Cuisine: American, Steak, Fish
Restaurant Features: Bar, Banquet Room, On-Site Parking,
Location: Mahtomedi, MN
Address: 10 Old Wildwood Road Mahtomedi, MN 55115 651.777.4097
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 4pm-10pm
Links: Google Map
Atmosphere: The atmosphere at the Lakeside Club is one that is very laid-back. The restaurant has been family-owned and operated since 1946 and the emphasis is definitely on the food. There isn’t anything fancy about the small, wood-paneled dining room, and eating at the Lakeside does not require anything but casual attire. A small bar is a popular spot to have a beer and watch whatever game is playing on the TV behind the bar.
Menu: Appetizers at Lakeside Club include Chicken Wings, Cheese Curds,
Sandwiches include Steak Sandwich, Hamburger or Cheeseburger.
Steaks served at Lakeside Club include 12 or 16oz Prime Rib, 12 or 16oz Ribeye, New York Strip, Filet Mignon, and Sirloin. Other entrees include Porkchop, Grilled Chicken Breast, Shrimp or Walleye. All meals come with side salad and choice of potato or vegetable.
Price guide: Appetizers $7 Steaks $19-30
What we ordered: My companions and I started with the Chicken Wings. This order of wings came with eight wings that had a crispy, seasoned breading on them. They were great!
We also tried the Cheese Curds, a large serving of lightly breaded nuggets of hot cheddar cheese. These were really good; they had a crispy texture and weren’t too greasy.
After we ate our appetizers, our server brought out our dinner salads and a plate of warm rolls, which come with the entrees. The salads were served in a small bowl with ice berg lettuce, tomato and goldfish crackers. You can always expect bread of some kind at Lakeside, although it changes frequently. On this visit we were served brown dinner rolls that were hot and fresh.
I have eaten at the Lakeside countless times over the past decade and I always order the same thing; the 12oz Ribeye, with a medium temperature. My steak was phenomenal; it was cooked perfectly and was incredibly tender and juicy. It was only lightly seasoned with salt but the flavor of the aged meat was wonderful. I had the choice of potato and I ordered fries, which are the salty shoestring variety, similar to McDonald’s. Yum! Another of our companions also ordered the Ribeye and it was just as wonderful as mine.
Another companion ordered the 16 oz Prime Rib, which was a giant cut prepared medium rare. This cut was comparatively lean for the size, which was thickly cut. It was served with prepared horseradish and au jus with choice of fries.
One of my companions ordered the New York Strip, a lean and juicy cut that was just as tender as the ribeye. Also served with choice of potato and side salad.
Service: I have been going to the Lakeside for over a decade and have become somewhat of a regular over the years. Our server always remembers what we like to order, which I think is a nice touch. Sodas are refilled quickly by any available server and the team effort seems to be carried through to the running of dishes and requests, etc.
Overall Impression: The Lakeside Club is a long-time favorite casual place to go for a delicious steak.
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Cuisine: American, Pasta, Fish
Restaurant Features: Beer, Wine
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Address: 5607 Chicago Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55417 (612)825-6900
Hours: Sun-Thurs 5pm-9pm Fri-Sat 5pm-10pm
Links: First Course Website * First Course on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: First Course is a small but lovely restaurant snuggled between Mike’s Corner Store and Kowalskis Market on Chicago Ave at E 56th St. The restaurant isn’t very big but it sure is cute! The bar at the back is really the focal point of the restaurant.
Another part of the the dining room has just a handful of tables widely spaced apart and big, colorful stripes of color on the walls. There is also a small, basic patio area in the front of the building.
Menu: Tapas (small plates) at First Course include Honey Garlic Baby Back Ribs, Fried Green Olives Stuffed with Blue Cheese, Three Salami’s, Grilled Asparagus with Onion Straws, Calamari, Goat Cheese, First Course Shrimp, Warm Almond Manchego Cheese, and Beef Skewers.
Other Appetizers include Seared Ahi Tuna, Bruschetta, Mediterranean Mussels, Antipasti Platter, and a Pizza of the Day.
Salads offered at First Course include Caesar, Grilled Portabella and Asparagus, Mixed Green, and the Bistro Salad (with bacon, egg, tomato).
Sandwiches offered are the Croque Monsieur, Bison Blue Burger, Mini Burgers with Cheddar.
First Course Pasta selections include Penne Alfredo, Butternut Squash Ravioli, Linguine with Prosciutto, Lamb Ragu with Pappardelle, Gnocchi in Gorgonzola Cream, and Risotto.
Entrees at First Course include Cornmeal Crusted Tilapia, Halibut, Chicken Roulade, Bone-In Pork Chops, New York Strip, and Duck Breast.
Desserts include Flourless Chocolate Cake, Tres Leches Cake, Creme Brulee, German Chocolate Cake, and Ice Cream or Sorbet.
Price guide: Tapas $4-8 Apps $6-14 Pasta $14-18 Entrees $17-29
What we ordered: A large heaping plate of bread arrived shortly after we ordered drinks. Soft, crusty, and still warm.
There are many different Small Plates (Tapas) and since we had a very large party, we ordered several items. We tried the Calamari, which was excellent! It was breaded and fried, then served with some kind of smokey mayo. Seriously good calamari.
We also ordered the Manchego Cheese, which was baked until slightly crispy and golden, then served on baguette and topped with sliced almonds. The order came with four little slices slightly soaking in a mix of oil, vinegar, and sherry. These were pretty awesome, full of both flavor and texture.
We also ordered the ribs. I did not try these but they came highly recommended by one of the servers. They looked and smelled great. The menu describes them as “Honey garlic baby back pork ribs with soy, ginger & chili oil”.
Another tapa we tried was the Bleu Cheese Stuffed Fried Olives. Not being a fan of olives, I did not try these either but the others raved about them.
We also tried the Asparagus with Onion Straws. The asparagus was cooked with balsamic vinegar which sweetened it up slightly, then was topped with a pile of thin onion straws. I like asparagus quite a bit and this was good, but I think I enjoyed the onion straws the most :)
We ordered two large dishes of the Coconut Red Curry Mussels. OMG, these were wonderful!! The menu actually called these Mediterranean Mussels which I believe is a misnomer as they actually had more Asian influence than Mediterranean. No matter what you call them, these mussels were very tender and soaked in a bath of coconut milk with red curry. This is my favorite style of mussels and these ranked up there in my TCRB Editor’s Picks: Mussels (stay tuned for that post in the future!)
We also ordered the First Course Shrimp. These giant Tiger Shrimp were served in a hot butter with fresh herbs and spices, very similar to shrimp scampi. Excellent!
We also ordered Entrees. I wasn’t sure what to get, the menu had several items that sounded really good to me. I wanted to try something that noone else in our group was going to order, so I ended up getting the Papperdelle Pasta with Lamb Ragu. This was pretty good; it had big chunks of tomato, rosemary and several pieces of tender lamb meat on top of a bed of pappardelle pasta. It was topped with grated pecorino cheese and parsley. I liked this but it was almost too mild for my taste. I’d personally like a little spice to it.
One of my companions ordered the Alaskan Halibut, which came with a roasted red pepper vinaigrette puree and fingerling potatoes.
Another companion ordered the New York Strip, a nice 16 oz cut cooked a perfect medium rare. It was well seasoned, served with fingerling potatoes and red onions over a red wine jus.
One of my companions ordered the Butternut Squash Ravioli in Gorgonzola Cream Sauce. I nearly ordered this myself because it sounded so intriguing. I was lucky to try a bit of this and I thought it was very good. The ravioli were handmade little pockets stuffed with sweet butternut squash that contrasted the sharpness of the gorgonzola and brandy cream sauce. It was garnished with cooked carrot, pepper and swiss chard.
One of the specials of the evening was a King Ivory Salom with fresh salsa. I didn’t try this but it looked wonderful. There were two filets of the light colored salmon, covered with fresh salsa made with corn, tomatillo and radish.
Another companion ordered the Chicken Roulade. This dish had little chicken roll-ups with gorgonzola in a salty shallot sauce. It was topped with julienne veggies.
Two of my companions split the Risotto with Shrimp; pictured here is half the order. The risotto was creamy and the shrimp was well seasoned and tender.
One of my companions was celebrating a birthday and received this complimentary Tres Leches Cake. The piece was large enough to share with several and was very tasty. It was moist as it should be but one of the best features of this dessert was the passion fruit lime syrup drizzled on the plate. The tartness curbed the sweetness of the cake and really made this dessert stand out.
Service: We had excellent service at First Course. We had advance reservations for a large party on a Saturday night and a server almost all to ourselves. Wine was poured with frequency and the tapas and entrees were brought out in waves.
Overall Impression: First Course is a fabulous little restaurant in South Minneapolis with great food and a relaxed atmosphere. The prices are very reasonable for chef crafted dishes and the service is very good; First Course is a great place to visit for many different occasions. Beer and Wine only.
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Cuisine: Caribbean, Creole, South American, Spanish, Fish, Seafood
Restaurant Features: Bar, Happy Hour, Nightclub
Location: Northeast Minneapolis, MN
Address: 501 East Hennepin Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55414 (612) 331-3360
Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-2am Sat-Sun 4:30pm- 2am
Links: Conga Latin Bistro Website * Conga on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: Conga Latin Bistro is located in Northeast Minneapolis, at Hennepin and Central Ave. The dining room takes up about half the space, with a colorful mural of conga drums gracing the back wall and two large, floor-to-ceiling wooden conga drums at the entrance. There are mostly tables but there a couple of round booths along the outer wall that can accommodate up to six people. It was very comfortable and had a very clean feel to it.
The bar and dance floor area take up at least half of the space, a very popular place on weekend nights when it turns into a nightclub.
Menu: Appetizers at Conga Latin Bistro include Empanadas, Chicken Croquettes, Calamares a La Romana, Seafood Ceviche, Plantain and Shrimp in Garlic Sauce, Grilled Shrimp and Avocado Plaintain Tapas, Green Plantain Tapas, Chicken Wings, Habanero Chicken Wings, Fried Chicken, Chicken Tenders, Sweet Plantains with Queso Fresco, Yuca xon Mojo, Burrito Cubano, Tacos, Nachos and Cheese Platter, and French Fries in Garlic Butter.
Soups offered include Black Bean, Asopao de Mariscos, Asopao de Pollo, and Soup of the Day.
Salads offered are the House, Cesar, and Avocado Mango Salad.
Rice dishes at Conga Latin Bistro include Arroz con Pollo, Arroz con Camarones, Arroz con Vegetales, and Arroz con Mariscos.
Entrees include Jamaican Chicken, Pollo Al Ajillo, Pollo Isabel, Bistec Encebollado, Chicken Parmesan, Pork Tenderloin with Mofongo, Filet Mignon, Ropa Vieja, and Pernil (roast pork).
Seafood entrees include Tilapia in Curry and Coconut Sauce, Shrimp in Garlic Sauce, Spicy Shrimp Creole, Shrimp Victoria, Halibut in Garlic Sauce and Broiled Salmon in Brandy.
Specialty Dishes at Conga Latin Bistro include Churrasco Argentino, Parrillada Argentina, New York Steak with Shrimp in Garlic Sauce, Steak and Scallops, Halibut a la Mar, Seafood Stew, Paella Valenciana, Paella Marinera.
Desserts include Flan, Tres Leches Cake, and Rice Pudding.
Price guide: Appetizers $5-12 Entrees $10-20 Paella $40-50 Desserts $4-5
Happy Hour:
- Mon-Fri 5-7pm
What we ordered: I visited on one of the hottest days we’ve had this summer and nothing sounded better than an icy, frozen drink so I ordered a Pina Colada (2 for 1 during Happy Hour). It was refreshing and tasted like a non-alcoholic pina colada. Seriously, I don’t think it had any rum, which was a shame.
One of my companions ordered a Mango Pineapple Margarita. This drink was sweet and slightly tart, not too strong.
We started with the Ceviche appetizer. This was a nice mix of chunks of shrimp, fish, clams marinated in lime juice then tossed with tomatoes, onions, peppers, and cilantro. Light, refreshing and tangy, a perfect appetizer for a hot day. Served with a side of tortilla chips that may have been Tostitos.
We also ordered the Habanero Chicken Wings. There were six giant, breaded wings that were tossed in a spicy habanero sauce. These wings were not saturated with sauce like buffalo wings often are, which is probably a good thing because they were much spicier! Great if you like a lot of heat, if not, they were served with a side of ranch dressing to help cool them down. The order was also served with a basket of french fries.
My companions and I ordered all of our entrees to share. One of the entrees we ordered was the Shrimp Victoria. This was a delicious, but interesting dish consisting of 7-8 peeled shrimp swimming in a creamy sour cream and wine sauce with thinly sliced mushrooms. It was served with white rice.
Another dish we ordered was the Pork Tenderloin with Mofongo, which came highly recommended by our server. The center of this dish was the Mofongo, made of fried, crushed plantains with olive oil and garlic. The pork tenderloin was cut into eight bite-sized pieces, then seared and served in a dark wine sauce with sauteed onions.
The last entree we tried was the Arroz con Mariscos. The dish of rice was seasoned with Saffron, then tossed with bots of rice, peas, olives and onions. The rice was tossed with small pieces of Mussels, Shrimp, Halibut, Clams, Crab and Calamari, which were all overcooked. We all liked the flavor of the rice but wish the seafood would’ve been tender as it should be.
Service: We had no problem getting a parking space on the street outside the restaurant on a very hot weekday afternoon, nor did we have any problem getting a table. In fact, we were a few of the only customers at the time we arrived and had our pick. Our server was nice, but spoke with a strong accent and had a few problems communicating with us. Our food and drinks were taken care of in a reasonable amount of time.
Overall Impression: We had a decent experience at Conga Latin Bistro. The food we tried was good, and while I wouldn’t say it was great, I would definitely get the ceviche again.
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Cuisine: Fish & Seafood, Steaks
Restaurant Features: Bar, Banquet, Valet Parking
Location: Downtown Minneapolis, MN
Address: 801 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN 55402 612-692-9000
Hours: M-F 11am-2:30pm M-Th 5-10pm Fri-Sat 5-11pm Sun 5-9pm
Links: The Capital Grille’s Website * The Capital Grille on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: The Minneapolis location of The Capital Grille is located down town in the Hennepin Theater District, with the main entrance on Hennepin Ave and an additional entrance from inside La Salle Plaza. The main dining room is big with several booths arranged around the room to maximize both space and privacy. There are also a couple fo smaller private dining rooms.
There is a bar area just inside the entrance from Hennepin.
Menu: Appetizers at The Capital Grille include Wagyu Beef Carpaccio, Cold Shellfish Platter, Lobster and Crab Cakes, Pan Fried Calamari with Hot Cherry Peppers, Smoked Salmon, Shrimp Cocktail, Fresh Oysters on the Half Shell, and Prosciutto Wrapped Mozzarella with Vine Ripe Tomatoes.
Soups offered are the Clam Chowder, Lobster Bisque, and French Onion.
Salads offered include Fresh Mozzarella with Tomato and Basil, Chopped Salad, The Wedge, Caesar, Spinach with Warm Bacon dressing, and Field Greens with Tomatoes.
Chef’s Selections include Seared Tenderloin with Butter Poached Lobster, Cedar Planked Salmon with Tomato Fennel Relish, Bone-In Kona Crusted Sirloin with Caramelized Shallot Butter, Porcini Rubbed Delmonico with 12-Year Aged Balsamic, Sliced Filet Mignon with Cippolini Onions and Wild Mushrooms.
Other Entrees at The Capital Grille include Filet Oscar, Dry Aged Sirloin, Dry Aged Porterhouse, Dry Aged Steak Au Poivre with a Courvoisier Cream Sauce, Filet Mignon, Delmonico Steak, Double Cut Lamb Rib Chops, and Roasted Chicken.
Seafood items include Broiled Fresh Lobster, Grilled Swordfish with Lemon Shallot Relish, Seared Citrus Glazed Salmon, Lobster and Crab Stuffed Shrimp, and Sushi-Grade Sesame Seared Tuna with Gingered Rice.
Side Items include Vidalia Onion Rings, Parmesan Truffle Fries, Lobster Mac ‘N’ Cheese, Au Gratin Potatoes, Fresh Asparagus with Hollandaise, Fresh Creamed Spinach, Roasted Seasonal Mushrooms, Sam’s Mashed Potatoes, Sauteed Spinach, and Fresh Green Beans with Roasted Tomatoes and Fennel.
Desserts include Trio of Handmade Ice Creams, Cheesecake with Fresh Seasonal Berries, Fresh Berries in Vanilla Ice Cream, Fresh Strawberries Capital Grille, Coconut Cream Pie, Flourless Chocolate Espresso Cake, Chocolate Hazelnut Cake, and Classic Creme Brulee.
What we ordered: (Disclosure: My visit was part of a pre-arranged five course dinner held to kick-off this summer’s The Generous Pour Wine Event. I will only be writing about the items I tried that are permanent features on The Capital Grille’s dinner menu.)
I started with samples of two appetizers. Pictured below on the left is the Pan Fried Calamari with Hot Cherry Peppers. I really love calamari when it is cooked right and this calamari was cooked perfectly so that it was tender without a hint of chewiness. It was lightly breaded and slightly crispy. I have been loving the combo of fried calamari with peppers lately and The Capital Grille’s version really hit the spot. The other appetizer that was paired with the calamari was the Prosciutto Wrapped Mozzarella with Vine Ripe Tomatoes. One look at this treat had my mouth watering and it smelled amazing. The prosciutto was thickly sliced, slightly smokey and perfectly crispy. Similar to bacon but even better! The melted mozzarella was creamy, a perfect contrast to the crisp prosciutto. Could I eat nothing but this every day for the rest of my life and call it a low-carb diet? Sounds like a great idea to me!
Just before the main course we were brought a basket of different breads. They all looked great but I didn’t want to ruin my appetite.
For the entree, I chose the Kona-Crusted Sirloin with shallot butter. This steak had exceptional flavor, having been dry aged and cut on-site, extremely tender with just a trace of marbling throughout the meat. It was broiled at a high heat to give it the prefect amount of char while still between a medium and medium rare temperature, as I requested. The shallot butter melted on top just emphasized its natural juices and flavors. Everything about it was excellent.
My companion has the Cedar Planked Salmon with Tomato Fennel Relish. This looked amazing! The salmon filet was thick and cooked al dente toward the center, as it should be. It was seasoned with fennel seed and then covered with a relish made from shallots and tomatoes. I tried just a bite of this and thought it was great.
We were served two different side dishes with our entrees, including the Lobster Mac ‘N’ Cheese. This delicious, rich and creamy dish was made with Marscapone, Havarti and Grana Padano cream sauce. I can’t recall having a macaroni and cheese with this exact combo of cheeses, but the flavors were pleasant while being somewhat strong. There were a handful of large pieces of lobster claw meat in the dish, which was then covered with white cheddar and Panko bread crumbs.
Another side dish we were served with our entrees was the Sauteed Spinach.
For the dessert course I chose the Strawberries Capital Grille. This dish consists of handmade vanilla ice cream that is topped with fresh strawberries and a special sauce made with Ruby Port and Grand Marnier. My first impression of this rich and creamy dessert was that it tasted like marshmallow but the strawberries brought a nice mix of both sweet and tart.
Service: I had great service at The Capital Grille, which can only be expected since I was their guest for this special dinner.
Overall Impression: The Capital Grille may be a chain restaurant, but it is one of the finest chain restaurants in the Minneapolis area. You can always count on a delicious, high-quality meal at The Capital Grille. One of the best deals around is their Generous Pour Wine Event currently running through Sept. 4, 2011, where patrons can get unlimited glasses of wine with dinner for only $25/person.
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Cuisine: American, Fish & Seafood, Steaks
Restaurant Features: Bar, Patio, Sunday Brunch Menu
Locations: Edina & St Paul, MN
Addresses & Maps:
Edina- 5034 France Ave South Edina, MN 55410 (952) 929-3764
St Paul- 917 Grand Ave St Paul, MN 55105 (651) 917-2345
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am-10pm Fri-Sat 11am-12am Sun 10am-10pm
Links: Salut Website * Salut on Facebook
Atmosphere: Salut Bar Americain St Paul is located in the heart of Grand Ave, between Lexington and Victoria St. The inside of the restaurant is a big open space, with booths along the back wall and tables placed throughout the rest of the dining room so that each table had plenty of space. The lighting in the dining room is very soft and the walls are painted warm colors, giving it a cozy feel. The black and white checked tablecloths and the tables themselves are reminiscent of many cafes in France, helping to set the mood as a swanky French-inspired American restaurant. One thing that stood out that night was that it was uncomfortably warm inside the restaurant. I am not sure if there was a problem with their cooling system on this particular night or if it is always like that in the summer, but we honestly left as soon as our meal was done because we were all feeling too warm.
There is also a Bar, which is illuminated in a similar fashion as Chino Latino and Il Gatto, two of Parasole’s other restaurants that I have been to.
You can’t miss the patio, as you have to walk through it to get inside the restaurant
Menu: Salut’s Hor’sD’oeuvres include French Onion Soup, Soud du Jour, Ricotta Hushpuppies, Tenderloin Carpaccio, Five Spice Seared Tuna, Baked Brie, Pommes Frites, Crispy Calamari, Escargot Bourguignon, Truffled Deviled Eggs, Artichoke Pizza, Pizza Espagnole, Moules Cafe De Paris, Blue Crab Cake, and Charcutiere Et Fromage.
Raw Bar items include Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Le Grande France Platter (oysters, crab, shrimp, lobster, mussels and tuna tartare), Oysters Moscow, and Fresh Oysters.
Salad offerings are the A La Greque, Baby Beet, Salade de Canard, Salut Bleu, Caesar, Grilled Ahi Tuna Nicoise, Chicken Cobb and Seafood Louie.
Items offered only on the lunch menu include Chicken and Artichoke Crepes, Crepes Madame, Seafood Crepes, Eggs Benedict, French Country Omelette, and Smoked Salmon Omelette.
Sandwiches are served with either hand-cut fries or side salad. Choices include Le Pesto Burger, Cheeseburger Royale, French Onion Soup Burger, Burger Bar Americain, Steak Sandwich, Grilled Tuna Steak Sandwich, Knife and Fork Chicken Club, and Croque Madame.
Steak options at Salut include Steak Classique, Steak Au Poivre, Hanger Steak, and Petite Filet.
Fish dishes are made with fish flown-in daily. Options include Scottish Salmon, Pacific Ahi Tuna, Jumbo Shrimp, Grilled Rum Shrimp and Crispy Walnut Salmon.
Other Entrees include Pepita Poulet, Herb Roasted Half Chicken, Duck a l’orange, Braised Lamb Shank, and Cassoulet (traditional French stew).
Pasta dishes that are offered at Salut include Bolognaise, Smoked Chicken Fettuccine, Butternut Squash Tortellaci, Carbonara Milanese, and Champagne Shrimp Fettuccine.
Price guide: Appetizers $6-15 Salads $8-17 Sandwiches $11-15 Steaks $23-29 Fish $24-28 Pastas $16-18
Happy Hour:
- 3 – 6 pm daily
- Late Night: 10 pm – 12 midnight, Friday and Saturday
- $4 tap beers, well drinks and house wine
- $3 small plates
- $1.95 Oysters
Weekly Specials:
- Monday: Poulet Morrocain $17.95
- Tuesday: Shrimp Arrabiata $17.95
- Wednesday: Zee Walleye Feesh N Chips $19.95
- Thursday: Short Ribs $22.95
- Friday: Bouillabaise Seafood Stew $29.95
- Saturday: Cote de Boeuf Prime Rib $29.95
- Sunday: Steak Dianne $19.95
What we ordered: I started with a House Margarita, which was decent but only slightly tart and not overly strong.
My companions and I started with a couple of starters, such as the Pomme Frites. These were skinny-cut fries that had a justa hint of a batter on them which made them extra crispy. The order was served with a boat of homemade bearnaise sauce.
We also shared an order of the Moules Cafe de Paris. This was a big order of mussels steamed and then served in a broth of butter and wine with a sprinkling of green onions for garnish. The mussels were cooked perfectly so they were tender rather than chewy and the broth was very light. I enjoyed the mussels but would’ve like them even more in a sauce that had more flavor.
Before our meals were brought out we were served warm baguettes with whipped sea-salt butter. Simple but delicious.
Like usual I debated about what I was going to order, afraid of getting something boring. I ended up with the Steak Sandwich and ince I got to choose my side, I went with the Cream of Potato Soup. I was very happy with my choice, as the beef tenderloin was very tender and perfectly flavored with caramelized onion and melted gruyere cheese, served on a ciabatta bun. As per my usual when ordering steak, I requested freshly grated horseradish on the side. The cream of potato soup was also delicious.
A couple of my companions each ordered the Fork & Knife Chicken Club. You can see from the photo exactly why a fork and knife are needed for this beast of a sandwich; a giant grilled chicken breast atop a ciabatta bun with romaine then topped with thick-cut bacon and half an avocado. Side salad was chosen for the side item.
One of my companions ordered the Chicken Cobb Salad, which was packed with chopped chicken breast, bacon, avocado, hard boiled eggs, tomato, roasted beets, and bleu cheese crumbles.
Another companion ordered the Croque Madame, a fabulous spin on the traditional Croque Monsieur. Like the classic Croque Monsieur, this sandwich is open-faced with toasted ham and gruyere but then is topped with a fried egg. This is one item that would be great to eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Mixed baby greens salad was choice of side.
The last of us ordered the Seafood Louie Salad. This salad consisted of a bed of greens, then topped with grilled salmon, shrimp and blue crab. Tossed with tomatoes, cucumbers, scallions and Louie Dressing (mayo, lemon, chili, worcestershire). Served with toast.
Service: We had decent service at Salut. We had a reservation for a group of six and our table was ready for us when we all arrived on a somewhat busy Friday night. We did not see our server immediately and when we did she was busy getting our drink orders and didn’t tell us about the daily specials until just before we ordered our meals. Luckily there was a sign near our table that featured the daily specials so we could have time to decide what to order. Our food came out reasonably fast, appetizers followed by the entrees about 15 minutes later. One thing I thought was really nice is that the server wrote us all separate tickets, eliminating the need to split everything up ourselves at the end of the night. I always appreciate that when out with a big group!
Overall Impression: For the most part, I enjoyed my visit to Salut. I thought the food and service were good and the atmosphere was nice despite how warm it was.
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Cuisine: American, Fish & Seafood
Restaurant Features: Bar, On-Site Parking
Location: Stillwater, MN
Address: 145 New England Place Stillwater, MN 55082 651-342-1472
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-9pm Fri-Sat 11am-10pm
Links: Patriot’s Tavern Website * Patriots Tavern on Facebook
Atmosphere: Patriot’s Tavern is a colonial New England restaurant located in Liberty Village, at the southeast corner of Hwy 12 and Hwy 15 (Manning). Liberty Village is certainly a throwback to the colonial days; I felt like I was on the set of a movie! Patriot’s Tavern is located in a building that looks like a colonial manor, the neighboring buildings all have a similar motif.
Inside the restaurant there is a mix of tables and booths, some colonial artifacts hanging on the walls. While it didn’t remind me of any old taverns that I have been to in Boston, Patriot’s Tavern is a clean and cozy little place .
The bar is located just inside the main entrance, with some seating at the bar as well as a few tables.
Menu: Appetizers at Patriot’s Tavern include White Cheddar and Onion Dip, Maryland Crab Cakes, Pommes Frites, Glazed Chicken Wings, Oysters Rockefeller, Conch Fritters, Spinach and Crab Dip, and Onion Rings.
Patriot’s Tavern is also known for the plethora of Dipping Sauces. $.50 each or 3/$1. Options include Horseradish, Papaya Habenero, Roasted Tomato Mayo, Avacado Ranch, Truffle Mayo, Lemon Dill Mayo, Barbecue, Bleu Cheese, Cranberry Mustard, Cheddar Cheese, Red Curry Ketchup, Balsamic Mayo, Thai Chili Aioli, Dijon Mustard, Honey Mustard, Peanut Satay, Wasabi Mayo, Gunpowder Aioli and Frite Sauce.
Soups include New England Clam Chowder and Peanut Soup. Salad options include Classic Cobb, Poached Lobster, Iceberg Wedge, and Green Apple Salad.
Burgers and Sandwiches include Patriot’s Burger (bacon cheddar), Haystack (fried onions and peppers, hash and fried egg), Firecracker (jalapeno bacon, pepperjack, habanero aioli), Spanish (avocado, cilantro mayo), Paris (brie and smoked portabello), Fungi (mushrooms, caramelized onions and bleu cheese), Ale Potted Beef (with cheddar on ciabatta), Maine Style Lobster Roll, Classic Reuben, Tavern Steak Melt, Beer Battered Cod, and Oyster Po’ Boy.
Wood Fired Pizza offerings include Margherita, Tartufo (garlic-cream, cheese, fried potatoes, mushrooms, scallions, truffle oil, and balsamic), Rocket BLT (four cheese, marinara, jalepeno bacon, teardrop tomatoes, garlic, and arugula), Italian Combo, French Quarter (andouille sausage, cajun shrimp, tomato, corn, bell pepper and onion), White Clam Pie (garlic cream, bacon, four cheese, clams, and fried potatoes), BBQ Chicken, Fig & Bleu, Chicken Florentine and Plain Jane.
Patriot’s Tavern’s selection of Entrees include Liberty Ribs, Southern Fried Chicken, Ale Potted Beef Skillet, Charbroiled Lobster, Dingle Fish Pie, Revere’s Ribeye, Jumbo Shrimp, Scallops Newberg, Fish & Chips, Lobster Mac & Cheese, Filet Oscar and Grilled Salmon.
Desserts offered include Boston Cream Pie, Decadent Brownie Tower, Pecan Pie, Strawberry Shortcake, and Peach Cobbler.
Price guide: Appetizers $ Sandwiches/Burgers $ Entrees $12-26
What we ordered: We started with an order of Conch Fritters. These were savory little doughnuts that had been fried to an appealing caramel color. The inside was soft and dense with the subtle flavor of conch finely blended in.
Patriot’s Tavern has a long list of sauces for dipping. You can get 3 sauces for $1 so we tried Papaya Habenero, Avocado Ranch, and Lemon Aioli. All three were very good, but I think I liked the Avocado Ranch the best.
We also tried the Spinach and Crab Dip, which was extremely delicious. It was rich, creamy and savory with a blend of cheeses, fresh spinach, onion, and succulent crab. It was served with freshly baked parmesan flatbread. Awesome dip, a must-order from now on.
There were many items on the menu that sounded really good but the Lobster Mac and Cheese really caught my eye and I knew that we would be ordering it one way or the other. When recalling this wonderful dish, I am transported to a place of pure bliss. The spiral macaroni noodles swam in a rich, parmesan cheddar cheese sauce and were cooked with just the proper amount of firmness. What was more amazing as that there were just as many bites of lobster in the dish as noodles. I kid you not, this was lobster heaven! Two big pieces dress the top as well as all of the big bites mixed in with the noodles. The top of the dish was sprinkled with panko, giving it just a subtle, satisfying crunch. I have thought about this dish too many times since my visit, I will be eating this again very soon.
My companion ordered the Lobster Roll, a perfect choice for a hot summer day. The lobster salad was served Maine-style with chilled lobster meat mixed with creamy mayo, celery, and green onions sandwiched between a buttery, toasted hot-dog-style buns. This was excellent, we both enjoyed it very much but at $14 I was surprised that it didn’t come with either chips or french fries, as is customary.
Service: We had very good service at Patriot’s Tavern. The server had great suggestions from the menu and was on top of drink refills. We waited patiently during the reasonable amount of time it took for our food to be prepared from scratch.
Overall Impression: Everything we ate was top-notch; the Lobster Mac & Cheese especially made a big impression on me. The service was very good and the atmosphere was very casual. I look forward to eating at Patriot’s Tavern again and would like try their Burgers and Fish & Chips sometime.
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Cuisine: American, Fish & Seafood
Restaurant Features: Bar, Banquet, Hotel, Locally Sourced,
Location: Downtown Minneapolis, MN
Address: 615 Second Ave South Minneapolis, MN 55402 (612) 288-8888
Hours: Monday – Saturday 3pm-1am Sunday 3pm-12am
Links: The Six15 Room Website * The Six15 Room on Facebook
Atmosphere: Located in the newly remodeled Grand Hotel in Minneapolis, The Six15 Room is the newest, swankiest and most contemporary cocktail lounge in the heart of Downtown. Located just inside the Grand Hotel entrance, The Six15 Room is not just for guests of the hotel, it is also the ideal place for anyone looking to try fun and delicious artisenal drinks and foods.
The entire space of The Six15 Room is divided into smaller little areas, including a VIP area that has comfy purple velvet-covered sofas, fluffy pillows, and an entire wall filled with a variety of mounted metallic deer trophies.
One very fun feature of the VIP room is the 50″ Flatscreen TV fully equipped with a XBOX 360.
The far end of the trophy wall has a real wild boar’s head as the center piece. I wouldn’t have wanted to run into him in the forest, this bad boy has a big ol’ snout and some big curvy teeth. The Six15 Room is taking suggestions for naming the Wild Boar, if you would like to enter, simply submit your idea with the bartender!
Here is another seating area in the lounge; complete with sofas, tables, and more big TVs.
Menu: Some of the creative signature cocktails offered by Master Mixologist Troy have fun names such as Don’t Be Coy, Turn the World On, A-lo Down Low, Caught in her Web, Rose Creek, Bite the Bulleit, Six15, and Orangegasm. There are also a number of classic cocktails such as the Aviation, Dark & Stormy, Clover Club, Negroni, Last Word, Moscow Mule, Daiguiri, Manhattan, Margarita, Martini, Sidecar, Sazerac, and Whiskey Sour. There are also a number of local beers on tap as well as a large selection of domestic bottles. Big selection of wines as well.
All of the menu items offered in The Six15 Room have ingredients that are locally sourced. Options include Calamari Fries, Turkey Burgers, Grilled Sausage, Beef Skewers, Smoked Trout, Walleye Tator Tots, Grilled Shellfish, Mixed Greens Salad, and Cheese Plate.
You can also get a Tasting Portion of the Grand Entrees, including Fish Tacos, Braised Duroc Pork Shank, Creek Stone New York Strip, and Scottish Salmon.
Desserts include Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches, Ginger Creme Brulee with Almond Cookies, and Chocolate Lava Cake with Espresso Creme Anglaise.
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Guests staying at the Grand Hotel also have the option of ordering off a larger menu for In-Room Service. Breakfast selections include the International Grand Traveler, Continental Breakfast, Eggs Benedict, Eggs Florentine, Belgian Waffle, French Toast, Beef Hash, Three Egg Omelet, Spa Egg White Omelet, Chef’s Favorite (bacon, eggs and pancakes), Berries & Granola, and Fruit Plate.
Dishes offered all day include Spinach & Artichoke Dip, Pork Pot Stickers, Chicken Wings, Chicken Tenders, Cheese Plate, Calamari Fries, and Poached Tiger Shrimp.
Soups offered are Cream of Wild Rich and White Chicken Chili. Salads include the Grand Hotel Salad, Caesar, Greek and Grilled Salmon.
Individual Pizzas are also available. Build-Your-Own, Three Cheese, Margherita, Thai Chicken and The White Pizza (alfredo sauce, caramelized onions, spinach, goat cheese and dried cherries).
Pasta Selections offered are the Spaghetti Carbonara, Mediterranean Primavera, and Noodles & Sauce.
Sandwiches include Grilled Angus Burger, Trio of Mini Turkey Burgers, Grand Club, Walleye Fish Tacos, The Duet, MLP (mushrooms, lettuce, and roasted peppers), Grilled Chicken Breast, Beef Stroganoff, and Fried Egg Sandwich.
Grand Entree Selections offered after 5pm include Eat Street Noodle Stir-Fry, Chicken Marsala, Duroc Braised Pork Shank, Creek Stone New York Strip Steak, Steamed Salmon, Walleye, and Mediterranean Primavera.
Price guide: Small Plates $9-18 Grand Entrees $15-35
What we ordered: I had a chance to meet with Executive Chef Kris Koch, the master behind the menu. Born and raised in Minnesota, Koch has deep roots in the area and well-established relationships with a number of local farmers, and sources ingredients locally whenever possible. Many of the items he has created have a fun twist on traditional local favorites.
One of the first items we tried was the Smoked Trout from Rushing Waters. This pretty-plated dish also included toasted bagel chips with lemon-herbed cream cheese, Koch’s spin on the traditional cream cheese and lox. This was so good! There is just something about cream cheese and smoked fish that speaks to me and then when you add in the buttery crunch of the bagel, you have the perfect combo of textures.
Smoked Trout with Bagel Chips at The Six15 Room at Grand Hotel ~ Minneapolis, MN
Mmm, take a closer look at that deliciously smoked trout. Slightly salty and smokey, the trout had a nice, light and flaky texture without any fishiness. It was served with lettuce and pickled red cabbage.
We also tried the Calamari Fries. You may have noticed that i order calamari at many restaurants. The calamari fries at The Six15 Room rank up there with the best. These calamari strips were double-dipped in tempura batter and then fried just perfectly. The batter was crispy yet the calamari was tender and delicious. Thin slices of slightly pickled peppers were arranged on top, adding a slight bite and interesting contrast. A lemony mayonnaise was served for dipping, a light and fresh compliment to the calamari.
Another item we tried with the first wave of goodies was the Grilled Sausage Platter. It came with two varieties of sausage, one that was Maple flavored, the other with bits of bacon ground in. Both sausages were excellent but one of my favorite parts of the dish was the apricot mustard. Yes, you read that right. Pureed apricot with stone-ground mustard blended in. A delicious combo of sweet from the fruit and spicy and slightly piquant flavor of the mustard. The dish also came with several slices of buttered, grilled whole wheat toast.
One of the first cocktails we tried was the Don’t Be Coy. It may come as no surprise to you that I am a Margarita Girl, so this drink was perfect for me. Made with Herradura Tequila, raspberry syrup, Licor 43 and fresh lime, this was a wonderful blend of tart, sweet and agave. Loved!
Another drink we tried was the Whiskey Sour. Normally I wouldn’t think I would enjoy anything made with whiskey but I immediately changed my mind when I tried the Whiskey Sour at The Six15 Room. This drink was fabulous! Made with Jim Beam Black bourbon, lemonade, and a touch of egg white. The egg white gave it just a tiny hint of froth, which I thought was a great touch. The next time I drink whiskey I hope it tastes as good as this!
After eating and drinking all of the above, a second wave of food and cocktails were brought out to us. I was especially excited to try the Fish Tacos, a favorite food of mine. These may have been the first fish tacos I’ve had made with locally-caught walleye. Served on double white corn tortillas, each of the two tacos had a nice size fillet of pan-seared walleye topped with pickled cabbage and cilantro. Excellent and very filling!
Fish Tacos at The Six15 Room ~ Minneapolis, MN
We also tried the Scottish Salmon, served with brussel sprouts, jasmine rice and a sweet-yet-savory carrot ginger puree. This salmon was very good, perfectly (under)cooked so that it retained the right amount of moisture and light flavor of the fish. It was lightly seasoned with just salt and pepper but was dressed up by the accompanied ginger-carrot puree.
The last food item we tried was the Walleye Tator Tots. How perfectly Minnesota is this dish? The walleye was finely blended with mashed yukon gold potatoes, spiced up and then formed into shapes about the same size as a marshmallow. Lightly breaded then fried, these were wonderful little treats that anyone would like. Served with a citrus tartar sauce.
The second wave of cocktails included the Moscow Mule, made with Absolut Vodka, house-made ginger syrup, fresh lime juice and soda. Light and refreshing!
We also tried the Rose Creek cocktail, made with pear brandy. I can’t recall having pear brandy before this, but I was pleasantly surprised to smell the sweet smell of pear about 6 inches before I brought the glass to my mouth. It tasted just as good as it smelled! made with Clear Creek Pear Brandy, fresh lemon juice, real grenadine and Angostura (a secret blend of herbs).
Overall Impression: I was very excited to try the new Six15 Room once it opened and after trying it, I am just as excited to return. Executive Chef Kris Koch has a real knack for creating dishes that are not only creative and delicious, they are made from fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Everything that is offered on the menu is appealing to both locals and those who are in town and would like to try a true taste of Minnesota. The Grand Opening of both The Six15 Room and The Grand Hotel is taking place tonight, June 16, 2011.
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Cuisine: Fish, Seafood, Steaks, Sushi, Dessert
Restaurant Features: Banquet, Bar, Hotel
Locations: Edina & Minneapolis, MN
Addresses & Maps:
Edina- 3203 Galleria Edina, MN 55435(Edina Westin Galleria Hotel) 952.920.1142
Minneapolis- 800 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55402 612.338.3300
Hours: Mon-TH: 11am-10pm FRI: 11am-11pm SAT: 4pm-11pm SUN: 4pm-10pm
Links: McCormick & Schmick’s Website * McCormick & Schmick’s on Facebook
Atmosphere: The Downtown Minneapolis McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant is located on Nicollet Mall at 9th St.. The restaurant is quite big, or so it seems. On the way to our table we walked by several curtained-off areas which I can only assume lead to additional or private dining areas.
My companions and I were shown behind one of the very last curtains and into a large dining room. Deep, rich colors on the walls and floor gave it a masculine feel which was softened up by the white tablecloths.
There is also a large Bar area at the Downtown location that has booths as well as seating at the bar. Much less formal than the dining room but just as cozy.
Menu: The Menu at McCormick & Schmick’s changes daily, depending on what type of fresh catch is available. The following is the menu that was available to me on the night of my visit in late May 2011.
Appetizers include Tempura Shrimp, Lump Blue Crab Tower, Fried Calamari, Duck Potstickers with Raspberry Hoisin, Crispy Thai Chicken Spring Rolls, Portabella Mushroom and Goat Cheese Bruschetta, Steamed Black Mussel & Clams, Crispy Fried Oysters, Crab Cake, Kobe Beef Carpaccio, and Coconut Fried Shrimp.
Offerings from the Seafood Bar include Malpeque Oysters, Deep Bay Oysters, Alpine Bay Oysters , and Spiced Jumbo Prawns.
Sushi and Sashimi includes Tuna Tartare, Salmon Lomi Lomi, Spiced Seared Ahi Tuna Tostada, California Roll.
Soups at McCormick & Schmicks inlcude New England Clam Chowder and Crab Bisque. Salad options are the Chopped, The Wedge, House, Caesar, and Grilled Shrimp Cobb Salad.
This season’s Wild Features include Angry Tuna Roll, Wild Alaska Halibut & Salmon Baked in a Crispy Pastry, Wild Canada Whitefish, Wild swordfish Casino, and Wild Seafood Trio.
Seafood Specialties include Cashew Crusted Tilapia, Seared Sea Scallops, Parmesan Breaded Tilapia, Atlantic Salmon Stuffed with Crab, Chilean Sea Bass with Miso and Udon Noodles, Horseradish Herb Steelhead, Macademia Nut Breaded Halibut, and Blackened Catfish with Fire Roasted Corn Salsa.
Traditional Seafood Items include Rainbow Trout, Horseradish and Potato Crusted Red Snapper, Atlantic Salmon with Berry Sauce, Fried Shrimp Platter, and Wild Ahi Tuna.
Other Entrees include Petite Filet Mignon, Filet Mignon, Top Sirloin with Bleu Cheese Sauce, Lobster Steamer, Maple Brined Chicken, Shrimp Linguini, King Crab Legs, Kobe Burger with Mushrooms and Swiss, Tenderloin and Portabello Brochette, and New York Strip. Filet & Shrimp Scampi combo also available.
Desserts include Key Lime Pie, Apple Pie, Creme Brulee, and Chocolate Trio.
Price guide: Appetizers $-12 Sushi $9-14 Oysters $3+ Seafood Specialties $17-32 Entrees $14-47
What we ordered: We started with an order of Fried Calamari. Delicious! The batter was crunchy but the calamari was cooked perfectly; the rings were tossed with banana peppers and sprinkled with fresh parmesan. The order aame with fire-roasted tomato sauce for dipping.
We also ordered the Large Oyster Sampler, which came with eight oysters in total: Malpeque Oysters, Deep Bay Oysters, and Alpine Bay Oysters. I can’t honestly tell you which two varieties I tried but they were both fresh and delicious. I always top my oysters with lemon, cocktail and horseradish. I’ve said it before but I LOVE horseradish. Goes perfectly with oysters ;)
We also tried a couple orders of the Angry Tuna Roll. These fabulous rolls contained spicy tuna, then topped with more tuna, thin slices of fresh jalapeno, spicy mayo and flamed tobikko. I love spicy sushi and this really hit the spot.
We also ordered the California Roll, which I did not try. Nothing wrong with a California Roll every now and then but I would take the Angry Tuna Roll over this plain jane any day.
Just before our meals were served we were brought Sourdough Bread which was fresh and crusty.
I had a hard time deciding what to order for my entree. I love halibut and the Macademia Nut Crusted Halibut sounded really good but I was afraid it wouldn’t have enough flavor for me. The server assured me it was excellent so I did end up ordering it. The dish looked good but I was immediately disappointed by the somewhat small size, in comparison to my companions’ dishes. My piece of halibut was about 3″ x 1″, very lightly crusted and pan fried. It sat on a bed of steamed broccoli and atop the mango butter sauce. The fish was cooked just right so the texture was firm without being tough but the taste of the overall dish was very mild. Nothing wrong with this dish, just too boring for my tastes. For the money, it was about $3 per boring bite. Ridiculous if you think of it like that.
One of my companions ordered the Horseradish Hashbrown Crusted Red Snapper. I tried a bite of this and thought it was very good. The flavor of the horseradish was apparent but not overpowering, it really just enhanced the taste of the fish. The hashbrowns that were crusted around the fish were a nice compliment in texture, however my companion thought there was a little too much potato in proportion to the amount of fish. I liked it much better than my halibut.
One of my companions ordered the Sea Bass, which turned out to be one of the best dishes I tried. The sea bass filet was quite big in comparison to the halibut and it sat atop a bed of stir-fried veggies and udon noodles soaked in the delicious, flavorful Asian miso sauce. Once I was offered a bite I had to show restraint so I wouldn’t eat half the dish. A winner!
One of my companions started with the Chopped Salad and then had the Steak & Scampi Combo.
The Steak and Scampi combo is a great value, it come with the filet mignon, jumbo scampi-style shrimp, gruyere croquettes, and steamed broccoli. I tried a small bite of this steak and it was delicious; tender and juicy. A grilled Lobster Tail was added to the dish for an additional charge. The bite of lobster I tried was also excellent; sweet and succulent.
The steak and Scampi combo also came with Creme Brulee. This was creamy and cooked just right, with a nice crunchy layer of caramelized sugar on top.
We also tried the Key Lime Pie, a cheesecake-style key lime with a thick graham cracker crust. Oh, I love key lime and I love cheesecake. Great combo.
Another dessert we tried was the Apple Pie. The caramel drizzled on top gave this dessert a messy appearance but by all reports, it was very good.
Service: We had a reservation for dinner and were promptly seated. Our server was very good but our visit was a long, drawn out experience. We ordered many courses and ended up staying almost three hours for dinner. The kitchen seemed to take their time preparing our food, most of it being worth the wait. Toward the end of our night things started to seem very slow, it took 25 minutes to get our dessert after we ordered it, despite being the only ones left in our dining room at the time. When our server brought them out to us she said she made them herself, so I guess someone in the kitchen dropped the ball.
Overall Impression: There were many items that I tried at McCormick & Schmick’s that I thoroughly enjoyed and the prices seem reasonable for the portion sizes. Our server was great but the food did take a long time. I will definitely try McCormick & Schmick’s again in the future.
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