do we have a best of list?

[wannabfat]

best of the best in the twin cities?
and is there a best of the best on a budget(sub $20/person)?

[The Dairy Queen]

It's an old thread, so not totally current, but you might get some idea ideas in this old "cheap fancypants challenge" thread.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/345700

~TDQ

[AnneInMpls]

A classic and valuable thread! Some places have closed (like Bon Xai, Jay's, and Mairin's Table), but the other reqs are still great.

[wannabfat]

how bout a best of in each style/category/ethnic foods?

[The Dairy Queen]

Well, in the past year we've covered

Best pizza: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/749383

Best Vietnamese: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/581796

Best donuts http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/693867

Best sandwich http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/743492 and again http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/701034

Best gyros http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/465910

Best wings http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/715727

Best BBQ brisket http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/707990

Best Indian http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/716644

Best nachos http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/519406

Best French: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/728425#5847423

Best Italian and Spanish: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/744551

Favorite meal under $10: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/695553#5484036

Best of Minneapolis http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/703760#5570619

Best of St. Paul http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/705767

Fill in the gaps?

~TDQ

[alpa chino]

Best Fried Chicken http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/692738

Philly Cheese http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/442373

Ribs http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/718923

Ruben Sandwich http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/730950

Deli Meats http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/732999

Fish Fry http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/594845

Mexican http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/683689

Vietnamese http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/581796

Samosas http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/704909

Soup http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/701592

Beef Jerky http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/417972

[passing thru]

You people rock. I'm coming to Minneapolis in a couple weeks, and these links are like solid gold.

[AnneInMpls]

As far as best-of-the-best on a budget, there's such a wealth of good cheap food here! For guidance, see Jeremy Iggers' blog on TCfoodies - he does a great job of finding and reviewing excellent cheap food.
http://www.tcfoodies.com/profiles/blo...

My votes for b-o-t-b-o-a-b: Obento-Ya, Chimborazo, Saigon, Kafe 421, La Sirena Gorda, Keefer Court, Brasa, Ghandi Mahal, Punch, Caspian Bistro, Birchwood (tho dinners can over $20), Holy Land, Seward Cafe, ... there would be more, but I don't get out much!

Anne

[daniellempls]

"...but I don't get out much" All in perspective, I guess :)

[foreverhungry]

Bar La Grassa's menu makes it very easy to have excellent food at a variety of budgets.

If you're willing to go to $30 per person, Travail's 10 course tasting menu for 2 people is probably one of the best deals in the area.

Midtown global market has some great food (e.g. La Sirena Gorda) for pretty cheap.

Turtle Bread Company on Chicago in MPLS has a fantastic lunch offering, for pretty cheap. Nothing fancy, but their soups are excellent and reasonably priced. Their quiches are also very good.

Lastly, while I hate to spoil the secret, Pardon My French on Cliff Road in Eagan is great. Lunches are in the $7 - $9 range, and are very good - I've had most of their sandwiches, some of their soups, and a couple of their more substantial lunches, and it's all excellent quality, very well prepared. I'm looking forward to going there for dinner soon, their evening menu looks quite interesting. Oh - their deserts, pastries, and breads are fantastic, and are very reasonably priced compared to similar quality goods in other MPLS area bakeries.

-----
La Sirena Gorda
920 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55407

Pardon My French
1565 Cliff Rd Ste 1A, Saint Paul, MN 55122

Bar La Grassa
800 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401

[Seige]

So glad to hear this about Pardon My French. I work in Eagan and have been meaning to try it for a lunch off campus one day. Just haven't made it there yet.

-----
Pardon My French
1565 Cliff Rd Ste 1A, Saint Paul, MN 55122

[foreverhungry]

It's well worth a visit. Their sandwiches are very good, and both sides are great. The side salad is a good portion with a very good vinaigrette (with a touch of honey?) and their other side, the crudite, is julliened radish, carrot, and beet. Their soups are great too. I've really been wanting to try dinner there - the menu looks great, and if the quality is as good as their lunch, it should be a great value.

[astadtler]

I second Bar La Grassa you can easily have an app a main and split a bottle of wine for $30 with groups of 3 or more.

-----
Bar La Grassa
800 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401

[LiaM]

There are probably a couple places that everyone would agree on (La Belle Vie comes to mind) but after that, I doubt you'd get a consensus. Everybody's got their personal favorites. What's a board without opinionated locals, right?

But for places to eat well on a strict budget (er, do you mean before or after beverage?), I'll make some suggestions and I would guess others could too:
Victory 44
I haven't been to Travail, but hear the raves and imagine it would fit
Rinata (especially at late night happy hour)
Not fancy, but Black Sheep Pizza is very good
Sea Salt when in season
Tanpopo

Actually there are quite a few places where you could keep down the costs but have a good meal by sitting in the lounge/bar, taking advantage of whatever specials are available, and/or especially sharing some smaller plates. I'm thinking of the 112 and Bar LaGrassa in particular.

-----
Victory 44
2203 44th Ave N, Minneapolis, MN

Rinata
2451 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405

[Foureyes137]

Not on Chowhound as it would end up being a list of every restaurant in town at some point since there is no editor.

Yelp does this as does Citypages and MSP Mag (and probably Minnesota Monthly).