Cuisine: Cajun, Creole, Southern Style
Restaurant Features: Banquet Room, Bar, Catering, Dessert, Live Music, Patio, Sunday Brunch
Location: St Paul, MN
Address: 695 Grand Ave. St. Paul, MN 55105 651-222-7345
Hours: Mon-Wed 11am-12am Thur-Sat 11am-2am Sun 10a-10pm
Links:*Dixie’s on Grand Website * Dixie’s Facebook Page * Google Map
Atmosphere: Dixie’s is located in the same building as Saji-Ya. The dining room is toward the back of the space, with tables and booths located on two levels. A street-lamp type decoration bearing a “Bourbon Street” sign reminds you that Dixie’s is a Louisiana-inspired restaurant.
There is a big bar area in the front of Dixie’s, complete with a dance floor. This is a very popular place every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month when they have Salsa Dancing.
Dixie’s also has a patio area in the front of the building, and despite being attached to the parking lot, it is a great place to have food & drinks when the weather is nice.
Menu: Appetizers at Dixie’s include Beef Jerky, Coconut Fried Shrimp, Dixie Wings, Deep-Fried Avocado Fries, Blacken Shrimp or Chicken Quesadilla, Cornmeal Catfish Nuggets, Soul Fries (fries with cheddar, bleu cheese, bacon and ranch), Chicken Nachos, Baby Back Ribs, Baby St Louis Style Ribs, Spicy Sesame Green Beans, Carolina Crab Cakes, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Baked Mushrooms.
Soups and Chilis at Dixie’s are the Carolina Crab Soup, Cuban Black Bean Vegetarian Chili, Louisiana Gumbo, Chicken Chili and Pecos Red River Chili.
The few salad options include Caesar, Key Largo (smoked turkey, pecans, gorgonzola), Grilled or Fried Chicken Salad, and Coconut Chicken Salad.
Dixie’s sandwiches and burgers include Pulled BBQ Pork, Pulled BBQ Chicken, BBQ Beef Brisket, Cajun BBQ Chicken, Blackened Chicken Deluxe, Sesame Chicken Mushroom Melt, Portobello Mushroom, Catfish Club, Pot Roast Cheeseburger, Dixie Burger, Cajun Burger, Blackened Bleu Burger, and Black Bean Veggie Stacker. Po’ Boy sandwich options include Blackened Catfish, BBQ Pork Tenderloin, and Fried Gulf Shrimp. All sandwiches and burgers come with choice of potato or vegetable.
Dixie’s House Smoked Specialty items are the Baby Back Ribs, St Louis Style Ribs, Barbeque Chicken, Thick-Cut Pork Chops, Rib Combo and BBQ Sampler Platter.
Dinner Entree options are Country Fried Steak, New York Strip Steak, Kentucky Bourbon Pot Roast, Pecos Pork Tenderloin, Veggie Black Bean Cakes, Honey Pecan Chicken, Bourbon Chicken, Jambalaya, Carolina Crab Cakes, Coconut Fried Shrimp, Blackened Catfish, Bleu Grass Chicken Breast, Almond Grouper, and Seafood Potpie.
Desserts at Dixie’s include Key Lime Pie, Butterscotch Pecan Pie, Fudge Cake, and Traditional Bread Pudding.
Price guide: Appetizers $10-14 Soups $5/cup $7/bowl Sandwiches $11-15 Smoked Specialties $15-40 Entrees $14-25 Desserts $6-7
- 7 Days 3-6pm
- $3.50 Tap Beers
- $2.50 Dom. Bottles $3.50 Import Bottles
- Many 1/2 price Appetizers
Sunday Brunch:
- $19.95/ Adults $12.95/ Kids 5+
- 10am-1:30pm
- Bottomless Champagne Flute, Made-to-Order Omelets and Egg Benedict, Fresh Fruits, Salads, Hot Biscuits, Brunch Potatoes, Red Beans & Rice, Country Scrambled Eggs, Specialty Entrees and Homemade Desserts.
- Live Jazz Music (check calendar)
What we ordered: I started with a bowl of the Squash and Sausage Chowder, which I shared with one of my companions. I really had no idea what to expect when I ordered this, because I had never had anything like it before. It was delicious!! The consistency of the dish reminded me of sloppy joes, but replace the ground beef for the more flavorful ground sausage and replace the tomato with a sweet pureed squash. What a great combination of flavors and textures together; slightly sweet and slightly spicy. It had toasted croutons on top which added a satisfying crunch to the mix. This was a huge bowl of chowder….. my companion and I were both nearly full before the rest of our meals were brought out. What a sublime dish for Autumn!
Another companion started with a bowl of the Louisiana Gumbo. I tried this and thought is was very good. I know that authentic lousiana gumbo has many variations and since I haven’t had it before, I am not sure how this compares. It was a thick soup-like dish that had a hearty mix of shrimp, andouille sausage, and chicken. It was flavorful but not spicy, not sure which spices Dixie’s uses.
We were given a basket of biscuits, which literally disappeared in seconds. They were still warm!
I ordered the Catfish Club, which turned out to be a great choice! The large filet of catfish had been char-blackened and then layered with buttery-toasted bread, thick sliced crispy bacon, romaine lettuce, sliced tomato and mayo. Each ingredient brought something to the table in both texture and taste. I was happy that the catfish wasn’t at all fishy and was a thick enough cut that I could sink my teeth into it. This sandwich really hit the spot! It was served with a lightly battered french fry.
One of my companions ordered the Pork Tenderloin Po’ Boy. The tenderloin had been sliced thin so it was extremely tender, and blackened for that cajun flavor. It was coved with melted pepper jack cheese and barbeque sauce, lettuce and mayo. Very tasty!
Another companion had the Pecos Pork Tenderloin, which was well-seasoned and then char-broiled to give it a blackened texture and taste. It was served with two dipping sauces, one was spicy peanut and the other was a mustard bbq. Choice of potato or vegetable was offered and my companion chose the succotash, which was sauteed vegetables with corn (sorry, no photo)
Another companion tried to order the $39.95 Dixie’s BBQ Sampler but the server talked him out of it, saying it was too much food for one person. After contemplating the menu and hearing other suggestions, my companion ordered the Pot Roast Dinner instead. It was a large serving of pot roast that was covered with a Kentucky Bourbon sauce. This dish did not go over very well, my companion didn’t care for the sauce. The server offered a free dessert for the trouble. The BBQ Platter would have been a much better choice, even if it was too much food for one person!
My companion was given a free dessert to make up for the pot roast, and chose the Key Lime Pie. This was very good, but very sweet. It had a delicious, thick graham cracker crust and a lot of whipped cream.
Service: Our service at Dixie’s was decent, as far as spacing our courses, etc, but overall the service could have been a lot better. Sodas were refilled in the proper amount of time but the server forgot to put in a 2nd drink order from the bar, so we never received the cocktails we ordered with our meals. There were a few other items we asked for that the server forgot as well, not to mention she talked my companion out of ordering what they really wanted. At one point a large group that sat near us all stood up to leave after finishing their meal, but they continued to stand and talk for at least 5 minutes. This wouldn’t normally bother me but they were practically hovering over our table, which made it very uncomfortable for us, not to mention they were blocking a major walkway through the restaurant. I don’t know what Dixie’s could have done about that, other than gently asking them to stand somewhere else? I am hoping that service is better on a night that isn’t so busy.
Overall Impression: The service wasn’t that great but the food was very good. I would go back at a less busy time and try some other items on the menu. Dixie’s has a banquet room and also offers catering.
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Cuisine: American, Breakfast, Mexican
Restaurant Features: Catering, Free Wi-Fi
Location: St Paul (West Side)
Address: 637 South Smith Ave St Paul, MN 651-290-0218
Hours: Mon-Sat 7:00am-2:30pm Sunday 8:00am-2:oopm
Links: *Capital View Cafe Website * Google Map
Atmosphere: Capital View Cafe is located on Smith Ave, on the “West Side” of St Paul, just a hop-skip-and-jump away from the High Bridge that crosses the Mississippi into downtown St Paul. The interior of Capital View is the perfect picture of a retro cafe, with a mix of both booths and tables and an orange checkered floor in the back room.
Menu: The many breakfast items at Capital View Cafe include Eggs Any Style, Biscuits and Gravy, Grilled Fried Egg Sandwich with Cheese, Country Fried Steak, Huevos Ranchers, Eggs Benedict, Farmer’s Breakfast, Tex-Mex, Chporizo con Huevos, Breakfast Burritos, Machaca, Cajun Breakfast, and Cajun Benedict. Many of the Breakfast Specialties can be made into a 1/2 order, the server can tell you which.
Capital View Omelets include Chorizo with Cheddar, Vegetarian, Farmer’s, Fajita and Build-Your-Own.
Breakfast Favorites include Breakfast Quesadillas, Smoked Country Sausage, Chipotle Pork Chili and Eggs, Pork Chop and Eggs, Corned Beef Hash, Oatmeal with Brown Sugar, Buttermilk Pancakes, Chocolate Chip Pancakes, Blueberry Pancakes, Banana Pecan Pancakes, Cinnamon Swirl French Toast, Buttermilk Waffle, Pocket French Toast, French Toast Fritters, and Belgian Waffle.
Appetizers include Chips and Salsa, French Fries, Battered Onion Rings, and Cheese Nachos with Jalapenos.
Salad options at Capital View Cafe include Garden, Chef, Caesar, Taco, Chinese Chicken and Steak or Chicken Fajita Salad.
Sandwiches and Burgers are served with kettle chips or upgrade to fruit or fries for $1. Options include Patty Melt, B.L.T., Grilled Cheese, Grilled Ham and Cheese, Grilled Reuben, MOnte Cristo, Philly Steak Sadwich, Sirloin Steak Sandwich, Capital Hill Burger, Chicken Club, Grilled Chicken Breast, Cajun Style Chicken Breast, Chicken Strip Basket, Grilled Tuna Melt, Cold Sandwich, Mushroom and Swiss Burger, Cajun Burger and Plain Burger.
Mexican Specialties include Cheese and Onion Enchiladas, Chorizo with Cheese Enchiladas, Beef or Chicken Enchiladas, Chicken or Beef Tacos, Tostadas, Steak or Chicken Fajitas, Chipotle Red Pork Chili, Burrito Especial, and Chimichangas.
Price guide: Breakfast Specialties $6-10 Sandwiches $7-9 Mexican Lunch Specialties $ 7-10
Early Bird Specials: Mon-Fri 7am-9am
- $3.99 2 Eggs and Toast
- $4.99 2 Eggs, Potatoes and Toast or 2 Eggs, Meat and Toast
- $5.99 2 Eggs, 2 Cakes or French Toast, and Meat
- $6.99 2 Eggs, Meat, Potato, and Toast
What I ordered: I had never been to Capital View Cafe before but had heard great things about their breakfast, so I stopped one morning before work. The server had many recommendations off the Cafe’s Breakfast Specialties section of the menu, including the Chorizo con Huevos, Cajun Breakfast and Tex-Mex. They all sounded great but I settled on the Tex-Mex Breakfast (1/2 order) and a 1/2 order of the Pocket French Toast.The Tex Mex breakfast was a giant portion of shredded hashbrowns, scrambled eggs, and sausage, topped with a flour tortilla, enchilada sauce and melted cheddar cheese. This was very good! I couldn’t believe how big this 1/2 portion was, I was only able to eat a fraction of it! I could choose from breakfast sausage, chorizo or andouille and went with the server’s suggestion of andouille, which is well seasoned and slightly spicy. Great choice! The enchilada sauce was on the mild side and went great with all the layers of ingredients underneath it. A very hearty breakfast (for sure!) and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
The second breakfast item I got was a 1/2 order of the Pocket French Toast, which came highly recommended by my server. Oh my, was this delightful! The arrangement itself was very appealing, with fresh strawberries and blueberries topping the french toast, and little kisses of whipped cream here and there. It was also served with the cutest little dish of warm syrup. There were two pieces of the French Toast, each with a “pocket” inside filled with melted sweet cream cheese. The sweetness of the toast and berries and the satisfaction that came with every bite convinced me I was eating dessert for breakfast! I loved every bite I was able to eat.
Service: My server was excellent, very sweet and had the best suggestions for what to order. It was great that she let me know I could get a half-order of just about all breakfast items so that I was able to try two different things. The food came out in about 5 minutes which was much faster than I expected. One thing to note is that credit cards are only accepted for over $50, otherwise it is cash only.
Overall Impression: Breakfast served all day? That’s my type of place!! Capital View Cafe has a large selection of breakfast items and the portion sizes are enormous. I will be back soon to work my way through the breakfast menu!
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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.
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.
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Cuisine: American, Breakfast, Delicatessan, Healthy Eating, Ice Cream
Restaurant Features: Bar (beer & wine only), Catering, Counter Service (in addition to table service), Free Wi-Fi, Patio Dining
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Address: 3019 Minnehaha Ave So. Minneapolis, MN 55406 (Mosaic Building) 612-746-1504
Hours: Mon-Thurs 8am-9pm Fri-Sat 8am-10pm Sun 8am-7pm
Links: Glaciers Cafe Website * Glaciers Cafe * Google Map
Atmosphere: Glaciers Cafe is conveniently located on Minnehaha Ave at East Lake St in the beautiful Mosaic Building, just a couple of blocks from the Light-Rail Line. The inside of the cafe is somewhat small but modern and trendy with a variety of seating arrangements including wooden tables, an over-sized booth, and bar-height seating that looks outward along the wall of windows. There is also small counter where guests can order or pick up coffee, food or frozen custard to-go. The lighting at night is just right, not too dim and not too bright.
One thing that I think is really cool about Glaciers Cafe is that it is an eco-friendly restaurant. All fruits and vegetables are organic, they serve fair trade organic coffee, meats are vegetarian fed and antibiotic free, and all to-go items are served in biodegradable disposables. Save the Glaciers!
Menu: Breakfast is served all day and includes Fresh Fruit, Granola, Breakfast Burrito (eggs, meat, peppers, cheddar, salsa, and sour cream served with cumin dusted potatoes), Three Egg Omelet, Muffins and Scones.
Appetizers at Glaciers Cafe include Mini Burger Sliders, Buffalo or
Sesame Teriyaki Wings, Bruschetta, Mozzarella Sticks, House Salsa &
Chips, and French Fries. There is also Homemade Chili and a Soup du Jour served every day.
Salads are served with breadsticks and include Greek, Buffalo Chicken, Albacore Tuna, or Classic Caesar. Side green salad also available. Add chicken to any salad for $1.75.
Glaciers Cafe also makes Flat Bread Pizzas. Build your own starting with either the House Marinara or Roasted Garlic Olive Oil and then top with ingredients such as the standard pepperoni, sausage, or go with chicken, bacon, pepper mix, roasted veggies or kalamata olives. The “Glacier Goodie” Flatbread is the house specialty with BBQ Chicken, Caramelized Red Onions, Cheese Blend, Chiffonade Basil, and Applewood Smoked Bacon.
There are a handful of really delicious sandwiches and burgers at Glaciers Cafe, all made with lean, hormone-free meats. Sandwiches are served with pickle, and choice of kettle chips, roasted veggies or upgrade to french fries (trans fat free!) for just $.75 more. Options include Marinated Char Broiled Chicken on Ciabatta served either: California Style (cheddar avocado, lettuce, tomato, roasted garlic mayo), Buffalo Style (buffalo sauce, lettuce, tomato, caramelized red onions and bleu cheese dressing), or the Glacier House Chicken (melted cheddar, smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, caramelized red onions and roasted garlic mayo). Burgers are char grilled and served on a multigrain bun, either Buffalo style or the Glaciers House Burger (melted cheddar, smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, caramelized red onions and roasted garlic mayo).
Other sandwich options include All Beef Vienna Hot Dog (plain, Chicago-style, or chili-cheese), Turkey/BLT/Swiss, Roasted Vegetarian Wrap, Toasty Cheese (grilled cheese with cheddar, swiss and tomato), or the Mexi-Cali Burrito (jalapeno cheddar tortilla stuffed with beans, rice, cheeses, lettuce, tomato and avocado. Chicken additional. Served with choice of cumin dusted potatoes, roasted veggies or chips and salsa).
One of the best reasons to visit Glaciers Cafe is for the Frozen Custard. You will always find chocolate, vanilla, and a Flavor of the Day or you can create a custom flavor by adding “mix ins”. Frozen custard can be served in a cake cone or cup, or buy a quart or pint to-go. Other options include Malts, Shakes, Floats, Smoothies and Sundaes.
Mix in and topping options include Gummy Worms, Heath Bar, Marshmallow, M&Ms, Oreos, Reeses, Snickers, Sprinkles, Butterfinger, Chocolate Chips, Whoppers, Butterscotch, Caramel, Chocolate Sauce, Hot Fudge, Hard-Shell, Marshmallow Sauce, Peanut Butter, Blueberries, Bananas, Pineapple, Strawberries, Raspberries, Pineapple, Almonds, Chopped Peanuts, Coconut, Pecans and Spanish Peanuts.
Glaciers Cafe is also a great stop for coffee and espresso. Drinks include Dark & Light Roast Coffee, Latte, Cappuchino, Chai Tea, Iced Latte, Mocha or Caramel, and Coffee Coolers.
Price guide: Appetizers $2-6 Flatbread $9 Sandwiches/Burgers $6-8 Salads $7-8 Frozen Custard $2.75-4.75 Coffee Drinks $1.50-$3.50
What We Ordered: My companion and I started with an order of Buffalo Wings. The order came with eight very large chicken wings and a generous coating of Buffalo sauce. The sauce was thin and mildly spicy with just a hint of sweetness. The portion size is just right for two people if you plan to have a meal as well.
For my dinner I ordered the Glaciers House Chicken sandwich served on a ciabatta roll. Great choice! The main star of this huge layered sandwich was a large breast of chicken marinated in a blend of fresh herbs and spices, then char broiled. The meat was wonderful- very tender and flavorful. I enjoyed it even more knowing it was hormone and antibiotic free! The chicken sat atop lettuce and tomato and was then topped with melted cheddar, thick applewood smoked bacon, and caramelized red onions. The sweet, soft caramelized onions provided a sweetness that perfectly complimented the smokey flavor of the applewood bacon and the zesty herbs of the chicken. The roasted garlic mayo was delicious as well and added to the party of flavors. I upgraded to the trans-fat free fries for $.75 more (what a deal!). The golden fries were hot and crispy.
My companion ordered the Glaciers House Burger, the ground beef version of the chicken sandwich I had with melted cheddar, thick applewood smoked bacon, and caramelized red onions. The burger was served on a multi-grain bun. The patty was 1/3- 1/2 lb of lean, vegetarian-fed beef, that was still slightly juicy but not at all greasy. The toppings on the burger were enjoyed every bit as much as on the chicken, as were the fries.
Frozen Custard is a specialty of Glaciers Cafe, so I made sure to save room for a Turtle Sundae. This sundae was bigger than I expected, served parfait-style in a large glass. The sweet, creamy vanilla custard was layered with caramel, hot fudge and pecans then topped with whipped cream and a cherry. So heavenly! Have I mentioned that ice cream/frozen custard is probably my favorite dessert?!
My companion ordered the Banana Supreme Sundae, a parfait of frozen vanilla custard, chocolate sauce, slices of banana, and Spanish peanuts, then topped with whipped cream and a cherry. The custard is so creamy and smooth! Yummy.
Service: I had no problem whatsoever in finding a place to park during my dinner-time visit, but please note the only nearby parking is metered so bring your quarters! A sign greeted us at the door to ” Please Seat Yourself” and since the restaurant had only a few other diners at that time of the night, my companion and I chose the large, over-sized booth. Our server was very nice and admitted right away that she was a new employee, but she did great! Our drinks were filled in a timely manner and we were given plenty of time to look over the menu before ordering.
Overall Impression: Glaciers Cafe is a great place to stop at any time of the day, whether you want a coffee, an appetizer, salad, sandwich or the delicious frozen custard. The prices are extremely affordable for the portion sizes you get and the food is prepared with only quality ingredients. Quick and friendly service.
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Davanni’s Pizza ~ Arden Hills, Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Burnsville, Coon Rapids, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Rogers, Roseville, Savage, St Paul, Woodbury
Cuisine: Pizza, Delicatessen (hoagies)
Restaurant Features: Catering, Counter-Service, Delivery, Kids Menu, On-Site Parking (at many locations)
Locations: Arden Hills, Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Burnsville, Coon Rapids, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Rogers, Roseville, Savage, St Paul, Woodbury
Addresses: (Click here for Maps of Davanni’s Locations)
Arden Hills: 3673 Lexington Ave N Arden Hills, MN 55126 651-481-7100
Bloomington:
8605 Lyndale Ave S Bloomington, MN 55420 952-888-6232
Brooklyn Center:
5937 Summit Dr Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 763-566-8220
Burnsville: 14639 CR 11 Burnsville, MN 55337 952-431-1500
Coon Rapids: 3430 129th Ave NW Coon Rapids, MN 55448 763-712-1000
Eagan:
1960 Cliff Lake Rd Eagan, MN 55123 651-688-6111
Eden
Prairie: 8061 Flying Cloud Dr Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952-941-4444
Edina: 5124 Gus Young Ln Edina, MN 55436 952-920-9090
Golden Valley:
663 Winnetka Ave N Golden Valley, Mn 55427 763-398-0303
Minneapolis: 1242 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN 55403 612-338-0000
Minnetonka: 15200 Highway 7 Minnetonka, MN 55345 952-938-4243
Plymouth:
3015 Harbor Ln N Plymouth, MN 55447 763-550-0003
Richfield:
2312 W 66th St Richfield, MN 55423 612-866-3324
Rogers:
14165 James Road Rogers, Mn 55374 763-428-2990
Roseville, 1905 W Perimeter Dr Roseville, MN 55113 651-636-3411
Savage: 14125 Highway 13 Savage, MN 55378 952-440-1200
St Paul:
310 White Bear AveSt. Paul, MN 55106 651-738-6992
St Paul:
41 Cleveland Ave S St. Paul, MN 55105 651-690-4848
Uptown Mpls: 1414 W Lake St Minneapolis, MN 55408 612-822-3111
Woodbury: 1905 Donegal Dr Woodbury, MN 55125 651-739-1010
Links: Davanni’s Website
Atmosphere: The East St Paul Davanni’s location is just off I-94 and White Bear Ave. Like all other Davanni’s location, customers order at a counter and then wait for their name to be called when order is ready.
There are several different seating areas, each with booths that can accommodate up to four people. There are also a couple of tables in the very back section of the dining room. There are many windows throughout the restaurant, leaving it very well lit during the day.
Menu: Appetizers include Potato Chips, Breadsticks and Garlic Cheese Bread.
Salads at Davanni’s are the Garden Salad, Side Garden, Chicken Cobb, Italian Chef, Oriental Chicken, Southwestern Chicken, Spinach Chicken, Chicken Caesar, and Side Caesar.
Hoagie sandwiches are served on either white, whole grain, or ciabatta roll with lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo. Options include Southwestern Chicken, Chicken Bacon Honey Mustard, Chicken Breast, Turkey/Bacon/Cheddar, Turkey, BLT w/ Cheddar, Club, Roast Beef, Pastrami, Ham, Salami, Tuna Melt, Veggie, and Three Cheese. Hot subs made with meat, marinara and cheese only include Chicken Parmigiano, Meatball, Sausage, and Pizza.
Davanni’s Pizza can be ordered with a choice of three different crusts (thin, traditional and deep dish) and two sauces (red and white). Sizes pizzas come in are Solo, Medium and Laqrge. Toppings choices are Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, Sliced Chicken Breast, Canadian Bacon, Hamburger, Red Onion, Green Pepper, Garlic, Mushrooms, Hot Peppers, Green Olive, Black Olive, Pineapple, Bacon, Gorgonzola Cheese, Anchovies, Roma Tomatoes, Cheddar Cheese, and Jalapeños.
Davanni’s also has Penne Pasta (with chicken, meatballs or sausage), Lasagna and Stuffed Calzones.
Kids menu items include Hlaf Pasta, Solo Cheese Pizza, or Half Ham Hoagy.
Desserts include Brownies, Rice Crispy Treats, and Chocolate Chunk Cookies.
Price guide: Hoagies $3.25-7 Salads $4-7 Pizzas $5-20 Calzones $5.50+
What We ordered: My companions and I ordered a variety of pizzas, including this large Chicago-style deep dish pizza with pepperoni and sausage. Davanni’s deep dish is a treat for those who like real Chicago-style pizza and has been my one of family’s favorites for many years. The buttery brown crust is at least 1″ deep yet it is light. The lightness of the crust is deceiving because the pizza is actually very filling. The cheese and meats were baked directly on top of the crust with pizza sauce spread out on the very top to prevent the crust from getting soggy. The large pizza had 10-12 wedges.
Our party also ordered a Large Thin Crust Pepperoni Pizza. The crust on the thin crust pizza was also pretty good, crispy but slightly chewy. It was loaded with melted mozzarella and a fair amount of pepperoni (although I personally like more).
c and olive oil)
This is a solo deep dish pizza with pepperoni, mushrooms and “pink” sauce. Pink sauce simply means that it has both white sauce (garlic and olive oil) and red sauce. If you like garlic, you would love either the white or the pink sauce. This pizza was also very good, the mushrooms were fresh and there was a lot of pepperoni. The light and buttery deep dish crust practically melts in your mouth.
One of my companions ordered a half pizza hoagy on whole grain with a special request for the sauce to be served on side. This is a good sandwich but it doesn’t have much substance, just a thin layer of pepperoni and a thin layer of melted cheese on one half of the bread. You better order the whole sandwich if you’re hungry!
Another companion ordered a pepperoni and veggie calzone to-go. Safe to say that this thing was loaded with melted cheese, meat and veggies.
Service: You can call ahead for pick up or delicery, otherwise Davanni’s offers standard counter-service. There are typically 2-3 cashiers taking orders during the lunch and dinner rush but you can still expect to wait a few minutes before placing your order. It was fairly busy during my visit and it took about 30-40 minutes for our pizzas, which seems a reasonable amount of time for the deep dish pizzas to bake.
Overall Impression: Davanni’s has excellent deep dish pizza and is conveniently located in several places around the Twin Cities. Service is reasonably fast and menu prices aren’t going to break the bank.
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Cuisine: Mexican, Kids Menu
Restaurant Features: Banquet, Bar, Catering, Happy Hour Specials, On-Site Parking,
Location: Roseville, MN
Address: 1754 Lexington Ave North St Paul, MN, 55113 (651) 487-2847
Hours: Kitchen: 11a-Midnight Bar : 11a-2a
Links: Ol’ Mexico Website Google Map
Atmosphere: Located just off Hwy 36 in Roseville, Ol’ Mexico is easy to get to from either Mpls or St Paul. Ol’ Mexico has been open since 1979 and is an enchanting restaurant that is quite reminiscent of its namesake. The restaurant itself is quite large with many different seating areas, the center if which is a beautiful indoor courtyard complete with a fountain at its center.
In the areas surrounding the central courtyard there are two tiers of additional seating. The lower level has large round tables within semi-private alcoves that are perfect for parties of eight. The lighting is dim and romantic throughout the entire restaurant.
Ol’ Mexico also has a large open bar area with great Happy Hour drink specials and a taco bar every Friday. There is also Karaoke ever Thursday night from 9p-1a and nightly Buzztime Interactive Trivia. There are also several HD TVs that play local games and ALL NFL Football games, as well as Nascar races.
The Bar also has a Dining area with tables to seat around fifty or so. The lighting is just as dim as the rest of the restaurant but it just doesn’t have the same ambiance as the more formal dining room.
Menu: Appetizers at Ol’ Mexico include Nachos, Black Ben Nachos, Fresh Guacamole & Chips, Shrimp Cocktail, Mexi Wings, Chile Verde with Flour Crisps, Taquitos and Chile con Queso.
Salads offered are the Taco Salad, Tostada Salad, Grilled Chicken with Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette, Caesar, Santa Fe Chopped Salad, and Dinner Salad.
Ol’ Mexico has a “Eating Fit” menu as well that includes Spinach Salad (with chicken or salmon), Grilled Marinated Salmon with Steamed Asparagus, Grilled Chicken Breast with Steamed Vegetables, and Lettuce Burger Wrap.
Burgers and sandwiches at Ol’ Mexico are Cheeseburger, BBQ Bacon Cheddar Burger, Mexican Sandwich and Veggie Sandwich.
Entrees include Four Cheese Quesadilla, Steak or Chicken Fajita Quesadilla, Pocket Taco Enchilada Style, Pocket Taco Platter, Chimichangas (choice of ground beef, ground chicken, spicy seafood, shredded beef and bbq beef), Sizzling Fajita Platter, Southwestern Spicy Seafood Enchiladas, Diablo Shrimp tacos, Pollo Fundido, Grande Burro, Macho Burro, Fajita Burro, Bean & Veggie Burrito.
There are number of combination Mexican dinners and you can also create your own combo.
Grilled Entrees include 14 ox t-Bone Steak, Fresh Grilled Salmon with Mango Salsa, Fresh Grilled Tilapia covered in Jumbo Shrimp, Grilled steak, Chicken, Shrimp or Vegetable Skewers.
Desserts at Ol’ Mexico include Mexican Fried Ice Cream, Brownie Sundae, Fresh Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Caramel Lava Cake, Fresh Fruit Plate, and Fresh Strawberry and Banana with sweet cream, walnuts, raisins and coconut.
Kids Menu includes Chicken Strips, Chhese Melts, Taco, Mexi Dog and Hamburger.
Price guide: Appetizers $4-8 Salads $9-13 Sandwiches $10 Entrees $10-16 Grilled Entrees $15-17 Desserts $ 7-8 Kids Menu $5
What I ordered: My visit to Ol’ Mexico was during Happy Hour so I took advantage of the 2-for-1 special and ordered peach margaritas. These are so amazing!!! They are the best peach margaritas I have had anywhere. They use some sort of fruit syrup for all of their fruit margaritas (other choices include strawberry, raspberry, watermelon, wild berry, blue raspberry, pomegranate, banana, melon) and they are packed with tartness and flavor. The chips were also very good, warm and freshly fried to a crispy golden brown. I am not sure if my taste buds were off on this visit, but I did not care for the salsa as it tasted way too salty and not very spicy. The chips and the margaritas made up for the salsa though!
For dinner I made my own combo with a Chile Relleno, a Cheese Enchilada and Mexican Rice. This was a great choice! The Chile Relleno was stuffed with shredded beef and cheddar cheese then breaded and fried and baked with cheese on top. The beef was tender and was seasoned to give it a lot of flavor, especially when paired with the spice of the pepper. The enchilada was stuffed with cheddar and topped with enchilada sauce and even more melted cheese. Rice was decent.
My companion had the build your own combo as well, with ground beef hard corn taco and ground beef enchilada. The ground beef was only slightly seasoned and very boring, and had several pieces of onion mixed in with it. Would rather have had the shredded beef than the ground beef. The beans were good.
Service: My companion and I met at Ol’ Mexico around 3:30 on a snowy Tuesday afternoon and the happy hour crowd was only just beginning to arrive. We were seated in the bar area although had we been given the option, I would have preferred any of the tables in the courtyard or formal dining room. Our server was nice and was great about letting us know that the Happy Hour specials included 2-for-1s on all their drinks. Food came really fast.
Overall Impression: Ol’ Mexico is one of the few restaurants I ate at while growing up and it was always considered my family’s “favorite” Mexican restaurant in the 80′s and 90′s. In the past decade I have come to eat better Mexican food at other restaurants, but I still love the charm and atmosphere of Ol’ Mexico in Roseville. The fruity margaritas are so good and the 2-for-1 happy hour drink specials are a pretty good deal.
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Cuisine: Chinese, Mongolian
Restaurant Features: Catering, Lunch Buffet, Dinner Buffet, On-Site Parking. Take-Out
Locations: Woodbury, MN
Address: 8340 City Centre Dr (Woodbury City Centre) Woodbury, MN 55125 (651)730-8668
Hours: Lunch Mon-Sat 11am-3pm Dinner Mon-Thur 4p-9:30p Fri-Sun 4p-10p Sunday & Holiday Brunch 11:30a-3p
Links: Google Map Atlantic Buffet Website
Atmosphere: The Atlantic Buffet is located within a large strip mall called Woodbury City Centre. When you first walk inside the reception/lobby area, the Atlantic Buffet in Woodbury has a cute little mini-pond set up with Koi swimming around inside, and live plants arranged around it. The main dining room is arranged into at least two dining areas on half of the large space, the other half of the restaurant has all the Buffet Islands set up. The dining areas contain both tables and booths and have a contemporary feel.
Here is a glimpse of the Buffets Islands (I think there were 6-8 of them).
In the way back of the Buffet Islands there is an additional area set up for the Mongolian Stir-Fry. You can choose your own ingredients and then you have the chef ccok it for you on the Mongolian BBQ.
Menu: The items on the buffet change frequently, but there are over 100 items, including a decent selection of Chinese foods, Sushi, American foods, Seafood, and build-your-own Mongolian Stir-Fry. There is also a dessert and fruits table, and salad bar.
There is also a full Chinese Take-Out menu available.
Price guide:
- Lunch Buffet Kids 3-6 $4.25 Kids 7-11 $5.50 Adults $8.25
- Dinner Buffet Kids 3-6 $5.75 Kids 7-11 $7.25 Adults $12.50
What I ordered: There were many food items at Atlantic Buffet and I was determined to try a little of this and a little of that. Here is my Chinese/Sushi plate. The cheesy mushrooms were very good, as were the steamed dumplings and cream cheese wontons. The few bites I tried of the chicken & Broccoli stir-fry were okay, but I did not care for the other meat entree I tried (not sure what it was but the meat was stringy and chewy). The sushi was decent although there wasn’t a large variety to choose from, mostly California Rolls or Salmon/Avocado Rolls.
I made my own Mongolian stir-fry which was my most favorite dish at the Atlantic Buffet. I chose the ingredients I wanted at the Mongolian BBQ station (Beef, Broccoli, Pineapple, Onions and Noodles) and figured out my own combination of sauces (there was no guide to help!) which included cooking wine, teriyaki, garlic, chile peppers, and sesame seeds. I have found that the more sauce you put on, the better it tastes because the noodles and vegetables soak it right up.
I tried just a few items on my Seafood Plate, including tiny mussels (pretty good, not too chewy or rubbery) that were cooked in a fish sauce. The salmon was okay and I also tried a bite of Halibut.
For the sake of this review I also made a Dessert Plate. Nothing too exciting here but the rice krispie bar and almond cookies were good. They also have soft-serve ice cream.
Service: We were greeted upon entering and were shown to a table right away. Drinks were fast and continuous throughout our visit, as was the clearing of plates.
Overall Impression: Wide variety and selection of foods for the price. The Mongolian BBQ and Seafood Buffet offered the best choices, but I thought the quality of the the Chinese food was just mediocre.
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