A steakhouse in Lowry Hill? Seriously?? A few short blocks from Birdhouse and the Namaste Cafe and the Wedge Co-op and Tao Natural Foods? (Okay, it's also a few short blocks from Rudolph's and Lee's Liquor Lounge, but let's not complicate this story.)The idea is so crazy that it just might work. Actually, to judge by the weekend crowds, the idea is working just fine.Who would … [Read more...]
Northeast Minneapolis taproom tour: Dangerous Man Brewing, Indeed Brewing, and 612 Brew
I came late to the Northeast Minneapolis taproom party—so late that I almost didn't get in. The first taproom in northeast, Indeed Brewing, opened back in August, but I didn't get around to touring the new tasting rooms until last Friday. It was one of those spur-of-the-moment things. The first stop on the planned itinerary was Dangerous Man at 1300 2nd Street N.E. The … [Read more...]
Rincón 38: Terrific tapas in South Minneapolis
Just when I was starting to worry that my palate had become permanently jaded, along comes Rincón 38. Hector Ruiz and Erin Ungerman's new tapas bar at 38th and Grand in Minneapolis is one of the most exciting new restaurants I have visited in a long time.There's a useful distinction to be made here between exciting and memorable. I've had a few memorable dining experiences over … [Read more...]
Smack Shack restaurant: Same great lobster rolls, minus some of the funky charm
I love the original Smack Shack—the food truck that parks downtown on Marquette Avenue during the warmer months and sells lobster rolls and shrimp po boys. The lobster rolls are delicious, and there is definitely a huge cool factor to a gourmet food truck. A food truck isn't literally a shack, but it's kind of the same idea—great food, no frills.I also loved discovering that I … [Read more...]
Twin Cities fish fries and the power of prayer
Do you believe in the power of prayer?I have always been skeptical, but an experience I had yesterday has made me reconsider.I was sitting around thinking about the fact that my weekly deadline for my column was only 24 hours away, and I didn't have anything to write about. This reminds me of my Jewish agnostic mother, who spent most of her teaching career at Catholic … [Read more...]
India Cafe in Bloomington: Good food, no frills
I got a friendly but challenging note the other day from Waheda Yasmin, owner of the India Cafe in Bloomington. She had read one of my articles—South Asian Adventures: Gorkha Palace, Bombay Bistro, Bombay Palace—published last June in the Daily Planet. "I like the news," she wrote. "But to my understanding you have not tried the real authentic taste of Indian food. I want to … [Read more...]
Borough: a cure for the jaded palate
I can’t say that I was really looking forward to the arrival of Burough and Parlour, the new restaurant and cocktail bar In the North Loop, with very much enthusiasm. Maybe I am just getting jaded, or bored, but it seems like every week, some new hipster hangout opens up somewhere in Minneapolis (why so seldom in St. Paul?), and they mostly seem to follow a familiar formula – … [Read more...]
Barbary Fig: Cuisine of the Maghreb on Grand Avenue in St. Paul
I have never quite understood why the cuisine of the Maghreb — that is, north Africa west of Egypt — isn't more popular in the United States. It's really a Mediterranean cuisine, closely related in style to Italian and Spanish and Turkish and Middle Eastern, with many of the same ingredients: tomatoes and peppers and olives and capers, fresh seafood, dates and flaky … [Read more...]
City Afrique – the flavor of Liberia in north Minneapolis
I first found out about City Afrique, the Liberian restaurant at 4326 Lyndale Ave. N. in north Minneapolis by reading Margo Ashmore's excellent Northside News series on the north Minneapolis dining scene, recently republished in the Twin Cities Daily Planet. (See also Food Service from Glenwood to Broadway and Where does North Minneapolis go for night … [Read more...]