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I know this post will probably get split/axed, but I just read about their upcoming segment at the Anchor Bar in Superior. Apparently, they also got the Q Fanatic treatment. 12 hours of taping, Guy wasn't even there.
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re: BigE
apparently, it's a new a segment they throw in at the end of each show. Guy is just so big now with 3 different shows he can't possibly go to every location personally. But hey national advertising is all good, think about how much company's would pay for a 2 1/2 min. commercial on primetime national TV. And it airs several times and is easily found on the website. The Sat. following the airing was the busiest Q has ever been.
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re: swedeejean
I watched tonight's episode at the Anchor Bar. I used to live in Duluth and went there a few times years ago when the burgers weren't anything as good as they apparently are now. I understand that Guy is busy, but he was ten minutes away from the Anchor when he was in Duluth. They're cutting down on the number of restaurants he goes to and makes the first two segments longer and then throw in a two minute segment. I understand it but don't like it. I wonder how many viewers will even notice he's not really there?
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re: John E.
The main thing I noticed (other than Guy not being there) was this. I've been to the Anchor...I don't know, 20 times in my life and I've never seen the owner there. In fact, I don't remember seeing a male working there at all.
As far as the food goes, the burgers are some of the best in the region and an excellent value. Fries are pretty tasty too. If you haven't been in a while, be sure to check it out.
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re: BigE
the anchor bar! i still think about the burgers there, possibly the best burger i've ever had. the place is really and truly a dive, too. i think an influx of tourists would piss off the staff, it's not very big, it's not very toddler friendly, not very uh, tidy. . . it's more the kind of place you'd grab a stool and kill yourself through liver disease over 10-12 years, quietly, if you were so inclined. i visited and reviewed the place in this thread:
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The two places I would suggest are the Purple Sandpiper. Off of 494 and Lyndale in Richfield. I love the pumpkins pancakes and the lose lead tea, creme brulee French toast, scotch eggs and Lobster BLT.
http://www.purplesandpiper.com/wp/My other suggestion is Bella Cucina in West Bloomington.Off of 169 and Anderson Lake Parkway. I love the Putenesca and I heard the Mussels are great.
I would love to know where you pick or if they have already picked a place :-
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Bella Cucina
9332 Ensign Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55438›20 Replies-
re: sweetkim
They come back pretty regularly, so there's no shame in bumping the thread. That said, nothing about Bella Cucina is remotely diner/dive, unless you have information I don't.
While we're on the subject, I would second 50's Grill. For years, we'd written it off as a phoned-in nostalgia joint, but they've actually been around for decades, and the food is a pleasant surprise all around. It would be a great pickup for DDD for the reasons jaybeedee mentions.
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Bella Cucina
9332 Ensign Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55438-
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re: sweetkim
I had to laugh when I saw the suggestion for the Gopher Bar. I can just imagine the Food Network producer asking the staff, "Umm...could you take down the 'Obama=Socialism' poster before we turn the cameras on?"
A little Guy goes a long way with me, but it's cool that he showcases these places all over the country. I appreciate that he's been to the Twin Cities twice, instead of coming here once and figuring that was enough.
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re: KTFoley
I would love it if they did a North Shore version of the show, because then they could feature the Trestle Inn in Finland, MN. They make some great burgers, including the Trainwreck which is a beef patty AND a bratwurst patty with bacon and cheese. Casualties are a buck extra. I can just see Guy pulling up on his red snowmobile!
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re: Ousleyni
I'll have to watch it again. I was going to say he might not have actually been there and they did a green screen thing but we know he was in Minnesota. It must have been a timing thing but whatever the reason it was kind of a screw-job to the Q-Fanatics. I know I would be disappointed.
One place I think they should return to is the Dari-ette since they helped launch the show but they probably aren't doing anything new over there and the first time wasn't too exciting.
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I would like to see 50s Grill on Brooklyn Boulevard in Brooklyn Center, MN to be showcased on DDD for their on-premises bakery, made-from-scratch entrees, soup, and desserts, and unique "50s" decor.
I would also like to see Don Julio's in Forest Lake, MN to be showcased on DDD. I know it's a 60 rather than 30 minutes from airport, but this family-run Mexican restaurant is worth the trip. I love their burritos, chimichangas, and reasonable prices.
The Cup and Cone in White Bear Lake, MN is a fabulous ice cream shop/stand that is absolutely wonderful and also worth the 40 minutes from the airport drive.
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Brooklyn Center Restaurant
5637 Brooklyn Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55429 -
The last thing they need is more people, But Sea Salt might be cool...Damn fine food and local boy(s) make good angle,too. OR- on a completely different note, The Java Restaurant on 28th & Nicollet , has certainly become a DIVE; but they have been there since 1974ish and they still make the best hummus in town. They are also among the few places that still make homemade shawirma. Unfortunatly, it's always been a bit dry...but there is some excellent tahini sauce and KICK-ASS hot sauce to remedy that. Supposed to be belly dancers on the weekends, but everytime we go they say that " she didn't show up" : )
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re: ahimpls
That guy is an obnoxious twit IMO so it's hard to trust his judgement on food, but I'd love to see him do Kabobs (even tho it appears the food quality has tanked) The Java, or Holy Land, or the Hard Times Cafe (doubtful they would put up with him, but it would be amusing)
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Hard Times Cafe
1821 Cedar Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN
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Wagner's Drive-In (North) in Brooklyn Park. Great burgers and onion rings, fantastic malts (I'm partial to the banana myself). Definitely one of my all-time favorite places. Last summer I met the owner while there with my cousin and he invited us to a polka in Hopkins that night. How many other drive-ins are there where that would happen?
Afghan Restaurant in Crystal. I've only been once so far but definitely want to go again. Great food. Very friendly owner & staff. It's not all that noticeable, kind of hidden in a little strip mall. Best hummus I've had in my life, and the tandoori chicken was wonderful. http://afghanrestaurantonline.com/
Mesa Pizza in Dinkytown. Admittedly more of a late-night place for college kids than anything, but it's delicious pizza. $2 for pepperoni or cheese, $3 for everything else (and there's a lot of everything else). They're well-known for the mac & cheese pizza. Official hours are 11AM-After Bartime, and if you're going at peak times (i.e. late at night) you better have cash or people won't be happy with you and your card holding up the line. http://www.mesapizzamn.com/
And another vote for CurryUp in Maple Grove. Try the Mango Lassi. It's fantastic. http://www.curryupfoods.com/
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Curryup Foods
13601 Grove Dr, Maple Grove, MNMesa Pizza by the Slice
1323 4th St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414Wagner's Drive-In North
7000 W Broadway Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55428Afghan Restuarant
6408 Bass Lake Rd, Crystal, MN 55428›4 Replies -
Countryside Cafe in Medina. The walls are covered in pictures of celebrities and regulars. Plenty of funkiness, in a country sense, going on. Lines of suburbonites on the weekends. That or the Uptown Diner. Good stuff! Mmmmm.... cajun benedict...
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Uptown Diner
2548 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405 -
I was thinking I would sit out on this thread but I stopped in the Russian Tea House for a quick bite today and I'd like to put them up for consideration (in the "Dives" category, but very loosely).
Whenever I'm in there, I'm just struck by what an enduring labor of love the place seems like. It's so unassuming and the owners are so warm. The food is unique enough in context of the "usuals" on the show (how many times can you watch a burger or plate of pasta and think "oh, how different!) that it would make for an interesting change. I also think the yin-and-yang styles of Guy and the owners would be funny.
Anyway, there and the Triple Rock are the only things mentioned so far that I would likely not change the channel as fast as possible. Not that the places mentioned are bad restaurants, but I just can't see how they would make for interesting TV at all.
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Russian Tea House
1758 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN 55104Triple Rock
629 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, MN -
Fat Nat's Eggs in Crystal is exactly what the show is looking for. Original twists on breakfast classics, obsession with fresh ingredients, some spicy choices, and a devoted clientele.
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re: Latinpig
Ah, the Ideal Diner. In my 20s I had a few morning after walk of shame breakfasts there before catching the bus home. Haven't been in a few years but the eggs are always perfect and the atmosphere is ideal. Real deal diner.
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Ideal Diner
1314 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
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re: djtrouten
I think Fat Nat's is over-rated. I have eaten at the Brooklyn Park location twice and wasn't thrilled either time. The first time I had the biscuits and gravy. There was an excessive amount of black pepper in the gravy. I realize it's supposed to be peppery and I love a lot of pepper, that's why it was surprising to me that they had that much. The second time I had the corned beef hash. The hash was not made from scratch, it came from a can. It was the same as the Mary Kitchen stuff in the can made by Hormel. I could also tell that the fried potatoes that came with the meal both times had been sitting on the grill for a long time.
I've seen Guy Fieri watching people make hash on his show. If he knew the place was using hash out of a can, there's no way he would wish to go there with his crew.
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re: Foureyes137
You're right, but they have arrived on location and changed their minds in the past.
I doubt Fat Nat's would make it past the research process, maybe that's why they haven't been on the show. I didn't particularly dislike the place, I just found that it was over-rated and the hash was out of a can. That alone would nix the place from their list.The Lion's Tap also probably won't be on the show. They only have burgers and frozen fries. What are they going to show for the other 18 minutes?
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re: Davydd
You're right of course. I was thinking of an episode. Ok, what would they do with the other 4 minutes? Each segment is about 7 minutes long. The Lion's Tap does hamburgers and that's all they're known for. It's the same reason they likely won't do a segment at Matt's Bar in south Minneapolis. They have good burgers but nothing else in terms of food.
You also won't see them at Mickey's in downtown St. Paul because that's been done on another show.
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re: Davydd
Because:
1. They cook their burgers one way--Minnesota done.
2. The burgers themselves are expensive and not worth the price.
3. The place is THE most overrated burger joint in Minnesota (and that's saying a lot). I have never been as disappointed in all the hype over a restaurant as I have been with the Lion's Tap.
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re: djtrouten
Actually I had eggs with both the biscuits and gravy and the hash. The eggs were fine. The biscuits and gravy were good too, if you really, really like black pepper. The fried potatoes had been on the grill too long and the hash was out of a can. Those were my only complaints.
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Fat Lorenzo's www.fatlorenzos.com is homemade nummy pizza, lasagna and Gelato. Its a great spot that you have to line up to get in a lot of the time. Minnetonka Drive Inn Spring Park, MN I grew up going to. It used to be an A&W and had kept up with the old traditions of that. Homemade rootbeer soda. Below someone already brought up the old car night on Thursdays....how fun and what a great place to visit with your convertible. Love your show!!!
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Fat Lorenzos
5600 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55417 -
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re: stymie
Any of their burgers. It is a family owned and run business. Not sure how much is scratch cooking and how much is Sysco, et al, but they do put out a good burger. Miesville is also famous for the Mudhen's ball team.
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I have never seen this show (must be on cable TV?), so I don't know if these fit the format, but a couple of places that have very unattractive surroundings but very yummy food:
The 311 E. Lake St. location of La Pineda Tacos. Whenever I go in there I think that I am entering an old basement boiler room, yet I find the burritos to be better than any others in town, including the other (nicer looking) Pineda locations.
Kabobs at 7814 Portland Ave. in Bloomington. A flourescent-lit takeout vestibule trying to function as a dining room! But oh-so-good Indian food.
For that matter, the entire Town & Country strip mall where Kabobs is located is interesting to me. I enjoy Kabobs, India Cafe (only a bit of a step up from Kabobs in ambiance), and La Mixteca mexican. There are also a broasted chicken place and a chow mein place, which I have never tried and may be decent or awful for all I know. All five of these establishments are almost in a row, with only the tax place separating Kabobs from the rest. There is also an Indian grocery store.
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La Sirena Gorda - doesn't get much more divey than a foodcourt setup, and churns out some of the best Mexican food in the city.
Mesa Pizza - after 2am
Liquor Lyle's
Butter
Harry Singhs
Brianno's
Q-Fanatic
Abu Nader
Manana
the Bad Waitress
Good Day Cafe-----
La Sirena Gorda
920 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55407Good Day Cafe
5410 Wayzata Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55416Brianno's
2280 Cliff Rd, Saint Paul, MN 55122 -
Porky's on University in St. Paul. It's an old timey drive-through, and during nice weather, is packed with custom cars.
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re: semanticantics
D, D & D goes to places that are owner operated, which is not the case with Porky's.
Somebody earlier suggested the new Galaxy Drive-In (former Wagner's) in St. Louis Park. That is so obviously the prototype for a chain that I doubt D,D, & D will go there.The reason there seems to be a disproportionate number of Twin Cities locations featured on this show is because it is produced out of Bloomington.
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re: John E.
The Galaxy is owned by Steve Schussler and I did mention that he was the Rainforest Cafe creator but that does not mean the Galaxy will necessarily become a chain. It happened to be across the road from his office and from what I read it was picked up more out of desire and nostalgia (and probably creative challenge) being so close by. It is still seasonal (closed in the winter). I'm not so convinced drive-ins can become chains. It really is a dying concept that was killed off by McDonalds type fast food places. Yeah, I know there is Sonic but I would not bet on the concept in a cold climate. The remaining handful of drive-ins bank heavily on their history and nostalgia but us older folks who fondly remember them are, well, a dying breed.
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Aesopes Table aka porkers pit http://aesopstable.com/
his chiolpte porker is the best int the world . Its housed in a non profit building and its got allot of great dicy( in the good sense of the word) history.›1 Reply-
re: liney714
Aesop's table is DEFINATELY a spot that needs more attention. The Porker is 1/2 lb of pulled pork on a bun. They also smoke other meats, but The Porker is the thing to get. (I've always been disappointed by the ribs they serve on Thursdays.) It is fantastic.
The daily specials can be pretty good as well.
Any place that has a long line of cops eating is always a sign of good, cheap food.
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Maverick's
Mayslack's
Colossal Cafe (though, how they would fit a camera crew in here, I don't know)
Grumpy's
Hard Times
Nye's (unique atmosphere, but I've never been a fan of the food. Prefer Kramarczuk's if I want good Polish.)-----
Hard Times Cafe
1821 Cedar Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN›1 Reply-
re: drew13000
Thought of two more:
Galactic Pizza: costumes, tiny cars, and delicious pizza with an environmentally-friendly spin. Not sure if I'd classify it as a dive, so this one may be stretching.
Red's Savoy: dive status unquestionable-----
Galactic Pizza
2917 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
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I've not been there, but what about Anchor Fish & Chips or Victory 44?
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Victory 44
2203 44th Ave N, Minneapolis, MN›3 Replies-
re: Seige
Sandy's Tavern
It is so obviously a dive I scarcely feel compelled to justify its inclusion. The place has not changed its curtains since its opening, it has a signature item (the olive burger). It's been in business since the 1930s, when Richfield was a farm town, and has been a burger joint since 1980. It is also rumored to be haunted. It is tailor made for the show.
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Sandy's Tavern
6612 Penn Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55423
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The Minnetonka Drive In on Shoreline Drive in Spring Park (Lake Minnetonka area) is packed with classic cars every Thursday night. It in itself is your classic car hop drive in.
Another unique drive in is the newly remodeled and renamed Galaxy Drive in (formerly Wagners) in St. Louis Park. The concept creator of Rainforest Cafe bought the place and remodeled it extensively. That in itself is rarely done with drive ins.
In Minneapolis an often overlooked stool only diner on Central Ave. in Nordeast is the Ideal Diner. They have daily specials on food items like chicken fried steak seldom served elsewhere in the Twin Cities. This place is real whereas Mickey's is just a dining car with tired, standard food fare.
For pubs I would recommend McGarry's Irish Pub in Maple Plain off US Highway 12 west of Minneapolis. It was a small town cafe for many years owned by the McGarry family. They decided to upgrade to an all day and night Irish themed pub and still serve breakfast. The atmosphere is a lot closer to the older British Isles pubs I experienced than the very upscale Irish pubs with imported bars we have around the Twin Cities.
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Ideal Diner
1314 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 -
Same advise I gave on Yelp:
Triple Rock
Bangkok Thai Deli
Jasmine Deli
Flameburger
Dusty's (Home of the Dago)
Gordita el Gordo
Elsie's
Country Bar (the food is terrible)
CC Club (the food is...well, the food is shitty on purpose)
Uptown B....Ooooo nevermindNot sure where you have been already, but I have to presume you've been to Big Daddy's, Mickey's, Mayslack's and the like.
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Jasmine Deli
2532 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404Flameburger
2534 Rice St, Saint Paul, MN 55113Triple Rock
629 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, MN -
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re: GutGrease
Places he's been to, off the top of my head...
-The Nook
-Al's
-Victors 1959 (bit of a head scratcher)
-The Wienery
-Psycho Suzi's
-Donatelli's
-Dari-ette
-Modern Cafe
-Bryant Lake Bowl
-Town Talk Diner (I think)I might be missing a couple.
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Wienery
414 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55454
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