128 Cafe. Photo by Steve Rice128 Cafe
- American
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The coziness continues under new ownership, which has spiffed up the signature knotty pine ambience and retained several can't-miss dishes, including what might be the city's best ribs. When co-owners Brock and Natalie Obee called it quits in June 2007 after 11 great years, server Jill Wilson stepped in and bought the place lock, stock and recipe. Cafe 128, version 2.0, is still a swell just-under-the-radar charmer. Chef Ian Pierce is a master of the restaurant's signature dish, slowly braised pork baby back ribs. Other highlights: fork-tender beef tenderloin in an exceptional red wine demi-glace; pan-roasted chicken served with creamy polenta and a robust bacon-rosemary pan sauce; tender cod cakes with energetic Thai flavors, and zesty harissa-glazed shrimp. --Rick Nelson
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These guys know what they are doing. They make a fantastic burger and fantastic fries. I usually stick with the Paul Molitor, a pepper jack-filled Juicy Lucy. The bun is just right, the burger isn't too big, and the meat has always been cooked just about right. Start with the fries -- they'll be hot, but it is better to have a hot fry than to have molten cheese shoot out at you and burn the dickens out of your mouth. Eat a couple dozen fries and by then the cheese will have cooled off enough to start the burger. You'll have to eat it all without putting it down at that point, otherwise the cheese will all drip out. Some of this is OK because it'll land on your fries, giving you delicious cheesy fries to finish up with. --pbrmeasap
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The Groveland Tap has everything you want in a cozy neighborhood bar, and then some. Starting with the most important thing: The beer selection is amazing (all the great local/regional beers on tap) and happy hour is every day. The atmosphere is comfortable and fun and the service is consistently friendly and fast. Keep in mind that the food is bar food and not fancy gastro-pub fare, but it is really good bar food. The burgers are delicious; I especially like the Garden Burger and Kitchen Sink Burger with fried egg. (Sadly, the turkey burger is not as good as at the Longfellow Grill.) The broaster chicken is a nice treat for bar food and pretty tasty -- plus it's all-you-can-eat on Sunday nights. Taco Thursdays are also pretty great. For my dime, I'll take the fried pickles and JoJo fries with a cold Summit any day. --crousu
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Momo at Everest on Grand. File photo
- Cecil's Deli: Deli. New York-style Jewish deli. Serves borscht, potato pancakes and vegetarian dishes.
- Everest on Grand: Asian. A mix of Nepalese and Tibetan cuisine, with many vegetarian dishes.
- Highland Grill: American. Eclectic neighborhood restaurant serving everything from Elvis burgers (with bacon, cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion and garlic) to grilled yellowfin tuna.
- Pad Thai Grand Cafe: Thai. Curries, noodles, vegetarian dishes.
- St. Clair Broiler: American. Classic diner fare, including burgers, grilled sandwiches, comfort food classics and a wide selection of breakfast options, served all day.
- Taste of Thailand: Thai curries, soups, salads and stir-fries, authentically prepared.
- Tiffany's Sports Lounge: American. Called simply Tiff's by the regulars, this well-established St. Paul sports bar offers the standard menu of appetizers, a variety of burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads and daily specials.
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Blue Door Pub. Photo by David Joles
- Blue Door Pub: American. In just a few short years of operation, Blue Door Pub has captured a strong following by offering gourmet and international twists on cheese-stuffed Jucy Lucy hamburgers and other casual pub grub. A good selection of local beer (including offerings from the Stillwater-based Lift Bridge Brewery) means that if you can make your way through the crowd, you'll have something satisfying with which to douse the scalding cheese expelled from the center of your burger. --James Norton
- Khyber Pass Cafe: Afghan. While there aren't many Afghan eateries in the Twin Cities, Khyber Pass does a fine job of representing its home turf -- flavorful, well-balanced interpretations of fare such as kormas, kebabs, and a range of lamb dishes make a visitor's meal a culinary journey.
- Luci Ancora: Italian. Northern Italian cuisine.
- Shish: Middle Eastern. The name actually refers to shish kabobs (they serve great Middle Eastern food) and not the hookah tobacco. But when evening rolls around, the eatery's sidewalk cafe is often packed with hookah smokers.
- Twisted Fork Grille: American. An outgrowth of the Green Mill restaurant chain, Twisted Fork takes its parent company's casual dining up a notch and introduces local and seasonal touches. Daily specials and twists to familiar items lend interest to an otherwise accessible American menu.
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- Ristorante Luci: Italian. Very popular, noisy neighborhood cafe specializing in regional Italian cuisine. Reservations recommended. Vegetarian plates.
