Cuisine: American, Steak, Fish
Restaurant Features: Bar, Banquet Room, On-Site Parking,
Location: Mahtomedi, MN
Address: 10 Old Wildwood Road Mahtomedi, MN 55115 651.777.4097
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 4pm-10pm
Links: Google Map
Atmosphere: The atmosphere at the Lakeside Club is one that is very laid-back. The restaurant has been family-owned and operated since 1946 and the emphasis is definitely on the food. There isn’t anything fancy about the small, wood-paneled dining room, and eating at the Lakeside does not require anything but casual attire. A small bar is a popular spot to have a beer and watch whatever game is playing on the TV behind the bar.
Menu: Appetizers at Lakeside Club include Chicken Wings, Cheese Curds,
Sandwiches include Steak Sandwich, Hamburger or Cheeseburger.
Steaks served at Lakeside Club include 12 or 16oz Prime Rib, 12 or 16oz Ribeye, New York Strip, Filet Mignon, and Sirloin. Other entrees include Porkchop, Grilled Chicken Breast, Shrimp or Walleye. All meals come with side salad and choice of potato or vegetable.
Price guide: Appetizers $7 Steaks $19-30
What we ordered: My companions and I started with the Chicken Wings. This order of wings came with eight wings that had a crispy, seasoned breading on them. They were great!
We also tried the Cheese Curds, a large serving of lightly breaded nuggets of hot cheddar cheese. These were really good; they had a crispy texture and weren’t too greasy.
After we ate our appetizers, our server brought out our dinner salads and a plate of warm rolls, which come with the entrees. The salads were served in a small bowl with ice berg lettuce, tomato and goldfish crackers. You can always expect bread of some kind at Lakeside, although it changes frequently. On this visit we were served brown dinner rolls that were hot and fresh.
I have eaten at the Lakeside countless times over the past decade and I always order the same thing; the 12oz Ribeye, with a medium temperature. My steak was phenomenal; it was cooked perfectly and was incredibly tender and juicy. It was only lightly seasoned with salt but the flavor of the aged meat was wonderful. I had the choice of potato and I ordered fries, which are the salty shoestring variety, similar to McDonald’s. Yum! Another of our companions also ordered the Ribeye and it was just as wonderful as mine.
Another companion ordered the 16 oz Prime Rib, which was a giant cut prepared medium rare. This cut was comparatively lean for the size, which was thickly cut. It was served with prepared horseradish and au jus with choice of fries.
One of my companions ordered the New York Strip, a lean and juicy cut that was just as tender as the ribeye. Also served with choice of potato and side salad.
Service: I have been going to the Lakeside for over a decade and have become somewhat of a regular over the years. Our server always remembers what we like to order, which I think is a nice touch. Sodas are refilled quickly by any available server and the team effort seems to be carried through to the running of dishes and requests, etc.
Overall Impression: The Lakeside Club is a long-time favorite casual place to go for a delicious steak.
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Cuisine: Breakfast, American, Fish, Irish
Restaurant Features: Banquet, Bar, Flat Screened TVs, Hotel, Live Music, Patio, Waterfront
Location: Stillwater, MN
Address: Water Street Inn * 101 Water St South Stillwater, MN 55082 651-439-6000
Hours: Mon – Fri: 7 am-1am * Sat: 8am-1 am * Sun: 9am- 1am
Links: Water Street Inn Website * Water Street Inn on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: Located on the street level of the Water Street Inn in Historic Downtown Stillwater, Charlie’s Restaurant and Irish Pub encompasses a few different dining rooms, including the Red Room. Old fashioned wallpaper and hand-painted murals on the ceiling emphasize the history of this building which was originally built in 1890 as the Lumber Exchange Building.
Another large sitting room can also be found nearby, with several velvet chairs basking in the natural sunlight that streams in through windows that run along two entire walls.
The Pub seemed to be the most popular place to be with a number of wooden tables as well as a few taller bistro tables. There were a number of framed prints and posters on the walls as well as a couple of flat screened TVs displaying sporting events. There is a self-serve popcorn machine near the entrance and the Pub often bears the aroma of the freshly popped kernels.
The bar in Charlie’s Irish Pub seats about six customers or so and is very inviting. Overall the Pub is a lively place to be.
Menu: Breakfast items include Eggs O’Brien, Pancakes, Thick Cut French Toast, Fruit, Cinnamon Roll, Irish Country Breakfast, Traditional Irish Breakfast, Ham and Eggs, Ha and Gruyere French Toast, and Steak and Eggs. Omelette choices include The Traditional (choice of meat and cheese), Apple Brie, The Victorian (ham and swiss), and The Baron (ham, sausage, bacon, onion and swiss).
Appetizers on the dinner menu include Antipasto Plate, Walleye Cakes, Smoked Chicken Quesadilla, Calamari, Mini Reuben Purses, Beer Battered Onion Rings, Spinach and Artichoke Dip, Homemade Chips & Dip, Smoked BBQ Chicken Legs.
Salads at Charlie’s include Caesar, Cashew Chicken, Greek Salad and Traditional Cobb.
Charlie’s sandwiches are served with chips or upgrade to fries or fresh fruit for $2.50. Options include Pulled Pork, BLT and Guacamole Wrap, Buffalo Chicken Wrap, Classic Reuben, Walleye, Chicken Jack Melt, Grilled 1/2lb Burger, Steak Sandwich, Roasted Portabella and Turkey Burger.
Entrees include Seafood Linguini, Chicken and Portabella Pasta, Mostaccioli, Fish & Chips, Honey Soy Grilled Salmon, Blackened Seafood Trio, Eggplant Parmesan, Almond Crusted Walleye, Twin Lobster Tails, Stuffed Center Cut Pork Loin, Stuffed Chicken Breast, New York Strip, 8oz Pub Steak and 11oz Ribeye Steak.
Desserts at Charlie’s includes Berry Bread Pudding, Charlie’s Big Brownie, and Flourless Sin Cake.
Price guide: Appetizers $7-11 Salads $5-12 Sandwiches $9-13 Entrees $17-31 Desserts $7
What we ordered: We started with an order of Calamari. I didn’t take much notice of the menu description so the unexpected sweetness of the first bite caught me by surprise. This calamari at Charlie’s is lightly breaded and fried, yhen bathed in a sauce of honey, ginger and garlic. The flavor of the honey sauce was delicious, but very sweet and almost too much for just two of us. The green onions helped counter the sweetness but I would have loved some thin slices of red thai chili peppers to spice it up.
After much deliberation over the menu, I ordered the Reuben. This sandwich was stacked with thinly sliced corned beef then topped with genuine aged Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and thousand island dressing sandwiched between marbled rye bread. The swiss and thousand island really made this sandwich; the corned beef tasted good but it was definitely deli-style. I upgraded to fries for $2.50 and received a huge pile of the hot crinkle variety.
My companion ordered the Fish N Chips. This basket of crinkle fries was topped with one large fillet of walleye that was beer-battered and fried. The fillet was impressive; not only was it long, it was also thick and meaty. It was served with a homemade tartar that had dill rather than the traditional pickle. Seriously good fish!
Service: Our visit was in the early evening on a Sunday but we easily found a spot in the the adjacent public parking lot. We entered through a door on the patio that led us directly to the Irish Pub. There wasn’t a hostess so rather than sitting in the dining room, we found a table in the Pub despite it being fairly busy. We took our time ordering and the server had many suggestions from the menu. There appeared to be only one server for the entire pub and she was constantly running out to the kitchen or perhaps to one of the other dining rooms. Drinks took awhile to be filled but food was prepared in a reasonable amount of time.
Overall Impression: The food at Charlie’s was pretty good, the walleye was especially memorable and the calamari was also unique and excellent (albeit sweet!). Great place to stop for breakfast, lunch or dinner while wandering around downtown Stillwater or as a romantic weekend date.
This is an original review of Charlie’s Restaurant and Irish Pub on Twin Cities Restaurant Blog
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Cuisine: American, Greek, Mediterranean, Pizza,
Restaurant Features: Banquet Room, Bar, Patio, On-Site Parking, Sunday Brunch Buffet, Valet Parking
Location: Eden Prairie, MN
Address: 13000 Technology Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (952)546-6722
Hours: Daily 11am-2pm (Kitchen until 10pm)
Links: Santorini Taverna Website * Google Map
Atmosphere: Santorini Taverna is located in Eden Prairie, near Prairie Center, in a giant stand-alone building. The main dining room is casual yet sophisticated, with a giant fireplace in the center, giving each side of the room a more intimate feel. There are tables as well as booths, complete with layered tablecloths.
There is a separate dining room that can be used for banquets or large parties and is used for over-flow on busy nights. There is a fireplace in this room as well as a door leading to the patio.
The spacious lounge area is near the front entrance, complete with a beautiful bar and several bistro tables and an elevated floor.
The patio is a very popular destination for many months of the year. Tucked away behind the property, you can access the patio around the right side of the building or from the dining room. There is a giant outdoor bar in the middle and many tables (with umbrellas!) surrounding it.
The far side of the patio has many more tables for dining.
Menu: Appetizers (Mezedes, Tapas and Antipasti) include Dolmades, Wood Grilled Octopus, Grecian or Buffalo Wings, Shrimp Cocktail, Buffalo Shrimp, Artichoke and Crab Dip, Wood Grilled Lamb Chops, Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, Seared Ahi Tuna, Santorini Gyros, Flamed Saganaki, Baked Mussels, Pastichio en Phyllo, Goat Cheese Bruschetta, Calamari a la Romano, Spanakopita, Wood Grilled Shrimp & Veggies, Greek Peasant Sampler.
There are also a number of Meditteranean Pita Spreads served with warm pitas including Spicy Feta, Taramosalata, Tirosalata, Tzatziki, Tahini Hummous, Roasted Pepper Hummous, Melitzano, Kalamata and Goat Cheese Tapenade.
Wood Oven Pizzas include Four Cheese Classico, Mediterranean, Iberian, and Pizza Margherita.
Salads include Greek Salata, Peppered Steak, Nicklow’s Deluxe, Horiatiki, Caesar, Spiced Ahi Tuna, Shrimp and Avocado, and Chop Salad. Soups include Avgolemono and a Soup du Jour.
Sandwiches and Burgers all come with choice of Lemon Oregano Fries or Tavern pasta. Options include Gyro Pita, Chicken Pita, Veggie Pita, Pita Melt, Mediterranean Chicken Wrap, Walleye Sandwich, Burger, Pepper Jack Burger, Surf and Turf Burger, Prime Rib French Dip, Santorini Club Croissant, and Open Faced Prime Rib Sandwich.
Meat Entrees include Lamb Chops a la Thebes, Filetto de Greco, Athenian Pork Chops, Surf & Turf, Bone-In Ribeye, South American Strip Steak, Prime Rib, New York Strip, and Filet Mignon.
Seafood Entrees include Pan Fried Walleye, Scampi con Pollo, Roasted Norwegian Salmon, Seafood Platter (shrimp, scallops, lobster and salmon), Shrimp Mikrolimano, Moroccan Shrimp, Roasted Scallops, and Lobster Dinner for Two.
Pasta dishes include Taverna Pasta, Seafood Bucatini, Spaghettini Arrabbiata, Ouzo Linguini, Raviolo Basilio, Lobster Ravioli, Tortellini Baronessa, and Cajun Pasta.
Mediterranean Favorites include Grilled Chicken & Shrimp Kabob, Traditional Pastichio, Grilled Beef Kabob, Lamb & Beef Moussaka, Grilled Swordfish Kabob, Kotopita, Eggplant Moussaka, Gyro Dinner and Lamb Shank.
Desserts include Chocolate Fudge Cake, Key Lime Pie, Cheesecake, and Galaktoboureko.
Price guide: Appetizers $8-12 Salads $7-15 Sandwiches $10-19 Meat Entrees $24-34 Seafood $19-49 Pasta $13-26 Greek Favorites $16-23
Happy Hour:
- Mon-Fri 4-7pm, Sun-Thurs 9-11pm, Fri-Sat 10pm-2am
- $2- Mini Burgers, Cheesy Bread with Marinara, Pita & Spread
- $3- Rail Drinks, Tap Beers, Santorini Wings, Onion Rings, Szechuan Green Beans, Mini Pizza, Mini Cheesecakes
- $4- Santorini Sliders, Fish & Chips, Sloppy Joe’s, Pork Potstickers
- $5- BBQ Shrimp Skewers, Mini Crab Cakes, Goat Cheese Bruschetta, Gyro Appetizer, and Shrimp Gazpacho.
Weekly Specials:
- Friday- Fresh Alaskan Halibut Char-grilled with fresh herbs and lemon, served with roasted potatoes and vegetables $24
- Saturday- Boneless leg of lamb stuffed with spinach, feta and loukaniko sausage Served with roasted potatoes and vegetables $23
- Sunday- Family Style Platter with Avgolemono soup, Greek salad, gyro & fixings, sliced chicken breast, two lamb chops, Taverna pasta and baklava For two $45 | For four $75
What we ordered: We started with an order of Artichoke and Crab Dip. This was a delicious blend of cheeses, with garlic and chunks of artichoke and crab, baked until hot and bubbly then topped with fresh tomatoes. It was a decent sized order served in a ramekin with several triangles of warm pita bread. Great stuff!
We also ordered the Baked Mussels, which I thought were excellent. They were magnificently tender and came swimming in a big, deep bowl of broth made with white whine, saffron, tomatoes, fennel and garlic.
Another appetizer we tried was the Goat Cheese Bruschetta. We loved this! The goat cheese was blended with cream cheese and then placed on a bed of tomato-basil bruschetta. The order came with several slices of crustini drizzled with balsamic vinegar for building little bruschetta toasts.
There were many items on the menu that sounds really good to me, but I wanted to try authentic Greek food. The owner of Santorini himself highly suggested the Moussaka, so that is one of the items we tried. This dish was sort of a Greek lasagna, with layers of ground beef-lamb, eggplant, and slices of roasted potato topped with tomato sauce and bechamel cheese.
We also shared a New York Strip which was extremely tender, juicy and well seasoned. The steak came with a serving of roasted zucchini, yellow squash, onion and fingerling potatoes. The steak was wonderful.
We also tried the Kotopita, which was a chicken breast topped with spinach and feta, then wrapped in flaky phyllo dough. This was a great dish with a wonderful combo of flavors and textures, from the tender chicken to the creamy feta to the flaky phyllo crust. It was served with Santorini’s famous Angel Hair pasta tossed with brown butter, garlic and mizithra cheese. Both were delicious!
Our server presented us with the dessert tray and enticed us to order a couple of desserts, including this Galaktoboureko, a lemon custard wrapped in phyllo dough. Excellent!
We also tried the Chocolate Fudge Cake, which was very moist, drizzled with chocolate sauce. Way too much for just one person after all that food!
Service: We had very good service at Santorini Taverna. We arrived after 7pm on a beautiful Thursday night and opted to wait 15+ minutes for a table on the patio. It was very busy but our server was attentive and had some good suggestions from the menu. Our appetizers came out in waves and the entrees came much later.
Overall Impression: Santorini Taverna is a beautiful restaurant and has a great selection of Greek and Mediterranean foods. I thought the food was great and I especially loved the giant patio and good service.
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Cuisine: Fish & Seafood, Steaks
Restaurant Features: Bar, Banquet, Valet Parking
Location: Downtown Minneapolis, MN
Address: 801 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN 55402 612-692-9000
Hours: M-F 11am-2:30pm M-Th 5-10pm Fri-Sat 5-11pm Sun 5-9pm
Links: The Capital Grille’s Website * The Capital Grille on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: The Minneapolis location of The Capital Grille is located down town in the Hennepin Theater District, with the main entrance on Hennepin Ave and an additional entrance from inside La Salle Plaza. The main dining room is big with several booths arranged around the room to maximize both space and privacy. There are also a couple fo smaller private dining rooms.
There is a bar area just inside the entrance from Hennepin.
Menu: Appetizers at The Capital Grille include Wagyu Beef Carpaccio, Cold Shellfish Platter, Lobster and Crab Cakes, Pan Fried Calamari with Hot Cherry Peppers, Smoked Salmon, Shrimp Cocktail, Fresh Oysters on the Half Shell, and Prosciutto Wrapped Mozzarella with Vine Ripe Tomatoes.
Soups offered are the Clam Chowder, Lobster Bisque, and French Onion.
Salads offered include Fresh Mozzarella with Tomato and Basil, Chopped Salad, The Wedge, Caesar, Spinach with Warm Bacon dressing, and Field Greens with Tomatoes.
Chef’s Selections include Seared Tenderloin with Butter Poached Lobster, Cedar Planked Salmon with Tomato Fennel Relish, Bone-In Kona Crusted Sirloin with Caramelized Shallot Butter, Porcini Rubbed Delmonico with 12-Year Aged Balsamic, Sliced Filet Mignon with Cippolini Onions and Wild Mushrooms.
Other Entrees at The Capital Grille include Filet Oscar, Dry Aged Sirloin, Dry Aged Porterhouse, Dry Aged Steak Au Poivre with a Courvoisier Cream Sauce, Filet Mignon, Delmonico Steak, Double Cut Lamb Rib Chops, and Roasted Chicken.
Seafood items include Broiled Fresh Lobster, Grilled Swordfish with Lemon Shallot Relish, Seared Citrus Glazed Salmon, Lobster and Crab Stuffed Shrimp, and Sushi-Grade Sesame Seared Tuna with Gingered Rice.
Side Items include Vidalia Onion Rings, Parmesan Truffle Fries, Lobster Mac ‘N’ Cheese, Au Gratin Potatoes, Fresh Asparagus with Hollandaise, Fresh Creamed Spinach, Roasted Seasonal Mushrooms, Sam’s Mashed Potatoes, Sauteed Spinach, and Fresh Green Beans with Roasted Tomatoes and Fennel.
Desserts include Trio of Handmade Ice Creams, Cheesecake with Fresh Seasonal Berries, Fresh Berries in Vanilla Ice Cream, Fresh Strawberries Capital Grille, Coconut Cream Pie, Flourless Chocolate Espresso Cake, Chocolate Hazelnut Cake, and Classic Creme Brulee.
What we ordered: (Disclosure: My visit was part of a pre-arranged five course dinner held to kick-off this summer’s The Generous Pour Wine Event. I will only be writing about the items I tried that are permanent features on The Capital Grille’s dinner menu.)
I started with samples of two appetizers. Pictured below on the left is the Pan Fried Calamari with Hot Cherry Peppers. I really love calamari when it is cooked right and this calamari was cooked perfectly so that it was tender without a hint of chewiness. It was lightly breaded and slightly crispy. I have been loving the combo of fried calamari with peppers lately and The Capital Grille’s version really hit the spot. The other appetizer that was paired with the calamari was the Prosciutto Wrapped Mozzarella with Vine Ripe Tomatoes. One look at this treat had my mouth watering and it smelled amazing. The prosciutto was thickly sliced, slightly smokey and perfectly crispy. Similar to bacon but even better! The melted mozzarella was creamy, a perfect contrast to the crisp prosciutto. Could I eat nothing but this every day for the rest of my life and call it a low-carb diet? Sounds like a great idea to me!
Just before the main course we were brought a basket of different breads. They all looked great but I didn’t want to ruin my appetite.
For the entree, I chose the Kona-Crusted Sirloin with shallot butter. This steak had exceptional flavor, having been dry aged and cut on-site, extremely tender with just a trace of marbling throughout the meat. It was broiled at a high heat to give it the prefect amount of char while still between a medium and medium rare temperature, as I requested. The shallot butter melted on top just emphasized its natural juices and flavors. Everything about it was excellent.
My companion has the Cedar Planked Salmon with Tomato Fennel Relish. This looked amazing! The salmon filet was thick and cooked al dente toward the center, as it should be. It was seasoned with fennel seed and then covered with a relish made from shallots and tomatoes. I tried just a bite of this and thought it was great.
We were served two different side dishes with our entrees, including the Lobster Mac ‘N’ Cheese. This delicious, rich and creamy dish was made with Marscapone, Havarti and Grana Padano cream sauce. I can’t recall having a macaroni and cheese with this exact combo of cheeses, but the flavors were pleasant while being somewhat strong. There were a handful of large pieces of lobster claw meat in the dish, which was then covered with white cheddar and Panko bread crumbs.
Another side dish we were served with our entrees was the Sauteed Spinach.
For the dessert course I chose the Strawberries Capital Grille. This dish consists of handmade vanilla ice cream that is topped with fresh strawberries and a special sauce made with Ruby Port and Grand Marnier. My first impression of this rich and creamy dessert was that it tasted like marshmallow but the strawberries brought a nice mix of both sweet and tart.
Service: I had great service at The Capital Grille, which can only be expected since I was their guest for this special dinner.
Overall Impression: The Capital Grille may be a chain restaurant, but it is one of the finest chain restaurants in the Minneapolis area. You can always count on a delicious, high-quality meal at The Capital Grille. One of the best deals around is their Generous Pour Wine Event currently running through Sept. 4, 2011, where patrons can get unlimited glasses of wine with dinner for only $25/person.
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Cuisine: American, Fish & Seafood
Restaurant Features: Bar, Banquet, Hotel, Locally Sourced,
Location: Downtown Minneapolis, MN
Address: 615 Second Ave South Minneapolis, MN 55402 (612) 288-8888
Hours: Monday – Saturday 3pm-1am Sunday 3pm-12am
Links: The Six15 Room Website * The Six15 Room on Facebook
Atmosphere: Located in the newly remodeled Grand Hotel in Minneapolis, The Six15 Room is the newest, swankiest and most contemporary cocktail lounge in the heart of Downtown. Located just inside the Grand Hotel entrance, The Six15 Room is not just for guests of the hotel, it is also the ideal place for anyone looking to try fun and delicious artisenal drinks and foods.
The entire space of The Six15 Room is divided into smaller little areas, including a VIP area that has comfy purple velvet-covered sofas, fluffy pillows, and an entire wall filled with a variety of mounted metallic deer trophies.
One very fun feature of the VIP room is the 50″ Flatscreen TV fully equipped with a XBOX 360.
The far end of the trophy wall has a real wild boar’s head as the center piece. I wouldn’t have wanted to run into him in the forest, this bad boy has a big ol’ snout and some big curvy teeth. The Six15 Room is taking suggestions for naming the Wild Boar, if you would like to enter, simply submit your idea with the bartender!
Here is another seating area in the lounge; complete with sofas, tables, and more big TVs.
Menu: Some of the creative signature cocktails offered by Master Mixologist Troy have fun names such as Don’t Be Coy, Turn the World On, A-lo Down Low, Caught in her Web, Rose Creek, Bite the Bulleit, Six15, and Orangegasm. There are also a number of classic cocktails such as the Aviation, Dark & Stormy, Clover Club, Negroni, Last Word, Moscow Mule, Daiguiri, Manhattan, Margarita, Martini, Sidecar, Sazerac, and Whiskey Sour. There are also a number of local beers on tap as well as a large selection of domestic bottles. Big selection of wines as well.
All of the menu items offered in The Six15 Room have ingredients that are locally sourced. Options include Calamari Fries, Turkey Burgers, Grilled Sausage, Beef Skewers, Smoked Trout, Walleye Tator Tots, Grilled Shellfish, Mixed Greens Salad, and Cheese Plate.
You can also get a Tasting Portion of the Grand Entrees, including Fish Tacos, Braised Duroc Pork Shank, Creek Stone New York Strip, and Scottish Salmon.
Desserts include Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches, Ginger Creme Brulee with Almond Cookies, and Chocolate Lava Cake with Espresso Creme Anglaise.
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Guests staying at the Grand Hotel also have the option of ordering off a larger menu for In-Room Service. Breakfast selections include the International Grand Traveler, Continental Breakfast, Eggs Benedict, Eggs Florentine, Belgian Waffle, French Toast, Beef Hash, Three Egg Omelet, Spa Egg White Omelet, Chef’s Favorite (bacon, eggs and pancakes), Berries & Granola, and Fruit Plate.
Dishes offered all day include Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Pork Pot Stickers, Chicken Wings, Chicken Tenders, Cheese Plate, Calamari Fries, and Poached Tiger Shrimp.
Soups offered are Cream of Wild Rich and White Chicken Chili. Salads include the Grand Hotel Salad, Caesar, Greek and Grilled Salmon.
Individual Pizzas are also available. Build-Your-Own, Three Cheese, Margherita, Thai Chicken and The White Pizza (alfredo sauce, caramelized onions, spinach, goat cheese and dried cherries).
Pasta Selections offered are the Spaghetti Carbonara, Mediterranean Primavera, and Noodles & Sauce.
Sandwiches include Grilled Angus Burger, Trio of Mini Turkey Burgers, Grand Club, Walleye Fish Tacos, The Duet, MLP (mushrooms, lettuce, and roasted peppers), Grilled Chicken Breast, Beef Stroganoff, and Fried Egg Sandwich.
Grand Entree Selections offered after 5pm include Eat Street Noodle Stir-Fry, Chicken Marsala, Duroc Braised Pork Shank, Creek Stone New York Strip Steak, Steamed Salmon, Walleye, and Mediterranean Primavera.
Price guide: Small Plates $9-18 Grand Entrees $15-35
What we ordered: I had a chance to meet with Executive Chef Kris Koch, the master behind the menu. Born and raised in Minnesota, Koch has deep roots in the area and well-established relationships with a number of local farmers, and sources ingredients locally whenever possible. Many of the items he has created have a fun twist on traditional local favorites.
One of the first items we tried was the Smoked Trout from Rushing Waters. This pretty-plated dish also included toasted bagel chips with lemon-herbed cream cheese, Koch’s spin on the traditional cream cheese and lox. This was so good! There is just something about cream cheese and smoked fish that speaks to me and then when you add in the buttery crunch of the bagel, you have the perfect combo of textures.
Smoked Trout with Bagel Chips at The Six15 Room at Grand Hotel ~ Minneapolis, MN
Mmm, take a closer look at that deliciously smoked trout. Slightly salty and smokey, the trout had a nice, light and flaky texture without any fishiness. It was served with lettuce and pickled red cabbage.
We also tried the Calamari Fries. You may have noticed that i order calamari at many restaurants. The calamari fries at The Six15 Room rank up there with the best. These calamari strips were double-dipped in tempura batter and then fried just perfectly. The batter was crispy yet the calamari was tender and delicious. Thin slices of slightly pickled peppers were arranged on top, adding a slight bite and interesting contrast. A lemony mayonnaise was served for dipping, a light and fresh compliment to the calamari.
Another item we tried with the first wave of goodies was the Grilled Sausage Platter. It came with two varieties of sausage, one that was Maple flavored, the other with bits of bacon ground in. Both sausages were excellent but one of my favorite parts of the dish was the apricot mustard. Yes, you read that right. Pureed apricot with stone-ground mustard blended in. A delicious combo of sweet from the fruit and spicy and slightly piquant flavor of the mustard. The dish also came with several slices of buttered, grilled whole wheat toast.
One of the first cocktails we tried was the Don’t Be Coy. It may come as no surprise to you that I am a Margarita Girl, so this drink was perfect for me. Made with Herradura Tequila, raspberry syrup, Licor 43 and fresh lime, this was a wonderful blend of tart, sweet and agave. Loved!
Another drink we tried was the Whiskey Sour. Normally I wouldn’t think I would enjoy anything made with whiskey but I immediately changed my mind when I tried the Whiskey Sour at The Six15 Room. This drink was fabulous! Made with Jim Beam Black bourbon, lemonade, and a touch of egg white. The egg white gave it just a tiny hint of froth, which I thought was a great touch. The next time I drink whiskey I hope it tastes as good as this!
After eating and drinking all of the above, a second wave of food and cocktails were brought out to us. I was especially excited to try the Fish Tacos, a favorite food of mine. These may have been the first fish tacos I’ve had made with locally-caught walleye. Served on double white corn tortillas, each of the two tacos had a nice size fillet of pan-seared walleye topped with pickled cabbage and cilantro. Excellent and very filling!
Fish Tacos at The Six15 Room ~ Minneapolis, MN
We also tried the Scottish Salmon, served with brussel sprouts, jasmine rice and a sweet-yet-savory carrot ginger puree. This salmon was very good, perfectly (under)cooked so that it retained the right amount of moisture and light flavor of the fish. It was lightly seasoned with just salt and pepper but was dressed up by the accompanied ginger-carrot puree.
The last food item we tried was the Walleye Tator Tots. How perfectly Minnesota is this dish? The walleye was finely blended with mashed yukon gold potatoes, spiced up and then formed into shapes about the same size as a marshmallow. Lightly breaded then fried, these were wonderful little treats that anyone would like. Served with a citrus tartar sauce.
The second wave of cocktails included the Moscow Mule, made with Absolut Vodka, house-made ginger syrup, fresh lime juice and soda. Light and refreshing!
We also tried the Rose Creek cocktail, made with pear brandy. I can’t recall having pear brandy before this, but I was pleasantly surprised to smell the sweet smell of pear about 6 inches before I brought the glass to my mouth. It tasted just as good as it smelled! made with Clear Creek Pear Brandy, fresh lemon juice, real grenadine and Angostura (a secret blend of herbs).
Overall Impression: I was very excited to try the new Six15 Room once it opened and after trying it, I am just as excited to return. Executive Chef Kris Koch has a real knack for creating dishes that are not only creative and delicious, they are made from fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Everything that is offered on the menu is appealing to both locals and those who are in town and would like to try a true taste of Minnesota. The Grand Opening of both The Six15 Room and The Grand Hotel is taking place tonight, June 16, 2011.
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Cuisine: Fish, Seafood, Steaks, Sushi, Dessert
Restaurant Features: Banquet, Bar, Hotel
Locations: Edina & Minneapolis, MN
Addresses & Maps:
Edina- 3203 Galleria Edina, MN 55435(Edina Westin Galleria Hotel) 952.920.1142
Minneapolis- 800 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55402 612.338.3300
Hours: Mon-TH: 11am-10pm FRI: 11am-11pm SAT: 4pm-11pm SUN: 4pm-10pm
Links: McCormick & Schmick’s Website * McCormick & Schmick’s on Facebook
Atmosphere: The Downtown Minneapolis McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant is located on Nicollet Mall at 9th St.. The restaurant is quite big, or so it seems. On the way to our table we walked by several curtained-off areas which I can only assume lead to additional or private dining areas.
My companions and I were shown behind one of the very last curtains and into a large dining room. Deep, rich colors on the walls and floor gave it a masculine feel which was softened up by the white tablecloths.
There is also a large Bar area at the Downtown location that has booths as well as seating at the bar. Much less formal than the dining room but just as cozy.
Menu: The Menu at McCormick & Schmick’s changes daily, depending on what type of fresh catch is available. The following is the menu that was available to me on the night of my visit in late May 2011.
Appetizers include Tempura Shrimp, Lump Blue Crab Tower, Fried Calamari, Duck Potstickers with Raspberry Hoisin, Crispy Thai Chicken Spring Rolls, Portabella Mushroom and Goat Cheese Bruschetta, Steamed Black Mussel & Clams, Crispy Fried Oysters, Crab Cake, Kobe Beef Carpaccio, and Coconut Fried Shrimp.
Offerings from the Seafood Bar include Malpeque Oysters, Deep Bay Oysters, Alpine Bay Oysters , and Spiced Jumbo Prawns.
Sushi and Sashimi includes Tuna Tartare, Salmon Lomi Lomi, Spiced Seared Ahi Tuna Tostada, California Roll.
Soups at McCormick & Schmicks inlcude New England Clam Chowder and Crab Bisque. Salad options are the Chopped, The Wedge, House, Caesar, and Grilled Shrimp Cobb Salad.
This season’s Wild Features include Angry Tuna Roll, Wild Alaska Halibut & Salmon Baked in a Crispy Pastry, Wild Canada Whitefish, Wild swordfish Casino, and Wild Seafood Trio.
Seafood Specialties include Cashew Crusted Tilapia, Seared Sea Scallops, Parmesan Breaded Tilapia, Atlantic Salmon Stuffed with Crab, Chilean Sea Bass with Miso and Udon Noodles, Horseradish Herb Steelhead, Macademia Nut Breaded Halibut, and Blackened Catfish with Fire Roasted Corn Salsa.
Traditional Seafood Items include Rainbow Trout, Horseradish and Potato Crusted Red Snapper, Atlantic Salmon with Berry Sauce, Fried Shrimp Platter, and Wild Ahi Tuna.
Other Entrees include Petite Filet Mignon, Filet Mignon, Top Sirloin with Bleu Cheese Sauce, Lobster Steamer, Maple Brined Chicken, Shrimp Linguini, King Crab Legs, Kobe Burger with Mushrooms and Swiss, Tenderloin and Portabello Brochette, and New York Strip. Filet & Shrimp Scampi combo also available.
Desserts include Key Lime Pie, Apple Pie, Creme Brulee, and Chocolate Trio.
Price guide: Appetizers $-12 Sushi $9-14 Oysters $3+ Seafood Specialties $17-32 Entrees $14-47
What we ordered: We started with an order of Fried Calamari. Delicious! The batter was crunchy but the calamari was cooked perfectly; the rings were tossed with banana peppers and sprinkled with fresh parmesan. The order aame with fire-roasted tomato sauce for dipping.
We also ordered the Large Oyster Sampler, which came with eight oysters in total: Malpeque Oysters, Deep Bay Oysters, and Alpine Bay Oysters. I can’t honestly tell you which two varieties I tried but they were both fresh and delicious. I always top my oysters with lemon, cocktail and horseradish. I’ve said it before but I LOVE horseradish. Goes perfectly with oysters ;)
We also tried a couple orders of the Angry Tuna Roll. These fabulous rolls contained spicy tuna, then topped with more tuna, thin slices of fresh jalapeno, spicy mayo and flamed tobikko. I love spicy sushi and this really hit the spot.
We also ordered the California Roll, which I did not try. Nothing wrong with a California Roll every now and then but I would take the Angry Tuna Roll over this plain jane any day.
Just before our meals were served we were brought Sourdough Bread which was fresh and crusty.
I had a hard time deciding what to order for my entree. I love halibut and the Macademia Nut Crusted Halibut sounded really good but I was afraid it wouldn’t have enough flavor for me. The server assured me it was excellent so I did end up ordering it. The dish looked good but I was immediately disappointed by the somewhat small size, in comparison to my companions’ dishes. My piece of halibut was about 3″ x 1″, very lightly crusted and pan fried. It sat on a bed of steamed broccoli and atop the mango butter sauce. The fish was cooked just right so the texture was firm without being tough but the taste of the overall dish was very mild. Nothing wrong with this dish, just too boring for my tastes. For the money, it was about $3 per boring bite. Ridiculous if you think of it like that.
One of my companions ordered the Horseradish Hashbrown Crusted Red Snapper. I tried a bite of this and thought it was very good. The flavor of the horseradish was apparent but not overpowering, it really just enhanced the taste of the fish. The hashbrowns that were crusted around the fish were a nice compliment in texture, however my companion thought there was a little too much potato in proportion to the amount of fish. I liked it much better than my halibut.
One of my companions ordered the Sea Bass, which turned out to be one of the best dishes I tried. The sea bass filet was quite big in comparison to the halibut and it sat atop a bed of stir-fried veggies and udon noodles soaked in the delicious, flavorful Asian miso sauce. Once I was offered a bite I had to show restraint so I wouldn’t eat half the dish. A winner!
One of my companions started with the Chopped Salad and then had the Steak & Scampi Combo.
The Steak and Scampi combo is a great value, it come with the filet mignon, jumbo scampi-style shrimp, gruyere croquettes, and steamed broccoli. I tried a small bite of this steak and it was delicious; tender and juicy. A grilled Lobster Tail was added to the dish for an additional charge. The bite of lobster I tried was also excellent; sweet and succulent.
The steak and Scampi combo also came with Creme Brulee. This was creamy and cooked just right, with a nice crunchy layer of caramelized sugar on top.
We also tried the Key Lime Pie, a cheesecake-style key lime with a thick graham cracker crust. Oh, I love key lime and I love cheesecake. Great combo.
Another dessert we tried was the Apple Pie. The caramel drizzled on top gave this dessert a messy appearance but by all reports, it was very good.
Service: We had a reservation for dinner and were promptly seated. Our server was very good but our visit was a long, drawn out experience. We ordered many courses and ended up staying almost three hours for dinner. The kitchen seemed to take their time preparing our food, most of it being worth the wait. Toward the end of our night things started to seem very slow, it took 25 minutes to get our dessert after we ordered it, despite being the only ones left in our dining room at the time. When our server brought them out to us she said she made them herself, so I guess someone in the kitchen dropped the ball.
Overall Impression: There were many items that I tried at McCormick & Schmick’s that I thoroughly enjoyed and the prices seem reasonable for the portion sizes. Our server was great but the food did take a long time. I will definitely try McCormick & Schmick’s again in the future.
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Disclosure: I was invited out to do this review and my meal was provided by the restaurant.
Cuisine: Breakfast, German
Restaurant Features: Banquet, Bar, On-Site Parking, Patio
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Address: 1 East 26th Street, Minneapolis MN 55404 | 612-872-0812
Hours: Mon – Fri: 10am-12am * Sat – Sun:9 am-12am
Links: Black Forest Inn Website * BlackForest Inn on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: Located in its original home on East 26th Street at the corner of Nicollet, the Black Forest Inn has been a long-time family-owned Minneapolis institution since opening in May 1965. There are two different dining rooms inside the restaurant, as well as a bar, patio and attached banquet space. One of the most striking features of the decor are all the hand-painted murals and paintings. Beautiful!
The bar area is also a cute little space with well-loved wooden floors and a handsome wooden bar.
It was a fairly nice day out so my companion and I opted to sit on the patio, a courtyard-type space snuggled between the restaurant and the banquet room. The patio is so cute! They have a variety of flowers surrounding a cool metal sculpture and fairy lights strung up around the space and on the trees. Very inviting. No worries about sprinkling rain, there is a large motorized tarp that covers the patio space when unpredictable Minnesota weather takes a turn for the worse.
Black Forest Inn also has an attached Banquet space that can accommodate up to 100 people, a great place to throw a small party or Rehearsal Dinner!
Menu: Breakfast options include German Breakfast, New York Egg Sandwich, Apple Pancake, Eggs, Eggs Benedict, Muesli and Scones. Quiche is served on Saturdays and Sundays.
Appetizers at Black Forest Inn include Lentil Soup, Lentil Soup with Sausage, Soup du Jour, Liver Pate, Chicken Strips, Sauteed Mushrooms, Ham and Sauerkraut Balls, Onion Rings, Potato Pancake, and Sauerbraten Aspic.
Salads offered at Black Forest Inn are the Lentil Salad, Wurst Salad with Homemade Sausage, Tossed Salad, Caesar, Herring Salad with Toast, and Martjes Herring with Rye Bread.
Sandwiches and items found on the Lunch Menu include Spargel Toast with Ham and Asparagus, Pineapple Toast with Ham and Cheddar, Bratwurst, Burger, Veggie Burger, Bavarian Pork Sandwich, Ham & Cheese, Reuben or Rachel, Chicken Strips, and Fish and Chips.
German and European Entrees that are served at the Black Forest Inn all come with hard roll. Options include the Hausplatte (combo of sausages), Wiener Schnitzel, Jager Schnitzel, Geschnitzeltes, Nieren (veal kidney), Sauerbraten, Hungarian Goulash, and Baked Salmon.
Side Dishes include Red Cabbage, German Potato Salad, French Fries, Spaetzel, Semmelknodel, Fried Cabbage, Broccoli, and Sauerkraut.
Price guide: Appetizers $4-10 Salads $5-11 Sandwiches $ Entrees $15-25 Sides $3-6
Weekly Specials:
- Monday- Thursday- KÖNIGSBERGER KLOPS $9.95 ( Tasty, spiced meatball in a white caper sauce served with spaetzel) or ALSATION SAUERKRAUT CASSEROLE $9.95 (Slices of potato and smoked sausage in sauerkraut)
- Friday- KALBSHAXE BÜRGERLICH $18.00 (Large, tender vealshank smothered in vegetables and gravy) OR RIBS AND KRAUT $14.75 (Spareribs and sauerkraut, just like Mutti used to make)
- Saturday- BEEF ROULADEN $15.50 Two rolls$24.00 ( A classic beef roll with bacon, carrot, pickle and mustard, served in brown gravy with our own spaetzel noodles ) OR VEAL CORDON BLEU $24.25 (Tender slices of breaded veal wrapped around ham and swiss cheese and gently sauteed to order. Served with a tossed green salad )
- Sunday ROAST PORK $16.75 (Marinated and roasted to tender perfection and served with our famous apple dressing and gravy )OR CABBAGE ROLLS $9.95 Two rolls$14.75 (A leaf of green cabbage wraps itself around a flavorful meat filling. Served with real mashed potatoes)
What we ordered: We visited Black Forest Inn during the famous Spargelfest, so most of our dishes contained asparagus and were featured in this post. I also wanted to try something from the regular dinner menu and ended up with the Beef Rouladen (available only on Saturdays). I had never had this dish before so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect but thought it was very good. The cut of beef tasted like it had been marinated and then was wrapped around a filling of tangy pickled veggies, then topped with brown gravy. Homemade Spaetzel was served on the side.
Service: We were invited out at the request of Black Forest Inn to cover the Spargelfest event and had a very nice time talking with Erica, one of the family members who own the restaurant. Although we did not order for ourselves, the service was very nice and everything was timed perfectly. I observed many of the servers who were working with other customers on the patio and everyone seemed friendly and helpful.
Overall Impression: Black Forest Inn is a charming German restaurant at the heart of Eat Street, with tasty, authentic German cuisine and friendly service. In addition to the good stuff that happens every day all year long, special annual events like Spargelfest are a true delight and I can only assume Oktoberfest is also a really good time. The patio is the ideal place to dine and hang out in the nicer weather months.
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Cuisine: Banquet, Fish & Seafood, Sushi
Restaurant Features: Bar, Banquet, Flatscreen TVs, Rooftop Patio
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Address: 1400 West Lake Street Minneapolis, Minnesota 55408 (612) 824-8862
Hours: *Sunday thru Wed.11:30am to Midnight *Thurs 11:30am-1:00am (food until 11:30) *Fri-Sat 11:30-2:00am (food until 12:30am)
Links: Stella’s Fish Cafe Website * Stella’s on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: Stella’s Fish Cafe and Prestige Oyster Bar is located on Lake St, just across from Calhoun Square. The building is a large three-story building with a rooftop patio. The main floor is where you will find the bar and the main dining room, as well as the kitchen.
The lower level also contains a tank with live lobsters, just outside the kitchen.
The main floor also has a large bar area with several bistro tables spread throughout. There are many large windows that let in the sunlight and keep the room bright during the day.
Menu: Appetizers include Sushi Grade Tina Dip, Gorgonzola Table Bread, Surf and Turf Sliders, Jalapeno Skillet Cornbread, Edamame, Chesapeake Bay Crab Cakes, Fish Tacos, Deep Fried Walleye Fingers, Coconut Shrimp, Fresh Fried Calamari, Champagne Mussels, Cajun Beef Bites, Oysters Rockefeller, Hot Crab & Spinach Dip, Crispy Fried Chicken Wings.
Stellas also has a Prestige Oyster Bar with a variety of fresh raw oysters including Blue Point, Malpaques, Hog Neck Bay, Hawks Point, Oyster Bay, Totten Inlet, Japanese Style Oysters (topped with ponzu and chives) and Mexican Style Oysters (topped with citrus salsa and pico de gallo).
There are also a variety of fresh sushi rolls including Salmon Explosion( marinated wasabi salmon, cucumber and avocado topped with salmon), White Tuna Roll, Stella Roll (spicy tuna and cucumber), Crunchy (shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumbers), Tuna Poke Roll (ahi tuna, pineapple, asparagus, cilantro, topped with toasted sesame seeds and wasabi mayo), Baked Lobster Roll (crab and asparagus rolled in soy paper topped with baked lobster), Spicy Tuna Palooza (tuna, avocado, carrots, topped with tuna and chives), California Roll and Dragon Roll (tempura shrimp, cucumber, spicy mayo, topped with fresh eel, avocado and teriyaki).
Other Raw Bar items include Peel N Eat Shrimp, Daily Razzle Dazzle Ceviche, Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna, Spicy Tuna Crisps and The Spicy Oshi.
Soups include New England Clam Chowder with Bacon and a Soup du Jour. Salads offered at Stella’s include Walnut Salad, Caesar, Roasted Beets over Mixed Greens, Miced Field Greens, and Asparagus and Prosciutto. There are also two larger salads meant for sharing: Caesar and Grilled Tuna Nicoise.
Stella’s Signatures include Stuffed Tilapia, King Crab, Blackened Swordfish, Stella’s Fish Sampler, Jambalaya, Blackened Ribeye, San Francisco Cioppino.
Fresh Fish selections vary from day to day but may include Grey Snapper, Halibut, Ahi Tuna, Altantic Salmon, Swordfish, Diver Scallops, and Maine Lobster.
Pasta options include Linguini Shrimp Scampi and Blackened Chicken Fettuccini.
Stella also has steaks for those who prefer turf over surf. Choose from 8 oz Filet Mignon, 16 oz Ribeye, 16 oz New York Strip, and 16 oz Bar Steak.
Platter and Basket options all come with french fries or garlic mashed potatoes and include Barbeque Ribs, Beer Battered Walleye, Coconut Shrimp, Lobster Roll, Fish N Chips, Cornmeal Crusted Catfish and Beer Battered Shrimp.
Price guide: Appetizers $6-15 Oysters $2.50+/ea Sushi $15 Salads $5-15 Signatures $22-55 Fresh Catch $22-35 Steaks $20-35
Happy Hour:
- Mon-Friday 3-6pm
- Sat-Sun 12pm-5pm
- Sun-Thurs 9pm-11pm
- Fri-Sat 10:30pm-12:30am
- $5.25 Appetizers: Salmon Burger Sliders, Philly Cheese Steak Sliders, Buffalo Wings, Fat Tire Frickels, BBQ Rib Basket, 1/2 lb Peel & Eat Shrimp, Hot Crab & Spinach Dip, Spicy Fried Calamari, Champagne Mussles, Cheese Curds, Taco of the Day, Ahi Tuna Crisps,
- $1 Oysters on the half shell
- 2-for-1 Rails and Taps
Weekly Specials:
Thursday- Crab Feast $24.95
Sunday- 1 1/4 lb whole live lobster $19.95
What we ordered: There was no doubt in my mind that we would be eating fresh oysters to start, the question was which kind we would order. Opting to eat in the dining room instead of having Happy Hour in the bar where the oysters were much cheaper, we ordered a dozen of the Blue Point Oysters because they seemed to be the best value and they came recommended by our server. These were tasty and tender without any hint of fishiness and even better when dressed with lemon, cocktail and fresh horseradish. My only complaint was that the size of the oysters was not consistent and some of them were very small.
There were many items on the menu that sounded delicious and the server had many good suggestions but when it came down to it, I ordered the Fish & Chips, a regular feature. These thick pieces of flaky cod were very enjoyable; the batter that was used had a pleasant mix of seasoning and the perfect amount of golden crispiness without being too greasy. There were three pieces of the cod which didn’t seem like an overly big portion for the price but it was truly excellent fish. The fries were fresh-cut and also very good, as were the tartar sauce and cole slaw.
After hearing a lot about Lobster Rolls recently, that is what my companion decided to order for dinner. The large pieces of cold lobster were tossed with mayo, celery, and a dash of lemon, then topped onto a warm, toasty baquette. This sandwich was quite good, especially to eat on a warm summer day. I personally prefer my lobster hot and buttery but this was a very refreshing way to eat it.
Service: We had pretty good service at Stella’s Fish Cafe. Our server was knowledgeable of the menu and had many recommendations. Our drinks were refilled in a decent amount of time but our meals were served to us too soon after the oysters were brought out. It is a pet peeve of mine to have the main course served before the appetizer is finished or taken away, the experience just isn’t as enjoyable when I feel rushed.
Overall Impression: I had been wanting to try Stella’s for years and finally made the trip to Uptown specifically to have oysters and fish. The oysters were good and the fish and chips were also excellent. Next time I will try to make it out on a nice day to take advantage of the rooftop patio and the cheap happy hour oyster specials!
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