121864 Sun Aug 17 00:06:57 -0700 2003 10 8 Midwest 0 663023 Can anyone recommend good French and/or Middle Eastern restaurants in the Twin Cities? A co-worker's mom is visiting the area for the first time, so I thought I'd ask the experts! Thanks. Sun Aug 17 00:06:57 -0700 2003 0 foodlover 1 663025 An expensive French restaurant (and one of the best in town) is Vincent, downtown. Cheaper and OK is Pierre's Bistro on 50th & Penn. Middle Eastern-wise, there's a number of good cheap joints, e.q., Sindbad's on Nicollet, which has a terrific lunch buffet for $8, with tender and flavorful shawirma (aka gyros). Emily's Lebanese Delicatessen, a neighborhood place in Nordeast has great spinach pies and tabouli. Is Greek middle eastern? One of my favorite local restaurants is Gardens of Salonika, just off East Hennepin. Excellent food, reasonable prices. Sun Aug 17 09:03:41 -0700 2003 663023 0 Plautus 1 663026 There are a few I like in the Twin Cities that fit your needs, In Stillwater a French/Med. fusion fine dining, La Belle Vie, excellent at everything on the menu, it is expensive but the service and quality of food are beyond reproach. I also have heard very good things about Vincent, on Nicolet Ave.. Middle Eastern food it seems can be found everywhere in Minneapolis. My favorites are all found on Centeral Ave. North, Working my way north. The Cresent Moon Bakery, they sell terrific Afgani breads and have some Afgan sampler platters that are just great. Great Atmosphere too and very friendly staff. The Olive Tree, very inexpensive, Ethiopian and Indian foods but all very fresh and home made authentic. Cedar Valley Deli and Bakery is a Lebanese deli of sorts, you can get just about any kind of food you want there, and Roger in the hot deli area makes sandwiches and breads fresh all day long. Extremely helpful staff and great service. Vist our website for maps and phone numbers for these places. We mostly cover Southeastern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin, but I grew to love these places in Minneapolis so we have reviewed some places in Minneapolis and St. Paul area. Link: http://www.livingthegoodlife.us Sun Aug 17 09:17:53 -0700 2003 663023 0 Kraig 1 663051 Athens Cafe in Robbinsdale has some great Middle Eastern foods as well. Mon Aug 18 13:58:14 -0700 2003 663023 0 Danny 1 663053 Lake Elmo Inn is on the French side, and their Sunday Brunch is semi-famous. I thought Savorys in Stillwater was also French and a less expensive then La Belle Vie. Ceasers, the other wine bar in Stillwater, has an excellent cheese platter and a large selection of well priced red-wines. Mon Aug 18 14:26:26 -0700 2003 663023 0 muD 1 663076 Not sure how far east you consider middle-east but Da Afghan serves very good food. Mon Aug 18 22:35:05 -0700 2003 663023 0 StephenB 1 663087 I'm pretty sure that David Fhima cooks in a French/Mediterranean (possibly west Med.) style. He currently has Mpls Cafe in dt Minneapolis and Fhima's in dt St. Paul. Both would probably be good fancy places to take a Mom. Kevin Tue Aug 19 15:20:00 -0700 2003 663023 0 kcmarshall 1 663101 Here are my favorites: French - Vincent in Minneapolis Greek - Athens Cafe in Robbinsdale Afghan - Khyber Pass in St. Paul Kurdish - Babani's in St. Paul (though it is a little inconsistent) Lebanese - Cedar Deli in Columbia Heights Tue Aug 19 20:39:48 -0700 2003 663023 0 Josh Resnik 1 663157 I've always enjoyed Barbary Fig, on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. They do Middle Eastern/Mediterranean food with a large French influence. They also have very nice outside seating on a deck. Thu Aug 21 14:39:27 -0700 2003 663023 0 Dasha 1 663180 Second the Barbary Fig. Haj trained in France and grew up in Tunisia or Algeria. Best fish and vegetables in town. Fri Aug 22 13:00:23 -0700 2003 663023 0 Michael Florey--St. Paul/MN 1 663259 After La Belle Vie this is the best French restaurant in town. Link: http://www.twinix.com/lunch/vincent_restaurant.htm Tue Aug 26 20:08:36 -0700 2003 663023 0 Alan Ward