The Hot Five: Dining near Target Field

The slick speakeasy on the ground floor of the Graves 601 Hotel is the place for no-detail-spared cocktails and a tasty array of meant-to-be-shared noshes, all $10 or less and served late into the night. Hit happy hour (5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 p.m. to close Tuesday through Thursday) for a handful of decent food and drink deals. Closed Monday.

601 1st Av. N., 612-312-1821,

www.bradstreetcrafthouse.com

Classic Americana -- shrimp cocktail, meatloaf, great burgers, ice cream drinks -- served in equally classic surroundings by a platoon of friendly, fast-on-their-feet staffers. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.

50 S. 6th St., 612-746-4537

Inexpensive, made-from-scratch breakfasts, lunches and weekend brunches (and early weekday dinners; doors close at 8 p.m.). Love the huevos rancheros, the BLT and chef Susan Muskat's beautifully made bars (if there's a brownie in the case, order it), cookies, muffins and rolls. Bev's Wine Bar, M&S's just-up-the-street sibling (250 3rd Av. N., 612-337-0102), is undergoing a ballpark-influenced metamorphosis, morphing from intimate wine bar into a neighborhood liquor-beer-wine hangout. "I just put in TVs last night," said owner Peter Kirihara with a laugh. "They look pretty good."

212 3rd Av. N., 612-371-0464, www.mooseandsadies.com

MURRAY'S

Splurge on the famous Silver Butter Knife Steak (28 oz. for two, $94; 42 oz. for three, $135), a glorious strip sirloin carved tableside by some of the city's most endearing and enduring waitstaffs. Or drop into the bar for a classic cocktail and a few nibbles of the kitchen's equally famous garlic toast.

26 S. 6th St., 612-339-0909,

www.murraysrestaurant.com

It's two restaurants in one: a fantastic (and inexpensive) sold-by-the-slice counter, and a full-service restaurant and bar featuring pastas, salads, hoagies and, of course, pizzas. Check out the gluten-free menu. Weekend brunch and late-night hours, too.

119 N. 4th St., 612-333-7359, www.pizzaluce.com

RICK NELSON