Cuisine: Steak
Restaurant Features: Bar, Valet Parking
Location: Downtown Minneapolis
Address: 26 6th Street South, Minneapolis, MN -(612) 339-0909
Hours: Lunch Mon-Fri 11:30a-2:30p Dinner Sun-Sat 4:30-10pm
Links: Murray’s Website Google Map
Atmosphere: Opened in 1946, Murray’s is one of the oldest established Steakhouses in the Twin Cities area. Located in the Heart of Downtown on 6th St at Hennepin Ave, Murray’s is a big, open space that resembles an old ballroom. With the chandeliers, white table clothes and mirrored, curtained walls, I almost felt like I was at a wedding reception.
Murray’s has a Cocktail Lounge that is just to the right of the main entrance. The Cocktail Lounge has been a popular place to catch a drink while waiting for a fabulous steak meal for seven decades!
Bar Area ~ Murray’s Restaurant
Menu: Starters at Murray’s include Smoked Shrimp, Crab Cakes, Steak Tartar, Shrimp Cocktail, Calamari, Walleye and Wild Rice Spring Roll, Tuna Tartar, Lobster Tail Skewers, Escargot, Halibut Cheeks, Truffled Mushroom Canape, Broiled Oysters and Appetizer Sampler (crab cakes, shrimp, and spring rolls).
Salads include Caesar Salad, Gorgonzola Pear Salad, Crab and Mango Salad, The Wedge, Roasted Beet Salad and Cole Slaw.
Entrees include a variety of delicious steaks including the famous Silver Butter Knife Sirloin Steak ( 28 or 42 oz of aged beef), 14oz New York Strip, 14oz Peppercorn Strip, 10 oz Filet, 8 oz Sirloin, 20 oz Ribeye, 28 oz Bone-in Porterhouse, Tenderloin Medallions, Cedar Plank Salmon, Lobster Tail, King Crab Legs, Pork Chops, Chicken Saltimbocca, Beef Tenderloin Sandwich, Rack of Lamb and a Burger.
Price guide: Appetizers $9-37 Salads $5-15 Entrees $16-53 Butterknife Steak $94/$135
Weekly Specials:
- M-F 4:30-6pm Early Bird 3 Course Dinner $19.95
- Sun-Thurs 3 Course Dinner $29.95
- Friday Night Special Dinner for Two 20oz Beef Tenderloin $69.95
What we ordered: My companions and I started with this complimentary basket of bread. There were dinner rolls as well as seasoned parmesan toast. The toast was delicious, salty with just a subtle hint of parmesan cheese and butter. Warning! It is hard to resist this heaping basket of carb goodness.
Bread Basket ~ Murray’s Restaurant
We also had an order of Calamari that was served with a seasoned mayonnaise. The portion was decently sized for the price. We all agreed that it was good and cooked just right so that the texture of the calamari was cooked without being chewy, but the breading wasn’t quite crispy enough and easily fell apart. Although I liked it, I probably wouldn’t order this again.
Calamari ~ Murray’s Restaurant
There was no doubt I was going to order the Ribeye, my “usual” steak. One bite had me declaring this the best steak of my life! The ribeye was huge; 20 oz without the bone. I ordered it medium and it was cooked just the way I like it. I could tell that the quality of this steak was excellent, it was extremely tender and seemed to be completely gristle free. The fat was barely noticeable except for the delicious flavor it added. The aged beef had a robust flavor and was really well seasoned while also being served atop a small amount of au jus. Magnificent!! Worth every penny of the $42 price tag. It was served with choice of potato or salad. I had baked potato which was also very good.
Ribeye Steak ~ Murray’s Restaurant
One of my companions ordered the Porterhouse, a giant 28 oz bone-in steak containing the short loin and tenderloin, unquestionably the best part of the beef. This steak was also amazingly tender and juicy. Choice of potato was fries, which were fresh cut and lightly fried.
Porterhouse Steak ~ Murray’s Restaurant
French Fries ~ Murray’s Restaurant
Two of my companions shared the Silver Butter Knife Steak for Two, a giant 28 oz Strip Sirloin. One bite and you might just think this sirloin is tenderloin, it was so tender. I am not typically a fan of sirloin but I tried this steak and can attest that it is exceptionally tender and flavorful. With the Steak for Two, each person gets choice of salad or soup and choice of potato.
Silver Butterknife Steak ~ Murray’s Restaurant
Dinner Salad ~ Murray’s Restaurant
Service: We were lucky to get a table on a busy Thursday evening, after arriving at a late hour and not having a reservation. Our server was very professional and the rest of the wait staff was very efficient at clearing plates, refilling drinks, etc.
Overall Impression: I had high expectations for a Steakhouse that is commonly ranked in the Top 3 and I was not at all disappointed with our food or service. I was a little surprised that the decor didn’t see to have been updated in many decades, but if you want a good steak, you can’t go wrong with a steak at Murray’s. I highly recommend the Ribeye!
Cuisine: American, All-You-Can-Eat
Restaurant Features: Buffet, Stadium Seating
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Address: 1 Twins Way Minneapolis, MN 55403 (Target Field) 612-659-3964
Hours:
- Upon gates open until 1 hour following conclusion of game.
- Buffet available until 4th inning
- An ala-carte menu service (“5th to 9th Menu”) is available after 4th inning.
Links: Metropolitan Club Google Map
Atmosphere: The Metropolitan Club is located inside Target Field, on the Club Level in Right Field between Gates 34 and 29. To access the Metropolitan Club use the escalator or elevators located near Section 103 just inside Gate 29.
The inside of the Metropolitan Club is quite spacious with two-story windows overlooking the field on one side and downtown Mpls on the other. Very modern.
Here is a view of the field from the outdoor seating area at the Metropolitan Club. When looking at the field, you are in right field just behind the foul line.
Menu: The selections change every day and depend on whether it is an afternoon or evening game. There are four stations including the Salad Station, Hot Station, Grill/Rotisserie Station and the Butcher Block
The Grill/Rotisserie Station. Brunch selections usually include bacon, sausage, potatoes of some kind, eggs, veggie medley
Butcher Station and Hot Station. Butcher station usually has Prime Rib and the Hot Station usually has an International Dish.
Salad Action Station includes a variety of cheeses, cured meats and crustinis.
There is also a Dessert Station which I was very disappointed to learn is NOT INCLUDED in the $29/person price. The desserts looked wonderful though.
Price guide:
- Buffet style with themed cooking stations: $29/person + tax.
(alcoholic beverages available separately) - Full-service bar
*There is a $5/person table fee which will be applied each order for watching the game at a viewing table or drink rail location during the second seating.
- Desserts are not included in the price of the buffet and are sold a la carte.
What I ate: I started with a small salad and fruit plate. The salad was pre-made with smoked salmon and endive. Garnishments like croutons and sunflower seeds are served on the side. I also had a couple of fruits with yogurt sauce.
Next I tried a small selection of cheeses, toasted pita chips and the Prime Rib. The cheeses were good, I had a seasoned feta and a Monterey Jack with dill. I also liked the prime rib but I prefer it when it is sliced against the grain rather than with it, seems less tender. The horseradish was slightly creamy but still strong.
The breakfast line had the most variety and also my favorite item I ate, which was a croissant with grilled ham and a fried egg. Delicious! Other items I tried were the Potatoes O’Brien, Roasted Veggies and Panko-Crusted Turkey Tenderloin, all very good.
I also tried the Cioppino, which is a blend of many different types of seafood including mussels, shrimp, clams and some type of white fish simmered in a broth of tomato, wine, basil, thyme, and oregano. It was pretty good but not the best I have tried.
Service: There are two seating times, 1st seating: from gates-open to 15 minutes prior to game-time; 2nd seating: from game-time to end-of-game. Space and seating is limited and will be provided on a first-come/ first-served basis. Reservations strongly encouraged. To make a reservation request, call the Metropolitan Club reservation line 10 AM-4 PM, Monday-Friday & on weekend game-days at 612-659-3964. Have your season ticket account # available when making a reservation and indicate which seating you prefer (1st seating or 2nd seating). Dining tables can be reserved anytime within 2 weeks of each game.
Our service was very good. We had made advanced reservations and were able to sit outside during the game, eating the food at a leisurely pace until the end of the 4th inning. Drinks are not included but are served quickly.
Overall Impression: I enjoyed my lunch at the Metropolitan Club and thought the experience was a cool one, but I will probably only go back for a special occasion. I thought the price was a little high for the selection, especially considering that dessert is not included, however Metropolitan Club is a great place to watch the game (seats in the shade!)
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.
Cuisine: Pizza, American
Restaurant Features: Bar, Counter Service and Table Service
Locations: Downtown Minneapolis, Uptown Minneapolis, Seward & University, St Paul & Duluth, MN
Addresses & Maps:
Downtown Minneapolis- 119 North 4th Street Mpls, MN 55401 (612) 333-7359
Uptown Minneapolis- 3200 Lyndale Ave So. Mpls, MN 55408 (612) 827-5978
Minneapolis- 2200 E. Franklin Avenue Mpls, MN 55404 (612) 332-2535
St Paul- 1183 Selby Avenue St. Paul, MN 55104 (651) 288-0186
Duluth- 11 East Superior Street Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 727-7400
Hours: M-Th 11a-2:30a Fri 11a-3:30a Sat 10a-3:30a Sun 10a-2:30a
Links: Pizza Luce Website
Atmosphere: The downtown Mpls Pizza Luce location has two sides to the restaurant, on the right is the quick-serve line where guests can order pizza-by-the-slice. On the left is the dining room where guests sit down and order off the menu. The restaurant is decorated with a collection of hand-made art, including canvas paintings and glass pendant lamps. There is also a large full-service bar on the left side.
Menu: Appetizers at Pizza Luce include Artichoke Dip, Luce Chicken Wings, Veggie Nuggets, Focaccia Katerina, Garlic Cheese Toast, and Focaccia.
Salads offered are the Caesar, Greek, Garden, Spinach, Tuna Caliente, and the Lucky Luciano.
Hoagie sandwiches include Chicken Parmiagana, Mock Chicken Parmigiana, Meatball Parmigiana, Italian Sausage Parmiagana, and Mock Sausage Parmiagana. Other hoagies sandwiches include Pesto Turkey, Muffeleta, Mock Muffeleta, Italian Combo, Chicken Dijon, Mock Chicken Dijon, Ultimate Veggie, Beef Italiano, and Tuna Melt.
Pizzas come in 10″, 12″ or 16″. You can build your own or order any of the Specialty Pizzas which include The Classic, The Luce, Baked Potato Pizza, Maximus, Shrimp al Pesto, The Bear, Spanish Chicken, Ruby Rae and Pizza Lupe.
Pasta dishes include Spaghetti, Mostaccioli, Lasagna Abruzzi, and Roasted Vegetable Lasagna.
Pizza Luce also has a nice selection of desserts including Tiramisu, Carrot Cake, Cheese Cake, Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar, Rice Krispie Bar, Big Ole Brownie, and Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream.
Price guide: Salads $3-8 Hoagies $7 Pizzas $12-22 Pastas $6-9 Desserts $2-5
What We ordered: My companions and I started with the Garlic Cheese Toast and Artichoke Dip for appetizers. The cheese bread was really flavorful and baked to a golden brown, just the way I like it. The sauce was very garlicy, which I thought was great.
We also tried the Artichoke Dip, which came in a large ramekin with three loaves of warm focaccia on the side. The dip was primarily cream-cheese based with roasted garlic and some parmesan. The cream cheese flavor was quite strong. I could taste the artichoke but only mildly, as they were very finely chopped into the dip. The bread was thick and really flavorful on its own.
For our main entree we shared a medium sausage and shrimp pizza. Delicious! The crust was New York-style but slightly light and fluffy instead of chewy. The sauce was zesty and garlicy and paired wonderfully with the Italian sausage and shrimp. The pizza also had a ton of cheese on top and was overall very filling.
Service: Our server was really good and gave us some good suggestions about drinks and appetizers, and was very patient as we took our time looking over the menu.
pan style=”font-size: 15px;”>Overall Impression: Sitting down and ordering off the menu is where it is at when it comes to Pizza Luce! Great late-night spot or place to catch happy hour too. Pizza Luce also has a brunch menu on the wekends.
Cuisine: American
Restaurant Features: Bar, Banquet Room, Pull-Tabs, On-Site Parking, Patio
Locations: Roseville, Northeast Mpls, Downtown Mpls, MN
Addresses & Maps:
Northeast Mpls- 220 4th St NE Mpls, MN 55413 (612)789-7429
Downtown Mpls- 1111 Washington Ave Sp. Mpls, MN 55415 (612) 340-9738
Roseville- 2801 Snelling Ave No. Roseville, MN 55113 (651)379-1180
Link: Grumpy’s Website
Atmosphere: The Roseville location of Grumpy’s Bar & Grill is in a very large building that was first the home of K-Fan Restaurant and then served as Majors Sports Cafe until Grumpy’s took over the location early in 2008. Within the large space there is a large bar area with several bar-height tables placed around the centrally-located bar, an upstairs seating area, and an enclosed space for playing darts.
The Dining Room contains both booths and wooden tables, contemporary decor.
There is also a large Patio Area that can be accessed through the bar area.
Menu: Appetizers at Grumpy’s include Chicken Drummies, Chicken Tenders, Popcorn Chicken, Quesadilla Gordo, Potato Skins, Mozarella Sticks, Tepanyaki Beef Tidbits, Mac n Cheese, Mac N Cheese Bites, Beer Battered Onion Rings, Nachos El Grumpy, Lil’ Grumpy Burgers, Mini Corndogs, Tex Mex Queso Rolls, Sausage Pizza Dip, Gazillion Cheese Dip, Walleye Fingers, and Pepper Jack Spinach Dip.
Grumpy offers the following salads: Grumpy’s Chop, Ty Cobb, Aztec Chicken, Bleu Bayou, Greek, Caesar, and Chicken Spinach Flatbread. Soup choices include Chicken Wild Rice, Chili and a Soup du Jour.
Grumpy’s has the largest selection of potato choices I have seen including Grumpy Fries, Tater Tots, Wedge-Style, Shoe String, Criss-Cut Fries, Mashed, Baked and Hash Browns.
Sandwiches include Chicken Cordon Bleu, Buffalo Chicken, BBQ Chicken, Cajun Chicken, Hawaiian Chicken, Build Your Own Chicken Sandwich, BBQ Chicken Wrap, Honey Mustard Chicken Wrap, Chicken Salad, Southwestern Turkey, Walleye, Tuna Melt El Paso, Mock Duck BBQ, Grilled Cheese, Ham N Cheese, Hell on Whells, Grilled Reuben, Grumpy’s Rachel, Roast Beef or Chicken Philly, Hot Beef, B.L.T., French Dip, Clubhouse, Pork Tenderloin, BBQ Pork, The Cuban, and St Paul Style Coney Dogs. All sanwiches come with choice of potato.
All Burger Choices are a 1/2 lb of lean Black Angus and come with a choice of potato. Options include Southern Style “The Elvis” (beef patty topped with peanut butter and bacon), American Burger, Pepper Burger, Burgermeister, Chili Burger, Veggie Burger, Cream Cheese Burger, Patty Melt, The Wyoming, Juicy Lucy, and Build your Own Burger.
Pizzas are made with homemade dough and include choices such as the Straught Up Sausage, Attsa Cheeseburger, BBQ Chicken, Pepperoni, Northern Italian, Aloha This! and Build Your Own Pizza.
Entrees include Ribs, T-Bone Steak, Top Sirloin, Country Fried Chicken or Pork, Homemade Meatloaf, Pork Chops, Fish & Chips, Penne Diablo, Gnocchi, Manicotti, Chicken Penne Carbonara, Shrimp or Chicken Fettuccine, and Tater Tot Hotdish.
Desserts include S’Mores, Home Baked Apple Pie, Chocolate Cake, Carrot Cake, New York Cheesecake, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae.
Price guide: Appetizers $7-10 Sandwiches/Burgers $7-12 Entrees $10-16
What I ordered: I really couldn’t decide what I was in the mood for- I just knew I didn’t want to get a burger or sandwich which is usually what I get at a bar & grill. The server said the manicotti was good so I tried that. I would say it was decent, but nothing to write home about. The portion was HUGE, with several large tubes of pasta filled with a ricotta cheese mixture. It was very mild and I could only detect maybe a slight hint of garlic and oregano in the mixture, otherwise it was just plain old ricotta. The red sauce was tasty but there just wasn’t much of it, so I asked for a large side of it so I could adjust it to my liking. There was a lot of mozzarella baked on top. It was supposed to come with bread of some kind, but they forgot to bring it to me.
One of my companions had the Country Fried Chicken. The chicken was good, covered with gravy and served with a side of mashed potatoes, variety vegetables, and toast.
Another companion had the Quesadilla which comes stuffed with cheese and tomatoes and onions. My companion ordered it with black beans and peppers added (which was charged an additional $3). It was an excellent quesadilla but very expensive at $11.
Another Companion (who happened to be the Guest of Honor) originally ordered the Fish & Chips but it had been fried so long that it was hard as a rock. Since it was inedible it was sent back to the kitchen.
Instead of Fish & Chips my companion had the Tepanyaki Beef Teedbits at the suggestion of the server. These looked and smelled delicious
Two of the people in our group shared the Grumpy’s Nachos, which was a HUGE order of tri-colored chips piled with melted cheese, tomatoes, jalapenos, black olives, green onions and served with sour cream and salsa on the side.
Service: My party had a reservation (made 3 days in advance) for 15 people at 6pm on a Saturday night. At 6:10 when the entire party had been assembled, we were told that they could only accommodate us in the dining room for one hour and then we would have to leave so they could set up for another big party who had a reservation at 7:30pm. Say what?! My companion who had arranged the dinner in honor of a birthday celebration was very upset, as we all were. Apparently they had overlooked our reservation but could accommodate us all in the bar area with taller tables pushed together. We were fine with that, as we weren’t given much choice. Our server was nice but not overly friendly and was not very helpful with suggestions on the menu- she told us she only ever eats appetizers. It also took a considerable amount of time to bring little things when asked, although we did have a large party.
Overall Impression: I was not at all impressed with the food at Grumpy’s Roseville and the service was pretty bad. It is very unlikely I’d ever go back
Cuisine: American,
Restaurant Features: Banquet Room, Bar, Sports Bar, On-Site Parking
Locations: Burnsville, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, *Maplewood, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, New Brighton, Richfield, St. Paul, Woodbury
Addresses & Maps:
Burnsville- 1200 W. County Rd. 42 Burnsville, MN 55337 952-898-5050
Eden Prairie- 8010 Glen Lane Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952-942-3331
Maple Grove- 13521 80th Circle North Maple Grove, MN 55369 763-494-4515
Maplewood-1734 Adolphus St 651-487-5050
Minneapolis- 100 N. 6th St. Minneapolis, MN 55403 612-335-5050
Minnetonka- 641Plymouth Rd. Minnetonka, MN 55305 952-546-3333
New Brighton- 2397 Palmer Dr. New Brighton, MN 55112 651-639-0339
Richfield- 790 W. 66th Street Richfield, MN 55423 612-861-3333
St Paul- 2401 W. 7th St. St Paul, MN 55116 651-698-5050
Woodbury- 8418 Tamarack Village Woodbury, MN 55125 651-735-5050
Links: Champps in Maplewood Champps Corporate Website
Atmosphere: Known primarily as a Sports Bar/Restaurant, Champps in Maplewood has Neon Signs and Memorabilia adorning the Logos of our Minnesota Sports Teams throughout the building. The main dining area has a mix of round wooden tables and booths. The building is very large, with a banquet room on the lower level and two large parking lots on either side of the building .
The bar area has a number of tall tables in addition to seating around the bar. There is also an enclosed patio area with multiple windows that wraps around one side of the building.
Menu: Although Champps is a national chain, each restaurant is individually franchised and has control over their own menu. Here is a link to the Champps Corporate Menu. The menu that I am going to review is that of Champps in Maplewood, the site of my review.
Appetizers include Garlic Cheese Bread, Chicken Fingers, Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Santa Fe Eggrolls, Buffalo Wings, Asian Pot Stickers, Merlot-Grilled Sirloin, Quesadillas, Nachos, Potato Skins, Mozzarella Sticks, Onion Rings, Cheese Curds, and Waffle Fries.
Champps also has a large selections of salads including Southwestern Chicken Caesar, Caesar, Greek Chicken, Cobb, Buffalo Chicken, Oriental Chicken, Crispy Chicken Tender, Bleu Steak, Chopped, Taco Salad and Pasta Salad. Soups offered are French Onion Au Gratin, Chicken Noodle and Soup du Jour.
Sandwiches at Champps are served with choice of chips, potato salad, cole slaw or cottage cheese. Selections include the Mediterranean Tuna Melt, Mile High Turkey, Chicken Cyn, Gyro, Adobe Turkey, Muffaletta Hoagie, Buffalo Chicken, BBQ Pulled Prk, Spinach and Artichoke Chicken, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Champps Clubhouse, Hawaiian Chicken, 3-Cheese Chicken, Reuben/Rachel, Grilled Cheese, Cajun Chicken, French Dip, Walleye, Turkey Bacon Ranch, Buffalo Chicken Wrap, Ranch Chicken Wrap, Club Wrap, Southwestern Chicken Wrap, Philly Cheesesteak Wrap, and the Texas Fajita Wrap. There are also a large selection of Specialty Burgers.
Specialty Pizzas that are offered are Margherita, Spinach Artichoke and Pepperoni, and Meat Lovers. You can also build-your-own pizza.
Pasta Specialties are the Fettuccine Alfredo, Cajun Chicken Fettuccinne, Baked Mostacioli, Roasted Artichoke and Grilled Chicken Penne, Spaghetti and Meatballs, and Jambalaya.
Entrees include the BBQ Rib Platter, Lemon Pepper Walleye, Grilled Fajitas, Kung Pao Chicken, Fish & Chips, and Sirloin Steak.
Desserts include Cookie Espresso Sundae, Brownie Sundae, New York Cheesecake with Berries, Hot Fudge Sundae and Chocolate Cake.
Price guide: Appetizers $6-10 Salads $9-12 Sandwiches $7-9 Pastas $11-15 Entrees $12-19
What I ordered: I ordered the Taco Salad, which came in a fresh, crispy tortilla bowl. The bowl itself was on the small side, and was packed full of lettuce, seasoned ground beef, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, onions and fresh jalapeños, with sour cream and salsa on the side. It was so packed full of ingredients that there wasn't enough room for me to mix the salad, but I thought it was really good.
One of my companions ordered the sandwich/soup combo, a Grilled Cheese with potato salad and side Caesar salad that they happily substituted for the soup. The bread was thick and buttery, grilled to a nice golden brown. The salad was a generous portion for a side salad.
Another companion ordered sandwich/salad combo with Grilled Turkey, Potato Chips, and Garden Salad. The chips they serve are of the kettle variety; crunchy and salty.
Another companion ordered a BLT with Waffle Fries and Seasoned Sour Cream. The BLT isn't actually on the menu, but the restaurant was more than willing to accommodate the request since they had the necessary ingredients.
Service: My party arrived at the beginning of the lunch hour, immediately after the restaurant opened and we were seated promptly at our choice of table. The staff was friendly and more than willing to accommodate a couple of minor changes to the menu, such as substituting a side salad for soup in the sandwich/soup combo, and making a BLT which was not on the menu at all.
Overall Impression: Decent food with huge portions for the price. Service is prompt and friendly, great place to watch any of our local sports games.
