Joan's in the Park

[SarahInMinneapolis]

What a gem! Fantastic food. Fantastic service. Both owners present and working the room. The kind of place I like to spend my money.

You can eat there cheap (delicious flatbreads) or more expensive (steak and scallops in the mid-30s).

We ordered all over the menu and with wine, left happy and full @ $56 per person before tip.

I highly recommend!

[mikecho]

This place is only good to fair when compared to similar style restaurants such as Acqua, 112 Eatery, Heidi's, etc.. There is nothing special about this place that sets it apart from similar upscale casual Chef -driven restaurants. The atmosphere was nice with a decent server. The food was good as expected, but nothing really WoWed me. I personally didn't care for the crab cake. It was just a basic upscale-casual restaurant menu with no signature dish to make it a neighborhood gem. I did think it was tacky to get a plastic bottle of pop on the white table cloth table along with a cafeteria-style white styrofoam to-go-box. I will say it does have potential

[The Dairy Queen]

Totally agree. It's fine if you're in the area, but it's not a destination restaurant. I'd like to see them do more with local sourcing, etc.

~TDQ

[Brad Ballinger]

Completely understand your points. For me, it's a three-block walk from my home that adds to the appeal. I will say, though, that they do a good job with the steaks. The chef used to be at Capital Grille. I also still think they are finding their way, and still trying out dishes.

[SarahInMinneapolis]

I had the crab cake, too, and it wasn't great. But I stand by my original post. I'd much rather spend my money in a place where the owners are working it as opposed to a place like the Butcher and the Boar ... where the expectation is "Of course it's fabulous, look how much money they spent on the decor."

[Haricotsv2]

Since it's close to where I live, I love the idea of an upscale, casual, Chef-driven restaurant--even if it's just good food creatively prepared--and not a destination restaurant. Everything can't be Heidi's. I'm going with aunt and sister on April 6th and will check back in.
Margi

[Brad Ballinger]

I started a similar thread (same title, too) with an equally favorable impression: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/819268

[SarahInMinneapolis]

Hey, Brad, I should have thought to look. I do remember your post now that I reread it. But I think we'd both agree that Joan should get her own titled post on here. I envy her pizza oven. That simple loaf of bread with the onions on top was great, as you noted.

[The Dairy Queen]

I've been twice now and did the salad/flatbread/appetizer thing with a small group of friends both times--it adds up fast, actually! But, I agree, it's a nice little spot if you're looking for a quiet, cozy restaurant in the general area. They say they will be doing brunch on the patio when the weather gets nice, which I think will be very appealing. I wouldn't call it a destination restaurant, though. And it's small, so reservations are a good idea.

It's not a place for kids, by the way.

~TDQ

[turtlebella]

Curious, TDQ, about what made it not friendly for kids? Is it the quiet/cozy aspect? Or is the staff not generally welcoming? Price point/menu options? "Looks" from other patrons? Or some combination or other?

I wonder if the patio & brunch would be better. I feel like a lot of places that are inappropriate for small children at dinner time are much easier to do at brunch if you'd like to eat out with children. At the least, that has been our experience, we go lots of places for lunch or very early dinner that we might not go otherwise with her. I know people just want parents to get a babysitter, but I take a very different approach, part of my daughter's life is restaurants, she is learning how to behave and be in a restaurant. Helps that I have a fairly easy-going kid though and that we are willing to pull the plug if a melt-down starts.

But I always like to know/am generally curious what makes one place kid-friendly and another not.

[The Dairy Queen]

It's the quiet/cozy aspect. Also, the tables feel pretty close together to me. The staff is super friendly and welcoming, so it's not that.

Like you, I'm hoping brunch on the patio would be more child welcoming. And it seems patio season is right around the corner! Can't wait!

~TDQ

[Brad Ballinger]

Defintely not the staff. It would have to be the "close quarters" in the dining area. They could not fit in another table if they tried.