So, where do you like to go when you don't feel like cooking? I don't mean special occasion places, just places where you can have an enjoyable dining experience without spending an arm and a leg.Last Sunday, we got into another one of those Sunday night situations where we just got back into town, and it's 8 p.m., and neither of us feels like cooking (which sort of makes it … [Read more...]
Food finds: Cajun food truck, Dongpo pork and Taiwan noodles
My latest food finds include a Cajun food truck in downtown Minneapolis, Dongpo pork on University Ave., and mock pork in a basement locale in Eat Street. "Look for the crawfish flag," Tim Glover told me. He doesn't serve crawfish etoufee every day, but when he has it on the menu at his Cajun2Geaux food truck, you can spot the big crawfish flag flying from the radio … [Read more...]
Minneapolis bites: Bluestem Bar & Table, Sandcastle, and 3 Tiers
Finally made it over to Bluestem Bar and Table, the cozy little bistro tucked away behind French Meadow Bakery & Cafe. BB&T and FMB&C share a kitchen, and you can actually order anything from the FMB&C menu at Bluestem, but Bluestem offers tableside service and its own menu of more upscale preparations.First impressions: I was charmed by the looks of the … [Read more...]
Date night at the Lowbrow Cafe
I've grown rather fond of the new gastro-pubs, but what I really like about the Lowbrow Cafe is that it isn't trying to be one of them. No macaroni and cheese with truffle oil. No duck confit banh mi sandwiches. Lowbrow isn't stuck in the past, but the core of their menu is classic Americana — chili, burgers, fries, and even fish sticks and deviled eggs. Even the more … [Read more...]
Origami Uptown joins the Izakaya crowd in Minneapolis
Origami Izakaya: can the Japanese restaurant be saved?I don't know if you have noticed this, but a lot of Japanese restaurants have started adding Izakaya to their name, or their menu, or both. I'm not sure which came first, but we now have Zenbox Izakaya; Wasabi has added an Izakaya and hot pot menu, Obento-ya has an Izakaya happy hour menu; and Masu Sushi and Robata has a … [Read more...]
No pizza, no pasta. What kind of Italian restaurant is Terzo Vino Bar in Minneapolis?
Actually, Broder's Terzo Vino Bar isn't an Italian restaurant. It's an Italian wine bar, with a 1,000-bottle all-Italian wine cellar, and more than 40 wines by the glass (or half-glass.) The kind of place where you might stop for a glass of Amarone and a small plate or two, after putting your name in for a table across the street at Broder's Pasta Bar. I'm a big fan of the … [Read more...]
Hidden in plain sight: Indian cuisine at Malabari Kitchen, Winner, and Hot Indian Foods
A tiny storefront without a sign. A food truck. A gas station. Indian cuisine is showing up in unexpected places.The Malabari Kitchen has been in operation since last December, in the tiny storefront previously occupied, in quick succession, by Korean, Thai, and multi-ethnic Southeast Asian restaurants. There's no sign above the door, just an awning that says Asia … [Read more...]
Eat for Equity dinner May 25 to support Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness
Eat For Equity is a wonderful volunteer-led organization that organizes fundraising dinners. Every month, they pick a different worthy cause to support, and for this month, they chose the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness. (The Twin Cities Media Alliance had its turn last year.) Eat for Equity events draw a fun group of people, mostly in their 20s.The menu … [Read more...]
Big Marina Grill & Deli in Columbia Heights: Middle Eastern and more
The buffet offerings are as varied as the clientele at Big Marina Grill & Deli, 4755 Central Ave., Columbia Heights—mostly Middle Eastern, with lamb shanks, chicken kabobs, kofta kabobs, stuffed grape leaves, grilled eggplant, felafel, hummus, tabouli, soups, samosas, baklava, and Greek and Middle Eastern salads and pastries. But there are lots of other dishes to choose … [Read more...]