Disclosure: I was invited out to do this review and my meal was provided by the restaurant. All opinions are my own.

Cuisine: American,  Dessert, Italian, Pasta, Steak, Chops
Restaurant Features: Bar, Banquet, Catering, Happy Hour, Kids Menu, On-Site Parking, Patio
Location: Apple Valley, MN
Address: 15435 Founders Lane Apple Valley, MN 55124  952-891-6569
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11a-9p   Fri-Sat  11a-10p   Sun 10a-9p
Links: Enjoy! Website * Enjoy on Facebook *  Google Map

Atmosphere: Enjoy! is located in a very large, impressive  building about 1/2 mile south of Country Rd 42 off of Galaxie Dr. and Founders Ln.  The restaurant is divided into seven distinct areas, The Conservatory (pictured below), The Upper Dining Room, The Grotto, The Vintage Room, The Water’s Edge Patio, The Bar Patio, and The Lounge.  We ate in the lovely Conservatory which had a beautiful fireplace  complete with a large-tile mosaic painting.  One highlight of the room was the magnificent domed skylight.  In addition to having tables, this area also has high-backed booths which offer a sense of privacy.

The Upper Dining Room is another one of the many seating areas at Enjoy! that is perfect for groups, offering larger booths and tables that can accommodate many.

Enjoy! also has The Vintage Room available for Banquets and larger parties. The Lounge  is also a big, beautiful area and is also the place to go for a great Happy Hour.

Cuisine: American, Steak, Chops, Ribs, Fish, Seafood, Pasta
Restaurant Features: Bar, Banquet, Buffet, Kids Menu, On-Site Parking, Pull-Tabs, Sunday Brunch
Location: Maplewood, MN
Address: 2999 Highway 61 North • Maplewood, MN • Phone: 651.482.0384
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am – 9pm  Fri- Sat 11am. – 10pm  Sun Brunch 10am. – 2pm   Sun Dinner  2pm -9pm
Links: Gulden’s Website * Gulden’s Facebook Page * Google Map

Atmosphere: Gulden’s is located on Hwy 61 (just south of 694) in Maplewood, near Maplewood Mall.   The upper level of the restaurant is separated into a couple of large rooms.  The main dining rooms are found to the left of the main entrance and the bar is located to the right/back.  The decor is very basic, with vinyl booths and plastic laminate tables.  The tables can conveniently be arranged to accommodate larger parties.  Gulden’s has been family owned and operated since 1934.

Gulden’s Lounge is in a separate space adjacent to the main dining room, with a full bar and plenty of tables to sit at.  They also offer pull-tabs.

Gulden’s also has a large lower-level that is used for banquets and weddings (up to 190 guests).

Menu: Appetizers at Gulden’s include Chicken Wings, Chicken Tenders, Onion Rings, Cheese Sticks, Potato Skins, Garlic Toast, Garlic Cheese Toast, Mini Tacos, Italian Fries, Frog Legs, Cheddar Jalapeno Poppers, Nachos Supreme, Chicken Nachos, Quesadilla and Jumbo Shrimp

Soup and Salad options include Caesar, Taco Salad and Salad Bar.  Soup changes daily

Gulden’s sandwiches are served with fries and include the Gulden’s Club, Reuben, Prime Rib Dip, Sirloin Sandwich, Fish Sandwich, Hamburger and Gulden’s Cheeseburger.

Prime Cuts include Top Sirloin, Texas Top Sirloin, Filet Mignon, Smoked Pork Chops, Porterhouse, Steak and Shrimp, Steak Oscar, Prime Rib (12 oz, 16oz, 20oz), and Pork Ribs.

Fish and Seafood dishes include Jumbo Shrimp, Scrod Oscar, Frog Legs, Broiled Walleye, and Seafood Combo.

Gulden’s also has a variety of chicken and pasta dishes including Chicken, Ribs or Steak Combo, Chicken Oscar, Texas Chicken, Marinated Chicken Breast, Ravioli, Fried Chicken, Chicken Parmesan, Fettuccine Alfredo, Tortellini Alfredo, Pasta Primavera, and Cajun Chicken Alfredo.

The Gulden Specials include  your choice of one entree, with choice of potato and soup or salad. Entree choices include Alaskan Pollack, Popcorn Shrimp, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Zander Filet with Almonds, Liver & Onions, 8oz Sirloin, 10oz Ground Sirloin with Mushrooms, BBQ Pork Ribs, Homemade Lasagna, Surf & Turf and Chicken Kiev.  All are $11.95

Kids menu items include hamburger, grilled cheese, mini corn dogs, chicken fingers, deep fried fish, spaghetti with meatballs, macaroni and cheese

Price guide: Appetizers $5-9  Salads $7-9   Sandwiches/Burgers $8-9  Prime Cuts$14-25  Seafood $15-18 Chicken/Pastas $10-16  Kids Meal $5

Early Bird Specials: Served between 11am-5pm, all come with choice of potato and soup or salad for $8.95: Spaghetti and Meatballs, Alaskan Pollack, 6 oz Sirloin, 8 oz Ground Sirloin with Mushrooms, Lasagna, 1/4 Fried Chicken,and  4 oz Chicken Kiev.

Happy Hour: Monday – Saturday 11:00am. – 7pm. Wing specials all the time in the lounge.

Sunday Brunch:

• $12.95/ Adults   $9.95/Seniors  $6.95/ Kids 5-12    Free/ Kids 4 and Under
• 10am-2pm
• 2 kinds of Scrambled Eggs , Homemade Bread Pudding, Eggs Benedict, Roast Turkey,
  Sausage, Baked Ham, Bacon, Chefs Choice Entrée, Smoked Sausage , Au Gratin Potatoes, French Toast, Mashed Potatoes, Hashbrowns, Stuffing, Homemade Carmel Rolls , Hot Vegetable, Fresh Fruit, 20 Item Salad Bar, Pies/Bars/and all the other goodies

What we ordered: We started with this complimentary basket of French Rolls.  They were soft and warm on the inside, crusty on the outside.

The soup that was offered the night of our visit was Clam Chowder, which my companion and I shared.  The soup was pretty good, thick and full of chunky vegetables.

Even though I was tempted to order the Reuben, I ended up ordering the Prime Rib Dip. Excellent choice! This was real prime rib, thinly sliced and piled (PILED!) high on the toasted kaiser roll.  It was served with au jus and I also asked for a side of freshly grated horseradish.  The sandwich came with a pile of crispy shoestring potatoes.  I would definitely get this sandwich again, it was excellent (and only $8.95!)

My companion ordered the Fried Chicken Meal, which was also very good.  It had a thick, crispy batter on it and was fried until it was a perfect dark golden color.  Very juicy on the inside!

Service: We arrived long after the dinner hour and had to wait nearly five minutes at the host stand before we were acknowledged.  Once we were seated, our server was very friendly and had several recommendations.  Drinks were filled in a timely fashion and other requests were also quickly satisfied.

Overall Impression: I literally have driven by Gulden’s on 61 hundreds of times and had only been there one other time almost a decade ago.  Glad I finally stopped in and I will be back.  The decor at Gulden’s is nothing fancy but the food was pretty good and was reasonably priced.

Cuisine: Pizza & Pasta
Restaurant Features: Beer & Wine, On-Site Parking
Locations: Anoka, Forest Lake, Ham Lake, Ramsey, Shoreview & St Francis, MN
Addresses & Maps:

Anoka- 3603 Round Lake Blvd NW  Anoka, MN 55303  763 427-8620

Forest Lake- 555 W Broadway Ave Forest Lake, MN 55025  651 256-1515

Ham Lake- 16220 Aberdeen St NE  Ham Lake, MN‎ 55304  763 434-1515

Shoreview- 3999 Rice St  Shoreview, MN  55126 651 483-5125

St Francis-  23042 St Francis Blvd  St Francis, MN  55075  763 753-4577

Hours: Sunday-Thurs 11am-10pm   Friday11am-12am  Sat  11am-11pm
Links: Mansetti’s Pizza Website * Mansetti’s Facebook Page

Atmosphere: The Mansetti’s location in Forest Lake is located in a strip mall just off of Broadway Ave about halfway between Hwy 61 and I-35.  There are two dining area inside the restaurant, one in front when you first walk in and another in the back.  The front area is somewhat small but uses the space for both tables and booths.

The banquet room that is in the back is a much bigger space and has many tables that can be arranged for big parties.

Menu: Appetizers at Mansetti’s include Hot Wings, Mozzarella Sticks, Garlic Toast and Garlic Toast with Cheese.

Salad offerings are the Antipasto, Antipasto Supreme, Tossed Salad, and Chicken Antipasto.

Pasta dishes offered include Manicotti, Baked Rigatoni, Rigatoni Supreme, Vegetarian Rigatoni, Fettuccine Alfredo, Chicken or Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo, Lasagna, Spaghetti (w or w/o meatballs), Meatball Dip, Chicken Manicotti, Shrimp Tortellini, and Penne Rigate.

Mansetti’s is most know for their pizzas, which come in 10″, 12″, 14″ or 16″.  Build-Your-Own or order one of the Specialty Pizzas like the House Special, Carnivore, Bacon Cheeseburger, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Hawaiian, Barbeque Chicken, Barbeque Beef, Chicken Bacon Ranch, Chicken Inferno, Herbivore, Blazing Pepperoni, and Papa Mansetti’s.

Desserts include Turtle Cheesecake, Ice Cream Sundae, and Rootbeer Float.

Price guide: Appetizers $3-9  Salads $3-8 Pasta $9-12  Pizzas $8-22  Desserts $3.50

Weekly Specials:

Thursday- XL One-topping pizza for $12.99

What we ordered:
One of the pizzas that we ordered was Pepperoni and Sausage.  I was a little worried at first because the cheese appeared to be just-barely melted instead of brown and bubbly like I prefer.  After a bite I was reassured that the ultra-thin crust was nice and crispy.  The pepperoni was slightly spicy and the sausage was decent, although not freshly ground.  The sauce was tangy and the cheese seemed to be of decent quality as well.  Better than I thought it might be!

Another pizza that we ordered was the Chicken Bacon Ranch.  This was quite different in flavor than the first pizza, but just as delicious and a nice change of pace.  The sauce that was used was a creamy ranch, then topped with crispy bites of bacon, white meat chicken, cheddar and mozzarella. It wasn’t loaded with ingredients but still tasted good.  I would definitely get this pizza again.

We also tried the Combo Manicotti, which comes with one ricotta-stuffed tube and one filled with seasoned ground meat, as well as two slices of garlic cheese bread.  Like the pizza, the cheese was just barely melted on both the manicotti and the bread.  The bread could’ve been much crispier, it needed about 3 more minutes in the oven to get where I really like it.  The kids enjoyed it though!  The manicottis were both very good, especially the one filled with meat.

One of my companions ordered this Antipasto Salad, with onion, pepperoni, green olives, and freshly grated parmesan on a bed of lettuce with Italian dressing on the side.  Looked great!

Service: There were a couple of big parties other than ours in the Banquet room and it  was somewhat slow for food to arrive but refills were filled as needed.  Another thing I noticed is that after the big parties left, nobody bothered to bus and clean the tables.

Overall Impression: This was my first time trying Mansetti’s Pizza & Pasta and I thought they had a good selection of both specialty pizzas and pastas on their menu.  The pizzas that we tried were thin and crispy but seemed kind of high in price for how thin the crust is and for the amount of toppings you get.  Best bet is to use a coupon or get one of the weekly specials.

Cuisine: American, Deli, Italian, Pizza
Restaurant Features: Bar, Market, On-Site Parking
Location: Willernie, MN (Mahtomedi)
Address: 460 Stillwater Road Willernie, MN 55090  (651) 653-4733
Hours: Mon-Thurs  11am-9pm   Fri-Sat 11-am-10pm  Sun 11am-8pm

Links: Roma Website * Roma Facebook Page *  Google Map

Atmosphere: Roma is located in downtown Willernie in a space that used to occupy a laundromat.  They did a spectacular job with their remodeling, as the new space is a very fresh and cute.  A majority of the space is used by the dining room, which has a mix of both tables and booths.  There is also a bar area that offers seating at the bar as well as at a handful of bistro tables.  There are many windows, giving plenty of beautiful natural light during the day.  I sat at a booth by the window and discovered that it can also be cool and drafty during winter months.  I can only assume that the lights are dim at night to offer more of a romantic and relaxing atmosphere.

Roma also has a “Roman Market” which offers Premium Meats and European Deli items.

Menu: Appetizers include Antipasto Classico (meat & cheese tray), Cheese & Fruit Plate, Spinach Artichoke Dip, Spirito (Flatbread and three dips/spreads), Mussels ala Romana, Caprese, Italian Wings, Hummus, Bruschetta, Gelee (fruits and cheeses on crustini bread), Fonduta, and Italian Fries.

Salad options are the Gorgonzola, Greek, Caesar, Bistecca (steak with caramelized onions), Chicken with Apple and Walnuts, Rucola (arugula, bacon, egg, tomato), and Spinach Salad.

Sandwiches at Roma are served with kettle chips and include Greek Gyro, Italian Sub, Reuben, Rachel, French Dip, Turkey Melt, Hot Dago, Italian Beef, and Trojan Tenderloin.  Flatbread wraps include Turkey, Chicken Caesar, Garlic Steak, Italian Combo, Diavlo Shrimp and Stromboli.  Additional sandwiches served on the lunch menu include Porketta, BBQ Meatloaf, Grinder, Sausalito Turkey, Meatball Hoagie, Pastrami, Walleye, Margherita, and the Gladiator Melt (roast beef and cheddar).

Roma’s Pasta menu consists of Spaghetti, Gnocchi Bolognese, Lasagna Classico, Lasagna Blanco, Fettuccine Alfredo, Sausage Arabiatta, Chicken and Shrimp Linguini, and Squash Ravioli.  Additional Pastas and Entrees served at dinner include Lobster Canneloni, Shrimp Pomodoro, Gorgonzola Filet, Sacchetti (pasta filled with truffle and ricotta in fontina cream sauce), Scallops Puttanesca, Chicken Saltimbocca, and Walleye in a Remoulade Sauce.

Roma has quickly become known for its wood-fired pizzas (10″& 14″) with options such as the Cheese, Margherita, Succo (cinnamon cream, squash, gorgonzola and caramelized onions with maple syrup), Garden, Balsalmico, Vesuvio (pepperoni, sausage, ham, mushroom, onion and peppers), Pesto Shrimp, Greek Gyro, Chicken Alfredo or Build-Your-Own.

Price guide: Appetizers $4-12  Salads $8-12 Sandwiches $8-12   Pastas/Entrees $12-22  Specialty Pizzas 10″ $9+   14″ $14

Happy Hour:

• Daily 3-5pm
• 2-for-1 Tap & Bottled Beer, Mixed Drinks and Wine-by-the-Glass
• Cash Bar Only

What we ordered: The Italian Wings sounded good so we started with an order of those.  The wings were loosely coated with Italian bread crumbs and then fried to a golden brown. The breading was only slightly crispy  and was flaking off the wings in the usual way of bread crumbs, but they tasted delicious nonetheless! They were served with both bleu cheese and marinara.

Our server highly recommended the Spinach Artichoke Dip so we also had an order of that.  It took some time to arrive because the flatbread was made to order, but we both liked it quite a bit.  The flatbread was baked with parmesan cheese until the perfect texture of soft and crispy.  The dip was very cream-cheese dominant with subtle pieces of artichoke and spinach blended in.  We liked it but both agreed we prefer artichoke dip with a blend of cheeses and seasonings.

There was a very nice selection of sandwiches on the lunch menu and after asking for a recommendation, I ordered the Gladiator Melt.  This sandwich was very good! The thinly-sliced roast beef was very tender and flavorful and had the cheddar cheese melted right into the layers.  It was served on a soft yet slightly crusty ciabatta bread with a wine vinaigrette and aoili sauce.  The textures and flavors of this sandwich went really well together.  It was served with seasoned kettle chips and red grapes.

The Porketta was another recommendation of the server’s that my companion decided to try. I had been really enjoying my Gladiator Melt but then I tried a bite of the Porketta and I forgot all about the sandwich i ordered.  This was one of the best new sandwiches I have tried in quite some time!  The base of the sandwich was moist, tender pulled pork flavored with Italian seasonings then topped with melted pepperjack and sauteed peppers and onions.  Seriously awesome, can’t figure out why this sandwich is not included on the dinner menu!?

Service: Our visit was mid-afternoon on a weekday so we had no problem getting a parking spot and we had our pick of tables as well.  We were promptly greeted by our friendly server, who seemed to be the only person working in front.  She made some great recommendations from the menu and brought us drinks and refills as needed.  The timing of the food wasn’t the best; it took nearly 20 minutes for our appetizers since they were both made-to-order and even though we ordered our sandwiches later than we ordered the apps, our sandwiches came out less than five minutes after the apps.  That is kind of a pet-peeve of mine but I didn’t sweat it since we were practically the only people in the restaurant.

Overall Impression: This is a lovely little gem in Willernie, near Mahtomedi.  The sandwiches are excellent and the pastas and pizzas are rumored to be pretty awesome as well.  The prices seemed very reasonable for the amount of food you get.  Can’t wait to go back and try dinner very soon!  One thing I think is great about Roma is that they always have some kind of printable coupon on their website.  The current coupon for January 2011 is for Buy-One-Get-One Half Off .  Now print yourselves a coupon, try Roma and let me know what you think!

Disclosure: I was invited out to do this review and my meal was provided by the restaurant.

Have you been down to Mystic Lake Casino recently?  Have you tried their Buffet? The menu at the Buffet changes every couple of months with seasonal items, so it is always fun to try the plethora of food items no matter what time of year you visit.

Today I will highlight the Winter “Holiday” Around-the-World Buffet, which runs through December and January.  Mystic Lake is offering a special Buy-One-Get-One-Free Buffet Dinner throughout the month of January, get the printable coupon here on their website.

Cuisine: American, European, and Pacific
Restaurant Features: All-You-Can-Eat, Hotel
Location: Prior Lake, MN
Address: 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd., Prior Lake, MN, 55372 (Mystic Lake Casino)
Hours:

• Mon – Fri Lunch:  11:30am - 2:30pm $9.95

• Saturday & Sunday Brunch:  10am - 2:30pm $13.95

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday Dinner:   4:30pm - 11:00pm $12.95

• Wednesday  Seafood Night:  4:30pm - 11:00pm  $22.95

• Saturday & Sunday  Dinner:  4:30pm - 11:00pm $16.95

Links: Buffet at Mystic Lake Website * Mystic Lake Facebook Page * Google Map

Cuisine: American, Burgers, Pasta, Steaks
Restaurant Features: Bar, Happy Hour
Location: Roseville, MN
Address: 863 Rosedale Center Plaza, Roseville, MN 55402  651-315-5005
Hours: Mon – Thur: 11am -11pm  Fri- Sat: 11am -12pm  Sun: 11am -10pm

Links: Flame Website *  Flame Facebook Page *  Google Map

Atmosphere: Flame is located in the new section at Rosedale mall, near the AMC Theaters, but is not accessible from inside the mall so customers must enter from near the parking lot.  The inside of Flame is fun and contemporary, even slightly romantic.  A majority of the seating is in the form of high-backed booths that offer a little privacy and help make it more quiet.  Right now Flame is decorated festively with giant ornaments and fairy lights suspended from the ceiling.

The kitchen is somewhat open and visible from the reception area when you first walk into Flame, with fiery torches lit on the upper hood.

There is also this bar area at the front of the restaurant, complete with flat-screen TVs.

Menu: Appetizers at Flame include Flame Sliders, Beer-Battered Onion Rings, Cheese Quesadilla, Rotisserie Chicken Quesadilla, Firecracker Chicken, Smokin’ Beef Bites, Chicken Wings, Caprese, Steak Gouda Fondue, and Chicken Gouda Fondue.

Soups include Chicken Wild Rice and a Soup du Jour. Mon- Tuscan Chicken Vegetable, Tues-Cream of Tomato, Wed- Southwestern Chicken, Thurs-Chicken Noodle, Fri- Sherried Shrimp and Tomato Bisque, Sat- Vegetable Beef Barley, Sun- Cream of Potato.

Salads at Flame include Honey Lime Rotisserie, Buffalo Chicken, Mandarin Chicken, Honey Cashew Chicken, Mixed Greens, Strawberry Poppy Seed, Cobb, Caesar, Chicken Caesar, and Grilled Salmon Caesar.

Flame has many Sandwich and Burger options, all of which come with french fries, mashed potatoes, housemade chips or coleslaw.  Sandwich options are the Rotisserie French Dip, Walleye, Apple Chicken Salad Sandwich, Chicken Clubhouse Wrap, Balsamic Rotisserie Wrap, BBQ Pulled Chicken, Buffalo Chicken Wrap, Flame Chicken, Hawaiian Chicken, Tenderloin Steak, Classic BLT, and Grilled Turkey Clubhouse.  Burger options include Bacon Cheeseburger, Cheddar Bacon BBQ, Aloha, Black & Bleu, Flame Burger, Southwest, the SOS (swiss, mushrooms and sauteed onions), and the Flatliner (Cajun seasoned with gouda cheese sauce, BBQ sauce, onion strings and bacon).

Rotisserie items include Chicken, Cajun Chicken, Beef, and Rack of BBQ Smoked Ribs.

Pasta options are the Chicken and Tortellini, Seafood Carbonara, Alfredo Linguini, Alfredo Linguini with Chicken, and Prosciutto Bolognese.

Dinner Entrees include Chicken or Steak Fajitas, Walleye Dinner, Citrus Salmon, Spicy Ginger Tuna, Braised Lamb Shank, Pot Roast, Filet Mignon, NY Strip Steak, Smoked Ribeye, and Grilled Chicken or Steak Skewers.

Items from the kids menu include Mini Corn Dogs, Chicken Fingers, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Mini Cheeseburgers or Quesadilla.

Price guide: Appetizers $7-12  Salads $8-12  Sandwiches/Burgers $8-11 Rotisserie Items $13-16 Pasta $12-15 Entrees $14-20

Happy Hour:

• Mon -Fri 3-6pm & 9pm-Close
• $2 Tap Beers
• 1/2 off All Appetizers
• 1/2 off Glasses of Wine
• $2 off Specialty Drinks
• $2 off Mixed Cocktails

What we ordered: We specifically went to Flame to try their Happy Hour, knowing that all appetizers are half priced.  It was highly recommended by several people to try the Gouda Fondue, with options being either Chicken or Steak.  We tried the Steak Gouda Fondue, which came with a delicious platter of grilled steak bites, cubes of bread and wedges of apple.  The fondue was served in a small pot with a candle lit beneath it.  This cheese sauce was a creamy, smokey gouda so it was very flavorful

We also tried the Firecracker Chicken Eggrolls which are now my new favorite appetizer! The chefs at Flame take their tender, juicy rotisserie chicken and toss it in buffalo sauce, then wrap it along with small pieces of celery then wrap it in an eggroll wrapper and fry it until crispy golden brown.  Served with bleu cheese for dipping.  I am most definitely a big fan of buffalo wings and this was a fun new creation that really hit the spot.

We also tried the Burger Sliders, three mini burgers made of ground beef, served with pickle slices and Thousand Island dressing.  Very tasty!

Service: My visit was on a Friday night, where I was meeting some friends for Happy Hour.  We arrived before 5pm and had no trouble getting seated right away.  The hostess was very friendly as she showed us to our booth.  Our initial server came to take our drink order but then was replaced by a different server only ten minutes later.  It is unfortunate that our new server was not nearly as friendly as the first.  It took some time to get our drinks and refills and we sometimes had to call her attention otherwise we were left alone.  As happy hour was ending and tables started filling up, we got the feeling that our server was trying to rush us out of the restaurant since we weren’t ordering entrees.

Overall Impression: The Happy Hour at Flame is fabulous, but the service could be better.  I am thinking the best time to go is during the week.  Definitely try the Steak Fondue and the Firecracker Chicken Eggrolls!

Price guide: Appetizers $5-9 Poppers $10 Panino $10  Salads $6-11 Pasta $8-12 What we ordered: Our party started with a couple of orders of the Panino Poppers.  The first one we tried was the Ham and Pickle.  These are a tasty little creation of bread dough rolled up around cream cheese mixed with tiny pieces of pickle and ham, then baked until golden brown.  These were good but there was so much cream cheese in each little popper that it was almost overwhelming, especially since the pieces of pickle and ham were so miniscule that they were they were barely noticeable. If there were only  half the cream cheese and double the ham and pickle, these would be exceptional little snacks.  They was served with Thousand Island and ranch dressings, I especially liked the Thousand Island with them.

We also tried the Pizza Poppers to start,  made with cream cheese and marinara.  I liked these better than the ham & pickle, especially when dipped in more marinara, but there was still more cream cheese than necessary.  A mix of Italian cheese with the cream cheese would’ve been ideal.

One of my companions and I split the Chicken Artichoke Panino, made on whole wheat pizza dough.  This half of a sandwich was plenty big for me, especially after eating a few poppers.  We each had our choice of a side and I chose the seasoned kettle chips.  The Panino was filled with small bites of white meat chicken, bacon, a few artichokes, and lettuce.  The sandwich was good but a little boring for my taste.  I asked for a side of marinara to go with it to give it a little more flavor.  The Buffalo Chicken would be more up my alley, I will try that one next time.

Another companion ordered the Chicken Gyro Panino with a side salad.  This panino was stuffed with lettuce, chunks of chicken, swiss cheese, onion, tomato, and cucumber dressing.

We also ordered a 14″ Cheese Pizza for the younger ones in our party.  I did not try this pizza but the kids loved it! It had a lot of cheese, toasted golden brown and a thin crust.

Service: The service at Panino’s was very good.  We were promptly greeted and only had to wait a few minutes for our party of 8 to be accommodated.  The server was attentive to the needs of the children in our group and brought drinks and most anything else we asked for in a timely manner. Overall Impression: We had very good service at Panino’s and the food was also pretty good.

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!