Minneapolis- your favorite downtown restaurant,$65 per person please- thanks-any cuisine

[intrepid]

Minneapolis- your favorite downtown restaurant,$65 per person please- thanks-any cuisine

[JimGrinsfelder]

My 3 favorites (disclaimer, I haven't been in at least 6 months...In this down economy, I'm surviving on $6 burritos and $2.75 Bahn Mi so $65 is my meal budget for like a week):

#1 Alma
#2 Vincent
#3 La Belle Vie (finer dining than either #1 or #2, but I don't enjoy formality so much).

Alma and Vincent both do well thought out food and they deliver it consistently over the years. La Belle Vie is a huge step up from what at that address previously and McKee was doing it well in Stillwater for years.

I think 112 is fun and their wine selection is good and reasonable. Their food is definitely out there. Sometimes the food is very good, but sometimes they swing for the fences and miss and sometimes they just plain miss. I had some horrible mussels there one night and another dish was a clear loser. In my experience it's been clearly a step below the three restaurants listed above in terms of food, if not fun.

[Latinpig]

Heidi's, Alma or 112.

[bob s]

Note for those (including the OP) who are looking for downtown restaurants, Heidi's is nowhere near downtown. Also, as previously noted, Alma is near downtown but is on the other side of the river.

[stepawayfromthetable]

Could you share your burrito and bahn mi choices, please?
thank you!

[The Dairy Queen]

MSP isn't much of a burrito town, but Manana restaurant in St. Paul makes a darn good burrito. The best thing at Manana, though, is their pupusas. It would be shame to not get one while you're there. Also, if you're willing to steer away from burritos, I love the huaraches at Taqueria Los Ocampo, locations in both St. Paul & Minneapolis. You can't go wrong, really.

For banh mi, Saigon on University Avenue in St. Paul is my pick.

~TDQ

[jfood]

There is another dish at Manana that jfood still dreams about. Their fish soup with tons of calamari, crab, shrimp, etc. in a red broth. For $12 it is a meal itself. Of course it also goes real well with the Papusas TDQ mentioned.

[The Dairy Queen]

jfood, is that dish available on weekdays, too, or is that the one that is only available on weekends?

~TDQ

[jfood]

must be during the week as jfood never in town on the weekend.

[The Dairy Queen]

That's what I thought. I had heard of this seafood stew or soup or something that was a speciality of theirs, but I thought it was weekends only. Now I'm wondering if they are two separate things or if I was completely mistaken on the weekend-only thing. Sounds like a trip to Manana, which is never a bad thing, is in order.

~TDQ

[RRobertaR]

I'm partial to Solera and Masa, but agree with those who mention 112 and Saffron. If you're willing to go to Minneapolis (47th & Chicago) , but not downtown, I just ate at Cafe Levain this week and thought it was wonderful and very good prices. It's a nice room as well. I think this meets the "rustic" criterion as well.

[jfood]

jfood is a BIG fan of Cafe Levain. From Burger to Hangar to Short Ribs, all perfect. The corn chowder as well. He was not a big fan of the Adam-Onion Soup or the Gnocchi post-Adam. Well worth the trip.

[JimGrinsfelder]

I second TDQ on Saigon. I really like their Bahn Mi the best. The takeout counter. They make them right there in front of you.

I think I need to go to Manana. For burritos, I've been going to El Taco Riendo on Central, just south of Sen Yak Sen Lai.

[clepro]

Saffron.

[The Dairy Queen]

112 Eatery.

~TDQ

[Gr8Marlys]

I'll add a third vote for the 112 Eatery. The most expensive entree on the menu is $28. Food is creative and fantastic.

[tex.s.toast]

Just in case the OP doesn't do their own research, while the most expensive "main" at 112 isnt over 30 bucks, the portion sizes are definitely geared more towards ordering multiple plates per person - not that this should dissuade her/him, but i think if you just ordered one plate of food you could end up quite hungry.

[intrepid]

hi did 112, it was darn good, thanks to all

[jfood]

Alma would be jfood's choice

[intrepid]

thanks

[soupkitten]

if lbv is a no-go, i'll second 112 eatery, or saffron. they are across the street from each other. you should have change left over from $65/pp excluding drinks & tip, and they are the best restaurants downtown imo, and are less formal than lbv.

[St Paul Susie]

http://www.restaurantalma.com/menu.aspx

Alma is a good option as well

[soupkitten]

totally! is it downtown though?-- it's just over the river. also a favorite.

[Michael Florey]

have dinner in the bar at Belle Vie. Not "rustic," but more casual.

Beyond that 112 eatery is the logical choice. A little loud, but great food and fun atmosphere right in that price range.

[MSPD]

5 course tasting menu at La Belle Vie. $65 per person exactly.

[intrepid]

hi thnaks for la belle vie, im looking for something more rustic pls-thanks

[mitch cumstein]

Does the $65 include food, bev, tax and tip?

[intrepid]

no excluding that