Kozlak’s Royal Oak ~ 4785 Hodgson Road Shoreview, MN 55126 (651)-484-8484
- $20/Adults $10.95/ Kids 6-12 $6.95/ Kids 5 and Under
- 10:30am-1:30pm
- Live New Orleans Jazz
- Full Salad Bar, Scrambled Eggs Carbonara , Fresh Baked Biscuits with Sausage Gravy, Featured Chicken item, Cajun Ribs, Pecan-Breaded Catfish Fingers, Jambalaya with sausage & chicken, Classic Eggs Benedict, Kozlak’s home made French Toast with Pecan Maple Syrup, Breakfast Bacon, Sausage, Chef’s Fresh Vegetable, Gumbo Soup, Potatoes Pontalba with Béarnaise Sauce, Made-to-order Omelettes, Dessert & Sundae Bar
Links: Kozlak’s Royal Oak Website * Kozlak’s Facebook Page * Google Map
Atmosphere: If you like New Orleans Jazz, you are in for a treat at the Sunday Brunch Buffet at Kozlak’s! They have a Jazz Trio who make their rounds through the dining room, playing for every table. You may have seen these guys on the Andiamo dinner cruises, where they sometimes play on the St Croix Riverboats.
What we ate: We started with the unlimited Bloody Mary and Juice Bar ($5). Kozlak’s makes their own Bloody mix that is very good and slightly spicy from the horseradish. There is an bartender pouring the drinks and then they have a table with pickles, olives, limes, summer sausage, cheeses, Tobasco and Worchestershire for you to dress up your drink. I did not see any cocktail skewers so all of my goodies sank to the bottom of my drink once I gave it a stir.
Since the champagne and juice are included in the $5 unlimited, I also tried a glass of bubbly and an orange/pineapple juice mix. I noticed that the guy making my drink only had small airplane-style cans of Pineapple juice. I know that is common at bars but you would think that at brunch they would opt for bigger jugs of juice? Doesn’t matter to me either way ;)
Shortly after we were seated our server brought us a plate of caramel rolls. They looked good but I didn’t eat one.
My first big plate included a bunch of breakfast items, including the Scrambled Eggs Carbonara, Eggs Benedict and Cheesy Potatoes. The eggs carbonara were pretty good but nothing out of the ordinary; they had pieces of bacon and spinach scrambled in. I liked the Eggs Benedict; the Hollandaise sauce was silky and somewhat tangy. They cheesy potatoes were okay but didn’t really catch my attention.
I also tried some of the breakfast meats including Bacon and Andouille Sausage with Peppers and Onions. The sausage was great and I loved it with the peppers and onions. The bacon was thick-cut and smoky.
I had to try the Biscuits and gravy too. The biscuit was pretty standard but the gravy was really tasty. They key to good gravy is good sausage and this had really well seasoned sausage. It had a slight kick to it from all the black pepper, which I loved.
The French Toast at Kozlak’s is made with baguette so the slices are very small and very crispy. The bread didn’t have the egginess of a typical french toast and remained crispy even when soaked with syrup. Ah, that syrup! It was real maple with toasted pecans. I promise you I did not eat all of this ;)
The Sunday Brunch at Kozlak’s has a nice selection of desserts including Bananas Foster. I tried it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and wow, this was so good! Mmm, there is just something I love about warm banana desserts and what could be better than cooking bananas in brown sugar, butter and rum? The sauce was pre-cooked so I did not get to see the chef make it. Heavenly!! The vanilla ice cream was perfect with it.
I also tried a few bites of the Pecan Pie. Super delish! The crust was really good and there was a layer of toasted pecans on tip of the gooey pecan filling. This would also be great with vanilla ice cream.
By this point I was too full to try the Ribs or the Jambalaya, but they Kozlak’s does have them.
Article and photos by Kristi SauerCopyright Twin Cities Restaurant Blog
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I have blogged a few times before about CRAVE…… once for a lavish dinner and another for a big lunch.
Recently I visited CRAVE at The Galleria around noon on a Sunday and was happy to see they offer brunch items in addition to lunch. I love breakfast but rarely get to eat it at restaurants, so this was a treat.
Items on the Brunch Menu include:
- Family Style Brunch
- Breakfast Wellington
- Steak and Eggs
- Huevos Rancheros
- Eggs Benedict
- Omelette
- Sushi Bento Box
I tried the Huevos Rancheros which were absolutely AMAZING and far different than what I was expecting. The base of the creation was a fried flour tortilla, then topped with a zesty mix of steak, sauteed onion, peppers, black beans, tomato, scrambled eggs, green onion, cilantro and spicy fresh salsa. I ordered mine spicy and it was deliciously so, without being overpowering. One of the most genius part of this dish were the fried flour taquitos filled with steak. Are you kidding me?! I was in Heaven before I even took a bite and I think I made a few of my companions slightly jealous. It was a huge portion, too.
Several of my companions ordered the Crunchy Roll from the sushi menu. Sushi always sounds good to me and I was also tempted to order, but I knew I could eat at least two different rolls just to myself.
Another companion ordered the Margherita Pizza, which was much larger than either of us had expected. It had a light and chewy crust with the customary basil, tomato and buffalo mozzarella. The smell was irresistible so I tried a slice and thought it was delicious.
Keeping this one short and sweet…….. find your way to CRAVE on a Sunday (soon!) and make sure to try the Huevos Rancheros!
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Cuisine: Fish & Seafood, Steak, Dessert
Restaurant Features: Banquet, Bar, Catering, On-Site Parking, Sunday Brunch
Location: Shoreview, MN
Address: 4785 Hodgson Road Shoreview, MN 55126 651-484-8484
Hours: Lunch Mon-Fri 11am-2pm Sunday Brunch 10:30-1:30p Dinner Daily at 4pm
Links: Kozlak’s Royal Oak Website * Kozlak’s Facebook Page * Google Map
Atmosphere: Kozlak’s is located in a large, stand-alone building on Hodgson Road, about a half mile north of Hwy 96 in Shoreview. One thing you will notice when you arrive is the drive-up entrance at the front of the building, meant for picking up/dropping off guests. The parking lot is in the back in the building, a long walk around the building in the cold winter!
There is a small reception area when you first walk in that sits between the bar area (to the left) and the main dining room (to the right). Festively decorated over the Holidays!
Both the main dining room and the dining room adjacent to the bar area have tables, all of which are covered with white tablecloths. I did not have the pleasure of dining in this room so I just got a glance, same as you see below. It was festively decorated with balloons on New Year’s Eve.
This is the smaller, more intimate dining room with tables that seem to be spaced further apart than in the main dining room.
Menu: Appetizer’s at Kozlak’s include Coconut Shrimp, Asparagus with Bearnaise, Scallops Parmesan, Cajun Beef Bites, Clam Chowder, Bruschetta, Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Chili-Rubbed Ribs, Broiled Lobster Tail, Escargots, Sesame Wings, Wild Mushroom Crustini, Onion Rings and Artichoke Parmesan Dip. The Featured Appetizers are Szechuan Beef Tips and Roasted Tomato and Garlic Soup.
Salad options at Kozlak’s are the Pecan Crusted Chicken, Bruschetta, Salmon Spinach, and Marie’s Salad (with bleu cheese, olives and dried cranberries).
Sandwiches that are offered are the Baked Reuben and the Hashbrown-Crusted Walleye.
Entrees come with potato du jour, bread, salad and vegetable. Options include Twin Tenderloins with Portabellas, Sauteed Calves’ Liver, Pasta Vermouth, Parmesan Chicken, Medallions of Beef, Chicken Supreme, Roasted Plump Duckling, Blackened Pork Porter House, and Barbeque Ribs. Featured Entrees are the Beef Wellington and the Roasted Vegetable Pasta.
Kozlak’s is well known for their steaks, with cuts such as Bone-in Tenderloin, New York Strip, Tenderloin Filet, and Roasted Prime Rib. All steaks come with soup or salad, baked potato and bread. Add-ons for steak include Melted Bleu Cheese, Butter Taragon Sauce, Peppercorn Crusted, Sauteed Mushroom, Sauteed Onions, Garlic Portabella Mushrooms, Hash Browns, French Fries, and Asparagus.
Fish and Seafood Selections include Broiled Salmon, Salmon Royal Oak, Pecan Walleye, Sea Scallops, Walleye, Steamed African Lobster, Tenderloin and Lobster combo, Pasta and Shrimp, Garlic Broiled Shrimp and Alaskan Crab Legs.
Save room for dessert! In addition to Ice Cream, Gelato, and Sorbet there have homemade cheesecake, chocolate cake, and others.
Price guide: Appetizers $7-13 Salads $6-14 Entrees $18-25 Seafood $23-27 (+ market price lobster) Steaks $28-50
Sunday Brunch
- $18.95/Adults $10.95/ Kids 6-12 $6.95/ Kids 5 and Under
- 10:30am-1:30pm
- Live New Orleans Jazz
- Full Salad Bar, Scrambled Eggs Carbonara , Fresh Baked Biscuits with Sausage Gravy, Featured Chicken item, Cajun Ribs, Pecan-Breaded Catfish Fingers, Jambalaya with sausage & chicken, Classic Eggs Benedict, Kozlak’s home made French Toast with Pecan Maple Syrup, Breakfast Bacon, Sausage, Chef’s Fresh Vegetable, Gumbo Soup, Potatoes Pontalba with Béarnaise Sauce, Made-to-order Omelettes, Dessert & Sundae Bar
What we ordered: We started with the complimentary loaf of French Bread that was brought to our table shortly after we ordered. The bread was crusty on the outside, soft and still slightly warm on the inside. The loaf had about four slices which went fast, another loaf soon followed!
Each entree comes with a house salad or for a $3 upgrade you can take a trip through the Salad Bar. I chose the House Salad, which was Caesar. The homemade dressing that Kozlak’s is very good, a tad sweeter than the traditional Caesar.
Typically I order ribeye at steak houses however Kozlak’s doesn’t offer that cut as an option, so instead I ordered the delectable Queen Cut Prime Rib. Each bite was incredibly tender and delicious! I ordered a side of the customary freshly grated horseradish and it also was served with au jus on the side. Even though this was just the Queen cut (compared to the larger King cut), it was still huge and I had to bring half my steak home. I ordered a baked potato with my steak and also a side of sauteed mushrooms, which I shared with my companions.
One of my companions ordered the 8oz Tenderloin Filet, a handsome, thick and extremely tender cut of beef. It was topped with Kozlak’s signature garlic butter, which adds a splash of melted buttery heaven as it melts over the steak. Butter on steak? You just have to try this! The flavor of the meat itself had a slightly aged flavor and just a glorious hint of char from the grill. Cooked a perfect medium.
Another companion ordered the King Cut Prime Rib, the larger version of my steak. This cut was indeed extra large, standing at least 2″ tall!
Another companion ordered the Steak & Lobster meal. The steak was the Kozlak’s filet which was very good but the real star of this combo was the African Lobster Tail. This giant lobster tail was cooked as perfect as you can cook a lobster. When my companioned offered me a bite I couldn’t resist the sweet, succulent, buttery treat. The lobster was so fresh that I suspected it had been alive just minutes before it was served, but such was not the case.
For dessert one of my companions and I shared a Pink Squirrel ice cream drink. Have you had one of these before? They are yummy! Vanilla ice cream blended with Creme de Noyaux, an almond liqueur, Creme de Cacao, light cream, then topped with whipped cream. So creamy and smooth!
Service: We had great service at Kozlak’s. Our party had a reservation on New Year’s Eve and we were brought to our table shortly after we arrived. Our server greeted us shortly after we sat down to take our drink order. It was a very busy night and Kozlak’s had a full house, but cocktails were brought out in under ten minutes, other drinks were refilled as needed. The menu on New Year’s Eve was somewhat limited but the server made good suggestions and answered any questions we had, brought us everything we needed as soon as possible. Food was prepared in less than thirty minutes, while we munched on our bread and salads.
Overall Impression: Great service! The lobster I tried at Kozlak’s was some of the best I have had and the steaks were also excellent. The prices are standard for a nice steak house, but won’t break the bank if you only visit on occasion. I would love to try the New Orleans Brunch Buffet sometime soon!
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Cuisine: American, Bar & Grill, Burgers, Dessert, Pasta
Restaurant Features: Bar, Flat Screen TVs, Happy Hour, On-Site Parking, Patio, Sunday Brunch
Locations: Rogers and Excelsior, MN
Addresses and Maps:
Excelsior- 685 Excelsior Blvd Excelsior, MN 55331 952.470.1800
Rogers- 21415 136th Ave. N. Rogers, MN 55374 763.428.0700
Hours: Sun 10am-12am Mon-Sat 11am-1am
Links: Maynards Website
Atmosphere: The Maynards in Rogers is located in a large building about 1/4 mile from I-94. The large, open space is divided into two sides; the dining room and the bar. The dining room has both tables and booths, centered by a beautiful large stone fireplace. The lighting is dim and romantic yet the mood is lively.
The bar area takes up about half the space of the restaurant and is a very popular place to a widely-aged crowd, many of whom come to play Texas Hold ‘Em Poker on Tuesday nights or BINGO on Wednesday nights.
Maynards in Rogers also has an expansive patio area, complete with tables and a fire pit. I wish I had been able to photograph it during the day but since I was there after dark, this was the best I could do!
Menu: Appetizers at Maynards include Buffalo Wings, Szechuan Wings, BBQ Wings, Nachos (chicken or beef), Chicken Quesadilla, Szechuan Spicy Green Beans, Cheese Curds, Onion Rings, Italian Waffle Fries, Artichoke Dip, Romaine Wraps, Halibut Fingers, Walleye Fingers, Firecracker Shrimp, Buffalo Shrimp, Steak Bites, Ahi Tuna, Calamari, and Buffalo Chicken Strips. Maynard’s also offers Flatbreads, including the BBQ Chicken, Basil Tomato, and Buffalo Chicken.
Maynard’s salads include Steakhouse Salad, Buffalo Chicken, Ahi Tuna, Oriental Chicken, Chop, Frannie’s Chicken Salad (coconut crusted chicken), Caesar, Taco, Cobb, and Marine Salad (jumbo shrimp and baby shrimp).
Sandwich offerings include Pot Roast French Dip, Halibut Fish & Chips, Walleye Fish & Chips, Halibut Sandwich, Cuban, Smoked Chicken Panini, The Excelsior (turkey, ham and bacon), Walleye Sandwich, Reuben, Chicken Philly, Chicken Breast, Philly Cheese Steak, Buffalo Chicken, Veggie Wrap, Fish Taco Wrap, and Asian Chicken Wrap. All sandwiches are served with chips, or upgrade to waffle fries for $1.50.
Burgers at Maynard’s are the Pepper Burger, Garage Burger (sour cream and green olives), Patty Melt, Tillamook Cheddar Burger, California, Combo (mushroom, bacon and choice of cheese), Texas BBQ, and Turkey Burger. All burgers are served with chips, or upgrade to waffle fries for $1.50.
Sautee Entrees include Cajun Chicken Fettuccini, Shrimp Scampi, Chicken Stir Fry, Kung Pao Chicken, Chicken and Mushroom Marsala with Fettuccini, Butternut Squash Ravioli in Cranberry Butter Cream Sauce, Rigatoni with Sausage in Creamy Red Sauce, and Tortellini with Prosciutto and Mushrooms in Alfredo.
Maynard’s Entrees include Chilean Sea Bass, Orange Honey Glazed Salmon, Pan Fried Walleye, Battered Shrimp, Teriyaki Sirloin, Baby Back Ribs, Filet, Cajun Pork Chop, Tenderloin Beef Medallions, New York Strip, Filet & Shrimp Combo, and Pot Roast.
Desserts at Maynard’s are the Key Lime Pie, Carrot Cake, Cheesecake, Tower Chocolate Cake ala Mode, and Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae.
Price guide: Appetizers $7-12 Salads $10-15 Sandwiches $ Burgers $9 Sautee Entrees $12-15 Entrees $14-24 Desserts $5-9
Happy Hour:
- M-F 11am-6pm & 8pm-Close
- Reduced Price Appetizers
- Domestic Tap Specials
Weekly Specials:
Sunday Brunch:
- 10am-2pm
- Adults $14.95
- Caramel Rolls, Eggs Benedict, Bacon, Smoked Sausage, Biscuits, Hash Browns, Waffles, Apple Crisp, Shrimp Creole, Swedish Meatballs, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Chicken Stir Fry, Grilled Atlantic Salmon, Smoked Salmon, Cheesy Scalloped potatoes, Pasta Salad, Fresh Fruit, Fresh Veggies, Szechuan Green Beans, Chicken Wild Rice Soup, Pickled Herring, Omelet Bar and Assorted Desserts.
What we ordered: There were many appetizers that sounded really good but I was in the mood for fish and the Halibut Fingers sounded very intriguing. We started with the Halibut Fingers, an order of six colossal pieces of this delicious, non-fishy fish. Each “finger” was literally almost an inch thick, breaded with a tasty batter and then deep fried to a crispy golden brown. Served with homemade tartar sauce and lemon wedges. I ate almost three of these and was seriously almost too full to touch my dinner!
Every entree come with choice of soup or salad. I had the house salad. This was a pretty basic house salad with romaine, cucumber, cherry tomato, red onion, fresh grated parmesan and buttermilk ranch.
My companion chose the Chicken Wild Rice Soup with the entree. This was a delicious choice! The soup had big chunks of white meat chicken, carrots, celery and wild rice. It was mildly seasoned yet flavorful.
Now on to the Main Course! There were many items on the menu that sounded wonderful to me, but I strayed from my usual sandwich fix to try a dish that was truly unique. Our server highly recommended the Butternut Squash Ravioli with Cranberries, a combo that caught my attention. I am so glad I tried this, it was amazing! The serving size was quite large, with probably 15 big raviolis filled with the sweet and tender butternut squash. The raviolis, along with a plentiful amount of halved cranberries, were bathed in a rich butter cream sauce. There is just something about cream and berries that was meant to be! Although this particular combo was new to my palette, the cranberries gave it a sweetness that countered the rich creaminess of the sauce. I was only able to eat about four of the raviolis before I was stuffed (they were great for lunch the next day too!)
My companion ordered the full rack of Baby Back Ribs. These ribs were also very tasty, but did not stand out as extraordinary. They were tender and flavorful, with the sauce grilled onto the meat and extra on the side. It was served with buttered toast and choice of potato.
The ribs came with choice of potato, my companion went with the Waffle Fries (with seasoned sour cream for $.50 extra). These potatoes were still somewhat soft and lightly fried. Big serving!
Our meals also came with a basket of Ciabatta Bread. I’ll just admit right now I was too full to touch the bread but it looked good!
Despite being extremely full, the thought of Key Lime Pie was pretty irresistible. When our server brought this gigantic slice of pie out to me, I nearly fainted. She laughed and told me the Key Lime was actually Maynard’s smallest dessert. Apparently the chocolate cake is the size of a big plate!
The Key Lime pie had three thick layers of filling on top of the graham cracker crust: the key lime, the cream topping and then more whipped cream. It may have stood 4-5 inches tall! The lime filling had a consistency that reminded me of custard and was as tart as it should be. Very refreshing combo of tart, sweet and creamy.
Service: We were greeted with a smile the moment we walked in and were promptly seated at a booth. Our server, Britney, did a great job of taking care of us. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and made excellent recommendations. The timing of our food was just perfect so that we were able to eat our appetizers and starters before the entrees were brought out and drinks were refilled regularly.
Overall Impression: Maynard’s has a large menu, with delicious food, and awesome service. Great place to get a quality meal with friends or to play Poker or Bingo! Try the Butternut Squash Ravioli with Cranberry Butter Cream Sauce for a unique culinary experience. I wish I lived closer so I could eat my way through the menu!
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Cuisine: American, Bar & Grill, Burgers, Desserts, Pasta, Pizza, Steaks, Ribs
Restaurant Features: Bar, Happy Hour, Kids Menu, Patio, On-Site Parking, Sunday Brunch
Location: Blaine, MN ( Sister Restaurant is Tavern on France in Edina, MN)
Addresses & Maps:
Tavern Grill- 10950 Club West Parkway Suite 270 Blaine, MN 55449 763-398-8100
Tavern on France- 6740 France Avenue South Edina, MN 55435 952-358-6100
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11a-12a Fri-Sat 11a-1a Sun 10a-10p
Links: Tavern Grill Website * Tavern Grill on Facebook
Atmosphere: Located in the space previously occupied by Bella Italian Grill, The Tavern Grill in Blaine opened its doors in June 2010.
Menu: Appetizers at The Tavern Grill include Burger Sliders, Philly Sliders, Chicken Littles, Crab Artichoke Quesadilla, Toasted Bruschetta, Onion Rings, Tavern Fries, Lemon Basil Calamari, Crab Artichoke Dip, Bleu Chips (homemade potato chips topped with bleu cheese crumbles and bacon), Sesame Chicken Stix, Walleye Fingers, and Buffalo Wings. Soups include Chicken Wild Rice, French Onion and a Soup du Jour.
Flatbread Pizza options include Build-Your-Own where you choose your Sauce, Cheese, Toppings and Meats, or the Farmers Market Pizza, Prosciutto & Tomato, BBQ Chicken, Buffalo Chicken, Classic Pepperoni and the Beachcomber (canadian bacon, pineapple and cilantro).
Salad options include Build-Your-Own (choose your cheeses, Veggies Mix-Ins, Crunch, Meats and Dressings). Chef Specialty Salads include Chop, Chicken Thai, Grilled Chicken, Buffalo Chicken and Caesar Salad.
Burger Options include the Build-A-Burger (choose your Meat, Bread, Cheese, Toppings and Extras). Specialty Burgers include Tavern Burger (bbq, gouda and bacon), Veggies Burger, Widowmaker (cheddar, caramelized onion, philly beef, 4 cheese sauce, onion strings) and the Beachcomber (ginger orange teriyaki, swiss and grilled fresh pineapple).
Tavern Sandwich options are the Grilled Club, Walleye, Grilled Chicken Wrap, Buffalo Chicken, Philly Cheesesteak, Corned Beef on Rye, Steak with Swiss and Mushrooms, French Dip, Steakhouse Wrap, Patty Melt and Crispy Chicken Wrap.
Pastas at The Tavern Grill are the Baked Ravioli with Chicken, MOnterey Shrimp, Fettuccini Alfredo, Baked Spaghetti and the Shrimp Ravioli in Sundried Tomato Pesto.
Entrees include Walleye & Chips, HomeStyle Grilled Meatloaf, Seared Teriyaki Salmon, Tuscan Chicken, Naked Filet, Tucker’s Filet (marinated in soy sauce and garlic), Ginger Garlic NY Strip, Baby Back Ribs and Spicy Ginger Seared Tuna.
Desserts include New York Cheesecake, Key Lime Pie, Fill-Your-Own Mini Donut Holes, Build-Your-Own S’Mores, and Chocolate Cake with Whiskey Sauce.
Items from the Kids Menu include Chicken Strips, Mini Cheeseburgers, Pepperoni or Cheese Pizza, and Grilled Cheese.
Price guide: Appetizers $7-11 Pizzas $8.50-11 Salads $9-12 Burgers $9-12 Sandwiches $9-12 Pastas $13-15 Entrees $ 13-19 Desserts $6-7.50
Happy Hour:
- M-F 3-6pm and 9pm-Close
- $2 Off Specialty Cocktails
- 1/2 Priced Wines & Pizas
- $3 Appetizers including Tavern Blue Chips, Sliders, Chicken Littles, Cheesy Jalapeno Nachos, and Waffles Fries
- $4 Cheesy Jalapeno Beef or Chicken Nachos
- $5 Crab Quesadilla
Weekly Specials:
- Sunday Brunch 10am-2pm
- Adults $14 Kids 12 and Under $6
- Carved Roast Beef, Pancake Bar, Made-to-Order Omelettes, Baked Reggiano Hashbrowns, Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, Hickory Smoked Bacon, Sausage Links, Chef’s Special Scrambled Eggs (changes weekly), Scrambled Eggs, Fresh Skillet Caramel Rolls, Fresh Fruit, Assorted Fresh Pastries.
What we ordered: We started with an order of the Buffalo Wings, which came with 9 wings in the order. We requested the Buffalo sauce be served on the side, as we were feeding a small child within my party. The thick and spicy dark orange Buffalo sauce had a nice kick to it, I poured it very liberally on the wings I ate (along with bleu cheese, of course!)
I was debating between a burger or the walleye sandwich and ended up with the walleye (sorry about the terrible, blurry photo!). The walleye fillet was sliced rather thinly and then breaded with the Tavern’s special batter before being deep fried to a crispy golden brown. I was expecting a bigger sandwich but was still satisfied with the fillet, which came served on grilled herb focaccia bread with shredded lettuce and tartar sauce on the side. I had my choice of potato and went with the delicious golden waffle fries.
One of my companions ordered the Monterey Shrimp Pasta, which came with several sauteed shrimp and vermicelli tossed with roasted garlic, asparagus, roasted red peppers, and spinach in a light white wine, lemon and butter sauce. The ingredients in this dish were plentiful but the sauce was so light it didn’t go far in the way of flavor. My companion requested a side of the Pesto Alfredo sauce to kick up the flavor a little and was very satisfied after doing so.
One of my companions ordered a side salad with her meal, a great add-on for $2.50.
Bread does not automatically come with any of the meals at The Tavern Grill, however our server brought out a plate of sliced ciabatta after one of my companions requested bread.
Another companion ordered the Baby Back Ribs, served with garlic mashed potatoes and coleslaw. The ribs were very tender and moist, falling off the bone after being slow-roasted for several hours. I did not try this at all but according to my companion, the bourbon barbeque sauce was slightly spicy but very flavorful.
There were a couple of fun items on the dessert menu, such as the Build-Your-Own-S’mores, but what really sounded cool was the Fill-Your-Own-Donut-Holes. The hot and freshly-fried donut holes were served in an overflowing chinese-food container, with three types of fillings: Chocolate Creme, Bavarian Creme, and Raspberry. The little tubes have a sharp point to them where you jam them into the center of your donut hole and squeeze until the donut is filled. What a delicious and fun concept. These disappeared very quickly!
Service: I had tried to make a reservation on a busy Friday night but was told that The Tavern Grill would only take reservations for parties of 7 or more, however they would put me on the list for call-ahead seating. I arrived about 45 minutes after I had called to put my name on the list but was told that they had taken my name off the list because I was late. I was told my party could be seated right away at a table or I could have my name added to the bottom of the list for a booth. We didn’t want to wait 40 minutes for a booth so we sat at a table. Our server was nice and asked if we had been to The Tavern Grill before. Since we had not, she explained how the Build-Your-Own options worked. No mentions of highlighted items from the menu, nor did she make any suggestions. She was helpful however, when helping to decide between a couple of items on the menu. Food took awhile to arrive, drinks were faster. We had to ask for refills on a few occasions when our glasses were empty, but the server responded to our requests in a timely manner.
Overall Impression: The Tavern Grill has many specialty items on the menu but also has many Build-Your-Own options. I would love to go back and try one of the burgers or pizzas. The Tavern Grill also has great Happy Hour specials on food and a gorgeous patio area. The service was decent for a very busy Friday night.
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Cuisine: American, Dessert
Restaurant Features: Bar, Games, Kids Menu, On-Site Parking, Sunday Brunch
Location: St Paul, MN
Address: 400 Selby Ave St Paul, MN 55102 (651)225-9414
Hours: Mon-Wed 11am-1am Thurs-Sat 11am-2am Sunday 10am-1am
Links: Fabulous Fern’s Website * Fabulous Fern’s on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: Fabulous Fern’s is located on Selby Ave in St Paul, in the Blair Arcade building. The inside of the restaurant area is spread out in an interesting shape, taking advantage of the many windows that almost make you forget you are in a larger building with other businesses nearby.
Besides the dining area, Fabulous Fern’s also has a large bar area, with TVs hung throughout and wood flooring. Even during the day the lights are kept on the dim side, so fairy lights hung from the ceiling add festivity and soft light.
Bar Area Inside Fabulous Ferns
In one corner of the bar there are several dart boards and cocktail tables.
Menu: Appetizers include Chicken Wings or Chicken Strips (Buffalo, BBQ, or Sweet Ginger), Bruschetta, Calamari, Onion Rings, Buffalo Shrimp, Mussels, Spicy Green Beans, Black Bean Dip, Potato Skins, Margherita Pizza, Shrimp and Pesto Pizza, Pepperoni Pizza and Tuscan Pizza.
The many salads include Chicken and Wild Rice, Southern Style Chicken, Mandarin Chicken, Thai Peanut Chicken, Caesar, BLT Salad, Strawberry Spinach, Grilled Szechwan Chicken, Vegetarian Greek Salad, and the Shrimp and Scallop Salad.
The sandwich offerings at Fabulous Fern’s include Fern’s Burger, BBQ Burger, Chicken Dijon, Chicken Parmesan, Grilled Turkey Burger, Portabella Sandwich, Veggie Burger, Sirloin Sandwich, Cajun Meatloaf, Hot Hoagie, Croissant Sandwich, Focaccia Sandwich, Grilled Tuna Steak, and Lemon Pepper Cod.
Pasta options are the Tortellini Rosa with Chicken, Fettucini with Chicken, Chicken and Spinach Ravioli, Fettucini Del Mar, and Penne Primavera.
Dinner Entrees are served after 4pm and include vegetable medley and choice of rice or potato. The entree options are Pot Roast, Sirloin Steak, Cajun Meatloaf, Spicy Barbeque Ribs, Grilled Pork Loin, Baked Chicken Dijon, Fish & Chips, Pecan Crusted Walleye, and Blackened Walleye.
Desserts include Hot Fudge Ice Cream Popover, Cheesecake of the Moment, Ice Cream, Vanilla Bread Pudding, Hot Fudge Sundae, Creme Brulee, and Apple Strudel.
Price guide: Appetizers $8-13 Salads $8-13 Sandwiches $9-12 Pastas $10-15 Dinner Entrees $10-19 Desserts $5-6
Weekly Specials:
- Sunday Brunch
- Adults $13.95 Kids 12 & Under $6.95 Seniors $11.95
- Waffle Bar, French Toast, Scrambled Eggs, Sausage, Bacon, Biscuits and Gravy, Assorted Salads, Bars & Cakes. The following items are always on the Buffet but vary weekly: Pasta, Quiche, Rice Dish, and Soup.
- In addition to the regular dining menu there is a Featured Menu with appetizers, salads, entrees, pastas and desserts that changes weekly. Weekly menu can be found here.
What we ordered: I had lunch at Fabulous Fern’s while attending a workshop nearby. I had the Chicken Parmesan Sandwich with fries. The chicken breast was average size, breaded with panko and then deep fried to a dark crispy brown. It was served on a hamburger bun with melted mozzarella, marinara on the side. This sandwich was tasty enough but would’ve been so much better with Italian bread or something other than a boring hamburger bun. I would’ve liked a lot more marinara sauce too, to really give it a good covering. I only ate half but could have easily eaten the whole thing and brought the rest home for later.
Chicken Parmesan Sandwich ~ Fabulous Ferns
My companion ordered one of the Daily Specials, which was Mini Spring Rolls and Crab and Spinach Rangoons. Before ordering we had thought that maybe these were hand-made items since they were the special that day, but after trying them the server confirmed our suspicions that they were the frozen variety. They spring rolls were filled with veggies and were good but nothing special. The rangoons were wonton wraps filled with a cheesy spinach mixture then fried. The two sauces for dipping were a sweet & sour and a hoisin or similar sauce. Seemed an odd combo of appetizers to serve together, with very contradictory flavors.
Spring Rolls & Rangoons ~ Fabulous Ferns
Service: Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and told us about various items that Fabulous Fern’s uses seasonally. The food took a little longer than average to arrive from the time we ordered, but it was a busy weekday at noon. SServer was very responsive to refilling drinks and getting us what we needed. Our total visit took about an hour.
Overall Impression: I would go back and try Fabulous Fern’s again sometime for dinner, I just wouldn’t order the Chicken Parmesan again. The desserts sounded good so I would probably order one next time too.
Disclosure: I was invited out to do this review and my meal was provided by the restaurant.
Cuisine: Southern Italian
Restaurant Features: Bar, Catering, Patio, On-Site Parking, Sunday Brunch
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Address: 5001 34th Ave S. Minneapolis, MN 55417 612 724-3009
Hours: Sun-Th 4:30p-10p Fri-Sat 4:30p-11p Sunday Brunch: 10a-2p
Links: Al Vento Website * Al Vento Facebook Page * Google Map
Atmosphere: Al Vento is conveniently located on the corner of East 50th St and 34th Ave S in South Minneapolis, not far from the Lightrail line. The restaurant is in a brick building, with one open room serving as the dining room and bar area, and the kitchen tucked away in the back. The mood was romantic, with soft lighting from both the hanging pendant lights and the soft glow of the table-top candles. The space efficiently accommodates enough tables to intimately seat maybe 40-50 guests. Our server, Alexandro, just added to the ambiance with his authentic Italian accent. The name “Al Vento” means “with the wind” in Italian.
Menu: Appetizers include a variety of Bruschetta including Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and White Bean, Artichoke/Mozzarella/Basil and Roasted Peppers, Eggplant Caponata, and Olive Tapenade with Goat Cheese. Other starters include Mushroom and Pork with Apple Chutney, Stuffed Mushrooms, Mussels in White Wine & Garlic, Tomato Bread Soup, Smoked Salmon Crostini with Mascarpone and Berry Compote, Cavatelli with Swiss Chard Truffle Pecorino and Brown Butter.
Salads offered at Al Vento are the Caesar, Red Beet with Candied Walnuts, and the Mista with Fennel , Blood Orange and Herb Goat Cheese.
You can also order a variety of pizzas including the Neopolitan, or one with Salami/Artichoke/Tomato, the Red Potato/Spinach/Gorgonzola/ Red Onion is a unique combo and last but not least, the Fennel Sausage/ Roma Tomato/ Herb Goat Cheese.
There are a handful of delicious Pastas on the menu at Al Vento, with the menu rotating items on a regular (if not daily) basis. Menu items on the night of my visit were Spaghetti and Meatballs (which is a true winner even if you rarely order spaghetti at restaurants), Risotto with Roasted Cauliflower and Pecorino, Bucatini alla Amatriciana with Pancetta Tomato and Chili flake, Maltagliati with Braised Pork Olives and Chestnuts, and Fussili with Tiger Shrimp and Pancetta in a Tomato Sauce.
The Entree items also change on a regular basis, depending on the season and what ingredients can be obtained locally. Current menu includes Braised Pork Shank with Saffron Risotto and Gremolata, Sea Bass with Root Vegetables and Red Pepper Sauce, Parmesan Chicken Breast with Roasted Vegetable Gratín, Grilled Steak alla Pizzaiola with Gorgonzola Sauce and Potato.
Desserts are all homemade and include Vanilla Gelato, Semi-Fredo Hazelnut Custard, Chocolate Oblivion (pastry crust with chocolate ganache and strawberries), Tiramisu, Olive Oil Cake (with fresh berry puree and hazelnuts), and the Creme Brulee Trio (chocolate, vanilla, pistachio).
In addition to a full bar, Al Vento offers a variety of coffee drinks and Italian sodas.
Sunday Brunch: European-style buffet featuring fresh fruit, salads, pastries, meats, cheeses, smoked salmon, waffles, house made sausage, eggs benedict, breakfast potatoes, a chocolate fondue fountain with strawberries and more that rotates from week to week,. $14 for adults, $7 for kids. Adult brunch includes a bottomless mimosa. Every Sunday from 10 to 2. Reservations accepted.
Price guide: Bruschetta $4-5 Antipasti $7-9 Salads $7 Pizza $9-11 Pasta $13-15 Entrees $17-20
Happy Hour: Happy Hour every day from 4:30 to 6. 1/2 price all bottles of wine, $5 select martinis.
Weekly Specials: Sundays and Mondays- Half Price Wine all night
Tuesday Night Date Night- 3 Courses for $20 a person.
What we ordered: We started with the complimentary freshly baked Italian bread with a side of olive oil. Like everything at Al Vento, the bread was made from scratch. It was lovely, thick and dense, seasoned with Italian herbs and very flavorful.
Al Vento has many selections of Bruschetta so I ordered the one that caught my eye. It had chopped artichoke, tomato, roasted red pepper and fresh homemade mozzarella. I don’t hesitate to say this is one of the best bruschetta I have tried. Every ingredient was so fresh and brought a great mix of flavors. Artichoke and roasted red peppers were a genius addition to the traditional tomato and basil.
We also tried the Sicilian Stuffed Mushrooms, an excellent choice. The order came with four mushroom caps that were stuffed with a blend of walnuts and herbs, topped with bread crumbs and cheese, then baked. The mushrooms were placed atop a pretty arrangement of colorful dipping sauces. Great combo of textures and flavors.
There were many entrees on the menu that sounded wonderful but I have really been craving seafood lately so I chose the Fussili Shrimp Pasta. The dish was a generous portion of homemade fussili pasta loaded with at least 7-8 giant tiger shrimp. The pasta was tossed with homemade tomato sauce, small chunks of pancetta (cured Italian bacon), fresh garlic, red chili spices and other herbs. The pasta was cooked perfectly, the tomato sauce was fresh with subtle kick from the red chili, and the little bites of pancetta provided even more texture and taste than the shrimp alone. I was very pleased with this dish!
My companion ordered the Braised Pork Shank. The pork was extremely tender and juicy after being braised; it was first seared to give it a brown color then roasted in seasoned broth. Fabulous! The pork was topped with a gremolata consisting of chopped garlic, parsley and lemon zest then surrounded with a saffron risotto. The citrusy mix of herbs was a pleasing compliment to the rich taste of the saffron risotto. My companion and I both loved this dish, it is hearty and warming on a cold winter night.
We also ordered dessert at the suggestion of our server. The homemade Vanilla Gelato at Al Vento is better than any I have had locally. Gelato is usually made with less fat and more sugar than traditional ice cream; this version is the perfect blend of both creamy and sweet, with the rich taste of real vanilla bean. Heavenly!
We also tried the Semi Fredo, which was a very unique dessert made of semi-frozen hazelnut custard. The flavor of the hazelnut reminded me slightly of peanut butter, but much more rich and less sweet. The strawberry and chocolate sauces that were drizzled on top were a perfect match to the hazelnut. As for the texture of this dessert, I have a hard time wording its uniqueness; it was very cold yet not frozen or creamy smooth like gelato, ice cream or other frozen custards. Word cannot do it justice, you must just try it to see what I mean! You’ll love it.
Service: We were lucky enough to find a space in the parking lot and get a table on a busy Tuesday night. Our service was excellent! Our server, Alexandro, was great at explaining items on the menu (with his authentic Italian accent) and had some suggestions that were real winners. Drinks were refilled quickly and food was timed so that we were able to enjoy our appetizers without rushing to finish before our entrees came. The manager was also very inviting and helpful and seemed to genuinely care about every customer dining at Al Vento.
Overall Impression: This was my first visit to Al Vento and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. The food is wonderful, authentic Southern Italian, everything is made from scratch, and many ingredients are locally produced….. all for prices less than I expected for such a nice restaurant. The Tuesday Date Night special (3 course meal for $20/person) is a phenomenal way to try a variety and the Sunday Brunch sounds excellent as well.
Copyright Twin Cities Restaurant Blog
Content cannot be used without permission
Disclosure: I was invited out to do this review and my meal was provided by the restaurant. All opinions are my own.
Cuisine: American, Sushi, Seafood, Steaks, Pasta
Restaurant Features: Bar, Happy Hour
Locations: Mall of America, Edina (Galleria), St Louis Park (Shops at West End)
Addresses & Maps:
Mall of America- 368 South Avenue Bloomington, MN 55425 952.854.5000 (3rd Floor Across from Macy’s)
Edina-520 W. 70th Street Edina, MN 55435 952.697.6000
St Louis Park-1603 West End Blvd. St. Louis Park, MN 55416 952.933.6500
Hours: MOA- Lunch 11a-4p Dinner M-Sa 4p-10p Sun 4p-8p
Edina- Lunch 11a-4p Dinner M-Th 4-10p Fri-Sat 4-11p Sun 4-9p
St Louis Park- Lunch 11a-4p Dinner M-Th 4-10p Fri-Sat 4-11p Sun 4-9p
Links: Crave Website * Crave on Facebook * OpenTable Reservation
Atmosphere: The Mall of America location of Crave is on the 3rd floor of South Ave, across from Macy’s. The restaurant is large and spacious, with a large bar off to the left side near the entrance and a sushi bar centrally placed along the wall in the middle of the main dining room. Although the majority of seating is at tables throughout the dining room, there are also several high-backed booths that allow for more privacy. The lighting is dim and romantic, with mood lighting created by the illuminated art behind the sushi bar and the softly glowing candles at each table.
The kitchen is open along the back of the restaurant, with subtle views of the place where the chefs work their magic. The lighting from the kitchen also gives the nearby tables a soft glow.
Menu: The menu changes seasonally and features natural, organic and locally grown ingredients. All beef is certified beef.
Appetizers on the new Fall Menu at Crave include Calamari, Chicken Satay, Lemon Garlic Wings, Pita & Spreads, Seared Scallops, Baked Crab & Artichoke Dip, Pesto Shrimp, Mini Burgers, Gingered Beef Eggrolls, Artisan Bread Basket, and Edamame.
Salads offered include Asian Noodle Salad, Atlantic Salmon, Steak Niçoise, Starter Crave Salad, Starter Caesar, Starter Roasted Beet & Walnut. Soups include Hearty Tomato Pesto, Roasted Chicken & Wild Rice, and Leek & Potato.
Pizzas and Flatbreads at Crave are also quite popular. Flatbread choices are the Roasted Chicken (with pesto, sun dried tomato and portobella mushrooms), Grape & Apple (with Amablu cheese and honey), Thai Chicken (a peanut sauce with cilantro, Asian cabbage and marinated cucumber), and the Napoleon (with garlic prosciutto). Pizzas include Pepperoni or Sausage, Margarita, Shaved Ribeye and the Chipotle BBQ Chicken.
Sandwiches on the dinner menu include Steak Sandwich, Ahi Tuna Steak and Crave Burger.
Pasta selections at Crave include Seas Scallop & Shrimp Fettuccine, Fettuccine & Roasted Mushrooms, Shrimp Scampi Al Fresco, Roasted Chicken and Penne, Baked Truffle Macaroni, Baked Cheese Penne, Spaghetti Pomodoro, and Ravioli Bolognese. Crave offers the option of a half-order of any of their pastas.
Crave has a nice selection of dinner entrees as well, such as the Grilled Petite Tender, Grilled Ribeye, Crab Crusted Filet Mignon, Tuscan New York Strip, Brined Pork Tenderloin, Chicken Stir-Fry, Crispy Half Chicken, Mango & Prawns, Grilled Ahi Tuna, Pistachio Crusted Salmon, Minnesota Walleye, Miso Glazed Sea Bass
The sushi selection at Crave is also pretty extensive. Nigiri and Sashimi offerings include Crispy Rice Bars with Spicy Tuna, Scallops Poppers, Amaebi (sweet raw shrimp), Hamachi (yellowtail), Hirame (flounder), Hokki-Gai (surf clam), Maguro (red tuna), Mutsu (escolar), Sake (salmon), Suzuki (striped sea bass), Ebi (cooked shrimp), Unagi (cooked eel), Masago (smelt roe), Tako (octopus), Tobiko (flying fish roe), Wasabi Tobiko, and Seaweed Salad.
Maki Sushi offerings are the Tekka (tuna), Sake (salmon), Negihama (yellowtail and scallions), Unagi (cooked eel), Kappa (cucumber), Spicy Shrimp Cones, Chipotle Ocean Roll, Keilani;s Roll (shrimp tempuraavocado, wrapped with eel), Mexican Roll (yellowfin and escolar with avocado, cilantro, jalapeños and spicy mayo), Number Nine (crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll), Dragon Wraps, Rainbow, Caterpillar, Spider, Veggie Roll, Tempura Roll, Spicy Tuna, California, Minnesota(cooked smoked walleye), Dynamite, Spicy Salmon, Crunchy Roll and Fire Roll. There are alsoa couple of sushi combos like the Sushi Sampler, Sushi Lunch Combo and Sashimi Lunch Combo.
Crave also has a delicious selection of desserts that changes seasonally. The Fall desserts at Crave include Golden Raisin Bread Pudding, Key Lime Pie, Molten Chocolate Cake, Vanilla Bean Cheesecake, German Chocolate Cake, and Coconut White Cake. The dessert menu also includes a variety of after-dinner drinks such as the Girl Scout Cookie and Buttery Bailey’s, Ports and Dessert Wines, and hot cafe drinks.
Price guide: Appetizers $8-13 Salads $8-15 Pizza/Flatbreads $12-13 Pastas $14-24 Entrees $24-37 Nigiri/Sashimi $6-10/order Sushi Rolls $7-19/order
Happy Hour Specials:
What we ordered: My companion and I started with a couple of the Crave specialty cocktails, the Cranberry Smash and the Blueberry Lemonade. The Cranberry Smash was made with vodka, ginger ale, mint leaves and cranberry juice. The Opulent vodka revved up the drink but it wasn’t overly strong. The ginger ale gave it a pleasant sweetness that I wasn’t expecting, but the cranberries were tart enough to counter the sweetness. I loved that the cranberries were frozen into ice cubes and floated at the top. The Blueberry Lemonade was also very good and slightly sweeter than the Cranberry drink. Excellent blend of flavors.
The Pesto Shrimp appetizer came highly recommended by our server so we started with that. What a great start to a great night of food! The sauteed tiger shrimps were served
on little slices of crostini toast that had been topped with oven-dried tomato, and then the shrimp toast was covered with pistachio pesto. The shrimp was perfectly cooked so it was tender and complimented the crunch of the toast. The pesto sauce was creamy and rich, a perfect sauce to go with the shrimp.
The Panko-Crusted Scallops also sounded really good so we tried an order of those as well. These scallops may have been some of the best I have ever eaten! The scallops were large and coated with a layer of panko bread crumbs before being seared to a golden brown in the pan. They were cooked so that the meat was tender enough to melt in your mouth, yet the panko and seared edges gave it a nice crunch. The scallops were served with a dressy arrangement of picatta buerre blanc and fresh field greens. The butter and capers added the perfect touch of saltiness to compliment the sweetness of the scallop meat.
Sushi Chef Tony Lam brought us a special sampler platter that included a Mexican roll, ceviche, flying fish roe with quail egg wrapped in salmon, amaebi (sweet raw shrimp), crispy rice bars, prawn heads, and three different fish mixtures atop cucumber slices.
The Mexican roll (pictured top right in photo above) is Crave’s most popular roll and became my new
favorite after just one bite. This roll is the perfect marriage of
Mexican and Sushi, two of my most favorite foods. It had both yellow fin
tuna and escolar with avocado, cilantro, a slice of fresh jalapeño
and spicy mayo wrapped in rice and seaweed. It is then topped with a soy citrus sauce (ponzu), and
chili oil with fresh lime juice squeezed on top. It was so good! I
loved the spiciness of the jalapeño, and the lime and cilantro gave it a
fresh citrus twist. The tuna and the escolar inside the Mexican roll
were very tender and not at all fishy. Bravo!
The Crispy Rice Bars were also wonderful. The rice cake was like a thick chewy rice cracker and had a lot more flavor than ordinary sticky rice. It was topped with a heaping pile of spicy tuna mix, flying fish roe, and sliced jalapeno pepper. The combination of textures went together really well and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
The ceviche was one of my favorite items that Sushi Chef Tony Lam made for us to try. A very thin slice of potato was fried with tempura batter and then topped with sliced raw fish that was marinated with a citrus soy sauce, scallions and fresh chili peppers. It was packed with flavor and the tenderness of the fish paired with the texture of the tempura potato went perfectly together.
The sushi was so good we ordered even more of Sushi Master Tony’s creations. Clockwise From Lower Left: The Mexican Roll, Fire Roll, Number Nine, Dragon Wrap (top right), Hokki and Hamachi Sashimi, and Scallop Poppers (pictured in photo after the one below)
The Number Nine was filled with pieces of shrimp
tempura, spicy mayo, kaiware and yama gobo wrapped with salmon and
avocado and topped with a sweet soy based sauce. The Fire Roll was filled with pieces of shrimp tempura, cucumber, kaiware and yama gobo wrapped with
a spicy salmon mix and topped with chili oil. This one was nice and spicy, just the way I like it. The Dragon Wraps were also good. Instead of rice, this roll is made with an egg omelet wrapped around spicy tuna,
fresh water eel, avocado, fried green onions, crunchy flakes and miso
dressing. Served in two big rolls. The Scallop Poppers were also excellent. The scallops were baked in spicy dynamite sauce then wrapped in salmon and topped with crunchy panko flakes. Loved the combination of flavors and textures.
For my entree I ordered the Crab Crusted Filet MIgnon. This was outstanding! The filet was thick and cooked medium, as I requested. It had a creamy crab and cheese mixture with just the slightest hint of buttery breadcrumbs baked on top and served on a bed of lobster cream sauce. This absolutely melted in my mouth. The crab and cheese together created a rich flavor that went slendidly with the tender and juicy beef. Herb roasted new potatoes and buttery seasoned baby carrots were also served, both were very good.
My companion had the Miso Seabass. The perfectly-cooked Korean miso sea bass was served atop a bed of steamed white rice and adorned with baby bok choy and a crimson ponzu sauce. Asian pickled cucumbers sat layered atop the fish. This dish was delicious as well! The flavorful yet mild sea bass went really well with the sweet, fruity panzu sauce.
Despite being extremely full after enjoying all of this delicious food, we also tried a sushi dessert. What an extraordinary creation this was! The middle of the the roll had homemade vanilla-bean cheesecake and a slice of fresh mango then wrapped with a thin layer of rice and topped with a thin slice of strawberry. The roll was arranged atop a drizzling of chocolate and vanilla sauce. The cheesecake and rice were such a unique combo of flavors and textures and together it was like a thick, fruity, creamy and sweet rice pudding. So different and so, so good!
Service: We had exceptional service at our first visit to Crave. The hostesses were very friendly and our server, Dawn, was very knowledgeable about the menu and had some wonderful suggestions about appetizers, entrees and cocktails too. We ordered a lot of food and took our time but never felt rushed since food was paced perfectly. The restaurant wasn’t too busy (nor was the Mall in general) on this pre-holiday-shopping-season Tuesday evening and we were able to get great customer service and attention from everyone all the way up to the manager.
Overall Impression: The culinary and sushi creations were outstanding. I tried quite a variety of foods and loved every single thing. The Mexican Roll should win an award! There is quite a variety on the menu and the Happy Hour specials are a really good deal. Great place to have a casual yet elegant dinner and worth every penny for the fine ingredients. The service was exceptional. I can’t wait to go back again soon!
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