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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Cuisine: Banquet, Fish & Seafood, Sushi
Restaurant Features: Bar, Banquet, Flatscreen TVs, Rooftop Patio
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Address: 1400 West Lake Street Minneapolis, Minnesota 55408 (612) 824-8862
Hours: *Sunday thru Wed.11:30am to Midnight *Thurs 11:30am-1:00am (food until 11:30) *Fri-Sat 11:30-2:00am (food until 12:30am)
Links: Stella’s Fish Cafe Website * Stella’s on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: Stella’s Fish Cafe and Prestige Oyster Bar is located on Lake St, just across from Calhoun Square. The building is a large three-story building with a rooftop patio. The main floor is where you will find the bar and the main dining room, as well as the kitchen.
The lower level also contains a tank with live lobsters, just outside the kitchen.
The main floor also has a large bar area with several bistro tables spread throughout. There are many large windows that let in the sunlight and keep the room bright during the day.
Menu: Appetizers include Sushi Grade Tina Dip, Gorgonzola Table Bread, Surf and Turf Sliders, Jalapeno Skillet Cornbread, Edamame, Chesapeake Bay Crab Cakes, Fish Tacos, Deep Fried Walleye Fingers, Coconut Shrimp, Fresh Fried Calamari, Champagne Mussels, Cajun Beef Bites, Oysters Rockefeller, Hot Crab & Spinach Dip, Crispy Fried Chicken Wings.
Stellas also has a Prestige Oyster Bar with a variety of fresh raw oysters including Blue Point, Malpaques, Hog Neck Bay, Hawks Point, Oyster Bay, Totten Inlet, Japanese Style Oysters (topped with ponzu and chives) and Mexican Style Oysters (topped with citrus salsa and pico de gallo).
There are also a variety of fresh sushi rolls including Salmon Explosion( marinated wasabi salmon, cucumber and avocado topped with salmon), White Tuna Roll, Stella Roll (spicy tuna and cucumber), Crunchy (shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumbers), Tuna Poke Roll (ahi tuna, pineapple, asparagus, cilantro, topped with toasted sesame seeds and wasabi mayo), Baked Lobster Roll (crab and asparagus rolled in soy paper topped with baked lobster), Spicy Tuna Palooza (tuna, avocado, carrots, topped with tuna and chives), California Roll and Dragon Roll (tempura shrimp, cucumber, spicy mayo, topped with fresh eel, avocado and teriyaki).
Other Raw Bar items include Peel N Eat Shrimp, Daily Razzle Dazzle Ceviche, Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna, Spicy Tuna Crisps and The Spicy Oshi.
Soups include New England Clam Chowder with Bacon and a Soup du Jour. Salads offered at Stella’s include Walnut Salad, Caesar, Roasted Beets over Mixed Greens, Miced Field Greens, and Asparagus and Prosciutto. There are also two larger salads meant for sharing: Caesar and Grilled Tuna Nicoise.
Stella’s Signatures include Stuffed Tilapia, King Crab, Blackened Swordfish, Stella’s Fish Sampler, Jambalaya, Blackened Ribeye, San Francisco Cioppino.
Fresh Fish selections vary from day to day but may include Grey Snapper, Halibut, Ahi Tuna, Altantic Salmon, Swordfish, Diver Scallops, and Maine Lobster.
Pasta options include Linguini Shrimp Scampi and Blackened Chicken Fettuccini.
Stella also has steaks for those who prefer turf over surf. Choose from 8 oz Filet Mignon, 16 oz Ribeye, 16 oz New York Strip, and 16 oz Bar Steak.
Platter and Basket options all come with french fries or garlic mashed potatoes and include Barbeque Ribs, Beer Battered Walleye, Coconut Shrimp, Lobster Roll, Fish N Chips, Cornmeal Crusted Catfish and Beer Battered Shrimp.
Price guide: Appetizers $6-15 Oysters $2.50+/ea Sushi $15 Salads $5-15 Signatures $22-55 Fresh Catch $22-35 Steaks $20-35
Happy Hour:
- Mon-Friday 3-6pm
- Sat-Sun 12pm-5pm
- Sun-Thurs 9pm-11pm
- Fri-Sat 10:30pm-12:30am
- $5.25 Appetizers: Salmon Burger Sliders, Philly Cheese Steak Sliders, Buffalo Wings, Fat Tire Frickels, BBQ Rib Basket, 1/2 lb Peel & Eat Shrimp, Hot Crab & Spinach Dip, Spicy Fried Calamari, Champagne Mussles, Cheese Curds, Taco of the Day, Ahi Tuna Crisps,
- $1 Oysters on the half shell
- 2-for-1 Rails and Taps
Weekly Specials:
Thursday- Crab Feast $24.95
Sunday- 1 1/4 lb whole live lobster $19.95
What we ordered: There was no doubt in my mind that we would be eating fresh oysters to start, the question was which kind we would order. Opting to eat in the dining room instead of having Happy Hour in the bar where the oysters were much cheaper, we ordered a dozen of the Blue Point Oysters because they seemed to be the best value and they came recommended by our server. These were tasty and tender without any hint of fishiness and even better when dressed with lemon, cocktail and fresh horseradish. My only complaint was that the size of the oysters was not consistent and some of them were very small.
There were many items on the menu that sounded delicious and the server had many good suggestions but when it came down to it, I ordered the Fish & Chips, a regular feature. These thick pieces of flaky cod were very enjoyable; the batter that was used had a pleasant mix of seasoning and the perfect amount of golden crispiness without being too greasy. There were three pieces of the cod which didn’t seem like an overly big portion for the price but it was truly excellent fish. The fries were fresh-cut and also very good, as were the tartar sauce and cole slaw.
After hearing a lot about Lobster Rolls recently, that is what my companion decided to order for dinner. The large pieces of cold lobster were tossed with mayo, celery, and a dash of lemon, then topped onto a warm, toasty baquette. This sandwich was quite good, especially to eat on a warm summer day. I personally prefer my lobster hot and buttery but this was a very refreshing way to eat it.
Service: We had pretty good service at Stella’s Fish Cafe. Our server was knowledgeable of the menu and had many recommendations. Our drinks were refilled in a decent amount of time but our meals were served to us too soon after the oysters were brought out. It is a pet peeve of mine to have the main course served before the appetizer is finished or taken away, the experience just isn’t as enjoyable when I feel rushed.
Overall Impression: I had been wanting to try Stella’s for years and finally made the trip to Uptown specifically to have oysters and fish. The oysters were good and the fish and chips were also excellent. Next time I will try to make it out on a nice day to take advantage of the rooftop patio and the cheap happy hour oyster specials!
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Cuisine: Japanese, Seafood, Sushi
Restaurant Features: AYCE Lunch Buffet, Bar, On-Site Parking
Location: Maplewood, MN
Addresses & Maps:
Coon Rapids- 12580 Riverdale Boulevard NW, Suite 101, Coon Rapids, MN 55448(763) 421-3356
Maplewood- 1900 County Road D East #140 Maplewood, MN 55109 (651) 773 – 5258
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am-2:30 4:30-10pm * Fri-Sat 11am-11pm * Sun 11am-9pm
Links: Osaka Website *
Atmosphere: The Osaka location in Maplewood is inside a strip-mall across from Maplewood Mall and Toys R Us. The inside of Osaka is much bigger inside than it looks from the outside. There are several different dining areas, including the sushi bar which is just behind the buffet. This room has several booths in addition to seating at the bar. Several Asian-Style lanterns hang from the ceiling, creating a cute look.
The bar area also has booths.
Osaka also has a room full of Hibachi tables. Get a party together and make a reservation!
The buffets at Osaka are set up in a central area near the sushi bar. All sushi and cold items are on the right side, hot items are on the left. At the end of the hot items there is a cook manning a hibachi grill, with chicken, shrimp or beef to-order. There is also another large dining room beyond the buffet to the left.
Menu: Seafood Appetizers include Yellowtail Jalapeno, Mago Lobster Tartar, Nigiri Appetizer, Sashimi Appetizer, Salmon & Salmon Roe, Tuna Dumplings, Jelly Fish and Spicy Scallop Tatasu. Hot appetizers include edamame, squid yaki, Pork Gyoza, Beef Negimaki, Yakitori, Salt and Pepper Calamari, Shrimp Tempura, Vegetable Tempura, Tempura Combo.
Salads include Garden, Seaweed Salad, and Kani. Soup options include Miso, Onion, and Dobin.
Sashimi and Nigiri sold a La Carte include Tuna (Maguro), Fatty Tuna (Toro), Spicy Tuna, Yellowtail (Hamachi), Shrimp (Ebi), Salmon (Sake), Smoked Salmon (Sake Kunsei), Salmon Roe (Ikura), Flounder (Hirame), Flying Fish Roe (Tobiko), Eel (Unagi), Scallop (Kaibashira), Red Sweet Shrimp (Ama Ebi), Egg Custard (Tamago), Crab Stick (Kani), Mackeral (Saba), Surf Clam (Mirugai), Sea Urchin (Uni), Squid (Ika), King Crab, Octopus (Tako), and Super White Tuna (Mutsu).
Maki and Tamaki Rolls include Acocado, Kappa Maki, Avocado Asparagus and Cucumber, Boston (shrimp, cucumber, lettuce and spicy mayo), Shrimp Tempura Roll, Philly Roll, Spicy Snow Crab, Lobster and Avocado, King Crab and Avocado, Dragon (smoked eel and cucumber), Spider (deep fried soft shell crab), Alaskan (salmon, avocado, cucumber), Rainbow, Tuna, Salmon, Spicy Salmon, Spicy Yellowtail, Spicy White Tuna, Tuna and Avocado, Salmon and Avocado, Futomaki (japanese vegetable), and Spciy Blue Crab Roll.
Specialty rolls include *Osaka (cucumber, tuna, salmon, yellowtail, crab meat and tobiko), *Scorpion (shrimp tempura, soft shell crab, crab, asparagus rolled in crunchy flakes), *Sumo (spicy tuna, avocado and cucumber), *Tom’s (shrimp, asparagus, crunchy flakes with spicy tuna on outside), *Sayuri (Spicy tuna inside with tuna and avocado outside), Spicy Girl (shrimp tempura and avocado with lobster salad on outside), *Christmas (shrimp tempura, spicy tuna and avocado), *Winter (tuna, salmon, yellowtail and avocado), *No-9 (shrimp tempura with salmon and avocado with spicy mayo and eel, *Osaka Dragon (shrimp tempura, avocado, spicy tuna and papaya), *Lisa Crunch (shrimp tempura, cream cheese and avocado), *Black Dragon (lobster and avocado with eel, avocado and tobiko with eel sauce), *Crazy (eel, crab stick, salmon and asparagus inside with salmon, salmon roe and avocado outside), *OC (spicy salmon and crunchy flakes inside with salmon, avocado and salmon roe outside) and the *Halloween Roll (spicy scallop and avocado inside and tuna, salmon, tobiko and spicy mayo outside).
Traditional Entrees include Teriyaki (chicken, beef, salmon or shrimp), Tempura (vegetable, shrimp or chicken), Yaki Udon, Yaki Soba, Nabe Yaki Udon, Seafood Noodle Soup, Miso Seabass, Pineapple Lobster, Hamachi Kama, and Grilled Saba Fish Filet.
Hibachi Entrees include Vegetable, Chicken, Salmon, Scallops, Shrimp, Seabass, Steak, Filet Mignon and Lobster Tail.
Price guide: Appetizers $4-12 Nigiri/Sashimi $4-15 Specialty Rolls $12-18 Entrees $12-29 Hibachi Entrees $15-31
Lunch Buffet:
- Mon-Thurs 11am-2:30pm
- Fri-Sun 11am-3:30pm
- Mon-Thurs 8pm-Close
- 20% off all Osaka Specialty Rolls
- Appetizers $3-9
- Rolls $3-8
- Sashimi/Nigiri $1.50-5
What We Ate: My companion and I both had the all-you-can-eat weekend lunch buffet. It was a chilly spring day so one of the first things I tried was the Hot and Sour Soup. This was pretty good, it had a somewhat thick, somewhat spicy broth with a generous amount of tofu and all the other ingredients that typically go in this soup.
Once I was warmed up from the soup, I was all about the sushi. There were at least 8-10 different types of sushi rolls and a couple varieties of sashimi. One of the rolls that I tried was the Lisa Crunch, a tasty roll of rice, shrimp tempura, cream cheese and avocado. The spicy tuna was decent, as were all the other rolls I tried, considering it was a buffet. The rolls were heavy on the rice, light on the fish and veggies, somewhat loosely rolled but they all tasted great! I am especially fond of the soft-shell crab, mmm.
We also tried a plate of Seafood from the hot serving line. The mussels were very good, mostly tender and tossed in a savory yet slightly sweet black bean sauce. The smaller clams were even better. Extremely tender and slightly sweet. Oh so good! I also tried one of their steamed crayfish, which wasn’t anything exciting. It did not taste sweet like lobster, instead it tasted like what it eats at the bottom of the lake. Would be so much better drenched in salted butter.
Another plate I tried came from the hot side of the Buffet. I literally tried only one bite of each item, as none of it did anything for me in comparison to the sushi. The fried pork in some kind of spicy-sweet sesame sauce and was thickly breaded and extra hard and grisly, it looked much better than it tasted. The fried rice was extremely boring, the chicken with broccoli was sogged out, as were the lomein noodles. The spring roll was kind of boring with just a simple rice noodle filling and very little flavor. My favorite thing on this plate was the Fried Potstickers which were small but filled with flavorful pork sausage.
The desserts were very undesirable for the most part. I’d rather eat more sushi than waste the carbs on these stale cookies and pastries. The fruit was simply okay.
Service: Our server refilled our drinks when we asked, that was all the service we really got since we were eating the buffet.
Overall Impression: Osaka is the first sushi restaurant to hit the area, so it is a welcome sight to the many sushi-lovers like myself out in the eastern ‘burbs. The restaurant is actually Chinese-owned so it isn’t authentic Japanese but the sushi lunch buffet is a great value if you can eat a lot of sushi. (I definitely ate my money’s worth! ) I thought Osaka was a cute place and the buffet was decent, not to mention it is less than 15 min from my house.
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Cuisine: American, Chops, Steak, Fish & Seafood
Restaurant Features: Bar, On-Site Parking
Locations: Lakeville & Little Canada, MN
Addresses & Maps:
Lakeville-11211 205th Street West Lakeville, MN 55044 (952) 469-2995
Little Canada- 235 East Little Canada Road Little Canada, MN 55117 (651) 483-9248
Hours: Mon-Fri 5pm Sat-Sun 4pm
Links: Porterhouse Website * Porterhouse on Facebook
Atmosphere: The Little Canada location of Porterhouse Steaks and Seafood is located just off I-35E at Little Canada Rd. When you walk in the restaurant, the dining room is to the left, the lounge os to the right. The dining room is warm and masculine, with dark wood lining the walls, and deep booths around the perimeter of the room. The lighting is very dim and the room seems quite dark (it was a challenge to get good photos).
In addition to booths there are also a handful of tables that can be arranged for larger groups.
The lounge area seats about ten around the bar.
Menu: Appetizers at Porterhouse include Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna, Balsamic Sea Scallops, Smokehouse Shrimp, Shrimp Cocktail, Walleye Fingers, Spinach Artichoke ad Parmesan Dip, Grilled Chicken Satay Skewers, Blackened Sirloin Tips, Baltimore Crab Imperial, and Freshwater Split Prawns.
Soups include New England Clam Chowder and French Onion.
Classics and Lighter Fare include Cobb Salad, Beef Liver and Onions, Stuffed Chicken Florentine, Canadian Walleyed Pike, Boneless Pork Loin Chops, Top Sirloin and Petite Filet Mignon.
Porterhouse has a selection of fineAged Angus Beef with cuts such as Filet Mignon (9 or 12oz), Top Sirloin (12 or 16oz), Bone-In New York Strip, Porterhouse, and Ribeye (18 or 24oz). The signature steaks are the Black & Bleu Ribeye and the Tenderloin Imperial (filet mignon topped with crab imperial). Add-On options include Sauteed Mushrooms, Caramelized Onions, Bearnaise Sauce, Melted Bleu Cheese, Extra Potato, Vegetables, Walleye Filet, Smokehouse Shrimp, Lobster Tail, King Crab Leg, Prawns and Scallops.
Seafood and Fish dishes include Jumbo Freshwater Prawns, Jumbo Sea Scallops, King Crab Legs, Smokehouse Shrimp, Canadian Walleye Pike, Nova Scotia Lobster Tail and Daily Fresh Fish.
There are several surf & turf combos as well.
Price guide: Appetizers $8-12 Classics $14-23 Steaks $20-35 Seafood $21-42
What we ordered: We started with a few appetizers, including the Spinach Artichoke Dip. This dip was delicious, it was rich and creamy from the parmesan cheese and had large chunks of artichoke and spinach blended throughout. It was served with a loaf of hot baguette
We also tried the Cajun Walleye Strips, a serving of about eight nugget-sized pieces of walleye, lightly coated with flour and seasonings then pan fried. These were pretty good, flaky yet slightly crispy with just a hint of cajun seasonings. Served with tartar sauce.
The Smokehouse Shrimp also sounded good, so we got an order fo these. The order came with four large shrimp wrapped with bacon and coated with a smokey barbeque sauce then grilled. Mmm, these were great. I plan to make my own version on the grill often this summer.
After we finished our appetizers, a basket of bread and our salads came out. The bread was thick and dense.
My dinner also came with a salad and when the server explained the options, I knew immediately that I would be getting the Spinach Salad when I heard “warm sweet bacon dressing”. This salad was amazing! First of all, I think spinach and eggs so wonderful together and bacon goes fabulously with both. This salad had it all! The dressing was not like any I have had before and I instantly fell in love. It was served warm, thick and sweet with the true taste of bacon with a ton of crispy pieces of bacon on top of the spinach as well. I could eat a salad like this for breakfast or lunch every day!
This was my first visit to Porterhouse so I knew I would be ordering a steak and the Black & Bleu Ribeye is exactly what I was craving. They had two size options: 18 or 24oz. I thought these steaks surely had to be bone-in at those hefty weights and I ordered the big daddy at 24 oz. I typically order my steaks cooked medium but out server gave us the option of “plus” or “minus” since a steak so thick has a lot of room for cooking temps. I ordered mine “medium minus”. This steak was actually boneless and absolutely huge, a great value in comparison to other fine steak houses. I was already pretty full from appetizers and salad, but made room for a few bites of the most delicious, juicy, tender cut of steak. I was happy I ordered it medium minus, it was much more red than I usually eat it, but I found that I really enjoyed it like that. The bleu cheese that was melted on top was flavorful but not too overpowering. So good! Another of my companions ordered this same steak and also enjoyed the extremely tender cut.
The side I chose with my steak was the Parmesan Bacon Mashed Potatoes. These were delicious, with each the flavors of the smokey bacon and creamy parmesan coming through the soft buttery potatoes.
One of my companions ordered the 24 oz Ribeye with a side of mushrooms. This was the same size and cut of steak as what I ordered, but it was much thicker and much more grisly. All the while I was oohing and ahhing about how tender my steak was, this companion struggled to cut through this steak with ease because of all the tendons. I was happy to share some of my more tender cut. If this were the only example of our steaks at Porterhouse that evening, we would have been disappointed. Not sure why the cut was so inconsistent with the other two 24oz Ribeyes we had amongst us.
One of my companions ordered the Tenderloin with a baked potato. This steak was also tender with a beefy, robust flavor. The potato it was served with was very big.
Service: We had very good service at Porterhouse Steaks and Seafood. The food was timed perfectly and our the server was very good about refilling drinks when needed. I loved that when ordering our steaks the server suggested we use “plus or minus” with the cooking temperature to get it just how we wanted it. She made sure to check back with us to make sure everyone had their steak cooked the way they wanted it and offered to cook any steak longer, if desired.
Overall Impression: I am glad to finally have tried Porterhouse Steaks and Seafood. I was impressed with the size and quality of my Black & Bleu Ribeye but wish that all of the 24 oz ribeyes were consistently as tender. The menu isn’t huge but offers a nice selection of steaks and seafoods, I will definitely be back to Porterhouse again sometime for dinner.
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Cuisine: American, Greek, Fish & Seafood, Pasta, Steaks, Chops, Ribs
Restaurant Features: Bar, Happy Hour, Live Music, Patio, On-Site Parking
Location: Fridley, MN
Address: 6161 Central Ave. N.E. (Hwy. 65) Fridley, MN 55432 763-398-0088
Kitchen Hours: Mon-Tues: 11am – 9pm Wed-Thurs: 11am – 10pm Fri- Sat: 11am – 11pm Sun Brunch: 10am – 2pm Sun Dinner: 4pm – 9pm
Links: Shorewood Grill Website * Shorewood on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: The main dining room is a cozy space, with rich, warm colors and murals on the walls, along with a fireplace and big booths.
The bar/lounge area is an extra large room with the bar centrally located. There are a number of large booths around the perimeter of the room, with several bistro tables spread throughout as well. There was a small stage at the front of the room where a band played later in the evening.
There is a patio that can be accessed from both the dining room and the bar with views of the small lake nearby.
Menu: Appetizers at Shorewood include Calamari, Shorewood Meatballs, Spanakopita, Saginaki, Gyros, Spinach Artichoke Dip, Kalamata Bruschetta, Crab Cakes, Shrimp Cocktail, Stuffed Mushrooms, Pita Bread & Spreads, Ahi Tuna, and Hercules Bites.
Salads include Greek Village, Peasant, Chopped, Caesar and King Louie. Soups include Chicken Orzo or a Soup du Jour.
Shorewood’s sandwich offers a handful of sandwiches such as Prime Rib Dip, Gyro, Black Angus Burger, Chicken Caesar Wrap, and Walleye Sandwich.
Entrees include Kebobs (chicken, beef or swordfish), Chicken in Phyllo, Athenian Lamb Chops, Gyros Dinner, Meatloaf, BBQ Ribs, Roasted Chicken, and Chicken Pot Pie.
Steak and Pork options include New York Strip, Steak de Greco, Grilled Ribeye, Filet Mignon, Prime Rib, Short Ribs, and Pork Chops.
Shorewood’s seafood options include Lobster Tail, Walleye,Grecian Shrimp, Crab Stuffed Salmon, and Jumbo Scallops.
Pasta offerings include Lobster Ravioli, Lime Chicken Tortellini, Theva Pasta with Lamb, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Chicken Alfredo, and Mediterranean Pasta.
Children’s Menu has items such as Spaghetti and Meatballs, Chicken Tenders, Mini Pizza, Mini Prime Rib, Mini Burgers, and Mini Gyros.
Price guide: Appetizers $7-12 Salads $9-14 Sandwiches $10-14 Entrees $14-24 Steak $17-27 Seafood $18+
What we ordered: (In order of appearance) One of my companions ordered this Spinach Artichoke Dip, a creamy blend of cheeses baked in a ramekin and served with pita bread. I tried a few bites of this and it was very good. It had the rich flavor of artichoke, spinach, onions, parmesan and other cheeses and was baked until the cheese was a bubbly golden color.
My entree came with a salad, so I went with the Greek Salad, which was the basic salad with feta and pepperoncini. Crisp and fresh.
One of my companions ordered the New York Strip, prepared medium. This meal comes with both veggies and au gratin potatoes, but was ordered without veggies due to a food allergy; as you can see it was still served with a sauteed veggie medley.
Another companion ordered the Grecian Shrimp, a dish of shrimp baked with garlic butter and feta. These were delicious; the shrimp were decent sized and covered with feta. The meal was served with veggie medley and mashed potatoes.
My companions also ordered the Calamari, which came after their meals. I tried this and thought it was some of the best calamari I have had; the squid was cooked perfectly yet the batter was still crispy. It was served over a bed of sauteed banana and pepperoncini peppers, which was a nice tangy accompaniment. I could also taste a hint of lemon and I loved that it had little squids in addition to the rings. Served with a Crab Louie sauce, which was tangy and creamy. Huge portion.
Another companion ordered the Chicken Tenders, which came with six large, ordinary pieces of white meat chicken.
The guest of honor had the Seared Ahi Tuna, which came with two thick pieces of tuna seared on the outside and raw in the middle. The fish was served over thin slices of carrots and cucumbers and drizzled with wasabi mayo.
Another companion ordered the Stuffed Burger, which was still slightly pink in the middle along with the melted cheddar cheese. For some reason it didn’t come with any fries?
One companion ordered the Phyllo Chicken. I did not try this dish but it looked very good. It had a chicken breast stuffed with spinach, feta and pine nuts, then wrapped in the light and flaky phyllo dough and baked to a golden color. It was topped with a creamy sauce and served with veggie medley and mashed potatoes.
I ordered the Lobster Ravioli, which I liked very much. The portion came with 4-5 large raviolis filled with a cheesy lobster mix, then topped with a creamy rosa sauce and a small about of lobster meat. I loved every bite and was still hungry when it was all gone (and it is very rare that I finish my entree!) It would’ve been great to have bread with this meal but it was not brought out until after we already ate.
Another companion ordered the Chicken Pot Pie, which I tried and thought was very good. There was just the right amount of vegetables and chunky white chicken to the creamy chicken soup. It had a flaky, buttery crust baked on top, then sprinkled with parmesan. Total comfort food!
Another companion ordered the Gyro Appetizer. I did not try this at all but it looked like standard gyro meat and fixings,
A couple of my companions ordered Flaming Cinnamon shots which were quite spectacular when set on fire (at the bar only).
Service: The service that we experienced at Shorewood Bar & Grill was beyond disappointing; it was downright appalling. Our party consisted of fifteen people, with a reservation made four weeks in advance. We arrived on time to be seated in the lounge, with one large booth (seats 6-8) and a handful of 2-person bistro tables for our party. It was very awkward from the get-go, with there being no good way of arranging the tables so that everyone was included. Our server was a new employee, having just started at Shorewood the week prior. She was nice and sweet and I can cut her a little bit of slack because she was new, but Shorewood should know better than to put a newbie with a group so big on a busy weekend night. I guess Shorewood’s mentality with new wait staff is “sink or swim”?
Our biggest problem of the night wasn’t necessarily with our server; it was more the bad timing of the food. We all ordered within a half hour of our arrival, with the server starting at one end of the party and then finishing at the other end. Logical, right? The first four people to order received their salads about 43 minutes after ordering. Not even two minutes later their entrees showed up, but no sign of the calamari that was ordered as an appetizer. The timing of the food was just totally off! Someone did bring the calamari right out to us after inquiring to its whereabouts and we were not charged for it. This first group that got their food also had a serious problem: After requesting “no vegetables” to the server due to a food allergy, the steak entree showed up with vegetables. This mistake could have turned into a scary and life-threatening situation real quick. About twenty minutes later (an hour after ordering), the second wave of food arrived to those in the middle of the seating arrangement, myself included. It was not for another 30 minutes beyond this point that the last section of our group received their food, approximately 90 minutes after ordering. Our bread wasn’t served to us until the second time we requested it, and it came after the meal.
All the while we were waiting (and waiting!) for our food, the people who arranged the party spoke with the management to express their unhappiness with the chain of events. I am not sure of how that situation was remedied but I personally never saw the management once that evening, nor did they come to check with the guests in our party. I think that personal tough was warranted in this situation and being accustomed to good service most places I go, I expect it. They did, however send in a few additional servers to check on us after the first two hours and these girls were very nice. At the end of the evening someone in our party passed my card along to the management and let them know that I was there and I was doing a review for this blog; the management sent our server over to me and asked if he could by me a drink since he knew I was writing a review. I find it kind of insulting that they thought maybe they could keep me quiet by buying me a margarita.
Overall Impression: Very mixed. I thought the food was really good but the service was terrible. As much as I liked the food, more importantly to me is how the service is and how the restaurant made us feel. I know I personally never felt like my business was valued or appreciated and I think it is safe to say the same for the majority of the people in our large party. The fact that our party was so big was a factor in the quality of service (I can only assume), but to me that shouldn’t matter. I have been to plenty of restaurants as part of a large group and most have done a great job. Shorewood has a long way to go with their service before I would consider going back.
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Cuisine: American, Fish & Seafood, Steaks, Dessert
Restaurant Features: Banquet, Happy Hour (bar only), On-Site Parking, Patio, Sunday Brunch
Location: North Oaks, MN
Address: 5959 Centerville Road North Oaks, MN 55127 651-426-9222
Hours: Mon-Thurs 5-9pm (Bar 4-10pm), Fri-Sat 5pm-10pm (bar 4-11pm) Sun 10am-8pm
Links: Tria Website * Tria on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: Tria is located at Centerville Rd and County Rd J in a large, beautiful building that more closely resembles a modern mansion than a restaurant. There are six dining areas within the property. The main dining room is just inside the entrance; a homey room with arched entries, fireplaces and wooden floors.
Another popular area at Tria is the Bar, which is where we sat. The beautiful wooden bar is the center of the room, with big booths running along the wall.
This is one of the areas available for private dining
Private Dining Area at Tria ~ North Oaks, MN
Here is another dining space.
Additional Dining Area at Tria ~ North Oaks, MN
Menu: Appetizers at Tria include Bruschetta Boursin, Seared Scallops, Escargot, Beef Bites, Crab Cakes, Spinach Artichoke Dip, Dijon Chicken Bites, Walleye Fingers, Chicken Tenders, Calamari, Shrimp Pronto Pup, Mushroom Puff, Wild Mushroom Flatbread (bar only, and Prosciutto and Arugula Flatbread (bar only).
Soups include Cream of Wild Rice and Brie, French Onion, and the Scallop and Cucumber. Salad offerings are the Caesar, Wedge, Spinach and Roasted Beet.
Casual Classics include Chicken Pot Pie, 1/2 lb Burger, Chicken Club, Walleye, Prime Rib Dip, and Baked Mac N Cheese.
Tria’s Entrees include Tournedos of Beef (choice of Dijon Cream, Bearnaise or Sauteed Mushrooms), Walleye (broiled, blacked or pan fried), Veal Scaloppine (piccata, marsala, caprese), Chicken Penne, Pappardelle Pasta, Chardonnay Chicken, Parmesan Crusted Chicken, Stuffed Chicken, Pork Shank, Steak Frites, 6 oz or 9 oz Filet Mignon, 14 oz Ribeye, New York Strip, Lamb Chops, Venison, Salmon, Seared Ahi Tuna, Halibut, Sea Bass, Scallops, and Shrimp Scampi.
Desserts include Artisan Cheese Board, Homemade Ice Cream (pistachio white chocolate, ), Homemade Sorbet, Hot Fudge or Mixed Berry Sundae, Chocolate Lava Cake, New York Cheesecake, Creme Brulee, Chocolate Decadence, Apple Tart, and Chomeur Pudding. There are also a number of dessert wines and ports.
Price guide: Appetizers $7-12 Entrees $15-30 Desserts $3-9
Happy Hour:
- Early Bird M-F 4:00-6:30
- Late Night M-Th 9pm-close Sunday 8pm-close
- Bar Area Only
- 1/2 price Salmon Creek Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, Michelob Golden Light, House Rail Cocktails
- $3 off Appetizers
Weekly Specials:
Wednesday- Maple Glazed Pork Chops with Mashed Potatoes $18
Thursday- Prime Rib with Twice Baked Potato, Green Beans and Popover Queen Cut $20 King Cut $24
Friday- Cioppino $27
Saturday- Beef Short Ribs with Mashed Potatoes $24
Sunday- Prime Rib with Twice Baked Potato, Green Beans and Popover Queen $20 King $24
What we ordered: My companions and I visited Tria during Happy Hour, so we ordered several appetizers, including the Chicken Dijon Bites. These little bites of white meat chicken were mixed with a flavorful, creamy dijon mustard sauce along with sauteed mushrooms and spinach. Delicious and low-carb! Came with a long slice of toasted ciabatta.
We also tried the Artichoke Dip, which was also very good. The blend of cheeses, spinach and artichokes was baked in a ramekin with breadcrumbs on top. It was served with a plate-full of golden baguette toasts. Both the dip and the toast were wonderful, just wish there was more dip for all the toast ;)
We also had the Beef Bites, mmm mmm mmm. The bites of beef were tender and juicy, seasoned with Montreal spices and cooked in a red wine reduction, then served with a side of bearnaise and extra-long slice of toasted ciabatta. Delish!
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Beef Bites at Tria ~ North Oaks, MN
And last but certainly not least of the appetizers is the Wild Mushroom Flatbread. I like everything I tried but this definitely stood out, it was fabulous! The flatbread was topped with chive oil, fresh garlic, wild mushrooms and boursin cheese, then baked to a crispy golden brown and topped with fresh sprouts. The pizza was light and very flavorful and I absolutely loved the cheese they used, it had much more to offer in the flavor department than any ordinary mozzarella. I might dream about this pizza, it was that good.
We also ordered a Burger with Bacon and Bleu Cheese. The burger was 1/2 lb of beef topped with extra thick slices of smokey bacon and bleu cheese crumbles on a fresh, toasted bun. The entire thing was very good but the bacon was outstanding.
We were definitely full from our appetizers and wine but when I heard they had a list of homemade ice creams and sorbets, I had to try one. Our server ran down the list of flavors and once I heard “pistachio” I was sold. This was no ordinary pistachio ice cream. It was a scoop of frozen heaven in a dish and I am an ice cream lover to the core. It was rich, creamy and packed full of small pieces of pistachios and the white chocolate was infused into the pistachio cream. Heavenly!
Service: We had excellent service at Tria. We wanted to take advantage of the happy hour specials so we sat in the bar; fortunately we arrived early enough that a booth was available. Our server greeted us right away and told us about the happy hour specials. Our glasses of wine arrived within minutes so we enjoyed it while we looked over the appetizer menu. Our server was great about checking on us even when the bar area became busy, all requests were taken care of quickly.
Overall Impression: I am glad I finally tried Tria; the food, service and atmosphere were all excellent. I am still thinking about the Wild Mushroom Flatbread and the Pistachio Ice Cream, but would also like to have dinner there next time I visit. Looking forward to the patio when it gets a little warmer too!
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