Cheap (but good) places for college kids in the Roseville area?
Being a foodie on a budget means I often can't go to all these wonderful places people suggest. When we go out, it's generally Applebee's (1/2-price apps) or Perkin's. Occasionally Baker's Square [you know, for variety]. I know Minnesota Monthly had the under $10 issue recently, and I got some good ideas but a lot of them were either too far, or still a bit on the pricey side (once you factor in a drink, and parking in some cases, and the fact that other people will probably want other dishes that won't be as cheap, and so on).
I'm the "local" in the group, but I'm far more familiar with the NW suburbs than with Roseville. So, I'm wondering where in the Roseville area I can get my friends to go without breaking the bank. I've already got Maverick's and Mac's Fish & Chips on the list.
Driving into the cities is doable as long as parking isn't horrific.
As a plus, we love to try new food. And love ethnic cuisines. So convincing them to go somewhere new shouldn't be hard as long as I can assure them it's affordable.
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AnneInMpls
Mar 27, 2011 06:03 PM
If you ever want a small splurge and a trip into town, Kafe 421 in Dinkytown is good for a very nice meal on a budget, especially on Sunday night. For example, tonight's special is a three-course dinner for two for $25 - salad; entree (choice of spaghetti, lemon risotto, or penne chicken with a marscapone sauce) and dessert (key lime pie or chocolate something). Plus, they offer $3 glasses of wine.
The quality of food is MUCH higher than the prices would lead you to assume. Kafe 421 is one of my local favorites (I live two miles away). In fact, I'm heading there now for dinner!
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Kafe 421
421 14th Avenue S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55415›1 Reply-
re: AnneInMpls
AnneInMpls
Mar 27, 2011 07:16 PM
I had Kafe 421's lamb burger for dinner - a huge, delicious, very lamby grilled burger (larger than I could eat) topped with onions, tsatziki, and cucumbers, on two large pieces of grilled bread. And it comes with salad (or soup), all for $10. There's a sign in the window that says 10% off with student ID - that would almost cover the price of a Sunday-night glass of wine. What a deal!
So, it's not Roseville, but it's not too terribly far afield...
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I feel bad that I haven't responded to all your wonderful suggestions yet, but better late than never!
Black Sea is now on my list of favorites - The first time I went I brought three of my friends along and one of them said it was the best falafel she's had outside of Israel.
Finally tried Fasika in December when a prof treated our small class to an end-of-semester celebration lunch. It was delicious. So that's on my keeper list as well.
Most of these are still on my list of places to get to, but I'm happy to simply HAVE a list. Conny's Creamy Cone is at the top of it currently, I keep hearing that name from person after person so I'm taking it as a sign.
The one thing I'm looking for presently is a good curry place in the area. My best friend and I are huge curry fans, and we love CurryUp in Maple Grove, but I don't have any idea where to head on the days we're in Roseville craving curry and don't want to make it ourselves.
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Black Sea Restaurant
737 Snelling Ave N, Saint Paul, MN 55104Conny's Creamy Cone
1197 Dale St, N St Paul, MN›2 Replies -
The New Hong Kong Wok in North West Roseville has a very extensive Chinese menu
at decent prices and some pretty good leftovers.
www.newhongkongwok.com-----
New Hong Kong Wok
2216 County Road D W, Saint Paul, MN 55112 -
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re: NugarifiK
I live in the area of Panino's so have tried it many times. Find it expensive for what you get and the help is really clubby. Maybe if you are part of the club. Have been totally ignored in the bar while the staff and bartender chatted with their friends. I thought it was an off night so tried it again months later, same treatment. Only eat in the restaurant if forced by other people.
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mplsean
Apr 9, 2010 08:42 AM
I second the Black Sea. So good. So cheap. The owner and his wife are arguably the most gracious restaurant owners in MSP.
I guess Abu Naber is relatively in the vicinity of Roseville. They do a mean falafel sandwich that is rather inexpensive. They're also technically a market/deli so Hummus and Tabouli to go is perfect for the warmer weather.
Abu Nader - 2095 Como Avenue St Paul - Just past the fairgrounds and the U of M St Paul Campus off of Cleveland Ave.
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Black Sea Restaurant
737 Snelling Ave N, Saint Paul, MN 55104›1 Reply -
LiaM
Apr 8, 2010 05:13 PM
This might not be the most "foodie" place but it's better than Perkins (IMO) and a fun place: there is a Grumpy's bar off Snelling. You might have to be of age after a certain time.
http://www.grumpys-bar.com/roseville/
Roseville is also not too far from the Como neighborhood of SE Minneapolis, so you might consider Obento-Ya.
http://www.obento-ya.com/
)
(warning: musical websiteI've heard good things about the Afghani place across the street but don't know for sure.
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re: LiaM
Grumpy's is a great place -- for drinking. I want their food to be good, but every time I try it, I'm disappointed. Their pizza isn't too bad though. The better bet in that area is The Countryside next door. Totally old school place with awesome chicken. It's pretty cheap and the portions are huge.
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If you like Vietnamese and Thai food, there are several places on University Ave in St Paul that are only a few miles from the Roseville/ St Paul border: Ngon Bistro, Saigon, Que Nha, and Bangkok Thai Deli all have reasonable prices. Also consider the Hmongtown Marketplace on Como.
Conny's Creamy Cone at Dale and Maryland is very inexpensive...I always seem to go at least once a season with spare change I've scrounged up. The food is fairly standard fast food/diner stuff but the fried items are prepared to order and thus always delicious. If you really want an indulgence at a reasonable price their specialty sundaes, like the turtle or brownie delight are quite good and serve two.
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Conny's Creamy Cone
1197 Dale St, N St Paul, MNQue Nha
849 University Ave W Ste 101, Saint Paul, MN 55104›5 Replies-
re: Quince
Ngon is inexpensive?
What about pizza? I haven't been yet, but zPizza looks like a reasonable destination for the non-affluent foodie. Or Eden Pizza in St. Paul, near Snelling / University? Spicy Thai Mock Duck pizza is awesome. Full disclosure: not crazy about the crust, but the toppings / combinations are worth it.
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Eden Pizza
629 Aldine St, Saint Paul, MN 55104-
re: semanticantics
Ngon is inexpensive - depending on what you get. LOL.
I went there for lunch - appetizer (shared) and a meal (The shiitake mushroom with tofu rice), no drink but water on the patio - and I think it was $9.95 for the meal and $5.00 for the app (pretty standard). I went there for dinner - and with wine, the bill was much more.
If you got an entree at lunch - and just water, with tip you could get out there for less than $15.
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re: Traceybelle
Hmm..Mavericks. :)
I live in St Paul-bordering Roseville (Como side). Here are a few suggestions --
St Paul Bagelry. Tasty. I go there every Sat morning to get bagels and cream cheese. I'm sure their sandwiches are good too - but just a good bagel and cream cheese won't set you back much. Also, google Roseville Visitor Guide or something and there are a bunch of coupons.
Black Sea. It's on Snelling Avenue by Mirror of Korea. It's Turkish food and it's cheaper than cheap.
Connie's Creamy Cone - is close enough to Roseville (Dale/Maryland). Cash only but 24 diff kinds of soft serve, flurries (like blizzards), outstanding malts and milkshakes and some standard fare food items (cheese curds, corn dog, etc). It's cheap.
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Mirror of Korea
761 Snelling Ave N, Saint Paul, MN 55104St Paul Bagelry
1702 Lexington Ave N, Saint Paul, MN 55113Black Sea Restaurant
737 Snelling Ave N, Saint Paul, MN 55104Snelling Cafe
638 Snelling Ave N, Saint Paul, MN 55104
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