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.

Cuisine: American, Burgers, Fish & Seafood, Steak & Ribs
Restaurant Features: Bar, Flat Screen TVs, Meat Raffle, Pull-Tabs, On-Site Parking, Live Music, Karaoke
Location: Mahtomedi, MN
Address: 3140 Century Ave Mahtomedi, MN 55110 651-770-2443
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am-10:30pm *Fri-Sat 11am-11pm  *Sunday 11am-9pm
Links: Google Map * Jethros on Facebook

Atmosphere: Jethros Char House is located in Mahtomedi, in the corner of a strip mall on Century Ave, just north of the entrance to I-694.  The main dining room is centered by a giant wooden island-style bar with seating at booths and tables as well as at the bar.  There is a tiny stage in the corner of the dining room where there is sometimes live music or karaoke.  There is also a pull-tab booth near the bar.

There is another section of tables in the adjacent dining room at the back of the restaurant.  There are flat-screened TVs hanging on the wood-paneled walls throughout the entire restaurant.  The feel of the place is very laid-back and pub-like due to the fact that there are very few windows and it always seems dark inside with the exception of the one window in the back.

Menu: Appetizers include Steak Fries, Onion Rings, Breaded Chicken Wings, Buffalo Wings, Egg Rolls, Breaded Mushroom/Cauliflower, Cheese Curds, Cod Nuggets, Chicken Fingers, Nacho Supreme and Bull Bites.

Soups offered include Chili, French Onion, Clam Chowder (Fridays), and a Soup du Jour.

Salads offered include Chef, Cobb, Chicken Caesar, Char Broiled Chicken, and Black & Bleu Cajun Steak Salad.

Jethros Sandwiches and Burgers all come with fries, coleslaw or chips.  Options include Steak Sandwich, Reuben or Rachel, French Dip, Philly French Dip, Crispy Chicken Fillet, Beer Battered Cod, Buffalo Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken Supreme, Hawaiian Chicken Supreme, Grilled Tuna Melt, and Club Sandwiches.  Burger options include Jethros Supreme (bacon, cheese, bbq), Razorback, Patty Melt and Frisco Melt, or Build-Your-Own Burger.

Entrees at Jethros are served with soup or salad, Texas Toast and choice of fries, coleslaw, wild rice pilaf, steamed broccoli or baked potato.  Options include 6oz or 8oz Sirloin, Petite Tender Medallions, Wild Salmon, Beer Battered Cod, Breaded Shrimp, Slow Roasted Country Style Ribs, Broasted Chicken Dinner, Smoked Pork Chops and Baked Walleye.

Desserts are available but change frequently but may include Snickers Pie, Key Lime Pie, Banana Cream Pie, etc.
Price guide: Appetizers $3-10  Salads $7-9  Sandwiches $8-12
Weekly Specials:

• Wed & Friday All You Can Eat Fish

What we ordered: My companions and I started with an order of Cajun Steak Bites.  These were very tender and juicy, cooked to a medium temperature.  They were lightly seasoned with Cajun spices and served with a horseradish sour cream sauce on the side.

We also tried the Buffalo Wings, which I loved.  The wings were very lightly breaded and fried crispy and then tossed in a zesty, tangy Buffalo sauce.  There were a dozen large wings in the order, which also came with a giant side of bleu cheese dipping sauce and celery sticks.

I ordered the Walleye Sandwich, which was a daily special.  The fillet of walleye was quite big, lightly breaded and pan fried.  The fish was served on a buttered, toasted hoagie roll with a big leaf of romaine and sliced tomato.  Not only was the sandwich huge, it was also served with a giant portion of thick-cut steak fries.  Excellent.

One companion had the Jethros Supreme Burger, a 1/2lb beef patty char-grilled to a juicy medium then topped with American cheese, two strips of thick-cut bacon.  It was served with a side of zesty barbeque sauce and a large serving of steak fries.

The Fish & Chips at Jethros is not a regular feature on the menu, but is offered as the Wednesday and Friday Night specials.  Fresh pollock is used and then breaded and deep fried.  The order starts with three thick, flaky pieces of fish but since it is an AYCE, order as much as you want! Comes with steak fries, toast, and coleslaw.

Another companion had the Philly French Dip.  This sandwich was stacked with roast beef, sauteed peppers and onions and a low-grade pepperjack.  It was served on a butter-toasted hoagie roll with a cup of au jus and steak fries.

Service: The service at Jethros is very good.  Our server was friendly and very good about refilling drinks promptly and our food was prepared in a reasonable amount of time.
Overall Impression: Jethros Char House is a laid-back and casual restaurant that serves a variety of good sandwiches and American entrees.  Meat Raffle every Saturday as well as pull-tabs and karaoke make it a popular place to hang out and have drinks.

Cuisine: Asian, Mongolian
Restaurant Features: Bar, Lunch Buffet, Dinner Buffet, On-Site Parking
Locations: Coon Rapids,  Richfield, Roseville
Addresses and Maps:
Coon Rapids- 2085 Northdale Blvd NW Coon Rapids, MN 55433 (763) 767-3018
Richfield- 500 E 78th St Richfield, MN 55423 (612) 861-7991
Roseville- 2720 Snelling Ave N. Roseville, MN 55113 (651) 631-3398

Hours: Daily 11am-9pm

Atmosphere: At the Roseville location there are several small dining areas situated around the restaurant, which are made a little more private with the creative use of live plants.  The dining areas all surround the centrally-located meat and vegetable buffets.  All seating is limited to tables, but there is at least one dining space that allows for tables to be pushed together for larger parties.

Within the restaurant there is a small bar area to accommodate patrons who may have to wait for a table on a busy night, or for those who would like to try one of the specialty tropical drinks or wines.

Menu: The concept of Khan’s is one that allows diners to customize their own stir-fry dishes.  Guests choose from a buffet containing a variety of sliced frozen meats (beef, chicken, pork, lamb, shrimp and imitation crab).  You take a bowl, fill it with the meats and noodles of your choosing, and then move down to the vegetable line where you can choose from a large selection of fresh vegetables to be used in your custom stir-fry.

After filling your bowl with your preferred meats and vegetables, you then add sauces to flavor your stir-fry, such as Garlic Sauce, Cooking Wine, House Sauce, Dragon Sauce, Teriyaki, Curry, Lobster Sauce.  There is a sign over the sauce bar that suggests which sauces and flavorings you should choose, depending on how spicy you would like it.  After you have your bowl filled with meats, noodle, vegetables and sauces, you take it to the Barbeque Area, where  your stir-fry is cooked right in front of you.

Price guide: Lunch (1 bowl) $10  Dinner (unlimited bowls) $14

What we ordered: It is true, Khan’s has changed their appetizer.  Each table now receives a plate of crispy fried wonton chips with a sauce that is a combo of sweet, sour, spicy and garlicy.  They are great but I miss the chicken wing and hot and sour soup that it used to come with.

At first it may seem overwhelming what to include in your stir fry but I have been to Khan’s enough to have my combination down.  I always get beef and the very fine noodles at the bottom of my bowl.  For my veggies I get broccoli, purple cabbage, onions, bok choy, bean sprouts, pineapple, zucchini, red and green bell peppers, mushrooms and a ton of fresh cilantro.  Its the sauces that can get tricky and impact the flavor of your stir fry.  I like sweet, savory and spicy all together so I usually follow the recipe for the spicy and add a scoop of garlic, fresh jalapenos, chili oil, teriyaki, and Thai peanut sauce.  Yum!

My companion made a stir fry that had beef, lamb, shrimp, noodles, mushrooms, bok-choy, green pepper, water chestnuts, crushed red pepper, garlic, and curry.  Much more savory than my dish and quite spicy. Very good!

Service: I have eaten at Khan’s a handful of times each year for the past decade and while they once had very good service, the service at the Roseville location has really gone downhill this past year.  On this particular visit we especially had bad service from the moment we arrived.  There is a big sign that says “please wait to be seated” but there wasn’t a host present and we waited several minutes before someone acknowledged us.  Once we were finally seated, we had to wait several more minutes before seeing our server and then it was an even longer wait before initial drinks as well as refills were brought to the table.   On most visits a server will ask us if we have been to Khan’s before so they can explain the procedure.  On this particular visit, our server did not ask us this.  I can imagine that if we had not been to Khan’s before, we still would have figured it out but its easy to see that newbies might not know how it works.  We went ahead and got in the buffet line fast and efficiently since we both know exactly what we want.  Sometimes Khan’s will have someone available to offer help with sauces, but not on this visit.  The line for the Barbeque goes rather quickly.  We sat down and started enjoying our dinner but then the server brought our check out to us before we had finished our first plates!  I thought this was strange, but I guess I would rather have it now than wait forever later.  I haven’t had anyone to help me with my sauces in the last 2-3 visits either.
Overall Impression: I go to Khan’s for the food and definitely not for the service! The make-your-own stir fry at Khan’s can be varied thousands of ways, depending on what combination of ingredients and sauces you use.  Be prepared because it can take some time to create the stir-fry to your liking, at least it did for me. If you’re lucky, there may be an employee helping customers with their sauces.

Cuisine: Japanese, Sushi
Restaurant Features: Bar
Location: Northeast Minneapolis, MN
Address: 330 East Hennepin Avenue Minneapolis MN, 55414  612-332-6278
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am-12am, Fri 11am-1am, Sat 4pm-1am , Sun 4pm-11pm

Links: Masu Website * Masu on Facebook * Google Map

Atmosphere: Masu Sushi and Robata is located in Northeast Minneapolis, just a few blocks from Downtown, on Hennepin Ave and 4th Street. Inside the restaurant, you will instantly discover a wall bearing a large pair of painted-up eyes belonging to an unknown Japanese woman.  The remainder of the restaurant is very contemporary, accessorized in black, red and Masu’s signature lime green.  I was having a such a good time with my companions that I forgot to take photos of the restaurant.  I hope to remedy this asap with a follow-up to Masu ;) Pictured below is a photo taken by Shea Link.

Menu: Izakaya (Small plates) include Japanese Cucumber, Steamed Edamame, Ginger Duck Gyoza, Sauteed Shishito Peppers, Agedashi Tofu, Crispy Pork Kara-Age, Crab and Edamame, Avocado and Oyster Tempura, Crispy Fish Chips, Oyster Shooter, Otsumami  Snack, Tsukemono, Shredded Dried Squid, Oysters on the Half Shell, Beef or Tuna Jerky, and Miso Soup.

Robata are skewers that are grilled.  Options include Sweet Corn, Asparagus, Japanese Mushrooms, Japanese Eggplant, Zucchini, Grilled rice Ball, Chicken Breast and Scallion, Chicken Livers, Chicken Thing, Chicken Wing, Chicken Meatball, Beef and Burdock Roll, Glazed Pork Ribs, Pork Belly, Pork Loin, Jumbo Shrimp, Mackerel, Sardine, Marinated Cod, Salmon with Scallion, and Scallop.

Sushi can be served as Nigiri or Sashimi.  Selections include Akame (Barramundi), Tai Tai (Snapper), Suzuki (Striped Bass), Faux-nagi (Striped Bass) in the style of Unagi, Anago (Sea Eel), Iwashi (Sardine), Saba (Atlantic Mackerel), Aji (Horse Mackerel), Sawara (Spanish Mackerel), Shiro (Magura Albacore) , Maguro (Yellowfin Tuna), Sake (Scottish Salmon), Iwana (Arctic Char), Ika (Squid), Kani (Snow Crab), Hotate (Sea Scallop), Kaibashira (Cooked Scallop with Tobiko), Hokki Gai (Arctic Surf Clam), Ebi (Cooked Wild Shrimp), Amaebi (Sweet Shrimp-Spot Prawn), Awabi (Abalone), Uzura (Quail Egg), Uni (Sea Urchin), Ikura (Salmon Roe), Yuzu Tobiko (Citrus Flying Fish Roe), Masago Capelin (Smelt Roe , Habanero Masago Smelt Roe), Wasabi Tobiko (Japanese Horseradish Flying Fish Roe), and Tomago (Japanese Egg Omelet).

Sushi Rolls include Sake (salmon and cucumber), Kappa (Cucumber), Shinko (Pickled Radish), Takuan Tekka (Takuan Tuna and Pickled Radish), Sabakari Takuan (Mackerel, Pickled Radish and Green Onion), Dynamite (Tuna & Albacore Tuna with Avocado and Chili Sauce) , Spicy Iwana (Arctic Char with Chili Sauce, Burdock, Kaiware and Cucumber ), Yellow Submarine Mamenori (Soy Paper, Masago, Ikura, Burdock, Avocado and Quail Egg), BLT (Crispy Salmon Skin, Lettuce, Tomato, Basil and Spicy Masago Mayonnaise), Poke (Marinated Tuna, Wakame, Scallion, Avocado, Cucumber and Sesame), Spicy Tuna (Tuna with Chili Sauce, Burdock, Avocado and Kaiware), California Roll (Snow Crab, Avocado, Cucumber and Masago ), Firecracker ( Shrimp Tempura, Crab, Avocado, Cucumber with Spicy Tuna and Tempura Flakes), Masu Roll (Shrimp Tempura, Habanero Masago, Avocado, Salmon, Scallop and Unagi Sauce), Chicken Teriyaki (Chicken Teriyaki with Cucumber, Avocado and Sesame Seeds), Rainbow Masago ( Cucumber, Maguro, Suzuki, Iwana, Hotate, Ebi, Tomago and Avocado ), Iwana Arctic Char, Ao-jiso Salted Shiso Leaves, Maguro Yellowfin Tuna, Kani Snow Crab, Oshinko (Assorted Pickled Vegetables), Wasabi Tobiko and Ikura Wasabi (Flavored Flying Fish Roe and Salmon Roe, Kani and Sesame Crab with Black Sesame Seeds), Ume Shiso (Pickled Plum and Japanese Mint), Kinoko (Assorted Japanese Mushrooms), and Uni (Sea Urchin and Yuzu Tobiko).
Price guide: Izakaya $5-11 Robata $2-6 Sushi $6-16
What we ordered: A couple of my companions started with the Oyster Shooter; which included a fresh raw oyster,  raw quails egg, fresh garlic and scallions served in a shot glass, filled to the brim with Sake.  Very exotic and Wonderful!

We then tried the Japanese Cucumber Salad which was wonderful.  The cucumber was thinly sliced and arranged in a wavy pattern then topped with seaweed and a sesame dressing that was tangy and slightly sweet.

We also tried the Spring Rolls filled with crab meat and edamame.  It was served with a spicy ginger dipping sauce.  Each little crispy roll was about 2 bites but the texture was great.

One of my companions had an order of Miso Soup. I did not try this but it looked like ordinary miso soup.

For the Robata we tried four skewers, which we were told had about 5-6 bites each. All four were served on one plate which was passed around.  We tried one Bacon-wrapped Asparagus skewer, one salmon skewer, ( I tried neither)

We also tried the Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp and Shrimp Skewer.  The one bite of robata that I tried was the bacon wrapped shrimp.  It wasn’t the greatest due to the fact that the bacon was barely cooked except for a few char marks.  As much as I love bacon, I am picky about how it is cooked and like it crispy over fatty.  The robata was good but we were not impressed with the amount of food we got for $20

There were several of us dining on this occasion and we were hungry!  Our initial sushi order included a Masu Roll, a Firecracker Roll and a Spicy Tuna Roll (pictured left to right).  The Masu Roll had shrimp tempura, habanero masago, avocado, scallop, salmon and unagi sauce.  This was good but the Firscracker Roll was a huge winner.  It had Shrimp Tempura, Crab, Avocado, Cucumber with Spicy Tuna and Tempura Flakes on top.  The taste and texture of this one was great.  The Spicy Tuna Roll was also delicious and perfectly spicy from the chili sauce.

The first order did not satisfy our sushi craving nor our appetites so we ordered two more orders of the Firecracker roll and a Spicy Iwana Roll.  We loved the Firecracker Roll as much the second time around and the Spicy Iwana Roll was also very good.  It had Arctic Char that was spiced with chili sauce and cucumber, burdock and kaiware.

We continued to eat even after all the sushi had disappeared! We tried the Tonkatsu Curry Noodles, served with a panko-breaded pork cutlet and poached egg.  This had a distinct Japanese flavoring to it but was quite tasty.  The egg yolk really gave the broth a silky texture.

We also ordered the Shrimp Yakisoba, which is fried wheat noodles flavored with a sweet yakisoba sauce.  It had several pieces of shrimp in addition to katsuobushi, which are dehydrated fish flakes, as well as pickled ginger and mayonnaise.  The fish flakes were “waving” when the dish was first brought out to us; it was pretty cool to watch for a second before we dug in.  The mayo gave it a slight creaminess which was a pleasant to the crispness of the veggies.

Service: We had a reservation made a couple of weeks in advance and our table was ready for us when we got there.  I was fortunate to find a spot at a meter just outside the entrance to Masu, otherwise I am not sure where you can park.  Our server had some personal favorites to suggest to us, some we went with, but many we chose on our own.  The entire dinner experience was very drawn out, as we ordered many courses throughout the night.  Masu is the type of place where you want to take your time to enjoy the experience.
Overall Impression: I had heard great things about Masu so I had very high expectations.  I was not disappointed.  The sushi was delicious, with fresh, high-quality fish, albeit slightly expensive.  The Robata was also good but didn’t seem to be as good of a value, unless you plan to only eat a skewer or two.  My companions and I really enjoyed Masu, I will definitely be back.

Cuisine: American, Barbeque, Caribbean
Restaurant Features: Bar, Happy Hour, Live Music, On-Site Parking, Patio Dining
Location: Stillwater, MN
Address:  423 Main Street South #A  Stillwater, MN 55082 (651) 439-5375
Hours: (Winter)Mon – Wed:  3pm – 9pm, Thurs:  11:30am – 9pm, Fri:  11:30am – 10pm,  Sat: 11:30am – 10pm Sun 11:30 – 9pm
Links: Smalley’s Barbeque Website * Smalley’s Caribbean on Facebook * Google Map

Atmosphere: Smalley’s Caribbean barbeque is located at the south end of Main Street in Stillwater, overlooking the St Croix River.   Once upon a time this location was an Esteban’s Restaurant, but it has definitely undergone a big makeover since.  If the wooden plank floors and knotty pine tables aren’t enough, the occasional model pirate ship and large selection of rums will surely bring the pirate theme to your dining experience.

The Pirate Bar is located in the same Plaza as the Caribbean Barbeque but is accessed through a different doorway at the back.  This is a happening place where Live Music is played most evenings all year long.

Menu: Appetizers at Smalley’s include Sweet Corn Fritters with Rum Butter Sauce, BBQ Shrimp with jalapeno Cornbread, Plantain and Tortilla Chips with Habanero Salsa and Queso, Sweet Potato Fries, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Shrimp Cocktail.

Salads include Ice Berg Wedge with Bleu Cheese and Pepper Bacon, Caesar, and Ginger-Jicama Slaw.  Chicken or shrimp can be added to any salad.

Sandwiches include Barbeque Pulled Pork, Pulled Smoked Chicken, Jerk Chicken Breast Sandwich, Clam Po’ Boy, and Carolina BBQ Pork Sandwich.  Jerk Tacos are also available with either Jerk Pork or Jerk Shrimp.

Barbeque entrees at Smalley’s Caribbean Barbeque include Pork Spare Ribs, Smoked Beef Brisket, Roasted Pork Shoulder, Shrimp Skewers, and Jerk Ahi Tuna.

Sides offered include Fire Roasted Pork and Beans, Grilled Curried Veggies, Black Beans and Rice, Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Creamy Coleslaw, Potato Salad with Bacon and Egg, Mac & Cheddar, and Beer Battered Plank Fries.

Desserts include Pecan Pie with Homemade Ice Cream, Coconut Flan with Rum Caramel, Key Lime Pie, and Drunken Chocolate Cake.

Price guide: Appetizers $6-11  Sandwiches $10-12  Entrees $12-20

Happy Hour: Sun-Mon:All Day Tues-Thurs:3-6pm & 9-11pm, Fri:3-6pm & 10- 12am, Sat:10pm-12am
What we ordered: We started with a couple of cocktails; I ordered the Sunsplash.  Just as it appears on the photo, it was a girly, fruity drink with rum and orange juice and a bit of cointreau.  Tastes just as good in the winter as the summer!

My companion ordered the Bloody Mary which was quite spicy (horseradish, hot sauce) but delicious.  It was served with a giant slice of thick cut bacon and giant olives.  It was served with a sidecar which was needed to cool the spice.

We started with the BBQ Shrimp, which is a complete misnomer for the dish we received, but we loved it all the same.  The sauce for these shrimp did not taste nor resemble a traditional barbeque because it was made with butter and rum and was slightly sweet and spicy from some type of chili peppers cooked into the sauce.  There were about eight shrimp in the order and it came with a wedge of cornbread with jalapenos baked right in.

For my entree I ordered the Beef Brisket which came with my choice of two sides.  The brisket was moist and delicious, smoked with authentic  Jamaican Pimento wood even more so with each of the house-made barbeque sauces.  The two sides I chose were the Potato Salad and the Mac & Cheddar, both of which were quite good.  The Potato Salad was especially delicious, with large chunks of hardboiled eggs and several crumbles  of crispy bacon.  It was cool and refreshing after a bite of barbeque with the Scotchie Sauce which is extra spicy.  The Mac & Cheddar came with an optional topping of spicy green chiles and bacon which made it spicy.  The noodles were flavorful but the sauce was already kind of pasty instead of creamy.

Smalley’s makes its own sauces and there are four to choose from including  Scotchies Sauce which is a very spicy Jerk sauce, the House-Made Barbaque, and 3 Dives Mild Jerk Sauce.

My companion ordered the Clam Po’ Boy, which was a delicious, giant sandwich layered with crispy golden fried clam strips, house-made pickles, thinly sliced red onion, bacon slaw and mayonnaise served on a grilled brioche bun.  This sandwich came with one side, so my companion ordered the beer-battered plank fries.  I ate almost half of this because I liked it so much! The just-pickled cucumber slices were the perfect touch with the bacon slaw.

Service: We sat ourselves as the sign indicated, and were greeted by our server about five minutes later.  Our server was friendly and had many great suggestions from the menu.  Food and drinks seemed to take some time but we were not in a hurry so we enjoyed the time while we waited.
Overall Impression: I was very happy to have discovered Smalley’s Caribbean Barbeque, the food and drinks were both wonderful and the service was also pretty good.  The Pirate Bar is a pretty cool place to have a cocktail and listen to live music.

Cuisine: American, Fish, Pizza
Restaurant Features: Bar, Flat Screen TVs, Patio, On-Site Parking,
Location: Blaine, MN
Address: 10340 Baltimore Street NE Blaine, MN 55449 763-717-2235
Hours: Mon.-Wed. 11am-11pm  Thurs.-Fri. 11am-12am  Sat. 10am-12am Sun. 10am-11pm (kitchen closes one hour prior to bar)
Links: Bricks Pub Website  * Bricks Pub on Facebook  * Google Map

Atmosphere: Bricks Pub is located off of Hwy 65 and 103rd in Blaine, near several other local businesses.  One of the first things you will see when you walk up to the entrance of Bricks Pub is the beautiful big patio. I am sure this is a lovely place to dine in the non-winter months.  Both the exterior and interior of  the restaurant is made of brick.  The interior also has well worn wooden floors and there are several TVs hung around the space, which serve as the walls only decoration.  Right now, however, the restaurant is festively decorated for the holidays.

The bar area greets you as you enter through the front doors and has seating at a couple of booths and around the bar.

There is a clear view into the kitchen from the front of the dining room, where you can see and smell the smokey goodness of the wood burning oven.  The entire kitchen appears to be entirely stainless steel and very sterile.

Menu: Appetizers include The Brick (fried pickles with cream cheese and pastrami), Fire Baked Cheese, Garlic Hummus, Nachos, Ceviche, Mussels, Applewood Smoked Wings, Meatballs, and Sea Salt Fries.  Soups offered include Wild Rice and Soup du Jour.

Salads include Cobb, Caesar, Seared Ahi Tuna, The Pub (fresh mozzarella, chicken), and the Mediterranean.

Woodstone Pizzas include BBQ Brisket, The Classic (pepperoni, sausage, green pepper, mushrooms and olives), The Greek, Jamaican Jerk, and Margherita.

Sandwiches include The Tipsy Brisket, Cajun Club, The Jerk, Shaved Prime Rib, Egg and Pancetta, Portabella, BLAT, The Cuban, and Grilled Chicken.  Burger options include Bricks Burger, ZinBurger (manchego cheese with zinfadel braised onions), Northern Lights (bleu cheese and onion straws), BBQ Bacon and Cheese, The Dundee (pineapple, beets, fried egg and chili mayo), Market Burger (avocado and  cheddar), Turkey Burger (cranberries, sage, and smoked gouda), and The Backyard Burger.  Sandwiches and Burgers do NOT come with fries.  Upgrade to sea salt fries, truffle fries, garlic herb fries, jicama slaw, fresh fruit to baked beans for $2-3 more.

The Entrees at Bricks Pub include Beer Battered Fish & Chips, Steak and Frites, Pork and Beans, Chili Crusted Salmon, Drunken  Chicken, Jambalaya, Chicken Farfalle, Seared Ahi Tuna and Walleye.

Desserts at Bricks Pub are seasonal.  Current selections include Flourless Molten Chocolate Cake, Apple Strudel, Pumpkin Ginger Cheesecake, Hot Fudge Sundae, Rootbeer Float, and Sebastian Joe’s Ice Cream.
Price guide: Appetizers $6-11 Pizzas $9-12  Burgers/Sandwiches $7-11

Happy Hour:

• Monday-Friday 4-6pm
• $3 Appetizers: The Brickle, Hummus,
• $3 off Signature Drinks

What we ordered: My companions and I arrived during Happy Hour and took advantage of the drink specials ($3 off).  I ordered the Perfect ‘Rita made with Parton Silver, Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Sweet and Sour, and Orange Juice.  It was strong and delicious.  The Mixologist, Jason,  did a great job with our drinks.

One of my companions ordered the Pomegranate Martini.  This drink was made with Absolut Citron, POM Pomegranate juice, Cointreau and Fresh Lemon. Delicious!

One of my companions ordered a Mojito, made with Bacardi Rum, Mint Leaves, Fresh Lime and Sugar.  Light and Refreshing!

Another companion ordered the Sangria, made with Ruby Port, Cointreau, Brandy, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice and Sprite.

When I saw Ceviche on the menu, I immediately wanted it.  The Ceviche at Bricks Pub is made with pieces of both shrimp and scallops rather than the traditional preparation of fish.  It was okay.  It had small chunks of avocado and tomato and was very heavy on the lime juice so that it was basically small bites of scallop and shrimp in a green sauce.  It was served with house-made tortilla chips that seemed stale rather than hot and fresh.  The portion was quite small for $11 and despite its small size, we only ate half of it. Overall I was disappointed with the ceviche and would not order it again.

For my dinner I ordered the Shaved Prime Rib Sandwich.  The sandwich was piled with thinly shaved prime rib served on a baguette.  The meat was topped with caramelized onions and bleu cheese and was served with a side of au jus.   The sandwich was pretty good, although the beef tasted like it had been reheated.  This meal does not come with fries so I ordered a side of Truffle Fries for an additional $3.  They were shoestring variety but were very garlicky and I could not detect any of the truffle oil it was supposed to come with.  I suspect I got the garlic herb fries by mistake but they were still tasty.

One of my companions ordered the Tipsy Brisket Sandwich.  The barbeque beef brisket is pulled and slathered with sauce and then topped with smoked sausage, coleslaw, onion straws and smoked gouda on a fresh, toasted Brioche Bun.  My friend upgraded to the Sea Salt Fries.

One of my companions ordered the Bricks Burger, complete with cheddar, fried onion straws, fresh jalapenos, tomato jam and caper aioli.  This burger looked huge and delicious! It was ordered with the Garlic and Herb Fries but they tasted like the sea salt fries without any extra seasoning.

One of my companions ordered the Cajun Club.  This sandwich was served on an herbed focaccia bread with Cajun turkey, fresh avocado, crispy bacon, lettuce, tomato and Havarti cheese with chipotle sour cream.  Ordered with a side of sea salt fries.  I didn’t try this but it looked fresh and delicious.

Service: We had very good service at Bricks Pub.  We enjoyed cocktails at the bar during Happy Hour before moving to a table in the dining room.  Our server was very attentive but also let us be while we sat around and socialized, taking our time to order and eat.  Our server gave us each separate bills to make paying easier at the end, a nice and convenient touch.
Overall Impression: Overall we enjoyed our experience at Bricks Pub.  We had good service and most of the food we ate was good (with exception of the ceviche) and the drinks were especially delicious.

Cuisine: Mexican
Restaurant Features: Bar,
Location: Minneapolis, MN (Downtown)
Address: 609 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN
Hours: Mon – Thurs: 11am – 11pm  Fri 11am-12am Sat 12pm-3pm & 4pm-12am  Sun 12pm-3pm & 4pm-11pm

Links: Rosa Mexicano Website * Rosa Mexicano on Facebook * Google Map

Atmosphere: Located Downtown at the heart of the Theater District on the corner of 6th St and Hennepin Ave, the Rosa Mexicano chain out of New York has finally made its way to Minneapolis.  The interior of the restaurant is posh and trendy, with unique decor including a water table with strings of diving figurines suspended above.  From a distance they looked like doves or some type of origami; I had to get closer to see what they really were.

Along one wall of the dining room are lit shelves of multi-colored liquids in clear vases, a cheap but fun way to brighten and color up the room.

There is another dining area attached to the lounge area, used for over-flow dining or private parties.

The Bar and Lounge area is just to the right of the dining room, accessible from the main entrance on Hennepin Ave.  There are a number of tables where patrons can either enjoy a cocktail or stay for dinner.

Menu: Appetizers include Guacamole en Molcajete, Tortilla Soup, Market Salad, Chicken Flautas, Yellowtail Tartare, Roasted Bone Marrow,  Crab Empanadas, Veggie Quesadillas, Queso Fundido, and Pork Belly and Sea Scallop Tacos.

Entrees at Rosa Americano include Mexico City Street Salad and Barbequed Tuna Loin, Shrimp Brochette, Butterflied Red Snapper, Salmon with Tropical Fruit Mole, Grilled Steak with Chipotle Shrimp, Short Ribs, Mixed Grill Brochette, Filet Mignon with Wild Mushrooms, Budin de Pollo, Chile Ancho Relleno, Pork Steak, Beef Mole Enchiladas, Chicken Suiza Enchiladas, Veggie Enchiladas, Jumbo Lump Crab Enchiladas, Chicken Tacos, Steak Tacos, and Roasted Veggie Tacos.

Mexican Dessert offerings include Churros, Cheesecake, Anejo-Chipotle Chocolate Flautas, Blackberry Tres Leches Cake, Espresso Flan, and a selection of Mexican Sorbets and Ice Creams.

Price guide: Appetizers $8-14  Entrees $16-28

What we ordered: I had heard the table-side guacamole was well-worth its $14 price tag, and since I rarely pass up the  chance to eat fresh guacamole, that is what my companion and I started with.  You can order it mild, medium or salsa and it will be made fresh, right in front of you.

We ordered the guacamole with medium spice.  It was fresh and delicious and very flavorful.  It had nice big chunks of avocado and was creamy everywhere else.

The guacamole came with Chips & Salsa.  The chips were freshly homemade; hot and crispy.  One salsa was Pasilla de Oaxaca and one was Tomatillo & Habanero.  They were very different but both very good.  The Oaxaca salsa was smokey and had some zip to it. A basket of fresh, homemade corn tortillas are also served on the side.

I ordered the Traditional Margarita.  This drink was good but was mostly ice.  At $10, it was about $2 per sip and didn’t quite pack a punch at that price.

I had asked for a recommendation for either the Salmon en Fruit Mole or the Chile Relleno with Pork.  I usually love chile relleno and the shredded pork sounded very good so I went along with this.  I was actually quite disappointed with this dish.  The chile had been roasted or smoked so that it was very hard and chewy.  Once I peeled the pepper away, there was a mound of dry, seasoned roasted pork inside.  There was no cheese as most chile rellenos have, which would have helped it int he moisture department.  The manager stopped by to ask how everything was and I was honest that I hadn’t really enjoyed the chile relleno so he insisted that they make something else for me.  I told him this was not necessary but he felt obligated to make things right and he wanted to make sure that if I didn’t want a new dish for dinner, they could at least ensure that I had something for my lunch the following day.

The meal that they replaced the Chile Relleno with was the Budin de Pollo.  This picture was taken the following day after it had been reheated in the container it was packaged in.  Despite being a day old, I enjoyed this dish more than the Chile Relleno.  There were several large chunks of white meat chicken sandwiched between two layers of soft corn tortillas that had been baked with Chihuahua cheese and strips of roasted Mexican peppers.  It also had a creamy poblano pepper sauce that was mild yet gave the dish most of its flavor.  The portion size was big enough for two meals, especially with the sides of refried black beans and rice that they also sent along.

My companion ordered the Enchiladas de Jaiba, which is jumbo lump crab with pumpkin seeds rolled into corn tortillas and then topped with a tomatillo sauce and chihuahua cheese then baked.  This was very good, but my companion did not care for the extra crunchy texture of the pumpkin seeds in this dish.

Our entrees came with family-style Rice.  This was not traditional Mexican rice but it was flavorful and tasted pretty good.  The kernels of rice were short and plumb, I am not sure which variety it was.  I especially liked all of the fresh cilantro that it was topped with.

We also got family-style Refried Black Beans.  These were smooth, creamy and delicious.

Service: We arrived late for our reservation at the prime dinner hour and unfortunately the table had been given away.  The host was friendly and we only had to wait about five minutes before another table became available and we were seated.  We started with table-side guacamole and were able to get this service immediately.  It took awhile longer for our drinks.  The entrees took nearly 45 minutes after ordering, which seemed like quite a long time.  The server apologized for the delay but not really sure why it took so long.  Our server had several recommendations for me when I asked her, but I really wasn’t impressed with her selection.  My companion ordered a soda but it was left unfilled until we asked if there were free refills or not (there are!) when our meals arrived.  When I mentioned that my dish was just “alright”, the server walked away without asking me to elaborate.  Fortunately the manager also stopped by to ask about our meals.  He went out of his way to make sure we were satisfied when we left and felt very bad that the chile relleno was not up to standard.

Overall Impression: This was my first visit to a Rosa Mexicano restaurant and while I enjoyed the atmosphere, the food was below my expectations for the amount of money we paid.  The table-side guacamole was delicious but overpriced.  The food can be good, depending on what you order, but didn’t meet my idea of authentic Mexican food.  I have found far better food on my travels to Mexico, where I have visited on twenty separate occasions.

Cuisine: American, Pizza, Steaks
Restaurant Features: Bar, Flat Screen TVs, On-Site Parking,
Location: Falcon Heights, MN
Address: 1611 West Larpenteur Ave  Falcon Heights, MN 55113  651.789.8888
Hours: Daily 11am
Links: Stout’s Pub Website * Stout’s Pub on Facebook * Google Map

Atmosphere: Located in the former home of Chianti Grill (Ciatti’s before that) on Larpenteur just off Snelling Ave,  Stout’s Pub opened just a couple of weeks ago and is a welcome addition to the neighborhood. The newly remodeled interior is laid-back and somewhat rustic, with wooden floors, walls, tables and booths.  There are several flat-screen TV’s mounted all over the restaurant and bar area.

The bar area is the first thing you see when you walk in the front doors; a large island with seating around all four sides as well as additional seating in booths.

Menu: Appetizers include Ahi Tuna, Blackened Tenderloin Tips, Cajun Walleye Strips, Little Charlie’s (filet mignon sliders), Pig Wings, Onion Rings, Roasted Veggies, Buffalo Wings, Spicy Popcorn Shrimp, and Spinach Artichoke Dip.

Small Plates include Roasted Pork Taco, Hard Boiled Eggs, Smoked Jerky, Peel & Eat Shrimp, Pickled Herring, and Guacamole with Chips.

Soups include Chili and Soup du Jour.  Salads include Build-Your-Own Lettuce Wraps, Cobb and Pacific Rim Salad.

Sandwiches at Stout’s Pub come with fries and include Chili Cheese Dogs, Reuben, Stout’s Dip, Spicy Cajun Chicken, Walleye, Grilled Cheese, Hot Turkey, and Pulled Pork Sandwich.

Burger options also come with fries and include Cheeseburger, BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger, Cajun Cheeseburger, Proud Stout Burger, Portabella Cheeseburger, and Patty Melt.

Stout’s Pub also offers 10″ Wood-Fired Pizzas including the Sausage & Mushroom, Margherita, Diavola (spicy giardiniera, pepperoni), Chicken Alfredo, Shrimp Alfredo, Mediterranean, BBQ Chicken, Thai Chicken, Paul’s Jambalaya, and Meat Lovers Trifecta.

Entrees include Fish & Chips, Filet Mignon, Wood-Fired Atlantic Salmon, and Pig Wings Dinner (tender pork shank).

Desserts include Chocolate lava Cake, Cinnamon Apple Wood Fired Tart, and Ice Cream Sundae.
Price guide: Appetizers $7-11  Small Plates $2-5  Sandwiches $8-13
What we ordered: We started with the Meat Lovers Trifecta Pizza, which came with chicken, pepperoni and sausage on a 10″ hand-tossed dough.  The pizza was baked in the wood-fired oven so it was crispy while still being chewy.  I had the option of either red sauce of cajun alfredo as the base of the pizza; I wanted to try both so I asked if they could do half-and-half for me.  The white sauce was good but I thought the red sauce had more flavor.  The meats were good; the pepperoni was evenly distributed and the pizza also had a decent amount of sausage and chicken, most of which was piled in the middle.

For my meal I ordered the Chili Cheese Dogs.  The two all-beef hot dogs were covered with Stout’s Pub homemade chili, shredded cheddar, sour cream and green onions.

My companion ordered the Portabella Cheeseburger.  When ordered, the server asked if we wanted it pink or no pink.  It was ordered pink and was indeed quite pink when it was served so it was very juicy.   It was topped with sauteed portabella mushrooms and topped with rich and creamy Swiss cheese.  It came with a large pile of french fries.

Service: Our visit was on a Saturday afternoon after the lunch rush so we had no problem finding parking or a table.  Our server was very friendly and informative of the menu and had a variety of suggestions from the menu.  Drinks were refilled as needed.
Overall Impression: We had a nice time at Stout’s Pub; the service was friendly and the food was pretty good.  They had only been open less than two weeks at the time of our visit and things seemed to be running smoothly.