MSP: Best Reuben Sandwich

[alix]

Who makes it??

[Foureyes137]

Warning: I consider brisket-style corned beef to be the only way to make a great reuben. Tons of thinly-sliced corned beef is good as well, but I do not prefer it.

My vote, today, goes to Mac's Industrial on Central. Brisket style beer-braised corned beef, good swiss, tons of kraut on marble rye.

I'd prefer it if the kraut was made in-house and more vinegary and that it were on caraway rye. Also, I hate thousand island on my reuben, so I have them leave that off.

The reuben @ Be'Wiched (it's a weekly special I believe) is good as well. Great rye.

[Brad Ballinger]

Thousand Island on a Reuben = blech! Thanks for the rec of Mac's Industrial. I will have to check it out.

[SmartCookie]

I haven't had it, but an article in today's (7/17) City Pages says The Grand Cafe has a great one.

[showercapcrazy]

Cecil's has good caraway rye bread, that is all that reuben has going for it. I had to look for the corned beef and it was shaved. Unfortunatly the Lincoln Dell closed, someone needs to bring their reuben back. I have given up on finding the perfect Reuben in the cities and now make my own. (along with Cubans)

[Enso]

What's a cuban sandwich?

And, it's supposed to be shaved. But not half fat, like Crossroads Deli makes it. (blech)

[Foureyes137]

Cuban sandwich: ham, roast pork, swiss, pickles, mustard on french...pressed.

[MplsDiner]

My favorite place, so far, is Cecil's Deli on Cleveland in St. Paul's Highland Park. They use the same Corned Beef that my local deli back in CT used, Hebrew National. Their coleslaw is crisp and delicious, not too sweet, and to me you gotta have a good 'slaw to go with any true deli sandwich. This isn't the fanciest sandwich out there, but when you've got great ingredients it doesn't need to be.

If you end up checking it out, I'd also recommend you try the potato knishes. If you like carbs, you can't pack more into a single serving of anything than these babies.

[mifish]

Cecil's has a lot going for it, but the knishes don't make the list. Frozen and microwaved and by the time they cool down enough to put in your mouth all you're left with is a tasteless glob of potato and a too-chewy, rubbery dough that even salt can't save.

[LizzieB_MSP]

I like the Glockenspiel's version in Saint Paul on W 7th.

Their kraut is awesome.

[MaggieB]

It's far from a traditional Reuben but those willing to stretch their taste buds should absolutely try the Tempeh Reuben at French Meadow. I had my first full one last Sunday (I'd had many bites of my fiance's prior to this) and it was delicious down to the last crumb!

Grilled Tempeh Reuben: Marinated and grilled organic tempeh with sauerkraut and spiced tomato-soy aioli on organic rye bread.

[shoo bee doo]

A little out of the cities, but Kaladi's in Hudson, WI makes a great Reuben.

[knaveboy]

i had a 'pastrami sandwich' at be'wiched today; it was outstanding. the bread was great, the kraut homemade and also great, the brisket set a new standard--corned and lightly smoked in house. totally memorable. the homemade pickles that came with it were also quite good. at $9 it was a bit of a splurge but worth it (i was wishing i had ordered the 'new york style', with 2x the meat).

not advertised as a reuben, but SO good.

[omrtp]

I think Caffrey's in Uptown has the best reuben. It's big and messy and delicious!

[krupimi]

I found this post because I am on a quest. What kind of quest you ask? A quest to find the BEST REUBEN IN THE WORLD! Accompanied by my two food critic side kicks (Blazhead and Townface) we are traveling the globe (have not left MN or WI) and documenting our results.

The top runners in MN that we have had so far are at Bunnys, Bierstube (Hastings), Stub and Herbs (Minneapolis), and The Nook. First place goes to Cecil's Deli, though. Cecil's reuben is like Brad Pitt's looks and Alex Ovechkin's hockey skills mixed in to taste.

The best Snacka-lackin' rebuen in the world (so far- 11/5/2009) is awarded to The Nelson Cheese Factory in Eau Claire, WI. Great bread, kraut, and meat. Fantastic cheese and sauce. Try it and you will be saying, "Dinomite!!" I will check out the places recommended in the other posts and post again. Reubens are good. Forkmap.

[mplsean]

I would highly recommend the Reuben at Victory 44 on the Northside of Minneapolis in the Victory Neighborhood. I would say it beats the pants off pretty much all other Reuben's in the city, with the exception of Be'wiched if they're doing their version...

www.victory-44.com

[The Dairy Queen]

Huh, the Nook. Interesting. I've never been able to tear myself away from the burgers there. I'm not even sure I was aware they had a reuben on the menu. Great tip, thank you!

Well, I hope, on your world-wide quest, you do eventually step foot outside of the Upper Midwest. Nevertheless, Kathy Jenkins (PiPress) raves about the Reuben's at Skinners on Randolph Ave. In a recent thread on delivery options in St. Paul, so did another 'hound. I always get the fried chicken at Skinners, so, I don't know about the Reubens. But, you might as well add it to your UpperMidwestWide list of places to try a reuben.

Good luck!

~TDQ

[soupkitten]

huh. i'll have to get a reuben to take-away the next time i'm at nelson cheese factory. i can never seem to get past cheese and ice cream and note that they have other food.

[The Dairy Queen]

Also, are you up for alternative reubens? I really like the tempeh reuben at French Meadow Bakery in MPLS. It's been about a year since I've had it, but I thought it was great then.

~TDQ

[jfood]

Not good, no definitely not good. A Reuben quest....not good. jfood just completed the cheeseburger trek...not good...he likes Reubens better than cheeseburgers...not good.

Bar LaGrassa and then he will have to see if the best is worth another adventure through meat...not good.

[soupkitten]

oh Jfood, i fear that the "best" reuben in msp will not compare to your experiences on the east coast. i don't want you to be disappointed. otoh i would like your opinion of local msp deli-style offerings such as b' wiched and nick & eddies (when they offer the pastrami sandwich) and the late lamented pastrami jack's (eden prairie). so conflicted. but i think on the deli sandwich front, msp will certainly not measure up.

[faith]

Jfood, I hear you- in the interest of your longevity, maybe you should do an interim 'palate cleanser' of finding the best cobb or caesar salad..? :)

[Jordan]

You're in the wrong state for a Reuben quest.

[jfood]

Week after next jfood starting at La Bar Grassa and has three other nights to figure out.

He attended a Charity dinner last Monday for the NFL and there were lots of tastings and one was a sushi place called Seven. Then on the way to the Wolves game on Wed he saw it on the corner next the Target Center.

Have you been?

[Jordan]

I haven't, but the buzz for Seven is pretty blah compared to other sushi joints in town. Probably the best is Origami, though there are a handful of other joints that are also well-regarded (Midori's, Sushi Tango, Fuji-Ya).

[jfood]

Thanks J. Jfood had a disappointing meal at Origami. He was hoping for better.

[diearzte2]

jfood, Seven is kind of a trendy place, but the food is definitely not bad. I had my birthday this past Spring at the steakhouse (the 1st floor is a steakhouse, the top floor is sushi/cocktail bar) and it was definitely one of my favorite places.

[Foureyes137]

You can do better. Since you're solo, I highly recommend the bar at Tango.

[Davydd]

There is another guy on a Reuben quest. The website covers much of the country but is Indianapolis centric.

http://rowlandweb.com/reuben/

[Fudist]

Cecil's is a thin, tough, flimsy, 8$ disappointment.

[dave43]

Pastrami Momma at Northern Waters smokehaus in Duluth. This place KNOWS how to cure meat. The make their own pastrami and if you like chartucerie you need to try their salami...it is out of this world.