Cuisine: American, Bar-B-Q, Delicatessan
Restaurant Features: Catering, Counter Service, On-Site Parking
Location: St Paul, MN
Address: 919 North Dale St  St Paul, MN  55103     651-488-6591
Hours: Monday-Friday 11a-6p
Links: Aesop’s Table Website Google Map

Atmosphere: The inside of Aesop’s is very small, with just a couple of tables and a row of chairs along the back wall.  Order at the counter and watch your food being prepared just a few feet away.  Outside there is a cute little patio area with an wooden overhang for shade during the warmer summer months.

Menu: Deli Salads include Garden Salad, Chicken Rotini, Vermicelli, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, Tuna Pasta and Thai Peanut Pasta.

Cold deli sandwiches are served with pickle and chips.  Meats include Roast Beef, Turkey Breast, Smoked Ham, Hard Salami, Pastrami and Corned Beef.  Cheese options include Cheddar, American, Swiss, Mozzarella, and Pepper Jack.  Veggies include Lettuce, Tomato and Onion.  Bacon also available.

Hot Sandwiches include The Porker (shredded BBQ Pork), Beef Brisket, Reuben, Rachel, Philly Style Steak & Cheese, Chicken Philly, French Dip, Philly French Dip, Broiled Chicken Breast, Grilled Cheese, and Grilled Deli Sandwich with Cheese.

Aesop’s also has 1/3 lb burgers with choice of toppings.
Price Guide:

Weekly Specials:

What we ordered: I ordered a Reuben which is usually one of my favorite varieties of sandwich.  It was made with marbled pumpernickel bread and despite being grilled, the sandwich was somewhat soggy (which I attributed this to being boxed-up to-go).    The corned beef seemed to be of the sliced processed variety rather than real brisket, and was very mildly flavored.  The sandwich had several slices of melted Swiss cheese and a mayo-type spread (not thousand island). The sauerkraut was almost non-existent on one half but heavy on the other.  It came with a pickle spear and potato chips. Not the Reuben of my dreams.

Upon recommendation from the staff at Aesop’s, I ordered the Porker sandwich for my companion.  Very good! The sandwich was piled high with tender pulled pork, tossed lightly in a BBQ sauce that was somewhat spicy and peppery. The top and bottom bun were thick sesame seed buns, toasted.  The meal also came with a side of beans that were somewhat sweet yet savory with chunks of bacon and a side of creamy coleslaw.

Service: The staff at Aesop’s Table were very friendly and readily offered suggestions from the menu.  Food was prepared quickly in front of me while I waited.
Overall Impression: Very good prices for the amount of food you get, service is fast & friendly.  I would get the Porker sandwich again but not the Reuben.

Cuisine: BBQ
Restaurant Features: Banquet Room, Catering, Counter-Service, On-Site Parking, Take-Out
Location: Champlin, MN
Address: 180 Miller Rd. Champlin, MN 55316 (763) 323-6550
Hours: Mon-Thurs  11am-8pm    Fri 11am-9pm    Sat 12-9pm    Sun 12-8pm
Links: Q Fanatic Website Google Map

Atmosphere: Q Fanatic is located at the end of a strip mall that sits along a frontage road to Hwy 169.  The dining area of the restaurant is “L” shaped, with booths lined up along the wall all the way into the back half of the restaurant.  There are also several tables in the front that can be easily arranged to accommodate larger groups, with an additional banquet room in back.  Decorated on the walls are paintings and cute little shelves, each with a collectible Pig or Cow.

Menu: Side Dishes include Coleslaw, Asian Coleslaw, Creamy Potato Salad, BBQ Baked Beans, Corn Fritters, Onion Straws, Curly Fries, Mashed New Potatoes, Parmesan Potatoes Gratinee, Spicy Potato Wedges, Side Salad, Grilled Seasonal Veggies, Mac and Cheese, Garlic Roll, Foccacia Bread.

Q Fanatic also offers a couple of salads like the Caesar, the Siena Salad (with raspberry vinaigrette, pecans and gorgonzola) or the Ranch Salad.  Grilled Chicken can be added to any salad.

Sandwiches are served on either French Roll or Foccacia and include Sliced Brisket, Pulled Pork, Pulled Slow-Roasted Chicken, Grilled Veggie, Grilled Chicken Breast, Chicken Club, BLT, and Burger.  Served with Chips or substitute for regular-sized Side Dish for $1 or large side for $2.

Specialty BBQ Dinners include St Louis Style Ribs (1 lb or 2 lbs either wet or dry), Slow Roasted Beef Brisket, Applewood Smoked Pulled Pork, Slow Roasted Boneless Chicken, Rib Tips or Grilled Chicken Breast.  All dinners come with one regular side dish and choice or garlic roll or foccacia bread.  Additional side is just $1 for regular or $2 for large.

Kids meals include Mac & Cheese, Chicken Fingers, Lil Q Sandwich, Kids Chicken, Kids Burger

Q also offers Take-Out packages to feed anywhere from 4 to 14 people.

Price guide: Kids $5  Sides $2-4  Salads $7-10 Sandwiches $6-8   Dinners $8-21
What We ordered: I was starving so everything sounded good, but my standard for eating BBQ anywhere I go is the Beef Brisket, so I ordered the 1 lb Beef Brisket Dinner. This was the most tender and moist Beef Brisket I have ever had! It had amazing flavor (smoked with Apple Wood) and practically melted in my mouth.  The slices of beef were just the right thickness and so tender I didn’t even need to use a knife.  Two sides of Q Fanatic’s special sauces came with it- a tangy mustard and the Espresso BBQ.  Initially I wasn’t sure that the mustard sauce would be good with the beef but then I tried it- the Chef at Q Fanatic’s knew this was a winning combo! The consistency of the mustard sauce was slightly runny with just a touch of mustard and a touch of sweet and tangy flavors, complimenting the flavors of the beef perfectly.  The Espresso BBQ was also excellent.  My dinner came with one side and choice of bread so I went with the Curly Fries and Garlic Roll.  The basket of curly fries was HUGE!  The fries were fresh-cut, thin and extremely long and curly.  I also got four garlic rolls with my dinner, delicious  buttery golden brown on the outside and soft and warm on the inside.

My companion ordered 2 lbs of St Louis Style Ribs, which came with bread (garlic rolls), one side (basket of fries like the one pictures above), and an additional side of Corn Fritters was purchased for $1 more.  The Ribs were unbelievably fall-off-the-bone-tender! One bite of the ribs and I was practically begging the Owners to open an additional restaurant in my neighborhood so I can eat them every other day.  Seriously. One bite of these ribs and you will not want to eat ribs anywhere else, ever again! The corn fritters were also very good, kind of like an un-sweetened donut with kernels of corn inside.

Service: It was a busy Friday night and there were just a few tables available when we arrived.  We ordered at the counter, with help from a friendly woman.  Drinks are self-serve and food is brought out to the table. It was a very busy night but our food was served in 25 minutes or less- every bite worth waiting for.  Staff did a great job of checking on us throughout the evening, very professional.
Overall Impression: BEST BBQ I have had, the Beef Brisket and Ribs are amazing!!  Very reasonable prices for the huge portions you get. Cannot wait to bring group of friends out with me for my next visit.  Worth a drive to Champlin

Cuisine: Bar-B-Que, Steak, Chops, Ribs etc,

Restaurant Features: Bar, On-Site Parking

Location: Minneapolis, just outside of downtown

Addresses & Maps:

Minneapolis- 1414 Nicollet Avenue Minneapolis 55403  (612) 872-1111

Minnetonka- 15320 Wayzata Blvd Wayzata 55391 (952) 475-1770

Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am-2:30am  Sun 12pm- 1am

Links: Market BBQ Site  

Atmosphere: Established in 1946, the Market BBQ has been one of the Twin Cities most popular BBQ venues for decades.  Autographed photos of past celebrities who have visited the restaurant line the walls.  There are several tables and booths throughout the restaurant; the U-shaped booths are especially nice for parties of 6 or so, all of which are covered in red/white checked cloths.

Menu: Appetizers include chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, fried calamari, homemade chili, rib tips and potato skins.  There are also a variety of sandwiches: sliced pork tenderloin, BBQ pork, BBQ chicken salad, buffalo chicken breast, hamburger, BBQ ham, fish 'n cheese, sliced or pulled beef brisket and a salmon burger.  BBQ entrees include spare ribs, baby back ribs, Texas beef ribs (all ribs can be ordered with 4,8 or 12 bones), beef brisket, sliced roast beef, sirloin steak, broiled pork chops and BBQ chicken.

Price guide: Appetizers $4-8 Sandwiches $8-10 Barbeque $13-25

What I ordered: Started with the calamari, thinking it was the same calamari that I ordered and enjoyed thoroughly a few months ago, but it was NOT the same.  This calamari had small, chewy pieces and was not well seasoned.  The cocktail/marinara sauce that came with was very good though.

I ordered the Texas beef brisket platter….excellent choice!  The meat was sliced thin and was very tender and moist.  I loved the giant sauteed onion strips that are just under the sauce.  The coleslaw and the thin, crispy french fries were excellent sides.

One of my companions ordered the Texas Beef Ribs (saucy) and had this to say, "The Texas Ribs were meatier than the standard spare rib and the bulk of the meat was on top of the bone and not on the other three sides. The sauce was thick but not overwhelming, just enough. A full rack, 7 (?), had too many for one person so I would suggest the 4. The coleslaw was good to. It's truly the only other coleslaw besides KFC that I have EVER liked! You either like the stuff or you DON'T!! I loved the Texas Toast and the fries were skinny, salty and DEEEEE LISH."

My other companion ordered the full rack of pork spare ribs. Lean and tender, more than enough meaty goodness for a couple of people!

Even though the three of us were absolutely stuffed when we finished, one of my companions insisted that we order dessert, the "Tower of Chocolate Cake, a la mode".  From the price on this baby ($7.95 + $1.50 for ice cream), I was expecting a LOT, and a LOT doesn't even come close to how much of this fabulous chocolate cake there actually was…it was the biggest piece of chocolate cake I have ever seen, served on a  regular dinner plate, complete with 3 scoops of ice cream!!! The frosting was so creamy, it melted in my mouth.  This cake could probably feed an entire family of 10!

Service: Very good, as usual.  Our server was happy to offer suggestions on which ribs to order and was very thoughtful about which types of leftover containers she brought us when the meal was finished.

Overall Impression: Great service and Best darn BBQ in the Twin Cities!