125071 Thu Feb 09 11:20:07 -0800 2006 6 8 Midwest 0 678982 I made grandiose plans to take some friends out for dessert and vino tonight. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for a reasonably-priced option. Restaurant Alma has always been great, but my budget would be more forgiving of something less expensive. (but still impressive.) Help! Thu Feb 09 11:20:07 -0800 2006 0 Claire 1 678984 This is a little limited, but. I have had a very nice chocolate lava cake and good wine (but I know very little about wine) at the Signature Cafe. Probably not open terribly late. Not as far from the Alma area as my second suggestion. The other good chocolate I have had was at A Rebours, and they may have a better wine list. I expect that the desserts change fairly often there, so my blissful memory may be invalid. Probably spendier than Signature. These are the two best desserts I have had here in town. If you sense a chocolate theme, that's because I rarely bother with non-chocolate desserts (especially if wine is involved), so my focus is a tad narrow that way. hth andrew Thu Feb 09 12:41:23 -0800 2006 678982 0 ajs 2 678999 Most of the group agrees that if it doesn't involve chocolate, the dessert isn't worth eating. So your suggestions are right on. Thanks! Thu Feb 09 17:07:53 -0800 2006 678984 0 Claire 3 679007 OK, not in the "reasonable" category for your event, but two places for future consideration (based on the chocolate alone). Well...actually, three places if you don't count wine: 1. 20.21 for the "Spoon, Cube and Cherry". This is chocolate utopia on a plate (or whatever ridiculous prose you want to use) 2. The chocolate globe dessert at Cosmos 3. Pick up a bunch of stuff from Legacy Chocolates on Marshall Ave in St. Paul and go to a wine bar for a "BYOC reverse corkage fee" night. Thu Feb 09 18:18:30 -0800 2006 678999 0 MSPD 1 678994 Cafe Vin on Xerxes (5555 Xerxes Ave S) sounds like it might be a good fit. Thu Feb 09 15:49:37 -0800 2006 678982 0 MSPD 2 679000 I recall hearing good things about that place. Thanks for the suggestion! Thu Feb 09 17:08:28 -0800 2006 678994 0 Claire 3 679005 Note, however, that Cave Vin is INCREDIBLY noisy - unless they've solved their noise problems recently. I went once when it was half full, and couldn't hear the waiter or my companion even when they were shouting. I loved the food, but I won't go back. Anne Thu Feb 09 17:33:22 -0800 2006 679000 0 AnneInMpls