Minneapolis
I'm moving there in 2009 and I was wondering of any good places to eat/ grocery stores. Also, what famuos chains are in that area?
Thanks!
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15 Comments:
Are you moving to Minneapolis proper or one of the suburbs?
cfinke at 10:53PM on 09/21/08
Wow, what a broad question! Of course there are plenty of amazing restaurants! You're going to love it. What neighborhood are you moving to? What kind of food are you looking for?
We've got Trader Joe's (S. Mpls/St. Louis Park), Byerly's and Lunds (higher end grocery stores) and co-ops in various neighborhoods. We've got all kinds of restaurant chains. Any specifics you're looking for?
Check out these local blogs for food news and reviews:
Dear Dara
City Pages Restaurant section
LiveToEat at 10:59PM on 09/21/08
Within Minneapolis you will find all sorts of independently owned restaurants and other sources of great food. We have Lunds, Byerly's, Cub, Rainbow, Co-ops, and other independent sources of locally grown food. Why would anyone want the frozen tundra of Trader Joe's is beyond me. (Byerly's is now owned by Lunds but still offers great groceries). I live in SW Mpls - I am walking distance of a butcher, breadmaker, and at least four grocery stores. In addition - there are farms that will deliver produce on a weekly basis.
We have chains - the suburbs and the city are full of em.
bravian at 11:08PM on 09/21/08
Sorry forgot to mention that I'm going to be living in faculty housing for the U of M, so I'm assuming it's right on campus? lol. I'm so lost. Thanks for the comments though!!
smile at 12:13AM on 09/22/08
Are locally raised meats available?
smile at 12:15AM on 09/22/08
Oh my gosh, yes! MN has a very, very strong streak of environmentalism and pride in their land (you'll realize soon after getting here that just about everybody has found a way to buy a little bit of lakefront property with a cabin somewhere in the state's wilderness, even the lower-middle class folks.) Being in touch with nature is a major priority here. Because of that, there's enormous pride in locally-produced meats, cheeses, produce, etc. The slow food/locavore scene is huge here (you may have noticed that a disproportionately sizable chunk of the posters here are Twin Citiesians). There are even several meat CSA's. We also have absolutely no lack of fine dining options, and at prices that are actually quite a bit cheaper than what you'd pay for similar meals on the coasts or in Chicago.
tacroy80 at 11:54AM on 09/22/08
Are you kidding! We have it all! If you go to the farmer's markets, you can get locally raised and sometimes organic fruits, vegetabls and even meat, from lamb to goat to bison! It's wonderful.
Aside from those listed above, try the Midtown Global market for a smaller version of United Noodle (any kinf od Asian food that you want, including durian - frozen of course), or their larger edition off of Highway 55. There is also Bill's Imported foods (Mediterranean).
As far as chain restuarants, we have the traditional Perkins, McD's, et cetera. You cuold try Granite City Brewery, which is a regional chain with decent food, or J. Doolittle's. Otherwise, I would stick with the independent ones.
For a great list, first check out that link to the City Pages, then try vitamn.com
Also, Grand Avenue in Saint Paul (if you feel like crossing over to my side) has FABULOUS places to eat, from Tibetan to Neapolitan pizza to Afghani! You are going to be in heaven!
Traveller at 1:07PM on 09/22/08
Whole Foods is in MPLS. All kinds of places to eat in MPLS.
suburbangourmet at 2:14PM on 09/22/08
@traveller, actually that link is vita.mn and they have a lot of reviews and info on what's happening around the cites.
There are a ton of locally-minded restaurants, including the Common Roots Cafe and the Red Stag (which is owned by the same people as Barbette and Bryant Lake Bowl, two of my favorite Uptown restaurants).
LiveToEat at 2:25PM on 09/22/08
Check out http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/ for more information on CSAs, locally raised meats, and farmers markets.
chefschmitty at 3:06PM on 09/22/08
If you are going to be on the U of M Campus - then the places you'll encounter first are in DinkyTown (yes, I'm completely serious) -- this might help: About">http://www.dinkytownminneapolis.com/about/index.asp>About DinkyTown !!
MADFUD at 6:02PM on 09/22/08
Thanks guys! I've already heard such great things about Minnesota so this makes me even more at ease moving there (my hubby-to-be just got a job there). I really am impressed by your attitudes towards your state.
smile at 7:46PM on 09/22/08
OK, places to eat around campus...
-- You're practically required to eat at Al's Breakfast in Dinkytown, although to be honest in 5 years there and 14 years in the area I never have (we have Fat Nat's Eggs and Eggies close by, so we're fine).
-- My wife and I love Campus Pizza. YMMV, since pizza tastes vary so widely.
-- If you even kind of of like beer or pub food, check out Town Hall Brewery. Highly recommended.
There's many more, but those are the closest ones can come up with this late. Good luck!
mngiggle at 12:05AM on 09/23/08
Places I LOVE to eat in Minneapolis:
Hell's Kitchen - lemon ricotta pancakes, wild rice Indian porridge (try it, you will love it!), cocoa to die for, and servers in their p.j.s on the weekends
Vincent - the steak tartare was perfect and came with a raw egg, the fries are crispy and come with bearnaise, the burger really IS the best in town, and the whole room makes you feel like you are in the quintessential French restaurant.
Izzy's - all right, it's in St. Paul, but the ice cream is unbelievable, especially the salted caramel, and I love the "Izzy scoop", which is a mini scoop that comes on top of your regular scoop.)
Leeann Chin - yes, I know it is Americanized Chinese food, but the shrimp toasts are very high on my guilty pleasure list (when you can get them to make them -- they are not on the current menu, but the used to be available from the location that was in the food hall in Dayton's)
And of course, the best eating in Minneapolis is at the State Fair. Truly a spectacular spread. Honey ice cream, frozen cider pops, french fries, honey lemonade, Sweet Martha's chocolate chip cookies, pork chops, fried cheese curds, milkshakes . . . mmmmm . . . State Fair!!
Enjoy, and remember to keep kitty litter, a shovel, boots, and a blanket in the back of your car from October to March! Shovelling snow all winter is the perfect way to slim down after eating all of the Fair food!
Mizbee at 12:49AM on 09/23/08
If you are living on campus, the closest co-op is Seward, which is in the process of building a larger facility. Within walking distance of campus you can get Thai, Ethiopian, Chinese (including a Chinese bakery), and Japanese food. You'll be a short drive/ bike ride from Coastal Seafood, which is the area's best seafood purveyor, and United Noodle (mentioned above). There's also the Triple Rock, which has awesome chili cheese fries, available meat or vegan (and they have other stuff too). Pizza Luce is nearby, and there are all sorts of restaurants on Washington Avenue between Nicollet Mall and the U, including Cue at the Guthrie and Spoonriver, which are fancy-type places. I think there's better food to be had on the West Bank side of campus than in Dinkytown, which tends to be more under-grad-focused.
thatgrrl at 9:31AM on 09/23/08