on the frontage road. You wont know what to order it all sounds so good, and best of all, it is good for you!

If you need a good place for a business lunch or dinner in downtown St. Paul try Christo's Greek Restaurant in the Union Depot, Kincaid's Fish, Chop & Steak House, or Carousel atop the Radisson Hotel St. Paul. You can always grab a quick bite in one of the skyway lunch shops or a burger in one of the pubs. Cossetta's on West Seventh is the choice for great pizza or Italian deli treats.

Downtown Minneapolis business diners can't go wrong at Manny's Steakhouse, Sawatdee Thai Restaurant, or with a little drama at Ichiban Steakhouse. Sample Scandinavian fare in elegance at Aquavit.For those without an expense account, the Old Spaghetti Factory offers an excellent menu amid Victorian surroundings. A little closer to Dayton's (Marshall Field's), D'Amico, Brothers Deli and the Loon Café are lunch favorites. In a hurry? Try one of the many little lunch diners in the meandering Skyway System. For a great happy hour, join the crowd at Kieran's Irish Pub, The Little Wagon, or Lyon's Pub.

Perhaps the best area for satisfying the palate is Uptown. One of the newest and hippest places in this area is Chino Latino, hot zone food in a cosmopolitan atmosphere worthy of New York or L.A. Try Campaniello, for Sunday brunch, Lucia for its excellent wine bar, Moghals for Indian fare, and Chiang Mai Thai for its great food and service. Figlio is a stalwart of coolness, and the staff are always willing to customize your order. Try Leaning Tower of Pizza for a great happy hour and pizza, and of course, Famous Dave's with the El going over and blues bands nightly. Bar Abilene is the place to try if you think Tex-Mex is just tacos and ground beef. The tamales are rapturous!

For an elegant night out, enjoy dinner at a posh restaurant in one of the Victorian mansions around town. Forepaugh's never fails to serve excellent French cuisine in a quaint setting, and the Vintage offers a great wine selection and American/Italian fare. For a more contemporary flair, Sophia is a slow-dance haven serving an American menu with a regional flair.

Nordeast is an underrated area for great food. Don't miss Jax Café, which is really more the quintessential supper club, with surf and turf and excellent service in a refined atmosphere. This area is known for its eastern European food offerings, as many of those immigrants set up shop on this side of town. Mayslack's Polka Lounge serves a legendary one-pound hot roast beef sandwich.

Drinking

Minnesota is also known as The Land of Sky Blue Waters, and this was not lost on the beer-brewing industry. The area has been home to many large-scale breweries over the years, including Stroh's, Hamm's, Grain Belt Beer, Landmark and Schmidt. Many joints around town brew their own. Try Rock Bottom Brewery in Minneapolis or get the brew sampler at O'Gara's Bar and Grille in St. Paul. If there's no house brew, you are sure to be able to find regional specialties offered on tap.

The prevalence of pubs in recent years has not missed the area either. The Dubliner is located in a neighborhood that used to cater to truckers and blue-collar workers. Now it offers live Irish music most nights. Drain a Guinness while you watch the Irish dancers practice in the afternoon. Happy hour is shoulder to shoulder. Brit's Pub brings England to Minneapolis, complete with a bowling green on the roof.

Of course, anywhere around the colleges or universities is a party waiting to happen. The area called Seven Corners near the West Bank is often jumping, and the Warehouse District in Minneapolis is another favorite. Most of the bars serve good food, beyond the typical average pub fare.

The suburbs all hold their own little secrets, and there are many fantastic places waiting to be discovered. With the early influence of the Germans and Scandinavians and later of the Mexicans, Indians, and Asians, along with a little Middle Eastern flair, the Twin Cities are a dining bonanza. Whether you dine in a little mom-and-pop joint or amidst swank elegance, the fare here is sure to please.