Disclosure: I was invited out to do this review and my meal was provided by the restaurant. All opinions are my own.
Cuisine: American, Irish, Pub Grub, Fish & Seafood, Steaks
Restaurant Features: Bar, Flat Screen TVs, Happy Hour, Hotel, Kids Menu, Indoor Patio, On-Site Parking (pay-lot at Embassy Suites)
Location: St Paul (Downtown/ Lowertown)
Address: 175 10th St E St. Paul, MN 55101 651-224-5111 (Within Embassy Suites)
Hours: 7 Days 11am-11pm
Links: Cork’s Irish Pub Website * Cork’s Pub Facebook Page *Google Map
Atmosphere: Located within the Embassy Suites in downtown St Paul, Cork’s Irish pub is a fun place to enjoy a good meal or drink. As the name suggests, the atmosphere is reminiscent of the pubs in Ireland with wooden floors, a big wooden bar, and several wooden pub tables. The theme is carried out through the traditional Irish fare, “pub grub”, as well as a plethora of beers, scotches and whiskeys. There are also multiple flat screen TVs hung throughout the restaurant, giving it the slight feel of a sports pub as well.
Cork’s also has a patio area that looks out into the indoor courtyard of the Embassy Suites, where you can see tropical waterfall gardens such as these. Who says you ned to go south to feel a touch of the tropics!?
Menu: Appetizers at Cork’s include Scotch Eggs, Chicken Wings (Hot or BBQ), Fresh Chips (with cheese, bacon and green onion), Onion Rings, Chicken Fingers, Crab & Artichoke Dip, Fried Goodness Sampler, Crudite Platter (fresh veggies, olives, pita bread and hummus), 7 Layer Dip, Jack & Blue Sticks (blend of cheese and buffalo sauce battered and fried), and Cod Chippers.
Salad options are The Irishman (fingerling potatoes and corned beef on romaine with Guinness vinaigrette), Caesar, Grilled Salmon, Chicken Cobb, Bourbon Steak, and Country Chicken Salad.
Cork’s Sandwiches and Burgers include Club House, Hot Pastrami on Rye, Petite Steak Burgers, Build-A-Burger or Chicken Sandwich, The Downtowner (ham and cheddar on sourdough), Blarney Stone (corned beef, roast beef, and pastrami with swiss, cheddar and sauerkraut), Chicago Style Roast Beef, Asian Pork Burger with Peanut Sauce, Walleye, and Cranberry Turkey (turkey, swiss and cranberry mayo).
Cork’s also has Supreme Pizza, Irish Potato Pizza, and Build-Your-Own Pizza.
Entrees at Cork’s include 14 oz Sterling Silver New York Strip, Shepherd’s Pie, Pasta Vodka, Panko Walleye, Fish N Chips, Sea Scallops with Corned Beef and Cabbage, Fettuccine Alfredo, Grilled Walleye, Grilled Salmon, Drunken Broil (grilled steak served with a splash of whiskey and au jus), Potato Crusted Chicken, Chicken Marsala, and Bangers N Mac (penne in creamy cheese sauce with grilled lamb sausage).
Kids Menu items include Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Grilled Cheese, Chicken Fingers, Cheese Pizza, Macaroni and Cheese, and Fettuccine Alfredo.
The heavenly dessert options are seasonal and this season include Carrot Cake, Creme Brulee, Pumpkin Mousse Torte, Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae (all year), and Pear and Dried Cherry Crisp with Cinnamon Ice Cream.
Click here to see the large selection of Drinks at Cork’s Irish Pub
Price guide: Appetizers $8-10 Salads $8-15 Sandwiches $10-13 Entrees $12-32 Desserts $5-7
Happy Hour:
- Monday-Friday 4-6pm
- Half Price Appetizers, Rails, Calls, Martinis and Specialty Drinks
- $3 House Wine
- $2 Standard Bottles and Taps
- $3 Premium Bottles and Taps
Our entrees both came with choice of soup or salad. One of the daily soups included Buffalo Chicken, so that is what I tried. This was a hearty, spicy, creamy and chunky blend of chicken, celery, carrot, corn, and peppers. I liked it very much, it is the kind of spicy soup that is perfect for a cold day!
My companion tried the other soup of the day, the Steak Ranchero. Every bite if this was heavenly! It was very similar to chili, but with more vegetables than just beans and several bites of tender beef. Savory and delicious.
Our meals also came with French Bread, which was light and soft on the inside and slightly crusty on the outside. I loved it even more when dipped in the Buffalo Chicken Soup ;)
There were many items that sounded wonderful (mix of Irish fare, pub grub and American) but the Scallops with Corned Beef and Cabbage sounded like a unique and winning combo. At the base of this dish was the corned beef and cabbage (which on its own would be a hearty meal), then topped with at least a half dozen large, tender, seared sea scallops. When I say tender, I actually mean melt-in-your-mouth. These scallops were so good! In the center of the dish was a large serving of cooked, mashed lentils. I haven’t had much experience eating lentils but they are similar to a bean or a pea in both texture and taste, and slightly earthy. The texture of the mashed lentils was soft yet still firm enough to stay in a scoop. A nice change of pace for a side dish! This meal was also served with a slice of fresh buttered rye toast.
My companion ordered the Prime Rib Saturday Special, a 12 oz. Silver Butterknife Steak served with green beans, mashed potatoes, soup, and glass of wine for $27. I tried several bites of this beef and it was delicious! Although cooked slightly more than preferred, this cut of beef was extremely tender and flavorful. The rind on the outside held all the flavor of the seasonings, each bite doing a little dance in my mouth. The Silver Butter Knife steaks that Cork’s serves are the same as the steaks served at the best steak houses in town, including Wooley’s and Murray’s.
I was almost too full to try dessert but this Pumpkin Mousse Torte was the perfect Autumn treat. The cake was light and the pumpkin mousse was even lighter, and only slightly sweet. It had just a subtle taste of pumpkin but when paired with the sweet-tart cranberry chutney that accompanied it, it was like a beautiful duet of fall flavors. The best part of this dessert was its lightness, which may be a complete opposite of the richness of a chocolate cake. Excellent!
Service: We had excellent service at Cork’s Irish Pub at the Embassy Suites in St Paul. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable of the menu and despite my need to make my visit under an hour, the service never felt rushed. Our food was spaced just right for each course, drinks were kept filled, and we left very satisfied.
Overall Impression: Cork’s Irish Pub is a hidden gem in Lowertown St Paul, located within the Embassy Suites which is just a few blocks from other popular area hang-outs. Happy Hour is a great deal with nearly all appetizers and drinks at half price, plus the crew at Cork’s especially loves to take care of the downtown working crowd. Both the food and the service stand out amongst other establishments in the area. I’ll meet ya there after work sometime ;)
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Cuisine: American, Bar & Grill, Burgers, Desserts, Pasta, Pizza, Steaks, Ribs
Restaurant Features: Bar, Happy Hour, Kids Menu, Patio, On-Site Parking, Sunday Brunch
Location: Blaine, MN ( Sister Restaurant is Tavern on France in Edina, MN)
Addresses & Maps:
Tavern Grill- 10950 Club West Parkway Suite 270 Blaine, MN 55449 763-398-8100
Tavern on France- 6740 France Avenue South Edina, MN 55435 952-358-6100
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11a-12a Fri-Sat 11a-1a Sun 10a-10p
Links: Tavern Grill Website * Tavern Grill on Facebook
Atmosphere: Located in the space previously occupied by Bella Italian Grill, The Tavern Grill in Blaine opened its doors in June 2010.
Menu: Appetizers at The Tavern Grill include Burger Sliders, Philly Sliders, Chicken Littles, Crab Artichoke Quesadilla, Toasted Bruschetta, Onion Rings, Tavern Fries, Lemon Basil Calamari, Crab Artichoke Dip, Bleu Chips (homemade potato chips topped with bleu cheese crumbles and bacon), Sesame Chicken Stix, Walleye Fingers, and Buffalo Wings. Soups include Chicken Wild Rice, French Onion and a Soup du Jour.
Flatbread Pizza options include Build-Your-Own where you choose your Sauce, Cheese, Toppings and Meats, or the Farmers Market Pizza, Prosciutto & Tomato, BBQ Chicken, Buffalo Chicken, Classic Pepperoni and the Beachcomber (canadian bacon, pineapple and cilantro).
Salad options include Build-Your-Own (choose your cheeses, Veggies Mix-Ins, Crunch, Meats and Dressings). Chef Specialty Salads include Chop, Chicken Thai, Grilled Chicken, Buffalo Chicken and Caesar Salad.
Burger Options include the Build-A-Burger (choose your Meat, Bread, Cheese, Toppings and Extras). Specialty Burgers include Tavern Burger (bbq, gouda and bacon), Veggies Burger, Widowmaker (cheddar, caramelized onion, philly beef, 4 cheese sauce, onion strings) and the Beachcomber (ginger orange teriyaki, swiss and grilled fresh pineapple).
Tavern Sandwich options are the Grilled Club, Walleye, Grilled Chicken Wrap, Buffalo Chicken, Philly Cheesesteak, Corned Beef on Rye, Steak with Swiss and Mushrooms, French Dip, Steakhouse Wrap, Patty Melt and Crispy Chicken Wrap.
Pastas at The Tavern Grill are the Baked Ravioli with Chicken, MOnterey Shrimp, Fettuccini Alfredo, Baked Spaghetti and the Shrimp Ravioli in Sundried Tomato Pesto.
Entrees include Walleye & Chips, HomeStyle Grilled Meatloaf, Seared Teriyaki Salmon, Tuscan Chicken, Naked Filet, Tucker’s Filet (marinated in soy sauce and garlic), Ginger Garlic NY Strip, Baby Back Ribs and Spicy Ginger Seared Tuna.
Desserts include New York Cheesecake, Key Lime Pie, Fill-Your-Own Mini Donut Holes, Build-Your-Own S’Mores, and Chocolate Cake with Whiskey Sauce.
Items from the Kids Menu include Chicken Strips, Mini Cheeseburgers, Pepperoni or Cheese Pizza, and Grilled Cheese.
Price guide: Appetizers $7-11 Pizzas $8.50-11 Salads $9-12 Burgers $9-12 Sandwiches $9-12 Pastas $13-15 Entrees $ 13-19 Desserts $6-7.50
Happy Hour:
- M-F 3-6pm and 9pm-Close
- $2 Off Specialty Cocktails
- 1/2 Priced Wines & Pizas
- $3 Appetizers including Tavern Blue Chips, Sliders, Chicken Littles, Cheesy Jalapeno Nachos, and Waffles Fries
- $4 Cheesy Jalapeno Beef or Chicken Nachos
- $5 Crab Quesadilla
Weekly Specials:
- Sunday Brunch 10am-2pm
- Adults $14 Kids 12 and Under $6
- Carved Roast Beef, Pancake Bar, Made-to-Order Omelettes, Baked Reggiano Hashbrowns, Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, Hickory Smoked Bacon, Sausage Links, Chef’s Special Scrambled Eggs (changes weekly), Scrambled Eggs, Fresh Skillet Caramel Rolls, Fresh Fruit, Assorted Fresh Pastries.
What we ordered: We started with an order of the Buffalo Wings, which came with 9 wings in the order. We requested the Buffalo sauce be served on the side, as we were feeding a small child within my party. The thick and spicy dark orange Buffalo sauce had a nice kick to it, I poured it very liberally on the wings I ate (along with bleu cheese, of course!)
I was debating between a burger or the walleye sandwich and ended up with the walleye (sorry about the terrible, blurry photo!). The walleye fillet was sliced rather thinly and then breaded with the Tavern’s special batter before being deep fried to a crispy golden brown. I was expecting a bigger sandwich but was still satisfied with the fillet, which came served on grilled herb focaccia bread with shredded lettuce and tartar sauce on the side. I had my choice of potato and went with the delicious golden waffle fries.
One of my companions ordered the Monterey Shrimp Pasta, which came with several sauteed shrimp and vermicelli tossed with roasted garlic, asparagus, roasted red peppers, and spinach in a light white wine, lemon and butter sauce. The ingredients in this dish were plentiful but the sauce was so light it didn’t go far in the way of flavor. My companion requested a side of the Pesto Alfredo sauce to kick up the flavor a little and was very satisfied after doing so.
One of my companions ordered a side salad with her meal, a great add-on for $2.50.
Bread does not automatically come with any of the meals at The Tavern Grill, however our server brought out a plate of sliced ciabatta after one of my companions requested bread.
Another companion ordered the Baby Back Ribs, served with garlic mashed potatoes and coleslaw. The ribs were very tender and moist, falling off the bone after being slow-roasted for several hours. I did not try this at all but according to my companion, the bourbon barbeque sauce was slightly spicy but very flavorful.
There were a couple of fun items on the dessert menu, such as the Build-Your-Own-S’mores, but what really sounded cool was the Fill-Your-Own-Donut-Holes. The hot and freshly-fried donut holes were served in an overflowing chinese-food container, with three types of fillings: Chocolate Creme, Bavarian Creme, and Raspberry. The little tubes have a sharp point to them where you jam them into the center of your donut hole and squeeze until the donut is filled. What a delicious and fun concept. These disappeared very quickly!
Service: I had tried to make a reservation on a busy Friday night but was told that The Tavern Grill would only take reservations for parties of 7 or more, however they would put me on the list for call-ahead seating. I arrived about 45 minutes after I had called to put my name on the list but was told that they had taken my name off the list because I was late. I was told my party could be seated right away at a table or I could have my name added to the bottom of the list for a booth. We didn’t want to wait 40 minutes for a booth so we sat at a table. Our server was nice and asked if we had been to The Tavern Grill before. Since we had not, she explained how the Build-Your-Own options worked. No mentions of highlighted items from the menu, nor did she make any suggestions. She was helpful however, when helping to decide between a couple of items on the menu. Food took awhile to arrive, drinks were faster. We had to ask for refills on a few occasions when our glasses were empty, but the server responded to our requests in a timely manner.
Overall Impression: The Tavern Grill has many specialty items on the menu but also has many Build-Your-Own options. I would love to go back and try one of the burgers or pizzas. The Tavern Grill also has great Happy Hour specials on food and a gorgeous patio area. The service was decent for a very busy Friday night.
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Green Mill ~ St Paul, MN
Cuisine: American, Burgers, Dessert, Pizza, Pasta
Restaurant Features: Bar, Delivery, Flat Screen TVs, Kids Menu
Locations:
Address: 57 So. Hamline St. Paul, MN 55105 651-698-0353
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-1am Sun 11am-12am
Links: Green Mill Website * Green Mill on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: The St Paul Green Mill on Grand Ave is the original restaurant location, where it was once the Green Mill Inn for almost four decades. The Green Mill as we know it today has been around since 1975 and has been very popular since it became a franchise in 1990.
The inside of the Green Mill has the standard wood-paneled walls that you see in many of its locations, along with padded wooden booths and wood tables. The bar area is located on one side of the space, the dining area on the other. There are multiple TVs hanging from the ceiling.
Menu: The Green Mill recently updated its menu in the summer of 2010.
Appetizers include Red Pepper Hummus and Pita Chips, Mozzarella Sticks, Walleye Bites, Sweet Potato Fries, Asian Pot Stickers, Coconut Chicken Fingers, Chicken and Bacon Quesadilla, Crispy Chicken Chipotle Wontons, Chipotle Chicken Nachos, Fried Green Beans, Buffalo Bites, Thai Eggrolls, Spicy Chicken Quesadilla, Spinach Dip and Onion Ring Cyclone. The Green Mill is also famous for their Chicken Wings, which can be served with bone or boneless, drenched in any of the following sauces: Jim Beam, Diablo, Sesame Teriyaki, Garlic Parmesan, Peking Zing, Dixie or Extreme Jamaican.
Salads at the Green Mill incude Warm Smoked Salmon, Coconut Chicken, Bangkok Chicken, Chipotle Chicken Chopped Salad, Blackberry and Grilled Chicken, Chicken Stir Fry, Thai Chicken Salad, Cilantro Lime Shrimp Salad, Cobb Salad with Chicken, Caesar salad, or House Salad.
Sandwich offerings are the Asian Chicken Wrap, French Dip, Cashew Chicken Salad, Parmesan Walleye, Millhouse Club, Greek Gyro, Crispy Chicken, Chicken Caesar Wrap, Buffalo Chicken Wrap, Turkey Bacon and Avocado Wrap, and Italian Ciabatta. Burger s are 1/2 lb and served with fries, fruit, or chips. Options include Build-Your-Own, Black Angus 1/4 lb, Summit Bacon, Blaze Burger (jalapenos and pepper jack), 4-Cheese Bacon Burger, Western Mill Burger, Cheeseburger and Veggie Burger..
Pizza options are extensive, with four crusts including Thin N’ Crispy, Pescara, Classic, and Chicago-Style Deep Dish. You can Build-Your-Own from a variety of ingredients or order a pizza from the menu like the Margherita, Chipotle Chicken, MVP (Pepperoni and Canadian Bacon), Romano, Low-Cal Chicken, Extreme Supreme, Triple Meat and Cheese, and Il Primo (sausage, pepperoni, mushroom and 4 cheeses). Thin N Crispy Pizzas include Positano, Jalapeno Bacon and Garlic Chicken, Pepperoni, 4-Cheese Spicy Italian, and Sausage and Pepperoni. You can also Build-Your-Own Calzone.
Pasta Options include Seafood Cannelloni, Five Cheese Lasagna, Mostaccioli, Butternut Squash Ravioli with Asparagus, Spinach Tortellini, Desert Fire Pasta, Wild Mushroom and Chicken Penne, Spaghetti, Lobster and Shrimp Linguine, and Fettuccine Alfredo.
Entrees include Bourbon Flat iron Steak, Summit Battered Fish and Chips, Chicken Parmesan,Chicken Marsala, Chicken with Crab Stuffing, and Pan-Fried Walleye.
Desserts at Green Mill include Chocolate Pyramid, Chocolate Molten Martini, and Skyscraper Cheesecake.
Kids Menu items include Hamburger, Mac N Cheese, Quesadilla, Spaghetti, Personal Pizza, Corn Dog, and Chicken Strips.
Price guide: Appetizers $5-10 Wings $7/10 Salads $5-10 Burgers/Sandwiches $8-11 Pizza $9-18+ Pastas $10-14 Entrees $10-16 Desserts $6-7
Happy Hour: 3-6pm and 9pm-12am
- $5 appetizers include Red Pepper Hummus and Pita Chips, Mozzarella Sticks, Sweet Potato Fries, Coconut Chicken Fingers, Chicken and Bacon Quesadilla, Crispy Chicken Chipotle Wontons, Buffalo Bites, Thai Eggrolls, Spicy Chicken Quesadilla, Spinach Dip and Onion Ring Cyclone.
Weekly Specials:
- M-F 11a-2pm Bottomless Soup and Salad or Salad and Pizza $8.99
What we ordered: We started with an order of Boneless Wings with Sesame Teriyaki Sauce. These were delicious! The pieces of white-meat chicken were very lightly breaded and fried to a golden brown. They were lightly tossed in the sweet yet tangy sesame teriyaki sauce and topped with sesame seeds, served with both ranch and bleu cheese dressings for dipping. Excellent choice!
I had no doubt in my mind I was going to order the Deep-Dish Pizza, so that is exactly what I did. The crust of this pizza was indeed thick, chewy and crispy on the bottom. The cheese was baked directly on top of the crust and then topped with a generous amount of pizza sauce. I love the sauce at Green Mill, it is sweet and zesty and has small chunks of stewed tomato mixed in. The 8″ small was more than enough for me, I even had half a pizza leftover to take home! So yummy!
One of my companions ordered the Chicken Cashew Salad Sandwich. This sandwich looked great; so fresh and light! The salad itself had chunks of white-meat chicken mixed with cashews, diced green onion, red grapes and mayonnaise. It was served on toasted cranberry bread with shredded romaine lettuce.
Another companion ordered the Chipotle Chicken Nachos and an order of Sweet Potato Fries. The Nachos were served on a long plate, with crunchy chips topped with shredded chipotle chicken, pepper jack, mozzarella and cheddar cheeses and topped with fresh pico de gallo, salsa, guacamole, shredded lettuce and sour cream. These were also very yummy but slightly overcooked.
The Sweet Potato Fries were served in a large cone, very good!
Service: My party of 3 adults and one small child arrived shortly after opening on a Sunday and we were the first customers of the day. Needless to say there was no problem getting a parking spot or a table! We had great service, our server was very accommodating to our needs. Food and drinks were brought promptly; service with a smile.
Overall Impression: Green Mill is a great restaurant with a varied menu that appeals to just about anyone. Their Deep Dish Pizza is awesome. Many locations to choose from!
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Cuisine: American, Dessert
Restaurant Features: Bar, Games, Kids Menu, On-Site Parking, Sunday Brunch
Location: St Paul, MN
Address: 400 Selby Ave St Paul, MN 55102 (651)225-9414
Hours: Mon-Wed 11am-1am Thurs-Sat 11am-2am Sunday 10am-1am
Links: Fabulous Fern’s Website * Fabulous Fern’s on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: Fabulous Fern’s is located on Selby Ave in St Paul, in the Blair Arcade building. The inside of the restaurant area is spread out in an interesting shape, taking advantage of the many windows that almost make you forget you are in a larger building with other businesses nearby.
Besides the dining area, Fabulous Fern’s also has a large bar area, with TVs hung throughout and wood flooring. Even during the day the lights are kept on the dim side, so fairy lights hung from the ceiling add festivity and soft light.
Bar Area Inside Fabulous Ferns
In one corner of the bar there are several dart boards and cocktail tables.
Menu: Appetizers include Chicken Wings or Chicken Strips (Buffalo, BBQ, or Sweet Ginger), Bruschetta, Calamari, Onion Rings, Buffalo Shrimp, Mussels, Spicy Green Beans, Black Bean Dip, Potato Skins, Margherita Pizza, Shrimp and Pesto Pizza, Pepperoni Pizza and Tuscan Pizza.
The many salads include Chicken and Wild Rice, Southern Style Chicken, Mandarin Chicken, Thai Peanut Chicken, Caesar, BLT Salad, Strawberry Spinach, Grilled Szechwan Chicken, Vegetarian Greek Salad, and the Shrimp and Scallop Salad.
The sandwich offerings at Fabulous Fern’s include Fern’s Burger, BBQ Burger, Chicken Dijon, Chicken Parmesan, Grilled Turkey Burger, Portabella Sandwich, Veggie Burger, Sirloin Sandwich, Cajun Meatloaf, Hot Hoagie, Croissant Sandwich, Focaccia Sandwich, Grilled Tuna Steak, and Lemon Pepper Cod.
Pasta options are the Tortellini Rosa with Chicken, Fettucini with Chicken, Chicken and Spinach Ravioli, Fettucini Del Mar, and Penne Primavera.
Dinner Entrees are served after 4pm and include vegetable medley and choice of rice or potato. The entree options are Pot Roast, Sirloin Steak, Cajun Meatloaf, Spicy Barbeque Ribs, Grilled Pork Loin, Baked Chicken Dijon, Fish & Chips, Pecan Crusted Walleye, and Blackened Walleye.
Desserts include Hot Fudge Ice Cream Popover, Cheesecake of the Moment, Ice Cream, Vanilla Bread Pudding, Hot Fudge Sundae, Creme Brulee, and Apple Strudel.
Price guide: Appetizers $8-13 Salads $8-13 Sandwiches $9-12 Pastas $10-15 Dinner Entrees $10-19 Desserts $5-6
Weekly Specials:
- Sunday Brunch
- Adults $13.95 Kids 12 & Under $6.95 Seniors $11.95
- Waffle Bar, French Toast, Scrambled Eggs, Sausage, Bacon, Biscuits and Gravy, Assorted Salads, Bars & Cakes. The following items are always on the Buffet but vary weekly: Pasta, Quiche, Rice Dish, and Soup.
- In addition to the regular dining menu there is a Featured Menu with appetizers, salads, entrees, pastas and desserts that changes weekly. Weekly menu can be found here.
What we ordered: I had lunch at Fabulous Fern’s while attending a workshop nearby. I had the Chicken Parmesan Sandwich with fries. The chicken breast was average size, breaded with panko and then deep fried to a dark crispy brown. It was served on a hamburger bun with melted mozzarella, marinara on the side. This sandwich was tasty enough but would’ve been so much better with Italian bread or something other than a boring hamburger bun. I would’ve liked a lot more marinara sauce too, to really give it a good covering. I only ate half but could have easily eaten the whole thing and brought the rest home for later.
Chicken Parmesan Sandwich ~ Fabulous Ferns
My companion ordered one of the Daily Specials, which was Mini Spring Rolls and Crab and Spinach Rangoons. Before ordering we had thought that maybe these were hand-made items since they were the special that day, but after trying them the server confirmed our suspicions that they were the frozen variety. They spring rolls were filled with veggies and were good but nothing special. The rangoons were wonton wraps filled with a cheesy spinach mixture then fried. The two sauces for dipping were a sweet & sour and a hoisin or similar sauce. Seemed an odd combo of appetizers to serve together, with very contradictory flavors.
Spring Rolls & Rangoons ~ Fabulous Ferns
Service: Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and told us about various items that Fabulous Fern’s uses seasonally. The food took a little longer than average to arrive from the time we ordered, but it was a busy weekday at noon. SServer was very responsive to refilling drinks and getting us what we needed. Our total visit took about an hour.
Overall Impression: I would go back and try Fabulous Fern’s again sometime for dinner, I just wouldn’t order the Chicken Parmesan again. The desserts sounded good so I would probably order one next time too.
Cuisine: American, Burgers
Restaurant Features: Bar, Happy Hour, Kids Menu, On-Site Parking, Patio
Location: St Paul, MN
Address: 1811 Selby Ave St. Paul, MN 55104 (651) 493-1865
Hours: 11am-Midnight
Links: Blue Door Pub Website * Blue Door Pub Facebook Page * Google Map
Atmosphere: Located on Selby Ave at Fairview, Blue Door Pub is a small neighborhood bar/restaurant known for their Juicy “Blucy” hamburgers. The inside space is divided into two sides; the Pub on one with the bar and a few tables and then there is the dining area with a few tables and three large booths. The room is literally so small that I could not capture it with my fixed 50mm lens, but I was able to get a shot of the famous Blue Door which leads into the kitchen.
Menu: Blue Door Pub has a brand new menu as of today and I have not yet seen it. I will revise this menu (pre 6/5/10) as soon as I get a copy of the new menu. Appetizers include Spam Bites (Breaded, deep fried Spam, cream cheese and pickle), Beer-Battered Green Beans, Hand-Cut Fries, Tator Tots, Chicken Wings, Cheese Curds, and Deep Fried Pickles.
Salads at Blue Door Pub include House Salad, Cobb, Blue Cheese, and Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps.
Specialty offerings are the Jiffy Burger (peanut butter, mayo, pepper jack, bacon and pickle), The Pub Sandwich (bacon, egg, pepper jack, lettuce and tomato on bread), Chicken Strip Basket and Black Bean Burger.
The Blue Door Pub is well-known for the many varieties they have of “Juicy Blucys”, which are what they call their version of the locally known cheese-stuffed burgers. Options include the Blucy (bleu cheese and garlic), The Luau (stuffed with mozzarella and pineapple, Canadian Bacon on top), The Classic (cheddar cheese), Breakfast Blucy (cheddar, bacon topped with fried egg), Bangkok Blucy (mozzarella soaked in coconut milk and topped with pickled carrots, cucumbers, red onions and ginger), Cajun Blucy (pepperjack and jalapeños), Mushroom Swiss, Bacon Blucy (cheddar and bacon), The Frenchy (swiss and caramelized onions witha side of au jus), and The Merriam Park (bacon, bleu cheese, garlic and topped with red currant jelly). Fries and tator tots are $2 extra.
You can also Build-Your-Own Burger (or chicken!) with a long list of cheese, toppings and sauces.
Kids Menu includes Grilled Cheese, Chicken Strips, Mac & Cheese, 2 Mini Cheeseburgers, PB & J.
Blue Door offers Pie Bites for dessert (homemade cheesecake bites)
Price guide: Appetizers $3.50-8.50 Salads $4-9 Burgers $6.50-8.50 Kids Menu $4-5
What we ordered: This was my first time to the Blue Door Pub and the long list of different stuffed burgers was very intriguing; several of them sounded like something I would try but I ended up going with the Merriam Park Burger. This 1/2 lb of Angus beef was stuffed with bleu cheese, chopped garlic, and bacon. It also comes with red currant jelly which I asked for on the side. It seemed a strange combination but our server made me promise I would try it with the jelly because it was her favorite. I was skeptical at first but with just one bite of the jelly on the burger, I became a believer! I actually ended up eating my entire burger with the jelly! The combination of the sweet with the stronger flavor of the blue cheese was a winner. If you like the salad dressing combo of French/Bleu cheese, you would like this. Even without the jelly it would’ve been an excellent burger. Loved it.
My companion ordered the Bacon Blucy, an Angus burger stuffed with bacon and cheddar. We were surprised to see that the Blue Door Pub did not make any of their stuffed burgers with American cheese, which is what a traditional Juicy-Lucy is made with. That is fine with me since American cheese is the one food in the world that I have an aversion to and just simply cannot stomach, but my companion was disappointed. This Bacon Blucy was still very delicious, with gooey sharp cheddar melted inside with thick cut bacon bites.
Fries can be added on to any burger for an additional charge, or you can get a basket of fries for half-price during Happy hour ($2!). Was very happy when the server pointed that out to us. They were fresh, home cut fries fried to a golden brown with a generous amount of salt.
Service: My visit was on a Saturday in the middle of the afternoon and I was able to get a spot in the parking lot. This was my first visit to the BDP and I wasn’t sure if they had a hostess or not but we were ignored when we walked in, so after standing there for a minute or two, I went and sat myself at the one of the few tables to choose from. It was starting to get busy by the time our burgers came out. The drinks were a little slow to be refilled but the food came out within 15 minutes of ordering. Our server was busy and only stopped to check on us at the end of our meal. We were given our check and when I paid, the original receipt was missing so I asked for another copy. The server came back five minutes later and said she had forgotten to add one of our drinks to the original bill ( a $2 soda) so she presented us with a 2nd bill to pay for that drink. I was a little annoyed since I had already paid for our original bill and didn’t want to have to run my card again for a measly $2. Thought it would’ve been nice to leave that one on the house and just reprint me my original receipt.
Overall Impression: I thought the burger was excellent and I don’t hesitate to say it was best “Juicy Lucy” that I have had around town (however remember I will only eat those that don’t include American cheese so I am biased). The service wasn’t too great but the burgers made up for it.
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Davanni’s Pizza ~ Arden Hills, Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Burnsville, Coon Rapids, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Rogers, Roseville, Savage, St Paul, Woodbury
Cuisine: Pizza, Delicatessen (hoagies)
Restaurant Features: Catering, Counter-Service, Delivery, Kids Menu, On-Site Parking (at many locations)
Locations: Arden Hills, Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Burnsville, Coon Rapids, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Rogers, Roseville, Savage, St Paul, Woodbury
Addresses: (Click here for Maps of Davanni’s Locations)
Arden Hills: 3673 Lexington Ave N Arden Hills, MN 55126 651-481-7100
Bloomington:
8605 Lyndale Ave S Bloomington, MN 55420 952-888-6232
Brooklyn Center:
5937 Summit Dr Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 763-566-8220
Burnsville: 14639 CR 11 Burnsville, MN 55337 952-431-1500
Coon Rapids: 3430 129th Ave NW Coon Rapids, MN 55448 763-712-1000
Eagan:
1960 Cliff Lake Rd Eagan, MN 55123 651-688-6111
Eden
Prairie: 8061 Flying Cloud Dr Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952-941-4444
Edina: 5124 Gus Young Ln Edina, MN 55436 952-920-9090
Golden Valley:
663 Winnetka Ave N Golden Valley, Mn 55427 763-398-0303
Minneapolis: 1242 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN 55403 612-338-0000
Minnetonka: 15200 Highway 7 Minnetonka, MN 55345 952-938-4243
Plymouth:
3015 Harbor Ln N Plymouth, MN 55447 763-550-0003
Richfield:
2312 W 66th St Richfield, MN 55423 612-866-3324
Rogers:
14165 James Road Rogers, Mn 55374 763-428-2990
Roseville, 1905 W Perimeter Dr Roseville, MN 55113 651-636-3411
Savage: 14125 Highway 13 Savage, MN 55378 952-440-1200
St Paul:
310 White Bear AveSt. Paul, MN 55106 651-738-6992
St Paul:
41 Cleveland Ave S St. Paul, MN 55105 651-690-4848
Uptown Mpls: 1414 W Lake St Minneapolis, MN 55408 612-822-3111
Woodbury: 1905 Donegal Dr Woodbury, MN 55125 651-739-1010
Links: Davanni’s Website
Atmosphere: The East St Paul Davanni’s location is just off I-94 and White Bear Ave. Like all other Davanni’s location, customers order at a counter and then wait for their name to be called when order is ready.
There are several different seating areas, each with booths that can accommodate up to four people. There are also a couple of tables in the very back section of the dining room. There are many windows throughout the restaurant, leaving it very well lit during the day.
Menu: Appetizers include Potato Chips, Breadsticks and Garlic Cheese Bread.
Salads at Davanni’s are the Garden Salad, Side Garden, Chicken Cobb, Italian Chef, Oriental Chicken, Southwestern Chicken, Spinach Chicken, Chicken Caesar, and Side Caesar.
Hoagie sandwiches are served on either white, whole grain, or ciabatta roll with lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo. Options include Southwestern Chicken, Chicken Bacon Honey Mustard, Chicken Breast, Turkey/Bacon/Cheddar, Turkey, BLT w/ Cheddar, Club, Roast Beef, Pastrami, Ham, Salami, Tuna Melt, Veggie, and Three Cheese. Hot subs made with meat, marinara and cheese only include Chicken Parmigiano, Meatball, Sausage, and Pizza.
Davanni’s Pizza can be ordered with a choice of three different crusts (thin, traditional and deep dish) and two sauces (red and white). Sizes pizzas come in are Solo, Medium and Laqrge. Toppings choices are Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, Sliced Chicken Breast, Canadian Bacon, Hamburger, Red Onion, Green Pepper, Garlic, Mushrooms, Hot Peppers, Green Olive, Black Olive, Pineapple, Bacon, Gorgonzola Cheese, Anchovies, Roma Tomatoes, Cheddar Cheese, and Jalapeños.
Davanni’s also has Penne Pasta (with chicken, meatballs or sausage), Lasagna and Stuffed Calzones.
Kids menu items include Hlaf Pasta, Solo Cheese Pizza, or Half Ham Hoagy.
Desserts include Brownies, Rice Crispy Treats, and Chocolate Chunk Cookies.
Price guide: Hoagies $3.25-7 Salads $4-7 Pizzas $5-20 Calzones $5.50+
What We ordered: My companions and I ordered a variety of pizzas, including this large Chicago-style deep dish pizza with pepperoni and sausage. Davanni’s deep dish is a treat for those who like real Chicago-style pizza and has been my one of family’s favorites for many years. The buttery brown crust is at least 1″ deep yet it is light. The lightness of the crust is deceiving because the pizza is actually very filling. The cheese and meats were baked directly on top of the crust with pizza sauce spread out on the very top to prevent the crust from getting soggy. The large pizza had 10-12 wedges.
Our party also ordered a Large Thin Crust Pepperoni Pizza. The crust on the thin crust pizza was also pretty good, crispy but slightly chewy. It was loaded with melted mozzarella and a fair amount of pepperoni (although I personally like more).
c and olive oil)
This is a solo deep dish pizza with pepperoni, mushrooms and “pink” sauce. Pink sauce simply means that it has both white sauce (garlic and olive oil) and red sauce. If you like garlic, you would love either the white or the pink sauce. This pizza was also very good, the mushrooms were fresh and there was a lot of pepperoni. The light and buttery deep dish crust practically melts in your mouth.
One of my companions ordered a half pizza hoagy on whole grain with a special request for the sauce to be served on side. This is a good sandwich but it doesn’t have much substance, just a thin layer of pepperoni and a thin layer of melted cheese on one half of the bread. You better order the whole sandwich if you’re hungry!
Another companion ordered a pepperoni and veggie calzone to-go. Safe to say that this thing was loaded with melted cheese, meat and veggies.
Service: You can call ahead for pick up or delicery, otherwise Davanni’s offers standard counter-service. There are typically 2-3 cashiers taking orders during the lunch and dinner rush but you can still expect to wait a few minutes before placing your order. It was fairly busy during my visit and it took about 30-40 minutes for our pizzas, which seems a reasonable amount of time for the deep dish pizzas to bake.
Overall Impression: Davanni’s has excellent deep dish pizza and is conveniently located in several places around the Twin Cities. Service is reasonably fast and menu prices aren’t going to break the bank.
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Disclosure: I was invited out to do this review and my meal was provided by the restaurant. All opinions are my own.
Cuisine: American, Bar & Grill
Restaurant Features: Sports Bar, Free Wi-Fi, Games, Happy Hour, Large/Flat Screen TVs, Live Music, Kids Menu, Patio Dining
Location: St Paul, MN (Highland Park neighborhood)
Address: 2051 Ford Parkway St. Paul, MN 55116 651.690.4747 (corner of Ford Pkwy & Cleveland Ave)
Bar Hours: Mon-Sat 11a-2a Sun 11a-1a
Kitchen Hours: Mon-Sat 11a-11p Sun 11a-10p
Links: Tiffany’s Sports Lounge Website * Tiffany’s on Facebook * Google Map
Atmosphere: Located on the corner of Ford Parkway and Cleveland Ave, Tiffany’s Sports Lounge is located in the heart of St Paul’s Highland Park neighborhood and is close to many of the local Universities. Tiffany’s first opened in 1971 and has been a cornerstone in the area ever since. “Lounge” is the perfect name for the big and open space that has a bar, pool tables and games on one side and tables and booths on the other. It is a fun place with a friendly and energetic vibe.
One thing you will notice as soon as you walk in to Tiffany’s is that there are big screen TV’s mounted everywhere ~ I think I counted nearly 14 of them! Every seat in the house has a good view of one TV or another. As you can expect, Tiff’s is the happening place to be during just about any sporting event, including all local games. Tiffany’s is also the St Paul headquarters for KU Jayhawks games.
Menu: Appetizers at Tiffany’s Sports Lounge include Hand-Cut Fries, Quesadillas, Chicken Wings (Asian, Buffalo or Diablo), Chicken Fingers, Mozzarella Sticks, Beer-Battered Onion Rings, Sampler Platter, Chicken Nachos, and Mini Tacos. Soups include French Onion, Chili, and a Soup du Jour.
Salads offered are Chicken Caesar, Salmon Caesar, Cobb, Buffalo Chicken, and Dinner Salad.
Sandwiches at Tiffany’s include French Dip, Grand Avenue (turkey on foccacia), Club, Reuben, Italian Beef, Tiffany Dagwood (ham, turkey, bacon, swiss, cheddar), Ford Parkway (turkey with cranberry chipotle cheese), and Juicy Luigi (Italian sausage stuffed with provolone in marinara). Specialty sandwiches include Fish & Chips, Salmon Sandwich, Steak Sandwich, BLT, Walleye, Steak Wrap, Buffalo Chicken Wrap, Grilled Cheese, Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and Southwest Chicken Sandwich.
Tiffany’s burgers are all made with fresh Black Angus and include Cheeseburger, Hangover (fried egg bacon and cheddar over beef patty), Tommy Burger (Cajun spiced, jalapeños, bacon, pepperjack and chipotle mayo), Ground Turkey Burger, Black & Bleu, Tiffany Melt (sauteed onions and melted cheese on toast), Highland Park Burger (loaded with everything!), and the Infamous Summit Slam (over 1 lb of meat and toppings served with fries and a 24 oz. Summit beer- eat it all and win a T-shirt!).
Tiffany’s also has “Sliders” which are mini-sized burgers and sandwiches (3 to an order). Sliders include Cheeseburger, Italian Burgers, BBQ Pork, Blue Gill Burgers and Fire Dogs (jalapeño sausage smothered in Diablo sauce topped with onions, peppers and pepperjack cheese).
Save room for dessert! Tiff’s has Turtle Cheesecake, a Hot Brownie Sundae, Cheesecake and Root Beer Float.
Kids Menu includes Grilled Cheese, Chicken Fingers, Cheeseburger and Mac & Cheese
Price guide: Appetizers $5-10 Salads $9-11 Sandwiches/Burgers $9-10
Happy Hour:
- Mon-Fri 3-6pm
- Half-Priced Wings (Buffalo, Diablo, Asian) and Mini Tacos
- Top Shelf 2-for-1s
- $3 Tap Beer (24oz) Miller Lite & Premium Grain Belt
Weekly Specials:
Sunday- Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar (10a-6p) $6 Free Kids meal with Adult Meal
Monday- Double Cheeseburger w/Fries $6.95, MNF Miller Lite or Premo 20oz $3.75
Tuesday- Cubano Sandwich $8.95 Hot Ham & Cheese w/Soup $7.95
Wednesday- Wimpy Basket $6.95 Wimpy Platter w/Fries $18.50 Midwest Pint pf Beer $2.50
Thursday- Sloppy Joe Sliders w/Fries $8.95 Endless Mug of Miller Lite $8
Friday- Homemade Weekly Pasta $12.95
Saturday- Smoked Beef Brisket Sandwich w/ Fries $8.95 Build-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar (10a-6p) $6
What We Ordered: My companion and I shared a bowl of the Soup du Jour which happened to be Cream of Chicken Wild Rice. It was a hot and hearty soup, perfect for warming up on a freezing cold day like we have had all too frequently lately. The soup was very flavorful with the chicken, vegetables, wild rice and and was also seasoned nicely. It included a hint of some kind of pepper and just a little kick to it that I wasn’t expecting but thoroughly enjoyed. The breadstick was pretty good too; warm, soft and slighty buttered with garlic salt.
I love sandwiches and while there were many that caught my eye at Tiffany’s, I ordered my favorite sandwich of all, the Reuben. It seems that I am always on a quest for a really good Reuben and this one at Tiffany’s ranks up there with the best! The corned beef brisket is cooked for 8 hrs. in Guinness and special spices and was very flavorful and tender. The meat was sliced thin and piled high on top of the buttery-grilled, swirled rye bread. The Swiss cheese was melted perfectly and the sauerkraut and thousand island dressing gave it the extra zip to make it a most delicious Reuben. The hand-cut fries were also excellent, just like what you get at the State Fair except slightly thinner.
My companion had the Blue Gill Burgers, which were three “sliders” AKA mini fish sandwiches. Each of the three sandwiches had a nice-sized sunfish fillet that was slightly battered with bread crumb’s and Leinenkugel’s, then pan fried to a light golden brown. The batter gave it a little bit of a crispy texture but it was very light and the fish was tender. Each sandwich was topped with a tomato slice, romaine lettuce and garlic aioli sauce. Very delicious! It is a treat to see sunfish on a local restaurant menu such as Tiff’s.
The desserts also sounded wonderful so I tried the Turtle Cheesecake. The cheesecake was layered, with a thin layer of chocolate cheesecake at the bottom that slightly marbles into the main layer of cheesecake, which was rich and smooth and creamy. The top was covered with a thin layer of caramel cheesecake and then topped with candied pecans. So good! Too rich for me to eat by myself or in one sitting for that matter, but I would definitely eat it again :)
Service: We were able to get a parking space on the street and a table immediately upon our arrival. I did not notice a host/hostess the night of our visit so I assume it might be seat-yourself. Our overall service at Tiffany’s was very good! Our server was very friendly and had several recommendations off the menu for us. Drinks were brought and refilled quickly, as was our food.
Overall Impression: Great Sports hangout!! The recent renovation to the kitchen allows Tiffany’s to serve really good food at extremely reasonable prices. It is a very fun place to get a bite to eat and watch a game or play a round of pool, which makes it a popular place for local college kids as well as for families (anyone would enjoy it at Tiff’s!). There are many other sandwiches on the menu that I would like to try, as well as the burgers and wings. I will be back to Tiffany’s Sports Lounge to eat again very soon!
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Cuisine: Mexican, Kids Menu
Restaurant Features: Banquet, Bar, Catering, Happy Hour Specials, On-Site Parking,
Location: Roseville, MN
Address: 1754 Lexington Ave North St Paul, MN, 55113 (651) 487-2847
Hours: Kitchen: 11a-Midnight Bar : 11a-2a
Links: Ol’ Mexico Website Google Map
Atmosphere: Located just off Hwy 36 in Roseville, Ol’ Mexico is easy to get to from either Mpls or St Paul. Ol’ Mexico has been open since 1979 and is an enchanting restaurant that is quite reminiscent of its namesake. The restaurant itself is quite large with many different seating areas, the center if which is a beautiful indoor courtyard complete with a fountain at its center.
In the areas surrounding the central courtyard there are two tiers of additional seating. The lower level has large round tables within semi-private alcoves that are perfect for parties of eight. The lighting is dim and romantic throughout the entire restaurant.
Ol’ Mexico also has a large open bar area with great Happy Hour drink specials and a taco bar every Friday. There is also Karaoke ever Thursday night from 9p-1a and nightly Buzztime Interactive Trivia. There are also several HD TVs that play local games and ALL NFL Football games, as well as Nascar races.
The Bar also has a Dining area with tables to seat around fifty or so. The lighting is just as dim as the rest of the restaurant but it just doesn’t have the same ambiance as the more formal dining room.
Menu: Appetizers at Ol’ Mexico include Nachos, Black Ben Nachos, Fresh Guacamole & Chips, Shrimp Cocktail, Mexi Wings, Chile Verde with Flour Crisps, Taquitos and Chile con Queso.
Salads offered are the Taco Salad, Tostada Salad, Grilled Chicken with Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette, Caesar, Santa Fe Chopped Salad, and Dinner Salad.
Ol’ Mexico has a “Eating Fit” menu as well that includes Spinach Salad (with chicken or salmon), Grilled Marinated Salmon with Steamed Asparagus, Grilled Chicken Breast with Steamed Vegetables, and Lettuce Burger Wrap.
Burgers and sandwiches at Ol’ Mexico are Cheeseburger, BBQ Bacon Cheddar Burger, Mexican Sandwich and Veggie Sandwich.
Entrees include Four Cheese Quesadilla, Steak or Chicken Fajita Quesadilla, Pocket Taco Enchilada Style, Pocket Taco Platter, Chimichangas (choice of ground beef, ground chicken, spicy seafood, shredded beef and bbq beef), Sizzling Fajita Platter, Southwestern Spicy Seafood Enchiladas, Diablo Shrimp tacos, Pollo Fundido, Grande Burro, Macho Burro, Fajita Burro, Bean & Veggie Burrito.
There are number of combination Mexican dinners and you can also create your own combo.
Grilled Entrees include 14 ox t-Bone Steak, Fresh Grilled Salmon with Mango Salsa, Fresh Grilled Tilapia covered in Jumbo Shrimp, Grilled steak, Chicken, Shrimp or Vegetable Skewers.
Desserts at Ol’ Mexico include Mexican Fried Ice Cream, Brownie Sundae, Fresh Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Caramel Lava Cake, Fresh Fruit Plate, and Fresh Strawberry and Banana with sweet cream, walnuts, raisins and coconut.
Kids Menu includes Chicken Strips, Chhese Melts, Taco, Mexi Dog and Hamburger.
Price guide: Appetizers $4-8 Salads $9-13 Sandwiches $10 Entrees $10-16 Grilled Entrees $15-17 Desserts $ 7-8 Kids Menu $5
What I ordered: My visit to Ol’ Mexico was during Happy Hour so I took advantage of the 2-for-1 special and ordered peach margaritas. These are so amazing!!! They are the best peach margaritas I have had anywhere. They use some sort of fruit syrup for all of their fruit margaritas (other choices include strawberry, raspberry, watermelon, wild berry, blue raspberry, pomegranate, banana, melon) and they are packed with tartness and flavor. The chips were also very good, warm and freshly fried to a crispy golden brown. I am not sure if my taste buds were off on this visit, but I did not care for the salsa as it tasted way too salty and not very spicy. The chips and the margaritas made up for the salsa though!
For dinner I made my own combo with a Chile Relleno, a Cheese Enchilada and Mexican Rice. This was a great choice! The Chile Relleno was stuffed with shredded beef and cheddar cheese then breaded and fried and baked with cheese on top. The beef was tender and was seasoned to give it a lot of flavor, especially when paired with the spice of the pepper. The enchilada was stuffed with cheddar and topped with enchilada sauce and even more melted cheese. Rice was decent.
My companion had the build your own combo as well, with ground beef hard corn taco and ground beef enchilada. The ground beef was only slightly seasoned and very boring, and had several pieces of onion mixed in with it. Would rather have had the shredded beef than the ground beef. The beans were good.
Service: My companion and I met at Ol’ Mexico around 3:30 on a snowy Tuesday afternoon and the happy hour crowd was only just beginning to arrive. We were seated in the bar area although had we been given the option, I would have preferred any of the tables in the courtyard or formal dining room. Our server was nice and was great about letting us know that the Happy Hour specials included 2-for-1s on all their drinks. Food came really fast.
Overall Impression: Ol’ Mexico is one of the few restaurants I ate at while growing up and it was always considered my family’s “favorite” Mexican restaurant in the 80′s and 90′s. In the past decade I have come to eat better Mexican food at other restaurants, but I still love the charm and atmosphere of Ol’ Mexico in Roseville. The fruity margaritas are so good and the 2-for-1 happy hour drink specials are a pretty good deal.
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