122570 Sat Mar 13 15:15:13 -0800 2004 8 8 Midwest 0 666576 I'be in MLPS first weekend in April, have reservations Sat. night at Origami. C'est bueno, no? Any menu rec's? Looking for a small romantic late dinner Fri. and divey/local spots for breakfast/lunch on Sat. & Sun. Will have car. Continually seeking the world's finest cheeseburger. And pizza. Any points between KC & Mlps of note also appriciated. Comfortable with the highest of highbrow and the lowest of lowbrow. Thanks Sat Mar 13 15:15:13 -0800 2004 0 stateliner 1 666577 For cheeseburgers, you have to try the local specialty the jucy lucy. A jucy lucy is cheese sandwiched between 2 hamburger patties. My favorites are at the 58 Club, which is far south on Cedar Avenue, just past Hwy 62 and Adrian's on Chicago and 54th. I lean towards the 58 Club because the dining room is nonsmoking and you can choose what kind of cheese you get on your jucy lucy. The other places put American cheese on it. Another big local favorite is Matt's on Cedar/34th, but they only serve 3-2 beer. I don't think that their hamburger meat is as good as the other places. A great breakfast place is Maria's on Franklin/11th Ave. She's Columbian and has the best pancakes in town. For a fun, cheap hippy breakfast go to the Seward Cafe on Franklin and 22nd Avenue. Sat Mar 13 17:51:31 -0800 2004 666576 0 Lisa 2 666598 Matt's now serves strong beer. Mon Mar 15 13:56:48 -0800 2004 666577 0 Brad Ballinger 1 666581 I had a damn good cheeseburger last weekend at Casper & Runyon's Nook on Hamline Ave. in St. Paul (492 S. Hamline, just off Randolph Ave.). Didn't try the Jucy Lucy there, but the cheeseburger with fried onions was terrific. Hell's Kitchen on 10th Street off Nicollet in downtown Minneapolis has good breakfast/brunch/lunch food; not cheap, though. There's a great record store (Let It Be) and comics shop (Big Brain) on the same block if your tastes run that way. Ideas for a romantic late dinner Friday: Bakery on Grand, 3804 Grand Ave S., Minneapolis Cafe Barbette, 1600 W Lake St, Minneapolis Restaurant Alma, 528 University Ave SE, Minneapolis Sun Mar 14 15:57:41 -0800 2004 666576 0 McGeary 2 666587 The best burger I've had recently is the "Herkiburger" at Herkimer Pub & Brewery on Lyndale. They'll actually cook it medium rare for you, and the raspberry barbecue sauce is reminiscent of the "Claim sauce" from Chicago's Claim Company. (High praise, believe me.) Comes with sauteed onions and mushrooms and cheese, I believe. This is an exceptionally smoky room, though, so I try to go there during off-hours. The Sample Room (on Marshall Ave. NE) does a really nice Angus beef burger with blue cheese. Again, smoky room, crowded -- go during off-hours. Matt's Bar and the 5-8 Club both do a nice Jucy Lucy (not a typo). That's two patties with a hunk of American cheese sealed between them. The cheese turns molten, and you have to be careful eating it to avoid a mess and/or third degree burns. Worth the risk, though. :) Lyon's Pub downtown also does a good cheeseburger -- not really memorable, but competent. Mon Mar 15 10:55:25 -0800 2004 666581 0 Jordan 1 666588 Best breakfast in town is the Tex-Mex at Grandview Grill. Corner of Fairview and Grand in St. Paul -- easy to get to from anywhere. It's monstrous. Other good breakfasts are Al's Breakfast, 413 14th Ave SE in Dinkytown (14 seat counter, so expect a wait) and Keys Cafe (several locations, I prefer Raymond Ave in St. Paul, 1/2 block north of University). If you go to Keys there, check out Chet's Taverna as an option for your "small romantic" dinner. It's wonderful. Local ingredients and game, intimate neighborhood atmosphere. My menu rec for Origami is to ignore it. Sit at the sushi bar and get omakase. Last time I was there, I had a blowout meal, sashimi and hot items mixed (I suggested to the chef that I prefer sashimi) -- 2+ hours of enjoyment, $65 (no drinks, not including tip) Similar meals will cost double that on either coast. If you don't want to spend that much, you can still do the omakase, but end it earlier...just tell them what you want to spend. Our most highly regarded pizza is the neopolitan style at Punch. Go to the original location at Cleveland Ave and Highland Parkway, but expect a wait. My favorite pizza in town is the thin crust at Brianno's in Eagan. It's 20 minutes out of either downtown into the burbs and they only do takeout, so it's not usually convenient for out-of-towners. They also have the best hoagies in town there -- the Brianno's special or the italian sausage shouldn't be missed -- very convenient to pick one up on your way south out of town. Cedar Ave/77 south to Cliff Road exit. Go right one block, turn left, then quick right. They're in behind the Superamerica and Penn Cycle. Cash or check only though. Mon Mar 15 11:17:11 -0800 2004 666576 0 MSPD 1 666591 I second the recommendation to order the omakase at Origami. Sit at the sushi bar (the omakase experience is WAY better at the bar than at a table) and let the sushi-man know how adventurous you are. I had friends who had very traditional sushi and sashimi; others (and us) had sea cucumber, jellyfish and more exotic stuff - tell them what you want! For a truly “divey” breakfast, Al’s in Dinky town is my top choice. For a more elaborated breakfast (and great dinner), Bakery on Grand. Late dinner on Friday- how late? This city is awful when it comes to late dinners… try Auriga, Lucia, Alma, JP, Zander (StPaul) or Bakery on Grand. Barbette is definitely open late, but is less “romantic” (although very hip) And if you’re searching for an unforgettable cheeseburger – then you must try the Jucy Lucy in one of the places mentioned below. Mon Mar 15 11:55:53 -0800 2004 666576 0 MariQ 1 666592 Cheeseburger - Jucy Lucy as already mentioned. Breakfast - Al's is great if you don't mind waiting. If you'd like to linger for a while you can't beat The Day by Day Cafe on West 7th St. in St. Paul. Buckwheat pancakes, earth breakfast, Dunn Bros coffee...and then you can do a little second hand shopping at the St. Vincent DePaul store next door. If you want a bloody mary or a beer with breakfast try the Uptown Bar on Hennepin Av. in Uptown. Pizza- I would be remiss if I didn't put in a plug for Red's Savoy Inn on East 7th St. in St. Paul. Mon Mar 15 12:56:30 -0800 2004 666576 0 Sven 1 666607 Underscoring some points below and adding some others... Friday night late small romantic. For the Twin Cities, it depends how late is late. Most kitchens close around 10:00, although some are open until midnight. I'd see how late Red is open for one of your options. Bakery on Grand may close earlier than you need it to, but that would be a place at the top of my list. Auriga can be romantic if you get a good table. Same with Bobino. Breakfast. Al's is an experience. If there are two of you, you may have a long wait to sit together. I like the suggestion of Day by Day -- it's not diner-like but it will still fit the bill of what you want. Burger. Of all the Juicy Lucys I've had, the best is the Cajun Juicy at Groveland Tap. The best normal is at the 5 and 8 Club already mentioned. The Nook was a disappointment. Matt's is too damn dark. Pizza. Punch Woodfire Pizza. Nothing else needs to be said. Mon Mar 15 18:28:27 -0800 2004 666576 0 Brad Ballinger