Really, any Parasole restaurant. Particularly Burger Jones if you want great beer, and good hamburgers!
Places with great beer/wine lists, that are great for an evening out with parents:
Red Stag, French Meadow, Blacksheep pizza, Blackbird Cafe, the Lowry, Pizza Lucce. These places are about $10-$20 an entre depending on what you get, have great atmosphere, and great food.
If you want places only within the downtown area:
Try Blacksheep pizza, Butcher and the Boar (both located downtown). They are slightly upscale casual.
If you are looking for neighborhoods, try uptown, by lake street. There are three gorgeous lakes to the east of the city that become a center of activity.
North of downtown, on the other side of the rive is a serious of shops and restaurants that are wonderful and offer great views of the river and downtown.
Finally, if you like coffee these are the local roasters that are the best:
Bull Run.
Dogwood. (My personal favorite)
Peace Coffee.
Moonshine (can be found at Quixotic Coffee in St Paul).(My other favorite)
As an aside, Angry Cat Fish brews delicious Intelligentsia in a shared space bike shop.
Vietnamese: Quangs or Pho 79
Ethiopian: Great tap selection at the Blue Nile. More traditional as Fasik's in St Paul.
Casual Cafe: French Meadow, Lucia's. Foxy Falafel. Northbound Smokehouse Brewpub
More formal: Alma. Tillia. Victory 44. Butcher and the Boar.
Japanese: For soups, Obento-ya is my favorite. Many like the atmosphere of Masu. I think Obento-ya is slightly better, but they are both solid choices. For suhsi, everyone likes Fuji-ya.
If you want to sample the local cocktails, these are the MUSTs.
1. Marvel. Located in the basement downtown, they only serve cocktails, and non will dissapoint.
2. La Belle vie, located in an hotel by the modern art museum, The walker.
3. Eat Street Social.
4. Ice House.
I was excited while at the Chicago Airport to find a stand which reportedly brewed Intelligensia, and disappointed to find that it was brewed with a poor-quality percolator.
I too have taken my aeropress and pre-ground coffee to the airport!
Meant to include a helpful rating!
I've made this a couple of times with fried tofu instead of chicken. Absolutely delicious, and everyone I have made it for has been very pleased and impressed!
Pleased to see the great turnout from Minnesota/Wisconsin!
Surly! Harriet! Dave's Brewfarm! Lucid! Boom Island! Central Waters!
I made this recipe, and was very pleased! I found the sauce amazingly rich. Solid recipe- thanks for the post!
I made these, as my first experience with pork cheeks (or braising meat, to be honest).
Absolutely delicious, everything I would have hoped for. Served with homemade fried polenta. Y
Will make again, and definitely recommend. Thank you!
This recipe has become our standard pizza recipe- its the first time I have been happy with pizza dough that has come out of my home oven!
We make this all the time, and I'm very great full!
The only time the pizza did not turn out well was when we left it to rise for 24 hours in the pan with oil- the oil soaked into the bread and was kind of a greasy mess. A note to others if they are wondering if they can let the dough sit extensively.
I have also had success with spreading the dough over two trays for thinner crust pizza for a change of pace.
I made this for a pot luck, and everyone immediately asked for the recipe. I am making it for the third time in a week, I've enjoyed it so much.
Like many, I didn't stick to the recommended amounts of pepper. I just ground up as much fresh pepper as I thought I could stand and added it to the dish.
Love the recipe, thanks for the post!
I used to say, "quin-noah"
But since looking up the correct pronunciation, and getting confused looks from those who have no clue what I'm talking out,
I'm a "KEEN-wah" person full time.
It's my favorite rice-alternative.
I have found this post incredibly helpful. I hadn't realized I had so many options outside the Hario. I now find myself needing to shell out more massive amounts of money for coffee toys. Great write up! Thanks!
Made "Squash and Fennel Soup with Candied Pumpkin Seeds", and it was lovely, though not my own personal preferred taste profile.
I just made Curried Squash And Apple Soup last night. I adore this soup. Delicious, complex, spicy, sweet. Will make again, and I am thrilled for the receipe recomendation.
These soups were great ideas to use up all the winter squash I have from my CSA.
I look forward to trying more! Thanks for the post!
Although I'm a cleanse-skeptic, I am really enjoying my vicarious experience through your accounts.
I look forward to each day's posts! Keep up the great entries!
My recommendation would be to go somewhere that roasts their own beans, and does pour over coffee. They likely will have the most flavorful, rich coffee as their base, and hopefully great local milk and cream.
I don't see how you could go wrong.
Maybe "not just coffee"
http://notjustcoffeeclt.com/
This made me smile a little.
I just got back from portland, and this is another one of my highlights from the trip- just a quick jump across the bridge from the main portland city!
The bagels were chewy, soft, crispy..
I had the BELT, which had a beautiful poached egg oozing over bacon for a savory overload
And a bagel with hummus and vegetables, a plentiful garden atop a pillowy bun.
I thought about these two bagels throughout the rest of my trip.
Thank you for the recommendation! I would never have found this place if not for you, SE!
This place was the HIGHLIGHT of my trip to portland Maine (only an 8mile bike ride south of the city).
AMAZING view from of the ocean from the shack, with huge crushing waves over scenic rocks.
The best lobster roll I had there, and the bluberry pie was amazing as well.
I highly recommend anyone near this area at all to check it out.
And thanks again, Serious Eats, for the amazing recommendation!
Just got back from Portland Maine- will agree that the poutine at Duck Fat is a must, must must!
Crisp, savory, and lovely romantic casual cafe atmosphere.
I just returned from a trip to Portland- and visited this Italian grocer based on the recommendations. I had before only had Sicilian pizza, courtesy of the recipe here on Serious Eats.
This pizza was just as amazing as the post makes it out to be. Definitely, Definitely a must have if you are visiting the area.
Thank you, thank you, serious eats, for the recommendation!
I will second the smittenkitchen recommendation.
Here is a link for you: http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/07/project-wedding-cake-ta-da/
After all the taco posts recently, I feel this question is topical, even as fall is (I pretend) fairly far away.
I plan to have a marriage reception in the fall, and will serve tacos, as I find these a simple to pre-prepare, yet elegant food.
Does anyone have any ideas for fall-style tacos? Salsas/vegetable slaws with more of a fall theme?
Has anyone ever tried a parsnip salsa?
Thanks for any suggestions!
A friend of mine recently made this amazing salsa/dip from a recipe of his grandmother's.
I have been looking for a recipe like it online, and can find none! Anyone familiar with peurto rican cooking?
The dip is green, and has a consistenecy of very liquid pesto. Has a very strong vinegar taste, and lots of oil. An essential ingredient is a cactus (looks like a green spiny flower) that you do NOT eat.
I am also becomming interested in Peurto Rican food, a cuisine I have not really explored. Anyone know any great blogs for this food cuisine?
I am privileged to borrow my out-of-town friend's Cuisinart. I am fantasizing about whipping up a multitude of nut butters this weekend.
Does anyone have any ideas for unique nut butters? Either spices or interesting combination?
In addition, how long can I expect them to last in the fridge?
Thank you!
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I gave a bottle of the beer to some friends as a gift last year- now I lament I didn't pick up a bottle for myself at the time as well- I wasn't aware then of the beer's fame!
They reported back that their bottle was one of the recalls. But, they apparently dug the funky sour-esque off flavors of the recalled bottled.