125541 Mon Jun 05 15:31:56 -0700 2006 9 8 Midwest 0 681431 I grew up eating at Al's Breakfast in Dinkytown on the campus of the U of M in Mpls, and I still drive 90 mins one-way to have breakfast there once in a while. To this day I have never found a restaurant that can whip up so many delicious breakfast dishes as "Al's". When I think of their short stack of Whole-wheat wally blues, or of the "Jose", or the Smokey omelette or the corned beef hash with two poached on top.....it makes me nostalgiac(and more than a little hungry!) Anyone have any recommendations on other Al's-like breakfast joints in the twin cities? Thanks! Mon Jun 05 15:31:56 -0700 2006 0 JohhnyD 1 681436 I've not yet visited either place, but there's the Band Box Diner just on the outskirts of downtown. Here's a great Dara article about it. It makes me surprised I haven't visited: http://www.citypages.com/databank/24/1195/article11615.asp There's also the Ideal Diner on Central, not more than a couple miles from Al's. I guess I'm not a frequenter of the greasy spoon breakfast spots. I have to watch my chiseled physique. Ha. Mon Jun 05 16:26:17 -0700 2006 681431 0 ike. 1 681437 The thing is, there's a reason Al's is a James Beard "America's Classics" winner -- places like that are few and far between. In the south metro, you can capture a little bit of that atmosphere at the Windmill Cafe in Savage along Highway 13. The inside of the place literally looks like the set of the TV show Alice. It's a ridiculously smoke-filled, plain ol' breakfast foods place. Nowhere near the history and caliber of food as Al's although their biscuits and gravy are above average. Just west of there is the Spur Cafe -- same kind of thing, slightly better food, more sterile atmosphere. "Home made" corned beef hash) and good "home made" pies are the standouts. The Buckboard in Lakeville is good too in a very unique kind of way. Totally different place from breakfast to dinner. Dingy atmosphere, friendly, family-run (often with baby sleeping in the first booth), some pretty remarkable food. Maybe Stockmen's Truck Stop in South St. Paul. But these aren't Al's by any stretch of the imagination -- just hole-in-the-wall, greasy spoon, truck driver type breakfast joints. When I'm jonesing for Al's, these get me by until I have a "bachelor day" and can get up to Dinkytown. Mon Jun 05 16:49:32 -0700 2006 681431 0 MSPD 2 681445 Have always wondered about the Buckboard. Not to start anything, but I would be more likely to take a flier at these joints if Scott and Dakota would consider smoking bans. Do you ever get down to the Red Fox? Mon Jun 05 22:29:06 -0700 2006 681437 0 Steve 2 681452 Better than Stockman's is T&T Galley in South St. Paul. The food is good, the portions are generous and the staff is wonderful. Recently I had the Quarterdeck, a combination of French toast, bacon, egg and cheese. The Tug is good too. T&T Galley 901 Southview Blvd South St. Paul, MN 651.451.0146 Tue Jun 06 08:49:03 -0700 2006 681437 0 Sven 1 681444 Never been to Al's. Not when I was in grad school at the U, and now I can't stand around waiting that long. So I can't claim this is like Al's, but a nice little neighborhood joint is Serlin's on Payne Avenue in St. Paul. I like it better than some of the others like Keys or Mickey's. You're treated like a neighbor at Serlin's. They also have great rhubarb pie--not to be missed! Mon Jun 05 21:27:32 -0700 2006 681431 0 Rowdy 1 681449 If you want to eat breakfast with the truckers, head over to Bonnie's Cafe - 2160 University in St. Paul (just east of 280.) They open at either 4 or 5AM, and close at about 2PM. All the basic breakfast fare is there, good, and cheap. If you want breakfast in an interesting atmosphere - head over to the Triple Rock Social Club for their weekend breakfasts. Mon Jun 05 23:31:53 -0700 2006 681431 0 Danny 2 681469 I was waiting for somebody to mention Bonnie's. I've been a couple times and really enjoyed it. When I sit facing away from the door, I can imagine I'm in a small-town diner somewhere north of St. Cloud on US10. The people are friendly and the food is good, if no more adventurous than the standard diner offerings. Bonnie's isn't Al's but it's worth a visit. Kevin Tue Jun 06 13:21:11 -0700 2006 681449 0 kcmarshall 1 681872 "Like Al's"? Sorry, no such thing... Sure, all the likely places have been mentioned. But, thankfully, there's only one Al's. Yeah, sure, The size sucks. The line sucks. The wait sucks. The food is heaven. Tue Jun 20 13:45:37 -0700 2006 681431 0 Greg 1 1716386 Although the parking situation is not good, Hells Kitchen in downtonw Minneapolis serves an amazing breakfast. If you go on the weekends, wear your pajamas and get a free cinnamon roll. (the waitstaff wears their jammies so you won't feel out of place!) Wed Jun 28 14:04:17 -0700 2006 681431 14083 cooknKate