122200 Wed Nov 05 16:22:03 -0800 2003 7 8 Midwest 0 664715 A friend who I haven't seen in about 15 years is coming to town for a job interview. He lives in Chicago and has spent loads of time in China. I know that I couldn't even come close to the Chinese food he's had, so I'm trying to come up with something uniquely MSP. What does everyone recommend? Thanks! Wed Nov 05 16:22:03 -0800 2003 0 Lisa 1 664718 If he gets the job, try Heartland, Vincent or Solera. If he doesn't, Mercado Central, Nye's, Big E's Soul Food or Mickey's Dining Car (OK..that one's disgusting...but certainly unique). Wed Nov 05 18:12:57 -0800 2003 664715 0 Dave 2 664729 What about that cool Cuban diner (can't remember the name)? I had breakfast there one day when I was visiting, and that was lots of fun and certainly unique. Food was tasty too. Thu Nov 06 07:39:25 -0800 2003 664718 0 Tammy Coxen 3 664736 Victor's 1959 Cafe on 38th near or on Chicago. Not open for dinner, I believe. Thu Nov 06 12:45:24 -0800 2003 664729 0 michael 4 664754 Actually it's on 38th and Grand. Thu Nov 06 22:13:55 -0800 2003 664736 0 Plautus 1 664723 Singapore! at 56th St. and 34th Av. in south Minneapolis is a pretty good bet for Malaysian-Ethiopian cuisine. Granted most of the dishes borrow from one more than the other, but there are some fusion options there. Heartland at Fairview and St. Clair in St. Paul does a good job emphasizing and using primarily locally grown ingredients. Bakery on Grand at 38th and Grand in south Minneapolis also has some unique offerings. And I mean for dinner. But uniquely MSP? Nye's. Wed Nov 05 22:20:00 -0800 2003 664715 0 Brad Ballinger 1 664731 Why not try Babani's, the first (and only?) Kurdish restaurant in the US. Not really uniquely MSP, but certainly unique. Link: http://www.babanis.com/ Thu Nov 06 09:46:32 -0800 2003 664715 0 Sven 1 664781 Sri Lanka Curry House + Curry Leaf Deli was at one time unique. They were, according to them, the only Sri Lankan restaurants in the US. The last time I ate at the reborn Sri Lanka Curry House, I didn't really thnk it was as good as it once was. Curry Leaf is gone. Replaced by Everest on Grand, a Nepalese place that might be unique. Punch Pizza would be a good bet for uniqueness. Vietnamese is generally pretty good here, on University, east of Dale or Nicollet between 28th and 24th. Saigon Bakery, Trei Chau, Quang, Pho Cadoa, Pho 79, etc... There is one lone Cambodian place on Univeristy, Cheng Heng. That's gotta be high on the unique scale. Mickey's is unique in Mpls, but not unique to Mpls. Greasy spoons are everywhere and in many ways similar to Mickey's. For a more unique greasy spoon experience, try the Gopher bar for butter-fried coney dogs. Bring a long a big jar of Tums. Chicago has better high-end mexican at Frontera Grill, so I might steer clear of mexican. Sun Nov 09 12:31:37 -0800 2003 664715 0 Jim Grinsfelder