Disclosure: I was invited out to do this review and my meal was provided by the restaurant. All opinions are my own.
Cuisine: Italian, Pasta, Pizza, Seafood, Steaks, Dessert
Restaurant Features: Casino, Hotel
Location: Prior Lake, MN
Address: 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd. Prior Lake, MN 55372
Hours: Sun, Wed, Thur 5pm-10pm Friday-Sat 5pm-12am
Links:* Il Premio Website * Google Map *
Atmosphere: Located within Mystic Lake Casino near the hotel, Il Premio is located in the space that was formerly Ribbons Steakhouse, which was fully remodeled and opened as Il Premio in August 2010. The large space is divided into two dining areas, both of which have white-clothed tables, as well as booths throughout the area. It is elegant and cozy, a quiet sanctuary away from the sounds and activity of the casino.
Menu: Appetizers at Il Premio include Calamari Fritti, Grilled Eggplant Crustini, Tomato Garlic Bruschetta, Zucchini Fritters, Grilled Asparagus Rolls, Caramelized Brussel Sprouts, Italian Crab Cakes and Vegetable Antipasti. Soups offered are Minestrone and Chicken Wild Rice.
Salads include Insalata Osteria (unlimited refills), Caprese, Bleu Chicken, Tuscan Bread Salad Panzanella, Mediterranean Caesar, and Boston Bibb with Apples, Walnuts and Gorgonzola.
Foccacia Flatbread choices are the Balsamic Onion with Rosemary, and Parmesan, Oven-Dried Tomato and Pesto, Roman Potato with Ricotta and Garlic, Margherita, and Prosciutto Di Parma with Melon. Neapolitan Pizza choices include Sicilian Sausage and Mushroom, Sicilian Sausage and Pepperoni, Pepperoni and Mozzarella, Margherita, Quattro Formagi, and Tomato with Garlic and Oregano.
Il Premio’s signature Pasta dishes include Lobster Ravioli, Bucatini with Meatball, Asparagus and Mushroom Risotto Milanese, Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken, Basil Pesto Farfalle, Orecchiette Prosciutto Di Parma, and Homemade Lasagna.
All Steaks at Il Premio come from Creekstone Farms and are handcut daily including the 8 oz Filet Mignon, 14 oz Ribeye, and New York Strip Florentine. Other entrees at Il Premio include Lobster Tail ($28), Brick-Oven Chicken, Grilled Pork Prime Chop, Chicken Parmigiano, Veal Saltimbocca, and the Chef’s Seasonal Catch of the Evening.
Desserts include Almond Cheesecake, Tiramisu, and Cannoli.
Price guide: Appetizers $6-10 Salads $8-9 Flatbreads $8 Pizzas $13 Pastas $14-18 Entrees $16-20
What we ordered: We started with a couple of Homemade Italian Sodas, one of the non-alcoholic beverages that are offered Il Premio. Like all areas of Mystic Lake Casino, Il Premio is a “dry” restaurant and does not serve any alcohol. One soda was Lavender, the other was Cucumber. Both were light and refreshing, the Lavender soda was slightly sweeter than the Cucumber.
We started with this complimentary loaf of warm bread while we waited for our appetizers. The bread itself was crusty on the outside while soft and warm within. It was served with a plate of Il Premio’s extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and parmesan cheese for dipping. Delicious and comforting!
There were many appetizers that sounded wonderful and since I couldn’t decide between the Calamari and Crab Cakes, I ordered both. This calamari ranks up there with some of the best I have ever had. The breading was crispy yet the calamari was cooked absolutely perfect. It was tender without any hint of rubbery-ness that is common when calamari is cooked even a second too long. It was served with a basil tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
The Crab Cakes were also magnificent. There were three small cakes to the order, but each cake was made almost entirely of crab meat with just a hint of basil and onion. They were crispy and browned on top but filled with soft, succulent crab meat within. Served with a creamy basil dipping sauce. So good!
For my entree, I knew I wanted to try one of the pastas so I ordered the Lobster Ravioli after careful deliberation of the menu and asking the server his opinion. Wow, was this dish amazing! I knew the pasta would be prepared al dente, as each ravioli was handmade to order. There were five giant raviolis in the order and each pocket was stuffed with freshly-cooked buttery lobster meat, parmesan and fresh herbs, then tossed in a creamy tomato butter sauce topped with basil, tomatoes and parmesan. I loved every bite!
My companion was deciding between the Veal Pasta and the Ribeye, but went with the ribeye after asking the server’s opinion. What a great steak! It was 14 oz and cut thinner than most, but it was a very tender and flavorful steak, cooked a perfect medium rare yet still seared on the outside to keep all the juices inside. The steak was very lightly seasoned and garnished with Il Premio’s signature Parmesan Lombardy Butter and garlic.
For dessert there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to have the Almond Cheesecake. I love cheesecake and anything almond, so this was sure to be a winner, and it was!! It had the creamy consistency of cheesecake, but the distinct flavor of almond. It was plated with a pretty swirl of raspberry and cream, which added just the perfect amount of fruitiness to compliment the almond.
My companion ordered a Mocha and the Cannoli for dessert. The Mocha was overflowing with sweet creaminess, the perfect dessert drink.
The Cannoli was a delicious blend of sweetened ricotta cheese with mini chocolate chips overfilling the tube-shaped pastry. The first bite I tasted had a mild hint of cinnamon to it, an unexpected but enjoyable addition to the overall flavor.
Service: We had wonderful service at Il Premio. We were warmly greeted by the hostess who showed us to our table and then by our server, Kevin, shortly after. Our server had many suggestions for us and was polite as well as knowledgeable in answering the questions I had about Il Premio. The timing of the food was just right so that we were able to enjoy each course without rushing, yet our entire visit was just about an hour and a half. We couldn’t have asked for better service, even the busboy did a wonderful job.
Overall Impression: We loved everything we had at Il Premio, but I was particularly impressed with the seafood we had and the steak was also excellent. It is worth a trip to Mystic Lake soon if only to have dinner at Il Premio!
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Cuisine: Italian, Pizza, Pasta, Desserts
Restaurant Features: Delivery, On-Site Parking
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Address: 3555 Chicago Ave South Minneapolis, MN 55407 612-825-6827
Jakeeno’s Trattoria- 920 E. Lake St. #113 Minneapolis, MN 55407 612-767-1102
Hours: M-F 11am Sat-Sun 4pm
Links: Jakeeno’s Website *Jakeeno’s Facebook Page *Google Map
Atmosphere: Jakeeno’s Pizza and Pasta is located in south Minneapolis, on Chicago at E 36th. The interior is vibrant and colorful, with brightly painted walls and a number of wooden tables along either side of the space.
Menu: Appetizers at Jakeeno’s include Artichoke Dip, Chicken Wings, Garlic Provolone Toast, and Italian Toast.
Salads are the Baby Greens with Walnuts, Caesar, House and Antipasto.
Sandwiches include Meatball, Chicken Parmesan, and Spicy Sausage Link.
Jakeeno’s Pasta dishes include Lasagna, Chicken Florentine, Pasta Primavera, Chicken Parmesan, Stuffed Shells, Roasted Vegetable Cannelloni, Baked Rigatoni, Italian Spaghetti, and Jumbo Beef Ravioli.
Build-your-Own-Pizza in either 10″, 13″ or 15″ or try one of these Specialty Pizzas: Chicago Super, House Special (sausage, pepperoni, mushroom), Jakeeno’s Favorite, Vegetarian Special, Spinach Special, Rosemary Potato, Barbeque Special, Primavera and Greek.
Jakeeno’s also has desserts such as the Walnut Brownie, Cheesecake, Chocolate Mocha Layer Cake, and Mini Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Price guide: Appetizers $2-8 Salads $4/6.50 Sandwiches $7.50 Pastas $9-12 Pizzas $13-22
What we ordered: One of the first things I noticed when I walked into Jakeeno’s for the first time was the white sign with the Daily Specials and a Dollar Menu. I was in the company of three small children and the small order of penne for $1 was about the right size for each of them, but a hungry child could easily eat two. The sauce was tasty and not at all spicy. Garlic cheese toast was also $1. The kids loved them!
The Garlic Cheese Bread was baked to the perfect combo of textures; golden brown and toasty around the edges and on the bottom, then soft and buttery bread under the layer of bubbly provolone. The provolone gave it a deeper flavor than mozzarella would, very tasty!
My companion and I split a full order of the Baby Greens Salad. Pictured below is half the salad, the size of a typical side salad. The baby greens were very fresh, a mix of spinach, arugula and others, then tossed in a balsimic vinaigrette and topped with walnuts and asiago cheese crumbles. I thought the salad was good but it would’ve been better with some type of sweet addition
There were many specialty pizzas that looked great but we decided on this 10″ Primavera Pizza. It isn’t often that I order a veggie-only pizza but this one was very good! The thin crust was covered with Jakeeno’s homemade sauce, then topped with zucchini, yellow squash, peppers, garlic, onions, mushrooms and a generous heaping of mozzarella. This beauty was baked so that all the veggies were cooked but still somewhat al dente. I loved the textures of this pizza and the strong garlic really gave the sauce an extra kick. It would’ve been even better with sausage and/or pepperoni but meat wasn’t necessary to make it delicious.
Service: We had very good service at Jakeeno’s. The server was very accommodating when dealing with the kids in our party and food was served quickly.
Overall Impression: Jakeeno’s is a good restaurant to bring the family but if you can’t dine in, they also deliver. Make sure you ask about daily specials, sometimes they offer all-you-can-eat spaghetti.
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This is an update to the original review I wrote in March 2007. Time for an update!
Cuisine: Italian
Restaurant Features: Bar, Live Music, Nightclub, Sunday Brunch, Student Discount
Location: Minneapolis, MN (Dinkytown)
Address: 327 14th Av. SE. Minneapolis, MN 55414 612.378.4849
Hours: Mon – Thu: 11:30 a-9p Fri – Sat: 11:30 a- 11p Sunday: 11a-9p
Links: Loring Pasta Bar Website * Loring Pasta Bar on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: The inside of the Loring Pasta Bar is not only super cool, but breath-taking and romantic as well. Located inside a beautifully renovated building in Dinkytown (formerly known as Gray’s Drug Store) , the Loring Pasta Bar is an amazing site to see. Ceilings are 2-3 stories high, with an upper-eating area overlooking the court-yard style main dining room. Large trees and beautiful plants line the perimeter (glass windows are often opened or removed during summer months to really give you the feeling of eating outdoors.). They also have live music every night from 6-9pm, usually in the form of a jazz band.
Besides having additional tables for dining in the upper level, there is also this cute little romantic lounge.
Menu: Appetizers include Artichoke Ramekin, Ciabatta Bruschetta, Fried Calamari, Pan Fried Potstickers, and Spicy Tuna Sushi Roll.
Salad options are the House Salad, Caesar Salad, and Salade Sauvage.
Pastas on the menu seem to change frequently and may include Beef Shortribs Farfalle, Fettuccini Carbonara, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Roasted Chicken and Mozzarella Ravioli, Linguini with Clam Sauce, Mushroom Penne, Cheese Tortellini Classico, Cheese Tortellini Nuovi, and Mac N Cheese.
Menu entrees also seem to change at least seasonally and may include items such as Seared Sea Scallops, South American Beef Tips, Grilled Salmon, New York Strip, Beef Tenderloin, Osso Buco (Braised Veal), Blackened Catfish, and Shrimp or Chicken Vegetable Stir-Fry.
Price guide: Appetizers $8-9 Salads $5-7 Pasta $13-17 Entrees $16-23
Student Discount of 30% with Valid Student I.D. (Excluded 6-9pm Fri & Sat)
Special Events:
- Salsa Dancing every Friday and Saturday night 10pm $8/10 (18+)
- Live Music from 6-9pm every day
Sunday Brunch Buffet: $10.95/Students $15.95/Adults
- Items change weekly but always include a variety of breakfast items, lunch items, pastas, desserts and fresh fruits.
What we ordered: We started with an order of Bruschetta, a savory mix of roasted red peppers, chopped golden tomatoes, fresh basil and fresh mozzarella, topped with a balsamic sauce, all sitting on little toasts of ciabatta. The four pieces didn’t go far but everyone enjoyed it.
I ordered the Cheese Tortellini Nuovi after much deliberation and asking the server for suggestions. A pleasant choice! The bowl-sized portion of tortellini was bathed in an enticing cream sauce, rich in flavor from a mix of spices. The pasta was topped with sliced prosciutto and toasted pine nuts, a symphony of textures. Oh Heavenly pasta!
One of my companions ordered the Spicy Tuna Roll, a large order of 9 pieces. The roll had raw tuna, avocado, cucumber, spicy mayo, carrot and rice. Served with a side of edamame ( wasabi and ginger too, of course!)
Another companion ordered the Roasted Chicken with Mozzarella Ravioli. The raviolis are hand-made and tossed in a Napolitana sauce (concassed tomatoes, roasted garlic, basil, and extra virgin olive oil). The bowl was topped with a serving of roasted chicken and freshly grated cheese.
We were celebrating a birthday that night and so one of my companions enjoyed this Chocolate Souffle with Vanilla Ice Cream.
Service: It was very busy on this Saturday night and parking can be scarce; options are metered parking or pay lots. I ended up parking in a lot a few blocks away. We had a reservation for a fairly large group and they were able to seat us all promptly. Our server was really efficient at serving a large group. Our visit extended over a couple of hours as we enjoyed our food and company, with food and drink served throughout the time.
Overall Impression: I enjoyed my visit to the Loring Pasta Bar just as much (if not more) than my first visit three years ago. The atmosphere is really cool and they have a variety of pastas and entrees on the menu. Seems like it would be a cool place to come for Salsa dancing on Friday and Saturday nights.
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Disclosure: I was invited out to do this review and my meal was provided by the restaurant.
Cuisine: Southern Italian
Restaurant Features: Bar, Catering, Patio, On-Site Parking, Sunday Brunch
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Address: 5001 34th Ave S. Minneapolis, MN 55417 612 724-3009
Hours: Sun-Th 4:30p-10p Fri-Sat 4:30p-11p Sunday Brunch: 10a-2p
Links: Al Vento Website * Al Vento Facebook Page * Google Map
Atmosphere: Al Vento is conveniently located on the corner of East 50th St and 34th Ave S in South Minneapolis, not far from the Lightrail line. The restaurant is in a brick building, with one open room serving as the dining room and bar area, and the kitchen tucked away in the back. The mood was romantic, with soft lighting from both the hanging pendant lights and the soft glow of the table-top candles. The space efficiently accommodates enough tables to intimately seat maybe 40-50 guests. Our server, Alexandro, just added to the ambiance with his authentic Italian accent. The name “Al Vento” means “with the wind” in Italian.
Menu: Appetizers include a variety of Bruschetta including Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto and White Bean, Artichoke/Mozzarella/Basil and Roasted Peppers, Eggplant Caponata, and Olive Tapenade with Goat Cheese. Other starters include Mushroom and Pork with Apple Chutney, Stuffed Mushrooms, Mussels in White Wine & Garlic, Tomato Bread Soup, Smoked Salmon Crostini with Mascarpone and Berry Compote, Cavatelli with Swiss Chard Truffle Pecorino and Brown Butter.
Salads offered at Al Vento are the Caesar, Red Beet with Candied Walnuts, and the Mista with Fennel , Blood Orange and Herb Goat Cheese.
You can also order a variety of pizzas including the Neopolitan, or one with Salami/Artichoke/Tomato, the Red Potato/Spinach/Gorgonzola/ Red Onion is a unique combo and last but not least, the Fennel Sausage/ Roma Tomato/ Herb Goat Cheese.
There are a handful of delicious Pastas on the menu at Al Vento, with the menu rotating items on a regular (if not daily) basis. Menu items on the night of my visit were Spaghetti and Meatballs (which is a true winner even if you rarely order spaghetti at restaurants), Risotto with Roasted Cauliflower and Pecorino, Bucatini alla Amatriciana with Pancetta Tomato and Chili flake, Maltagliati with Braised Pork Olives and Chestnuts, and Fussili with Tiger Shrimp and Pancetta in a Tomato Sauce.
The Entree items also change on a regular basis, depending on the season and what ingredients can be obtained locally. Current menu includes Braised Pork Shank with Saffron Risotto and Gremolata, Sea Bass with Root Vegetables and Red Pepper Sauce, Parmesan Chicken Breast with Roasted Vegetable Gratín, Grilled Steak alla Pizzaiola with Gorgonzola Sauce and Potato.
Desserts are all homemade and include Vanilla Gelato, Semi-Fredo Hazelnut Custard, Chocolate Oblivion (pastry crust with chocolate ganache and strawberries), Tiramisu, Olive Oil Cake (with fresh berry puree and hazelnuts), and the Creme Brulee Trio (chocolate, vanilla, pistachio).
In addition to a full bar, Al Vento offers a variety of coffee drinks and Italian sodas.
Sunday Brunch: European-style buffet featuring fresh fruit, salads, pastries, meats, cheeses, smoked salmon, waffles, house made sausage, eggs benedict, breakfast potatoes, a chocolate fondue fountain with strawberries and more that rotates from week to week,. $14 for adults, $7 for kids. Adult brunch includes a bottomless mimosa. Every Sunday from 10 to 2. Reservations accepted.
Price guide: Bruschetta $4-5 Antipasti $7-9 Salads $7 Pizza $9-11 Pasta $13-15 Entrees $17-20
Happy Hour: Happy Hour every day from 4:30 to 6. 1/2 price all bottles of wine, $5 select martinis.
Weekly Specials: Sundays and Mondays- Half Price Wine all night
Tuesday Night Date Night- 3 Courses for $20 a person.
What we ordered: We started with the complimentary freshly baked Italian bread with a side of olive oil. Like everything at Al Vento, the bread was made from scratch. It was lovely, thick and dense, seasoned with Italian herbs and very flavorful.
Al Vento has many selections of Bruschetta so I ordered the one that caught my eye. It had chopped artichoke, tomato, roasted red pepper and fresh homemade mozzarella. I don’t hesitate to say this is one of the best bruschetta I have tried. Every ingredient was so fresh and brought a great mix of flavors. Artichoke and roasted red peppers were a genius addition to the traditional tomato and basil.
We also tried the Sicilian Stuffed Mushrooms, an excellent choice. The order came with four mushroom caps that were stuffed with a blend of walnuts and herbs, topped with bread crumbs and cheese, then baked. The mushrooms were placed atop a pretty arrangement of colorful dipping sauces. Great combo of textures and flavors.
There were many entrees on the menu that sounded wonderful but I have really been craving seafood lately so I chose the Fussili Shrimp Pasta. The dish was a generous portion of homemade fussili pasta loaded with at least 7-8 giant tiger shrimp. The pasta was tossed with homemade tomato sauce, small chunks of pancetta (cured Italian bacon), fresh garlic, red chili spices and other herbs. The pasta was cooked perfectly, the tomato sauce was fresh with subtle kick from the red chili, and the little bites of pancetta provided even more texture and taste than the shrimp alone. I was very pleased with this dish!
My companion ordered the Braised Pork Shank. The pork was extremely tender and juicy after being braised; it was first seared to give it a brown color then roasted in seasoned broth. Fabulous! The pork was topped with a gremolata consisting of chopped garlic, parsley and lemon zest then surrounded with a saffron risotto. The citrusy mix of herbs was a pleasing compliment to the rich taste of the saffron risotto. My companion and I both loved this dish, it is hearty and warming on a cold winter night.
We also ordered dessert at the suggestion of our server. The homemade Vanilla Gelato at Al Vento is better than any I have had locally. Gelato is usually made with less fat and more sugar than traditional ice cream; this version is the perfect blend of both creamy and sweet, with the rich taste of real vanilla bean. Heavenly!
We also tried the Semi Fredo, which was a very unique dessert made of semi-frozen hazelnut custard. The flavor of the hazelnut reminded me slightly of peanut butter, but much more rich and less sweet. The strawberry and chocolate sauces that were drizzled on top were a perfect match to the hazelnut. As for the texture of this dessert, I have a hard time wording its uniqueness; it was very cold yet not frozen or creamy smooth like gelato, ice cream or other frozen custards. Word cannot do it justice, you must just try it to see what I mean! You’ll love it.
Service: We were lucky enough to find a space in the parking lot and get a table on a busy Tuesday night. Our service was excellent! Our server, Alexandro, was great at explaining items on the menu (with his authentic Italian accent) and had some suggestions that were real winners. Drinks were refilled quickly and food was timed so that we were able to enjoy our appetizers without rushing to finish before our entrees came. The manager was also very inviting and helpful and seemed to genuinely care about every customer dining at Al Vento.
Overall Impression: This was my first visit to Al Vento and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. The food is wonderful, authentic Southern Italian, everything is made from scratch, and many ingredients are locally produced….. all for prices less than I expected for such a nice restaurant. The Tuesday Date Night special (3 course meal for $20/person) is a phenomenal way to try a variety and the Sunday Brunch sounds excellent as well.
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Cuisine: American, Italian, Seafood, Steaks, Chops, Ribs
Restaurant Features: Card Room, Horse Racing, On-Site Parking, Sunday Brunch
Location: Columbus, MN (near Lino Lakes & Forest Lake)
Address: 15201 Zurich Street NE Columbus MN 55025-7908 (651) 925-4600 877-RUN-ACES (I-35 and Hwy 97)
Winner’s Circle Hours: Lunch Mon-Sat 11a-3p
Dinner Mon-Wed 5p-9p Thur 4-9p Fri 4-10p Sat 5-10p
Sunday Brunch 9:30-1pm Sunday Dinner 5-9p
Links: Running Aces Harness Park Website Google Map
Atmosphere: Located within Running Aces Harness Park, the Winner’s Circle Dining & Lounge is a large, open space with giant floor-to-ceiling windows that allow a good view of the horse track outside.
The Buffets are set up in another large room just off to the left of the main room. This back room also serves as seating space for large groups.
Menu: The new Fall Lunch Menu includes Walleye Fingers, BBQ Chicken Quesadilla, Onion Rings, Cobb Salad, Thai Chicken Salad, Caesar Salad, Aces House Salad, BBQ Blue Burger, Southwest Burger, Reuben, BBQ Brisket Sandwich, Club, Cajun Walleye, French Dip, Hot Italian Wrap and Chicken Wrap. All sandwiches and burgers come with fries.
Fall Dinner Menu is served Sun-Wed. Appetizers include Beer-Battered Onion Rings, Buffalo Chicken Wings, Walleye Fingers, Fried Calamari, Beef Tender Tips, BBQ Chicken Quesadilla, and Sampler Platter.
Salad choices include Cobb Salad, Thai Chicken Salad, Caesar Salad, and Aces House Salad (with caramelized pecans, goat cheese and raspberries).
Sandwiches at Winner’s Circle are the BBQ Blue Burger, Southwest Burger, Reuben, BBQ Brisket Sandwich, Club,
Cajun Walleye, French Dip, Hot Italian Wrap and Chicken Wrap. All
sandwiches and burgers come with fries.
Italian Entrees include Chicken Parmesan, Cajun Chicken Alfredo, Shrimp Pomodoro, Rotelle Vegetable Pasta with olives and artichokes.
House Specialties are Ber Battered Colossal Shrimp, Herbed Pork Tenderloin, Stuffed Chicken Breast, Almond Crusted Walleye, Rainbow Trout, Grilled Pork Chop, King Crab and Smokehouse Ribs.
Steaks offered are the Filet, New York Strip, Flat Iron Steak and Surf & Turf (Filet & choice of either King Crab or Lobster Tail)
Price guide: Lunch Menu $8-11 Appetizers $8-10 Entrees $15-19 Steaks $18-26
Weekly Specials:
Thursday Night Seafood Buffet $21.95 includes oysters in the half-shell, peel-and-eat shrimp, Snow Crab Legs, Fried Shrimp, Made-to-order Shrimp Scampi, Prime Rib, Weekly Chef Specials and Dessert Table.
Friday Night Italian Feast Buffet $19.95 includes Italian Antipasto Bar, Gourmet cooked-to-order Pasta Bar, Carved Beef Tenderloin, 7 Specialty Entrees, and Italian Dessert Station.
Saturday Lobster Extravaganza $25.95 includes Lobster Bisque, Twin Lobster Tail, Vegetables, Potato and Dessert.
Sunday Brunch Buffet $16.95 Adults $8.95 Kids includes Champagne, Prime Rib, Made-to-order Omelets and Waffles, Peel and Eat Shrimp, Salad Bar, 7 Breakfast and Lunch Entrees, and Dessert Table.
What I ate: My visit was during Sunday Brunch. My first plate included prime rib, Salmon Pasta, Green Beans, Potates O’Brien, Bacon, and Cheesy Scrambled Eggs. Everything I tried was decent, typical buffet quality, but nothing outstanding. My cut of prime rib was cooked more than I prefer and therefore not as tender as I like it. I ate a couple of bites of each item before deciding I needed to try something else.
My second plate was a much bigger hit after a visit to the made-to-order Omelet and Waffle Stand. They had a variety of toppings for the waffles which were hot and golden brown. I ordered my omelet with everything (tomato, onion, peppers,mushrooms, ham, bacon and cheddar) and it was so good! My favorite way to eat eggs.
Yes, I did get another small plate (for the sake of this review of course!). The salad was basic but good and I also tried the spare ribs in gravy. The meat was so good! It was very tender and flavorful. I would have loved to try more of that but I was very full at this point.
I got a small dessert plate (also for the sake of this review!) I love cheesecake so I had to try a bite of the Winner’s Circle cheesecake. What a disappointment! The taste and texture both seemed off and I didn’t make it past a 2nd bite. I also tried the blueberry cobbler and the creme-filled chocolate cake. I was too full to get excited about any of it.
Here is the dessert plate of one of my companions
Service: My party of 8 adults and 3 small kids had a reservation and were able to be seated at our table immediately. They had set up a special table for us in the large banquet space. Our server was friendly and accommodating with drinks and other small requests.
Overall Impression: The food served on the Sunday Brunch was decent, I recommend the omelets and waffles! Our service was really good. I would like to go back for dinner to order off the menu
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Cuisine: Delicatessan, Ice Cream, Italian
Restaurant Features: Counter-Service, On-Site Parking
Location: Vadnais Heights, MN
Address: 3435 Centerville Rd. Vadnais Heights, MN 55127
( 651)484-6656
Hours: Tues-Fri 11am-6pm Sat 11am-5pm Sun & Mon Closed
Links: Google Map
Atmosphere: Located near the intersection of Centerville Rd. & Edgerton, That’s Amore is snuggled into an antique strip mall that also holds a hardware store and possibly a service station. It is a very small restaurant but they make you feel right at home. The kitchen area and ice cream counter take up a good portion of the space, but there are three portable tables set up in little private nooks for customers to sit at. Two of those nooks are located in the front window areas, each of which have cute little curtains hung over the windows.
Menu: Appetizers include Mini Pizzas, Luigi Fries, Homemade Chili, or Soup of the Day.
Salads offered at That’s Amore’ are the Caesar, Garden, House, Italian, and Spinach Italiano.
The sandwiches include Hot Dago, Meatball, Chicken Italiano, Hot Italian Beef, Hot or Cold Subs (choice of ham, turkey, salami, and roast beef), Turkey Sandwich, Luigi’s Favorite (ham & turkey with pepperjack grilled), Grilled Ham & Cheese, Tuna Melt, Grilled Cheese, Spiedini (Italian Sausage), and Coney Island or Chicago-Dtyle Hot Dogs. Wraps include Chicken Caesar, Chicken Ranch, and Club. Broiled Cod Sandwich is offered on Fridays only. Hamburger or Italian Burger also available. All Sandwiches and Wraps are served with potato chips or substitute potato salad for $.50 extra.
The two pastas offered at That’s Amore’ are Baked Mostaccioli and Fettuccine Alfredo.
Sixteen Flavors of Old-Fashioned Ice Cream for dessert!
Price guide: Appetizers $4-6 Salad $5-8 Sandwiches $6-7 Pasta $7-8
What I ordered: I tried the meatball sub, which came with a small bag of Lays potato chips, pepperoncini peppers and cherry tomatoes. I thought the sandwich was pretty good. The meatballs were cut in half to make it a little easier to eat, as this was a good sized sandwich! The very fresh bread (baked that same day at a local bakery) was thick and soft on the inside, toasted just slightly on the outside. Snuggled between the meatballs and the bread were thick slices of cold pepperjack cheese, which I would have preferred melted. It was good nonetheless and I really liked that it came with a side of sauce for dipping, etc.
My companion ordered the Italian Beef Sandwich, which had tender, juicy and flavorful spiced roast beef piled onto thick, fresh bread that had been toasted just enough to make it golden brown. This sandwich also came with cold pepperjack and a side of warm au jus. Also served were potato chips, pickle spear and veggies.
I was also given this complimentary donut which I assume to have been baked at the same bakery where they get their fresh bread every day. The cake donut was airy and fluffy, very moist inside with just the right amount of sugar coating it on the outside. A sweet little extra after eating the meatball sub :)
Service: The people who run That’s Amore’ are very courteous, friendly and seemed appreciative of our business. We ordered our food at a counter, but they brought it out to us and seemed to go out of their way to make sure we were taken care of. I loved the gesture of offering my companion and I free fresh donuts for dessert. Stopping at That’s Amore’ can also be quite convenient if you need to buy lottery tickets, milk, eggs or fresh bread, as these things are all available.
Overall Impression: Great little deli that has both hot and cold sandwiches at reasonable prices. Great service. Disappointed that it isn’t open later than 6pm (or on Sundays or Mondays)
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Cuisine: Deli, Italian, Pizza, Pasta
Restaurant Features: Cafe-Style, On-Site Parking, Market
Location: St Paul, MN (Downtown)
Address: 211 Seventh St W St Paul, MN 55102 (651) 222-3476
Hours: Sun-Thu 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm
Links: Google Map * Cossetta’s Facebook Page
Atmosphere: Cossetta’s is a cafe-style restaurant, with two main serving areas that work their way toward the middle: The Pizza/Dessert counter on the far right and the Sandwiches/Salads/Hot Entree counter to the far left near the Italian Market. Order what you would like at designated counter (some items such as the lasagna, mostacolli and pizza are premade, but other items such as salads, sandwiches, veal parmesgiana, etc are made to order), then pay for everything at one of the two cashiers in the middle. Beverages are purchased at the cashier.
Cossetta’s is a two-story restaurant, with a majority of the seating on the upper level. Since the middle of the restaurant is open the full two stories to accommodate the stairway, many of the tables in the upper level wrap around a railing overlooking the action below. There is also a dining room upstairs in the back that has several tables extremely close together. When it gets crowded it can be hard to maneuver in and out.
Not pictured is the Cossetta Market, which sells imported food products from Italy, as well as fresh deli items (salads, sausage, sauce,etc).
Menu: Cossettas has a selection of made-to-order garden salads, such as the famous Cossetta Salad, Italian Garden Salad, or Italian Gorgonzola. There are also a handful of pasta salads like the Antipasto Salad or the Tortellini with Prosciutto and Gorgonzola.
Cossettas also has several sandwiches. The Hero (choice of meat) and the Italian Hero are served cold with choice of fixings, while the following are all served hot: Cossetta Sandwich, Hot Peppers and Sausage, Veal Parmegiana, and Italian Meatball.
Entrees include Mostacolli with Ricotta, Chicken Marsala, Sausage and Peppers, Lasagna, Veal Parmesan, and Chicken Cacciatore. Every month there is also a Featured Special; February’s special is Manicotti Panna Marzano.
Pizza can be bought by the slice or you can order a whole pizza. There are always hot, fresh slices of Cheese, Pepperoni, and Sausage, as well as a Daily Special. One 16″ is divided into six slices.
Desserts include Spumoni, Gelato, Cannoli and Tiramisu.
*All beverages are canned or bottled.
Price guide: Salads $ 4-8 Sandwiches $ 7-8 Entrees $5-11 Pizza by Slice $3.50-4
What I ordered: I shared this gigantic piece of pizza with my companion. The slice was so big it hardly fit on the standard cardboard plate it came on! The pizza at Cossetta’s is New York Style, with a chewy, hand-tossed crust and just the right amount of sauce. The mozzarella that they use is fresh and plentiful, and there were also plenty of slices of pepperoni which made it kind of greasy. Cossetta’s pizza is my favorite local pizza thus far.
My companion and I also each got the veal parmegiana entree, which comes with mostacolli and garlic toast. I ordered mine with the sauce on the side to maintain the crispiness of the veal for as long as possible. The veal is sliced about 1/4″, making it tender yet crispy on the outside. The portion size was on the small side but worth every penny. The mostacolli was tossed lightly with ricotta and comes loaded with red sauce ( I added the sauce myself from the side they gave me and saved the rest for my veal). The mostacolli was firm and delicious with the sauce. The garlic toast was huge! It had a fair amount of garlic butter and was slightly salty but packed with flavor. It was also just the right amount of crispy on the outside and still soft on the inside- I especially loved it dipped in sauce.
Service: My visit was late on a Saturday afternoon, just 3 hours or so before a Wild Hockey game. We were fortunate enough to get to Cossetta’s before it started to get packed, which meant a prime spot in the Cossetta’s Parking Lot (for customers only, no event parking!) and reasonable food lines. Within a half hour or so after we arrived, it really started to fill up in the restaurant and the lines were getting long. As far as the actual service itself, the cafe-style servers were friendly and accommodating. I have eaten at Cossetta’s countless times and everything is consistently good.
Overall Impression: Delicious Italian food served reasonably fast and at affordable prices. Great place to have a giant slice of NY Style pizza (my favorite in fact ;) Can be very busy on weekend evenings and prior to events at the Xcel Energy Center. Free parking in own lot.
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Cuisine: Italian, Pizza
Restaurant Features: On-Site Parking
Location: St Paul
Address: 296 Larpenteur Ave E (and I-35E) St Paul, MN 55117 (651) 778-8786
Hours: M-F 6am-10pm, Sat 10:30am-10pm, Sun 11am-9pm
Links: Google Map
Atmosphere: Roadside Pizza is located within a strip mall just off the 35E Freeway exit between Wheelock Pkwy and Larpenteur Ave. The large windows brighten up the two dining areas, which consist of both laminate tables and booths. Walls are adorned with a variety of photographs and other local memorabilia.
Menu: Breakfast items include Breakfast Sandwich (choice of sausage, bacon or Canadian bacon, with eggs and either melted American or mozzarella, served on bagel or English muffin), Breakfast Pizza, and Baked French Toast.
Appetizers include Italian Fries, Pizza Pinwheels, Nachos, Nachos Supreme, Garlic Toast, Garlic Cheese Toast, and Chicken Wings (BBQ, Teriyaki, Bourban, Jamaican Jerk, Zesty Orange and Hot).
Salads offered at Roadside include the Super (chopped greens, pepperoni, ham, cheese, veggies), Taco, Oriental, Pasta, Orange & Walnut, Caesar, and Chicken Caesar.
Sandwiches include Hot Dago, Meatball Dip, or Deli Sandwich (Roast Beef, Ham, Turkey, or Piled High).
Specialty Pizzas include Special Deluxe, Veggie Lovers, Taco, Oriental Special, Cheeseburger, Chicken BBQ, Hawaiian Special, Buffalo Chicken, Chicken Alfredo, Super, and Meatlovers. You can also build your own.
Hot Pastas at Roadside include Spaghetti and Meatballs, Mostaciolli and Meatballs, Fettucini Alfredo, Baked Lasagna. Any pasta may be topped off with sauteed onion, green pepper and fresh mushrooms for $1.50 extra.
Desserts include Cinnamon Fries (baked dough covered with cinnamon sugar and vanilla icing), Apple Dessert Pizza, and Cherry Dessert Pizza.
Price guide: Breakfast $2.50-5 Appetizers $4-10 Salads $8 Sandwiches $7-8 Pizza Slice $2.55 Pizzas $5-20 Pasta $9 Desserts $5-10
Weekly Specials: (Dine in or Take-Out Only)
Saturday- Family Meal Deal (Large Pizza up to 2 toppings,1 side, and 2 liters Soda $19.99
Sunday- Buy One Large pizza, Get One Large Pizza Free
Monday- Free 10″ Italian Fry with purchase of Large Pizza
Tuesday- 2 for 1 Pasta Night
Wednesday- Meatball Dip and Beverage $6.95
What I ordered: I went with one of the Daily Lunch Specials, Lasagna with breadstick and side salad. The salad was served in a little bowl with fresh lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and shredded cheddar.
The lasagna had several layers of noodles, sausage, cheese and sauce. It was good, but I’ve decided I prefer the Pizza at Roadside.
My companion ordered the Mostaccioli Lunch Special (also served with side salad and bread stick). The sauce was thick and zesty.
Here is a slice of Pepperoni Pizza from Roadside. The crust is thin, hand-tossed and covered with a zesty sauce then piled with pepperoni then mozzarella and baked until cheese is golden and bubbly. Not as much grease as one would expect from all the pepperoni.
Service: Everyone at Roadside Pizza has always been very friendly when I stop in for a quick lunch or to grab pizza slices to-go. Food is prepared quickly and with a smile. Delivery is available.
Overall Impression: Roadside is more than a take-out pizza counter; the menu and restaurant offer a good place to stop for either a quick slice of pizza or to sit down and have pasta or pizza with friends and family.
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