MSP - Dinner Recommendation; Saturday

[nymoving2004]

My wife and I are looking at a dinner on Saturday and wanted a few recommendations.....our last meal was at Porter & Frye. Alma is closed for a private party....so we were looking at Meritage, Fugaise, Heidi's, Brasa.........We've eaten at Fugaise....but not the other 3. Is there anything else you'd recommend for a last minute 2-top that has the night away from their 6-month old??

[sarah.j.morrison]

there haven't been many comments about Meritage. I had an awesome meal there a few weeks ago. We LOVED the amuse busch apps and desserts. Such a great way to get to taste new things without committing to a whole dish. Could be appropriate with a 6 month old if you go early in the night. Be sure to try a cocktail-- the tarragon/gin/pomegranate concoction was amazing!

[The Dairy Queen]

I love Meritage, but wouldn't take a 6 month old there, except on the patio for weekend brunch in summer.

~TDQ

[clepro]

FWIW, I would have thought the same, up to the time I was there with a group that DID include a baby, around 6 mos, as it happens. This was a weekday evening, around 7:00.

When I learned that someone in our group was planning to bring her baby, I called in advance to let the restaurant know. I thought they might want to try to seat us by the door so someone could exit with the baby quickly if needed.

The Meritage staff were just lovely...they seemed to truly enjoy the baby's presence; lots of attention and doting. In fact, I was kind of rebuked for sounding as apologetic as I did when I called; she said something along the lines of babies and children always being welcome. In a rather stern tone.

[The Dairy Queen]

Well, entrees start at $20 and go up to about $34, with most of them price at higher than $25. And that's just for the entree, no drinks, apps or anything else. According to my pocketbook, that's a pretty nice night out.

~TDQ

[clepro]

Ah, I see. I'd thought you meant it isn't a place were babies would be accommodated. My pocketbook agrees with yours.

[The Dairy Queen]

They are incredibly gracious at Meritage and, I'll bet, would be accommodating in most circumstances, though, as you describe.

~TDQ

[MrSlippery]

We also ate recently at Porter and Frye. If you enjoyed that, I would recommend Cosmos. They are doing some really interesting things there lately.

[shinmn]

Rice Paper

[karykat]

I love love love Alma and I love Brasa but Brasa is a lot more casual than Alma. If you are looking for more of a special dinner, I would think about Heartland, or maybe the Strip Club if you can get to St. Paul.

[churchka]

Brasa would be a great place to go for lunch with your 6 month old.

[nymoving2004]

Great - then we'll take our son to Brasa some other time.....I got that vibe from the website/menu presentation....but for this Saturday I've narrowed it down to Levain (which I haven't been to since they closed/reopened), Strip Club (which is booked, but has room at the bar on a first come-first serve basis)....and then Craftsman......is Craftsman similar to Alma (food, atmosphere, etc)????
Any chance we'd be able to get a bar seat at Strip Club....or is it a smaller bar area similar to 112's main bar area on the ground level????

[bob s]

IIRC, the bar at the Strip Club is bigger than 112 - but not by a whole lot.

I'm not a big fan of Alma, so I would say that the food is on par and the room is nicer. But others may disagree.

[LauraB]

I love the Strip Club, but they are pretty small and get quite full on Saturday nights. We tried the "room at the bar on a first come-first served basis" a couple of weeks ago. We got there fairly late (~8:30pm), but we had to wait until ~9:30pm to be seated (actually at a table because it was the first available seat). We figured that we would have to wait so we came hungry, but not staving, and enjoyed a delicious drink while waiting. It was fine for us and the food was worth the wait, but if waiting will diminish your enjoyment I might try the Strip Club another time or call them to see if they thought it would be better if you went earlier in the evening.

I have been to Craftsman and Alma once each and enjoyed them both. I liked the food better overall at Alma (but I really liked it a lot), but the pasta I had at Craftsman was really good too.

[tex.s.toast]

I would say that the food at alma is similar, but better, than the food ive had at the craftsman. both are midwestern-modern but i found alma to be much more refined and damn near perfect execution-wise. ill be posting a full report of the meal we had at alma this week, but it was far and away better than the food we've had at the craftsman. craftsman faves included the charcuterie plate and some good burgers, but ive had some so-so entrees and other slightly-off things (a sandwich served on WAY too much bread, weird flavors that didnt quite work).

Alma is a bit pricier, more refined, and smaller. it would be fair to say that the craftsman and alma are similar, but they are in no way substitutes.

[Foureyes137]

I would not put Craftsman in the same league at Alma. Closer to Levain in style and quality IMO.

[bob s]

It's now or never for Fugaise - I'd go there, but obviously you may want to go someplace else.. ;-)

Heartland? The Craftsman? Saffron? Lucia's? Barbette? Little Szechuan? Cafe Levain?

I'm not a big fan of Heidi's and Meritage would not pull me any more than any of the above.

[latte4me]

I haven't been there in about a year, but how about the Sample Room?

[St Paul Susie]

altho my most recent meal at Mertiage (last thursday) wasn't as outstanding as the prior visits I would still recommend it for a date night.

But there is a Wild game on Saturday night - FYI

Heidi's as well - geographic-ly I don't make it over to that area quite as often and probably haven't been to Heidi's in a year and a half. I'm on OT and Heidi's only has a 8:45

Too bad about Alma - i was about to call them for Saturday!

How about I Nonni?

Heartland? WA Frost?

[zataar]

the last time we ate at the Sample Room it was not the greatest experience. Subpar...

[Foureyes137]

Seconded. We haven't had a good meal at Sample Room in 2 years. We go for the wine flights.

[cheeseguysgirl]

The Sample Room hasn't been the same since Michael McKay left- he opened his own place in S. Mpls called Citizen Cafe. I would recommend it, as well as Cafe Levain. Both would be great last minute choices.

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Cafe Levain
4762 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407

Citizen Cafe
2403 E 38th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406